Rahul Gandhi too likely to meet families of drug victims
Encouraged by what it sees as the success of its five-day campaign highlighting public safety concerns amid rising gangster-related violence and extortion, the Punjab Congress is now turning its attention to the state’s drug crisis. The party is drawing up a detailed outreach programme that could see Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi criss-cross Punjab to meet families affected by drug abuse. While Rahul’s dates have not been finalised, senior party leaders said the proposed visit could coincide with the next phase of the Congress campaign targeting both the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led Centre over their handling of the drug menace. Party insiders said apart from gangster-related violence, the widespread abuse of synthetic drugs had emerged as a major public concern in feedback gathered through surveys conducted by the party high command across the state. Over the past week, AICC general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot and PPCC chief Pargat Singh met the families of nearly 22 victims of gangster-related violence. A report on the feedback gathered during the campaign is being sent to the party high command. The Congress is now looking to extend its outreach to families who have lost their loved ones to drug abuse, seeking to bring the issue to the centre of Punjab’s political discourse. The move is aimed at highlighting the human cost of the drug menace while questioning the state government’s response to the crisis. Meanwhile, PPCC chief Pargat Singh has questioned Union Home Minster Amit Shah over the growing drug trade across the country, the illegal sale of pharmaceutical drugs and the destruction of the younger generation due to substance abuse. Article_Author Rajmeet Singh Courtesy : The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
I believe in Shiva-Shakti… Rahul Gandhi attacks RSS on Vijayadashami, raises questions about women’s rights and the Constitution
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the RSS on the occasion of Vijayadashami, calling it a male-dominated and anti-constitutional organization. He alleged that the RSS considers women to be the property of men. New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has once again targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Rahul Gandhi has described the RSS as a male-dominated and anti-constitutional organization. In a post on the social media platform, Rahul Gandhi wrote that the RSS is a male-dominated, anti-constitutional organization that believes women are the property of men. He said that I believe in Shiva-Shakti, which is why I enjoy fighting them so much. The most beautiful thing is that many women from their organization are with me. The Leader of the Opposition also wished the countrymen a happy Vijayadashami. In his post, he wrote, “Heartiest wishes to all of you on Vijayadashami. May this festival, which marks the victory of truth and justice over arrogance, injustice, and oppression, bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to your lives.” Earlier, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal raised questions about Rahul Gandhi’s Vietnam trip. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi often spends most of his time traveling abroad. He comes to India, creates controversy over an issue, and then leaves again. Demand for Public Disclosure of Expenses and Meetings for Foreign Travel Praveen Khandelwal stated that the public lacks clear information about the purpose of Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trips and the meetings he attends. He demanded that Rahul Gandhi make public the details of his foreign trips over the past two to three years. He also asked who Rahul Gandhi meets during these trips and who pays for his expenses. Khandelwal’s Question on Rahul Gandhi’s Foreign Travels He stated that Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a public figure. Therefore, the public has the right to know the purpose and expenses of his foreign trips. Reacting to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s statements, Khandelwal said he felt Kharge hadn’t sufficiently examined the Congress party’s history before making his allegations. The actions Kharge is blaming others for are actions Congress itself has already committed during its tenure. Edited by: Ashok Upadhyay About the Author Ashok Upadhyay is a senior digital content producer at Navbharat Times Online. He has 10 years of experience in journalism. He began his journalism career with the Navbharat Times Hindi newspaper in 2014. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Doing a real disservice’: Annamalai backs CJP leaders, questions their continued custody
NEW DELHI: Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Tuesday expressed Cockroach Janata Party and questioned Delhi Police’s handling of the case against its leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. While talking to reporters, Annamalai said that continued judicial custody of CJP leaders raises concerns about the rule of law. “I’m a little bit concerned in our country. I have a feeling they (Delhi Police) have taken the law into their hands, and the judge gets recused… I may not agree with many of the CJP’s modes of protest. I may not agree with some of the antics of CJP. That’s a different argument. But I completely support CJP in terms of the questions they want to raise. “It is for the government to answer. But to arrest them for a violation and again to drag them in terms of how they spend their time in jail, that is only going to make the leaders of CJP stronger. I’m afraid of saying that the Delhi police are doing a real disservice,” he added. He also said that Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi has every right to question the SIR process, but institutional damage should not be caused. “Rahul Gandhi has every right to question the SIR process, but institutional damage should not be caused,” he further said. Earlier on Monday, a Delhi court extended the CJP leaders’ judicial custody by two days for allegedly entering Jantar Mantar, which is no longer a designated protest venue, and obstructing police personnel on duty. Along with other CJP workers, they waved the national flag at the site and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar before being detained and placed under preventive custody. According to their lawyer, their bail sureties were rejected due to a reported mismatch in documents. They will now be produced before the court on Wednesday. Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and praised Das and Ranka for remaining defiant despite spending five days in judicial custody. “You must be feeling very strong keeping a 26-year-old Saurav Das in jail. You must be feeling very strong beating children on the streets. You must be feeling very strong putting up barricades across Delhi and dragging students on the streets,” he said. Dipke claimed that Das and Ranka had gone to Jantar Mantar to wave the national flag but were sent to judicial custody. He also alleged that their court hearings had been repeatedly postponed. “Is this strength? Hiding behind the police, hiding behind the courts, is this Narendra Modi’s strength?” he asked. 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
‘Silent revolution’ sweeping India under Rahul Gandhi: Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy
The programme has been held annually since 1990 to commemorate former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s message of communal harmony and national integration. HYDERABAD: A “silent revolution” is sweeping the country under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, with people increasingly seeking an alternative to the BJP, said Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday. Addressing the annual Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Yatra Commemoration Day and Rajiv Sadbhavana Award function at the historic Charminar, he said growing public support for Rahul Gandhi and the Congress reflected a wider desire for political change at the national level. The programme has been held annually since 1990 to commemorate former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s message of communal harmony and national integration. Uttam said Rahul Gandhi had provided effective leadership to the Congress through challenging as well as favourable political circumstances. He urged ministers, MPs, MLCs and MLAs to give greater priority to key party programmes and maintain close coordination between the government and the organisation. He also called for greater recognition of grassroots workers who had endured years of hardship under the previous BRS regime, saying their perseverance and sacrifices had played a crucial role in the Congress returning to power in Telangana. Recalling Rajiv Gandhi’s association with Hyderabad through the Sadbhavana Yatra, he congratulated former PCC president V Hanumantha Rao and the Rajiv Sadbhavana Award Committee for sustaining the tradition for more than three decades. He said he had regularly attended the programme irrespective of the position he held. AICC secretary in charge of Telangana Sachin M Sawant said Rajiv Gandhi’s vision of a modern, self-reliant India rested on unity, mutual respect and placing national interest above political considerations. 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
Manipur violence: Protesters place bodies outside CM’s bungalow after militant attack
NEW DELHI: Protesters on Monday placed the bodies of two persons outside Manipur chief minister Y Khemchand Singh’s bungalow in Imphal after they were killed by suspected militants near the border of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts.Angry locals brought the bodies to Imphal to protest the violence that has plagued the state since May 2023. They placed the bodies outside the main gate of the chief minister’s residence in Babupara. It was not immediately known whether the CM was present at the residence during the protest. Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, following which the bodies were taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS). One of the injured, identified as Ksh Deven, was stated to be in serious condition, officials said. According to police officials, four others were also injured after suspected militants opened fire on a group of firewood collectors. Three persons are still missing following the incident, which took place at Khongbal Sunurok Uyok in Kangpokpi, a few metres from Nongshum village in Imphal East, they said. The deceased were identified as Arubam Ronil (35) and Lairenlakpam Inaobi (51). They were among 16 people who had gone to the hills near their village around 7 am to collect firewood when they were ambushed, officials said. Earlier on Sunday, at least 15 houses belonging to the Kuki community were torched in a hill village in Manipur’s Kamjong district, forcing several civilians to flee to forest areas and a nearby Army camp. According to news agency PTI, a Kuki civilian was killed and four others sustained bullet injuries when suspected militants attacked the village. In a separate incident at Kamjong district headquarters on Saturday night, three Tangkhul Naga civilians sustained bullet injuries when rival armed groups belonging to another community attacked the village. 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
Congress files complaint over poster portraying Rahul Gandhi as Ravan
