Page 304 - Congress

One man's ego has denied President her constitutional privilege: Congress

The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saying "one man's ego and desire for self-promotion" has denied the first tribal woman president her constitutional privilege to inaugurate the complex. The Congress' attack comes a day after as many as 20 opposition parties announced their decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Modi. Nineteen Opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, SP and AAP, came together to jointly announce the boycott, saying they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out". Separately, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said if Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla does not inaugurate the new Parliament building, his party would not attend. In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Yesterday, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the country's largest judicial campus at the Jharkhand High Court ..

Rahul Gandhi's talk show to be held at Stanford University on May 31

He will also attend the 'Mohabbat ki dukan' programme in California on May 30

Sachin Pilot has not given any ultimatum to party: Congress MLA Chaudhary

His statement comes referring to Pilot's ultimatum to his own party's government in Rajasthan to probe the alleged paper leak scam

Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar in Delhi, likely to discuss cabinet expansion

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar arrived here on Wednesday, and are likely to meet the top Congress leadership to discuss cabinet expansion in the state. Shivakumar landed in the national capital in the evenning, while Siddaramaiah arrived later. After landing here, Shivakumar told reporters that it was a "normal routine visit" and that he will meet senior party leaders to discuss issues concerning the state. "We have to finish our cabinet (expansion) as early as possible. That is in process. My chief minister is also coming," he said. He said they will meet the top leadership including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Rejecting rumours of a rift within the party, Shivakumar said, "As the party president (Karnataka), I am telling you that nothing is there, no internal issues are there.' On being asked about supporters of Congress MLA D Sudhakar staging a protest outside Siddaramaiah's house, Shivakumar said, "(It's) quite natural. All of t

K'taka ministers to get portfolios soon, says Sidda; Bommai questions delay

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said Ministers in his cabinet will soon be allocated portfolios, after the opposition BJP raised the issue in the state assembly. The CM gave the assurance in the House, in response to a question raised by former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, over the delay in allocation of portfolios to the Ministers. Siddaramaiah and state Congress President D K Shivakumar were sworn in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively along with eight legislators as Ministers on May 20. Portfolios have not been allocated to the Ministers since then. As soon as the CM introduced the Ministers of his cabinet in the Assembly, Bommai intervened and said, "Happy that the Chief Minister has introduced Ministers to the House, they have all worked as Ministers in the past. Congratulations to the Chief Minister and all the Ministers, but it would have been appropriate if the Chief Minister had introduced Ministers after allocating ...

UT Khader unanimously elected as new Speaker of Karnataka Assembly

Former Minister and five-time Congress MLA U T Khader on Wednesday was unanimously elected as the new Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Khader (53) will be the first Muslim leader to serve as Speaker of Karnataka Assembly. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah proposed Khader's name for the post of Speaker and it was seconded by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. As there was no other contender for the post, Protem Speaker R V Deshpande put the proposal made by the Chief Minister to vote, and it was unanimously adopted by the House. As per convention, the ruling party's nominee is generally elected unanimously as the Speaker. Khader had served as Deputy Leader of Opposition in the previous Assembly and also as a minister in the past.

Cong's Adhir Ranjan makes controversial remarks on PM over Rs 2,000 notes

Slamming the Centre over the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes from circulation, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday made controversial remarks against Prime Minister Modi.

Seat-sharing should be on basis of merit: Maharashtra Congress chief

With the Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly polls due next year, state Congress president Nana Patole has said stress will be laid on the allotment of seats according to the merit of candidates. The Congress is determined to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the allocation of seats will be decided keeping the same objective in mind, Patole told reporters on Tuesday. His party is a constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) which also comprises the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena (UBT). A detailed discussion was held in an extended executive meeting of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee in view of the forthcoming elections to the Vidhan Sabha and the Lok Sabha. While fighting together as Maha Vikas Aghadi, emphasis will be laid on the allotment of seats according to merit. Each seat will be studied thoroughly before discussing seat-sharing, Patole said. He said the MVA is determined to bring down the "arbitrary and tyrannical" government of the ...

