Page 116 - Congress

Lateral entry is attack on Dalits, OBCs, and Adivasis: Rahul Gandhi

Another Congress leader Pramod Tiwari condemned it and called it against the reservation policy of the country

Rahul Gandhi extends greetings to people on occasion of Raksha Bandhan

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also extended her wishes to the countrymen on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan

Any development in B'desh to affect the Northeast: Lt Gen RP Kalita (Retd)

An interim government in Bangladesh, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, was sworn in on August 8

Telangana CLP endorses Singhvi for RS bypoll; to file nomination today

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Telangana on Sunday night endorsed the candidature of Abhishek Singhvi for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll in the state. The Congress leader and senior lawyer will file his nomination papers on Monday. Talking to reporters after a meeting of the CLP here, Telangana Chief Minister and state Congress president A Revanth Reddy said Singhvi was introduced to Congress MLAs, MPs and MLCs at the meeting. Reddy said he wholeheartedly invited the legal luminary. Singhvi will file his nomination on Monday. Referring to the disputes with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh following its bifurcation in 2014, he said Singhvi's election would help in highlighting Telangana's concerns and problems not only in Parliament but also in courts. Singhvi's election to the Rajya Sabha would help Telangana to safeguard and secure its rights, Reddy said. "I wholeheartedly invite him on behalf of Telangana as Rajya Sabha member," he said. The CLP meeting expressed gratitu

Concept of lateral entry first introduced under Cong-led UPA regime: Rpts

The concept of lateral entry was first introduced under the Congress-led UPA regime and strongly endorsed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission established by it in 2005, government sources said on Sunday. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Saturday issued a notification for recruiting 45 joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries through lateral entry -- referred to as the appointment of specialists (including those from the private sector) in government departments. The decision ignited criticism from opposition parties, which claimed it undermined the reservation rights of OBCs, SCs and STs. However, it is important to recognise that the concept of lateral entry was first introduced under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and strongly endorsed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), established in 2005 and chaired by (senior Congress leader) Veerappa Moily, the sources said. The government has historically

Cong's criticism of lateral entry in bureaucracy shows hypocrisy: Vaishnaw

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said the Congress' criticism of the lateral entry system in senior bureaucracy shows its "hypocrisy", and asserted that the BJP-led NDA government has created a transparent method to implement the concept developed by the UPA dispensation. In a post on X, Vaishnaw said the reform measure implemented by the NDA government will improve governance. "INC (Indian National Congress) hypocrisy is evident on lateral entry matter. It was the UPA government which developed the concept of lateral entry," he said. He said the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), chaired by Veerappa Moily, was established in 2005 by the then Congress-led UPA government. "UPA period ARC recommended recruitment of experts to fill the gaps in roles that require specialised knowledge," Vaishnaw said. The minister said the NDA government has created a transparent method to implement the recommendation made by the ARC helmed by Moily. Vaishn

Congress, BJP spar over lateral entry issue, SP warns of agitation

The opposition parties on Sunday slammed the move to hire public servants through lateral entry, claiming it will snatch reservations from SCs, STs and OBCs, but the BJP hit back stating the NDA government was bringing transparency to this mode of recruitment started by the Congress-led UPA. The Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) also alleged that it was a "conspiracy" by the BJP to appoint its ideological allies to high posts through the back door. "Privatisation of the IAS is Modi's assurance for ending reservation," Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged, adding the INDIA bloc will strongly oppose this "anti-national step". Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav warned of an agitation on the issue from October 2. Countering the charge, the BJP cited office memorandums, including the one issued by the Union Home Ministry in 2020, that emphasised the need for strict adherence to the reservation guidelines in lateral entries, and asked Gandhi to "stop ...

INDIA bloc will not face any problem if Champai Soren joins BJP: Congress

Amid speculation that former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren could join the BJP, Congress leader Ajoy Kumar on Sunday claimed that the ruling INDIA bloc in the state would not face any problem if the JMM veteran crosses over to the saffron camp. If Soren switches sides, it would create a fissure among BJP leaders in the state, Kumar said. "The ruling alliance will not have any problem as Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will be the face of the INDIA bloc in the assembly poll this year. But this will certainly create a fissure among BJP leaders," the Congress leader said while responding to a query on speculations about Champai Soren. Notably, Champai Soren left for Delhi on Sunday, amid speculations that he is likely to join the BJP, sources said. A close associate of Champai Soren claimed that the former chief minister left for the national capital from Kolkata. Soon after landing in Delhi, the JMM leader told reporters that he hadn't met any BJP leader and was in the

