Page 3 - Congress

Congress' candidates for about 60 seats in Karnataka unsuitable: CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday commented that the Congress didn't have suitable candidates in about 60 seats and the party would lose badly in the May 10 Assembly polls, performing worse than last time. He said the Congress lacked not only candidates, but a base in the State as well as clarity on its policies. "As per my understanding, Congress doesn't have suitable candidates in about 60 seats, so they are trying to get people from here and there," Bommai said in response to a question. "As I had said earlier, D K Shivakumar while preparing Congress' second list contacted almost all our MLAs saying, 'seats have been reserved for you, will you join?'" . Speaking to reporters here, he said that the Congress and Shivakumar speak with valour, but the reality inside was different. "They (Congress) will lose badly than last time, there is no doubt on that, because they neither have candidates, nor base nor clarity on policies -- whether it is on reservation or on ..

'Means Parliamentary Democracy is dead': Chidambaram on TN Guv's remark

Congress veteran and former finance minister P Chidambaram on Friday slammed Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi over his "Bill is dead" remark, saying it means "Parliamentary Democracy is dead".Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Thursday, while interacting with the civil services aspirants, explained the role of the Governor in the Constitution, saying that he has the option to give assent or withhold a Bill passed by the Assembly, adding that the latter means that the "Bill is dead".In a tweet, Chidambaram said, "Governor, Tamil Nadu has given a strange & peculiar definition to the withholding of assent to Bills passed by the Legislature. He has said that it means the 'Bill is dead'. Actually, when a Governor withholds assent for no valid reason, it means 'Parliamentary Democracy is dead'."The Governor said "withholding" is a "decent language" used for rejecting a Bill.Interacting with the civol services aspirants here, Ravi said the responsibility of the Governor is to protect the ...

Kanataka polls: Cong faces dissent & rebellion after 2nd list announcement

The Congress workers barged inside the party office in Mandya on Friday and vented out their ire on party leaders for issuing the ticket to Ravi Kumar to contest elections

Rahul created powerful narrative via Bharat Jodo Yatra: Congress

The Congress on Friday said Rahul Gandhi created a powerful new national narrative through the Bharat Jodo Yatra and alleged that a "rattled BJP" has been trying to "derail, distort, defame and divert". In a tweet in Hindi, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said one of the three important issues raised during the Bharat Jodo Yatra was growing economic inequality and the main reason for this is skyrocketing inflation. He also shared a chart comparing the prices of essential commodities in 2013 with that of 2023. Sharing the chart, Ramesh urged people to look at the way household budget has been affected in the last 10 years. In another tweet, Ramesh said, "Rahul Gandhi created a powerful new national narrative through Bharat Jodo Yatra. It was truly transformational." "A rattled BJP has been trying to derail, distort, defame and divert from that narrative. Sadly some high, supposedly neutral authorities are also engaging in this 4D assault," the Congress leader said. His rem

Third gender denoted as a 'caste' in Bihar's recent caste-based survey

With each political party having a distinct area of influence in various regions of the state, it is key to understand the "micro picture" in every such part, as Karnataka heads for Assembly polls on May 10. Kittur Karnataka (earlier known as Mumbai/ Bombay Karnataka region) sends 50 MLAs to the Legislative Assembly. Comprising seven districts- Belagavi, Dharwad, Vijayapura, Haveri, Gadag, Bagalkote and Uttara Kannada- it's a direct fight between the ruling BJP and the Congress in this region, where the Janata Dal (Secular) is considerably weak. The state government decided in 2021 to rechristen the region that was under the erstwhile Bombay presidency, before Independence, as 'Kittur Karnataka' from 'Mumbai-Karnataka.' The name Kittur is after a historical taluk in Belagavi district that was ruled by Rani Chennamma (17781829), who had fought the British before Jhansi Rani Laxmibai did. Predominantly a Lingayat dominated region (other than Uttara Kannada district), it is the home

Cheated his father and Congress: KPCC chief on Anil Antony joining BJP

"Anil Antony doesn't have the tradition of fighting for Congress," he added

Cong accuses Adani Group of having links with Chinese firm; Rijiju responds

The Congress on Thursday accused the Adani Group of having business links with a Chinese company in all its infrastructure projects in roads, railways, ports and airport sectors, saying it posed a threat to national security. The remarks prompted Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to hit back at the opposition party. Responding to a tweet by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Rijiju said, "Do not comment on sensitive matters. The Congress has no moral right to speak about Arunachal Pradesh." Ramesh had alleged that business tycoon Gautam Adani has business links with Chinese citizens. He wondered whether it was compromising national security. The law minister also shared a video in which the then defence minister A K Antony is purportedly telling Lok Sabha that for long India had a policy not to develop borders as an undeveloped border was safer than a developed border. "First respond to this reality," Rijiju, who represents Arunachal Pradesh in the Lok Sabha, said. Addressing a press confere

Cong veteran A K Antony's son Anil joins BJP in presence of Piyush Goyal

Anil K Antony, the son of veteran Congress leader A K Antony, on Thursday joined the BJP in the presence of Union ministers Piyush Goyal and V Muraleedharan here. Antony, who headed the Digital Media cell of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, slammed the Congress leadership for working for a "single family" instead of working for the country. He had quit the Congress after criticising the party's stand on the controversial documentary film of the BBC on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Welcoming Antony in the BJP, Goyal described him as a "very grounded political worker", who was convinced that the BJP cares for the country and shared the prime minister's vision of sustainable growth. "This is not about personalities, this is about difference of opinion and ideas. I strongly believe that I have taken the right step. My respect for my father will remain the same," Antony said when asked whether he had consulted his father before joining the BJP.

Union Law Minister Rijiju slams Opposition over Parliament disruption

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday slammed Congress and other Opposition parties for disrupting Parliament and wearing black clothes, as Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on the last day of the Budget Session amid protests. Flanked by Rajya Sabha Leader of House Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal, Rijiju said the Congress and its "gangs" were disrupting Parliament for the sake of one person Rahul Gandhi. "Even on the last day, Congress and its friends disrupted the House. They wore black clothes and insulted Parliament again," Rijiju said. "This is unfortunate for the country. We want the dignity of Parliament to be maintained. What Congress and its supporters are doing for one MP, Rahul Gandhi, the nation is watching," he said. "We have seen how Congress and its gangs went to Surat court to pressurise the court. The way they took out a procession, it is condemnable," Rijiju said. Opposition parties have displayed a seldom seen

Modi govt talks lot about democracy but does not walk the talk: Cong chief

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government of not walking the talk on democratic principles and causing disruptions in Parliament to divert attention from the Opposition's demand for a JPC probe into the Adani issue. Addressing a joint press conference of opposition leaders at the Constitution Club after a "Tiranga March" from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk, he said the government's intention was to get the Budget Session washed out. He said the government talks a lot about democracy, but it does not follow what it says, and asserted that the Opposition was unitedly fighting for democracy and the Constitution. "The budget of Rs 50-lakh crore was passed in just 12 minutes, but they (BJP) always allege that the opposition parties have no interest and they keep disturbing the House," Kharge said. "The disturbance was created by the ruling party. Whenever we made a demand, we were not allowed to speak. This has happened for the first time in

Congress releases second list of 41 candidates for Karnataka polls

The Congress on Thursday released its second list of 41 candidates, including three defectors, who had recently quit as legislators and joined the party, for the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka. There is no mention of Kolar, the second seat from where senior party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, wants to contest, in addition to Varuna, where his name is already cleared. Baburao Chinchansur and N Y Gopalakrishna, who had quit as BJP MLC and MLA recently and joined Congress have been fielded Gurmitkal and Molakalmuru, respectively. While S R Srinivas (Vasu), who had quit as JD(S) MLA has been fielded as a candidate from Gubbi. Gopalakrishna was BJP's MLA from Kudligi in Vijayanagara district in the current Assembly. Congress has left the Melukote seat in Mandya district for Darshan Puttannaiah of Sarvodaya Karnataka Party. His father late Puttannaiah was a prominent farmer leader and had earlier represented the constituency. Former Minister Vinay Kulkarni, who w

Punjab CM Mann overrules minister, scraps Rs 40 crore land scam inquiry

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has overruled decision of his own minister and ordered the closure of the Rs 40 crore Bhagtupura land scam inquiry

Why's govt unable to seek release of ex-Navy personnel from Qatar: Congress

The Congress on Thursday raised concerns over the detention of eight former Navy personnel by Qatar and sought to know from the government why it could not seek their release even after seven months. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a statement that even though the Qatari national arrested along with the former Naval personnel has been released, why have the Indian authorities not been able to secure the release of Indians? "Why is the Indian government still unable to either ascertain the facts of the case or to reassure the ex-naval personnel and their families that justice will be done," he asked. Ramesh reminded the government that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had in Parliament termed it a "very sensitive case and said that the interest of the detained is "foremost in our minds... We assure, they are our priority". Yet, while an Omani national who was arrested along with the ex-Navy personnel was released in November, the Indian citizens remain in ...

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

Cong cites OBC Mahasabha's 'notice to Nadda', says it showed mirror to BJP

The Congress on Wednesday attacked the BJP over an OBC mahasabha reportedly hitting out at the saffron party for "dragging" OBCs in the row over Rahul Gandhi's 2019 remarks, saying the ruling party has been shown the mirror. Several BJP leaders, including party chief J P Nadda, have accused Gandhi of insulting Other Backward Classes (OBCs) with his remark for which he has been convicted by a Surat court. Gandhi (52) was disqualified from the Lok Sabha last month after he was convicted by a court in Gujarat's Surat in a 2019 defamation case. The court in Surat sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail in the case, filed on a complaint by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi for his remark, "How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname?" On Twitter, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tagged a media report which said that the national core committee of the OBC Mahasabha in Gwalior has issued a legal notice to BJP president JP Nadda in which it has been claimed that he "insulted" the OBC ...

Rahul, Priyanka to address joint rally in Nagpur in Apr; date not finalised

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday said a public meeting of party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to be held in Nagpur between April 20 and 25, although the date is yet to be finalised. Speaking to reporters at the Nagpur airport, he also said that the date of their rally will be finalised during a meeting of the Congress's state executive to be held in Thane on April 10. Patole accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of ignoring the basic issues of people. Targeting the saffron party over taking out 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' to honour late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, the Congress leader asked, "Did the BJP take out any yatra against the farmers' suicides happening in the state?" "Is Gaurav Yatra being taken out because farmers' electricity supply is being snapped and their produce is not getting good price?" he said, adding that the poor were unable to get proper food.

Not Kharge, but Rahul is captain of Congress: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Veteran politician and former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad believes that the Congress is still run by "remote control" and he also came down heavily on a "new coterie of inexperienced sycophants" who manage its affairs. Ahead of the release of his book 'Azaad -- an autobiography', the former Congress stalwart, who quit the party last year, refused to talk about the issues he had with his former colleagues, saying "the more I dig into the past, the more bitterness surfaces, and I don't want to dwell with that since I have stepped out of the party". At the same time, Azad, who was chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said he had great respect for Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, but acknowledged there were political differences with Rahul Gandhi. "...as an individual, I am not saying Rahul Gandhi is a bad person. As an individual he is a good person. Maybe we have some .

'Beware' of man who did not stay loyal to his former party: Cong to PM

The Congress on Wednesday hit back at Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for his scathing criticism of Rahul Gandhi, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should "beware" of a man who did not stay loyal to his former party and will also "not be loyal" to him. Scindia launched a sharp attack on Gandhi and the Congress, alleging the party has been left with no ideology except the one of a "traitor" which works against the country. The BJP leader attacked the Congress for according Rahul Gandhi a "special treatment" following his conviction in a defamation case and accused the party of pressuring the judiciary, and doing everything possible to stay relevant. Slamming Scindia for his remarks, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "When Mr. Scindia talks about doing things to stay politically relevant, I can think of his own example. To stay politically relevant he changed his party, he changed his friends, he changed his loyalties and he is giving us a lecture

Can't make separate guidelines for politicians: SC quashes plea by Oppn

Fourteen Opposition parties had filed a plea with the Supreme Court seeking a fresh set of guidelines governing the arrest, remand, and bail for politicians

Whitewashing with a vengeance: Congress over deletions from NCERT textbooks

The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the government over some texts missing from NCERT's new class 12 textbooks, including Mahatma Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity irking the right-wing and the ban on the RSS for some time, and called it "whitewashing with a vengeance". The NCERT, however, claims that no curriculum trimming has happened this year and the syllabus was rationalised last year in June. "Gandhiji's death had a magical effect on communal situation in the country", "Gandhiji's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists", "organisations like RSS were banned for some time", "communal politics began to lose its appeal"--these are among the texts missing from class 12 political science textbooks for the new academic session. Tagging a media report on it, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, "Whitewashing with a vengeance." Tagging another report which claimed that chapters related to the Mughals and Dalit writers have also been axed fro