Petroleum dealers in Pakistan announced the postponement of their strike on Friday evening, however, many consumers were still frazzled as they found several pumps closed or were out of fuel in Karachi, a Pakistan-based daily, Dawn reported.
The petroleum dealers were protesting against the government’s decision to impose a 0.5 per cent advance turnover tax which, they say, would result in an additional tax burden of Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 1 million per pump, a demand they vehemently rejected and refused to accept under any circumstances.
A petroleum dealer reported that around 50 per cent of fuel pumps in Karachi were closed ahead of Friday prayers due to a divided response to the strike call. However, by evening, most pumps resumed operations before the announcement by Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Abdul Sami Khan to postpone the strike and instruct dealers to reopen pumps from 7 pm, Dawn reported.
Fuel pumps remained open at Sharea Faisal, I I Chundrigar Road, Malir, Korangi, Landhi, North Karachi, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and other areas of the city, he said.
PPDA chairman announced the postponement of the strike, citing the difficulties faced by tourists in the north, including Hazara division, Malakand and Swat, who were running low on fuel.
Khan claimed that over 13,000 fuel pumps across the country remained closed since 6 am, declaring the strike a success. He said the association decided to postpone the strike due to the difficulties faced by tourists in northern areas, as well as the challenges encountered by motorcyclists and ambulance services in other cities. But he made it clear that this decision does not mean the association is withdrawing from its demand, Dawn reported.
He alleged that the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioners in the Hazara and Malakand divisions had coerced PPDA dealers to open their outlets. “Although the strike has been deferred, it has not ended. We will not remain silent. If our demands are not met, we will persist in our efforts,” he warned.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The Shehbaz Sharif government in Pakistan could impose a complete ban on six social media platforms namely X (Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook for around a week during Muharram. According to Pakistani media reports, the provincial government in Pakistan’s Punjab had asked the Central government to ban social media citing hatred and avoiding sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis. Notably, the Punjab government is led by Maryam Nawaz, the niece of Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif. Earlier, Islamabad had blocked X (formerly Twitter) for over four months.
As per reports, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has currently deferred a decision on this matter. It has neither accepted nor rejected the Punjab government’s request to ban social media platforms during Muharram. In a statement released on Friday (5th July), the Ministry stated that no decision had been taken so far regarding the internet shutdown. However, it added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would make the final decision in this regard.
While the statement didn’t name any provincial government, it claimed that other provinces had also made similar requests as recommended by the Punjab government.
Speaking with Pakistani outlet Dawn, an official had earlier said that instead of blocking access to social media platforms, foolproof security arrangements would be made. However, the official had hinted that cellular services would be suspended in some cities for a few hours on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.
According to a government notification issued late Thursday night (4th July), the cabinet committee on law and order of the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had recommended a ban on social media platforms from 6 to 11 Muharram to “control hate material, and misinformation to avoid sectarian violence” in the state.
Citing sources, Pakistani media reported that the Punjab government had initially planned social media suspension for two days, but it was based on “intelligence reports” that it went for more stringent measures.
Apart from provincial governments in Pakistan, Pakistan’s army chief Gen Asim Munir had once declared, “Social media is a vicious media” and emphasised the need to combat “digital terrorism.” Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who also serves as the foreign minister, had recently demanded a complete ban on social media.
During Muharram, Shia Muslims take out huge processions to mark the martyrdom of the grandson of the prophet of Islam. They observe his martyrdom as a symbol of resistance to tyranny. For this, they take out rallies during the first ten days of Muharram. This culminates into huge processions on the 9th and 10th of the month. However, the dominant Muslim sect in Pakistan, Sunnis has a historic theological rivalry with the Shias.
Extremist Sunni outfits in Pakistan brand Shias as heretics and carry out bombings on Shia processions. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has witnessed numerous such attacks in the past.
Meanwhile, earlier in February, the Shehbaz Sharif government had shut down X after the Election Commission of Pakistan raised allegations of tampering with general election results. However, it was seen as a move that was directed against Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf which had a strong presence on the micro-blogging site.
On Saturday (6th July), Rahul Gandhi announced that the Congress and other parties in the I.N.D.I. Alliance has defeated the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which culminated in the construction of the majestic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
He made the contentious remarks during his address to Congress workers in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat.
