Page 87 - Congress

Congress slams Jyotiraditya, reminds of 'Scindia rulers' support to British

The Congress on Thursday slammed BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia for his criticism of Rahul Gandhi on his article on "new breed of monopolists" and recalled how the Scindia rulers had "supported" the East India Company during the British period. The Congress' jibe at the Union minister came after Scindia tagged Gandhi's article in the Indian Express on Wednesday and said, "those who sell hatred have no right to lecture on Indian pride and history". "Rahul Gandhi's ignorance about Bharat's rich heritage and his colonial mindset have crossed all limits," Scindia said in a post on X Wednesday. Responding to Scindia's post, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "His Highness Scindia ji, you took Rahul ji's attack on the monopolistic corporation a little too personally. This corporation had looted India by enslaving India by intimidating the Nawabs and Rajas and Princes of India with its hold." According to history, the role of the Scindia family of Gwalior was

BJP slams Cong on J&K Assembly resolution for restoration of special status

The BJP on Thursday came down heavily on the Congress over the passage of a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking restoration of special status, and asked the party leadership if it stands for terrorism. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, senior party leader Smriti Irani also asked if the Congress-led "INDI alliance" stands against the "economic and constitutional interests" of Jammu and Kashmir as well the rights that the tribals, Dalits, OBCs, women and children received after revocation of Article 370. "What they seek is special status for themselves, not the people of Jammu and Kashmir," she said. The BJP is up in arms against the Omar Abdullah government after the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday passed the resolution asking the Centre to hold dialogue with elected representatives for restoration of special status of the erstwhile state. The Congress is not part of the Jammu and Kashmir government despite fighting the polls in ...

Shiv Sena (UBT) manifesto promises free education, to scrap Dharavi project

Shiv Sena (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday unveiled his party's manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly polls, assuring free education for male students, stabilising prices of essential items and scrapping of the Dharavi redevelopment project. Thackeray said most of the poll promises are part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) overall assurances, but there are some points which need special attention. The MVA, which comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP), will also launch its manifesto for the November 20 state assembly polls, he said. Thackeray assured that the way female students in the state were getting free education under a government policy, it will be implemented for male students as well if the MVA comes to power. The MVA will also keep stable the prices of essential commodities, he said. On the Dharavi redevelopment project, the former chief minister said it will be scrapped as the project will have ramifications on Mumbai. Maharas

Maharashtra wants change, MVA working to provide alternative: Sharad Pawar

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said the people of Maharashtra want a change and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will work towards giving them that alternative after the upcoming state assembly polls. Pawar also backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's demand for a caste census in the country. The former Union minister was speaking to reporters at the Nagpur airport ahead of his public meetings here in connection with the November 20 state assembly polls. The MVA comprises the NCP (SP), Congress and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT). Talking about his campaigning, Pawar said, "We feel that the people of Maharashtra want a change and we need to work towards giving them confidence. And working towards that, me and all my associates are reaching out to the people across Maharashtra from today." Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to Nagpur on Wednesday, said a caste-based census will happen and that his party will also "break the wall of 50 per cent" reservation limit. Asked

Congress in a steady state of decline; BJP set to win Maharashtra: Scindia

The Congress is in a steady state of decline because of its disconnect with the public and vision of India, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday, predicting a big win for the BJP in the ensuing assembly elections in Maharashtra. Scindia, who hits the campaign trail in Maharashtra this week, in a video and text interview with PTI, said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to win the hearts of people again in the state. "I believe that the Congress Party is in a very steady state of decline. I think that is because of three things. I think the Congress Party has lost its connect in terms of leadership, and public, and I believe that the Congress Party has also lost its connect with regard to a vision of India. When you lose all those three attributes, then you have lost the trust of the people," he said. Scindia, the Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region, expressed confidence in the BJP returning to power in the state where ...

Mallikarjun Kharge dissolves PCC in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday dissolved the entire Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) unit in Himachal Pradesh along with the district and block units with immediate effect. The move is seen as part of the Congress' plan to restructure the Himachal unit of the party. There has been no change in the PCC ever since the Congress formed its government in the hill state. Outgoing president of Himachal Pradesh Congress Pratibha Singh has already become a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest decision-making body of the party. Singh, who is wife of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, was appointed as state Congress chief in 2022. "Congress president has approved the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit of the PCC, district presidents and Block Congress Committees of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect," an official communication from AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said. The Himachal Congress is plagued by ...

INDIA bloc promises 1 mn jobs, Rs 15 lakh health cover for poor in J'khand

The INDIA bloc on Tuesday unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections, promising 10 lakh jobs for youth and health insurance coverage of up to Rs 15 lakh for the poor. The '7 guarantees', the election manifesto of the INDIA bloc, includes social justice by enhancing reservations for STs to 28 per cent, SCs to 12 per cent and OBCs to 27 per cent from 26 per cent, 10 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively. "INDIA bloc will ensure 10 lakh jobs for youth and Rs 15 lakh health cover for the poor," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said while jointly releasing the manifesto with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and RJD's JP Yadav. Kharge said, "Whenever we talk about any guarantees, Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately criticises it... PM Modi came here and during his speech, he mentioned my name and said that there is no reliability of Congress's guarantees... Congress fulfills all its guarantees but Modi's guarantees never get fulfilled." INDIA blo

Like UP, bring BJP to power in Jharkhand to 'bulldoze' mafia: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accused the JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand of "patronising" mafia and urged people to vote for BJP which would "bulldoze" them. Adityanath also claimed that such actions were being taken against the mafia in his home state Uttar Pradesh. He also claimed that it is the BJP that can "guarantee security and safety" to people. "The JMM-led coalition is patronising mafia in sectors, such as land, sand, forest, mining, and liquor, in Jharkhand...Like UP, bring the BJP to power in Jharkhand to bulldoze mafia," he claimed while addressing an election rally in Koderma. Adityanath also alleged, "Like Aurangzeb looted the country's wealth and destroyed temples, the JMM-led coalition and its ministers, including Alamgir Alam looted Jharkhand's people." He claimed that the BJP is the "only party" that can "guarantee the country's security and pride, women's empowerment and employment to youths". Adityanath accused the Congress of "creati

Haryana Cong forms committee to find out 'malpractices' in Assembly polls

The Haryana Congress on Monday formed an eight-member committee to find out, what the party alleged, "malpractices and manipulations" in the recently held state assembly polls "at the behest" of the ruling BJP, leading to its "dismal performance." The committee was led by former MLA Karan Singh Dalal and it also comprises Nuh MLA Aftab Ahmed, former MLA Jaiveer Singh Valmiki, according to an office order issued by the Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan. "With a view to find out malpractices and manipulation committed in the recently held Haryana assembly election at the behest of BJP government/party/candidate which led to an unsuspected dismal performance of INC, a committee consisting of following is hereby constituted with immediate effect," it said. The committee will collect the relevant details in consultation with all party candidates and other leaders of the party and submit its report to Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee here within a week for "taking further action in the .

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BJP gave 33 of 68 tickets in Jharkhand to political families: Congress

Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Pariwarwaad' remark, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate on Monday claimed that the BJP itself indulged in dynastic politics, and gave out tickets for 33 of the 68 seats it is contesting in Jharkhand assembly elections to those belonging to political families. The BJP is contesting 68 of the 81 assembly seats in the state, leaving the rest for its allies. PM Modi, during an election rally in Garhwa earlier in the day, said that the JMM, Congress and RJD believe in 'Pariwarwaad' (dynastic politics). Addressing reporters here, Shrinate said, "The BJP in Jharkhand has given 33 out of 68 tickets to those who come from political families. For example, former Union minister Arjun Munda's wife, former Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das's daughter-in-law and Champai Soren's son were given tickets. So, the BJP has no right to say anything about 'Pariwarwaad'." She also alleged that the central government is sitting over Jharkhand's Rs

Waqf properties' row: BJP's protest nothing but politics, says Siddaramaiah

Upping the ante following allegations by a section of farmers in certain parts of Karnataka that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, BJP on Monday held a state-wide protest, accusing the ruling Congress government of indulging in "land jihad". The opposition party also demanded the sacking of Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan from the Cabinet. The BJP has decided to go ahead with the protest despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday directing officials that all notices issued to farmers be immediately revoked, and any unauthorised amendments in land records without due notice must also be nullified. There were allegations by a section of farmers from Vijayapura district that their lands were marked as Waqf properties, and similar charges have surfaced from few other places. While BJP state President B Y Vijayendra led the protest in Ballari, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly R Ashoka took part in it at K R Puram here. Similarly, various party leaders have ..

