Congress

CJP leaders sent to 5-day judicial custody, to be lodged in Tihar Jail

Ashutosh Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde and Saurav Das were detained early Tuesday for allegedly breaching barricades to enter Jantar Mantar

Rahul Gandhi's plea not listed for hearing in SC as defects yet to be cured

The petition filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 10 prominent opposition leaders following a massive march on October 12 was not listed for hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday as defects pointed out by the registry are yet to be cured. As per the Supreme Court's website, the apex court registry had flagged 14 defects, including lack of a clear copy of the ID card of Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, a co-petitioner in the case. The registry had also pointed out certain illegible or missing pages in the petition. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, in his response to Gandhi's request for a meeting to submit a memorandum on issues concerning the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commission, the alleged arbitrary arrest of several students, closure of Metro stations and cancellation of trains, had assured early hearing of the plea, if filed, on the judicial side. On Tuesday, a bench headed by the CJI assured the petition

Delhi HC gives police time till Tuesday to respond to IYC plea for protest

The Delhi High Court on Monday granted time till October 13 to the city police to respond to a plea of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) seeking permission to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. At the outset, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, representing Delhi Police, told Justice Amit Mahajan that he will take instructions on the issue and inform the court on Tuesday. Noting the statement of the ASG, the court then listed the matter for hearing on Tuesday. Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, representing the petitioner, said the plea was filed four days back and the police's counsel could have taken the instructions by now. He insisted that the matter be heard today itself. The IYC has approached the court challenging Delhi Police's denial of permission to protest at Jantar Mantar. The IYC, through its national president Uday Bhanu Chib, approached the court challenging Delhi Poli

India needs level playing field for businesses to compete: Rahul Gandhi

India needs a level playing field where every business has a fair chance to compete, and the Congress is committed to breaking the chain of crony capitalism, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said on Friday. The remark came a day after his exchange on X with US business tycoon Elon Musk, who had asked whether Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani is the "real boss" of India amid a controversy over Starlink satellite internet services. Gandhi on Thursday said to the business tycoon: "Wait till you discover the other guy." In another post on his WhatsApp channel a day later, Gandhi said India needs a level playing field where every business has a fair chance to compete. "Congress party and I are committed to breaking this chain of crony capitalism and building an economy driven by innovation and hard work -- not political patronage," Gandhi said. He also shared a video montage including his exchange with Musk. "I am not anti-business; I am anti-monopoly," Gand

INDIA bloc to meet today, weigh fresh protests; CJP alleges leader detained

Opposition MPs are awaiting an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu over alleged voter deletions, while CJP has alleged that one of their leaders was detained ahead of its Oct 10 Delhi protest

Congress trying to create 'anarchy' in India like Nepal, Bangladesh: BJP

The BJP on Thursday alleged that the Congress is trying to create "Nepal- and Bangladesh-like anarchy" in the country through its street protests, as Rahul Gandhi is "desperate" to come to power. Showing some video footage of INDIA bloc' Wednesday protest, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the way Rahul, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress workers manhandled the police personnel in Delhi makes the party's intention clear. "The Congress party's strategy is to spread anarchy in India, like Nepal and Bangladesh," he said in a video message. Overlaying a purported video of the Congress protest, Bhandari said, "Congress party workers are seen trying to assault police personnel with kicks and punches. The policeman is performing his duty there, but a Congress worker pushes him and then kicks him." Showing another such video, he claimed police personnel were requesting Rahul Gandhi to hold a peaceful protest as "there is a crowd of thousands" accompanying him. He also alle

Delhi Police books Rahul, Priyanka for alleged 'assault', 'obstruction'

Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for allegedly assaulting police personnel and obstructing government work during their protest here, police sources said on Thursday. Besides several Congress leaders, the FIR has been filed against party workers who took part in the protest The case was registered in connection with the incidents that took place during the Congress protest here on Wednesday. Police are examining the allegations and the role of those involved, the sources said. Police said a total of 91 people were detained during the protest, including multiple MPs and leaders. Rahul Gandhi led the INDIA bloc leaders' street protests on Wednesday before being detained again along with many MPs by police. Police stopped the protesters midway while they were heading in buses for a surprise sit-in at Jantar Mantar after a lunch meeting at a South Indian vegetarian restaurant on Janpath, leading to the intense ...

