Page 376 - Congress

Congress demands judicial inquiry, financial aid in Morbi bridge collapse

The Congress on Monday demanded a judicial inquiry into the Morbi suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat, alleging that prima facie it seems to be a case of "criminal negligence" and "gross misgovernance". The Opposition party also sought financial and medical assistance from the government to all those affected. At least 134 people have died in the bridge collapse. The more than a century-old bridge on the Machchhu river, which had reopened five days back after extensive repairs and renovation, was crammed with people when it collapsed on Sunday evening. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge paid homage to those killed in the tragedy, and said that may God give the strength to the families who have lost their loved ones to bear the loss. Speaking with reporters here, he said the reasons for the collapse of the bridge that reopened five days ago, ought to be known. "Why were so many people allowed. There should be an inquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge," .

Congress pays tributes to former PM Indira Gandhi on death anniversary

The Congress on Monday paid tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, with Rahul Gandhi saying he is carrying her love and values in his heart and will not allow the India for which she sacrificed her life to fall apart. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi and other senior party leaders offered floral tributes to Indira Gandhi at her Shakti Sthal memorial here. "My tributes to the first woman Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi ji, on her martyrdom day. Be it agriculture, economy or military power, Indira ji's contribution in making India a strong nation is incomparable," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. In a tweet in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said, "Grandmother, I am carrying both your love and values in my heart. I will not allow the India for which you have sacrificed your life to fall apart." In a post from its official Twitter handle, the Congress said that from liberation of Bangladesh to ushering in of the Green

Morbi bridge collapse: Congress demands probe by retired SC or HC judge

The Congress on Monday demanded a probe headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge into the Morbi suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat. The Opposition party also sought financial and medical assistance from the government to all those affected. Over 130 people have died in the bridge collapse. The more than a century-old bridge, which had reopened five days back after extensive repairs and renovation, was crammed with people when it collapsed Sunday evening. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge paid homage to those killed in the tragedy, and said that may God give the strength to the families who have lost their loved ones to bear the loss. Speaking with reporters here, he said the reasons for the collapse of the bridge that reopened five days ago, ought to be known. "Why were so many people allowed. There should be an inquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge," Kharge said. The bereaved families and those affected should be provided all assistanc

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's ironclad will united India: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress on Monday paid tributes to India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, with former party chief Rahul Gandhi saying the most fitting tribute to him would be to keep the flame of unity he ignited shining brighter than ever. Patel is considered the chief architect of integration of the erstwhile princely states with the Union of India. "Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's ironclad will united India. The most fitting tribute to him would be to keep the flame of unity he ignited shining brighter than ever," Gandhi said in a tweet. The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, said, "We pay our heartfelt tributes to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his birth anniversary. It was for his iron will that the nation was weaved into a union." "A great son of Bharat Mata, he continues to inspire us to fight the forces of hate & division," the party said. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hailed Patel on his 147th birth ...

Archana blackmailing case: BJP to gherao Odisha CM Patnaik's house today

The BJP has announced that its activists will gherao Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's residence on Monday to protest against his "silence" over the high-profile Archana Nag blackmailing case and demanded a CBI probe into the matter. The Congress also hit out at the chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio, and sought a statement from him on the alleged involvement of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders in the case. Nag, a 26-year-old woman, was arrested by police on October 6 on the charge of blackmailing people including politicians allegedly by trapping them in a sex racket. Her husband was also arrested later. "The chief minister is silent even as several BJD leaders are involved in the scandal linked to Archana Nag. The BJP wants the CM to give a statement on the issue," BJP state general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar told reporters here. She alleged that despite being aware of everything about the case, Patnaik who is also the BJD president, remained silen

The declining middle class leaves politics unruffled

The Congress and the united Opposition need to show economic leadership. They have described the symptoms of the economic crisis but failed to create a narrative that goes beyond it

Rahul, others observe 2-minute silence for victims of Morbi bridge tragedy

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other leaders and workers of the party taking part in the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' here observed a two-minute silence in memory of those killed in the Morbi suspension bridge tragedy in Gujarat. They also paid floral tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary and to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary. "Fifty-fourth day of Bharat Jodo Yatra began at Shadnagar at 5.30 AM. Bharat Yatris paid floral tributes to Sardar Patel and Indira Gandhi, and then observed 2 minute silence in memory of those who died in the Morbi suspension bridge tragedy in Gujarat," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet. At least 130 people have died in the Morbi suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat. The more than a century-old bridge, which had reopened five days back after extensive repairs and renovation, was crammed with people when it collapsed Sunday evening. Joined by party leaders and cadre, Rahul Gandhi resumed his f

