Page 19 - Indian National Congress

Rupee among the world's most stable currencies: BJP counters Cong's claims

The BJP on Monday said the rupee is among the "most stable" currencies in the world and slammed the Congress for painting a "grim picture" of the fall in its value against the US dollar. India's improved external position, reduced current-account deficit and strong foreign exchange reserves have made the rupee one of the most stable currencies globally, BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya said in a post on X. Over the last year, the rupee depreciated by a modest 3.68 per cent, outperforming major currencies like the Japanese Yen and Korean Won, which fell by 9 per cent to 12 per cent during the same period, even as the US Dollar Index surged by 9.8 per cent, Malviya said. "So, the next time someone paints a grim picture of the Indian rupee, remind them of its disastrous performance under the UPA and the remarkable turnaround under the Modi government," he added. The reaction of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader came after the Congress took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Congress selling lies about UGC hiring norms: Education Minister Pradhan

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Monday attacked the Congress, accusing it of "selling lies" about the draft recruitment norms rolled out by the UGC and said the practice of governors appointing university vice-chancellors has been going on even before Independence. The University Grants Commission (UGC) released the draft regulations last week, proposing a major overhaul in the recruitment of assistant professors and vice-chancellors. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had alleged that the UGC draft regulations, 2025, give state governors extensive control over vice-chancellor appointments and allow non-academics to hold these posts and termed it a "direct attack on federalism and state rights". According to the draft regulations, industry experts, as well as senior professionals from public administration, public policy and public sector undertakings, might soon be eligible for appointment as vice-chancellors. The draft norms have also given power to chancellors or .

Cong slams Atishi for crowdfunding, targets Kejriwal for 'avoiding public'

In just six hours after asking for public support, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi raised over Rs 15 lakh for her election campaign through an online portal on Sunday

SC to hear Jairam Ramesh's petition against Election rules change on Jan 15

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh's writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, will come up for hearing in the apex court on Wednesday. The matter will come up for hearing before the bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on January 15, according to the cause list uploaded on the Supreme Court website. The Congress had filed the writ petition in the Supreme Court last month challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and expressed hope that the apex court will help restore the "fast eroding" integrity of the electoral process. The government has tweaked an election rule to prevent public inspection of certain electronic documents such as CCTV camera and webcasting footage as well as video recordings of candidates to prevent their misuse. AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who has filed the petition, had said, "The integrity of the electoral process is fast eroding.

Delhi polls: BJP pacifies 4-time MLA over Kapil Mishra's ticket allocation

BJP's sitting MLA from Karawal Nagar Mohan Singh Bisht objected to the party's decision to replace him with Kapil Mishra and threatened to turn rebel

Rahul Gandhi to address public meeting in Delhi's Seelampur on Jan 13

With the Delhi polls weeks away, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hit the campaign trail on January 13 and address a public meeting in northeast Delhi's Seelampur, the party said on Saturday. Addressing a press conference at the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee office here, AICC Delhi in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin said that Gandhi has emerged as the voice of the people of the country. Wherever there was an issue, Gandhi reached there and raised people's voice, he said. "Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' on Monday at 5.30 pm in northeast Delhi's Seelampur area. A large number of people, Congress party workers and leaders will participate in it," Nizamuddin said. This will be Gandhi's first rally in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already held two programmes in the capital during which he attacked AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and the party's government. The Congress held a month-long 'Delhi Nyay Yatra' in ...

Delhi Assembly polls: Smaller players may become spoilsports for Big Three

Fringe political players in Delhi, such as the BSP and AIMIM, are strategising to eat away the votes of the three main contenders -- the AAP, BJP and Congress -- in the upcoming Delhi assembly polls to spoil their gameplan. The BSP is planing to contest all 70 seats while the AIMIM is fielding candidates on about a dozen of Muslim-dominated seats. The two parties have planned rallies by their chiefs Mayawati (BSP) and Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM). The smaller political players in the national capital are gearing up to mount a strong challenge in the upcoming polls -- promising to address issues "neglected" in the Muslim-majority localities, combating corruption and pledging good governance, among others. One of them is the Bharatiya Liberal Party (BLP), founded recently by US-based doctor Munish Kumar Raizada and others associated with the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement. Raizada said he and Arvind Kejriwal were part of the anti-corruption movement, but has now decided to give

Shiv Sena (UBT) to go alone in local bodies elections, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said his party will contest the upcoming elections to the various local bodies alone. Talking to reporters, the Rajya Sabha MP said the INDIA bloc and Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances were for the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. "In an alliance, workers of individual parties don't get opportunities, and it hampers organisational growth. We will contest polls to the Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and other municipal corporations, zilla parishads and panchayats on our strength," he said. He said party chief Uddhav Thackeray gave the party indications that it should go alone. Hitting out at Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar for indulging in a blame game over the MVA's defeat in the state assembly, Raut said those who don't believe in consensus and compromise have no right to be in an alliance. He further claimed that the INDIA bloc did not hold a single meeting after the Lok Sabha elections. "We were not able to appoint even a convenor for INDIA bloc. I

BJP mulling replacing Bidhuri with woman leader for Kalkaji constituency

Names like Meenakshi Lekhi, Yogita Singh, and Manpreet Kaur Kalka are being considered as potential replacements

Cong unveils 'Pyari Didi' scheme, promises Rs 2,500 a month to Delhi women

The Congress on Monday announced a 'Pyari Didi Yojana', promising a monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to women if voted to power in Delhi. The scheme would be rolled out on the lines of the model adopted by the Congress government in Karnataka. Announcing the scheme, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said it aims to financially empower women, promising that it would be implemented at the first Cabinet meeting of the new government. "Today, I have come here to launch the Pyari Didi Yojana. We are confident that a Congress government will be formed in Delhi, and on the first day of the new Cabinet, we will implement the scheme to provide Rs 2,500 to every woman in the capital," Shivakumar said. Elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly are due in February. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav, the party's Delhi in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin, and other senior leaders were present during the announcement.

