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Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Nitish may stay as Bihar CM, but should step down as JD(U) chief: Kushwaha
Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, who had quit the JD(U) two years ago, on Sunday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should give up the reins of the party, which has new hope in the supreme leader's son Nishant. Kushwaha, who has now floated his outfit Rashtriya Lok Morcha, came up with a post on his X handle, extending birthday greetings to his former mentor's son. Learnt from social media that it is the birthday of Nishant, the son of big brother (bade bhai), respectable Nitish Kumar. On this occasion, heartiest greetings to Nishant, the new hope of JD(U). May God always keep him happy and healthy, said the Rajya Sabha MP. I take this opportunity to make a humble request to Shri Nitish Kumar ji that it is no longer feasible for him to run both the government as well as the party, said Kushwaha, who has been in and out of the JD(U) at least thrice. The NDA partner, however, made it clear that he was not suggesting that the 75-year-old, whom the coalition has declared as its face for the upcoming assembly polls, discontinue as chief minister. Kushwaha said Kumar has a long experience in running the government, and it is in the interests of the state that he continues. But there must be a concrete decision on passing over the mantle of the party. This is not just my opinion but that of thousands of workers of the JD(U). Any delay in taking a decision will cause irreparable harm to the party, he asserted. "I am saying something that most JD(U) leaders cannot think of directly communicating to the Chief Minister, said Kushwaha, who was the party's parliamentary board chairman until his exit in 2023, when he alleged that Kumar had struck a deal for merger with arch rival Lalu Prasad's RJD. A year later, Kumar did yet another political volte-face, snapping ties with the RJD and returning to the BJP-led coalition. Reacting to Kushwaha's statement, JD(U) chief spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar said, Each and every worker of the party is standing with Nitish Kumar, having full faith in his leadership. As regards Nishant, only he and his father can take a decision in the matter. Kushwaha had been in the JD(U) since its inception in 2003, when Kumar backed him for the post of leader of the opposition in the state assembly. A few years later, after Kumar became the chief minister, Kushwaha parted ways and formed the Rashtriya Samata Party. In 2009, he merged Rashtriya Samata Party with the JD(U) and Kumar rewarded him with a Rajya Sabha berth. However, Kushwaha again fought with his mentor and quit the JD(U) in 2013 to form Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP). In 2014, contesting as an NDA ally and riding the Modi wave, Kushwaha made his Lok Sabha debut and was inducted into the Union Council of Ministers. However, he gave up the ministerial berth in 2018 and quit the NDA to join the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan. Two years later, he left the coalition and contested the 2020 assembly polls as Chief Ministerial candidate of an alliance that included Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM and Mayawati's BSP. The RLSP drew a blank in the assembly polls, and a few months later, Kushwaha merged the party with the JD(U), and was again rewarded by Kumar with the post of parliamentary board chairman and a berth in the state legislative council. In last year's Lok Sabha polls, Kushwaha finished third in Karkat, after CPI(ML) winner Raja Ram Kushwaha and runner-up Pawan Singh, Bhojpuri superstar who contested as an Independent candidate after refusing a BJP ticket from West Bengal. In the more than 20-year-long journey of JD(U), Kumar has retained full control over the organisation, even though the post of national president, which he currently himself occupies, has been held by his trusted aides at different points in time.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'Bibi acted like a madman': US officials slam Netanyahu over Syria strikes; White House frustrated, say reports
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks to reporters before a meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington. (AP) The White House is increasingly concerned about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military actions in Syria, with several senior US officials expressing frustration over what they describe as his unpredictable and aggressive strategy, Axios reported. Citing six US officials, Axios said the Trump administration -- despite a US-brokered ceasefire that ended last week's escalation -- ended the week more alarmed about Netanyahu's regional policies. While President Donald Trump has refrained from public criticism, it remains unclear whether he shares his advisers' concerns. Axios quoted one of the White House officials as saying, 'Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time. This could undermine what Trump is trying to do.' Another senior US official referenced Israel's shelling of a church in Gaza, saying it led President Trump to personally call Netanyahu for an explanation. 'The feeling is that every day there is something new. What the f***?' the official reportedly said. A third official described growing skepticism toward Netanyahu inside the administration: 'Netanyahu is sometimes like a child who just won't behave.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Global Indices Are on the Move — Time to Trade! IC Markets Learn More Israel's response to the recent conflict in Syria has been a particular point of friction. On Tuesday, Israeli forces bombed a convoy of Syrian army tanks headed toward Suwayda, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The strikes followed violent clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes, which reportedly killed over 700 people by Saturday. Israel claimed the Syrian convoy crossed into a demilitarized zone in southern Syria and that the Syrian military was involved in attacks on the Druze minority. Syria denied the allegations. Despite assurances given to US envoy Tom Barrack to pause military operations for diplomatic efforts, Israel escalated strikes the next day, targeting Syria's military headquarters and areas near the presidential palace. 'The bombing in Syria caught the president and the White House by surprise,' Axios quoted a US official as saying. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly urged Netanyahu to stop the strikes, with Netanyahu agreeing on the condition of a Syrian military withdrawal from Suwayda. According to Axios, Turkey and Saudi Arabia also conveyed their displeasure over Israel's actions to the US administration. Officials, including Barrack and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly raised concerns directly with Trump. Some US officials believe Netanyahu's actions are driven by domestic political considerations, particularly pressure from Israel's Druze community. 'Bibi's political agenda is driving his senses. It will turn out to be a big mistake for him long-term,' one US official said. Israeli officials, however, denied that domestic politics influenced military decisions. A senior Israeli official told Axios that Israel acted to protect the Druze community in Syria. 'The US wants to keep the new Syrian government stable and doesn't understand why we attack in Syria. We tried to explain that this is our commitment to the Druze community in Israel,' the official said. Meanwhile, criticism also mounted over recent Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The killing of Palestinian American Saif Musallet by Israeli settlers last weekend prompted backlash from the Trump administration. Axios reported that US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, typically a staunch Israel supporter, called the attack 'terrorism' and demanded answers. Huckabee also criticized Israeli visa policies affecting American evangelicals. The Israeli Prime Minister's spokesperson Ziv Agmon did not respond to Axios' request for comment. As per US officials cited by Axios, there is a broader concern that Netanyahu's approach in Syria and Gaza could destabilize regional efforts toward peace and harm Israel's standing in Washington.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
"Will Try To Save Them": Trump Signals Support For Afghans Stuck In UAE
Washington: President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would help Afghans detained in the United Arab Emirates for years after fleeing their country when its Taliban leaders extended control over it. Trump, a Republican who has criticized high levels of immigration, suspended refugee resettlement after he took office in January. In April, the Trump administration terminated temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans in the US. "I will try to save them, starting right now," Trump said in a post on Truth Social that linked to an article on the Afghans held in limbo there. The UAE, a close security partner of the United States, agreed in 2021 to temporarily house several thousand Afghans evacuated from Kabul as the Taliban ousted the US-backed government during the final stages of the US-led withdrawal. Canada agreed in 2022 to resettle about 1,000 of the Afghans still held in the UAE after a US request. It is unclear how many remain in the Gulf country. Nearly 200,000 Afghans have been brought to the US by former President Joe Biden's administration since the chaotic US troop withdrawal from Kabul. Refugees include family members of Afghan-American US military personnel, children cleared to reunite with their parents, relatives of Afghans already admitted and tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the US government during the 20-year war.
