Prabowo, who is currently the Southeast Asian country’s defense minister, is scheduled to be inaugurated on October 20 this year….reports Asian Lite News
Indonesia’s General Election Commission (KPU) here on Wednesday declared Prabowo Subianto as the country’s eighth President after appeals of two defeated presidential candidates concerning a dispute over presidential polls in February were rejected by the constitutional court.
KPU Chairman Hasyim Asy’ari announced that Prabowo and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka have been selected to be the president and vice president for the period of 2024 until 2029 with around 96 million or nearly 59 percent of the total votes, Xinhua news agency reported.
Prabowo-Gibran defeated the Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar pair who got around 41 million votes, and Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD who obtained around 27 million votes.
Prabowo, who is currently the Southeast Asian country’s defense minister, is scheduled to be inaugurated on October 20 this year.
In PPP terms, India is already the third-largest economy globally. The RBI bulletin indicates it’s projected to surpass the US by 2045, becoming the world’s second-largest economy…reports Asian Lite News
While India’s recent growth performance has surprised many, triggering a flurry of upgrades from financial institutions such as the IMF, the RBI bulletin released on Tuesday cites six factors that will propel the country to become the world’s third-largest economy.
In purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, the Indian economy is already the third largest in the world. According to the OECD’s December 2023 update, India will overtake the US by 2045 in PPP terms to become the world’s second-largest economy, the RBI bulletin points out.
According to the bulletin, the “tailwinds likely to power India’s take-off” are as follows:
* The demographics favour the rising profile of growth. Currently, India has the world’s largest and youngest population. The median age is around 28 years; not until the mid-2050s will aging set in. Thus, India will enjoy a demographic dividend window of more than three decades, driven by rising working-age population rates and labour force participation rate. This is a striking contrast to a world widely confronted with the challenge of aging.
* India’s growth performance has been historically anchored by domestic resources, with foreign savings playing a minor and supplementary role. This is also reflected in the current account deficit (CAD), which remains within a sustainable threshold of about 2.5 per cent of the GDP. Currently, the CAD averages about 1 per cent, and this is associated with various indicators of external sector resilience – illustratively, external debt is below 20 per cent of the GDP and net international investment liabilities are below 12 per cent.
* The gradualistic path of fiscal consolidation adopted after the Covid pandemic has brought the general government deficit to 8.6 per cent of the GDP and public debt to 81.6 per cent of the GDP by March 2024. Employing a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, it is estimated that reprioritising fiscal spending by targeting productive employment-generating sectors, embracing transition, and investing in digitalisation could lead to a decline in general government debt to 73.4 per cent of the GDP by 2030-31.
In contrast, the debt-GDP ratio is projected by the IMF to rise to 116.3 per cent in 2028 for advanced economies and to 75.4 per cent for emerging and middle-income countries.
* India’s financial sector is predominantly bank-based. In 2015-2016, the overhang of asset impairment in the wake of the global financial crisis was addressed through an asset quality review (AQR). A massive recapitalisation was undertaken during 2017-2022. The beneficial effects started to show up from 2018 — gross and net non-performing assets ratios declined to 3.9 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively, by March 2023, with large capital buffers and liquidity coverage ratios well above 100 per cent.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has created the institutional environment for addressing stress in banks’ balance sheets. Macroeconomic and financial stability are providing the foundation for medium-term growth prospects.
* India is undergoing a transformative change leveraged on technology. The trinity of JAM – Jan Dhan (basic no-frills accounts); Aadhaar (universal unique identification); and Mobile phone connections — is expanding the ambit of formal finance, boosting tech startups, and enabling the targeting of direct benefit transfers. India’s Unified Payments’ Interface (UPI), an open-ended system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application of any participating bank, is propelling inter-bank, peer-topeer, and person-to-merchant transactions seamlessly.
* inflation in India is moderating after surging on multiple and overlapping supply shocks from the pandemic, weather-induced food price spikes, supply chain disruptions and global commodity price pressures following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Stoinis also broke the highest individual score in an IPL chase of Paul Valthaty’s 120* in 2011, also against CSK, after scoring 124 not out in 63 deliveries….reports Asian Lite News
After Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed a century to propel Chennai Super Kings to a target of 210, Marcus Stoinis struck his maiden IPL century to single-handedly take Lucknow Super Giants to six wickets victory with nine balls to spare over Chennai Super Kings at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Tuesday.
