"Don't Give Him Too Much Importance": Smriti Irani's Swipe At Rahul Gandhi

Exuding confidence after the Congress decided not to field Rahul Gandhi against her in Amethi, Union Minister Smriti Irani has said this is a sign of the Congress conceding the 79th out of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP and that her party managing a clean sweep in the state is a possibility. 

Speaking exclusively to NDTV on Friday, after it was revealed that Mr Gandhi, whom she had defeated in 2019, would not be contesting against her but would fight from Raebareli, Ms Irani said it was a matter of pride for her that "an ordinary BJP worker had sent the Gandhi family packing". Raebareli was the only seat that the Congress had won in Uttar Pradesh in 2019.

Asked about how she saw the developments of the day, the Women And Child Development minister said, "I think the Congress nomination and the entire Gandhi family backing out from a battle in Amethi is significant because, as far as I am concerned, it is the proclamation of defeat of the Congress party from Amethi."

On Kishori Lal Sharma, a Gandhi family loyalist who has worked in Amethi for 40 years, getting the ticket instead and the Congress claiming that it was giving a chance to a grassroots worker, Ms Irani said people who have seen enough politics would know when they are being "hoodwinked".

"If there was an iota of chance of the Gandhi family winning, they would have fought the battle here in Amethi," she claimed. 

To a question on whether she would have wanted Rahul Gandhi to contest, Ms Irani said she had already created history in 2019 when she defeated the sitting Congress president. 

"This is not the first time Mr Rahul Gandhi has run away from Amethi. He had run away in 2019 as well. The only difference is last time he sought comfort in Wayanad and this time he chose not to contest at all. So it is the second time Mr Gandhi shied away from a battle in Amethi," she said. 

'Have Done Much In Life'

Asked whether she would have like to challenge him in Amethi as well, she said, "I think you give him too much importance. I am a self-made woman. I have had a 2.5-decade successful career in media. I have been an MP. I have been announced as the World Economic Forum global leader in 2015 itself... I have done much in life. I don't need a Rahul Gandhi chase to make my career or my name."

"And by the way, I have done it without having a politician who is a father to me and the 'karta dharta' (prime mover) of an entire political organisation. So I have done it without comfort and at personal cost, Mr Gandhi, unfortunately, has not only let down his whole political organisation, but also his family legacy. I think it speaks volumes that an ordinary worker of the BJP could defeat the Gandhi scion. And, today, an ordinary worker of the BJP had the entire family packed away," she added.

Moving to the Raebareli battle, where Mr Gandhi is up against Dinesh Pratap Singh, who had lost the seat in 2019, the minister said if the Congress leader was confident of winning from there, he would not have been contesting from Wayanad - where he is the sitting MP - as well. She said if the Gandhis were confident, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi would not have given up the constituency.

'Death Knell'

On Robert Vadra saying he wanted to contest from Amethi, Ms Irani said, "I think if Sonia Gandhi doesn't think her son-in-law is competent enough to be in Indian politics, that's a decision for Mrs Gandhi to take. It's nothing for me to ponder about."

Insisting that the Congress will not be able to do well in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, she said, "I think the proclamation from Amethi itself is indicative that this is the last death knell in the political coffin of the Congress Party... The 79th (seat in Uttar Pradesh) was proclaimed by the Congress party itself that they are losing. The 80th is Raebareli. Mr Gandhi will surely lose from there. Else he would have never fought from Wayanad."

Taking another dig at her former opponent, she added, "Do remember Mr Gandhi is not fighting this battle alone. He has taken the support of the Samajwadi Party. So what kind of a leader is this, who can't fight his own battles alone?"

Not Worthy?
 
Ms Irani claimed that the Congress party has declared her victory in Amethi with its decision and when she was asked whether Mr Sharma is a worthy opponent, she said, "Was Rahul Gandhi worthy in 2019? He was an absentee MP. I'm a two-term MP who has never been absent. as compared to Mr Rahul Gandhi. My spend of MP local area development funds and my record in Parliament has been pretty decent."

"So compared to somebody who is self-made and has been a productive MP, do you think an absentee MP who depended on a family name to become a politician is a worthy opponent for a person like me," she asked. 

