Page 113 - Congress

Suresh Gopi files complaint against media, Cong MLA calls for action

Union Minister Suresh Gopi filed a police complaint against mediapersons on Wednesday, alleging that they obstructed his path as he exited the Thrissur Ramanilayam Government Guest House, according to a source here. The complaint states that journalists blocked his way at the guest house, the source said without elaborating. Meanwhile, Congress leader and former MLA Anil Akkara said he has lodged a police complaint against Gopi over his conduct a day ago towards mediapersons in Thrissur. Akkara said he emailed the complaint to the Thrissur city police commissioner on Tuesday seeking action against Gopi for violating his oath of office. On Tuesday, when Gopi, the first BJP Lok Sabha MP from Kerala, was asked by reporters about the allegations of sexual harassment against CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh, he had responded, "You (media) are not only making people fight each other for your own gains, you are also misleading public perception. "The complaints are in the form of allegations at the .

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UPS anti-employee scheme, will implement OPS after winning: Deepender Hooda

Terming the Centre's Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) "anti-employee", Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda asserted his party will come to power in Haryana after the October 1 assembly elections and implement the Old Pension Scheme in the state. "And the UPS is a bigger fraud with government employees than the NPS (New Pension Scheme)," Hooda said in Jhajjar on Tuesday. He attended an event where wrestler Aman Sehrawat, who won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, was felicitated in Birohad village in Jhajjar. The Union Cabinet approved the UPS on August 24, announcing an assured pension of 50 per cent of the basic salary for those who joined service after January 1, 2004. Employees opting for the UPS would be eligible for an assured pension after service of 25 years. Hooda claimed the Congress will form the government in Haryana after the assembly polls and fulfil government employees' demand for implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The UPS and the NPS "are anti-employee ..

Every LoP is 'PM-in-waiting', says Manish Tewari; hails Rahul's maturity

Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari has asserted that every Leader of Opposition is a "Prime Minister in-waiting", as he hailed Rahul Gandhi for raising issues of the people and providing the "healing touch" to places such as Manipur. Gandhi became the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha in late June after the Lok Sabha poll results in which the BJP fell short of a majority but got the mandate along with its NDA allies. Asked about Gandhi taking on the mantle of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and whether he was being looked upon as a future prime minister, Tewari said, "Every Leader of Opposition is a Prime Minister in-waiting..." "As far as Mr Gandhi is concerned, his speeches have been very well received across the length and breadth of the country. He has articulated issues which are close to the hearts and minds of the people and that is having a resonance across the country," Tewari said during his interaction with PTI editors at the news agency's headquarters ...

Hema Committee report: Opposition slams govt's inaction, asks 5 questions

In a scathing attack on the Left government in Kerala, the Congress-led opposition on Wednesday raised five pointed questions on the Hema committee report, alleging a blatant cover-up and accusing the Pinarayi Vijayan-headed dispensation of shielding key persons by glossing over crucial facts. Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, V D Satheesan, alleged that the government is on the defensive regarding the Hema Committee report. "The government is trying to save some individuals by playing hide-and-seek. The government's actions are creating an impression among the public that everyone in the film industry is troublesome. "However, there are many good people in the film industry. The government is hiding the real culprits, which is why even innocents are being humiliated in Kerala. The government should resolve this issue," Satheesan told reporters at Puthanathani in Malappuram. The opposition leader accused the government of silence and evasion over the Hema Committee report

Lok Sabha election results gave India chance to breathe: Manish Tewari

The 2024 Lok Sabha election results were not so much about the numbers but about giving India a chance to "breathe" and for its institutions to start functioning again, says senior Congress leader Manish Tewari. In an interaction with PTI editors at the news agency's headquarters here, the former Union minister also asserted that the BJP may acknowledge it or not but the government's recent "U-turns" on certain issues are reflective of the realities of coalition politics. Tewari said he believes India requires a "second wave of democratic reforms" whereby structures which really underpin the democratic edifice of India need to be more participatory, inclusive and democratic. The Congress Working Committee permanent invitee also exuded confidence that his party and its allies were headed for a victory in the upcoming assembly polls which would have a positive impact on national politics. Asked about the scenario post Lok Sabha poll results, Tewari said, "You need to roll back to ...

