Punjab Congress faces fresh rift as Randhawa challenges Warring’s ‘one family, one ticket’ rule
NEW DELHI: Fresh differences emerged in the Punjab Congress on Sunday after MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa challenged state unit chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring’s ‘one family, one ticket’ stance ahead of upcoming assembly elections. Speaking at an event attended by former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Randhawa said families could get up to four tickets if their members were capable of winning. “Some say I will not give two tickets (to a family). But those (in a family) who have the capability to win will not only get two but four tickets and ensure Congress’ victory,” Randhawa said. Randhawa also stressed that the Congress could not return to power by ignoring its workers. “We have nurtured the Congress with our blood and sweat. If the Congress is standing strong in the state today, it is because of the contribution of every worker, not any one individual,” he said. His remarks are being seen as a counter to Warring, who has advocated the ‘one family, one ticket’ policy. Warring had said that only one member of a family would get a ticket to contest the elections. “Big leaders say I will contest from here and my son will contest from there. If Raja Warring stays, one family will get only one ticket, not two. Rahul Gandhi will give tickets, and I will only recommend,” Warring had said. On Saturday, Warring also shared an old video of Rahul Gandhi on Facebook in which the former Congress president said, “One person per family should get a ticket.” “I will always follow my leader and stand by him,” Warring said. Meanwhile, BJP leader and former Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu took a dig at the Congress over the issue, saying the party’s high command itself does not follow the one-family-one-ticket policy. Bittu claimed that the Gandhi family had not followed the Congress’ 2022 Udaipur declaration of ‘one family, one ticket’. “Is this a new thing? Sonia Gandhi is a Rajya Sabha member, while her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are Lok Sabha members. What Randhawa Saab has said is completely right. When three members of the Gandhi family can sit in Parliament, why cannot a family get four tickets?” Bittu asked. The Punjab Congress has been grappling with factionalism despite repeated assertions by the party leadership that efforts are under way to strengthen organisational unity ahead of next year’s Assembly elections. On July 1, when the Congress leadership decided to retain Warring as Punjab Congress chief and appoint Channi as chairman of its campaign committee. A section of leaders led by Channi had opposed Warring’s continuation as state unit chief and sought his removal. Channi’s supporters want him to be projected as the party’s chief ministerial face ahead of the assembly polls. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘chhatron ki goonj’ rally in Pune will be exclusively for girls
NEW DELHI: As part of his “chhatron ki goonj” meetings targeting the youth, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi said the upcoming rally in Pune on Aug 22 will be exclusively for girls. The announcement came along with Rahul’s social media video post featuring an interaction with some Jantar Mantar protesters. Rahul said, “The courage with which India’s youngsters have stood firm against PM Modi’s violent regime, demanding accountability, is commendable.” He added, “I am proud of every single young person – especially the girls who faced the BJP goons’ misbehaviour, verbal abuse and violence, even being forced to apologise to the Prime Minister.” Announcing the Pune meeting, Rahul said, “But now their (girls’) voices cannot be silenced. On Aug 22, Chhatron ki goonj is arriving in Pune-and this time, the event will be exclusively for girls. Now the girls will speak, and the country will listen.” TNN Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jharkhand exam stir: Students burn Rahul, Soren effigies; plan CM’s residence gherao on Aug 20
RANCHI: The agitation by students over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations intensified on Sunday, as protesters burnt effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav here, accusing the JMM-Congress alliance of “failing to take concrete action” on their demands. The state government, meanwhile, extended an invitation in the evening to the protesters for a fresh round of talks on Monday. The stir, led by the ‘JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch’, entered its 23rd day on Sunday, with the students reiterating their demand for a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination. The agitators took out a torchlight procession from the protest site Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk, where they burnt the effigies. Effigies were also burnt in various other districts across the state. The students expressed disappointment over the ruling JMM-Congress alliance “failing to take tangible action” on their demands, and alleged that the government was playing politics over issues concerning the future of job aspirants. Amid the escalation, the Jharkhand government invited representatives of the protesting students for a fresh round of talks at 2 pm on Monday. The decision came following a meeting between the protesters and the Sub-Divisional Officer and Additional District Magistrate, Law and Order, at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. An official said the students have been invited to participate in the discussions along with their legal advisor. The ‘JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch’ accepted the government’s proposal for talks at the State Guest House, but said it would not relent on its demands. “We will definitely go for the talks as we want to resolve the issue through dialogue. We are firm on two of our demands – a CBI probe into irregularities