Page 34 - Indian National Congress

Broadcast Bill threatens independence of press, curbs free speech: Congress

Party leader Pawan Khera said the proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill will pave the way for 'excessive surveillance' in online world

Congress slams NITI Aayog over shutdown of farm weather advisory offices

The Congress on Saturday alleged that 199 district agro-meteoreological units, which provided farmers at the block-level free-of-cost weather advisory services, were shut down as the NITI Aayog "misrepresented" their role to justify the decision. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which claimed that the farm weather advisory offices were shut in March this year as the NITI Aayog "misrepresented" their role and sought privatisation. "The India Meteorological Department shut down 199 district agro-meteoreological units (DAMUs). These agromet units provided all farmers at the block-level free-of-cost weather advisory services, and crucial information related to sowing, use of fertilisers, harvesting and storing crops," he said. Experts suggest that while the budget outlay for these units every year was around Rs 45 crore, the benefit was around Rs 15,000 crore, Ramesh pointed out. The shutdown was opposed by Union Minister Niti

Centre delayed in giving sensitive area tag to protect Western Ghats: Cong

The Congress on Friday accused the Centre of delay in declaring the ecologically sensitive area' tag for a portion of the Western Ghats and claimed that it is directly responsible for the human tragedy in Wayanad. The opposition party's attack came after the Centre issued a fresh draft notification to declare more than 56,800 square kilometres of the Western Ghats across six states, including 13 villages in Kerala's landslide-hit Wayanad, an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), inviting suggestions and objections within 60 days. The notification, issued on July 31, came a day after a series of landslides claimed more than 300 lives in Wayanad district. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh recalled that on August 5, 2019, during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he had raised the Issue of the protection of the Western Ghats. Only on July 31, 2024, following the Wayanad catastrophe, does the Union government seem to have finally moved to declare some 57,000 squ

Being 'anti-farmer' is in DNA of Congress: Agri min Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Being 'anti-farmer' is in the DNA of Congress, said Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday as he took on opposition parties for accusing the Modi government of working against the interest of the farm sector. Replying to a discussion on the working of his ministry in the Rajya Sabha, the Union minister said the central government increased the budget outlay for the sector many-fold in the last 10 years from 2013-14. He said farmers are getting fertilisers at highly subsidised prices and will continue to get the farm nutrients at low prices. "Being anti-farmer is in the DNA of Congress. Priorities of Congress have been misplaced since the beginning," Chouhan said while highlighting the works done by the Modi government in the crucial agriculture sector. On the other hand, he said, the current government has set six priorities, including increasing farm production, reducing input cost, providing remunerative prices and adequate relief in case of calamities. The ministe

Design, construction within new Parliament calls for a review: Cong's Gogoi

Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Friday called for a review of the design, construction and facilities within the new Parliament building and hoped that views of all major parties will be taken in due time. Gogoi also asserted that there is much to be done in order for the new Parliament building to "reflect the greatest traditions of Indian parliamentary democracy". "The design, construction and facilities within the new Indian parliament needs to be reviewed. There is much to be done in order for it to reflect the greatest traditions of Indian parliamentary democracy," Gogoi said in a post on X. "The Parliament belongs to the people of India and not to one party or one individual. I hope that the views of all major parties will be taken in due time," he said. His remarks come a day after Opposition leaders on Thursday took a swipe at the Modi government over "water leakage" in a lobby of the new Parliament building and hailed the "sturdy" old Parliament ..

'B' in BJP's Budget stands for 'betrayal', alleges Cong President Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday accused the Modi government of indulging in "tokenism" by bringing in "so-called employment-linked incentive schemes", and said the 'B' in the Union Budget stands for "betrayal". Kharge alleged that the Modi government's Budget has mere internships forced upon the industry with no long-term solution in sight. He said that a week into the 'Kursi Bachao Budget', the academia and the industry awaits clarity from the Modi government on its "tokenism" regarding the "so-called 'employment-linked incentive' schemes". "Crores of youth want a permanent solution to their plight of Jobs, but Narendra Modi ji's government bitterly deceives them by not even giving a temporary solution!" he alleged. "We ask two questions to the Modi government on these sham schemes -? When will the Modi government provide details of the schemes?" he said. Neither the youth nor the industry which is to be nudged, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi meet Irish envoy to India

Irish Ambassador to India, Kevin Kelly and Deputy Head of Mission, Raymond Mullen met Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday.They discussed about the deep historical connections between Ireland and India among other things.In a post on X, the Congress said, "H.E. Kevin Kelly, Ambassador of Ireland and Raymond Mullen, DCM meet CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji & LoP Shri @RahulGandhi."Kevin Kelly thanked the two leaders for their invitation to their home.In a post on X, Kelly said, "Thanks for the warm welcome yesterday at your home Mme Sonia Gandhi and @RahulGandhi. It was interesting to hear your perspectives on the future of this great country and talk about the deep historical connections between Ireland and India".Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday headed to Wayanad to take stock of the situation in the Kerala constituency that was rocked by devastating landslides in which the ..

