Page 35 - Mallikarjun Kharge

Monsoon Session: Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned briefly amid din

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday claimed he was "insulted" as his mic was turned off while he was speaking in the House the previous day. In the morning session, the House also witnessed acrimonious exchanges between opposition and treasury benches and sloganeering by the two sides, leading to a brief adjournment. Referring to Tuesday's proceedings, Kharge said he was not allowed to speak in the House and "my mic was turned off". "It was a breach of my privilege. This is my insult. My self-respect has been challenged. "If the House is run on the instructions of the government, then I will understand that it is not a democracy," the Congress president said. Other opposition members supported Kharge with many of them raising slogans. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked them to take their seats. When he informed Kharge that several MPs were standing in the rows behind him, the Congress leader said, "Mere peechhe khade agar nahi

Shah writes to Kharge, Adhir on Manipur; urges to rise above party lines

Seeking to break the current logjam, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday sought "invaluable cooperation" of the opposition to discuss the Manipur issue in Parliament and asked them to rise above party lines to find a "permanent" solution to the embroglio in a "harmonious" way. In identical letters in Hindi to opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Shah said the people of Manipur want that MPs of all political parties give them confidence that the lawmakers are united and committed to the peace of Manipur. Kharge is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Chowdhury is the Congress leader in Lok Sabha. Shah said the government is ready to discuss the Manipur issue and urged all to cooperate, rising above party lines. He said Manipur was experiencing a new era of peace and development during the last six years of the BJP rule but some court orders and some incidents resulted in violence in Manipur during May. The home minister said some "shameful .

Make comprehensive statement in both houses on Manipur violence: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a "comprehensive" statement in both houses of Parliament on the violence in Manipur. He said the situation in the northeast was fragile and the repercussions of the Manipur violence seem to be spilling over to other states too, asserting that it was not good for the country's sensitive border states. Kharge said 83 days of unabated violence in Manipur require that the prime minister make a comprehensive statement in Parliament. "Stories of absolute horror are now slowly trickling down. INDIA demands answers from the Modi Government on Manipur violence," he said on Twitter. Kharge said it was high time that Modi sheds his "ego" and takes the country into confidence on Manipur. "PM Modi must tell what his government is doing to improve the situation and when will normalcy return in Manipur," he said. The opposition has been demanding a statement from the prime minister in both houses of ...

Kharge demands action on MP Dalit incident, says BJP's 'sabka saath' a lie

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday slammed the BJP over the incident in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur in which a Dalit has alleged that a man from an OBC community smeared his face and body with human excreta, saying the ruling party's "sabka saath" slogan has become a "PR stunt". Kharge demanded strict action in the matter. The Dalit man alleged that Ramkripal Patel, who belongs to an OBC community, smeared his face and body with human excreta after he accidentally touched the latter with grease. A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions in connection with the incident, a police official told PTI. The victim, Dashrath Ahirwar, approached the police on Saturday, he said. In a tweet in Hindi, Congress president Kharge said within a month, another very condemnable and painful incident of atrocities on Dalits and tribals has happened in Madhya Pradesh, which is putting humanity to shame. "According to NCRB Report (2021), in BJP-ruled Madhya .

Kharge, Rahul, Priyanka to address rally in Rajasthan on August 9: Randhawa

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will address a public meeting in Rajasthan's Banswara district on August 9, its state in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said on Friday. August 9 is celebrated as 'Adivasi Day' and preparations are underway for the public meeting, he said. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, will come to Banswara to address people from the tribal communities, Randhawa told reporters. Randhawa was here to take part in a membership drive for the party's IT cell. He said a strong IT cell plays an important role in mitigating the rumours spread by opposition parties. Replying to a question on the distribution of party tickets, he said, "No candidate will be parachuted in. The names will be decided on the basis of consensus of party leaders. Candidates having winnability and whose names come in the party survey will be considered." Assembly polls in Rajasthan

PM Modi should make elaborate statement on Manipur in Parliament: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday demanded that the prime minister make an elaborate statement in Parliament on the Manipur situation, saying he could have dismissed the state chief minister instead of making "false equivalence" with Congress governed states if he was angry over the matter. The Congress has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must make a statement in both houses of Parliament followed by a discussion on the situation in Manipur. Opposition parties have stepped up their attack on the government over the Manipur violence, especially after the video of two women being paraded naked and assaulted by a crowd in a Manipur village, went viral on social media. "Narendramodi ji, You did not make a statement inside Parliament, yesterday. If you were angry then instead of making false equivalence with Congress governed states, you could have first dismissed your Chief Minister Manipur," Kharge said on Twitter. "INDIA expects you to make an elaborate ...

