Prez poll: Sangma hopes for miracle to emerge winner

June 24, 2012

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New Delhi, June 24: With Pranab Mukherjee having a clear edge in the Presidential poll, P A Sangma is now hoping for a "miracle" to see himself emerge a winner, even as he denied being a "tool" in the hands of those supporting him.

"Yes, miracles can and do happen in this world...it happens...I believe in miracles. You are right. I do believe in miracles," Sangma said when suggested that only a miracle could ensure victory for him as over 60 per cent of the electorates have already extended their support to Mukherjee.

Sangma said it was not right to tick him off even before the Presidential poll and claimed that God was with him.

"Politics moves very fast...This is politics. In politics anything can happen...Things will change everyday, you just watch," he told Karan Thapar in Devil's Advocate programme on CNN-IBN.

The tribal leader denied being used a "tool" by BJP to win over other political allies or by Naveen Patnaik to woo 25 per cent tribals in Orissa.

"Not at all," he said. He, however, suggested that even media is playing as a tool in someone's hands and said, "We are all tools. You are a tool for someone. I am a tool for someone. Don't bring in these petty things."

Sangma who is supported by BJP, AIADMK and BJD said his candidature "will do good to secularism of this nation".

He also downplayed the "anti-Christian" stance of both BJP and AIADMK in the past and said, "Religious problems are everywhere" and cited examples of countries like the United Kingdom and the United States where only Anglicals and non- Catholics respectively were made prime ministers. When pointed out that Sangh outfit, the ideology of which is followed by BJP, have been blamed for Kandhamal killings in Orissa and Graham Stein's murder, Sangma said, "Forgiveness is the essence of Christianity. We as Christians, do not keep things permanently...Christianity is the biggest religion in the world. We don't go by small incidents here and there...It has a big heart."

"Where is the proof that BJP has done it (Kandhamal killings)?...Don't jump to conclusions...Don't make such wild allegations," he said, adding that one should not go by the actions of individuals.

On whether his support from BJP and AIADMK contradicted the principles for which he stood for, Sangma said, "India is a large democracy. Congress is the largest party. BJP is the second largest party. In such huge political parties, few incidents here and there do happen, will happen. You can't judge it by that."

"I am standing for principles...for democracy...for the welfare of poor people. I am very clear in my conscience," he said.

Sangma brushed aside reports that it was "wrong" on his part to contest the presidential poll against odds and negated suggestions that the move would end his political career.

"There is no end to a political career. I am just 65 now. I don't need to join a political party to contest...my margin never goes down, it always goes up," he said.

He said it was not his obsession to contest for President but his right to assert. "I am only asserting my right as a citizen of India...as a tribal...as a person coming from the north eastern region."

Brushing aside as "speculation" reports of Mamata Banerjee denying him time to meet, he said, "I have requested for time. I am waiting for the reply. I will (get time). Still there is time. It's almost one month left (for the poll)."

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News Network
January 27,2020

Jan 27: Bollywood Film Director Anurag Kashyap, who has been vocal about his political views on social media, slammed Union Minister Amit Shah and accused him of being 'cheap'.

"How timid our Home Minister is. Its own police, its own goons, its own army and security increases and invades unarmed protestors. Amit Shah has crossed the extent of cheapness and inferiority. History will spit on this animal," Kashyap tweeted.

The film director has taken an active part in the anti-Citizenship Act protest rallies and was against the Jawaharlal Nehru violence. He also came in support of his contemporary Deepika Padukone when the latter faced backlash for showing up at JNU in support of the students.

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Agencies
July 20,2020

New Delhi, Jul 20: Reiterating that China has still occupied India's territory, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he has fabricated a fake strongman image to come to power which has now become India's biggest weakness as he has to protect the idea of 'Chhapan Inch'.

Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader posted a video message and wrote, "PM fabricated a fake strongman image to come to power. It was his biggest strength. It is now India's biggest weakness."

In the video message, speaking on "China's Strategic Game Plan" the Congress leader said: "What is China's strategic and tactical game plan? It is simply not a border issue. The worry I have is that the Chinese are sitting in our territory today. Chinese don't do anything without thinking about it strategically."

"In their mind, they have mapped out the world and they are trying to shape the world. That's the scale of what they are doing. That's what Gwadar is, that is what belt and road is. It is a restructuring of the planet. So when you are thinking about the Chinese you have to understand that that is the level at which they are thinking," he added.

Now at the tactical level, they're trying to improve their position. Whether it is Galwan, whether it's Demchok or whether it is Pangong Lake. The idea is to position themselves, he said.

"They are disturbed by our highway they want to make our highway redundant and if they are thinking larger scale, they want to do something with Pakistan in Kashmir. So it is not simply a border issue. It is a border issue designed to put pressure on the Prime Minister of India," the Congress leader said.

"And they are thinking of putting pressure in a very particular way. And what they are doing, is that they are attacking his image. They understand that it in order for Mr Narendra Modi to be an effective politician; in order for Mr Narendra Modi to survive as a politician, he has to protect the idea of--Chhapan Inch. And this the real idea the Chinese are attacking. They are basically telling Mr Narendra Modi that if you do not do what we say, we will destroy the idea of Mr Narendra Modi as a strong leader," he added.

Gandhi continued saying, now the question is, how will PM Narendra Modi react. Will he take them on? Will he take on the challenge and say absolutely not, I'm the Prime Minister of India. I do not care about my image I'm going to take you on. Or will he succumb to them?

"The worry I have so far is that the Prime Minister has succumbed. The worry I have is, the Chinese are sitting in our territory today and the Prime Minister has said publicly they are not, which to me tells me that is worried about his image and defending his image," said Gandhi.

"And if he allows the Chinese to understand that they can manipulate him because of his image, the Indian Prime Minister will no longer be worth anything for India," he added.

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News Network
June 30,2020

Srinagar, Jun 30: On the deadly attack at Karachi Stock Exchange on Monday morning, a Kashmiri social activist and journalist warned that the incident is a stark reminder to all those in Pakistan supporting Jihad and attacked Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan for ignoring development agenda in Balochistan.

Yana Mir, the editor-in-chief of The Real Kashmir News, said, "Karachi Stock Exchange attack is a reminder to all those in Pakistan supporting Jihad. Remember @imrankhan that Youth is restless and they want development agenda. These young boys of BLA are also looking for a life which is settled and peaceful. Wake up Imran Khan and you Kashmiris also. Pakistan is going to finish you. Open your eyes."
Four heavily armed terrorists attacked the busy Pakistan Stock Exchange building in Karachi with grenades today, killing four security guards and a police officer before being shot dead in an exchange of fire, authorities said.

The terrorists, who arrived in a car, stormed the Karachi Stock Exchange building by firing indiscriminately and lobbed grenades at the main gate of the multi-storey building situated in the city's high-security commercial hub.

Balochistan is a well-known region rich in natural resources but the Balochis have always been deprived of basic facilities. No hospitals are available in Balochistan. If there are some then medical facilities and equipment are not available in hospitals. The education system is pathetic and similar is the case with the infrastructure: the roads, water system, agriculture and almost all fields of life.

It is pertinent to mention that enforced disappearances and abductions by the Pakistani military establishment have also been carried out regularly and for innumerable times in Balochistan. Leaders, activists, and vocal members of various student organizations have been detained by the security forces and kept in confinement. While others have been shot dead.

This crime against humanity has been going on for so long and so systematically in Balochistan that it has come to be considered as a normal state of affairs in the province. Many social and human rights activists have flagged the issue of oppression by the Pakistani establishment before the United Nations and other international agencies.

According to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, an entity established by the Pakistani government, about 5,000 cases of enforced disappearances have been registered since 2014. Most of them are still unresolved.

Independent local and international human rights organisations put the numbers much higher. Around 20,000 have reportedly been abducted only from Balochistan, out of which more than 2,500 have turned up dead as bullet-riddled dead bodies, bearing signs of extreme torture.

Before being elected as Prime Minister, Imran Khan had admitted in multiple interviews about the involvement of Pakistan's intelligence agencies in enforced disappearances as well as extrajudicial killings and vowed to resign if he was unable to put an end to the practice, holding those involved responsible. But times have passed and only reports are available to narrate the true story.

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