IPA Webdesk
6146 stories by IPA Webdesk
Rahul Gandhi’s ED questioning resumes for fifth day
Even as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was questioned for a fourth day by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, he has been summoned for Tuesday as well. The Wayanad MP has been questioned for 40 hours in four days so far in a case of alleged money laundering. Last...
Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde disappears with MLAs
Maharashtra Minister and top Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has reportedly moved to a hotel in Gujarat’s Surat with 11 other party MLAs, setting off alarm bells in the Uddhav Thackeray government. Sources say Shinde, who is reportedly upset, is “unreachable”. Palghar MLA Srinivas Vanga, Aligarh legislator Mahendra Dalvi...
Modi bemoans ‘good intentions’ getting caught in politics
Prime Minister Narendra today said it is India’s “misfortune” that good intentions get trapped in politics. His remarks come amid nationwide protests against the Centre’s new military recruitment scheme ‘Agnipath’. The prime minister, however, made no direct reference to the scheme in his speech which was largely focused on...
Crack down on WhatsApp groups over Agnipath protests
Thirty-five WhatsApp groups have been banned for allegedly spreading fake news about the Centre’s new Agnipath scheme, sources have said. The ban comes amid violent protests over the planned short-term recruitment in the armed forces, which is set to start this year. The military has accused coaching centres of...
Next round of Uddhav’s contest with BJP in council poll
The Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) elections will witness another contest between the BJP and Congress after the recently held Rajya Sabha elections. A total of 11 candidates are contesting for 10 Maharashtra Legislative Council seats, with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA allies) – Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress – fielding...
Concessions fail to pacify Agnipath protesters
Despite the Centre’s steps to assuage concerns over the ‘Agnipath’ defence recruitment scheme, there was no let-up in the protests in several states with the job aspirants demanding a rollback of the scheme. The Home and Defence ministries promised new 10 per cent quotas each in jobs for ‘Agnipath’...
Secunderabad violence ‘mastermind’ arrested
An ex-Armyman has been arrested in connection with the Friday’s violence at Secunderabad railway station in Telangana over the ‘Agnipath’ recruitment scheme, the police said. Avula Subba Rao is allegedly the mastermind behind the violence wherein several trains were set on fire by the protesters, while one person was killed...
Speaker responds to CJI’s concerns on parliament debates
Amid concerns expressed in some quarters over the debates in Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday said quality debates take place in the House and he is working on further improving those. Birla listed several initiatives such as upgrading the library and providing research material to MPs,...
Jaishankar says no question of allowing China to alter LAC
India will not allow any unilateral attempt by China to change the status quo or alter the Line of Actual Control (LAC), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, while asserting that through an enormous logistical effort, the country had countered the Chinese in eastern Ladakh. Talking about...
Owaisi predicts big reward for Nupur Sharma in 6 months
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded the arrest of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for the alleged objectionable remark against Prophet Muhammad and said that the action should be taken against her according to the law of India. Owaisi further said that Nupur Sharma will...
Protests spread like wildfire, extending to South
At least 250 people have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh over the ‘Agnipath’ protests, which has seen hordes of angry youth, carrying bamboo sticks and stones, storming railway premises across cities and small towns and laying siege to highways. Meanwhile, protests against ‘Agnipath’ left Bihar in flames on Friday...
Navy chief says he did not anticipate violent protests
As the government desperately tries to assuage protestors and list the benefits of the ‘transformational’ new recruitment scheme for armed forces, Aginpath, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar has backed it and said he didn’t anticipate protests like this. Amid widespread violent protests by Army aspirants, the Navy Chief...
Cong seeks parliamentary panel discussion on Agnipath
Congress MP KC Venugopal on Friday urged Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence Chairman Jual Oram to convene an urgent meeting of all stakeholders and defence experts to discuss in detail the recently announced Agniveer scheme by the Central government. Noting that violent protests are continuing across the country over...
Trains set on fire in UP, Bihar as Agnipath stir spreads
Mob set trains on fire in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar this morning as the protests over the new military recruitment policy, Agnipath, entered the third consecutive day today. The government has defended the scheme, calling it “transformative”. Trains were set afire, public and police vehicles attacked in both states...
‘One-time’ change to raise Agnipath age limit to 23
The Centre today raised the age limit for the ‘Agnipath’ military recruitment scheme to 23 from 21 amid nationwide protests against the new model of enrolment of soldiers. The decision has been taken as no recruitment has taken place in the last two years, the government said in a...
People burning buses not fit for armed forces: Ex-Army chief
General VP Malik, the Army chief who led India to victory during the Kargil War, expressed support for the Agnipath scheme today and said the Army is not interested in recruiting hooligans responsible for the violence taking place during the protests against the short-term recruitment plan. Violence was reported...
US condemns Prophet remarks, happy over party response
The United States on Thursday condemned remarks by Indian ruling party officials about the Prophet Mohammed that have sparked an uproar in Muslim countries. “We condemn the offensive comments made by two BJP officials and we were glad to see that the party publicly condemns those comments,” State Department...
Widespread protests over Agnipath scheme for military jobs
A day after the Centre launched Agnipath, a radical recruitment plan for the armed forces, protests have erupted at various parts of the country, with youngsters accusing the government of making a fool of them. Protests broke out in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur and Buxar today, with the protesters asking what...