Lucknow: Congress has lodged a police complaint in Lucknow against an objectionable poster targeting Rahul Gandhi. The party has demanded legal action against those behind the poster. The posters titled “Sanatan Bharat Ke Virodhi Ravan” surfaced at prominent locations in Lucknow ahead of Dussehra. The posters depict Rahul Gandhi and many politicians as Ravan, with their faces portrayed as the demon king’s ten heads. The posters were reportedly attributed to Sanatan Raksha Sangathan and also featured Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Congress has lodged a complaint at Khala bazaar police station against an objectionable poster targeting party leader Rahul Gandhi, seeking legal action against those responsible. Asif Rinku, chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Law and Human Rights Department, Shailendra Tiwari and Tauheed Ahmad Nazmi, along with other advocates, lodged a complaint at the Bazaar Khala police station on Monday. Congress said political opposition could not be used as a pretext for acts that violate democratic values and the dignity of political leaders. Reiterating its commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law, the party said such incidents should be dealt with due legal process. 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 questions investment in Uttarakhand after investors’ summit, says it exists only on paper
Dehradun: Questioning “investment” in Uttarakhand after state govt’s much-publicised investors’ summit, LoP Rahul Gandhi while citing a media report, has termed it as a “big fraud” by the Dhami govt. He alleged that the “investments existed only on paper and employment in slogans, and the state’s youth got nothing but paper leaks during BJP rule”. Meanwhile, refuting the Congress leader’s allegations, govt authorities on Monday said that “all figures related to investment in the state are public and details of each project are available on govt websites”. They added that “encouraging local entrepreneurs and creating a favorable environment for them is the govt’s priority”. State govt also filed a case at Rajpur police station against social media handles and unidentified persons that were purportedly circulating videos questioning the summit’s grounding figures. Gandhi wrote on X that the Global Investors’ Summit was widely publicised as having garnered “1,779 MoUs worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore”, and around Rs 100 cr of public money was spent on roadshows for the event. A recent media investigation, he said, revealed that even flour mills, fertiliser-seed shops and small clinics were counted as “investors,” adding that a school run through CSR and donations was described as an “investor” of Rs 24.4 cr. He said, “Some of the people mentioned as investors did not even know they’re on the list. Also, Rs 35,279 crore — that is, 35% of the investment — belongs to ‘govt power companies’ which would have in any case invested in the state.” Gandhi further added that one investor credited with an investment of Rs 1,200 cr had reported no earnings for four years and listed no employees in its records. “Roadshows in Dubai and London were said to have attracted investments worth Rs 27,975 cr, yet not a single company from either city features on the list of investors that have actually invested on the ground,” Gandhi said. He further wrote: “Just seven days before the summit, on Dec 1, 2023, the definition of ‘investment’ itself was loosened. This is what is called: first change the rules, then present the figures. CM should make public the full list of 3,300 ‘investors’”. Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations, industries secretary, Vinay Shankar Pandey said, “Grounding of investments worth more than Rs 1.01 lakh cr has been completed so far and preparations are being made for the next grounding of investments worth about Rs 24,000 cr. Details related to this have also been made available on the single window system.” On small local investors figuring in the list, he said, “If a local person starts a small business by investing Rs 10,000 from his hard-earned money and two people get employment from it, then this too is an important contribution to the state’s economy and employment generation.” The secretary further said that “questioning the inclusion of a flour mill, mobile shop or other small business in the investment category is not correct since Uttarakhand is a small state where investment opportunities are restricted due to its geography.” “The geographical conditions of Uttarakhand are different from those of other states. About 70% of the state’s area is forest-covered, and the possibilities for setting up heavy industries are only limited to areas like Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and some parts of Nainital.” He asked the media and people to directly inspect the projects, interact with entrepreneurs and assess the work done on the ground on the basis of facts. Meanwhile, in a complaint to police by industries directorate on Sun, additional director Mrityunjay Singh alleged that false and misleading facts regarding investment in the state were being continuously circulated from certain social media account and other mediums. It added that “this could create a situation of confusion and distrust among investors and adversely affect the state’s industrial environment.” 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
