Page 372 - Congress

Assembly elections: BJP cannot befool people of Himachal, says Kharge

Addressing his first public meeting in the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday trained his gun on the BJP and said it may have been able to befool people across the country with its "jumlas" but cannot do so in the hill state. "People here are educated, understand everything and take a considered decision (in voting).... The BJP may have been able to befool people all over the country with its jumlas (rhetoric) of Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts and jobs, but it cannot do so here," Kharge said. Kharge, who was elected Congress president recently, arrived in Himachal Pradesh Tuesday evening and addressed his first public meeting in Banuti in support of party candidate from the Shimla Rural assembly constituency Vikramaditya Singh. The Congress is seeking to wrest power from the BJP in the hill state, where the Congress and the BJP have governed alternately for the past many decades. Polling in Himachal Pradesh will be held on November

FM called 1991 reforms half-baked, master chef Gadkari baked it fully: Cong

The Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her remarks a few weeks ago calling the 1991 reforms "half-baked", and said "master chef" Nitin Gadkari" has baked it fully and well by paying fulsome tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh. Union Minister Gadkari had on Tuesday said the country is indebted to former prime minister Singh for the economic reforms of 1991 started by him as the finance minister. Speaking in September at an event, Sitharaman had said that the 1991 economic reforms undertaken by the then Congress government were "aadhe-adhure reforms" (half-baked reforms), where the economy was not opened in the right way but as per the strictures imposed by the IMF. Taking a dig at Sitharaman, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "On 16th September, Madam Finance Minister had belittled 1991 reforms by terming it 'half-baked'. Yesterday, the MasterChef Gadkari has baked it fully and well by payin

"Congress is guarantee of instability" PM Modi attacks party in Kangra

Taking a swipe at Congress, PM said, "Only two states are left where Congress is ruling. And that's why development news never comes from those states."

Senior Gujarat Congress leader Mohansinh Rathva quits party, joins BJP

In his resignation letter, the senior tribal leader from central Gujarat and 10-time MLA gave no reason for quitting

Bharat Jodo Yatra: Rahul Gandhi slams Modi govt over demonetisation

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday targeted the Narendra Modi-led Union government over demonetisation, unemployment and the politics of hatred as his Bharat Jodo Yatra entered its 62nd day. The Congress MP also visited a Gurudwara in Maharashtra's Nanded district, hours after entering the state from Telangana. The Yatra was, however, marred by the death of a senior functionary of the Congress Seva Dal during the day. Tuesday was the sixth anniversary of the Modi government's decision to withdraw Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes in 2016. Speaking at Biloli in Nanded district, the Congress leader said demonetisation and the 'faulty' implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) wrecked the backbone of those who provide employment, that is, farmers and small-and-medium businesses. The fact is that note-ban was not a move for eliminating black money. It was an attack on small merchants, small and medium businesses and farmers. Every poor person is reeling under that impact ev

Cong Seva Dal functionary dies during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra

A Congress Seva Dal functionary died after collapsing during the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra's Nanded district on Tuesday, a senior official said. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the 3,570km-long foot-march, expressed grief over the death of Seva Dal general secretary Krishna Kumar Pandey. Paying tributes, he said Pandey held the national flag till the very last moment. "His dedication towards the country will be a source of inspiration," Gandhi said, while extending condolences to Pandey's family. Later, speaking at a gathering at Biloli in Nanded district, where party leaders paid respect to Pandey and recalled their past interactions with him, the former Congress president said the Seva Dal functionary gave us life for the rally and the party can never forget this. We thought that all will complete the journey, but one of our beloved party colleagues will not reach Srinagar (where the yatra will conclude early next year). But his thoughts will .

Mohan Singh Rathwa quits Cong, joins BJP ahead of Gujarat election

Days ahead of the assembly elections in Gujarat, veteran Congress Party leader and 11 times MLA Mohan Singh Rathwa, a prominent tribal leader joined BJP after quitting from the Congress.

