India, Pakistan armies talk peace after days of border violence
New Delhi, May 29: Top India and Pakistan army commanders on Tuesday spoke over a special hotline contact and committed to peace on the borders in Jammu and Kashmir amid persistent crackling of gunfire and mounting casualties on both sides.
"The hotline mechanism was initiated by Pakistan Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Maj. Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza at 6 p.m. with his Indian counterpart Lt.Gen. Anil Chauhan.
"Both the DGMOs reviewed the prevailing situation along the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir," an army spokesperson said.
Lt.Gen. Chauhan, the spokesperson said, "agreed with the proposal (from his Pakistani counterpart) to undertake sincere measures to improve the existing situation to ensure peace and avoidance of hardships to the civilians along the borders".
They agreed to "fully implement" the 2003 ceasefire agreement "in letter and spirit" and ensure the truce was not violated.
"It was also mutually agreed that in case of any issue, restraint will be exercised and the matter will be resolved through utilisation of existing mechanisms of hotline contacts and border flag meetings at local commanders' level."
The Pakistan Army in an identical statement said a special hotline contact was established with the Indian DGMO "to ensure the ceasefire will not be violated by both sides".
The latest DGMO level talks came after repeated ceasefire violations on the borders in Jammu and Kashmir that caused many civilian casualties earlier this month.
Similar talks were held between the two countries on April 27.
The External Affairs Ministry on May 23 said Pakistan had carried out more than 1,088 ceasefire violations along the LoC and International Border in the first five months of 2018. The border shooting has claimed 36 lives on the Indian side and left more than 120 injured.
Pakistan's foreign office on May 25 said during 2018, Indian committed over 1,050 ceasefire violations resulting in the killing of 28 innocent civilians, while injuring 117.
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BJP leader Ashoka slams Siddaramaiah for asking people to support son in Varuna segment
Bengaluru (PTI): Taking a dig at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for calling on the people of his Varuna assembly segment to support and nurture his son Yathindra, just as they did to him, senior BJP leader R Ashoka on Saturday asked whether this was a monarchy to announce a successor.
The Leader of the Opposition also termed it a "bad" development in state politics.
"Siddaramaiah gives speeches claiming that he is a socialist and not a casteist or a nepotist. Yesterday, he asked people to nurture his son politically. All these years, they nurtured him, now his son, and next he will come in six months with a similar request for his grandson. Is this monarchy to announce a successor," Ashoka asked.
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Speaking to reporters here, he said Siddaramaiah seems to have abandoned Ambedkar's principles.
"One has to win through ballots in politics....such appeals in politics will be an offence to the principles with which Ambedkar drafted our Constitution. It is surprising that Siddaramaiah has made such a statement. This is not good for state politics," he added.
Addressing a gathering at his Varuna constituency in Mysuru on Friday, Siddaramaiah said he will remain in politics till his "last breath" and will continue to serve the people as much as he can. He also called on the people of the segment to support and nurture his son and Congress MLC Yathindra politically, just as they supported him.
The opposition leader also took a dig at "dinner parties" within the Congress amid the ongoing power struggle between Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar's camps and speculation about a leadership change, stating that "this is a dinner party government."
"They are not worried about the difficulties faced by the state's people. They are only concerned with who will hold the chief minister post and maintain power. This is betrayal to the people of the state," he added.
Reacting to Ramanagara Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain criticising the state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last week, Ashoka claimed that a number of other ruling party legislators are also unhappy with the Budget, as it did not meet their expectations.
"Hussain has only expressed the opinion of other Congress MLAs. He has spoken the truth. I compliment him," he added.
Responding to a question, Ashoka urged the state government to take action against those indulging in hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders amid supply constraints caused by the West Asia conflict.
Pointing out that the supply issues have arisen due to conflict, he said, "Those trying to blame the Centre for the gas crisis should understand this. They should suggest alternatives to address the supply issue caused by the war."
Appealing to the people of the state to cooperate in the current situation, Ashoka hit out at CM Siddaramaiah for doing politics on the issue that has arisen due to the war in the Middle East.
