Connect with us

Boston, MA

India opposition’s ‘unity march’ against hate enters capital – The Boston Globe

Published

on

India opposition’s ‘unity march’ against hate enters capital – The Boston Globe


NEW DELHI — Members of India’s major opposition Congress get together and 1000’s of supporters walked into the capital on Saturday as a part of a 5-month-long cross-country “unity march” looking for to problem what they are saying is a “hate-filled” model of the nation beneath the Hindu nationalist authorities.

Joined by 1000’s of get together employees and senior leaders, the march led by Rahul Gandhi, an opposition chief of the Congress get together and scion of the influential Gandhi household, entered New Delhi after passing by eight states.

Flanked by his mom, Sonia Gandhi, and sister, Priyanka Gandhi, the 52-year-old chief mentioned that the motive of his lengthy stroll throughout the size of the nation is to revive the once-mighty Congress get together and showcase the “actual India” in contrast to the “hate-filled model” supplied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“They are going to unfold hate. We are going to unfold love,” Gandhi mentioned, referring to Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Get together.

Advertisement

Gandhi set off for the “Bharat Jodo Yatra,” or “Unite India March,” in Kanyakumari, a coastal city that’s the southernmost tip of India, on Sept. 7. The march, which is broadcast reside on a web site, is predicted to traverse 3,570 kilometers (2,218 miles) and cross 12 states earlier than ending in Indian-controlled Kashmir by February.

Passing by lots of of villages and cities, the march has attracted farmers nervous about rising debt, college students complaining about growing unemployment, civil society members and rights activists who say India’s democratic well being is in decline. Alongside the best way, Gandhi has additionally shed his previously clean-shaven search for a thick beard and slept in transport container cabins throughout evening halts.

In a number of impassioned speeches in the course of the march, Gandhi has usually focused Modi and his authorities for doing little or no to deal with the rising financial inequality in India, the rising spiritual polarization, and the menace posed by China. The armies of India and China are locked in a bitter standoff within the mountainous Ladakh area since 2020. Regardless of over a dozen rounds of talks at navy, political and diplomatic ranges, the standoff has protracted.

Modi’s get together has dismissed Gandhi’s march and speeches as a political gimmick to regain his “misplaced credibility.”

“The character of the Congress has been to interrupt India,” the get together mentioned in a tweet Saturday.

Advertisement

Hindu nationalism has surged beneath Modi and his get together, which have been criticized over rising hate speech and violence in opposition to Muslims lately. Opponents say Modi’s silence emboldens right-wing teams and threatens nationwide unity, however his get together has denied this.

Although the Congress get together says Gandhi’s cross-country stroll is especially to reestablish an emotional reference to Indians, the march’s electoral ambitions are exhausting to overlook.

With a nationwide election lower than 16 months away, it might decide whether or not India’s beleaguered opposition can put up a struggle in opposition to the electoral juggernaut of Modi’s get together that received the bulk in 2014 and 2019.

Rasheed Kidwai, a political analyst, mentioned Gandhi is “using some politically appropriate strategies throughout his lengthy stroll that has potential to do some picture correction for him.” However he cautioned that solely electoral victories will ultimately outline whether or not Gandhi’s march is profitable.

“Modi’s BJP has a hit price of about 90% in over 200 parliamentary seats the place it’s in direct contest with the Congress. If this march reduces that price, that may be fairly a hit. In a democracy, you will need to be related and win elections,” Kidwai mentioned.

Advertisement

In 2019, Modi’s get together received 303 out of 543 parliamentary seats, partly as a consequence of its Hindu nationalistic agenda. Congress was a distant second with 52 seats.

Since Modi got here to energy for the primary time in 2014, the Congress get together has additionally suffered crushing defeats in a slew of state polls. It presently guidelines solely three out of 28 states.

Suffering from management disaster and electoral routs, the get together in October elected its first non-Gandhi president after 24 years in an try shed a picture of being run by a single dynasty.

The get together has been led by non-family members up to now, however Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had been at its helm since 1998.

The march has helped Gandhi, rankings present.

Advertisement

In November, polling company C-Voter mentioned Gandhi’s reputation rankings have seen a slight soar because the march started, from 29% to 31%. The marginal enchancment in Gandhi’s reputation, nevertheless, stays effectively beneath that of Modi’s 66%.




Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Boston, MA

Cloudy, cool and gray today; weather slowly improves over holiday weekend

Published

on

Cloudy, cool and gray today; weather slowly improves over holiday weekend


The weekend is improving, but it will be a slow process.

Lots of clouds around today. We risk a passing shower, but much of the day will be dry (and dull gray).

Glimpses – or even wholesale breaks – of sun are possible, but I don’t want to oversell any bright weather.