"I have been an MP only for five years as compared to 50 years of the Gandhi family. I'm grateful that people in these five years have decided that I make for a better public representative than the Gandhis who were here for 50 years, and especially Mr Rahul Gandhi was here as an absentee MP for 15 years. The comparison was stark, and that is why the Gandhi family withdrew from contesting from its so-called family bastion," she said.

Called a giant slayer, Ms Irani said Rahul Gandhi is "hardly a giant" and continued, "The writing is on the wall. As far as Amethi goes, they have woken up and smelled the coffee. I'm sure they will be coming to many realities on the fourth of June. The citizen had fallen long ago. They have now woken up to that reality."

Claiming that Mr Gandhi was not transparent with the voters of Wayanad in 2019 about fighting another seat, the BJP leader said the decision not to field a member of the Gandhi family from Amethi indicates that the Congress knows that it is not well positioned in Uttar Pradesh.

'Ordinary Worker'

On whether she thought 80 on 80 is achievable in Uttar Pradesh she said, "Today is a great indicator of what is available in terms of political realities vis a vis the Congress Party. It is the Congress Party that has concluded that if any member of the Gandhi family fights Amethi, they will lose. It is not a conclusion by the BJP. That the Gandhi family felt it not it did not have even a fighting chance in Amethi speaks volumes.

"Because remember this they are the first family of Indian politics. And I'm just an ordinary BJP worker. That an ordinary BJP worker could send them packing away speaks volumes about what awaits them on the fourth of June," she added.

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Ruchir Sharma's Warning To West: Beware Of Bigger Governments You Wish For

The 'New York Times'-listed bestselling author and head of the Rockefeller Capital Management's international business, Ruchir Sharma, will be out with his new book, 'What Went Wrong With Capitalism', on June 16.

It will be the 'Financial Times' columnist's fifth book after 'The 10 Rules of Successful Nations', published in 2020.

Making the announcement, the publishing house, Penguin Random House UK, said that in the upcoming book, Sharma "rewrites the standard histories, which trace today's popular anger to the anti-government rebellion that began under Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan."

A book that promises to help us understand the growing popular anger in the capitalist world (at the moment expressing itself in the protests raging across US campuses), its fundamental argument, according to the press statement from the publisher, can be summed up in this statement: "Four decades of downsizing government -- cutting taxes, spending, and regulations -- left the financial markets free to run wild, fuelling inequality, slowing growth -- and alienating much of the population."

Sharma, a Shri Ram College of Commerce alumnus, first drew attention to the breadth of his vision with his debut book, Breakout Nations (2012), which made the journal 'Foreign Policy' rank him as one of the top global thinkers.

In his upcoming book, Sharma, according to the publisher's press statement, "exposes the story of a shrinking government as a myth". The statement adds: "With a historical and global sweep, [Sharma] shows that the government has expanded steadily as a regulator, borrower, spender, and micro-manager of the business cycle for a century. Working with central banks, particularly in the last two decades, governments created a culture of easy money and bailouts that is making the rich richer, and big companies bigger."

In an observation that may explain the appeal of the left-of-centre US Senator Bernie Sanders among young Americans, Sharma says "progressive youth are partly right that capitalism has morphed into 'socialism for the very rich'."

Sharma notes: "The broader issue, however, is socialised risk for the poor, the middle class and the rich; the government is trying to guarantee that no one ever suffers economic pain by borrowing heavily to prevent recessions, extend recoveries, and generate endless growth."

"The result," he adds, "is rapidly rising debt and declining competition -- exactly the environment in which oligopolies and billionaires do best."

Says the book's blurb, "This rare capitalist critique of capitalism offers a timely warning. To a surprising degree, politicians on both the right and left now assume that popular anger with capitalism arose in a period of shrinking government, and so offer answers that involve more government -- more spending, or regulation, or walls and barriers."

The blurb goes on to note, "If their historical assumptions are incorrect, their proposed fixes are likely to double down on what went wrong in the first place. There is no returning to the 19th century when the government did little more than deliver mail, but the balance has shifted too far towards state control, leaving too little room for economic competition."

No matter whether your politics are progressive or conservative, Sharma argues, the answer has to be less government and more cautious central banks.

Commenting on his "most ambitious book yet", Sharma says, "This book is a pandemic baby, conceived in that dark period when governments were both locking down businesses and spending trillions to support people shut in at home.

"Though many saw this crisis as entirely novel, what I saw was the logical culmination of all that has gone wrong with capitalism, namely, decades of increasingly interventionist government, narrowing the scope of individual freedom and initiative and economic freedom."

