Page 248 - Congress

Conduct national caste census to ensure social justice, says Congress

The Congress on Monday welcomed the Bihar government's move to release the findings of a caste census and called upon the Centre to immediately conduct a similar exercise at the national level to ensure social justice and provide a firm foundation for social empowerment programmes. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the caste census of Bihar has proved that 84 per cent of people in the state are OBCs, SCs and STs and their share should be according to their population. "Out of 90 secretaries of the central government, only 3 are OBC, who handle only 5 per cent of India's budget. Therefore, it is important to know the caste statistics of India...," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the UPA government led by the Congress had conducted a census but its results were not published by the Modi government. "The Bihar government has just released the results of the Caste Survey conducted by it in the state. While welcoming the ...

PM Modi attacks Congress-led Rajasthan over high crime rates, corruption

The Central government inaugurated development projects worth Rs 7,000 during a rally in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan

Will not mention Ujjain, will not act against own party MP: Congress

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his criticism of the Rajasthan government on women's safety, the Congress on Monday said it would never condone violence against women, while the BJP dispensations never accept responsibility or accountability in such cases. Addressing a rally in Chittorgarh on Monday, Modi attacked the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan over the issue of corruption and women's safety. The prime minister said he feels pain when atrocities against "daughters" happen anywhere in the country but Congress has made this a tradition in Rajasthan. Responding to the allegations, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The Prime Minister will not utter a word about Manipur. He will not mention Ujjain. He will not act against his own party MP for atrocities on women wrestlers nor condemn Delhi Police's atrocious treatment of our national champions. But when it comes to election campaigning, he will do what he does best lie brazenly." T

MP CM says he has changed definition of politics; Congress hits out at him

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asserted that he has changed the definition of politics in the state and in an emotional address to women, referring to them as his sisters, said they will miss him when he is not around. He was addressing a gathering at Ladkui in his Budhni assembly seat in Sehore district on Sunday. The state assembly polls are due this year-end. I have changed the definition of politics in Madhya PradeshYou have seen the Congress rule for years. Have you ever seen them caring about the public? the CM said. Addressing women present in the gathering, he said, My sisters, you will not find a brother like me, you will miss me when I am not around." CM Chouhan, during some of his recent speeches, became emotional while addressing the people. In August, he announced a hike in the financial aid given to women in the Ladli Behna scheme from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250 per month and also announced 35 per cent reservation for them in government jobs. Ask

BJP will take action against corrupt: PM attacks Gehlot govt in Rajasthan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attacked the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan over the issue of corruption and women's safety. Rajasthan top the list when it comes to crime, riots, atrocities against women, Dalits and backward classes, Modi said at a rally in Chittorgarh. The prime minister said that he feels pain when atrocities against daughters take place anywhere in the country but charged that the Congress has made this a tradition in Rajasthan. He also assured the people that all public schemes initiated by the Congress government will continue if the BJP is elected to power in Rajasthan. Gehlot knows that the countdown of the Congress government has started. He in a way has congratulated the BJP by publicly requesting that the schemes should not be stopped. I assure you that BJP will not stop any scheme of public interest but will try to improve it. This is Modi's guarantee, he said. The prime minister said if his party his voted to power, action aga

PM Modi to inaugurate development projects in Rajasthan worth Rs 7,000 cr

Union Minister Piyush Goyal accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of hindering Rajasthan's development

Let's ensure politics of compassion prevails over politics of hate: Cong

The Congress on Gandhi Jayanti on Monday vowed to "expose" the "total hypocrisy" of those who appropriate Gandhian symbols and project his legacy to the world, "but are simply unable and unwilling to uphold the values he championed." The opposition party also resolved to work towards the victory of "truth over lies", and ensure that the politics of compassion prevails over the "politics of hate, vengeance and prejudice." The Congress paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge hailing him as not just an individual, but an ideology and the moral compass of the country. Congress chief Kharge paid floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat here. In a post on X, he said, "Mahatma Gandhi ji is not just an individual, he is an idea, an ideology and the moral compass of our great nation." "His ideals of truth, non-violence, freedom, equality and coexistence have eternal value. We bow in reverence to Bapu's ideals on his .

OPS vs NPS: Why did government employees hold a rally at Ramlila Maidan?

The protesters said that the party which promises to restore the old pension scheme should be voted to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls

Ajay Maken appointed as new Congress treasurer, replaces Pawan Kumar Bansal

Maken served as a minister under Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, as the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly

BJP leader meets at Nadda's place to discuss Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh polls

The BJP's top leaders met at party chief J P Nadda's residence here on Sunday to discuss plans for the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, both currently ruled by the Congress. At the meeting, sources said, the BJP's core group leaders, who are engaged in preparing the party's poll strategy, discussed a range of issues and the names of candidates who could be fielded against the Congress nominees in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assembly polls due to be held later this year. The meeting at Nadda's residence came ahead of the BJP's central election committee meeting that is scheduled to be held in the evening to deliberate on the draft list of party candidates for the elections in the two states. Union minister and BJP's election incharge for Rajasthan Pralhad Joshi, co-incharge for Rajasthan polls Kuldeep Bishnoi, former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and party state unit chief C P Joshi were among those who attended the meeting that was presided over by ..

