BJP's GST policies responsible for soaring prices and public anger: Akhilesh
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing it of "manipulating" GST in a way that burdens the common man while pretending to offer relief.
"The BJP reduced GST on finished goods just to show, but increased GST on the raw materials used to make them. This is the reality of the BJP's GST 'golmal' (fraud)," Yadav told reporters after visiting SP national secretary and chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary at his residence in Gulistan Colony to enquire about his health.
Accusing the BJP of misleading the public and deepening the crisis for traders, Yadav said, "Their leaders shouted slogans, gave fiery speeches of GST cut, and left. But when citizens go to markets and don't find goods at reduced prices, they argue with shopkeepers. The BJP is not reforming the economy; it is ruining the customer-shopkeeper relationship. They are loyal to no one."
Alleging that the government's policies have "completely failed'', he said, "Eight years ago, the BJP celebrated the midnight launch of GST. Since then, the people have been looted in the name of taxation."
Prices of everyday goods from bicycles to motorcycles, food items to stationery, have all surged under heavy taxation, he added.
"Why were these items made expensive for eight years if they can be sold at lower prices now?" he questioned, alleging that the "confusing and arbitrary" implementation of GST has left traders in the lurch.
"Profit margins are still high. Until that comes down, inflation won't come down. To truly control prices and bring prosperity, we must adopt Dr Ram Manohar Lohia's principle of price control," he said.
Reacting to the BJP's poor performance in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections, Yadav said, "Seeing the backlash, the BJP is on the backfoot. But even now, it is trying to deceive people. The public has realised that only the BJP's defeat will bring relief from high prices, unemployment, injustice, and heavy taxes. Their downfall is inevitable."
Yadav also criticised the government's foreign policy, linking it to trade distress and economic instability.
"High US tariffs, 50 per cent, even 100 per cent, are hurting our businesses. What will happen to our economy under such conditions?" he asked.
He further said the BJP government has failed across all sectors-health, education, law and order. "Government hospitals are in poor shape, lacking quality care. Patients are forced to seek expensive treatment at private hospitals," he said.
Highlighting the rising threat of wild animal attacks in several districts, including Bahraich, Sitapur, and Pilibhit, Yadav said, "People are being injured and even killed by wolves, leopards, pythons, and bulls. The BJP government must answer whether it plans to act or continue denying the problem by saying 'no animal footprints were found.' Are the wounds on victims and the lives lost not enough evidence?"
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Putin meets Iran's FM Araghchi, says Russia ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia
Moscow (PTI): Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the Iranian people for fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty and said Moscow is ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible.
Araghchi, who held talks with Omani and Pakistani leadership before arriving in Russia, met Putin in St. Petersburg and thanked him for supporting Iran, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
"Russia is ready to do everything in its power to ensure that peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible," Putin said during his meeting with Araghchi, which was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Revealing that he received a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week, Putin asked Araghchi to convey his "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."
He praised the Iranian people for fighting "bravely and heroically" for their sovereignty, Iran's state-run PRESS TV reported.
"We really hope that, based on the courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people, under the guidance of the new leader, will weather this difficult period of trials and peace will come,” Putin said.
He also stressed that Russia “intends to maintain” its strategic relations with Iran.
Araghchi said that the world witnessed Iran’s strength in countering the US during the recent war, and that the Islamic Republic is a "stable and powerful establishment."
"With their courage, the Iranian people succeeded in resisting the US aggression and will be able to endure it,” he said.
He said that it became clear that Iran has “great friends and allies” like Russia, and conveyed “warmest greetings” from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Russian leader.
Araghchi said relations between Moscow and Tehran represent a “strategic partnership at the highest level” and will continue to develop "regardless of circumstances."
"We are grateful to you for the solid and strong positions in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the talks between President Putin and the Iranian Foreign Minister were "useful and constructive."
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Russia is "ready to provide any good offices, any mediation services that are acceptable to the parties."
"We will be ready to do everything so that ultimately peace ensues, guaranteed peace, and that there is no return to hostilities," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.
He was asked how Moscow can assist in future negotiations on the Iranian settlement.
Araghchi arrived in Russia after his whirlwind trip to Islamabad, which, according to him, was “very productive” and involved “good consultations" with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks to resolve the war in West Asia.
"We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan. The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent (meetings) and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on,” Araghchi said in a video posted on his Telegram channel upon his arrival in St Petersburg.
Referring to the second round of talks between the US and Iran to resolve the conflict in West Asia, Araghchi said: "Developments have taken place in the negotiations."
"Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives due to the Americans' approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted. Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.
He said that the trip to Pakistan was a good opportunity to review developments related to the US-Israeli war against Iran, expressing confidence that “these consultations and coordination between the two countries will be highly significant.”
Araghchi arrived at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport early Monday, where he was welcomed by Russian officials and Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, the report said.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12, failed to bring the desired result for the parties to the conflict.
The Iranian minister arrived in Islamabad for the second time on Sunday after a short visit to Oman, where he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict.
After Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.
Trump on Sunday reiterated that the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
