Page 276 - Congress

Cong MP moves adjournment notice in LS, seeks discussion on China border

The Parliament has been witnessing a logjam over a number of issues, including the violence in Manipur, since the beginning of the Monsoon Session on July 20

Country witnessing coercive instead of cooperative federalism: Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday alleged that "blatant subversion of the constitutional separation of powers" was taking place through the bill to replace the Delhi services ordinance and said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about cooperative federalism, the country was witnessing "coercive federalism". Participating in the the debate in Lok Sabha on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Tharoor argued that the proposed bill represents a "grave chapter in the history of the Indian republic, seeking to ratify an ordinance that in many ways is an assault on our democratic heritage and the spirit of federalism". He argued that bill with such a substantive policy change should not have been brought in the first place when a motion of no-confidence was pending against the government. "The Bhagavad Gita of parliamentary practice and procedure -- MN Kaul and SL Shakdher (book) -- explicitly states that when the leave of the House to t

Congress top brass holds strategy meet for Kerala for 2024 Lok Sabha polls

The Congress' top brass on Thursday held a strategy meeting with party leaders from Kerala to discuss the preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge chaired the meeting and former party chief Rahul Gandhi was also present there, besides state Congress president and CLP leader. A number of party MPs from Kerala in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha participated in the meeting, besides senior state leaders. "The strategy meeting of Kerala Congress leaders in Delhi, began with a silent prayer remembering former chief minister, late Shri Oommen Chandy and former governor and minister (Kerala government), late Shri Vakkom Purushothaman," Kharge said after the meeting. He said in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Kerala had blessed the Congress with 19 of the total 20 MPs. "In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, we are extremely positive that the people of this progressive state shall once again give a resounding mandate to the Congress party," he said. The part

INDIA bloc's Mumbai meet to discuss electoral issues: AAP's Raghav Chadha

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha Thursday said the opposition INDIA alliance will meet in Mumbai to discuss the issues to be raised in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls and the talks on ticket distribution and seat-sharing will be held in subsequent meetings. Asserting that the INDIA alliance is rock-solid like 'Fevicol ka jod', Chadha told PTI in an interview that the opposition bloc is similar to the alliance formed in 1977 after the lifting of the Emergency. "If you combine the votes of all political parties under the INDIA bloc, it exceeds the votes polled by the BJP in 2019," the AAP leader said. He also referred to Union Home Minister Amit Shah cautioning the opposition "not to indulge in politics of supporting or opposing legislation just to win elections" over the Delhi services bill, saying the BJP was trying to drive a wedge between the INDIA bloc parties. "He is afraid that it will be a big defeat for the BJP with all the parties coming together. It is the fear of a ...

Haryana violence 'part of larger conspiracy', questions Congress' role: BJP

The BJP on Thursday raised questions on the Congress' role in the communal violence in Haryana, saying the clashes that took place between the two communities were "part of a larger conspiracy" and the truth will come out during the investigation. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said Congress MLA Mamman Khan's provocative statement on the floor of the Haryana Legislative Assembly and his social media posts raise suspicion about the party's role in the violence. Communal violence broke out in Nuh district on Monday as a mob tried to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession by pelting stones and setting cars on fire. The violence spilled over into neighbouring Gurugram on Tuesday with mobs killing a Muslim cleric, torching an eatery, and vandalising shops. So far, six people have died, 116 arrested and 90 detained, according to the Haryana government. Congress MLA Mamman Khan had given a provocative statement on

Govt, parties should be questioned for rubber-stamping forest bill: Ramesh

Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said questions should be asked of the government and parties that "rubber-stamped" the "insidious" Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, asserting that securing the rights of forest dwellers will be a long struggle. Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, after a brief debate, amid protests by opposition members and a walkout by them over the Manipur issue. The bill seeks to exempt land within 100 kilometres of the country's borders from the purview of conservation laws and permit setting up of zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities in forest areas. In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh noted that "many environmentalists who by no means are bhakts have criticised the Opposition for having boycotted the Rajya Sabha when the amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which many have been agitating against, were being discussed yesterday". "Let me clarify: The

