Categories
India News Politics

Scared dictator wants to create dead democracy, says Rahul

Invoking the BJP’s slogan of ‘Abki Baar 400 Paar’ (beyond 400 seats this time), Kharge said, ” Waqt Hai Badlaw Ka..Abki Baar.. Satta Ke Bahar .”…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy case, as he accused the latter of resorting to ‘dictatorial tactics’ to destroy democracy in the country.

The Congress leader also accused the BJP-led NDA government of ‘capturing institutions’, including the media.

Using the words ‘devilish power’ to take a veiled swipe at the Centre, Rahul Gandhi posted from his X handle, “A scared dictator wants to create a dead democracy. While capturing all the institutions, including the media, breaking up the parties, extorting money from companies, and freezing the accounts of the main opposition party was not enough for the ‘devilish power’, now the arrest of the elected chief ministers has also become a common thing.”

He said that the opposition INDIA bloc will give a “befitting reply to this”.

Meanwhile, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge called Kejriwal’s arrest, “a step taken to weaken the opposition before the Lok Sabha election”.

“The arrogant BJP, which makes false claims of victory every day, is trying to weaken the opposition by all means and illegal means before the elections. If there was real confidence in victory, then the accounts of the main opposition party – the Congress Party, would not have been frozen by misusing the constitutional institutions; leaders of opposition parties would not have been targeted right before the elections,” Kharge posted from his X handle.

Invoking the BJP’s slogan of ‘Abki Baar 400 Paar’ (beyond 400 seats this time), Kharge said, ” Waqt Hai Badlaw Ka..Abki Baar.. Satta Ke Bahar .”

“The truth is that the BJP is already scared of the upcoming election results and its panic is creating all kinds of problems for the Opposition. Waqt Hai Badlaw Ka..Abki Baar.. Satta Ke Bahar (It’s time for change! This time…out of power),” he added.

Earlier in the evening, a team from the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arrived at Kejriwal’s residence on Thursday for questioning in connection with the liquor policy case. The team conducted a search operation at his residence, sources said.

The ED team reached his residence for questioning hours after the Delhi High Court refused interim protection to Kejriwal from coercive action in connection with the excise policy case.

AAP workers also staged a protest outside the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Denying him interim protection from arrest in the liquor policy case, the Delhi HC ruled that, in this state, it was not inclined to do so.

The court passed down the directive during the hearing on a plea by the AAP supremo, urging coercive action against him in connection with the excise policy case.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders on Thursday supported the ED action to arrest the Delhi Chief Minister in the Delhi excise policy case and said “truth had to prevail.”

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said Arvind Kejriwal has been continuously making excuses in the liquor policy scam since 2020-21 “and the kind of political theatrics he was doing has been put to an end today.”

“Today, finally, the truth triumphed and I believe that the conspiracy hatched by Arvind Kejriwal and his government to push the youth into alcoholism was bound to result in this. The truth had to prevail and Arvind Kejriwal had to be punished for his sins,” Sachdeva said.

ED had issued repeated summons to the AAP supremo in the excise policy case and he had skipped them, pointing out that the probe agency had moved the court against him.

According to the ED, the agency wants to record Kejriwal’s statement in the case on issues like the formulation of the now-scraped excise policy, meetings held before it was finalized, and allegations of bribery.

Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are in judicial custody in the excise policy case. Sisodia, who was the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26 following several rounds of questioning. On October 5, ED arrested Sanjay Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member. (ANI)

‘Kejriwal’s arrest will give birth to mass movement’

Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav lashed out at the BJP after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, saying that the move against the AAP supremo will lead to a ‘mass movement’ (jan-andolan).

Yadav, in a post on X, also jabbed the BJP saying that the party fears defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and hence is “trying to keep the Opposition leaders away from the public”.

“What will those, who themselves are imprisoned in fear of defeat, accomplish by imprisoning someone else? The BJP knows that it will not come to power again. Overcome with this fear, it wants to remove Opposition leaders from the public eye by any means at the time of elections. The arrest is just an excuse. It will give birth to a new people’s revolution,” Akhilesh posted.

