Page 84 - Congress

Cong asks if PM views caste census as divisive, seeks quota ceiling lift

The Congress on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi with questions on Bihar, asking whether he thinks that a caste census is divisive and will he take decisive steps to remove the "arbitrary" 50 per cent ceiling on reservations for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and OBCs. Ahead of the prime minister's engagements in Bihar, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said he has four questions for the PM as he visits Darbhanga. Why was AIIMS Darbhanga so delayed, Ramesh asked. "The AIIMS in Darbhanga was announced by then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget for 2015-2016. Locals have been waiting for the hospital since then, but it took nine years for work to even begin," Ramesh said in his post on X. It appears that the delay was partly due to the Union Government's insistence on seeking political credit for it, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's machinations to ensure he benefitted from it, Ramesh alleged. "Will the non-biologic

Wayanad bypoll: Let's build a better future together, says Priyanka Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is making her electoral debut from Wayanad, urged voters on Wednesday to cast their ballot and called for building a better future together. Voting in the bypoll for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat commenced at 7 am on Wednesday. "My dearest sisters and brothers, Please vote today, it's your day, a day for you to make your choice and exercise the greatest power our constitution has given you. Let's build a better future together!" Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X. The Wayanad constituency comprises seven Assembly segments of Mananthavady (ST), Sulthan Bathery (ST), and Kalpetta in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district; and Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor in Malappuram district. A bypoll was necessitated in the hill constituency after Rahul Gandhi, who won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in the general elections held earlier this year, vacated it after he also won from the Rae Bareli constituency. There are 16 candidates i

Stage set for polling in Jharkhand, Wayanad & 33 bypolls across 11 states

Polling for the first phase of Jharkhand's assembly elections, the Wayanad parliamentary seat in Kerala, and bypolls in 33 assembly seats across 11 states is set to begin on Wednesday morning.

Congress promises caste-based census, free power in J'khand poll manifesto

The Congress on Tuesday released its manifesto for the Jharkhand assembly elections promising 250 units of free electricity, caste-based census and filling up of all vacant government posts within a year. The manifesto, unveiled by party manifesto committee chairman Bandhu Tirkey, focused on seven promises including the 1932 Khatiyan-based domicile policy and implementation of Sarna religious code of the tribals. The manifesto was released a day before the first phase of polling for 43 of the total 81 seats of the state. The manifesto promises free electricity up to 250 units to poor as against 200 units at present. We will fill up all vacant government posts in a year, Tirkey said. He said, Keeping in mind the interests of the tribals in Jharkhand, the Manifesto Committee held a Chaupal in every district and interacted with the public. We made every effort to ensure that our manifesto is for the common people.

News updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana from Nov 16-21

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All set for Rajasthan Assembly bypolls, BJP looks to overcome LS setback

The stage is set for by-elections on seven assembly seats in Rajasthan on Wednesday, which will have no bearing on the health of the BJP government but are a crucial test for the party and its leaders as they look to leave behind the disappointing Lok Sabha poll performance in the state. Apart from the BJP and the Congress, Hanuman Beniwal's Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and Rajkumar Rathore's Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) have also fielded candidates as they face the challenge of defending their strongholds. The seven seats going to the poll are: Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Chorasi, Salumber and Ramgarh. Votes will be cast on November 13 and the results will be declared on November 23. As many as 69 candidates -- 10 female and 59 male -- are in the fray in the seven constituencies. A total of 1,915 polling booths have been set up. Of the seven seats, four were held by the Congress, and one each by the BJP, Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Part

'Modi ki Guarantee' fell flat on June 4, J'khand people will end rest: Cong

The Congress on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the promises made by him for Jharkhand, saying the 'Modi ki Guarantee' campaign fell flat when Lok Sabha polls results came out and the people of Jharkhand will finish whatever is left of it as well on November 13 and 20 Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh listed some of the promises made by the PM and also the current status of the projects. "Medical College in Koderma: The college was supposed to be built on --70 acres of land and offer 100 MBBS seats. The non-biological PM laid its foundation stone six years ago, in 2018, and then promised to complete the project again in 2019. It is yet to materialize," he said. Ramesh pointed out that during his campaign for Jharkhand's 2014 assembly elections, Modi had promised a range of industrial and educational projects, including a premier IT institution and several engineering colleges. However, only two institutions were ever established, .

