Kamal Haasan condemns detention of Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc MPs in New Delhi
Referring to Mr. Gandhi allegations of 'vote theft', he urged the ECI to publish the electoral rolls in a machine-readable format and permit independent audits. 'Let the people see the truth rather than be told to take comfort in authority's word,' Mr. Haasan said.
Detaining the elected voices of the people for peacefully walking from Parliament to the ECI was an assault on democracy itself, he further said in a statement.
'To arrest people's representatives for seeking transparency is to arrest democracy, and this cannot stand in a free republic.' Contending that 'grave' questions have been raised about our electoral rolls, Mr. Haasan asked: 'Why refuse to publish the rolls in formats that allow independent verification? Why demand a written oath from the Leader of the Opposition when the very data he cites is from the Election Commission's own records?'
'Why, when suspicious additions to electoral rolls are exposed in Maharashtra and Karnataka, does the answer sometimes resemble subtraction, as in the Special Intensive Revision exercises now being undertaken in Bihar?' Mr. Haasan asked. The Rajya Sabha MP urged the ECI to remember the great holders of their own offices and rise to the standards set by patriotic officers such as T.N. Seshan who was 'impartial, fearless, and above partisan politics.'
'Not a partisan cause'
Mr. Haasan said: 'This is not a partisan cause. It is the cause of India. I invite all political parties, including my brethren in the NDA, to unite for transparency. Let us take this demand from village to town, from town to city, to every corner of India. Defend the vote, and you defend the republic.' He further said that they would 'not allow the Rubicon of our democracy to be crossed.'
Mr. Haasan added: 'Demand answers: not for politics, but for the future of our country.' The Indian democracy was 'not an automatic kindness' and was a 'covenant, sealed with the blood and toil of millions who fought and gave their lives to throw off colonial rule so that every Indian could vote and decide their own destiny,' the Rajya Sabha MP said.
'Through wars and famine, through riots and natural disasters, our right to vote and its sanctity has remained sacrosanct. When the sanctity of our vote is questioned, it is not a petty political quarrel, it is a moral crisis for every Indian who believes in liberty, dignity, and justice,' Mr. Haasan said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a minute ago
- First Post
'They bring immeasurable benefits': Irish president condemns ‘despicable' attacks on Indians amid rising hate crimes
Irish President Michael D Higgins has condemned recent attacks on members of the Indian community, calling them 'despicable' and against Ireland's values, as concerns mount over a rise in racially motivated violence. rish President Michael D Higgins on Tuesday strongly condemned recent attacks on members of the Indian community, calling them 'despicable' and a betrayal of Ireland's values. In a statement, Higgins expressed 'deep gratitude' for the Indian community's immense contribution to Irish life, praising their work in medicine, nursing, care, culture, business, and enterprise. 'Their presence, their work, their culture have been a source of enrichment and generosity to our shared life,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His remarks come amid mounting concern over racially motivated violence. In recent weeks, Indian-origin residents have faced a spate of assaults, prompting the Indian Embassy in Dublin to issue a safety advisory urging citizens to avoid deserted areas and remain vigilant, citing 'an increase in physical attacks' against Indians. Recalling the historical bonds between the two nations, from shared struggles for independence to Irishwoman Margaret Cousins' role in founding the All India Women's Conference, Higgins said such acts of violence 'diminish all of us' and 'obscure the immeasurable benefits the people of India have brought to this country.' He warned that 'messages of hate or incitement to violence,' including those spread on social media, corrode the Irish traditions of hospitality, friendship, and care for others. 'These principles must apply to all who form part of Irish society today, without exception,' he stressed, adding that Ireland must remain a place 'where all communities can live in safety, dignity, and mutual respect.' The warnings follow several violent incidents in recent weeks. On July 19, a 40-year-old Amazon employee from India, in Ireland for just three weeks, was beaten, stabbed in the face, and partially stripped by a teenage gang in Tallaght, Dublin. Authorities are treating the case as a possible hate crime. Jennifer Murray, an Irish woman who intervened, said in a video the next day that 'at least four Indian men and another man have been facially stabbed by this gang of teenagers.' She said the victim required a brain scan and was left 'completely scarred for life.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hans India
a minute ago
- Hans India
Trade diversification may help India tame US tariff impact
US President Donald Trump's decision to impose higher tariffs on Indian goods threatens to put $30-35 billion worth of exports to the United States at risk, a move that could shave almost a full percentage point off India's GDP growth over the next two years. Economists warn that the impact will be deep and widespread, hitting sectors already struggling with global demand uncertainties and forcing businesses to rethink their export strategies. The Narendra Modi government's response to the situation should reflect poise and pragmatism, not anger. Indian banks are increasing scrutiny of new loan applications from exporters by asking about exposure to the American market and contingency plans for coping with Trump's steep tariffs, as reported by Bloomberg. On the ground, stress is already visible. In Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur, the country's knitwear hub, exporters say orders are 'being paused, redirected, or lost entirely to competitors from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Cambodia, all of whom have lower US tariffs ranging between 19 per cent and 36 per cent,' according to a news report. The blow is no less severe in Surat, the world's diamond-cutting