Kejriwal was arrested on Thursday by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy, becoming the second chief minister after Hemant Soren to be taken into custody by the central agency in 50 days.

Kejriwal’s arrest immediately attracted the Opposition leaders’ ire, with top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleging that a “scared dictator wants to create a dead democracy,” while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said that the BJP government “sinks to despicable depths” after the “unjust targeting of brother” Hemant Soren.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said, “A large number of AAP leaders and workers had gathered at Kejriwal’s residence who shouted slogans in favour of the Chief Minister. The election process has begun. And now this! Chiefs of political parties, CMs, political leaders, election agents, workers, every opponent- being harassed & arrested like this. What will be the fate of our precious democracy? LET US ALL SAVE DEMOCRACY FROM IMPENDING DISASTER.”

A large number of AAP leaders and workers had gathered at Kejriwal’s residence who shouted slogans in favour of the Chief Minister.

His former cabinet colleagues Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain are also presently in judicial custody in money laundering cases. Sisodia was arrested in the money laundering case linked to excise policy. AAP leader Sanjay Singh was also arrested in the case. BRS leader K Kavitha was also arrested in this case last week. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Congress Accuses BJP of Freezing Bank Accounts

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

Rahul Gandhi Clarifies ‘Shakti’ Remark Amid BJP Backlash

Former Congress President Rahul, taking to X, posted an elaborate explanation of what he meant by taking on the ‘shakti’, which the BJP equated with the revered and venerated figure in Hinduism…reports Asian Lite News

Being at the receiving end of vociferous attacks over his ‘Shakti’ remarks, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the statement had been taken out of context.

The Congress MP blamed the “lies-manufacturing machinery” of the BJP for creating a needless controversy over his statement and also took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the latter twists his remarks if he doesn’t like them.

Further defending his remarks, MP Rahul Gandhi said that he spoke the plain truth but that left the ruling party offended and the BJP subsequently began a smear campaign against him.

Former Congress President Rahul, taking to X, posted an elaborate explanation of what he meant by taking on the ‘shakti’, which the BJP equated with the revered and venerated figure in Hinduism.

“The ‘shakti’ which we are fighting is deeply enmeshed in system, the PM is just a mask of it,” MP Rahul Gandhi posted on X.

“It is the ‘shakti (force)’ that has destroyed constitutional bodies like the Election Commission, made agencies like the CBI, ED a puppet and taken the whole constitutional set-up for a ride,” MP Rahul Gandhi explained.

“It’s because of this ‘shakti’ that poor and marginalised farmers are being driven to more pitiable situations, while big corporates are getting bank waivers of hundreds to thousands of crores,” he opined.

Lashing out at the media, the Gandhi scion said that the fourth pillar of democracy had stopped reporting facts and was saluting this ‘shakti.’

He also said that his assertions and fight against this ‘undeclared power’ is not about any religion but it is against corruption and fake narratives.

The Congress leader, found himself in the midst of a row, over his remarks at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Sunday. Addressing a large gathering on the culmination of the Congress’ Nyay Yatra, he said, “There is a word ‘shakti’ (might) in Hindi. We are fighting against the ‘shakti’ (might of the state). The question is, what is that ‘shakti’ and what does it entail for us?”

‘Shakti’ Remark Irks BJP, Congress Stands Firm

Criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his ‘Shakti’ remark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the Congress and INDIA bloc has challenged the concept of ‘Shakti’ adding that every woman and Shakti worshippers in the country, will teach the opposition alliance a lesson on June 4 (counting day of Lok Sabha polls).

Rahul Gandhi earlier had said that “there is a word ‘Shakti’ in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti”.

