Page 82 - Congress

BJP leaders trying to polarise, people shouldn't fall for it: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday claimed that divisive slogans raised by some BJP leaders was an attempt to polarise the society and asserted it should not be allowed. Addressing a rally at Umred in Nagpur ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, Kharge said the BJP leaders have already been trying to divide the society, and raising slogans like 'batenge to katenge' (divided we fall) to further polarise it. "But, there is no unanimity among the Mahayuti leaders on such slogans. Such polarisation shouldn't be allowed," he said. Kharge also said categorising Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr B R Ambedkar to a particular community is not right. The Congress and its leaders laid down their lives for the country's unity, unlike the BJP and RSS which have made "no contribution" to the country, Kharge claimed. "The Maharashtra assembly elections are important as there is a need to defeat the incumbent government which has come to power by theft and intimidatio

Nobody should take Rahul Gandhi seriously, says Union Minister Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said that nobody should take Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seriously, and asserted that people of Maharashtra will repose trust in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the November 20 state assembly elections. The way Rahul Gandhi speaks, nobody takes him seriously.. I think people should not take his remarks seriously, Gadkari said in an interview to PTI. On Gandhi's allegations about PM Modi "suffering from memory loss like US President Joe Biden", Gadkari said the Congress leader speaks irresponsibly. Asked about the challenges faced by the Mahayuti alliance after a dismal show during the Lok Sabha elections, Gadkari said, voters were confused (by the opposition) on a large scale during the Lok Sabha polls. A narrative was created that if we win 400-plus seats, we will amend the Constitution drafted by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the senior BJP leader said. There is no question of changing the Constitution. We will neither do it, nor allow others ..

Cong supported J&K Assembly resolution on statehood for land, jobs: Karra

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Sunday said his party supported the resolution in the assembly in favour of "statehood" with guarantees for land, jobs and natural resources. The Congress leader asserted that after the Supreme Court's verdict on the abrogation of Article 370, the only viable demand left is for "statehood". He strongly backed the recent statement of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Article 370, aimed at countering the BJP's attacks on the grand old party during campaigning. Kharge's remarks reflects the stance of the JKPCC but is rooted in the resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on August 6, 2019, he said. "As far as the Congress is concerned, we made our position clear. After the Supreme Court's verdict on abrogation, the only viable demand left is for statehood. This is because the Supreme Court clearly stated that whatever happened was constitutional as far as Parliament is concerne

Maharashtra Assembly polls: Sharad Pawar's bags checked in Baramati

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar's bags were checked by the poll personnel at Baramati helipad in Maharashtra's Pune district on Sunday morning, according to his associate. Pawar was on way to attend a poll rally in Solapur, the associate said. The model of code of conduct is enforced in the state for the assembly elections scheduled on November 20. "While Pawar saheb was on his way to Karmala poll rally in Solapur, his bags were checked at the Baramati helipad. After the due checking, he boarded the chopper and proceeded for the rally," the associate said. On Saturday, poll authorities checked the bag of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra's Amravati district where he arrived for a poll rally. Later, former state minister and Congress' Teosa MLA Yashomati Thakur questioned the action of the poll authorities and asked why they were not checking bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah or Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The issue of poll officials check

Who is responsible for infiltration across border: Kharge slams BJP

He also hit out at BJP over its leaders questioning the contributions of Congress and said the party had given the country its Constitution and created institutions

Cong govt stable, BJP's attempts to destabilise will fail: HP ministers

PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh said the High Court's decision declared CPS appointments unconstitutional, but the law was valid at the time of the appointments

Cong will expose BJP on Waqf issue, says Karnataka dy CM Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said his party would expose the BJP on the Waqf issue as changes in revenue records favouring the Waqf Board were effected only during the Saffron party's regime. While the BJP is all set to mount pressure on the Congress government by holding a mega protest and a month long march on the Waqf issue, Shivakumar claimed that during its tenure, the BJP regime started changing the revenue records of rights, tenancy and crops in favour of the Waqf Board and many properties also were transferred in the name of that board. The BJP's opposition on the matter was "foolishness" as the government had all the related documents to pin them down, the Deputy CM told reporters. We will expose them," he asserted and added that they came to know such aspects only later. Also, the issue did not get into public domain as everyone was busy with the recent elections. From November 25 to December 25, the BJP will be on protest mode against 'Waqf .

Jharkhand elections to determine future of 'jal-jungle-zameen': Congress

Asserting that the Jharkhand assembly polls will be watershed, the Congress on Saturday said this is an election to determine the future wellbeing and continued flourishing of Jharkhand's "jal-jangal-zameen". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in 2006, the decades-long struggle of India's tribal communities came to an end when the Congress government introduced the historic Forest Rights Act. This act grants Adivasi and forest-dwelling communities a path to assert their rights over their forest land and its produce, he said, adding that it has been a boon for Jharkhand's forest-dwelling communities. "Last year, the non-biological PM Modi introduced the Forest Conservation Amendment Act and undid all of this progress. The new Act undermines the Forest Rights Act of 2006, doing away with provisions for the consent of local communities and other statutory requirements for forest clearance in vast areas," Ramesh said. "The intention, of course, is to

EC seeks BJP, Cong chiefs response on complaints filed against each other

In the wake of the BJP and the Congress lodging complaints against each other with the Election Commission (EC) for poll code violations, the election panel asked the presidents of the two parties on Saturday to comment on the charges levelled against their leaders. The EC wrote separate letters to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J P Nadda and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, asking them to comment on the complaint of the other. The commission exchanged the complaints between the two parties while seeking their responses. The EC has sought formal responses from both the party presidents by 1 pm on Monday (November 18), while reminding them of the commission's earlier advisory to them during the Lok Sabha election to keep star campaigners and leaders under check so that public decorum is not flouted and the model code is followed in its letter and spirit during campaigning. Top leaders of the two parties are campaigning in Jharkhand and Maharashtra for the ongoing Assembly

Kharge slams Modi, Shah for not being let into reserved airport lounge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of delaying helicopters of his and Rahul Gandhi in Jharkhand, and alleged that despite holding cabinet minister rank, the opposition leaders were not given access to reserved airport lounge. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's helicopter, which was supposed to take him from Mahagama in Jharkhand's Godda district after he addressed an election rally there, was grounded for about two hours on Friday, prompting allegations from the Congress that the delay was politically motivated. Prime Minister Modi was stranded at Deoghar airport for nearly two hours on Friday and a 'no-fly zone' was declared in the region's airspace as the PM waited for the issue to be resolved, officials said. "Yesterday, our leader Rahul Gandhi's helicopter was deliberately delayed by two hours as the PM was sitting in his plane. Today, my chopper was delayed by 20 minutes as Union .

Constitution is country's DNA, but a blank book for BJP, RSS: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party considers the Constitution as the country's DNA, while for the ruling BJP and the RSS it is a "blank book". Addressing an election rally here ahead of the November 20 assembly polls, the Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha targeted the BJP, saying nowhere in the Constitution it is written that governments can be toppled by purchasing MLAs as was done in Maharashtra, and Rs 16 lakh crore debt of top businessmen can be waived. "Congress considers the Constitution as the country's DNA, while for the ruling BJP and the RSS it is a blank book," he alleged. His retort came after PM Modi and the BJP recently claimed that the Congress leader was showing a copy of the Constitution with blank pages inside at his campaign rallies. "My sister told me that these days Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking about the same issue that I have been raising. I told him in the Lok Sabha that a caste census should be conducted and the 50 per .

PM off on his foreign jaunt, why is he refusing to visit Manipur: Cong

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress said he is off on his "periodic foreign jaunt" from Saturday where he will attempt to score domestic political points and asked why is he steadfastly refusing to visit the troubled state of Manipur. The Opposition party's dig came as Prime Minister Modi will travel to Brazil to attend the annual G20 Summit and to Nigeria and Guyana as part of a three-nation tour beginning Saturday. "For the next 3 days, we will be spared the non-biological PM's lie-surplus, dignity-deficit election campaign. He is off on his periodic foreign jaunt, where he will attempt to score domestic political points rather than engage in any pretence of statesmanship," said Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh. "But why is Mr Narendra Modi steadfastly refusing to visit the troubled state of Manipur that has been torn apart so tragically since May 2023?" he added. Ramesh said the prime minister's refusal to do so is simply

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'Batenge to katenge': How this slogan is shaking up Maharashtra elections

As the BJP struggles to align its campaign narrative in Maharashtra, the slogan 'batenge to katenge' has revealed underlying tensions within the party and its alliances

'Ensure level playing field': Congress to EC on Rahul's chopper delay

The Congress on Friday complained to the Election Commission against the alleged grounding of party leader Rahul Gandhi's helicopter in poll-bound Jharkhand and sought its urgent intervention in ensuring a level-playing field in poll campaigning. The Congress has alleged that Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's chopper was not allowed to take off due to restrictions leading to his public meetings getting either delayed or cancelled. Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh wrote to the poll panel and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll campaign cannot take precedence over that of others. "There should be a level-playing field in campaigning. The PM's campaign cannot take precedence over that of all others. Today Rahul Gandhi got delayed in Jharkhand on this account," Ramesh said in a post on X. In his complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner, the Congress leader sought his urgent intervention, saying a level playing field should b

Rajnath dares Congress to come up with a concrete plan for 'caste census'

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday criticised the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi for their promise to conduct a "caste census," accusing them of using the issue as a ploy to manipulate voters for political gain. Speaking at a rally in Jharkhand's Mahagama, Singh challenged the Congress to come up with a concrete plan for distributing reservation benefits among the numerous castes and sub-castes in the country. "In 2011, a socio-economic caste census was conducted, which revealed the presence of around 46 lakh castes, sub-castes, and gotras. According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, there are about 1,200 Scheduled Castes (SC), over 750 Scheduled Tribes (ST), and around 2,500 Other Backward Classes (OBCs). How will Congress manage the distribution of reservation quotas among all these groups?" Singh asked. He further demanded that Congress present a clear blueprint for implementing such a system. Singh also took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, saying, "He should answer how ma

PM Modi wants to destroy constitution, alleges Rahul at Jharkhand rally

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of seeking to destroy the Constitution which is the "soul of the country". Addressing a poll rally at Jharkhand's Bermo in Bokaro district, Gandhi also alleged that Modi works for the welfare of billionaires and not the poor. "The Constitution is the soul of the country. Prime Minister Modi says it is blank inside. Look at this, it has contents. He says Rahul shows a red book; its content is important and not the colour," he said, displaying a copy of the constitution. The BJP has been accusing the Congress leader of displaying a "fake" copy of the constitution with blank pages at an event in Maharashtra recently. "PM Modi wants to destroy the constitution, but no power can do it," Gandhi said at the rally. He alleged that Modi worked for the welfare of billionaires in the country and privatised institutions, colleges, industries, hospitals and ports. "He handed over the country's wealth to 25 capitalists

INDIA bloc to remove 50% quota cap, BJP-RSS spreading hatred: Rahul Gandhi

At an election rally in Jharkhand's Godda, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said caste census in India is bound to happen

PM serving interests of billionaires at expense of poor: Rahul Gandhi

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused him of serving the interests of billionaires at the expense of India's poor. Addressing an election rally in Jharkhand's Godda district, Gandhi claimed that while the opposition bloc INDIA was fighting to protect the Constitution, the BJP was trying to dump it in the trash bin. "PM Modi says Rahul is flashing red book. Its content is important, not colour. Had you read it, you would not have been spreading hatred and dividing society," Gandhi said. "It is a fight of ideology between the INDIA bloc and BJP-RSS. We are protecting the Constitution and BJP-RSS is trying to dump it in the trash bin. They are spreading violence and trying to divide society on the basis of caste, creed and religion," he alleged. Maintaining that he was not "afraid" of Modi or "his 56-inch chest", Gandhi said, "He is a puppet of billionaires." He accused the PM of giving lessons to people during the day while enjoying t

Buch scandal not just insider trading, it is conflict of interest: Rahul

Stepping up his attack on SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that India's economic framework is being hollowed out from within by a "cartel of corporate giants", enabled by those meant to guard the country's interests. The former Congress chief said "the Madhubi Buch scandal" isn't just insider trading but is a revealing case of direct conflict of interest, where powerful regulators are entangled with the very corporations they're supposed to oversee. Gandhi made the remarks in his post that accompanied a YouTube video, part of a series featuring him and Congress' media and publicity head Pawan Khera, in which the two leaders discuss various conflicts of interest allegations against Buch. There was no immediate reaction from Buch, who is facing conflict of interest allegations, on the video and the charges. However, previously the SEBI chief has dismissed allegations of any wrongdoing. In his post Gandhi said, .