Kerala CM Confirms Another Woman Under 50 Years of Age Prayed at Sabarimala, takes dig at BJP & RSS
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 4: Taking a dig at BJP and the RSS, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Friday asked why they had not called for a hartal after one more woman offered prayers at Sabarimala.
He alleged that the Sangh Parivar forces were trying to destroy the peace and unity in the state to project a picture of Kerala boiling with issues.
"They called for a hartal and unleashed violence when two women entered the shrine. Now one more woman has gone there.
Why have they not called for a hartal?," Vijayan asked adding that more women may enter the shrine and sought to know whether these organisations would call for a hartal every time this occurred.
Vijayan, while speaking after inaugurating a party office near here, also said that some (Sangh Parivar) leaders had claimed that they would commit suicide if a woman enters the shrine.
"We don't want anyone to commit suicide. They are making fun of themselves," Chief Minister said.
Vijayan said that people who want to protect the progressive values in the state are in the majority.
"The state thinks that way. The state wants to move forward in the way of development. Any efforts to drag it back cannot be allowed," he said.
Vijayan also said that people must "isolate" all those forces which try to disrupt the state's peace and unity.
"The Sangh Parivar has been attacking CPI offices across the state.
Be it the CPI, the CPI(M) or the LDF,they all exist to protect secularism and progressive mentality of the state.
They are trying to destroy these values. They are trying to destroy those protectors," Vijayan said.
Kerala was not going to 'tremble' at such threats, especially when the Left organisations have already dealt with them (threats) in the past, the Chief Minister said.
"We faced the worst floods in 100 years. We are trying to rebuild our state. A rejuvenated Kerala...a new Kerala.We need that unity which we showcased during floods," he said.
They (Sangh Parivar) are trying to destroy that. Do not fall for their tricks", he said.
Kerala has been on the boil since Wednesday afternoon after two women of menstrual age entered the hilltop shrine.
Widespread violence marred the state in the hartal called by right-wing groups on Thursday
So far 1,718 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in the last two days and 1,108 cases registered till this evening.
As many as 1,009 people have been taken into preventive custody.
In the violence, 174 people, including 132 police personnel and 10 media persons were injured.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Putin meets Iran's FM Araghchi, says Russia ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia
Moscow (PTI): Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the Iranian people for fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty and said Moscow is ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible.
Araghchi, who held talks with Omani and Pakistani leadership before arriving in Russia, met Putin in St. Petersburg and thanked him for supporting Iran, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
"Russia is ready to do everything in its power to ensure that peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible," Putin said during his meeting with Araghchi, which was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Revealing that he received a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week, Putin asked Araghchi to convey his "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."
He praised the Iranian people for fighting "bravely and heroically" for their sovereignty, Iran's state-run PRESS TV reported.
"We really hope that, based on the courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people, under the guidance of the new leader, will weather this difficult period of trials and peace will come,” Putin said.
He also stressed that Russia “intends to maintain” its strategic relations with Iran.
Araghchi said that the world witnessed Iran’s strength in countering the US during the recent war, and that the Islamic Republic is a "stable and powerful establishment."
"With their courage, the Iranian people succeeded in resisting the US aggression and will be able to endure it,” he said.
He said that it became clear that Iran has “great friends and allies” like Russia, and conveyed “warmest greetings” from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Russian leader.
Araghchi said relations between Moscow and Tehran represent a “strategic partnership at the highest level” and will continue to develop "regardless of circumstances."
"We are grateful to you for the solid and strong positions in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the talks between President Putin and the Iranian Foreign Minister were "useful and constructive."
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Russia is "ready to provide any good offices, any mediation services that are acceptable to the parties."
"We will be ready to do everything so that ultimately peace ensues, guaranteed peace, and that there is no return to hostilities," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.
He was asked how Moscow can assist in future negotiations on the Iranian settlement.
Araghchi arrived in Russia after his whirlwind trip to Islamabad, which, according to him, was “very productive” and involved “good consultations" with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks to resolve the war in West Asia.
"We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan. The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent (meetings) and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on,” Araghchi said in a video posted on his Telegram channel upon his arrival in St Petersburg.
Referring to the second round of talks between the US and Iran to resolve the conflict in West Asia, Araghchi said: "Developments have taken place in the negotiations."
"Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives due to the Americans' approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted. Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.
He said that the trip to Pakistan was a good opportunity to review developments related to the US-Israeli war against Iran, expressing confidence that “these consultations and coordination between the two countries will be highly significant.”
Araghchi arrived at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport early Monday, where he was welcomed by Russian officials and Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, the report said.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12, failed to bring the desired result for the parties to the conflict.
The Iranian minister arrived in Islamabad for the second time on Sunday after a short visit to Oman, where he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict.
After Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.
Trump on Sunday reiterated that the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
