Page 8 - Indian National Congress

PM, EAM 'quiet' on Indian students being affected by Trump's actions: Cong

Expressing concern over the US' decisions affecting foreign students, the Congress on Wednesday said China has reacted strongly regarding their students but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have remained "totally quiet" on how Indian students are being affected by the move. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh pointed out that according to the Ministry of External Affairs, approximately 3,37,630 Indian students went to the USA for higher studies in 2024 and about a third of the foreign students on American campuses are from India. This means that some three-and-a-half lakh Indian families invested their hard-earned savings or borrowed for the education of their children in the US, he said. "These students, plus those who went in earlier years, face an uncertain future. Large numbers of students planning to go in 2025 may never get to see their aspirations fulfilled," Ramesh said on X. "President Trump has made his

Pension remarks meant to show govt's delay in payment, arrears: Venugopal

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal on Wednesday clarified that his remarks about welfare pension disbursement by the Kerala government were aimed at showing how much delayed it was and that arrears were partially cleared usually close to elections. Venugopal, the MP from Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency, said his remarks were "deliberately misinterpreted" by the CPI(M) to "mislead" the people. "I did not say anything against the beneficiaries who deserve to get the pension on time. I only intended to point out the state government's priority with regard to its payment. "Last year, two out of seven months arrears were paid just before the Lok Sabha polls. This year, one month's arrears is being paid just before the by-poll," he told reporters. He alleged that while the government has enough funds to take care of "PR work" for itself and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, it is unable to pay pension arrears on time or increase the honorarium of Accredited Social Health Activist .

Himachal CM lays foundation stone for zoo, announces Rs 100 cr for Kangra

While addressing the public gathering, CM Sukhu also criticised the previous BJP-led government and accused the Centre of ignoring the state's needs

Rahul Gandhi launches 'Sangthan Srijan Abhiyan' in Madhya Pradesh

Criticizes BJP on caste census, stresses grassroots party strengthening

Rahul Gandhi visits MP, holds meeting with senior Congress leaders

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi arrived here on Tuesday to take part in a campaign being started with the aim of strengthening the party at the grassroots level and infusing new enthusiasm among workers for the 2028 Madhya Pradesh polls. Before the campaign launch, Gandhi addressed a meeting of the Congress' political affairs committee and discussed key issues with the senior party leaders. Earlier, MP Congress president Jitu Patwari and former chief minister Kamal Nath accorded a warm welcome to Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, as he arrived at the airport here. Gandhi later chaired a meeting at the state Congress office in Bhopal where general secretary in-charge Harish Choudhary, AICC organisation in-charge K C Venugopal, Patwari, Nath, former CM Digvijaya Singh, Leader of Opposition in the MP assembly Umang Singhar and other party leaders were present. The state Congress unit later in a statement said, "Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi addressed the meeting of the .

Gaurav Gogoi takes charge as Assam Congress chief ahead of elections

Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday assumed charge as the Assam Congress president and he is all set to lead the party in next year's assembly polls. He was handed over the reins by outgoing president Bhupen Kumar Borah, who had helmed the state's main opposition party for over three years, at the state Congress headquarters here. Senior party leaders, including AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Debabrata Saikia were present on the occasion. Gogoi visited Kamakhya temple before taking charge as the Congress's state unit chief. Speaking to reporters after assuming charge, Gogoi said the party will continue to be inspired by its ideology of equality and inclusiveness. "Inspired by the ideology of leaders from Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru to Hitestwar Saikia and Tarun Gogoi, we will together take the party forward," he said. Gogoi was named the new state unit chief by the party's central leadership last week at a time when

Is it so difficult to be patriotic, asks Khurshid amid Op Sindoor outreach

Salman Khurshid's comments came shortly after he publicly praised the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir

Terrorists are roaming, so are our MPs: Jairam Ramesh stirs up controversy

Jairam Ramesh reignited row over Operation Sindoor, saying govt was silent on Pahalgam attackers while MPs 'roam' abroad

VP Dhankar's concerns on farmers ignored repeatedly, says Congress

The Congress on Thursday cited Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's remarks on farmers to take a swipe at the Modi government, saying he should be listened to seriously by those throwing out slogans and filmi dialogues thinking that theatrics is governance. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said sadly, Dhankhar continues to be ignored when he raises concerns of farmers. Ramesh's remarks came after Dhankhar said Viksit Bharat does not mean the rank of the country's economy and to make it a reality, the income of people needs to increase eightfold. Speaking to reporters after paying homage to former prime minister Charan Singh on his birth anniversary, Dhankhar said, "Today, when we talk about Viksit Bharat, it doesn't mean what the rank of our economy is. To define Viksit Bharat and make it a ground reality, the income of everyone needs to be increased by eight times." "This will happen but the farmers need to be farsighted. Today, our farmers are limite

