Page 6 - Jairam Ramesh

Spl Parl session being considered to mark 50th Emergency anniversary: Cong

The Congress on Thursday claimed that a special session of Parliament is being considered next month to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, and said this will be yet another classic exercise in "diversion and distraction" from real and more urgent issues by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that from the night of April 22nd itself, the Indian National Congress has been calling for an all-party meeting on the Pahalgam terror attack and its fallout to be chaired by the PM himself. That has yet to take place, he said. "On May 10th, both the LoP in the Lok Sabha and the LoP in the Rajya Sabha wrote to the PM requesting for a special session of Parliament to be convened and to demonstrate the nation's collective resolve through a resolution. The PM has NOT accepted that suggestion as well," Ramesh said in a post on X. "Now it appears that a special session of Parliament is being considered for June 25-26 to mark

Congress takes swipe at PM Modi day after he lauds caste census decision

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the decision to conduct a caste census, the Congress on Monday took a swipe at him and posted videos of him from last two years criticising the opposition's party's demand for such a survey. Prime Minister Modi asserted on Sunday that caste enumeration is a step towards bringing into the mainstream of development those left behind, as he emphasised that his government does not believe in caste politics but in the empowerment of the marginalised. He made the remarks at a conclave of NDA chief ministers and deputy chief ministers. Two resolutions -- one hailing the valour of armed forces and PM Modi's brave leadership in the context of the recent military action and another praising the decision of caste enumeration in the next census- were passed at the conclave. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared two video clips of the prime minister in which he is heard criticising the opposition's pitch for a cas

PM sending delegations to divert attention from tough questions: Ramesh

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi suddenly thought of sending multi-party delegations of MPs to visit different countries to divert attention from the tough questions he is being called to answer, while his image globally has been "shattered". The Congress general secretary made the remarks in a post to pay tribute to former Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary. Since the 1950s, MPs from various political parties have been sent in delegations to the UN in New York every October-November and PM Modi stopped this tradition from 2014, Ramesh said. "But now that he is desperate and his image globally has been shattered, he suddenly thought of such all-party delegations of MPs to visit different countries to divert attention from the tough questions he is being called to answer," the Congress leader said. On the 34th death anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, Ramesh said, "The essential humanity, goodness, and decency of the ...

Govt can't hide 'India's biggest scam', truth is out: Cong on Adani issue

The Congress on Tuesday flagged media reports claiming that SEBI has warned two offshore funds holding Adani Group shares with penalties and said the market regulator's actions might appear on the surface to represent progress but the probe has dragged on for over two years with the conglomerate benefitting from the delay. There was no immediate reaction from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) or the Adani Group on the claims. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the "double-engine" Modani saga continues. "SEBI has reportedly threatened two Mauritius-based offshore funds controlled by Elara Capital --? Elara India Opportunities Fund and Vespera Fund --? with penalties and licence cancellations for failing to provide shareholding details," he said on X. Ramesh said, these funds have been accused of "stock parking" -- being fronts for benami Adani investments in their own companies in violation of SEBI rules. "The two funds have

'Damning indictment of govt': Cong on SC ban on environmental clearances

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday hailed the Supreme Court decision striking down the measures enabling the grant of ex-post facto environmental clearances and said it was a "damning indictment" of the Modi government whose domestic walk is completely at variance with its global talk on environmental protection. The Supreme Court last Friday said the right to live in a pollution free atmosphere was a part of the fundamental right as it struck down the Centre's office memorandum allowing ex post facto or retrospective environmental clearances to projects in violation of norms. A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan made scathing remarks in its judgement delivered on a plea filed by Vanashakti organisation and said, "The Union Government, as much as individual citizens, has a constitutional obligation to protect the environment. Former environment minister Ramesh hailed the judgement which he claimed was a "damning indictment" of the Modi government. "In a ...

Modi govt caved to US pressure on IMF bailout for Pakistan: Jairam Ramesh

In a post on X, Ramesh argued that India abstained from voting on May 9 when there was a provision to vote "No" in the Executive Board meeting

IMF funding to Pakistan akin to backing terror, says Rajnath Singh

Azad, Tharoor likely to be part of govt delegation to world capitals

India enriched enormously by integration of Sikkim, says Jairam Ramesh

On the 50th anniversary of Sikkim's statehood, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday said India has been enriched enormously by the integration of Sikkim and the state has a number of impressive achievements to its credit. The Congress general secretary in-charge communications said the 36th Constitution Amendment Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on April 23, 1975, and by the Rajya Sabha three days later. Subsequently after the President's assent, the 36th Amendment was enacted and on May 16, 1975--exactly fifty years ago--Sikkim became the 22nd state of India with special provisions for it and its people enshrined in Article 371-F of the Constitution, he recalled. "The Republic of India has been enriched enormously by the integration of Sikkim. The state has a number of impressive achievements to its credit," Ramesh said. P.N. Dhar's book called Indira Gandhi, the 'Emergency' and Indian Democracy (2001) is the topmost insider's account of how the merger happened, he said. "My

'Adani scam cannot be covered up': Congress after SECI CMD sacked

With the government sacking R P Gupta as the Chairman and Managing Director of Solar Energy Corporation of India, the Congress on Monday sought to link it to charges against billionaire Gautam Adani and his associates by US authorities and said the Adani "scam" cannot be covered up. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the public sector Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) was indicted on November 20, 2024, by US authorities in the chargesheet against Gautam Adani and his close associates. "It was based on SECI's recommendation that different states entered into purchase agreements with Adani. Bribes worth Rs 2,029 crores were then reportedly offered and promised to Indian government officials in exchange for these agreements, which were then finalised," Ramesh said. In an implicit admission of corruption, in December 2024, SECI changed the way it issues power tenders, he said. "Now the CMD of SECI, occupied by a post-retirement bureaucrat ...

