Page 65 - Congress

CWC meet: Cong deliberates on 2025 roadmap, vows to protect Gandhi's legacy

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting named "Nav Satyagraha Baithak" began here on Thursday as the party marks the 100th anniversary of its Belgaum session that was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi and chalks out a plan for the political and electoral challenges in 2025. Top Congress leaders, including party chief Mallikarjjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi, marched to the venue of the extended CWC meeting here. The meeting, steeped in historical contexts, began at the same venue where Mahatma Gandhi had assumed the presidency of the party 100 years ago. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakaumar, Congress general secretaries Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal, among others, are attending the "historic" meeting. A controversy has erupted over the alleged misrepresentation of India's map on the posters displayed by the party to commemorate the centenary of the 1924 Congress session, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dubbing it as

BJP leads political donations with Rs 2,244 cr in FY24, Cong just Rs 288 cr

BJP's donations surged to Rs 2,244 crore in 2023-24, triple the previous year, with Prudent Electoral Trust contributing Rs 723 crore. Congress raised Rs 288.9 crore, up from Rs 79.9 crore in 2022-23

AAP's 24-hr ultimatum: Action on Ajay Maken or INDIA bloc should drop Cong

AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleges that Congress leader 'Ajay Maken reads the BJP script', demands action against him. Singh warns AAP will urge INDIA bloc partners to expel Congress if no action is taken

Congress putting up banners with 'distorted' map of India, alleges BJP

The BJP alleged on Thursday that the Congress, ahead of the CWC meeting in Karnataka's Belagavi, put up welcome banners with a distorted map of India, and asked the party whether it is following a "signal" from anti-India forces like US-based billionaire investor George Soros. The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) charge came after its Karnataka unit posted on X pictures of a banner and a welcome flex allegedly put up by the Congress in Karnataka ahead of its working committee meeting. "@INCKarnataka has shown utter disrespect for India's sovereignty by displaying a distorted map at their Belagavi event, portraying Kashmir as part of Pakistan. All this just to appease their vote bank. This is shameful!" the Karnataka BJP posted on X, along with pictures. There was no immediate reaction from the Congress on the BJP's charge. "Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Aksai Chin appear to be missing from the map used by the Congress. The important thing is that it (the map) has been used with

Priyanka Gandhi slams BJP over police action against job seekers in Patna

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday slammed the BJP over the police action on job seekers in Patna, saying the ruling party's only vision is to save its chair and whoever demands employment is oppressed. Chaos erupted during a protest in Patna on Wednesday over the alleged leak of a question paper of the December 13 combined preliminary exam conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), prompting the state police to baton charge job aspirants. Job seekers claimed that several protesters were injured during the police action but a senior officer denied the charge. "Lathi charge on youths who had their hands folded is the height of cruelty. In BJP rule, youths demanding employment are beaten with sticks. Be it UP, Bihar or Madhya Pradesh - if youths raise their voice, they are brutally beaten," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on her WhatsApp channel. "It is the government's job to think about the future of the youth of the world's youngest country and

CWC meeting: Cong to rededicate itself to protect Mahatma Gandhi's legacy

Ahead of its extended CWC meeting here, the Congress on Thursday said it will rededicate itself to protect, preserve, and promote Mahatma Gandhi's legacy which is under "systematic assault by the ideological brotherhood that fought him bitterly". In a bid to get battle-ready for challenges ahead, the Congress will decide on an action plan for the next year at its CWC meeting named 'Nav Satyagraha Baithak' being held in Karnataka's Belagavi to mark the 100th anniversary of the Belgaum session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. The opposition party has asserted that the "insult" to B R Ambedkar by Home Minister Amit Shah will be taken up for deliberation at Belagavi and that there will be a "strong follow-up" on the issue. In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Mahatma Gandhi took over as President of @INCIndia on Dec 26th, 1924 - 100 years ago at what was then called Belgaum, now Belgavi. It was a historic session." "Today the Extended

News updates: Arunish Chawla elected as revenue secretary

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Modi lays foundation stone of Ken-Betwa project, hails Ambedkar's vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday accused Congress of ignoring Dr B R Ambedkar's contribution to the development of water resources in the country as he laid the foundation stone of the Ken-Betwa river linking project in Madhya Pradesh. Speaking at the programme at Khajuraho in Bundelkhand region, Modi said that in the 21st century, only the nations with adequate and well-managed water resources can advance. The PM's comments about Ambedkar came amid the controversy over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent remarks about the iconic leader and the Congress's nationwide protests over the issue. Ambedkar's vision and farsightedness contributed significantly to the strengthening of the country's water resources, their management and dam construction, Modi said. Ambedkar played a crucial role in the development of major river valley projects and formation of the Central Water Commission, he added. "Ask anyone....after the country got independence, who thought about the ...