During his speech, the Gandhi scion said, “The movement which was initiated by Lal Krishna Advani and had its epicentre in Ayodhya has been defeated by the I.N.D.I. Alliance in Ayodhya.”
#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Addressing the party workers, Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "The farmers of Ayodhya lost their land when the Airport was built. The people of Ayodhya were upset that no one from Ayodhya was invited to the inauguration of the Ram… pic.twitter.com/wslXqLiPyh
Rahul Gandhi was referring to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement of LK Advani, which helped realise the dream of re-construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
It must be mentioned that the BJP lost the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency to Samajwadi Party candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
This is not the first time that the Congress party or its leaders have talked about defeating the Ram Janmabhoomi movement or opposing the construction of Ram Mandir.
It may be recalled that ex-Congress leader Kapil Sibal fought the Ram Janmabhoomi case for the Sunni Waqf Board opposing the building of a magnificent Ram temple in Ayodhya. He had also employed cunning tactics to delay the decision in the Ram Janmabhoomi case till the 2019 elections.
Congress and its denial of existence of Lord Ram
Eminent Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had earlier claimed that no ‘good Hindu’ would want a Ram Mandir at the site of the disputed structure. Tharoor urged that one should only have the Ram Mandir in one’s heart.
Interestingly, the Congress-led UPA government filed an affidavit in 2007, decrying the existence of Lord Ram.
The affidavit read, “Valmiki Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas admittedly form an important part of ancient Indian literature, but these cannot be said to be historical records to incontrovertibly prove the existence of the characters and occurrences of events depicted therein.”
The affidavit was filed to register the UPA government’s opposition to the demand to scrap the Sethusamudram project as it would damage the Ram Setu.
On Saturday, 6th of July, Iran elected Masoud Pezeshkian, a former health minister as the president of the Islamic Republic in a stunning turn of events. Masoud Pezeshkian, the progressive leader, defeated hardliner Saeed Jalili in the Iranian presidential election which took place on the 5th of July.
The election was marked by the lowest turnout in Iran’s history where only 40% of eligible voters participated in last week’s election.
During the campaign, Pezeshkian pledged to ease the implementation of Iran’s mandatory headscarf law and also talked about engaging with Western countries. According to observers, international powers are expected to welcome him with the hope that he would seek diplomatic solutions to the tense stalemate between Iran and western countries over Iran’s rapidly developing nuclear program.
Masoud Pezeshkian being greeted by supporters as he arrives Friday to vote at a polling station near Tehran. (Source: Vahid Salemi/AP)
Masoud Pezeshkian was able to win over a population that had been severely demoralised by years of security crackdowns that suppressed any public opposition to Islamist orthodoxy. In addition to easing tensions over currently-stalled negotiations with major powers to resuscitate a 2015 nuclear accord, the 69-year-old heart surgeon has promised to advance a pragmatic foreign policy and enhance chances for social liberalisation and political pluralism.
Notably, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei oversees all the decisions on important state matters in Iran, which has a dual system of clerical and republican administration. As a result, the president is unable to implement any significant policy changes regarding Iran’s nuclear program or backing for militia groups around the Middle East. However, the president has the power to shape the nation’s policies and is going to have a key role in choosing 65-year-old Khamenei’s successor.
Masoud Pezeshkian is an ardent follower of Iran’s theocratic government and has no desire to take on the country’s formidable security hawks and clerical overlords. He has pledged not to criticise Ayatollah Khamenei’s policies in TV debates and interviews and declared, “If I I try but fail to fulfill my campaign promises, I would say goodbye to political work and not continue. There is no point in wasting our life and not being able to serve our dear people,” in a video message to voters.
Following the death of hardliner President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May, the reformist camp led by former President Mohammad Khatami emerged from years of political seclusion and supported Masoud Pezeshkian in the election. His opinions stand in contrast to those of Raisi, a protégé of Khamenei who enforced a rule restricting women’s clothing more stringently and adopted a firm posture in the now-stalled discussions with major powers to revive the nuclear agreement. Notably, former United States President Donald Trump abandoned Iran Nuclear Deal and reinstated sanctions against Iran in 2018.
