India News

Chidambaram slams Centre’s offer of elections first, statehood later in Jammu and Kashmir

Congress and other J&K parties want statehood first and elections afterwards, but the Centre’s response is elections first and statehood later, said senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P Chidambaram in a tweet on Friday.

Published

5 years ago

June 25, 2021

A day after the Prime Minister’s all-party meeting with 14 political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, former Home Minister P. Chidambaram has slammed the Narendra Modi government for insisting on elections in the Union Territory before restoring statehood.

Chidambaram said the Congress and J&K parties and leaders want statehood restored first and elections afterwards, but the Centre’s response is elections first and statehood later.

He said this was like putting the cart before the horse, when it should in fact pull the cart. The Congress leader said statehood can ensure smoother conduct of elections. Only elections under a State Election Commission will be free and fair and called the government’s insistence on holding elections first bizarre.

Congress and other J&K parties and leaders want Statehood first and Elections afterward.

Government’s response is Elections first and Statehood later.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 25, 2021

The horse pulls the cart. A state must conduct elections. Only such elections will be free and fair.

Why does the government want the cart in front and the horse behind? It is bizarre.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 25, 2021

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir of restoring statehood after the assembly elections which would be held once the delimitation exercise, the immediate reason to hold the meeting, is over. He said he was glad about their commitment to the Constitution and democracy and said he wants to remove ‘Dilli ki Duri as well as Dil Ki Duri’.

This was the first official interaction of the Union government with political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir since August 5, 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the border state into two union territories.

Among the leaders who attended the meeting were National Conference’s Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tara Chand and GA Mir, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, J-K Apni Party’s Altaf Bukhari, BJP’s Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh, and Kavinder Gupta, Peoples Conference’s Sajad Gani Lone and CPI(M)’s MY Tarigami; National Panthers Party’s Prof Bheem Singh.

Restoring statehood as promised in Parliament, the delimitation exercise and holding of peaceful elections in the Union Territory are important milestones, said Home Minister Amit Shah, who was present in the meeting, along with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and the Home Secretary.

Omar Abdullah on meeting

Addressing the media after the meeting, NC leader Omar Abdullah said it was the duty of the Centre to restore the broken trust of the people and take all measures required to restore statehood.

The former Chief Minister also said that they are going to use the constitutional right to challenge the decision of scrapping special status in the Supreme Court.

“It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court has not found the time to start hearings in these matters, but we are not going to stop. If we have to start a campaign, however long it is, we will do it peacefully, legally and constitutionally. We won’t put the people in harm’s way,” Abdullah said.

The National Conference leader and a former Chief Minister said decisions that weren’t in the interest of Kashmir should be taken back. It was given the status of a Union Territory, people don’t like it. They want full statehood for J&K and the J&K cadre restored, he said.

He said the delegation told the Prime Minister that they don’t stand with what was done on August 5, 2019. Though we don’t accept it, we are not going to take the law into our hands. We’ll fight this in court, Abdullah added.

Further, Abdullah said all leaders who participated in the meeting demanded full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Both Prime Minister and Home Minister said the work for elections and restoring statehood should start soon. However, Azad said that statehood should be restored first and only then should elections be held. On this Prime Minister didn’t say anything, he said.

The question over the PM’s talks with Pakistan was also discussed at the meeting. On this, Abdullah said it appears there are backchannel talks at some level if one goes by media reports. It is not the Government of India’s sole responsibility to create an atmosphere for talks, even Pakistan should ensure that it stops support to terrorism since talks cannot continue because of it.

But we cannot also forget what someone like (former Prime Minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said — that we can change our friends but not our neighbours. Pakistan will remain our neighbour and somehow, by using back channels, we need to dissipate this atmosphere of tension,” he added.

What did Mehbooba Mufti say

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said her party will relentlessly pursue the demand for the restoration of Article 370 and other special provisions enjoyed by the erstwhile state. She told the PM that the people of J&K do not accept how Article 370 was abrogated unconstitutionally, illegally and immorally.

The former Chief Minister said the people of Jammu and Kashmir are in a lot of difficulties after August 5, 2019. “They are angry, upset and emotionally shattered. They feel humiliated. I told the Prime Minister that people of Jammu and Kashmir do not accept the manner in which Article 370 was abrogated unconstitutionally, illegally and immorally,” she told reporters.

She said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will struggle constitutionally, democratically, and peacefully. Be it months or years, they will continue to agitate till Article 370 is restored in Jammu and Kashmir since it is a matter of the people’s identity. She said that identity was not given by Pakistan but it was conferred upon the people of Kashmir by their country, by Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel.

On the talks with Pakistan, the PDP president said that she congratulated PM Modi for the resumption of talks that has now led to a ceasefire and, as a result, the levels of infiltration have come down. They should continue talks with Pakistan if that will guarantee peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti said they should also talk to Pakistan about trade with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir which has been halted as it is a source of employment for many in Jammu and Kashmir, she added.