Delhi Congress brings out 12-point 'white paper' targeting AAP, BJP

Delhi Congress on Wednesday released a 12-point "white paper" targeting the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP over their alleged unkept promises and mismanagement on various issues like pollution, civic facilities and law and order. Addressing a press conference, AICC treasurer Ajay Maken lashed out at AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, saying his party came to power riding on the Janlokpal agitation but has failed to set up the anti-corruption ombudsman. "If there is one word to describe former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal here then it would be Farziwal," he said while releasing the white paper titled "Mauka Mauka, Har Baar Dhoka". "If anyone is the king of fraud in the entire country then it is Kejriwal and that is why we have come here with a white paper on the Kejriwal government and also on the BJP government at the Centre," Maken said. There was no immediate reaction from AAP and BJP. Maken questioned why the Janlokpal had not been formed even in Punjab. "If LG is not allowing

Cong didn't want Ambedkar to grow bigger than Nehru-Gandhi family: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday demanded that Congress apologise to the nation for insulting Dr B R Ambedkar repeatedly. The Opposition party distorted Union home minister Amit Shah's speech in Parliament, he said, speaking at a 'meet-the-press' program here. "Congress should apologise to the nation for always insulting Ambedkar. Its anxiety was that no one should grow in stature above the Nehru-Gandhi family. Congress distorted Amit Shah's comments on Ambedkar to mislead the people. BJP and Shah can not insult Ambedkar even in their dreams," Fadnavis said. Even his own speech in the Maharashtra assembly where he said that Naxalites do not believe in the country 's Constitution was distorted in such a way that it appeared he did not believe in the Constitution, the chief minister said. "We now have the technology to get the entire digital footprint for identifying those who are circulating such messages," said Fadnavis who also holds the home ...

Congress shameless party, using Ambedkar for political gains: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday termed the Congress as a "shameless" party which is using Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's name for "political gains" only. He claimed that Congress had launched innumerable schemes and established many institutions in the name of leaders from Jawaharlal Nehru's family, but there was no such establishment after Ambedkar. "Congress does not have any shame. The party which imposed emergency, suspended the Constitution, killed democracy, that Congress is doing processions in the name of the Constitution, and it shows that they don't have any shame. It will not be an exaggeration if they are termed as shameless," Sarma told reporters here. He said that the Congress rolled out Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana, launched many schemes in the name of Rajiv Gandhi and named many big universities in the country after Jawaharlal Nehru. "...but have you dedicated even one scheme in the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar? Forget university, but have you even named a

Ken-Betwa Project poses serious threat to Panna Tiger Reserve: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday said that by laying the foundation stone of the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give another proof of the difference between his "talk and walk" on environment as it poses a serious threat to the Panna Tiger Reserve. Modi will lay the foundation stone of the project, the first such initiative under the national river interlinking policy, at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday. "Today the PM is giving one more evidence of the difference between his 'talk' and 'walk' on environment and forest matters. The Ken-Betwa river linking project for which he is laying the foundation stone today poses a serious threat to the biodiversity-rich Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. Panna is the most remarkable success story of revival as by early 2009 its tiger population had been completely wiped out. Thanks to the tiger reintroduction program

Congress returns to spotlight in Nagaland, civic polls held after 20 years

Nagaland witnessed a significant political shift this year as the Congress made a comeback by winning the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state after decades of political marginalisation and elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) were held for the first time in 20 years with 33 per cent reservation for women, marking a pivotal moment in its political landscape. In the parliamentary elections held earlier this year, Congress candidate S Supongmeren Jamir clinched the state's only Lok Sabha seat, delivering a win that many political analysts termed as a historic resurgence for the party in a state where it had long been absent from the political limelight. Jamir's victory marked the end of a 20-year hiatus for Congress in the state's Lok Sabha elections. The last Congress candidate to win the seat was K Asungba Sangtam, who served from 1999 to 2004. For the state's people, Jamir's triumph carries a deep, symbolic significance, marking a shift in the state's political dynamics, which had be