Morbi bridge collapse: Cong asks its workers to provide help in rescue ops

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said he was deeply saddened by the suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat's Morbi that claimed at least 60 lives and appealed to party workers in the state to extend every possible assistance in rescue work. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also said the news of the bridge collapse accident was very saddening, and appealed to all Congress workers to extend all possible help to the injured. At least 60 people were killed after a nearly century-old suspension bridge on the Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi city collapsed this evening, officials said. "Deeply saddened by the tragedy that has struck us with the collapse of the suspension bridge in Morbi, Gujarat," Kharge said in a tweet. "I appeal to the @INCGujarat workers to extend every possible assistance in rescue work & helping the wounded. My condolences & prayers are with the bereaved families," he said. In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said the news of the bridge accident in ...

Morbi bridge collapse: Act of God or act of fraud, Digvijaya asks PM Modi

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday asked if the collapse of the suspension bridge on Machchhu river in Gujarat's Morbi district, in which at least 60 persons have died, was an "act of God or an act of fraud". Singh, who issued several tweets on the incident, was playing on the phrase that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reportedly used at a rally while lampooning the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal after the Vivekananda Road flyover collapsed in Kolkata on March 31, 2016, killing many. "Modi ji, is the Morbi bridge accident an Act of God or Act of Fraud? Singh tweeted while quoting a 2016 news report. He said the bridge was under repair for six months but collapsed five days after it was reopened. In Gujarat, where the Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power for 27 years, the Narmada canal broke during the first day's testing at village Bidra in Kutch district in July this year, while an overbridge in Bhuj, which took 8-9 years to build, had to be repaired

Prez Murmu, PM Modi express grief over deaths in Gujarat bridge collapse

Several top leaders including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed grief after a bridge collapsed in Gujarat's Morbi city on Sunday claiming at least 60 lives. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi appealed to all party workers in the state to extend every possible assistance in the rescue work. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar prayed for the safe rescue of all. "Distressed to hear about the tragic incident in Morbi, Gujarat. I pray for the safe rescue of all and the speedy recovery of those injured. My thoughts are with the affected families," the Vice President Secretariat said in a tweet quoting Dhankhar. Prime Minister Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each of those who died in the incident, his office said. Expressing sadness, Modi, in a tweet said he has spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and officials. "Relief and rescue operations are going on in full swing and al

MP polls: A possible Cong-JAYS tie-up, Bhim Army moves liven up politics

Apart from this, in a recent development the Bhim Army is trying to make inroads into state politics

Cong to launch 'Parivartan Sankalp Yatra' in poll-bound Gujarat from Oct 31

The Congress will take out a massive 'Gujarat Parivartan Sankalp Yatra' in five zones of the poll-bound state from Monday, during which 145 public meetings and 95 rallies will be held along the route covering more than 5,400 km. The yatra will be launched from Vadgam, Bhuj, Somnath, Vadgam, Fagvel and Jambusar on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, party leaders said. Senior party leaders, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel, former Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, Congress MLA Sachin Pilot, among others, will launch and join the yatra, they said. "The Congress' 'Parivartan Sankalp Yatra' will be launched in five zones of Gujarat, and 145 public meetings and 95 rallies will be organised throughout the journey. The yatra, which will cover 5,432 km, aims to establish direct contact with 4.5 crore ...

For top leadership of Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge is just the man for job

The task for Mallikarjun Kharge is cut out. He has assumed charge as Congress president at a time when the party is at its weakest. Can he engineer a resurgence?

