Page 8 - P Chidambaram

Legacy of Modi govt after 8 years, no jobs: Chidambaram attacks Centre

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday attacked the Centre over the issue of unemployment, alleging that the legacy of the Modi government after eight years is "no jobs". The Congress has been attacking the government over alleged lack of jobs for the youth and rising unemployment. "After 37 lakhs in Uttar Pradesh applying for Grade 'C' jobs, we have 35 lakh applicants for 40,000 Agniveer jobs. Is the government listening to the anguished voices of the young men: 'we are desperate, we have no choice'," Chidambaram said in a tweet. "That is the legacy of the Modi government after 8 years: NO JOBS," the former finance minister asserted. The unemployment rate is eight per cent, which is understated because of massive disguised employment, he added. "The September Monthly Review of the Ministry of Finance does not utter a word on unemployment!" Chidambaram said. The senior Congress leader has been alleging that the government's policies have resulted in worsening the econom

Govt on denial mode on Global Hunger Index ranking: P Chidambaram

Ex-Finance Minister P Chidambaram has alleged that the government was in a denial mode on the poverty and hunger index rankings

Trying to find when did BJP chief Nadda filed his nomination: P Chidambaram

Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram chided the BJP over its election process for president's post in response to the ruling party's criticism on Congress presidential poll

Kharge resigns in Rajya Sabha; Digvijaya, Tiwari in race to replace him

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has resigned as the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, sources said on Saturday, a day after he filed his nomination papers for the AICC president's election. Kharge's resignation, which the 80-year-old leader sent to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday night, is in line with the party's declared 'One person, One post' principle that was announced at the Udaipur 'Chintan Shivir' in May. Senior leaders P Chidambaram, Digvijaya Singh and Pramod Tiwari are learnt to be the front-runners to take on the mantle of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. The stage was set on Friday for a contest between Kharge and Shashi Tharoor for the Congress president's post. Kharge, a Dalit leader from Karnataka, has emerged as the clear favourite. The nomination of K N Tripathi, a former Jharkhand minister, has been rejected. Kharge, Tharoor and Tripathi filed nominations on the last day of the process which saw the AICC headquarters come back to life

MUDRA scheme 'practically worthless' in promoting businesses: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday criticised the Centre's MUDRA loan scheme, saying it was "practically worthless" in promoting businesses. The former finance minister also said he is not surprised that the non-performing asset (NPA) ratio is the highest under the MUDRA loan scheme. "I have long maintained that the MUDRA loan scheme is practically worthless to promote businesses," Chidambaram said on Twitter. The State Bank of India has taken pride that in the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry zone, the bank had distributed Rs 1000 crore to 26,750 MUDRA beneficiaries in 2021-22, he said. Mighty impressive numbers until one does the mathematics, Chidambaram said, adding that the average size of the loan to 26,750 beneficiaries is only Rs 3.73 lakhs. What new business can be started with Rs 3.73 lakh and how many jobs can be created with Rs 3.73 lakhs, he asked. The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is a scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8, 2015 for provi

J&K: Will BJP explain decision to honour Hari Singh, says Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday took a swipe at the BJP over the announcement that Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday would be a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the ruling party must explain the decision to honour the erstwhile ruler and "dishonour" the terms of the accession to India which the royal had signed on. The former home minister also said in the absence of Maharaja Hari Singh, only the people's elected representatives can determine their future. The decisions of August 5, 2019 were not the decisions of the people or of the elected Legislature, or of the duly constituted government, he added. On August 5, 2019, the Centre had scrapped J and K's special status and bifurcated it into Union Territories --- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said the BJP has discovered the virtues of Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, and has declared his birthday as a holiday. The most important act of Hari

'If FM doesn't see red now...': What Chidambaram says on retail inflation

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday attacked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over retail inflation rising to 7 per cent, saying if she doesn't see "red" even now, it can be concluded that she does not represent the average family in India. After declining for three months, retail inflation rose to 7 per cent in August due to higher food prices. "Only a few days ago, the Honourable FM said that inflation was not a 'red-lettered priority' for her. India's retail inflation surged to 7 per cent yesterday. Food inflation is 7.62 per cent," Chidambaram said in a tweet. "If the Honourable FM doesn't see 'red' even now, we can only conclude that she does not represent the average family in India," the former finance minister said. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation, which is factored in by RBI while deciding the monetary policy, has remained above the central bank's comfort level of 6 per cent for eight months in a row. CPI inflation was 6.71 per cent in July an

Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra is India's 2nd freedom struggle: Chidambaram

Bharat Jodo Yatra, launched by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, is the country's second freedom struggle and it will go on till the divisive forces are defeated, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram said. Lashing out at the BJP for criticising the nationwide yatra, he said the BJP would have no role in this second freedom struggle, which will see that party decimated. "I wish to tell those criticising our Bharat Jodo Yatra that you had no role in India's freedom struggle during which Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan: do or die. Now too, you will have no role. Our journey will not end till the divisive forces are defeated," Chidambaram said addressing the rally near the Gandhi Mandapam here in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. The BJP leaders belittled the Congress yatra, as they apparently did not want the nation to remain united. "When we say let's unite, they say divide," he said indicating that the saffron party's attempt to divide the nation will ..

Activist Teesta Setalvad 'a courageous fighter for justice': Chidambaram

"Welcome to freedom, Ms Teesta Setalvad, a courageous fighter for justice!" Chidambaram said in a tweet

Chidambaram offers help to Assam Congress in CAA case in Supreme Court

Former union minister and eminent lawyer P Chidambaram offered assistance in the case filed by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) at Supreme Court against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), a party spokesperson said here on Wednesday. The APCC has also initiated talks with a top law firm in Delhi to take forward its case before the apex court with more vigour, he said. Our senior leader, eminent lawyer and former union minister P Chidambaram has consented to lend us all help in our case against CAA at the Supreme Court, APCC chief spokesperson Manjit Mahanta said here. If necessary, he will also assist during the argument stage in the apex court, he added. The APCC had moved the Supreme Court against the CAA in 2019. Mahanta said APCC president Bhupen Borah had met former additional advocate general of Assam Krishna Sarma in New Delhi and discussed with her the current status of the case filed by the party's state unit before the top court. He had entrusted Corporate Law

Wilful defaulters in India have decreased 56% in last 8 years: BJP

"Banks recovered over Rs 1,86,000 lakh crore from written-off loan accounts of wilful defaulters from 2014 to 2021," BJP's Amit Malviya added.

Did Gujarat govt consult Centre on Bilkis Bano case, asks Chidambaram

A special CBI court in Mumbai had sentenced the 11 accused on January 21, 2008. The Bombay High Court later upheld their conviction

Have right to protest: P Chidambaram on Sonia Gandhi's questioning by ED

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram asserted that it was not Sonia Gandhi, but the Congress that was protesting as it has the right to do so when its leader is being "harassed"

Ex-Finance Minister Chidambaram slams govt's GST hike on scientific devices

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday criticised the government over the increase in GST rate on scientific equipment

'Unkind act': Chidambaram slams govt for GST hike on scientific equipment

Criticising GST hike on scientific equipments, P Chidambaram said government believes that all the scientific knowledge that we need can be gathered by gazing at the sky and re-imagining our past

Chidambaram slams Centre over handling of economy for falling rupee

Former finance minister P Chidambaram has launched a scathing attack on the central govt, blaming its handling of a host of issues including falling rupee, employment generation and LPG price rise

Chidambaram cites UPA's rupee strengthening in 2013, criticises BJP

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday noted that the UPA government in 2013 brought back the value of the rupee from 69 to 58 against the US dollar within four months

Teach Goa Cong defectors lesson by not electing them: Chidambaram to people

Senior party leader P Chidambaram on Monday urged the people of Goa to teach Congress defectors a lesson by not electing them ever again.

GST had serious defects which worsened over last 5 years: Chidambaram

Asserting that the GST had serious "birth defects" which became only worse over the last five years, the Congress on Friday said the GST laws and their implementation have "wrecked the economy"

Chidambaram criticises Centre on state of Indian economy amid FPI outflows

Senior Cong leader P Chidambaram criticised the govt over the state of the Indian economy, asking if it was in the "pink of health" after high fiscal deficit, inflation