Wayanad (Kerala) | Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday alleged that the United States was displaying "hooliganism" against Iran and accused it of taking "irrational" actions that undermine the sovereignty of nations.
Inaugurating the first phase of a government-constructed township for landslide survivors here, the chief minister also criticised Israel, describing it as a "rogue nation" and a close ally of the US.
He alleged that the US was leading what he termed "imperialist aggression" against nations it considered hostile and claimed that such actions amounted to interference in the internal affairs of sovereign countries.
Vijayan further alleged that attacks were being carried out against Iran without justifiable grounds and that even the country's supreme leader was being targeted. The left veteran also termed the US action against Iran as an example of its "hooliganism".
He said just as individuals are expected to show basic courtesy and respect toward one another, countries, too, are expected to conduct themselves with a sense of mutual respect.
Stating that no nation can reasonably demand that others adopt identical views or policies, he said, yet certain states, backed by American imperial power--with its vast flow of arms, financial backing and a persistent appetite for war--appear to expect this from the rest of the world.
He sought to know what the situation was that warranted an attack against Iran.
"The stand being taken is that nations it (the US) opposes will not be tolerated. They killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom that country regards as its sovereign leader, at his home along with his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter," he said.
"It is a mad act of American imperialism. Joining them in all this is Israel, another global rogue state," the CM said and urged everyone to express strong protest against such actions.
Vijayan also said he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his immediate intervention to ensure the safety of Indians in the Middle East in view of the ongoing conflicts there.
Hyderabad | Condemning the joint US-Israel military strikes on Iran, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday expressed hope that the central government would play a role in halting the war.
The Hyderabad MP termed the "assassination" of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayotallah Ali Khamenei as an "immoral and unlawful act."
Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States.
He said the attacks on Iran must stop immediately to prevent regional instability, noting that 10 million Indians work in the region.
Addressing reporters here, Owaisi said, "We hope that the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will play a role in stopping this war. The war should end. He has a huge responsibility to take it forward because if this spreads, there will be huge turmoil, uncertainty, and instability."
The AIMIM leader said US President Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have jointly attacked Iran in the holy month of Ramzan.
"We condemn the attack on Iran".
Warning that targeting a revered figure like Khamenei would not go unanswered, the AIMIM chief said, "He (Khamenei ) is a respected leader of the Shia community and if you target him, the Iranians will not remain silent."
Referring to the Iran-US talks in Geneva, he said the attack occurred despite the "breakthrough" in talks.
"So, when there is a breakthrough in talks, the US and Israel attacked Iran and killed an 86-year-old man (Khamenei)."
He described it as a "cowardly attack, inhuman and immoral attack on the people of Iran.
"...school children have died. Where is the so-called Western humanity?" he asked.
Owaisi warned that a spike in oil prices, even by USD 1, will have a huge impact on the Indian economy.
He pointed out that hundreds of Indians, including those who travelled to perform Umrah, are stuck in Makkah and Madina because of the cancellation of flights. There are hundreds of people stranded at the Dubai airport and various other airports, be it Saudi Arabia or Oman.
Citing the 2003 US invasion of Iraq based on "so-called weapons of mass destruction" and the civil wars in Libya and Syria, he said, "the world is seeing what is going on in Sudan now."
Noting that Iran is a huge country, he said these measures would fail to bring about a regime change in that country.
"The people of Iran have been living under sanctions for the last 35 years. I don't think that will happen," he said.
Owaisi said if there are attempts by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change the regime in Iran, then it is not going to happen.
The AIMIM leader drew a parallel between Israel’s attack on Iran and Pakistan’s actions in Afghanistan and labelled both nations as forces of "aggression and mischief" in their respective neighbourhoods.
The United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, with US President Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to seize control of their destiny and rise up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled their country since 1979.
Hyderabad | A protest rally was held here on Sunday, condemning the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel military strike.
Holding images of Khamenei, a large number of people, including women and children clad in black, participated in the rally that wsa taken out in Purani Haveli area and mourned the death of the 86-year-old leader.
The protesters raised slogans against the US and Israel. The rally was organised under the aegis of Tanzeem-e-Jafferi, a Shia religious organisation.
Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States on Saturday.
