Page 136 - Rahul Gandhi

Adani is a symbol of corruption, says Rahul Gandhi targeting PM Modi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by bringing up the Adani "corruption" issue in this Karnataka district headquarters town. It was in Kolar in 2019 that he made a remark on the Modi surname for which he was convicted of criminal defamation and stripped of his Parliament membership. In his first visit to Karnataka after the Assembly polls were announced on March 29, Gandhi emphasised on the Adani issue to target the Prime Minister. "Adani is a symbol of corruption," he said addressing the 'Jai Bharat' rally here. Expressing confidence that the Congress would come to power in Karnataka, where Assembly elections are set to take place on May 10, Gandhi said the first Cabinet meeting after the party formed the government would approve its key poll promises, paving the way for their implementation. "I am very glad the Congress party is fighting Karnataka Assembly elections unitedly," he said. Senior Congress leaders including

Rahul Gandhi to start his two-day visit to poll-bound Karnataka on April 16

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will arrive in poll-bound Karnataka on a two-day visit to take part in a host of events, including party rally in Kolar on Sunday. This is the maiden visit of Gandhi to the state after his disqualification from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a 2019 defamation case. According to party sources, the former Congress president is expected to reach Bengaluru in the morning and then proceed to Kolar by a helicopter. Gandhi will address a public meeting in Kolar as part of Congress' 'Jai Bharat' rally. During the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign in Kolar, Rahul Gandhi had made the Modi surname remark, which led to his conviction by a Gujarat court and his subsequent disqualification from Parliament. The Kolar event, which was earlier called 'Satyameva Jayate', was scheduled to take place on April 5, but was postponed twice. The even renamed as 'Jai Bharat' rally was rescheduled to April 16. After his address in Kolar, the Congress leader will retur

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified to suppress voice of opposition, says Hooda

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday claimed Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha to suppress the voice of opposition, but asserted the voice of truth cannot be suppressed. Addressing a 'Samvidhan Bachao Rally' here, Hooda said some forces want to weaken the Constitution but the Congress will not allow them to succeed nor will it allow the voice of Gandhi to be suppressed. "The Constitution is not only a legal document, it is also a social and economic document. A strong India needs a strong Constitution. On the birth anniversary of Babasaheb B R Ambedkar, let us take a pledge that we will not allow anyone to weaken the rights given to us by the Constitution," said Hooda. Recalling the legacy of the Congress, the former Haryana chief minister said, "Our elders made sacrifices for the country's freedom". He claimed Gandhi was disqualified from Lok Sabha to suppress the voice of the opposition. He, however, added that the voice of truth cannot be suppressed. Gand

Rahul Gandhi starts shifting belongings ahead of vacating official bungalow

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has started shifting his belongings from his 12, Tughlaq Lane residence as he was asked to vacate the premises by April 22 following his disqualification from Lok Sabha. Two trucks were seen parked outside his residence and the belongings were later shifted to his mother's 10, Janpath residence. Sources said Gandhi is likely to soon vacate the official bungalow allotted to him. While Rahul Gandhi has seen a number of houses, he may also opt to stay with his mother and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The Lok Sabha Secretariat had sent Gandhi a notice asking him to vacate the premises by April 22 following his disqualification as MP after his conviction and two-year sentence by a Surat court in a defamation case. A few years ago, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also asked to vacate her Lodhi Estate bungalow as SPC cover was removed from her security.

As Nitish tries to bring Opposition together, here's a look at his journey

The Bihar CM met with Congress leadership on Wednesday and indicated he would work towards bringing the Opposition together ahead of the 2024 General Elections

Surat court to pronounce order on Apr 20 on Rahul's plea to stay conviction

A sessions court here on Thursday said it would pronounce on April 20 its order on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea for a stay to his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark. After hearing arguments from both sides, additional sessions judge R P Mogera said he will pronounce the order on April 20. A metropolitan magistrate's court in Surat had on March 23 sentenced the Congress leader to two years in jail after holding him guilty for his remark "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname" made during an election rally in 2019. Gandhi, who was disqualified as Member of Parliament after the conviction, has filed an appeal before the sessions court against the verdict. He also prayed for a stay to the conviction in the meantime.