Declare Wayanad landslide as calamity of severe nature: Tharoor to HM Shah

167 people have been declared dead in the aftermath of the landslides as per the Kerala Revenue Department

Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi leave for landslide-hit Wayanad in Kerala

167 people have been declared dead in the aftermath of the landslides as per the Kerala Revenue Department

Parliament session all set to be stormy over Budget, coaching centre deaths

Congress Lok Sabha Whip Manickam Tagore has submitted an Adjournment Motion notice to discuss the delay in conducting Census 2021, which has delayed the implementation of women's 33 per cent quota

Nehru had vision; his leadership was necessary for nation's progress: Pawar

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said Jawaharlal Nehru had a vision for modern India and his leadership was required to keep the country united post-partition. Speaking at a book release function here, Pawar said country's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was an able administrator and worked for farmers and the working class. Patel's contribution to uniting the country post-independence was immense as he played a key role in persuading princely states to integrate into the Union of India. "Mahatma Gandhi knew the potential of both the leaders (Nehru and Patel) and their leadership qualities. Nehru's vision of modern India was necessary for the country's progress and development. He had the vision to take the country on the world's centre stage. His leadership was required to keep the country united post-partition," the veteran leader said. Pawar noted the contribution of Dr B R Ambedkar in drafting the Constitution of India and his work in the field of ...

Netanyahu, his govt barbaric; their barbarism supported by West: Priyanka

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over what she said were the Israel government's "genocidal actions" in Gaza, as she accused him and his government of "barbarism". The Congress general secretary's remarks came after Netanyahu defended Israel's ongoing war in Gaza in a speech to the US Congress on Wednesday. Netanyahu received a warm welcome from House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican lawmakers who arranged his speech in the chamber. Netanyahu received a bipartisan standing ovation. Priyanka Gandhi said it was no longer enough to speak up for the civilians, mothers, fathers, doctors, nurses, aid workers, journalists, teachers, writers, poets, senior citizens and the thousands of innocent children who were being wiped out day after day by the "horrific genocide" taking place in Gaza. "It is the moral responsibility of every right-thinking individual, including all those Israeli citizens who do not believe in .

Jailed MP Amritpal Singh's parents thank Channi for his support in Parl

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh clarified that his statement does not reflect the position of the Indian National Congress in any way

K'taka BJP president demands CM Siddaramaiah's resignation over MUDA scam

The BJP MLAs had entered the well of the House, insisting on a thorough investigation into the scam

Channi's views don't reflect Congress' position, says Jairam Ramesh

The Congress on Thursday distanced itself from Lok Sabha member Charanjit Singh Channi's remark on controversial MP Amritpal Singh

Karnataka becomes third state to adopt resolution to scrap NEET exam

Earlier, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu passed resolutions demanding NEET be scrapped amid the nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the examination

FM's Budget speech more focused on posturing than action, says Congress

The Congress on Tuesday claimed that the government seems to have finally come around to "tacitly admitting that mass unemployment is a national crisis" that requires urgent attention, as it slammed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget speech as being "more focused on posturing than action". The opposition party's assertion came after Sitharaman in her budget speech announced that the government will launch three employment-linked schemes. These schemes will be based on enrolment in the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), Sitharaman said in the Lok Sabha. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "After ten years of denial -- where neither the non-biological PM nor his party's Lok Sabha Elections Manifesto would even mention jobs -- the Union Government seems to have finally come around to tacitly admitting that mass unemployment is a national crisis that requires urgent attention." "It's far too late, and as it turns out, far too ..

Nudged out amid current controversy: Cong on UPSC chairman resignation

With the UPSC chairman Manoj Soni resigning citing personal reasons, the Congress on Saturday said he apparently "nudged out" given the current controversy in which the UPSC is involved. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also said the sanctity and autonomy of all Constitutional bodies have been badly damaged since 2014 -- the year Narendra Modi became prime minister. Soni has resigned citing personal reasons before the expiry of his tenure in May 2029, official sources said on Saturday. His resignation is "not in any way connected to controversies and allegations surrounding the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) after probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar issue came to the fore," they said. Reacting to the development, Ramesh said, "The sanctity, character, autonomy, and professionalism of all Constitutional bodies have been badly damaged since 2014. But at times even the self-anointed non-biological PM is forced to say enough in enough." He ad

SC to hear petitions seeking SIT probe in electoral bonds scheme on July 22

A top court bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Friday took the note of the submissions made by senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan and listed the PILs for July 22

Decoded: Why did Karnataka introduce 70% quota for locals in private jobs

The now paused bill mandated a 50 per cent quota for administrative roles and a 75 per cent quota for non-administrative roles in the private sector for the locals, triggering a massive row