Stoinis also broke the highest individual score in an IPL chase of Paul Valthaty’s 120* in 2011, also against CSK, after scoring 124 not out in 63 deliveries. In three games before this, no team has come to Chepauk this season and beaten CSK. No team has come here and chased down 211. LSG did both in the same match, led by a magnificent hundred by Stoinis. The match-changing over was Shardul Thakur’s 16th over as LSG needed 74 in 30 deliveries. Nicholas Pooran and Stoinis knew they had to make it a big one because the remaining four were to be bowled by Mustafizur and Pathirana. Pooran made sure LSG didn’t miss out and smashed the first three balls for 6, 4, 6. In all, 20 runs came from it. LSG now needed 54 off 24 deliveries as the asking rate came down to 13.5.
Pooran looked to take on Pathirana as well but ended up miscuing it to Thakur at long-off. Deepak Hooda was the new batter and smashed his second ball over deep square-leg for a six.
Stoinis, meanwhile, brought up his maiden IPL hundred, off 56 balls. LSG needed 32 off two overs. Hooda hammered Pathirana for two fours, to go with one from Stoinis to collect 15 from the penultimate over. They needed 17 from the last over and Mustafizur Rahaman was given the responsibility to defend that. But Stoinis launched the first ball over long-on before drilling the next one straight back for four.
Luck, too, favoured him as the next one raced to the right of the short third-man. Fizz had overstepped as well, which reduced the equation to two needed from four balls. On the next, Stoinis moved across and pulled the short ball over backward square leg to seal a 6-wicket victory with three balls remaining.
Chasing a target of 211, Lucknow Super Giants suffered an early strike as Quinton de Kock got out on duck. The batter went for a cut only to chop it back onto his stumps to the swinging delivery outside off. In the first four games of the season, KL Rahul scored at a strike rate of 125.49 in the Power-play. But after that, he smashed it at 185.11 in this phase.
He was looking dangerous once again. After an early wicket, Rahul and Marcus Stoinis kept LSG’s chase on track but Mustafizur Rahman pegged them back. Having hit a four earlier in the over, Rahul went for another big hit but failed to clear Gaikwad at extra cover. Rahut got out after scoring 16. LSG were 45/2 at the end of six overs as Stoinis continued ticking the scoreboard. Devdutt Padikkal came in as an Impact Player. He has struggled for runs this IPL, and it was the same story against CSK as he was on 12 off 16 balls.
Meanwhile, Stoinis has been keeping LSG in the contest almost singlehandedly. He brought up his fifty off 26 balls, with the help of six fours and two sixes. But it’s still an uphill task. LSG were 83/2 after 10 overs and needed 128 from the next ten. A length ball at 151.4 kph in the line of leg stump from Mateesha Pathirana and Padikkal had no answer to it. He backed away but was beaten by pace and had his leg stump uprooted. He departed for 13 off 19 balls. LSG were 88/3 after 11, needing 123 from nine overs.
The sole reason LSG opted to chase was the dew in the second half. And it seemed to be making a difference as a couple of overs ago, Tushar Deshpande bowled a high no-ball. If there was more evidence needed, a cutter into the pitch from Mustafizur came onto the bat nicely – Stoinis hit it straight off the back foot.
Earlier in the match, Ruturaj Gaikwad slammed his second century of the IPL career while Shivam Dube blazed to a blistering 66 off 27 deliveries, which took Chennai Super Kings to 210/4. Gaikwad scored 37 runs in the Power-play and had only twice scored more in this phase in T20s. Coincidentally, his best score in the Power-play (46) was also against LSG and at Chepauk. Gaikwad continued his rich batting form on a tricky pitch as he reached his third half-century of the season in 28 deliveries. CSK were 85/2 after 10 overs.
The in-form Shivam Dube walked to the crease and straightaway sent his fourth delivery for the first maximum of the innings, which came after 12.5 overs. Mohsin bowled one slightly full around off and Dube launched him down the ground for a maximum.
