Page 197 - Congress

National Voters' Day: Cong hits out at EC for refusing to meet INDIA bloc

The Congress on Thursday criticised the Election Commission on the National Voters' Day for refusing to meet INDIA bloc leaders on its demand for greater use of VVPATs in polls, terming it as an "injustice" that strikes at the very foundations of democracy. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also said that the National Voters' Day reaffirms the power of the people to determine their own destiny by exercising the freedom to elect their own representatives. In a post on X, AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said every year January 25 is celebrated as the National Voters' Day by the Election Commission of India. But sadly, this independent institution has been simply refusing to meet a delegation of leaders belonging to the INDIA bloc who only want to put across their point of view on the greater use of VVPATs when voters cast their vote, he said. "VVPAT is nothing but Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail. This persistent refusal of the ECI is an ANYAY that strikes at the very ...

150,000 youth rendered unemployed: Rahul slams govt over Agnipath scheme

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the government over the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, alleging that 1.5 lakh youths, who had been promised appointment under the previous process, were left unemployed and frustrated. Gandhi posted on YouTube his interaction during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra with youths who had reportedly cleared the earlier recruitment process but were not given appointment. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "The Agneepath scam has betrayed the patriots of India - promising 1.5 lakh youth appointments under the old recruitment process while giving them unemployment and frustration in return," he said. "The government should either give them recruitment or compensation - we will not stop until we get 'justice for youth'," Gandhi said. The Agnipath scheme, announced on June 14, 2022, provides for the recruitment of youngsters in the age bracket of 17-and-a-half to 21 years for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of the

INDIA bloc was never meant to work: AIADMK's Edappadi K Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also said it has to be seen "who all exits" the alliance over the course of time

LIVE news: Tata Steel posts Rs 513 crore profit in Q3, revenue drops 3%

LIVE news updates today: Catch all the latest updates from around the world here

Chinks in INDIA bloc as TMC, AAP rule out seat sharing in Bengal and Punjab

The constituents of the INDIA bloc were expected to contest against each other in Kerala, but two more states, Bengal and Punjab, have now been added to the list

Andhra Cong charges Rs 25k donation for LS, 10k for Assembly from aspirants

Kicking off the poll process, the Andhra Pradesh Congress unit on Wednesday started accepting applications from candidates planning to contest the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections to be held in a few months. According to Manickam Tagore, AICC in-charge for AP, following the footsteps of the Karnataka and Telangana Congress model, the Andhra Pradesh unit will charge Rs 15,000 as the "donation" from the aspiring candidates of the reserved category and Rs 25,000 for the rest, for Lok Sabha while it is Rs 10,000 for candidates (unreserved category) and Rs 5,000 for the reserved in case of assembly ticket. Applications will be accepted for the next two weeks, he said. Tagore further said all the applications will be processed through the Pradesh Election Committee and afterward it will go through the screening committee of the AICC. Then the list will be sent to the Congress Central Election Committee headed by President Mallikarjun Kharge. "It (Congress) is a democratic party. Therefor

Rahul dares Assam Police to file more FIRs; says he won't be intimidated

A day after Guwahati Police filed a case against him and other Congress leaders for allegedly provoking crowd, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday dared the BJP-ruled state to file "as many cases as they can" but still he will not be intimidated. Addressing his first public meeting on the 7th day of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Barpeta district, the Congress leader slammed Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and termed him the "most corrupt CM" of the country with a series of allegations related to land and areca nut. "I don't know how Himanta Biswa Sarma got the idea that he can intimidate me by filing cases. File as many cases as you can. File 25 more cases, you can't intimidate me. BJP-RSS can't intimidate me", he added. The Guwahati Police on Tuesday suo motu registered an FIR against Gandhi and other leaders for wanton acts of violence in the state capital. "The BJP-RSS wants to wipe out the language, culture, and history of Assam. They want to run Assam from Nagpur, but we will not

Rahul Gandhi resumes 7th day of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Assam

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday resumed 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' with a roadshow in Barpeta district of Assam. After his night halt at Bishnupur, Gandhi started the 7th day of the Yatra in Assam with a roadshow from Barpeta town to New Bus stand, where he will address the public. He was seen sitting on the roof of a sports utility vehicle, which slowly moved through the main roads of the town amidst a sea of people waving the National Flag along with that of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' (BJNY), Congress party and other opposition parties like CPI(M). Gandhi received bundles of Gamochas (Assam scarf) and other ethnic scarfs from the public. From the Barpeta New Bus Stand, the Yatra will continue with the Congress MP moving in his specially decorated bus. "Then a padyatra will start from Harmohan Chakravarty Memorial Girls ME School in Abhayapuri to Abhayapuri College, followed by a public address," a Congress leader said. After his morning break at North Salmara point in ...

Bharat Ratna award to Karpoori reflects Modi govt's desperation: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday welcomed the decision to confer Bharat Ratna to former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur and said it reflects the Narendra Modi government's desperation and hypocrisy. Thakur was a champion of social justice and conducting a nationwide caste census would be an appropriate tribute to him, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said. "Even though it reflects the Modi Govt's desperation and hypocrisy, the Indian National Congress welcomes the posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna to the champion of social justice Jannayak Karpoori Thakurji," Ramesh said in a post on X. "'Bhagidari Nyay' is one of the five pillars of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. It will need a nation-wide caste census as a starting point. "Rahul Gandhi has been consistently advocating this but the Modi Government has all along refused to release the results of the Socio Economic Caste Census 2011 and also refused to commit itself to conduct an updated nation-wide caste census which will be the

Assam CM asks police to file case against Rahul Gandhi over Guwahati row

The development followed after clashes broke out between Congress workers and Assam police on Guwahati border earlier today. Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the workers from the site