Cong leader Abhishek Singhvi elected unopposed to RS from Telangana

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Telangana in a bypoll. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Senior Vice President G Niranjan received the certificate of election on behalf of Singhvi from the returning officer here. An independent candidate had filed nomination for the bypoll, but it was rejected during scrutiny. Singhvi was the sole candidate in the fray and he was announced as elected on Tuesday, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures. Singhvi had filed his nomination here on August 19. The senior lawyer had said it is an honour for him to have been nominated as the party candidate for the Rajya Sabha bypoll in Telangana. The Rajya Sabha bypoll was necessitated due to the resignation of K Keshava Rao from the Upper House when he quit the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to join the Congress. Earlier this year, Singhvi had lost the Rajya Sabha election from Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh. BJP nominee Harsh Mahaj

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Seat-sharing with Congress to take on BJP as consolidated front: Omar

National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress was done with the aim of taking on the BJP as a consolidated front, and form a government which will try to address problems of the people. A day after the National Conference and the Congress agreed to contest 51 and 32 seats respectively for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, NC president Farooq Abdullah said in a coalition, the constituents have to accommodate each other. "In a coalition, one has to bear several things. You have to leave some (seats) to gain some (seats). We believe that the final decision taken by the coalition was a very good one. God willing, the coalition will be successful and will form the government here which will try to address the problems faced by the people," he told reporters in Awantipora area of Pulwama district. "If our objectives are good, we will succeed," the senior Abdullah, who was accompanying National Conference

J-K polls: Congress names nine candidates in first list after NC alliance

Congress and the National Conference (NC) reached a seat-sharing agreement in which Congress will contest 32 of the 90 Assembly seats

National Conference, Congress settle seats division for J&K Assembly polls

The National Conference (NC) and the Congress Monday agreed to contest 51 and 32 seats respectively for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. One seat each has been allotted to the CPI(M) and the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), the allies announced at a joint press conference at NC president Farooq Abdullah's residence here after day-long negotiations. According to their seat-sharing formula, the NC will contest 51 seats in J-K and the Congress 32. They also said there will be a "friendly contest" on five seats of the Union Territory. The leaders said the list of seats each party will be contesting, as well as the names of the candidates, will be issued later. The NC president said the alliance is up for a fight against the powers "who are dividing the people not just in this state, but across the country." "The INDIA bloc was made with an aim to fight those forces who are trying to create a communal divide in the country. Today, I am happy that the negotiat

Rahul slams BJP over Kangana's comment, says 'grave insult' to farmers

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed the BJP over Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut's remarks on the farmers agitation, saying the "shameful anti-farmer" comments are a "grave insult" to the farmers of western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab as well as the entire country. Ranaut had posted a clip of her interview with Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar in which she suggested that a "Bangladesh-like situation" could have erupted in India but for the country's strong leadership. She then alleged that bodies were hanging and rapes were taking place during the farmers' protest against the now-repealed three farm laws. She alleged the involvement of China and the US in the "conspiracy". In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "The propaganda machinery of the Modi government, which has failed to fulfill the promises made to the farmers, is constantly engaged in insulting the farmers." The BJP MP calling the farmers, who sacrificed 700 of their own people during the 378-day ..

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'BJP delivers on its promises': Haryana CM Saini takes dig at Congress

The BJP delivers on its promises, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said on Monday as he asserted that the saffron party-led state government took several public welfare decisions during its 10-year tenure. Unlike the Congress, which failed to fulfil the promises it made when in power, the BJP fulfilled its promises, he said. The BJP is eyeing a third consecutive term in the Haryana Assembly, polls for which are scheduled on October 1. The results will be declared on October 4. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the party's state election office in Rohtak, Chief Minister Saini said the people of Haryana had made up their minds to bring the BJP back. Claiming that the BJP government undertook equitable development, Saini alleged that youngsters had lost faith during the Congress regime due to the favouritism that existed in providing jobs. More than 1.50 lakh people were provided with government jobs during the past 10 years. Some recruitment was ongoing but their res