After AAP, Congress announces monthly Rs 2,500 aid for Delhi women voters

Congress' DK Shivakumar announced that under the 'Pyari Didi Yojana,' the party will provide Rs 2,500 to women voters if it wins the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections

Pvt sector reluctant to invest in India as no-confidence in govt: Cong

The private sector's reluctance to invest in India is a corporate motion of no-confidence in the Narendra Modi government, the Congress claimed on Monday. The opposition party also urged the government to take measures in the upcoming Union budget to stimulate and sustain domestic investment in the country that, it claimed, was on the decline. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the investment environment in India had been sluggish in the "Modi decade". In a post on X, he said the Gross Fixed Capital Formation had fallen from an average of 32 per cent of GDP during Manmohan Singh's prime ministerial decade to consistently being below 29 per cent of GDP in the past 10 years. "Investment is sluggish because mass consumption is not accelerating, tax and other authorities are threatening and intimidating businesses, and because of the growing perception that only four-five business groups can grow in the Modi regime," he said. "Now comes fresh eviden

Alka Lamba slams Kejriwal over Rs 33 cr renovation expenditure on residence

She further asserted that Kejriwal, who had previously claimed he would not accept any facilities such as a bungalow, car, or security, had reportedly spent the funds on personal luxuries instead

Congress slams BJP for Ramesh Bidhuri's sexist remark on Priyanka Gandhi

Shrinate said that Bidhuri's statement against Congress Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad, was not only shameful but also shows his 'disgusting' mentality towards women

For guaranteed quality education, govts need to spend more: Rahul Gandhi

Quality education cannot be achieved through privatisation and financial incentives, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Saturday, underlining the importance of governments spending more on education and strengthening public institutions. In a conversation with IIT Madras students held sometime back, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha talked on a host of issues including on the changes he would want to initiate to improve the education system. "I believe it is one of the foremost responsibilities of any government to guarantee quality education to its people. This cannot be achieved through privatisation and financial incentives. "We need to spend a lot more money on education and strengthening government institutions," he said in a post on X, while sharing an edited video of his conversation with the students. On his WhatsApp channel, he said they discussed discuss "redefining success and reimagining education in India". "Our conversation centered on empowering students to .

Sonia Gandhi, Kharge, others pay tribute to Manmohan Singh at prayer meet

Several top dignitaries paid tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh at a prayer meet organised in his memory at the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj here on Friday. Among the top leaders who attended the prayer meeting (Kirtan and Antim Ardas) were Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Harmeet Singh Kalka were also present. The DSGMC passed a resolution to start a scholarship in economics in Singh's name in all the colleges run by the committee in Delhi, besides putting up the former prime minister's photographs in all its institutions across the national capital. Kalka said the DSGMC has also decided to name its new educational institution after Singh in v

Rahul Gandhi accuses BJP of ruining youth's future via exam irregularities

The BJP is destroying the future of youths through alleged irregularities in the examination system, but the Congress is committed to fighting for the rights of students, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday. His remarks came after two students protesting against alleged irregularities in the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) exams were put in jail. "The BJP is cutting the thumb of the youth of India just like Ekalavya's, and destroying their future," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. "Failure in executing government recruitments is a big injustice. First, recruitment is not announced. And then even if it is announced, exams are not held in time. If exams are held, the question papers are leaked. And when the youths demand justice, their voice is ruthlessly crushed," he alleged. There were students' protest in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as well over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams. And, now two students protesting against the irregularities in MPP

Himanta vowed to make Assam top 5, now he is one of the richest CMs: Gogoi

While Sarma is among the wealthiest, Assam ranks 31st in the Human Development Index (HDI), which points out a gap between the state's economic progress and the chief minister's wealth

Siddaramiah refuses BJP's demand for minister's resignation in suicide case

In response to the BJP's call for a CBI investigation, Siddaramaiah questioned the party's faith in the state police

UP Cong chief writes to CM, demands action against open sale of intoxicants

The Congress' Uttar Pradesh president Ajay Rai wrote to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday, drawing his attention to the "open sale of intoxicants" and demanding strict action so that future generations can be saved from addiction. Rai said incidents of open sale and use of drugs and other intoxicants had been seen in the state's urban and remote rural areas in the past few years. Calling it "very shameful for any civilised society", he said such incidents pointed towards an administrative failure. "The youth and poor section of the state are becoming its biggest victims." The youth, who have to be part of the state's development, are ruining their and the state's future by falling into the grip of drugs, Rai said in the letter. "The poor section, which is somehow feeding their family in this period of inflation by working as labourers and toiling all day, is also ruining their family by falling into the grip of drug abuse," he added. The situation is such that the common pe