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Tag: Congress

  • Kiren Rijiju Counters Rahul Gandhi’s Remark On Reservation In Miss India |

    New Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed the leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday for his comments about the absence of representation from Dalit, Tribal and Other Backward Classes communities in the “Miss India pageant list.”

    Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s remark, the BJP leader shared a post on the microblogging site X and said, “Now, He wants reservations in Miss India competitions, Films, sports! It is not only issue of “Bal Budhi”,  but people who cheer him are – equally responsible too!”

     

    Now, He wants reservations in Miss India competitions, Films, sports! It is not only issue of “Bal Budhi”, but people who cheer him are – equally responsible too!
    बाल बुद्धि मनोरंजन के लिए अच्छी हो सकती है पर अपनी विभाजनकारी चालों में, हमारे पिछड़े समुदायों का मजाक न उड़ाएं। pic.twitter.com/9Vm7ITwMJX
    — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 25, 2024

     

    The Union Minister also accused Gandhi of inciting divisions in the country with his renewed remarks on the nationwide case census.

    “Rahul Gandhi Ji can’t divide our country. PM Narendra Modi ji made it clear that Supreme Court won’t be allowed to alter reservations in IAS, IPS, IFS, all top services recruitment. But he can’t see 1st Tribal President, OBC PM, Record Numbers of SC/ST Cabinet Ministers!” he added.

    Rahul Gandhi Remark

    On Saturday, LoP Rahul Gandhi reiterated his call for a nationwide caste census and highlighted the lack of representation of women from Dalit, Tribal or Backward Classes communities in the “Miss India pageant list.”

    While addressing a gathering at the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Prayagraj, he said, “I checked the list of Miss India to see if there would be any Dalit or tribal woman in it, but there was no women from Dalit, tribal or OBC.”

    He further added that they will conduct a caste census.

    “We will conduct a caste census and the 50 per cent cap on the reservation which I don’t accept will be removed…First, we should have the data before us regarding the participation of different castes in various institutions…Talks of reservation are always held but they never get a chance,” he said.

  • Assembly Election: Congress MP Criticises BJP, Says ‘They Brought Haryana To The Top In Unemployment, Corruption’ |

    New Delhi: As political tensions with the announcement of the Assembly polls date in Haryana, Congress MP Deepemder Singh Hooda has sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that the party is undermining the state’s development and positioning Haryana as the leading state in the country for unemployment, drug addiction, crime, and corruption.

    While addressing Congress’ “Haryana Mange Hisaab” rally at Ambala Cantonment on Sunday, the Rohtak MP targeted the current Haryana government and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and asserted that the BJP had made numerous announcements but failed to implement any of them.

    Hooda said, “These announcements are either false and cannot be implemented, or the party never intended to implement these schemes.”

    Regarding preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections, Hooda added, “In the last few days, I have visited about 50 assembly constituencies, and the overwhelming sentiment is clear: the BJP government is on its way out, and the Congress government is coming in,” ANI reported.

    Commenting on Haryana’s law and order situation, Hooda highlighted that a report released by the Government of India indicates Haryana now has the highest crime rate in the country.

    Earlier, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala accused the BJP-led Haryana government of misleading the state’s residents in the lead-up to the October assembly elections.

    “The 10-year tenure of atrocities under the Bharatiya Janata Party has come to an end. In the last 10 years, no class has been spared from being cheated by the BJP,” Surjewala said.

  • ‘Symbols Of India’s Friendship With Bangladesh Is Being Attacked’: Shashi Tharoor |

    New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing violence in Bangladesh, Congress leader  Shashi Tharoor said that it is challenging for people in India to remain indifferent when every symbol of friendship between the two countries is under attack.

    While highlighting the turmoil in Bangladesh, Tharoor said that it is tragic to witness what was once celebrated as a democratic revolution devolving into anarchy, and violence targeting the minorities and the Hindu minority.

    He further added that India needs to stand with the people of Bangladesh.

    “It’s extremely tragic that what was hailed as a democratic, popular revolution has degenerated into anarchy, and violence targeting the minorities and the Hindu minority… We in India must stand with the people of Bangladesh. But it’s difficult for us to be indifferent when every symbol of India’s friendship with Bangladesh is being attacked,” Tharoor said, ANI reported.

    Tharoor exaggerated how several institutions were vandalised during the ongoing violence, making it a “very negative” sign for people in India.

