Page 18 - Jairam Ramesh

Thousands of wetlands under severe threat, their protection vital: Jairam

Congress leader and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said thousands of wetlands across the country are under severe threat daily and asserted that their protection is vital as they are of great ecological significance. In a post on X, Ramesh said the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the Caspian Sea in February 1971. The then prime minister Indira Gandhi had sent India's greatest ornithologist, Salim Ali, as India's delegate. "How this happened has been described in my book, 'Indira Gandhi: A Life in Nature'. It was Salim Ali who, more than anybody else, awakened the nation's conscience to the protection of wetlands," Ramesh said. There are now 80 Ramsar sites across the country, with the maximum of 16 in Tamil Nadu and 10 in Uttar Pradesh, he pointed out. Chilika in Odisha was the first wetland to be designated as a Ramsar site on October 1, 1981, he noted. Ramesh said the pause of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on Tuesday

Nyay Yatra will not be derailed: Jairam on Rahul's appearance before court

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered its 38th day on Tuesday. The yatra will start from Fursantganj in Amethi district and will move towards Raebareli and Lucknow today

Rahul to appear before court on Feb 20; Yatra to be paused: Jairam Ramesh

The complaint was filed by the then BJP District Vice President, Vijay Mishra

SP chief Akhilesh likely to join Rahul's Yatra in Amethi: Jairam Ramesh

'I expect that he will join the Yatra tomorrow. Earlier, Apna Dal leader Pallavi Patel also joined the yatra,' Congress leader Ramesh said

Central govt doing injustice to farmers: Cong leader Jairam Ramesh

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over farmers' protest, alleging that the Center is doing injustice to them. Interacting with media persons in Rohtas, Ramesh said, When the Modi government brought three black laws, the farmers sat on strike for almost a year. After that, the government withdrew the laws and made many promises to the farmers. These promises have not been fulfilled till date. He was referring to three laws that the Modi government had passed in June 2020, stating that those would bring reforms to the farm sector. However, cultivators started protesting against the legislations in November and ended their agitation after Parliament repealed the three laws in the same month next year. Now, when the farmers are coming to Delhi again, the Central government is raining tear gas shells on them and spreading nails on their path. The Modi government is committing huge atrocities on them and doing injusti

Centre giving tax benefits to few chosen big corporates: Jairam Ramesh

The Congress on Wednesday accused the central government of giving tax benefits to a few chosen big corporate conglomerates and doing "anyay" (injustice) to the poor and common people of the country. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the money generated from personal income tax is higher than corporate tax and alleged this is a direct result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving corporate tax cut to his chosen friends while the poor are reeling under the onslaught of price rise and high taxes. "For the first time in over three decades (excluding the 2020-21 pandemic), the Union government is generating more money from personal income tax (Rs 10 lakh crore) than it is from corporate tax (Rs 9 lakh crore). "This is the direct result of PM Modi giving his close friends a Rs 1.84 lakh crore handout in the form of the September 2019 corporate tax cut just before he left for Houston's Howdy Modi event to boost Trump's re-election campaign," he said in a post on X. "This ...

Nyay Yatra to go on two-day break after Odisha-leg: Jairam Ramesh

The Odisha leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, being spearheaded by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, is scheduled to be completed on Thursday, party leader Jairam Ramesh said

PSUs created by Congress govts in danger, as BJP busy selling them: Ramesh

Congress general secretary (Communication) Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday claimed public sector undertakings including the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) created by the previous Congress governments are in "danger" as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "busy in selling" these units. Ramesh, who is accompanying party leader Rahul Gandhi in his 'Bharat Jodo Naya Yatra' that reached Rajgangpur in Odisha's Sundergarh district, said this at a press conference. "Pandit Nehru created many public sectors in the country, but all of them are in danger today. PM Modi is busy selling these PSUs created by Congress, to his friends, but the Congress party will oppose it", he said. Stating that Rourkela holds a special importance in the economic history of our country, Ramesh said the Congress government had set up major projects like RSP, Nalco, NTPC and other such projects in Odisha and all of them are "not safe" because of the BJP's policies. "The country's big PSUs including Rail, SAIL, Port, Airports a