Data Protection Bill should be considered as regular bill: Manish Tewari

Congress leader Manish Tewari on Thursday asked how the Digital Data Protection Bill can be classified as a financial bill, and said it should be considered as a regular bill. The bill should again go to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, he said. The bill aims to make entities like internet companies, mobile apps, and business houses more accountable and answerable about collection, storage and processing of the data of citizens as part of Right to Privacy. "How Did the Digital Data Protection Bill get classified as a Financial Bill suddenly," he asked. "It needs to be considered as a regular bill and go to a JPC again," Tewari stressed. "If this bill on passage is certified as a money bill by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla which seems to be the intent of getting it classed as a Financial Bill then Rajya Sabha can not vote on it. It can only recommend non binding changes to Lok Sabha," he said on Twitter. He shared a copy of the presidential order classifying the bill as a Money Bill.

We know BJP's hidden agenda: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah after Congress meet

This came after the Karnataka Congress leaders had a meeting with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi here on Wednesday over preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha election

K'taka Cong leaders to meet party top brass to discuss LS polls' strategy

A team of 50 state Congress leaders and ministers will meet the party leadership in New Delhi on Wednesday to chalk out strategies for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, General Secretaries K C Vengopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala among others are likely to participate in the meeting in the national capital, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Tuesday. Ahead of leaving for Delhi, the Karnataka Congress president said he will also be meeting few Union ministers to discuss issues and projects related to the state. The meeting with the Congress top brass is seen as significant amid brewing discontent within the ruling party with as many as 30 legislators reportedly having written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the party leadership expressing concern over non-implementation of development works in their constituencies and functioning of certain ministers. "There is a meeting in Delhi tomorrow, today I will be meeting som

BJP leaders making false allegations to defame Rajasthan: CM Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday targeted the opposition BJP, saying its leaders were levelling false allegations to defame Rajasthan. Gehlot said the people of Rajasthan will not tolerate any attempt to defame the state and humiliate Rajasthanis and will give a befitting reply to the BJP in the days to come. The chief minister's attack came after the BJP staged a large protest against the Congress government in Rajasthan over issues such as crime against women and recruitment examination question paper leaks near the state secretariat in Jaipur. The demonstration was held under the BJP's "Nahi Sahega Rajasthan" (Rajasthan will not tolerate) campaign in the run-up to the assembly polls expected to be held in November-December. In a statement, he said the issues of women in Rajasthan are being addressed properly and in a timely manner and the police are taking strict action in cases of crime against them. Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Gehlot twee

LIVE updates: Alert in 11 west UP districts in wake of Haryana violence

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BJP leader accuses PDP of promoting separatism, creating disharmony in J-K

Accusing the PDP leadership of promoting separatism and creating disharmony in Jammu and Kashmir over the decades, senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana Monday attacked its President Mehbooba Mufti over her party's alleged "dubious politics". He was reacting to Mufti's remarks that before forming a government with the BJP in the state in 2015, her father and PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had put a precondition before Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Article 370 of the Constitution will not be removed by the Centre. Rana said, "The people of Kashmir are well aware about the dubious role played by the PDP and its leadership in different forms and colours to instigate and exploit the people" "When it suits the PDP leadership, they can go to any extent in raising communal passions, as they did in 1984 and 1987," Rana said, recalling the years of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed as the union home minister. Addressing a gathering on the 24th foundation day of the People's Democratic Party (PDP

Oppn targets BJP govt over Nuh violence, alleges failure to maintain law

Opposition Congress and INLD on Monday targeted the BJP-JJP government in Haryana over the Nuh violence, alleging that the ruling combine has failed on the law and order front. "BJP-JJP has proved to be a complete failure in maintaining law and order in the state. The violence in Nuh is the result of failure of this government," said Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Leader of Opposition in Haryana Assembly. "The government should understand its responsibility and do everything possible with sensitivity to maintain peace," Hooda said in a tweet in Hindi. The former chief minister said people should keep a close eye on provocations and rumours and cooperate with each other in establishing love and brotherhood. Two home guards were killed and at least 15 others, including several policemen, were injured Monday as a mob in Nuh district tried to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession, pelting stones and setting cars on fire. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) also targeted the Khattar ...

LIVE: Govt to introduce Delhi services ordinance bill in Lok Sabha tomorrow

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Goa assembly: All 7 Oppn members suspended for 2 days following protest

All seven opposition members of the Goa legislative assembly were suspended for two days on Monday after they protested and created a ruckus on the floor of the House over Manipur violence. The suspended members are Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Congress MLAs Altone D'Costa and Carlos Ferreira, AAP's Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, Goa Forward Party's Vijai Sardesai, and Viresh Borkar of Revolutionary Goans Party. After Question Hour, Alemao demanded a discussion on Manipur violence on the floor of the House, claiming that the private members' resolution moved last Friday by Cruz Silva on the issue was disallowed by Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar. All opposition members, dressed in black, started creating a ruckus on the House floor. The Speaker said that the entire country is sensitive about the issue. The Union home ministry is dealing with the issue. The issue is discussed in Parliament. We cannot allow discussion on the issue on the floor of the House, the Speaker ruled. Unhappy wit

ED raids Haryana Cong MLA Chhoker in money laundering case; seizes cars

Four luxury cars, jewellery worth Rs 14.5 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh in cash have been seized following raids against Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker and companies "owned and controlled" by him in a money laundering case linked to alleged cheating of homebuyers, the Enforcement Directorate said on Monday. The 59-year-old legislator from the Samalkha in Panipat district is stated to be the "owner and promoter" of the Mahira real estate group along with his sons Sikander Singh and Vikas Chhoker. The action under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act came after the ED launched searches against the legislator, Sai Aaina Farms Pvt Ltd (now Mahira Infratech Pvt Ltd), other companies of the Mahira Group and some others on July 25, it said in a statement. Eleven locations in Samalkha, Gurugram and Delhi were raided by the federal probe agency. The money laundering case stems from an FIR filed by the Gurugram Police against Sai Aaina Farms Pvt. Ltd. for "cheating a

Modi govt indifferent to pain, anguish of Manipur people: Cong chief Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the Narendra Modi government was "indifferent" to the pain and anguish of the people of violence-hit Manipur. The Congress chief said MPs of opposition alliance INDIA who visited Manipur to assess the situation in the strife-torn state, heard heart-wrenching stories of pain from the people there. "While Manipur faced turmoil, the Modi government appeared indifferent," he said on Twitter while asserting that the divide between communities was "deeply concerning". "Despite time for poll rallies, self-PR train inaugurations, and attending BJP meetings, PM Modi seems to have no time to address the anguish and suffering of Manipur's people or work towards resolving inter-community issues," Kharde tweeted. He also said, "The Modi government appears clueless and rudderless in handling the Manipur situation, evident in the absence of a comprehensive statement in Parliament." Over 50,000 people, including 10,000 children, are in

Govt insulting parl by not discussing no-trust motion in LS: Congress

The Congress on Monday accused the government of insulting Parliament by not holding a discussion on the no-confidence motion moved by the opposition and instead bringing bills in the House. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the government should first hold a discussion on the no-trust motion. He also urged the ruling party MPs to visit violence-hit Manipur and understand for themselves the situation there. Amid the impasse in Parliament over the violence in Manipur and the opposition's demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement in the House, Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that he was ready to respond to a discussion in Parliament on the matter. The opposition turned down the offer following which they moved the no-confidence motion as a last bid to make the prime minister speak on the Manipur violence issue in Parliament. "We have brought a no-confidence motion against the government and a discussion on it should be started in Lok ..

If all 3 MVA partners decide, there can be change in state: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has said if his party, the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) decide, they can usher in a change in Maharashtra. The NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) are constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the state. Pawar also claimed it was difficult to engage with the present state government. He was speaking on Sunday at a book launch function where he shared the stage with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat. Pawar recalled how previous governments helped in the preservation of ancient art and culture, literature and history. "But it is difficult for us to engage with the present state government. But some solution will come out. If we three (MVA constituents) decide, there can be a change," he asserted. It was for the first time since July 2, when the NCP split due to the revolt by Ajit Pawar, that leaders of all the three MVA allies shared the stage. On July 2, Ajit Pawar and

Tiger Reserve judgement protects forest dwellers' rights, Cong slams BJP

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar on Sunday addressed a press conference and lambasted Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane for trying to misguide people and also the court