Page 12 - Jairam Ramesh

Rs 62k cr claims settled for just Rs 16k cr after Adani's takeover: Cong

The Congress on Wednesday cited data purportedly revealed by All India Bank Employees Association to allege that public sector banks that had claims of about Rs 62,000 crore from 10 financially-stressed companies were made to settle them for just Rs 16,000 crore after the Adani Group took over these firms. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a screen shot of details purportedly shared by the Association which shows that 10 firms were given 'haircuts' ranging from 96 per cent to 42 per cent as they were purchased by the Adani Group. "The All India Bank Employees Association has revealed, through publicly available data, how public sector banks that had claims of about Rs 62,000 crore from 10 financially stressed companies have been made to settle for just Rs 16,000 crore after the non-biological PM's favourite business group took over these 10 companies," Ramesh said. "In the colourful language of finance, this is a 74 per cent 'haircut' taken by the banks," Ramesh ...

Will PM Modi hijack another Cong guarantee and conduct caste census: Jairam

A day after the RSS' comments on caste census, the Congress on Tuesday wondered whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would "hijack" another of its guarantee and conduct the caste census now with the Sangh having "given the green signal". The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday said it has no objection to collecting data on specific communities or castes, provided that the information is used for their welfare and not exploited as a political tool for electoral gains. Reacting to the remarks, Congress' general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said RSS's preaching on caste census raises some basic questions such as - does it have a veto power over caste census. "Who is the RSS to give permission for caste census? What does the RSS mean when it says caste census should not be misused for electioneering? Is it to be a judge or umpire?" Ramesh said in a post in Hindi on X. Why has RSS maintained a "mysterious silence" on the need for a constitutional amendment to

Govt defends Great Nicobar project amid criticism, cites national interest

The project could also effect a potential genocide of the Shompen tribe, Ramesh had alleged, echoing concerns of various activists over the past year

Proverbial ostrich: Cong slams govt over unprecedented decline in wages

The Congress on Sunday claimed that a combination of slow wage growth and "back-breaking" inflation has caused an unprecedented decline in real wages and said that like the "proverbial ostrich", the government continues to remain blind to the most fundamental challenge faced by the Indian economy. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said a new report by a noted brokerage firm has once again shed light on the truth that the Union Government has consistently denied - real household incomes in India are facing a persistent decline. "A combination of slow wage growth and back-breaking inflation has caused an unprecedented decline in real wages (wages adjusted for price rise) and therefore incomes," he said in a statement. Ramesh pointed out that several surveys and data sets - including the Annual Survey of Unregistered Enterprises (ASUSE), the Reserve Bank of India's KLEMS data, and the Household Consumer Expenditure Survey (HCES) - have demonstrated ...

Bhupender Yadav responds to Jairam's concerns over Great Nicobar project

Yadav noted that despite the diversion of forest land for the project, 82 per cent of the Great Nicobar area remains under protected forests

PM Modi has no vision to tackle unprecedented unemployment crisis: Cong

The Congress on Thursday claimed the country is grappling with an "unprecedented unemployment crisis" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi "has no vision" to tackle this situation and provide employment to the youth. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared a news article on X that cited a report released by the Bank of Baroda claiming that the growth in employment in the corporate sector slowed to 1.5 per cent in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24) from 5.7 per cent in FY23. "This is another report showing the failure of this government on the economic front. A total of 2.43 lakh jobs have been lost in the country in 2022-23. There has been massive layoffs in 375 companies," Ramesh said in his post in Hindi, citing the report. "The self-proclaimed non-biological Prime Minister talks in a hollow manner about giving two crore jobs every year and creating 80 million jobs every year, but the reality is that the country is grappling with an unprecedented ...