Historic step: Rahul on Karnataka move to enact ordinance on gig workers

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hailed as historic the Karnataka government's move to promulgate an ordinance aimed at providing social security to platform-based gig workers, stressing that this was the party's vision it would take to every state. The ordinance, promulgated on Tuesday, also proposes the establishment of a welfare board and creation of a dedicated welfare fund for the gig workers. " 'Rating nahi, haq chaahiye'. 'Insaan hai hum, ghulaam nahi'. These powerful words from gig workers stayed with me during the Bharat Jodo Yatra," Gandhi said in a post on X. "Our Congress government in Karnataka has taken a historic step by issuing an ordinance that guarantees rights, dignity, and protection to gig worker... These workers bring us food, deliver essentials, and drive us safely -- in the heat, cold, and rain," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha added. Yet, they are too often blocked from their apps without explanation, denied sick leave, and paid according

Ramesh criticises PM over delay in all party meeting on Pahalgam attack

He accused the Prime Minister of ignoring urgent national issues and instead focusing on marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency

Nehru stood for democracy, not demagoguery: Cong pays tribute to first PM

The Congress on Tuesday paid rich tributes to India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary and said he simply refuses to go away in spite of a systematic "6D effort" being made since 2014 to defame, distort, deny, denigrate, diminish, and demolish him and his legacy. Paying tributes to Nehru, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi asserted that Nehru laid a strong foundation of independent India with his visionary leadership. Gandhi said Nehru's contribution in the establishment of social justice, modernity, education, Constitution and democracy is invaluable. Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi paid floral tributes to Nehru at his memorial at Shanti Van here. In a post in Hindi on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge shared a quote of Nehru that "Citizenship lies in serving the country". "Humble tributes on the death anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji, who took India from zero to the top, the creator of modern India, the fearless guar

Time has come for a new normal against terrorism, says Shashi Tharoor

Noting that India has been suffering from terrorism for four decades, Shashi Tharoor said that India has reached a point of "resolved determination" against terrorism

Code, not clout: Congress brings QR-based ticket process to Bihar

Congress has introduced QR-based candidate applications in Bihar for transparency in ticket distribution. Aditi Phadnis looks at the rationale and challenges

'Ayogya body': Cong slams NITI meet as exercise in 'hypocrisy', 'diversion'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday chair the 10th governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog, which will focus on states, with a view to make India a developed nation by 2047

YS Sharmila on hunger strike to support Visakhapatnam Steel Plant workers

Congress leader Sharmila criticised the management of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, accusing them of ignoring workers' problems and acting in a harsh and controlling manner

Rahul, Kharge pay tribute to ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi on 34th death anniversary

Congress, in a post on X, also remembered the former PM and said that Rajiv Gandhi's contribution in the creation of modern India is unforgettable

In BJP's model, money goes to rich; Congress gives it to poor: Rahul Gandhi

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday said that the BJP follows a model under which select rich people get entire money and resources, whereas in the Congress' model, money is put into the bank accounts and the pockets of the poor. The Congress leader was speaking at an event to mark Karnataka Congress government's two years in office, during which over one lakh title deeds were distributed to eligible beneficiaries, whose "undocumented habitations" have been declared as revenue villages. "Congress party government has completed two years. During the election, we made you promises. We had promised five guarantees. The BJP people said that Congress party will not be able to fulfill it. The Prime Minister said this won't be done," Gandhi said. Listing out the five guarantee schemes implemented by the government, he said, "We have told you that we will put money into the bank account of Karnataka's poor. Today, thousands of crores of rupees is being directly p

Govt can't hide 'India's biggest scam', truth is out: Cong on Adani issue

The Congress on Tuesday flagged media reports claiming that SEBI has warned two offshore funds holding Adani Group shares with penalties and said the market regulator's actions might appear on the surface to represent progress but the probe has dragged on for over two years with the conglomerate benefitting from the delay. There was no immediate reaction from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) or the Adani Group on the claims. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the "double-engine" Modani saga continues. "SEBI has reportedly threatened two Mauritius-based offshore funds controlled by Elara Capital --? Elara India Opportunities Fund and Vespera Fund --? with penalties and licence cancellations for failing to provide shareholding details," he said on X. Ramesh said, these funds have been accused of "stock parking" -- being fronts for benami Adani investments in their own companies in violation of SEBI rules. "The two funds have

'Damning indictment of govt': Cong on SC ban on environmental clearances

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday hailed the Supreme Court decision striking down the measures enabling the grant of ex-post facto environmental clearances and said it was a "damning indictment" of the Modi government whose domestic walk is completely at variance with its global talk on environmental protection. The Supreme Court last Friday said the right to live in a pollution free atmosphere was a part of the fundamental right as it struck down the Centre's office memorandum allowing ex post facto or retrospective environmental clearances to projects in violation of norms. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan made scathing remarks in its judgement delivered on a plea filed by Vanashakti organisation and said, "The Union Government, as much as individual citizens, has a constitutional obligation to protect the environment. Former environment minister Ramesh hailed the judgement which he claimed was a "damning indictment" of the Modi government. "In a ...