After hitting Stoinis for a six and a four across the allrounder’s two overs, Dube latched onto Yash Thakur and hammered him for three successive sixes in the 16th over. Dube moved to 37 off just 15 balls, and CSK were 154/3 after 16.
It was an excellent innings from Gaikwad – he slammed his sixth hundred in T20 cricket, which came off 56 balls, after a sequence of 6, 4, 4 against Yash Thakur. Gaikwad, at 27 years and 83 days, became the second-youngest captain to score a hundred in the IPL after Sanju Samson.
In the 19th over, Dube smashed two fours and a six against Mohsin and brought up his fifty off just 22 balls. Both batters added 104 runs for the fourth-wicket partnership in just 46 deliveries. Dube started the final over with a six off Stoinis but was run out for 66 off 27 with two balls left in the innings.
That brought MS Dhoni to the middle. Gaikwad took a single on the penultimate ball and Dhoni, as he has done throughout this season, finished off in style with a boundary. He moved towards the offside to a full delivery and muscled it over midwicket for four as CSK finished with 210/4. Skipper Gaikwad remained not out on 108 runs.
Brief score:
Chennai Super Kings 210/4 in 20 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 108 not out, Shivam Dube 66; Matt Henry 1-28, Yash Thakur 1-47) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 213/4 in 19.3 overs (Marcus Stoinis 124 not out, Nicholas Pooran 34; Matheesa Pathirana 2-35, Deepak Chahar 1-11) by six wickets.
UPI Switch will also enable 5 times faster access to UPI innovations for businesses…report Asian Lite News
Fintech major Razorpay on Tuesday launched its own Unified Payments Interface (UPI) infrastructure with ‘UPI Switch’ — a next-generation cloud-based innovation, in partnership with Airtel Payments Bank.
Boosting success rates by 4 to 5 per cent, the company said that it is designed to handle up to 10,000 transactions per second (TPS) at any given time.
UPI Switch will also enable 5 times faster access to UPI innovations for businesses, the company mentioned.
“Razorpay’s UPI Switch is designed with a similar vision to provide scalability and the best performance to businesses. This venture into UPI Infrastructure marks a strategic move to manage the end-to-end merchant experience and provide the industry’s leading stack,” Khilan Haria, Head of Payments Product at Razorpay, said in a statement.
Explaining how UPI Switch works, the company said that the success of UPI transactions has a strong dependency on the UPI infrastructure deployed at the banks.
Banks connect with the existing UPI infrastructure to enable seamless communication between core banking systems and UPI technology while processing a UPI transaction. This infrastructure is called a UPI switch and is powered by Technology Service Providers (TSPs) for banks.
“Our integration with Razorpay’s UPI Switch, a cloud-based infrastructure for the most advanced UPI Stack, ensures 99.99 per cent uptime and enables up to 10,000+ transactions per second,” said Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, Chief Operating Officer of Airtel Payments Bank.
In January, UPI transactions reached a record Rs 18.41 trillion, showcasing its rapid adoption. With the addition of new payment methods like credit cards, wallets, and credit lines, UPI is expected to reach 2 billion transactions per day by 2030, the company mentioned.
The company plans to launch the product in over 100 cities in the first phase and further scale it to more than 450 cities over the next six months….reports Asian Lite news
Fintech company BharatPe on Tuesday launched India’s first all-in-one payment product that incorporates POS (point of sale), QR, and speaker into a single device.
Called BharatPe One, the product is designed to streamline transactions for merchants, offering versatile payment acceptance options including dynamic and static QR code, tap-and-pay and traditional card payment options.
The company plans to launch the product in over 100 cities in the first phase and further scale it to more than 450 cities over the next six months.
“By combining multiple functionalities into one cost-effective device, we’re providing a comprehensive solution tailored to the varied needs of small and medium businesses across diverse sectors,” Nalin Negi, CEO, BharatPe, said in a statement.
As per the company, the device offers a smooth and hassle-free experience for both merchants and customers alike.
It comes equipped with a high-definition touchscreen display, 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity, and is powered by the latest Android operating system. It delivers improved performance and security, the company said.
“We have received an overwhelming response from our merchants in the pilot phase and we reckon that this will be another game changer for the digital payments ecosystem, further consolidating our position as a trailblazer in the fintech industry,” said Rijish Raghavan, Chief Business Officer – PoS Solutions, BharatPe.