Addressing a public meeting in Shivamogga, Prime Minister Modi said, “Yesterday an announcement to destroy Shakti was made from Shivaji Park (in Mumbai). How much it must have hurt the soul of Balasaheb Thackeray. Nari Shakti ka yahi aashirvad mera sabse bada kawach hai (Blessings of Nari Shaki is my biggest security shield). No other government has given so much focus to Nari Shakti since Independence.”

He further stated that an attack on ‘Shakti’ means an attack on daughters and women in the country.

“The people of the INDI alliance want to destroy this Shakti. They hate the increasing shakti of Maa Bharti. An attack on Shakti means an attack on women, daughters, Maa Bharti. INDI alliance and Congress has challenged this Shakti, our daughters, and women of this country will give them a befitting reply on June 4,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi, in his comments made on Sunday in Maharashtra, raised concerns about the operation of EVMs to emphasize the opposition’s struggle against the might of the state.

“There is a word ‘Shakti’ (might) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti (might of the state). The question is, what is that, Shakti and what does it entail for us? The soul and integrity of EVMs have been traded to the King (Modi). This is a fact. Not just EVMs but every autonomous institution of the country, be it the ED, CBI or Income Tax Department, have traded their spines to the Centre,” Rahul said in an address in Mumbai.

After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Shakti’ remark sparked outrage, with BJP leaders criticising him for his statement, the Congress has come in support of Rahul Gandhi.

On Monday, Congress leader Pawan Khera launched an indirect attack on the ruling BJP, saying that now this country will not be run by “demonic power” but by “divine power”.

In a post on X, Khera, lashing out at the BJP, said “women were being made to run naked in Manipur, which power was keeping you silent?”

“Ten years ago, when your party was organizing morchas in favour of rapists in Kathua, Unnao, and Hathras, did you not remember the worship of Shakti? When the female wrestler was on the road and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was inside your house, which power were they worshipping? This election will be between divine power and demonic power and the victory will be of divine power,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi also appealed to the voters to wipe out Congress from Karnataka.

“In these Lok Sabha elections, wipe out Congress completely. You have to come out with this resolution on April 26 and May 7,” he said.

Taking a further dig at the Congress, PM Modi said that “the Congress is a party that will go to any extent to gain power”.

“The British have left, but the Congress has not left the British mentality of divide and rule. Congress first divided the country, divided based on caste, based on community, and divided people on the basis of religion, region and language. To gain power, Congress also divided the country, but still, Congress, with its divisive mentality, is not satisfied with this. Congress has again started playing the dangerous game of dividing the country,” he said.

Referring to Congress leader DK Suresh’s remarks on “separate country for South India”, Prime Minister Modi said, “Now they have also started speaking openly about their intention. Congress MP from Karnataka has given a statement about dividing the country once again. Instead of throwing such an MP out of the party, the Congress party is protecting him. Karnataka will never allow such politics and such conspiracies to succeed.”

However, DK Suresh later issued a clarification, stating that his remarks were just to “bring attention to the discrimination being done in the southern states by the BJP-led Centre”. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Rahul Gandhi calls for ‘combined consciousness’

Categories
India News Politics

90% Indians face injustice everyday, alleges Rahul  

Members of the INDIA bloc are also expected to join the closing stages of the Nyay Yatra in Maharashtra…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Wednesday that “90 per cent of the citizens were facing injustice every day” and therefore added the new word “Nyay” (justice) in their second Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The remarks came while addressing a ‘Nari Nyay’ program during his Maharashtra leg of the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’.

“..In our second Bharat Jodo Yatra, we have added the new word ‘Nyay’ because in our first yatra, whoever we met, whether farmers, youth or females, said the reason for violence and hatred is injustice…90 per cent of Indians face injustice every day,” alleged the Congress leader.

He also spoke on the increasing income inequality and the unequal distribution of wealth and income among its citizens.

“I don’t know whether you all know this or not, but the wealth of 22 people in India is equal to the wealth of 70 core people….,” the Wayanad MP said.

However, income inequality has declined in India with a higher tax base and a shift in taxpayers from lower income to higher income tax bracket, the Economic Research Department of the State Bank of India said in a report.

About 36.3 per cent of taxpayers have moved from lower income to higher income tax bracket resulting in 21.3 per cent additional income, the report said adding that the top 2.5 per cent of taxpayers’ contribution in income declined from 2.81 per cent in FY14 to 2.28 per cent in FY21.

The Nyay Yatra entered the state from the district of Nandurbar on Tuesday, March 12.

“There is injustice against the farmers, women, youth, poor and labourers,” he said.

Members of the INDIA bloc are also expected to join the closing stages of the Nyay Yatra in Maharashtra.

“Between 12 and 17 March, the final leg of the Bharat Jodo Jodo Nyay Yatra, members of the INDIA alliance will be present… The motive behind the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, ‘Panch Nyay’ (five pillars of justice), I think the guarantees that we gave, we have been successful in that,” Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said on Monday.

The Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which also includes the NCP (SPawar) in the state. Smaller parties like the Swambhimani Vikash Parishad (SWP) and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) are also likely to join the Congress-led alliance in the state. The state sends 48 legislators to the Lok Sabha.

The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, after the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner.

The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

ALSO READ-One-nation, one-poll report likely soon

Categories
India News Politics

Cong invites Pawar to join Rahul’s yatra 

The Yatra entered the state days after the party witnessed some high-profile exits like former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who joined the BJP, and former Union minister Milind Deora who joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leaders on Tuesday gave an invitation to NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar to join Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and the public meeting to be held at Shivaji Park on March 17.

The Yatra will reach Chaityabhoomi on March 16, where Sharad Pawar will also be present.

It is noteworthy that the Yatra entered Maharashtra from the district of Nandurbar on March 12.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh earlier revealed, “Between 12-17 March, the final leg of the Bharat Jodo Jodo Nyay Yatra. Members of the INDIA alliance will be present… The motive behind the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, ‘Panch Nyay’, I think the guarantees that we gave, we have been successful in that”.

The Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which also includes the NCP (SPawar) in the state. Smaller parties like the Swambhimani Vikash Parishad (SWP) and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) are also likely to join the Congress-led alliance in the state. The state sends 48 legislators to the Lok Sabha.

The Yatra entered the state days after the party witnessed some high-profile exits like former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who joined the BJP, and former Union minister Milind Deora who joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Later, Ashok Chavan was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha.

Earlier, Baba Siddiqui a prominent minority face of the Congress in Mumbai quit the party and joined the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) following which, Zeeshan Siddiqui his son was removed from the post of Mumbai Youth Congress President.

The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, after the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner.

The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Congress, DMK seal seat-sharing deal in TN, Puducherry

Categories
-Top News Politics

Priyanka From Rae Bareli & Rahul From Amethi?

Congress to hold meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee to decide the first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will likely make her electoral debut from the party’s Uttar Pradesh stronghold of Raebareli – a seat won thrice by ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi – sources said.

Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, may return to the Congress’ other UP stronghold – Amethi – which he lost in a shock defeat to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Smriti Irani in 2019. Gandhi will also fight from his current seat of Wayanad in Kerala; victory here had allowed him to retain his Lok Sabha status after the last election.

There has always been a ‘will she, won’t she’ air about Ms Gandhi Vadra and elections. Before 2019 she set tongues wagging after quipping “why not”, when asked if she would contest from Varanasi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bastion.

Her entry now comes after her mother, ex-party boss Sonia Gandhi – said she would not seek re-election from Raebareli, a seat she has won five times in the past, including in 2019.

In that election she was the sole Congress leader to win a UP Lok Sabha seat. Gandhi’s Lok Sabha-to-Rajya Sabha shift – she has been elected from Rajasthan – was supposed to signal a shift in party leadership before the general election.

As she did so, she made an emotional appeal to Raebareli’s voters, which has been won by a member of the Gandhi family in all but three general elections since independence.

After the Congress confirmed Sonia Gandhi’s withdrawal from Raebareli, there was speculation Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would finally contest an election.

There were even posters in Raebareli this week urging the Congress to name Ms Gandhi Vadra as its candidate for the prestigious seat. “Take Congress’ development work forward, Raebareli is calling… Priyanka Gandhiji, please come,” the posters said. The Congress has now responded to that call.

In 2019, Smriti Irani beat Rahul Gandhi by 55,000-odd votes for one of the biggest upsets of the election. The BJP has allowed her to defend the seat and, last week, she challenged Mr Gandhi.

“In 2019 he left Amethi. Today Amethi has left him. If he is confident then, without going to Wayanad… let him fight from Amethi,” she told NDTV, as Mr Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ entered the constituency. “Empty roads tell us what people feel about Rahul Gandhi.”

The BJP has not yet announced its Raebareli candidate; in 2019 the party fielded Dinesh Pratap Singh, who slumped to defeat by over 1.8 lakh votes in the constituency.

The party has, however, confirmed that Ms Irani will defend her Amethi seat, setting up the first of two blockbuster contests in the politically significant state of Uttar Pradesh.

Congress CEC to meet today

Congress will hold a meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee on Thursday to decide the first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is the chairperson of the committee and its members include former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

“The first meeting of @INCIndia Central Election Committee(CEC) that considers and decides on candidates for Lok Sabha polls is being held at 6 pm on March 7th,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

The Congress panel tasked with preparing the party’s manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls has prepared the draft which will now be discussed by the Congress Working Committee.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who heads the manifesto committee, said on Tuesday that the draft report will be presented to the Congress president.

“We have prepared the draft manifesto. Now it will go to the Congress Working Committee. They will finalize the manifesto then it will become the Congress party document. Tomorrow we will hand over this draft to the Congress President,” he said.

The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year.

‘Caste census is an X-ray for India’

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi has said that an X-ray is conducted when a hand bone is broken and similarly, the caste census is an X-ray for India. The Congress leader made the remark while addressing a public gathering during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Ratlam district in the state on Wednesday.

“Firstly, we will have to get an X-ray done for India. An X-ray is conducted when a hand bone is broken. Similarly, the caste census is an X-ray for India,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Earlier, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh also said that conducting a socio-economic caste census is one of the two guarantees announced by the Congress party.

“Rahul Gandhi is continuously speaking about nyaya (justice) which is Nari Nyay, Yuva Nyay, Kisan Nyay, Shramik Nyay, and Hissedari Nyay. Till now Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Kharge have talked about two guarantees associated with Kisan Nyay and Hissedari Nyay. First, passing a law granting legal status to MSP in Parliament for farmers and the MSP will be based on the formula suggested by M S Swaminathan. Second, conducting a socio-economic caste census, which will be an important step for social empowerment and economic justice,” Ramesh said. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Smriti Irani challenges Rahul for debate

Categories
India News Politics

Smriti Irani challenges Rahul for debate

Smriti said in her address that the BJP has fulfilled the three major promises made to the public in the party manifesto in the last 10 years…reports Asian Lite News

Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani has dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to have a debate on the “difference” between the 10 years of UPA rule and the Narendra Modi government.

“If my voice is reaching Rahul Gandhi, then he should listen with open ears. Let there be a discussion on what is the difference between your (UPA) 10 years and Modi’s 10 years,” she said on Monday while speaking at the ‘Namo Yuva Maha Sammelan’ organised by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in Nagpur.

She said that if she asked to discuss it with Rahul Gandhi, he would not come. He would not be able to stand even in front of an ordinary worker of the BJP.

“I guarantee that even if an ordinary worker of Yuva Morcha starts speaking in front of Rahul Gandhi, he will lose the strength to speak,” she said.

Smriti said in her address that the BJP has fulfilled the three major promises made to the public in the party manifesto in the last 10 years.

She said that the abrogation of Article 370 that ended the special status of the then state of Jammu and Kashmir, women’s reservation in the legislature and the construction of Ram Mandir were these promises and they were fulfilled. (ANI)

ALSO READ-‘Modi wants youth to chant Jai Shri Ram, starve to death’

Categories
India News Politics

‘Modi wants youth to chant Jai Shri Ram, starve to death’

Earlier in the day the BJP launched an all-out attack against the Congress’ ally DMK for a speech made by former Minister A Raja in Madurai…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused his government of misleading the youth, saying that the PM wants the young generation to only chant ‘Jai Shri Ram and starve to death’.

Addressing a gathering in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress MP also advocated for the caste-based census and said that conducting the survey will ensure social justice for the people.

“Our policy is very clear– that is a revolutionary step towards social justice that is only caste-based census…the Congress has done only revolutionary work. It fought for the country’s independence when they (BJP) went lost, where they were at that time. Be it, the green revolution, white or digital, all the revolutionary works have been done by Congress…but the PM wants our youths to be glued to their phones for the whole day, chant Jai Shri Ram and starve to death (bhukhe raho aur mar jao),” he said.

Earlier in the day the BJP launched an all-out attack against the Congress’ ally DMK for a speech made by former Minister A Raja in Madurai.

Amit Malviya, the head of Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT cell, criticised A Raja, accusing him of advocating for the Balkanisation of India and making derogatory comments about Lord Ram, Manipuris, and the idea of India as a nation.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra resumed from Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district on Tuesday morning. Gandhi started the yatra from Sarangpur in the presence of a large number of party workers.

He was in an open Jeep, greeting the party workers who were carrying the party flag. Notably, the Congress MP is also slated to visit the Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, one of the Jyotirlinga temples, during his yatra.

This marks Gandhi’s second visit to the temple during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, with the last one taking place on November 29, 2022.

Notably, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered the state on March 2 and will stay in the state till March 6. The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, after the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner.

The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

ALSO READ-PM Modi Wishes Success to Shehbaz, Pakistan’s New PM

Categories
India News Politics

Rahul Resumes Yatra From Madhya Pradesh’s Guna

Rahul Gandhi will offer prayers at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi resumed his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ from the Binaganj area of Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district on Monday.

Rahul Gandhi was seen holding a road show as he waved at the crowds while sitting atop a vehicle with former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi resumed his Yatra from Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district. It was the third day of the Yatra in the state.

Rahul Gandhi addressed a public gathering at Madhav Chowk in Shivpuri during which he attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government saying that earlier youth had an opportunity to join the public sector and army but the ways have been closed now.

“Earlier youth had an opportunity to join the public sector (BHEL, HAL), Army and government jobs in schools and hospitals but all the ways have been closed now. The Army has been made Agniveer and the public sector has been privatised,” Rahul Gandhi said.

He further added, “Last year we did ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, in which we met thousands of people. The message that came out from ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ was that this is a country of love, not of hatred. But if hatred spreads then it is because of injustice.”

“If injustice increases in the country, people feel afraid, because it makes it easier to make them fight against each other. That is why we have added the word ‘Nyay’ in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,” he added.

Notably, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered the state on March 2 and will stay in the state till March 6. The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, after the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner. The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi will offer prayers at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Tuesday.

Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said that today is the 52nd day of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and at around 2 pm, Rahul Gandhi will offer prayers at Mahakaleshwar Temple.

“Ujjain is very important for us as it is the only city that was in Bharat Jodo Yatra and is also in our Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. On 29th November 2022, Rahul Gandhi visited Mahakaleshwar Temple and today again he is visiting there,” Jairam Ramesh told ANI. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Smriti Irani challenges Rahul for debate

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

Rahul assures farmers on MSP law

Congress leader resumed the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Agra which was attended by Akhilesh Yadav and party General Secretary Priyanka…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday assured the farmers that if the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc comes into power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections this year, then it won’t take “more than a minute” to implement legislation on the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Rahul Gandhi on Sunday resumed the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Agra which was also attended by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi.

Addressing the public, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said,” Farmers in the country want legal MSP. Modi government says that it is not ready to give them legal MSP. Whenever the government of the INDIA bloc, Congress comes at the Centre we will give them (farmers) the legal MSP. We won’t take more than a minute to implement it.”

Amid a deadlock in talks between farmers and the central government, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda appealed to the citizens to maintain peace and has invited suggestions.

The protesting farmers, whose demands include a legal guarantee for minimum support price, had earlier rejected the government’s offer after the fourth round of talks. The Centre however expressed readiness for the fifth round of talks with the farmers while urging them to find a solution through ‘dialogue’.

Rahul Gandhi said that the word ‘Nyay’ was added in the Yatra because people are massively facing injustice in society.

“If you are poor then you will face injustice in this country 24 hours. If you are women you will face injustice. Hatred is being spread in the society. The reason for hatred is injustice, so we have added the word Nyay (justice) in our journey,” he said.

Priyanka raises issue of unemployment

Earlier, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the BJP’s decade-long rule, highlighting concerns over youth unemployment, farmer protests, and inflation in the country.

“BJP has been in power for 10 years. Many big events such as the G20 Summit took place, everyone said that the respect of the country is increasing due to such events, even we agree to it, but I want to ask, is the respect of the country not connected with the young, our policemen, and students? There are no jobs for the youth, farmers are still sitting on roads, inflation is a burden for the people of the country,” said Priyanka Gandhi.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the Yatra in Aligarh on Sunday morning. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Uttar Pradesh via Chandauli district last week.

Farmers unhappy in BJP, says Akhilesh

Hitting out the BJP government at the Centre, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused it of trying to influence institutions and said farmers are forced to resort to agitation for measures to increase their income.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister expressed solidarity with the protesting farmers over their demands. Some farmer organisations in Punjab had announced a ‘Delhi chalo’ protest demanding a law on MSP.

“Our party is a party of farmers, we stand with their demand. When it comes to the respect and rights of our farmer brothers, we stood with them earlier as well and will continue to do so,” Yadav said here.

“People who had raised the slogan of ‘Jai Kisan, Jai Jawan, Jai Vigyan’, farmers are unhappy in their rule and are resorting to agitation for steps to increase their income. Unemployed are not getting jobs and if they are writing exams (for jobs), the papers are getting leaked,” he added.

Akhilesh Yadav had earlier condemned the use of tear gas on protesting farmers at the Delhi-Haryana border and questioned the ‘Amritkaal’ under BJP rule.

To press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt waiver, the farmers have been camping at the Punjab-Haryana border since February 13.

During the last round of talks, which ended past midnight on February 18, the panel of three Union ministers had proposed buying five crops — moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize and cotton — from farmers at MSP for five years through central agencies. The government has said it is ready for further discussions with protesting farmers.

Cong veteran unhappy

After Congress leader Salman Khurshid expressed his dissatisfaction after the Farrukhabad Lok Sabha seat went to the Samajwadi Party (SP), Uttar Pradesh party in-charge Avinash Pande on Saturday said that the grand old party respect his “emotions” but when alliance happens, they have to let go of certain things for better and “greater things.”

“Salman Khurshid himself is a member of the high power committee formed for the alliance. He might have said that for the people of Farrukhabad…we respect his emotions but when alliance happens, you have to let go of certain things for better and greater things,” Avinash Pande said. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Rahul Gandhi granted bail in 2018 defamation case

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

Rahul Gandhi resumes Yatra from old Cong bastion

Amethi used to be a Congress stronghold in Uttar Pradesh, where Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani by a margin of around 55,000 votes in the 2019 elections…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday afternoon resumed his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi.

The senior Congress leader is on a Manipur-Mumbai Yatra covering 15 states ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May this year.

Amethi used to be a Congress stronghold in Uttar Pradesh, where Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani by a margin of around 55,000 votes in the 2019 elections.