Notice for my removal from post was a rusted knife, says V-P Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said one should not use a vegetable-cutting knife for bypass surgery and asserted that the notice for his removal from the post was actually a "rusted" tool. In his first reaction on the notice submitted by the opposition INDIA bloc, Dhankhar said, "Just look at the notice against the vice president. Just look at the six links they have given. "You'll be shocked. Chandra Shekhar ji once said, 'Never use a vegetable-cutting knife for bypass surgery'. The notice wasn't even a vegetable-cutting knife; it was rusted. There was haste." The notice was rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chair Harivansh. "When I read it, I was astonished. But what surprised me more was that none of you read it. If you had, you wouldn't have been able to sleep for days," he told a group of women journalists. Dhankhar said any constitutional position has to be vindicated by commitment to sublimity, sterling qualities and constitutionalism. "We are not in a position t

News updates: CAQM for Delhi-NCR revokes Grap-IV curbs amid dip in pollution levels

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No arbitrary addition, deletion in voters list in Maha: EC to Congress

Amid concerns flagged by the Congress, the Election Commission on Tuesday said there were no arbitrary additions or deletions of voters in Maharashtra where assembly polls were held recently. In its response to the Congress, the poll authority said it would not be correct to compare 5 PM voter turnout data with final polling data. It also explained how increase in voter turnout from 5 PM to 11:45 PM was normal, being part of the process of aggregation of voter turnout and how there can be bona fide but inconsequential differences in votes polled and votes counted. The EC asserted that it is impossible to change actual voter turnout as statutory Form 17C giving details of voter turnout is available with authorised agents of candidates at the time of close of poll at the polling station itself. It said rule-based process was followed with transparency in Maharashtra electoral roll preparation and there were no irregular pattern in voter deletions in the state. It told the Congress t

Congress moves Supreme Court against changes to Election Rules, 1961

Congress has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Centre's recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, citing concerns over electoral transparency

SP, BSP, Cong used Ambedkar's ideals solely for votebank politics: UP Dy CM

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Tuesday alleged that opposition parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party used Ambedkar's ideals solely for votebank politics. The Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have announced protests on Tuesday against Union Minister Amit Shah's "derogatory" remarks on Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha. In a post on X, Maurya said, "Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar dedicated his life for the rights of Dalits, the backward and the deprived but the SP (Samajwadi Party), Congress and the BSP used his ideas only for votebank politics." "The SP's silence on the murder of a Dalit daughter in Karhal and breaking of Ambedkar's statue (in Maharashtra), the BSP's frequent change of stance and the Congress' crocodile tears expose their real character," he added in Hindi. Maurya further said that those who were "twisting" Shah's remarks and enacting a drama should first look into their own ...

Congress files writ petition in SC against amendments to election rules

The Congress on Tuesday filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and expressed hope that the apex court will help restore the "fast eroding" integrity of the electoral process. The government has tweaked an election rule to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV camera and webcasting footage as well as video recordings of candidates to prevent their misuse. AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who filed the petition, said, "The integrity of the electoral process is fast eroding. Hopefully the Supreme Court will help restore it." "A writ has just been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961," he said in a post on X. Ramesh said the Election Commission, a Constitutional body charged with the conduct of free and fair elections cannot be allowed to unilaterally, and without public consultation, amend such a vital law in

Cong CWC meet in Belagavi to plan 2025 strategy, address Ambedkar issue

The Congress will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Belgaum session of the party that was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi with an extended session of the CWC which will decide on an action plan for the next year. The opposition party asserted that the "insult" to B R Ambedkar by Home Minister Amit Shah will be strongly taken up at Belagavi and deliberated upon. Addressing a joint press conference along with Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal and AICC media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on December 26 has been named 'Nav Satyagraha Baithak'. He said two resolutions will be passed at the meeting. The Congress has been marking Ambedkar Samman Saptah against the "insult" of B R Ambedkar by Home Minister Amit Shah, Ramesh said. He said there is only one solution that the home minister be sacked and must apologise for his ...