Page 45 - Congress

PM Modi made 'desperate U-turn' on caste census demand, says Congress

Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a "desperate U-turn" on the caste census, the Congress on Sunday asked whether he will have the honesty to acknowledge that his government has officially changed its policy on the subject and commit to a timeline for such a survey. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said evidence abounds on Prime Minister Modi's "sudden, complete, and desperate U-turn" on the caste census. Citing examples, Ramesh said that in a TV interview on April 28, 2024, Modi branded all those demanding a caste census as "urban naxals." "On July 20, 2021, the Modi Government told Parliament that it had 'decided as a matter of policy not to enumerate caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in the Census'," the Congress leader said on X. In its affidavit to the Supreme Court dated September 21, 2021, the Modi Government clearly stated that "the exclusion of information regarding any other caste (outside of SCs and STs) from the .

Priyanka Gandhi stops convoy to help road accident victims in Kozhikode

Priyanka Gandhi MP continued her journey by directing the medical team in the ambulance in the convoy to take the injured to the hospital

Kharge hails Rahul Gandhi as Centre bows to demand for caste census

The J&K Pradesh Congress Committee passed a resolution hailing Rahul Gandhi and party leaders for successfully pushing the Centre to agree to a caste survey

When Congress, Rahul decide, govt has to accept it: Pilot on caste census

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday claimed that the government's caste census decision was the result of the pressure exerted by Rahul Gandhi and said the country has seen that when the party and the Leader of the Opposition resolve to get something done, the Centre has to accept it. Pilot also said the caste census should be done in a scientific, detailed and transparent manner as has been done in Telangana. The caste census should not be done superficially, Pilot told PTI Videos here. "Rahul Gandhi has been raising this (caste census) issue for a long time, but the BJP and the government kept opposing it, saying it is not in the interest of the country and it would divide the country. Suddenly, the government took the decision, thanks to the pressure exerted by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress," the Congress general secretary said. The entire country has witnessed that whenever the Congress and Rahul Gandhi resolve to get something done, the government has to accept it, Pilot

Ex-Union minister Girija Vyas dies at 79; Rajasthan CM condoles her demise

Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Girija Vyas, who suffered burn injuries in March while performing aarti at her home in Udaipur, has died at a hospital in Ahmedabad, her family said on Thursday. She was 79. Vyas's brother Gopal Sharma said that she succumbed to burn injuries at the Ahmedabad hospital this evening. The Congress leader was performing aarti on March 31 during which her dupatta caught fire from a burning lamp and she suffered critical burn injuries. She was rushed to a private hospital in Udaipur and was later shifted to Ahmedabad. Her funeral will be conducted in Udaipur on Friday, Sharma said. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, former CM Ashok Gehlot, and Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra expressed grief over the death of Vyas. Sharma said Vyas's life was dedicated to public service and that she will always be remembered as a popular leader due to her gentle behaviour. The chief minister prayed to God to give a place to the depa

Kharge urges Centre to allocate funds, set deadline for caste census

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged for the allocation of sufficient funds and the fixing of a time limit for the caste enumeration in the next census, which has been announced by the Central government. The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said the Congress and other opposition parties had demanded a caste census and staged agitations for it throughout the country, and now they are happy that they have achieved what they intended. "I had written a letter two years back on the caste census along with the general census. They did not agree then, but now the government has taken a decision to conduct a caste census along with the general census. It is a good thing, and we will fully cooperate with this. But they (BJP) should not comment unnecessarily on Jawaharlal Nehru, saying he was opposed to it, this and that," Kharge said. Speaking to reporters here, he said the Jan Sangh and RSS, by birth, are against reservation, and such people are now talking about the

Caste census: Allocate sufficient funds, fix time limit, Kharge tells govt

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged for allocation of sufficient funds and fixing of a time limit for the caste enumeration in the next census, which has been announced by the Central government. The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said, Congress and other opposition parties demanded for caste census and had staged agitation for it throughout the country, and now they are happy that they have achieved what they intended for. "I had written a letter two years back on caste census along with general census, they did not agree then, but now the government has taken a decision to conduct a caste census along with general census. It is a good thing and we will fully cooperate for this, but they (BJP) should not comment unnecessarily on Jawaharlal Nehru saying he was opposed to it, this and that," Kharge said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, Jan Sangh and RSS by birth are against reservation, and such people are talking about Congress not being in favour of ..

