CPI(M) calls for an all-party meeting headed by PM, special session of Parliament
The Communist Party of India(Marxist) [CPI(M)], which attended the all-party meeting called by the Centre on Thursday in the wake of 'Operation Sindoor', regretted the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second consecutive time in the key all-party meeting. John Brittas, leader of the Party in the Rajya Sabha, who attended the meeting on behalf of the CPI(M), urged the government to call an all-party meeting with the participation of the Prime Minister and also a special session of Parliament.
In the context of the government reporting that the 'intended objectives of the Operation are achieved', Mr. Brittas pointed out that given the past experience, it is doubtful, if such military action will be able to target and eliminate terrorist groups. He emphasised that the government should continue pursuing diplomatic actions and build international pressure to bring the terrorists to book. It should also see that the situation does not escalate.
He urged the government to ensure the protection of the people in the border areas and also to provide all required assistance to those who are affected by the situation, He asked the government to place all the facts before the people and counter the spread of all kinds of misinformation. Mr. Brittas also stated that it is the duty of the government to curb the spread of hate, while underlining that terror has no religion. War against terrorism cannot be conducted without fighting the spread of hate.
He also lauded the people of Pahalgam and Kashmir for showing the path to the entire country by unitedly condemning terrorism with compassion, even after suffering from all its ill effects. He demanded that the government lead an all-party delegation to Kashmir at an appropriate time to stand by the people of Kashmir.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
7 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Watch: PM Modi meets members of all-party delegations Salman Khurshid
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening met members of multi-party delegations who had travelled to world capitals to convey India's strong stand against Pakistan-linked terrorism following Operation Sindoor.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
15 minutes ago
- First Post
The price Pakistanis will pay for Pakistan's oversized defence budget
Despite facing fiscal pressures, including nearly half the budget going toward debt servicing, the government has opted to sharply increase defence funding. This has affected health and environment budgetary allocations read more Pakistan's federal budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 has once more brought the skewed national priorities of the country to the fore. While defence spending is sent soaring, critical sectors such as health and environment face steep cuts. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced a record 20 per cent rise in defense allotment to ₨ 2.55 trillion— this marks the highest annual increase in over a decade and brings defense spending close to 2 per cent of GDP and 15 per cent of the entire federal budget. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Aurangzeb defended the decision, citing a 'precarious' security environment and praising the armed forces for safeguarding the borders. A significant portion of the increase targets operational and infrastructure costs, potentially including repairs attributed to India's Operation Sindoor, which hit several airbases. The Pakistan Army is allocated nearly 45 per cent of the defence budget, with the Air Force and Inter-Services Intelligence each receiving around 20 per cent. Health and environment budgets slashed dramatically The budget reads as a tale of two narratives. While the military receives record funding, environmental programs and healthcare have suffered deep reductions. The environment protection budget has been slashed from PKR 7.2 billion to PKR 3.1 billion, effectively halving funding for pollution control– an alarming development for urban centres such as Lahore, which ranked among the world's most polluted cities last year. Healthcare funding has been similarly reduced from PKR 52.1 billion (revised) to just PKR 31.9 billion. This retrenchment comes despite Pakistan's ongoing struggle with diseases like diabetes, malaria, dengue, and a doctor‑to‑patient ratio far below WHO recommendations. Tensions surface between security and public welfare The sidelining of environment and health sectors has sparked criticism among analysts who argue that the government's focus on military investment comes at the expense of essential public services. Pakistan ranks among the most climate-vulnerable nations, regularly facing devastating floods and air pollution crises, while healthcare remains chronically underfunded. Despite facing fiscal pressures, including nearly half the budget going toward debt servicing under an IMF program and an overall 7 per cent spending cut, the government has opted to sharply increase defence funding. The Environment and health sectors have borne the brunt of austerity. Drastically reducing investments in pollution control and climate resilience could exacerbate health risks and economic losses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The World Bank estimates climate-related damages could slash nearly 20% off Pakistan's GDP by mid-century. In healthcare, low investment could undermine efforts to tackle infectious and noncommunicable diseases and worsen health inequalities. By prioritising defence spending now, Pakistan may be underinvesting in its people's long-term resilience—raising critical questions about whether the country can sustain both its security needs and its duty to safeguard citizens' well-being.
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
Centre approves ₹4,224 Crore PMGSY package for rural road projects in J&K, ET Infra
Advt The Centre has sanctioned a ₹4224.23 crore package for 316 road projects in Jammu and Kashmir under PMGSY-IV , which is the biggest ever package for the union territory so far since the national flagship rural road development programme was the PMGSY-IV programme, a rural habitation as small as 250 human beings will get road connectivity through a total length of 1781.33 majority of 316 road projects under PMGSY-IV in J&K will benefit the Jammu division, as this division is still poorly connected as compared to the Kashmir expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said that the approved 1781 km road length will provide a major boost to rural road connectivity and usher in a new era of prosperity in the far-flung areas of Jammu and L-G said on X, "Grateful to PM Narendra Modi & Union Minister of Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan for sanctioning 316 road projects at an estimated cost of ₹4224 cr under Batch-I of PMGSY -IV for providing connectivity to 390 number of eligible habitations. J&K is first among all States/UTs which got sanction under PMGSY-IV. It is also biggest ever package sanctioned for J&K under PMGSY. The approved 1781 Kms road length will provide major boost to rural road connectivity and usher in a new era of prosperity in far-flung areas."Under PMGSY-III, most of the projects sanctioned pertained to the upgradation of roads, while ₹377.91 crore were sanctioned for 66 small and medium bridges, but in PMGSY-IV, there are no bridge projects, and the entire amount will have to be used for road length PMGSY-III, ₹1952.42 crore were used for road connectivity, including upgradation of existing roads, while under PMGSY-IV, the amount sanctioned is for fresh road laying and not for upgradation of existing J&K government will have to bear its share of ₹422.43 crore, while the Union Rural Development Ministry will bear its share of ₹3,801.80 crore out of the total ₹4,224.23 crore sanctioned under PMGSY-IV for Jammu and Kashmir.