Why institutions like CCI remained passive as Adani built monopolies: Cong

The Congress on Wednesday questioned the Competition Commission of India over its approval of all acquisitions by the Adani Group, asking why such institutions "remained passive" as the conglomerate built "monopolies" in critical infrastructure sectors, raising prices at consumers' expense. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has reportedly raised concerns that the proposed Reliance-Disney merger could stifle competition. "It is a good time to reflect on how the CCI should have also had the courage to address how the non-biological PM's other favourite business conglomerate is acquiring companies and reducing competition across various industries," he said in a post on X. "The CCI is legally required to approve mergers and acquisitions that exceed a certain threshold. Yet, all acquisitions by the Adani Group have been approved, even as the company builds monopolies in sectors like ports, airports, power, an

Counterfeit notes rife again, claims Congress, questions demonetisation

The Congress on Friday claimed the counterfeit notes have become rife once again and termed as an "eyewash" the government's assertion that the overall number of counterfeit notes detected has fallen. The opposition party also claimed that counterfeiting has just moved rapidly to higher-value notes. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh asked what has the 2016 demonetisation achieved if neither black money nor counterfeiting has been curbed. "Eight years after the non-biological PM ground the economy to a halt through demonetisation, it appears that counterfeit notes have become rife once again - The number of counterfeit Rs 500 notes of the new series that have been detected has nearly quadrupled between 2018-19 and 2023-24. The number of fake Rs 2,000 notes has tripled since 2020-21, he claimed. "While the Government can claim that the overall number of counterfeit notes detected has fallen, this is an eyewash. Counterfeiting has just moved rapidly to

Hindenburg row: Oppn calls for JPC probe, suspension of Madhabi Puri Buch

Opposition parties claimed govt cut short Budget session to avoid questions on the issue

Jairam Ramesh calls for review of Great Nicobar Island project by panels

Asserting that the mega infra project in Great Nicobar Island is a "grave threat" to the natural ecosystem, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has urged Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to suspend all clearances accorded to the project and called for its thorough and impartial review, including by the parliamentary committees concerned. In a letter to Yadav, former environment minister Ramesh said the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change must fulfil its dharma, and not allow itself to be reduced to becoming a project proponent, especially when the project has decidedly "disastrous" human, social and ecological consequences. "You may recall our recent exchange in the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour. The Union Government's proposed Rs. 72,000 crore 'Mega Infra Project' in Great Nicobar Island is a grave threat to Great Nicobar Island's tribal communities and natural ecosystem," Ramesh said. The project can have "catastrophic ecological and human consequences" and has be

Parl suddenly got adjourned, now we know why: Cong after Hindenburg claims

The Congress on Saturday used the Latin phrase "Quis Custodiet Ipsos" or "who will guard the guards themselves"? to take a swipe at SEBI chief Madhabi Buch, after US short seller Hindenburg levelled allegations against her. Hindenburg has alleged that Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the Adani money-siphoning case. Tagging the Hindenburg post on the allegations on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes (who will guard the guards themselves)." In another post on the microblogging platform, Ramesh said, "Parliament was notified to sit till the evening of August 12th. Suddenly it got adjourned sine die on the afternoon of Aug 9th itself. Now we know why." In a blogpost, Hindenburg said 18 months since its damning report on industrialist Gautam Adani, "SEBI has shown a surprising lack of interest in Adani's alleged undisclosed web of Mauritius and offshore shell entities." Citing "whistleblower documents", it .

Modi govt cannot persist with 'cavalier implementation' of schemes: Cong

The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre over the implementation of the PM-KUSUM initiative, launched in 2019 to increase the agricultural use of solar energy across the country, and said the Modi government cannot persist with such "cavalier" implementation of schemes. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has revealed some "startling facts" about PM-KUSUM, launched with "great fanfare" in 2019 to increase the agricultural use of solar energy across the country. "Here's the update from 2024, two years before completion target of 2026: Promise: Installation of 10,000 MW decentralized solar power plants on agriculture land. Reality: 256 MW has been installed (2.56% of target)," Ramesh said in a post on X. "Promise: Installation of 14 lakh solar pumps. Reality: 3.97 lakh solar pumps installed (about 28% of target)," he said. "Promise: Solarisation of 35 lakh additional pumps. Reality: 13,562 pumps have been .

