National

Three days before Balakot, Arnab told ex-BARC chief ‘something big will happen’

New Delhi, Jan 17: Three days before the Indian Air Force’s Balakot strike, Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami told his friend and former Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) CEO Partho Dasgupta ‘something big will happen’, indicating that he knew about the confidential military action, transcript of WhatsApp messages between the two, which is part of the supplementary charge sheet filed by the Mumbai Police investigating the TRP tampering case reveals.

On February 26 2019, the IAF hit a Jaish-e-Mohammad training camp in Pakistan’s Balakot town. The government claimed that this was in response to the February 14 terrorist attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, where 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed after an explosive-laden car driven by a suicide bomber rammed into their bus.

At 10 p.m. on February 23, three days before the Balakot strike, the conversation begins with Mr. Goswami boasting about Republic TV bagging then Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s first-ever interview after the Pulwama incident.Mr. Goswami during a conversation texted to Mr Dasgupta, ‘On another note something big will happen’. To which Mr. Dasgupta asked, ‘Dawood?’. Mr. Goswami responded, saying, ‘No sir Pakistan.

Something major will be done this time.’ Mr. Dasgupta, in response, said that ‘it’s good for big man in this season’ and that ‘he will sweep polls then.’ The 2019 general election was just a few months away. Mr. Dasgupta pressed for further clarity, asking Mr. Goswami, ‘Strike? Or bigger’. And Mr. Goswami responded, saying that it would be ‘bigger than a normal strike’. Then he went on to add, ‘And also at the same time something major on Kashmir.

On Pakistan the government is confident of striking in a way that people will be elated. Exact words used.’

Congress leaders raise questions

The Congress party, did not hold an official press conference on the issue, but few senior leaders have raised questions on this conversation. Party spokesperson and senior supreme Court lawyer Abshishek Manu Singhvi said, ‘Arnab’s chats dated 23.02.2019 refer to sharing of Intel reaction along the Pak border.

It means someone very senior in Govt is leaking highly confidential info which may endanger the lives of our soldiers and so that mercenary considerations can add to TRPs.’

Party general secretary and Assam in charge Jitendra Singh in a tweet called it a major breach of ‘national security’.

‘Arnab Goswami is not only the mouthpiece of the government but has access to defence secrets as if he was the Chief of Army Staff himself. This is a major breach of national security.

Furthermore ‘people will be elated’ just goes to show the intent of the BJP behind the attacks, he tweeted.

The article was first published in The Hindu

National

Violence was never part of Kashmiriyat: President Kovind

‘Democracy has a capacity to reconcile all differences to bring out best for citizens’

(Asian News Hub) – The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said that violence was never part of Kashmiriyat but has become a da1sily reality now.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Kovind in his address at Sher-I-Kashmir-International Convention Centre (SKICC) during the 19th convocation of University of Kashmir (KU) said, “Violence which was never part of Kashmiriyat but has become a daily reality now.”

He said, “It was most unfortunate that the outstanding tradition of peaceful coexistence was broken but now, there is a new beginning to regain this lands lost glory.”

In the meantime, Kovind congratulated the young students of the KU who are being conferred with the respected degrees in this convocation.

“I have been told that nearly three lakh students are receiving degrees today and I am impressed by the number with more 2.5 lakh bachelors and more than one thousand doctorates, the university has made remarkable progress,” he said.

Kovind also said that the quest for learning and faith in knowledge among the students of Kashmir is really inspiring.

“Equally inspiring is the success of female students, just about half of the students who are receiving their degrees are Women and when it comes it gold medals, I was told that 70 percent of the winners are women,” he said.

Kovind said, “It is not only a matter of satisfaction but also pride for all of us that our daughters are ready to perform at same level as our sons and sometimes even better.”

He said that building human resources and infrastructure was the stepping stones to the higher idea.

Kovind also said that he was told that the KU has the distinction of being one of few in India with a dedicated centre for inter disciplinary research and innovations that will encourage young scientists for various fellowships across varied disciplines.

“Above all, I am glad to know that KU has responded to the Pandemic in a most praised worthy manner,” he said.