Oppn meet at Kharge's chamber, demand PM's statement in House on Manipur

Leaders of the INDIA alliance met at the chamber of Mallikarjun Kharge in the Parliament complex on Thursday to chalk out a strategy for the Monsoon session and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on Manipur violence in both Houses followed by a discussion. This was the first meeting of the opposition alliance of 26 parties after they named their grouping INDIA at a meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, demanded that Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh be sacked and President's rule be imposed in the ethnic violence-hit northeastern state. The monsoon session of Parliament began on Thursday. Several leaders of the Congress and other opposition parties had given adjournment notices in the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha for taking up discussion on Manipur and have demanded answers from the government. Kharge also gave an adjournment notice on the matter. He said it has be

Opposition meeting to protect democracy, Constitution, secularism: Kharge

The Congress is not interested in power or the post of prime minister, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday as leaders of 26 Opposition parties got together here to discuss strategy ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In his inaugural address on the second day of the key Opposition meeting, he said, "Our intention in this meeting is not to gain power for ourselves. It is to protect our Constitution, democracy, secularism and social justice". He admitted to differences among opposition parties at the state level but noted that these are not ideological. "These differences are not so big that we cannot put them behind us for the sake of the common man and middle class which is suffering due to inflation, for the sake of our youth who are suffering from unemployment, for the sake of the poor, Dalits, adivasis and the minorities whose rights are being crushed silently behind the scenes," the Congress chief said. He said 26 parties are here together, and in government in 1

Lok Sabha elections 2024: BJP-led NDA, Opposition set up meetings tomorrow

The Opposition meeting will be hosted by the Congress, and the NDA meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President J P Nadda

Kejriwal thanks Kharge for Cong's decision to oppose Delhi Ordinance

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for the party's decision to oppose Delhi Ordinance.CM Kejriwal called the ordinance "anti-India" and added that it ought to be "fought tooth and nail"."Thank u Kharge ji for standing wid the people of Delhi. This ordinance is anti-India and anti-national and ought to be fought tooth and nail," Kejriwal shared in a tweet.Earlier today Kharge said that 'no individual is bigger than the country' on Congress' decision to oppose the Delhi Ordinance, adding that if there is any attack on the Constitution/democracy, then it is our duty to unitedly fight against it."This is not about just one person. If the democracy and Constitution of the country suffer a blow, it becomes our responsibility to unite and work together to save democracy & Constitution. No individual is bigger than the country...," Kharge said.Meanwhile, speaking on Congress' decision to oppose the ordinance and AAP attending the

Like-minded parties united against Modi govt's 'vendetta politics': Kharge

Condemning the Enforcement Directorate raids at multiple premises of DMK leader K Ponmudy, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said all like-minded parties are united against the "vendetta politics" of the Modi government and shall not be bogged down by these "cowardly tactics to trample upon democracy". The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted raids at multiple premises of Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister Ponmudy and his MP son Gautham Sigamani Pon in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal mining, official sources said. Escorted by armed personnel of the CRPF, the officials of the federal probe agency searched the premises under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In a tweet, Kharge said, "We condemn the ED raids against Tamil Nadu Education Minister, Dr. K. Ponmudy, just before our crucial opposition meeting." This has become Modi government's predictable script in order to intimidate and divide the opposition, h

Spoke to Sharad Pawar, he is coming for Oppn meet tomorrow: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said he has spoken with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and was informed that he would participate in the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru on July 18. Responding to reports that Pawar would skip the Opposition meeting on Monday and take part in it on Tuesday, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh rejected such insinuations, saying the official meeting of opposition parties is on Tuesday and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is only hosting a dinner on Monday. Asked about Pawar, Kharge, while interacting with reporters, said he has spoken with Pawar earlier in the day. "He said the (Maharashtra) Assembly is starting there today and he would like to be there (Mumbai). But he will be present for the meeting tomorrow. I called him up to say that it is important for him to come... He said he is coming on July 18 morning, there is no concern about that," Kharge said. "There is no problem, everyone is coming. Mamata ji is coming, read in the ..

Oppn left with no agenda: BJP leader Sidharth Nath Singh on unity meet

Leaders of at least 26 Opposition parties will converge at a hotel in Bengaluru on July 17-18 as part of their efforts to present a united front against the BJP govt in the Centre

Uttarakhand Cong leaders meet Kharge, Rahul; 2024 LS polls on agenda

The Congress on Thursday said it will establish a dialogue with the people in Uttarakhand through a padayatra as its leaders from the state met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former chief Rahul Gandhi here to chalk out a plan for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. A similar meeting was held with members of the Maharashtra Congress unit earlier this week. More such meetings with other state units will follow. The Uttarakhand Congress leaders, who participated in the meeting, included former chief minister Harish Rawat, PCC president Karan Mahara and AICC in-charge for the state Devender Yadav. Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal and all party secretaries for the hill state were also present at the meeting. In a message to the state unit, Kharge said the Congress is committed to environment-friendly development of Himalayan states. He said the party has pledged to work for flood victims, adding that that the Congress will keep raising the voice of the people of the

