Latest news with #JairamRamesh
India Gazette
4 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Our Prime Minister is silent": Jairam Ramesh attacks Govt over silence on Donald Trump's remarks
New Delhi [India], June 1 (ANI): Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Sunday again attacked the government's response to Donald Trump's statements on India-Pakistan issues and reiterated his question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the US President's claim of brokering a truce between the two neighbouring countries. 'I made a count, President Trump has repeated the same point he has been making for 21 days. He has claimed to have mediated and brokered the ceasefire, the new thing he has said is about nuclear escalation. He has reiterated his trade and tariffs threat as of State Marco Rubio, VP Vance, and even their Trade Secretary have said this.' Ramesh told ANI on Sunday. The General Secretary In-Charge Communications, AICC, called out the government and claimed that PM Modi is targeting the Congress party instead of Pakistan. He said, 'Our Prime Minister is silent. He has not responded to what President Trump has been saying. He is targeting the Congress party when he should be targeting Pakistan. He should be making sure that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack are caught and killed...' Ramesh emphasised that the Congress party has extended its full support to the government during this crisis, beginning April 22. 'The Congress has demanded, advocated, and championed unity and solidarity at this moment of great crisis, beginning April 22, and we have extended our full support to the government.', Ramesh stated. Drawing parallels between the present and past governments, Jairam Ramesh highlighted the 'democratic tradition' prevalent during Jawaharlal Nehru's regime. 'Vajpayee ji wanted PM Nehru ji to convene Parliament when the Chinese attack was going on in 1962, and the Parliament was convened. That was a democratic tradition that the LoP calls for a Parliament session and the PM responds and he listens.', Ramesh stated. The Congress MP reiterated the party's demand for an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and a special session of Parliament to discuss the crisis. Ramesh said recent revelations by CDS Gen Anil Chauhan in Singapore have made this demand even more relevant. ' All we asked was for the Prime Minister to chair an all-party meeting and call for a session of the Parliament. Revelations made by Gen Chauhan yesterday in Singapore make our demand even more relevant now... The outcome of the Parliament session should be a resolution, which reiterates the resolution of February 22, 1994, on PoK and brings in new elements...', he added. Earlier, speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the CDS admitted that the Armed Forces had suffered losses in the initial stages of the operation but then struck with impunity at Pakistan's bases.'So what I can say is, on May 7 and the initial stages, there were losses, but the numbers and that's not important. What was important is why did these losses occur, and what will we do after that? So we rectified the tactics and then went back on seventh, eighth and 10th, and 10th in large numbers, to hit their bases deep inside Pakistan, penetrated all their defences with impunity, with scattered opposition strikes,' Gen Chauhan was quoted as saying by Reuters. Earlier, on May 11, Director General Air Operations Air Marshal Bharti, when commenting on Aircraft losses, had said, 'I can't comment about loss of aircraft as we are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat.' Meanwhile, speaking to Reuters, General Chauhan dismissed Pakistan's claims that India ceased aerial operations after May 7, stating that India's response became more sustained and powerful. Indian fighter jets, drones, and missiles struck 11 Pakistani air bases on May 10, including one near the Pakistani capital Islamabad, the Nur Khan airbase, when the residents surrounding were able to witness a sort of 'new dawn' in the middle of the night, as PM Narendra Modi put forth during his speech following the cessation of hostilities at Adampur airbase. Satellite imagery, both from Indian sources and global platforms, later confirmed the precision of these strikes as well as how devastating they have been. After India carried out strikes on terror bases in Pakistan, the Pakistani side responded by attempting to target defence and civilian installations in India. India then carried out another series of precision attacks, which saw the destruction of several Pakistani air bases. An understanding on the cessation of hostilities was then reached between the two sides on May 10. (ANI)
News18
7 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Tharoor Reacts To Congress Colleague's Criticism Of Him: 'When We Get Back To India...'