    “The statue of the surrender of the Pakistani forces to Indian soldiers has been smashed to bits. The Indian Cultural Centre is destroyed, and a number of institutions are vandalised, including the ISKCON temple. All of these things are very negative signs for people in India. It is not in Bangladesh’s interest either to come across in this way,” he said.

    “They should be saying that this is about the restoration of their democracy, but in the process, you turn against the minorities and in particular one minority, inevitably, that will be noticed and resented in our country and elsewhere…” Tharoor added.

    Bangladesh is facing a volatile political situation after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister on August 5. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, evolved into anti-government demonstrations.

  • Waqf Board’s Unlimited Powers To Be Trimmed; Asaduddin Owaisi Smells Conspiracy |

    The opposition might be in for a shock with the NDA government’s next move. It was anticipated that the BJP would play safe on the back foot. However, the Modi government is now bringing a bill that might be another bone of contention between the ruling alliance and the opposition INDIA bloc. The Centre is likely to table in Parliament a Bill to amend the 1995 law governing Waqf boards. The move is aimed at trimming the unlimited powers assigned to the waqf boards and ensuring more accountability and transparency in their functioning. The bill will also propose mandatory inclusion of women in these bodies. 

    ‘Hindutva Agenda’: Opposition

    While the government has claimed that the demand for reform came from within the Muslim community, the opposition has smelled a conspiracy behind the move. AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that it shows that the Modi government wants to snatch away the autonomy of the board and intends to interfere in its functioning. “I can say that whatever has been written in the media about this proposed amendment shows that the Modi government wants to take away the autonomy of the Waqf Board and it wants to interfere. This itself is against the freedom of religion.”

    The Hyderabad MP also alleged that the BJP has been against these boards and Waqf properties from the very beginning and they have been working on a ‘Hindutva agenda’. “Now if you make amendments to the establishment and composition of the Waqf board, then there will be administrative chaos, loss of autonomy of the Waqf board and if the control of the government increases over the Waqf Board, then the independence of Waqf will be affected. In the media report, it is written that if there is any disputed property, then these people will say that the property is disputed, and we will get it surveyed. The survey will be conducted by the BJP, CMs and you know what will be its result. There are many such dargahs in our India where BJP-RSS claims that they are not dargahs and mosques, so the executive is trying to snatch the power of the judiciary,” he added.

    Congress leader Naseem Khan also reacted sharply to the development saying the move won’t be tolerated. “The rules of the Waqf Board are very clear. Once a Waqf, always Waqf. The current Waqf Act protects the properties of the Waqf. The Waqf properties can be used for the welfare of the Muslim community. If the central government is planning on intervening in the Waqf board by bringing amendments to the Waqf Act to exercise their right to Waqf properties, it will not be tolerated,” Naseem Khan said.

    The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) also urged allies of the NDA and opposition parties to “completely reject any such move” and not allow such amendments to be passed in Parliament.

    What Is The New Waqf Act Bill?

    The Bill to amend the Wakf Act, 1995, will mandate that Waqf boards register their properties with district collectors to ensure accurate valuation. India has 30 Waqf boards, and reports estimate that the annual revenue from all Waqf properties is around Rs 200 crore, which seems disproportionate to the number of properties they hold.

    Initially, Waqf boards managed about 52,000 properties across India. By 2009, this number had grown to 300,000 registered properties covering four lakh acres. Currently, there are 872,292 Waqf properties spanning over eight lakh acres. Sources emphasize that revenue generated from these properties can only be used for the welfare of the Muslim community.

    The amendment Bill, featuring 40 changes to the current law, might be introduced in the ongoing Parliament session. The government intends to pass the Bill promptly. Key changes include verifying land before it is designated as Waqf property. Fresh verification of disputed lands claimed by various state boards will also be sought, according to the proposed bill. The changes with regard to the composition of the Waqf boards will ensure the inclusion of women in these bodies.

    BJP, Government’s Defence

    As per reports, the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Commission and the joint committee of Parliament headed by K Rahman Khan had suggested a few of the reasons for amending the law. In the past, some Muslim high court judges had flagged that the decision taken by Waqf boards cannot be challenged in court. Now, the amendment bill seeks to set that right.

    Senior BJP leader Dinesh Sharma said Bohra and other members of the Muslim community have raised the issue of anomalies by Waqf boards. The main reason behind this is that there have been complaints against Waqf boards, made for benefitting the minorities, being involved in other works, he claimed.

    “Demand for improvement in Waqf board is not new, it has been going on for the past 30-40 years. Those who are raising this demand and affected by it are Muslims themselves. There is a need for betterment in the Waqf board and I hope Samajwadi Party, Congress and TMC will support it (the Bill), whenever it is introduced,” said BJP leader Ajay Alok. (With agency inputs)

  • Congress MLA, Son Booked For Abetting Suicide Of Sub Inspector In Karnataka |

    YADGIR: A case was registered by the police against Congress MLA Channareddy Tannur and his son Pampanagouda Tannur on Saturday after a Dalit sub-inspector allegedly died by suicide, following his transfer within seven months of posting. The MLA and his son were booked on charges of intentional insult with an intent to provoke breach of peace, abetment of suicide and joint criminal liability on a complaint by Parusharam’s wife Shwetha N V. She alleged that the father-son duo had allegedly demanded Rs 30 lakh from her husband if he wished to continue in the same place. 

    Shwetha said Parashuram was in tears ever since he was transferred and told her that he felt suicidal. When Shwetha, who is pregnant, went to Raichur to her parents’ house for the delivery of her child, she got to know that Parashuram was hospitalised with bleeding from his nose and mouth. Following the incident, members of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) staged a demonstration blocking the road demanding justice for Parashuram. Shwetha too joined the agitators. Addressing media, she said the police department was supporting the MLA and not her husband. 

    “The department itself is not with him today. Instead it is supporting the MLA. It supports the one who squanders money. It pays money to him and supports him. How much money you want to feed him? Will you rear an MLA? Do you toil day and night ignoring your parents and family for an MLA? This MLA is responsible for it but he has not come here yet. I want an FIR. We want justice,” Shwetha said Traffic was badly affected due to the agitation. Reacting to the incident, Home Minister G Parameshwara said that he has ordered a thorough investigation into the case. He, however, ruled out that it was a suicide. 

    “He (Parashuram) did not commit suicide. He had not written any death note. His wife has complained that she was suffering from the transfer issue. I will consider his allegation. Investigation will be done in that dimension,” the Minister told reporters in Bengaluru. He said that the police were collecting preliminary information and conduct an investigation. The incident took a political turn with opposition BJP and the JD(S) slamming the government for pushing sincere officers towards suicide. 

    “A police sub-inspector from your community has died by suicide. Why did he do that? His wife alleges that he took the extreme step because he failed to pay Rs 25 lakh as bribe to the MLA,” Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy said at the launch of ‘Mysuru Chalo’ march jointly organised by the BJP and JD(S) in Bengaluru. He wondered if this is how Parameshwara would pay tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar.

    In his reaction, Parameshwara said he goes by the law and not his community. The BJP leaders said earlier Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation Accounts Superintendent, Chandrasekharan P died by suicide. Chandrasekharan in his suicide note explained the illegal transfer of Rs 187 crore, which led to the arrest of the former Minister B Nagendra, and 12 other government and Union Bank of India officers.

  • ‘Kejriwal Living In Sheesh Mahal…’: Congress Slams AAP Over Delhi Asha Kiran Deaths And ‘Overcrowding’ |

    New Delhi: Following the tragic deaths of at least 12 inmates at Asha Kiran Shelter within just 20 days, the Aam Aadmi Party is facing scathing attacks from opposition parties. On Friday, Congress leader Abhishek Dutt condemned the Delhi government for overcrowding the facility, which was housing double its intended capacity. Dutt further slammed Arvind Kejriwal’s Health Model and said, “The government hospitals here are only for publicity.” 

    The Congress leader said, “This is a very sad incident. It is sad to see that on one side in a shelter home, double the capacity people are kept there and on the other side Arvind Kejriwal is living in his 170 cr ‘sheesh mahal’,” reported ANI.

    Dutta further added that the Delhi CM used to talk about the health model, However, no action has been taken against the corrupt ministers. “He should be immediately removed from his post. The government hospitals here are only for publicity. People remember Delhi built by Sheila Dikshit,” Dutt asserted.

    According to sources at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office, the local shelter home, which has a capacity of approximately 500 individuals, is currently accommodating about 950 people, nearly double its intended capacity. This overcrowding has raised significant concerns about the well-being and safety of the residents.

    Expressing worry about the deaths of inmates at Asha Kiran shelter, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari criticized the Aam Aadmi Party for plunging Delhi into a dire state. “It is difficult to breathe in Delhi. It is difficult to read the news.” 

    “Such news comes every day… Where does Aam Aadmi Party do what it says? The Aam Aadmi Party government has brought Delhi to a very sad situation. To save Delhi, it is very important to remove such people from the post,” Tiwari said, reported ANI. 

    According to an official report, the highest number of deaths (14) at Asha Kiran Shelter Home in Delhi’s Rohini area occurred in July. The report indicated that out of a total of 25 deaths recorded since February 2024, 14 happened in July alone (6 males and 8 females). 

    The report, sent from Asha Kiran Shelter Home to the Delhi Government, cited loose motion and unconsciousness as the primary causes of death, with other contributing factors including mild fever, loose stools, and vomiting. 

    In response to the incident, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi stated, “The preliminary report will be submitted within 24 hours. If the report reveals any negligence by officials, strict action will be taken against them.” 

  • Rahul Gandhi Pays Surprise Visit to Cobbler’s Family, Says, ‘Need To….’ |

    New Delhi: Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi stopped his car midway to meet a family of cobblers on Friday. The Congress leader was travelling to appear before the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur for a defamation case hearing, midway he stopped for at least 30 minutes to listen to cobbler’s family problems and talk to them about the challenges they are facing. 

    The cobbler’s shop is located near the MLA Nagar intersection of the Kurebhar police station area of Sultanpur districts in Uttar Pradesh. The cobbler, identified as Ram Chait, informed the Rae Bareli MP of his financially condition.

    Congress shared a post on microblogging site X and said, “Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi stopped the car on the way and met a family of cobbler. We are continuously fighting for the rights of these hardworking people, raising their voice from the streets to the Parliament. Our aim is to make their present safe and their future prosperous.”

    pic.twitter.com/jIPN1E4SWC
    — Congress (@INCIndia) July 26, 2024

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to appear before the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on Friday for a defamation case hearing. Congress district president Abhishek Singh Rana announced that Rahul Gandhi will arrive at Lucknow airport at 9 am on Friday and will then head to Sultanpur.

    A local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Vijay Mishra, filed a defamation lawsuit against Congress leader on August 4, 2018, alleging that he made derogatory remarks about the then BJP president and current Home Minister Amit Shah. Gandhi granted a bail in this matter on February 20. and Special Magistrate Shubham Verma has called upon Gandhi to present his statement on July 26.

  • Two Jharkhand MLAs Disqualified Under Anti-defection Law |

    Ranchi: Jharkhand Assembly Speaker’s Tribunal on Thursday disqualified two legislators under the anti-defection law with effect from July 26. 

    The order disqualifying JMM’s Lobin Hembrom and Congress’s Jai Prakash Bhai Patel from the House came on the eve of the assembly’s six-day monsoon session beginning on Friday. 

    The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the BJP had initiated proceedings under the anti-defection law against Hembrom and Patel respectively in the Speaker’s Tribunal. 

    Hembrom contested independently from the Rajmahal Lok Sabha seat, challenging JMM’s official candidate, Vijay Hansdak. Patel, on the other hand, joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and contested from Hazaribag seat. Both, however, were defeated in the elections. 

    “Jai Prakash Bhai Patel has voluntarily given up the membership of his original political party BJP as is clear from the aforesaid facts and the circumstances and conduct of the honourable member,” Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto said. 

    The Speaker also made a similar observation on JMM’s Hembrom. 

    Hence, Patel and Hembrom were disqualified from the fifth Jharkhand Legislative Assembly with effect from July 26, Mahto said. 

    The JMM had earlier expelled Hembrom from the party for “working against the interest of the coalition” by filing nomination from the Rajmahal seat. 

    According to the seat-sharing agreement in the ruling alliance in Jharkhand, the Rajmahal seat went to JMM, which had fielded its sitting MP Vijay Hansdak. 

    Hembram, the Borio legislator, had contested from Rajmahal to protest against Hansdak’s selection by the party. 

    Responding to the development, Hembrom claimed that though the Speaker is “impartial”, he did this under pressure. 

    “Many have changed parties in the past but their cases pending for two years. What crime Lobin Hembrom had done? You give me notice at 3 pm and pronounce judgment at 4 pm,” he said. 

    Alleging that he was not given a chance to present his case, Hembrom said he would move court to seek justice. 

    The disqualified claimed that the JMM-led alliance was afraid since he was emerging as a powerful leader and would raise issues of tribals in the assembly. 

    “The people will question the chief minister about what happened to his promises of job and allowances to unemployed…land etc,” he said. 

    Leader of Opposition in Assembly Amar Kumar Bauri said it would have been better had Patl resigned himself. 

    “We had initiated an anti-defection case. The Speaker’s court has debarred his membership. It was bound to happen. We had lodged a complaint in March against him,” Bauri said.

  • NEET-UG Row: BJP, Opposition Spar After SC Verdict; NTA Faces Heat |

    The Supreme Court’s verdict about the NEET-UG paper leak has put an end to the controversy officially but the opposition in not ready to accept the verdict in its current form. The opposition said that the National Testing Agency needs to be revamped as it is not capable of conducting national-level exams in the current format. The Supreme Court, in its verdict yesterday, concluded that the paper leak took place at local level in Bihar while maintaining absence of any systemic breach. The apext court rejected the demand for holding a re-examination for over 24 lakhs students who took the NEET-UG 2024 exam.

    What Opposition Said

    Former Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said that the National Testing Agency (NTA) needs to be completely revamped, adding that the government cannot hold an All-India exam of this magnitude under the present system. “The Supreme Court has asked the IIT Delhi to look into the matter as to how to deal with these issues (paper leaks)….Why in every examination during this government there are leaks in every exam? The question is who is involved and for whose benefit are the leaks happening? Who are the people without merit who got jobs? The National Testing Agency(NTA) needs to be completely revamped. You cannot hold an all-India exam of this magnitude under a present NTA system,” Sibal said.

    He said, “The government is for everyone and it should think for every section of our youth who is sitting for this exam.”

    Shiv Sena-UBT Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said, “Supreme Court should know what is going on in the country. Supreme Court was one last ray of hope. If that ray too is not showing us any direction, then where will we go? Is there any pressure on the government?”

    VCK MP Thol. Thirumavalavan termed the verdict shocking. “Supreme Court direction is not in favour of the students who are affected by this NEET scam…The victims have to go for appeal. That is the only solution,” he said.

    What Government Said

    BJP leader and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the government is committed towards a ‘zero-error’ exam. Dharmendra Pradhan said, “For us, zero tolerance of any kind of breach is our priority when it comes to exams for students, be it for higher education or jobs. So, the Modi government has brought into effect a strict law like the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act….Presenting our side before the Supreme Court, we have promised that our government is committed to having a transparent, tamper-free and zero-error examination system.”

    Dharmendra Pradhan also announced a high-level committee for a total overhaul of the National Testing Agency (NTA). “Taking this commitment forward, we announced a high-level committee for a complete revamp of the NTA. That committee is working with dedication…The committee has collected expert opinions and studied various models…They will submit a report soon,” he said.

  • ‘No Mechanism To Gag…’: Speaker’s Rejoinder After Rahul Alleges ‘Mic Muted’ |

    New Delhi: The Lok Sabha session on Friday commenced with a tumultuous start, prompting its adjournment until Monday as the opposition voiced its protest in the House regarding the NEET paper leak issue, urging for an immediate discussion on the matter. However, the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, claimed his microphone was turned off while he called for a ‘respectful’ debate on the issue to support the students. 

    The Congress shared a viral video depicting an exchange between the Congress MP and the Speaker. Rahul Gandhi said his microphone was turned off and asked the speaker to turn it back on. The speaker quickly responded with a sharp reply. 

    Speaker Om Birla told him to follow the rules of the House and wait to discuss them after the Motion of Thanks to the President’s speech. 

    Meanwhile, Gandhi continued to insist and said, “We wanted to give a joint message to the students of India, on behalf of the opposition as well as the government, that we consider this an important issue. So, we thought that to respect students, we should have a NEET discussion today, a dedicated discussion,” reported news agency IANS. 

    In response to LoP’s allegations, Birla said that he does not possess a microphone switch. 

    “I don’t have any buttons to switch off the microphone. There was a similar set-up earlier. There is no mechanism to gag the microphone,” the speaker added. 

    The Congress shared the video and captioned the post, “Raised the issue of NEET—switched off the mic.” 

    In the footage, Gandhi is seen addressing the house when suddenly his microphone was muted; later, the same happened to senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. 

    NEET का मुद्दा उठाया – माइक बंद कर दिया  pic.twitter.com/meEcoGa5sZ
    — Congress (@INCIndia) June 28, 2024

    The Central Bureau of Investigation initiated a criminal case on June 23 regarding the NEET (UG) and UGC-NET exams, citing alleged misconduct by the National Testing Agency during the exams.

    The controversy arose when 67 candidates received perfect scores of 720 out of 720, sparking outrage in academic communities. The issue quickly became political after the Ministry of Education initially dismissed allegations of paper leaks. Later, they formed a high-level committee to investigate the irregularities and propose reforms for the examination system. 

    (Based on inputs from IANS)