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Suresh Raina's Cousin Killed In Road Accident In Dharamshala

Former cricketer Suresh Raina's cousin was killed in a hit-and-run incident, which also claimed the life of another man riding the same scooter, police said on Thursday. Saurabh Kumar, Raina's maternal cousin, and his friend Shubham from Kuthman died in a collision with a car near Gaggal airport on Wednesday, they said. Superintendent of Police (SP) Kangra, Shalini Agnihotri, said the incident took place around 11:30 pm on Wednesday near Himachal Timber in Gaggal.

According to the police, the driver of the car, Sher Singh, was responsible for the collision.

He had fled the scene but with the help of the CCTV footage, which captured the incident, Singh was later arrested in Mandi, they added.

A case has been registered against the accused under sections 279 (rash driving) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code, along with section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the police said. 

Recently, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend Suresh Rainaopened up on the much-talked-about controversy surrounding his withdrawal from the IPL 2020 season in the UAE. Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, Raina had travelled to the country with the rest of the players but pulled out before the start of the season, citing personal reasons and COVID-19 bio-bubble arrangements. There were different theories regarding Raina's decision to pull out. One such rumour claimed that Raina left the bio-bubble after he was denied a hotel room with a balcony.

Addressing the rumours, Raina revealed that he pulled out of the tournament to spent time with his father and close ones after his relatives were killed in Punjab.

"There was bereavement in the family, I went to Punjab. In my uncle's family, there were deaths. The kaccha gang..who come with oil on their body. A group of gangsters killed the entire family, my grandmother was also there. It happened in Pathankot. So I went there. But there was a bio-bubble in the IPL, where you couldn't return. My father was very upset. When the Kachche gang did what they did, my entire family was in stress. I thought cricket came next, I could play anytime, first, my family was important," Raina said during an interaction on Lallantop.

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My Skull-Cap: Badruddin Ajmal On Why His Party Is Not Part Of INDIA Bloc

AIUDF chief and sitting MP from Assam's Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal claimed that he could not be a part of the INDIA bloc because he was told that Rahul Gandhi did not want a skull-cap-wearing bearded man in the alliance fearing an adverse impact on the Hindus votes.

"They have fear, I was told straight. I spoke to Sharad Pawar and Nitish Kumar, who initially was the architect of this new bloc. He told me straight: 'Rahul Gandhi does not want you to be part of this since it will affect Hindu votes. They don't want any bearded and skull-cap-wearing person to be part of it.' But I feel after this election, they will need me. There might be a new third front. That's what I feel," he told NDTV.

In Assam, where in Phase 3 of the seven-phased elections, one of the key candidates contesting is the three-time MP from Dhubri and the chief of the All India United Democratic Front, or AIUDF, Maulana Badaruddin Ajmal. The veteran politician has a huge influence over the Muslim voters of lower Assam and was an ally of the Congress in the last assembly polls and even in the UPA. But this time, he faces a huge challenge from the Congress.

Mr Ajmal, seen as the founder of Muslim politics in Assam, has promised to build 700 Madrassas if he is re-elected.

"What I did for Dhubri, Congress cannot do in a hundred years. I have always been in the Opposition and not in power. Yet I have performed for 15 years. River bank erosion, drinking water, and better education are my priorities this time. The Congress's hand is broken...

"There can be anti-incumbency in my seat. I am fighting with my performance. Half the children studying in my Ajmal Foundation are Hindus. Yet they call me communal. The BJP will get more Muslim votes than in the past but it won't be a significant share. I am a bit angry this time. Our workers are over-confident," he said.

The Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency is all set for a triangular fight between the AIUDF, the Congress's Rakibul Hussian, and the NDA-ally Asom Gana Parishad's Zabed Islam.

Elections will be held in the third phase of the ongoing general elections on May 7 and votes will be counted on June 4.

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Watch: Umpire's Horrible Decision Blasted As SRH Star Gets Reprieve vs RR

The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2024 match was witness to a controversial moment as the former's batter Travis Head got a reprieve to a stumping decision. It happened in the 15th over as with Avesh Khan bowling to Head. Against a full delivery outside off, Head shuffled across and chased the ball. He lost balance in the process. Samson threw the ball in the stumps' direction. Replays showed that it was ambiguous, though the TV umpire Rohan Pandit gave it not out. RR Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara could be seen engaged in an animated discussion after the decision was given. 