Advertisement

Highs stay in the “I’ll never complain about the heat again” range of the low 60s.

We’ll see more sunny spells tomorrow along with a steady northwest breeze. This will help us reach the mid-60s as we hold back the sea breeze for one more day.

There’s still a very small chance at a shower in the afternoon, but this is nothing to cancel plans over or throw your hands up in disgust. (OK, you’re allowed.)

Memorial Day remains the pick of the weekend, despite the fact that it may fall short of stellar beach weather. The sea breeze returns at the coast, so highs will fall just short of 70.

Away from the coast, we expect low 70s, with abundant sun for all.

Advertisement

Once again, we may run into a very brief, afternoon shower, predominately away from the coast.

Next week sees a return to steady highs in the 70s with occasional sea breezes at the coast. Heat stays away, humidity stays low, and the next chance for showers may hold off until Thursday.

Enjoy the holiday weekend and be safe!



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Boston, MA

BREAKING: Boston Red Sox Star Leaves Game with Apparent Injury

Published

on

BREAKING: Boston Red Sox Star Leaves Game with Apparent Injury


Boston Red Sox star Alex Bregman left the first game of Friday’s doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles with an apparent leg injury.

Bregman singled to left field off the Green Monster and seemed to get caught in-between whether or not he wanted to run to second. He immediately left the game.

While it’s too early to speculate on the severity, any missed time would be devastating for Boston. The 31-year-old, who was signed this past offseason, is hitting .299 with a .385 on-base percentage. In the absence of Triston Casas and the struggles of Trevor Story, he’s been a driving force in the team’s lineup, also popping 11 homers and driving in 35.

A 10-year veteran of the Houston Astros and Red Sox, Bregman is a career .273 hitter with 202 home runs. He is a two-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion, and he is also a Gold Glover and a Silver Slugger.

Advertisement

Should Bregman need to miss any time, the team could elect to put Rafael Devers back at third base, however, he’s been resistant to play defense again after moving to designated hitter this offseason to accommodate Bregman.

The second game of the doubleheader will be played at 7:10 p.m. ET as Lucas Giolito takes the mound for Boston.

Boston hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2021 season, when they advanced to the American League Championship Series. They last won the World Series in 2018 when they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Red Sox are 25-26 entering play on Friday.

HISTORY-MAKING PERFORMANCE: Garrett Crochet, who was acquired this offseason by the Red Sox, is in a rare class of pitchers through his first 11 starts. CLICK HERE:

Advertisement

STEADY FRANKIE: Francisco Lindor, in his 11th year, just joined a special group of shortstops with his latest home run. CLICK HERE:

REPEAT PERFORMANCE? The Tigers are on a run unlike anything they’ve seen since they won the World Series in 1984. CLICK HERE:



Source link

Continue Reading

Boston, MA

Waymo comes to Boston for testing: Would you ride in a driverless taxi?

Published

on

Waymo comes to Boston for testing: Would you ride in a driverless taxi?


Futuristic technology has officially entered the historic city of Boston.

Waymo self-driving cars are driving around Boston through the end of June, gathering data on driving conditions and behaviors.

Although every Waymo car in Boston has a driver behind the wheel during this testing phase, many Bostonians are hesitant about the idea.

“I don’t think it’s the best idea. I feel like it’s kind of unsafe,” said Bella Lauzon from Arlington.

Advertisement

“Honestly, I think it’s crazy, cause what can you do? What if you have to brake and the car don’t brake?” said Kent Green from Malden.

Waymo has been visiting cities across the country, collecting information on a variety of areas. In Boston, that means navigating old and often confusing roadways.

“There’s a lot of one-ways, and there are very tight streets with a lot of pedestrians, so a little scary,” said Sarah Warjas from Medford.

“The streets are too small. I feel like it’s just causing more traffic — bike lanes,” added Green.

It also means learning Boston’s distinct driving culture, even during a nor’easter.

Advertisement

“I feel like it’s a little aggressive. You kind of have to be on your toes,” said Lauzon.

“I don’t like driving downtown to begin with, so I probably wouldn’t trust a self-driving car,” added Warjas.

Waymo is driving throughout the Boston area from Mission Hill to Cambridge, Somerville to Southie. You may also spot their cars on the Massachusetts Turnpike and Interstate 93.

The Alphabet-owned company currently operates autonomously in only four cities: Phoenix, Austin, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“I think conceptually, I’m OK with it. I came here from California, and there was lots of self-driving cars,” said Scott William of Malden. “I’m hoping that the technology is better to the point where they’re not crashing all the time and things like that.”

Advertisement

Earlier this month, Waymo recalled 1,200 self-driving cars to update the software after a series of minor collisions.

Right now, there is no timeline for when a driverless rider program would be launched in Boston.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending