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Rahul to launch Maha poll campaign on Nov 6

The campaign will kickstart from Nagpur with a ‘Samvidhan Sanman Sammelan’ followed by the MVA Guarantee release in Mumbai….reports Asian Lite News

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will kickstart the Maharashtra Assembly poll campaign from Nagpur with a ‘Samvidhan Sanman Sammelan’ followed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Guarantee release in Mumbai on November 6.

Speaking to the media, AICC General Secretary Ramesh Chennithala and state Congress President Nana Patole said that MVA leaders – Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray and leaders of other alliance partners shall attend the Mumbai rally.

Chennithala said that there are no disputes over seat-sharing among the MVA allies and in those constituencies where alliance candidates have filed nominations as rebels against the official nominees shall withdraw them in the next couple of days.

“We are in talks with the Samajwadi Party and others… There is no question of ‘friendly contests’ among the MVA partners. Wherever MVA candidates have filled up nomination forms against each other, shall take them back, we shall fight unitedly,” Chennithala asserted.

Here, he took the opportunity to slam the ruling MahaYuti allies Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party-Nationalist Congress Party for the confusion prevailing in their ranks ahead of the elections.

“The BJP has fielded candidates even in the seats belonging to the Shiv Sena and NCP quotas… This marks the BJP’s moves to eliminate both the parties. The MahaYuti regime is riddled with corruption, inflation, and unemployment and it has looted Maharashtra in the past two-and-half years, the people of the state will teach them a lesson,” Chennithala declared.

He reiterated that industries from Maharashtra are being shifted to other states, and though the MahaYuti has announced a slew of decisions in recent weeks, like the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme and others, but warned that implementing them would be difficult with no money in the government’s treasury.

Besides Chennithala and Patole, other senior state leaders like Varsha Gaikwad, M. Arif Naseem Khan, Nana Gawande, Wajahat Mirza, Brij Dutt and more were present on the occasion.

Later, Chennithala visited the home of Thackeray in Bandra to sort out the issues of rebel candidates or friendly contestants in several of the 288 Assembly constituencies which could mar the prospects of the official MVA nominees in the November 20 elections.

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BJP fuelling communal tensions in Goa: Rahul Gandhi

Poonch: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a public meeting for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections in Surankote, Poonch on Monday, September 23, 2024.(IANS)

The tensions stem from remarks made by Subhash Velingkar, former Goa unit chief of RSS, concerning St. Francis Xavier, a Catholic missionary revered as the “Protector of Goa.”…reports Asian Lite News

Amid rising tensions in Goa, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar for inciting communal discord.

The protests stem from remarks made by Subhash Velingkar, former Goa unit chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), concerning St. Francis Xavier, a Catholic missionary revered as the “Protector of Goa.”

Velingkar had controversially called for a “DNA test” of the saint’s relics, sparking outrage among the Christian community.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, took a strong stand against the BJP-led state government under Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant. In his statement, Gandhi emphasised Goa’s unique identity as a harmonious, diverse, and peaceful region, attributing much of its charm to its natural beauty and inclusive social fabric.

He accused the BJP of intentionally stoking communal tensions and dividing the people for political gain.

“Under BJP rule, this harmony is under attack,” he said, alleging that Sangh Parivar organizations were promoting an economic boycott of Muslims alongside Velingkar’s provocations against Christians.

According to Gandhi, this divisive agenda is not limited to Goa but is part of a broader national strategy by the Sangh Parivar, backed by high-level support.

He claimed that the BJP is exploiting Goa’s ecological and social heritage by encouraging illegal land conversions and bypassing environmental regulations, further exacerbating tensions.

“The people of Goa and the whole of India see through this divisive agenda and are standing united,” he added.

The protests erupted following Velingkar’s suggestion of a DNA test on the relics of St. Francis Xavier, which are housed at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, a prominent pilgrimage and tourist site.

Velingkar questioned the saint’s legacy and status as Goa’s protector, prompting backlash from the Christian community.

However, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s national spokesperson, Ramesh Shinde, defended Velingkar, arguing that the DNA test was justified.

He claimed that the body displayed in the church might belong to Rahula, a monk from Sri Lanka, rather than St. Francis Xavier.

In response to the controversy, Goa Forward Party President Vijay Sardesai met with Goa Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, demanding immediate government intervention.

Sardesai expressed concerns that the government’s failure to act was eroding Goa’s image as a land of peace and religious coexistence.

He accused the Sawant administration of deliberately diverting attention from pressing local issues by allowing communal tensions to simmer, thereby damaging the Goan identity, or “Goenkarponn.”

The ongoing protests have led to increased unrest in Goa, as citizens from various communities demand action against Velingkar’s comments.

Sardesai warned that the government’s inaction was not only hurting religious sentiments but also damaging Goa’s longstanding reputation for communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.

‘Three dark clouds’ threatening Indian economy: Jairam

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that there are “three dark clouds” looming over the Indian economy, which would constrain India’s growth potential in the coming years.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government, Ramesh said that the “bombastic claims” on the economy were the chokepoints that would strangulate India’s growth in the coming years.

Ramesh stated that the “unsteady path of private sector investment,” the ” stagnation of India’s manufacturing units,” and the “decline of real wages as well as productivity for India’s labourers for the last 10 years” were some “mere issues” that had surfaced in the past few weeks showing “highly detrimental economic trends” in the country.

In a statement released on the social media platform X, the Rajya Sabha MP stated that the private-sector investment during 2022-23 had returned to an unsteady path, and there was a 21 per cent decline in new project announcements made by the sector during the financial years (FY) 2023 and 2024.

He said that this shows the lack of uncertainty and investor’s trust in the Indian consumer markets generated by the government’s “inconsistent policymaking and raid raj.”

“After a brief surge in private sector investment during 2022-23 on the back of the COVID-19 recovery, investment has returned to an unsteady path. New project announcements by the private sector fell by 21 per cent between FY23 and FY24. This reflects a lack of investor confidence in India’s consumer markets and the uncertain investment climate generated by the government’s inconsistent policymaking and Raid Raj,” the statement read.

He said that the formal sector of the country, that is, India Inc., has been focusing on stock market valuation rather than revenue growth with a cue from the government, which according to him would affect the medium- to long-term future of India’s economy.

“In this context, rather than grow their businesses, companies are using profits to reduce debt burdens. We are witnessing a growing financialisation of the Indian economy, with India Inc.–perhaps taking its cue from the government–focussing on stock market valuations rather than top-line revenue growth. This bodes poorly for the medium- and long-term future of the Indian economy as the growth engine of the economy–private sector investment–continues to languish,” he stated.

He said since the launch of the Make in India scheme for the past 10 years, India’s manufacturing has been stagnating or is the same in comparison to the growth of GDP in the country.

He stated that the employment share had marginally declined in the manufacturing unit and India’s share of global merchandise exports has also stagnated.

He asserted that from 2005 to 2015, under the UPA Government, the growth of India’s share in global exports grew much faster.

“Ten years after the government’s flagship Make in India scheme was launched, India’s manufacturing is stagnating. As the share of GDP, manufacturing is the same as it was ten years ago. As a share of total employment, manufacturing has marginally declined. India’s share in global merchandise exports has also largely stagnated, and exports are falling as a share of India’s GDP. In fact, growth in India’s share of global exports grew much faster in the 2005-15 period, largely corresponding to Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister. In labour-intensive sectors like garments, exports have fallen from USD 15 billion in 2013-14 to USD 14.5 billion in 2023-2024,” the statement read.

Referring to the latest report by the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for 2022-23, Ramesh said that there was a decline in the real wages as well as productivity for Indian labourers in the country and that the GVA, which is a measure of labour productivity, had also slowed down from 6.6 per cent in 2014-15 to 0.6 per cent in 2018-19.

He said that the decrease in labour productivity had impacted real wage growth amid rising inflation in the country, resulting in a weak consumption rate as well as low investment in the market restraining India’s growth.

“Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for 2022-2023 has revealed a decline in real wages and productivity for India’s labourers. The growth in GVA per worker (a measure of labour productivity) slowed from 6.6 per cent in 2014-15 to 0.6 per cent by 2018-19. After the COVID era statistical irregularity, worker productivity contracted in FY23 again. This decrease in labour productivity has impacted real wage growth, especially amidst rising inflation. As real wages stagnate, consumption will remain weak, resulting in the low investment that has been a consistent restraint on India’s growth,” he said. (ANI)

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Rahul pays tribute to CPM leader Yechury  

The Congress president said Yechury had an endearing personality who was liked and respected by people across the party lines…reports Asian Lite News

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi on Saturday paid tributes to the late Sitaram Yechury at his memorial ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Kharge said, Yechury had a great capacity to carry along everyone. He said that the late CPM leader had a great contribution in forging together the INDIA bloc.

The Congress president said Yechury had an endearing personality who was liked and respected by people across the party lines. Kharge recalled his association with Yechury particularly during the period of the formation of the INDIA bloc.

Speaking on the occasion Rahul Gandhi described Yechury as a friend, who operated in the political system. “He was the person you could trust,” he remarked. 

