Page 3 - Indian National Congress

SC extends interim bail of Congress leader Pawan Khera till March 3

The Supreme Court on Monday extended till March 3 the interim bail granted to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case related to his alleged objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Assam Police had last week arrested Khera in the case. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Assam, that the state police wanted to file its reply. Additional Advocate General Garima Prasad, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, also said that she will also be filing the response in the matter. The bench took note of the submissions and fixed Khera's plea for hearing on March 3 making it clear that the interim bail, granted to him on February 23, will remain in force till then. Khera was arrested at the Delhi airport after being deplaned from a flight to Raipur in connection with his alleged remarks against Modi, made at a press conference on February 17 at Mumbai. He was later granted bail

Bharat Jodo Yatra part 2 is Under active consideration: Jairam Ramesh

Congress is now considering another yatra but no decision has been taken in this regard at all, said party general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday

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 .

Congress adopts resolution on making MSP for crops a legal right of farmers

The Congress on Sunday resolved to make minimum support price for crops a legally enforceable right of farmers with any purchase of agricultural produce below it a punishable offence. The party also said no criminal proceedings will be initiated against farmers over debt and no land will be auctioned to recover outstanding loans. The party, in a resolution on farmers and agriculture adopted at its 85th plenary session here, also resolved to provide one-time immediate relief to farmers from indebtedness by bringing a debt waiver scheme to waive up to Rs 6 lakh each farmer. "The Indian National Congress resolves that MSP (minimum support price) should be a legally enforceable right of the farmers. Purchase of agricultural produce below MSP be made a punishable offense," the party said. "MSP should be calculated based on the C-2 cost plus 50 per cent profit as suggested by the Swaminathan Commission and subsequently recommended in the report of the Group of Chief Ministers headed by t

Congress promises MSP with legal guarantee under Swaminathan panel

The Congress on Sunday promised farmers will be given minimum support price (MSP) with legal guarantee under C2 formula of M.S. Swaminathan Commission

'Centre putting pressure on Chhattisgarh Cong leaders via probe agencies'

Centre putting pressure on Chhattisgarh Cong leaders through probe agencies, says Priyanka; slams Modi govt over Adani

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

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,

Opposition BJP and Congress boycott Odisha Governor's address to Assembly

The Budget Session of Odisha Assembly on Tuesday began on a stormy note with opposition BJP and Congress boycotting Governor Ganeshi Lal's address to the House. Both the opposition parties also criticised the BJD government over the assassination of minister Naba Kishore Das in his home constituency of Jharsuguda and also on the prevailing law and order situation in the state. As soon as the House assembled for the day, Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra stood up and targeted the state government for "failing" to protect the life of a sitting minister following which his party MLAs rushed to well of the House. The opposition BJP members who were protesting by standing near their respective seats, later joined the Congress members in the well and raised anti-BJD slogans. As the Governor went on delivering his address to the House, BJP members first walked out of the House followed by Congress members. "We boycott the Governor's address as he (governor) is giving a

Half of CWC should be elected as per Cong constitution: Chidambaram

Days ahead of the Congress' crucial plenary session, senior leader P Chidambaram on Monday said half of the CWC members should be elected as per the AICC constitution and batted for younger leaders' inclusion in the party's top decision-making body. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Chidambaram said he has learnt that there are issues about the strength of the electoral college that will elect the Congress Working Committee (CWC) which must be resolved by the party's poll panel. The former Union minister asserted that an objective analysis of the political situation will lead to the conclusion that the Congress has to be the "pole" around which Opposition unity in the 2024 Lok Sabha election can be built. Asked whether he believes that elections to the party's highest decision-making body CWC were essential, Chidambaram said, "My personal view is that one-half of the CWC should be elected as per the Constitution of the party." "However, I learn there are issues about the strength

Uproar in Haryana Assembly, Congress raises slogans, demands resignation

The Haryana Assembly witnessed an uproar on Monday as slogan-shouting Congress members demanded resignation of minister Sandeep Singh over a sexual harassment case, but Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asserted that his minister won't be asked to resign. The CM got up and thumping the desk said "Istafa Nahi Lenge, Nahi Lenge, Nahi Lenge" (won't seek his resignation), prompting the opposition party benches to raise "shame shame" slogans. Singh, who currently holds charge of the Printing and Stationery Department, was not present in the House. His sports portfolio was taken away after an alleged case of sexual harassment against him was filed by a junior athletics coach. The matter in the assembly was first raised by senior Congress leader Geeta Bhukkal, who was joined in by other party members including Leader of Opposition (LoP) Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Hooda said either Singh should resign or sacked by the chief minister, which was opposed by Khattar, leading to an uproar in the .

95% raids on Opposition leaders: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

'This is a cowardice act of BJP but the Congress is not going to be cowed down with these tactics'

We alone can't fight this government, need Oppn unity: KC Venugopal

emphasized that to minimize the chances of splitting of anti-BJP votes, the unity of the opposition parties is a must criteria

ED raids Congress MLAs, leaders' premises in Chhattisgarh coal levy 'scam'

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted searches at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including premises linked to Congress leaders, as part of an ongoing investigation into the coal levy money laundering case, officials said. The raids come ahead of the three-day plenary session of the Congress from February 24-26 in the state capital Raipur. The state is ruled by the party under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Over a dozen locations are being searched, including the premises linked to Congress leaders and some MLAs, official sources said. They said the ED is investigating those who have been the beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime of the alleged coal levy scam perpetrated during the tenure of the current government. The ED investigation relates to "a massive scam in which illegal levy of Rs 25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen", the agency has ...

Lack of democratic system in J-K causing hardship to people: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the Centre of snatching the democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and said the anti-encroachment drive was aimed at diverting attention from "real" issues. Gandhi was speaking at a meeting of party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir here, 52 km from Srinagar, a Congress spokesperson said. "(Rahul) Gandhi expressed serious concern over the difficulties confronting the people in the absence of a democratic system in J-K while slamming the government for snatching the rights of people," the spokesman said in a statement here. The Congress leader, who is on a private visit to Kashmir, accused the Centre of failing the people on all counts. Gandhi said J-K was divided into two Union Territories against the wishes of the people and they were now being denied their democratic rights by "the BJP aiming to hide its wrong policies and utter failure". The Congress shall continue to fight for the democratic rights of the people and en

1,338 elected AICC members to have voting rights in Congress plenary

Congress General Secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh, Kumari Selja said 235 of the delegates are women and 501 delegates are below the age of 50 years

15,000 delegates to participate in Congress' 85th plenary in Raipur

The plenary will discuss the roadmap for the upcoming election in 2023 and General Election in 2024

Nehruvian legacy ensures people cannot determine electoral outcomes: Cong

The Congress on Friday said whether the Adani issue sparks a democratic revival in the country depends entirely on the grand old party and other opposition parties, and it has nothing to do with billionaire investor George Soros. The party's remarks after Soros said the turmoil engulfing Gautam Adani's business empire may open the door to a democratic revival in the country. "Whether the 'PM-linked Adani scam' sparks a democratic revival in India depends entirely on the Congress, Opposition parties and our electoral process. It has nothing to do with George Soros," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter. "Our Nehruvian legacy ensures people like Soros cannot determine our electoral outcomes," he also said. The BJP has, however, hit out at Soros saying the investor has attacked not only Prime Minister Narendra Modi but also India. The Congress has been demanding a JPC probe into the allegations against the Adani Group by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research.