Rahul, Priyanka make a great team, says Punjab CM
Chandigarh: Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra make a "great team" and would "wipe out" the Modi government in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh claimed Thursday.
Trashing allegations of the Congress promoting dynastic politics, he said, "The people vote for individuals, not for dynasty."
Attributing the Congress victories in recent assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattishgarh to Rahul Gandhi's efforts, he said the party president has "evolved greatly" as a leader.
Describing Rahul Gandhi as "extremely receptive with a deep understanding of issues" facing the country, he said the Congress party president would make an excellent prime minister.
Singh made the remarks, while speaking at a media house conclave, said an official release.
In contrast to his mother, who used to listen and mull over the issues, Rahul Gandhi discusses them and takes prompt decisions with total confidence, he said.
Reacting to the recent Kolkata standoff between the Mamata Banerjee's government and the CBI, the chief minister described the central agency's action "as a sheer case of victimisation and unacceptable in a democratic polity".
"Even the ED cases against Robert Vadra are nothing but victimization and vindictiveness by the Central government, he said, adding that such acts have no place in a civilised nation".
"The things are not done this way in a democratic society," he said.
Drawing an analogy with his own style of functioning, Singh said, "Lot of my colleagues tell me to fix X, Y or Z, but I do not believe in indulging in political vendetta."
Claiming there is no vendetta against the Badals, the chief minister, however, added, "Investigations are in progress in all the allegations against the Badals and (former Akali minister) Bikram Singh Majithia and they will pay for their misdeeds.
On the Narendra Modi government's performance, Singh claimed it has failed to do anything for the welfare of farmers, who were not being given even the MSP on their crops.
He claimed even the sugar and cotton industries were in dire straits.
Accusing Prime Minister Modi of backtracking in implementing the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations on the farming sector, Amarinder Singh said, The report had to be implemented in toto and not piecemeal for their own advantage."
Despite being a minister in the Union government, Harsimrat Badal has also failed to do anything for the state or its people, particularly the agrarian sector, the chief minister alleged.
He claimed the Congress government, on the other hand, has managed to bring things on track "despite the massive fiscal crisis we inherited from the erstwhile Badal government".
"Apart from successfully generating 6.25 lakh jobs in less than two years, our government has so far waived Rs 4,786 crore of debts of farmers, which, though not sufficient, was much better than the Rs 17 a day earning announced by the Modi government in its recent interim budget," he said.
Listing out major challenges facing the BJP in the upcomning Lok Sabha elections, Singh claimed that it would lose the elections due to disenchantment of youths over massive unemployment and the distress among farmers.
Hailing the opening of Kartarpur Sahib corridor, Singh said though it was a welcome step, there was need for vigilance as Pakistan's ISI could misuse it for its own nefarious ends.
He said the Pakistan military has been constantly thwarting India's initiatives for peaceful resolution of bilateral issues.
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.
Philippines president declares national energy emergency amid global fuel supply risks
Manila: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has declared a national energy emergency, citing the “imminent danger” to the country’s fuel supply due to global disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, Al Jazeera reported.
“The declaration of a state of national energy emergency will enable the government… to implement responsive and coordinated measures under existing laws to address the risks posed by disruptions in the global energy supply and the domestic economy,” Al Jazeera quoted Marcos Jr as saying.
As part of the emergency response, a committee has been formed to ensure the orderly movement, supply, distribution and availability of fuel, food, medicine, agricultural products and other essential goods, he said.
The emergency declaration, which will remain in force for one year, allows the government to procure fuel in advance and take action against hoarding and profiteering.
Authorities are also empowered to take action against the hoarding, profiteering and manipulation of petroleum product supplies.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the country currently has about 45 days of fuel supply based on current consumption. She added that the government is working to procure 1 million barrels of oil from countries within and outside Southeast Asia to build a buffer stock, though uncertainties remain.
Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the government is in talks with Washington to secure exemptions that would allow for the purchase of oil from countries under US sanctions.
The announcement comes amid rising public discontent. Transport workers, commuters, and consumer groups have planned a two-day strike to protest fuel price hikes and what they call inadequate government response.
Piston, a federation of public transport associations, described the declaration of a national energy emergency as a “superficial band-aid that deliberately ignores the structural roots of the fuel crisis”.
“If the government genuinely intends to protect transport workers and commuters from this geopolitical crisis, it would immediately suspend the Excise Tax and Value-Added Tax on petroleum products to drastically lower prices overnight,” Al Jazeera quoted Piston as saying.
Renato Reyes Jr, of the progressive civil society coalition Bayan, said the declaration “does not address the basic problem of runaway oil prices and [their] effects on the mass transport system and other sectors in the country”.
As part of the government’s mitigation measures, students and workers in some cities are being given free access to bus rides, and the government has started to provide a 5,000 peso subsidy for public transport workers, including motorcycle taxi drivers, to help them cope with rising fuel costs.
