Page 20 - Jairam Ramesh

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

Govt making 'cheap attempt' of using Army for its publicity: Congress

The Congress on Monday accused the government of making a "cheap attempt" of using the Army for its political publicity and sought President Droupadi Murmu's immediate intervention in the matter. The party's remarks come in the wake of claims made in a media report that the Army would help publicise government schemes across the country. Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said the Army belongs to all and has never been made a part of the country's internal politics. "After facing failure on inflation, unemployment and all other fronts during the last nine and a half years, the Modi government is now making a very cheap attempt to get its political publicity from the army. This attempt to politicise the army is a very dangerous step," he said in a post in Hindi on X. "We request President Droupadi Murmu ji, the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, to intervene in this matter and direct the Modi government to immediately withdraw this wrong step," the

Hope SC will soon pronounce verdict on money bill issue: Jairam Ramesh

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Thursday expressed hope that the Supreme Court will soon pronounce a verdict on his pleas challenging the "unconstitutional manner" in which the government passed key legislations by declaring them money bills and said it will have far-reaching implications on Parliament's functioning. Ramesh's remarks came after last week the Supreme Court said it will constitute a seven-judge bench to consider the issue of the validity of passage of laws like the Aadhaar Act as a money bill. In a post on X, Ramesh said, "Finally, the Supreme Court has set up a seven-judge bench, headed by the CJI (Chief Justice of India) himself, to hear my petitions challenging the unconstitutional manner in which the (Narendra) Modi government has passed key bills by getting them declared as Money Bills." "I have repeatedly raised this issue in the Parliament and outside it through three petitions in the Supreme Court first one filed on April 6th, 2016, as it denies the Rajya Sabh

Cong attacks govt on transfer of officers involved in audit of Expressway

The Congress on Wednesday accused the government of intimidating officers of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), who had exposed "corruption" in various schemes, and demanded that their transfer orders be revoked. Citing a media report on the transfer of the officers, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh charged that it is the modus operandi of the Modi government to threaten and remove anyone who "exposes" them. "We demand that these transfer orders should be cancelled immediately, the officers return to the CAG and action must be taken on these mega scams relating to Dwarka Expressway, Bharatmala and Ayushman Bharat," he said in a post on X. The Congress leader charged that "the Modi government operates mafia style under a cloak of silence and intimidation. If anyone exposes its modus operandi of corruption, they are threatened or removed". The latest victims are three officers of the CAG, who exposed "massive scams" in government schemes in a report tabled during the

Rahul acted in consonance with people's sentiment on caste census: Congress

The Congress on Monday said Rahul Gandhi decided to take forward the demand for a caste census by the backward class people he met during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the party leadership has endorsed this move. In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, there was one thing which almost all the backward class people of every state sought which was that there should be a caste census in the country. "Rahul ji acted in consonance with the sentiments of the people and the Congress leadership endorsed it," Ramesh said. His remarks came ahead of the crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here at the AICC headquarters. The Congress has taken a stand to push for the caste census. After Bihar released the findings of a caste census in the state, Congress-ruled Rajasthan issued orders on Saturday for holding a similar exercise. In Chhattisgarh too, the Congress has announced that it will conduct a caste survey if it is v

Many families facing true hardships from unabated increase in prices: Cong

Hitting out at the government, the Congress on Friday said concerns on inflation continue to be serious and claimed that crores of families were facing "true hardships" from "unabated increase" in prices of essential commodities. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh's attack on the government came after the Reserve Bank of India on Friday decided to keep the policy rate unchanged for the fourth time in a row. In a post on X, Ramesh said, "The RBI has maintained the Repo Rate the interest rate it charges for borrowings by commercial banks from it at 6.5%. This simply means that concerns on inflation continue to be serious." "For 47 months, the Consumer Price Index(CPI) has remained well over the RBI's own medium-term target of 4%. In August 2023, the CPI stood at 6.83%," the Congress general secretary in-charge communications said. "This of course masks the true hardships being faced by crores upon crores of families from unabated increase in prices of essential commodities,"

MPs raised concerns on climate change: Jairam Ramesh after House panel meet

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forests and Climate Change met on Tuesday with MPs raising concerns and questions about various issues, including implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, according to its chairperson Jairam Ramesh. Ramesh said that the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change met to discuss the subject of Environment and Public Health in terms of morbidity and mortality. It met with both the Ministries of Environment, Forests and Climate Change as well as with the Ministry of Health together, which in itself was a "minor innovation" that hopefully will have major effects, Ramesh said. "Ministries made their presentations. MPs had many concerns and questions on pollution, contamination and climate change. One key concern remained implementation and enforcement of environmental laws," he said on X after the meeting. Future meetings on this very wide but crucial subject will be held in the n

'BJP rewards hate':Opposition slam BJP for giving Bidhuri poll duty in Tonk

Opposition leaders have criticised the ruling party for giving Ramesh Bidhuri poll duty in Tonk district of Rajasthan after he made offensive remarks against BSP MP Danish Ali in Parliament