Page 7 - Mallikarjun Kharge

Rahul Gandhi, Kharge condole soldiers' death in Naxal attack; target govt

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday condoled the death of soldiers in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district and said the increased attacks raise serious questions about the government's ability to maintain national security. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also offered his condolences and said the Union and the state governments should be more proactive to end this menace so that the precious lives of our soldiers are not endangered. "Deeply saddened to hear about the martyrdom of many of our soldiers and a driver in the cowardly Naxalite attack in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. I pay my heartfelt tribute to the martyrs and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured soldiers," Gandhi said in a post on X in Hindi. Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families in this difficult time, the Congress leader said the entire country is united against terror and violence. "The increase in martyrdom of soldiers raises serious questions about the ...

Kharge sends 'chadar' for Ajmer Sharif dargah with message of brotherhood

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday sent a 'chadar' on his and the party's behalf to be offered at Ajmer Sharif dargah on the occasion of Urs of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. He referred to the Ganga-Jamuni culture of the country and called for spreading love and affection and defeating the forces of hatred. Kharge said the roots of national unity and brotherhood are so deep that they cannot be shaken by a few people with distorted mindset. During the day, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju offered a ceremonial 'chadar' sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the dargah and read out the prime minister's message which called on people from across religions to work together in harmony. In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge wrote, "With utmost devotion and respect, I feel very fortunate to send a chadar on behalf of myself and the Congress party on the occasion of the 813th Urs Mubarak of Khwaja Garib Nawaz Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri. Being the Congress Presiden

BJP has vested interest in Manipur unrest, PM can't evade blame: Kharge

After fresh violence erupted in Manipur, the Congress on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he could not escape the constitutional culpability of not following "rajdharma". In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the BJP had some vested interest in keeping the border state on the boil. "The BJP is the matchstick which burnt Manipur!" he said in his post. He also shared a screengrab of a news report about the latest violence. The Congress chief said in the post, "Narendra Modi ji, your last visit to Manipur was for seeking votes for the BJP, way back in January 2022. Violence erupted in the state on May 3, 2023." "More than 600 days have passed, and media reports through satellite images have now revealed that villages after villages have been wiped off in the state," he added. Kharge said fresh violence was witnessed recently when a mob attacked the Kangpokpi district superintendent of police, resulting in injuries. "Your incompe

Sonia Gandhi, Kharge, others pay tribute to Manmohan Singh at prayer meet

Several top dignitaries paid tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh at a prayer meet organised in his memory at the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj here on Friday. Among the top leaders who attended the prayer meeting (Kirtan and Antim Ardas) were Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) chief Harmeet Singh Kalka were also present. The DSGMC passed a resolution to start a scholarship in economics in Singh's name in all the colleges run by the committee in Delhi, besides putting up the former prime minister's photographs in all its institutions across the national capital. Kalka said the DSGMC has also decided to name its new educational institution after Singh in v

Contractor death case: Police book Priyank Kharge's aide, five others

A case has been registered against the close aide of Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, Raju Kapanur and five others in connection with hatching a conspiracy to kill BJP MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu and other leaders, police said on Sunday. The case was registered based on a suicide note by a civil contractor, Sachin Panchal, who had mentioned that the Congress leaders had connived to kill Mattimadu, Siddalinga Swami of Andola Math, BJP leaders Manikanth Rathod and Chandu Patil. Panchal, a contractor from Bidar, allegedly ended his life by lying down in front of an approaching train on Thursday. In his suicide note, he had accused Kapanur and his aides of making death threats. Meanwhile, the Bidar District-In Charge Minister, Eshwar Khandre, who holds the forest portfolio, visited Panchal's residence in Bhalki Taluk. As soon as the officials visited the house, the angry family members shouted at them to go away as they held them responsible for Sachin's death. Khandre consoled and ass

Memorial space for Manmohan will be allocated: Centre amid BJP-Congress row

he Centre has assured space for Manmohan Singh memorial as BJP accused Congress of politicising his death; Congress calls delay in site allocation disrespectful to the late leader

Centre declined Dr Singh's family request for funeral site, memorial: Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal Friday claimed the Centre has "declined" the request of Manmohan Singh's family for performing the funeral and last rites at a place where an appropriate memorial may be built. The government announced that a State funeral will be accorded to Singh and it will take place at 11:45 AM Saturday at Nigambodh Ghat. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold the funeral for Singh at a place where a memorial can be built later. He also said that this would be a befitting tribute to a leader of Singh's stature and also in keeping with past traditions of former prime ministers. There is no official word from the government on Kharge's request. However, Badal took to X to post, "Shocking and unbelievable! It is condemnable in the extreme that Union Govt has declined the request of Dr Manmohan Singh Ji's family for performing the funeral and last rites of the highly distinguished leader at a place where a

