Page 36 - Congress

Cong's Chidambaram calls INDIA bloc 'frayed'; BJP mocks 'picnic alliance'

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram raised doubts over the INDIA bloc's unity and future, drawing sharp reactions from BJP leaders who dismissed the alliance as weak and opportunistic

'Not sure if India bloc is still intact': Chidambaram hopes for revival

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday voiced concerns about the INDIA bloc, saying he was not sure if the opposition alliance was still intact. Speaking at the launch of Salman Khurshid and Mritunjay Singh Yadav's book "Contesting Democratic Deficit", Chidambaram also said he felt that it showed at the seams that the alliance was frayed. "The future (of INDIA bloc) is not so bright, as Mritunjay Singh Yadav said. He seems to feel that the alliance is still intact, but I am not sure. It is only Salman (Khurshid) who can answer because he was part of the negotiating team for the INDIA bloc. If the alliance is totally intact, I will be very happy. But it shows at the seams that it is frayed," Chidambaram, a Rajya Sabha MP, said. He also hoped that the alliance can "still be put together, there's still time". The former Union finance minister warned that the INDIA bloc was fighting against a "formidable machinery", which must be fought on all fronts. "In my experience and m

PM Modi agreed to caste census 'out of fear': Rahul Gandhi in Bihar

In election-bound Bihar, Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of conceding to the caste census 'out of fear' and urged youth to demand reservations and fund allocations

'Must exercise restraint': SC rebukes MP minister over Col Qureshi remark

SC criticises MP minister Vijay Shah over remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi questions bypassing MP High Court and says ministers must exercise restraint

Congress to hold 'Jai Hind Sabhas' from May 20-30 to salute Armed forces

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the party has extended its support for the armed forces in all its efforts against terrorism

Cong questions BJP's ties with nations supporting Pak after Pahalgam attack

Congress leaders responded after BJP's Amit Malviya shared a video of Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, accusing the party of being 'disconnected' from public sentiment after the Pahalgam terror attack

Mayawati condemns remarks on Col Qureshi, Cong wants MP minister's sacking

BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday condemned the purported objectionable remarks made by Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah against Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, terming them "deeply saddening and shameful." The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister demanded strict action to prevent communal disharmony and uphold the dignity of India's armed forces. In a strongly worded post on X, Mayawati said, "First the Foreign Secretary and then a woman officer of the Army have been subjected to disgusting, indecent and inappropriate remarks. This is actually an attempt to destroy the positive atmosphere of enthusiasm and pride prevailing across the country over the success of 'Operation Sindoor' carried out by the Indian Army against Pakistan. This is extremely painful and shameful." Col Qureshi was a prominent face during media briefings on Operation Sindoor, In a follow-up post, the BSP supremo said, "In this context, the indecent comment made by a senior Madhya Pradesh minister regarding

Cong seeks 10 marla plots, ₹5 lakh each for relocating J&K border residents

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) working president Tara Chand on Tuesday demanded 10 marla plots and Rs 5 lakh for each family residing in border areas for their settlement at safer places in Jammu and Kashmir. The former deputy chief minister also batted for immediate grant of relief to the residents of border villages who have been directly affected by heavy cross-border shelling and continuous drone strikes. "We demand that 10 marla plots and Rs 5 lakh be granted in favour of families living along the border, which comes within the firing range of Pakistan. This will facilitate their rehabilitation at safer places along the border," he told reporters. Chand said most of the forward areas are vacant and people are facing miseries in these camps due to non-availability of ration and relief. The Congress leader said the government distributed a few items to these families in a pick-and-choose manner. "We urge the Centre as well as J&K government to provide ...

Insult to army: Cong slams BJP over MP minister's remarks on Col Qureshi

The Congress on Tuesday slammed the BJP over its leader and Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah's purported objectionable remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who was a prominent face during media briefings on Operation Sindoor, and demanded his sacking. The Congress shared the video in which Shah is purportedly heard making objectionable remarks, saying, "'Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the humne unhiki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi (those who wiped sindoor (vermilion) off our daughters' forehead... we sent their sister to teach them a lesson)'." Shah later claimed his remarks were being twisted by some people. "We respect the actions taken by the Indian forces that avenged the Pahalgam terror attack in which the vermilion was wiped off the forehead of our sisters. I don't want to say anything to those who are twisting my remarks. She (Qureshi) is a sister who has enhanced our prestige, it should not be seen in any other context. We respect her and will continu

Oppn will question govt about Trump's claims on brokering ceasefire: Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said that the opposition will question the government at the all-party meeting, regarding US President Donald Trump's claims that his administration helped broker a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan. The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said he will urge the government to call an all-party meeting soon, to discuss the latest developments in border tension between India and Pakistan, including "ceasefire". Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Trump is saying things to claim credit. These people (PM and central government) are saying no. It is a sensitive matter. When an all-party meeting is called, we will discuss what's the matter, what happened and what were the telephone talks and ask all these things. In response to a question whether PM Modi gave in to Trump's mediation, he said "It won't be right for me to speak about it now. We have our party meeting today. I'm going for that. I will ask (centre) to call an all-party .

