Page 91 - Congress

Mahayuti obstructed FRA implementation, denying Adivasis of benefits: Cong

The Congress on Thursday alleged that the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra obstructed the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, depriving millions of tribals of its benefits, and asserted that the law's implementation was the key priority of the Adivasi Sankalp announced by Rahul Gandhi earlier this year. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Manmohan Singh-led government in 2006 passed the revolutionary Forest Rights Act (FRA), which granted Adivasi and forest-dwelling individuals and communities legal rights to manage their own forests, and economically benefit from the forest produce they collect. The FRA provides for both individual and community rights, he said, pointing out that Menda Lekha in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district in April 2011 became the first community to secure forest rights privileges, with the gram sabha getting control over the use of bamboo, he said in a post on X. "The BJP and the Mahayuti have, however, obstructed

Staying together not their nature: Zeeshan Siddique attacks Sena (UBT)

Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique has criticised the decision of the Shiv Sena (UBT) to field a candidate in his constituency for the upcoming Maharashtra polls, saying staying together was never in their nature. The legislator has been suspended from Congress for cross-voting in the recent legislative council elections. Congress, Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) are constituents of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Even though his father Baba Siddique, who was shot dead in Bandra earlier this month, had crossed over from Congress to the NCP earlier this year, Zeeshan is yet to make his political move clear. Heard old friends have announced their candidate from Bandra East. Staying together was never in their nature. Have a relationship with only those who give you respect, Zeeshan wrote on X. He added that people would now take a decision. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) on Wednesday evening released its first list of 65 candidates for the assembly elections, .

Victory of dynastic politics: BJP on Priyanka Gandhi's Wayanad nomination

The BJP on Thursday launched a vitriolic attack on the Gandhi family, saying Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's nomination from Wayanad was a victory of dynastic politics and defeat of merit. Addressing a press conference here at the BJP headquarters, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also alleged discrepancies in declaration of assets in Priyanaka Gandhi's poll affidavit and accused the Gandhi family of "insulting" Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit, by not allowing him to join the filing of nomination inside the collector's office. "It's a victory of corruption of Gandhi family and dynastic politics and defeat of merit," he said slamming the Congress over nomination of Priyanka Gandhi from the Wayanad seat in Kerala. Bhatia claimed the assets declared by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in her poll affidavit are way below the assets she and her husband Robert Vadra possess. "Assets of Robert Vadra declared in the poll affidavit are lower than the Income Tax Department's demand.... T

Sebi Chair Madhabi Puri Buch's meeting with Parliament committee postponed

Madhabi Puri Buch and three to four senior Sebi officials are likely to be questioned by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee

Immediate restoration of full statehood to J-K imperative: Chidambaram

A day after Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha held a security review meeting, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday said people have elected a chief minister and government to look after their security but the CM has no authority. Chidambaram also asserted that the immediate restoration of full statehood to J-K is imperative. In a post on X, the former home minister said the photograph of the LG of Jammu and Kashmir presiding over a meeting to review the law and order situation in J-K is telling. "The elected chief minister is not present. Whether he was invited or not, I do not know. Under the law applicable to J&K, police and public order are subjects reserved for the LG," Chidambaram said. The people have elected a chief minister and government to look after their security, among other things, but the chief minister has no authority, he said. This is why J-K is described as half a state, Chidambaram added. The immediate restoration of full statehood to J-K is ...

Congress releases list of 7 candidates for Rajasthan Assembly bypolls

Voting for Rajasthan by-polls will be held on November 13 and counting of votes will take place on November 23

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Priyanka Gandhi declares assets worth Rs 12 cr, husband holds over Rs 65 cr

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who on Wednesday made her electoral debut by filing a nomination as a Congress candidate for Wayanad Lok Sabha bypolls, has declared assets worth over Rs 12 crore. In her nomination paper, Priyanka also declared a total income of over Rs 46.39 lakh in the financial year 2023-2024 which includes rental income and interest from banks and other investments. Giving details of her assets and liabilities in the affidavit filed along with her nomination papers, Priyanka said she has movable assets of over Rs 4.24 crore that include deposits of varying amounts in three bank accounts, investments in mutual funds, PPF, a Honda CRV car gifted by her husband Robert Vadra, and over 4400 grams (gross) of gold worth Rs 1.15 crore. Her immovable assets are worth over Rs 7.74 crore, which includes two inherited half shares of agricultural land in Mehrauli area of New Delhi and a half share in a farmhouse building located therein, all of which together are

Centre must take people into confidence on China border row: Congress

Days after India and China firmed up an agreement on patrolling by their militaries along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, the Congress on Wednesday said it expects that the disengagement will restore the status quo ante as it existed in March 2020 and asked the government to take the people of India into confidence on the matter. The opposition party's assertion comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping's bilateral talks on the margins of the BRICS summit in Russia. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said many questions remain about the Modi government's announcement that an agreement has been reached with China on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "The Foreign Secretary has said that this is 'leading to disengagement and eventually a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020'. We hope that India's worst foreign policy setback in decades is being honourably resolved," he

Priyanka Gandhi to debut with Wayanad LS bypoll nomination; hold roadshow

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will mark her electoral debut by filing her nomination papers on Wednesday for the upcoming Lok Sabha bypoll in Wayanad. Priyanka arrived in the hill district on Tuesday night along with her mother, Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, reached the district subsequently. They will be accompanying Priyanka when she files her nomination papers before the District Collector. Besides them, chief ministers of Congress-ruled states and senior AICC leaders will also be present as a show of support to Priyanka. Priyanka, along with her brother Rahul Gandhi, will hold a roadshow at 11 AM in Kalpetta here before filing her nomination. At 11.45 AM, after the roadshow, there will be a public address by her and thereafter, she will file her nomination, according to her itinerary. She is pitted against LDF's Sathyan Mokeri and BJP's Navya Haridas. The

Almost 99% work on MVA's seat-sharing completed, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said 99 per cent of work on the Maha Vikas Aghadi's seat-sharing arrangement has been completed and leaders of the three alliance parties are expected to announce the formula later in the day. Talking to reporters, Raut also indicated his party could contest 100 seats. Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are scheduled on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23. Top leaders of the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance met here late Tuesday night with indications that the seat-sharing arrangement for the assembly elections has been finalised. The MVA comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP). After the talks, especially those between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, hit a roadblock, senior state Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat first met NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday and then Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Later, Thorat and other leaders of the MVA again sat together

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Can't imagine better representative for Wayanad than Priyanka: Rahul

A day before Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra files nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he cannot imagine a better representative for the constituency than his sister. Vadra will file her nomination on Wednesday. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi would be present during the filing of papers. "The people of Wayanad hold a special place in my heart, and I can't imagine a better representative for them than my sister, Priyanka Gandhi," Rahul Gandhi said in a post in X on Tuesday. "I'm confident she will be a passionate champion of Wayanad's needs and a powerful voice in Parliament," he added. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi will also lead a roadshow from Kalpetta New Bus Stand at 11 AM before filing her nomination before the district collector at 12 noon. Urging people to join them, Gandhi said, "Together, let's ensure Wayanad continues to be represented with love." Vadra, who has been the .

Babita wanted to be WFI chief, exploited wrestlers' protest: Sakshi Malik

Wrestler Sakshi Malik claims not Congress but two BJP leaders helped wrestlers secure permission to protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Haryana

Karnataka by-polls: Cong may announce candidates today, says Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the ruling Congress has made all necessary preparations for the November 13 Assembly by-polls in three segments in the state, and the candidates are likely to be announced later in the day. He said, while it has been decided to give Sandur ticket to Bellary MP E Tukaram's wife Annapurna, candidates for Shiggaon and Channapatna segments will be decided by the party. The last date for filing nominations is October 25, and the final date for withdrawal of papers is October 30. By-polls for Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna are necessitated, as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives -- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) -- to Lok Sabha in May elections. "We have made all the preparations (for bypolls), probably candidates may be announced today. The Sandur candidate has been decided, we will give the ticket to Tukaram's wife.

Nomination process for second phase of Jharkhand Assembly polls begin

The nomination process for 38 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where elections will be held on November 20 commenced on Tuesday with the issuance of the notification for the second phase of polls in the state. The nomination process will continue until October 29, with submissions accepted from 11 am to 3 pm. Jharkhand Assembly elections will be held in two phases - November 13 and 20, with counting scheduled for November 23. "The nomination process of 38 assembly constituencies going to polls in the second phase on November 20 began today," an election official said. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 30 and candidates can withdraw their names by November 1, he said. In the second phase, the constituencies going to polls under the general category are Rajmahal, Pakur, Nala, Jamtara, Jarmundi, Madhupur, Sarath, Poreyahat, Godda, Mahagama, Ramgarh, Mandu, Dhanwar, Bagodar, Gandey, Giridih, Dumri, Gomia, Bermo, Bokaro, Sindri, Nirsa, Dhanbad, Jharia, Tundi, Baghm

Jharkhand Assembly polls: Congress releases list of 21 candidates

Voting in Jharkhand will be held in two phases - November 13 and 20, and counting is scheduled on November 23

INDIA bloc struggling to finalise seat sharing agreement for upcoming polls

On Monday, the Congress indicated that it could opt out of contesting on the nine Assembly seats in UP that are scheduled for voting on November 13

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Congress' CEC meets to finalise candidates for Maharashtra elections

The Congress' Central Election Committee met here on Monday to finalise candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary (In-charge, Organisation) K C Venugopal, among others, attended the meeting at the AICC headquarters. The CEC meeting for Maharashtra was to take place Sunday evening but was postponed with party leaders citing various reasons including Karwa Chauth and holding of meeting for Jharkhand polls as well on the same day. Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the Maha Vikas Aghadi -- comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) -- has reached consensus on 210 of the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra, which is a "significant achievement". The aim is to ensure the defeat of forces looting Maharashtra, he said in a swipe at the ruling alliance comprising Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, the BJP a