Responsibility of majority to protect minorities in democracy: Prakash Raj in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: Veteran actor Prakash Raj emphasized the responsibility of the majority to protect the minority in a democracy while inaugurating a convention of citizen-centric Kannada groups organized by the 'Eddelu Karnataka' organization at 'Sahodaya' in Balmatta, Mangaluru on Monday.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Modi for the electoral bonds scam, Prakash Raj criticized the alleged intimidation tactics used by the government against corrupt individuals. He highlighted the importance of raising awareness among the public regarding such issues and urged people to contemplate the implications of buying elected governments with money power.
Sharing his personal experience of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid, Prakash Raj recounted being questioned for 13 hours without any incriminating evidence being found. He emphasized his commitment to honesty and integrity, stating that he is accountable to the trust placed in him by the people.
“Despite this, I have received a notice from Coimbatore court. I won’t be afraid over such matters. My honesty can’t be questioned. You need to be afraid of nothing if you are truthful and honest. I don’t have to bow my head in shame before my loving family. What matters in not my wealth, but the trust bestowed upon me. I am not the worker of any party, but I am pro-people. And I will always work to strengthen their trust”, he stated.
Reflecting on the BJP's loss in the last elections, Prakash Raj attributed it to the disruption of people's peace and patience. He commended the efforts of 'Eddelu Karnataka' in exposing the alleged anti-people stance of the government and urged them to continue their work in service of the people.
Reinterpreting the legend of Punyakoti for modern times, Prakash Raj urged the audience to embody the spirit of compassion and empathy by helping those in need.
Addressing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, 'Eddelu Karnataka' State leader K L Ashok expressed confidence in their ability to secure victory. He highlighted the dedication of Prakash Raj and emphasized the importance of their contributions in shaping the election outcomes.
Reflecting on the inception of 'Eddelu Karnataka', 'Ashirvad Training Centre' Director Father Arun Louis highlighted the organization's commitment to humanity and its role in bringing about political change.
Moderator Yasin Shirur emphasized that 'Eddelu Karnataka' is neither a political organization nor a mouthpiece for any party, but rather stands for the welfare of the people.
Various speakers, including political leader P V Mohan and Jamat-e-Islami Hind state leader Muhammad Kunhi, addressed the gathering on different topics related to the region. Former DySP T C M Shareef presided over the event, while D K Lok Sabha candidate Padmaraj Ramaiah sought cooperation from all attendees. Writer M G Heggade and KPCC Secretary Inayath Ali were also present, with Nisar Ahmed moderating the proceedings.
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Trump repeats claim of stopping India-Pak conflict, says Obama ‘didn't do anything’ to win Nobel
New York/Washington (PTI): Claiming yet again that he solved the conflict between India and Pakistan, US President Donald Trump has said that "no one in history is more deserving than him" of the Nobel Peace Prize, as he criticised former President Barack Obama for getting the honour even though he “didn’t do anything”.
Trump, during a meeting in the White House on Friday with oil and gas executives to discuss plans for the Venezuelan oil reserves, also reiterated his claim that eight jets were shot down in the conflict in May last year without clarifying to which country they belonged.
“Look whether people like Trump or don't like Trump, I settled eight wars, big ones. Some going on for 36 years, 32 years, 31 years, 28 years, 25 years, some just getting ready to start like India and Pakistan, where already eight jets were shot out of the air,” Trump said.
The US president also said that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had visited the White House last year, credited him for saving millions of lives by stopping the conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
This is the second time in as many days that Trump has claimed credit for stopping the conflict between India and Pakistan, an assertion he has now made innumerable times since May 10 last year when he announced on social media that the two countries agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire after a “long night” of talks mediated by Washington.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. India has consistently denied any third-party intervention.
Trump further said that no one in history is more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize than him since he has stopped eight wars within eight months of his second term in the White House.
He rebuked Obama for getting the Nobel Peace Prize shortly after assuming office in 2009 even though he “didn’t do anything”.
“I can't think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel Prize more than me and I don't want to be bragging, but nobody else settled wars. Obama got the Nobel Prize. He had no idea why. He still has no idea. He walks around, he says, ‘I got the Nobel Prize’. Why did he get a Nobel Prize? He got it almost immediately upon attaining office, and he didn't do anything, and he was a bad president,” Trump said.
Trump asserted that one should get a Nobel Prize for "every war you stopped. These were major wars. These were wars that nobody thought could be stopped”.
Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him he had been trying to stop two of the wars for ten years and wasn't able to do it.
"He couldn't believe it. So in theory, you should get the Nobel Prize for every war you stopped. Every one of them was major. But I don't care about that. What I care about is saving lives. I've saved tens of millions of lives,” he said.
Trump was asked about Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize last year to him, and has said she wants to give the honour to him.
Trump said Machado will be coming to Washington next week and "pay her regards to our country, really to me, but you know I'm a representative of the country, nothing else, and she's coming in sometime next week”.
He said “it's very nice” that Machado wants to come in, “and that's what I understand the reason is because Norway is very embarrassed by what took place. I mean, they're getting decimated”, referring to Machado’s offer to give her Nobel Prize to him when the Oslo-based Nobel committee did not honour him last year.
“But I'm honoured that she's coming here. I look forward to meeting her,” he said.
A day earlier, in an interview to Fox News, Trump said again that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan, the two nuclear powers "ready to go at it big”.