Masoud Pezeshkian’s background
Masoud Pezeshkian was born on 29th September 1954, in Mahabad to Iranian-Azerbaijani parents. His father was ethnically Azeri and his mother was Kurdish. His love of the country’s cultural tapestry was formed by his mixed ethnic background. He went on to become an esteemed cardiac surgeon after serving in the armed forces during the Iran-Iraq War and was tasked with the deployment of medical teams to the front lines. He eventually took on a leadership role at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. In 1994, his life dramatically changed when he lost his wife Fatemeh Majidi and one of his daughters in an automobile accident.
Pezeshkian never remarried and raised his two sons and remaining daughter alone. His political career also began with the tragic incident, during which he worked for President Mohammad Khatami as Deputy Health Minister and then as Health Minister. He represented Tabriz, Osku, and Azarshahr electoral districts in the Parliament of Iran and also served as its First Deputy Speaker from 2016 to 2020. He supported moderate and reformist objectives and analysts frequently referred to him as an “independent” rather than as being aligned to any voting bloc. He has also adopted that independent identity during the current campaign.
Supporters hold posters of Masoud Pezeshkian during a campaign event in Tehran. (Sources: Reuters)
Pezeshkian was Minister of Health and Medical Education between 2001 and 2005 in the Government of Mohammad Khatami. He became embroiled in the conflict between reformists and hardliners almost immediately after witnessing the autopsy of freelance photojournalist Zahra Kazemi, who was a dual-citizen of Iran and Canada.
Pezeshkian was elected governor of both Piranshahr and Naghadeh counties in West Azerbaijan province during the 1980s. He registered to run for president in 2011 but then withdrew his name. Authorities prevented him and other well-known contenders from running in 2021, ensuring an easy victory for Ebrahim Raisi. He has worked to strike a compromise between the constraints of Iran’s theocratic system and his reformist beliefs throughout his political career.
Masoud Pezeshkian’s supporters have attempted to pit him against Saeed Jalili’s “Taliban” policies in the campaign. His campaign’s catchphrase, “For Iran,” could potentially be an imitation of the well-known song “Baraye,” or “For” in English by Grammy Award-winning Iranian singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour. Notably, Hajipour received a sentence of more than three years in prison over his anthem for the protests triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death.
Views on Iran’s controversial Hijab law
Masoud Pezeshkian, in 2022 openly criticised how the 22-year-old Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini‘s death was handled by Ebrahim Raisi’s administration and expressed, “It is unacceptable in the Islamic Republic to arrest a girl for her hijab and then hand over her dead body to her family.” She had been apprehended because she had reportedly broken the country’s severe dress code for women. He demanded clarification from authorities and asked them to “set up an investigation team” to look into the circumstances surrounding her death, in a post on X.
He stuck to his guns during his recent campaign, attacking the implementation of rules requiring women to cover their heads and necks in public since the Islamic revolution of 1979. “We are losing our backing in society because of our behaviour, high prices, our treatment of girls and because we censor the internet. People are discontent with us because of our behaviour,” he announced in a television debate, addressing the government’s shortcomings. He voiced, “We will respect the hijab law, but there should never be any intrusive or inhumane behaviour toward women,” after casting his vote in the first round.
Running for re-election, United States President Joe Biden’s recent appearances after the debate debacle against Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump have heightened concerns within the Democratic party leadership. A swelling percentage of the party’s committed voter base, donors, and leaders have been urging him to drop out of the race to avoid what seems to be an inevitable loss in the November 5 Presidential elections. Strikingly, while attempting to assure Democrats that he is still a strong candidate to defeat Donald Trump despite a ‘bad debate night’, his recent string of gaffes has further strengthened concerns about his ‘cognitive and mental health’.
Incidentally, in the past few days, 81-year-old US President Joe Biden has ‘erred’ on several occasions on trivial things like the current year or misidentifying himself as Kamala Harris and referring to himself as a ‘black woman’. However, despite repeated media inquiries, he categorically refused to undergo an ‘independent neurological exam’.