LIVE: MC, AAP boycott inauguration of new Parliament building on May 28

Catch live updates from across the globe here

Karnataka gameplan: Congress' 5 guarantees to cost Rs 45,000 crore a year

The Axis My India exit poll found that the Congress received 11 % more votes from women in Karnataka than the BJP

Karnataka does not survive on the Centre's largesse: MV Rajeev Gowda

"Karnataka's finances are much healthier than the Union government's, which is indebted to nearly twice the extent of the state"

Rule prohibiting investment by opaque funds done away by Sebi: Cong

The Congress on Tuesday alleged that a rule prohibiting investment by opaque funds was done away with by SEBI on "weak grounds" and said the market regulator cannot run with the hares by diluting reporting requirements and hunt with the hounds pretending to identify beneficial ownership in opaque tax havens. The Opposition party's assertion came after a media report claimed that the Supreme Court-appointed committee scrutinised SEBI's dropping of a key regulatory requirement for foreign portfolio investments (FPIs) months before it developed suspicions on Adani group shareholding. In a statement, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said it is now clear that, far from a clean chit, the Supreme Court expert committee on the "Modani mega scam" has unveiled how Securities and Exchange Board of India's (SEBI) investigation of suspicious Adani transactions have been blocked or reached an impasse, which is why the market regulator's report deadline was extended

Parliament inauguration: Cong lacks national spirit and pride, says Puri

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday slammed the Congress over its objection to inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging the party lacks "national spirit and sense of pride" in India's progress. The minister asked why cannot Congress leaders "just smile" and join India on this momentous achievement and her march to greatness. The Congress has accused the government of disrespecting constitutional propriety and demanded that President Droupadi Murmu should do the inauguration instead of the prime minister. Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 following an invitation by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Puri, whose ministry has undertaken the construction work of the building, put out a series of tweets questioning the Congress. "Why can't they just join the nation in celebrating this creation of a valuable asset for posterity, as the New India's temple of the mother of all democracies & .

Cong leader Khader files nomination for Karnataka Assembly Speaker post

Former minister and five-time MLA U T Khader on Tuesday filed his nomination as Congress candidate for the post of Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Khader, an MLA from Mangaluru Assembly segment, filed his nomination at the office of Assembly Secretary, in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan and other Congress leaders. Election to the post of Speaker is scheduled for Wednesday. As per the convention, the ruling party's nominee is, generally, unanimously elected as the Speaker. If elected, Khader will be the first Muslim leader to serve in the post of Speaker of Karnataka Assembly. Khader had served as Deputy Leader of Opposition in the previous Assembly and had also served as a minister in the past.

Siddaramaiah will be CM for 5 yrs: Patil as power tussle in K'taka begins

"There are no talks about power sharing and Siddaramaiah will be the CM for the next five years," he said stirring a controversy

Not constitutionally correct: Cong ahead of Parliament inauguration by PM

He stated that Article 79 makes it "crystal clear" that the Parliament comprises the President of India, the head of the Parliament, and the two houses

BJP seeks votes in name of cows, visiting gauthans: Chhattisgarh CM

Raising a question mark on the timing of BJP leaders' visit to gauthans, CM Baghel said that during summer cattle do not stay in gauthans and this is not the tradition of Chhattisgarh

Religion is matter of conduct, BJP made it political propaganda: Kamal Nath

There is a lot of difference between the time of five years ago and today. Voters have become wiser and they will secure the future of Madhya Pradesh, the former CM added

Cong ups the ante on BJP over PM Modi inaugurating new Parliament building

Sharma said that the Lok Sabha Speaker chairs the Lok Sabha, and all decisions concerning, the summoning of the Parliament is vested in the President under Article 85

Cong likely to oppose bill to replace Centre's ordinance on Delhi Services

The Congress is likely to oppose in Parliament a bill, when it is brought, that will seek to replace a Union government Ordinance on Delhi's Services matters, sources said Monday, as the party asked the Centre to honour the Supreme Court order that transfer of bureaucrats is in the domain of the city's elected government. Senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said his party welcomed the Supreme Court decision when it came last week. "Today too, we have the same view that the SC decision was right. The Constitution bench has given a detailed judgement on the Delhi issue and the government should honour that," he told reporters when asked about the Ordinance. Sources in the party, meanwhile, said the Congress may oppose the bill when the government brings it in Parliament to replace the Ordinance that essentially upturn the Supreme Court verdict. Sharma said the government has brought an ordinance as well as sought a review of the May 11 judgement. "It is very clear that the ...