Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s statement, RJD spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha said, “I find it a bit strange and contradictory.”…reports Asian Lite News
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks that the regional parties can’t fight the BJP politically as they don’t have an ideology has upset several opposition parties.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, CPI(M), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal (Secular) have questioned Rahul Gandhi’s comment that only the Congress has the ideology “to take on the BJP”.
Rahul in his address at Congress’ ‘Chintan Shivir’ in Udaipur on Sunday had claimed that regional parties cannot fight the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as they lack ideology, adding that only the Congress can fight the BJP.
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s statement, RJD spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha said, “I find it a bit strange and contradictory.”
“If he (Rahul Gandhi) looks at the figures, he will withdraw his statement. The Congress manifesto says that the party is committed to establish dialogue with like-minded parties to protect the spirit of nationalism and democracy,” Jha added.
The RJD spokesperson said that had Rahul Gandhi known about the outcome of the electoral battle against the BJP, he would have realised the ideological and electoral commitment made by the regional parties, which the Congress leader claimed did not have the potential to fight the BJP.
On the other hand, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said at a party convention in Kochi, “Compared to the past, today the Congress has become weaker and many in the BJP and RSS do not see the Congress as a big threat because its leaders can leave the party to join the BJP at any point of time.”
He promised that if the Congress comes to power in the state it will scrap the Par- Tapi- Narmada interlinking project, which is being opposed by tribals from Valsad, Navsari, Tapi and Surat districts…reports Asian Lite News
Congress party’s former president Rahul Gandhi has promised to scrap the rivers interlinking project in Gujarat, provide free health services and education.
Though these issues are deeply touching the bottom of the pyramid, the big question for Rahul and the party is, will these promises bring votes for their candidates and win more seats than the 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections.
Rahul Gandhi is on a day’s visit to Gujarat on Tuesday. While addressing Adivasi Satyagrah rally in Dahod, he said tribals have rights on the natural resources, and development should not be at the cost of their existence and livelihood.
He promised that if the Congress comes to power in the state it will scrap the Par- Tapi- Narmada interlinking project, which is being opposed by tribals from Valsad, Navsari, Tapi and Surat districts.
Reminding that during the BJP regime, he said that the privatisation has grown by leaps and bounds in social sectors like education and health sectors, this has become a burden for some parents and families. Rahul promised to give free health and education in the state, as the party did in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
In an effort to expose the BJP’s failure in tackling the Covid pandemic, he mentioned about the shortages in oxygen, ventilators and beds faced by the people of the state in first and second wave. He said because of the shortage “some three lakh persons lost their lives during the pandemic”. He also mentioned about the bodies floating in the Ganga River during the pandemic.
To connect with tribals as well as the general public, Rahul Gandhi recalled how the Land Acquisition Act 2013 was benefitting the people at large because strict norms and connecting land price with market value is helping in getting good financial rewards if their land is acquired for development projects. He also emphasised that the Congress brought changes in the ages old land acquisition Act introduced by the British.
He said that this was not a public meeting, “the Congress today launched ‘Satyagrah’ for the Adivasis’ rights and will continue to fight for their rights till they get justice. During the BJP rule people have benefitted less, but millionaires have made huge profits and the Indian society is divided into two parts — rich people’s India and poor India…”
For the first time Gujarat Congress has aggressively used social media to reach out to millions of people. Will Rahul’s speech influence the voters is difficult to answer, because to win elections the BJP will also fight aggressively. The Congress has to work hard as it has to overcome its internal fighting, build confidence and trust among the people and show they can deliver results, only if people are convinced such meetings will reap results, is the assessment of Hari Desai, a political analyst.
Asked to bat first by Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, Lucknow Super Giants could manage only 32/1 in the power-play as they got off to a slow start…reports Asian Lite News
Skipper K.L Rahul led from the front, waging a lone battle for his second century of IPL 2022 as Lucknow Super Giants posted a below-par 168/6 against Mumbai Indians in Match 37 of IPL 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday.
Rahul scored an unbeaten 103, his second century of this edition of IPL after stroking to a century against Mumbai Indians a few days back. He joins Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan as the third Indian to score two centuries in the same IPL edition. Overall, has three hundred in IPL so far.
