‘Symbolic’protest
There was further embarrassment in store for the Congress amidst the nationwide fast party workers organised on Monday. Some leaders of the Congress' Delhi unit were photographed eating chhole bhature at a famous restaurant before joining Congress president Rahul Gandhi at Rajghat, the New Delhi venue for the protest. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tweeted the photograph of Delhi leaders Haroon Yusuf, Arvinder Singh Lovely and Ajay Maken enjoying the food. The same leaders had earlier said the fast was “symbolic”. The Congress however, asked the BJP if it was trying to take attention away from the alleged custodial death of a man who was protesting the alleged rape of his daughter by a BJP legislator in Uttar Pradesh.
Off the dais
The Congress party on Monday held a nationwide fast against caste violence and commmunalism. In Delhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi was to lead the fast at Rajghat. However, Gandhi stayed away from the dais as long as senior leaders Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler — who have faced court cases for their alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots — sat there. Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken urged the two to leave the dais. While Kumar left the venue, Tytler sat among the party workers.
Lack of sporting spirit
Congress leader Manish Tewari on Sunday tweeted an email from the office of the minister of state for Information and Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Rathore. The email purportedly asked sports federations to provide details of medals won by Indian athletes in international sporting events in the last four years. The minister also sought to know if a comparison can be made with medals won during the Congress-led UPA's time. “Isn’t this blatant politicisation of sports?” Tewari asked. Tewari, Rathore's predecessor at the ministry, said: “Sportsperson win medals for India not National Democratic Alliance (NDA/BJP) or UPA! Very shameful.”
One subscription. Two world-class reads.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%