JD(S) with Owaisi; Politics of chameleons
The public campaigning has ended for the assembly elections in state. Though the national leaders were seen too frequently in the public rallies, they couldn’t really deliberate about why their party should be voted to power. Prime Minister Modi even forgot the dignity of his Prime Ministerial position and spoke in all his rallies across the state. His Kannada speaking went terribly haywire with wrong terms and pronunciations. Yet he could not seek votes in the name of his party or explain why BJP should be voted to power in the state. On the other side, Congress party could at least put Siddaramaiah before the people owing to the personal and political integrity the CM has exhibited so far. Though Rahul Gandhi involved himself in the election rallies, his simplicity dulled out before Modi’s blatant shouting. Some even loved the uncomplicated person that Rahul is, even as a politician. But would this convert into votes, one never knows. The leaders of BJP sought votes in the name of Hindutva. Yeddyurappa seemed like a name sake leader. Though the PM kept mocking at Siddaramaiah as ‘Seeda Rupayya’ it almost felt like he was referring to Yeddyurappa.
JD(S) on the other hand, had Owaisi to back them in the publicity campaigns. Devegowda in all his speeches said “No matter who gets the majority, we will form the government”. It simply means, JD(S) would go truck with ANY party in the event of others not getting a clear mandate of majority.
There were times when people saw JD(S) as an alternative to mainstream the Congress and BJP. In the current context, JD(S) has surely lost its character owing to its opportunistic politics owing to the partnership it entered into with the BJP for power, during the last 20-20 agreement government. Today, there are rumours that JD(S) is even controlling the BJP from a distance. It is said that JD(S) is being nurtured by the BJP to ensure secular votes don’t go in the favour of Congress. This can be concluded with the fact that Devegowda having praised the RSS on some occasions. On one hand, Devegowda said the party would not go truck with BJP, and almost immediately after, Kumaraswamy gives another statement that could contradict what Devegowda has said. Hence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaps praises on Devegowda because he knows JD(S) can be used ‘as per convenience’ in the current elections.
On the same occasion, AIMM headed by Asaduddin Owaisi has extended its support to the JD(S). It is no secret that Owaisi’s party has been instigating people from different religions against each other, just the way as RSS and BJP do. There have been almost no occasions when Owaisi or his party trucked with the secular forces of the country. AIMM has always conducted itself in a way that has benefited the BJP. It’s participation in the electoral process in states such as Uttar Pradesh and others had given rise to a few suspicions that BJP and Owaisi had reached an understanding of sorts. Now, the JD(S) is also being rumoured to have done the same, in order to benefit the BJP. All parties that instigate people in the name of religion are the same. Hence secular parties must maintain distance from them. Ironically enough, JD(S) which lost its reputation when it went with BJP for power, is not whetting its luck with Owaisi on their side. Now it is anybody’s guess to see who would be benefited from this equation.
JD(S) hardly targeted Yeddyurappa in any of their campaigns. Instead, they continued to attack Siddaramaiah all along as if he is their personal enemy. Father-sons of the JD(S) did not open their mouth even when Narendra Modi derided the state in his speeches. JD(S) indirectly conceded with UP CM Adityanath in his insults against the state. The only focus of JD(S) is to ensure Siddaramaiah does not become the CM second time over. Should the Congress need even 10 seats to form the government, JD(S) would insist on keeping Siddaramaiah out of the CM’s chair. It is now evidently clear that JD(S) only has the interests of the supremo’s family in mind, and no values other than that. The election manifesto makes this more than evident that JD(S) is facing the elections only to stop Siddaramaiah from becoming second term CM. But that would be their ‘family requirement’ and nothing else. Having limited itself to some personal enemity, JD(S) may never be able to play a significant role in the current elections.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