Will punish ‘orchestrators’ of vote theft, says Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing them of orchestrating “vote theft” and asserting that the Congress would hold them accountable. Addressing a public gathering in Margao in Goa, Gandhi also accused the BJP government in Goa of rampant corruption, alleged land grabbing and selling of public assets to billionaire associates, while calling for a Congress government with a full majority in the state. “We are the guardians of the Constitution, and the Constitution is our religion. By engaging in vote theft, they have attacked our religion,” the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said, alleging that Modi, Shah and Kumar would have to pay the price for their actions and would not be able to escape accountability from the Congress. In a pointed allegation against the three, Gandhi said, “Gyanesh Kumar implements vote theft, Amit Shah operationalises vote theft, and Narendra Modi does the complete planning of vote theft.” The Congress leader also claimed that the BJP was apprehensive about legal scrutiny of the alleged electoral malpractice. “People from the BJP are scared. If a case were filed on vote theft, it would become a legal matter, and they would get entangled in it,” he said. Courtesy : The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Nothing can save Gyanesh Kumar, CEC simply has to go; SIR must be suspended forthwith’: Congress
For the first time, parties will be shared with “readable” electoral rolls at draft and final stages in both hard and soft versions. With the Election Commission deciding to provide parties with “readable” electoral rolls, the Congress on Sunday credited the move to nationwide protests against “vote chors”. The party reiterated its demands that the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must go as well as the SIR be suspended forthwith. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that over the past two years the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party have been persistent, insistent and consistent in demanding that the Election Commission of India provide electoral rolls in searchable format to all political parties. “The demand was repeatedly refused by the ECI which stopped providing searchable voter rolls in 2018 when the Congress found lakhs of bogus voters in Madhya Pradesh. The demand was denied for 8 years to enable Vote Chori,” Ramesh said on X. On October 15, 2026 the ECI issued an order that electoral rolls will be provided in searchable format to political parties for the Special Summary Revision (SSR), which resumed after a gap of two years in 17 states and UTs, he said. “This is because the whole nation is on the streets against the Vote Chors,” Ramesh claimed. “Every time ‘vote chori’ is caught, the Modi government adopts a new tactic: stopping readable voter rolls, fake voter additions, SIR. But not this time,” he said. Nothing can save the CEC, who, acting on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, has destroyed public trust and confidence in the ECI, Ramesh said. “He simply has to go. But that alone will not be enough. The ECI itself along with its IT system has to be thoroughly revamped,” he said. The SIR, which has put the Constitutional right to vote for over 13 crore Indians at risk, has to be suspended forthwith, Ramesh said. The Election Commission has ordered holding the annual special summary revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in 17 states and Union territories, including those where assembly polls are due “early next year”. The final rolls in these states and Union territories will be published on January 4. A senior EC functionary explained that SSR is an annual exercise mandated under election law. It is specially held in poll-bound states. In these 17 states, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters’ list has been completed. In Assam, a special revision instead of SIR had taken place due to legal reasons. For the first time, parties will be shared with “readable” electoral rolls at draft and final stages in both hard and soft versions. Candidates in poll-bound states will also be shared draft and final rolls. Rolls will also be made available for sale by the ERO to other persons before the elections. 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
Rahul: Will take care of Modi, Shah, Gyanesh, their expiry date is near
Margao: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the trio of orchestrating “vote chori” and warning that they would “pay the price” for it. Addressing a Congress rally in Margao, Rahul said: “The entire country knows – Gyanesh Kumar implements vote chori, Amit Shah operationalises it, and Narendra Modi chalks out the entire plan,” he said. Rahul said he was facing over 45 defamation cases, filed by Shah, Modi and others, yet no case had been filed over his repeated allegation that Modi steals votes. “Do you know why? Because they fear that if a case on vote chori were filed, it would trigger a full-blown legal process in which they themselves would become entangled,” he said. The Congress MP said that he had “proved it with evidence” and alleged that vote theft had taken place in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam. He said Congress would not let the matter rest. “We are the protectors of the Constitution, that’s our religion. When they committed vote chori, they attacked our Constitution, attacked our religion. Modi, Shah and Gyanesh Kumar will face justice and will pay the price for it,” Rahul said. He also took a jibe at the PM’s much-publicised 56-inch chest remark. “Have you seen Modi’s face these days? Where has the 56-inch chest gone now? Modi saamne khade nahi ho sakte,” he said, claiming that the PM and Shah knew they had been cornered by Congress and that the youth of the country had risen against them. “We will take care of Modi, Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi. Work is under way. Their expiry date is near, and they cannot escape,” he said. Rahul said people had seen through the BJP leadership’s designs. “Desh ki atma Modi aur Shah ko samajh gayi hai. Ab baat khatm ho gayi hai. The soul of the country has understood Modi and Shah. The matter is now decided,” he said. “When the soul of the country decides something, it is only a matter of time.” 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