Page 23 - Jairam Ramesh

Environmental crusader Manoj Misra dies, Jairam Ramesh expresses sadness

Renowned environmental activist and former Indian Forest Service officer Manoj Misra breathed his last at 12.40 pm on Sunday, leaving behind a legacy of battles fought to safeguard precious forests and rivers. He was 68. Misra, who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 8, was undergoing treatment since April 10. The conservation community, including members of the Indian Forest Service fraternity, mourned his passing and hailed his tireless efforts to safeguard forests and rivers. Born in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Misra's early life was shaped by his love for nature and the environment. He pursued his education from Pant Nagar University in Uttarakhand and later at Allahabad University. In 1979, he joined the Indian Forest Service. He belonged to the Madhya Pradesh cadre and served in various capacities across the country. Misra opted for voluntary retirement in 2001. In 2007, he founded the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, a movement dedicated to the revival of the river. While pollution in

Complete breakdown of law: Jairam Ramesh slams Centre on Manipur violence

The Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh on Monday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central Government over the violence in Manipur.He said a that delegation led by the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will be calling on President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday in connection with the unfolding of violence in Manipur while slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not issuing a single appeal for peace.Taking to his personal Twitter handle, the congress leader lashed out at the BJP for what he termed as the "complete breakdown of law and order" in Manipur since violence broke three weeks ago."25 days after Manipur started burning, things have turned from bad to worse on the eve of the long-awaited visit of the Union Home Minister to Imphal. Despite Article 355 being imposed there's a total and complete breakdown of law & order and administration in the state," tweeted Jairam Ramesh.According to officials, Home Minister Amit Shah will visit ...

'9 saal, 9 sawaal': Congress asks questions as Modi govt completes 9 years

The document which is titled '9 saal 9 sawaal' lists queries on various subjects which include the economy, corruption, Coronavirus management, and China border row among other things

Congress party fought these elections on local issues, says Jairam Ramesh

As Congress leads with 124 seats in Karnataka, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter, expressing that the grand old party has won and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lost

May create perception issue: Cong on more time to Sebi for Adani probe

The Congress on Monday said granting a six-month extension to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to complete its probe into the alleged stock price manipulation by the Adani group may create the perception the investigation is not being seriously pursued but being "buried". Market Regulator SEBI has moved the Supreme Court seeking the extension to complete its investigation. Congress General Secretary (in-charge, communications) Jairam Ramesh said a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe is needed to fully investigate the Adani issue, but a speedy SEBI investigation is also required to get to the bottom of the "very serious allegations". The top court had on March 2 asked the SEBI to probe the matter within two months and also set up a panel to look into the protection of Indian investors after a damning report by a US short-seller wiped out more than USD 140 billion of the conglomerate's market value. Tagging a media report on the SEBI's plea, Ramesh said, "SEBI

BJP seeking votes in PM Modi's name, Cong going 'vocal for local': Jairam

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that while the BJP was seeking votes in the Karnataka Assembly polls in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress had adopted the PM's "vocal for local" slogan and was raising issues of the people of the state. In an interview with PTI, Ramesh said Karnataka, after four years of the BJP rule, needs 'Vitamin-P' in which the P stands for "performance" of the Congress and not "polarisation" of the BJP. Using armed forces' terminology, Ramesh said the Congress is not worried about the "carpet bombing" campaign strategy of Prime Minister Modi and other senior BJP leaders as it has enough "anti-aircraft guns" to deal with it. The more the carpet bombing campaign the BJP indulges in, the more clearly it indicates its "despair and desperation", the Congress general secretary in-charge communications said. Ramesh, who is a star campaigner for the party, said the Karnataka polls were about the BJP's "threats" versus Congress' .