Priyanka slams BJP for 'politicising' landslide disaster in Wayanad

Continuing her criticism of the BJP, Congress leader and UDF candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypolls, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Monday that the saffron party has politicised the landslide that struck this hill district in July, claiming numerous lives and displacing many residents. Kicking off her second day of campaigning, she addressed a corner meeting at Kenichira in the Sulthan Bathery Assembly constituency. "Even a disaster that caused immense pain to people was politicised by the BJP. And this is where we start today. We stand in a place where you must think about your country, your own needs, and the kind of politics you want in our nation," the Congress general secretary remarked. Taking a dig at the saffron party, Priyanka said the BJP's politics, "which is spreading across the country, is characterised by hatred, anger, divisiveness, and destruction." She stated that real issues facing the people are being overlooked, and their problems remain unresolved. She fur

Rajasthan bypolls a test for CM Bhajanlal Sharma led months-old BJP govt

The upcoming Rajasthan Assembly bypolls will be a crucial test for the Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma-led BJP government, which will complete one year in office next month. A month after Sharma assumed office in December last year, the BJP lost the Karanpur assembly seat. In another embarrassment for the party, it lost 11 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the general elections. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, all seats had gone to the BJP. These outcomes put a question mark on the performance of Sharma, a first-time MLA who was picked by the party high command over prominent leaders like Vasundhara Raje, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Diya Kumari and Kirodi Lal Meena. The November 13 bypolls will also be the first test for Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore, who took over the party reins after the Lok Sabha election results were announced in June. The seven seats going to polls in the state are Jhunjhunu, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Chorasi, Salumber and Ramgarh. Of these,

Congress questions PM Modi over promises made to people of Jharkhand

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll campaign in Jharkhand, the Congress on Monday asked him about the promises he has made to the people of the state and said he should fulfil them before seeking a single vote. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed a set of three questions to the PM, reminding him of his promise of setting up the Korba-Lohardaga and Chatra-Gaya railway lines, besides setting of engineering and medical colleges in Jharkhand. Assembly elections in Jharkhand are due in two phases on November 13 and 20, where the BJP is seeking to wrest power from the JMM-Congress combine. "The non-biological PM is in Jharkhand today. Three questions he should answer before seeking a single vote - Where is the Korba-Lohardaga and Chatra-Gaya railway lines," Ramesh asked in a post on X. He said the people of Lohardaga and Chatra have been demanding better rail connectivity for years as it would improve locals' access to education and employment opportunities. "Sadly,

Govt job crisis: Congress poll promise hits caste hurdle in Telangana

Recruitment to Telangana state civil services has turned into political battleground. Aditi Phadnis tracks issue in a state where employment (govt jobs) was a central point during formation

Is Wayanad a cakewalk for Priyanka, or will she face stiff competition?

When devastating landslides struck Wayanad in July, Rahul Gandhi had already vacated this Lok Sabha seat - a move his opponents called a 'betrayal'. Now, with tragedy and unresolved issues as the back

Protecting Constitution is India's primary battle, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday emphasised that the primary struggle in the country today is to protect and preserve the Constitution. He said the Constitution of the country was not written with hatred, but with humility and love. The main fight in the country today, that is taking place, is the fight for the Constitution of our country. The protection that we get, the greatness of our country, all emerged from the Constitution, the Lok Sabha MP said while addressing a corner meeting in Mananthavady here as part of the campaign for his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Priyanka is the Congress candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll. The Constitution was not written with anger or with hatred. It was written by the people who fought the British, the people who had suffered, who spent years and years and years in jail. And they wrote the Constitution with humility, with love and with affection, he said. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha pointed out that this is a figh

Modi govt aims to stay in power by any means: Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad

Wayanad, a Congress bastion is going to see a contest between Congress's Priyanka Gandhi, BJP's Navya Haridas and the Left candidate Sathyan Mokeri in the upcoming bypolls

BJP must explain delay in releasing funds for Jharkhand: Congress

The Congress on Sunday said the BJP must give an account for the delay of releasing Rs 1.36 lakh crore to Jharkhand in the form of pending coal royalties before seeking votes from the people. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed the Centre owes Jharkhand lakhs of crores of rupees in coal royalties and central scheme benefits. In Jharkhand, coal mines are operated by subsidiaries of the Coal India Limited which owe huge sums of money to the state government, he claimed. There is an outstanding of Rs 1,01,142 crore for "non-payment of land compensation", Rs 32,000 crore under "common cause dues" head, and Rs 2,500 crore under "washed coal royalty" head, the Congress leader said. Questioning the Jharkhand unit of the BJP, he asked why it failed to secure funds for the state and why was the prime minister silent. "Why has the non-biological PM failed to release these funds? Is step-motherly treatment being administered to Jharkhand for voting for the JMM-INC alliance? Why