Last Updated: Shashi Tharoor has been facing criticism from his party colleagues over his remarks abroad in support of the Centre. He has reacted to a query on swipes by Congress leaders. Days after party leader Jairam Ramesh's 'our MPs are roaming" remark, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday (local time) that he will speak with his colleagues once he returns to India and is currently focusing on conveying India's message regarding terrorism on global stages. Tharoor's remarks came in response to a media query regarding criticism of his remarks abroad by his own party members. The Congress MP is leading one of the seven all-party delegations to several nations, including the US, which is their next stop after their Brazil visit. The government has sent delegations to different parts of the world as part of its global outreach to expose Pakistan and India's stance on terrorism in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. When asked about the swipes by his party leaders upon his arrival in Brazil, Tharoor said, 'I think this is a time now for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments and criticisms, but I think at this point we can't afford to dwell on them. When we get back to India, no doubt we'll have our chance to speak to our colleagues, critics, media there. But right now we're focused on the countries we're coming to and getting the message out to the people here." #WATCH — ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2025 Last month, while criticising the government, Jairam Ramesh had said, 'Our MPs are roaming and terrorists (involved in the Pahalgam terror attack) are also roaming." While the Congress had earlier supported the government's action after the Pahalgam terror attack, it later shifted its tone — asking the government to explain why a ceasefire was agreed to and what role the US played in it. Tharoor's support for the government and the decision to make him head of an Indian delegation upset some Congress leaders. Senior party member Jairam Ramesh even said Tharoor's views did not reflect the Congress party's official position. Despite this, the government went ahead and picked him for the delegation, even though the Congress didn't include his name in its own list of suggestions. Tharoor's remarks in Panama created another discomfort among Congress, after which the party dubbed him 'superspokesperson of the BJP". 'What has changed in recent years is that the terrorists have also realised they will have a price to pay. On that, let there be no doubt. 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 launchpad – the Uri strike in September 2015. That was already something we had not done before," Tharoor had said in Panama. 'Even during the Kargil War, we had not crossed the Line of Control; in Uri, we did, and then came the attack in Pulwama in January 2019. This time, we crossed not only the Line of Control but also the international border, and we struck the terrorist headquarters in Balakot. This time, we have gone beyond both of those. We have not only gone beyond the Line of Control and the international border. We have struck at the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by hitting terror bases, training centres, terror headquarters in nine places," he had noted. First Published: June 01, 2025, 15:08 IST
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Congress raises questions on losses to Armed Forces in Op Sindoor, questions Govt
New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): The Congress party has raised questions about potential losses suffered by the Indian Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor. Citing an interview with a news agency, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Saturday questioned whether the centre would take steps to form a review committee in the light of information shared by General Anil Chahuan He recalled the efforts of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999, when it formed a Kargil review committee under Indian journalist and international strategic affairs analyst K. Subrahmanyam, just three days after the war ended. 'On July 29, 1999, the Vajpayee Govt set up the Kargil Review Committee under the chairmanship of India's strategic affairs guru K. Subrahmanyam - whose son is now our External Affairs Minister. This was just three days after the Kargil War had ended. This Committee submitted its detailed report five months later. The report titled 'From Surprise to Reckoning' was then laid on the Table of both Houses of Parliament on February 23, 2000, after the necessary redactions. Will the Modi government now take a similar step in light of what the Chief of Defence Staff has just revealed in Singapore?' Ramesh said. Meanwhile, speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the CDS admitted that the Armed Forces had suffered losses in the initial stages of the operation but then struck with impunity at Pakistan's bases. 'So what I can say is, on May 7 and the initial stages, there were losses, but the numbers and that's not important. What was important is why did these losses occur, and what will we do after that? So we rectified the tactics and then went back on seventh, eighth and 10th, and 10th in large numbers, to hit their bases deep inside Pakistan, penetrated all their defences with impunity, with scattered opposition strikes,' Gen Chauhan was quoted as saying by Reuters. After India carried out strikes on Terror bases in Pakistan, the Pakistani side responded by attempting to target Defence and civilian installations in India. India then carried out another series of precision attacks, which saw the destruction of several Pakistani air bases. An understanding on the cessation of hostilities was then reached between the two sides on May 10. (ANI)
