Page 8 - Congress

EC facing pressure, need to protect its independence: Kharge on Voters' Day

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that in recent times, institutions like the Election Commission have faced sustained pressure and therefore it is "our responsibility" to protect their independence so that democracy does not merely survive, but truly thrives. He said snatching the "Right to Vote" through "vote chori" and unplanned SIR tarnishes India's long-cherished democracy. In a post on X on National Voters' Day, Kharge said this day is a powerful reminder that a nation's future belongs to its people, and that our collective voice can shape our shared destiny. "The people of India deserve a free, fair and fearless elections, where clean electoral rolls and level-playing field is the primary requisite," the Congress chief said. Snatching the "Right to Vote" through Vote Chori and unplanned Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls tarnishes India's long-cherished democracy, Kharge said. "In recent times, our institutions like the Election Commissio

Priyanka Gandhi writes to PM, seeks loan waiver for landslide victims

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has again written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to direct waiver of loans availed by the victims of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala disaster in Wayanad, the party said on Saturday. The Congress MP has also urged the PM to convert the loans given to the state for disaster relief work as grants, it said in a statement. It further said that after Wayanad did not receive any central assistance related to the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides, all the Kerala MPs had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in person in December 2024. Subsequently, in February 2025, Priyanka had written to the PM pointing out that providing money as a loan for rehabilitation six months after the landslides was "unjust and inhumane", the statement said. She had also requested the PM to waive the loans of the jeep and autorickshaw drivers, small traders and homestay operators who had lost their means of livelihood in the disaster, it said. The Congress MP had again made th

Never violated party line, unapologetic over Op Sindoor stance: Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said he has never violated the party's stated positions in Parliament, asserting that his only public disagreement in principle was over Operation Sindhoor. Answering questions during a session at the Kerala Literature Festival here, Tharoor said he had taken a strong stand on that issue and remained "unapologetic". His statement comes amidst recent reports stating "Tharoor's differences with the party leadership", with a speculation that he is upset over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi not adequately acknowledging his presence at a recent event in Kochi and over alleged repeated attempts by state leaders to sideline him. Explaining his position, Tharoor said that, as an observer and writer, he had written a newspaper column after the Pahalgam incident, stating that it should not go unpunished and that there should be a kinetic response. He said that while India is focused on development, it should not be dragged into a prolonged conflict with ..

PM is India's greatest distorian: Congress revives Vande Mataram row

The Congress on Friday dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "India's greatest distorian" and accused him of attempting to distort the history of the national anthem as well bringing "disrepute" to Rabindranath Tagore during the discussion on Vande Mataram in Parliament last month. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also alleged that the PM is "systematically demolishing" Mahatma Gandhi's memory and legacy, with the latest instance being the repeal of MGNREGA. Ramesh made the remarks in a post on X on the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. "During the discussion on the national song last month in Parliament which had left the PM and his colleagues badly bruised and exposed, there had been attempts made to distort the history of the national anthem as well - bringing disrepute to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in the process," Ramesh said. Today on January 23, 2026, the nation celebrates the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas ..

Govt doing to workers what it did to farmers: Rahul slams VB-G RAM G Act

Rahul Gandhi says repeal of MGNREGA mirrors farm laws push, warns Centre wants control over work and funds under VB-G RAM G Act; Congress vows to raise issue in upcoming Budget session

'Count now 70': Cong takes dig at PM after Trump repeats 'India-Pak' claim

The Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump repeated his claim of ending the India-Pakistan conflict last year, saying the number of times the PM's "good friend and the recipient of his many forced hugs" has declared that he was responsible for the sudden halt of Operation Sindoor has shot up to 70 now. The opposition party's swipe came after Trump touted ending the conflict between India and Pakistan as among the accomplishments of the first year of his second term in the White House, saying the two countries "were going to go nuclear" in his opinion, and that he saved millions of lives by stopping the war. Trump said he ended "eight unendable wars in 10 months". In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Before yesterday the count stood at 68. Yesterday itself the count shot up not to 69 but to 70 - once in the opening statement of his White House Press Conference and later in

Congress handed over Assam's land to infiltrators for votes: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress of handing over Assam's land to infiltrators for votes during its rule in the northeastern state. Modi, while addressing a rally here, alleged that infiltration kept increasing during the Congress rule in Assam for decades, with illegal immigrants encroaching upon forests, animal corridors and traditional institutions. 'The BJP government is protecting Assam's identity and culture by evicting infiltrators who encroached land,' he said. Modi said the Congress has lost the trust of people as it gives a 'message of negative politics', and now, the BJP is the 'first choice of voters in the country. 'Voters trust BJP for good governance and development. In the Bihar polls, people gave the party record votes and seats even after 20 years in power, he said. In the Maharashtra civic polls, too, people voted for the BJP and even in Kerala, 'we now have a mayor from the party', Modi said.

BMC election results 2026: Here's a list of winners across top wards

Mumbai BMC election vote counting: The counting process for 227 municipal wards of India's richest civic body started at 10 am on Friday

BMC poll results: BJP alliance ahead on 118 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) on 70

Mumbai BMC election vote counting: The counting process for over 200 municipal wards of India's richest civic body started at 10 am on Friday

CCP delegation holds talks with RSS, BJP, Congress amid political sparring

A Chinese Communist Party delegation met RSS, Congress leaders in New Delhi after holding talks with the BJP, with the visits prompting a political exchange between the ruling party and the Opposition

I&B Ministry's attempt to block Jana Nayagan attack on Tamil culture: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Centre's "attempt to block" Vijay-starrer 'Jana Nayagan' is an attack on Tamil culture, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never succeed in "suppressing the voice of the Tamil people". His remarks come a day after the producer of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan approached the Supreme Court, challenging an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge direction to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie. On January 9, the Madras High Court stayed a single judge's order directing the CBFC to immediately grant a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan, leaving the fate of actor-turned-politician Vijay's film, which has drawn attention for its political overtones, in limbo. In a post on X, Gandhi said, "The I&B Ministry's attempt to block 'Jana Nayagan' is an attack on Tamil culture." "Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha ...

Congress slams Modi govt, says VB-G RAM G Act benefits corporates

The Congress party had announced a nationwide 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' from January 10 to February 25, opposing the Act

Congress accuses LDF govt of 'misusing' public money for political campaign

Opposition Congress on Sunday accused the CPI(M)-led state government of carrying out political activities by "misusing" money from the state exchequer under the pretext of seeking public opinion on development issues. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, alleged that the government was spending crores of rupees on the propaganda using party volunteers keeping an eye on the upcoming assembly polls. He warned the government of legal and political action if the said exercise was not withdrawn. "The Kerala government is carrying out election-related activities by spending crores of rupees under the pretext of seeking public opinion on development issues," Satheesan alleged. By spending money from the state exchequer, party members are being made volunteers and sent for a door-to-door campaign with pamphlets highlighting the government's "achievements," he further alleged. "We have no objection to them carrying out election activities using their party machinery. But

Air quality 'nationwide crisis', govt response ineffective: Congress

The Congress on Sunday cited a report to claim that air quality is a nation-wide, structural crisis for which the government response is "exceedingly ineffective and inadequate", as it demanded a thorough reform of the National Clear Air Programme. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the NCAP propagated as the National Clear Air Programme is actually another type of NCAP - "Notional Clear Air Programme". The former environment minister said a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has now confirmed what was always India's "worst-kept secret that the air quality is a nation-wide, structural crisis for which the government response is exceedingly ineffective and inadequate". Using satellite data, the study found that nearly 44 per cent of Indian cities that is 1,787 out of 4,041 statutory towns assessed have chronic air pollution, with annual PM2.5 levels consistently exceeding the national standard over five years ...

Assam Cong sets up legal panel to track investigation in Zubeen Garg case

The Assam Congress on Saturday announced that it has constituted a committee of advocates to closely monitor the investigation and the judicial proceedings into the death case of singer Zubeen Garg. The opposition party made the decision, which was taken on Thursday, public a day after the state Cabinet approved a five-member team of special public prosecutors (PPs). "Hon'ble President, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Shri Gaurav Gogoi has constituted a committee comprising the following senior Advocates to closely monitor the progress of the investigation and judicial proceedings in the death case of Late Zubeen Garg," the party's general secretary (organisation) Bipul Gogoi said in a statement. The members of the committee are Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury, Ram Prasad Sarmah, Dilip Choudhury, Hamidur Rahman, Hemanta Kalita and Rubi Gogoi. The state government has named Brojendra Mohan Chaudhuri as additional public prosecutor, and Kishor Dutta, Pranjal Dutta and Vikash Jam

