Page 373 - Congress

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 ...

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra to enter Maharashtra today

After completion of the foot march in southern states, Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra led by party leader Rahul Gandhi will enter Maharashtra on Monday

Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections: Small constituencies, but big issues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to pay one more visit to Himachal Pradesh on November 11 after visiting it over the weekend

Only Cong can challenge BJP in Gujarat, Himachal polls; AAP incapable: Azad

Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said that only Congress could challenge BJP in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, while AAP is "merely a party of UT Delhi"

Congress alleges PM pressuring rebel BJP leader against contesting HP polls

The Congress Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "pressuring" a rebel BJP leader against contesting the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls and alleged he is "misusing his power" to influence free and fair elections. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi cited a viral video on social media platforms, claiming that in it Modi's voice is heard in a call with BJP rebel Kripal Parmar. Singhvi alleged the prime minister was "pressuring" and "emotionally blackmailing" the leader over the phone not to contest as an Independent from Kangra district's Fatehpur seat. At a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, he claimed such developments reflect that the prime minister has got a "problematic priority list which is inverted and distorted". "Not governance, but electioneering is the favourite job of the BJP government and its chief executive," Singhvi said. "The prime minister is misusing his power to influence free and fair elections. This wou

Will save people of Gujarat from deceit of BJP's 'double engine': Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said his party will fulfil the promises it has made to the people of Gujarat and save them from the "deceit" of the BJP's "double engine". "LPG cylinder in Rs 500, 10 lakh jobs to youth, Farmer's loan waiver up to 3 lakh. We will fulfill the 'CongressNa8Vachan' we made to the people of Gujarat," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. "Will save you from the deceit of BJP's 'double engine', will celebrate 'festival of change' in the state," the former Congress chief said. Elections will be held in Gujarat in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8. The poll contest will be triangular with the Congress, the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party going all out to woo voters. In the 2017 elections, the BJP had won 99 seats and the Congress 77 of the total 182 seats.

Congress will win Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, says Chhattisgarh CM

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel on Saturday expressed his confidence that the Congress will win the Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh

AIMIM eyes SC seats in Gujarat, but move to cut into Congress votes

'The party is planning to contest 30 Assembly seats that includes Muslims, Dalits, tribal and even general-dominated seats'

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Congress halted India's progress, confusing voters to be in power: Nadda

BJP chief J P Nadda alleged that the Congress has contributed a lot in halting the nation's development and has focussed only on how to remain in power by confusing voters. He also claimed that the people of Himachal Pradesh have made up their minds to "break the tradition and re-elect a double-engine government of the BJP to ensure speedy development" of the hill state. Nadda addressed three poll meetings in Behna Jattan, Nova Rajpura and Potwarkhana Kotla in Bilaspur, his home district, and in Charughat Chhakoh in favour of BJP candidates. "The Congress has contributed a lot in halting the country's development. It never tried to do politics on the real issues and managed to confuse people and win elections by any means to continue being in power," he told the voters. The BJP national president claimed that Congress is again trying to confuse the voters. "I have not come here to make the BJP win but to ensure that you protect your rights in this election," he said, urging people

Bharat Jodo Yatra: Unemployment, price rise rampant since 2014, says Rahul

Continuing the tirade against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC leader Rahul Gandhi who is leading the over 3,500 KM Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday alleged that unemployment and price rise are rampant since 2014 in the country. Speaking in a corner meeting at Peddapur village in Medak district, Gandhi alleged that the NDA government is privatising public sector undertakings such as BHEL and Railways. "Whenever I meet youth during the foot march they talk about unemployment. You should understand why there is unemployment in the country. You must have observed that unemployment and price rise are rampant since 2014 in the country," the Congress leader said. He further said farmers and small and medium businesses provide more employment and livelihood to people, than big business houses. He called a farmer Nagi Reddy on the dais and asked him to explain the situation of farmers in Telangana. After Reddy spoke about the indirect impact of GST on agriculture, Gandhi said .

Congress in HP promises to restore old pension scheme, 300 units free power

For the youth, the party has announced to set up a commission for them to look into their issues of education and employment generation.

PM handing over some thousand letters when millions search for jobs: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of unemployment, saying the PM is handing over some thousand appointment letters when "millions of youth search for jobs". Kharge said Modi came to power with a promise of two crore new jobs every year, but forget creating two crore new well-paying jobs, it took eight years for the BJP-led Centre to even think of filling 10 lakh existing central government vacancies. Prime Minister Modi is holding 'Rozgar Melas', handing out appointment letters, and has addressed the melas giving 75,000 letters in Delhi, 13,000 in Gujarat, and 3,000 in Jammu and Kashmir, Kharge said. "Today, when millions of youth search for jobs, PM is handing over some thousand appointment letters!" the Congress president said in a series of tweets. Kharge said rural India is facing the unprecedented challenge of unemployment. The average rural inemployment in the past 6 years is 7.02 per c

Congress releases party manifesto for Himachal Pradesh assembly polls

The Congress on Saturday released its manifesto for the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The party has promised to implement the old pension scheme, 30 units of free power and Rs 10 crore 'StartUp fund' in each constituency. Others present at the party's poll manifesto release included AICC in-charge for Himachal Rajeev Shukla, former PCC chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and AICC secretaries Tejinder Pal Bittu and Manish Chatrath. Party's poll manifesto committee chairman Dhani Ram Shandil said the BJP has failed to live up to the expectations of people and not fulfilled the promises made five years ago. "This is not just a poll manifesto but a document prepared for the development and welfare of the people of Himachal Pradesh," Shandil said. The Congress is banking on anti-incumbency factor and urging voters not to reelect the BJP in the state.

Congress releases first list of 43 candidates for Gujarat Assembly polls

The list has some prominent names including Bharat V Solanki from Gandhidham, Ameeben Yagnik from Ghatlodia and Arjun Modhwadiya from Porbandar.

Gujarat Assembly polls: Congress announces first list of 43 candidates

The Congress on Friday released its first list of 43 candidates for the Gujarat Assembly elections scheduled to be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. According to the list released here, former Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadiya has been fielded from Porbandar, Himanshu Patel from Gandhinagar South and Hiteshbhai Vora from Rajkot South. The list was declared after candidates' names were finalised during a meeting of the party's central election committee (CEC) chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge here. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi joined the meeting online, while the rest of the participants attended it physically at the AICC headquarters here. The Congress is seeking to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from government in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the saffron party has been in power for more than two decades. Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases -- December 1 and 5 -- and the votes

I-T dept searches on Jharkhand Congress MLAs over tax evasion charges

The Income Tax Department on Friday conducted searches at properties linked to Jharkhand Congress MLAs Kumar Jaimangal and Pradip Yadav, officials said. Jaimangal alias Anup Singh is a legislator from Bermo, while Yadav who joined Congress after splitting from the JVM-P represents Poriyahat. Congress is a partner of the JMM-led ruling alliance in the state. The searches were conducted at the properties of the legislators in Ranchi, Bermo and Patna, officials said. Some private people, including an iron ore trader in Chaibasa, were also searched by the I-T Department, they said. Jaimangal said he was extending full cooperation to the I-T Department which is conducting the searches as part of an investigation into tax evasion charges. "The searches were carried out under the pressure of the BJP. Such action will have to be faced by those who are against BJP. I am against BJP and so, I am facing it. But, it can't scare me," he told reporters. Jaimangal was the MLA who in August lod