Page 288 - Congress

FIR against Amit Malviya to intimidate, silence him: BJP slams Congress

The BJP on Wednesday described the lodging of an FIR against its IT department head Amit Malviya in Congress-ruled Karnataka as "pathetic" and alleged that it was done to intimidate and silence him. Karnataka police has filed an FIR against the BJP's Amit Malviya for alleged defamation and instigating people against the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Reacting to the development, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to Twitter to slam the Congress and alleged, "The FIR against Amit Malviya is nothing but a malicious use of provisions of law to silence, intimidate." "At best, if Rahul Gandhi was aggrieved by any tweet, he could have filed a defamation case in court," he said. "Using the state machinery to settle scores only shows that Congress' own communication and social media paraphernalia is supremely incompetent and hence needs a state police to fight its battles! Pathetic. See you in court," Poonawalla said. The FIR was lodged based on a complaint by Karnataka Pradesh

Bharat Jodo Yatra goes on: Rahul Gandhi meets bike mechanics in Karol Bagh

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen conversing with traders and bike mechanics while working on a two-wheeler with a screwdriver

Cong questions pricing of predator drone deal with US, seeks transparency

The Congress on Wednesday demanded complete transparency in the multi-crore India-US drone deal, while alleging that the 31 MQ-9B Predator UAV drones were being procured for a higher price. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press conference that national security was paramount and that several doubts were being raised on the predator drone deal. "The Modi government is known to jeopardise national interests and the people of India have witnessed the same in the Rafale deal, where the Modi government bought only 36 Rafale jets instead of 126. We also saw how HAL was denied transfer of technology. We also saw how several unilateral decisions were made, despite widespread objections from the Defence Acquisition Committee and the Armed Forces. The Rafale 'scam' is still under scrutiny in France," he charged. "We demand complete transparency in this Predator Drone deal. India needs answers to the crucial questions. Otherwise, we will be trapped in another 'scam' under the Modi

FIR filed against BJP's Amit Malviya for "derogatory" posts on Rahul Gandhi

Congress has accused BJP leaders of posting derogatory posts and defaming Congress leaders and has filed an FIR against its IT cell chief

Congress leaders discuss party's strategy for Chhattisgarh assembly polls

Top leaders of the Congress on Wednesday discussed the party's strategy and poll preparedness in Chhattisgarh where assembly elections are due later this year. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, besides the party's in-charge for the state Kumari Selja and general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal were among the leaders who attended the meeting at the party headquarters here. Chairing the meeting, Kharge said party members will work together to keep bringing change in the lives of the people of Chhattisgarh. "'Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh' is not just a slogan for us, it is a goal for the state's progress and social justice. The people of Chhattisgarh and their unwavering faith in the Congress party will continue to propel the continuous stream of development," the party chief said in a tweet in Hindi. "We will work together and keep bringing change in the lives of the people of Chhattisgarh," he ...

UCC can't be forced by agenda-driven majoritarian govt: Chidambaram

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Congress leader P Chidambaram said it cannot be forced on people by an "agenda-driven majoritarian government" as it will "widen divisions" among people. The former Union minister claimed the prime minister was batting for UCC to divert people's attention from issues of unemployment, price rise and hate crimes. He also alleged the BJP was using UCC to polarise the society. "The Hon'ble PM is making it appear that UCC is a simple exercise. He should read the report of the last Law Commission that pointed out it was not feasible at this time "The nation is divided today owing to the words and deeds of the BJP. A UCC imposed on the people will only widen the divisions," Chidambaram said. Noting that a Uniform Civil Code is an aspiration, the senior Congress leader said, "It cannot be forced on the people by an agenda-driven majoritarian government." "The Hon'ble PM's strong pitch for UCC is .

Oppn can only guarantee corruption, says PM; cites list of scam allegations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the opposition leaders who gathered in Patna recently in an effort to create a united front against the BJP can 'guarantee' scams of at least Rs 20 lakh crore. During an interaction with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) booth workers here, he said the Opposition can only guarantee scams, and went on to recount the corruption allegations against various parties, from the RJD in Bihar to the DMK in Tamil Nadu. The kind of uneasiness visible these days among the parties opposed to the BJP was not there in 2014 and 2019. Those cursing each other fervently are now prostrating before each other. It is their compulsion, and their actions clearly indicate that the people of the country have again decided to give the BJP a landslide victory, Modi said at his party's 'Mera Booth Sabse Majboot' programme. A new word is getting popular these days and that is guarantee. All these parties are a guarantee of corruption. They are a guarantee of scams .