“When people look at politics from outside, it’s not easy to see the dynamics that take place inside the political system. It’s an unforgiving place, harsh place, uncomfortable place and it brings out mostly the worst in people. It’s rare that you see that politics brings out the best in a person. I saw Yechury from the first day I started my political journey. I observed him quite carefully. What I found was a person who was flexible, who listened, who even though he was on the opposite spectrum ideologically, had the ability to understand where we were coming from and he also allowed us to understand where he was coming from. He was a bridge in a sense between certainly, the Congress party and other parties in the INDIA bloc,” he said. 

He said that Yechury was such a figure, who in the INDIA bloc certainly and the erstwhile UPA, held the architecture together.

“He held the architecture together, because he was flexible, because he listened and he didn’t have the common traits that a lot of politicians have- anger, aggression, arrogance. These things were missing and this is rare in our work; so, he was a friend,” Rahul Gandhi added.

“The only thing I could say is that he was a person you could trust. He was a person that you were sure, a hundred per cent sure that he wasn’t compromised. In today’s situation where there are pressures, it’s easy to get compromised; he was not compromised and whatever he did, he always did for the interest of our country,” he said.

CPM likely to continue without permanent Gen Secy  

Amid the sudden and untimely demise of the erstwhile CPI(M) general secretary Late Sitaram Yechury earlier this month, the party will probably function through the collective leadership of the exiting politburo with the possibilities of a “central coordinator” till next year.

The next party congress is scheduled in April 2025 at Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

Sources said that the decision was taken at the two-day politburo meeting of the party on Friday and Saturday. The politburo decision is probably bringing an end to speculations that there might be an interim and acting general secretary of the party till the next party congress.

However, the probable factor of the stamp on the politburo decision will be final only after the central committee meeting of the party on Monday, since as per party constitution any decision of the party politburo is subject to the final clearance of the central committee.

“The party constitution does not allow us to have the post of ‘working general secretary’. There is nothing called ‘interim’ in our party. The new central committee and the politburo will be selected at the next party Congress in Madurai next year. There only the new party general secretary will be selected,” confirmed a politburo member from West Bengal.

He admitted that this is the first time that the party has faced a situation where an existing general secretary has passed off before the end of his term.

Yechury was supposed to be replaced at the Madurai party congress as he would have completed his third term as the party general secretary.

Sources said he could have played an important role in finalising the next face as his successor.

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Rahul Gandhi pushes for restoration of Article 370

Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP is yet again applying the “divide and rule” policy and trying to create rift between brothers….reports Asian Lite News

Emphasizing the need for restoring Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that it is the foremost demand of the National- Conference and the Congress to bring back statehood.

Congress leader and LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in his addressing in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir said, “It is for the first time in Indian history that it has been made a state. Your democratic rights have been taken away from you. That is why it is our foremost demand that statehood returns.”

Addressing the audience, Gandhi said, “You don’t have a say in running your government. The orders are followed from Delhi. We wanted the statehood to return here before the elections, but we will definitely try that it does after the polls”.

Accusing the BJP of practising “politics of hate” across various States, Rahul said, “BJP-RSS only spread hate and violence in J&K and other states. Be it Jammu-Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or Manipur. All they know is to spread hate and their politics is of hatred. You all know that hatred cannot be eliminated by giving hate but by love”.

Hitting back at the BJP for accusing the National Conference of depriving the local community of Gujjars and Pahadis of development in the union territory, Rahul said that the BJP is yet again applying the “divide and rule” policy and trying to create rift between brothers.

After the Congress party announced its alliance with NC, Union Minister Amit Shah questioned Rahul Gandhi if he supports the NC’s manifesto, “which calls for abolishing reservations for Dalits, Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Pahadis.”

“They always try to divide and rule and have applied the same tactics here in Jammu-Kashmir. They tried to create a rift between the Gujjars and the Pahadi community here. I guarantee you that this project of them is going to fail,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Highlighting the unity between the alliance partners, the National Conference, and the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi urged his party leaders to support National Conference candidates in the upcoming elections.

“I appeal the Congress party candidates to offer full support to National conference candidates,” Rahul said.

The Congress and the National Conference are fighting the polls in alliance. The PDP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and People’s Conference, to name a few, are other parties in the fray for 90 Assembly seats.

This is the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. Leaders have held hectic campaigns to boost the prospects of their party candidates. Voting for the second and third phases in J-K will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. Votes will be counted on October 8. (ANI)

Phase 2: 25.78 lakh voters to decide fate of 239 candidates

J&K is gearing up for the second phase of the Assembly elections, covering 26 seats in six districts spread over both the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley, on Wednesday as campaigning ended on Monday evening. 

