‘Black day for Centre, they felt a shock for first time’: Priyanka on delimitation bill defeat
NEW DELHI: Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday hailed the defeat of the Delimitation Bill in the Parliament as a “victory of democracy” and accused the Centre of hatching a conspiracy to alter the federal structure of the country. While addressing a press conference, Priyanka said that Centre is planning to stay in power using Women. “What happened yesterday was a huge victory for democracy. The government’s conspiracy to alter the federal structure and weaken democracy was defeated and stopped. This was a victory for the Constitution, a victory for the country, and a victory for the unity of the opposition, and it was clearly visible on the faces of the ruling party leaders,” the Congress leader said.”I think it’s a conspiracy that somehow they need to stay in power… So, to achieve this, they’re planning how to permanently stay in power using women… They thought that if it was passed, they’d win. If it’s not passed, they’ll become the saviours of women by branding other parties as anti-women… We know that becoming a savior for women isn’t easy,” she added. Priyanka also asked the Centre to bring back the bill that was passed unanimously in 2023. “It’s a Black Day for them (centre) because they’ve felt a shock for the first time, which they deserved. The problems of women today are growing exponentially. The struggle is growing. Women aren’t fools. They see everything. That PR and media hype won’t work anymore. If you want to do something concrete, bring back the bill that was passed unanimously in 2023, supported by all parties,” Priyanka said. “If you need to make a few small amendments to it so it can be implemented now, do it and implement it now. Give women their rights, right now. But don’t try to mislead them by twisting it around and attaching it to other things. Do it now. We’re all ready,” she said. Her remarks came after the bill proposing women’s reservation through a delimitation exercise could not secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, with 298 members voting in favour and 230 opposing it. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that the Constitution Amendment Bill had not been passed. Following the outcome, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government would not proceed with the remaining two interlinked bills. The BJP has accused opposition parties of blocking a historic reform aimed at ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that parties like Congress, TMC, and others prevented the passage of the bill and warned of political consequences. However, the opposition has maintained that it supports women’s reservation in principle but opposes linking it with delimitation and census processes. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, described the bill as an attempt to alter India’s electoral structure, while several Congress leaders termed the vote a defence of democratic values 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
‘Smells of politics’: Priyanka Gandhi targets PM Modi over women’s quota bill, says delimitation plan ‘attack on democracy’
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday delivered a sharp critique of the government in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the women’s reservation law and the delimitation bill, warning that the proposed changes represent an “open attack” on democracy. Participating in a debate on three bills related to amendments in the women’s reservation law and the setting up of a delimitation commission, she said the core issue was being diverted. “In 2023, when this law was passed, the Congress supported it and today also, the Congress is strongly in support of women’s reservation. But the truth is that the debate is not on women’s reservation. The bill that the government has brought has changed the direction of the debate,” she said. She questioned why the government could not implement 33 per cent reservation for women within the current 543 Lok Sabha seats. Referring to the proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats to as many as 850 based on the 2011 Census, she said it carried deeper implications. “This seems fine on the surface but the real meaning comes to the fore when one carefully reads it. It smells of politics,” she said. “The government began finishing off democracy by putting pressure on institutions, such as the Election Commission, the judiciary, the media etc., but now, an open attack on democracy is being launched,” Priyanka Gandhi said. She added that if the Constitution amendment bill is passed, democracy in India would be finished. Reaffirming her party’s position, she said, “There should be no doubt that the Indian National Congress stands firmly in favour of women’s protection and reservation, and will continue to do so.” She also criticised the PM’s remarks on the issue. “Prime Minister’s remarks today suggested that the BJP have been the champions, proponents, and biggest supporters of women’s reservation. This was the theme throughout his speech, even while claiming he didn’t want any credit for it.” She further said, “Any woman would tell you that women easily recognise those who try to mislead them,” and urged the BJP to be careful. Providing historical context, she said the issue of women’s reservation has long roots. She noted that the foundation was laid by Motilal Nehru and later advanced by Congress governments. She said that under former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, a bill for reservation in panchayats and municipalities was introduced, and was later passed during the tenure of P V Narasimha Rao. She added that during the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, the women’s reservation bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha but could not secure consensus in the Lok Sabha. She also mentioned that Rahul Gandhi had written to PM Modi in 2018 urging implementation. Priyanka Gandhi also raised concerns about the representation of the OBC community, alleging delays since 2011 had led to injustice. She claimed PM Modi avoided fully addressing the issue in his speech and accused the BJP of previously opposing such measures. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, along with the Delimitation Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, was introduced in the Lok Sabha following a division of votes. 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
