English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Won’t commit sin by declaring missing Indians in Iraq dead without evidence: Sushma Swaraj

Published

on

Won’t commit sin by declaring missing Indians in Iraq dead without evidence: Sushma Swaraj

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Minister for External Affairs has been under attack for misleading the Parliament on status of 39 Indians who have been missing from Mosul in Iraq since 2014

Under attack from the Opposition for allegedly misleading Parliament and the nation on the status of the 39 Indians who have been missing from Mosul in Iraq since 2014, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, on Wednesday, declared that she had done no such thing and that declaring a person dead without any proof was a sin that she will not commit.

Making a suo motu statement in Lok Sabha amid protests by Opposition members, especially from the Congress, Swaraj said: “Whatever I have done is with the permission of the House. I repeatedly told the House that I don’t have solid proof of either – their being killed or being alive.”

Asserting that she “will not give up” on getting concrete evidence of the whereabouts of the 39 Indians who have been missing since they got caught in the crossfire in Mosul in June 2014 when the ISIS militants raided Iraq’s second largest city, Swaraj said: “This file will not close till there is proof that the 39 Indians are dead.”

In a moving speech aimed at dismissing the Opposition’s allegation that she had misled Parliament in November 2014 on the status of the missing Indians, Swaraj said: “I have never misled. I want to ask the Opposition – what benefit will I get by misleading? What benefit will my government get by misleading the people on the issue? (sic).”

While members of the Congress, led by Mallikarjun Kharge who claimed that the Lok Sabha Speaker had disallowed any questions to be raised on Swaraj’s statement, lashed out at the minister, she said: “one person, Harjit Masih, who was also abducted along with the 39 Indians but had managed to flee from captivity, had said the Indians were killed but six sources had told the government that they are alive. There were contradictions in Masih’s version. That is why I told our embassy to find out more details.”

Claiming that after she heard Masih’s story she “told the embassy to search the whole of Mosul, and around…you will find the 39 bodies somewhere, or blood stains would be there”. Giving details of what followed, Swaraj added: “I told the embassy that the Islamic State has a habit of issuing lists if they kill many people of a country…We did not find any bodies, list, video or any photo.”

Swaraj explained that according to the information that has been received about the missing Indians so far, the group was caught at the Mosul airfield, and taken to a jail, after which they were put to construction work, and then farming, before being taken to Badush jail in 2016… “But after that there has been no contact.” 

It was after recent media reports claimed that the Badush jail had been demolished in an ISIS attack that the Opposition’s tirade against Swaraj and allegations of her misleading the Parliament began.

On Wednesday, however, Swaraj made a spirited rebuttal of the charges. “Iraq has never said that the 39 Indians missing are dead”, Swaraj said, adding: “It’s very easy for me to say that the 39 Indians are dead. 

No one including their families will ask me anything after that…but declaring anyone dead without proof is a sin and I won’t commit a sin.”

“We can’t even take them from the category of ‘missing’ to ‘believed to be dead’. I will not take this crime on my head,” the external affairs minister said, adding: “People who are convinced that they are dead and I am lying are free to tell their families that those Indians are dead. But if anyone turns up alive, then it is their responsibility.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Wrestler Bajrang Punia suspended by National Anti Doping Body after failing to give urine sample

Bajrang Punia, who won the country a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, is likely to be barred from participation in the selection trials that are scheduled for later this month. No Indian has yet won an Olympic quota in the 65kg category.

Published

on

Wrestler Bajrang Punia was suspended indefinitely by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), which could have an impact on his eligibility to compete in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Sources claim that on March 10, Punia neglected to submit a urine sample for the Sonepat selection trials, which is why NADA issued the order barring him from taking part in any events going forward.

With subject to paragraph 4:1:2 below and in accordance with article 7.4 of the NADR 2021, Bajrang Punia has been immediately provisionally suspended from participation in any competition or activity prior to the final decision reached at a hearing in this matter, according to an official release from NADA dated April 23.

Punia was in the forefront of accusations of sexual harassment made against former BJP MP and president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, along with a number of other elite wrestlers, such as Olympians Sakshi Malik and Vinesh.

The star wrestler, who earned the country’s bronze medal in the Olympics in Tokyo, will probably not be allowed to take part in the selection trials later this month due to his suspension in light of the allegations. In the 65kg division, no Indian has yet to win an Olympic quota.

India’s Sujeet Kalkal will compete in the World Qualifiers, which begin on May 9 in Istanbul.

The notice of suspension was sent not to the federation recognized by United World Wrestling (UWW), but to the now-defunct ad hoc committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Punia rejected the directive of the drug control officer, alleging that NADA officials had not yet addressed his concerns. A few months before, Punia had uploaded a video purporting to have expired dope-collecting equipment.

The dope-collecting officer’s report states that he was told that his refusal would result in a warning for violating anti-doping regulations, but he still left.

Punia was asked to provide a written explanation by May 7th for his denial of providing a urine sample and supporting evidence.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Kareena Kapoor appointed UNICEF India national ambassador, says it’s an emotional day for her

Kareena Kapoor expressed her happiness after she was appointed UNICEF India National Ambassador.

Published

on

Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor, has been named the National Ambassador of Unicef India. In 2014, she became the organization’s first Celebrity Advocate. Kareena was driven to tears during her address onstage at her recent appointment ceremony. Adding yet another significant success to Kapoor’s already impressive resume is this new responsibility.

Kareena showed her appreciation and joy at being named the National Ambassador for Unicef India in an Instagram post on May 4. She underlined how committed she is to protecting children’s rights and making sure every child has an equitable future. Kareena thought back on her ten years of working with Unicef India, calling it enlightening and brightening.

Taking to Instagram, Kareena wrote, it is an emotional day for her. Being named the National Ambassador for UNICEF India is an honour for her, she added. The actor mentioned in her note that over the past ten years, working with UNICEF India has been incredibly instructive and enriching. She said she is happy of the work they’ve accomplished and she is reaffirming my commitment to speak out in favor of children’s rights and an equal future for all of them, she added.

The Crew  actor emphasized the value of defending children’s rights upon her appointment, pointing out that they are the next generation. She committed to utilizing her position to speak up for children who are at risk, concentrating on matters such as gender equality, education, and early childhood development. Kareena restated her conviction that every child is entitled to an equal opportunity and a promising future.

Regarding work front, Kareena is now enjoying the success of Crew, in which she starred alongside Tabu and Kriti Sanon.

Under the direction of Rajesh A. Krishnan, Crew centers on the journeys of three employed women against the backdrop of the aviation sector. In addition, Diljit Dosanjh, Kapil Sharma, Rajesh Sharma, Saswata Chatterjee, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda feature in the film.

She will be next seen in Hansal Mehta’s The Buckingham Murders in the upcoming months. She will be also seen in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again.

Continue Reading

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Lok Sabha election 2024: PM Modi to hold roadshow in Ayodhya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer prayers and hold a roadshow in Ayodhya.

Published

on

The 2024 Lok Sabha Elections are now in progress across the country, with the first two stages having concluded on April 19 and 26. An important step in the electoral process is coming up on May 7, which is the date of the third phase. As the peak of campaigning approaches, political parties are stepping up their efforts to win over voters. Today, as part of election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is will travel to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, where he will lead a roadshow and offer prayers at the Ram Temple.

On May 7, elections will be held for 94 Lok Sabha seats spread across 12 states and Union Territories.

The INDIA bloc and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA are the two main political groups that will compete in the 2024 Lok Sabha Election. The NDA has the BJP, the PMK, the JDU, and other political parties as members, whereas the INDIA bloc is made up of political parties like the Congress, the AAP, the TMC, etc.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has been the subject of a complaint about his nomination from the Raebareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Regarding Rahul Gandhi’s nationality, his recent defamation conviction, and how the Election Commission may accept his nomination, the complaint raises some red flags.

However, in a meeting with young people impacted by the Agnipath Scheme on Saturday in the national capital, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the National Security Advisor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office, rather than the Indian Army, created the program.

Gandhi assured the youth that this program would end and the army’s previous recruitment procedure would be reinstated should the INDIA alliance win the elections.

With echoes of abki baar 400 paar, the NDA is aiming for its third consecutive term in this general election. In contrast, the opposition INDIA alliance is running an economical campaign, pledging cash handouts to women and MSP for farmers in its manifesto.

On June 4, the results of the Lok Sabha election will be announced after the votes have been counted.

Continue Reading

Trending

-->

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com