Scrap registration cut off date for Ladki Bahin scheme, says Chavan

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has demanded that the cut off time to register for the Maharashtra government's Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana be waived off to enable all eligible women to avail financial assistance. The August 31 cut off date should be scrapped and the scheme should be implemented as a social security right, Chavan said in a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Due to technical glitches, the server of the official portal is non functional most of the time, while in several instances women do not get the registration OTP for nearly six hours, he said. Women are worried they will not be able to register themselves for the scheme in time, Chavan said in the letter. He said the registration limit was July 15 earlier and this was extended to August 31 after he made such a demand during the monsoon session, adding the age limit was increased from 60 to 65 years following his initiative.

Refugees denied citizenship rights due to appeasement policy of Cong: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said a large number refugees were denied citizenship rights in the country due to the appeasement policy of past governments led by the Congress and its allies. Addressing a gathering in Ahmedabad after handing over citizenship certificates to 188 Hindu refugees in Gujarat, Shah said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is about giving rights and justice to lakhs of refugees. He also assured Muslims that there is no provision in the CAA to take away anyone's citizenship, as it is about granting citizenship. The past governments allowed crores of intruders into the country and made them citizens illegally, he said. At the same time, they denied citizenship to those who followed the law and applied for the same by saying there was no legal provision for it, Shah said. "Because of the policy of appeasement of past governments run by the Congress and its allies, those who came to the country for refuge did not get rights and justice," the minis

Winnability to be key factor for seat-sharing among MVA partners: Cong

A Congress leader on Sunday said winnability would be the main criteria for seat-sharing among the MVA constituents for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls and it will be worked out amicably at the earliest. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), is already in the poll and campaign mode, having held a joint meeting of their office-bearers on August 16, state Congress working president Naseem Khan told PTI. "Winnability would the basis for seat-sharing among the allies and it will be worked out amicably at the earliest," he said. "The Lok Sabha poll results will surely be replicated in the assembly elections," Khan said, expressing confidence of the MVA's victory. He claimed that false promises and fake narrative of the ruling 'Mahayuti' (comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP) have been exposed. "Development has reduced and corruption has increased during their tenure. The state government has worked to weaken Mumbai and Maharashtra,

MUDA scam: Cong to protest on Aug 19 against Guv's sanction on K'taka CM

The Congress in Karnataka will stage a state-wide protests against the permission given by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his alleged role in the MUDA alternative site 'scam'. Gehlot on Saturday granted sanction for the prosecution of Siddaramaiah in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam' based on the complaints by three activists, T J Abraham, Pradeep S P and Snehamayi Krishna. They had alleged that Siddaramaiah misused his position to get alternative sites to his wife Parvathi in the posh localities of Mysuru by creating fake documents. The chief minister has refuted the allegation and vouched to fight it out legally. In a post on 'X', Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, called upon his party leaders and workers to take out a kilometre long march to the Taluk and district level offices and submit memoranda addressed to the President of India Droupadi Murmu

Act of 'political vendetta' by Modi govt: Cong's Surjewala on MUDA 'scam'

Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday dubbed the permission granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA alternative site scam as an act of political vendetta by the PM Narendra Modi-led government. He said the Congress party would fight the battle legally. Surjewala alleged that the decision is an "act of shameless unconstitutionality" by the Governor, who is hell-bent on bulldozing the law and the Constitution to carry further BJP's conspiracy. "In a brazen political conspiracy hatched in the corridors of PMO and the Home Ministry, in Delhi, against the people of Karnataka and its elected government, the puppet Governor of Karnataka' has proceeded to grant prosecution sanction against the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, by dancing to the tune of his political masters," he said in a statement. He emphasised that Congress was blessed by crores of Kannadigas and won a decisive mandate in the

Sebi chairperson must resign, JPC probe into Adani 'scam' essential: Cong

The Congress on Saturday cited a media report which flagged alleged conflicts of interest against SEBI chairperson Madhabi Buch and said her continuance as the head of the capital markets regulator is "untenable". The opposition party said Buch must resign and a full Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation must be conducted into the Adani "mega scam". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh cited an article by The Morning Context which raises issues of Buch's alleged conflicts of interest. The media report raises questions such as has Buch recused herself from all matters involving companies that private equity firm Blackstone has a stake in and how many Blackstone companies find a place on that recusal list. Sharing the report on X, Ramesh said, "Yet another day and yet more revelations on the multiple conflicts of interest in the SEBI chairperson's activities." "The SEBI chairperson's conflicts of interest have already made a mockery of the ..