Uttarakhand Cong leaders meet Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, 2024 LS polls on agenda

Top Congress leaders from Uttarakhand on Thursday met party resident Mallikarjun Kharge and former chief Rahul Gandhi here to review the party's preparedness for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. A similar meeting was held with members of the Maharashtra Congress unit earlier. The Uttarakhand Congress leaders, who participated in the meeting, included former chief minister Harish Rawat, PCC president Karan Mahara and AICC in-charge for the state Devender Yadav. AICC general secretary organisation K C Venugopal and all AICC secretaries for the hill state were also present at the meeting. In a message to the state unit, Kharge said the Congress is committed to environment-friendly development of Himalayan states. He said the party has pledged to work for flood victims, adding that that the Congress will keep raising the voice of the people of the state.

Modi govt 'hell-bent' on killing scientific research in country: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday hit out at the Centre over scientists at top research institutions having not received funds for this financial year, alleging that the Modi government is "hell-bent" on killing scientific research in the country. His attack came over a media report which claimed that scientists at top research institutions who ought to have received funds from central agencies for this financial year in April, were still waiting, "Modi Govt is hell-bent to kill scientific research in the country, thus hampering a nation's progress," Kharge said in a tweet. Scientists at top research institutions are yet to receive funds for this financial year and are forced to use their hard-earned savings to continue research, he said. "At a time when government has promised more funding by setting up a National Research Foundation (NRF), their purchases are on hold and project staff have not been paid for three months. Private funding is welcome, but the Governm

Kharge asks Centre for PM CARES relief for rain-hit states, speaks to HP CM

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday asked the Centre to make available additional relief from the PM CARES Fund for states affected by the torrential rain pounding several parts of north India, including Himachal Pradesh. A day after 19 people were killed in landslides and other rain-related incidents, the Congress president also spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to express his concern. "The death of several people in north India due to heavy rains is sad and painful. Have talked to the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh. Relief efforts in the state have picked up and every effort is being made despite bad weather, to take people affected by heavy rains to safer places," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. He said teams of the State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force teams are doing this work. Adequate compensation will be given to the victims and all possible help will be given to compensate for the loss of life and ...

Help develop local leaders, don't fight among yourselves: Kharge to cadre

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday urged the party cadre to help develop leadership at the grassroots level and not fight among each other. Inaugurating the party's national workshop on the 'Leadership Development Mission' for the SC, ST, OBC and the minorities wings at the Congress headquarters here, he called for making it successful and sought support from all levels. Urging party leaders and workers to think about the party's future, Kharge cited his own example and said he gave party tickets to even those who helped the BJP in his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections as he wanted the party to succeed. "We have to promote leadership development. But that does not mean you start fighting with local leadership and complain against them. You have to work in coordination with the local leadership," he told party workers at the workshop. "You should not fight among yourselves. You should all support them. Most people try to target and try to pull down new leaders," he .

People will not buy into hollow slogans of BJP: Kharge slams govt on prices

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday hit out at the Modi government over rising prices and unemployment, saying that people will not buy into the "hollow slogans" of the BJP and will wipe it out of power this time. His attack came a day after the Congress slammed the Centre over rising prices of vegetables and other essential food items and demanded immediate steps from his government to address the issue. "Both inflation and unemployment are increasing continuously due to the loot of the Modi government. But the BJP is engrossed in the greed for power," Kharge alleged in a tweet in Hindi. The prices of vegetables are skyrocketing and the unemployment rate in the country has gone up to 8.45 per cent, he said. The unemployment rate in villages is 8.73 per cent and the demand for MGNREGA in villages is at its peak, but there is no work, Kharge said. The rural wage rate has come down, he added. "Narendra Modi ji, the people of the country know that before elections, yo

Kharge meets Congress workers from across country, takes feedback

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday met some party workers from across the country and took their feedback. The meeting was held at the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road. Kharge said he would continue meeting party workers from across the country. Party leaders said the meeting was part of efforts to strengthen the organisation ahead of key state and national elections. They said that in the past the Congress president used to meet party workers regularly but the practice was discontinued in recent years. After the meeting on Friday, Kharge tweeted in Hindi, "Congress is the soul of India. Every worker of Congress represents our constitution. We are all ready to face any challenge. Today in AICC office I received feedback from our workers in an open discussion." He also shared some pictures of the meeting. "The cycle of such meetings will continue," he added.