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Air India sacks Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after failing drug test

Air India has terminated the Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after a confirmatory test found a psychoactive substance following the August 4 incident.

Published

14 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The pilot was in command of flight AI2379, which was travelling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when the aircraft suddenly lost altitude over Odisha. The incident left 24 passengers injured.

Air India said the termination was in line with its zero-tolerance policy regarding safety violations and regulatory requirements.

Air India terminates pilot with immediate effect

In a statement, the Tata-owned airline said the pilot-in-command had tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The airline said that, considering its zero-tolerance approach to violations related to safety, fitness and regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment had been terminated with immediate effect.

Air India also said it continues to cooperate fully with the investigation into the incident and has provided access to relevant operational, maintenance and technical records.

What happened on the Phuket-Delhi flight?

According to the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Airbus A320 was carrying 145 people when it experienced the near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at around 36,000 feet.

The technical failure resulted in the autopilot disconnecting and triggered a brief stall warning. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude, resulting in injuries to 24 passengers.

The preliminary report also noted that the pilot tested non-negative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test.

However, the report did not establish that the pilot’s drug-test result caused or contributed to the hydraulic system failure or the subsequent loss of altitude.

AAIB recommends action over psychoactive substance finding

The AAIB described the confirmation of psychoactive substance use as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action against the pilot on priority.

The investigation into the technical and other aspects of the incident is still underway.

The preliminary report also noted that the co-pilot was flying the aircraft when the incident occurred and attempted to bring the situation under control.

Air India said safety remains its highest priority and that its pilots undergo training, proficiency checks, medical examinations and other regulatory assessments in accordance with applicable requirements.

India News

India offers forensic DNA support to identify Nepal flood victims

India will make forensic laboratory facilities available for DNA profiling of first-degree relatives of people missing after Nepal’s August 26 flash floods.

Published

19 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

India has offered forensic laboratory support to help identify people who remain missing after the devastating flash floods in Nepal.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said central and state forensic laboratories in India will make their DNA profiling facilities available for first-degree biological relatives of people missing after the August 26 flash floods in Nepal.

DNA samples can be provided by relatives in India

According to the MEA, first-degree biological relatives living in India can have their biological samples collected and DNA profiles prepared.

The relatives can include a person’s father, mother, son, daughter or sibling. DNA profiling can be carried out at Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs), State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), laboratories of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), and NABL-accredited laboratories with DNA profiling capabilities.

The initiative is intended to support Nepal’s ongoing process of identifying mortal remains recovered after the flash floods.

DNA profiles to be compared with unidentified remains

The MEA said the DNA profiling may use Autosomal STR DNA profiling, as advised by Nepal Police, subject to the technical requirements communicated by the Nepali authorities.

Once prepared, DNA profiles and the preliminary information required by Nepalese authorities can be sent to Nepal Police by email for comparison with DNA profiles obtained from unidentified mortal remains.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu will also facilitate coordination, with copies of the DNA profiles to be shared with the embassy for this purpose.

Nepal flood death toll rises

The death toll from the flash floods has risen to at least 1,259, according to Nepalese authorities, after rescue workers recovered additional bodies from affected areas.

More than 12,000 people have been rescued, while around 5,000 people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.

The flash floods, which followed an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, caused extensive destruction across towns and villages in northern and central Nepal.

India News

PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F17 launch, calls it proud moment

PM Modi congratulated ISRO after GSLV-F17 successfully launched EOS-05, calling the achievement a proud moment for India.

Published

24 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

The GSLV-F17 lifted off at 2:55 a.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The EOS-05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.

PM Modi praises ISRO’s growing capabilities

In a post on X, PM Modi said the successful mission reflected the excellence, innovation and expanding capabilities of India’s space sector.

Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation.

The successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, India’s first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence, innovation and growing capabilities that define… https://t.co/fXzwnSmwAF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2026

He also highlighted the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry, saying it was strengthening India’s space programme and expanding capabilities across the wider space ecosystem.

The prime minister described the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 as another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a matter of national pride.

EOS-05 strengthens earth observation capabilities

According to the report, EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. The satellite is designed to provide continuous observation of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km above Earth.

The mission is expected to strengthen India’s earth observation capabilities and support advanced imaging and observation applications.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission, saying the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit.

Mission Director Thomas Kurian described the launch as a significant milestone for the GSLV programme. He said it was the 19th flight of the GSLV and noted that EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite the launch vehicle has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or sub-GTO orbit.

GSLV-F17 launch vehicle details

The GSLV-F17 stands 51.7 metres tall and has an approximate liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated the ISRO team following the successful mission. He described EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite capable of advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands.