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INDIA 2024 India News Politics

The great family divide splits Baramati

The NCP(SP) Working President Supriya Sule (54) is locked in a rare battle with Sunetra A Pawar (61), the wife of her cousin brother and rival NCP President Ajit Pawar, reports Quaid Najmi

 After ruling the roost for nearly six decades in Baramati, NCP(SP) President, Sharad Pawar is facing the first major challenge to his supremacy in state politics, that too, from within the family, through his nephew Ajit Pawar.

The NCP(SP) Working President Supriya Sule (54) is locked in a rare battle with Sunetra A Pawar (61), the wife of her cousin brother and rival NCP President Ajit Pawar.

Considered an ideal, close-knit family, with politics always kept at the doorstep, an unusual and bitter fight between the Pawar ‘bhabhi-nanad’ slugging it out in the summer heat for the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, is spilling onto the streets.

The average Baramati voter is torn between loyalty to the uncle, Sharad Pawar, 83, who founded the (undivided) NCP in 1999, and his nephew Ajit Pawar who split the party in July 2023 to walk out and join the ‘enemy’, ideologically shunned by almost the entire Pawar clan.

There are instances of entire families of the local population living divided in their homes, with an invisible ‘Sharad Pawar’ or ‘Ajit Pawar’ looming in the shadows, tugging at their heart-strings for votes, catapulting Baramati among the top 10 most watched and unpredictable Lok Sabha constituencies in the 2024 elections.

In fact, the first battle for conquering Baramati started when Ajit Pawar split the (undivided) NCP to join the ruling Mahayuti government of Shiv Sena-BJP as a second Deputy Chief Minister, holding the post for a record 6th time, just a rung below his unabashed ambition to be the Chief Minister.

A NCP(SP) leader explained how Ajit Pawar had joined the two-man regime headed by BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis in November 2019 and had unceremoniously crashed in barely 80 hours, “but thereafter Pawar Saheb, Supriya tai, the entire family and the party had forgiven him”, but warned that this time “there is deep angst against Ajit Pawar and nobody will show mercy.”

On the other hand, an Ajit Pawar supporter claims that “Dada (elder brother) was wronged many times, the party lost opportunities to make him the CM, and faced humiliation on several occasions”, and it’s now up to the people of Baramati to give him justice.

Conscious of what is in store in ‘the big fight for supremacy’, Ajit Pawar has launched a campaign for his wife utilising the age-old ingredients of “saam, daam, dand, bhed (persuade, tempt, punish, secret).”

Ajit Pawar gently goaded the people to vote with their heads and not with their hearts and avoid sentiments for Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya. Then he made emotional appeals to give an opportunity to a new family member Sunetra, as they had done with Sharad Pawar and Supriya in the past.

Later, he sternly warned of repercussions like not releasing development funds if they failed to vote for his wife. Ajit Pawar subsequently attempted ideological schisms by securing the support of certain organisations that were earlier treated as persona-non-grata, by him and his uncle.

Earlier, Ajit Pawar took rude potshots at his 83-year-old uncle, virtually pushing him to the ‘margdarshak mandal’, and exploiting a stray ‘outsider’ remark of Sharad Pawar, that had few takers in the constituency.

However, an unruffled Sharad Pawar said that he is “fit, fine and healthy” and had many more years to serve the people, and urged the masses to give an opportunity for a 4th Lok Sabha term to Supriya, rather than some ‘outsider’ or ‘opportunists’.

More recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Pune and spoke of a ‘bhatakti atma (wandering soul)’ which left Ajit Pawar spooked and wondering who was the PM actually referring to, and then vowed to ask him to identify the ‘unholy ghost’ he had in mind.

As far as the ordinary Baramatikar is concerned, all normal electoral issues are swept to the sidewalk and it’s all about the election season’s biggest battle royale between the daughter and daughter-in-law that is the talk of the town, day and night…in Sharad Pawar’s prosperous hometown.

Supriya is making her 4th bid for the LS as compared to Sunetra trying her maiden attempt for Baramati which comprises 6 Assembly constituencies – Baramati, Daund, Purandar, Indapur, Bhor and Khadakwasla – of which two are held by NCP (including 7-time MLA Ajit Pawar), two with ally BJP and two with the Congress.

ALSO READ: AAP, Congress discuss strategy to cooperate in campaigning

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Labour wins Blackpool South by-election

Labour candidate overturned a majority of 3,690 to defeat Conservative David Jones in the constituency, which was previously held by Labour from 1997 to 2019…reports Asian Lite News

Labour has won the Blackpool South by-election and gained control of four councils, as counting continues in local elections in England and Wales.

The party won the seat comfortably with a 7,607 majority and a huge 26% swing from the Conservatives.

In overnight results, Labour also gained key target councils in Hartlepool, Thurrock, Rushmoor and Redditch.

Meanwhile, the Tories lost control of three councils. The by-election in Blackpool South was triggered by the resignation of former Conservative MP Scott Benton, who was suspended from the party after being caught in a lobbying sting.

Labour candidate Chris Webb overturned a majority of 3,690 to defeat Conservative David Jones in the constituency, which was previously held by Labour from 1997 to 2019.

Reform UK almost managed to push the Tories into third place, with the party’s candidate, local charity worker Mark Butcher, winning 3,101 votes compared with 3,218 for the Tories.

The party secured 16.9% of the vote – its best by-election result since it rebranded from its previous name, the Brexit Party.

The swing of 26% from the Tories to Labour was the third biggest in a by-election since 1945. It is the seventh by-election defeat for Rishi Sunak since he became prime minister in October 2022.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was a “seismic win” and “the most important result of the night”. “This is the one contest where voters had the chance to send a message to Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives directly, and that message is an overwhelming vote for change,” he said.

“The message to Rishi Sunak is clear. It’s time for change, it’s time for a general election.”

Webb said: “People no longer trust the Conservatives. Prime minister: do the decent thing, admit you’ve failed and call a general election.”

Tory deputy chairwoman Angela Richardson said the result “was not unexpected”.

“I think, given the circumstances that caused the by-election in the first place, it was always going to be difficult for the Conservatives,” she said.

In council elections in England, Labour was buoyed by gains in areas where it hopes to win seats at the next general election, which must take place by the end of January 2025.

In Hartlepool, where three years ago Labour lost the parliamentary seat to the Tories in a by-election, the party gained eight seats to take control of the council.

It hailed the result in Rushmoor – which has never had a Labour majority council – as “truly historic”. Labour gained seven seats to take control of the council in Hampshire from the Tories.

However, Labour suffered heavy losses in areas with high Muslim populations, where some voters have criticised the party’s stance on the conflict in Gaza, believing it has been too slow to call for a ceasefire.

In Oldham, where two Labour councillors quit the party over Gaza earlier this year, Labour lost control of the council.

The Greens benefited from a drop in Labour support in South Tyneside and Newcastle, where they won their first ever councillors. The party is averaging 11% in wards it was standing in – slightly up on its previous best-ever performance in local elections, in 2019.

Reform UK also saw a strong performance overnight, with the Conservatives suffering heavily in areas the right-wing party fielded candidates. Although it has not won any council seats so far, it is averaging 13% in wards it is standing in and beat the Tories in 16 of the 25 seats up for grabs in Sunderland.

Reform leader Richard Tice said the results showed his party “is rapidly becoming the real opposition to Labour”.

It was a modest night for the Liberal Democrats, who gained only 17 council seats. However, most of the areas the party has been targeting – primarily former Conservative strongholds in the south of England – will be counting votes later in the day.

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper told the BBC her party had still managed to make inroads in places like Hampshire but was expecting its best results later.

Overall, it was a bad night for the Conservatives, who lost more than 100 council seats and control of three councils, while Labour gained 52 council seats.

Elections expert Prof Sir John Curtice said the Tories could be on course to lose 500 councillors in “one of the worst, if not the worst” performances by the party in 40 years.

The last time these seats were fought was in 2021, when the Tories benefited from the success of the UK’s vaccine rollout. The party is still hoping to hold on in mayoral elections in Tees Valley and the West Midlands, where results are expected on Friday and Saturday.

Both Conservative candidates – Ben Houchen and Andy Street – have distanced themselves from their party branding during the campaign, instead focusing on their personal credentials and what they have achieved in office.

Losing both would be major blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and pile further pressure on his leadership. There are nine other mayoral contests taking place – including in London, Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region.

The East Midlands, the North East, and York and North Yorkshire are also electing mayors for the first time. Elsewhere, 37 police and crime commissioners are being elected in England and Wales.

Votes are still being counted in the majority of councils, with the final declarations not expected until Sunday.

ALSO READ-Labour suspends candidate over offensive tweets  

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INDIA 2024 India News Politics

It’s experienced vs first-timers in Bihar

NDA favors incumbents with 4 Lok Sabha tickets, reserving just one for a newcomer in Khagaria, while Grand Alliance predominantly backs first-time candidates…reports Asian Lite News

The third phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections is turning out to be a contest between experienced candidates versus first-timers in Bihar.

NDA has given tickets to sitting MPs in four Lok Sabha constituencies while only one in Khagaria seat was given to a first-time candidate. On the other hand, the Grand Alliance has given the tickets to the candidates who are contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time.

The voting for the five seats — Madhepura, Araria, Jhanjharpur, Supaul and Khagaria — is scheduled in the third phase on May 7.

In Madhepura, JD-U’s Dinesh Chandra Yadav, who has a stronghold in the Yadav caste in Madhepura, is contesting the election. He is a sitting MP and had defeated RJD’s Sharad Yadav in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The RJD has given the ticket to Kumar Chandradeep, who is a principal in a school and is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time.

Pradeep Kumar Singh, the sitting MP of BJP, is in the fray in Araria. He will contest against RJD’s Shahnawaz Alam who is an MLA from the Jokihat constituency and is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time.

In Jhanjharpur, Rampreet Mandal is contesting as an NDA candidate on the ticket of JD-U. He is a sitting MP from this seat and is pitted against Vikassheel Insaan Party’s (VIP) Suman Kumar Mahaseth, who is contesting the Lok Sabha election for the first time. Mahaseth, an ex-MLC, also contested the assembly election but lost.

Supaul is another seat where the NDA has given the ticket to a sitting MP. JD-U’s Dileshwar Kamait is contesting against Grand Alliance candidate Chandrahas Chaupal, who is a legislator in the Bihar assembly and is contesting the Lok Sabha election for the first time.

Khagaria is the only seat where both NDA and Grand Alliance have given the tickets to first-time candidates. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Mahboob Ali Kaiser won the seat on the ticket of LJP. He later joined the Pashupati Kumar Paras faction. Though he resigned from the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) and met with Chirag Paswan, he was not given the ticket. Now, he has joined RJD.

The Khagaria seat went to LJP (Ram Vilas) after seat-sharing in NDA and the party has given the ticket to Rajesh Verma. He was the LJP (Ram Vilas) district president of Bhagalpur. 31-year-old Verma is contesting against CPM candidate Sanjay Kumar, who is also contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time.

“Our leader Tejashwi Yadav is a youth and he has a vision to promote a new generation of politicians in Bihar. Hence, he has given the tickets to many candidates who are contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time. In the first phase, Archana Ravidas contested from Jamui as a first-time candidate of Lok Sabha. Shrawan Kushwaha also contested for the first time, from Nawada. Bima Bharti also contested the Lok Sabha elections from Purnea for the first time. Rohini Acharya is also contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time,” said Chitranjan Gagan, the spokesperson of RJD.

“Even our alliance partners are following the same in the selection of candidates. If we analyse the average age of candidates, it is not beyond 40 in this Lok Sabha election,” Gagan said.

“Grand Alliance is not getting candidates. That’s why they are making anyone their candidate. They don’t even have the face of the Prime Minister. This is an election to choose the Prime Minister. We have a universally recognised leader who has prestige all over the world. India has gained global stature under his (PM Modi) leadership,” said Arvind Kumar Singh, the spokesperson of BJP.

ALSO READ-Sluggish voting prompts Bihar parties to redraw strategy

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India News Politics

EC appoints 15 expenditure observers for Punjab

Ferozepur, Apr 27 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann addresses the crowd during the road show in support of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Jagdeep Singh Kaka Brar for the Lok Sabha Polls, in Ferozepur on Saturday. (ANI Photo)

CEO Sibin C stated that each appointed observer will play a crucial role in ensuring the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in their respective constituencies, the statement added…reports Asian Lite News

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed 15 expenditure observers for various Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab.

The expenditure observers are entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the expenditure incurred by candidates and political parties during the campaign period, ensuring compliance with election expenditure regulations, said an official statement from the Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab, on Thursday.

Disclosing the details of the appointed Expenditure Observers, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab, Sibin C, said that the appointed observers are distinguished Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles. He informed that Harshad S Vengurlekar has been appointed for Gurdaspur, Bare Ganesh Sudhakar for Amritsar, Anurag Tripathi for Khadoor Sahib, Madhav Deshmukh for Jalandhar (SC), and Pawan Kumar Khetan for Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha Constituency.

Similarly, Shilpi Sinha has been appointed for Anandpur Sahib, Pankaj Kumar and Chetan D Kalamkar for Ludhiana, and Akhilesh Kumar Yadava and Nandini R Nair for Bathinda Constituency. Additionally, Anand Kumar for Fatehgarh Sahib, Manish Kumar for Faridkot, Nagendra Yadav for Ferozepur, Amit Sanjay Gaurav for Sangrur and Meetu Agarwal for Patiala, have been appointed as the Expenditure Observers.

CEO Sibin C stated that each appointed observer will play a crucial role in ensuring the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in their respective constituencies, the statement added.

In Punjab, voting for its 13 seats will take place in a single phase, with the seventh and final phase on June 1 seeing voting in Gurudaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Firozpur, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Patiala constituencies.

This year, the Lok Sabha polls began on April 19 for 102 seats spread across 21 states. Following this, Phase 2 was held on April 26 and the third Phase will be held on May 7, involving 94 seats across 12 states.

Phase 4 of the Lok Sabha polls is slated to be held on May 13, involving 96 seats and Phase 5 is scheduled to be held on May 20 for 49 seats, while Phase 6 is set for May 25 covering 7 states on 57 seats. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Pakistan: Punjab Province Gripped by Farmer Protests, Political Turmoil

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Politics

Poll panel warns Akali Dal, AAP

AAP had lodged a complaint with the poll panel against Sukhbir accusing him of violating ECI directions by making A child raise slogans in favour of his party during election campaigning…reports Asian Lite News

Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Thursday took decisive action against political parties found in violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Following directives from the Election Commission of India (ECI), warnings have been issued to both the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for their respective transgressions.

One of the key infractions involved the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) utilizing the derogatory phrase “Delhi ke Dalal” in a campaign video targeting AAP’s state convener and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, as well as AAP candidates. Such language, deemed inflammatory and violative of MCC guidelines, was promptly removed by the SAD after receiving the warning.

Additionally, the use of children in election rallies, notably during the campaign of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, has also drawn censure. Reports from Ludhiana’s Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer highlighted this breach, prompting a stern reminder from the electoral authorities regarding the prohibition of involving children in political campaigns. The SAD has been duly cautioned to adhere strictly to MCC guidelines henceforth.

Notably, AAP had lodged a complaint with the poll panel against Sukhbir accusing him of violating ECI directions by making A child raise slogans in favour of his party during election campaigning. The complaint alleged that Sukhbir had passed the microphone to the child and made him raise slogans of ‘Shiromani Akali Dal Zindabad’ and ‘Vote for Akali Dal’ during his ‘Punjab Bachao Yatra’ at Raikot on April 6.

Meanwhile, the ruling AAP also faced reprimand for its online content, notably posts and videos such as ‘Unsacred Games of Punjab’. Such materials were flagged for their potential to incite discord or violate the MCC.

Furthermore, the casteist remarks attributed to the state Cabinet Minister and AAP’s candidate from Khadoor Sahib Laljit Singh Bhullar were condemned as clear violations of electoral conduct standards. Reports from Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer corroborated these findings, leading to a formal warning issued to AAP.

Notably, on April 13, Bhullar, in his speech during his election campaign at Patti, allegedly ridiculed members of the Ramgarhia and Suniyar communities, calling them “Ghuli gharh”. Following this, complaints were sent to the ECI, against the Minister by both Shiromani Akali Dal and Ramgarhia Singh Sabha, Tarn Taran.

About a fortnight later, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had offered an apology for Bhullar’s “casteist remarks”. Following widespread condemnation, Mann had taken a firm stance during a campaign rally for Bhullar in Patti emphasizing AAP’s commitment to inclusive politics and stressed the need for Bhullar to issue an unconditional apology. Mann, acknowledging the gravity of the situation, had offered his own apology as the head of the party, reiterating AAP’s dedication to governance based on meritocracy and devoid of discrimination.

Both AAP and SAD have been directed to desist from further breaches of the mode code of conduct, and to conduct their campaigns in strict adherence to the guidelines set forth by the Election Commission of India. The warnings underscored the commitment of electoral authorities to uphold the integrity and fairness of the electoral process, ensuring that campaigns remain focused on issues rather than resorting to divisive rhetoric or unethical tactics.

ALSO READ-Kanhaiya says Cong-AAP are fighting for people of Delhi 

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INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Bengal Governor accused of molesting woman

The statement added that Bose would not participate in any function attended by the Minister, adding that the Raj Bhawan has contacted the Attorney General of India for advice on further legal steps against the Minister…reports Asian Lite News

A day after a temporary female staff at the Raj Bhavan filed a written complaint with the police accusing West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose of outraging her modesty, the governor issued an order on Thursday night banning the entry of the police and Minister of State for Finance Chandrima Bhattacharya, into the Raj Bhavan.

Bose also called the allegations “engineered narratives”, stating that he won’t be cowed down by the allegations.

A statement issued by the Raj Bhavan read: “For defamation and anti-constitutional media statements against Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, a junior gubernatorial appointee Chandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Finance, has been banned entry into the Raj Bhavan premises in Kolkata, Darjeeling, and Barrackpore,” read a statement issued by the Governor’s office.

The statement added that Bose would not participate in any function attended by the Minister, adding that the Raj Bhawan has contacted the Attorney General of India for advice on further legal steps against the Minister.

“The Hon’ble Governor also banned the entry of police into the Raj Bhavan premises in the guise of conducting an unauthorised, illegitimate, sham and motivated investigation to placate political bosses during elections,” the statement added.

According to police sources, the woman, a temporary staffer at Raj Bhavan, approached the police post located inside the Governor’s House and accused Bose of molesting her. She was then taken to Hare Street where she filed a written complaint accusing the governor of molesting her on the pretext of offering her job.

Senior police officials said they received a complaint and are looking into it. “We have received a complaint and are conducting an investigation. We are also consulting the matter with constitutional experts of the law department. As per the woman’s allegation, she was molested inside Raj Bhavan,” Deputy Commissioner of Central Division Indira Mukherjee told reporters.

TMC leaders soon reacted to the accusations calling it appalling and horrifying. “BIG. Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose was accused of molesting a woman. How utterly appalling and Horrifying. Ahead of @narendramodi visit to Kolkata who is supposed to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan today. The complainant has been taken to the Hare Street police station to file a complaint. The woman has accused the Governor of molesting her. Shocking and disgraceful,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said in a post on X.

However, the governor took to X to dismiss the accusations. “Truth shall triumph. I refuse to be cowed down by engineered narratives. If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal.” 

Sources in the Governor House said that the “woman employee with the help of her alleged boyfriend who is also an employee of the Raj Bhavan was blocking complaints (from people) being sent to the Election Commission of India.”

“When she was reprimanded for that, she went outside and alleged molestation. She is in the habit of throwing tantrums against her colleagues because of some disease.” 

The incident comes as  Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to address three election rallies in West Bengal on Friday, arrived in state capital Kolkata on Thursday evening. Modi went straight to the Raj Bhavan from the airport where he would stay for the night.

BJP drops Brij Bhushan, fields his son  

Putting an end to speculations around Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj seat, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday declared former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s son Karan Bhushan Singh as its candidate from the seat for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Kaiserganj constituency is currently held by BJP’s Brij Bhushan Singh, who is a three-time MP from the seat. He, however, has not been given ticket this time.

The seat had become a point of pondering for the BJP after Brij Bhushan was accused of sexual harassment of female wrestlers.

This sparked massive protests by several athletes including Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat. The Delhi Police filed chargesheet in connection with the case against the former WFI chief in June last year.

The BJP also announced the candidature of Dinesh Pratap Singh from the Rae Bareli constituency. Singh had also contested the polls from the same seat against Sonia Gandhi in 2019 and BJP has affirmed confidence on him.

Rae Bareli seat has been a Gandhi family’s stronghold. Congress’ former chairperson Sonia Gandhi retained the seat in 2019. She, however, won’t contest this time as she has been nominated to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, the suspense on Amethi and Rae Bareli — two Congress strongholds continues as Congress hasn’t announced its candidates for both seats.

In 2019, BJP’s Smriti Irani ended Congress’ stint from the seat by defeating Rahul Gandhi from Amethi. BJP had announced its candidates for most of the seats in UP, but the announcement for the Kaiserganj constituency was awaited.

Both Kaiserganj and Rae Bareli will vote on May 20 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

In the 2019 election, Brij Bhushan defeated BSP’s Chandradev Ram Yadav from a margin of over 2.5 lakh votes. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Out of 57 candidates in Bengal 13 are crorepatis

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Pakistan, Iran, China Plan Trilateral Defence Talks

It should be noted that the upcoming trilateral consultation would be the second round of meetings as the first meeting was held in Beijing in June last year….reports Hamza Ameer

Pakistan, Iran, and China will soon hold a trilateral meeting on counter-terrorism and security, a decision experts see as a representation of Beijing’s increasing and further strengthening influence and role in bridging gaps between regional neighbours on important challenges and issues.

It should be noted that the upcoming trilateral consultation would be the second round of meetings as the first meeting was held in Beijing in June last year.

The main focus of the Trilateral Consultation is to find cooperating grounds, strategies and efforts to fight terrorism and groups that have been targeting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“The trilateral consultation meeting would review the current security situation and activities of terrorism groups threatening regional stability,” said a diplomatic source.

“China has keen interest in Pakistan and Iran dealing this threat together as their shared border is home to some groups targeting Chinese interests,” the source added.

China has been seriously concerned and worried over the ongoing attacks on its nationals in Pakistan, which saw a significant surge in the recent past with two major attacks in Besham and Karachi.

Sources say that the attack on the van carrying Chinese engineers in Besham, which resulted in the killing of at least five of Beijing’s engineers, followed by a suicide attack on the vehicle carrying Japanese nationals in Karachi’s Landhi area, has rung serious alarm bells in Beijing.

Beijing has called on both Iran and Pakistan to act against groups including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), its suicide wing Majid Brigade, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other affiliate groups working to carry out attacks on Chinese nationals, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the BRI.

Kamran Yousaf, a senior political analyst, said that militant groups like the Majid Brigade have been targeting Chinese nationals in Pakistan and have been operating from bordering areas of the Pakistan-Iran border.

“Majid Brigade, a suicide wing of a Baloch terrorist outfit, was formed to target China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. In recent years, the group took responsibility for many deadly attacks targeting Chinese nationals and CPEC,” said Kamran Yousaf.

“China feels that close cooperation between Pakistan and Iran could neutralise these threats,” he added.

China’s regional influence is certainly increasing as it continues to engage with neighboring countries and work out ways to safeguard its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Also, the situation along the Pakistan-Iran border has gone from bad to worse in the recent past with increased attacks in different parts of the Balochistan province by militant groups.

Experts believe that it was Beijing’s efforts that sorted out issues between Pakistan and Iran during January this year after Iran fired missiles into Pakistan targeting what it claimed as suspected terrorist hideouts of militant group, Jaish-e-Adl.

Pakistan denied the claim and responded with a similar strike on the Iranian side of the Pakistan-Iran border, claiming its target to be a terrorist hideout.

“Everyone believed that Pakistan and Iran were on the verge of a full-scale conflict in January. However, it was Beijing’s influence and timely engagement with both parties that swiftly moved both countries to sort out their issues,” said Kamran Yousaf.

“After January, both countries also decided to deploy senior military officials in each other’s countries. A Colonel-rank Pakistan Army officer was deployed in Zaydan, Sistan-Balochistan while Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer would be stationed in Turbat, Balochistan for better coordination,” he added.

Official sources also confirmed that while the Trilateral Consultation meetings between Pakistan-Iran-China are on the cards, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is also expected to travel to Iran and finalise the arrangements.

The cooperation between important regional countries to counterterrorism is certainly expected to raise eyebrows in Washington and the White House, who have recently imposed sanctions on at least three Chinese companies for supplying items to Pakistan’s long-range missile programme.

However, despite the western pressure on Pakistan, it seems that Islamabad is ready to resist and go ahead with joining the regional lobby with China.

ALSO READ: SHAKSGAM VALLEY: China-Pakistan Nexus and India’s Strategic Imperatives

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Rahul Gandhi Shifts to Raebareli, Amethi to Witness New Contestant

Hyderabad : Congress senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi arrive for Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Hyderabad on Saturday, September 16, 2023. (Photo: IANS/@INCIndia)

Rahul Gandhi’s decision to shift to Raebareli seat has averted a keen contest in Amethi where Union Minister and BJP MP Smriti Irani is seeking a second term…reports Asian Lite News

Ending days of suspense, the Congress has finally announced that Rahul Gandhi will contest from the Raebareli Lok Sabha constituency, the seat held earlier by his mother Sonia Gandhi.

The Amethi Lok Sabha seat will be contest by Kishori Lal Sharma, a Gandhi family loyalist.

According to sources, Rahul Gandhi will arrive by a special flight at Fursatganj airport at 10:30 a.m. on Friday and will file his nomination papers at 12:15 p.m.

He will thereafter leave for Pune.

Rahul Gandhi’s decision to shift to Raebareli seat has averted a keen contest in Amethi where Union Minister and BJP MP Smriti Irani is seeking a second term.

In Raebareli, he will be facing Dinesh Pratap Singh, a veteran Congressman, who is the BJP candidate.

If there is one Lok Sabha seat in the country that can claim to have the longest association with the Gandhi family, it is the Rae Bareli seat in Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat shows that the family still cherishes its ties with this constituency, but it will not be a cakewalk this time.

Situated on the banks of the Sai River, 82 km southeast of Lucknow, Rae Bareli can truly be termed a Congress bastion.

After Independence, barring three occasions, the Congress has been continuously winning the seat.

Feroz Gandhi, husband of Indira Gandhi, first won Rae Bareli in 1952 and then in 1957. After he died in 1960, R.P. Singh and Baijnath Kureel won the seat till Indira Gandhi took it over in 1967.

In 1977, Raj Narain of Janata Party defeated Indira Gandhi but Rae Bareli went back to Indira Gandhi in 1980.

In 1996 and 1998, the seat was won by BJP’s Ashok Singh but during this period, no member of the Gandhi family was in active politics.

From 2004 to 2019 Sonia Gandhi retained this seat.

Earlier this year, she opted for Rajya Sabha, apparently due to health reasons, and wrote an emotional note to the people of her constituency, chronicling her family ties with them and promising to maintain the relationship.

While Rae Bareli has remained loyal to the Gandhi family in the past decades, the party cadres in the constituency have almost wilted away.

Of the five Assembly seats, four — Bachhrawan (SC), Harchandpur, Sareni and Unchahar — are held by the Samajwadi Party while the Sadar seat is held by the BJP.

The prolonged absence of the Gandhis from Rae Bareli and the emergence of ‘middlemen’ who claim to act as a bridge between the people and their leader have driven away most of the local leaders to other parties.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been occasionally visiting her mother’s constituency but has not found time to interact directly with grassroots workers.

As things stand today, Congress has virtually no presence left in the constituency though the older generation of voters are still emotionally inclined towards the Gandhis.

The young generation of voters, however, is deeply influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rahul Gandhi will face an uphill task in bringing Congress veterans back to the centre stage and getting the act together.

He will need to work hard to preserve the seven-decade-old relationship of his family with the constituency.

ALSO READ-What’s Rahul Gandhi up to: Pinarayi

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Trump blasts Biden in rare day on campaign trail

Donald Trump accused President Joe Biden of weaponizing the courts against him…reports Asian Lite News

Donald Trump used a break in his hush money trial to stage back-to-back appearances in two Midwestern battleground states Wednesday — but kept his legal woes front-and-center as he accused President Joe Biden of weaponizing the courts against him.

The former Republican president, who is running for a return to the White House, rallied supporters in Wisconsin and Michigan, among the most hotly contested states in his expected rematch with Democrat Biden in November.

The speeches featured all of Trump’s go-to set-pieces, from complaints about environmentally friendly household appliances to apocalyptic warnings of a looming world war — but his evening speech in Michigan was notable for its vitriol.

“Every single thing he touches turns to shit,” Trump said of Biden in a speech in Freeland, Michigan peppered with profane language about his criminal charges, his 2020 election defeat and his determination to win reelection in November.

Trump had already spoken in an afternoon rally in the Wisconsin town of Waukesha, where he railed against Biden’s handling of the economy and immigration.

In both appearances he accused Democrats of “executing” newborn babies as he turned to the deeply divisive issue of abortion rights, and in both he revived baseless claims that Biden is behind the 88 felony charges he is facing.

“I’ve got to do two of these things a day,” he told a sea of red hats at his Michigan rally.

“You know why? Because I’m in New York all the time with the Biden trial — a fake trial that all of the legal scholars say is a disgrace,” he said in Michigan.

Trump regularly claims that his indictments — three for alleged cheating in elections and one for hoarding classified documents — are being orchestrated as part of a political witch hunt, but never offers any evidence.

The 77-year-old tycoon used his rare day on the stump to project his preferred image as a confident, seasoned campaigner, far from the Manhattan courtroom where he is accused of covering up payments to a porn star before the 2016 presidential election.

Trump is the first former US president to face criminal charges, and the trial appears to have annoyed him to no end.

For two weeks he has been sitting through long hours of witness testimony, visibly bored and angry at no-nonsense Judge Juan Merchan, who required him to be present — and then imposed a gag order prohibiting Trump from publicly attacking witnesses, jurors or court staff.

Before and after each day’s proceedings, Trump has been addressing journalists outside, venting about his legal problems, the US economy, his wife’s birthday and the “freezing” temperature inside the courtroom.

“He hates being there in court, where he is just another criminal defendant,” political expert Larry Sabato from the University of Virginia told AFP. “He has no control and is not in charge.”

Biden’s campaign has not missed a chance to bait his opponent over his legal troubles — referring to Trump as “Sleepy Don” after reports from the courtroom that the Republican was nodding off during the proceedings.

The nickname evoked the “Sleepy Joe” taunt Trump has long used for Biden.

Biden has advanced in the polls since March, with the two candidates now running neck and neck.

But Trump and his supporters hope to harness the media attention surrounding the trial to fire up his base, and push his message that Democrats are destroying the country through negligence on border security and poor economic stewardship.

In Waukesha, the former president accused Biden of being too passive on the pro-Palestinian student demonstrations that have convulsed college campuses nationwide, and of allowing the country to be “invaded” by migrant hordes.

Although Trump is energized by his campaign rallies, he had not held a single one since the start of his trial on April 15, with the only planned event canceled due to weather.

