Latest news with #Uri
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Kharge asks Shah to quit: Clear that intel failure led to terror attack in Pahalgam
Targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday demanded accountability be fixed for the 'intelligence failure' and 'security lapses' that led to the Pahalgam terror attack. He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'silence' on US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during the military conflict following the Pahalgam attack. Speaking immediately after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh opened the House discussion on Operation Sindoor, Kharge raised questions over the Home Minister's statement in April about the terror infrastructure being crippled in J&K. Kharge asked why did the PM cancel his scheduled trip to J&K three days before the April 22 Pahalgam attack and if the government had intelligence inputs about a terror strike. Pointing to past terror attacks such as Uri (2016), Pathankot (2016) and Pulawama (2019), Kharge said: 'In all these attacks, one thing is clear, there is failure in intelligence and you will have to accept this. I want to ask the Home Minister, who is responsible for this… if you are then you should vacate your seat. If not, then what action is the Prime Minister taking?' he said. Quoting J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha's comments during an interview that the Pahalgam attack was undoubtedly due to a security failure, Kharge said, 'If the LG has accepted this as a security failure, when will accountability get fixed, did he say this to save the Home Minister? Only you can tell us.' He also asked the Government if there was third-party mediation involved in the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and whether trade was a factor. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he used trade as leverage to end the military conflict. 'I am seeking answers from the PM. Why has he not condemned it (Trump's claims)? Did the US interfere in this, and on whose bidding? What were the conditions? Did the US President mediate the ceasefire, and were there threats on trade to announce the ceasefire? We never entertain third party mediation, this is our policy,' Kharge said. An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Manasi Parekh: After the National Award, people have suddenly started taking me seriously
Manasi Parekh Manasi Parekh has always chosen the road less travelled. While many in her place might have waited for mainstream validation, she focused on carving her own path, particularly within the Gujarati industry. After producing and starring in Kutch Express, directed by Viral Shah, which earned her the Best Actress National Award last year, things began to shift for her professionally. She will soon be seen in Maharani, backed by Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak, marking her second collaboration with Viral. The film explores the dynamic between a house help and her employer. Manasi with Shraddha Dangar in a still from Maharani Reflecting on her journey, in a chat with Mumbai Mirror, she shares, 'After Uri , I honestly didn't get as many interesting roles in Hindi as I had hoped. But I'm very enterprising, so instead of complaining, I decided to create opportunities for myself. When you're following your inner voice and not walking a path already taken, people tend to misjudge you. Bahot logon ko lagta hai, Gujarati mein kya kar legi?' That realisation prompted her to return to her roots. She says, 'I'm Gujarati, and I love my language. I thought, why not start something here? I began taking small steps. Kutch Express was our second production, and it went on to win three National Awards. That's when people started taking me seriously. They realised I wasn't just talking; I was letting my work speak.' The recognition, she says, has brought both respect and renewed faith in her artistic choices. She says, 'I worked hard for this. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your New Zealand escape starts with Singapore Airlines Fly with Singapore Airlines Book Now Undo I made sure to back scripts that gave women a voice. As a producer, I was clear about that. And as an actor, I've always tried to create space for myself without imitating anyone else. That's what led to the National Award. Post that, there's a greater sense of respect and trust in my work. People have begun to see that I'm here for the long haul. ' Now that expectations have grown, does it feel like an added responsibility? She replies, 'Absolutely, but it's not a burden. I don't let it become this image I have to maintain. I don't suddenly start taking myself too seriously just because I've won a National Award. That mindset can be a trap. I've seen so many people get caught up in the image game, thinking this is my brand, this is how I should project myself. But that's not sustainable. Aaj hai, kal nahi hoga. Over my 20-year journey, I've seen people come and go. Some achieve great things and then disappear. So, the only thing you can do is stay humble, work hard, show up on time, and be professional. If you stick to these fundamental values, everything else will follow.'
Economist
a day ago
- Climate
- Economist
America is remaking its disaster-relief system
Five years ago the people of Calcasieu Parish had their annus horribilis. Within ten miserable months this corner of south-west Louisiana earned the unenviable distinction of four presidential disaster declarations. In August 2020 came Hurricane Laura, a storm so vicious that it peeled roofs from homes as if they were lids on tin cans. Buildings swayed like cruise ships and devices to measure windspeed broke. Next came Hurricane Delta, then Uri, a winter storm, then a bad bout of flooding. After Joe Biden stepped in, government men in polo shirts and khaki trousers arrived with chequebooks. An area built by oil, gas and petrochemicals was rebuilt partly by Uncle Sam.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Before whom did India surrender?': Gaurav Gogoi leads Opposition charge
THE security lapses that led to the Pahalgam attack, the failure to apprehend all the attackers, the claims by US President Donald Trump of having brokered peace between India and Pakistan, and the supposed losses of aircraft suffered by the armed forces – the Opposition raised all these issues during the debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha Monday, Starting the debate on the Opposition's behalf, Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the Centre had withheld critical details, and asked how the terrorists had managed to carry out the killings on April 22. 'This is a war of information,' Gogoi said. '(Defence Minister) Rajnath Singh gave a lot of details, but couldn't say how five terrorists reached Pahalgam. Twenty-six innocent people were killed and we still don't know who helped the terrorists or how they fled… You have Pegasus, satellites, CRPF, BSF, CISF, and yet no answers after 100 days?' Union Home Minister Amit Shah should take 'moral responsibility' for the killings, Gogoi said. 'You can't hide behind the L-G (J&K Lieutenant Governor). And this government, rather than accepting lapses, blamed tour operators!' He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Pahalgam after cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia and flying back, contrasting it with Rahul Gandhi. 'Our leader went there. He is demanding martyr status for those killed,' the Congress MP said. Questioning the government's claim of having 'dismantled the terror infrastructure' inside Pakistan, Gogoi said it did so after every terror attack, be it the 2016 Uri killings or the 2019 Pulwama attack, or now. 'If Operation Sindoor is not complete (as the government has said), how can you call it a success?' The Congress leader said the government decision's to announce a ceasefire on May 10 had squandered an opportunity India had for territorial gains. 'You say war, territorial gain were not your intention. Why not? When will we take POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir)?… Why did you stop if Pakistan was ready to get on its knees? Before whom did you surrender?' Quoting Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul R Singh's remarks, Gogoi said China had supported Pakistan during the conflict. 'Why didn't Rajnath Singh even mention China?' He also claimed that the government cut back on the decision to strike 21 targets, and alleged political constraints. 'Why were only nine targets chosen out of 21?' If India had lost Rafale aircraft, Gogoi said, 'it's a serious issue'. 'Trump has claimed that five or six jets fell. How many did we lose?' Samajwadi Party Ramashankar Rajbhar accused the government of failure in border management, saying: 'Aakash bandho, paatal bandhi, lekin apni taati to baandho (Control the skies and the ground, but first secure your belongings). If the boundary was sealed, terrorists wouldn't have entered.' Rajbhar said the government failed to give an adequate response. 'The country wanted Operation Tandoor (the destruction of terror bases) within three days (of the attack), not Operation Sindoor after 17 days.' Raising Trump's claims, he said: 'We felt proud that our PM is Vishwaguru. But we found that Vishwaguru is sitting in America.' Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee said: 'No one can take credit for Operation Sindoor except our soldiers. It is surprising how four terrorists came and killed 26 people. What were the BSF and CISF doing? What was the Home Minister doing?' Questioning Modi's 'silence' on Trump's claims, Banerjee said: 'Why are you so afraid of the American President?' He also sought to know from the government 'when it was going to take POK'. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant sought a probe into the security lapse leading to the Pahalgam terror attack, and referred to then J&K Governor Satypal Malik's claim that his request that flights be provided for movement of soldiers had been ignored, resulting in the death of 40 CRPF personnel in an attack on a convoy in Pulwama in 2019. Sawant also questioned why the PM was yet to visit Pahalgam since the incident, comparing it to his 'absence' from Manipur since the crisis began there in 2023. Sawant asked why 'no country was standing with India' despite Pakistan's role in Pahalgam being clear. 'We kept telling the IMF not to give money to Pakistan as it would use it for terror. Yet it got the funds?' the Sena (UBT) MP said, adding that any cricket matches with Pakistan should be cancelled. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda focused on the timing and rationale of the ceasefire. 'If Pakistan was on its knees, why stop? Who brokered the ceasefire and on what terms?' he asked. He also questioned the government's strategy in declaring that only terror camps were hit and not military targets. 'That was a strategic mistake. You ended up giving the Pakistan Army a clean chit,' Hooda said, going on to ask why the government felt the need to send all-party delegations across countries in a bid for support in the wake of the attack, if our foreign policy was as robust as claimed. Congress MP Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde sought to draw a link between terror attacks and polls. Referring to Rome's Colosseum which, she said, was built to keep the public involved in sports and entertainment, and divert their attention from core issues, Shinde alleged the government appeared to be doing the same. 'Just before an important election, a terrorist attack takes place, followed by a retaliatory action by the government. The government has no idea where the terrorists came from or where they went. But we want to attack a neighbouring country and use that as a basis to gather votes,' she said. In her speech, the NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule said, 'Justice will not be done till you don't nab the terrorists. We cannot celebrate.' She also said that Amit Shah is seen as an 'assertive' Home Minister and hence people have expectations with him. Sule suggested that just as the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had set up a committee after Kargil War, the Modi government should seek a report on Operation Sindoor and table it on the floor of Parliament. RJD MP Abhay Kumar Sinha raised questions over local law enforcement. 'Did the government probe why police security was not available when the incident happened at Pahalgam, and who was responsible for that?' he said.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vicky Kaushal's father Sham reveals 'Chhaava' star was born in a small chawl. 'We use to roam on a second-hand motorcycle'
While Vicky Kaushal is at an all-time career high, fresh from the stratospheric success of the historical drama ' Chhaava ,' his father, Sham Kaushal , reminisced that, unlike most industry folks, their life was not always a bed of roses. The veteran stuntman and action director opened up about his struggling days. In an old interview with Bollywood Now, Kaushal Sr. revealed that both Vicky and his brother Sunny were born in a small chawl in Mumbai. The Kaushal family used to stay in a minuscule 10X10 space and passed their nights on a thin mattress. Eventually, the family moved to a bigger chawl and then finally to a flat. Kaushal Sr. explained that since his sons have grown up seeing him struggle and build his career from scratch, they are very familiar with the difficulties of life. 'They've seen me when I owned a second-hand motorcycle, and then I bought a second-hand Fiat car. I would come home in the evening and cry in front of them if someone had insulted me at work,' he told me. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Management PGDM Public Policy Finance Cybersecurity Digital Marketing healthcare Degree Data Science Healthcare Design Thinking Operations Management Leadership Others Technology Data Science Artificial Intelligence MBA Data Analytics MCA CXO Product Management others Project Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta CERT-IIMC APSPM India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK GMPBE India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK General Management Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details He added, "They saw me gradually buying a black and white TV and then a colour TV.." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Victoria Principal Is Almost 75, See Her Now Reportingly Undo In a separate interview with Raj Shamani, the 'Uri' star explained that unlike many industry kids, he is not unfamiliar with the concept of struggling and making it through perseverance. He recalled how he had seen his parents make do in a small, humble chawl and then gradually move up to more luxurious spaces. 'I was born and brought up in a chawl in Malad. I have lived in a 10×10 room, and I have seen how my parents got furniture one by one and how we have transitioned from small spaces to big spaces,' he said. Vicky's most recent film, 'Chhaava,' was a blockbuster and earned more than Rs 800 crores worldwide. His performance as Sambhaji Maharaj , the second ruler of the Maratha Empire, was critically acclaimed as well. Vicky will next be seen in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial 'Love & War' along with Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. The movie is said to be an unofficial remake of Raj Kapoor's romantic drama 'Sangam.'
