LDF in ‘secret deal’ with BJP to shield corruption, alleges Priyanka Gandhi
Kannur/ Malappuram (Kerala) (PTI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday alleged that the CPI(M)-led LDF has struck a “secret deal” with the BJP to protect its leadership and remain in power, accusing both the state and the Centre of “compromising” and suppressing dissent.
Addressing various corner meetings in these northern districts as part of the campaign for the April 9 Assembly polls, the Wayanad MP claimed that the alleged understanding was aimed at shielding leaders from scrutiny.
"On one hand, PM Modi is trying to protect himself from being in the Epstein files. On the other hand, the Chief Minister of Kerala is trying to protect himself from corruption. And he is making the deal with Modi for that," the leader alleged
Vadra claimed that in the current political scenario, those who speak against the union government face action from central agencies like Rahul Gandhi, while Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan faces no such cases.
"When anyone raises a voice against the Prime Minister, they are faced with CBI, ED or Income Tax cases. There is no such single case against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan," she claimed.
Vadra said the BJP-led Centre and the LDF government "oppress anyone who speaks against them or asks questions". "It is not healthy for a democracy," she added.
“Both the Centre and the state governments are cowards. They are compromising to protect themselves,” she alleged.
Reiterating her charge, the Congress leader said, “It’s pretty obvious that there has been a secret deal between the LDF and the BJP,” accusing the Left front of aligning with a party that “harasses minorities”, especially the Christian community and nuns.
Vadra pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not utter a word on the alleged "massive theft" at Sabarimala.
Referring to reported attacks on Catholic nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh, she alleged that minorities were being targeted under the BJP rule and institutions like the Missionaries of Charity were facing pressure.
“They are being constantly harassed by the Income Tax department. The Centre is trying to stop their work by any means,” she alleged, describing the nuns as “brave and courageous women who choose the path of service”.
“The LDF chose to make a deal with the BJP who harass them like this. Ideology has been compromised. Accountability has been compromised. Responsibility has been compromised. Everything has been compromised in the name of staying in power,” she said.
Vadra also alleged that both governments were using the country’s resources to benefit corporates rather than the people.
“They are not strengthening people, but handing over resources to corporates like Adani,” she claimed.
She further alleged that both the BJP-led Centre and the LDF government “oppress anyone who speaks against them or asks questions”, which, she said, was detrimental to democracy.
The Congress leader also charged that a sense of “arrogance” had crept into the LDF government over the past 10 years and accused it of "corruption and favouring corporates".
“You have seen greed and corruption rule in the last 10 years,” she said.
Questioning the Left government’s performance, Vadra asked whether people’s lives had improved and whether issues such as unemployment and price rise had been effectively addressed, alleging that the government had become “an impediment” rather than a support system.
She also claimed that she had faced non-cooperation from the state government on several issues as an MP.
Calling for change, she said the state needed “a government with a vision” and leadership that people could trust, while urging voters to use the April 9 polls as an opportunity to remove the present dispensation.
Describing Kerala as a “jewel” with immense resources and potential, she praised its people as an “ideal for the rest of the country” and highlighted its secular fabric.
Referring to the UDF’s poll promises, Vadra said the front had announced five guarantees and added that compensation in human-wildlife conflict cases would be increased by 50 per cent if it comes to power, with steps to ensure payment within seven days of an incident.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
