Country is burning, but PM is maintaining ‘dead silence’: Prakash Rai
Freedom of Expression convention
Bengaluru, September 5: “One year has gone after my birth in Gauri. I am walking as if a new-born baby which has all pain, injustice and frustration, tells me to do so”, said noted actor and director Prakash Rai.
Speaking at a programme organized to mark the first anniversary of the murder of Gauri Lankesh, here on Wednesday, he said that “we have spoken a lot in the last one year. We expressed our anger, indignation, helplessness and pains very openly. When we lost Gauri a year ago, we have pointed towards somebody and now, all the investigations are also telling the same thing”, he said.
“We have to change our fights. Otherwise, they will change the good virtue of the people. We should think by forgetting our pain and Gauri. Gauri is a story which has no end. She has exposed the injustice and curiosity through her sacrifice. With this, the conspiracies to kill Kalburgi, Pansare and Dabholkar are clearly visible”, he said.
The dams were getting more water than their capacity. Now, the dams have to be broken. Powerful people would come to power and trying to keep the power by doing more murders and attacks. People have become sheep. Who will be going to protect them? When those who are at the helm of affairs were the murderers, who will protect them? They themselves have to protect, he added.
“Today, more than humanity, Hindu religion should be protected. Common people should be educated about it. We will all die one day. We are not eternal. But what is the method of dying? Till our death, we will have our life. Gauri, Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi have not died naturally. They were killed. They were killed yesterday and tomorrow, we will be in their places”, he lamented.
“We were making mockery of Manmohan Singh as dumb. But now there is a Prime Minister. He is always silent. This is very dangerous. This is a demon-like silence. Though the country is burning, he is silent. Observing everything silently, he is encouraging the murderers. The words of Modi have become like disclaimers on the cigarette packs that ‘smoking is injurious to health’. Everyone should understand this”, Rai said.
“We are being targeted as urban naxals and anti-developments. Thus, they have been doing conspiracy very systematically. We should be alert over this conspiracy”, he said.
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Beauty of democracy: Tharoor congratulates BJP on civic body poll win in his constituency
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday, while lauding the win of the UDF in Kerala local bodies elections, also congratulated the BJP for its historic performance in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency, calling it the "beauty of democracy".
In a post on X, he said the people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in his constituency.
"What a day of amazing results in the Kerala local self-government elections! The mandate is clear, and the democratic spirit of the state shines through.
"A huge congratulations to @UDFKerala for a truly impressive win across various local bodies! This is a massive endorsement and a powerful signal ahead of the state legislative elections. Hard work, a strong message and anti-incumbency have all clearly paid off to achieve a much better result than in 2020," Tharoor said.
He said he also acknowledges the historic performance of the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram, and "offer humble congratulations on their significant victory in the city corporation - a strong showing that marks a notable shift in the capital's political landscape."
Tharoor said he campaigned for a change from 45 years of the LDF "misrule", but the voters have ultimately rewarded another party that also sought a clear change in governance.
"That is the beauty of democracy. The people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in my constituency.
"We will continue to work for the betterment of Kerala, advocating for the people's needs and upholding the principles of good governance. Onwards and upwards!" Tharoor, who is the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said.
The lotus bloomed in the state capital as the BJP-led NDA achieved a resounding win in the polls for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, snatching it from the CPI(M)-led LDF and marking an end to 45 years of continuous Left rule in the local body.
The win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will act as a boost for the BJP in the 2026 Assembly polls, especially in the state capital.
Of the 101 wards in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP won 50, LDF 29, UDF 19 and two wards were won by independent candidates.
The BJP is one seat short of a decisive majority in the corporation.
Besides this, the NDA retained the Palakkad municipality after a close battle with the Congress-led UDF and wrested the Thrippunithura Municipality from the grand old party.
In Thrissur, from where Suresh Gopi won in the Lok Sabha polls last year, the BJP won 18 out of the 46 wards in Kodungallur Municipality, eight in Thrissur Corporation, two each in Guruvayoor and Vadakkancherry municipalities, seven in Kunnamkulam Municipality, six in Irinjalakuda Municipality and one in Chalakudy Municipality.