in recruitment exams and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exams,” its leader Ravindra Paswan told reporters. The number of students who will be part of the delegation for the talks will be announced on Monday, he said. The proposed meeting will be the seventh round of talks between the government and the agitating students. The previous round, held on August 9, failed to yield any breakthrough. The agitators had on Saturday announced that they would gherao the chief minister’s residence on August 20, and appealed to students from across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the demonstration. “We seek the CM’s resignation, as both the JMM and the Congress have been playing politics with us,” Paswan alleged. The protesters have also demanded that the Congress withdraw its support from the JMM-led government if the chief minister fails to act on their concerns. The students’ body has been demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities, making the investigation report public and action against those found guilty. Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand assembly, Babulal Marandi, on Sunday urged Soren to accept the students’ demands and backed their call for a CBI investigation. “The students have been demanding a CBI probe into the irregularities, and I think the government should order it. Why does the government fear this?” Marandi said. He said continued government “inaction” could force more youth and students to take to the streets. On the proposed gherao of the CM’s residence, Marandi said the BJP would extend moral support to the students, who have been protesting “peacefully” for more than three weeks. The Congress has said its state unit would discuss the issue at a meeting on August 18. “Any attempt to harm the future of Jharkhand’s youth will not be tolerated,” state Congress media in-charge Rakesh Sinha said, adding that the party would raise the students’ concerns and push for transparency, impartiality and a time-bound recruitment process. The protesters have also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that although he had expressed support for students, no concrete action followed. Film and television actor Kunickaa Sadanand also visited the protest site at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium and met the students. She spoke to Sabita Kumari, one of the six protesters who have been on hunger strike for more than two weeks, and said the students had legitimate demands. The Jharkhand government has sought to reassure the job aspirants by announcing measures aimed at making the recruitment process more transparent and secure. In his Independence Day address, Soren said questions surrounding recruitment examinations had shaken the trust of an entire generation of job aspirants. He assured that allegations of irregularities would be investigated impartially, and that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found guilty, irrespective of influence or position. The measures outlined by the government include a time-bound annual examination calendar, technology-secured examinations, timely publication of answer keys and OMR sheets, and multi-level accountability in the recruitment process. The government has also launched a campaign to seek suggestions from students, teachers, educationists and parents on reforms in the examination system. The protesters, however, have maintained that they will not withdraw the agitation until the government addresses their demands, including cancellation of examinations in which alleged irregularities were found, and an independent probe into the recruitment process. PTI Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Jharkhand protest: Students to burn Soren and Rahul effigies, gherao CM’s residence August 20
Protesters said they will demand Soren’s resignation and urged Rahul Gandhi to withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the “CM is not listening” to him. Students protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations on Saturday accused the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress of playing politics with their issues, and announced they would gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence in Ranchi on August 20, demanding his resignation. The protesters said they would also burn effigies of the chief minister and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts of the state on Sunday, alleging that the ruling JMM-Congress alliance had “failed to take concrete action” on their demands. They also demanded that Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the “CM is not listening” to him. The protesters took out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ in Ranchi on Saturday to mark the country’s 80th Independence Day and to press their demand for greater transparency and reform of the recruitment examination system. The protest under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch entered its 22nd day, with thousands of students and job aspirants, including two wheelchair-bound demonstrators on fast, taking part in the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium — the site of the ongoing agitation — to Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi. Carrying national flags, the protesters raised slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”. “We will gherao the chief minister’s residence on August 20. We seek his resignation as both the JMM and the Congress are playing politics with us. We also demand that Rahul Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the CM is not listening to him,” JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said. The protesters said they would not withdraw the demonstration until the government addressed their demands, including cancellation of examinations in which alleged irregularities were found, and an independent probe into the recruitment process. The students’ platform has sought a CBI investigation, or