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India Gazette
11 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pakistan betrays peace efforts time and again: All-party delegation member SS Ahluwalia
Freetown [Sierra Leone], May 31 (ANI): BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, who is part of the all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, on Saturday reflected on Pakistan's repeated betrayal, citing the Kargil War following the Lahore Declaration during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's reign. Speaking at an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the BJP leader reflected on India's persistent efforts to foster peace with Pakistan, noting that the neighbour only indulges in terrorism against India and not through conventional war, just to weaken the country. 'Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that it's the geography that Pakistan is our neighbour and we cannot change it, but we can bring the change and can make Pakistan our friend. That's why during the Lahore Declaration, he travelled to Lahore by bus; but what happened after that - Kargil happened... Time and again, we try to have an agreement and send a message of peace, but Pakistan always betrays us. Pakistan doesn't indulge in a conventional war with us but terrorism, as it wants to weaken us,' Ahluwalia stated. His remarks, delivered as part of a broader diplomatic mission by an all-party delegation, were echoed by delegation members BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj and BJD MP Sasmit Patra, who emphasised India's firm response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism through Operation Sindoor, reflecting the country's increasingly assertive stance on the global stage. Swaraj emphasised India's transformed approach following the Pahalgam terror attack, noting that there was a 'paradigm shift' in how India handles Pakistan's sponsored terrorism. 'This is the new India that doesn't stop, it doesn't bow, and it doesn't forgive. It's the new India that has brought a paradigm shift and said that we will give a befitting reply... We are capable enough to do whatever is needed to do against the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, but we know that terrorism is not a regional issue but a global issue, and hence, these all-party delegations are travelling to different nations for a diplomatic mission,' Swaraj said. BJD MP Sasmit Patra also added an emotional narrative, recounting how the terrorists only killed the husbands and left the wives so that they could tell what happened to them there. Patra noted that following this, Operation Sindoor took place, which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing more than 100 terrorists in the process. 'Sometimes, when we come together in this sense of solidarity... This sense came about on April 22 after Pahalgam... A terrorist comes across, asks the husband his religion, he says his religion and the terrorist shoots him. The wife turns around and asks, 'Kill me as well; why should I live?'... The terrorist turns around and tells that lady, 'I will not kill you. Go and tell this to your government.' She told, and then Operation Sindoor came. We went and struck them inside Pakistan. This is the new India... Believe that this is the new India and you are the face of the new India,' the BJD MP said. The delegation led by Shinde also includes BJP MP Atul Garg and Manan Kumar Mishra, Indian Union Muslim League's ET Mohammed Basheer and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders. (ANI)
India.com
13 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan Betrays Peace Efforts Time And Again: All-Party Delegation Member SS Ahluwalia
BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, who is part of the all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, on Saturday reflected on Pakistan's repeated betrayal, citing the Kargil War following the Lahore Declaration during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's reign. Speaking at an interaction with the Indian diaspora in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the BJP leader reflected on India's persistent efforts to foster peace with Pakistan, noting that the neighbour only indulges in terrorism against India and not through conventional war, just to weaken the country. "Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that it's the geography that Pakistan is our neighbour and we cannot change it, but we can bring the change and can make Pakistan our friend. That's why during the Lahore Declaration, he travelled to Lahore by bus; but what happened after that - Kargil happened... Time and again, we try to have an agreement and send a message of peace, but Pakistan always betrays us. Pakistan doesn't indulge in a conventional war with us but terrorism, as it wants to weaken us," Ahluwalia stated. His remarks, delivered as part of a broader diplomatic mission by an all-party delegation, were echoed by delegation members BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj and BJD MP Sasmit Patra, who emphasised India's firm response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism through Operation Sindoor, reflecting the country's increasingly assertive stance on the global stage. Swaraj emphasised India's transformed approach following the Pahalgam terror attack, noting that there was a "paradigm shift" in how India handles Pakistan's sponsored terrorism. "This is the new India that doesn't stop, it doesn't bow, and it doesn't forgive. It's the new India that has brought a paradigm shift and said that we will give a befitting reply... We are capable enough to do whatever is needed to do against the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, but we know that terrorism is not a regional issue but a global issue, and hence, these all-party delegations are travelling to different nations for a diplomatic mission," Swaraj said. BJD MP Sasmit Patra also added an emotional narrative, recounting how the terrorists only killed the husbands and left the wives so that they could tell what happened to them there. Patra noted that following this, Operation Sindoor took place, which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing more than 100 terrorists in the process. "Sometimes, when we come together in this sense of solidarity... This sense came about on April 22 after Pahalgam... A terrorist comes across, asks the husband his religion, he says his religion and the terrorist shoots him. The wife turns around and asks, 'Kill me as well; why should I live?'... The terrorist turns around and tells that lady, 'I will not kill you. Go and tell this to your government.' She told, and then Operation Sindoor came. We went and struck them inside Pakistan. This is the new India... Believe that this is the new India and you are the face of the new India," the BJD MP said. The delegation led by Shinde also includes BJP MP Atul Garg and Manan Kumar Mishra, Indian Union Muslim League's ET Mohammed Basheer and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
PM Modi cancels Sikkim visit due to inclement weather, to address statehood event virtually