Goa not BJP's laboratory: Cong on Centre's suggestion about nuclear plant

Opposition parties have objected to the Centre's suggestion to set up a nuclear power plant in Goa, with Congress saying the coastal state is not "a laboratory for BJP's dangerous experiments". Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said that the Central government has suggested that the states examine the feasibility of setting up nuclear power plants in their respective areas and send proposals. Speaking to reporters, Khattar said he had discussed the possibility of setting up a nuclear power plant in a review meeting of the Urban Development and Power sector in Goa. In a post on X, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar said, "Goa is not a laboratory for @BJP4India's dangerous experiments. I strongly condemn Shri @mlkhattar's absurd proposal of setting up a nuclear power plant in our peaceful, eco-sensitive state of Goa." He alleged that the BJP government had already destroyed Goa's hills, forests, agriculture and

Will Modi govt conduct Kargil-style review over Pahalgam incident: Cong

The Congress on Tuesday said its repeated demands for a Prime Minister Narendra Modi-chaired all-party meeting and a special session of Parliament assume even greater urgency and importance in light of the statements from Washington DC. The opposition party also asked whether the Modi government will conduct an exercise similar to the Vajpayee government that set up the Kargil Review Committee on July 29, 1999, three days after the Kargil War ended. "Three days after the Kargil War ended, the Vajpayee Government set up the Kargil Review Committee on July 29 1999. Its report was tabled in Parliament on February 23, 2000 although sections of it have remained classified - as indeed they must," Congress general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. The Committee was chaired by India's strategic affairs guru K. Subrahmanyam, whose son is now India's External Affairs Minister, he said. "Will the Modi Govt now conduct a similar exercise on Pahalgam, notwithstanding the N

'Adani scam cannot be covered up': Congress after SECI CMD sacked

With the government sacking R P Gupta as the Chairman and Managing Director of Solar Energy Corporation of India, the Congress on Monday sought to link it to charges against billionaire Gautam Adani and his associates by US authorities and said the Adani "scam" cannot be covered up. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the public sector Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) was indicted on November 20, 2024, by US authorities in the chargesheet against Gautam Adani and his close associates. "It was based on SECI's recommendation that different states entered into purchase agreements with Adani. Bribes worth Rs 2,029 crores were then reportedly offered and promised to Indian government officials in exchange for these agreements, which were then finalised," Ramesh said. In an implicit admission of corruption, in December 2024, SECI changed the way it issues power tenders, he said. "Now the CMD of SECI, occupied by a post-retirement bureaucrat ...

Congress urges Centre to clarify third-party mediation in Kashmir issue

The Congress on Monday urged the Centre to clarify whether it is open to third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue, warning that such as stance could potentially violate the Simla Agreement. The grand old party pointed to US President Donald Trump's daily statements, claiming that he was intervening in the matter, and said a clarification from the union government on the matter was inevitable. While addressing a party programme here, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the party wants to know whether there has been a shift in the country's foreign policy, and therefore the matter has to be taken up in the Parliament at the earliest. Questions are now being raised if the Simla Agreement has been violated. "Was the Simla Agreement, which rejects any third-party involvement in the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, violated? Trump has been making statements daily, claiming that he has intervened in the matter. We need the government's clarification," Venugopal said. "Th

Ex-CM Baghel raises concern over increasing road accidents in Chhattisgarh

Former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel requested the BJP-led government to come up with some solutions to prevent road accidents, along with providing ex gratia to the families of the victims

Rahul Gandhi demands Parliament session to discuss Op Sindoor, US mediation

Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging clarity on ceasefire talks with Pakistan

Congress demands all-party meeting chaired by PM on Indo-Pak situation

The Congress on Sunday demanded that an all-party meeting chaired by the prime minister be held and a special session of Parliament convened for a detailed discussion on the Pahalgam incident, Operation Sindoor and the understanding reached between India and Pakistan to stop all firing and military action. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed several questions to the government, including whether New Delhi has opened the doors to third party intervention between India and Pakistan, and whether diplomatic channels with Pakistan have been opened. His remarks came after India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. In a post on X, he said, "The Indian National Congress reiterates its demand for an all-party meet chaired by the PM and for a special session of Parliament for a full discussion on Pahalgam, Operation

Congress seeks PM-led all-party meet, leaders recall Indira's leadership

Congress urges PM Modi to chair an all-party meet after India-Pakistan ceasefire; recalls Indira Gandhi's 1971 leadership. Calls for special Parliament session to discuss recent national events

'Is it time for politics': Cong slams BJP over criticism of terror response

The Congress slammed the BJP on Saturday for accusing the previous UPA government of acting with "passivity" in responding to terror attacks and said the ruling party and the government must clarify whether it is time to play politics instead of giving a message of unity. The opposition party's criticism came after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit out at the previous UPA government's approach in dealing with Pakistan. "The message to the enemies is loud and clear. Don't mess with us! Unlike the UPA regime's passivity, New India has no patience for futile peace talks," the BJP said in a post on X and shared a video montage to claim that while talks followed terror attacks during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule, this has changed under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tagging the post on the microblogging platform, Congress's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "So do we have to do politics now? Is it time to do ..

Himanta accuses Congress of spreading propaganda on IMF bailout to Pakistan

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday accused Congress leaders, like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, of indulging in propaganda on the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) bailout to Pakistan. His allegation comes after India on Friday opposed the IMF's proposal to extend fresh loans of USD 2.3 billion to Pakistan, saying that the funds could be misused for financing state-sponsored cross-border terrorism. 'Exposing the Misinformation: IMF, Pakistan, and India's Principled Stand once again, Congress leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera are indulging in reckless propaganda-twisting facts and misleading the nation over India's stand on the recent IMF bailout to Pakistan'," the chief minister posted on 'X'. He claimed that the truth should be known and 'there is no 'NO' vote at IMF". 'Contrary to what Congress wants the public to believe, the IMF does not have a system for casting a 'no' vote. The only legitimate way to register disagreement is by abstaining, which