In a recent media interaction, Biden asserted that he would only drop out from the Presidential race if the ‘Lord Almighty’ came down on the Earth and asked him to do so. During the interview with ABC, first after the 27th June debate against Trump, Biden cited his “poor health” as the reason for the ‘bad episode’. He, however, claimed that the poor performance during the debate was not because of his declining cognitive and mental health. Rather, he claimed he was sick and suffering from a cold during the debate night. Earlier, he stated that he was tired during the debate because of the long international travel and fell asleep on the stage.
Responding to the ABC anchor’s repeated queries asking him whether he would undergo an independent cognitive or neurological examination, Biden claimed that he takes a cognitive test “every day” and his test is “running the world”.
(Video Courtesy – ABC News)
He replied, “Look, I have a cognitive test every single day. Every day, I have that test. Everything I do. You know, not only am I campaigning, but I’m running the world.” He even reiterated that he believes that he will be fit for the job for the next four years.
He added, “Yes, I am (being honest about my capabilities), because George, the last thing I want to do is not be able to meet that.”
Later, he was asked whether he would step aside if people convinced him that he wouldn’t be able to defeat Trump. To which, he replied, “It depends on — on if the Lord Almighty comes down and tells me that, I might do that.” He then laughingly added that “the Lord Almighty is not coming down.”
Furthermore, in a recent interview with Philadelphia’s WURD radio station, US President Joe Biden referred to himself as “the first Black woman to serve with a Black president.” It is pertinent to note that he confused his own identity with Kamala Harris and mixed up his tenure as vice president under Barack Obama with Kamala Harris’ current role as his deputy. For those unversed, Biden was the Vice-President of the US under the country’s first black President Obama while Kamala Harris is the first woman of colour to hold the office of Vice President.
Biden tells a Philadelphia radio station that he's "proud" to be "the first black woman to serve with a black president" ? pic.twitter.com/kP5J7Q9lYy
Addressing a campaign rally in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, Biden erred and claimed that he would again defeat Donald Trump in 2020, rather than the current year 2024 when elections are due in the United States. He said, “Well, let me say this as clearly as I can- I’m staying in the race. I’ll beat Donald Trump. I will beat him again in 2020.” He, however, then corrected his mistake and said, “I am going to do that again in 2024.”
At the G7 summit in Italy Biden appeared to walk away from world leaders and be brought back to the group by Giorgia Meloni
On several occasions, he has been caught on camera in a state of confusion—stunned, shell-shocked, mixing up people, places, or events, digressing from the center stage, failing to reach the podium, tripping on stage, airplanes, or shaking hands and talking with imaginary people, rumbling and mumbling incoherently in mid-sentences.On many occasions, military personnel, officials, or others have been caught on camera guiding him where to go. Likewise, once Former US President Barack Obama was seen on camera, gently guiding Biden off the stage by nudging him forward with his hand on Biden’s back.
(Video Courtesy – Hindustan Times)
However, his visible poor health has not just become a cause of concern for the Democrats but also the Non-Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) alliance leaders as well the entire world.
(Snippet from Bloomberg Article)
Degrading health of the World’s ‘most powerful leader’ and Commander-in-Chief of a Nuclear Superpower a grave global cause for concern
It is pertinent to note that after the fall of the USSR, the US enjoyed hegemony in the geopolitical world order for several decades which gave it a lopsided influence on multi-lateral institutions like the UN, and World Bank, and sway over global politics, making the US President the most powerful leader in the world. While the US dominance has diminished to a great extent with the emergence of other global players including China, India, Japan, and EU member nations, the US President is still regarded as one of the most powerful leaders in the world, if not the most powerful.
The US President enjoys a substantial or veto-esque power on several global issues and crises, and his/her decision could halt/end ongoing wars, or start new ones. A minor fender bender by the US in the ongoing crises in Europe, the Middle East, or the Indo-Pacific involving nuclear-powered countries like Russia, and China could not only escalate the war horizontally and vertically, it could also take the world to the brink of a Third World War, which could potentially be a Nuclear war. For example – the Ukraine-Russia war or the China-Taiwan crisis could end up spiralling down the roads of the Cuban Missile Crisis which could this time lead to fatal consequences rather than a de-escalation which requires the utmost presence of ‘sound mind’ of all stakeholders involved, particularly the US President.
