New Delhi: Actor Saif Ali Khan recently lauded Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, describing him as a ‘brave and honest’ politician. Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Saif highlighted how Gandhi has managed to transform his public image despite the criticisms he faced in the past.
During the event, when asked about the qualities he values in a politician, Saif responded, “I like a brave politician, an honest politician.” When given the names of prominent political figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and Rahul Gandhi, Saif chose Rahul Gandhi for his impressive work and efforts to change public perception. “There was a point when people were disrespecting things he was saying and doing. I think he has turned that around by working very hard in a very interesting way,” Saif stated.
The actor’s remarks have been widely shared on social media, with many calling it an endorsement for the Congress leader. This comes as Saif promotes his latest film, Devara Part 1, which features Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor alongside him in lead roles. Directed by Kortala Siva, the film has seen a strong opening day with impressive advance booking numbers and a projected ₹100-crore global collection.
Saif’s comments on Rahul Gandhi have gained attention, particularly because of the comparisons drawn between his portrayal in the Amazon Prime Video series Taandav and the Congress leader.
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Jerusalem, Nov 5: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed his popular defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region.
Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. But Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival. Netanyahu cited “significant gaps” and a “crisis of trust” between the men in his Tuesday evening announcement.
“In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defence minister,” Netanyahu said. “Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defence minister.”
In the early days of the war, Israel's leadership presented a unified front as it responded to Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. But as the war dragged on and spread to Lebanon, key policy differences have emerged. While Netanyahu has called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant had taken a more pragmatic approach, saying that military force has created the necessary conditions for a diplomatic deal that could bring home hostages held by the Hamas group.
Gallant, a former general who has gained public respect with a gruff, no-nonsense personality, said in a statement: “The security of the state of Israel always was, and will always remain, my life's mission."
Gallant has worn a simple, black buttoned shirt throughout the war in a sign of sorrow over the October 7 attack and developed a strong relationship with his US counterpart, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
A previous attempt by Netanyahu to fire Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu. He also flirted with the idea of dismissing Gallant over the summer but held off until Tuesday's announcement.
Gallant will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, a Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister who was a junior officer in the military. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu rival who recently rejoined the government, will take the foreign affairs post.
Netanyahu has a long history of neutralising his rivals. In his statement, he claimed he had made “many attempts” to bridge the gaps with Gallant.
“But they kept getting wider. They also came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy - our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it,” he said.