Will hang corrupt J'khand leaders upside down, stop coal smuggling: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday slammed the JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand for alleged corruption and coal smuggling and urged voters to strengthen BJP's hands so that corrupt leaders are hanged upside down. He also announced that the BJP will identify and drive out every infiltrator from the state. Coal smuggling will be stopped in Jharkhand if the BJP comes to power...traders need not fear now, Shah said at a BJP rally in the coal belt of Jharia. He also alleged that "corrupt" Jharkhand leaders who "looted public money will not be spared after the BJP forms the government" in the state. "We will hang the corrupt leader upside down to straighten them," he claimed. Shah claimed, Hemant babu welcomes infiltrators by rolling out the red carpets for them. We will identify and drive out them if the BJP is voted to power in Jharkhand. Shah alleged that infiltrators were marrying tribal women and grabbing their land. "Your one vote will decide Jharkhand's destiny. It will als

Rahul Gandhi's rally at Chikhli in Maharashtra cancelled amid flight glitch

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's election rally scheduled to be held at Chikhli in Buldhana district of poll-bound Maharashtra was cancelled on Tuesday after his flight from Delhi faced a technical glitch. Gandhi was expected to address the public meeting at Chikhli for Congress candidate Rahul Bondre at 12.30 pm. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha issued a video statement, in which he specified the reason for the cancellation of the rally. "I was supposed to come to Chikhli today, but due to technical glitches in my flight I could not come. I apologise for that. I was supposed to address a public rally and interact with soybean farmers. Soybean and cotton farmers are facing big problems," he said. "I know that the BJP government does not give appropriate prices to soybean and cotton farmers. We will try to find a solution for your problems as soon as the INDIA bloc government comes to power," he added. Party sources said Gandhi's flight could not take off from the Delhi ...

Karnataka CM's position weak, Cong govt's lifespan concluding: LoP Ashoka

Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Tuesday said the position of the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has become weak and the lifespan of the Congress government led by him is coming to an end. The BJP leader said repeated assertions of Siddaramaiah that he would continue as CM suggest that his position is no longer strong, raising questions about the stability of the Government, which assumed power in May last year. "....D K Shivakumar (Deputy CM) is claiming during the Channapatna by-poll campaigning that he will become the Chief Minister. What is the guarantee that the Congress party will be there (in power). Last time also during the JD(S)-Congress coalition government they (Congress) had claimed no one can shake them for five years, but 14 MLAs quit Congress (resulting in the govt collapse)," Ashoka said. Speaking to reporters here, he claimed that Congress MLAs themselves have not got a single paisa for development in the last 17 months. "They have started ...

UPPSC row: Cong slams UP govt over police action against agitating students

The Congress on Tuesday alleged that police in Prayagraj lathi-charged students raising their voice against the "arbitrariness" of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission and claimed that earlier also attempts have been made to suppress the voice of the youth demanding jobs. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said it is unfortunate that "lathi charge" was done on students protesting for their demands in Prayagraj. The students raising their voice against the "arbitrariness" of the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) should be heard carefully, he said in a post in Hindi on X. "This is not the first time that BJP is trying to suppress the voice of youth in this way. Earlier also, attempts have been made to suppress their voice for demanding jobs or protesting against recruitment scams and paper leaks," Ramesh claimed. Understanding these problems of the youth, the Congress party had talked about taking concrete initiatives under the Yuva

'Congress wants civil war in India': Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Kharge

Union Minister Giriraj Singh criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing the opposition party of attempting to incite a civil war in India, fueling unrest and division in the country

MUDA Scam: RTI activist levels fresh allegations against Karnataka CM

Right to Information (RTI) activist Krishna alleged that the wife of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah didn't pay the fee for the deed purchase in Mysuru Urban Development Authority site allotment

What is BJP doing to prevent farmer suicides in Maharashtra, Cong asks PM

The Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday by posing questions to him on Maharashtra, asking what is the BJP doing to prevent farmer suicides in the states. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh posed questions to the PM ahead of his rallies in Chimur and Solapur and asked why has the BJP "diluted" Adivasis' forest rights in Maharashtra. In 2006, the Congress had passed the revolutionary Forest Rights Act (FRA) which granted Adivasis and forest-dwelling communities legal rights to manage their own forests, and economically benefit from forest produce they collect, he pointed out. "The BJP government, however, has obstructed the implementation of the FRA, depriving millions of Adivasis of its benefits. Only 52% (2,06,620 claims) of the 4,01,046 individual claims filed have been granted, and land titles distributed cover only 23.5% (11,769 sq. km) of the 50,045 sq. km eligible for community rights," Ramesh said in his post on X. Why ha

Teach Siddaramaiah lesson by ensuring victory in bypoll: Yediyurappa

Yediyurappa accused the Congress government in the state of indulging in massive corruption

Hindus don't disrespect religious figures: Pramod Krishnam slams Kharge

Acharya Pramod Krishnam, a former Congress leader and Kalki Peethadhishwar, on Monday slammed Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over his recent remarks on CM Yogi Adityanath, and said true Hindus do not disrespect their religious figures. Kharge slammed the Uttar Pradesh chief minister in a poll rally in Nagpur for his 'batenge toh katenge' (if divided, we will be wiped out) slogan, saying these were divisive statements. A day later in a Jharkhand poll rally, he said, "A true Yogi cannot use language like batenge toh katenge'. This language is used by terrorists. Yogi is head of a mutt, wears saffron robes, but believes in mukh me Ram bagal me chhuri' (A wolf in lamb's clothing). Kharge had said that those who truly want a united country should refrain from such statements. Reacting to the Congress president's remarks, Krishnam said, The name Mallikarjun Kharge suggests he is Hindu, but his actions do not reflect that," Krishnam said. The kind of remarks Kharge has been making ...

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Cong complaints against BJP's ad portraying it against SC, ST, OBC quotas

A Congress delegation on Monday took up with the Election Commission eight complaints regarding Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly polls, including a "communal" image posted by the BJP depicting reservations being taken from SCs, STs and OBCs and given to members of a minority community. The opposition party claimed that all the eight complaints raised by it were found "valid" by the poll body. "We raised some serious concerns with the Election Commission. These matters were discussed today. All the eight complaints raised by the Congress were found valid by the Election Commission," Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil, who led the delegation, told reporters outside the EC office here. In his memorandum to the EC on Monday, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh cited the said image posted on the BJP's X handle with the caption -- "Congress-led MVA's game of appeasement is ON... Vote wisely, Maharashtra". "The image in the post falsely depicted an individual ..

Oversees Cong calls for 'peace' in Indo-Canadian community amid clashes

The overseas unit of the Congress party has denounced the recent clashes between Khalistani protesters and devotees at a Hindu temple in the Canadian city of Brampton, calling for "peace" and "harmony" in the Indo-Canadian community. The Indian Overseas Congress, in a press release on Sunday, said that the Indo-Canadian community has gone through a "difficult period" with various attempts made to divide it. The organisation organised a peace meet in Ontario province's Mississauga city on Sunday. We the Indo-Canadians believe strongly in the ideology of peaceful co-existence and denounce the events of last week," the press release said, adding that an attempt was made by "divisive forces" and "miscreants" to create a wedge in the community. It urged people to "strive to maintain peace and harmony in the community for times to come. On November 3, protestors carrying Khalistani flags clashed with devotees at a Hindu Sabha temple and disrupted an event co-organised by the temple ...

Congress trying to break collective strength of SC, ST, OBC: PM Modi

The Congress is trying to break the collective strength of SC, ST and OBC by creating divisions among them to weaken their voice and eventually end the reservation for them, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he called for unity among these communities. That's why I keep saying ek rahenge, toh safe rahenge (if you remain united, you would be safe)," he said while interacting with BJP workers in Jharkhand under the 'mera booth sabse mazboot' programme through the NaMo app. Modi also highlighted the "failures" of the JMM-Congress-RJD combine's five-year rule and said the state has to be freed from corruption, mafiaism and misrule to put it on the path of progress. The kind of blessings that the BJP is receiving at booth levels, it's clear that the corrupt JMM-led government is set to be ousted, Modi asserted.The countdown has begun, he said. Modi said everyone from the royal family of the Congress -- from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi -- were staunch opponents of the .