Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut speaks to the media in Mumbai on Sunday (May 18). Photo: PTI/Screengrab
India-Pak conflict LIVE: Op Sindoor delegations will defend Centre's 'sins and crime', says Raut
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also lashed out at the government for nominating Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde to lead the delegation
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday (May 18) said INDIA alliance parties should have boycotted the Union government's move to send all-party delegations to different countries to put across India's resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut claimed the delegation will defend the "sins and crime" committed by the government.
"There was no need to send a delegation like this which is funded by the government. What will they do? We have our ambassadors abroad. They are doing their job. INDIA bloc (parties) should have boycotted it. They are getting into the trap laid by the government. You are going to defend the sins and crime committed by the government and not the country," he said.
His remarks also indicate the parties in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) were not on the same page on the issue.
Raut also lashed out at the government for nominating Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde to lead the delegation and said his party too should have got the chance to lead one of the delegations due to its numerical strength in Lok Sabha.
Ashoka University professor arrested
Meanwhile, an associate professor at Ashoka University, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, has been arrested for his social media post on Operation Sindoor. Haryana police have said the action was taken on a complaint by a BJP Yuva Morcha leader.
The arrest comes days after the Haryana State Commission for Women sent a notice to the associate professor over his remarks, in one of which he said right-wing people applauding Col Sofiya Qureshi should demand protection for victims of mob lynchings and “arbitrary” bulldozing of properties.
Meaning ‘inverted’
The associate professor described the media briefings by Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as “optics”. “But optics must translate to reality on the ground; otherwise it’s just hypocrisy,” he had said.
The Commission said an initial review of Mahmudabad’s remarks raised concerns about the “disparagement of women in uniform”. The associate professor said the Commission, “while overreaching its jurisdiction”, had “inverted” the meaning of his comment.
Cessation of hostilities to continue
Meanwhile, the cessation of hostilities agreed upon by India and Pakistan on May 12 will continue, an army official said on Sunday.
Dispelling notions that the pause was temporary and it will end today, he said, "As far as the continuation of break in hostilities as decided during the interaction of the DGMOs (Director General of Military Operations) is concerned, there is no expiry date to it."
The official also said no talks were scheduled between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan on Sunday.
Centre readies 51 envoys
The Centre on Saturday announced the name of 51 political leaders, including parliamentarians and former ministers, cutting across party lines, who will be part of the seven delegations travelling to world capitals to put across India's resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.
The delegations led by Baijayant Panda, Ravi Shankar Prasad (both BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Kanimozhi (DMK) and Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) will visit a total of 32 countries and the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Each delegation comprises seven or eight political leaders and is assisted by former diplomats. Of the 51 political leaders, 31 are part of the ruling NDA, while the remaining 20 are from the non-NDA parties. All the seven delegations have at least one Muslim representation, either among politicians or diplomats.
Boycott against Turkey
Meanwhile, the boycott against travel to Turkey and Turkish products gained momentum as several traders’ organisations decided to snap trade ties with Turkey for its support for Pakistan in the latter’s conflict with India.
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Live Updates
- 18 May 2025 11:03 PM IST
Delhi ministers lead march commending armed forces for Op Sindoor success
Delhi ministers Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra led the 'Tiranga Yatra' in different parts of the national capital on Sunday in a show of support to the Indian armed forces for successfully conducting Operation Sindoor.
While Sood led the march in his Janakpuri constituency in West Delhi, Mishra was present in the march organised in northeast Delhi.
The march from Dabri Police Station to the Kadimi Market in west Delhi saw an overwhelming participation from locals, social organisations, religious groups, market associations, and resident welfare associations as they waved the tricolour and raised patriotic slogans.
The 'Shaurya Samman Yatra' was organised under the banner of 'Citizens for National Security.
Addressing the gathering after the march, Sood said 'Operation Sindoor' is a symbol of India's pride and sovereignty. He lauded the precision and synergy with which Indian forces targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
"The mission's success reflects the strong political will under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the unparalleled courage of our armed forces," he said.
- 18 May 2025 5:27 PM IST
42 unexploded shells destroyed in Poonch
Security forces on Sunday destroyed 42 unexploded shells in different forward villages near the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir in a major operation to clear civilian areas following a military confrontation between India and Pakistan, officials said.
Indian Army, in close coordination with local police authorities, successfully conducted a controlled operation for the safe destruction of 42 unexploded ordnances in the border areas of Jhullas, Salotri, Dharati and Salani, a defence spokesperson said.
He said these shells, remnants of recent cross-border shelling, posed a serious threat to the lives and safety of local residents. - 18 May 2025 4:44 PM IST
Probe underway into links between Odisha YouTuber and 'Pak spy' Jyoti Malhotra: Police
The Odisha Police have started an investigation into the alleged links between a Puri-based YouTuber and Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested on the charge of passing on sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence operatives, an officer said on Sunday.
The police found that Malhotra, who runs a YouTube channel, Travel with JO, and hails from Hisar in Haryana, had visited Puri in September 2024 and came in contact with a woman in the coastal town, who is also a YouTuber, Puri SP Vinit Agrawal said.
Jyoti, whose YouTube channel and Instagram account have 3.77 lakh subscribers and 1.33 lakh followers respectively, allegedly was in contact with a Pakistani staffer working at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. On May 13, India had expelled that Pakistani official for allegedly indulging in espionage.
The woman in Puri had also travelled to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan recently, the SP said.
“We found that Jyoti Malhotra had visited Puri last year, and we are verifying the fact. Anything more can be shared after the verification,” Agrawal said.
- 18 May 2025 4:38 PM IST
If the choice is between Pakistan and hell, I would prefer hell: Javed Akhtar
Noted lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, who is often targeted for his views on patriotism and religion, says that if there comes a time he has to choose between Pakistan and hell, he would prefer to go to hell.
Akhtar, 80, was speaking at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's book launch on Saturday night in Mumbai.
At the event, the lyricist -- who identifies himself as an atheist -- said extremists from both India and Pakistan shower abuses on him on a daily basis.
"Some day, I'll show you my Twitter (now X) and WhatsApp. I am abused by both sides. I'm not thankless so I'll say there are also people who appreciate what I say, encourage me. But it's true that extremists from both here and there abuse me. This is right. If one of them stops abusing me, it'll be a matter of concern for me. "One side says 'You are a kaafir (non-believer) and will go to hell. The other side says, 'Jihadi, go to Pakistan'. If the choice is between Pakistan and hell, I would prefer to go to hell," Akhtar said amid a round of applause from the audience.
The award-winning writer further said it's important to have citizens not subscribing to the ideology of any political party.
"That way they can say what they feel is right and what is wrong. There should be no party loyalty. All parties are ours and yet no party is ours. I'm also one of those citizens. If you speak from one side, you'll make the other side unhappy. But if you speak out from different points of view, you make many more people unhappy," he added.
- 18 May 2025 4:37 PM IST
Op Sindoor: INDIA bloc constituents should have boycotted all-party delegation, says Raut
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said INDIA bloc constituents should have boycotted the Union government's move to send all-party delegations to different countries to put across India's resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut claimed the delegation will defend the "sins and crime" committed by the government.
"There was no need to send a delegation like this which is funded by the government. What will they do? We have our ambassadors abroad. They are doing their job. INDIA bloc (parties) should have boycotted it. They are getting into the trap laid by the government. You are going to defend the sins and crime committed by the government and not the country," he said.
His remarks also indicate the parties in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) were not on the same page on the issue.
Raut also lashed out at the government for nominating Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde to lead the delegation and said his party too should have got the chance to lead one of the delegations due to its numerical strength in Lok Sabha.
"Did anyone ask Sena (UBT), TMC, RJD? On what basis are you saying that an all-party delegation is going," Raut questioned.
- 18 May 2025 3:49 PM IST
IMF sets 11 new riders for Pak before release of next tranche of aid
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slapped 11 new conditions on Pakistan for the release of the next tranche of its bailout programme and warned that tensions with India could heighten risks to the scheme's fiscal, external, and reform goals, according to a media report on Sunday.
The new conditions imposed on Pakistan include the parliamentary approval of a new Rs 17.6-trillion budget, an increase in the debt servicing surcharge on electricity bills and lifting restrictions on import of more than three-year-old used cars.
- 18 May 2025 1:13 PM IST
HC to hear on Monday Turkish firm Celebi's plea against revoking of security clearance
The Delhi High Court will hear on Monday two pleas by Turkish company Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd and another firm against the decision of aviation watchdog BCAS revoking its security clearance in the "interest of national security".
The security clearance of the firms was revoked days after Turkey backed Pakistan and condemned India's strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country.
The pleas, which were filed on Friday, are listed for hearing before Justice Sachin Datta on May 19.
The two petitions have been filed by Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd and Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Pvt Ltd.
Celebi, operating in the Indian aviation sector for over 15 years and employing over 10,000 people, offers its services at nine airports.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), in an order, said, "... the security clearance in r/o Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security." The security clearance to the company, part of Turkey's Celebi, was given in November 2022.
Celebi handles around 58,000 flights and 5,40,00 tonne of cargo annually in India, according to its website.
