Kharge to address mega Congress rally in Nagaland on Oct 7
Kohima (PTI): The Nagaland unit of the Congress on Monday said that it will organise a mega rally to be addressed by the AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in the state capital Kohima on October 7.
Announcing this, state Congress chief S Supongmeren Jamir also sought to downplay the proposed merger of NPF and NDPP, claiming it would not have any significant impact on the state's politics.
Jamir said that the October 7 rally at the Naga Solidarity Park here would focus on “save democracy, save secularism and save Nagaland", while also highlighting key agendas such as youth employment, entrepreneurship, good governance, and improved connectivity.
Besides Kharge, it will also be addressed by senior leaders like AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and AICC secretary in-charge of Nagaland Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka.
The programme would be followed by closed-door meetings with the Political Affairs Committee, District Congress presidents, and other senior leaders to chalk out the party’s strategy in the state and the Northeastern region for the 2028 elections.
Jamir, a Lok Sabha MP, expressed hope that more than 10,000 people would participate in the rally, stressing the importance of converting issues into electoral strength.
He also said other political parties could join the rally since the themes of protecting democracy and secularism were of common concern.
The Congress leader also said if the NPF and the NDPP are merged, it will not have much impact on Nagaland.
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) have been in talks for a merger "to strengthen the regional force".
“It is simply regional parties putting all in one basket and would not have any effect,” said Jamir.
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.
At UN, India flags concerns over targeting of vessels in Strait of Hormuz
United Nations (PTI): Targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is "unacceptable", India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish has said.
Harish's remarks at a special meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC) on safeguarding energy and supply flows came days after an India-flagged commercial vessel came under attack off the coast of Oman.
Omani authorities rescued all 14 crew members of the vessel sailing from Somalia, but it was not immediately known who carried out the strike.
In a post on X on Sunday, Harish said that at the UNECOSOC meeting, he shared India's approach to the recent energy and fertiliser crisis caused by the West Asia conflict.
"A combination of short-term and structural measures alongside international cooperation are essential to respond to the crisis," he said.
"Reiterated that targeting of commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, are unacceptable. International law in this regard must be fully respected," he added.
The attack on the India-flagged vessel on May 13 took place amid the fragile situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway close to the coast of Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the world's energy supplies pass.
It has been severely disrupted by the conflict in West Asia that started on February 28, with the US and Israel launching joint attacks on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes.
Earlier, India had described the attack as "unacceptable".
At least two other Indian-flagged ships have been attacked since the conflict broke out.
According to the UNECOSOC website, the meeting, which took place on Friday, focused on “Safeguarding energy and supply flows: Supporting global development through international cooperation”.
