Page 16 - Sonia Gandhi

Cong demands expulsion of Yatnal for calling Sonia Gandhi 'vishkanya'

The Congress on Friday hit at the BJP demanding expulsion of its leader Basangouda Patil Yatnal for calling Sonia Gandhi a "vishkanya". Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka and its leaders have lost their mental as well as political balance. Facing a complete rout in the assembly elections, the BJP leadership is frustrated to the core and is hurling filth and muck, which is the product of their ugly character and dirty mindset of denigrating and insulting the Congress leadership. They have lost all sense of propriety, political balance and even a remote iota of decency and decorum," he said in a statement. "Instructed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and supported by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, BJP leader and Modi Ji's personal favourite Basangouda Patil Yatnal has stooped to the lowest by calling UPA chairperson and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi as Visha Kanye and Agent of China and Pakistan," Surjewala said.

Vice President criticises Sonia Gandhi over her "enforced silence" remarks

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday took a swipe at former Congress president Sonia Gandhi over her "enforced silence" remarks, and said the freedom of expression one enjoys in the country cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Addressing the inaugural session of the 'Mann Ki Baat @ 100 Conclave', Dhankhar also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for keeping politics away from his monthly radio programme, which had come as a "beacon of hope" for a nation that was "losing hope and its world image had nosedived". He also slammed "an ostrich-like stance" some people take while touring foreign lands and ignore the rapid development taking place in the country. In an apparent reference to Sonia Gandhi's recent article in a newspaper alleging "enforced silence" in the country under the BJP government, Dhankhar said the freedom of expression a person enjoys in the country cannot be found anywhere in the world. "I am pained and also sometimes feel what has happened to our ...

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Real 'anti-nationals' are those misusing power to divide Indians: Sonia

Launching a scathing attack on the government on B R Ambedkar's birth anniversary, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday alleged that the regime in power is "misusing and subverting" the institutions of the Constitution, and the people must act to defend the Constitution from this "systematic assault". Penning an article in The Telegraph on the 132nd birth anniversary of Ambedkar, the architect of India's Constitution, Gandhi said today the real anti-nationals are those who are misusing their power to divide Indians against each other on the grounds of religion, language, caste and gender. "As we honour Babasaheb's legacy today, we must remember his prescient warning that the success of the Constitution depends on the conduct of the people entrusted with the duty to govern," the Congress parliamentary party president said. She alleged that today, the regime in power is misusing and subverting the institutions of the Constitution, and weakening its foundations of liberty, ...

Illusory statement of highest improbity: Rijiju on Sonia's democracy remark

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday dubbed as an "illusory statement of the highest improbity" the remarks of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on democracy and independence of institutions. Rijiju's jibe came after the former Congress president accused the Narendra Modi government of "misusing every power". Gandhi said her party will take its message directly to people and join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution. In an Op-Ed in "The Hindu", Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Modi and his government of "systematically dismantling" the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, saying their actions demonstrate a "deep-rooted disdain" for democracy. Rijiju took to Twitter to hit back at Gandhi. "Smt Sonia Gandhi is lecturing about Democracy? Congress Party talking about independence of Judiciary is : An illusory statement of the highest improbity," he said.

Cong to ally with like-minded parties to defend Constitution: Sonia Gandhi

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said with the Narendra Modi government bent on "misusing every power" and elections approaching in several key states, her party will take its message directly to people and join hands with all like-minded parties to defend the Constitution. In an Op-Ed in "The Hindu", Gandhi also accused Prime Minister Modi and his government of "systematically dismantling" the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, saying their actions demonstrate a "deep-rooted disdain" for democracy. She also alleged that the prime minister "ignores" the rising tide of hatred and violence, egged on by BJP and RSS leaders, and has not once called for peace or harmony or acted to reign in the offenders, let alone bring them to justice. "Religious festivals seem to have become occasions to intimidate and bully others -- a far cry from when they were occasions for joy and celebration. Instead, there is intimidation and discrimination only on account of their .

Kharge sets wheels of Oppn unity moving, despite divergence on Adani

At a time when Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar, a Congress ally in Maharashtra, has expressed doubts over Opposition's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe

Rahul to blame for Congress' situation, Sonia's writ doesn't run: Azad

Ghulam Nabi Azad termed Rahul Gandhi the main reason why he was no longer with the party

'Everything fine', says Raut after meeting Sonia, Rahul over Savarkar row

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday met former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and said "everything is fine", signalling an end to the row over V D Savarkar. The Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena was upset over Rahul Gandhi's strident attack of Savarkar, a revolutionary leader revered in Maharashtra, leading to friction in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi coalition with the Congress and NCP in the state. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had asked Rahul Gandhi to tone down the criticism of Savarkar and reminded the Congress leader that the real fight of the opposition parties was with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. "Met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Many important issues were discussed. Everything is fine. There is nothing to worry," Raut said on Twitter. Raut had spoken with Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday after the intervention by Pawar. "The opposition is united in Maharashtra as well as in the country," Raut said to questions about opposition unity in ...