INDIA stands like a tall mountain: Navjot Sidhu amid Congress-AAP tension

A Punjab court on Saturday sent Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira to 14-day judicial custody in connection with a 2015 drugs case

Say goodbye to dysfunctional BJP govt: Congress' Chidambaram in Rameswaram

"Say goodbye to the dysfunctional BJP government that cannot control inflation, prices, and increase job opportunities," P Chidambaram said in his speech in Rameswaram on Saturday

Cong to take out Bharosa Yatras in all Chhattisgarh constituencies on Mon

The ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh will take out day-long 'Bharosa Yatras' (trust march) in all 90 assembly constituencies of the poll-bound state to inform people about the welfare schemes of its government. Chhattisgarh Congress unit's communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla in a statement said during the march, to be held on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, their party will also reach out to people and expose the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that it "cheated" people of the state during its 15-year rule (2003-2018). Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his cabinet colleagues, Congress MLAs and MPs will take part in the march in their respective constituencies, he said. The yatra, to be taken out on four-wheelers and motorcycles, will cover a distance of 25-30 kilometres in each constituency during which 'nukkad sabha' and public meetings will be held, Shukla said. Efforts will be made to cover as many villages and panchayats as possible during the march, he ...

Bharatiya Adivasi Party to challenge BJP, Cong in Rajasthan's tribal belt

A new political outfit -- formed by tribal leaders following a split in the Bharatiya Tribal Party -- has thrown the gauntlet to the BJP and the Congress in Rajasthan's tribal belt, forcing senior leaders of the two national parties to make frequent visits in their attempts to shore up support ahead of the assembly polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, among others, have made several visits to the tribal region in an attempt to solidify their parties' support bases. Assembly elections in Rajasthan are due later this year. On Monday, Modi will visit Chittorgarh district, which has a sizable tribal population, and address a public rally. Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Satish Poonia laid focus on the region and made regular visits to the tribal areas during his tenure as the BJP's state unit chief. His successor CP Joshi, a Brahmin face, is the party's Lok Sabha MP from Chittorgarh. Banswara, Dungarp

PM Modi to sound poll bugle in T'gana, likely to launch fresh salvos at BRS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public rally in Mahabubnagar on Sunday afternoon, and his speech is likely to be marked by fresh salvos against both the Congress and ruling BRS in Telangana. In a message posted on his social media platform X ( formerly Twitter), on Saturday night, he said the people of Telangana are tired of lacklustre governance and equally distrustful of Congress. I will be addressing a @BJP4Telangana rally in Mahbubnagar tomorrow, 1st October. The people of Telangana are tired of the lacklustre governance of BRS. They are equally distrustful of Congress. Both BRS and Congress are dynastic parties who have no aim of serving people, he said in the message. A senior leader of Telangana BJP told PTI there was no scheduled meeting of the state leaders with Modi, though the PM may briefly interact with them during the reception at the airport. The meeting will mark the launch of the party's poll campaign in Telangana. He (PM) would deliver a sound and clea

No one will fall prey to your false promises: MP CM hits out at Rahul

On a visit to the state earlier, Rahul launched a blistering attack on the BJP, saying its government in Madhya Pradesh was "epicentre of corruption" and was not paying the proper price to farmers

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Will conduct caste-based census for OBCs if voted to power: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said if his party comes to power at the Centre, it would conduct a caste-based census to know the exact number of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) people in the country. He was addressing a public meeting in Kalapipal assembly constituency in Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh. "Soon after coming to power, the first thing we will do is to go for a caste-based census to know the exact number of OBCs in the country as no one knows their exact number," Gandhi said. He claimed that the country was being run by only 90 officers, including the cabinet secretary and secretaries, while the BJP MPs and MLAs had no role in framing policies and laws in the country. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and bureaucrats are framing laws instead of elected BJP members, Gandhi alleged. Terming Madhya Pradesh as the "epicentre" of corruption in the country, Gandhi said, "Scams like Vyapam have rocked the state. MBBS degrees are being sold, exam papers are be

BJP's 'fake nationalism' visible: Kharge on new armed forces pension rules

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday slammed the BJP over the new disability pension rules for armed forces personnel, alleging that its "fake nationalism" is yet again visible through the move. The Narendra Modi government is a "habitual offender" in working against the welfare of jawans, ex-service personnel and veterans, he alleged in a post on X. According to media reports, the All India Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association has strongly protested against the new policy on disability and death benefits of defence personnel and their widows. The policy was made public on Wednesday by the Ministry of Defence. In his post on X, Kharge said, "BJP's fake nationalism is yet again visible in the new disability pension rules for our brave Armed Forces!" Around 40 per cent of Army officers retire with disability pension and the change in the present policy will flout multiple past judgments, rules and acceptable global norms, he said. "The All India Ex-Servicemen Welfare Associati

Now, only the President remains to come here, says CM Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that BJP leaders were visiting the state aggressively because they could not topple the Congress state government