Rahul played a well-controlled innings on a sluggish track to finish with an unbeaten 103 off 62 deliveries. He reached the three-figure mark off 61 balls in the final over of the innings, hitting 12 fours and four sixes.
The 30-year-old from Karnataka waged a lone battle, struggling for help from the other end as the other batters came in and went out in a procession. Manish Pandey was the second-highest scorer with 22 runs for LSG.
Asked to bat first by Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, Lucknow Super Giants could manage only 32/1 in the power-play as they got off to a slow start.
Quinton de Kock was the first to go, caught by skipper Rohit Sharma, driving at a low full toss and mistiming it. He had survived a chance on the previous delivery as Tilak Varma guided the ball over the rope while attempting a catch. That was the lone boundary for the South African opener as he departed for 10 with the score 27/1.
Rahul and Manish Pandey raised 58 runs for the second wicket, the only substantial partnership of the innings. Pandey, who lofted an overpitched delivery by Riley Meredith over long-on for his lone six, was caught by Meredith off Poland as he top-edged to short fine leg after a run-a-ball 22.
Rahul soldiered on from the other end. He started on a sedate note and struck his first boundary, hitting Hrithik Shokeen for a four down the ground. He hammered Daniel Sams for fours off successive deliveries in the third over — a scythe over the covers being the eye-catchy one, completing his half-century off 37 balls.
Rahul deposited a slower one from Jaydev Unadkat in leg-side stands, pulling the from outside off in the ninth over. In the next over, he blasted a short one from Meredith to the mid-wicket boundary for a four and followed it up by forcing it past the sweeper cover on the next delivery.
In the 18th over, Rahul hammered Undadkat for three successive fours — the one over the bowler’s head off an attempted yorker the standout shot of the three boundaries.
He reached his century with a six-over midwicket off Meredith and guided LSG to a defendable total. His only other notable partnership in this innings was of 46 runs for the sixth wicket with Ayush Badoni (14).
For Mumbai Indians, winless in seven matches so far in IPL 2022, Riley Meredith (2/40) and Kieron Pollard (2/8) were the most successful bowlers.
Brief scores: Lucknow Super Giants 168/6 in 20 overs (K.L Rahul 103 not out, Manish Pandey 22; Kieron Pollard 2/8, Riley Meredith 2/40) against Mumbai Indians.
More records
A week is a long time in sports, they say. But for Lucknow Super Giants skipper K.L Rahul, things remain the same in a week as he struck his second successive century against Mumbai Indians to help his team post a fighting total in Match 37 of IPL 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium here.
On April 16, Rahul stroked a 60-ball 103 at the Brabourne Stadium to help Lucknow Super Giants beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs. A week hence, on Sunday Rahul scored an unbeaten 103 off 62 deliveries at the Wankhede Stadium to help LSG reach 168/6 in 20 overs.
In the process, Rahul batter after Jos Buttler of Rajasthan Royals to score two centuries in IPL 2022. He is the third Indian after Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan to score multiple centuries in the same IPL season. Kohli blazed away to four centuries in the 2016 edition while Shikhar Dhawan struck two centuries in 2020.
This was KL Rahul’s fourth century in IPL and he joins David Warner, Shane Watson, and Jos Buttler in the list for most centuries in IPL. Chris Gayle leads with six tons while Virat Kohli is second with five. AB de Villiers and Sanju Samson have scored three centuries each.
The 30-year-old Rahul joined Rohit Sharma as the batter with most centuries in T20 cricket (IPL and international combine). Both have six centuries and are followed by Virat Kohli with five and Suresh Raina at 4. Rahul and Kohli are the only batsmen to score two tons against the same side in one IPL edition — Kohli did it against Gujarat Lions in 2016 while Rahul did it against Mumbai Indians in 2022.
With many more matches to come, the in-form Rahul is likely to make more records in IPL 2022.
He said in May his account gained 6,40,000 followers but since August it has fallen to zero…reports Asian Lite News
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi will begin his campaign in Punjab for the upcoming Assembly elections on Thursday by paying a visit to Golden Temple in Amritsar, a party source said on Wednesday.
As per the schedule, the Congress leader will pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib and take part in Langar along with 117 other party candidates.
He would later visit Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar.
The Congress leader is also scheduled to visit Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal along with the candidates and pay obeisance there after which he would address the “Navi Soch Nava Punjab” virtual rally at Mithapur in Jalandhar.
