Page 42 - Congress

Congress continues to have dictatorial mindset of Emergency, says Nadda

BJP president J P Nadda on Wednesday said the Congress continues to have the same dictatorial mindset that was behind the imposition of the Emergency 50 years back, stating that it believes only one family has a right to govern the country. In his remarks on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, he said the Congress is still unable to reconcile to the idea of a person from a humble background, like Narendra Modi, as prime minister. While Rahul Gandhi and the Congress cite the Constitution, he said the opposition party has still not apologised for the Emergency, the 21-month period between June 1975 and March 1977 during which opposition leaders were jailed, the press censored and civil liberties suspended by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Undemocratic amendments were introduced to the Constitution and its soul was distorted, he said of the era. Nadda claimed that the law and order situation in the Congress-ruled states remained as it was in the Emergency, marked by ...

A blot on democracy: Why we must not forget lessons from the Emergency

In a democracy, a free press does not only fulfil the function of educating people and offering them a range of ideological choices and opinions

Congress slams govt over US travel advisory, calls it diplomatic failure

Congress Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate expressed concern over the US State Department's Level 2 advisory, which specifically warns women against travelling alone in India

Cong slams BJP, says Modi govt left no stones unturned in ruining economy

The Congress on Tuesday attacked the Centre over interest rates on savings accounts reportedly reaching the lowest level in 25 years, alleging that the Modi government has in the last 11 years left no stone unturned in "ruining" the country's rapidly growing economy. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which claimed that the 1% cut in repo rate by the RBI has forced banks to reduce their deposit rates, pushing savings account interest rates to a 25-year low. "In the last 11 years, the Modi government has left no stone unturned in ruining the country's rapidly growing economy. Starting with demonetization, new experiments are being conducted on the people of the country every year, they are being tortured in new ways everyday," Ramesh said in a post on X in Hindi. The interest rates on savings accounts have reached the lowest level in 25 years, which is directly hitting the pockets of the elderly and the common citizens, he ...

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Govt using tech to deny social welfare to vulnerable sections: Congress

The Congress on Monday attacked the Modi government over the Women and Child Development Ministry ordering face recognition authentication to be made mandatory for anganwadi beneficiaries, alleging that it is systematically using technology to exclude the most vulnerable sections of society from social welfare entitlements. The opposition party also said Digital India must enable, not disempower, and it must not remain a "Preach Inclusion Practice Exclusion (PIPE) dream". The ministry has directed all states and Union territories to implement a mandatory face recognition system for take-home ration distribution and child attendance monitoring at anganwadi centres. According to a letter issued by the ministry last month, the face recognition feature will now be accessible within the beneficiary profiles on the Poshan tracker application. Beneficiaries will also have the option to self-register using the citizen module of the tracker for e-KYC and photo capture. Reacting to the ...

Don't politicise anti-Naxal ops, ensure transparency: Sachin Pilot

Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday said the anti-Naxal operations should be carried out effectively in a transparent manner and the exercise should not be politicised. The Congress in-charge for Chhattisgarh was talking to reporters at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, after arriving here for a two-day visit during which he will chair a series of meetings with the party leaders. Asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent statement that anti-Naxal operations will be continued during the rainy season, Pilot, said, "The Congress has always been against violence and extremists. Our leaders have sacrificed their lives to keep this country and state safe." "Whatever effective action is to be taken, it should be taken. Action should be done in a transparent manner and it should not be politicised," he said. This is a matter of internal security. No one should do politics over this, the former Union minister said. Whatever action is taken, it should be done by ta

Congress slams Modi govt for silence on US bombing, seeks bold stand

US President Donald Trump's decision to unleash American air power on Iran makes a "mockery" of his own calls for the continuation of talks with Iran, the Congress said on Monday and slammed the Modi government for neither criticising nor condemning the US bombing and Israel's aggression. The opposition party reiterated the absolute essentiality of immediate diplomacy and dialogue with Iran. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said President Trump's decision to unleash US air power on Iran makes a mockery of his own calls for the continuation of talks with Iran. "The Indian National Congress reiterates the absolute essentiality of immediate diplomacy and dialogue with Iran. The Government of India must demonstrate greater moral courage than it has so far," he said. "The Modi Government has unequivocally neither criticised nor condemned the US bombing and Israel's aggression, bombings and targeted assassinations," Ramesh said on X. It has also maintai

Litmus test awaits new Congress Prez Gaurav Gogoi ahead of Assam polls

Elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council will test his leadership in Assam

Prashant Kishor slams Nitish, Lalu, Cong; promises jobs, education in Bihar

Earlier, at a rally in Samastipur, Kishor promised a livelihood opportunity for all within a year of forming the government