capital. Several companies were forced to halt processing orders for American clients that had already begun for the Christmas season. Trump's announcement of the additional 25 per cent tariff on diamonds from India came as a shock, particularly because the festive period—just five months away—accounts for nearly half of the annual international sales for many businesses. Industry experts predict that exports of non-industrial diamonds—those intended for jewellery or investment—will be particularly hard hit. According to the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India supplied 68 per cent of the US's total diamond imports by volume and 42 per cent by value ($5.79 billion) in 2024. Given such a dominant position, even a partial loss of market share could translate into billions in lost revenue and the potential shuttering of thousands of polishing and cutting units. The Modi government has sought to reassure exporters by promising measures to soften the impact of the new US tariffs. However, such pledges are easier made than fulfilled. Trade diversification to other markets may help in the medium term, but replacing the sheer scale and value of the US market will be challenging. Furthermore, the government's recent geopolitical tilt towards Russia and China—driven by political compulsions—risks complicating efforts to restore trade warmth with Washington. This strategic shift is particularly troubling. While engaging with multiple global partners is a sensible long-term objective, the US remains one of India's most significant economic partners, especially in high-value manufacturing, services, and technology. Deterioration in bilateral economic relations now will only magnify the damage from the tariffs. Rather than recalibrating India's foreign policy in ways that alienate Washington, a more prudent and pragmatic approach would be to prioritise repairing and deepening ties with the US. Doing so will require deft diplomacy, proactive engagement on trade disputes, and perhaps concessions in other areas of the bilateral agenda. India must make the case—both politically and economically—that it is a critical partner in global supply chains, especially as the US seeks to reduce dependence on China. If corrective action is delayed, the fallout will be felt not only in trade statistics but also in employment figures. That will make the situation worse.
Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
Row erupts on Israel envoy's response on Priyanka Gandhi
Israeli envoy Reuven Azar raised eyebrows in diplomatic and political circles on Tuesday by engaging in a public spat with senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and accusing her of 'deceit' over herremarks regarding 'genocide' in Gaza. Row erupts on Israel envoy's response on Priyanka Gandhi The Congress bristled at the tone and tenor of Azar's comments in a social media post, which were also criticised by leaders of other political parties. The envoy's remarks led to calls by the Congress for an intervention by the Central government. Priyanka Gandhi, in a scathing attack on the Union government's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, said in a social media post: 'The Israeli state is committing genocide. It has murdered over 60,000 people, 18,430 of whom were children. It has starved hundreds to death, including many children and is threatening to starve millions.' She added, 'Enabling these crimes by silence and inaction is a crime in itself. It is shameful that the Indian Government stands silent as Israel unleashes this devastation on the people of Palestine.' She had earlier described the killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza as 'cold-blooded murder' by Israel. Azar lashed out at the Congress leader about two hours later, saying in a social media post, 'What is shameful is your deceit. Israel killed 25,000 Hamas terrorists. The terrible cost in human lives derives from Hamas's heinous tactics of hiding behind civilians, their shooting of people trying to evacuate or receive assistance and their rocket fire.' He added, 'Israel facilitated 2 million tonnes of food into Gaza while Hamas tries to sequestrate them, thereby creating hunger. The Gaza population has grown by 450 per cent in the last 50 years, no genocide there. Don't buy Hamas numbers.' Senior Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticised the envoy, saying, 'The Indian National Congress condemns the words used by Israel's Ambassador to India in response to the pain and anguish expressed by Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, MP, on Israel's continuing genocide in Gaza.' Ramesh said it would be 'too much to expect the Modi Govt, which has shown extreme moral cowardice when it comes to speaking out on Israel's destruction of Gaza over the past 18-20 months, to take serious exception and objection to the Ambassador's response. We do and find it totally unacceptable.' Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi joined the criticism, saying, 'Hope @MEAIndia reprimands this Hon. Ambassador. Earlier, I had wanted to move a privilege motion against the Polish Ambassador (now former) for his tweet attack on me, but after a discussion, the EAM chose not to raise it. However, this is emboldening them to speak to Indian parliamentarians in this tone and tenor while in our own country. This is unacceptable.' However, BJP leader and former MP Ramesh Bidhuri linked Priyanka Gandhi's comments to what he claimed was a connection between Hamas and the Congress. 'If you look into Priyanka Gandhi and the Congress's background, you will find a link to Gaza,' he told reporters. There was no official word from the external affairs ministry on the matter. People in diplomatic circles said such public criticism of an Indian MP by a foreign envoy was unprecedented. Following the terror attacks by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, India had expressed solidarity with the Israeli government in keeping with its policy of 'zero tolerance' for terrorism. India subsequently sought to nuance its position after this did not go down well with its partners in West Asia. India has called for the end of hostilities in Gaza, the release of all hostages taken by Hamas, unfettered access for providing humanitarian assistance to the people in the Gaza Strip, and a return to dialogue and diplomacy aimed at a two-state solution.
