Page 5 - Indian National Congress

As Bharat Jodo Yatra ends, India gets to see new Rahul Gandhi: A K Antony

Veteran Congress leader A K Antony on Monday said that as Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) comes to an end, the nation is getting to see a new Rahul Gandhi who will lead the fight against the forces spreading hatred and anger in the country. Antony, speaking at a programme organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee here to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 75th death anniversary, said it was time to begin the "second phase" to weaken and defeat the divisive forces in the country. "As the Bharat Jodo Yatra comes to an end, India is getting to see a new Rahul Gandhi. A new Rahul Gandhi who will take care of the country and lead the fight against the forces spreading anger and hatred. "It is time to begin the second phase. By that I mean, it is time to weaken and defeat the forces trying to divide the country through hatred and anger," the former defence minister said. The Congress organised a rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Monday with several leaders from national and ...

Curtains to come down on Bharat Jodo Yatra with flag unfurling in Srinagar

The curtains will come down on the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra on Monday with a ceremony at the party headquarters here and a rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium where several Opposition leaders are also likely to be present. The "padyatra" concluded at the Lal Chowk area on Sunday with Rahul Gandhi unfurling the national flag but the official closing would take place on Monday in Srinagar, which is witnessing snowfall. The yatra traversed 12 states and two Union territories in nearly five months after its launch on September 7 last year, clocking over 4,000 km. During the course of the yatra, Rahul Gandhi addressed 12 public meetings, over 100 corner meetings, 13 press conferences. He had over 275 planned walking interactions and more than 100 sitting interactions. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will unfurl the national flag at the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters and also unveil a memorial for the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The rally would take place after

CPI(M) MLA, Cong leader to join BJP ahead of Tripura Assembly polls

In a major boost to ruling BJP ahead of February 16 Tripura Assembly polls, CPI(M) MLA Moboshar Ali, senior Congress leader Billal Mia and few other leaders are likely to join BJP

JDU chief Lalan Singh to skip conclusion of Cong's Yatra in Srinagar

Janata Dal (United) president Lalan Singh on Thursday expressed his inability to attend the concluding event of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on January 30 and asked the Congress to take appropriate steps to unite the opposition. In a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Singh cited his scheduled engagement for a political programme in poll-bound Nagaland to skip the Yatra's conclusion. Though the Congress has invited heads of several non-BJP parties to attend the event to finish the mega exercised aimed at rejuvenating its organisation in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it remains to be seen how many of them turn up. Some regional party chiefs may send others to represent their organisation at a time when the opposition is itself divided over what shape any such alliance against the BJP should take and who should be spearheading it. Singh said, "My party sincerely feels that the need of the hour is an unified opposition and expects that the

Left to contest 47 seats, Congress 13 in upcoming Tripura Assembly polls

The Left Front on Wednesday night announced the names of candidates for 47 of the 60 Assembly seats in the upcoming election in Tripura, said Left Front convenor Narayan Kar at a press meet

Cong's Lamba targets Centre over inflation, failing to provide jobs

Congress leader Alka Lamba on Wednesday targeted the BJP-led government at the Centre over inflation and accused it of failing to provide enough employment opportunities to the country's youth. Inflation has broken citizens' backs ever since the (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi-led government came to power, the All India Congress Committee spokesperson said. "In 2014, the cost of a gas cylinder was Rs 410, which today is Rs 1,050. Petrol was Rs 70, which is (now) over Rs 100 per litre while the price of diesel, which was Rs 55, is now over Rs 90 per litre. The cost of edible oil and pulses have also risen drastically. "...even curd, paneer, lassi, flour, dry soybean, peas and puffed rice could not escape the barbaric attack of GST. Five per cent GST was imposed on them too," Lamba told reporters at a press conference here. She also accused the Centre of not reducing petrol and diesel prices despite crude oil rates in the international market continuously decreasing. In the past eigh

Cong files complaint against Nadda, Bommai after MLA's bribe remark

The Congress in Karnataka on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the police against BJP national President J P Nadda, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi levelling allegations of offering bribes to woo voters in the ensuing assembly polls in the state. State Congress President D K Shivakumar, legislature party leader Siddaramaiah who are signatories of the complaint have requested the police to register a case and conduct an inquiry. The complaint comes following an alleged announcement of Rs 6,000 per vote in the assembly elections due in May, by Gokak BJP MLA Jarkiholi. Jarkiholi, who was forced to resign as Minister in 2021 following his alleged involvement in a sex scandal, allegedly said in a recent rally in Belagavi if an incumbent Congress MLA there gives gifts and cash upto Rs 3,000, he shall give the voters the same worth Rs 6,000. The state unit of BJP, however, has distanced itself from the MLA's statement. "On January 22, 2023, a senior leader of th

MNM extends support to Cong on Erode East bypoll in TN: Kamal Haasan

Actor Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Wednesday extended unconditional support to Congress candidate EVKS Elangovan for the February 27 Erode East bypoll, saying it was a "moment of national importance" to fight for the common cause of joining hands against "communal forces." Elangovan, senior Congress leader and former union minister, is the candidate of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Aliance (SPA). The bypoll was necessitated due to the recent death of sitting local legislator and his son Thirumahan Everaa. Briefing reporters after chairing a meeting of the party's Administrative and Executive councils, Haasan said they unanimously decided to extend "unconditional support" to the DMK-led SPA candidate and "my friend" Elangovan. "Myself and my partymen will extend whatever assistance is required for Elangovan's win," and ensure a big victory margin for the Congress leader, Haasan added. This is the first time the actor-politician is extending support to a candidate

Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes amid rains in J-K's Ramban

Amid incessant rains, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi resumed his Bharat Jodo Yatra from Ramban Wednesday and is heading for the highway town of Banihal. The journey from Ramban to Banihal along the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway - the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country -- is the most challenging due to several problematic stretches, including Panthiyal, Mehar and Magerkote which are prone to shooting of stones from the hillocks overlooking the arterial road. Traffic on the highway was suspended Wednesday morning after heavy rains triggered shooting of stones at a few places in Ramban district that left a truck driver dead and two others injured. J-K Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Jahanzaib Sirwal said the yatra resumed around 9 am from Bathi after an hour-long delay due to heavy rains and was progressing smoothly on day 131, covering the old alignment road via Maitra in Ramban town. Gandhi, who started the yatra wearing his trademar

Congress to hold press conference across nation on Wednesday

Ahead of the 'Hath se hath jodo yatra' which aims at reaching out to the public with Rahul Gandhi's letter and the failures of the BJP government, Congress will hold press conferences nationwide

BJP secures majority in 11 urban local bodies in MP, Congress wins in 8

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured majority in 11 urban local bodies spread across five districts in Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress managed to get majority in eight others, as per the results. Elections to 19 urban local bodies were held on Friday and the results declared on Monday in which BJP candidates won 183 posts of councillors, while the Congress emerged victorious in 143 civic wards. The urban local bodies which went to polls included the 24-member municipal council in Raghogarh, the home turf of Congress veteran and Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh. According to State Election Commission Secretary Rakesh Singh, of the 343 councillor posts which were up for grabs in 19 urban bodies across five districts, 183 were won by the BJP and 143 by the Congress, while the rest were bagged by independent candidates. In the Raghogarh Municipal Council, the Congress and the BJP registered victory in 16 and eight wards, respectively, he said.

Cong releases 10-point manifesto ahead of K'taka Assembly elections

The Congress has released a 10-point manifesto for the coastal region ahead of the Assembly elections in Karnataka which focuses on creation of jobs, attracting investments, development of tourism and creating harmony in society. The charter was announced by Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council B K Hariprasad at the Prajadhwani Yatra event held at Karavali Utsava ground here on Sunday night. Hariprasad said a Karavali Development Authority with a budget of Rs 2,500 crore will be constituted for the development of the region. Assembly elections in Karnataka are scheduled by May this year. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who spoke at the function, said the Congress will not only make promises but it also knows how to deliver them with adequate release of funds. He alleged that the BJP only tries to hypnotise people with lies and they are keen on dividing people based on religion and caste. The state government is steeped in corruption and that is why contractors named it

Netaji's courage, patriotism still inspires every Indian: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress on Monday paid rich tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary with Rahul Gandhi saying his courage and patriotism still inspires every Indian to protect and preserve the freedom of the country. In a tweet in Hindi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, former president of Indian National Congress, founder of Azad Hind Fauj and our idol, on his 126th birth anniversary." "Netaji's proclamation of 'Jai Hind' and 'Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Azadi Dunga' awakened everyone to true devotion to the motherland," he said. In a tweet, Gandhi said, "My humble tributes to the great freedom fighter, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, whose courage and patriotism still inspires every Indian to protect and preserve the freedom of our great country." The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, said, "Millions of salutations on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a great leader of the freedom struggle

LIVE: Wrestlers meets Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's for talks again

The death toll stands at 530,728, the data updated at 8 am stated

Congress questions PM Modi's silence over wrestlers' protest in Delhi

The Congress on Friday raised questions over the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and demanded that the Wrestling Federation of India be dissolved immediately and probe be initiated

Current govt reduced Parliament to notice board, rubber stamp: Tharoor

The BJP government has successfully reduced Parliament to a "notice board and a rubber stamp", Congress MP Shashi Tharoor alleged at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Friday

Congress opposes Centre's new IT rules draft, dubs it 'censorship'

The Congress on Thursday opposed the new IT rules draft and accused the Centre of muzzling the Internet and Censoring Online Content

Congress slams PM Modi after sexual harassment accusations on WFI chief

The players have made serious allegations of exploitation against the Wrestling Federation and its president and their voices should be heard: Priyanka Gandhi

Cong plans to wipe out BJP, NDDP from Nagaland in upcoming polls: Therie

'The people of Nagaland expected the Prime Minister and the BJP workers to be honest and remain true to their commitments. But they have proven themselves to be liars and betrayed (people)'

Govt delaying judges' appointment till its own people in place: Congress

The government is deliberately delaying the appointment of judges to create a "designed schism and a consequent logjam" till people favourable to its "ideological masters" are appointed, the Congress alleged on Tuesday. The party's fresh attack comes a day after it said the government was intimidating the judiciary in a bid to totally capture it and alleged that Law Minister Kiren Rijiju's suggestion to restructure the Collegium system is a "poison pill" for the judiciary. The Narendra Modi government is following a policy of "deliberately withholding Collegium recommendations for months and years" to keep the fate of named judges in limbo, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala alleged. He said this is a "designed attack to avoid accountability by the government and with malintent to capture the judiciary". "The prime minister, law minister and other Constitutional authorities are deliberately attacking the integrity and independence of the judiciary by a design. The underly