Differences over seat-sharing: Cong and NC leaders to hold deliberations

The Congress leadership is set to hold deliberations with the National Conference on Monday to iron out differences over seat-sharing for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. Congress general secretary organisation, K C Venugopal will hold talks with NC president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah at their residence here, leaders in both the parties said. They said the meeting was necessitated after "some differences" cropped up in seat-sharing arrangement during the talks between the local leadership of the parties. The leaders said both the parties have agreed over the seat sharing formula to a large extent. "The central leaders of Congress will meet our leaderships to talk about alliance. Some clarification is needed on some issues, and this will be done today," NC provincial president, Kashmir, Nasir Aslam Wani told reporters outside the residence of the Abdullahs. He expressed hope that by the afternoon, "everything will be clear". "Two parties have to contest

Congress MP Vasant Chavan passes away, irreparable loss, says party

Congress MP Vasant Chavan passed away on Monday at a private hospital in Hyderabad after prolonged illness, party sources said. Chavan (69) breathed his last at the hospital around 4 am, the sources said. He was undergoing treatment for renal issues there since last week. The Congress veteran had won the Nanded Lok Sabha seat this year despite ill health and big desertions, including that of former CM Ashok Chavan, who joined BJP ahead of the polls. Soon after the Lok Sabha election results were out, Vasant Chavan had thanked Ashok Chavan for defecting to BJP. In the Lok Sabha election, Vasant Chavan defeated sitting BJP MP Pratap Patil Chikhalikar by 59,442 votes, overcoming issues like a weakened party after Ashok Chavan defected to BJP just before the elections and his own personal health problems. Born in Naigaon in Nanded district, Vasant Chavan was a gram panchayat member for a long time and later became a zilla parishad member in 1990 and 2002. He was elected to the ...

PDP's J-K polls manifesto: Article 370, diplomatic talks, Kashmiri pandits

Peoples Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti promises Article 370 restoration, diplomatic dialogues with Pakistan, and return of Kashmiri pandits in J-K Assembly elections manifesto

Multiple poles in J&K polls: UT looks forward to representative democracy

With no local government, and with bureaucrats at the helm for the past six years, the people in the UT are looking forward to representative democracy

Cong should tell why its state govts have not fulfilled OPS promise: BJP

The BJP on Sunday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision to bring a unified pension scheme for central government employees and hit out at the Congress, asking why it has not implemented its promise of bringing back the old pension scheme in Himachal Pradesh and other states where it is in power. Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters here, senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his U-turn jibe at the Centre and said Prime Minister Modi is "sensitive" to public issues and takes decisions in public interest after careful consideration. The Modi government does not take "ad-hoc decisions", the former Union minister said and asked Kharge to tell the nation why his party has taken a "U-turn" on its poll promise of implementing the old pension scheme in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana after coming to power in these states. "The Congress has made the old pension scheme a massive issue in Indian politics

BJP attempting 'Operation Kamala' to destabilise K'taka govt: Cong MLA

Accusing the opposition BJP of attempting 'Operation Kamala' to destabilise the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka, a ruling party MLA on Sunday claimed that efforts were on to entice Congress legislators, by offering Rs 100 crore. Congress MLA from Mandya Ravikumar Gowda (Ravi Ganiga) alleged that though attempts are on by the BJP to destabilise the government by luring MLAs, no legislator will fall for it, and the government was stable and strong. Operation Kamala' (Operation Lotus) refers to an alleged attempt of the BJP to engineer defection of its opponent party legislators to install its own government and to ensure its stability. "Even today I'm saying, they (BJP) have now raised the offer to Rs 100 crore from Rs 50 crore, someone had called day-before-yesterday saying hundred (crore) ready, (wanted) to purchase 50 MLAs. BJP people have gone from Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore," Gowda said in response to a reporter's question. Addressing media here, he said, "Someone had