While Biden boasted that he is giving “cognitive tests every day” by “running the world”, on several occasions he had irked other leaders, especially Russian President Vladimir Putin by describing him as a “killer”, crazy Son of a bi**h and whatnot. Now, with his questionable ‘cognitive and mental health’ and his issues with misidentification and mixing up things, his verbal diatribe could endanger world peace by directly pitting the two largest nuclear-powered nations against each other.
Along similar lines, the military-industrial complex, arms and pharma lobby which have a notorious stronghold in the US, could run amuck under the leadership of a frail US President who reportedly struggles to function in the office post 4 PM. Apart from these decade-strong lobbies, the new woke lobby gaining steam in the US could spread its fang throughout the world under the regime of a US President who is “genuinely confused about his state of being” rendering more kids prone to gender transform surgeries for so-called not identifying with their assigned gender at birth.
In the absence or ‘with consent’ from a confused President in office, these lobbies could tighten their grip on power and start posing more challenges to the US and the world. In the absence of a mentally sound President in office, the lobbies or any other power, without any accountability, may exploit the power vacuum, leading to a nightmare for the world.
Furthermore, the US is currently reeling under a historic $34 trillion debt. Under a confused and ailing US President, the uncontrolled implosion of the US dollar or its economy could trigger an economic disaster for the world which still is heavily reliant on dollar trade and the liquidity and economic policy of the US. An unwarranted “gaffe” by the US President can not only trigger a conflict or a war, it could also set in motion a domino effect for global economic slump.
It is paramount that the US President, whose decisions impact the global political and economic order, be of sound mind and not add to the anxiety of an already chaotic and warring world.
On Wednesday (3rd July), the police arrested a 54-year-old Christian pastor for sexually abusing a minor girl in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu.
As per reports, the accused was identified as S Devairakkam. The victim had been staying at the Church grounds at night ever since she lost her mother a few years ago. Her father works as a gardener at the Church.
The pastor sexually assaulted the girl when she was asleep at night. Distraught by the incident, the victim left the church and went to her old house.
Pastor remanded to judicial custody
When neighbours and relatives inquired about her condition, the girl told them that she was sexually assaulted by Devairakkam. Soon after, a complaint was lodged and forwarded to the Kancheepuram police.
On Wednesday, the police arrested the Church pastor and booked him under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Child Sexual offences (POCSO) Act .
Devairakkam was thereafter produced before a local court, which remanded him to judicial custody. The victim is said to be 14 years old and a student of Class 9 at a government school.
Pastor abused child more than once: Police
A police officer, investigating the case, informed that the pastor had assaulted the victim more than once.
“Inquiries revealed that the 54-year-old man had sexually attacked the child more than once…We have sent the victim for a medical checkup and the report is awaited,” the officer added.
On Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Hathras in Uttar Pradesh and met with the families affected by the stampede tragedy. Among those he spoke with was the family of Premawati, a victim of the incident, who shared their grievances with the Congress MP from Rae Bareli.
The family demanded an investigation into the tragic event that resulted in the deaths of over 120 people. They also stated that they no longer believe in the self-styled Godman ‘Bhole Baba’ and have removed his photo.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi visited Aligarh, where he met with other families affected by the Hathras stampede.
On Tuesday, July 2, a stampede at a private religious event in Hathras claimed 121 lives, leaving many others injured. The stampede took place during a Satsang for Sant Bhole Baba. Most of the dead in the tragedy are women.
A religious congregation was organised at Phulrai village in the district in which a large number of devotees were present. There was a stampede at the end of the congregation when hundreds of devotees tried to leave the venue together leading to a stampede.
The venue was small and overcrowded. Because of the suffocation in small areas in hot and humid weather, the devotees rushed out as soon as the Satsang ended, leading to the stampede.
While Rahul wasted little time visiting the towns and expressing his sympathy for the victims and the kin of the deceased, he has yet not even acknowledged the Kallakurchi hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu that claimed 65 lives thus far, mostly Dalits, let alone visiting the village and meeting with the relatives of the victims.