Crude oil price dip benefit not passed on to consumers, alleges Congress

The Congress on Wednesday attacked the government over fuel prices, alleging that crude oil has become cheaper in the last two years but "looting from the public continues". Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X in which he claimed that crude oil prices have gone down by 38 per cent but its benefits were not passed on to consumers. In a post in Hindi on X, Ramesh said, "Recently the Prime Minister was sermonising in Parliament on inflation and other topics. But look at this feat of his government. Crude oil has become cheaper by 38 per cent in 2 years but looting from the public continues." This once again proves what Rahul Gandhi has stated that money is being "looted" from the public and put into the pockets of "crony capitalist friends", Ramesh said. "This is clearly an injustice to the people of the country. We are raising our voice against the "anyay kaal' of the last 10 years through the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra," he said. The Congress has been al

Congress flays PM Modi for 'vicious' attack on Nehru during LS address

The Congress on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of suffering from deep insecurities and complexes, saying this makes him "viciously" attack Jawaharlal Nehru. A day after Modi attacked former prime ministers Nehru and Indira Gandhi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said BJP veterans Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Kishan Advani never did this, but PM Modi by doing so is "demeaning" the high office he holds. "The Prime Minister was at his nonsensical worst in the Lok Sabha yesterday and undoubtedly will stage a repeat performance in the Rajya Sabha today," he said in a post on X. "He suffers from deep insecurities and complexes which makes him attack Nehru not politically, but personally in a vicious manner," Ramesh charged. "Vajpayee and Advani never did this. But Mr. Modi being who he is, thinks he is being clever but actually demeans the office he holds. Megalomania and Nehruphobia are a toxic mix that is leading to the Murder Of Democracy in India," the Congress

INDIA will easily win vote of confidence in J'khand Assembly: Jairam Ramesh

The two-day Assembly session will begin today. The newly formed Champai Soren-led coalition government in Jharkhand willl seek a trust vote

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra resumes in Jharkhand's Dhanbad

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' resumed from Dhanbad on Sunday, the third day of his yatra in Jharkhand. After a night halt in Tundi block of the district on Saturday, the yatra resumed at Govindpur in Dhanbad city on Sunday. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said, "Today, we are in Dhanbad and we will be going to Bokaro." He said that Bokaro is a steel city. "These are the monuments built by (former Prime Minister) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. When people say what we did in 70 years... Bhilai, Rourkela, Durgapur, Bhakra Nangal, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Barauni, Sindri - these are all monuments to India's economic development", Ramesh said. Jharkhand Congress vice-president Brajendra Prasad Singh said the yatra which started from Govindpur, will pass through Saraidhela, IIT-ISM gate, Randhir Verma Chowk, Shramik Chowk near the railway station and reach Bank More where he will address a public rally. Thereafter, it will proceed towards Bokaro Steel City. After the launch break

Congress' Jairam Ramesh accuses govt of importing 5.6 mn tonnes cheap steel

India is currently the world's second-biggest crude steel producer

'Aaya Kumar, gaya Kumar'?: Congress slams Nitish, says people will reply

The Congress on Monday took a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with another chameleon barb and 'aaya Kumar, gaya Kumar' jibe at him, a day after the JD(U) leader's latest volte-face in Bihar. Kumar on Sunday resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar, saying "things were not working well" for him in the Mahagathbandhan or the grand alliance and the opposition bloc INDIA, and formed a new government with the BJP, which he had dumped less than 18 months ago. In a post in Hindi on 'X', Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Girgit ko bhi karni padi naye rang ki khoj, ye shoorveer badalte hain itne rang roz (Even the chameleon had to search for a new colour as these 'warriors' change so many colours everyday)." Speaking with reporters in Uttar Dinajpur in West Bengal during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Ramesh said, "What can I say? I said yesterday 'aaya Kumar, gaya Kumar'. Nitish Kumar gives a tough competition to a chameleon." Ramesh swipe was a word play on the ...