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Gangtok to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Sikkim's statehood on Thursday has been cancelled because of inclement weather conditions, officials said. He will, however, attend the programme virtually, they added. The PM was scheduled to release a commemorative coin, souvenir and stamp to mark the completion of 50 years of Sikkim as a state, the officials said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Crossout 2.0: Supercharged Crossout Play Now Undo He was also scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several projects, including a 500-bed district hospital worth over Rs 750 crore in Namchi , a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling in Pelling in Gyalshing district, and a statue of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji at Atal Amrit Udyan in Gangtok.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sikkim gears up to celebrate 50th anniversary of statehood; PM Modi to attend
SILIGURI: Sikkim, India's least populous and the second-smallest among Indian states, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its statehood on Thursday, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also travel to the state on the occasion and inaugurate several projects, including a 500-bed hospital built at a cost of ₹750 crores at Namchi, a passenger ropeway at Gyalshing and a statue of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Gangtok. 'India is very proud of the contribution of Sikkim towards national progress. The unique culture of Sikkim is also widely admired,' PM Modi said in a post on X, announcing his visit to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Sikkim health minister GT Dhungel said the multi-speciality hospital at Namchi reflects how Sikkim has developed in the health sector. 'The STNM Hospital at Sokeythang is among the biggest government hospitals in the country,' he said. Sikkim became the 22nd state of India in 1975, two years after the first rebellion in the erstwhile kingdom in 1973 which followed government intervention. Article 371 (F) of the Constitution still protects Sikkim's old laws and its people enjoy special status. Founded by the Namgyal dynasty in the 17th century, Sikkim was a kingdom ruled by the Chogyal monarchs from 1642 to 1975. Home to Nepalis, Bhutias and Lepchas, Sikkim played an important role in the recognition of the Nepali language under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 1992. Chief minister Prem Singh Tamang, who is also the president of ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, said: 'In Sikkim, progress meets purpose and nature nurtures growth,' he said, stressing that the state has planned year-long activities 'to celebrate the essence of the state's cultural richness, traditions, natural splendour and history'.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
This Day In 1996: AB Vajpayee Ends 13-Day Rule With " Satta Ka Khel" Speech
New Delhi: " Satta ka khel toh chalta rahega, sarkarein aayengi, jayengi, partian banengi, bigrengi, magar yeh desh rehna chahiye, yeh desh ka loktantra rehna chahiye (Power play will continue, governments will come and go, parties will be formed and broken, but this country must live on, its democracy must live on)." Exactly 29 years ago, on May 28, 1996, BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee resigned as Prime Minister after just 13 days in power when his government lost the majority in the Lok Sabha. This is the shortest stint for a Prime Minister, matched by two 13-day stints of Gulzarilal Nanda, who served as Acting Prime Minister after the deaths of former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Mr Vajpayee's powerful speech, during which he said that while governments and parties may change, India's democracy must live on, is rated among the most articulate speeches in our parliamentary history. As fate would have it, Mr Vajpayee would return as Prime Minister again, twice. 1996 Election: The Ascent The 1996 Lok Sabha election was fought after landmark events in Indian political history. The PV Narasimha Rao government had ushered in massive economic reforms through liberalisation in 1991, but the episode that would decide the fate of the government -- and the country -- would take place the next year. On December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished as right-wing outfits stressed that the mosque was built at the birthplace of Lord Ram. The demolition polarised the country and the BJP benefited from this. In the 1996 election, the saffron party won 161 seats in Lok Sabha, becoming the single largest party. The Congress won 140 seats, followed by the HD Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (46) and CPM (32). Mr Vajpayee staked a claim to form the government and took the oath on May 15. The Resignation On May 28, Mr Vajpayee conceded that he did not have the majority to continue in power. "We have been given the chance as the single largest party because people wanted a change," the BJP legend said in Lok Sabha. Mr Vajpayee also made it clear that he would never break the BJP to cling on to power. "During the course of this debate, a remark has been made repeatedly that personally Vajpayee is a good leader but his party is not good... If I am offered power with a new alliance at the cost of a split in my party, I would be the last person even to remotely entertain such an idea." He also said there should be no polarisation in the country on communal or caste lines. "Governments will come and go but the nation will always remain there. The democracy of this country will live forever. Has it not become a difficult task in the present atmosphere?" he asked, targeting his rivals. The Aftermath Following Mr Vajpayee's resignation, the Congress too declined to form the government, but extended support to the United Front -- a coalition of non-Congress and non-BJP parties -- to keep the BJP out of power. This started a search for the next Prime Minister. Former Prime Minister VP Singh was approached, but he refused. Another choice was Left veteran Jyoti Basu, but the CPM decided that with a coalition of so many parties, Mr Basu wouldn't get a free hand. Jyoti Basu later called the Left party's decision to pass over the Prime Minister's seat a "historic blunder". Eventually, Janata Dal leader HD Deve Gowda was chosen as the Prime Minister candidate. The Karnataka leader had to quit the post less than a year later, as the Congress withdrew its support. IK Gujral became the next Prime Minister, but he too had to resign in less than a year. The Return - And Another Test In the 1998 general election, the BJP emerged as the single largest party again. Mr Vajpayee led a rainbow coalition into power. The following months saw landmark events. India conducted the Pokhran nuclear test and also defeated Pakistan in the Kargil conflict. Months after the conflict, however, another phase of uncertainty began. The J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK had been unsuccessfully pushing the Vajpayee government to dismiss the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, led by her arch-rival M Karunanidhi. When Mr Vajpayee refused, AIADMK withdrew its support and the government lost the majority in the House. In the 1999 election, the BJP again scored the top rank and Mr Vajpayee returned to power at the head of another coalition government. This time, he would complete his term, becoming the first non-Congress Prime Minister to do so.
