Page 91 - Indian National Congress

Uproar in Haryana Assembly, Congress raises slogans, demands resignation

The Haryana Assembly witnessed an uproar on Monday as slogan-shouting Congress members demanded resignation of minister Sandeep Singh over a sexual harassment case, but Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asserted that his minister won't be asked to resign. The CM got up and thumping the desk said "Istafa Nahi Lenge, Nahi Lenge, Nahi Lenge" (won't seek his resignation), prompting the opposition party benches to raise "shame shame" slogans. Singh, who currently holds charge of the Printing and Stationery Department, was not present in the House. His sports portfolio was taken away after an alleged case of sexual harassment against him was filed by a junior athletics coach. The matter in the assembly was first raised by senior Congress leader Geeta Bhukkal, who was joined in by other party members including Leader of Opposition (LoP) Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Hooda said either Singh should resign or sacked by the chief minister, which was opposed by Khattar, leading to an uproar in the .

95% raids on Opposition leaders: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

'This is a cowardice act of BJP but the Congress is not going to be cowed down with these tactics'

We alone can't fight this government, need Oppn unity: KC Venugopal

emphasized that to minimize the chances of splitting of anti-BJP votes, the unity of the opposition parties is a must criteria

ED raids Congress MLAs, leaders' premises in Chhattisgarh coal levy 'scam'

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted searches at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including premises linked to Congress leaders, as part of an ongoing investigation into the coal levy money laundering case, officials said. The raids come ahead of the three-day plenary session of the Congress from February 24-26 in the state capital Raipur. The state is ruled by the party under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Over a dozen locations are being searched, including the premises linked to Congress leaders and some MLAs, official sources said. They said the ED is investigating those who have been the beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime of the alleged coal levy scam perpetrated during the tenure of the current government. The ED investigation relates to "a massive scam in which illegal levy of Rs 25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen", the agency has ...

Lack of democratic system in J-K causing hardship to people: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Centre of snatching the democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and said the anti-encroachment drive was aimed at diverting attention from "real" issues. Gandhi was speaking at a meeting of party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir here, 52 km from Srinagar, a Congress spokesperson said. "(Rahul) Gandhi expressed serious concern over the difficulties confronting the people in the absence of a democratic system in J-K while slamming the government for snatching the rights of people," the spokesman said in a statement here. The Congress leader, who is on a private visit to Kashmir, accused the Centre of failing the people on all counts. Gandhi said J-K was divided into two Union Territories against the wishes of the people and they were now being denied their democratic rights by "the BJP aiming to hide its wrong policies and utter failure". The Congress shall continue to fight for the democratic rights of the people and en

1,338 elected AICC members to have voting rights in Congress plenary

Congress General Secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh, Kumari Selja said 235 of the delegates are women and 501 delegates are below the age of 50 years

15,000 delegates to participate in Congress' 85th plenary in Raipur

The plenary will discuss the roadmap for the upcoming election in 2023 and General Election in 2024

Nehruvian legacy ensures people cannot determine electoral outcomes: Cong

The Congress on Friday said whether the Adani issue sparks a democratic revival in the country depends entirely on the grand old party and other opposition parties, and it has nothing to do with billionaire investor George Soros. The party's remarks after Soros said the turmoil engulfing Gautam Adani's business empire may open the door to a democratic revival in the country. "Whether the 'PM-linked Adani scam' sparks a democratic revival in India depends entirely on the Congress, Opposition parties and our electoral process. It has nothing to do with George Soros," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter. "Our Nehruvian legacy ensures people like Soros cannot determine our electoral outcomes," he also said. The BJP has, however, hit out at Soros saying the investor has attacked not only Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also India. The Congress has been demanding a JPC probe into the allegations against the Adani Group by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research.