Kharge asks for memorial to be built at site of Manmohan Singh's funeral

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to conduct the last rites of former PM Manmohan Singh at a place where a memorial can be built. He wrote the letter after speaking to Modi about setting up a memorial for Singh, who was a two-term prime minister revered by the people of the country. "Apropos our telephonic conversation today morning, wherein I made a request to hold Dr Manmohan Singh's last rites, which will take place tomorrow i.e. 28th December 2024, at his final resting place that would be a sacrosanct venue for memorial of the great son of India. "This is in keeping with such tradition of having memorials of statesmen and former Prime Ministers at the very place of their funerals," Kharge said in his two-page letter. The Congress chief said Dr Manmohan Singh holds a highly revered place in the psyche of the country and the people of this nation, and his contributions and achievements were phenomenal. He also said

'Flawed and predetermined': Congress objects NHRC chairperson appointment

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the appointment process for the chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is 'flawed'

Haryana CM claims people have rejected Cong, criticises Kharge's remarks

Haryana CM was responding to the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge who on Sunday strongly criticised the Union Government's recent amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules

Lok Sabha speaker bans protests after NDA-Congress clash at Parliament gate

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla bans protests at Parliament gates after NDA-Congress clash at Makar Dwar turns violent, leaving two BJP MPs injured; cross-complaints filed by both sides

Mallikarjun Kharge says BJP MPs 'pushed' him in Parliament premises

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, claiming he was physically pushed by BJP MPs in Parliament premises following which he lost his balance. The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha asked the LS Speaker to order an inquiry into the BJP MPs "pushing" him, says it was an assault not just on him but on the Rajya Sabha LoP and the Congress president. "I was physically pushed by BJP MPs; lost my balance and was forced to sit down on ground in front of Makar Dwar," Kharge said. His remarks came after a face-off between the opposition and NDA MPs in Parliament premises over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar left former minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi injured. The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of pushing the senior member, a charge rejected by the Congress leader. Trouble began when the INDIA bloc members insisted on entering Parliament through the BJP MPs holding a protest instead of using the space left empty on one side of the staircase

Ambedkar row: Congress leads protests, demands Amit Shah's resignation

Congress launches nationwide protests, demanding Amit Shah's resignation over his controversial remarks on Ambedkar, sparking a political storm in Parliament

My resignation won't make a difference to Cong's fate: Shah slams Kharge

Amit Shah held a press conference and accused Congress of being 'anti-BR Ambedkar' and 'anti-Constitution'

BJP, Opposition leaders lock horns over Amit Shah's Ambedkar comment

Kharge demands home minister's resignation; protests disrupt House proceedings

PM-led panel meets to select new NHRC chair; Kharge, Rahul attend

A high-powered committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met here on Wednesday to select the next chairperson of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), sources said. They also said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi attended the meeting as leaders of the opposition (LoPs) in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha respectively. The sources said the two LoPs are likely to submit a dissent note on the selection process, as the names were not shared with them in advance. The post of NHRC chairperson has been lying vacant since Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra completed his tenure on June 1. A former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Mishra served as the eighth chairperson of the rights panel and was appointed to its top post in June 2021. According to the law governing NHRC, while the committee which selects the NHRC chief is headed by the prime minister, it has the Lok Sabha Speaker, home minister, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, leader of opposition in

Amit Shah's remarks reflect BJP's old mentality, says Ambedkar's grandson

Babasaheb Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar alleged on Wednesday that Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on the father of the Constitution reflected the BJP's "same old mentality". Several MPs of the INDIA bloc staged a protest in Parliament premises demanding Shah's apology for his remarks on B R Ambedkar which they claimed were an insult to B R Ambedkar. The Congress also demanded that Shah apologise publicly and in Parliament. "Before the BJP came into existence, its forerunners Jan Sangh and RSS had opposed Babasaheb while the Constitution was being adopted," Prakash Ambedkar, who heads Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, told reporters in Pune. He said Shah's statement has brought the same old mentality of BJP to the fore. "There is nothing new in the statement. They are not able to execute their old plans. Not because of Congress, but because of Babasaheb Ambedkar and they will continue to sulk," said Prakash Ambedkar. Congress general secretary-in-charge communications Jairam

Ambedkar row: Kharge takes 'Manusmriti' dig at Shah, demands resignation

Accusing Shah of disrespecting the architect of the Constitution, Kharge said the home minister should apologise to the nation for the insult he caused to Ambedkar during his speech in Rajya Sabha

BJP prioritises electoral politics over governance: Kharge in RS debate

Congress President and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge accused BJP of twisting and distorting facts, as well as being against reservation

Crucial event for humanity under Indira's leadership: Cong on Vijay Diwas

The Congress on Monday paid tributes to the armed forces on Vijay Diwas, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge saying it was a momentous occasion for humanity under the decisive leadership of then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Vijay Diwas marks the surrender of Pakistani forces to the Indian Army in 1971. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, "On the glorious occasion of Vijay Diwas, I salute the valour, dedication and resolve of our armed forces." The nation will always remember the indomitable courage and supreme sacrifice of all the heroes of the 1971 war who liberated Bangladesh from injustice while protecting India's sovereignty, he said. Kharge said, "On this day in 1971, the geography of the world changed when our valiant Indian military force defeated Pakistan and liberated Bangladesh." "It was a momentous occasion for humanity under the able, farsighted and decisive leadership of Smt. Indira Gandhi," he said in a post in Hindi on X. "We pay our tributes to the indomitab