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The Russians are back, the Russians are back!

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It is perhaps his contempt for liberals that ties Russian president Vladimir Putin to US president-elect Donald Trump, and vice versa. Photo: UNI

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There was a sentimental 1966 movie, The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming. In 2017, the Russians reappear in American imagination in darker shades

Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr

It is a strange situation, to say the least. US President-elect Donald Trump is at loggerheads with the country’s intelligence agencies—the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). And in the battle between Trump and intelligence agencies, the bone of contention is the old enemy—Russia. FBI and CIA are playing true to expectations when they think that Russia, the old enemy and villain is the new enemy and villain after the post-Cold War interregnum of a quarter century.

The surprising thing is Trump is not at all harsh on Russia or the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Putin expressed his liking for Trump, and the Russian president’s aversion for Democrat presidential candidate is quite unconcealed. So, the inference being drawn is that Putin used Russian intelligence agencies and its hackers to spread “fake news” about Hillary and contributed to her defeat in the election. Many of the American politicians, and especially the liberal media, believe that there was a Russian hand behind Hillary’s fall. They are all looking for unimpeachable proof to confront Trump, to prove that he won thanks to the devilish Russians.

Has the New Cold War begun, a 2017 Rhett Butler would be tempted to ask. It seems it has, but it may not develop into a full-fledged ideological contest that it was during the old Cold War. Putin is no communist thought he was the protégé of his communist boss, Yuri Andropov, the second last one before reformist Mikhail Gorbachev took office in 1985 after the death of the last communist general secretary, Konstantin Chernenko. But he is a Russian ruler made in the image of the long-forgotten pre-communist Tsars/Czars. He is not trusted by the liberal West, and he even wants not to be trusted by the liberals because he has no use for liberals. It is perhaps this contempt for liberals that ties Putin to Trump and vice versa.

Ex-Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson is known to be a friend of Putin and the Russians, and Trump’s nominee for the post of secretary of state. At the senate hearings on Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, especially former Republican presidential nomination aspirant, Marc Rubio grilled Tillerson about his views on Putin. But Tillerson held out, refusing to make a negative assessment about the Russian president with incomplete information. Trump too held out from saying anything against Putin at the press conference on Wednesday. Both Tillerson and Trump were willing to believe that Russia could be a possible villain. But as to Putin, not yet is their answer.

Why are Trump and Tillerson not willing to judge Putin? The reason is that they are not wedded to the liberal rhetoric of democracy and human rights. They seem to believe that if trade with Russia were to benefit the US business, then it should be okay to sup with the proverbial devil. And at least in the case of Trump, he seems to be harping on the point that Russia could be an American ally in the war against the Islamic State (IS). But his opposition to IS is not firm either because he blames Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton for the creation of IS because Obama pulled out American troops from Iraq much too soon. Of course, it looks more like off-the-cuff political riposte on the part of Trump rather than a careful thought-out assessment. It should not come as a surprise if Trump would not find partnering with the IS to fight some other enemy. That flows from his non-ideological and amoral position in matters of trade.

It is turning out to be dark comedy, in complete contrast to a 1966 Hollywood movie, The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming, directed by Norman Jewison, and starring Alan Arkin and Eva Marie Saint among others, where a Russian submarine runs aground near New England, off the eastern coast of America, and the flutter it causes. But it ends on a sentimental Hollywoodish note, with flowers and tears and love. That was liberal Hollywood loving the ordinary Russian folk and hating the dark powers symbolised by the communists in the Kremlin. In 2017, it appears that the non-liberal Trump and Tillerson seem to like the dark Russian ‘prince’ while remaining suspicious of Russia!

Lead picture: It is perhaps his contempt for liberals that ties Russian president Vladimir Putin to US president-elect Donald Trump, and vice versa. Photo: UNI[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Rahul Gandhi returns from US to attend CWC meeting after Pahalgam terror attack

Rahul Gandhi returned to New Delhi early Thursday, cutting short his US trip following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. He is set to attend the Congress Working Committee meeting amid heightened political and security activity.

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Rahul Gandhi

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, arrived in New Delhi early Thursday morning, having cut short his official visit to the United States. His return comes in response to the recent deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, including one foreign national.

Gandhi is scheduled to participate in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the party headquarters in New Delhi at around 10:30 am. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh had earlier announced the change in Rahul Gandhi’s itinerary due to the grave security situation in the Kashmir Valley.

The government is reportedly preparing for an all-party meeting on Thursday, likely to be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, to deliberate on the national security response to the attack. The attack, which occurred at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, is being described as the most severe since the 2019 Pulwama incident.

Centre responds with strong diplomatic and security measures

In the wake of the violence, the Indian government has initiated a series of stringent actions aimed at sending a message to Pakistan, which it holds responsible for supporting cross-border terrorism. Among the measures announced are the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and the immediate closure of the Attari integrated checkpost.

Additionally, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri declared that Pakistani nationals will no longer be allowed to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption framework. These announcements came after a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The CCS condemned the attack unequivocally, expressing deep sorrow for the victims and stressing the need for swift action.

Victims’ families demand justice

Emotions ran high across the country as families performed last rites for the victims. Among those killed was Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, whose funeral was held in Karnal. Another victim, Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga, was remembered by family and friends who called for firm government action against terrorism.

This latest incident has reignited national concerns around security in Jammu and Kashmir, especially given its scale and the timing following the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.

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Stalin reminds PM Modi’s statements as Gujarat CM after his crying for funds remark

During the event, Stalin inaugurated over 6,700 completed projects worth ₹1,166 crore in Tiruvallur, laid foundations for 7,300 new initiatives, and distributed welfare benefits to 2.02 lakh residents.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a government event in Ponneri, Tiruvallur district, invoking Modi’s own words as Gujarat’s Chief Minister to counter recent remarks about Tamil Nadu’s demands for funds.

Addressing a gathering, Stalin refuted Modi’s claim from a Rameswaram visit that Tamil Nadu leaders were “crying” for central funds regardless of allocations.

“With utmost respect, I remind the Prime Minister of his own stance as Gujarat CM, when he said states aren’t beggars pleading for Union handouts,” Stalin said.

He recalled Modi’s criticism of the Centre’s partisan fund allocations and accusations of Governors running “parallel governments” in opposition-ruled states. “When Tamil Nadu seeks its rightful share, how is it ‘crying’? I’m asserting our state’s rights, not groveling. I learned this from our leader Kalaignar [Karunanidhi],” Stalin asserted.

Minister S.M. Nasar, MPs S. Jagathrakshakan and Sasikanth Senthil, legislators T.J. Govindarajan, Durai Chandrasekar, S. Chandran, V.G. Raajendran, A. Krishnaswamy, K. Ganapathy, S. Sudharsanam, Collector M. Prathap, and senior officials attended the event.

Stalin also challenged Shah’s recent Chennai statement that Tamil Nadu’s demands were “diversionary tactics.” He posed pointed questions to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, “Can you exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET? Guarantee no Hindi imposition? Ensure our representation isn’t reduced post-delimitation? Specify the funds allocated to our state?”

Stalin emphasised that Tamil Nadu’s fight is for all states’ rights, citing the DMK’s landmark Supreme Court victory against Governor R.N. Ravi’s delay in approving Bills. “This historic ruling shows we act when the Centre fails,” he said.

Highlighting national awareness of Tamil Nadu’s struggle, Stalin dismissed Shah’s accusations of diversion, urging, “If our demands are distractions, why haven’t you addressed them clearly?” He underscored the state’s resolve to protect its interests, rooted in principles of federalism and justice championed by DMK’s legacy.

During the event, Stalin inaugurated over 6,700 completed projects worth ₹1,166 crore in Tiruvallur, laid foundations for 7,300 new initiatives, and distributed welfare benefits to 2.02 lakh residents.

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Priyanka Gandhi accompanies Robert Vadra to ED office for second day in Gurugram land probe

Robert Vadra, husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, appeared before the ED for the second day in the Gurugram land case.

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Robert Vadra Priyanka Gandhi

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accompanied her husband Robert Vadra to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office on Wednesday as he appeared for questioning for the second consecutive day in connection with the Gurugram land case.

Mr Vadra, the brother-in-law of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, was seen exchanging a hug with Ms Gandhi before entering the ED office. He is under scrutiny in a money laundering probe linked to a 2008 land deal in Manesar-Shikohpur area, now known as Sector 83 of Gurugram.

Focus of the probe: land deal from Congress tenure in Haryana

The investigation stems from a land transaction executed by Skylight Hospitality Pvt Ltd, a company in which Mr Vadra was formerly a director. In February 2008, Skylight purchased 3.5 acres of land from Onkareshwar Properties for ₹7.5 crore. At that time, Haryana was governed by a Congress-led administration under then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

In September 2012, four years after the acquisition, Skylight sold the same land to real estate developer DLF for ₹58 crore. The deal later drew public attention after senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who was then heading the Land Consolidation and Land Records department in Haryana, cancelled the land mutation, citing violations of the State Consolidation Act and procedural discrepancies.

Haryana Police registered an FIR to examine the deal in 2018, further intensifying the legal scrutiny.

ED questions Vadra under PMLA

On Tuesday, Mr Vadra was questioned for nearly five hours by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), during which his statement was recorded. The businessman has consistently maintained that the case is part of a political vendetta and emphasized that he has cooperated fully with all investigative agencies, submitting numerous documents over the years.

Calling for a closure to what he described as a decades-old matter, Mr Vadra said cases like these should not be allowed to drag on indefinitely.

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