A statement by the Election Commission said that over 25.78 lakh voters in Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Budgam districts of the Kashmir division, and Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch districts of the Jammu division, will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the second phase of polls.

A total of 93 candidates are in the fray in Srinagar district, followed by 46 in Budgam, 34 in Rajouri, 25 in Poonch, 21 in Ganderbal, while 20 candidates are contesting in Reasi.

The 15 seats in Kashmir division heading to the hustings are Kangan (ST) – six candidates, Ganderbal – 15, Hazratbal -13, Khanyar – 10, Habbakadal -16, Lal Chowk- 10, Channapora – eight, Zadibal – 10, Eidgah – 13, Central Shalteng -13, Budgam – eight, Beerwah – 12, Khansahib -10, Chrar-i-Sharief – 10, and Chadoora – six, while the 11 in Jammu division are Gulabgarh (ST) – six candidates, Reasi – seven, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi – seven, Kalakote-Sunderbani – 11, Nowshera – five, Rajouri (ST) – eight, Budhal (ST) – four, Thannamandi (ST) – six, Surankote (ST) – eight, Poonch Haveli – eight, and Mendhar (ST) – nine.

According to the latest electoral rolls, 25,78,099 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballot in this phase comprising 13,12,730 lakh male voters, 12,65,316 lakh female voters, and 53 third gender voters. Underlining the significance of the role played by the youth of Jammu and Kashmir in strengthening democracy, as many as 1,20,612 lakh voters aged 18 to 19 are eligible to vote in Phase II.

Among these, 11,294 are male and 10,065 are female first-time voters. This phase will also see participation from 19,201 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) voters and 20,880 voters above the age of 85.

The Srinagar district has a total of 7,76,674 registered voters, including 3,87,722 males, 3,88,922 females, and 30 transgender voters across eight Assembly constituencies. Rajouri has 4,92,008 electorates which includes 2,56,215 males, 2,35,786 females, and 7 transgender voters. A comprehensive network of 745 polling stations has been established across the district.

Budgam has a total of 5,11,864 voters across its five Assembly constituencies; 2,59,688 male voters, 2,52,163 female voters, and 13 transgender voters. A total of 639 polling stations are spread across the district.

Poonch district is divided into three Assembly constituencies, with a total of 3,52,330 registered voters; 1,80,584 males and 1,71,746 females, and 483 polling stations have been set up across these constituencies.

The Reasi district has registered a total of 2,37,205 voters, including 1,24,359 males, 1,12,843 females, and 3 transgender across its three Assembly constituencies and there are 436 polling stations throughout the district.

The Ganderbal district has 2,08,018 registered voters, including 1,04,162 male and 1,03,856 female voters, and 267 polling stations have been established.

To facilitate smooth and hassle-free electoral participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established a total of 3,502 polling stations with 100 per cent webcasting across 26 Assembly constituencies. These include 1,056 Urban Polling stations and 2,446 Rural Polling stations. As many as 157 Special polling stations have been established in the second phase including 26 polling booths managed by women as Pink Polling Stations, 26 polling stations manned by specially-abled persons, 26 polling stations manned by youths, 31 Border polling stations, 26 green polling stations, and 22 Unique Polling stations.

The voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., the ECI statement said.

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Rahul demands apology from PM for statue collapse, note-ban, anti-farm laws

Gandhi’s remarks came after he inaugurated a statue of the late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding an apology for various issues, including the recent collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg.

During a public meeting in Sangli, Maharashtra, Gandhi claimed that the statue’s construction was mishandled due to corruption, alleging that a contractor with ties to the RSS was given the project without merit. He further criticized the Prime Minister for demonetization, the GST, and the handling of anti-farmer laws, stating that Modi should apologize for these as well.

Gandhi’s remarks came after he inaugurated a statue of the late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan, and NCP leader Sharad Pawar were also present at the event. However, Uddhav Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), was notably absent, leading to speculation about the unity within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.

In his speech, Gandhi questioned the government’s preference for awarding contracts to business magnates like Adani and Ambani, accusing Modi of running the government in their favor. He emphasized that small and medium businesses were suffering, while large corporations could not generate sufficient employment. He also criticized the government’s failure to address the crisis in Manipur, which he described as a “civil war-like situation.”

Gandhi went on to praise Maharashtra’s progressive legacy, highlighting the contributions of historical figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. He stressed that the Congress ideology, rooted in social progress and inclusivity, aligned with the values of these icons, in contrast to the BJP’s approach, which he claimed favored a select few and sought to maintain the caste structure.

