Page 31 - Indian National Congress

'Baseless': BJP denies rumours of Punjab Chief Sunil Jakhar's resignation

Sunil Jakhar, chief of Punjab's BJP unit, is rumoured to have resigned ahead of the October 15 panchayat elections. Jakhar quit Congress to join the BJP in 2022

'No basis': Manipur govt retracts remark on Kuki militants' possible attack

The Manipur government retracted claims of a planned attack by 900 Kuki militants on the Meitei community in peripheral villager , noting that the "inputs" could not be substantiated

Haryana CM slams Cong over 'kharchi-parchi', assures jobs on meritocracy

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday attacked the Congress, saying some of its leaders are talking about the "kharchi-parchi" (corruption-favouritism) system in government jobs which was "prevalent" during its regime. He, however, asserted that his government's first and last priority is to provide jobs on merit basis. In a message for the state's youth which he posted on X, Saini wrote that for the past few days, "Congress candidates and Bhupinder Singh Hooda supporters are trading your future in the name of parchi-kharchi". "I feel sad and angry at their mentality," said Saini who was apparently referring to two purported audio clips of Congress' Neeraj Sharma and Shamsher Singh Gogi, legislators from Faridabad NIT and Assandh segments in the outgoing assembly. BJP MP Anurag Thakur, a few days ago, had played these two clips in a poll rally. In one clip, the Faridabad NIT MLA was heard saying that former chief minister Bhupinder Hooda (if Congress comes to power) w

Congress MP slams BJP, asks why Manipur allowed to go 'Afghan way'

Amid the lingering crisis in Manipur, Congress MP A Bimol Akoijam raises pointed questions over the Centre's "inaction", suggesting that such a situation would not have been left unaddressed if it happened in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In an interview with PTI Videos, Akoijam vehemently criticised the Centre's handling of the situation in Manipur, asking why the government of India was allowing the northeastern state to become like Afghanistan, which he described as a "banana republic". "With 60,000 troops stationed in Manipur, the central government should have prevented this crisis from persisting for so long," Akoijam stated. "If this were happening in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, or Madhya Pradesh, would it have been allowed to linger? Most people would say no," he added. Ethnic violence in Manipur erupted on May 3, 2022, following a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community's push for Scheduled Tribe status.

Parliament being turned into 'deep, dark chamber': TMC MP Derek O'Brien

TMC leader Derek O'Brien on Sunday alleged parliamentary standing committees had not been formed despite the 18th Lok Sabha completing 100 days since its constitution and said Parliament was being turned into a "deep, dark chamber". In a post on X, the Trinamool Congress' (TMC) leader in the Rajya Sabha said seven out of 10 Bills were sent to department-related standing committees of Parliament in the 15th Lok Sabha while only two out of 10 Bills were sent to the panels in the last Lok Sabha. "Parliamentary standing committees have not yet been formed. In the 15th Lok Sabha, seven out of 10 Bills were sent to committees for scrutiny. In the last Lok Sabha, only two out of 10 Bills got scrutinised ," O'Brien said. "Parliament is being turned into a deep, dark chamber," he added. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on September 11 that department-related standing committees and consultative committees of Parliament would be constituted shortly. According to data compile

J-K was shut for 3,000 days, 40,000 killed under Congress-NC-PDP: Amit Shah

Jammu Kashmir elections: Home Minister Amit Shah alleges Congress, NC, and PDP were responsible for spread of terror in Jammu-Kashmir, claiming that under their governance the region was in darkness

Letter row escalates as Priyanka Gandhi accuses PM Modi of disrespect

The Congress general secretary said that if PM Modi believed in democratic principles, he would have responded to Kharge directly, calling JP Nadda's reply 'inadequate and aggressive'

JP Nadda's response to Kharge's letter on Gandhi threats draw Congress' ire

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described JP Nadda's reply to Mallikarjun Kharge's letter to PM Modi over 'threats' made against Rahul Gandhi as 'intemperate' and 'senseless'

Attempt to polish failed product: Nadda responds to Kharge's letter to Modi

BJP national president JP Nadda said that the letter written by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an attempt to polish its failed product (Rahul Gandhi)

'People won't accept': Opp'n slams Cabinet's One Nation One Election nod

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the central government's drive for simultaneous elections is unnecessary and detrimental

'One nation, one election' not possible, BJP's 'gimmick': Oppn slams govt

The opposition on Monday slammed the government over the 'one nation, one election' issue, saying it was not possible under the present Constitution and just a "gimmick" of the ruling BJP which keeps "releasing hot air balloons" to test waters. The Congress, the TMC and the CPI rejected the idea, saying it was not pragmatic. The opposition parties' assertion came after reports said the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government would implement 'one nation, one election' during its current tenure. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said it is not possible under the present Constitution and requires at least five constitutional amendments. Replying to a question on reports that the BJP-led NDA government would implement 'one nation, one election' within its current tenure, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not have the numbers to place those constitutional amendments either in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. Addressing reporters in Chandigarh, Chidambaram said

Cong to get chairship of external affairs, agri, rural dev, edu committees

The Congress will chair the parliamentary standing committees on external affairs, agriculture, and rural development in the Lok Sabha and education in the Rajya Sabha, party sources said on Monday, with talks between the government and the opposition over the panels' chairship concluding. In all, the Congress is set to have the chairship of four department-related standing committees -- three in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha. The Congress will chair the Department Related Standing Committee on External Affairs; Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing; Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in the Lok Sabha; and Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports in the Rajya Sabha, a source told PTI. Significantly, the Congress will chair the crucial committee on external affairs after a gap of five years. Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor headed the panel on external affairs between September 2014 and May 2019. The Congress last held the chairship of two ...

Ashwini Vaishnaw issues stern warning amid rise in train derailment efforts

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's statement follows a series of train accidents, many of which are suspected to be part of a 'coordinated sabotage' to cause derailments

Do you back Rahul's demand of removing 50% cap on reservations: Cong to VP

Hitting back at Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for his apparent attack at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on reservation, the Congress on Sunday asked Dhankhar if he supports the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha's demand of removal of 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs. The opposition party's jibe came after Dhankhar said, "A person from a constitutional post saying on a foreign land that reservation should be ended underscores the same anti-constitutional mindset. The baton of prejudices against reservation has been handed over. It is the same old anti-constitutional mindset." "Reservation is not against meritocracy, but it is the soul of the country and the Constitution. It is an affirmative action and not negative. It is not depriving someone of opportunity but hand holding those who are pillars of strength of the society," the vice president said addressing a public event in Mumbai. Reacting to the remarks, Congress' media and publicity department head Paw

Haryana polls: If elected, health, employment will be top focus, says BJP

Pitted against his cousin and Congress rival Mohd Illyas, BJP candidate from Punhana segment of Haryana's Nuh district Mohd Aizaz Khan said employment, health and education will be his focus and asserted that the lotus bloom will bloom in the region. Khan is among two candidates from the Muslim community fielded by the BJP for the Haryana polls, the other being Naseem Ahmed, a former MLA, who is in fray from the Ferozepur Jhirkha segment. The BJP candidate said people remember the time when his father Chaudhary Sardar Khan, a former Haryana minister, gave jobs to nearly 4,600 youth from Mewat region. "Employment, health, and education will be my top focus (if elected). My aim will also be to bring a university to the region, improve infrastructure and fulfil the dreams which my father had for this region...Going by the huge support of the people I am getting, I am confident that 'lotus' will bloom here," the 56-year-old law graduate told PTI. He asserted that the BJP government in

Women's Reservation Act opportunity for us to support women leaders: Rahul

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the Women's Reservation Act is an opportunity for the Congress to nurture and support both established and aspiring women leaders. In his message on the 40th anniversary of the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC), Gandhi said that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra, he met remarkable women across India determined to make a difference. "Many had the passion, perseverance and commitment to drive far reaching changes in society. Some of the fiercest and most fearless voices against injustice were of women," the former Congress chief said. In this day and age, there is no reason whatsoever to deny women meaningful opportunities in public life, he asserted. Gandhi congratulated Mahila Congress leaders and members, both past and present, who built this organisation brick by brick. AIMC has come a long way since the 1984 Bangalore Convention, he said, adding that over the last four decades, the AIMC has

Haryana polls: Hisar, Julana among 11 high-stake seats. Full list, details

The upcoming Haryana Assembly elections are generating significant anticipation, as the BJP and Congress prepare to contest across 90 seats. Polling is set for Oct 5, and results will be out on Oct 8

Haryana polls: Congress to contest 89 seats; one left for CPI(M). Full list

Haryana Assembly elections: The Congress aims to unseat the BJP by contesting 89 of the 90 constituencies, running solo after it failed to sign an alliance deal with the Aam Aadmi Party

Haryana elections: BJP's full list out; AAP-Congress name more candidates

All parties in Haryana are finalising their Assembly election candidates as the nomination deadline approaches on Thursday. The BJP has named contenders on all 90 seats

Haryana elections: AAP to contest all 90 seats. Full list of candidates

Haryana elections: AAP, after failed Congress alliance talks, has so far announced 40 candidates for Haryana's 90-seat assembly, resulting in many overlaps with its INDIA ally