Punjab will go to the polls for the 117 assembly seats on February 20.
Rahul writes to Twitter
Rahul Gandhi has written to Twitter questioning its policy on suppressing his reach to his followers and not curbing hate speeches in the country.
The letter written on December 27 says, “It is perplexing that growth in my Twitter follower has suddenly been suppressed, with nearly 20 million followers on my Twitter account very active adding 8 to 10 thousand followers daily.”
He said in May his account gained 6,40,000 followers but since August it has fallen to zero.
“I have been albeit discreetly informed by people of Twitter India that they are under immense pressure by the government to silence my voice,” he wrote.
हर बार की तरह आज भी दरबार साहिब में सर झुकाकर अच्छा लगा, अपनापन महसूस हुआ।
Rahul said to twitter, “you have enormous responsibility that twitter does not actively help in the growth of authoritarianism in India as the world is watching.”
He also mentioned how his account was blocked but Twitter at that time had said that following the complaint by the NCPCR, Gandhi’s Twitter account was temporarily suspended and the party, from his official handle, tweeted that due process was being followed for its restoration.
Punjab: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visits the Golden Temple in Amritsar. CM Charanjit Singh Channi and the party's state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu also accompanying him. pic.twitter.com/IQouusbqLt
Rahul Gandhi, who joined Twitter in April 2015 and has 19.6 million followers on the social media platform, is expected to stay connected via other social media platforms.
Dravid will take over from Ravi Shastri, whose tenure comes to an end after the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup….reports Asian Lite News
Former India captain Rahul Dravid has been appointed as the head coach of the senior Indian men’s cricket team, said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday. Dravid will take charge from the upcoming home series against New Zealand, starting with the T20Is from November 17.
“It is an absolute honour to be appointed as the new Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team and I am really looking forward to this role. Under Mr Shastri, the team has done very well, and I hope to work with the team to take this forward. Having worked closely with most of the boys either at NCA, U19 and India A setup, I know they have the passion and desire to improve every day. There are some marquee multi-team events in the next two years, and I look forward to working with the players and the support staff to achieve our potential,” said Dravid in a statement.
Dravid will take over from Ravi Shastri, whose tenure comes to an end after the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The decision to appoint Dravid was taken by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising of former India wicketkeeper Sulakshana Naik and former India pacer RP Singh.
“The BCCI welcomes Rahul Dravid as the Head Coach of India’s senior men’s team. Rahul has had an illustrious playing career and is one of the greats of the game. He has also served Indian cricket as Head of National Cricket Academy (NCA) with distinction. Rahul’s effort at the NCA has nurtured several young cricketing talents who have gone on to represent the country at the international stage. I am hopeful that his new stint will take Indian cricket to new heights,” said BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly.
Once Dravid’s name came into the reckoning, he was seen as the overwhelming favourite for the top job. After he applied for the job formally after the BCCI invited applications from October 26, his appointment was seen as a foregone conclusion. Dravid’s appointment as the head coach of the Indian men’s team also means that the BCCI will need to appoint a new head for the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, which was being headed by Dravid.
“There is no better person than Rahul Dravid and I am delighted to see him being appointed as the Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team. With two World Cups scheduled to take place in the next two years, it is important to have a seamless transition, and the former India captain is the right man for the job. Having provided the much-needed direction to NCA and overseen the progression of the boys at India U-19 and India A level, we believe this is also a natural progression for him as a coach. I have no doubt that under him, the Indian team will dominate in all formats. The Board will soon make appointments of other coaching staff, who will support the Head Coach in jointly achieving our targets,” said BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
The entire route from Sitapur to Lakhimpur Kheri was heavily barricaded. The Lakhimpur district administration allowed only seven vehicles in the convoy to enter the district…reports Asian Lite News.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday finally managed to meet the families of the farmers who were killed in Sunday’s violence at Tikunia village in Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders met the family of deceased farmer Lovepreet at the Chaukhada farm in Palia at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
They later met the family of journalist Raman Kashyap, who was also killed in violence.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda accompanied the Gandhi siblings during their meetings with the farmers’ families.
The entire route from Sitapur to Lakhimpur Kheri was heavily barricaded. The Lakhimpur district administration allowed only seven vehicles in the convoy to enter the district.