Additionally, Gandhi reiterated his demand for a caste census, asserting that it would offer valuable insights into the distribution of wealth and power among different social groups. He also took a jab at Modi for his earlier apology regarding the Shivaji statue collapse, contrasting it with Patangrao Kadam’s legacy of service without asking for forgiveness.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to each and every person in Maharashtra for the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj recently in Sindhudurg.

Slamming the ruling MahaYuti alliance comprising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rahul Gandhi wondered why the PM should say sorry only to the Chhatrapati and he should tender an apology to all Maharashtrians for the tragedy at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, arising out of a corruption-ridden project.

“Only a person who has committed a mistake will apologise. Why did the PM say sorry? There are several reasons. Firstly, the project was given to RSS-linked persons, secondly, there was corruption in its construction and the people who built it had robbed the state, and thirdly though a statue of Chhatrapati was built, they did not take care whether it would stand or not. That’s why the figurine of a great icon like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj crashed in such a short period,” said Rahul Gandhi in a no-holds-barred attack.

Rahul Gandhi pointed out that Maharashtra is a progressive state and soaked in the ideologies and teachings of legends like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, B.R. Ambedkar, and today, the country is witnessing “not politics but an ideological war”.

“The Congress ideology is also very similar to theirs… but the BJP’s ideals are opposite to these great legends. The BJP has been spreading hatred, fomenting violence and dividing the people all over India for decades. Earlier, the great icons fought that tendency, now the Congress is fighting against the BJP,” asserted Rahul Gandhi.

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Rahul hails SC’s observations, slams BJP’s ‘bulldozer policy’

Rahul Gandhi added that the country will be run according to B.R. Ambedkar’s Constitution, and not by the rule of power…reports Asian Lite News

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday hailed the Supreme Court which came down heavily on ‘bulldozer justice’, questioning how can a house be demolished just because it belongs to an accused or even a convict in a criminal case.

A bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai stressed that even unauthorised construction has to be demolished in “accordance with law” and state authorities cannot resort to demolition of property of accused as a punishment.

Welcoming the top court’s observations, Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X that the “anti-constitutional face of the BJP, which crushes humanity and justice under the bulldozer, has now been exposed in front of the country”.

“The bulldozer, which has become a symbol of unbridled power, has continuously challenged the law with arrogance by trampling on civil rights and freedom,” he said.

The Congress leader added that under the guise of ‘quick justice’, the households of the Bahujans and the poor often suffer due to the bulldozer policy implemented by the BJP governments across the country to establish “rule of fear”.

“We hope that the Supreme Court will issue clear guidelines on this very sensitive subject and protect the citizens from this ‘anti-democratic campaign’ of the BJP governments in several states across the country,” the Congress leader said.

He added that the country will be run according to B.R. Ambedkar’s Constitution, and not by the rule of power.

Earlier, the Supreme Court mulled the formation of pan-India guidelines against the demolition of property of individuals accused of committing criminal offences.

The Bench, also comprising Justice K.V. Viswanathan, remarked that not only an accused, but the house of a convict can also not meet such a fate, clarifying the apex court‘s intention to not protect unauthorised structures.

Posting the matter for hearing after two weeks, it asked parties to place on record their suggestions for framing of guidelines.

Echoing similar views, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, stated that no immovable property should be demolished because the owner/occupant is alleged to have been involved in the commission of an offence.

He also said that the state authorities in Uttar Pradesh took action in accordance with the municipal law after the violators did not reply to the show-cause notices issued to them.

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Rahul discusses need to revive tourism in Wayanad

Imphal, Jul 8 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference, in Imphal on Monday. (ANI Photo)

The Congress leader emphasised other areas regarding relief efforts that need focus, including poor interdepartmental coordination…reports Asian Lite news

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi discussed the relief efforts for the landslide in Wayanad and the need to revitalise tourism in the area, during a conversation with local Congress leaders on Sunday.

“Wayanad is steadily recovering from the devastation caused by the tragic landslides. While there is still much to be done, it is heartening to witness people from all communities and organisations coming together in relief efforts.” LoP Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.

During the conversation, he mentioned the need to revitalise tourism in the area to aid the people of Wayanad. “There is one crucial aspect I wish to highlight that will greatly aid the people of Wayanad–tourism. Once the rains cease, it is imperative that we make a concerted effort to revitalise tourism in the area and encourage people to visit.”, the post read.

He further highlighted that the landslide was localised to a specific area and not the entire region, but the perception of people outside is that the whole area is dangerous. Also saying that Wayanad remains a stunning destination, it will soon be ready to welcome tourists across India, “It is important to note that the landslide was localised to a specific area in Wayanad, not the entire region. Wayanad remains a stunning destination and will soon be ready to welcome tourists from across India and the world with all its natural charm.”, the post added.