an inquiry by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand, into the alleged exam irregularities. It has also demanded the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL test and certain Jharkhand PSC examinations it considers suspicious. The protesters appealed to students across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the proposed gherao of CM Soren’s residence on August 20, and said they would not withdraw their agitation until their demands were met. They also targeted Gandhi, saying he had expressed support for students but that “no concrete action” had followed. The students’ platform demanded that Congress withdraw support from the JMM-led government if it was unwilling to act on their concerns. “We demanded CM Hemant Soren’s resignation as the government failed to cancel JSSC-CGL and the JPSC examinations in which irregularities were found,” the student leader said. JLKM leader Devendra Mahto, who has been on a fast for 14 days, alleged that police had prevented him from leaving Sadar Hospital to take part in the march. Videos purportedly showing Mahto scuffling with security personnel while attempting to leave the hospital were widely circulated on social media. The protesters maintained that their movement was not limited to certain examinations but concerned the credibility of the entire recruitment system and the future of thousands of young job aspirants. “Independence doesn’t just mean freedom from the British, but also freedom from inequality of opportunities, corruption and injustice,” the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch said, urging young people to raise their voices peacefully for their rights. Former Jharkhand chief minister and BJP MLA Champai Soren accused the Hemant Soren government of running a “despotic government” and questioned its reluctance to recommend a CBI probe into the allegations. Speaking to journalists at Bhuiyandih in Jamshedpur, Champai Soren said hundreds of students away from their homes were compelled to remain at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium even on Independence Day. “If you are not a part of a job-selling racket, what is the problem in recommending a CBI probe?” he asked. The state government, however, sought to reassure job aspirants by announcing measures aimed at making the recruitment process more transparent and secure. In his Independence Day address, the chief minister said questions surrounding the recruitment examinations had shaken the trust of an entire generation of job aspirants. He assured students that investigations into the alleged irregularities would be conducted impartially and that anyone found guilty would face strict legal action, irrespective of influence or position. Soren also cautioned against declaring anyone guilty without evidence and said justice must be based on facts. He stressed that merely apprehending those responsible for the irregularities would not be enough, and called for systemic reforms to prevent manipulation of examinations in future. Among the measures outlined by the government are a time-bound annual examination calendar, technology-secured examinations, timely publication of answer keys and OMR sheets, and multi-level accountability in the recruitment process. The state government has also launched the “Students’ Voice with Students” campaign to seek suggestions from students, teachers, educationists and parents on reforms to the examination system. Soren said creating employment opportunities was among the government’s top priorities. He maintained that the objective was not merely to fill vacant government posts but also to create wider employment opportunities through recruitment agencies and other avenues. He described paper leaks as a national problem while stressing that Jharkhand had a responsibility to ensure fair and credible examinations. Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar also expressed concern over alleged examination malpractice, saying question-paper leaks undermine the morale and prospects of students who seek success through hard work and talent. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Nehru did a lot, but did not possess arrogance’: Kharge on Independence Day
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday invoked India’s freedom struggle and the legacy of its first generation of leaders, remembering Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru while highlighting the Congress’s contribution to the country’s nation-building journey. Remembering Nehru’s contribution to building modern India, Kharge on Independence Day said the former prime minister had laid the foundations of a democratic and secular nation and established institutions including IITs, IIMs and public sector undertakings. “Nehru ji laid the foundation of a modern, democratic and secular India. He established IITs, IIMs, PSUs. Nehru ji did a lot for the country, but he did not possess arrogance,” the Congress chief said. The Congress party head also recalled Mahtama Gandhi’s “Do or Die” call during the Quit India Movement, highlighting the role played by young Indians when senior leaders were jailed by the British. He said, “When Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan ‘Do or Die’ and all the senior leaders were in jail, it was the youth of the country who carried forward the ‘Quit India Movement’.” Kharge said the freedom struggle had envisioned more than independence from colonial rule, arguing that India’s freedom fighters had also dreamed of eliminating poverty, unemployment, untouchability, injustice and fear. “Our freedom fighters had not only dreamed of liberation from British rule, but also from poverty, unemployment, untouchability, injustice, and fear. Independence was not just a change of power, but a resolve to make every Indian’s life better. Every Prime Minister from the Congress has advanced this very vision,” veteran Congress leader added. ‘Someone speaking from Red Fort claims they