As India-Pak agree on stoppage of firing, leaders hope for lasting peace

Indian leaders, including Kapil Sibal, Mehbooba Mufti, and Omar Abdullah, react to the India-Pakistan ceasefire announcement, calling for peace, relief, and political discussions on the way forward

Congress slams PM Modi, Shah over Manipur crisis on anniversary of violence

The Congress on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "continues to shun" Manipur and Union Home Minister Amit Shah proved to be a "big failure" in managing the situation in the state which has been in the grip of ethnic strife since 2023. Congress General Secretary In-charge, Communications, Jairam Ramesh said the BJP formed a government in Manipur with a massive mandate in February 2022, and exactly two years ago today, the state erupted in sectarian violence. "What began on May 3, 2023, therefore, was the self-dictated, self-directed derailment of the so-called double engine sarkar in the state. Three months later, the Supreme Court was compelled to declare that there had been an absolute breakdown of Constitutional machinery in the state," Ramesh said on X. Faced with a no-confidence motion to be moved by the Congress in the state assembly, the Modi government forced the CM to resign and finally imposed President's Rule on February 13, 2025 -- twenty months after th

Congress urges govt to oppose IMF's $1.3 billion loan consideration to Pak

This statement from Congress comes just days after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam region, which the party blamed on Pakistan

Kejriwal, BJP created false CWG scam, must apologise to Cong: Jairam Ramesh

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal should apologise to the Congress

Cong slams govt over rising 'inequality', cites World Bank poverty report

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that while the Modi government is presenting the World Bank report as a success story, it raises serious concerns about persistent inequality

Election rules row: SC gives EC 3 weeks to reply to Jairam Ramesh plea

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted three more weeks to the Election Commission to respond to the pleas of Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh and others against the recent amendments to the 1961 election rules. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar had issued a notice to the Centre and the poll panel on January 15 on Ramesh's plea and sought a response. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the poll panel, sought three more weeks to file the reply. The bench allowed Singh's prayer and set the July 21 week for hearing. Aside from Ramesh, two similar PILs filed by Shyam Lal Pal and activist Anjali Bhardwaj are pending. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi represented Ramesh. The petitioners have said the amendments to the 1961 Conduct of Election Rules were made "very cleverly" and barred any access to CCTV footage claiming it would reveal the identity of the voter. Singhvi previously said voting choices were never rev

Congress to challenge Waqf Bill in the Supreme Court, says Jairam Ramesh

The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, was tabled and passed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Congress will challenge its constitutionality in the Supreme Court

'Adding insult to injury': Cong on President's Rule confirmation in Manipur

The Congress on Thursday accused the government of "bulldozing" in the Lok Sabha the statutory resolution confirming the imposition of President's rule in Manipur, and said this was "adding insult to injury". Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the "frequent flier flies off again". "This time it is to Bangkok. Look East by all means but why continue to ignore Manipur?" Ramesh said on X. "And why bulldoze the proclamation on President's Rule in the state at 2AM this morning in the Lok Sabha, leaving just an hour for debate and discussion but just about enough time for the Home Minister's falsehoods, twists, and distortions? This is adding insult to injury," the Congress leader said. Ramesh's remarks came after the Lok Sabha early Thursday adopted a Statutory Resolution confirming the imposition of President's rule in Manipur. Replying to a short debate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the governm

Congress attacks PM Modi over giving 'clean chit' to China on podcast

Jairam Ramesh played purportedly a clip of PM Modi from 2020, where in the video the PM is heard saying "no one has crossed our borders, or any of our posts are captured by someone else"

Cong flagging threats to economy, when will PM listen: Jairam Ramesh

The Congress on Saturday said it has flagged a decade-long real income stagnation, a consumption boom entirely driven by the expansion of credit and deepening inequality as the three threats to the economy, and wondered what will it take for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hear them. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh cited the remarks of Chief Investment Officer of Marcellus Investments, Saurabh Mukherjea, to press his argument. "In a podcast interview, Chief Investment Officer of Marcellus Investments, the well-known Saurabh Mukherjea has identified three threats to the Indian economy which the Congress has been flagging for months," Ramesh said in a post on X. He said Mukherjea has identified "a pernicious, decade long real income stagnation for the majority of India's working people" and a "consumption boom which is entirely driven by the expansion of credit and is therefore highly unsustainable". The Congress leader said that Mukherjea had also .

'GSTitis' hits donuts: Jairam Ramesh slams GST amid misclassification row

Jairam Ramesh labels the ongoing GST issue as 'GSTitis,' as Mad Over Donuts faces a Rs 100 crore tax notice for wrongly classifying donuts under GST laws