The Congress leader also emphasised other areas regarding relief efforts that need focus, including poor interdepartmental coordination, inadequate compensation, and the loss of livelihood, among other things.

“As far as I know, there are four or five things which we need to put pressure on. One is poor interdepartmental coordination in relief and rehabilitation, second is inadequate compensation, third is the rent issue that I raised, then many people have lost livelihoods, including vehicles and plantations, and finally the impact of tourism,” he said during the conversation.

The landslides that killed hundreds of people in Kerala’s Wayanad were triggered by a burst of rainfall that was made about 10 per cent heavier by human-caused climate change, a study by World Weather Attribution (WWA) has found. (ANI)

Gadgil, Kasturirangan reports impractical, says Vijayan

The Kerala government has sought a Rs 2,000 crore relief package from the Centre for the unprecedented devastation that occurred in Wayanad recently and is hopeful of getting “good assistance”, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

He also dismissed as “not pragmatic” the recommendations made by the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan committees on ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats, saying the panels did not consider the societal expectations and ground realities in his state.

The chief minister said the state government has decided to construct new townships for the families of the victims and the survivors of the unprecedented devastation “within a year” and these dwellings would be “climate-resilient and sustainable”.

Vijayan said the state sought a disaster relief package of about Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre when he recently met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.

The PM was “very positive” on the issue and the state was hopeful of getting “good assistance” from the Union government, he added.

The chief minister said the funds were expected to be released after a central team submitted a report to the Union government.

Vijayan added that categorising the Wayanad landslides as a “national or severe calamity” would enable all parliamentarians to donate Rs 1 crore each to the Kerala relief fund, otherwise only the local MPs will be able to do so.

“If this disaster is included in that (national or severe calamity) category, we will get good assistance. It will create a good atmosphere for reconstruction,” he told the news agency.

The 79-year-old veteran Marxist politician said the July 30 disaster that wiped off large tracts of three villages — Punchirimattam, Chooralmala and Mundakkai — apart from some areas of Attamala in Wayanad has “shaken the lives of our people, leaving those affected with unimaginable trauma and concerns about their future”.

“The recent landslide in Chooralmala village has caused unprecedented devastation. I would like to assure that our government’s primary objective is to provide a comprehensive rehabilitation package to the survivors.

“We are committed to providing the best possible rehabilitation package to the survivors, in line with the Kerala model of development with its people-centric approach,” he said.

Vijayan recently said during an all-party meeting that the Wayanad survivors would be housed in one or two townships which will have single-storey houses of about 1,000 square feet in size with the option to expand to two storeys in the future.

“Our priority is to ensure that families who lost their homes in the landslides have a safe and secure place to reside. The construction of the townships is expected to be completed within a year,” he said.

On the recommendations made by the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan committees on handling the fragile and ecologically sensitive areas along the Western Ghats, Vijayan said these reports were “not fully accepted by the entities that commissioned them.”

This highlights the fact, he said, that “much of the recommendations in these reports were not pragmatic and did not consider societal aspirations and ground realities”.

“At least some parts of the reports did not consider humans dwelling in ecologically fragile zones for centuries as part of the ecosystem,” the chief minister added.

He also underlined that “small and marginal” farmers cannot be equated with rich realtors, planters or miners occupying similar terrains.

“There was no such differentiation in these reports, which is why many states were forced to completely disregard them,” Vijayan said.

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‘Privatisation of IAS’: Rahul slams lateral entry push

Imphal, Jul 8 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference, in Imphal on Monday. (ANI Photo)

Rahul Gandhi says reservation of SC, ST and OBC categories is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry on important posts….reports Asian Lite News

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took strong objection to the Modi government’s proposal to induct professionals with domain expertise in various ministries on the ranks of Joint Secretary, Director and other senior positions and also likened the move to ‘privatisation of IAS’.

Rahul, also the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, accused the government of undermining the Constitution by bypassing the traditional recruitment process under the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and claimed that those having affiliations with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are being prioritised.

“Reservation of SC, ST and OBC categories is being openly snatched away by recruiting through lateral entry on important posts in various ministries of the central government,” Rahul said on X.

He further expressed concern that the underprivileged and marginalised population already remains deprived of its representation in top government positions and said that such lateral entrants will not only destroy the reservation system but will also further rule out chances of representation, particularly from the lower class.

“This is a robbery of the rights of talented youth preparing for UPSC and an attack on the concept of social justice including reservation for the deprived,” he said on microblogging site X.

Rahul’s remarks come on the back of a fresh push and also the ‘largest’ drive by the Modi government to bring in specialists and experts on key positions in various departments and ministries.

