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India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Congress Claims Six Surgical Strikes In UPA Era; BJP Hits Back With RTI Reply
A heated political debate has unfolded after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's comments on India's surgical strikes sparked controversy. Tharoor, leading a multi-party delegation to several countries, stated that India crossed the Line of Control for the first time in 2016 to conduct surgical strikes against terrorist bases. The Congress party quickly distanced itself from Tharoor's remarks and claimed that six such military operations were carried out during the UPA government. The grand old party shared a video on X and said, 'No Noise. No PR. Only Decisive Actions. 6 Surgical Strikes were carried out under Congress Govt.' No Noise. No PR. Only Decisive Actions 6 Surgical Strikes Were Carried Out Under Congress Govt. — Congress (@INCIndia) May 29, 2025 Congress also shared a picture noting the dates of its six surgical strikes. आपकी जानकारी के लिए — Congress (@INCIndia) May 29, 2025 BJP's Amit Malviya shared an RTI statement on X, stating that the given section does not hold any data pertaining to surgical strikes carried out before September 29, 2016. RTI Reply | April 9, 2018 'This section (Integrated HQ of MoD ARMY DGMO) does NOT hold any data pertaining to SURGICAL STRIKES carried out BEFORE 29 Sept 2016.' Let that sink in. No records. No data. No proof of any 'surgical strikes' before 2016. — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 29, 2025 Meanwhile, Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation in a global outreach programme, in Panama said, "When, for the first time, India breached the Line of Control between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launch pad - the Uri strike in September 2015. That was already something we had not done before. Even during the Kargil War, we had not crossed the Line of Control."
Deccan Herald
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Congress hails Indira Gandhi's decisive leadership on 51st N-test anniversary
51 years ago, India conducted its first Nuclear Test, code named 'Smiling Buddha' and became the 6th nation in the world to carry out such tests. Our scientists and researchers achieved this extraordinary feat through their ingenuity and dedication. We are deeply grateful to… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 18, 2025 18 मई 1974—भारत का गौरवशाली दिन, जब इंदिरा गांधी जी के नेतृत्व में 'स्माइलिंग बुद्धा' के माध्यम से देश ने पहला परमाणु परीक्षण सफलतापूर्वक पूरा किया। यह परीक्षण देश की वैज्ञानिक क्षमता और मजबूत राजनीतिक नेतृत्व का प्रतीक बन गया। — Congress (@INCIndia) May 18, 2025
India Today
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
When Buddha finally smiled: 51 years since India's first nuclear test
Fifty-one years ago, on May 18, 1974, the arid sands of Rajasthan's Pokhran witnessed a silent roar that echoed across the world. With the successful detonation of its first nuclear device, India stunned the world and reshaped the global nuclear order. That single explosion made India the first country outside the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to demonstrate nuclear 'Smiling Buddha', the operation established India's technological prowess, strategic autonomy, and national resolve on the world stage. The operation, known as Pokhran-I nuclear test today, was conducted in extreme secrecy under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. 'Dr Ramanna, please go ahead. It will be good for the nation," Indira Gandhi said on May 17, 1974. This was two years after she greenlighted the project during a visit to BARC on September 7, 1972. Indira Gandhi at nuclear test site (Photo: X/INCIndia) A team of 75 scientists and engineers, led by Raja Ramanna, PK Iyengar, Rajagopala Chidambaram and others had worked on it from 1967 to Ministry of External Affairs described the test as a 'peaceful nuclear explosion", as several countries raised concerns about the proliferation of nuclear weapons. In response to India's nuclear test, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was formed. This group of 48 nuclear supplier countries collaborated to regulate the export of nuclear-related equipment and technology apart from the material provided to non-nuclear WAS IT CALLED SMILING BUDDHA?The operation's codename, Smiling Buddha, was inspired by Gautama Buddha. Coincidentally, the test took place on Buddha Jayanti, the day celebrating the Buddha's Ramanna, who was then the director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, sent a secret message after the testing to the Prime Minister saying, 'The Buddha has finally smiled."WHAT WAS THE DEVICE?The nuclear device tested in 1974 used an implosion-type design, similar to the "Fat Man" bomb dropped on Nagasaki. It worked by using high explosives to