Page 291 - Congress

Opposition meet: Nitish calls for unity; next meeting in Shimla in July

Opposition parties agree to fight the BJP together in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections; Rahul Gandhi said that the voice of India is being attacked by the BJP-RSS and we are together against it

17 opposition parties decide to fight unitedly against BJP in 2024 LS polls

As many as 17 opposition parties on Friday resolved to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly to defeat the BJP and work with flexibility by setting aside their differences. Addressing a joint press conference after an almost four-hour-long meeting, during which leaders of 17 parties expressed their views, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said the leaders will meet in the next few days to give final shape to their plan of fighting together. "We had a good meeting and several leaders expressed their views during the meeting. 17 parties have decided to work together and contest the Lok Sabha elections unitedly," he told reporters. Kumar, who hosted the first such meeting, said they were working in the national interest and accused the BJP of acting against the national interest as it was trying to change the country's history. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced that the next meeting of opposition leaders would be held in Shimla in Himachal Pradesh next month. "We

Leaders jailed by Indira Gandhi welcoming Rahul: JP Nadda on Oppn meet

BJP president J P Nadda on Friday said that leaders who were jailed by former prime minister Indira Gandhi during Emergency were now welcoming her grandson Rahul Gandhi. The BJP leader was referring to the opposition meeting in Patna which was organised by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and attended by his ally RJD supremo Lalu Prasad. Both were arrested during the Emergency when they were student leaders participating in the movement of Jay Prakash Narayan. Addressing a public meeting in Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district, Nadda said, "Strange things are happening in politics today. Leaders jailed by former PM Indira Gandhi have now joined hands with her grandson Rahul Gandhi." He said Prasad was jailed for 22 months, while Kumar was behind the bars for 20 months during the period. "I saw Uddhav Thackeray reaching Patna to attend the opposition meeting. His father, 'Hindu Hriday Samrat' Balasaheb Thackeray was opposed to the Congress all along. Balasaheb had once said he will s

All-party Opposition meet ahead of 2024 elections today; all you must know

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is hosting the crucial meeting in which most of the non-BJP parties are taking part as they plan to take on the BJP in the next year's general election

We are going to defeat BJP together: Rahul Gandhi ahead of Oppn meeting

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said all Opposition parties are going to defeat the BJP in the 2024 general elections unitedly. Accusing the BJP of working to "divide India and spread hate and violence", he asserted that a fight of ideologies is going on in India. On one hand, there is the Congress' 'Bharat Jodo' ideology and on the other the BJP and RSS' 'Bharat Todo' ideology, Gandhi said. "You know that hate cannot be countered with hate. It can be defeated only with love. The Congress is working for uniting the country and spreading love," he said. "That is why we have come to Bihar because the DNA of the Congress is in Bihar," Gandhi said. "All Opposition parties have come here and together we are going to defeat the BJP," the former Congress chief said, adding, "In Karnataka, the BJP leaders gave speeches and went everywhere but the result is there for you to see." "As soon as the Congress stood united, the BJP disappeared in Karnataka. I am saying it from this stage

Set aside differences, if we win Bihar we will win country: Kharge to Cong

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged party workers to set aside their differences and fight the 2024 general elections unitedly, asserting that "if we win in Bihar, we will win the country". Addressing party workers and leaders at the Congress office here, Kharge lauded Rahul Gandhi for undertaking the Bharat Jodo Yatra. "Bihar can never leave our ideology. If we win Bihar we will win in the country. Put aside all differences and stay united to save the country," he asserted. He added, "We thought of speaking with leaders of all parties to take a step forward. We, therefore, are here for the meeting.

'Why temple committee not clarifying...': Cong leader over gold plating row

The former minister said that there has been a tradition in all religions that people donate money to temples and that is how places of worship are built

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Oppn must move forward with common minimum programme: Bihar Congress chief

The issue of who would be the prime ministerial face of the Opposition alliance is not important as the leadership question can be tackled collectively after dislodging the BJP-RSS from power, Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh said on Thursday, stressing the need for preparing a common minimum programme soon. Singh claimed that when Opposition parties unite and contest the general elections next year, the BJP will come down to less than 100 seats. His remarks come ahead of a crucial meeting on Friday of top leaders of Opposition parties to chart a roadmap for the formation of an anti-BJP front for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In an interview with PTI, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Singh said his party is the central pillar of Opposition unity and stressed that small differences between parties will be ironed out at meetings such as the one taking place here. "We hope that all will sit together and an amicable solution will be reached to move forward together," Si

