Ugrappa retaliates to BJP leaders on ‘Outsider’ statement
Ballary Lok Sabha by-election
Ballary, October 16: Congress candidate from Ballary LS constituency V.S. Ugrappa said that the by-election would become a referendum to the national politics in future.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Ugrappa said that “BJP leaders have been criticizing that I am outsider to Ballary. Why did BJP leaders left Ballary and contested from Molakalmuru constituency? Why did their family members contest from Raichur? What is the relationship between Molakalmuru, Badami and Sriramulu? A politician should not restrict to any single place. I will stay here and work for the development of the district”, he said.
“There are capable candidates in the district. In spite of it, as per the party decision, I am contesting from Ballary constituency. This election is a fight between Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Sriramulu, Congress and BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. In my 40 years political career, I have remained as honest. If I made mistakes, let the people ask me. I have the experience of working as the MLA for three times, MLC, Opposition Party leader”, he said.
“I have fought to include Valmiki community into ST category. In the last year, I have strived to install Maharshi Valmiki bust and Tapovana on the premises of the Vidhana Soudha. I have tried to set up Valmiki Study Centre at Hampi Kannada University”, he claimed.
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Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat
Washington (AP): Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, announced his resignation on Tuesday, saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration's war in Iran.
Kent said on social media Iran “posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
There was no immediate comment from the White House.
Kent, a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists, was confirmed to his post last July on a 52-44 vote.
As head of the National Counterterrorism Centre, he was in charge of an agency tasked with analysing and detecting terrorist threats.
Before entering President Donald Trump's administration, Kent ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state. He also served in the military, seeing 11 deployments as a Green Beret, followed by work at the CIA.
Democrats strongly opposed Kent's confirmation, pointing to his past ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right military group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He also worked closely with Joey Gibson, the founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and attracted support from a variety of far-right figures.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent also refused to distance himself from a conspiracy theory that federal agents instigated the January 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, as well as false claims that Trump, a Republican, won the 2020 election over Democrat Joe Biden.
Democrats grilled Kent on his participation in a group chat on Signal that was used by Trump's national security team to discuss sensitive military plans.
Still, Republicans praised Kent's counterterrorism qualifications, pointing to his military and intelligence experience.
Sen. Tom Cotton, the GOP chair of the intelligence committee, said in a floor speech that Kent had "dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”
