Iran won’t agree to deal with US until its rights are secured: Parliament Speaker

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Tehran, May 31 (IANS) Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said on Sunday that Tehran would not agree to any deal with the United States until the rights of the Iranian people were secured.

Addressing an online parliamentary session, Ghalibaf stressed that Iranian negotiators had no trust in the “enemy’s” words and promises, according to the official news agency IRNA.

“Our criterion is tangible achievements that we must attain in order to fulfil our commitments in return,” he said. “We will not approve any agreement until we are sure that we have secured the Iranian nation’s rights,” Xinhua news agency reported.

The Speaker referred to Iran’s “achievements” on the battlefield and said the task of diplomacy was to transform “these victories into political and legal achievements”.

He warned that in a new phase of the conflict, the “enemies” were seeking to sow internal discord through economic pressure and media propaganda to force Iran to surrender, and expressed confidence that the Iranian people would resist such efforts.

In a post on social media platform X on Friday, Ghalibaf said: “We obtain concessions not through dialogue, but with missiles; in negotiations we merely make them understandable.”

Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that 28 vessels, including oil tankers, container ships and commercial vessels, had passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours after obtaining permission and receiving protection from its Navy.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the United States was close to reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran but warned that military action remained an option if negotiations failed.

In an interview with Fox News at the White House, Trump said his administration’s priority was ensuring that Iran never obtained a nuclear weapon.

“We’re close to a very good deal, and if we can make it good, otherwise we just start up with the Department of War, as we call it,” Trump said.

Trump also said Iran had agreed to language barring it from developing or acquiring a nuclear weapon.

–IANS

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Fuel price hike triggers political row, Rohini Acharya attacks Centre

Patna, May 15 (IANS) A fresh round of fuel price hikes has triggered a political row, with RJD leader Rohini Acharya, the daughter of Lalu Prasad, attacking the Centre over the rising cost of living.

Taking to X, Rohini Acharya criticised the government, stating that the issue goes beyond the Rs 3 hike and reflects the broader pressure of sustained inflation.

In her post, she remarked that for the common people, rising fuel prices have turned financial strain into a daily reality. “The question is not just about a 3-rupee hike; it’s about the burden of relentlessly rising inflation,” she said in the post.

She further alleged that the burden of inflation falls disproportionately on daily wage earners and ordinary citizens, while the government remains unresponsive to their hardships.

Acharya also targeted the government’s long-standing slogan of “Achhe Din”, arguing that while public expenses continue to rise, meaningful relief or explanations from the government remain absent.

“When petrol and diesel prices rise, the heaviest burden falls on those who earn and eat daily, on the common people, but the government, which works at the behest of wealthy tycoons, couldn’t care less about the hardships of the common folk,” she added.

The rising inflation has delivered a multi-pronged blow to the general public across India, triggering widespread concern over increasing household expenses. Prices of several essential commodities have gone up in quick succession, intensifying anxiety among citizens.

The price surge began with an increase in import duties on gold and silver following an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which led to a spike in bullion prices.

This was followed by a rise in milk prices and CNG rates. Now, fuel prices have also been increased.

Effective Friday, May 15, petrol and diesel prices across the country have gone up by more than Rs 3 per litre.

–IANS

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Law and order decisions ‘largely political’: Nripendra Misra recalls 1990s Ayodhya events

Ayodhya, April 11 (IANS) Nripendra Misra, Chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee and former Principal Secretary to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister late Kalyan Singh, has reflected on the events surrounding the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid, saying on Saturday that key decisions in such situations are largely driven by political leadership rather than bureaucratic officials.

Recalling the developments of that period, Misra said that in 1992, despite reports indicating a collapse of law and order in Ayodhya, the then Chief Minister Kalyan Singh had issued clear instructions that police should not open fire on ‘Karsevaks’.

He also referred to his tenure serving under different political administrations, including that of former Chief Minister late Mulayam Singh Yadav, noting the contrast in approaches adopted by the two leaders during moments of crisis.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Misra said, “Decisions of this kind are not taken at the level of the Principal Secretary. About 90 per cent of such decisions are political in nature, and around 10 per cent involve inputs from the Home Secretary, the Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Police.”

“I served as a Principal Secretary of both former Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kalyan Singh. You would also be aware that when the report was presented to Kalyan Singh, stating that law and order in Ayodhya had collapsed, he gave the written order that no firing would take place in the sacred city,” he added.

The remarks come in the context of the earlier Ayodhya firing, when police opened fire on karsevaks on October 30 and November 2, 1990, during the tenure of Mulayam Singh Yadav as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

At that time, large numbers of Lord Ram devotees had gathered in Ayodhya as part of the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s Kar Seva.

Police firing on the unarmed karsevaks reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 28 people.

Former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav later said that the action was taken on his orders and justified it as necessary to protect the Babri Masjid and maintain national unity.

In contrast, during the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, Kalyan Singh, who was the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, directed that no firing should take place on karsevaks despite the volatile situation.

He is reported to have said that “Karsevaks will not be shot at for a building”, and later resigned from the Chief Minister’s post, taking moral responsibility for the events that unfolded.

Former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh’s resignation came on the evening of December 6, 1992, following the Babri Masjid demolition.

Nripendra Misra’s observations underline the differing administrative and political responses during two of the most significant and contentious episodes in Ayodhya’s history, while emphasising the dominant role of political decision-making in matters of law and order.

–IANS

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CM Sukhu announces Rs 7 crore aid for disaster-hit areas in Himachal Pradesh

Mandi, July 10 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday announced Rs 7 crore financial assistance for disaster-hit areas in the state.

After reviewing the damage caused by cloudbursts last week, CM Sukhu said that the state government may soon announce a special relief package.

He said Rs 2 crore had already been released earlier, and an additional Rs 2 crore each would be given to the Public Works Department and the Jal Shakti Department, while Rs 1 crore would be provided to the Block Development Office to expedite restoration work.

In Deji village, 11 people are still missing after a cloudburst, while two deaths have been reported from Bara. Syanj village reported four deaths and five missing.

The Chief Minister expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.

He also interacted with the people at Pakhrar Panchayat Ghar and listened to their woes, and directed the revenue officers to immediately assess all kinds of losses.

He instructed that residential complexes that were still filled with silt or rocks or those deemed unsafe for living should be declared completely damaged so that maximum compensation could be provided to the people. He also assured the government would compensate for damaged household goods and livestock as well.

CM Sukhu gave special instructions to assess losses suffered by horticulturists and apple growers.

The Cabinet will soon discuss and announce a special relief package for all those who have been affected due to this disaster.

He said the disaster was massive and rehabilitation would take time, and the government would fully support the people.

While in Bara village, the Chief Minister said the government is considering bringing a one-time settlement policy for resettling disaster-affected families.

Since 68 per cent of the land in the state is forest land, permission from the Central government would be sought for rehabilitating the people on it.

To ensure that the studies of students continue uninterruptedly, the Chief Minister said that temporary classes for the Forestry and Horticulture College in Thunag would be held in Sundernagar town. He said major roads have been reopened and efforts to restore village link roads were ongoing at a war footing.

At the Thunag Rest House, NCC cadets helping in relief work met the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister appreciated the cadets’ dedication and service towards suffering humanity.

The cadet girls informed CM Sukhu about the damage to their school, to which the Chief Minister responded by promising to open a CBSE-affiliated school in Thunag.

The Chief Minister also interacted with the State Disaster Response Force personnel and commended their commitment.

Brigadier Yajuvendra Singh of the Indian Army briefed him about the relief operations and said that 26 Army personnel were currently deployed in the region.

–IANS

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