The death toll in the hooch tragedy in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district has risen to 65 thus far, with more than 225 people affected by the consumption of spurious liquor. The tragedy occurred on June 18, Tuesday, when most of the victims consumed the tainted liquor in Karunapuram, Kallakurichi.
By Wednesday, they were admitted to the Kallakurichi Government Medical College and Hospital, as well as hospitals in Salem, Villupuram, and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Puducherry. Several victims passed away on Wednesday night. And since then, many have died, taking the death toll to 65.
Gandhi, who has upped his social media game significantly and is quick to raise issues of social import and has projected himself, with the help of a pliant ecosystem, as the voice of the marginalised and the lower caste, is silent on the deaths of 65 people, most Dalits, in Tamil Nadu, a state governed by INDI alliance partner DMK. Gandhi didn’t express his commiserations for the kin of the dead or hold the administration responsible for the sale of spurious liquor in the state that caused the tragedy.
Various combinations of Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy and spurious liquor consumption in Tamil Nadu for posts made by Rahul Gandhi X have yielded a blank result.
Rahul Gandhi is yet to tweet on Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy
Known for his constant refrain ‘Daro mat’ as a means to malign the Modi government, Rahul Gandhi has not spoken yet on the Sandeshkhali horrors emanating from West Bengal, another state that is ruled by an opposition party, TMC, whose supreme Mamata Banerjee has had a vacillating relationship with the INDI alliance.
Known for his constant refrain ‘Daro mat’ as a means to malign the Modi government, Rahul Gandhi has not spoken yet on the Sandeshkhali horrors emanating from West Bengal. The issue cropped up in February this year, months before the all-important Lok Sabha polls, when Congress had been desperately trying to woo Mamata Banerjee to join the INDI alliance for their collective goal of ousting PM Modi.
Protests erupted in West Bengal on February 8th as hundreds of women residents of Sandeshkhali came out on the streets on Thursday with brooms, sticks and farming tools and blocked the roads. They are demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan and his two aides Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, whom they have accused of making their lives miserable.
Hindustan Times quoted Archana Naskar, a Sandeshkhali resident, saying that Sardar and Hazra usurped hundreds of acres of farmland over the last few years to run their fisheries. “They deprived people of homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and did not give us the money under the MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme),” Naskar alleged.
“Besides, land grabbing, they also forced the villagers to provide free labour in the businesses run by them. The women of the area were unable to step out of their homes after sunset because of the fear of molestation by Shahjahan’s associates,” another woman protester said.
However, these protestations failed to stir the conscience of the ‘Jannayak’ as the Congress party leaders fawn over him of late, to take cognisance of the grave allegations levelled by women in Sandeshkhali and demand a fair probe into the matter from the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in West Bengal. All the claims and promises of empowering women and ensuring their safety turned out to be empty rhetoric, serving no purpose other than gaining women’s support and acting as a public relations exercise.
Rahul Gandhi is yet to tweet on Sandeshkhali violence
Nevertheless, Gandhi’s unwillingness to raise his voice on the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy and Sandeshkhali violence seems to be the coalition compulsion his party faces. It is the price that Congress has to pay to keep the INDI alliance from disintegrating, even if that means remaining silent on grave issues such as atrocities meted out on women in West Bengal or poor victims who died after consuming spurious liquor in Tamil Nadu.
Additionally, the lofty posturing of caring for the victims of tragedies that is conveniently confined only to the BJP-ruled states could be used as a stick to proverbially beat the BJP-led governments and show them in a poor light while deflecting attention from the governance inadequacies of the INDI alliance partners and providing a cover fire for their fiasco.
Even as Gandhi and his lapdog media are predisposed to exaggerating Congress’ 99 seats in Lok Sabha as a significant number to influence Indian politics, the Gandhi scion’s conduct reveals he is still helpless when it comes to raising issues of public importance when they take place in states ruled by INDI alliance partners.
Gandhi’s deafening silence on water crisis in Karnataka, his disregard for atrocities suffered by Sandeshkhali victims, and his refusal so much as to even acknowledge the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy shows all this display of solidarity for victims is just a sham aimed at shoring up his political fortunes and little to do with genuine sympathy and concern for the victims.