Irfan Pathan called the decision "horrible". "Horrible decision again from their umpire. There were two more frames to see. Head's bat was in the air," he wrote on x.

Nitish Reddy and Travis Head produced explosive fifties to power Sunrisers Hyderabad to a competitive 201 for three against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League here on Thursday.

Horrible decision again from their umpire. There were two more frames to see. Head's bat was in the air.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 2, 2024

It didn't matter in the end #SRHvRR #TATAIPL #IPLonJioCinema pic.twitter.com/qdui7WrAVu

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) May 2, 2024

Opting to bat, SRH opener Head made full use of an early reprieve by slamming his fourth fifty of the season with a 44-ball 58, while Nitish (76 not out in 42 balls) hit his second half-century en route a 96-run stand off 57 balls for the third wicket.

Nitish and Heinrich Klassen (42 not out off 19) added another 70 off 32 balls to take SRH across the 200-mark for the fifth time this season.

Head, who was dropped by Riyan Parag in the first ball of the innings, hit six fours and three sixes, while Nitish smashed eight maximums and three fours during his brutal assault.

Playing his 300th game, Yuzvendra Chahal, who has been picked for the T20 World Cup, was on the firing line as he was taken apart by the two batters, conceding 62 in his quota of four overs.

Avesh Khan (2/39) produced the first breakthrough, having Abhishek Sharma (12) caught at deep midwicket. Sandeep Sharma (1/31) then claimed a first-ball wicket, removing Anmolpreet Singh (5) as SRH scored 37 for 2 in the powerplay, their lowest this IPL.

The spin duo of Chahal and R Ashwin (0/36), however, disappointed as the batters milked them for runs to set SRH on the road to recovery.

Chahal had a horrible night as Head smashed him for two sixes and a four during an 18-run over after he came on to bowl immediately following the powerplay.

The leg-spinner was then taken apart by Nitish Reddy, who plundered him for two sixes and two fours to accumulate 21 runs as SRH reached 113 for 2 in 13 overs.

Nitish, who also clobbered Ashwin and Avesh for two maximums, then sent Sandeep sailing over extra cover, while Head pulled Avesh for another six in the 15th over.

The Australia, however, played the pacer onto his middle stump as SRH slipped to 131/3.

Nitish then completed his fifty in 30 balls with a single and straightaway launched Ashwin for successive maximums.

New man Klassen then joined the party, sending Chahal into the orbit with back-to-back sixes. When Boult was back, Klassen picked him for two fours, while blasting another six off Sandeep. 

With PTI inputs

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"Avoid Beaches, Drive With Caution": Dubai Gets 'Unstable' Weather Alert

The Dubai Police issued a public safety warning this evening due to expected unstable weather conditions."Please stay away from the beaches and do not sail, avoid valley areas, torrential rains, and low places, exercise caution while driving vehicles," the alert read.

It also asked people to adhere to the instructions of the competent authorities as, it said, the emirate was expected to witness weather fluctuations in the coming hours, the Khaleej Times reported.

This comes after an alert by the UAE for medium to heavy rains for two days, starting from Wednesday evening. Companies have been encouraged to ask employees to work from home. Several schools were also asked to opt for distance learning till Friday as the country prepares for heavy rain, as per a report by The National.

The Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) in Dubai also announced that they have temporarily suspended accepting requests for the entry and departure of wooden dhows.

Dubai Airports also issued advisary for paasengers related to the inclement weather tomorrow. Authorities asked travellers to start their journey early and add some extra travel time to reach the airport in time whether they travelling by car or public transport.

On April 16, the UAE was hit by record rains that brought parts of the Gulf country to a standstill, heavily flooding some neighbourhoods, including in Dubai and northern cities.

The rains were the heaviest experienced by the United Arab Emirates in the 75 years that records have been kept.

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32-Year-Old Man Dies After Fainting At Varanasi Gym

A 32-year-old man died after apparently experiencing a severe headache at a gym in Varanasi today. CCTV footage captured the distressing moments as the man sat with his head in his hands before falling to the ground.

People rushed to assist him, helping him sit up and providing water. He was seen shaking as others massaged his back and head.

Deepak Gupta, a regular at the gym for the past ten years and an active participant in various fitness competitions, was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The exact cause of his death will be known after the medical report.

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