compress a plutonium core until it triggered a nuclear explosion. About 6 kg of plutonium from the CIRUS reactor was used, and a polonium–beryllium initiator, codenamed Flower, helped start the chain reaction. The implosion system was developed in Chandigarh, and the detonation system in engineers at BARC fully assembled the bomb, which was hexagonal, about 1.25 meters wide, and weighed around 1,400 kg. It was mounted on a metal tripod and transported to the test shaft using a rail system, which the army kept camouflaged with sand to maintain PUSHED THE BUTTON?advertisementThe device was detonated on 18 May 1974 at 8.05 IST and scientist Pranab Rebatiranjan Dastidar was the one who pushed the firing Raja Ramanna, a key figure behind the nuclear test, in his autobiography, 'Years Of Pilgrimage' recalled that on the day of the detonation, there was some argument about who would press the button. 'I put an end to it by suggesting that the person who had been responsible for fabricating the trigger should, in a manner of speaking, pull it. Dastidar was chosen to press the button'' Ramanna a Padma Shri awardee, was the Group Director at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and later served as Director at the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He also contributed to the development of the reactor for India's first indigenous nuclear submarine, INS passed away on February 11, 2022, in EXPLOSION OR BOMB?While the Ministry of External Affairs officially termed the test a 'peaceful nuclear explosion,' the reality was more complex. In a 1997 interview with the Press Trust of India, Raja Ramanna clarified:advertisement'The Pokhran test was a bomb, I can tell you now An explosion is an explosion, a gun is a gun, whether you shoot at someone or shoot at the ground I just want to make clear that the test was not all that peaceful.'POKHRAN-IIFollowing the 1974 test, India refrained from further nuclear testing for over two decades. Then, in May 1998, India conducted a second series of tests under Operation Shakti—also known as Pokhran-II—using advanced indigenous technology developed over the previous 24 years. The site where Shakti-3 nuclear device was detonated underground on 11 May 1998. (Photo: AFP) India conducted a series of five nuclear tests over the span of two days in 1998. On May 11, the country detonated a thermonuclear device (hydrogen bomb), a fission bomb, and a sub-kiloton device. Two additional sub-kiloton tests followed on May 13. These successful tests positioned India as the sixth nation to openly demonstrate nuclear weapons capability, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China. Then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Defence Minister George Fernandes, India's 'missile man' APJ Abdul Kalam and Atomic Energy chief R Chidambaram display the victory symbol during a visit to the Shakti 1 test site, where India tested nuclear device in Pokhran. (Photo: AP) advertisementHOW THE WORLD REACTEDJAPAN'It is extremely regrettable that India conducted such testing, resisting the global trend to ban nuclear testing, while the international community including Japan had repeatedly requested the new Government of India to exercise maximum self-restraint on nuclear policies. Japan strongly urges the Government of India to stop its development of nuclear weapons immediately.'AUSTRALIAThe Australian Government conveyed 'condemnation of the tests in the strongest possible terms' and announced a series of measures against the Disarmament Conference held by the United Nations on May 15, 1998, the Australian representative, John Campbell, had stated, 'Australia could only conclude that this was the act of a Government that had the utmost disregard for accepted international norms of behaviour. India's actions were a slap in the face to the overwhelming majority of the international community determined to work towards the goal of a nuclear weapon-free world.' advertisementKOREAThe Republic of Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, 'country was concerned over the nuclear tests conducted by India on May 11 and 13, 1998. Korea's Foreign Ministry had stated that the tests were all the more regrettable for coming at a time when international efforts to achieve a nuclear-weapons-free world had advanced with the adoption of the CTBT.' MALAYSIA'The action by India was a serious setback to efforts to keep the region free of nuclear weapons. It also undermined the efforts of the international community towards attaining a complete ban on nuclear testing. Malaysia was particularly disappointed that India had taken such a step in the light of the overwhelming adoption of the CTBT.'NEW ZEALAND'New Zealand joined the many calls of other concerned countries urging India to make the commitment not to conduct any further tests. It also called on India to join the NPT and sign the CTBT as a matter of urgency.'