Former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot and Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam, however, were not so lucky as they were detained in Moradabad while they were on their way to Lakhimpur by car.
Earlier in the day, AAP MP Sanjay Singh also went to Lakhimpur to meet the bereaved families.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and BSP General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra will be visiting Lakhimpur on Thursday.
UP appoints judicial panel
The Uttar Pradesh government has deputed Pradeep Kumar Srivastava, a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court, to probe the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which nine persons lost their lives.
The judicial commission will have its office in Lakhimpur Kheri and it is required to submit its report within two months.
On October 4, the state government had announced that it would appoint a retired high court judge to ensure an impartial probe into the violence in which Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni’s son Ashish is an accused.
MVA calls for bandh on Oct 11
In a significant development, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress have called for ‘Maharashtra Bandh’ on Monday (October 11) to protest against the killing of eight persons, including four farmers, in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh on October 3.
In another rare gesture, the state Cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, observed two minutes’ silence and passed a unanimous resolution condoling the farmers’ deaths, expressing its anguish over the incident.
The MVA strongly condemned the Lakhimpur Kheri development and accused the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh for the “oppression and misuse of power”, and expressed the state government’s support for the farmers’ agitation.
Senior MVA ministers like Eknath Shinde (SS), Jayant Patil (NCP) and Balasaheb Thorat (Congress) briefed the media on the proposed ‘Maharashtra Bandh’, and said that all essential services will be kept out of its purview.
Earlier, NCP President Sharad Pawar had warned that the BJP would have to pay “a heavy price” for the brutal attack on farmers, and reiterated that the country’s entire opposition is with the peasantry.
“The responsibility for this lies with the BJP governments at the Centre and in UP. A similar situation was created in Jallianwala Bagh, we are witnessing the same scenario in UP now. The people will show them their place,” said Pawar.
Calling for united action by the three allies, Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that the “Lakhimpur Kheri violence has shaken the nation”.
शहीद लवप्रीत के परिवार से मिलकर दुख बाँटा लेकिन जब तक न्याय नहीं मिलेगा, तब तक ये सत्याग्रह चलता रहेगा।
He said a senior Congress leader has been illegally arrested by the UP government and other opposition leaders are barred from meeting the farmers or their families.
Flaying the BJP for the farmers’ deaths, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said that the UP and Central governments are “scared” of the Gandhi siblings.
He demanded the dismissal of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in UP for the deaths of eight persons, including four farmers.
Video shows minister’s vehicle mowing down farmers
Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni’s claim that his vehicle was attacked by miscreants before the driver lost control and mowed down farmers, stands “exposed” after a cleaner, longer clip of the viral video from Lakhimpur Kheri reveals what happened on Sunday before the violent clashes.
The viral video clip shows a black SUV – which belongs to the union minister according to his own admission – ploughing into an unarmed group of protesters at great speed.
Stop lying Ajay Mishra! Here is uncut video. Nobody hit your cars. There was no accident. The convoy just ploughed through crowd at full speed.
There are no signs of any attack on the Mahindra Thar vehicle. It shows no stones or sticks being thrown at the car or that the driver lost control resulting in the death of at least four farmers and injuries to many more.
In this video, the driver seems to holding on to the steering wheel firmly and driving at great speed into a group of farmers marching in front of the SUV, with their backs to it.
According to witnesses, it was after this incident, that an enraged mob attacked the cars, set them on fire and four people in the convoy were beaten to death.
A lower resolution, slowed-down version of the same video was earlier shared by a series of opposition leaders as proof that the blame for the Sunday’s clashes lay on the convoy of minister’s aides and BJP workers.
It may be recalled that farmers had gathered to protest against the visit of union home affairs minister Ajay Mishra and the state’s deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya at a wrestling match.
Farmer groups have been claiming that Mishra’s son had been in a car when the vehicle ran over four protesters, killing them. He has denied this charge.
The new video emerged on a day when the Supreme Court announced it was taking up the case as media reports and a letter from two lawyers to Chief Justice N.V. Ramana cast doubts on the Uttar Pradesh police investigation into the incident.
Four days after a murder case was filed against him, the minister’s son Ashish Mishra is yet to be arrested and government sources have ruled out the minister Ajay Mishra’s resignation, following a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday.
