BJP-RSS wants country to wear uniform: Jairam Ramesh
Bengaluru: The BJP and the RSS want the country to wear the uniform by implementing the 'one country-one poll' policy, said Congress senior leader and MP Jairam Ramesh.
He was speaking at a symposium regarding simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Assembly organized by ‘Samanjas’ in Bengaluru on Thursday.
There are many languages and cultures in the country. Each state has a different political atmosphere. Meanwhile, Jairam Ramesh, who said that there was no meaning in the ‘one country-one election’ policy, said if this policy comes into existence the country will go in the hands of capitalists.
Hitler Policy: Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued the GST and called for a 'one country-one tax.' And now he is calling for one country-one election. In Germany in 1930, Hitler had called for a ‘one culture, one race, and one leader’ policy. PM Modi is going to implement such a system in India, Jairam Ramesh strongly criticized.
Rajya Sabha member KC Ramamurthy, Congress' Prof K. Radhakrishna, Muralidhar Halappa, Samanjas advisor Nataraj Gowda, Manjunath Adde, SA Ahmed, Arun Malnad were present.
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White Smoke signals new Pope elected after Francis' death
Vatican City: The Roman Catholic Church has a new pope. White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday evening, accompanied by the ringing of St. Peter’s Basilica’s bells, signalling that the College of Cardinals has elected a successor to Pope Francis.
The announcement came on the first full day of voting by the 133 cardinal electors, who began their conclave behind the Vatican’s ancient walls on Wednesday. At around 6:08 p.m. local time (1608 GMT), the much-anticipated white smoke confirmed that the cardinals had reached the required two-thirds majority needed to select the new pontiff.
A wave of joy and applause swept through the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square as they witnessed the historic moment. Many had been waiting for hours, watching the chimney for signs of a decision.
The identity of the newly elected pope and the name he has chosen will be officially announced from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica shortly. He is also expected to deliver his first address and blessing to the faithful assembled in the square.
The conclave was called following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Francis, who led the Church’s 1.4 billion followers for 12 years, had left behind a mixed but impactful legacy. Known for his push for reform, he encouraged dialogue on complex issues like the role of women in the Church and greater acceptance of LGBT Catholics. His papacy was marked by a vision to modernise the Church while maintaining its core spiritual values.
Though there were no clear favourites ahead of the vote, speculation centred on Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who served as the Vatican’s Secretary of State under Francis, and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. Others considered possible candidates included French Archbishop Jean-Marc Aveline, Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, American Cardinal Robert Prevost, Italian Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Filipino Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.
The decision of the cardinals, who had been cut off from the outside world and sworn to secrecy during the conclave, reflects the Church’s next direction. They were tasked with choosing between continuing the progressive path laid by Francis or shifting back towards a more conservative leadership.
During the voting process, which started with an inconclusive round on Wednesday evening and continued through two more rounds on Thursday morning, the cardinals remained secluded. Their only connection with the outside world was through the colour of the smoke signals — black for no decision and white when a new pope is elected.
Traditionally, it takes an average of around seven ballots to elect a pope. Pope Francis was chosen after just five rounds in 2013. The precise number of rounds taken this time has not been disclosed yet.
The world now awaits the formal appearance of the new pope, who will step out to greet the global Catholic community and outline the tone of his papacy.