If Rahul Gandhi speaks up for the victims of political violence in West Bengal or visits the families affected by the Tamil Nadu hooch tragedy, it can be assumed with reasonable certitude that the INDI alliance will be nearing its final days. This symbiotic relationship between various members of the INDI bloc to not raise tough questions of each other seems to be the foundation on which the alliance rests.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday went to the New Delhi Railway station and met some loco pilots there. It was reported that he met around 50 loco pilots during the interaction in the afternoon and listened to other issues. But now it has emerged that the Railway employees Rahul Gandhi met were not even from Northern Railways, under which the New Delhi Rail Station falls.
Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northern Railway Deepak Kumar stated that the crew members the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi spoke with at the New Delhi railway station might not have been from their lobby, but rather from outside. The official added that the Congress MP brought multiple cameramen and was “filming reels” with them.
He stated, “Today at around 12:45 pm Rahul Gandhi came to New Delhi Railway Station. He saw our crew lobby. He had 7-8 cameramen with him. He visited our crew lobby and checked into how we book our crew lobby. After coming out of the crew lobby he had a discussion with a few people. There were around 7-8 crew who were not from our lobby but it seems that they were from outside. Since he has 7-8 cameramen, he was filming them and making reels.” He reiterated, “The loco-pilots were not from our lobby. It seems that they were brought from outside.”
Popular social media handle Mr Sinha also shared a video in which a Rajdhani train driver also pointed out that he had never seen the loco-pilots before. He can be heard conveying, “I arrived in New Delhi from Kota. I reached here in the morning and went to sleep. At around 12:30, I came down after having my food and saw that a lot of people were running. I witnessed a large crowd and asked a person who told me that it was a movie shooting. There were many cameramen and men in loco-pilot outfits sitting around Rahul Gandhi. I also stood among the gathered individuals to learn about the matter. However, I didn’t know any of the people wearing the loco-pilot dress. I saw them for the first time. I am a Rajdhani driver and I don’t know any of them.”
Shocking claim by Rajdhani train driver: He says that upon hearing Rahul Gandhi was at New Delhi railway station, he went to see him, but found that none of the "loco pilots" he was talking to were known faces. He couldn't recognize anybody because they were outsiders.
Responding to these revelations, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya claimed that Rahul Gandhi didn’t meet actual loco pilots. “In all probability they were professional actors, brought in by his team,” he tweeted.
It seems Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi went to meet loco pilots, this afternoon, with eight cameramen and a director in tow. You can count them… What is more bizarre is that he didn’t meet actual loco pilots. In all probability they were professional actors, brought in by his… pic.twitter.com/UvvMXPxDZu
Social media users also called out the Gandhi scion for staging a “drama” with people recruited by his own team. Ankur Singh referred to the episode as the parliamentarian’s “PR stunt at New Delhi Railway Station.” He further commented, “Rahul brought 8 cameras along with a director and interacted with some people which were also brought by his team. Very poor direction.”
Rahul Gandhi's PR stunt at New Delhi Railway Station
Rahul brought 8 cameras along with a director and interacted with some people which were also brought by his team.
A netizen asked him to try his luck in the Hindi film industry and mentioned, “He reached New Delhi Railway Station with 8 cameramen, directors and actors pretending to be loco pilots. Glad that Railway released the CCTV footage. Such clowns deserve this.”
Rahul Gandhi should try in bollywood.
He reached New Delhi Railway Station with 8 cameramen, directors and actors pretending to be Loco Pilot.
Another individual charged that the Congress stalwart “doesn’t care about anything except drama” and termed his action “shameful.” He remarked, “Rahul Gandhi was today spotted with eight cameras and a director at New Delhi Railway Station, speaking with ‘loco pilots,’ who were also brought by him.”
Rahul Gandhi was today spotted with eight cameras and a director at New Delhi Railway Station, speaking with “loco pilots,” who were also brought by him.
He doesn’t care about anything; the only thing he cares about is drama. Shameful! pic.twitter.com/wc6IuyRMh3
Mr Sinha also labelled the Congress leader as a “fraud” and stated, “Yesterday Rahul Gandhi visited New Delhi railway station to meet loco pilots. Look at the number of cameras.” He added that the politician’s team additionally roped in some actors to pretend to be loco pilots so they could peddle his party’s agenda.