India needs policy solution to mushrooming of coaching institutes: Congress

India needs a comprehensive policy solution to mushrooming of coaching institutes, the Congress said on Saturday and called for a revision of syllabi, more resources for all exam-takers and investments in the quality of education. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said data provided by the Department of Higher Education to the Rajya Sabha shows that GST collections from coaching institutes have risen rapidly between 2019 and 2024, from Rs 2,241 crore to Rs 5,517 crore. This represents an astonishing 146-per cent rise in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections, some part of which may be attributable to better enforcement, but it also likely comes from the growing market size, he said. "Worryingly, the GST collections of Rs 5,517 crore in FY24, collected at a rate of 18 per cent, suggests a market of Rs 30,653 crore for coaching institutes annually. This is an extremely worrying figure, since it corresponds to about two-thirds of the Union Budget's ...

'Sheer desperation': Cong slams Sitharaman over her criticism of opposition

Blaming the Congress "propaganda" for deterring private investment is "sheer desperation", the party said on Thursday while hitting out at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her remarks attacking the opposition. In an apparent attack on the Opposition, Sitharaman said conspiracy is being carried out to damage India's image and give a message to foreign investors that the country is not safe for investment. Hitting back at Sitharaman, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Private investment - domestic and foreign - in India, so very vital for accelerating India's economic growth, is still very sluggish and refuses to boom. This is inspite of steep corporate tax cuts and aggressive PR by the non-biological PM and his cheerleaders and drumbeaters." "Now the FM has come up with what she thinks is the answer to this puzzle. In the Lok Sabha yesterday, she blamed what she calls Congress propaganda for deterring private investment. This is sheer ...

Cong slams govt for double standards in giving funds to flood-hit states

The Congress Sunday accused the central government of practising "double standards" in allocating funds to flood-afflicted states, alleging that it was exacting "revenge" on the people of Himachal Pradesh for not voting for the BJP in the assembly elections. Congress general secretary (In-charge, Communications) Jairam Ramesh said, "Yesterday, the self-anointed non-biological Prime Minister said that Viksit Bharat depends on Viksit states. Wow, such a profundity. If only he put the taxpayer's money where his mouth is!" "After the disastrous floods of 2023, the government of Himachal Pradesh repeatedly demanded that the Union government declare the floods a national calamity'? a plea which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman repeatedly rejected," Ramesh said in a post on X. "Now, in her Budget Speech, when allocating funds for irrigation and flood mitigation, the Finance Minister has provided a vivid illustration of the double standards at work in the non-biological PM's Government,"

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

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

Naidu taken for right royal ride: Congress on Budget allocation to Andhra

The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, saying he quit the NDA in 2018 due to the Centre's failure to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh and six years later when the government is reliant on his MPs, all he has managed to get is a "special financial support" for Amaravati. The government on Tuesday announced a series of measures for Andhra Pradesh, including arranging Rs 15,000 crore this fiscal and in future years for the development of the capital city of the state. Presenting Union Budget 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will also facilitate special financial support for the development of the capital city. Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "In 2018, Chandrababu Naidu garu quit the NDA because of the non-biological PM's failure to grant Andhra Pradesh Special Category Status. "Six years after the drama, at a time when the Government is ..

Budget 2024: 'FM taking ideas from Congress manifesto', says Jairam Ramesh

Union Budget 2024: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Finance Minister has taken a leaf out of the INC's Nyay Patra 2024, with its internship programme. Here's how the Opposition reacted

Explained: What was the RSS ban on govt servants; lifted after 58 years

Narendra Modi-led central government on July 9 passed an order lifting a ban imposed by then Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel, following Mahatma Gandhi's assassination