Latest news with #GroupII
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Business Standard
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Handshake abroad, discord at home with Opposition in the spotlight
A high-profile diplomatic offensive launched by New Delhi to rally international opinion in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor concluded on Sunday with the return of the Ravi Shankar Prasad-led 'Group II' from a fortnight-long mission to Europe. The delegation was one of seven that fanned out globally to expose Pakistan's sponsorship of terrorism and reinforce India's strategic narrative in key capitals. More than 50 MPs, former diplomats, and ex-Union ministers were dispatched to 33 destinations, including Brussels, home to several European Union (EU) institutions. The delegations — drawn from across the political spectrum — are expected to brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming days. Group II, which included BJP leader D Purandeswari and Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Priyanka Chaturvedi, made stops in France, Italy, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Germany. The group's return coincided with the Ministry of External Affairs's (MEA's) announcement of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's upcoming European tour. In a statement, the MEA said in the first leg of his tour, Jaishankar will travel to Paris and Marseille in France. He will also hold talks with his EU counterpart Jean Noel Barrot and participate in the inaugural edition of the Mediterranean Raisina Dialogue in Marseille. In Brussels, Jaishankar will meet EU High Representative for foreign affairs and Vice-President Kaja Kallas. Jaishankar's trip builds on his recent May visits to the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, as well as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's engagements in Tokyo and Washington DC. Before Group II's return, Chaturvedi posted on social media that her delegation concluded its mission 'with a sense of satisfaction that India stands together, resolute in its fight against terrorism'. She thanked her party leadership and also the government 'for realising the need to take everyone along to send a strong message on Operation Sindoor and India's fight back against terror.' While formal assessments of the outreach are still forthcoming, the initiative appears to have burnished the profiles of several Opposition leaders. Congress' Shashi Tharoor, Salman Khurshid, and Manish Tewari; NCP (Sharad Pawar)'s Supriya Sule; DMK's Kanimozhi; AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi; BJP's Baijayant Panda; and JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha have emerged as prominent faces of the campaign. Yet the multi-party engagement has also stirred political turbulence back home. Khurshid, who travelled with Group III to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, publicly vented frustration over intra-party sniping. 'When on mission against terrorism... it's distressing that people at home are calculating political allegiances. Is it so difficult to be patriotic?' he wrote in a veiled dig on social media. In Jakarta, he noted that Kashmir had 'major problems' for years and suggested that the abrogation of Article 370 had resolved them. According to government sources, Khurshid — given his experience — was crucial to India finding unequivocal support from the Malaysian government for Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, Tharoor, who headed Group V to the US, Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil, faced criticism from Congress ranks. Party leader Udit Raj accused him of being a 'super spokesperson of the BJP'. Tharoor pushed back, saying working in the national interest should not be viewed as partisan. 'We are here as representatives of a united India,' he said during a press meet, highlighting the diversity within his team: five parties, three religions, seven states. Supriya Sule, who led Group VII to Qatar, South Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt, echoed this sentiment upon return. 'I couldn't be demanding a special Parliament session while representing India abroad,' she said, clarifying why she urged her party to wait until the delegations returned before pushing for a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. She noted a warm reception in the countries her team visited. 'They consider India the land of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi,' she said. Her delegation included Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, Anurag Thakur, and Rajiv Pratap Rudy as members. Kanimozhi, who led Group VI to Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia and Spain, received notable acclaim on social media, as did Owaisi, who travelled to the Gulf and North Africa as part of Group I led by the BJP's Panda. The wide participation of Opposition figures — many of whom often find themselves at odds with the government domestically —has not only elevated their international stature but also changed their perception among public and supporters of the ruling party.
Miami Herald
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Herald endorsement: Coral Gables Commission, Group II
When Rhonda Anderson won a seat on the Coral Gables City Commission in 2021 — endorsed by this Editorial Board — she promised to fight over-development and protect the city's charm. Now, as debate continues about how much development is too much, Anderson is seeking a second term in Group II. She faces two challengers in the nonpartisan race: Felix Pardo, who is an architect, Planning and Zoning Board member and activist, and Laureano Cancio, an attorney and a longtime resident. The Herald Editorial Board met with all three candidates. Our choice is Anderson, who's serving as the vice mayor. Anderson, 64, an attorney, has a solid record of accomplishments during her four years in office. Unfortunately, that time has also been marred by a commission that has devolved into competing factions. The resulting acrimony has been detrimental to the business of the citizens of Coral Gables. Among the achievements she points to: pushing for measures to manage growth responsibly, including increasing development setbacks to require more space between the property line and new construction; helping to attract new businesses such as Apple's 45,000-square-foot office at The Plaza Coral Gables and FIFA's 60,000-square-foot office at Alhambra Circle in preparation for the 2026 World Cup; prioritizing pedestrian safety through speed bumps and traffic circles; championing the expansion of green spaces and tree canopy and facilitating the creation of a 20,000-square-foot, tree-lined, public park on Salzedo Street. She's also a proponent of more pickleball courts at city parks and has worked to continue the city's septic-to-sewer conversion. Unlike when she was first elected, Anderson has recently been on a sharply divided commission, often on the losing side of a 3-2 split with Mayor Vince Lago, who is also up for reelection. The results of this election will show whether residents want to end the current voting blocs that have caused such turmoil in the Gables. Anderson said she is not closely aligned with Lago: 'I vote on issues, not on partnerships,' she told the Board. We'll take her at her word. Anderson played a key role in approving a now-controversial height increase in May 2022 for Regency Parc, which will be one of the tallest buildings in Coral Gables at 18 stories. Anderson, with Lago, co-sponsored the initial ordinance requesting the height increase. In exchange, the city secured a 50% reduction in density — from 300 units to 128 — to address neighbors' concerns with traffic congestion. The commission approved the height increase, 5-0. 'The neighbors wanted a reduction in density, and that's what we got them,' Anderson said. 'If you listen to the meeting where we voted on the ordinance, the public was invited to voice objections at the end —and no one did.' Anderson insists she has not become pro-development and maintains that she only supports projects and variances to projects that residents approve. 'I'm running again to try to preserve as much as we can of Coral Gables,' Anderson told the Board. She also cast some notable 'No' votes. She voted against a 78% salary increase for commissioners — a proposal pushed by Commissioner Kirk Menendez, who is running for mayor. She and Lago declined the additional pay and pledged to donate the extra funds to charity. Anderson recently provided the Miami Herald with a list of charities she donated to — the raise meant an estimated $42,000 in extra pay — but no documentation was provided. She now says none was required at the time the issue was addressed. And last year, she voted against the firing of City Manager Peter Iglesias and also against the rushed hiring of Amos Rojas, Jr., who has since resigned. Anderson and Lago wanted a national search for a city manager, a more reasonable approach than the surprise hiring of Rojas. There is no doubt that along with civility, development remains the top issue in Coral Gables. As Pardo, one of Anderson's opponent told the Board, the complaint he hears most from voters is 'development, development, development, incompatible development.' We appreciated his passion for representing Gables residents whose voices may be lost in the current debate. Anderson would be wise to remember that as well. In the race for Coral Gables Commission, Group II, the Miami Herald endorses RHONDA ANDERSON.
