BJP and Congress are working hand in glove in Gujarat: Kejriwal
Ahmedabad, Jul 2 (PTI): Accusing the ruling BJP and main opposition Congress of being in cahoots in Gujarat, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday expressed confidence that people will elect his party to power in the 2027 state polls.
Elated by AAP leader Gopal Italia's victory in the recent byelection to Visavadar assembly seat in the state, the former Delhi chief minister said unlike in the past, people have an alternative in the form of AAP.
He was speaking here after launching a membership drive of his party in Gujarat, aimed at expanding its base and strengthening the booth-level organisation before the 2027 assembly polls.
It was not a coincidence that Italia's victory margin was three times that of the previous AAP MLA who had won from the seat in 2022, Kejriwal said.
"It is often seen that the party in power wins a byelection. (But) Though the BJP tried every trick in the book, Gopal Italia emerged victorious. I believe this is God's message. God is trying to say something to all of us," said Kejriwal in his speech.
"Congress ruled Gujarat for 30 years and the BJP ruled for 30 years (from 1995 onwards). Now the wheel of time has turned, and it is time for the BJP to go. A new party, which will be honest and patriotic, will come to power in 2027. AAP will come to power and work for the people," he added.
The BJP has failed to provide basic amenities like good roads, he said.
Referring to recent arrests in an MNREGA scam in some districts of Gujarat, Kejriwal said the Congress only did the BJP's bidding.
"How did they (BJP) manage to rule for 30 years? Because Congress is in their pockets. BJP leaders have become arrogant because they know that the people of Gujarat have no option other than voting for them. Leaders of both the parties work hand in glove," he alleged.
Seventy per cent of government contracts go to those close to the BJP, while those close to Congress are given remaining 30 per cent of contracts, Kejriwal claimed.
"The leaders of both parties have started their own companies. As a result, neither BJP nor Congress leaders ever go to jail. Both of them get contracts together. Congress only works for BJP," he said.
"For 30 years, the public did not have an option. Now the option is Aam Aadmi Party. Visavadar by-election was a semi-final. In 2027, our party will form the government.... The rule of corrupt people will end," said Kejriwal.
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.
US warns shipping firms they could face sanctions over paying Iranian tolls in Strait of Hormuz
Dubai (AP): The United States is warning shipping companies that they could face sanctions for making payments to Iran to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The alert posted Friday by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control adds another layer of pressure in the standoff between the US and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
About a fifth of the world's trade in oil and natural gas typically passes through the strait at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in peacetime.
Iran effectively closed the strait to normal traffic by attacking and threatening to attack ships after the US and Israel launched a war on Feb. 28. It later began offering some ships safe passage by detouring them through alternate routes closer to its shoreline, charging fees at times for the service.
That "tollbooth” effort is the focus of the US sanctions warning.
The payment demands could include transfers not only in cash but also “digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments,” including chartibale donations and payments at Iranian embassies, OFAC said.
“OFAC is issuing this alert to warn US and non-US persons about the sanctions risks of making these payments to, or soliciting guarantees from, the Iranian regime for safe passage. These risks exist regardless of payment method,” it said.
ALSO READ: Student preparing for NEET dies after falling from hostel's fourth floor in Kota
The US responded to Iran's closure of the strait with a naval blockade of its own on April 13, preventing any Iranian tankers from leaving and depriving Iran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy.
The US Central Command said 45 commercial ships have been told to turn around since the blockade began.
Trump rejects Iranian proposal
--------------------------------------
The warning came as US President Donald Trump swiftly rejected Iran's latest proposal to end the war between the countries.
“They want to make a deal, I'm not satisfied with it, so we'll see what happens,” Trump said Friday at the White House. He didn't elaborate on what he saw as its shortcomings but expressed frustration with the Iranian leadership.
“It's a very disjointed leadership,” Trump said. “They all want to make a deal, but they're all messed up.”
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported Iran handed over its plan to mediators in Pakistan on Thursday night.
The shaky three-week ceasefire between the US and Iran appears to be holding, though both countries have traded accusations of violations. The standoff is increasingly putting pressure on the global economy, driving up prices and leading to shortages of fuel and other products tied to the oil industry.
Negotiations continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys' trip to Pakistan last week, the president said. Trump this week floated a new plan to reopen the critical passageway used by America's Gulf allies to export their oil and gas.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has briefed many of his regional counterparts on the country's initiatives to end the ear, according to his social media. He also held talks Friday with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who is in contact with the EU's Gulf partners.
China's UN envoy urges Iran to lift restrictions
------------------------------------------------------
Fu Cong, the Chinese ambassdor to the United Nations, said Friday that maintaining the ceasefire is “the most urgent issue" as well as bringing together the sides to resume good faith negotiations “to make sure that the ground is laid for reopening of Hormuz.”
Foreign Minister Wang Yi “has been on the phone almost constantly” with representatives from all sides, Fu said, adding that China supports Pakistan's efforts to mediate between the parties.
Fu stressed the root cause of the tremendous suffering in Iran and neighboring countries and the growing turmoil in the global economy, especially in developing countries, “is the illegitimate war by the US and Israel.