Robert Vadra hails 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', likens Rahul to Shirdi's Saibaba

The country will witness a change due to Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' as thousands of people are getting connected to it and are seeing him as the hope for the future, the Congress leader's brother-in-law and businessman Robert Vadra said here on Sunday. Vadra, who was in Shirdi town of Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district to offer prayers at the famous Saibaba temple, also said that Rahul Gandhi's thinking is similar to that of the spiritual leader's (Saibaba) who preached unity, though he did not elaborate. On the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', he said, "Rahul Gandhi is visiting a number of places and meeting thousands of people. These people are joining him in large numbers. Change will come in the future as Rahul Gandhi is the new hope for people." "The government (led by Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre) will talk about our failures. They will make fun of the party (Congress), but Rahul, Priyanka (Gandhi Vadra) will not stop. We are among the people together and will work

Jairam Ramesh calls Kiren Rijiju 'distorian' over the Nehru J-K debate

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said he spoke to a BJP ideologue about Union minister Kiren Rijiju's criticism of Jawaharlal Nehru on the Kashmir issue and was told that Nehru being vilified is one thing, but erstwhile ruler Hari Singh being exalted as a benevolent hero "takes the cake". Rijiju had stated that Nehru's "blunders", which included enacting Article 370 and taking the dispute with Pakistan to the United Nations, caused much tragedy, drained the country's resources and cost thousands of lives of soldiers and civilians in militancy. "I spoke to a BJP ideologue this morning about Kiren Rijiju, the latest entrant to the club of Distorians," Ramesh said in a tweet. "He (the BJP idealogue) sent me the following message: The strange thing is, Nehru being vilified is one thing, Hari Singh being exalted as some sort of upright & benevolent hero takes the cake," the senior Congress leader said without naming the "BJP ideologue". Hari Singh was the last ruling ...

Anti-Congress people also joining Bharat Jodo Yatra: Ex-AICC Secy

Former AICC secretary Girish Chodankar said the 'Bharat Joda Yatra' led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Kashmir is gaining support from 'non-Congress' people as well

People won't be misled, state has no power to make such laws: Cong on UCC

The Gujarat Congress on Saturday said people would not be misled by the BJP government's decision to form a committee for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. Calling it a "gimmick" ahead of Assembly elections, senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia said the state legislature has no power to make such laws. The Bhupendra Patel government earlier in the day announced that a committee headed by a retired High Court judge would be formed to study the modalities of implementing the UCC. "This gimmick is aimed at misleading the public who are suffering due to inflation and joblessness and a host of other problems because of the failure of the government. The power to implement the Uniform Civil Code lies with the Centre. Personal laws were passed by Parliament, and the Gujarat Assembly does not have the power to make this law," Modhwadia said at a press conference. "The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 27 years and it has been in power at the Centre for eight yea

BJP regime in Himachal Pradesh govt of mafias, alleges Congress leader

The opposition Congress on Saturday released a "chargesheet" against the Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP regime in Himachal Pradesh, with a senior party leader terming it a "government of mafias". The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Mukesh Agnihotri, alleged that a multi-crore pipe purchase scam took place in the IPH Department and jobs were "sold" during the Thakur government. A commission of inquiry will be constituted if the Congress is voted to power in the hill state, he added as he termed the BJP regime a "government of mafias". The chairman of the Congress campaign committee for the state Assembly polls, Sukhvinder Sukhu, said anyone, be it a minister or bureaucrat, will be put behind bars if found guilty of the "scams". Chairman of AICC media and publicity department Pawan Khera accompanied by AICC spokesperson Alka Lamba released a 23-page chargesheet in which several accusations have been levelled against the Thakur government. It has been alleged in the chargesheet t

Congress reminds BJP it was Patel who banned RSS; called it 'clear threat'

The Congress has said the BJP wants to use Sardar Patel to demean Jawaharlal Nehru. What it was not telling people is that it was Sardar Patel who had banned the RSS

Congress demands probe into gifts to journalists on Diwali in Karnataka

The Congress on Saturday alleged that Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai tried to bribe journalists by sending Rs 1 lakh cash gifts to them on Diwali and demanded the registration of a graft case as well as his resignation. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee demanded a judicial inquiry into what it called "Chief Minister's Office (CMO) 'sweet box bribe' to journalists". According to sources in the CMO, Bommai has said he was unaware that "cash" was given to journalists. Addressing the media in New Delhi, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said, "The Bommai government's bribegate is now out in the open and this time the responsibility lies at the doorstep of the chief minister himself." "This time, Mr Bommai has surreptitiously, overtly and in a conspiratorial fashion tried to bribe the entire journalistic fraternity by sending 1 lakh cash to every journalist in Karnataka. Hats off to our journalist friends who openly exposed the bribegate," said Surjewala, who ha