Notably, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Saturday issued an advertisement on Saturday, notifying about the ‘vacancy’ for 45 domain experts in the rank and pay of Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and Directors. Out of 45, ten experts will be hired as Joint Secretaries while the rest will be ‘absorbed’ into the ranks of Directors or deputy secretaries across ministries including finance, electronics, agriculture, environment, and renewable energy.

As the advertisement revealed the government’s plan to give ‘direction and pace’ to the administrative machinery with expert recruits, the Congress and INDIA bloc called it a ‘deliberate attempt’ by the BJP to deprive the SC, ST and OBCs of their role in government departments.

The LoP also stated that the Opposition will strongly oppose this ‘anti-national’ move.

SP, BSP criticise govt’s move

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have fiercely criticised the government’s move to invite lateral entry applications for senior bureaucratic positions, calling it a “conspiracy” by the BJP to appoint ideological allies to key government posts through non-traditional channels.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed strong opposition to the move, warning of a nationwide agitation starting on October 2. He accused the BJP of undermining the traditional path to government posts, particularly targeting the Dalit, backward, and minority communities. In a post on ‘X,’ Yadav claimed the policy was aimed at denying reservations and rights to these groups, effectively closing the door to higher positions for the common man and youth. He warned that the move threatens the Constitution and is a ploy by the BJP to fill government positions with party loyalists.

Yadav also criticised the initiative as an effort to introduce corporate exploitation into the government system, stating that it favors capitalist interests over the welfare of the poor, farmers, and small business owners. He urged officers and youth across the country to join his party’s movement if the BJP does not withdraw the policy.

BSP chief Mayawati echoed Yadav’s sentiments, arguing that the move would deprive lower-level employees of promotions and undermine the constitutional rights of SC, ST, and OBC categories if appointments are not made proportionally. She labeled the lateral entry recruitment process as unconstitutional and illegal.

The Modi government’s plan seeks to recruit 45 specialists, including joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries, through lateral entry. These positions are typically reserved for officers from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Forest Service (IFoS), and other ‘Group A’ services. The move is seen as a strategy to inject fresh talent and improve governance efficiency.

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Rahul Gandhi meets flood victims in Assam

According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials, over 24.20 lakh people in 30 districts had been affected till Friday…reports Asian Lite News

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited Assam’s flood-affected Cachar district on Monday before heading to violence-stricken Manipur later in the day. Upon arrival in Silchar, he was welcomed by Congress leaders from Assam and Manipur at the airport.

Gandhi then travelled to Fulertal to meet with flood-affected residents staying in relief camps. This marks his first visit to the Northeast since becoming the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The relief camp is situated along the route Gandhi will take to Manipur’s Jiribam district.

Assam is currently grappling with severe floods caused by days of heavy rainfall, leading to landslides and river overflows. Approximately 2.27 million people across 28 districts have been impacted by the flooding.

After his visit to Jiribam, Gandhi will return to Silchar airport and then fly to Imphal for the next part of his Manipur tour. Manipur has experienced ongoing ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 3 of last year, resulting in over 200 deaths.

Meanwhile, there was marginal improvement in the overall flood situation in Assam, but the situation remained critical as eight more people died in six districts on Sunday while around 23 lakh people have been affected in 28 of the state’s 35 districts, officials said.

According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials, over 24.20 lakh people in 30 districts had been affected till Friday.

ASDMA officials said that two people each drowned in Dhubri and Nalbari districts while one each died in Goalpara, Cachar, Dhemaji, and Sivasagar districts.

With Sunday’s deaths, the toll has climbed to 66 with many people dying due to landslides and other calamities in different districts since the monsoon began early last month.

ASDMA officials said that the flood water also inundated over 68,432 hectares of crop area in 3,446 villages under 28 districts while over 15.63 lakh domestic animals have also been badly affected by the monsoon.

Out of the 28 flood-affected districts, Dhubri, Morigaon, Cachar, Darrang, Dibrugarh, and Barpeta are the worst-hit.

The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Neamatighat, Tezpur, and Dhubri, while Burhidihing, Dikhou, Disang, Dhansiri, Kopili, Beki, Sankosh and Kushiyara rivers are near the danger level in many places.

ASDMA officials also said that the district administrations have set up 630 relief camps to provide shelter to over 53,689 people, while 361 more relief distribution centres are functioning in different districts.

Several teams of the National and State Disaster Response Forces accompanied by volunteers of various NGOs have also been deployed for the rescue and relief operations.

Like in previous years, a vast area of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has been submerged and park authorities have intensified efforts to rescue the animals and to prevent poaching.

KNPTR Director Sonali Ghosh said that so far, 96 wild animals have been rescued while 129 animals, including deer, rhino, and hog deer, have drowned in flood waters.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is regularly reviewing the flood situation in the state, visited the Kamrup district on Sunday and met affected people and local officials. Later, Sarma told the media that the government’s focus is to find a national solution to the Assam flood unlike those who only want to declare it a national problem.

“In 2004 there were 400 embankment breaches while today we have only four such breaches. We are working on a permanent solution. Government working to find a long-term solution to flood in Assam,” he said.

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Modi targets Rahul  in Lok Sabha speech, accuses Cong of speaking lies

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PM Modi said Congress should accept the verdict of the people in the Lok Sabha polls and BJP-led NDA government had won a third successive term in office based on its performance…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong attack on the Congress and took “balak budhi” and “tumse na ho payega” jibe at its leader Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha on Tuesday and accused him of “linking Hindus with violence”.

In his over two-hour reply to the motion of thanks to the President’s address in Lok Sabha, PM Modi said Congress is had become a “parasite” on its allies and has made “lies” a weapon of its politics.

PM Modi said Congress should accept the verdict of the people in the Lok Sabha polls and BJP-led NDA government had won a third successive term in office based on its performance and its policies of zero-tolerance for corruption and “justice for all, appeasement for none”.

New Delhi, June 28 (ANI): LoP in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi speaks inside the House during the fifth day of the 18th Lok Sabha session, at the Parliament in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)

“The people of India have reposed faith in our government’s track record over the past 10 years and have given us the opportunity to continue good governance for the third time. People saw our commitment to serving the citizens with the belief of ‘Jan Seva hi Prabhu Seva’ (Service to humanity is service to God). People rewarded the zero tolerance for corruption,” he said.

“We worked for santushtikaran instead of tushtikaran (for saturation rather than appeasement). Belief, expectations and trust of 140 crore citizens become a driving force for development. Nation First is our only goal. when a country develops, a strong foundation is laid to fulfill the dreams of future generations,” he added.

PM Modi said that in the third term, his government will work at three times the speed, apply three times the energy and deliver three times the results.

The Prime Minister, who faced continuous sloganeering from opposition members over the situation in Manipur, reserved a large part of his speech to attacking Congress and Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.

PM Modi’s remarks came a day after Rahul Gandhi’s stinging attack on the government in which he also displayed images of deities.

“We will not be able to protect parliamentary democracy without taking seriously what happened yesterday. We should not ignore these acts by calling them childish, by considering them childish, we should not ignore them at all and I am saying this because the intentions behind this are not good and I also want to awaken the countrymen,” PM Modi said.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, PM Modi alleged that there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus of being violent.

“Jiske darshan hote hai uske pradarshan nahi hote hai” (the deity who is worshipped and sought, their depiction is not used to gain publicity). Today, there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus, a serious conspiracy is unfolding. It has been said that Hindus are violent. This is your culture, this is your character, this is your thinking, this is your hatred. These are the actions against Hindus in this country. This country will not forget it for centuries,” he said.

“They had announced the destruction of the concept of ‘Shakti’ in Hindus. Which power you are talking about that you want to destroy? This country has been a devotee of ‘Shakti’ for centuries. Bengal worships Mother Durga. Are you speaking against this power? These are the people who tried to coin the term ‘Hindu terrorism’. Their associates compared Hinduism to diseases like dengue and malaria. This country will never forgive them. Under a well-thought-out conspiracy, their entire ecosystem has made it fashionable to degrade, insult, and mock Hindu traditions…

“We have been taught since childhood that every form is a manifestation of God. No form of God exists for personal gain. The insult of our gods and goddesses is hurting 1.4 billion people in this country. The country cannot forgive the mockery of the forms of God for personal political gain. Watching the scenes of yesterday’s assembly, now Hindu society will have to think whether this is a preparation for some experiment,” he added.

PM Modi also took a veiled jibe at Rahul Gandhi over the Lok Sabha election results and said that Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the people’s mind that they have defeated us but in reality, “Bachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai.”

“This is the first time in Congress’s history that they have not crossed the 100-seat mark three times in a row. This is the third biggest defeat in the history of Congress. It would have been better if Congress had accepted its defeat and respected the mandate of the people but they are busy doing some ‘Sirsasana’ and Congress and its ecosystem are trying to establish in the minds of the citizens of India that they have defeated us,” he said.

“A little child goes out with a bicycle and if he falls and starts crying, his elder says that look, the ant got crushed. You’re riding the bicycle well. ‘Bachhe ka mann behlane ka kaam chal raha hai’,” PM Modi added. (ANI)

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