PM gave headline without deadline: Congress on Centre's caste census move

The Congress on Thursday attacked the government after its announcement of the decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the "master of giving a headline without a deadline". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said many questions arise about the decision, especially on the intention of the government, and demanded that the census should be done as soon as possible. Taking a swipe at the prime minister at a debriefing at the party's 24, Akbar Road office here, Ramesh said he is the "master at giving a headline without a deadline". Asserting that the barrier of 50 per cent cap on reservations should be removed, Ramesh asked what is stopping the Modi government from doing this. The Congress demands that there should be a Constitutional Amendment and the 50 per cent cap on reservations be removed, he said, adding that the caste census would be meaningful only when this is done. Ramesh cited a

Rahul Gandhi to credit for caste census? Congress says yes, BJP says no

As Centre backs caste Census, Congress hails Rahul Gandhi's push, but BJP claims the party ignored caste data for decades and is now playing politics

Modi govt presided over 'widespread depredation' of India's workers: Cong

The Congress on Thursday alleged that the last 11 years have seen the Modi government preside over widespread depredation of India's workers, inflicting injustices such as "declining real wages, anti-worker labour codes and throttling of MGNREGA. On International Workers Day, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the path-breaking gig worker welfare measures in Telangana and Karnataka are only the beginning and the Indian National Congress envisions safe and secure employment for all of India's working people. "The last eleven years have seen the Modi Government preside over the widespread depredation of India's workers, aided and abetted by the Government's own policies," he said in a statement. Ramesh said there have been at least five major injustices inflicted upon workers in India over the last decade. Listing out the injustices, Ramesh flagged "declining real wages" and pointed out that Labour Bureau data shows that between 2014-15 and 2022-23

Caste census to empower economically, socially backward classes: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said caste census will empower backward classes and promote inclusion. He blamed Congress and allies for opposing it in power and politicising it in opposition

Follow party stance on Pahalgam or face action: Congress warns leaders

The Congress has issued a directive to its leaders, urging them to align all public communication with CWC's resolution, which condemned the Pahalgam attack and called for unity and enhanced security

Path to forming strong govt in Delhi runs through UP, Bihar: Rahul Gandhi

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the Congress party wants to form a strong government at the Centre, and the path to it goes from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Addressing party office bearers and workers of the Sareni assembly constituency in Raebareli district, Rahul Gandhi said, "The Congress party wants to form a strong (coalition) government in Delhi...with 200-300 seats. Its path passes through Uttar Pradesh and Bihar." He added, "Until we are strong in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, a strong government cannot come to Delhi. Our target is to form an INDIA alliance government first in Bihar and then in Uttar Pradesh." Asserting that in the next UP Assembly election, the BJP will be wiped out, the Rae Bareli MP said, "INDIA alliance government will be formed. (And) wherever our government is going to be formed, whether in Bihar or Uttar Pradesh, it will be formed by listening to the voices of our workers." Referring to the recent terror attack on tourists in .

Rahul Gandhi, Kharge demand special Parliament session over Pahalgam attack

Opposition leaders urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene special Parliament session, call for national unity after Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people

Strengthening party at grassroots our priority: Cong's Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said efforts are underway to strengthen the party at the grassroots. Talking to reporters after the Congress executive meeting at Totuka Bhawan here, Kharge said if the party is strong at the division, block and district levels, it will become strong at the national level. He also praised the Rajasthan unit of the Congress, saying it was doing good work in the state and everyone was working unitedly. "We are going to the grassroots level to strengthen the organisation. The efforts of all the leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, are to strengthen the party," he said. Asserting that the Congress has appointed district-wise observers, Kharge said, "Our effort is to keep the Congress organisation strong from villages to the cities". Kharge said he interacted with the workers, district presidents and state executives. After the executive meeting, Kharge, along with organisation general secretary K C Venugopal, left for Delhi. Earlier in the

Kejriwal, BJP created false CWG scam, must apologise to Cong: Jairam Ramesh

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal should apologise to the Congress

'Do you control your party?' BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad to Rahul, Kharge

Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised Congress for controversial statements, alleging Pakistan is exploiting them to tarnish India's reputation, amid rising tensions with Pakistan after Pahalgam attack

Kharge lashes out at PM Modi for skipping all-party meet on Pahalgam attack

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for skipping the all-party meeting called to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead. "It is the misfortune of the country that when the pride of the country was hurt, you (PM Modi) were giving an election speech in Bihar," he said addressing the 'Samvidhan Bachao' rally here. "Leaders of all parties attended the all-party meeting, but it is sad that PM Modi did not come to that meeting. Was Bihar far away? The PM should have come to the all-party meeting and explained the plan. What help does he need from us?" he said. Further attacking the Prime Minister, he said, "Modi gave inflation and unemployment. Such people weaken the country. The 56-inch chest has shrinked." In the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Modi had said that it takes a 56-inch chest to convert Uttar Pradesh into Gujarat in terms of development. Kharge said Congress leaders had decided that it will support

KCR slams Congress at party's 25th anniversary, vows political comeback

Addressing a gathering of party workers and supporters on Sunday, KCR pointed to ongoing protests against the current Congress-led government, highlighting alleged financial mismanagement

Cong slams govt over rising 'inequality', cites World Bank poverty report

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that while the Modi government is presenting the World Bank report as a success story, it raises serious concerns about persistent inequality