Page 19 - Indian National Congress

BJP's Patra posts Rahul's picture with hijab-clad girl; Congress hits back

BJP leader Sambit Patra on Tuesday posted a picture of Rahul Gandhi walking with a hijab-clad girl during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and accused him of indulging in appeasement politics, triggering a backlash from Congress leaders who slammed Patra for his remarks. Posting a picture of Gandhi walking with the girl wearing a hijab, Patra tweeted in Hindi, "When votes are accounted for on the basis of religion then it is called appeasement." Tagging Patra's tweet, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate slammed the BJP leader and said he did not even spare a young girl. "It's one thing to be rattled by the huge crowds in the (Bharat Jodo) Yatra - but to be blinded by hate like this. You are the pits!" she said. Responding to Shrinate's tweet, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Worse than the pits." The Congress has accused the BJP of resorting to disinformation and falsehood on the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', and said it shows the "fear" and "frustration" of

Will ask Cong MLAs to reach Delhi if I contest for party president: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday told Congress MLAs that they will be asked to come to New Delhi if he decides to file his nomination for the party president election. But he will first visit Kochi to persuade Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra there, to contest for the post. Gehlot said this at a Congress Legislature Party meeting at his official residence here, according to a state cabinet minister.

Vote only for those who accept Nehru family in Cong prez polls: Kerala MP

Amidst speculation that Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor is likely to contest for the post of the Congress chief, senior party leader K Muraleedharan on Tuesday said the state party would vote only for those who recognise the prominence of the Nehru family. He also expressed his desire for Rahul Gandhi to take up the party chief post and said his unwillingness to accept the top position was a cause of worry for everyone. "There is no dispute among anyone that Rahul Gandhi should come and take up the post. But, it is up to him whether to accept the post or not," he told reporters here on the sidelines of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Lok Sabha MP said a clear picture about the Congress president poll can be known on September 30 and the Yatra would cross the state's borders the next day. "Anyway, we will cast our votes only for those who recognise the prominence of the Nehru family," Muraleedharan added. After over two decades, the Congress is likely to see a contest for

Bill to amend Assam Police Act passed after Congress, Gogoi stage walk-out

The Opposition Congress and the lone Independent MLA staged a walk-out in the Assam Assembly on Monday as the government refused to forward a bill that seeks to amend parts of the Police Act to a select committee on the last day of the autumn session of the House. The bill proposes to amend sections of the Assam Police Act, 2007, on the establishment, power and functions of the District Accountability Authority. The Assembly later passed the Assam Police (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika introduced the bill in the House on behalf of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who also holds the Home and Political departments. Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia said that as per the amendment, a DIG-level officer will head the accountability authority which will deal with cases of misconduct' against officers in the rank of inspector and below. The Congress MLA said a retired judge should head the panel, asserting that it was mandated in a Supreme

Rahul Gandhi launches 13th day of Bharat Jodo Yatra; 225 km covered so far

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday kick-started the 13th day of his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Cherthala here along with thousands of party workers. The yatra began with the planting of a Rambutan sapling at St. Michael's College. It was organised by Sasthravedi, the environment wing of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. The morning leg of the yatra will cover a distance of around 14 km and conclude at Kuthiyathodu here. According to AICC general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, the yatra has covered a distance of 255 km in 12 days. "Today Bharat Yatris will walk 15 kms from Cherthala to Kuthiyathodu in Alappuzha district during the morning session of the padayatra. The campsite tonight is in Kochi district," Ramesh tweeted. Senior Congress leaders K Muraleedharan, Pawan Khera, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan and Shanimol Usman, among others, walked with Gandhi in the morning. Men, women and children were seen waiting along a hig

Ashok Gehlot, Shashi Tharoor likely to run for Congress President's post

With the process for the Congress Presidential polls opening with the issuance of notification on September 22, it's likely that the main contest will be between Ashok Gehlot and Shashi Tharoor

Goa defectors reading BJP's 'script' to tarnish Cong's image: Ex-AICC secy

Former AICC secretary Girish Chodankar alleged that those who have joined BJP by betraying Congress and people of Goa are now reading out the "script" penned by BJP to tarnish the image of his party

Rahul Gandhi discusses high fuel costs, low subsidies with Kerala fishermen

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday interacted with fishermen at Vadackal beach in Kerala's Alappuzha and discussed the challenges faced by them ahead of starting the 12th day of his party's Bharat Jodo Yatra.The Wayanad MP held discussions about the rising fuel costs, reduced subsidies, dwindling fish stock, inadequate educational opportunities and environmental destruction among other issues."At 6 am, Rahul Gandhi interacted with fisherfolk at Vadackal beach in Alappuzha on their challenges--rising fuel costs, reduced subsidies, dwindling fish stock, lack of social welfare & pensions, inadequate educational opportunities, and environmental destruction," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh informed in a tweet.The Yatra is in its Kerala leg and would traverse through the state for the next 12 days.The 3,500-km march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir will be completed in 150 days and cover as many as 12 states. From Kerala, the Yatra will traverse through the state for the next 18 days, ..

Rahul Gandhi begins Yatra's 12th day after meeting Alappuzha's fisherfolk

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday held discussions with the fishermen community here at the Vadackal beach ahead of the 12th day of his party's Bharat Jodo Yatra. In an early morning meeting, Gandhi discussed the challenges of rising fuel costs, reduced subsidies, dwindling fish stock and environmental destruction among other issues. "At 6am, @RahulGandhi interacted with fisherfolk at Vadackal beach in Alappuzha on their challengesrising fuel costs, reduced subsidies, dwindling fish stock, lack of social welfare & pensions, inadequate educational opportunities, and environmental destruction. #BharatJodoYatra," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted. The Yatra on Monday was kick-started from Punnapra while senior Congress leaders K Muraleedharan, Kodikkunnil Suresh, Ramesh Chennithala, K C Venugopal and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan accompanied Gandhi. The morning leg of the yatra will conclude at Kalavoor, after covering around 16 ...

Bharat Jodo Yatra enters 10th day, Rahul Gandhi resumes Kerala leg

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday kick-started the tenth day of his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Puthiyakavu junction near Karunagappally here with thousands of party workers accompanying him waving party flags. Gandhi and the yatra members had halted at Karunagappally after walking around 24 km on Friday. The yatra, which resumed shortly after 6.30 am, will cover a distance of around 12 km and enter Alappuzha district and take a break at Kayamkulam at around 11 am. It will resume at 5 pm and cover over eight km before concluding for the day with a public meeting at Cheppad. Senior Congress leaders Kodikkunnil Suresh, K Muraleedharan, K C Venugopal and Leader of Opposition in state Assembly V D Satheesan are accompanying Gandhi. Meanwhile, Gandhi had called on spiritual leader, Mata Amritanandamayi, at her ashram near Karunagappally on Friday night. He also posted a series of pictures with Amritanandamayi on Facebook. "Fortunate to have met Amritanandamayi Maa at her ashram near

Congress will launch 'Assam Jodo Yatra' on November 1: Jairam Ramesh

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh announced here on Friday that the party would launch the 'Assam Jodo Yatra', the Assam version of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', on November 1.

Isn't Rahul Gandhi enough to weaken Congress, Kejriwal takes potshot

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday took a potshot at the Congress, saying Rahul Gandhi was "enough" to weaken it, rejecting allegations the AAP was acting as a B-team of the BJP and weakening the Congress. The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor also sought to maintain distance from the ongoing bid to form a grand opposition alliance to keep the BJP at bay in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Alliance politics should be left to those who are working on it, Kejriwal said, adding he did not understand it. The Delhi chief minister was replying to questions at a townhall event organised by NDTV. "Am I needed to weaken the Congress? Isn't Rahul Gandhi enough," he quipped when asked to comment on allegations levelled by political rivals that his AAP was weakening the Congress and acting as a B-team of the BJP to help the saffron party win elections. On the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' of the Congress, Kejriwal said, "Let them do it. Everyone should do good work. Best of luck (to ...

2016 Riots case: Gujarat Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani gets 6 months in jail

A court in Ahmedabad on Friday sentenced Gujarat Congress's working president and MLA Jignesh Mevani and 18 others to six months' simple imprisonment in a 2016 case of rioting. The case was related to a road blockade agitation staged by Mevani and his associates. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate P N Goswami, who also imposed a fine on Mevani and others, suspended their sentence till October 17 to enable them file appeals. The case was registered against Mevani and 19 others at the University police station here in 2016 for staging road blockade to press their demand that an under-construction building of the law department of Gujarat University be named for Dr B R Ambedkar. The First Information Report was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 143 (unlawful assembly) and 147 (rioting) as well as sections of the Gujarat Police Act. One of the accused died during the pendency of the case. Mevani, a prominent Dalit leader, won the 2017 Assembly election as an independ

Going to people is good: CPI(M) softens stance on Cong's Bharat Jodo Yatra

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Friday said "going to people" is a good thing, softening his party's critique of the Congress's "Bharat Jodo Yatra", while asserting that the Left party is part of the effort to bring "secular, democratic" outfits in the country together. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had earlier lashed out at the Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra for stipulating 18 days for the Left-ruled Kerala. Briefing reporters on the decisions taken at a recently-concluded politburo meeting of the party, Yechury hailed the efforts of leaders such as Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to unite the opposition parties. He, however remained ambivalent on the efforts of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "Every party has the right to chart its on own path. Going to people is a good thing. The AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) is also doing it in its own way," Yechury said, adding that peo

'Bharat Jodo Yatra' decisive moment for country's politics: Jairam Ramesh

'Bharat Jodo Yatra' is a "booster dose" for the Congress and a "decisive and transformational moment" for the politics of the country, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said here on Friday. The 3570-km 'padyatra' is being undertaken by Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Kashmir over five-and-a-half months to galvanise Congress cadres and strengthen the organisation, giving it new energy, Ramesh along with his Rajya Sabha colleague Digvijay Singh said at a press conference. "The yatra is a booster dose for the Congress and a decisive and transformational moment for the politics of the country. Workers will reach out to people at block, district and state level, thus enhancing the organisational strength of the Congress," he said. Hitting out at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his remark that India was already united and there was no need to reunite it by undertaking a yatra, Ramesh said, "I want to tell him that the country is breaking for three reasons primarily -- ...

Gujarat polls: Cong announces several pre-poll 'guarantees' for fishermen

The Congress on Friday promised Rs 3 lakh financial assistance and Rs 400 daily allowance to the families of fishermen from Gujarat languishing in Pakistani jails, besides a Rs 50 lakh package to the owners of boats seized by the neighbouring country if the part is voted to power in the state. State Congress president Jagdish Thakor and senior leader Arjun Modhwadia made the announcement in a press conference here while accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government of acting against the interests of the fishing community by cutting down the subsidy and not taking concrete steps for the release of the fishermen apprehended by Pakistan. Apart from providing higher subsidies on petrol and diesel used in fishing boats, the Congress government will also put in place a cooperative system for boat building and priority will be given to traditional fishing communities for prawn farming and fishing in inland water bodies, the leaders said. Assembly elections in the BJP-ruled Gujarat are

Cong promises Rs 50 lakh package to fishing community in poll-bound Gujarat

In the run-up to the Assembly elections, Gujarat Congress made a host of promises to the fishing community which has dominance on 32 seats in the state

Congress plans second phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra from Gujarat to Arunachal

As Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra entered its eighth day, party leaders led by Rahul Gandhi started the march from Kollam on Friday

Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes from Kollam district in Kerala after a day's halt

Accompanied by hundreds of party workers and senior party leaders, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday resumed his party's Bharat Jodo yatra, a 150-day-long foot march, after a day's rest from Polayathodu in Kollam district of Kerala. Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan, AICC general secretary in charge of Organisation, K C Venugopal, senior Congress leaders, Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, RSP leader N K Premachandran among others were seen walking besides Gandhi. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Gandhi will interact with the chase workers, entrepreneurs, and the party allies during the halt of the yatra at Neendakara in the district. "After a day of well-earned rest, #BharatJodoYatra resumed from Kollam today at 6:45 am. Itll cover 13 km this morning and halt at Neendakara on the seashore. Interactions with cashew workers, cashew entrepreneurs, trade union and leaders of RSP & Forward Block in the afternoon," Ramesh tweeted. The foot march .

Congress presidential polls process transparent, says Madhusudan Mistry

Chairman of the Congress' Central Election Authority (CEA) Madhusudan Mistry said that the entire process of the election of the party president is "open" as the party has nothing to hide