Bengal BJP MP urges Cong, Left to join hands to defeat BJP in rural polls

BJP MP Saumitra Khan on Tuesday urged all opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left Front, to join hands with the saffron camp to defeat the Trinamool Congress in the panchayat polls due next year. The Congress and the Left Front, however, dismissed Khan's proposal by terming the BJP and the TMC as two sides of the same coin. The ruling TMC claimed that Khan's appeal proved that the three parties have a tacit understanding in West Bengal. In the rural polls at the booth level, the fight should be TMC versus all. All we want is to defeat the TMC, and anyone or any force willing to fight against the TMC can join hands. If someone at the booth level can defeat the TMC and needs our support, we will support them, Khan told reporters here. His comments came against the backdrop of the victory of opposition parties in cooperative elections in Purba Medinipur and some other parts of the state. West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the grand old party wo

Demonetisation anniversary: Cong demands white paper from Modi govt

The Congress on Tuesday alleged that demonetisation was independent India's "greatest organised loot" and demanded a white paper from the Modi government on the 2016 move. Addressing a press conference on the sixth anniversary of demonetisation at the AICC headquarters here, Congress leader Gourav Vallabh said Prime Minister Modi had surprised all by declaring that currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 were being scrapped on this day in 2016 and the decision triggered "panic, creating unspeakable problems linked to cash and destroying countless small and medium businesses". It has been six years since independent India's "greatest organised loot", Vallabh said and accused the government of destroying the economy through demonetisation. Cash in circulation today is Rs 30.88 lakh crore, while it was merely Rs 17.97 lakh crore in November 2016, he said. "One of the stated objectives of the demonetisation was to promote digital transactions as the government felt too much cash was in .

Congress Seva Dal functionary dies during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maha

A Congress Seva Dal functionary died after collapsing on Tuesday during the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra's Nanded district on Tuesday, party leaders said. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the foot march, expressed grief over the death of the Seva Dal general secretary Krishna Kumar Pandey. He said Pandey held the national flag till the very last moment. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Pandey was holding the tricolour and walking with him and party veteran Digvijaya Singh. "After a few minutes, as is the practice, he handed the flag to a colleague and moved back. Thereafter he collapsed and was taken in an ambulance to a hospital where most sadly he was declared dead," Ramesh tweeted. "He was a staunch Congressman and used to take on the RSS in Nagpur. It is a most humbling moment for all the Yatris," Ramesh added. "The Yatris, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee and @RahulGandhi paid last respects to Krishna Kumar Pandey this afternoon

Rahul resumes Bharat Jodo Yatra after visiting gurdwara in Maharashtra

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra on Tuesday morning after visiting a gurdwara in Nanded district as the foot march entered into its 62nd day. The Congress MP visited Gurdwara Yaadgari Baba Zoravar Singh ji Fateh Singh ji on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti a few hours after the yatra entered Maharashtra Monday night from neighbouring Telangana. At the gurdwara, Gandhi prayed for harmony and equality, the party tweeted. As Gandhi resumed his march, he was flanked by senior Maharashtra Congress leaders including former chief ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Ashok Chavan, state party chief Nana Patole, and other leaders like Balasaheb Thorat, Manikrao Thakre and Naseem Khan. The march will proceed from to Atkali in Biloli city of Nanded. Gandhi is scheduled to halt at Godavari Manar Sugar Factory ground in Biloli for night stay, a party functionary said. On Monday night, as Gandhi said entered Maharashtra holding a 'flaming torch' (mashaal)

'BJP's double-engine govt will derail soon', says Sachin Pilot in Himachal

Pilot, who was campaigning for Congress in the Himachal Assembly polls, said that the voters are "inclined towards the party"

UP CM targets Congress in Himachal, says India's stature rising under PM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath on Monday attacked the Congress in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh and alleged that it "compromises border security and creates hurdles in development"

Bharat Jodo Yatra will only stop in Srinagar, come what may: Rahul Gandhi

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began two months ago, will culminate in Srinagar as scheduled irrespective of any hurdles in the way, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Monday night, after his march entered Maharashtra from Telangana. The objective of the yatra is to connect (people of) India and to raise voice against division and hatred being sown in the country, Gandhi said, addressing supporters at Deglur after the Yatra entered the state. No force can stop the Bharat Jodo Yatra in between, he said. The yatra will only stop in Srinagar, he added. Be it farmers or labourers, senior citizens, youth or traders, our doors and hearts are open to all, he said. We want to hear the voice and pain of Maharashtra, he added. Gandhi said unemployment in India is increasing, and blamed PM Narendra Modi's policies like demonetisation for the ills afflicting the country. Modi's policies like note ban have broken the spinal cord of people who are battling unemployment inflation, he said. Earli