have done everything’ Kharge also invoked the contributions of former prime ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi, crediting them with strengthening India’s agricultural, military and strategic capabilities. “Shastri ji strengthened the foundations of white and green revolution in the country. Indira ji strengthened India’s military and strategic capabilities, and also played a major role in creation of Bangladesh. We also integrated Sikkim with India. All these were done by Congress party leaders, but someone speaking from Red Fort claims that they have done everything. It’s a mercy they don’t claim that whatever remains of the world has survived because of them,” he said. Taking aim at what he described as the BJP-led government’s tendency to claim credit for past achievements, Kharge asserted that Congress had played the dominant role in India’s development. “The development you see in the country today is because of Congress. Congress has 90% contribution in development you witnessed in the country today. We improved people’s financial condition, not change names. But, these people just take credit. This will not go on for long,” Congress president said. Kharge backs protesting youth, attacks BJP-RSS Kharge also trained his guns on the government’s handling of youth grievances, saying young people were being denied opportunities and their protests were being met with hostility. Rajya Sabha MP said, “Today, the dreams of the youth are being trampled. The country’s youth are agitating, and we along with our leader of the opposition — are supporting them. The Constitution grants everyone the right to protest for their cause; they are not anti-nationals. Hate campaigns are launched against those who protest.” He added, “Our leader of the opposition declared years ago that we would not spread hate but instead spread a message of love. However, the BJP and RSS oppose this. They worked against the country even before independence and continue to do so today by dividing Hindus and Muslims. The current government is crushing the poor. We will continue to fight against the government.” Kharge’s remarks came on 80th Independence Day, which he celebrated alongside Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
BJP says Sonia objected to full Vande Mataram; Congress says she was seeking chair for Kharge
NEW DELHI: A political row erupted on Saturday over the rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram at the Congress’s Independence Day event, with the BJP accusing grand old party’s former chief Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the national song and the opposition party rejecting the allegation. The BJP shared video footage from the Congress’s event at Indira Bhawan and alleged that Sonia questioned party workers while Vande Mataram was being played. Congress, however, said there was no attempt to stop the full rendition and that Sonia was merely asking for a chair for party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had been standing for some time. BJP spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal, sharing the footage on X, accused the Congress of showing disrespect towards the national song. “The scene that has come to light today on Independence Day is utterly shameful.” He said, “Sonia Gandhi’s objection during the rendition of India’s national song, ‘Vande Mataram’, and her questioning of Congress workers as to why it was being played exposes the Congress party’s mindset.” Agarwal said Vande Mataram represented more than a patriotic song, calling it a symbol of India’s freedom struggle and national consciousness. “Is this the same Congress that lays claim to the legacy of the nation’s freedom struggle?” he asked. He also alleged that the Congress’s alleged approach towards the national song reflected the party’s “Emergency mindset”. “The people of the country have rejected this mindset and will continue to reject it,” he said. Congress rejects BJP’s allegation The Congress dismissed the BJP’s claim and maintained that the full version of Vande Mataram was sung at its Independence Day programme. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh cited the party’s historical association with the song and referred to a 1937 meeting of the Congress Working Committee in Calcutta, attended by several prominent leaders of the freedom movement. “On October 28, 1937, in Calcutta, a meeting of the Congress Working Committee was held in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Govind Ballabh Pant and C Rajagopalachari, and on the advice of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, they decided that the initial stanzas of Vande Mataram would be sung at the Congress sessions,” Ramesh said. Ramesh said Tagore had advised Nehru and Bose that the opening portions of the song should be used at Congress gatherings. “Tagore gave the advice to Nehru and Bose that the first few paragraphs of Vande Mataram should be used, he said. “We have been singing those lines in every session since them, our Seva Dal sings it, our workers sing it, there is no controversy over that,” Ramesh said.” He stressed that the complete version was sung at Saturday’s event and said the issue had already been debated extensively in Parliament. “This was discussed in Parliament for 16 hours. We put forward our views. I narrated the whole history around it which the prime minister and the home minister did not know. I informed MPs of the context in which the Vande Mataram decision was taken,” Ramesh said. “But today, at Indira Bhawan, the full version was sung, there is no question of a controversy over it,” he added. Asked specifically about the BJP’s allegation that Sonia had tried to stop the full rendition, Ramesh offered a different explanation for what was seen in the video. “As the Congress president was standing for a long time, Soniaji was asking for a chair for him,” he said. BJP escalates attack BJP spokesperson R P Singh also targeted Sonia over the controversy, questioning her alleged opposition to the national song. “Why does Antonio Maino Ji hate Vande Mataram so much? When Vande Mataram was being sung, Antonio Maino Ji reportedly became so angry that she allegedly got agitated and asked her party workers to stop it. Why such hatred for Vande Mataram The row over Vande Mataram comes shortly after Parliament passed legislation dealing with disrespect towards the national song. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Lok Sabha through a voice vote on July 30, a day after the Rajya Sabha cleared it. The legislation grants Vande Mataram a status on par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi to take ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ to Pune on August 22, focus on women’s issues
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that the next edition of “Chhatron ki Goonj” event, highlighting student issues, will be held in Pune on August 22. Rahul launched the campaign from Kota, a coaching hub in Rajasthan, on June 17 to highlight issues in the education sector and problems faced by students. He addressed the second and third segments of the outreach programme in Dehradun and Prayagraj on July 17 and August 8, respectively. “The fourth segment of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (voice of students) will be held in Pune on August 22 in the presence of Rahul Gandhi, who will address issues which are women-centric,” MPCC president Harshwardhan Sapkal said. Rahul urged students to join the “Chhatron ki Goonj” campaign and said that what the girls of the country needed was equality, safety and opportunities, but instead, they got insecurity, discrimination, and a long wait for their real rights. “What do the girls of the country need? Equality, safety, opportunities, and the freedom to speak their minds. What have they received? Insecurity, discrimination, and nothing but waiting for their real rights. No more,” he said. During the ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ event in Prayagraj last week, Rahul described India’s youth as the country’s biggest strength, but said a lack of jobs, expensive education, paper leaks, poor access to credit and the growing use of AI were holding them back. “You are the power and pride of India; when I say this, I talk about every Indian citizen,” he had said. He said he wanted to speak about “dard (pain), data, and daulat (wealth)”, framing his address around the problems facing young Indians and the economic resources he believes should belong to them. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi to visit Pune on Aug 22
Pune: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Pune on Aug 22 to participate in ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ initiative by the Congress. Announcing Rahul’s visit to Pune, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Friday said Gandhi will interact with students during his visit. “Before Pune, Rahul participated in ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ initiative in Kota, Dehradun and Prayagraj cities where he spoke to the students to understand their issues. In a similar manner, he will interact with girl students in Pune to understand the challenges being faced by them in regards with the education system,” Sapkal said. Rahul’s interaction with the younger generation in Pune will take place against the backdrop of the recent Cockroach Janata Party’s protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi where he and other opposition members raised the issue of violence against the protesters. During his visit to Pune, the Congress leader is expected to target the centre on the recent NEET paper leak issue. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi to visit Amritsar this month in a likely effort to quell infighting, fissures in Punjab unit
During the party’s ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign, the grand old party found itself firefighting internal power struggles and fissures as public clashes erupted between rival factions. CHANDIGARH: Amid efforts to end the factionalism in the Punjab Congress ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Amritsar by this month-end. The reason behind the visit is the internal power struggles and fissures between the state leadership and the recent clashes between supporters of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, state Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, besides AICC General Secretary and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel’s visit to the State leaving behing no breakthrough. Party sources said that the schedule of Rahul Gandhi’s visit is being worked out as the State unit leaders are planning to hold a ‘unity bus yatra’ during his visit, as he is expected to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and other religious places in Amritsar. The visit of Rahul coincides with final efforts by the party high command to end infighting in the state Congress. Sources added that it is expected that during his visit, Rahul will give a message of unity to the state leadership, as the high command has already said the dissenting leaders that it will not act under pressure and will take a decision that is in sync with the ground reality. Thus, a few important decisions to achieve unity are expected in the coming days. On August 12, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa met Rahul Gandhi outside Parliament House in Delhi in the presence of Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and discussed the situation in the state unit ahead of the assembly elections. A day before, a dinner meeting was held at the Delhi residence of Gurdaspur MP and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, which was attended by Jalandhar MP and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, Bajwa, and MLAs Rana Gurjit Singh and Pargat Singh. During the meeting, it was felt that MPs and senior leaders should approach the