BJP govt taking country on 'wrong path': Manmohan Singh
Mohali, Dec 10: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh alleged Monday the BJP-led central government was taking the country towards a "wrong path" and the nation's freedom could be under threat due to its actions.
He said the Congress had played an important role in strengthening the country's freedom, but "during the last four and a half years, the BJP laid emphasis on things which could adversely affect India's history".
"This can again endanger country's freedom," he said.
Manmohan Singh was speaking at the re-launch 'Navjivan', a Hindi newspaper that was first launched in 1919 by Mahatma Gandhi but was closed several times during the British regime.
"I want to appeal to the people that they should understand how the present government is taking the nation on a wrong path and there is a need to strongly fight against it," he said, adding former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had once said that "Freedom is in peril, defend it with all its might."
He said Punjab had played a vital role in the fight for country's freedom.
The event was attended by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and other party workers.
Congress leader and Associated Journals Limited chairman Motilal Vora on the occasion said after Mahatma Gandhi was sent to jail in 1920, he had asked Jawaharlal Nehru to run the paper.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh could not attend the event due to ill-health.
"I regret not being able to attend the function, as I've been advised bed rest by the doctors," he tweeted.
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Trump says he ‘hasn’t even thought about’ continuing Iran ceasefire
Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he has not yet considered whether he would continue the ceasefire involving Iran, while also claiming the United States holds the advantage in negotiations.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was prepared to make a deal with “whoever is running the show” in Iran.
“They are fighting with each other, there’s tremendous infighting. They’re probably fighting for leadership in many cases. I think they’re fighting not to be leader because we knocked out two levels of leaders,” he said.
Trump added, “When they want they can call me. We have all the cards, we’ve won everything.”
Referring to ongoing negotiations, he said, “They gave us a paper that should’ve been better. And, interestingly, immediately when I cancelled it [envoy trip to Pakistan], within 10 minutes we got a new paper that was much better.”
“We talked about they will not have a nuclear weapon, very simple … They offered a lot, but not enough,” he added.
When asked whether he would continue the ceasefire, Trump replied, “I haven’t even thought about it.”
The remarks come as uncertainty remains over the future of the temporary truce and broader negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
