Ahmed Patel's son says he is ready to contest elections
Ahmedabad, Feb 19: Faisal Patel, the son of late Congress leader Ahmed Patel, has said he is ready to join politics and will contest assembly polls if the party wishes.
Only last month he had announced on Twitter that he would not join politics and rather focus on his late father's social initiatives.
"Just like my father, I will continue doing social work. We have two hospitals and a public school in Bharuch. That is my real work," he told reporters on Thursday night.
"I will enter electoral politics if the (Congress) party high command asks," 40-year-old Faisal Patel said.
"If the high command wishes, I will also fight elections. Preferably from Bharuch, because that is my area," said Patel when asked if he would contest the 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls.
He was in Khadia area of the city to canvas for Congress candidates ahead of elections to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.
Elections to Ahmedabad and five other municipal corporations will be held on February 21.
He was invited by local Congress MLAs Gyasuddin Shaikh and Imran Khedawala to support party candidates, Patel said.
Ahmed Patel, a Congress veteran who hailed from Bharuch, died on November 25 last year due to COVID-19-related complications.
Faisal, an alumnus of Harvard Business School, had announced on January 30 that he will not join politics.
"Finally decided -- I will not be joining active politics. I will continue to work on my existing social initiatives in healthcare, education and technology. Late Ahmed Patel ji's true legacy was working for the downtrodden and underprivileged. I pledge to continue doing so," he had tweeted.
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India describes attack on Fujairah 'unacceptable'
New Delhi (PTI): India on Tuesday described the wounding of three Indians in an attack on the United Arab Emirates' port city of Fujairah as "unacceptable" and pressed for an immediate cessation of hostilities targeting innocent civilians.
New Delhi's reaction came a day after the Indians were injured after a drone attack caused a fire at a major oil industry zone in Fujairah. The UAE had accused Iran of carrying out the strike.
"The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
"We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," the spokesperson said.
Jaiswal said India continued to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation so that peace and stability could be restored across West Asia.
"We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law. India stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues," he said.
The attack on Fujairah city came as the ceasefire between the US and Iran came under strain in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas pass, remains a major sticking point in the talks. Shipping through the narrow Gulf waterway has been severely disrupted by the conflict, triggering a sharp increase in oil prices and energy shortages in several countries.
The UAE's defence ministry on Monday said its air defence systems engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones launched from Iran.
The ministry affirmed that it "remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country."