Meanwhile, BharatPe on Tuesday announced the elevation of Nalin Negi as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Under him as an interim CEO and CFO, BharatPe recorded 182 per cent increase in revenue from operations in FY23 and clocked October as the first EBITDA positive month.
BharatPe said it will now search for a new CFO.
“Negi’s extensive experience in the fintech industry and the growth witnessed for BharatPe under his leadership, makes him a natural choice to lead the company,” said Rajnish Kumar, Chairman of the Board, BharatPe.
Negi joined BharatPe in 2022. As the CEO, he will focus on leading the company into its next phase of development, driving innovation to empower merchants across the country.
“Going forward, our strategic focus will be on sustained profitability, scaling lending businesses, and launching new merchant-centric products,” said Negi.
“We are committed to building on the strong foundation, fostering financial inclusion and delivering value to our merchants, partners, and stakeholders,” he added.
Prior to joining BharatPe, he held senior leadership positions at financial service companies including SBI Cards and GE Capital.
BharatPe has an entrenched network of over 1.3 crore merchants across more than 450 cities, and is one of the leading players in UPI offline transactions, processing over 370 million UPI transactions.
On India’s ties with sectors, transcending sectors and spheres, the EAM pointed out India didn’t have an embassy in Israel till 1992 and no Prime Minister visited the country before Narendra Modi….reports Asian Lite News
Stressing that the security of Indians based or settled overseas, especially in conflict zones, was paramount for the government, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said ‘Modi’s guarantee’ doesn’t stop at the country’s borders.
Addressing a forum for nationalist thinkers in Hyderabad on Tuesday, the External Affairs Minister said, “Modi’s guarantee doesn’t stop at the borders of India. Modi’s guarantee is global.”
Invoking the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts that necessitated diplomatic intervention in securing the lives of distressed natives, Jaishankar said, “We have seen it in Covid. We have seen it in conflicts in Ukraine. We saw it in Sudan. We saw it in Israel recently. So we have to prepare for those challenges as well.”
Addressing the session on ‘Foreign Policy The India Way: From Diffidence To Confidence’ in Hyderabad, the External Affairs Minister underscored the importance of a ‘good system’, highlighting that “just strong belief doesn’t matter, it must translate into reforms in the government”.
“We have to prepare for a world where things can go wrong. It will go wrong statistically. And we have to have a continuous ability to respond and react at very, very short notice. And you know, to create, to change government, some of us have worked in it. People work in their own departments, you know, Foreign Ministry does Foreign Ministry, Defense does defence, army does army, Home Ministry does Home.” Jaishankar said.
“You know, that within a matter of hours, when Sudan fighting happened, within 24 hours, our Navy and Air Force with it,” he said.
“There are other examples I can give you of confidence. One is how to defend your borders more strongly because we have challenges on our borders. And the key to defending our borders is not to just posture in public. It requires a lot of homework. It requires building the infrastructure. It requires supporting the military. It requires creating systems that will respond whenever the border is under threat,” Jaishankar said.
On India’s ties with sectors, transcending sectors and spheres, the EAM pointed out India didn’t have an embassy in Israel till 1992 and no Prime Minister visited the country before Narendra Modi.
Claiming that ‘vote bank’ influenced India’s foreign policy in the previous years, Jaishankar said, “Just think of a country like Israel. People say everybody is the same, we should not bring faith in any discussion. Israel became independent in 1948. From 1948 to 1992, we chose not to have an ambassador and an embassy in Israel. Why? From 1992, we had an embassy. From 1992 till 2017, when Narendra Modi went to Israel, no prime minister of India ever visited Israel. Think about it and then tell me that faith has no influence on our policy. Is this not vote bank?”
Emphasising the importance of abrogation of Article 370 from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, Jaishankar said the leadership at the time created a “vote bank lobby” that kept the special provisions intact in the erstwhile state. He also emphasised that it was a ‘temporary’ provision and had to be ended.
“Please understand the importance of what we did with the abrogation of Article 370. We have corrected an enormous mistake, we made in 1947. We created a lobby, we created a vote bank lobby, we created a Kashmiri lobby, there were people who were arbitraging,” he said.
“I would show to everybody in the Western press one page of the Constitution called temporary provision. You know the meaning of the word temporary, it comes to an end. There is nobody as blind as someone who doesn’t want to see,” Jaishankar added. (ANI)
Chidambaram, a senior Congress leader, underscored that the party’s manifesto explicitly acknowledges the presence of social and economic disparities…reports Asian Lite News
Former Union Minister P Chidambaram issued a robust challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders, daring them to identify a single paragraph in the Congress manifesto that could be construed as “appeasement.” This response came in the wake of accusations leveled by Modi and the BJP against the Congress, alleging that their manifesto advocated appeasement policies, including wealth redistribution and reservations for Muslims from the quotas allocated for SC, ST, and OBC communities.
Chidambaram, a senior Congress leader, underscored that the party’s manifesto explicitly acknowledges the presence of social and economic disparities and pledges to address them for all sections of society, regardless of religious affiliation. He asserted that the primary beneficiaries of Congress’s proposed policies would be the most marginalized groups, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and the economically disadvantaged, irrespective of their religious identity. In his retort to accusations of appeasement, he adamantly stated, “If bringing justice is considered appeasement, so be it.”
Furthermore, Chidambaram highlighted the resonance of the Congress manifesto among the populace, contrasting it with what he deemed the lackluster reception of the BJP’s manifesto, mockingly titled “Modi ki Guarantee.” He noted the disparity in campaign resources, acknowledging the financial advantage enjoyed by the BJP, which reportedly amassed a substantial sum through electoral bonds. Despite this financial asymmetry, Chidambaram expressed confidence in the people’s support for the Congress, asserting that they would compensate for the party’s resource limitations.
In response to Modi’s ambitious claim of securing 400 seats, Chidambaram delivered a pointed jab, questioning the feasibility of such a victory, particularly given the BJP’s relatively modest presence in states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He ridiculed Modi’s assertion, humorously suggesting that unless the BJP planned to contest elections in another country, achieving 400 seats seemed implausible.
Chidambaram’s remarks underscored the Congress’s staunch defense of its manifesto and its commitment to addressing social and economic inequalities without regard to religious considerations. Moreover, his critique of the BJP’s campaign tactics and ambitious electoral projections portrayed a sense of skepticism towards the ruling party’s electoral strategies.
The voter turnout for the first phase of the general elections settled at 65.5%, marking a decline from the previous election’s 69.9% in the same constituencies….reports Asian Lite News
As the nation braces for another round of elections, the scorching heatwave sweeping through several states poses an additional challenge to both political parties and voters alike. With the BJP eyeing a third consecutive term and the INDIA bloc striving to impede its victory, the rising political fervour coincides with soaring temperatures, potentially impacting voter turnout.
The voter turnout for the first phase of the general elections settled at 65.5%, marking a decline from the previous election’s 69.9% in the same constituencies. Concerns are particularly heightened for the second phase, as 13 states and Union Territories prepare to cast their votes amidst heatwave warnings issued for parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Data from constituencies in Bihar exemplifies the correlation between high temperatures and voter turnout. In Nawada and Gaya, where temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius, the voter turnout dropped significantly compared to cooler days during previous elections. With the India Meteorological Department predicting an intensification of heatwaves, the Election Commission, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, convened a high-level meeting to assess the situation.
Preparations are underway to mitigate the impact of the heatwave on voting. Measures include ensuring adequate facilities such as awnings, drinking water, and fans at all polling stations. Chief Electoral Officers of the states are coordinating efforts to provide relief from the scorching heat, especially in regions susceptible to low voter turnout like Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Voters are advised to take precautions to safeguard their health in the sweltering heat. Recommendations from the National Disaster Management Authority include wearing light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes, covering the head with a cap or cloth, and staying hydrated by carrying plenty of fluids. It’s also advised to stay updated with the daily forecast and advisories from the India Meteorological Department.
In the face of both political tension and environmental challenges, the resilience of democracy hinges on the participation of voters, who must navigate the heatwave to exercise their fundamental right to vote. As the nation embarks on another electoral journey, ensuring the safety and well-being of voters remains paramount amidst the rising temperatures and political fervour.
Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati addresses a press conference at her residence, in Lucknow, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.(IANS/Twitter:@Mayawati)
Critiquing the Congress, BJP, and Samajwadi Party (SP), Mayawati accused them of neglecting the interests of SC/ST communities and obstructing their access to reservation benefits…reports Asian Lite News
BSP chief Mayawati, addressing an election rally in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, made several promises aimed at addressing longstanding grievances and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities. Mayawati pledged to work towards the creation of a separate state comprising districts of western Uttar Pradesh and to establish a bench of the Allahabad High Court in Meerut if her party secures power at the Centre.
Critiquing the Congress, BJP, and Samajwadi Party (SP), Mayawati accused them of neglecting the interests of SC/ST communities and obstructing their access to reservation benefits. She vowed that, if elected, her party would actively address the demands and concerns of the region, including the establishment of an Allahabad High Court bench in Meerut.
Highlighting her party’s previous efforts to advocate for a separate state for western Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati lamented the lack of action from the central government on this matter. She affirmed her commitment to pursuing this cause if the BSP gains power at the national level.
Mayawati also criticized the alleged failure of the quota system in government jobs, particularly for Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs, and condemned the SP for allegedly undermining reservation policies during its tenure in Uttar Pradesh. She accused the SP of obstructing legislation aimed at protecting reservation rights and of neglecting the interests of marginalized communities.
Further lambasting the Congress and BJP for their casteist and pro-capitalist policies, Mayawati argued that these parties have failed to ensure the holistic development of marginalized groups. She called for voters to prevent the Congress, BJP, and their allies from assuming power, cautioning against their divisive tactics.
In a departure from past electoral strategies, Mayawati revealed that her party had nominated Dervrat Tyagi instead of a Muslim candidate in Meerut. She urged voters to support the BSP candidate in the upcoming elections, emphasizing the importance of their collective voice in shaping the future of the region.
The BSP’s promises and Mayawati’s rallying cry underscored a commitment to addressing longstanding grievances and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities in Uttar Pradesh. As the elections approach, Mayawati’s words resonate with voters, highlighting the stakes involved in shaping the political landscape of the state.
Ali alleged that the BSP’s candidates had been determined by the ruling party…reports Asian Lite News
Congress leader Danish Ali, contesting from Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha on a Congress ticket after his departure from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), accused the BSP of acting as the “B-team” of the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
Ali alleged that the BSP’s candidates had been determined by the ruling party, emphasizing his belief that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent criticism of him in a poll rally indicated Modi’s “frustration” over Ali’s efforts to challenge the government in parliament.
In response to Modi’s attack questioning Ali’s commitment to saying “Bharat Mata ki jai,” Ali countered by asserting that neither the BJP nor Modi held a monopoly over patriotism, particularly since those who had not raised the tricolor at their ideological headquarters for over five decades after Independence should refrain from such criticisms.
Regarding Mayawati and the BSP’s criticism of him, Ali suggested that the BSP and BJP were in collusion to thwart the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and specifically target him. He accused the BSP of straying from its founding principles and claimed that the party’s candidates were being influenced by the BJP.
Despite these challenges, Ali expressed confidence that support from BSP workers and Scheduled Caste organizations for the INDIA bloc was growing, recognizing the magnitude of the threat posed by divisive forces to the country’s constitution and reservation system.
Ali’s decision to join the Congress, he asserted, marked the culmination of his political and ideological journey, aligning himself with the party’s commitment to social justice under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. He dismissed derogatory remarks made against him by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri and emphasized that his candidacy received support from diverse communities opposed to the politics of hate.
Addressing concerns about BJP’s actions, Ali criticized the party’s alleged inconsistency between its rhetoric and actions, citing Modi’s inflammatory speech in Rajasthan. He expressed confidence in his reelection prospects in Amroha, citing the impact of recent rallies by Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as a turning point in the electoral dynamics of the constituency.
Ali’s journey from the BSP to the Congress reflects his conviction in aligning with a party committed to combating divisive forces and promoting inclusive governance. Despite facing criticism and challenges, Ali remains resolute in his determination to serve the people and uphold the principles of social justice and constitutional values.
