The death of Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, blamed on a US-Israel joint operation, has ignited sustained Shia protests in Lucknow. Cabinet Minister OP Rajbhar offered his perspective, linking the global swell of demonstrations to unwavering supporter loyalty.
Congress ramped up criticism, tying PM Modi’s recent Israel sojourn to awareness of the attack plans. They called the leader’s death indefensible, accused America of unchecked aggression, and questioned Modi’s quietude given India’s Vishwaguru rhetoric.
Rajbhar pushed back, citing Modi’s staple international pitch: hailing from the land of Buddha, bearing peace, advancing import-export synergies, national development, and eschewing fights for unified living.
He spotlighted Modi’s pointed advice to Israel’s PM against any innocent losses, deeming it a prudent, accountable move. Rajbhar stressed punishing the guilty exclusively to avert broader harm.
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane’s retort framed India as a Hindu bastion prioritizing its majority first, scoffing at 15-minute police pullout demands and promising five-minute lessons. Rajbhar shot down these as irrational bluster, noting they merely incite unrest and hearsay without progress.
In this volatile context, Rajbhar advocates sobriety, positioning his views as a stabilizing force amid protests blending local sentiments with far-off conflicts.