BJP will form govt for third time in Haryana with big mandate: CM Saini

Asserting the BJP is completely ready for the Haryana Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday said his party will form the government for a third time in the state with a big mandate. The Election Commission on Friday announced that assembly polls in Haryana would be held in a single phase on October 1 and the results would be declared on October 4. Addressing the media here after the Cabinet meeting, Saini said that he welcomed the announcement of the assembly elections in Haryana. "We are completely ready for the elections. The BJP will form the government for a third time in Haryana with a big mandate," he added. Saini said the BJP government in Haryana undertook overall development in the state without any bias. In the last 10 years, Haryana scaled new heights in terms of development in each sector, he claimed. Targeting the opposition Congress, Saini asked that it would be better to give details about their works to the people of the state rather tha

BJP is indulging in 'unethical', 'low level' politics: K'taka Min D G Rao

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday dubbed as 'low level conspiracy' of the BJP, the permission granted by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA alternative site scam. He said the Chief Minister will emerge stronger after this move. "The CM has emerged stronger. The more you go after him, he will grow stronger," he told reporters here. The Minister said the BJP will be humiliated for conspiring to finish off Siddaramaiah politically as it will have repercussions. "The unethical and low level political conspiracy of the BJP is now proven," Rao said. According to him, the BJP's Padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru seeking Siddaramaiah's resignation for his alleged role in MUDA scam was a flop show while the Congress' public meetings evoked tremendous public response. "The more you target him, he will grow tall, he will become popular and people will stand behind him. He is doing a good job by serving people," Rao said.

Govt breaking promises, planning to privatise C'garh steel plant: Congress

The Congress on Saturday claimed the government has gone back on its promise and is finalising plans to privatise the Nagarnar Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh's Bastar after "failing to heed the words" of the state's political leadership. The opposition party's general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh posted on X a media report that claimed the Union Ministry of Finance is likely to invite financial bids for Chhattisgarh-based NMDC Steel (NSL) in the next two months. "Kya hua tera waada, Woh kasam woh irada! It appears that NMDC Steel in Bastar will now definitely be privatized before the end of FY25. "Aap chronology samajhiye: On October 3, 2023, the non-biological PM inaugurated the Steel Plant and promised that the Nagarnar Steel Plant is the property of the people of Bastar and will remain with them," Ramesh said in a post on X. In the same post, the Congress leader said, "On October 19, 2023, Swayambhu Chanakya reiterated the PM's promise that the NMDC's Bastar Ste

Guv's office has been misused: Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara

Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara on Saturday decried that the Governor's office has been 'misused' after Thaawarchand Gehlot granted sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with alternative site scam in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority. He claimed that there was pressure from the top on Governor Gehlot, which is now proved. In the MUDA 'scam', it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru, which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by the MUDA. The opposition cried foul and three activists lodged a complaint with Gehlot, accusing the CM of 'misusing' his position. Siddaramaiah has rejected the allegations and asserted that his wife deserved a fair compensation. Addressing reporters here, Parameshwara said, "It is clear that there is pressure from the top. There was no clear information that the CM had given any direction or ev

Karnataka governor gives nod to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah in land scam

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has approved Siddaramaiah's prosecution in the MUDA land scam case, following petitions submitted by three activists

Key parliamentary panels constituted, Congress' KC Venugopal to head PAC

Key parliamentary panels, including the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that will be headed by Congress' K C Venugopal, have been constituted. BJP's Sanjay Jaiswal will head the Committee on Estimates while his party colleague Baijayant Panda will chair the Committee on Public Undertakings. The Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings (CoPU) and Committee on Estimates are the key financial committees of Parliament tasked with keeping a watch on the government's accounts and the functioning of public undertakings. The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a bulletin on Friday announcing the constitution of parliamentary committees. The three committees have a tenure of one year and have members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. They are elected by the two Houses. Besides, there are other department-related standing committees which keep an eye on various Union ministries and departments. The Committees on the welfare of Other Backward Classes as also for the welfare o