Cong chief urges people of Tripura to vote 'without fear' in assembly polls

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged the people of Tripura to vote "without fear" in the assembly polls, and asserted that they were united for change. Voting for the 60-member Assembly in Tripura began at 7 am on Thursday amid tight security. "People of Tripura are united for change. Sincerely urge everyone, especially the youth to come out and participate in the festival of Democracy and vote for peace and progress," Kharge said in a tweet. "Vote, without fear," he added. Votes will be counted on March 2.

Jairam Ramesh urges RBI, SEBI to probe allegations against Adani Group

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has written to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and sought an investigation into allegations of financial irregularities and stock manipulation against the Adani Group. In his letter to Das posted on Twitter on Wednesday, Ramesh urged the RBI to ensure that "excessive debt exposure" by the Adani Group currently and in the future does not destabilise India's banking system. "The Adani Group has been described as 'deeply over-leveraged' - if the Adani Group has artificially inflated the value of its stock through manipulation by offshore shell companies and raised funds by pledging those overvalued shares, the recent sell off in stock prices is creating vulnerabilities for the Adani Group to find financing, and by implication for India's banking system," the Congress MP said in his letter dated February 14. Ramesh called on the RBI to look into

BJP received Rs 614 cr as donation, Cong Rs 94 crore in 2021-22: ADR

The BJP received Rs 614 crore as donation in 2021-22, while the Congress got Rs 95 crore, according to poll reform body ADR. According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the total donations (above Rs 20, 000) declared by the national parties for 2021-22 was Rs 780.774 crore from 7,141 donations. "A total of Rs 614.63 crore from 4,957 donations was declared by the BJP, followed by Rs 95.46 crore from 1,255 donations declared by Congress. The donations declared by the BJP are more than three times the aggregate declared by the Congress, NCP, CPI, CPI(M), NPEP and AITC for the same period," the ADR said. The Bahujan Samaj Party (SP) declared it did not receive any donation above Rs 20,000 during 2021-22 as it has been declaring for the past 16 years, the ADR said. The total donations of the national parties during 2021-22 rose by Rs 187.03 crore, an increase of 31.50 per cent from 2020-21. Donations to the BJP rose from Rs 477.55 in 2020-21 crore during to R

We condemn 'intimidation tactics', shows govt scared of criticism: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday termed as "intimidation tactics" the Income Tax survey operation at the BBC offices and alleged that the action shows that the Modi government is scared of criticism. The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at the BBC's offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, officials said. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that while the party is demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe on the Adani issue, the "government is after the BBC". He also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying "Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi" (When doom approaches, a person's intellect works against his interest). "Here we are demanding JPC on the Adani issue but the government is after the BBC. Vinash Kale Viprit Buddhi," Ramesh said. Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said the IT raid at BBC's offices "reeks of desperation and shows that the Modi ..

If nothing to hide, why govt running from JPC probe into Adani issue: Cong

The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the Centre was "running away" from a JPC probe into the Adani-Hindenburg issue and said such an investigation be allowed if the government has nothing to hide in the matter. The Congress' attack on the government came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's reported remarks that there is nothing for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hide or be afraid of in the matter. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said he has written to RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch for an impartial probe into the Adani issue. Reacting to Shah's reported remarks, Ramesh said, "If they do not have anything to hide, why are they running away from a Joint Parliamentary Committee (probe)." "They do not even allow us to raise the demand of the JPC in Parliament. When our leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge ji, raised the demand for JPC, their remarks were expunged

Rahul's plane 'deliberately' denied landing permission in Varanasi: Cong

The Congress Party have alleged that Rahul Gandhi's plane was denied permission to land at Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport on Monday.Congress leader Ajay Rai said that the airport authorities did not grant permission as they were under pressure, and that they used President Droupadi Murmu's visit as an 'excuse'.He said Rahul Gandhi's flight was scheduled to land at Varanasi airport on Monday night, but was "deliberately" not given permission."Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to arrive here and then go to Prayagraj, but the airport authority did not allow his plane to land due to pressure from the government. They said there is a heavy aircraft movement and traffic congestion and did not give permission," Rai alleged.The Congress leader also said that the BJP government is 'scared' of Rahul Gandhi and hence they did not allow the plane to land at the airport in Varanasi."Prime minister of the country has been anxious since Rahul Gandhi led the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Now, they are ...

Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till March 13 amid Oppn's disruptions

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till March 13 on Monday as Opposition parties disrupted the House, demanding revocation of the suspension of Congress MP Rajani Patil and setting up of a JPC to probe allegations against the Adani Group. The House, which was briefly adjourned in the morning, will now meet at 11 am on March 13 after recess. Soon after the listed papers were laid on the table of the House, Opposition MPs insisted that the Chair allow Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to speak. When Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar permitted Kharge to speak, several members from the treasury benches started raising slogans. However, Kharge's remarks were expunged by the chair. Opposition MPs too kept raising slogans. Several of them trooped into the Well of the House. Patil was suspended from the House for the remainder of the Budget session for circulating an unauthorised video of house proceedings.

Manish Tewari moves adjournment notice in LS on China transgression issue

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday moved an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the China transgressions issue.

Union budget 'exclusionary', minorities 'brutally discriminated': Congress

Dubbing the Union Budget "exclusionary", Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged on Friday that the minorities have been "brutally discriminated" against in the allocations and that many view it as part of a series of Islamophobic policy decisions by the government. Concluding a discussion on the budget in Lok Sabha, Chowdhury also asked the government to answer questions raised in the US-based short seller Hindenburg Research's report on billionaire Gautam Adani's companies that triggered an unprecedented stock crash. He reiterated the Opposition's demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe or a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the matter. Chowdhury alleged that the Union Budget for 2023-24 was nothing but "skewed numbers" and had neglected regions such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast. He claimed that the budget had failed to cater to vulnerable sections of society, including women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and ...

Rajasthan Budget: Free electricity to farmers using less than 2,000 units

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday announced free electricity to more than 11 lakh farmers who consume less than 2,000 units per month. Providing uninterrupted power supply for farming is a priority for the state government, the chief minister said in his Budget speech for 2023-24. Farmers consuming up to 2,000 units per month will get free electricity from the 2023-24 financial year, Gehlot said. He also announced the enactment of the Rajasthan Farmers Debt Relief Act in order to protect the land of small and marginal farmers from being auctioned off.

Is there pressure on NSE, SEBI to go 'easy' on Adani Group, asks Congress

The Congress alleged on Thursday that the National Stock Exchange (NSE) "failed" to take action against the embattled Adani Group and asked if there was "pressure" on the bourse and market regulator SEBI to go easy on the conglomerate. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed a set of three questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the party's "HAHK (Hum Adani ke Hain Kaun)" series to target the government in the wake of the fraud-allegation-triggered rout in Adani Group company stocks. Ramesh alleged that the "failure" of market regulators like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to protect Indian capital markets has "tarnished" their image and put a question mark on the integrity of India's financial markets. In a statement addressing the prime minister, Ramesh said, "You (PM) have used strong words in the past, calling on world leaders at G20 meets 'to eliminate safe havens for economic offenders', to 'track down and unconditionally extradite money

Opposition attacks PM for 'not giving answers' on Adani rout issue

The opposition hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday for not responding to allegations related to industrialist Gautam Adani, which they termed "the elephant in the room", with former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi accusing Modi of "protecting" the billionaire. The opposition's attack came after Modi said the trust reposed in him by crores of people is his protective shield, which cannot be breached by abuse and allegations from his detractors. Replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in the Lok Sabha, the prime minister said people know that he has come to their help in times of crisis and asked the opposition parties how would these same people agree with their abuses and allegations. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh described the prime minister's reply in Parliament as diversionary and said there was not even a word on his "links" with his "favourite businessman". Trinamool Congress's (TMC) leader in the Lok Sabha Sudip ...