Latest news with #JharkhandMuktiMorcha
New Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
JMM likely to go it alone in Bihar Assembly polls
Days after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was left out of two INDIA bloc meetings held recently to discuss seat-sharing for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, the party has decided to go it alone. Party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya has exuded confidence in the JMM's ability to hold its own in the polls and stressed that it has its own identity. The party has also expressed dissatisfaction with the INDI alliance's preparation for the polls, which are due later this year. The JMM has already identified 12 seats where it wants to field its candidates in Bihar Assembly polls. Police to seek Google help for traffic updates What's worse than being stuck in a traffic snarl while heading for work or running late for a class? Luckily, some relief is in the offing. The Ranchi Police is set to have an audience with Google India on how to keep the public updated about the latest traffic and road conditions. All congestion points, road blockades and disturbances will be depicted on Google Maps to warn the motorists beforehand and avoid further snarl-ups. This is not the first initiative by cops to ease traffic woes. The Ranchi traffic police have also issued helpline numbers that commuters can call up or message to highlight the cause of snarl-ups across the city. Now, cough up Rs 1,000 if found smoking in public Have you non-smokers ever found yourself enjoying a pleasant day out when the acrid whiff of cigarette smoke spoilt your mood? Well, worry not. President Droupadi Murmu recently gave her assent to an amendment Bill passed four years ago in the Jharkhand Assembly, enhancing the fine for smoking cigarettes at a public place from a measly Rs 200 to Rs 1,000. The fivefold rise in the penalty is likely to deter even the most notorious public smokers. Notably, just a month before the Bill was passed, the state Cabinet had also cleared a proposal to ban hookah bars. The government had clarified that violators would face jail or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.
Hans India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
'There will be a price to pay for terror attacks like Pahalgam', says Shashi Tharoor in US
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is currently leading an all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation in the US, said that there will a "price to pay for carrying out terror attacks such as the recent one in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22", adding that India will not allow people from across the border to kill Indian citizens with impunity. The Indian delegation led by Tharoor interacted with members of various think-tanks at the US Embassy on Thursday, which emphasised upon India's fight against terrorism and the multi-faceted India-US partnership, the Indian Embassy at the US posted on social media platform X. Shashi Tharoor is leading the all-party delegation which includes Shambhavi Chaudhary (Lok Janshakti Party), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), G.M. Harish Balayogi (Telugu Desam Party), Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejasvi Surya, and Bhubaneswar Kalita (all from the BJP), former Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora. During interaction with think tanks and young professionals, Tharoor said that the delegation has received solidarity and understanding at everywhere they went. He reiterated India's stance that "there will be a price to pay" if terrorist attacks like the one in Pahalgam are carried out in India. He said, "And I'm very pleased to say that everywhere we went and I could say this quite confidently without exception, we have received both of what we sought. We have received understanding and we have received solidarity. And these two things are really what we came for. We will continue to meet others during the remaining time today and tomorrow. I want to stress one thing, and then I'll be very happy to open it up for discussions, and that thing is quite simply that this is not something we would really have wanted to spend our time on." "We are a country focused on growth and development. Our focus has entirely been on the economic advances that are so essential to pull a few the few people who remain below the poverty line in our country out below that and to take the rest into the developed India of our dreams. But, sadly, when this kind of thing is done to us, and for very cynical motives, which I think are pretty apparent so I won't spell them out, it was necessary for us to show that we will not allow people to cross the border and kill our citizens with impunity. That for terror strikes like this, which show all the hallmarks of meticulous planning and military style execution, that there will be a price to pay. And that was very strongly the message that we sent." Earlier, Tharoor-led Indian delegation met with US Vice-President J.D. Vance in the US and had comprehensive discussions covering a wide array of critical issues, from counter-terrorism efforts to enhancing technological cooperation. "Excellent meeting with Vice-President J.D. Vance today in Washington D.C. with our delegation. We had comprehensive discussions covering a wide array of critical issues, from counter-terrorism efforts to enhancing technological cooperation. A truly constructive & productive