News18
13-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Sister Of Terrorists': MP Minister Sparks Row Over Controversial Remarks On Col Sofiya Qureshi
Last Updated: BJP's Kunwar Vijay Shah attracted the ire of Congress leaders by calling Colonel Sofiya Qureshi a "sister of terrorists". He later apologised and said his remarks were distorted. Madhya Pradesh Tribal Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah sparked a political row after making objectionable comments on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who became one of the most prominent faces of media briefings when India launched Operation Sindoor against terror hideouts in Pakistan, by calling her a 'sister of Pakistani terrorists". Viral videos shared by Congress showed Shah saying, 'Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the… humne unhiki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi (Those who wiped the vermilion off our daughters' forehead… we sent their sister to teach them a lesson)." 'They undressed Hindus and killed them, and Modi ji sent their sister to return the favour. Since Modi ji could not remove their clothes, he sent a sister of their community to send the message that if you make the sisters of our community widows, a sister of your community will strip you naked," he went on to say. 'हमारी सेना की जांबाज बेटियां आतंकवादियों की बहन हैं'– ये घटिया बात मध्य प्रदेश में BJP सरकार के मंत्री विजय शाह ने कही है। भारत की जिन बेटियों पर सबको नाज है, उन बेटियों को लेकर ये शर्मनाक बयान दिया गया है। उन्हें आतंकवादियों की बहन बताया गया है। ये हमारी पराक्रमी सेना का… — Congress (@INCIndia) May 13, 2025 Shah was speaking at an event at Mhow, where several prominent BJP leaders were on stage, including Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, as per reports. The BJP leader's remarks were severely criticised by the Congress, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who deemed it as an insult to the Indian Armed Forces and demanded the saffron party to sack Shah with immediate effect. 'A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made extremely insulting, shameful and vulgar remarks about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united throughout 'Operation Sindoor' in giving a befitting reply to the terrorists," said Kharge on X. भाजपा की मध्य प्रदेश सरकार के एक मंत्री ने हमारी वीर बेटी कर्नल सोफिया क़ुरैशी के बारे में बेहद अपमानजनक, शर्मनाक और ओछी टिप्पणी की है।पहलगाम के आतंकी देश को बाँटना चाहते थे, पर आतंकवादियों को मुंहतोड़ जवाब देने में पूरे 'ऑपरेशन सिंदूर' के दौरान देश एकजुट था। BJP-RSS की… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 13, 2025 The Congress President also lashed out at the BJP over relentless trolling of the wife of a navy officer who was killed during the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, as well as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter. 'No Religion For Army Officers' Umang Singhar, the Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh, said Army officers had no religion and were not identified as Hindu or Muslim. 'Minister Vijay Shah's statement on the top army officer is not only shameful but it is an insult to both the army and women. Be it an army officer or a soldier, he has no religion, he is not counted as Hindu or Muslim. They have only one religion – country," he said. मंत्री विजय शाह का सेना के आला अधिकारी पर दिया गया बयान न केवल शर्मनाक है, बल्कि यह सेना और महिलाओं दोनों का अपमान है।सेना का कोई अधिकारी हो या सैनिक, उसका कोई धर्म नहीं होता, उन्हे हिंदू या मुसलमान के रूप में नहीं गिना जाता।उनका केवल एक ही धर्म होता है — 'देश" मजहब की बात… — Umang Singhar (@UmangSinghar) May 13, 2025 Congress leader Pawan Khera said, 'Completely unpardonable. These pseudo-nationalists have no respect for our brave armed forces. Will @PMOIndia & @JPNadda take action against this BJP minister?" Completely pseudo nationalists have no respect for our brave armed @PMOIndia & @JPNadda take action against this bjp minister? — Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) May 13, 2025 Congress leader and former MP Danish Ali also shared a video of the BJP leader's purported remarks. 'This statement is a reflection of anti-national mentality. People of the BJP find religion even in army uniforms. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is the daughter of India, the pride of the army. The minister who is calling her 'sister of terrorists' is insulting the entire Indian Army. This is poisonous fanaticism," he said. BJP Leader Clarifies Remarks After massive backlash online, Vijay Shah clarified his remarks. 'We respect the actions taken by the Indian forces that avenged the Pahalgam terror attack in which the vermilion was wiped off the forehead of our sisters. I don't want to say anything to those who are twisting my remarks," he told news agency PTI. 'She (Qureshi) is a sister who has enhanced our prestige, it should not be seen in any other context. We respect her and will continue to do so," he added. top videos View all Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force were the two prominent faces of media briefings, sitting beside Foreign Secretary Misri to share details about India's Operation Sindoor. She is a distinguished officer in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals, a branch responsible for managing critical military communication systems. In 2016, Colonel Qureshi made history by becoming the first Indian woman to command an Army contingent in a major international military exercise. She led a 40-member Indian team at Exercise Force 18, a multinational exercise held in Pune that focused on peacekeeping and humanitarian mine-clearing operations. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : controversy madhya pradesh Operation Sindoor Location : Bhopal, India, India First Published: May 13, 2025, 20:32 IST News india 'Sister Of Terrorists': MP Minister Sparks Row Over Controversial Remarks On Col Sofiya Qureshi
Scroll.in
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Congress questions PM Modi's silence on Trump's claims of threatening to stop trade
The Congress on Monday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not addressing United States President Donald Trump's claims about threatening to stop trade as a way of pressuring India and Pakistan into accepting a ceasefire. 'The PM's much-delayed address to the nation was completely upstaged by President Trump's revelations a few minutes earlier,' Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. 'The PM was completely silent on them.' Ramesh questioned whether India had agreed to US mediation or to holding talks with Pakistan at a 'neutral' venue. He also asked if India was now prepared to concede to US demands for greater access to Indian markets in sectors such as automobiles and agriculture. The PM's much-delayed address to the nation was completely upstaged by President Trump's revelations a few minutes earlier. The PM was completely silent on them. Has India agreed to US mediation? Has India agreed to a 'neutral site' for a dialogue with Pakistan? Will India now… — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 12, 2025 Earlier on Monday, Trump reiterated his claim that it was his administration that brokered a 'full and immediate ceasefire' between India and Pakistan. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said he heard Modi's statement as well as the US president's, which he described as 'deeply disturbing'. 'The US president says he used trade as a threat to ensure that Operation Sindoor is stopped,' Khera said in a statement. 'We expected the PM to respond to this. Unfortunately, he did not.' The reaction of Indian National Congress to the Prime Minister's statement. — Congress (@INCIndia) May 12, 2025 Congress MP Shashi Tharoor did not question Modi directly, but instead called Trump's post 'disappointing for India'. He said the US president's stance implies 'a false equivalence between the victim and the perpetrator, and seemingly overlooks the US' own past unwavering stance against Pakistan's well-documented links to cross-border terrorism'. He argued that offering Pakistan a negotiation platform was undeserved and that India would not engage in talks under threat. He also said the move 'internationalises' the Kashmir dispute which New Delhi considers an internal matter. Mr Trump's post is disappointing for India in four important ways: First, it implies a false equivalence between the victim and the perpetrator, and seemingly overlooks the US' own past unwavering stance against Pakistan's well-documented links to cross-border terrorism. Second,… — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 12, 2025 On Saturday, India and Pakistan agreed to stop all firing after four days of military tensions. India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said at the time that the Pakistani director general of military operations had called his Indian counterpart on Saturday afternoon to propose an end to the skirmishes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated this position in his address to the nation on Monday. Modi added that 'nuclear blackmail' by Pakistan will not be tolerated and that Operation Sindoor was now India's policy against cross-border terrorism. Modi reiterated India's position that 'terror and talks' cannot take place simultaneously. 'Terror and trade cannot happen simultaneously, and water and blood cannot flow simultaneously,' he added, referring to New Delhi suspending the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23. The announcement by the Indian foreign secretary on Saturday came minutes after Trump claimed on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to the ceasefire. He had claimed that the ceasefire talks were mediated by Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had claimed on social media that New Delhi and Islamabad had agreed to ' start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site'.
