BJP will redistribute parliamentary seats in some states to strengthen itself: Dr Parakala Prabhakar
Mangaluru: On the occasion of Republic Day, renowned political economist and commentator Dr. Parakala Prabhakar delivered a keynote address at the Mahatma Gandhi Pratishtana in Mangaluru. The event took place at Tagore Park, Light House Hill, and saw Dr. Prabhakar express his concerns about the current state of governance in India.
Dr. Parakala Prabhakar, who served as Communications Advisor with a cabinet rank position in the Andhra Pradesh Government from July 2014 to June 2018, began his address by stating that India and its citizens are currently facing a crisis under the leadership of the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized the need to bring attention back to the pressing issues faced by the nation, suggesting that distractions in the form of religious sentiments, focusing on temples and bhajans, have diverted the public's attention.
Addressing the concept of the 'double engine government', Dr. Prabhakar criticized the BJP's approach during state elections. He argued that seeking votes by asserting control both at the Centre and in the states is not a fair practice. According to him, if the party loses in a state, the Centre tends to neglect or overlook the grievances and concerns of that specific region.
Dr. Prabhakar urged the citizens to actively seek solutions to the prevailing issues. He asserted that the power to decide the fate of both state and central governance lies with the people. He encouraged voters to use their collective strength to bring about positive change and alleviate the crisis faced by the nation.
He emphasized the duty of citizens in safeguarding the Constitution of India and its foundational principles. Acknowledging the role that the Constitution plays in shaping the nation's democratic fabric, Dr. Prabhakar underscored the responsibility of every citizen to uphold the values enshrined in this sacred document. He articulated the importance of being vigilant against any attempts to undermine the democratic ethos and constitutional principles that form the bedrock of India's governance
Adding to his concerns, Dr. Prabhakar highlighted an anticipated shift in the political geography of the country. He claimed that the BJP is planning to redistribute parliamentary seats, concentrating more in certain states while reducing representation in others. This strategic move, he expressed, is geared towards bolstering the BJP's dominance in the parliament, potentially weakening the opposition and rendering it ineffectual.
Dr. Parakala Prabhakar's address called upon the citizens to be vigilant, proactive, and engaged in the democratic process. He emphasized the importance of the public's role in shaping the political landscape and urged them to exercise their voting power judiciously to address the challenges facing the nation.
Before addressing the gathering, Dr. Parakala Prabhakar paid tribute and homage to Mahatma Gandhi by garlanding his statue at the venue.
MLC Manjunath Bhandary, MCC Corporator AC Vinayraj, Ibrahim Kodijal, Dr. B Srinivas Kakkilaya and others were also present during the event.
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US temporarily suspends all military aid to Ukraine after Trump-Zelenskyy faceoff
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New York/Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended, with immediate effect, the delivery of all American military aid to Ukraine, just days after an unprecedented showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office.
A report in The New York Times quoted a senior administration official as saying that Trump temporarily suspended the delivery of all US military aid to Ukraine and that the order takes effect immediately, affecting "more than $1 billion in arms and ammunition in the pipeline and on order”.
The report said Trump’s decision to halt military aid “resulted from a series of meetings” at the White House between the US leader and his senior national security aides.
The official said "the order would be in effect until” Trump determined that Ukraine had demonstrated a commitment to peace negotiations with Russia.
The order also pauses “hundreds of millions of dollars in aid through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides funds that Kyiv can use only to buy new military hardware directly from US defence companies.”
According to the US State Department, Washington has till date provided USD 65.9 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its premeditated, unprovoked, and brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and approximately USD 69.2 billion in military assistance since Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014.
This latest setback for Ukraine in the third year of its war with Russia comes just days after Trump and Vice President J D Vance had a heated verbal exchange with Zelensky, who was visiting the White House last Friday and the two countries were all set to sign a rare mineral deal.
But talks between Trump and Zelensky unravelled in a heated exchange that played out in front of the global media.
Towards the end of the about 50-minute press conference, Vance told the Ukrainian leader, "I think it's disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. ... you should be thanking the president for trying to bring you into this conference.”
As the conversation grew heated, Trump told Zelenskyy, “You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War Three. You're gambling with World War Three, and what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that's backed you far more than a lot of people say they should.”
Trump and Vance also criticised Zelensky for not being grateful enough for the support that the US had given so far to Ukraine in its war with Russia. As leaders from Europe and around the world took to social media website X to rally behind Zelenskyy and underscore their support for Kyiv, the Ukrainian leader responded to everyone with the same message - “Thank you for your support.”