“I have come here today from New York City where I’m being forced to sit for days on end in a kangaroo courtroom with a corrupt and conflicted judge enduring a Biden Sideshow trial at the hands of a Marxist district attorney,” he complained in Michigan.

ALSO READ: Biden roasts Trump at correspondents’ dinner

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Protests Sweep US Universities, 282 Arrested

The NYPD reported as many as 282 arrests at Columbia University and the City College of New York, spanning from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning…reports Asian Lite News

Demonstrations reverberated across university campuses in the United States as tensions surrounding Israel’s military actions in Gaza intensified. The night was marked by widespread arrests in New York and a disturbing attack by counter-protesters in California.

In New York City, the NYPD reported as many as 282 arrests at Columbia University and the City College of New York, spanning from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. This crackdown unfolded as law enforcement cleared students who had occupied Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall since April 30.

Hamilton Hall, previously synonymous with activism during South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, gained a new moniker: “Hind’s Hall,” in memory of six-year-old Hind Rajab, tragically killed with her family by Israeli forces in Gaza.

Meghnad Bose, a student journalist at Columbia University, recounted witnessing the police intervention firsthand. “I saw firsthand how the police dispersed those protests, arrested them and sometimes got pretty aggressive in making sure the protesters went away,” he said.

Kaz Daughtry, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of operations, in a post on X, highlighted Columbia University’s request for police assistance in reclaiming their campus. He said the police were “dispersing the unlawful encampment and persons barricaded inside of university buildings and restoring order”.

Meanwhile, at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), tensions escalated as pro-Israel counter-protesters clashed with pro-Palestine demonstrators. Witnesses reported attempts by the assailants to dismantle the pro-Palestine encampment, resorting to violence by hurling objects and wielding sticks.

Sergio Olmos, an investigative journalist reporting from UCLA, observed the chaotic scene as counter-protesters engaged in aggressive behaviour. He detailed their efforts to dismantle the pro-Palestine encampment, including throwing glass bottles and wielding sticks.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the escalating violence at UCLA at the university’s request, addressing multiple incidents of aggression within the encampment.

Despite the turmoil, the pro-Palestine encampment at UCLA persisted, with student protesters holding their ground against the attacks. Rob Reynolds, reporting from Los Angeles, highlighted the resilience of the demonstrators amid adversity.

The surge in protests across US campuses stemmed from heightened tensions following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7 and the prolonged Israeli military campaign in Gaza, resulting in staggering Palestinian casualties.

The recent wave of demonstrations gained momentum nearly two weeks prior, sparked by Columbia University President Minouche Shafik’s contentious testimony before a US congressional committee. Critics accused Shafik of prioritizing lawmakers’ interests over those of the university’s students.

Amid an array of demands, protesters called for divestment from Israel and companies associated with the conflict. They denounced administrators for allegedly exploiting public safety concerns and weaponising accusations of anti-Semitism to suppress dissent.

The wave of arrests extended beyond New York, with 14 protesters detained at Tulane University in New Orleans, alongside arrests at the University of South Florida and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

The protests garnered international attention, with Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, condemning the violent police response at US universities. She decried the actions as reflective of a dystopian reality and called for an end to the ongoing genocide.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass condemned the violence at UCLA as abhorrent and inexcusable. New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended the police crackdown, attributing the protests at Columbia University to individuals unaffiliated with the institution.

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) criticised both the NYPD and Columbia University for their handling of the situation. Stefanie Fox, the group’s executive director, drew parallels between the university’s current actions and its past oppression of student activism during the Vietnam War and South African apartheid era.

Meanwhile, dozens of faith, civil rights and progressive groups in the United States have expressed solidarity with university students protesting against US support for Israel amid the war on Gaza.

The groups – which include the Working Families Party, IfNotNow Movement, Sunrise Movement, Movement for Black Lives, and Gen-Z for Change – lauded the student protesters in a joint statement on Monday.

“We commend the students who are exercising their right to protest peacefully despite an overwhelming atmosphere of pressure, intimidation and retaliation, to raise awareness about Israel’s assault on Gaza – with US weapons and funding,” the organisations said.

“These students have come forth with clear demands that their universities divest from corporations profiting from Israeli occupation, and demanding safe environments for Palestinians across their campuses.”

The signatories also included the Arab American Institute, MPower Change Action Fund, Greenpeace USA and Justice Democrats.

The statement, backed by nearly 190 groups, highlights the growing progressive support for the campus protest movement as it enters its third week, despite crackdowns by university administrators and law enforcement agencies.

ALSO READ: Cops enter Columbia University, arrest protesters