FIR filed against Rahul, other leaders for violence during Yatra: Himanta

The Assam police has registered an FIR against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders accusing them of indulging in wanton acts of violence on Tuesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The Rahul Gandhi led Bharat Jodo Nyay Jatra is currently in Assam and the alleged acts of violence took place while the party supporters and leaders broke barricades and clashed with police personnel in their bid to enter Guwahati. 'With reference to wanton acts of violence, provocation, damage to public property and assault on police personnel today by Cong members, an FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal , Kanhaiya Kumar and other individuals under section 120(B)143/147/188/283/353/332/333/427 IPC R/W Sec. 3 of PDPP Act', the Chief Minister posted on X. Sarma had earlier in the day instructed the Director General of Police G P Singh to register a case against Rahul Gandhi for provoking the crowd to break barricades. Singh also said that appropriate action is

Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur worked to create a more inclusive society

Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur ji's life revolved around the twin pillars of simplicity and social justice. Till his last breath, his simple lifestyle and humble nature resonated deeply with the people

Assam CM actions benefit the yatra, says Rahul Gandhi on clashes in state

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged police to file a case against the Congress leader for alleged provocation amidst Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

Congress urges Assam governor for inquiry into attacks during yatra

The leader of the opposition in Assam legislative assembly Debabrata Saikia has urged Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to order a judicial probe on the physical assault on state Congress president Bhupen Bora and unruly behaviour of alleged BJP cadres during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Saikia, in a memorandum to the Governor, alleged that the present state government under Himanta Biswa Sarma is creating 'serious administrative blockade and also resorted to unleashing unruly lumpens to sabotage the peaceful Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra by brute of physical force and criminal attack against our senior leaders." During the yatra on Sunday, the vehicle carrying senior AICC leader Jairam Ramesh was forcefully stopped by supporters of the ruling BJP and they verbally abused him and tore the stickers on his car, he said. Thereafter, at Jamugurihat, Bora was physically assaulted by BJP supporters leading to a bleeding nose while about 20-25 unruly people even targeted Rahul Gandhi and at various ...

Clashes break out between Cong, police during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Assam

A large number of police were present at the scene to stop the yatra

Congress to hold state-level workers' conventions for 2024 polls on Jan 25

Getting battle-ready for the 2024 general elections, the Congress will from Thursday start holding state-level workers' conventions where party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will preside over meetings of office bearers to energise organisational cadres. The first state-level workers' convention will be held on Thursday in Telangana where the Congress recently formed a government, ousting the K Chadrashekhar Rao government of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi. The party will then hold the state-level workers' convention in Uttarakhand on January 28, in Odisha on January 29, in Delhi on February 3, in Kerala on February 4, in Himachal Pradesh on February 10, in Punjab on February 11, in Tamil Nadu on February 13 and in Jharkhand on February 15, according to AICC general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal. During the conventions, Kharge will preside over meetings of office bearers from the booth to the state level and further "energise our dedicated cadre", Venugopal had said in a post ...

Ram Mandir Highlights: Ram Lalla darshan for general public from Jan 23

Ayodhya Ram Mandir pran pratishtha Live: The 'pran pratistha' ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol got completed today afternoon. Catch all the latest updates on the consecration ceremony here

Reply to Cong leader's plea in 2 weeks: SC to govt on women's reservation

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to respond within two weeks to a plea by a Congress leader seeking immediate implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Act-2023 so that one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies can be reserved for women before the general elections due this year. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta allowed the Centre time after its advocate Kanu Agrawal said the government needs some time to file a comprehensive reply. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for petitioner Jaya Thakur, said the court should issue a direction to ensure that the law can be implemented before the general elections. Justice Khanna said the court cannot pass a direction and this stage and asked Singh to wait for the Centre's reply. When advocate Prashant Bhushan said he wanted to file a petition on the issue, the bench told him his plea, being a fresh matter, can only be assigned to a bench by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. It posted the mat

PM Modi pressured Assam govt to prevent Rahul from visiting temple: Ramesh

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi exerted pressure on the Assam government to prevent Rahul Gandhi from visiting the birthplace of Vaishnav saint Srimant Sankardeva to pay his obeisance. Gandhi was prevented from visiting the venue this morning and stopped at Haiborgaon where he along with senior Congress leaders, party workers and supporters have sat on a dharna. The managing committee of Sri Sankardeva Sattra on Sunday had announced that they will not allow the Congress leader to visit the sattra before 3pm on January 22 after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier in the day said at a press conference that he requested Gandhi not to visit before the consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. 'We were given permission to visit the Sattra on January 11. But suddenly on January 20, we were told that Gandhi can visit only after the consecration of Ram temple', he said. It is clear that 'the arrogant powers want the entire focus of

Atrocious behaviour by entitled dynast: BJP attacks Rahul for losing cool

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for 'losing' his temper in response to chants of "Jai Shri Ram" and slogans supporting Prime Minister Modi during the Assam leg of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and called the Wayanad MP 'entitled dynast'.BJP National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X and said that Rahul Gandhi 'arrogantly charged' at the crowd."Some people chanted Jai Shri Ram & Modi Modi during his yatra, so Rahul Gandhi arrogantly charges at them. Security personnel stopped him. Mohabbat ki dukaan or Ahankaar ki Dukaan. Shameful & atrocious behaviour by the entitled dynast! He even made kissing actions to the crowd !!" he said on Monday.A video of Rahul Gandhi showed him apparently losing his temper in response to chants of "Jai Shri Ram" and slogans supporting Prime Minister Modi during the Assam leg of his ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.The incident came when the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' was on its fourth day in