Our workers not happy with clash with TMC at ground level: Jairam Ramesh

In the states, we can fight, like in Kerala, where we fight with the leftists. We keep fighting with each other, but if we do not fight at the national level, we will have to find some similar formula

Modi govt doing politics of symbolism with Dalits, backwards, tribals: Cong

The Congress on Sunday alleged that there is a "conspiracy" to end reservation given to SCs, STs and OBCs for posts in higher education institutions, and claimed that the Modi government is only doing "politics of symbolism" with regard to Dalits, backward classes and tribals. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which said that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued draft guidelines for de-reserving vacancies meant for the scheduled castes (SC), the scheduled tribes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates for posts in higher education institutes (HEIs) and open them up for the general category if enough reserved candidates are not available. Ramesh demanded that such a proposal should be withdrawn immediately. In his post in Hindi, Ramesh said, "A few years ago, RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) chief Mohan Bhagwat had talked about reviewing reservations. Now, there is a conspiracy to end the reservation given to SCs, STs and OBCs

Expected Nitish Kumar would fight BJP at very end: Cong's Jairam Ramesh

His reaction came just moments before Nitish Kumar announced his exit from the Mahagathbandhan creating a path for him to a possible return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

Nyay Yatra being denied permission for rallies in West Bengal: Congress

West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday said his party was facing problems in getting permission for organising some public meetings as part of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in West Bengal. Speaking to reporters in Siliguri, Chowdhury said the party wanted to organise public meetings in certain places, but due to school examinations, the permission was not granted. "In some places, we are facing roadblocks as we are not getting permission to organise public meetings, citing exams. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has faced problems in the Northeast, including Assam, and now it is facing problems in TMC-ruled West Bengal as well," he said. Speaking on the issue on Thursday night, Chowdhury had said that they thought they would get "relaxations" in some places in West Bengal for the public meetings but the administration "is saying that they can't give it". The Rahul Gandhi-led Yatra, which began in Manipur on January 14, entered West Bengal from Assam on Thursday, and

Hopeful of finding solution to seat-sharing impasse with TMC: Jairam Ramesh

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Thursday said the party is hopeful of finding a solution to the seat-sharing impasse with the TMC, a day after its supremo Mamata Banerjee made a surprise announcement of going solo in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal. Ramesh, while speaking to reporters at the Bagdogra airport here, maintained that the Congress cannot think of an INDIA bloc without Banerjee, as she is indispensable in the fight against the BJP in the country. "We all want Mamata Banerjee to be a part of the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' as our motto is common... If we want to defeat the BJP in Bengal and India, she is very much needed. Our leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have immense respect for Mamata ji," he said. "I don't want to make any running commentary on seat-sharing, but we want this impasse to end and we will find a solution," he added.

National Voters' Day: Cong hits out at EC for refusing to meet INDIA bloc

The Congress on Thursday criticised the Election Commission on the National Voters' Day for refusing to meet INDIA bloc leaders on its demand for greater use of VVPATs in polls, terming it as an "injustice" that strikes at the very foundations of democracy. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also said that the National Voters' Day reaffirms the power of the people to determine their own destiny by exercising the freedom to elect their own representatives. In a post on X, AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said every year January 25 is celebrated as the National Voters' Day by the Election Commission of India. But sadly, this independent institution has been simply refusing to meet a delegation of leaders belonging to the INDIA bloc who only want to put across their point of view on the greater use of VVPATs when voters cast their vote, he said. "VVPAT is nothing but Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail. This persistent refusal of the ECI is an ANYAY that strikes at the very ...