Politics of hate doesn't work forever: AAP on BJP's defeat in Karnataka polls
New Delhi, May 14: The BJP should learn from its defeat in the Karnataka assembly elections that "politics of hate" does not work forever, the AAP said on Sunday.
Addressing a press conference here, AAP Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sanjay Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also have to understand that "the time of contesting elections on non-issues, playing politics of hate and throttling opposition is going to end".
"Such a result is bound to come when you won't talk about price rise, unemployment, Adani scam, Agniveer and farmers issue and contest election on fake and non-issues," Singh added.
The AAP leader said the Congress won the Karnataka assembly polls as people found it an alternative in view of the "40 per cent commission" regime of the BJP in the state.
"Karnataka polls result is a big indication and warning to the BJP that politics of hate and efforts to make non-issues as issues of election won't continue for long and meet the same fate," he said.
Singh accepted the AAP candidates' defeat in all the 209 assembly seats from where they contested, maintaining that it was a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP, and in such a situation there is hardly any scope left for "any third party" in elections.
"Definitely, Karnataka polls result is not good in our favour," he said.
"But there is no need to be disappointed about that," he added.
Singh said AAP leaders and workers in Karnataka will continue to remain in touch with the people.
"They will keep doing their work and take (Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor) Arvind Kejriwal's policies to the masses, then definitely in future good results will come," he added.
When asked if the Congress' victory in Karnataka poses a challenge to the AAP, Singh said, " In Gujarat, it was said that the BJP won in the assembly polls due to AAP joining the fray. In Karnataka, people were saying the BJP will gain as the AAP is contesting the election. Then how did the Congress win?".
He claimed that the AAP has the capacity to defeat the BJP and it has shown it many times.
"We ended the 15-year rule of the BJP in Delhi MCD last year. We defeated the BJP in Delhi assembly polls We have the capacity," he asserted.
Asked about the AAP's plan for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Singh said it is too early to talk about it as there are "many factors" on which the party's starategy for the general elections will depend.
At present, the AAP is focussed on organisation building, its expansion and strengthening of its toehold in various states, he added.
"It's too early to talk about it...Whether the opposition parties will go alone or form an alliance, these decisions will depend on many things," Singh said.
"We will let you know when a comprehensive strategy is formulated for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," he added.
Asked if the AAP will go alone in the Lok Sabha polls, Singh said such a decision will depend on the emerging circumstances.
"We are expanding the base of our party in states it will take time to make a decision for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Such a decision depends on the emerging circumstances and many other factors," he said.
He said Prime Minister Modi will not stand a chance in the Lok Sabha polls next year if people vote on the real issues like "price rise, unemployment, Adani scam, farmers' plight."
"We will make efforts to ensure that people's fundamental issues become political issues in the Lok Sabha polls," he said.
"I can bet if people cast their votes on these issues, Modi won't stand anywhere," he added.
Singh said the outcome of the upcoming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh later this year will have an impact on the 2024 parliamentary elections.
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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.