Criminal investigation needed: Congress on Kejriwal's house renovation

Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken on Tuesday said a full-blown criminal investigation is required into the "egregious expenditure of Rs 171 crore" on the renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence. He welcomed the Comptroller and Auditor General's probe into the "squandering" of public funds on Kejriwal's "sheesh mahal". The Union home ministry has recommended a special CAG audit, taking note of a May 24 letter by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena which pointed out the "gross and prima facie financial irregularities" in the "reconstruction" of the chief minister's official residence. "A full-blown criminal investigation is not just needed; it's a demand of justice. It's outrageous that public money was squandered on Dior-polished imported marble, million-rupee curtains, and kitchen appliances worth crores, all while demolishing a British-era heritage structure and callously decimating trees," Maken said on Twitter. "Sheesh Mahal Breaking News: Encouraged to see the CAG .

18 former Cong corporators disqualified for cross-voting in mayoral poll

As many as 18 former Congress corporators of Maharashtra's Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) have been disqualified from contesting any elections for the next 6 years for voting against their party's official mayoral candidate in 2019. In an order issued on Monday, the Urban Development Department headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the ex-corporators defied the whip issued by the Congress. Despite the Congress having 47 corporators in the 90-member BNCMC House, its mayoral candidate Rishika Raka lost the poll in December 2019 due to cross-voting by 18 corporators from the party. Pratibha Patil of the Konkan Vikas Aghadi, which had only 4 members in the House, got the support of 20 BJP corporators, the 18 Congress corporators and seven members of smaller allies to secure the mayor's post with 49 votes. Raka's defeat prompted the local Congress leaders to file a petition with the Konkan Divisional Commissioner seeking the disqualification of those who

Congress blames PM Modi's 'wrong policies' for rising tomato prices

The Congress on Tuesday attacked the government over the rising prices of tomatoes, alleging that it was due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "wrong policies". Vegetable vendors and wholesalers have blamed the rains for the disruption in tomato supply, leading to prices of the kitchen staple skyrocketing in retail markets of many cities. Tagging a media report on the rising prices of tomatoes, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, "The prime minister had described Tomato, Onion and Potato as 'TOP' priority. But because of his wrong policies first tomatoes get thrown on the road then sold for Rs 100 per kg!" The Congress has been attacking the Centre over the prices of essential commodities and urging it to provide relief to the common people.

People of Telangana yearning for change, looking towards Congress: Kharge

The people of Telangana are yearning for change and looking towards the Congress, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday after chairing a meeting of Telangana unit leaders to decide the strategy for the state polls due later this year. The meeting, which was held at the AICC headquarters here, was also attended by former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal. Discussions were also held on the Congress' strategy going forward, according to party leaders. "People of Telangana are yearning for change. They are looking towards the Congress party," Kharge said in a tweet after the meeting. The Congress is ready to take on any challenge, he asserted. "Together, we will usher a brighter future for Telangana, based on shared democratic values and all-around social welfare," he said. The Congress also shared on Twitter pictures of the meeting that was also attended by AICC Telangana incharge Manikrao Thakare and Telangana PCC president

BJP expanding its real estate footprint across India, Congress struggling

BJP's frenetic acquisition of real estate has coincided with its electoral expansion beyond its traditional catchment areas of northern and central India

Cong's 'mohabbat ki dukaan' video as online battle for 2024 hots up

The online battle for the 2024 general elections hotted up on Tuesday with the Congress releasing an animated video, showing the ruling BJP deploying divisive tactics and Rahul Gandhi taking down a 'nafrat ka bazaar' and replacing it with a 'mohabbat ki dukaan'. The Congress' video, which portrays Gandhi as a uniting factor through his cross-country Bharat Jodo Yatra, comes months after the BJP released a short animated video showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi marching ahead in his mission to serve various sections of society and firmly on course to make India a five-trillion dollar economy. In the 1:43 minutes video posted on the Congress' official Twitter handle, an animated character of Prime Minister Modi is seen driving a chariot with democracy, media and bureaucracy enchained on top of the vehicle. The video also shows an animated character of Home Minister Amit Shah trying to drive a wedge between a Hindu and Muslim person with Rahul Gandhi making an entry and uniting the .