Brazenly intimidatory statement: Cong slams Shah's remarks on K'taka polls

The Congress on Wednesday termed Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that Karnataka will be afflicted with riots if the grand old party comes to power as a "brazenly intimidatory statement", and accused him of "issuing threats" during the election campaign. Addressing a public meeting on Tuesday in Karnataka's Belagavi district, Shah said the development of the state will be on the "reverse gear" if the Congress forms the government. "If the Congress comes to power, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high and Karnataka will be afflicted with riots," the home minister had said. Hitting back at Shah, Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said, "This is a brazenly intimidatory statement. The Union Home Minister having allegiance to an organisation banned by India's very first Home Minister is now issuing threats during an election campaign when staring at certain defeat." The Congress had slammed Shah on Tuesday as well over his reported remarks that th

Southern states may lose seats in parliament: Jairam on India population

With India becoming the world's most populous country, the pioneering states in family planning mostly in the south may end up losing seats in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Friday. The seat allocation to states and Union Territories is done on the basis of the population. "India overtaking China as the world's most populous country has evoked much comment. But what hasn't is how the pioneering states in family planning-mostly southern-will end up losing seats in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," Ramesh said on Twitter. "They need assurance that this won't happen. I've raised this issue many times," the Congress leader also said.

Will continue to avail all options: Ramesh after Surat Court on Rahul

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reacted over the dismissal of the application of Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 criminal defamation case by the Surat Court and said, we will continue to avail all options

Asking questions is our duty, we will not stop: Jairam Ramesh to Centre

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh addressed the media on Saturday, stating that the Modi government is trying to suppress the truth but that the Congress Party will not be deterred

Chinese buildup close to Doklam plateau a grave security threat: Congress

The Congress on Wednesday expressed concern over the reported Chinese buildup close to the Doklam plateau, and said it poses a grave security threat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should break his "silence" on the issue. In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the Modi government has failed to restore the status quo ante on the Line of Actual Control for three years and urged the Union home minister to restore it instead of making "misleading claims". "The Indian Army has expressed fresh and serious concern at the Chinese military build-up close to the Doklam plateau. Here is my statement on this grave security threat that even Parliament has been prevented from discussing for almost three years now," he said on Twitter while sharing his statement. He said that according to a recent news report, the Indian armed forces have expressed concern about a major Chinese military buildup close to the Doklam plateau. "These developments represent a clear thre

Congress questions LIC's 'increased' holding in Adani Enterprises

The Congress on Tuesday alleged that public-sector LIC is being "forced" to use its policyholders' funds to "bail out" the Adani group and stressed the demand for a JPC probe is "essential and urgent". Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh claimed in a statement that Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) holding in Adani Enterprises, one of the listed companies of the Adani Group, at the end of June 2021 was 1.32 per cent and by the end of December 2022, it reached 4.23 percent. "The revelation that LIC's holding in Adani Enterprises has increased while its stock value has fallen sharply once again strengthens the case for a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) to investigate the PM-linked Adani 'Mega Scam'," Ramesh said on Twitter. He said "serious questions" began to be raised about the Adani Group on January 24, 2023 "Now it turns out that LIC's holding in Adani Enterprises had further increased to 4.26 percent by the end of March 2023," he said. The LIC ha

Every day Azad falls to new depths to demonstrate his loyalty to Modi: Cong

The Congress Monday hit out at its former leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for his reported remarks that Rahul Gandhi allegedly has ties with "undesirable businessmen", saying these "contemptible statements" on the party leadership reflect his desperation to remain relevant. In an interview with Malayalam News channel Asianet News, Azad, referring to the Gandhi family, said, "The entire family has associations with businessmen, including him (Rahul). I can give you 10 examples of where he would go even outside the country, to meet people who are undesirable businessmen." Hitting back at Azad, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "With every passing day, Ghulam Nabi Azad falls to new depths to demonstrate his true character and his loyalty to Mr (Narendra) Modi." "His contemptible statements on the Congress leadership reflect his desperation to remain relevant. I can only say that he is PATHETIC," Ramesh said in a tweet. Coinciding with the launch of his autobiography, Azad has bee

Why's govt unable to seek release of ex-Navy personnel from Qatar: Congress

The Congress on Thursday raised concerns over the detention of eight former Navy personnel by Qatar and sought to know from the government why it could not seek their release even after seven months. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a statement that even though the Qatari national arrested along with the former Naval personnel has been released, why have the Indian authorities not been able to secure the release of Indians? "Why is the Indian government still unable to either ascertain the facts of the case or to reassure the ex-naval personnel and their families that justice will be done," he asked. Ramesh reminded the government that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had in Parliament termed it a "very sensitive case and said that the interest of the detained is "foremost in our minds... We assure, they are our priority". Yet, while an Omani national who was arrested along with the ex-Navy personnel was released in November, the Indian citizens remain in ...

'RS chairman allowed subversion of standing committee's basic function'

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday wrote to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar over the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, being sent to a joint committee, alleging that this was an "open and shut case" of his allowing the government to deliberately circumvent the standing committee concerned. Ramesh alleged that Dhankhar had allowed the "subversion of the Standing Committee's basic function". His letter to Dhankhar over the issue, the second in just over a week, came in response to a letter dated April 5 from Ranjit Punhani, Secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, asking him to "state the exact premise" for his objection to the reference of the Bill to the joint committee. Ramesh heads the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change. "This is an extraordinary request given, I have met you personally and also written to you on my objections. I have already informed you that the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bil

Monopolies in various sectors pushing prices higher: Jairam Ramesh

The Congress on Wednesday said growing concentration of economic power is having a negative effect on people's lives as monopolies in various sectors are pushing prices higher. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that profit margins across all sectors have doubled from 18 percent in 2015 to 36 percent in 2021 due to growing market concentrations created by the Modi dispensation. He said a research paper by top economist, Dr Viral Acharya has substantiated this concern about higher profit margins due to monopolies in several sectors. Evidence by the ex-RBI Deputy Governor Acharya shows that Modi government's alleged "monopolistic" friends are a big cause of price rise in India, the Congress leader said. "As the Adani 'megascam' has shown, PM Modi's 'suit-boot ki sarkaar' has systematically helped his cronies build large, concentrated monopolies across various sectors since he took office. Now we have fresh and credible evidence that these monopolies are driving price ri

Bhupender Yadav, Jairam sparred over Forest Bill sent to Select Committee

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and former union minister Jairam Ramesh sparred on Saturday over the government's move to send the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 to a select committee of the two Houses with the Congress leader stating that it should have been sent to the Standing Committee on Environment for scrutiny.In response to Jairam Ramesh's earlier remarks, Bhupender Yadav tweeted a list of the bills sent by Congress governments in the past to the select committees."Jairam Ramesh says referring the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill to a Joint Committee is "devaluation and denigration" of processes. Will serve him well to take a hard look at how many Bills introduced in Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha were sent by Cong govts to the Joint Committee," Yadav said.Jairam Ramesh, a Congress general secretary, responded by stating that Standing Committees came into existence only in 1993 and the minister should have done "better homework""Standing Committees ...

Question Amit Shah: Jairam to CBI over Sangma govt corruption remarks

Congress MP of Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh in a letter to the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, asked the CBI to question Home Minister Amit Shah further on his categorical assertion

No barter on JPC, Rahul's case is matter of distortion: Jairam Ramesh

He said Rahul Gandhi has already written to the Lok Sabha Speaker to allow him to speak in the Parliament under rule 357

Congress is essential to any meaningful opposition in 2024: Jairam Ramesh

No Opposition front to take on the BJP is possible without the Congress and if a coalition is formed for the 2024 general elections, the party will have a central role in it, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has said. In an interview with PTI, Ramesh, however, said it was too early to talk about all this right now as the Congress' first priority was the upcoming elections in Karnataka and the string of state polls this year. Ramesh's remarks come after both Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Uttar Pradesh's Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) saying the two parties would stay away from both the Congress and the BJP, and indicating possible talks with other regional players ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Asked whether the TMC and SP's actions could jolt Opposition unity, Ramesh said, "The TMC, Samajwadi, people keep meeting, the Third Front, Fourth Front will continue to be formed, but it is necessary to have the Congress in the Opposition." "If an ...