UPA alliance to defeat communal forces: Saleem Ahmed
Secular parties and like minded parties have held a high command level meeting to discuss about keeping communal forces away from the power. Our aim is to stop Bjp from regaining power at the centre and we will succeed in our task.
Secretary of All India Congress Committee Mangaluru based Saleem Ahmed visited Mangaluru recently. Saleem Ahmed plunged into active politics while he was a student in Bengaluru. He had served as the National president of Congress student wing NSUI, General secretary of Congress youth wing and chief director of Nehru youth association of Union youth service and sports department. He was also elected as the member of legislative council for two terms and served as chief whip as well. Presently he is the party in charge of Telangana.
He spoke about the preparation of congress for the upcoming 2019 general election with Varthabharati.
Q. How is congress preparing for the upcoming general election?
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The process of creating political strategy has begun under the leadership of AICC president Rahul Gandhi. He has instructed to build the party from root level, organise the party from booth level and develop the party according to the ideologies of congress. We will inform people about the achievements of congress government. Various committees have been formed.
Q. Young voters had supported BJP in the last general election. what plans you have to to attract them?
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In the last election BJP and Narendra Modi had made many promises to the young voters. The main one of which as creating two crore jobs every year. Believing these promises the youth had voted for bjp. But forget about 2 crore jobs bjp has even failed to create 4 lakh jobs in a year. They had promised to bring back black money, eradicate corruption and take the country to a new height through development. But they have failed in fulfilling all these promises. For the last four years Pm Modi is misleading the people through his rhetorics. Congress will form the government in the centre. Rahul Gandhi will become the Prime Minister. BJP is involved in many scandals. They are not ready to speak about Rafale deal. They have failed to answer the questions. People have lost hope on them. People will support congress again in the next election. That is why we have made alliance with like minded and secular regional parties.
Q. On what issue congress will fight this election?
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In last election BJP had grabbed power by misleading the people. Earlier UPA government had introduced several good projects. BJP government has implemented these projects with different names. They have not done any good work on their own. Some organisations are trying to harm the communal harmony of the country. BJP government is not trying to stop them. Congress has been trying to protect the interest of all sections of the society. It will continue its work. We have given a solid secular government in the past and we promise to do our best in the future. We will go to the people with all these issues and request them to vote for congress.
Q. Congress had experienced set back in the last state assembly election. On coastal region also BJP emerged strong. Your opinion on this?
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BJP had used some incidents that took place in coastal Karnataka during election. BJP had misled people about these incidents and managed to bag the votes. Congress through its pro people programs has introduced many several thousand crore rupees projects. But it was not publicised much. Other less important issues and incidents got more publicity than developmental works. This was the reason for our setback in the election.
Q. How will you manage the challenge of election compatibility and problem of alliance leadership in national level?
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Secular parties and like minded parties have held a high command level meeting to discuss about keeping communal forces away from the power. Our aim is to stop BJP from regaining power at the centre and we will succeed in our task.
Q. There is a complaint that Congress always gives priority to senior leaders. How will you develop young leadership in the party?
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Congress has always given priority to young leaders. More importantly, after Rahul Gandhi became the president youth have given more importance in the party and they are given opportunities to manage the party wherever we have power. At the same time senior leaders are also given equal importance. We seek their guidance and advise. seniors and juniors must walk together.
Q. Do you have plans to contest for next election?
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Last time I had contested from Haveri. This time there is a plan to contest from either Haveri or Bengaluru central. Final decision yet to be taken. Whatever high command decides I will stick to it.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