Yesterday Rahul Gandhi visited New Delhi railway station to meet loco pilots. Look at the number of cameras.. Also his team had brought some actors with them to pose as loco pilots, so that they can speak as per Congressi agenda.
The Congress Lok Sabha MP met loco pilots at the New Delhi Railway Station after visiting the families affected by the Hathras stampede. Congress official handle stated, “Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi met the loco pilots at New Delhi Railway Station. These loco pilots are the backbone of the railways which is called the lifeline of the country. Making their lives simpler and safer will be a strong step towards railway safety.”
नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi ने नई दिल्ली में लोको पायलट्स से मुलाकात कर उनकी समस्याएं सुनीं।
लोको पायलट्स के कंधों पर रेलवे सुरक्षा की बहुत बड़ी जिम्मेदारी होती है।
Notably, now it seems that the meeting was yet another photo-op by the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi’s team. The statement and CCTV video released by the railways along with the remark of the Rajdhani train driver have exposed the orchestrated set-up of the opposition party.
Late last month, over 60 people died in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy. Following the tragic deaths, Tamil Nadu government announced a compensation of Rs 10 Lakh each to the families of all the deceased. However, now, a plea has been filed in the court against the compensation arguing that the victims were no freedom fighters that they should be paid this amount.
The Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Madras High Court by a certain Mohamed Ghouse to strike down the Tamil Nadu government order providing the Rs 10 lakh compensation to all the victims of the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. The plea argued, “The hooch victims were not freedom fighters or social activists who have lost their lives for the cause of the general public or for the sake of the society and had committed an illegal act by consuming illicit liquor.”
Mohamed Ghouse further argued that consuming illicit liquor is an illegal act and the state need not have pity on those who consumed illicit liquor and thereby committed an illegal act and consequently succumbed to such an act.
The plea further said that it was not justified on what basis the state government was granting a lesser solatium to victims of fire or any other accidents, and at the same time granting a huge amount to hooch tragedy victims.
The plea came up for hearing in Madras High Court on Friday, July 5, where a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shafiq orally noted that the compensation amount was on the higher side and posted the next hearing after two weeks.
Meanwhile, The Bench directed a government counsel to take instructions within two weeks, before the next hearing, on reconsidering the compensation announced by the State.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) clarified on Saturday that the investigation into the roles of all other accused has been completed and only the role of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is being investigated in relation to the excise policy case.
CBI counsel Advocate DP Singh further added that we will brief the Supreme Court about some new developments that took place after June 4, which led us to arrest Arvind Kejriwal.
The CBI further stated that only the role and investigation of Kejriwal have been further investigated, and the probe against the rest of the accused is almost complete.
The CBI further clarified that the statement made by the Solicitor General before was related to all the arrested accused in the case except Kejriwal.
Earlier on June 4, before the Supreme Court noted the submissions of Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General, that the investigation would be concluded and a final complaint and charge sheet would be filed expeditiously and at any rate on or before July 3, 2024, and immediately thereafter, the trial court will be free to proceed with trial.
In light of the said submissions made and having regard to the fact that the period of “6-8 months” fixed by this Court by Order dated October 30, 2023, has not come to an end, it would suffice to dispose of these petitions with liberty to the petitioner to revive his prayer afresh after filing the final complaint/charge sheet as assured by the Solicitor General.
Counsels for Manish Sisodia and K Kavitha on Saturday allege that CBI is miscreating and misleading the statements. On March 22, in a judicial order passed by the court, it was noted that the investigation was complete. CBI wrongly stated before the Court that the investigation is complete. Today, the situation is that the status report filed is contrary.
The Special Judge Kaveri Baweja on Saturday extended the judicial custody of Delhi’s former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and other accused till July 15, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Court also allowed Manish Sisodia to sign documents related to the development of his constituency from MLA funds. The court also allowed him to sign bank checks for his family’s expenditures.
However, the Court also deferred its hearing on the aspect of taking cognizance on the third supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI against BRS Leader K Kavitha.
The court deferred the matter for July 8, 2024, after noting that some of the pages of said chargesheet are incorrectly paginated.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