high command and brief the central leadership about the latest developments, as these leaders had asked Bajwa to get them time from Rahul for the meeting, as they have approached him but have not been given time so far. On August 7, 15 Punjab Congress MLAs wrote to the high command seeking appointments with KC Venugopal and Rahul Gandhi to discuss ‘pressing’ issues. Earlier, during the nine-day organisational tour of AICC General Secretary and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel from July 31 to August 8, the party’s ‘Har booth, Congress Mazboot’ camping, which covered around 18 districts and an earlier five-day exercise by Baghel in July at Chandigarh, which had been intended to address much the same problem, had produced little breakthrough. During the party’s ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign, the grand old party found itself firefighting internal power struggles and fissures as public clashes erupted between rival factions, with supporters of former Chief Minister Channi raising slogans in his favour and verbal clashes breaking out between supporters of Channi and Warring at several meetings. “Go back Baghel” posters also surfaced in Muktsar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Bathinda and other places. The infighting came to the fore when the Congress leadership, on July 1, announced its decision to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as state unit chief and appointed former Chief Minister Channi as chairperson of its campaign committee. Channi’s supporters have been demanding that he be declared the party’s chief ministerial face for the 2027 Assembly elections. Harpreet Bajwa Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘China stopped our army from patrolling several places in Arunachal’: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that China had stopped Indian Army patrols at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh and called the development a matter of concern. “China has stopped our army from patrolling in several places in Arunachal Pradesh – this is extremely alarming,” Rahul said in a post on X. He also questioned the silence of defence minister Rajnath Singh, home minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. “But even more alarming is the silence emanating from Rajnath Singh ji, Amit Shah ji, and Narendra Modi ji. Instead of stopping China, the Modi government is putting pressure on the media to suppress this news,” he added. — RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi) Rahul referred to the Prime Minister’s statement following the Galwan clash that China had not taken any Indian territory, alleging that the government continues to protect the PM’s image instead of addressing the issue of national security. “The country still remembers that statement by the Prime Minister after Galwan, in which he caused immense damage to India by saying that China has not taken even an inch of our land. Even today, the same operation to save his image continues – and a Prime Minister who prioritizes his fake image over the country’s security is extremely dangerous for the nation,” he added. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also questioned the Centre over reports of China expanding its presence in areas of Arunachal Pradesh and sought answers on Indian access to patrolling points and traditional grazing and hunting grounds. “After Galwan, now Arunachal Pradesh? Disturbing reports suggest that China is attempting to push further into areas in Arunachal Pradesh, an inalienable part of our nation. This demands immediate answers from the Modi Govt,” Kharge said in a post on X. — kharge (@kharge) This comes after the ministry of external affairs (MEA) reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an “inalienable and integral part of India” in response to China’s recent “objection” to the renaming of places in the state. “Let me reiterate this once again that Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable and integral part of India and this is a fact that is self-evident. At the same time, let me also underline that nothing can change this indisputable reality,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.India officially identified 27 locations in Arunachal by their standard names on the survey of India map, countering China’s repeated attempts to assign Chinese names to places in the state. Earlier, it was reported that there was no “slow encroachment” by China into Arunachal Pradesh. “There is no slow encroachment in Arunachal Pradesh by China as alleged,” a source was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. “Due to undemarcated border at times the patrols face off each other, this is resolved through existing mechanisms and protocols in vogue. The Army and ITBP are geared up to dominate the border, monitor and check Chinese activities. Sensational claims like this without going into specifics are attention-seeking ploys,” the report said citing sources. They said China has historically laid claim to Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as “South Tibet”. During the 1960 border talks, Beijing had claimed around 69,000 sq km of territory in the state. ”China has claims on Arunachal as South Tibet, articulated in 1960 border talks, wherein they claimed approx 69,000 sq km of the state territory. In 1959 China attacked the Assam Rifles outpost at Longju and captured it. The area has since been in adverse possession and is frequently in news due to infra development done in this area by China,” they said. “During 1962 India-China War, major Chinese operations were launched in Kameng, Subansiri, Siyom, Siang and Lohit valleys. However, after ceasefire the PLA went back North of the LAC. Arunachal Pradesh shares a large border with Tibet along Great Himalayan range. Concerted infra push in recent years has enabled enhanced ptlg and surveillance of the area,” they added. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights