Page 23 - Indian National Congress

SC refuses to entertain Cong's plea against non-disqualification of 8 MLAs

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea challenging the decision of the Goa assembly speaker to reject the disqualification petition of the Congress against eight of its MLAs who defected to the ruling BJP. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar asked Congress leader Girish Chodankar, who filed the plea in the court, to move the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court to challenge the speaker's decision. On November 1, Goa assembly speaker Ramesh Tawadkar dismissed the disqualification petition filed by the Congress against eight of its MLAs who defected to BJP. The disqualification petition was filed by former Goa Congress chief Chodankar against MLAs Digambar Kamat, Aleixo Sequeira, Sankalp Amonkar, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Rudolf Fernandes and Rajesh Faldesai. Dismissing Chodankar's petition, speaker Tawadkar had ruled that "upon the merger of the original political party of the elected member with another political party, the

National assets being handed to select capitalists: Rahul slams Centre

Rahul Gandhi accused the government of being intent on privatizing even the profitable PSUs, alleging that national assets were being handed over to a 'select group of capitalists'

Kharge accuses VP Dhankhar of suppressing Opposition's freedom of speech

Asserting that "trampling of democracy" has become the norm in Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition in the House Mallikarjun Kharge Thursday alleged abuse of power by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and questioned his impartiality. The Congress chief alleged the Rajya Sabha chairman has consistently suppressed the freedom of expression of Opposition members through "persistent heckling, unwarranted insistence on authentication, unfair remarks, and the refusal to list issues of public importance for discussion". His scathing criticism of the vice president comes a couple of days after Opposition INDIA bloc parties, spearheaded by the Congress, submitted a notice in Rajya Sabha for moving a no-confidence motion against Dhankhar, accusing him of being "extremely partisan". On behalf of the Opposition, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain on Tuesday submitted the notice signed by 60 opposition MPs -- including from the Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, DMK, Samajwadi Party -

Modi govt's policies, corporate tax cuts failed to revive economy: Cong

Asserting that the Centre's policies have "failed" to revive the economy, the Congress on Thursday said the government's strategy of cutting corporate taxes, giving "generous corporate handouts" and raising the tax burden on the salaried middle class has only helped enrich large monopolies without any discernible increase in investment or hiring. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said what is needed for stimulating demand is tax cuts for the salaried middle classes and income support to the poor. His remarks came over a media report which claimed that the sharp slump in economic growth rate to 5.4 per cent in July-September this year has sparked concerns among policy makers that low single-digit income growth in the corporate sector despite four times growth in profits over the last four years, is one of the reasons behind the slowing of demand. In a post on X, Ramesh said, "Private sector profit is at a 15-year-high and has grown four times over the

Cong govt spent Rs 11,200 cr on loan interest, says Himachal CM Sukhu

The present Congress government has taken Rs 28,000 crore loan in the past two years out of which over Rs 11,200 crore was spent to pay interest on loan taken by the previous governments since 1971, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday. He also said that Rs 7,800 was spent on repaying the principal amount of loan while Rs 9,000 crore on development. Speaking at a programme to mark completion of two years of Congress government in office in Bilaspur, Sukhu said that this is not a celebration "It is just a programme and we would celebrate when Himachal Pradesh becomes self-reliant in 2027," he said. The chief minister reiterated the challenges of financial crunch, worst monsoon disaster in 2023 and "political conspiracy" leading to bypolls on nine assembly seats faced by the Congress government in the past two years. Sukhu said that 75,000 tourists were rescued during the monsoon disaster last year. "I am aware of the Union government's step-moth

Dhankhar acts like a school headmaster: Kharge on no-confidence motion

Kharge said that Dhankhar, as Rajya Sabha Chairman, acts like a 'school headmaster' and gives sermons to experienced opposition leaders while stopping them from speaking

India's democracy in danger, like Pak, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka: Nana Patole

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Wednesday sought to compare India's democracy with that of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and claimed that it was in danger and being discussed at the global level. Speaking with the media in Nagpur, Patole questioned the Maharashtra assembly poll results and said a mass movement is shaping up at Solapur district's Markadwadi village, where residents had raised doubts about EVMs and wanted to conduct a repoll using ballot papers. He said people in many cities and villages have also cast aspersions on the victory of the Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, and its subsequent government formation. Patole accused the government of suppressing the voice of the people of Markadwadi, referring to a police case against several villagers over their plan to conduct a re-election using ballot papers. Gram sabha are passing resolutions demanding elections on ballot papers, claimed the Congress leader, who retained his Sakoli seat by a marg

Explained: What pushed INDIA bloc's no-confidence against Jagdeep Dhankhar?