United News of India
a day ago
- Politics
- United News of India
When will PM speak up on 'great friend' Trump's claim on ceasefire, asks Jairam
New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday again asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "speak up" on repeated claims by "great friend" US President Donald Trump about ceasefire between India and Pakistan. On his social media handle X, Ramesh said that Trump had made such a claim for the 11th time in 21 days. The senior Congress leader also raised question about the Prime Minister's 'silence' on the issue. 'This is 11th time in 21 days that PM Narendra Modi's great friend and American President Donald Trump has made claims about how the ceasefire with Pakistan took place. When will the PM speak up?' Jairam Ramesh asked. UNI RBE PRS
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Veteran tiger conservationist, author Valmik Thapar passes away in Delhi
Renowned tiger conservationist and author passed away in Delhi on Saturday morning. A central figure in India's wildlife conservation movement since the mid-1970s, Thapar was known for his decades-long work in protecting tigers and had served on more than 150 central and state government panels, Hindustan Times reported. According to the Sanctuary Nature Foundation, most of Thapar's fieldwork was centred in Rajasthan, though he also played a pivotal role in the revival of other key reserves, notably Maharashtra's Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. A vocal advocate of responsible tourism, Thapar challenged the belief that all forms of tourism harm wildlife. He supported innovative approaches that foster collaboration between communities, scientists, forest staff, bureaucrats and the media to create sustainable conservation models. Thapar authored 32 books over his lifetime, including four on African wildlife. His notable works include Living With Tigers and The Secret Life of Tigers. Thapar also inspired a whole generation of conservationists and students. Tributes pour in for veteran tiger conservationist Thapar Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh described Valmik Thapar as a towering figure in wildlife conservation, particularly tiger protection, over the past four decades. Calling his passing a significant loss on social media platform X, Ramesh said today's thriving Ranthambore is a reflection of Thapar's tireless dedication and deep commitment. Valmik Thapar, a legendary figure in the world of conservation over the past four decades - especially tigers - has just passed away. It is a great loss. Today's Ranthambore, particularly, is a testimony to his deep commitment and indefatigable zeal. He was uncommonly… — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 31, 2025 He added that Thapar had an exceptional grasp of biodiversity issues and was a regular voice in policy discussions. 'Not a single day went by during my ministerial tenure without us speaking and more often than not, I was at the receiving end,' Ramesh said. He also recalled their frequent exchanges when he chaired the parliamentary standing committee, noting that while they often debated, Thapar's insights were always rich with passion and concern. Taking to social media, Koustubh Sharma, conservation science director at the Snow Leopard Trust, said, 'Valmik, it's hard to believe you're gone.' He remembered first encountering Thapar in 1993 as a high school student, deeply moved by his compelling talk on tiger conservation. He further recalled, 'Years later, I was genuinely surprised to get a call from your deep voice, asking me to be in Delhi in March 2008 to receive the Carl Zeiss Award for Nature Conservation.' Sharma added, 'That you recommended me to a recent university graduate for my first conservation award said so much about your generosity and faith in others.' He said he treasured the long hours spent helping Thapar craft impactful presentations. 'Working with you over the years taught me a great deal about how to make a message resonate,' Sharma said, fondly recalling a lighter moment: 'One of my favourite memories is you calling in a panic, convinced you had 'bacteria or whatever it is' in your computer and asking me to fix it!' Rest in Peace, Valmik Thapar, the international voice of Indian tigers for many many years. As a tribute to him, do read the many books he penned on tigers: 'Tiger Fire', 'Living with Tigers' and others. — Neha Sinha (@nehaa_sinha) May 31, 2025 Conservation biologist Neha Sinha said, 'Valmik was a fearless champion for the tiger, raising awareness of India's tiger conservation challenges on a global stage. As a keen student of tiger behaviour, his numerous books offered valuable insights into their habits and nature. He skilfully blended academic research with passionate advocacy at a time when India's conservation movement was still in its infancy. He will be remembered as the voice for a creature that cannot speak for itself.'