Fight erupts between CPI(M), Congress in Kerala over fake certificate issue

A political fight has erupted between the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala and the opposition Congress regarding the fake certificate issue in the state with the grand old party on Thursday accusing the Left Front of protecting those involved in illegal activities. The CPI(M) on the other hand refuted the allegations against it on the issue and also came to the aid of its student wing SFI, whose two former members are facing charges of using fake certificates. While expelled SFI leader Nikhil Thomas is accused of submitting a fake certificate for admission to the M.Com course in a college in Kayamkulam area of Alappuzha district of the state, former SFI member Vidya K Maniyodi is facing charges of furnishing a fake teaching experience certificate to secure a guest faculty post in a government college. Vidya, who was absconding for nearly two weeks, was arrested on Wednesday night from a village in Kozhikode district and Thomas was expelled from SFI's primary membership on Tuesday. Dissatisf

Any effort for peace must take place in Manipur: Cong on all-party meet

The Congress on Thursday termed the all-party meeting convened by Home Minister Amit Shah on the Manipur situation as "too little, too late," and said efforts to bring warring factions on the discussion table will lack seriousness if they are done sitting in Delhi. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said the entire nation expects a serious intervention from the Union Government. "Any effort for peace must take place in Manipur, where the warring communities are brought on the discussion table and a political solution is arrived at. This effort will lack seriousness if it is done sitting in Delhi," he said on Twitter. After 50 days of death and destruction in Manipur, he said, "Home Minister Amit Shah's call for an all-party meeting is too little, too late". The government only woke up after Sonia Gandhi's address to the people of Manipur, he said. Shah has called an all-party meeting on the situation in Manipur on June 24. "At the outset, the PM's absence from such a serious

Cong criticises Centre on discontinuing sale of foodgrains to state govts

Accusing the Modi government of being "anti-poor", the Congress on Wednesday said the Centre discontinued the sale of foodgrains from the central pool under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to state governments to "scuttle" the Karnataka government's Anna Bhagya scheme. The Anna Bhagya scheme, one of the five pre-poll guarantees of the Congress, promises 10 kg rice for every BPL (below poverty line) family in the state. In a tweet, Congress general secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh accused the Modi government of indulging in "vendetta politics". "Most recent chronology of Modi's anti-poor and vendetta politics: May 13th, 2023: PM and BJP rejected comprehensively by people of Karnataka. June 2nd, 2023: CM Karnataka announces implementation of Anna Bhagya guarantee from July 1st that will give 10kg free foodgrains to poor families. June 13th, 2023: Union Government issues circular banning sale of rice from FCI to states under Open Market Sale Scheme. This is done to scuttle .

50 days since Manipur burning, PM completely failed in his duty: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday said it has been 50 days since Manipur is burning and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "totally and completely failed" in his duty by choosing to deliberately ignore the violence-hit state in the time of crisis. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also accused the BJP-led government of "maximum silence, minimum governance" in Manipur. "Let us remind ourselves amidst all the news of the Prime Minister's visit to the USA that today is the 50th consecutive day of Manipur's pain, distress and agony. "The Prime Minister who gives 'gyaan' on so many issues has sadly not said a word on the tragedy that has engulfed the state, has not given an appointment to representatives of political parties who sought time from him, and has given no indication whatsoever that he even cares or is concerned," Ramesh wrote on Twitter. "He has totally and completely failed his duty as the Prime Minister of India by choosing to deliberately ignore Manipur in a tim

Situation in Manipur heartbreaking: Sonia Gandhi appeals for peace

The former Congress chief said that as a mother, she understands their pain and appealed to their good conscience to lead the way

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If Cong wins, will set up separate ministry for backward classes: Wasnik

The Congress will set up a separate ministry at the Centre to tackle the problems of the backward classes, SC/ST and others when it comes to power, AICC General Secretary Mukul Wasnik said

Oppn uneasy over presence of Congress in Patna meet ahead of 2024 LS polls

A strong sense of unease seems to be emerging in opposition parties over the presence of Congress, ahead of the Patna conclave of non-BJP parties

Why is Congress silent on religious conversions, questions Narottam Mishra

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra hit out at the Congress, accusing it of doing 'politics of appeasement' and questioned its silence on cases of forced religious conversions.

Cong leader mocks Scindia, says BJP has made him 'bhai saheb from maharaja'

Madhya Pradesh Congress vice president Damodar Yadav has made controversial remarks on Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and state Home Minister Narottam Mishra

Descendants of accidental Hindu unable to digest Gita Press honor: UP CM

Gita Press will be receiving the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 in recognition of its "outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through Gandhian methods