The INDIA bloc has accused Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar of bias, citing his acceptance of BJP speeches linking Sonia Gandhi to George Soros while dismissing 11 opposition notices

Ruling NDA MPs term notice against VP Dhankhar politically motivated

Opposition parties on Tuesday submitted a notice to move a motion for removing Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for allegedly conducting the House in a partisan manner. Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain submitted the notice to Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody. The vice president is the ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha. The sources said about 60 opposition MPs -- including from the Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, DMK -- have signed the notice. However, they said top Congress leaders who hold Constitutional posts have not signed the notice. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the floor leaders of various opposition parties are also not among the signatories, the sources said. The notice, spearheaded by the Congress, comes in the wake of turbulent ties between opposition parties and the Rajya Sabha chairman. "ALL parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submi

Congress accuses Kerala CM Vijayan of acting with 'dictatorial mindset'

The opposition Congress in Kerala on Wednesday accused the ruling CPI (M) of being "intolerant" towards other political parties and denying them the freedom to freely function even in the home village of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Marxist party and CM Vijayan were acting with a "dictatorial mindset", which is unacceptable, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan told reporters here. He was speaking after visiting the recently vandalised new Congress booth committee office at Venduttayi near Vijayan's hometown of Pinarayi. The Congress has charged the CPI(M) with "orchestrating the vandalism" on Saturday last. Terming the incident as "highly unfortunate" and "condemnable", he said, "It was in the home village of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the office of a political party was vandalised and set on fire." The LoP sought to know what kind of democracy prevailed in the state as other political parties were not allowed to function even in the home village of the CM. Sathe

Corrupt Congress govt brought Himachal on brink of bankruptcy: BJP

In a blistering attack against the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur Tuesday alleged that the "corrupt" Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu dispensation has brought the state on the "brink of bankruptcy". Addressing the BJP's "Akrosh Rally" here, a day ahead of an event to mark two years of the Congress dispensation in the state, Thakur said, "What is the Congress celebrating on completion of two years in power when it has no achievements to show?" He said the BJP is opposing the event which he termed "celebrations of getting ruined". Alleging the state government employees and pensioners were not getting their monthly emoluments, Thakur claimed outsourced workers were also awaiting their salaries for the past four months. "The people of the state have been burdened but crores of rupees are being spent on celebrations," he said. "The Congress government has lost the confidence of the people and failed to fulfil the poll guarante

People are being sidelined in Congress party: Chandy Oommen

Congress MLA Chandy Oommen, the son of late party stalwart Oommen Chandy, on Tuesday said he was not given any responsibilities during the by-poll in Palakkad and claimed that there were instances of people at the lower levels of the party being "sidelined". Oommen said that it was neither correct nor acceptable for party members or supporters to be sidelined. The Puthuppally MLA, however, threw his weight behind KPCC chief K Sudhakaran amidst reports of a complete organisational revamp in Congress state unit in Kerala, saying his removal from the post was not the remedy. He said that Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sudhakaran has worked hard for the party and the people of the state and the UDF has scored several electoral victories under his leadership. Therefore, there was no need to remove him and there was no need for any such discussion, he added. Oommen further said it was necessary to keep everyone together while moving forward and it was the duty of the par

K'taka govt declares 3-day state mourning over demise of Ex-CM SM Krishna

The Karnataka government announced state mourning for three days, and declared holiday on December 11 as a mark of respect to veteran politician and former Chief Minister S M Krishna, who died here on Tuesday. His last rites will be performed with full state honours at Somanahalli in Mandya district on Wednesday. The government declared a holiday to all government offices and schools and colleges on Wednesday, in honour of the departed. The three-day state mourning is from December 10 to 12, official notification said. During this period, there will be no official entertainment programmes and the national flag will be flown at half mast in all government buildings, it said. Krishna died at his residence early this morning following prolonged illness, his family said.

INDIA bloc leadership is open question, indicates Shiv Sena (UBT)

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday indicated that his party was open to discuss if someone outside the Congress should lead the Opposition's INDIA bloc. All constituents of the alliance are willing to have a discussion on the issue, he told reporters. Raut was reacting to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad's comment that West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee should be allowed to lead the INDIA bloc. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is at present the chairman of the Opposition grouping, formed before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Talking to reporters in Delhi, Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, said his party's ties with the Congress leadership including Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were excellent. Congress is a national party and has the highest number of MPs among the INDIA allies, he noted. "Still, if the INDIA bloc is to be strengthened again, everyone wishes to discuss (issues related to) leadership, who can give time to the ...

Nadda says Cong has links with George Soros; Oppn demands answers on Adani

As soon as the Rajya Sabha session reconvened at noon following an adjournment, Opposition leaders began raising slogans, sparking a massive uproar in the House

Oppn MPs protest on Adani issue in Parliament premises with black 'jholas'

Several Opposition MPs on Tuesday demonstrated over the Adani issue in Parliament premises, carrying black 'jholas' (bags) with caricatures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and billionaire Gautam Adani printed on it and 'Modi Adani Bhai Bhai' written on the obverse side. This is the latest in the series of unusual protests led by the Congress daily ahead of the sitting of Parliament in the morning. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, MPs from the Congress, DMK, JMM, Left, among others, protested in front of the Makar Dwar steps. They were carrying black 'jholas' with caricatures of Modi and Adani printed on one side and 'Modi Adani Bhai Bhai' written on the obverse side of the bag. They raised slogans against alleged collusion between Modi and Adani and demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the matter. Earlier, Gandhi chaired a meeting of Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha to take stock of the party's stance

Will UP CM ensure Ganga water becomes fit for drinking by Kumbh: Congress

The Congress Monday expressed concern over sewage dumping in the Ganga and asked whether Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will assure devotees that the river's water will be fit for bathing and drinking by the time of the Kumbh Mela early next year. Congress leader Abhay Dubey said Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself should make efforts in this. The Maha Kumbh Mela will begin on January 13 and conclude on February 26. "It is believed that wherever the Kumbh is held, there is immortality. But the BJP government has tampered with our culture. The principal bench of the NGT (National Green Tribunal) passed an order on November 6, 2014, which mentioned the Uttar Pradesh government had submitted a report on October 30, 2014. "In that report, it was found that sewerage treatment plants of 340 MLD capacity have been installed to treat the drain water in the area of ??Prayagraj's Nagar Palika Nigam," he said. He claimed about 12.8 crore litres of sewage water is being poured .

Cong trashes BJP's 'Soros allegations', says govt only wants to save Adani

Dismissing the BJP's allegations of its leaders colluding with US investor George Soros, the Congress on Monday said the real conspiracy unravelling during the Parliament's Winter session is that the government would even put at stake India's ties with another country just to save Gautam Adani. The opposition party alleged that Gautam Adani has been extended 'M (Modi)' security and to breach that one would have to cross the "dead body" of democracy. "Since Parliament session began, we have been trying to raise issues but there is one issue the prime minister cannot tolerate and when that issue is raised, he loses self control. That one name is Adani. As soon as that name is taken, the PM gets rattled," Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said. "No one has the right to stake our ties with a nation for one person. Those countries that help that industrialist, even if they enter our borders, they are given a clean chit and those countries that get a probe done on

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm as NDA MPs raise Congress-George Soros link

Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 2 pm on Monday as members of the treasury benches accused top Congress leaders of colluding with billionaire investor George Soros to destabilise the country and demanded a discussion on the issue. The Upper House witnessed two adjournments during the pre-lunch session as the claims triggered protests from opposition members. Soon after a brief first adjournment during Zero Hour, Leader of the House J P Nadda said BJP members were agitated over an issue that involved Congress leaders and wanted a discussion. "All our members are agitated over reports against certain leaders of the opposition. Our leaders are keen to hold a discussion on the issue," he said. This prompted several ruling party members to allege that top Congress leadership had links with Soros. They demanded that the issue be discussed in the House as it is connected to national security. Several MPs of the BJP and other NDA allies raised the issue and demanded an .

Rijiju calls for unity against anti-India forces, urges Congress to act

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday urged all political parties, including the Congress, to unite against anti-India forces, and raise their voice if they find their leaders working against the country's interest. His remarks come a day after the BJP alleged that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has links to an organisation financed by the George Soros Foundation and which has backed the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation. Addressing reporters here, Rijiju said anybody found to be working with anti-India forces must be countered unitedly by all political parties. "I wish to tell the leaders and workers of the Congress that even if their own party leaders are found to be working in tandem with anti-India forces, they should raise their voice against them," Rijiju said. The minister also said that the government had informed the Congress that discussion on the Constitution will be taken up in the Lok Sabha on December 13-14 and in the Rajya Sabha on ...