exchange for strengthening India-US strategic partnership, with a great meeting of minds," Tharoor said in another post on X. "Held a meeting with US Vice-President J.D. Vance today in Washington DC along with members of the All-Party Delegation to the Americas today. During his recent visit to India, VP Vance also witnessed first hand the brutality of Pakistan-backed attacks on innocent civilians, underscoring the urgency of global efforts to put a stop to Pakistani terror. Engaged in discussions on critical issues ranging from India's strong counterterrorism efforts under PM Narendra Modi to enhancing technological cooperation between Bharat and the US," BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said in a post on X. "Yesterday, a wonderfully positive meeting with the #IndiaCaucus leadership. US Congressman Andy Barr, co-vice-Chair of India Caucus (Republican); Congressman Rich McCormick, co-Chair of India Caucus (Republican), Representative Ro Khanna, co-Chair of India Caucus (Democrat); and Representative Mark Veasey, co-vice-Chair of India Caucus (Democrat). Excellent discussions with the Congressional India Caucus today! Our delegation deeply appreciates their strong bipartisan support for strengthening the India-US strategic partnership. Productive talks on shared priorities & advancing mutual interests. It's inspiring to see such strong bipartisan consensus on the importance of the India-US relationship. We look forward to building on this positive momentum!" Congress MP Tharoor said on Thursday on X "Our public engagement at the Willard hotel was an outstanding success. With over 350 people showing up for the event, it gave us an opportunity to speak with the Indian Diaspora, which had featured in every meeting this morning on the Capitol Hill. As others had addressed Operation Sindoor in some detail, I focused on the opportunity for economic and geopolitical alignment between the two nations with the Diaspora as catalysts. I also exhorted the Diaspora to take part in Viksit Bharat that will give them and their children a connection to India, so essential to our relationship," BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi wrote in a post on X. The all-party delegation reached the US after completing their visit to Brazil. The diplomatic effort is part of India's broader global outreach following Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 as a military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, which claimed 26 lives and injured several others. Subsequently, the Indian Armed Forces carried out strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 terrorists affiliated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
New Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
We will not hold dialogues with people who are pointing gun at our heads: Shashi Tharoor
Tharoor emphasised that the all-party parliamentary delegation is in the US to enhance understanding and clarify India's stance and explain if there are any misapprehensions on the part of interlocutors. He said that all the arty delegation just wants to explain India's stance, and they do not want nations to do anything other than to understand India's point of view. When asked about the outcomes agreed upon or India expects from this visit in terms of US action with regards to Pakistan, he responded, "We aren't really here to negotiate outcomes. That's the job of the government. Our job is to enhance understanding, to clarify our position and to explain if there are any questions or misapprehensions on the part of our interlocutors, we'd be very happy to address them. There wasn't a specific seek on our part beyond that. It's not that we've come here saying, would you do this for us? That's not what this is all about and that's true by the way every country we've been to." "We're just saying, this is our position, we want you to understand, and if you have any questions, we'll answer them, but that's it. We're not asking them to do anything other than to understand our point of view, to express their solidarity and to stand with us if it happens again. I mean, we have no illusions. These buildings we've destroyed and the terror camps can be built again in six months, nine months, who knows? The problem is, if they think they can keep doing this to us, they've got another thing coming because we are not going to take it. If they hit us, we will hit them back. And we want the world to understand not only what just happened, but what could happen again if Pakistan does not control these elements on its soil," he added. The delegation led by Tharoor arrived in the US on Wednesday. The delegation includes Shambhavi Chaudhary (Lok Janshakti Party), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), G M Harish Balayogi (Telugu Desam Party), Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejaswi Surya, Bhubaneswar Kalita (all from BJP), Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena), former Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Officers close to Jharkhand CM conspiring against me, alleges BJP leader Babulal Marandi
Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi on Monday expressed apprehension of a threat to his life by the State government and made a series of allegations against the regime. Mr. Marandi, the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand, has accused the State government that people close to incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren have taken a 'contract to harm him and his family'. He further claimed that something bad can happen to him and his family anytime. The BJP leader pointed out that despite all the threats and conspiracies, he will continue to raise issues related to corruption and loot in the government system. 'I have come to know from my reliable sources that the Chief Minister and his corrupt officers have taken a supari (contract) to threaten and scare me. There is a conspiracy going on to attack me and add my name in false cases. It can happen against me, my family members and the people associated with me,' Mr. Marandi said during a press briefing in Giridih. The BJP leader asserted that all this is happening because he keeps exposing the government and the alleged corruption being carried out by the officers holding top posts in the current regime. As Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Marandi has been continuously attacking the Soren government accusing them of being involved in a liquor scam, sand scam, mining scam, land scam and illegal mining of coal and stones in Jharkhand. Mr. Marandi has been vocal on the issue of developmental schemes being run by the government alleging that they are riddled with corruption. 'I want to bring to the notice of the media when there was a government of Hemant Soren in 2013, that time also Naxalites of Shikaripara in Dumka district were given supari. Then, I exposed the government about it in front of the media when there was a UPA [government] in both the State and Centre,' Mr. Marandi explained, adding that upon the news coming out, the Centre had withdrawn his security provided by the State government back then. State conspiracy Mr. Marandi reiterated that last night he had come to know that the State government is once again conspiring to harm him. 'I must tell them that nobody can suppress my voice to raise the issues related to corruption and loot in Jharkhand, no matter what price I pay for it,' Mr. Marandi said. Reacting to the allegations, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) spokesperson Tanuj Khatri said: 'Babulal Marandi seems to have no constructive work left, which is why he is resorting to baseless allegations that have no connection with reality. Making such low-level political statements without any evidence reflects a state of mental bankruptcy.' 'These repeated and irresponsible remarks appear to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and divert attention from the good work being done by the Hemant Soren government. Under his visionary leadership, Jharkhand has entered a new phase of inclusive development, tribal welfare, and people-centric governance,' he further said. Mr. Khatri added, 'From rural infrastructure to education, healthcare to employment, the government has prioritised real issues and delivered results. Rather than recognising these efforts, Opposition leaders are indulging in sensationalism. We strongly condemn such petty politics and urge everyone to focus on progress, not provocation. The people of Jharkhand deserve truth, not theatrics.'
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Shashi Tharoor lauds JMM's Sarfaraz Ahmad for offering prayers with Hindu, Sikh colleagues at Panama temple
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor-led all-party delegation visited the Indian Cultural Centre in Panama and offered prayers at a temple there. The delegation made the visit while they were in Panama to put forth India's stance against terrorism emanating from Pakistan. In a post on X, Shashi Tharoor also said it was moving for him to see Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Sarfaraz Ahmad, who is a part of the delegation, to join his Hindu and Sikh colleagues at the temple during the visit. Tharoor shared pictures of the temple visit and wrote, 'The multi-party MPs' delegation visited the Indian Cultural Centre in Panama City and offered devotions at the beautiful temple there. It was moving to see our Muslim colleague Sarfraz Ahmed join his Hindu and Sikh colleagues at the temple. As he later told the audience, 'jab bulane walon ko koi aitraaz nahin, toh jaane walo ko aitraaz kyon hoga?'' Also read: In Panama, Shashi Tharoor's 'no doubt' warning to Pakistan, terrorists; clears India's stance All the members of the all-party delegation offered prayers and performed aarti at the temple, as shown in a video. Before the visit to the temple, Shashi Tharoor addressed the Indian community in Panama and said that India's desire to just be left alone is not 'reciprocated by our friends on the other side of the border.' 'They (Pakistan) have chosen repeatedly to attack us because they believe that they want territory which they do not control, which we control. It is part of the sovereign borders of the United Indian, and we are not going to give it to them even if we have to pay the price that we have repeatedly been paid," he said. Apart from Tharoor, the delegation includes Lok Janshakti Party's Shambhavi Chaudhary, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Sarfaraz Ahmed, Telugu Desam Party's G M Harish Balayagi, Bharatiya Janata party's Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejaswi Surya, and Bhubaneswar K Lata, Shiv Sena's Mallikarjun Devda and Milind Deora, and former Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The delegation visited Panama on the third leg of their diplomatic outreach mission. They visited the United States and Guyana before this and will visit Brazil and Colombia next.
