Page 19 - Jairam Ramesh

Biggest money heist since 1947: Jairam Ramesh's Adani reference to PM Modi

The senior Congress leader said that the people pay the price for Adani's rise via "inflated electric bills"

Is this Modi's guarantee for MP: Congress slams BJP for picking Mohan Yadav

The Congress on Tuesday attacked the BJP for picking Mohan Yadav as the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, alleging that there are many serious allegations against him including large-scale manipulation in the Ujjain masterplan. Springing a surprise, the BJP on Monday picked Yadav, a leader of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and a three-time MLA, as the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, Eight days after the election results, BJP elected the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, a person against whom there are many serious allegations including of large-scale manipulation in the Ujjain masterplan. Out of the 872 acres of land reserved for Simhastha, his land was carved out by changing the land use, the Congress leader alleged. Many of Yadav's videos are also viral on social media in which he is seen abusing, threatening and making objectionable statements, Ramesh alleged. Is this 'Modi's guarantee' for Madhya

Oppn parties attack Amit Shah for remarks against Nehru; BJP hits back

Opposition parties on Wednesday attacked Home Minister Amit Shah for his remarks against India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, with Congress leaders saying nobody has the right to insult those who fought against British Rule and offered everything to support the freedom struggle. BJP leaders, however, asserted that whatever Shah said in the Lok Sabha about Nehru is correct, and history has to be told. Shah on Wednesday blamed Nehru's "two major blunders" -- declaring a ceasefire without winning entire Kashmir and taking the issue to the United Nations -- for the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The home minister trained his guns at Nehru while replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill. Reacting to Shah's remarks, Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh wrote on X, "Today in the Lok Sabha, the home minister made deliberately provocat

Congress slams wheat policy, says poor suffering due to PM's 'showmanship'

The Congress on Tuesday attacked the Centre over its policy on wheat export and import, alleging that due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "showmanship", the poor people have suffered. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which claimed that India may allow import of Russian wheat to mitigate the rising domestic wheat prices ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. In a post in Hindi on X, Ramesh said, "Last year, to shore up his image, the Prime Minister had claimed that India is capable of feeding the world. He gave free rein to export of wheat." "Then wheat crisis occurred in our own country. By the end of 2022, wheat stocks reached a 15-year low. When the situation worsened, exports were banned. Now there is news that the government is considering importing wheat," the Congress leader said. Meanwhile, the prices of wheat products, including flour, in the country increased by 50 per cent, he claimed. Ramesh said there have also been reports of rice being giv

Cong leader Jairam Ramesh slams Modi government over situation in Manipur

The Congress on Tuesday targeted the Modi government over the violence in Manipur, saying the situation in the state is far from normal. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Manipur situation. While the Home minister claims that peace has returned to the north eastern state, the ground realities are different, he said. "It has been 7 months now. The situation in Manipur continues to be far from normal. Just yesterday came news of a fresh round of violence which took the lives of thirteen people. Earlier, a public sector bank had been looted and some Rs. 18 crore carried off," he said in a post on X. "The Home Minister claims peace has returned but ground realities are to the contrary. And of course, the Prime Minister carries on with his inexplicable silence on Manipur, along with his refusal to meet with Manipuri leaders or visit the state," Ramesh said. At least 13 people, suspected to be the cadres of the ..

Cong in striking distance of BJP in terms of vote share: Ramesh on results

The Congress on Monday said its performance in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh was disappointing but it was within "striking distance" of the BJP going by the vote share. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the good vote share of the party in these states is a reason for hope and revival. "It is true that the performance of the Indian National Congress in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan was disappointing and far below our own expectations. "But the vote shares tell a story of a Congress that is not very behind the BJPin fact, it is within striking distance. This is the reason for hope and revival," Ramesh said in a post on X. Giving details, he said in Chhattisgarh while the BJP's vote share was 46.3 percent, that of the Congress was 42.2 percent. In Madhya Pradesh, he said the BJP had a vote share of 48.6 percent while the Congress had 40.4 percent. In Rajasthan, Ramesh said while the BJP had 41.7 percent vote share, the Congress had 39.5 percent.

