Page 20 - Congress

Cong objects private member's bill seeking repeal of Places of Worship Act

The Congress has strongly objected to the introduction in the Rajya Sabha of a private member's bill which seeks to repeal the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Repeal Bill, 2022 was listed for introduction in the Upper House of Parliament on Friday by BJP member Harnath Singh Yadav. The bill could not be taken up as the House was adjourned for the day following an uproar by Opposition members over the Adani issue. Congress MP Naseer Hussain gave a notice to the Rajya Sabha secretariat objecting to the introduction of the bill. In his notice, Hussain said he objects to the bill as it tends to adversely disturb the social fabric, shared living and age-old brotherhood of our society and create communal disharmony. "This bill is unconstitutional as it affects the secular nature of our Constitution striking at the very roots of basic structure doctrine," he said. The Congress member said the enactment of the Places of Worship

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Congress issues whip to Lok Sabha MPs to remain present in House today

This comes after both Houses were adjourned soon after the commencement of the day's session today

Cong gives adjournment notices in LS to discuss Adani crisis, border row

Congress members Manickam Tagore and Manish Tewari on Thursday gave adjournment notices in the Lok Sabha to discuss the Adani Group issue and Chinese transgressions along the border. Tagore, the party's whip in Lok Sabha, said there is an emergency situation due to diminishing shares of the Adani group. "This was followed by the Hindenburg report. A significant volume of public money through SBI and LIC is locked in the Adani Group. It is pertinent to discuss the matter immediately in the House, leaving aside routine business. The finance minister should disclose the actual condition of the loss and steps initiated by the government to save public money," he said in his notice. The House should come forward to discuss this matter and direct the government to act accordingly, he said. Tewari, the Lok Sabha member from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, said in his notice that the House suspend Zero Hour and other businesses of the day to have a detailed discussion on the border situation wit

Left, Congress to withdraw candidates fielded against each other in Tripura

The CPI-M led Left Front and the Congress announced that both parties would withdraw their candidates fielded against each other in the Feb 16 Tripura elections, as per their seat-sharing agreement

More competitive Congress must for revival of healthy democracy: Guha

Historian Ramachandra Guha on Tuesday said that to "revive" healthy democracy in India in which one party does not steamroll the Opposition, a lot depends on the Congress becoming more competitive, which won't happen merely through a march but by winning votes. Guha was speaking at the launch of the third edition of his seminal work, "India After Gandhi", here. "Objectively, it is only the Congress that has a footprint, shall we say, in eight to 12 states. So to have healthy democracy in which one party does not steamroll the Opposition, the kind that India experienced from the late 1970s till 2014, to revive that, to restore it, which I believe would be very good for all of us, it would depend a lot on the Congress becoming more competitive," he claimed. To buttress his point, Guha spoke about how among all other parties it was the Congress that fought the BJP head-to-head in as many as 191 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He claimed the same would happen in the 2024 general

Challenge to build 'brand India' continues: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said the challenge to build "brand India" continues because it is world's perception about the country that matters, not what "we are trying to sell about ourselves". Addressing an event organised by Mathrubhumi media group here, he said India witnessed rapid economic growth post liberalisation in the 90s and emerged as the world's fastest growing economy. Now the whole issue of our magnificent diversity and how the world perceives it with the current political environments in our country raises the question, he said, adding the "challenge to building brand India continues". The essential fact remains that what really matters is not the image but the reality. What really matters is not what we are trying to sell about ourselves but what people think of us, (and) whether we want them to think that way or not, he added. The Thiruvananthapuram MP also talked about the challenges and opportunities that Kerala faces. "There are a number of econ

Nothing on unemployment: Adhir Chowdhury on Murmu's address in parliament

'There are plenty of issues facing our country today and we will raise them all in Parliament, one after the other. There was no mention of unemployment in the President's address'

Will not join BJP even if offered PM, president post: Siddaramaiah

Congress Legislature party leader Opposition leader in Karnataka Siddaramaiah on Tuesday asserted that he will never join the BJP even if offered the prime minister or president's post

Kharge, several MPs won't be able to attend Prez address: Jairam Ramesh

The President addresses members of both Houses in the Parliament's Central Hall on the first day of budget session

Best of BS Opinion: Beyond the Yatra, the everywhere retail, and more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Parliament's Budget session from Tuesday, Congress yet to show its hand

MPs feel that for the first time, the Congress is playing its cards close to its chest as no party leader is likely to be present at the meeting (they are unable to return from the Bharat Jodo Yatra)

Beyond the Yatra

Rahul may have got an image makeover but Congress gains unclear

What has the Bharat Jodo Yatra achieved? Can Rahul win from Amethi again?

The Rahul message has no political relevance. It's all been a gigantic waste of time - which is plentiful for Congress - and money, which is not

Rahul dons 'pheran' in Kashmir's cold as Bharat Jodo Yatra comes to close

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who set off a national debate when he walked the Bharat Jodo Yatra in a T-shirt in north India's cold winter, donned a 'pheran' to ward off Kashmir's bone-freezing chill on Monday. As the snow fell steadily, carpeting much of the Valley in white, the former Congress president was seen in a sleeveless jacket over his trademark white T-shirt earlier in the morning and then in the traditional long cloak worn by Kashmiris. Soon after attending an event at the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters on Maulana Azad Road here, Gandhi, who walked over 4,000 kilometres in 136 days, emerged in a grey pheran as he headed to the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket stadium for the closing ceremony of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Gandhi's white T-shirt hit the limelight when the yatra entered Delhi, his supporters praising his resilience while his opponents criticised him. Gandhi, on his part, said he decided to wear only T-shirts during the march after meeting three poor girls ...

Promise made to India fulfilled: Rahul after hoisting tricolour in Srinagar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday unfurled the national flag at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar as part of the Kanyakumari-Kashmir 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and said a "promise" made to India has been fulfilled. Gandhi described the yatra as the deepest and beautiful experience of his life. The security for the 10-minute event was at its peak as all roads in a one-kilometre radius leading to the chowk, which holds symbolic importance for the city, were sealed off from Saturday night and no vehicular movement was allowed. Barricades were set up and concertina wires installed at all entry points with a heavy deployment of security personnel, while shops, business establishments and the weekly flea market were closed as part of the security exercise. Gandhi, along with his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party leaders and workers, resumed the final lap of the yatra in Jammu and Kashmir from Srinagar's Pantha Chowk around 10:45

Congress preparing itself internally for 2024 Lok Sabha elections challenge

"We will win Karnataka (Assembly elections), followed by Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and with good possibilities in Madhya Pradesh. After that, we will win Haryana"

Cong launches Haath Se Haath Jodo campaign in UP to connect with people

The Congress has started a 'Haath Se Haath Jodo' campaign in Uttar Pradesh, as a follow-up to its 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', to reach out to people in the hinterlands ahead of the 2024 general elections. This state-level campaign, party leaders, said will strengthen the Congress' prospects and act as an extension of the Kanyakumari to Kashmir 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' that passed through the politically crucial state earlier this month. Uttar Pradesh sends sends 80 members to the 542-member Lok Sabha. The 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is currently in its final lap in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, with Rahul Gandhi hoisting the national flag at Lal Chowk in the city on Sunday. AICC national general secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to visit the state in February for the programme, party leaders said. The 'Haath Se Haath Jodo' campaign is aimed at apprising people at the grassroots level of the failures of the central government, they said. Armed with a letter from

Telangana polls are a do-or-die battle for a demoralised, divided Congress

The BJP's emergence as the strong opponent to BRS has pushed the Congress to the third place

Rahul Gandhi unfurls national flag at Srinagar's Lal Chowk as 'BJY' ends

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday unfurled the national flag at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk here as part of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', amid stringent security measures usually reserved for a prime ministerial visit. Taking a 30-minute break from the Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march at Sonawar, Gandhi drove to the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters on Maulana Azad Road before heading to the clock tower, locally known as 'Ghanta Ghar', to unfurl the tricolour. Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir for the flag hoisting. The security for the 10-minute event was at its peak as all roads leading to Lal Chowk had been sealed off from Saturday night and no vehicular movement was allowed. Shops, business establishments and the weekly flea market were closed as part of the security drill for the flag unfurling by the former Congress president.