On the other hand, Union Minister and BJP MP from Amethi, Smriti Irani held a Jan Samwad in Amethi on Monday as part of a four-day visit to her parliamentary constituency.

The Congress is still undecided on whether Rahul Gandhi will attempt to regain the Congress stronghold especially since Sonia Gandhi has also left Rae Bareili for the Rajya Sabha.

“CEC will decide on who will contest from Amethi. Rahul Gandhi has been an MP from Amethi thrice. His father Rajiv Gandhi also used to contest from Amethi. It is a very important constituency for the Congress party…” said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Sonia was elected as an MP from Raibareli for the first time in 2004. Since then, the Congress leader has been representing the Congress stronghold in the Lower House.

The current chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party served as the party’s national president for almost 22 years, between 1998 and 2022, and is a five-time Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli.

The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, after the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner.

Rijiju counters Rahul’s OBC barb

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday strongly countered Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of ‘discrimination’ against the Other Backward Class (OBC) community in the country’s top bureaucratic set-up.

“Is he naive or a fool?,” Rijiju, lashing out at the Congress leader, took to his X handle and explained in detail the ‘progression process’ of bureaucrats.

Rahul Gandhi, during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in UP’s Amethi on Monday, told newsmen, ”The number of Dalits, Adivasis and other backward people remains very low in courts, same is the case in Bureaucracy.”

Taking strong exception to Rahul’s statement that only 3 out of 90 secretaries in Government of India belong to OBC community, Rijiju explained that the current batch of secretaries are from either 1992 or previous batches, when OBC reservation was not even in effect.

“Today Rahul Gandhi again said there are only 3 OBC secretaries to Govt of India and negligible OBC judges. Is he naive or a fool? A fresh IAS officer can’t just become secretary and a fresh lawyer can’t become a judge of High Court or SC directly,” Rijiju said.

Minister of Earth Sciences further said that at that time, OBC was not even classified under reserved category, only SC and ST community got quotas in jobs. OBC classification into All India Service (AIS) came only post 1995 following the court verdict.

Smriti Irani holds key meet in Amethi

Even as former Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra enters the erstwhil bastion of Amethi a political face off was seen.

Union Minister and BJP MP from Amethi, Smriti Irani held a Jan Samwad in Amethi on Monday as part of a four-day visit to her parliamentary constituency.

Amethi used to be a Congress stronghold in Uttar Pradesh, where Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani by a margin of around 55,000 votes in the 2019 elections.

The Congress is still undecided on wether Rahul Gandhi will make an attempt at regaining the Congress stronghold specially since Sonia Gandhi has also left Rae Bareili for the Rajya Sabha.

Amethi, Feb 19 (ANI): Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani holds Jan Samwad in Amethi on Monday. (ANI Photo)

“CEC will decide on who will contest from Amethi. Rahul Gandhi has been an MP from Amethi thrice. His father Rajiv Gandhi also used to contest from Amethi. It is a very important constituency for the Congress party…” said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Pratapgarh, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi said, “Amethi is the home of Rahul Gandhi. He has been a member of parliament from here. He is the son of Amethi. Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is going to have a huge impact on Uttar Pradesh and the country…”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday resumed the Yatra from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh attacking the BJP for not doing enough for the backward classes.

“Tell me how many Dalits, Adivasis, and backward people are there in high courts? You don’t have courage, you all are sleeping. There are 650 high court judges. You have 73% of the population…Tell me how many people do you have among the bureaucrats?…” said Rahul Gandhi at Pratapgarh.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will address a public rally in Babuganj on Monday.

“Today is the 37th day of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will address a public rally in Babuganj. We will stay in Amethi tonight and reach Raebareli tomorrow morning. We will stay in Lucknow tomorrow and in Kanpur the day after. Then, we will take 2 days’ rest on 22nd and 23rd February…” said Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh.

The Congress’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, succeeded by the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner. (ANI)

ALSO READ-‘OBC not by birth, but on papers’: Rahul targets PM Modi