Speaking about the aftermath of COVID-19, Kovind said, “The entire world has been facing a difficult times. The virus has affected all works of life and education is no exception.”

He added that “Fortunately, technology provided a solution. All school, Colleges and Universities across India has continued to provide education in the online mode. After the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, the KU immediately shifted the academic to online modules and made each resource available to its students.”

“Moreover, KU also supported the administration by providing quarantine facilities at its main, north and south campuses. It shows how the contribution of the university towards the society can go beyond imparting education,” he said.

Kovind said, “Democracy, I firmly believe, has within it a capacity to reconcile all differences and also a capacity to bring out the best of citizens’ potential. Kashmir, happily, is already realizing this vision.”

He further said, “The youth and the women especially have high stakes in it and I and sure that they will not let go of this opportunity to rebuild Kashmir.”

Kovind said that in September last year during the consultation of NEP, he had spoken about his dream.

“I wish to see Kashmir as paradise on earth. Kashmir is bound to acquire its rightful place as the crowning glory of India,” Kovind said.

KNO

National

Kargil like success difficult, only Indian army can do it: CDS Gen Bipin Rawat

(Asian News Hub) – Stating that the Indian Amry is more capable, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on the 22nd anniversary of operation Vijay said that such kind of success is very difficult but only the Indian army can do it. He was addressing at the war memorial in Drass, Kargil of Ladakh.

Notably, July 26 is celebrated in the memory of, “the Indian armed forces defeating Pakistan back in 1999 in Operation Vijay”.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in presence of Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur, Member Parliament Jamyang Namgyal Ladakh UT, and CEC’s of twin districts besides other top officials from different quarters installed the victory flame at the Kargil war memorial and paid tributes to the soldiers who lost their lives during the Operation Vijay in 1999.

In every brief interaction with the reporters on the sidelines of the event, the CDS said that this day we remember all those who lost their lives while defending the country.

Rawat while replying to a query said that this is a very historic day since it is very difficult to achieve the success of this kind and only the Indian army can do it

About the infrastructure work in Ladakh, the CDS said that the work is going on and it will continue in a much better way.

MP Namgyal while talking to the reporters said that it’s a day of pride for the entire nation and everyone should remember them besides the younger generation must have enough knowledge about the importance of this day.

He paid tributes to all those soldiers who have laid their lives saying the whole nation remembers them.

Reports said that in the majorly celebrated program missed by the president of India Ramnath Kovind due to the bad weather besides, CDS, LG, MP top Army officials, and other officials were present including the Chief Executive Councillors (CEC’s) of Leh and Kargil districts who laid a wreath on the occasion at Kargil war memorial.

As per official details available with KNO, the 22nd year of the Kargil was celebrated in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh Union Territory paying tribute to the soldiers of Operation Vijay.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army in a tweet informed that General Bipin Rawat CDS received the Swarnim Vijay Mashal at the Kargil war memorial in the presence of Army Commander, Northern Command, Formation Commander, Gallantry Awardees, Veer Naris, and Next of kin of the Brave Hearts.

On the 22nd year of the victory, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Defence Minister of India Rajnath Singh, and other leaders besides other wings of India remembered them and paid tribute on the occasion.

KNO

National

Incessant rain leaves 135 dead in Maharashtra

(Asian News Hub) – Last week, heavy rains in Maharashtra and Karnataka have caused massive damage to the people living near the coastal areas in both states.

Incessant rains causing landslides and floods left over 140 dead and thousands displaced. The destruction seems irreversible in cities, districts and villages.

While districts like Raigad and Ratnagiri were among the worst-hit areas of Maharashtra, parts of the coastal, Malenadu and the north-interior region of Karnataka were battered by torrential rains.

Since the rains began, 135 people are dead in Maharashtra and nine have been killed in Karnataka in incidents like floods, landslides etc. Over 1,35,313 people have been shifted to safer places, including 78,111 in Sangli district, followed by 40,882 in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. At the same time, in Karnataka, 31,360 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas, while 22,417 people are taking shelter in 237 relief camps.