Indira, Haksar proved more than a match for Nixon-Kissinger in 1971: Ramesh

As former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger passed away, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday recalled that in 1971 then US President Richard Nixon and Kissinger created huge headaches for India but then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her close aide P N Haksar proved more than a match for them. Kissinger, who dominated foreign policy as the United States extricated itself from Vietnam, died Wednesday. He was 100. In a post on X, Ramesh said, Henry Kissinger has passed away. He was as immensely consequential as he was hugely controversial. In his long and eventful life he has been both celebrated and condemned, Ramesh noted. But there can be no doubt about his sheer intellectual brilliance and awesome charisma, he said. For the last three decades, he positioned himself as a great friend and supporter of India and indeed he was, Ramesh said. But this was not always so and in 1971 especially, President Nixon and he created huge headaches for India and thought they

PM's visit to Manipur called for as part of 'efforts' for peace in NE: Cong

The Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at the Centre over Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks hailing the Narendra Modi government's "relentless efforts to establish permanent peace in the Northeast", saying a visit by the prime minister to Manipur which has seen so much turmoil is called for as part of these "so-called efforts". Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh's attack on the government came after Home Minister Shah announced that the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), an extremist group operating in Manipur, signed a peace agreement with the government and agreed to renounce violence. "A historic milestone achieved!!! Modi govt's relentless efforts to establish permanent peace in the Northeast have added a new chapter of fulfilment as the United National Liberation Front signed a peace agreement today in New Delhi. "UNLF, the oldest valley-based armed group of Manipur, has agreed to renounce violence and join the mainstream. I welcome them to the democratic processes

Uttarakhand tunnel episode: Congress seeks thorough audit of all projects

A day after 41 workers were rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, the Congress on Wednesday demanded a thorough audit of all projects under implementation while also calling for putting on hold all future projects in the Himalayan region and subjecting them to professional ecological scrutiny. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said while "we salute the rescued workers and applaud the entire rescue team", there should be a reflection on some larger questions thrown up by the tunnel collapse. "While we salute the rescued workers and applaud the entire rescue team -especially the twelve 'rat-hole' miners who displayed both skill and daring, and who surely deserve a more appropriate name for the work they do -- we should also reflect on some larger questions thrown up by the tunnel collapse," the former environment minister said in a post on X. The fragility and complexity of the Western Himalayan ecosystem has been brought home to us in a stark manner, he said. "What

Jairam Ramesh questions BRS' KT Rama Rao on state's per capita income

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, termed these claims made by KTR a betrayal of one of the main reasons for the formation of Telangana -- balanced development of the State

Ahead of T'gana polls, Cong counters KTR on highest per capita income claim

The Congress on Monday hit out at BRS leader K T Rama Rao for tom-tomming that Telangana has the highest per capita income in the country, saying the high per capita income was only because of three districts while more than 75 per cent of the state's population lives in the other 30 districts. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this is nothing but a betrayal of one of the main reasons for the formation of Telangana balanced development of the state. In a post on X, he said KTR has been tom-tomming that Telangana has the highest per capita income in the country. What are the facts? According to the RBI, at CONSTANT prices which is the yardstick that matters, Karnataka and Haryana have higher per capita incomes than Telangana, while Tamil Nadu is at the same level with a much larger population base, Ramesh said in his post. The high per capita income in Telangana is only because of the three districts of Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Sangareddy, he claimed. More than 75 pe

PM Jhooth Bolo Yojana to seek mandate: Jairam Ramesh hits out at PM Modi

"PM Modi always says that in Rajasthan women, dalit and adivasis are not safe. This is the effort to insult to Rajasthan," he added

Congress seeking mandate on works done by its govt in Rajasthan: Ramesh

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said the party is seeking mandate based on the works done by its government in Rajasthan in the last five years, whereas the BJP's issues are polarisation and ED and CBI. He alleged the BJP has no strategy other than this and the prime minister is raising allegations against Rajasthan government out of fear. He termed the allegations "totally baseless". Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his public meeting in Udaipur had accused the Congress government of sympathising with terrorists. "Rajasthan has become a model state in the last five years and the prime minister is afraid and troubled by it. Since the PM is not left with any other issue, ED and CBI is sent. And again and again the PM and their associates speak the language of polarisation," Ramesh told reporters at a press conference in Jaipur. He said that BJP cannot talk about schemes of the Congress government as they are not in a situation to comment on it. "They are afr

Covid lockdown delayed to bring down Congress govt in MP: Jairam Ramesh

The Kamal Nath-led government collapsed in March 2020 after several MLAs of his party resigned, paving the way for the return of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government

Govt's move to extend free ration scheme indicates economic distress: Cong

The Congress on Sunday said the government's decision to extend the free ration scheme for another five years is an indication of the continuing high level of economic distress and growing inequalities in the country. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shifting his position on the issue. "His latest announcement is an indication of the continuing high level of economic distress and growing inequalities. For the vast majority of Indians incomes have not grown in line with the sky-high prices of essential commodities," Ramesh said in a post on X. He said the prime minister has announced that the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) will be extended by another five years. As chief minister of Gujarat he had consistently opposed the National Food Security Act (NFSA) passed by Parliament in Sept 2013, the Congress leader claimed. Ramesh said the PMGKY is nothing but the NFSA that already covered 80 crore Indians. "This of course is not the

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Modi govt tried to 'weaken' 2010 Act meant for protecting monuments: Cong

The Congress on Sunday claimed the Modi government has tried to "weaken" a 2010 law meant for the protection of monuments and archaeological sites and that its determined resistance along with that of other parties has prevented this from happening so far. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X on the National Monuments Authority (NMA) having released draft heritage bylaws for one more centrally protected monument in Bihar - the supposed site of the Palace of Asoka located in the state capital- for conservation and periphery development. He hailed it as great news. In his post, Ramesh said, "The National Monuments Authority (NMA) was set up soon after Parliament passed the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act in March 2010." This was a huge step forward for the protection of "our cultural heritage that is under constant threat", he said. The NMA has so far laid in both Houses of Parliament a total of eigh

Cong cites news on Adani's auditor, says something truly rotten in group

The Congress on Thursday cited a media report that one of the Adani Group's longtime auditors is being scrutinised by India's accounting regulator to allege that "something is truly rotten" in the conglomerate. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh's attack on the Adani Group came after a media report claimed that the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has in recent weeks started an inquiry into one of the member firms of EY in India, S R Batliboi. In his post on X, Ramesh said, "In May 2023, a little-known statutory auditor of Adani Total Gas Ltd resigned. In August 2023, another statutory auditor this time an internationally known firm resigned after flagging concerns on financial transactions of Adani Ports." In October 2023, comes news of a third statutory auditor also a big name in the profession of five listed Adani Group companies being itself investigated by the National Financial Reporting Authority, Ramesh said. "Something is truly rotten in Modi's ...

Ultra-rich, middle-class gap widening: Congress on income inequality

The Congress on Monday charged that the gap between the ultra-rich and the middle class in the country is widening under the Modi government. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said an analysis of the publicly available data on income tax returns for the period 2013-14 to 2021-22 confirms one of the essential themes of the Bharat Jodo Yatra that of increasing income inequality. "The widening gap between the ultra-rich and the middle class under the Modi government is more and more apparent," he said in a post on X. "Here's the proof: The top 1 percent of income tax payers made 17 percent of all income in 2013-14. By 2021-22, the top 1 percent made 23 percent of all income. "Further, the income growth of the ultra-rich was much faster than for the middle class. The top 1 percent of income tax payers saw their income grow at 13 percent year-on-year from 2013-14 to 2021-22 a massive 60 percent faster than the income of the lowest 25 percent of tax payers," the Congress leader

Congress to EC: Book Amit Shah for 'provocative' comments in Chhattisgarh

Amit Shah accused the Bhupesh Baghel government of lynching Bhuneshwar Sahu for 'appeasement and vote bank politics' during a rally in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh