Protests in Rajouri against killing of Khamenei
Rajouri/Jammu (PTI): Protests erupted in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Tuesday against the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In Budhal, residents gathered in front of the Sheikh-ul-Alam Masjid to stage a demonstration and condemned the joint military action by the US and Israel in Iran.
Raising slogans against Israel and the US, they termed the attack a violation of international law and an act of aggression against the Muslim world.
They also expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and called for peace and respect for sovereignty.
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Senior PDP leader Mohammad Farooq Inqlabi addressed the gathering and described the killing as “highly unfortunate and dangerous for global peace.”
He said "targeting the leadership of a sovereign nation was against international norms and could have serious consequences for regional and global stability".
Inqlabi also expressed disappointment over what he termed as the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said no official statement or outreach to the Iranian leadership had been reported during the crisis.
In the main town of Rajouri, Muslim youth organised an “Iran Solidarity march.”
The protestors assembled on Bela road and marched through the town, raising slogans against the US and Israel. Some protesters were seen burning posters of the American and Israeli leadership during the demonstration.
Protests were also held in Kotranka in the district.
Carrying placards and banners, the protestors gathered in the town centre and denounced foreign intervention. They also called for adherence to international law.
Khamenei was killed in joint air strikes by the US and Israel early Saturday.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
