Rahul kick-starts nationwide protests; time to change Modi govt, says Manmohan Singh

News Network
September 10, 2018

New Delhi, Sept 10: Congress president Rahul Gandhi kick-started the nationwide protests against fuel price hike by staging a sit-in demonstration at a petrol pump near Rajghat along with leaders from 20 political parties.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP leader Tariq Anwar, RSP leader N K Premachandran, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, RJD leader J P N Yadav, Loktantrik Janata Dal patron Sharad Yadav and RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary were among others who offered prayers at the Rajghat, memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

Rahul, who returned from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on Sunday night, was seen offering water from the Mansarovar Lake at Rajghat.

Addressing the gathering, Singh said the Narendra Modi government has crossed all limits and now the time has come to change the government.

He urged all political parties to keep aside differences and unite to protect unity, integrity and democracy.

“We are listening to cries from every corner, from small businessmen, farmers and the youth … Modi government has failed completely to deliver on the promises he made to everyone,” Singh said.

“Across the country, political parties have joined these protests against rising prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas,” senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters.

Azad said, in a bid to display the unity among Opposition forces, leaders from all political parties have decided to stage sit-in protests near Rajghat.

The Left parties, led by the CPM, have also called for an all-India bandh to protest against the slowdown of the economy due to rising fuel prices, agrarian crisis, inflation and unprecedented fall of the rupee. A joint protest of the Left parties is being held at the Jantar Mantar.

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News Network
December 7,2025

envoy.jpg

Since 1946, the United States has attempted 93 coups or “regime change” operations across the world — including two in Iran, US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack has admitted.

Speaking to the UAE-based IMI Media Group, in remarks published by The National, Barrack said Washington tried twice to overthrow the Iranian government but failed both times. 

“For (Trump) then to be imputed with regime change — we had two regime changes in Iran already. Neither one worked. So I think wisely leave it to the region to solve,” said Barrack, who also serves as the US ambassador to Turkey.

His comments come six months after the US joined Israel in airstrikes against Iran during ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

On June 13, Israel launched an attack on Iran that killed at least 1,064 people and hit civilian infrastructure. Days later, the United States targeted three nuclear facilities — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — in what Iran called a clear violation of international law. Iranian retaliation eventually forced a halt to the assault on June 24.

Barrack further claimed that US President Donald Trump and Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio are “not into regime change” and prefer a regional approach driven by Middle Eastern countries themselves. According to him, regional dialogue and non-interference by outside powers offer a more durable path forward.

He added that Washington is still open to an agreement with Tehran if Iranian authorities show “seriousness” and willingness to engage constructively.

However, Iran maintains the US has not shown readiness for meaningful talks. In an interview with Japan’s Kyodo News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said negotiations could advance only if Washington acknowledges Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy and lifts unilateral sanctions.

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