Rajasthan Cong in-charge Randhawa meets Rahul over Gehlot-Pilot issue

Congress in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, met senior party leader Rahul Gandhi here on Thursday, two days after Sachin Pilot observed a fast in Jaipur

Trial not fair, no need for maximum punishment: Rahul Gandhi's lawyer

Rahul Gandhi's lawyer on Thursday argued in a court in Gujarat's Surat that the trial in a defamation case over the Congress leader's "Modi surname" remark was "not fair" and there was no need for maximum punishment in the case. The lawyer made the argument during a hearing currently underway on Gandhi's plea for a stay on his conviction in the defamation case. A metropolitan magistrate's court in Surat on March 23 sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail after holding him guilty for his remark "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname", made during an election rally on April 13, 2019. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and complainant in the case, Purnesh Modi, in his reply filed earlier in the same court, had opposed Gandhi's plea for a stay on conviction saying the Congress leader is a "repetitive offender" who is in the habit of making defamatory statements. On Thursday, arguments from both sides commenced in the court of Additional Sessions Judge R P Mogera. ...

Rahul's conviction 'litmus test' for Indian judiciary: Anand Sharma

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Wednesday said Rahul Gandhi's conviction and disqualification from Lok Sabha is "deeply flawed" in law and hoped it will be corrected as it will be a "litmus test" for the Indian judiciary. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, the senior party spokesperson said though much has been said about the decision of conviction and disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, it "is deeply flawed in law and in the Constitution". "If the same yardstick were to be applied, perhaps the Indian Parliament would have been hollowed out. Most major leaders of political parties would have been out of Parliament for decades. That has not happened," he said. "This will be a litmus test for the Indian judiciary too. I have no doubt that what is wrong will be corrected, a flawed decision in law will be reversed and I say that of my understanding in law and Constitution," Sharma said. Asked about his own occupation of a government accommodation, he said he h

PM refers to Raj Cong crisis, thanks CM Gehlot for attending train launch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot a "friend", thanking him for attending the launch here of a Vande Bharat Express even when he is going through a "political tussle" in the state. Flagging off the state's first Vande Bharat train virtually, the prime minister thanked Gehlot for being present at the event in Jaipur. "I express my special gratitude to Gehlot ji. During these days of political struggle when he is going through several crises, he took out the time for development work and participated in a railway programme. I welcome him," Modi said. On Tuesday, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot observed a daylong fast in Jaipur, targeting the Gehlot government over "inaction" in alleged cases of corruption when the BJP ran the state. Earlier, during his address at the launch event, Gehlot raised demands related to the railways in Rajasthan, and mentioned that for the first time since independence, the Union railway minister is fr

Patna court summons Rahul Gandhi on April 25 in Modi surname case

A court in the Bihar capital has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on April 25 in a defamation suit filed over his purported remark on Modi surname. The defamation case in the MP/MLA court here was lodged by BJP's Rajya Sabha MP and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi. The MP/MLA court of Special Judicial Magistrate Aadi Dev had passed an order on March 18 asking Gandhi to appear before it on April 12. However, during hearing on Wednesday, the defence counsel sought another date stating that the entire team was busy with the Surat case, in which Gandhi was sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from the Lok Sabha. To this, the judge asked Gandhi's counsel to ensure his physical appearance before the court on the next date of hearing in the case on April 25. Prosecution lawyer Priya Gupta told reporters that statements from the complainant's side have been recorded and all evidence submitted to the court and now only the statement of Gandh

Defamation case: Rahul Gandhi to appear in Patna's MP-MLA court today

Rahul Gandhi was convicted in the same case (criminal defamation) from Surat court. He was also sentenced to two years jail and is currently on bail

Disqualification biggest gift that BJP gave me, says Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi said all that he had done was to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his relationship with Gautam Adani

$2.6-bn stake sale money went to group firms: Adani counters Rahul Gandhi

Billionaire Gautam Adani's group on Monday listed out details of the USD 2.87 billion stake sales in group firms since 2019 and how USD 2.55 billion of this was ploughed back into business, as it looked to counter Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim of Rs 20,000 crore coming in to the conglomerate through 'shell companies'. While investors such as Abu Dhabi-based global strategic investment company, International Holding Company PJSC (IHC) invested USD 2.593 billion in group firms such as Adani Enterprise Ltd and Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), promoters sold stake in Adani Total Gas Ltd and AGEL to raise USD 2.783 billion. "These funds were reinvested by promoter entities to support the growth of new business and in portfolio companies such as Adani Enterprises Ltd, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd, Adani Transmission Ltd and Adani Power Ltd," the group said. The statement was issued rebutting reports in an international publication, which apparently was the basis of ...

Clear that you are now limited to being a troll: Scindia to Rahul Gandhi

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday accused Rahul Gandhi of being a "troll" after he sought to link him with the Adani row, and asked the Congress leader to answer three questions posed to him instead of levelling "unfounded" allegation and diverting people's attention from main issues. "It is clear that you are now limited to being a troll," Scindia, once a confidant of Gandhi, said in response to the Congress leader's swipe on Saturday on leaders who have quit his party in recent years as he kept up his offensive against the government over the Adani issue. "They hide the truth, that's why they mislead everyday! The question remains the same - whose Rs 20,000 crore benami money is in Adani's companies?" Gandhi asked in a tweet in Hindi and attached an image with the names of the leaders with that of Adani. He cited the names of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Scindia, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kiran Kumar Reddy and Anil K Antony in his tweet. Hitting back, Scindia asked why does not Gandh

Won't back down from truth no matter how many desert him: Priyanka on Rahul

In an affectionate social media post for Rahul Gandhi on Siblings Day, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said she is proud of her brother who faces injustice with dignity and won't back down from the truth no matter how many turn their "turn their knives in his back". Siblings Day is celebrated in various parts of the world on April 10. In a post on Instagram, the Congress leader posted a photograph of her working with Rahul Gandhi in snowed-in Srinagar at the end of the Bharat Jodo Yatra earlier this year. "So there's a Sibling's Day too! Well, to my only sibling, who has the courage to stand for goodness and compassion despite all sorts of filth being thrown at him, who faces injustice with dignity, who won't back down from speaking the truth no matter how many desert him or turn their knives in his back or how much power is used to silence him," she said in her post. "I am proud of you and always will be," she added. The closeness between the Gandhi siblings is evident with both

BJP fears Rahul Gandhi's growing popularity: Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu

Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha because the BJP fears his growing popularity. He hit out at Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur for his statements against the Congress party and Gandhi, saying time will tell who was right and who was wrong. The BJP is scared of the Congress and the growing popularity of Gandhi and that is why he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha within 24 hours of the court decision, Sukju told reporters after arriving in Nadaun, his hometown, here. About the Shimla Municipal Corporation elections, he said the Congress will win the polls with ease as the people are highly upset with the BJP's rule in the corporation. Earlier, Sukhu listened to the grievances of the people and resolved most of them on the spot.

Rahul must clarify Azad's charge on meeting 'undesirable businessmen': BJP

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said Rahul Gandhi must respond to the charge made by former Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad that he meets undesirable businessmen during foreign tours. "Ghulam Nabi Azad has made a serious allegation that whenever Rahul Gandhi goes on a foreign tour, he meets many 'unwanted businessmen', Prasad told reporters here. Azad, who floated the Democratic Progressive Azad Party after quitting the Congress, had reportedly said in an interview that the former Congress chief goes abroad and meets undesirable businessmen. "Who are these 'unwanted traders' and what are their interests? Is Rahul Gandhi trying to weaken India at the behest of anti-India businessmen and working against Modi ji (PM Narendra Modi)?," Prasad said.

Leave political spectacles behind while travelling abroad: VP Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday said people should leave their "political spectacles" behind while embarking on a foreign visit, in an apparent reference to a row over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks made during a recent visit to the United Kingdom. Speaking at a World Homeopathy Day function here, Dhankhar said as India lays the foundation for the centenary of its independence in 2047, every attempt that seeks to attack the country's dignity should be blunted. "Have you ever noticed a foreign dignitary or foreign national on a visit to this great democracy decrying or criticising his nation? The answer is an obvious no. Why cannot we take pride in our scientists, health warriors and compliment our innovation?" Dhankhar asked. "Whenever we travel out of the country, we should leave our political spectacles behind. This will be beneficial for the country as well as the individual," he added. The vice president's comments came in the wake of Gandhi's remarks made in

Rahul to take his first trip to Wayanad tomorrow after LS disqualification

He is on bail, which was extended by the Sessions Court in Gujarat. The court will hear his appeal against conviction in the case on April 13