INDIA bloc MPs to stage bigger protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar today

The Cockroach Janta Party will hold a 'Chappal protest' in Bengaluru today over alleged voter deletions during SIR, ahead of its October 10 'Delhi Chalo' protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Rahul, Priyanka booked for entering Akashvani Bhawan without permission

Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and their supporters for allegedly forcibly entering Akashvani Bhawan during the opposition's march against the CEC on October 6, officials said on Wednesday. The FIR was registered after police received a complaint alleging that Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, their supporters and other MPs accompanying them entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises without permission, the Delhi Police officials said. On Tuesday, the two Congress leaders were among 260 people detained following an over eight-hour sit-in inside Akashvani Bhawan after an INDIA bloc march towards the Election Commission office was stopped by police. The opposition MPs were protesting against alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission under Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, raising the issue of "vote chori". According to Delh

INDIA bloc protest: Rahul, Priyanka enter Akashvani Bhawan to reach ECI HQ

Security has remained tight around Parliament, Vijay Chowk and the Election Commission headquarters as Opposition MPs march against alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise

Kharge lists Congress' three 'non-negotiable demands' amid SIR row

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said his party has three "non-negotiable demands" - resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, annulment of SIR and conduct of elections on ballot paper instead of EVMs. Kharge said across the country, Congress workers and INDIA bloc partners are on the streets over these three issues. The Congress stands with civil society members and youth organisations that are struggling on these issues in various places across the country, Kharge said. On the other hand, the BJP has "harassed" female journalists in Delhi, which is highly condemnable, Kharge said. "The dictator is extremely panicked; get ready for another chapter in the distraction tactics," the Congress chief said. "The Congress Party's 3 demands are non-negotiable. First, the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. Second, the annulment of SIR. Third, conducting elections on Ballot Paper," Kharge said. The Congress' attack on the CEC comes amid the raging row over The Ind

CEC executing 'G2's illegal orders' makes him liability for country: Cong

The Congress on Monday said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must quit right away and claimed that his ability to "execute G2's illegal orders" has now made him a "liability for the country". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh's attack on the CEC came a day after Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan remarked that any process that "disenfranchises" millions of Indian citizens is "intrinsically arbitrary" and a "negation" of the constitutional order. "No amount of whataboutery can justify it," Bhuyan added. Sharing a post carrying the video clip of Bhuyan's remarks, Ramesh said on X, "Here is the bold Justice Ujjal Bhuyan speaking yesterday in NALSAR University in Hyderabad, where he exposed the CEC lock, stock and barrel. If he has any sense of shame, Gyanesh Kumar must quit right away." "His (Kumar's) ability to execute G2's illegal orders have now made him a liability for the country," Ramesh said. Ramesh often uses the term 'G2' to tak

Kharge calls for fresh elections on ballot papers, says all polls 'illegal'

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday demanded dissolving the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, saying that all the elections were illegal and even Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers of all the states were illegal. He said fresh polls should be conducted on ballot papers. "Today, the entire country is being run on illegal elections. Modi is an illegal Prime Minister, Shah is an illegal minister, and all the chief ministers who have been elected anywhere are illegal. All of them should be dissolved, elections should be held, and elections should be conducted through ballot papers," he told reporters here. Kharge alleged that the EVMs were being misused and said that "their own people" are saying this. He alleged that the ongoing SIR of the electoral roll has many irregularities and is undermining democracy, pointing out that the government is making many mistakes in the process. He said the opposition would continue to hold agitations across

Can't defend the indefensible: Priyanka Kakkar quits AAP, joins Congress

AAP national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Saturday quit the party and joined the Congress, saying she could no longer defend the indefensible. Kakkar joined the Congress along with former Uttar Pradesh MLA Shyam Sunder Sharma and Rajat Rakesh Tandon in the presence of senior party leaders, including Rajiv Shukla, Pawan Khera and the party's Delhi unit chief Devendra Yadav. Welcoming her and others into the party, Congress general secretary Naseer Hussain said Kakkar has been a former chief national spokesperson of AAP, Shyam Sundar Sharma is a former MLA from Uttar Pradesh, while Rajat Rakesh Tandon hails from the family of freedom fighter Purushottam Das Tandon. "Today, from Ladakh to Kanyakumari, people are placing their trust in the leadership of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition (in the Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi and joining the Congress. We welcome everyone with open hearts," Hussain said. "Today is a day of great joy. Shyam Sundar Sharma, who is .

Pargat Singh vows to strengthen Cong in Punjab as state chief, serve people

After his appointment as the Punjab Congress president, Pargat Singh on Saturday thanked the party leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility and said he will work with dedication to strengthen the party and serve people in the state. The Congress appointed Singh as the president of the Punjab PCC on Friday after Amrinder Singh Raja Warring submitted his resignation. "I sincerely thank Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal, Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot and all senior Congress leaders for entrusting me with the responsibility of president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee," Singh said in a post on X. "I will work with complete dedication and commitment to strengthen Congress in Punjab and serve the people of our state," he added. Singh, 61, is a former Indian Hockey captain who led the Indian team in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. He made his entry into the political arena with the Shiromani

Rahul Gandhi visits Balaghat, meets families after 32 tribal child deaths

The Congress leader met Baiga families and said he would raise the deaths in the Lok Sabha, while Madhya Pradesh Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla called his visit a political stunt

INDIA bloc plans 'Save Democracy' protests over 'vote chori' allegations

Senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi during the bloc's coordination meeting, in New Delhi on Wednesday photo: pti

EC in 'damage control' mode; CEC's resignation or prosecution needed: Cong

The Congress on Saturday said the Election Commission was in "damage control" mode after differences within the poll body came out following a media "expose" and demanded that the ongoing SIR exercise that has "disenfranchised crores" is suspended immediately. The Congress also said that nothing short of CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation or prosecution will suffice. The opposition party's reaction came after the Election Commission issued a statement asserting that all Special Intensive Revision (SIR) orders were issued after approval from all three Election Commissioners and the changes in Form 6, through which names are included in the voters' list, have been upheld by the Supreme Court. The poll body also claimed that the letters sent by commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to the Cabinet Secretary were not related to any policy matter of the Commission or its IT division, but to the working of an officer on deputation to it. Reacting sharply to the EC statement, ...

'Remove Gyanesh Kumar': Opposition after report flags major rift in ECI

Opposition parties slammed CEC Gyanesh Kumar after an investigation by The Indian Express claimed there is a major rift within the poll panel over decisions related to SIR and electoral rolls

Trump got appeasement, India suffered humiliation: Cong on H-1B fee renewal

The Congress accused the Narendra Modi government on Saturday of bending backwards to appease US President Donald Trump and claimed that while Trump got appeasement, India suffered humiliation. "Trump has extended the USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee for another 12 months -- a move that will hit Indian IT, tech professionals and the student talent pipeline hard. "The impact: F-1. H-1B: Harder for Indian students to enter the US workforce. Fewer jobs: Smaller firms may avoid sponsorships altogether. Talent drain: More professionals may look to the UK, Canada and Australia. Remittance risk: Lower migration could mean lower remittances to India over time," Congress's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said in a post on X. "Modi bent over backwards to appease Trump. Trump got the appeasement. India took the humiliation and the hit," he said. Trump has extended by a year the requirement for a USD 100,000 payment for certain H-1B visa petitions, the White House said. In a presiden