Congress leader P. Chidambaram wished him speedy recovery: “Learned that Mr Rahul Gandhi has tested positive and has isolated himself. Deeply concerned. I wish him a full and speedy recovery.”…reports Asian Lite News.
Following the news regarding former PM Manmohan Sigh tested positive for novel corona virus, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday tested positive for Covid-19.
After experiencing mild symptoms, I’ve just tested positive for COVID.
All those who’ve been in contact with me recently, please follow all safety protocols and stay safe.
He shared this information on social media and asked people to follow Covid guidelines.
He tweeted, “After experiencing mild symptoms, I’ve just tested positive for COVID. All those who’ve been in contact with me recently, please follow all safety protocols and stay safe”.
Congress leader P. Chidambaram wished him speedy recovery: “Learned that Mr Rahul Gandhi has tested positive and has isolated himself. Deeply concerned. I wish him a full and speedy recovery.”
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi demanded that the government should transfer money into the accounts of the migrants who are compelled to go back home due to the lockdown and pandemic.
ANI
He tweeted in Hindi, “Migrants are again moving back, so this is the responsibility of the Union government to transfer money to their accounts. Will the government, which is blaming the public for the spread of the Covid, take such a public supportive step.”
प्रवासी एक बार फिर पलायन कर रहे हैं। ऐसे में केंद्र सरकार की ज़िम्मेदारी है कि उनके बैंक खातों में रुपय डाले।
लेकिन कोरोना फैलाने के लिए जनता को दोष देने वाली सरकार क्या ऐसा जन सहायक क़दम उठाएगी?#Lockdown
The Congress has questioned the government over the handling of the Covid pandemic. “Where has the money of Covid tax and the PM-CARES fund gone?” asked Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished good health and speedy recovery of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.
I pray for the good health and quick recovery of Lok Sabha MP Shri @RahulGandhi Ji.
Gandhi, in previous election rallies in Assam, had alleged that the “Nagpur Army” was controlling the nation, drawing criticism from several BJP leaders including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari….reports Asian Lite News
Keeping up his attack on the RSS and the BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday reiterated that Assam would not be governed from Nagpur and Delhi as only Assam’s people are entitled to run the state.
Gandhi, in previous election rallies in Assam, had alleged that the “Nagpur Army” was controlling the nation, drawing criticism from several BJP leaders including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
“The BJP-led Central government has already ruined the Indian economy and distressed the people across the country by introducing GST (Goods and Services Tax) and demonetisation, and now it is trying to further dent the rural economy by trying to introduce the three farm laws,” Gandhi said while addressing election rallies in Kamrup and Nalbari districts.
He claimed that there was maximum unemployment in Assam and the “Notebandi” (demonetisation) and the GST led to further deterioration in the scope for employment while the government is giving huge economic relief to the billionaires.
He alleged that the BJP government has been giving the country’s valuable assets like airports, tea gardens and the oil fields to their friends.
“In each state, the BJP ‘aag lagati hai’ (spreads hatred)…. Their only aim to take away your assets to give them to their own men,” he said, asserting that Assam’s resources and wealth must be utilised for the benefit of the Assamese.
MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari
For the Assam Assembly elections, the Congress, which was in power in the state for 15 years (2001-2016), has given “five guarantees” to be fulfilled if the party came to power.
These include five lakh government jobs to youths in five years, upto 200 units of free electricity per household, Rs 365 daily wage to tea garden workers and Rs 2,000 per month to housewives besides a guarantee not to implement the CAA in the state.
Gandhi said that these guarantees were finalised after taking the opinions from various sections of people including tea garden workers, youths and women.
“I haven’t come here to lie or to give you the false promises. My name is not Narendra Modi. If you wish Modi’s lies about farmers, about unemployment or any other issue, watch the television. Modi lies for the Indians for 24 hours. If you want to listen to the truth, please hear me,” he claimed.
Saying that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act would not be implemented at any cost, the Congress leader said that when the youths in Assam protested against the act, police of the BJP government fired and killed them.
Gandhi was supposed to campaign in Assam on Tuesday but could not reach the state due to bad weather and instead released a video appealing the voters to exercise their franchise in favour of the 10-party ‘Mahajot’ (Grand Alliance), led by the Congress.