Sharing video of polling station violation of voter privacy: EC officials

Amid demands to make public webcasting footage of polling stations, Election Commission officials on Saturday said such a move is violative of privacy and security concerns of voters. They said while such demand suits their narrative in making it sound quite genuine and in the interest of voters and safeguarding the democratic process, it is, in fact, aimed at achieving exactly the "opposite objective". Officials claimed that what is veiled as a very logical demand is actually "entirely contrary" to the privacy and security concerns of voters, the legal position laid down in the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951 and the directions of the Supreme Court. Sharing the footage, which would enable easy identification of the electors by any group or an individual, would leave both the elector who has voted as well the elector who has not voted vulnerable to pressure, discrimination and intimidation by anti-social elements, they asserted. Creating an instance, they said if a

Amit Shah a disgrace to the post once held by Sardar Patel: Jairam Ramesh

Union Home Minister has failed singularly in bringing the terrorists who carried out the brutal terror attacks in Pahalgam to justice, Ramesh added

Over 5K social media accounts from Islamic nations back Assam Cong: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday alleged that over 5,000 social media accounts, mostly operated from Islamic countries, have become active in favour of the Assam Congress. Addressing a press conference, Sarma claimed that these accountsoriginating from 47 countries, with the highest numbers from Bangladesh and Pakistanhave been focusing exclusively on the activities of a particular Assam Congress leader and the party's state unit pages over the past month. "It is surprising that they do not comment on or like posts by Rahul Gandhi or even the Indian National Congress. They are only focused on a particular leader and the Assam Congress," Sarma said. Besides Assam, they post Islamic fundamentalist content, including pro-Palestine, Iran and Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Prof Md Yunus. Though the CM did not name the leader, he appeared to be referring to Gaurav Gogoi, who was appointed Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president in May last week. Sarma remarked, "We are

'Jungle raj to vikas': PM Modi targets RJD, Congress in Bihar rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi slams RJD-Congress for Bihar's backwardness, launches ₹10,000 crore development push, vows to make state a global growth hub

Congress must apologise for imposing emergency in 1975: Venkaiah Naidu

Terming the imposition of Emergency by the Congress government in 1975 as a 'draconian measure', former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu opined that the grand old party should apologise to the people for curtailing civil liberties during that period. In an exclusive interview to PTI, Venkaiah Naidu, who was a student union leader while pursuing law in Andhra University in Visakhapatnam during the emergency period, said he had to spend nearly one and a half years in prison for raising his voice against the government of the day. "It was a draconian measure. They (Congress) should have apologised for it. They should have regretted it. But the Congress never repented or apologised to the people. But they should have regretted imposing the Emergency. Now, on the occasion of the 50th year of emergency, they should express regret publicly," Naidu said. "I feel that they should really apologise to people for imposing emergency, for containing civil liberties, for imposing press censorship.

PM Modi wishes Prez Murmu on birthday, praises her efforts to empower poor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted President Droupadi Murmu on her 67th birthday on Friday, and said her life and leadership continue to inspire crores of people across the country. "Warmest birthday wishes to Rashtrapati Ji. Her life and leadership continue to inspire crores of people across the country. Her unwavering commitment to public service, social justice and inclusive development are a beacon of hope and strength for everyone," Modi said on X. "She has always worked to empower the poor and downtrodden. May she be blessed with a long and healthy life in service of the people," he added. Murmu is India's first tribal president and assumed the office in 2022.

Rahul Gandhi's new official address: Bungalow No 5, Sunehri Bagh Road

Bungalow No. 5, Sunehri Bagh Road, will be Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's new address and he has started the process of shifting on the occasion of his birthday on Thursday but will start living there before the next Parliament session, party sources said. Gandhi has agreed to have 5, Sunehri Bagh Road as his official residence, they said. He started shifting his belongings from Thursday to the new accommodation, the sources said. Gandhi will start living in that bungalow in a few days from now before the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins on July 21, they said. Last year, parliamentary sources had said Gandhi had been offered the bungalow and a response is awaited from his end. Since Gandhi became an MP, his residence had been 12, Tughlaq Lane. However, he had vacated that house after he was disqualified from Lok Sabha in 2023, following his conviction in a defamation case. Gandhi then moved into the 10, Janpath residence of his mother Sonia Gandhi and has been living th

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi discharged from Delhi hospital after 4 days

The 78-year-old former Congress president had been admitted to the hospital on June 15 for treatment

PM Modi greets Rahul Gandhi on 55th birthday, Congress leaders send wishes

Birthday wishes poured in for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as he turned 55 on Thursday, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge praising him for his dedication to the Constitution's values and compassion for the millions whose voices often go unheard. Gandhi, who is a former Congress president and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also received warm greeting from leaders of many INDIA bloc constituents with DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin calling him his brother-in-ideals -- "bound not by blood, but by thought, vision, and purpose". In a post on X, Kharge extended birthday greetings to Gandhi. "What sets you apart is your unequivocal dedication to the Constitution's values and your deep compassion for social, political and economic justice for the millions whose voices often go unheard," the Congress chief said. "Your actions consistently reflect the Congress party's ideology of unity in diversity, harmony, and compassion. As you continue your mission t

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