Page 86 - Congress

Ladli Bahna aid to go up to Rs 5,000: MP CM; Cong says poll code violation

The monthly financial assistance being given to eligible women in Madhya Pradesh under the Ladli Bahna Yojana will gradually go up to Rs 5,000, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Saturday. The state government currently transfers Rs 1,250 per month to bank accounts of women beneficiaries of this scheme, launched ahead of last year's assembly elections. Reacting to the CM's announcement, the Congress termed it a corrupt practice and a gross violation of the model code in force for the upcoming bypolls for two assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh. "Sisters, did anyone ever deposit money in your account? Ask this to the Congress people. You (Congress) used to loot and snatch from people," Yadav said while addressing a rally in the Budhni assembly seat, where a bypoll will be held on November 13. He said the Congress had alleged that the monthly cash transfer scheme was launched by then CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the elections and it would be discontinued. "You (Congress) keep making no

Had Congress prioritised rural India, we would have less poverty: Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday accused the Congress of not prioritising rural India, saying had that been the case, farmers would not be dying by suicide and there would have been less poverty in villages. Addressing a rally at Arvi in Wardha district ahead of the November 20 assembly polls, Gadkari said the BJP is neither a party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor himself but the workers who dedicated their lives to it. He also hailed the contribution of party workers in his political journey. The Nagpur MP recalled his days as a party worker when he would visit the neighbouring Wardha district, in the state's Vidarbha region, on a scooter with a third pillion rider. The region elects 62 of Maharashtra's 288 MLAs. In 75 years of India's history, the Congress never gave priority to the development of the country's rural side. There were no roads in villages or drinking water. Congress never seriously thought of the development of rural India. Had the rural India got ...

PM Modi using 'divisive language', Maharashtra will not tolerate it: Patole

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Nana Patole on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using "divisive language" during his campaign speeches for the Maharashtra polls. The PM, who addressed rallies in Dhule and Nashik on Friday and in Akola and Nanded during the day, accused the Congress of working against the unity of Dalits, tribals and backward classes in a bid to regain power and asked people to follow the mantra of "ek hai to safe hai" (safety in unity). Hitting back, Patole said Maharashtra is a state that celebrates the legacy of social reformers like Mahatma Phule and legendary warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "Slogans like 'ek hai to safe hai' fosters divisions among people rather than addressing their issues. Maharashtra will not tolerate such divisive language. The PM should offer solutions to farmers in distress instead," Patole said. He was addressing a rally in support of Congress' Jalna candidate Kailash Gorantyal. Speaking in Akola, the PM said the .

Maha Cong assured Muslim body of 10% reservation, ban on RSS, claims BJP

The BJP on Saturday claimed that the Maharashtra unit of Congress has assured a Muslim body that it will take steps to fulfil its demands including a 10 per cent quota for the minority community in jobs and education and a ban on the RSS if Maha Vikas Aghadi is voted to power in the state assembly polls. Addressing a press conference here at the BJP headquarters, senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the All India Ulama Board (AIUB) has written to Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders offering its conditional support in the assembly elections. In its letter, the organisation has said that if Nana Patole (Congress), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT), Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) and other parties want their support they will have to fulfil their demands which include opposition to Waqf Bill, 10 per cent reservation to Muslims in jobs and education..., he claimed. It has also demanded a ban on the RSS if the MVA is voted to power in Maharashtra, Prasad claimed, terming the organisation'

BJP copying Cong's guarantee schemes for election 'jumla', says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused the BJP of copying his party's guarantee schemes and making similar announcements in poll-bound states as part of its election "jumla" (rhetoric). Hitting out at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he strongly defended the Karnataka Congress government's guarantee schemes, and said his party implements the promises made as it always works for the welfare of the people. "I have responded to them in detail in Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Even now, I ask them to study our Karnataka (state) budget. About Rs 52,000 crore has been allocated for the five guarantee schemes in the budget, 47 per cent of which has already been spent... probably they have not seen the budget," Kharge claimed, while responding to a question on BJP leaders and Modi targeting state's guarantee schemes during their election campaign. Without any proper budget (allocation), the BJP has now made several announcements, he said, adding, "taking clues from .

BJP-RSS dividing people, INDIA bloc stands for love: Rahul at J'khand rally

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre, saying its tax structure is designed to "loot the poor". "Indian tax structure is to loot the poor. Adani pays taxes equivalent to you. Dharavi land, worth Rs 1 lakh-crore, is being handed over to him," Gandhi alleged while addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Dhanbad. He also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging, "PM Modi travels in seaplanes, goes inside the sea, but the poor and women bear the brunt of price rise." Gandhi further alleged that Scheduled Tribes (STs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) constitute 90 per cent of India's population, but they are not represented in government institutions. "We will give to the poor funds equivalent to debt of capitalists waived by PM Modi," said Gandhi.

Cong losing support due to unity of SCs, STs, Dalits, Adivasis: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Congress has been losing its support base over the years due to the unity of SCs, STs, Dalits and Adivasis. Congress people are showing a red book labelled 'Constitution of India' with blank pages inside, Modi said, addressing an election rally at Nanded in Maharashtra. Why are the Congress people so much in love with Article 370, Modi asked, referring to the demand by the opposition party to restore Article 370 in Kashmir. The red book titled Constitution of India contained blank pages and is a testament to the Congress' disregard and hatred for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, he said. The entire country is in shock over this foolish and unfortunate political play of Congress, he said. Today there is a wave in support of BJP and Mahayuti across Maharashtra, Modi said. Today, there is only one slogan on everyone's lips: BJP-Mahayuti ahe, tar gati ahe. Maharashtraachi pragati ahe (Only BJP-Mahayuti will ensure Maharashtra's speedy progress,

Caste census, removing 50% quota cap central to vision for country: Cong

The Congress on Saturday asserted that a nationwide caste survey and the lifting of the Supreme Court's "arbitrary ceiling" of 50 per cent on reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes are central to its vision for the country. Congress general secretary in-charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X that the party's government in Telangana will begin its caste survey on Saturday. He said 80,000 enumerators will be going door to door over the next few weeks, covering over 1.17 crore households across 33 districts. This is the first time a caste-based survey is being conducted by the government in Telangana since 1931, Ramesh said. "It is a historic, revolutionary moment -- one that is a realisation of the Telangana Movement's aspirations for the state and a fulfillment of one of the key ideals of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution," the Congress general secretary said. It is also, as Rahul Gandhi noted in Hyderabad earlier this

Cash-for-jobs scam: Goa CM must clarify on filling vacancies, says Cong

In light of the arrests in the cash-for-government-jobs scam, Goa Congress on Saturday demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarify if vacancies will be filled through the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) or individual departments. Addressing a press conference, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Patkar said the party will petition Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai on Monday over the job scam. Goa police have arrested at least six people for allegedly cheating people with promises of government jobs. The scam was exposed following a series of cases registered at police stations. Patkar said the state government should clarify if vacancies will be filled through the staff selection commission or by individual departments. He demanded that the government issue a white paper on the availability of jobs and said vacancies must be filled through SSC to curb such scams. The Congress leader said a high-level commission should be constituted to probe the issue. He claimed t

INDIA alliance will bring changes in Maharashtra with 5 guarantees: Rahul

Rahul Gandhi in an attack on the BJP-led NDA alliance said that they are levelling false allegations against Congress

MLA Tingre denies sending legal notice to Sharad Pawar as claimed by Sule

Baramati MP Supriya Sule has claimed that MLA Sunil Tingre of the ruling NCP has sent a legal notice to her father and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, asking him not to defame him in the Pune Porsche car hit-and-run case. Sule, who is the working president of NCP (SP), was speaking on Friday at a rally in support of party candidate Bapu Pathare contesting the November 20 assembly election from the Vadgaon Sheri constituency in Pune. Without taking the name of Tingre, Sule said, "The person whom the party had given the ticket last time has now sent a notice that he will drag Sharad Pawar to court if he was defamed in the Porsche car case." "But Sharad Pawar is not even afraid of the Enforcement Directorate's notice. So do you think he will be afraid of your notice?" Sule asked. Talking to reporters later, she said Tingre had sent a notice to Pawar through his lawyers. "We will look into the notice," she added. Tingre, who is contesting the assembly from Vadgaon Sheri as the candidate

Congress-ruled states ATM of party's 'shahi parivar', says PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that wherever a Congress government is formed, that state becomes the ATM (Automated Teller Machine) of the party's shashi parivar'. We won't let Maharashtra become the ATM of Congress, Modi said, addressing a campaign rally in Akola for the November 20 state assembly elections. I challenge the shahi parivar of Congress to prove if they ever visited Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's panchteerth, Modi said. Modi has coined the term panchteerth to denote Amedbkar birthplace in Mhow, the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK, Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism, his Mahaparinirvan Sthal' in Delhi, and Chaitya Bhoomi' in Mumbai. People of Haryana foiled the conspiracy of Congress by following the Ek hai to safe hai' (we are safe if we are united) mantra, Modi said. The Congress knows that it will be strengthened only if the country is weakened. The policy of that party is to pit one caste against the other, he ...

Cong-ruled states' CMs counter BJP's charge of non-fulfilment of promises

The chief ministers of Congress-ruled Telangana and Himachal Pradesh and the deputy CM of Karnataka on Saturday vehemently countered the BJP's allegation that poll-related promises were not being fulfilled in their states. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, his Himachal Pradesh counterpart Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar held a press conference in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra where assembly elections will be held on November 20. Shivakumar said, "Mahayuti leaders should visit my state to see how Congress' welfare guarantees are benefiting people." Telangana CM Reddy said, "In 10 months, our government gave 50,000 jobs to the youth in the state." The BJP does not have any success story to boast of in Maharashtra, he said. He alleged that big ticket investment projects were being transferred from Maharashtra to Gujarat. Sukhu said his government's decision to implement the old pension scheme has benefited people immensely. "People of ...

Telangana govt to begin caste survey today, to cover 11.7 mn households

This is the first time a caste-based survey is being conducted by the government in Telangana since 1931

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MVA will be wiped out in Maharashtra as Cong was defeated in Haryana: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will be wiped out in Maharashtra in the assembly elections the same way the Congress faced a defeat in Haryana. He also said that while Uddhav Thackeray wants his son (Aaditya Thackeray) to become the chief minister of Maharashtra and Sharad Pawar wishes the same for his daughter (Supriya Sule), there are a number of leaders in the Congress who are vying for the post. Shah was addressing an election rally at Shirala in Sangli district to garner support for BJP candidates from Shirala and Islampur constituencies ahead of the November 20 assembly polls. "If MVA comes to power in Maharashtra by mistake, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray wants to make his son the chief minister, (Sharad) Pawar saheb wants the post for his daughter and there are a dozen leaders in the Congress who have already stitched clothes to become the CM," Shah said. The former BJP president said those who wish to make their .

Cong prioritises vote bank over development, divides communities: Rijuju

Union Minister Kiren Rijuju on Friday claimed that the Congress has prioritised its vote bank over true development, urging the people of Maharashtra to remain cautious about the party's "misleading tactics" ahead of the state assembly elections. Addressing the media here, the BJP leader accused the Congress of dividing communities for votes. "The Congress has a long-standing policy of dividing communities to secure votes, which has only harmed the unity and progress of our nation. They continue to think of some communities as their assured vote banks while creating divisions elsewhere, but this illusion will soon break when people realise the party's intentions," Rijuju said. The Union minister for minority affairs claimed the party prioritised its vote bank over development works. He said the world respects India because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "Earlier, Indians did not get the same respect abroad, but Modi's governance has elevated the country's image ...

Wayanad bypolls: EC seizes food kits with Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi's photos

The by-election for the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency is scheduled for November 13

People of Maharashtra will give BJP a befitting reply: Kharge to Fadnavis

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday slammed the BJP over its leader Devendra Fadnavis' remarks on Rahul Gandhi showing a 'red-covered' copy of the Constitution, and said the people of Maharashtra and the country will give a befitting reply to the "anti-Constitution and anti-reservation" BJP. His remarks came after Fadnavis asked what message Rahul Gandhi wanted to give by showing a red-covered copy of the Constitution of India. Fadnavis also accused the Congress leader of building a coalition of anarchists. In a post on Hindi on X, Kharge asked why has the BJP started "hating" the Constitution of India so much. "We are asking this question not only to the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Chief Minister of Assam, but also to Modi Ji, who had to bow down to the Constitution in Parliament after the Lok Sabha elections," Kharge said. By repeatedly linking the Constitution with Naxalism, do the BJP/RSS leaders want to bring their defeated agenda of implementing .

Cong asks PM why Gujarat's white onion farmers get preferential treatment

The Congress on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking why Gujarat's white onion farmers were given preferential treatment over Maharashtra's onion farmers, and why has the BJP "diluted" Adivasis' forest rights in Maharashtra. Ahead of Prime Minister Modi's rallies in Dhule and Nashik, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh posed questions to him. "Why were Gujarat's white onion farmers given preferential treatment over Maharashtra's onion farmers," he asked. Since December 2023, onion farmers in Maharashtra have been reeling from the Modi government's restrictions on onion exports, he said. During the cultivation season, the state suffered from unsatisfactory rainfall and water crises, and most farmers were only able to produce 50 per cent of their usual crop, he pointed out. "When the onions were finally harvested, farmers were hit with the arbitrary export ban which led to devastatingly low sale prices. As a result, farmers racked up ...