Decision to cut import duty on US apples to harm Himachal farmers: Cong

The Congress on Tuesday condemned the central government's decision to reduce import duty on Washington (American) apples from 70 per cent to 50 per cent and said it would harm the interest of farmers of Himachal Pradesh. In a statement issued here, All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Rathore, who is also the sitting Congress MLA from Theog assembly seat (apple belt), said that the decision would cause harm to the apple industry of Himachal Pradesh. "The apple growers are already under severe crisis due to an increase in the production cost following a rise in prices of pesticides, fungicides, labour and other packing materials caused due to inflation under the BJP rule," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also failed to keep his promise of increasing import duty on apples up to 100 per cent as promised during the election campaign in Himachal Pradesh in the previous Lok Sabha Election campaign, he said. He demanded that the Union government shoul

Rakesh Gupta, supporter of Scindia, quits BJP to re-join Congress

Rakesh Gupta and Jyotiraditya Scindia both left the Congress during the rebellion that brought down the Kamal Nath-led government in 2020

Congress protests against AAP govt over power tariff hike in Delhi

The Congress on Tuesday staged a demonstration against the AAP government in Delhi over a hike in power tariffs in the national capital. The monthly electricity bills of the majority of domestic consumers in Delhi -- who use more than 200 and up to 600 units -- will be hiked by up to Rs 265 due to an increase in the power purchase adjustment cost (PPAC) levied by discoms, officials said on Monday. Party leaders and workers, who gathered outside the AAP's office in central Delhi, alleged that the city government has "failed to fulfil its promise" of providing free electricity to consumers. Power Minister Atishi said consumers who get zero bills with monthly consumption of up to 200 units will not be impacted. However, those who do not get a subsidy will have to pay nearly eight per cent more on their monthly bills. The hike in the PPAC surcharge by the discoms was allowed by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, the officials said.

Jairam takes dig at PM Modi's visit, cites Nehru's bust at British gallery

'Clearly, not everybody shares the Nehruphobia of self-styled Vishwaguru and his drumbeaters,' he added

BJP harasses industrialists who want to make donations to Cong: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday alleged that the BJP alone takes donations for elections and harasses industrialists who want to donate to Congress. Gehlot also accused the BJP-ruled government at the Centre of misusing central agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax department and the CBI. "BJP alone takes donations in elections and is not letting others take donations. They harass industrialists who want to donate to Congress," the Chief Minister said addressing a public meeting after visiting an inflation relief camp in Dungarpur. Highlighting the schemes and programmes of his government, Gehlot said that none of the state government schemes were launched with elections in mind. He also requested people to vote for the Congress party in the upcoming Assembly elections so that it can retain power in the state. Gehlot also reiterated his demand for a law on right to social security to be passed at the central government level.

Congress does not fear politics of vendetta: Rahul after meeting Sudhakaran

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday met party's Kerala unit chief K Sudhakaran who was arrested recently in a cheating case, and said the party "does not fear the politics of vendetta". At the meeting held here, Sudhakaran was accompanied by Leader of Opposition in Kerala V D Satheesan and AICC general secretary in-charge for the state Tariq Anwar. "The Congress party doesn't fear the politics of intimidation and vendetta," Gandhi tweeted after the meeting, sharing a picture with Kerala leaders. The development comes after Sudhakaran had offered to quit as the president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). However, on Sunday, the KPCC chief said he would continue to lead the state Congress unit as desired by the party's senior leadership and high command. On June 23, the state Crime Branch arrested the Kannur MP after questioning him in a cheating case in which the prime accused is controversial antique dealer Monson Mavunkal. Meanwhile, the Vigilance Wing of the Ke

Rs 60,000 cr required annually for 5 Congress 'guarantees': Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said a total of Rs 59,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore is required annually, for the implementation of Congress' five poll 'guarantees'. He said, the fresh budget of the new Congress government, which he will be presenting on July 7, is likely to be of the size Rs 3,35,000 crore. The Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, was speaking after inaugurating the training camp organised for the newly elected MLAs of the 16th Legislative Assembly. "The first budget after independence was twenty one crore three lakh rupees, today it is about three lakh nine thousand crore rupees. I will be presenting a new budget on July 7 it may be (of the size) three lakh thirty to thirty five thousand crore rupees," Siddaramaiah said. Addressing the newly elected legislators, he said, "the present budget is around three lakh nine thousand eight hundred and ninety six crore rupees, as I'm implementing five guarantees, I will have to provide rupee