Page 58 - Congress

UCC can't become political instrument to keep country in polarisation: Cong

The Congress on Thursday said a uniform civil code as envisaged in Article 44 of the Constitution can only come about after widespread discussion with the objective of building a genuine consensus and cannot become a political instrument designed to keep the country in a state of "permanent polarisation". The opposition party's assertion comes days after the BJP government in Uttarakhand implemented the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state and the Gujarat government formed a committee under a retired Supreme Court judge to assess the need for the UCC in the state as well as prepare a draft bill for the same. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Uttarakhand UCC is a poorly drafted piece of legislation that is highly intrusive. "It is not an instrument of legal reform in the slightest as there is nothing that addresses the actual concerns expressed with regard to family law over the last decade. It has been forcibly imposed as an integral part of

Unwarranted delay in conducting Census hurting many social policies: Cong

The Congress on Thursday hit out at the Modi government for not getting the decadal Census done, saying this "unwarranted delay" is hurting many social policies and programmes. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which said that with the decadal Census exercise pending since 2021 and unlikely to be conducted this year, at least two other key reports on births and deaths in the country have not been released by the Union Home Ministry for the past five years. "This unwarranted delay in conducting the decadal Census, due in 2021 but still not conducted, is hurting many social policies and programmes - including reservations for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, and food security entitlements," Ramesh said on X. The Congress on Saturday had said it is "highly disappointing" that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget speech made no mention of releasing funds for the decadal population census. The party had pointed out

Jairam Ramesh calls Trump's Gaza plan 'bizarre' and 'unacceptable'

President Trump's loud thinking on the future of Gaza is bizarre, dangerous, and totally unacceptable, said Ramesh

Delhi election exit polls highlights: Pollsters predict BJP majority; AAP says 'wait for results'

Delhi Election Exit Poll Results Updates: A majority of the exit polls have predicted a BJP sweep in the national capital while a few others feel AAP may secure a narrow victory

Delhi Assembly Election Highlights: Voting concludes; 57.7% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm

Delhi Assembly elections 2025 voting updates: Polling day concluded with an unimpressive voter turnout. Results will be declared on Feb 8

Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: District wise Voter turnout

Voting for Delhi’s 70-seat assembly election concluded today with a voter turnout of 57.85%, lower than the 62.59% recorded in 2020. Watch the video for a district-wise breakdown of voter turnout.

Delhi poll of exit polls predicts 38-43 seats for BJP, AAP may get 26-32

Delhi elections 2025: If the exit poll predictions hold, BJP will return to power in Delhi for the first time since 1998

Delhi elections: Exit polls predict BJP return to power after 27 years

Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: Exit polls suggest a strong contest between BJP and AAP, with Congress potentially gaining up to three seats

Delhi Assembly elections: When and where to watch exit poll results live?

Delhi Assembly elections will be held on February 5, with parties campaigning to secure voter support. Check all key details on the voting schedule, exit poll timings, and result announcement here

Delhi election 2025: How accurate were 2015 and 2020 exit poll predictions

Delhi Election Exit Polls: As the voting winds up, all eyes will be on the on the exit poll results, set to be released shortly after the polls close at 6:30 pm

Congress slams govt over 'thoughtless clearance for Teesta dam rebuild'

The Congress on Wednesday opposed the Centre's reported nod to building a dam for the Teesta III hydel project in place of the dam washed away in 2023's glacial lake flood, claiming it was a "thoughtless clearance" as the threat of disaster continued to persist at the dam site. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a media report that claimed the BJP's Sikkim unit chief would meet Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav later this month to raise its pitch over safety concerns surrounding the clearance to build a dam for the Teesta III hydel project. "The INC (Indian National Congress) also opposes this thoughtless clearance. The threat of disaster persists at the dam site. There are also cascading and multiplying effects on habitations downstream," Ramesh said. He also shared the Congress' statement from last August in which the opposition party had hit out at the government and said hydel projects in ecologically fragile regions had been .

Indians getting humiliated while being deported from US saddening: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday expressed sadness over "pictures of Indians getting handcuffed and humiliated" while being deported from the US and recalled that America had to express regret over the treatment meted out to India diplomat Devyani Khobragade in 2013 after the then UPA government retaliated sharply. A military transport aircraft of the US is bringing a group of Indian migrants, in the first such deportation to India as part of the big crackdown on illegal immigrants by President Donald Trump in his second term at the White House. Without directly commenting on the deportation flight carrying the Indians, a spokesperson at the US embassy in New Delhi said on Tuesday that Washington is tightening immigration laws and removing illegal migrants. Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "Looking at the pictures of Indians getting handcuffed and humiliated while being deported from the US saddens me as an Indian." "I remember in December of 2013, an Indian

Delhi votes today: AAP eyes third term as BJP, Congress hope for comeback

Delhi Assembly elections 2025: While the ruling Aam Aadmi Party is seeking a third consecutive term, the BJP and Congress would hope for a comeback in the national capital

Delhi elections updates: EC assured us of strict action, says Kejriwal after meeting with poll body

Delhi Assembly elections highlights: Catch all the major news developments related to the Delhi elections here

Cong MLAs close to Sukhu given priority, BJP being ignored: Jairam Thakur

Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur on Monday said only priorities of Congress MLAs close to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are being considered while the BJP legislatures are being ignored and disrespected. Addressing the media here, a day after announcing that the legislatures of opposition BJP would boycott the Himachal government's meeting to discuss developmental priorities for their constituencies, he said that some of the Congress MLAs have contacted him to tell him that their priorities have also been ignored and they are sailing in the same boat. "For the past two years, BJP legislatures have been attending the MLA's priority meeting but unfortunately even the process of preparing a detailed project report (DPR) of priorities given by the MLAs has not started in majority of the projects, he said, claiming that if the DPR is prepared it is not being forward for execution. Thakur said the funds of special assistance given by the Centre to Himachal f

Delhi elections updates: Public holiday declared on February 5, L-G issues order

Delhi Assembly elections LIVE: Catch all the major news developments related to the Delhi elections here

What are exit polls? Key facts you need to know for Delhi elections 2025

As Delhi gears up for the 2025 elections, here's what exit polls are, how they work, and why they matter

'Never seen such cry baby leaders': Priyanka Gandhi on PM Modi, Kejriwal

Delhi Assembly polls: Polling across all 70 Assembly constituencies is set for February 5, with vote counting slated for February 8

Backward classes form majority of Telangana's population: Caste survey

The survey reveals that Scheduled Castes make up 17.43 per cent of Telangana's population, while Scheduled Tribes account for 10.45 per cent

Delhi polls: Retd judge files PIL against sops promised by BJP, Cong, AAP

In his PIL, Justice Dhingra seeks a court order for the three political parties to "cease and desist" from gathering personal and electoral data under false pretences