Congress launches 45-day nationwide MGNREGA Bachao Sangram campaign

The Congress on Saturday launched its 45-day nationwide campaign -- MGNREGA Bachao Sangram -- against the repeal of the UPA-era rural employment law by holding press conferences at every district. The opposition party's agitation demanding the withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law in its original form, the right to work, and the authority of panchayats, will continue till February 25. Press conferences were held at all district headquarters on Saturday, highlighting the manner in which MGNREGA was repealed and replaced by the VB-G RAM G Act in the Winter Session of Parliament. This will be followed by a day-long fast and symbolic protests at the district headquarters on January 11. "Today, the Indian National Congress is launching the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram with a press conference at each of the District Congress Committee offices across the country. "The Congress is committed to seeing this struggle through until we secure the restorati

Congress claims govt plans to ease curbs on Chinese firms, seeks PM's reply

The Congress on Friday cited a media report to claim that the Modi government is now proposing to lift five-?year-old curbs on Chinese companies bidding for Indian government contracts and claimed that this is "nothing short of a calibrated capitulation" to Chinese aggression. The opposition party also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must explain his government's sudden "U-?turns" on China policy during the forthcoming Budget session of Parliament. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a media report which claimed that India's finance ministry plans to scrap five-year-old restrictions on Chinese firms bidding for government contracts. There was no immediate response from the government on the claims. "Eight months after China gave full military backing (and fronting) to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and was described by Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul R Singh as one of India's 'adversaries', the Modi government is now .

Hug hug na raha: Congress takes dig at PM after US commerce secy's remarks

The Congress on Friday took a Bollywood-tinged swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the trade deal with India did not happen because PM Modi did not call US President Donald Trump. Posting a video of Lutnick's remarks, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Hug hug na raha, post post na raha." In his Bollywood-tinged taunt aimed at Modi, Ramesh added, "Kya se kya ho gaya, bewafa teri dosti mein." While this was a play on the hit number with similar lyrics from the Dev Anand-starrer film 'Guide' (1965), the other was a play on the song 'Dost dost na raha' from the 1964 film "Sangam" by Raj Kapoor. The swipe came after Lutnick said the trade deal with India did not happen because Prime Minister Modi did not call Trump. In an interview with the All-in Podcast on Thursday, Lutnick detailed how the India-US trade deal has not happened till now. "I'll tell you a story about India. I did the first

Congress to launch 'Save MGNREGA Movement' in Assam from Saturday

The Congress will launch its Save MGNREGA Movement' in Assam on Saturday as part of a nationwide agitation against the VB-G RAM G Act, the new rural employment scheme, a party leader said. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Assam Manoj Chauhan said the party will continue its agitation until the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission Gramin Act (VBG RAM G), which has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), is withdrawn. "The new Act has effectively removed the guaranteed employment that workers earlier enjoyed under MGNREGA and is an attempt to snatch away several constitutional rights. In this context, the Congress has intensified its agitation against the move across the country," Chauhan said here on Thursday. As part of the nationwide protest, the Save MGNREGA Movement' will be launched in Assam from January 10 with press conferences at district headquarters, he said. "District Congress ...

Rahul slams BJP's double engine govts, alleges corruption, abuse of power

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday dubbed the BJP 'Bhrast Janata Party' and claimed that its double-engine governments in various states have ruined the lives of the people through corruption, abuse of power and the poison of arrogance. Gandhi cited the murder of Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand, the Unnao rape case in Uttar Pradesh, deaths from drinking contaminated water in Indore, among others, to attack the BJP. Across the country, the Bhrasht' Janata Party's double-engine governments have ruined the lives of the people. Corruption, abuse of power, and the poison of arrogance have spread throughout the BJP's politics, from top to bottom, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a post in Hindi. In their system, the lives of the poor, the helpless, labourers, and the middle class are merely statistics, and a system of extortion is operating in the name of "development", Gandhi alleged. "The brutal murder of Ankita Bhandari in Uttarakhand shook the entire nation but th