Will waive farm loans in Telangana if Congress comes to power: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the 3,500-km 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' on Monday said farm loans would be waived in Telangana if his party comes to power in the next elections. Speaking at a public meeting in Jukkal constituency before entering Maharashtra, he said hospitals were being privatised and education system was being destroyed in Telangana. Farmers are not getting a supporting price. No farmer feels that farming is a profitable venture. The UPA government waived agriculture loans to the tune of Rs 70,000 crore. We promise farm loans will be waived when we come to power, he said. Alleging that the ruling TRS government is not implementing the Tribal Bill that the UPA government had brought, the Congress leader said the lands of Dalits and Adivasis that were allegedly grabbed would be returned to them. He alleged that education has become expensive and one has to spend lakhs of rupees to become an engineer or doctor. He charged BJP and TRS with working in tandem an

Aaditya Thackeray may join Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', says Shiv Sena

Aaditya Thackeray could participate in the Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' led by Rahul Gandhi, which is slated to enter Maharashtra on Monday night, a Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction leader said. Talking to reporters, Sena MLC Sachin Ahir said Aaditya is touring Marathwada and the yatra would also be passing through the region. Taking a dig, Bharatiya Janata Party's Mumbai unit president Ashish Shelar said people like Aaditya Thackeray may be joining the Yatra but they cannot save their ministers and MLAs, an apparent reference to the rebellion led by Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs in June this year. The possibility of Aaditya Thackeray attending the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' cannot be ruled out. The decision will be taken after discussions with the party chief (Uddhav Thackeray). Coincidentally, he is also touring the region (Marathwada) and attempts are being made to see if it (his visit) can coincide with the rally," Ahir said. A delegation of Congress had last month met Nationalist

Congress welcomes SC's EWS quota order, says process initiated under UPA

The Congress on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court verdict upholding the validity of providing 10 per cent reservation to people belonging to the economically weaker sections and said the amendment providing for it was the result of a process initiated by the Manmohan Singh government. The Opposition party also said the Modi government is yet to clarify its position on an updated caste census. In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court by a majority view of 3:2 upheld the validity of the 103rd Constitution amendment providing 10 per cent reservation to people belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS) in admissions and government jobs. In a statement, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Congress welcomes the Supreme Court judgment upholding the 103rd Constitutional Amendment that provides for the 10 per cent reservation quota for Economically Weaker Sections belonging to castes other than Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs. "Th

Congress does not care for country's security, people's sentiments: UP CM

The Congress could not have taken steps such as construction of the Ram temple, the surgical strike or the abrogation of Article 370 because it does not care for the country's security or the sentiments of people, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Monday. Campaigning for the BJP in this constituency in Himachal Pradesh's Una district, Adityanath said India is touching new heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country's prestige has risen on the global stage. The BJP government at the Centre, he said at a rally, has taken landmark steps such as the surgical strike across the line of control in Kashmir and the abrogation of Article 370. The construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya also started under this government, Adityanath, who has been campaigning extensively across the hill state, told the gathering. "...has the Congress ever taken such landmark steps? No it cannot. Congress is a party of a family, it does not care for country's

Bypolls results: Lotus blooms in four seats, Congress faces another setback

The BJP's bypoll win in four of the six seats it contested has invigorated the party ahead of assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. It has given tough competition to erstwhile ally Nitish Kumar's Grand Alliance in Bihar and ended the BJD's winning run in Odisha. The Congress drew a blank in the seven assembly constituencies -- Adampur, Gola Gokarannath, Dhamnagar, Andheri (East), Mokama, Gopalganj and Munugode -- in six states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha and Telangana that went to polls on November 3. The results were declared on Sunday. While the TRS managed to get a foothold by winning the high-stakes bypoll to Munugode Assembly constituency, it had to overcome a spirited challenge from the BJP. The bypoll assumed immense political significance as it was seen as a virtual semi-final ahead of next year's Legislative Assembly polls in Telangana. The TRS, recently renamed as Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), took it as a prestige issue as a loss would

PM Modi yet to acknowledge 'epic failure' of demonetisation move: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday over his government's 2016 demonetisation move, saying the PM is yet to acknowledge this "epic failure" that led to the "fall of the economy". Kharge's remarks, a day before demonetisation's sixth anniversary, came over a media report which said that the currency with the public has jumped to a new high of Rs 30.88 lakh crore as of October 21. "Demonetisation was promised to free the country of black money. But it destroyed businesses and ruined jobs. 6 years after the 'masterstroke' the cash available in public is 72% higher than that in 2016," Kharge said in a tweet. "PM is yet to acknowledge this epic failure that led to fall of economy," the Congress president said. According to the fortnightly data on money supply released by the RBI on Friday, the currency with the public increased to Rs 30.88 lakh crore as on October 21. The central bank data for Reserve Money had put the currency in ...