INDIA bloc a bundle of groups making secularism a joke: Deve Gowda
Bengaluru (PTI): The JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said on Saturday that the INDIA bloc is a bundle of groups who have made secularism a joke.
In a veiled attack on the INDIA bloc, he reminded them that TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was a Railway Minister during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government.
Similarly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's father and former CM M Karunanidhi was with BJP for six years. His son-in-law was minister in then union government.
TMC and DMK are part of the INDIA bloc.
"We can quote several instances. The so called secularism in this country, if anybody speaks (about it), people say it's a joke. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has joined hands with former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. A Congress member was a Speaker (in Maharashtra). I can quote several cases and these developments don't suit the real meaning of secularism," Gowda told PTI in an exclusive interview.
On Congress' allegation that his Janata Dal (Secular) has joined hands with the communal BJP, the former prime minister sought to know how many states the grand old party is ruling. It is only in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, he quipped.
The 90-year-old leader heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the latter is seeking a mandate for the third time.
Modi is different from Vajpayee. The BJP under Vajpayee's leadership was not able to cross more than 180 seats in Lok Sabha polls, while Modi got 282 seats (BJP alone) and with NDA partners, it was over 350 seats in his first term. Now he is aiming to cross 400 seats along with the alliance, Gowda said.
He said that Modi's leadership has been recognised not only in India but also in other countries.
"The atmosphere today, whether in India or outside, is such that he (Modi) has got recognition. These people (opposition parties) have no stand and speak irrelevant things. I don't want to be harsh on them.
"It's only for the public consumption (attack on Modi), people will not take them seriously," the veteran politician said.
Gowda advised the opposition parties to realise that Modi is the tallest leader today, which people should accept.
On Congress allegations that in the last 10 years, there is autocracy and certain "crony capitalists" have benefited and not the poor and deserving, the former prime minister wondered what strength Congress has today and how many seats they can expect.
"They were unable to get the recognition (of opposition party) in two terms in Parliament. No use of talking about the Congress party," he noted.
On the seat sharing formula between the BJP and JD(S) in Karnataka for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Gowda said his party has not set any conditions.
As there is buzz that his son and former Chief Minister H D Kumarswamy or his son Nikhil Kumarswamy may contest Lok Sabha elections, the JD(S) patriarch said his son will decide as to how things should take shape.
"I can't forecast what is going to happen tomorrow, he (Kumaraswmy) himself is a leader. His leadership is unquestionable. He has to decide. He will discuss everything threadbare with PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and will come up with a proper understanding," Gowda said.
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.
Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India calls current situation 'no war, no peace'
Bengaluru (PTI): Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi on Saturday characterised the ongoing tensions between his country and the Israel-US alliance as a state of “no war, no peace”.
Calling for an immediate halt to the conflict, he said the global stability hinges on those who initiated the war.
He questioned why countries affected by the war and suffering from the energy crisis are not pressuring the US and Israel to stop the aggression.
Addressing a press conference here, Ilahi said Iran did not want the conflict, but was compelled to respond amid continued attacks, even as negotiations were expected to continue.
"Iran didn't want this war, but Iran was forced by the war and several times Iran tried to avoid this war... I don't know what is the condition of these people and these countries (US-Israel)... they want to impose on other countries what they want, and who gave them this authority?" he questioned.
Recalling the negotiations Iran held in Oman, he said talks later moved to Geneva and made progress before being disrupted by sudden attacks.
Ilahi claimed that airstrikes and missile attacks led to the deaths of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ministers, commanders and civilians.
"They killed a lot of civilians… They attacked a primary school, and they killed 175 innocent girls," he said, claiming over 4,000 deaths, more than 40,000 injuries, and widespread damage to houses, hospitals, universities and public infrastructure.
Despite these losses, he said Iran resisted calls for “unconditional surrender” and stood firm and defended itself.
"They wanted unconditional surrender. Which no one—no one can accept it. Iran said, 'Okay, we are ready to be sacrificed,' but we are not ready to submit ourselves," he added.
He argued that they (US-Israel) proposed the current ceasefire only after realising that they could not achieve any of their objectives after 40 days of conflict.
The envoy further claimed that the ceasefire is not an actual ceasefire, but a “no war, no peace” situation.
Explaining the current situation in Iran, he said conditions remain stable and people are going about their daily lives.
"They are working ....(leading) their ordinary life. They are working—they're going farming and they do everything....and they aren't scared of anything. And they are ready to defend themselves," he added.
Addressing the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, he said the situation was stable before February 28 and all countries benefited from it.
"(For) 10,000 years, the Strait of Hormuz was open...and Iran daily yearly spent a lot for providing security in the Strait of Hormuz... so no one even complained anything about the Strait of Hormuz. Everyone was free...and even our enemies their warship was passing through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
However, he linked the current maritime instability to the actions of the US and Israel.
"So Iran cannot do anything. Those people who initiated, created and started this war, they have to stop it. And everything will go back to normal," he said.
Criticising the mentality of the "great powerful country", Ilahi said, "they think they have the right to do whatever they want. It should change."
He sought to know why the countries affected by the conflict are not exerting pressure on the US and the "Zionist" regime to halt the war.
"Why are they not asking them? This crisis and problem by which a lot of countries are affected was created by them. A lot of factories are closed and even working days in some countries reduced... A lot of restaurants are closed," he said.
Seeking fairness and justice, Ilahi said instead of asking Iran, all those nations should ask those who initiated this war to stop it, by telling them, "we are suffering."
To a query on international mediation, Ilahi, referring to the US, asked, "Is it acceptable and reasonable that one country orders all countries -- you should not deal with this country, You should not purchase from this country. You should not have business with this country. You should not buy from this country."
Ilahi also highlighted Iran's long-standing ties with India and said, "It is a great country and we respect India and Indians."
"We have 5,000 years relationship and friendship. We are connected to India by education, by philosophy, by culture, by civilisation and by the economy," he said.
According to him, the bilateral cooperation remains strong, citing diplomatic engagement.
"At the moment also, our relationship, collaboration, cooperation with India is very good," he said, adding Iran allowing Indian ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz reflects the ties.
"Iran allowed Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Why? A lot of countries couldn't get this permission?... The relationship between Iran and India is very good," he added.
He expressed confidence that in future too, the ties between Iran and India will be strong.
