INDIA parties back Rahul, say it is his responsibility to comment on issues of national interest
_vb_61.jpeg)
New Delhi (PTI): INDIA bloc parties on Tuesday termed "unwarranted" the Supreme Court observations against Rahul Gandhi for his alleged remarks on the Army, and asserted it was the responsibility of political parties to comment on issues of national interest.
The remarks came a day after the Supreme Court censured Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, over his alleged derogatory remarks about the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Floor leaders of several parties of the INDIA bloc discussed the remarks of the Supreme Court against Gandhi at a meeting here. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Gandhi were present at the meeting.
"All the leaders of the India parties agreed that the sitting judge has made an extraordinary observation which is unwarranted on the democratic rights of political parties," the Congress said in a statement.
"It is the responsibility of political parties especially the Leader of Opposition to comment on issues of national interest," the statement said.
"When a government fails so spectacularly to defend our borders, it is every citizen's moral duty to hold it accountable," it further said.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also said that Rahul Gandhi holds the Indian security forces in high esteem and as Leader of Opposition he has every right to question the government.
Asked about the top court's observations, she told reporters at the Parliament House complex, "With due respect to the honourable judges of the Supreme Court, they do not decide who is a true Indian. It is the job of the opposition leader, it is his duty to ask questions and to challenge the government."
"My brother would never say anything against the Army. He holds the Army in the highest respect. So it is a misinterpretation (of his remarks)," she said.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih on Monday told Rahul Gandhi,
"You are leader of opposition. Why don't you say things in Parliament, why do you have to say it on social media?"
The bench further asked, "Why do you make these statements without having any material? If you are a true Indian, you won't say such a thing."
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.
Dense fog disrupts operations at Delhi airport; 228 flights cancelled, 5 diverted
New Delhi (PTI): Dense fog disrupted flight operations at Delhi Airport on Monday, with various airlines cancelling 228 flights and diverting five to nearby airports due to low visibility, an official said.
However, except for Air India, which had in an X post in the morning announced the cancellation of some 40 flights, no other airlines, including crisis-hit IndiGo, shared the numbers of their cancelled or delayed flights.
"As many as 228 flights -- 131 departures and 97 arrivals-- have been cancelled due to low visibility, so far," the airport official said.
In addition to this, five flights have been diverted so far, he said.
Earlier, the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), in a statement, said, "Our on-ground officials are working closely with all stakeholders to assist passengers and provide necessary support across Terminals.
"Low visibility (below minima), due to dense fog, has severely impacted operations at Delhi and other airports across northern India, which is unfortunately beyond our control," IndiGo said in a statement.
As operations are adjusted to prevailing weather conditions, some flights may experience delays, while a few others may be proactively cancelled during the day to prioritise safety and minimise extended waiting at the airport, the airline said in a statement.
IndiGo, however, did not say how many of its flights were cancelled or delayed.
The airline said its teams are "closely monitoring" the situation and coordinating with Delhi airport.
ALSO READ: Messi's Delhi arrival delayed as fog disrupts flight
IndiGo also said it issued advisories to its customers and "proactively" informing them, to minimise inconvenience.
“Poor visibility due to dense fog in Delhi this morning has impacted flight operations for all airlines. We are closely monitoring conditions and will resume operations as soon as it is safe to do so,” Air India said in a post on X in the morning.
It also said that some flights have been cancelled In the interest of safety, and to avoid prolonged uncertainty for the guests, while listing out some 40 arrivals and departures that it had cancelled for the day.
Delhi airport is the country's busiest, handling around 1,300 flight movements daily.
