Let's not ignore people's miseries
Following the terrorist attack on army vehicle in Pulwama that left our soldiers dead, the internal atmosphere of the country has changed so much. No one is speaking about the failures or corruption of the Modi government any more. Having sensed this hunger for war, even Modi is saying the fire is raging high in his heart too. Everyone is basically raging on something or the other, but the homes of those who lost their beloved in this attack are mourning their loss.
This appetite for war has literally set aside the concerns and problems of people on a daily basis. No one is speaking about the failures of the last four and half years. Demonetisation fiasco, people queuing up before banks, innocent people who died in the queues, murders in the name of cow protection, inflation, unemployment, corruption, such raging issues are not points of discussion any more. Everywhere there is an atmosphere of war mongering. In the next three months the ruling party is all set to take the country into another election.
PM is all enthused after this incident. Common people affected by inflation and bad economic situation are being called anti nationals if they speak about the issues they are facing. Attacks have become on artists writers thinkers and rationalists who were vocal about their objection to Modi and Sangh Parivar. Modi bhakts have shouted slogans against actor Prakash Rao who visited the home of martyred soldier from Mandya to donate Rs 5 Lakh to his family. This incident has helped cover up the biggest defence scandal of Rafael agreement. Modi government has not stopped it's vengeful politics. All the ads that were being given to The Hindu paper from central government have been stopped owing to the fact that the paper published some crucial details regarding Rafael scandal.
the last four and a half years of administration by Modi government is completely detrimental to common people. Having described the Parliament as a temple of democracy in 2014, Modi continue to ignore it ever after. Budget was presented without any discussion this year. Democratic institutions have been compromised with at a large extent. One on one hand thousands of farmers were committing suicide over background and on the other thousands lakhs of loans of corporates were being waived off. None of these merit a discussion anymore. The CAG report on Rafale deal is out now. This was presented in the parliament on the last day of 16th Lok Sabha session. Obviously it was not taken up for discussion for lack of time. This report seems to be conducive to the ruling party and does not have answers for many questions that have been raised by various people.
The contract partnership given to Anil Ambani apart from various controversies surrounding the Rafale deal have made it look suspicious. Let nobody will ever discuss these details. The whole Nation has condemned the act of terrorism in Kashmir in solidarity. People's problems and concerns should not be set aside owing to this single act. this should not be used to cover up the failures and lacunae of the government administration. More tragedies will take place when the government itself talks about war and people will never be able to achieve peace in the society.
The mask Pakistan wears should be removed for the whole world to see. But we should not view all Pakistan is as enemies based upon the fact that only some people and political leadership have inflicted terrorism. we must hold Pakistan accountable and engage in peace talks as it happened during the term when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister. This should be treated as the lone and sane option for India.
But the ruling dispensation does not seem interested in peace talks. Everybody is talking about instigating the general public and political atmosphere. a certain BJP leader Sadhvi Prachi has called upon prime Minister Modi to repeat the Godhra model of retaliation. In a way she has indicated that Godhra was stage managed by Modi. About 31% people have given the responsibility of taking the country on the path to progress to BJP. But the party is not managing its duties well. Utterances of supporting and starting a war are flying around aplenty. This does not befit the image of India.
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US vetoes Palestinian bid to gain statehood at the United Nations
United Nations, Apr 19: The US has vetoed a resolution in the UN Security Council on the latest Palestinian bid to be granted full membership of the United Nations, an outcome lauded by Israel but criticised by Palestine as “unfair, immoral, and unjustified".
The 15-nation Council voted on a draft resolution Thursday that would have recommended to the 193-member UN General Assembly “that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership in the United Nations.”
The resolution got 12 votes in its favour, with Switzerland and the UK abstaining and the US casting its veto.
To be adopted, the draft resolution required at least nine Council members voting in its favour, with no vetoes by any of its five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Palestinian attempts for recognition as a full member state began in 2011. Palestine is currently a non-member observer state, a status that was granted in November 2012 by the UN General Assembly.
This status allows Palestine to participate in proceedings of the world body but it cannot vote on resolutions. The only other non-member Observer State at the UN is the Holy See, representing the Vatican.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the US for vetoing what he called a “shameful proposal.”
“The proposal to recognise a Palestinian state, more than 6 months after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and after the sexual crimes and other atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists was a reward for terrorism”, Katz wrote on X, after the US veto.
US Ambassador Robert Wood, Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs, said in the explanation of the vote at the Security Council meeting on Palestinian membership that Washington continues to strongly support a two-state solution.
“It remains the US view that the most expeditious path toward statehood for the Palestinian people is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the support of the United States and other partners,” he said.
“This vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood, but instead is an acknowledgement that it will only come from direct negotiations between the parties.”
Wood said there are “unresolved questions” as to whether Palestine meets the criteria to be considered a State.
“We have long called on the Palestinian Authority to undertake necessary reforms to help establish the attributes of readiness for statehood and note that Hamas - a terrorist organisation - is currently exerting power and influence in Gaza, an integral part of the state envisioned in this resolution,” he said, adding that “For these reasons, the United States voted “no” on this Security Council resolution.”
Wood noted that since the October 7 attacks last year against Israel by Hamas, US President Joe Biden has been clear that sustainable peace in the region can only be achieved through a two-state solution, with Israel’s security guaranteed.
"There is no other path that guarantees Israel’s security and future as a democratic Jewish state. There is no other path that guarantees Palestinians can live in peace and with dignity in a state of their own. And there is no other path that leads to regional integration between Israel and all its Arab neighbours, including Saudi Arabia,” he said.
The Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, sharply criticised the US veto, saying that it was “unfair, immoral, and unjustified, and defies the will of the international community, which strongly supports the State of Palestine obtaining full membership in the United Nations.”
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, said that “our right to self-determination has never once been subject to bargaining or negotiation.
“Our right to self-determination is a natural right, a historic right, a legal right. A right to live in our homeland Palestine as an independent state that is free and that is sovereign. Our right to self-determination is inalienable...,” he said.
Getting emotional and choking up as he made the remarks, Mansour said that a majority of the Council members “have risen to the level of this historic moment” and have stood “on the side of justice, freedom and hope.”
He asserted that Palestine’s admission as a full member of the UN is an “investment in peace.”
On April 2, 2024, Palestine again sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requesting that its application for full UN membership be considered again.
For a State to be granted full UN membership, its application must be approved both by the Security Council and the General Assembly, where a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting is required for the State to be admitted as a full member.
Earlier in the day, Guterres, in his remarks to a Council meeting on the Middle East, warned that the region is on a “knife edge”.
“Recent escalations make it even more important to support good-faith efforts to find lasting peace between Israel and a fully independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state,” Guterres said.
“Failure to make progress towards a two-state solution will only increase volatility and risk for hundreds of millions of people across the region, who will continue to live under the constant threat of violence,” he said.
The UN, citing the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said that between October 7 last year and April 17, at least 33,899 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 76,664 Palestinians injured. Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 33 children, have been killed in Israel, the vast majority on October 7.
As of April 17, Israeli authorities estimate that 133 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza, including fatalities whose bodies are withheld.