Crude oil price decline should lead to lower petrol prices: Congress

The Congress has demanded that the Centre transfer the benefits of declining crude oil prices to the consumers

Delhi: Meeting of Congress MPs begins ahead of 2nd phase of Budget Session

Opposition parties will also attend a joint meeting at Congress national president Kharge's office on Monday, said sources

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Sonia Gandhi admitted to Ganga Ram hospital, condition stable: Doctors

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has been admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here due to fever, doctors said on Friday. According to a health bulletin issued by the hospital, her condition is stable. She was admitted to the hospital on Thursday, a spokesperson of the hospital said. D S Rana, Chairman, Trust Society, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said Gandhi has been admitted to the hospital under the supervision of Arup Basu, senior consultant, Department of Chest Medicine, and his team, "on account of fever". "Gandhi is under observation and undergoing investigations. Her condition is stable," the bulletin added.

Committed to secularism, will enact 'Rohith Vemula Act' if voted: Congress

The Congress on Sunday promised to bring in a special legislation called the "Rohith Vemula Act" to redress the discrimination faced by students from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities in educational institutions, and asserted that it shall commit to secularism in letter and spirit and will be at the forefront to protect the rights of minorities. In its social justice and empowerment resolution passed at its 85th plenary session, the Congress committed to conduct a socio-economic caste census along with the decennial census. The party said it has advocated reservations for economically weaker sections (EWS) of the society but the BJP's policy on EWS quota has excluded even the poor SCs, STs and OBCs from availing benefits under EWS quota. The Congress said it considers poor belonging to all communities to be economically weaker and therefore poor SCs, STs and OBCs cannot be excluded from the EWS quota. "Congress party would ensure that economically weaker section category student

Takeaways from Cong plenary meet: No CWC polls, Kharge to nominate members

As curtains came down on the Congress' 85th plenary session on Sunday, there were several takeaways from the three-day conclave of the party -- from opting to authorise the AICC president to nominate CWC members to making its stance clear on alliances for 2024 polls. The main takeaways from the session are as follows: * The Congress Steering Committee unanimously decided not to hold elections to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and authorised party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to nominate its members. * Kharge said his party is willing to forge a viable alternative by aligning with like-minded parties in order to get rid of the "anti-people" BJP government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and is ready to make any sacrifice required to achieve the goal. * The Congress said it is the only party that can provide capable and decisive leadership to the country, but is ready to make sacrifices to defeat the BJP-led NDA and would go all out to identify, mobilise and align like-minded secular .

Was our economy bigger when we fought the British: Rahul Gandhi slams BJP

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched scathing attack on BJP while addressing the party's 85th Plenary Session here

My innings could conclude with Bharat Jodo Yatra, says Sonia Gandhi

Sonia Gandhi thanked all leaders, and the people of the country for participation in the yatra as well as for their love and the support

BJP fuelling fire of hatred, targeting minorities, Dalits, women: Sonia

Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi launched an all-out attack on the BJP government on Saturday, accusing it of "fuelling the fire of hatred" and "viciously targeting minorities, women, Dalits and tribals". She urged the Congress workers to tackle the current regime with vigour and reach out to people to convey the party's message. Addressing the party's 85th plenary session here, Gandhi accused the government of causing economic ruin by favouring a particular businessman, making a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a controversy involving the business empire of industrialist Gautam Adani. She said in this crucial time, every Congress worker bears a special responsibility towards the party and the country. Gandhi said the Congress is not just a political party but it reflects the voices of people of all religions, castes and genders. She asserted that the party will fulfil the dreams of all of them. "This is a particularly challenging time for the Congress and the

Congress plenary session day 2: Kharge, Sonia Gandhi to deliver addresses

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi will address leaders here, as well as political, economic and international affairs resolutions will be deliberated upon at the party's 85th plenary session Saturday. At the start of the second day of the three-day conclave, the Congress president will release a book and party general secretaries will submit their respective reports. After this Kharge will address the gathering. A "thanksgiving" statement for former Congress president Sonia Gandhi will also be read out at the session following which she will deliver her address. The delegates will then deliberate upon the political, economic and international affairs resolutions, according to the programme shared by the party. On the first day of the session, the Congress steering committee unanimously decided not to hold elections to the CWC and authorised the party chief to nominate its members. The decision was taken at the Kharge-led steering committee .

Steering committee authorises Congress chief Kharge to nominate CWC members

The Congress steering committee on Friday unanimously decided to authorise party president Mallikarjun Kharge to nominate all members of the working committee, the party's highest decision making body. Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said the committee freely discussed the matter of CWC elections and almost all 45 members present unanimously decided to authorise the Congress president to nominate members. Several members expressed their views both in favour and against the polls to CWC, he told reporters. "We are fully confident that all AICC and PCC delegates will support this unanimous decision," he said. Ramesh said the plenary will also decide on bringing 16 amendments to 32 rules and regulations of the party's constitution. "All former prime ministers of the Congress party and former presidents will be given representation in the Working Committee," he said, giving details of amendments to be brought about in the constitution of the party. Earlier,