Even Christians unable to celebrate Christmas in BJP-ruled States: TN CM
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday claimed that even Christians were not able to celebrate Christmas peacefully in BJP-ruled States.
Referring to a recent comment made by the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Muslims, Stalin said he did not want to lower the dignity of the Iftar function by recalling about the incident that occurred in the north eastern state.
"Not just Muslims, even Christians cannot celebrate Christmas peacefully in BJP-ruled states." Stalin alleged while taking part in an Iftar function here on Sunday.
Sarma had allegedly made some "anti-Muslim" remarks in February which was slammed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which had urged the Supreme Court to take immediate cognisance of the matter.
Noting that a large number of Islamic organisations have gathered together to take part in the function, Stalin said, "(Today) all minority movements are on one stage. Has it ever been like this before. It was the DMK that created this integration."
"This unity is essential for Tamil Nadu, in fact, it is essential for the whole of India," he stressed.
Hitting out at rival AIADMK and its chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, the DMK chief sought to know whether the former has commented anything about the violence against minorities happening across the country.
"What we ask Palaniswami is that along with the AIADMK party, have you mortgaged your conscience to the BJP. That is what is painful," he alleged.
Stalin asked, "How can Palaniswami establish the rights and safety of minority communities, when their alliance partner BJP spreads hatred against them and seeks to benefit from it? It is not just Palaniswami, many in the country are like this who remain silent whenever trouble occurs to the Muslims through the BJP."
He underlined that it was the DMK which was the first to raise its voice for the rights of Muslims and had passed resolutions in the state Assembly. "That is why the minority community people always stand as a support to the DMK," he said.
Observing that the relationship between the DMK and the Muslims did not happen overnight, Stalin said, "It is a relationship that existed since this movement began. From the time of Quaid-e-Millat to Perarignar Anna (DMK founder CN Annadurai), to Kalaignar M Karunanidhi and now to me, this is a relationship that continues generation after generation."
"This bond is inseparable and will continue forever," he said.
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Trump pauses Project Freedom, claims great progress for final agreement with Iran
Washington (PTI): President Donald Trump has suspended “Project Freedom,” to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming progress in negotiations with Iran toward an agreement to end the war.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump said, “Great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement with representatives of Iran.”
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump said.
Project Freedom was launched on Monday to escort ships, stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, out to safety. Trump had announced the operation on Sunday and the US Central Command began implementing it the next day.
However, the Project led to friction in the vicinity of the narrow seaway, a key route for transporting one-fifth of the global oil supplies, with the UAE claiming that its ships were attacked by Iran. The US also claimed to have destroyed several Iranian small boats.
Trump’s statement on Truth Social came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Operation Epic Fury, launched on February 28, had concluded as its objectives have been achieved.
"Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation. We're not cheering for an additional situation to occur. We would prefer the path of peace. What @POTUS would prefer is a deal... that is, so far, not the route that Iran has chosen," Rubio told a press conference at the White House on Tuesday.
On Project Freedom, Rubio said the goal was to rescue almost 23,000 civilians from 87 different countries who were trapped inside the Persian Gulf and left for dead by the Iranian regime.
"This is not an offensive operation. This is a defensive operation, and what that means is very simple: there’s no shooting unless we're shot at first. We’re not attacking them, but if they're attacking us or they’re attacking a ship, you need to respond to that," Rubio said.