Aadhav Arjuna interview: TVK was never interested in aligning with AIADMK, BJP
There were no direct or indirect talks with AIADMK and BJP, says TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna in an interview. “Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to Vijay on how Congress wanted to bring back Kamaraj rule and how DMK spoiled Congress growth,” he says. Excerpts: AICC functionary Praveen Chakravarty says he, along with another functionary, met Vijay multiple times with the approval of the relevant Congress leadership. What were the meetings about? Praveen is a good friend. We have a long friendship and the same mindset on secular and social justice ideologies. I know people in Rahul Gandhi’s close network. This wasn’t alliance talks, but a friendly exchange of views. Rahul Gandhi called our leader, and our leader interacted with him when the meetings with Praveen were on. This was not meant to cement an alliance. They spoke about how Congress wanted to bring back Kamaraj rule, how DMK spoiled Congress growth, and how DMK’s first family controlled Congress second-level leaders. Vijay and Rahul Gandhi are still good friends. You said Vijay was offered 90 assembly seats and the CM post for two and a half years, but he refused. Who offered it, and why didn’t Vijay accept it? I don’t want to give the party’s name. AIADMK openly invited us to join their alliance, and so did BJP. If our focus is only on money, we can align with AIADMK and BJP. We want to set our party’s ideology. We are a strong secular and social justice force. Tamil Nadu is synonymous with Annadurai and Periyar. Everyone says TVK has no alliance. If TVK wanted, it could have created a big alliance. We believe we can win on our own. We believe in our own party, our leader. We believe our candidates and the public support us. We respect what people expect from us. AIADMK and BJP invited TVK to join the alliance. Would it not have been possible for all of you to consolidate against DMK? No chance. People believe in us. The real AIADMK vote bank has moved to TVK. The fight now is between TVK and DMK. TVK is going to win. We have a tall and charismatic leader. We are already in the number one position. There is no chance of us aligning with any other leader. Piyush Goyal denied BJP approached TVK for alliance talks and said EPS would not risk leadership for someone unlikely to win more than a few seats. I don’t know what Piyush Goyal is saying. For BJP leaders, it is like vacation time. They are taking holiday tours in TN during the election. Their leaders in Delhi do not understand Tamil Nadu politics. There is not even a 1% chance of a national party winning in Tamil Nadu. Soon after TVK was launched, did you reach out to AIADMK for an alliance? We never reached out to any party. We never formed an alliance committee. There were no direct or indirect talks with AIADMK. They are all rumours. They kept saying TVK will come, TVK will join. We focused on 234 seats. On May 4, we will get a majority. An actor who accompanied Vijay to a wedding event appears to have upset a section of voters. Is it likely to affect Vijay’s prospects? DMK always targets women, including Jayalalithaa, using nasty and undemocratic words. They targeted her personal life. See, even in MGR’s time, Karunanidhi attacked aggressively. But people do not bother about such things. They act against those indulging in character assassination. Do you see the Karur stampede impacting TVK’s prospects? After Karur, we are devastated. An inquiry is underway, and we want justice. The era of DMK’s family rule is over. Only Rahul Gandhi reached out to Vijay. Will Vijay campaign in Karur? We are still working on campaigning in second- and third-tier cities. We are awaiting permissions based on public safety. Let’s see how it will work out. What are TVK’s chances in this assembly election? How many constituencies can you win? DMK claims it will win 200 seats. The DMK alliance includes more than 24 parties. It is not like 2021. This is a discordant alliance. It is not an alliance built around the cadres’ interests. Congress cadres and office-bearers want to align with TVK. That is the ground reality. But one or two leaders insisted on aligning with DMK for their own interests. Rahul Gandhi loyalists have left the campaign. There is a perception that Vijay is skipping some scheduled campaign programmes. Is that true? For our leader’s rallies, we need SPs, DSPs, commissioners and DIGs on duty, along with detailed permissions. Unlike the CM’s or Udhayanidhi’s events, our crowds are much larger, usually more than one lakh for Vijay. In many second-tier districts, the roads are too narrow for this kind of crowd. That’s why we skipped places such as Cuddalore. We’re choosing venues with wider roads such as Kanyakumari and Tirupur. 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: TMC paving way for BJP through dictatorship raj
Kolkata/Malda/Behrampore: Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Trinamool of ushering in a “dictatorship raj” in Bengal and paving the way for BJP, saying people in the state were “stuck” between an “anti-people” TMC and a “hate-spreading” BJP. Addressing a rally at Shamsherganj in Murshidabad, the Congress neta alleged governance failure under CM Mamata Banerjee. “There is complete dictatorship raj in Bengal. Teachers’ jobs are being sold, factories are closed and women are being tortured in Bengal. There is no accountability in the state,” he said. Rahul, who addressed three rallies across North Dinajpur, Malda and Murshidabad, reiterated his 2016 charge of “dictatorial” functioning, drawing parallels between Banerjee and PM Narendra Modi. “Five years back, the CM (Mamata Banerjee) had promised five lakh jobs. The reality is that 84 lakh youths have filed applications for unemployment allowance now,” he said. Blaming TMC for the dismal condition of industries in the state, Rahul said, “They have shut down factories and spread hatred. Unemployment is the highest in Bengal and the state has broken all records of corruption. 17 lakh investors were cheated in the Saradha scam and nobody got a penny from Rs 1,900 crore looted from people. Rose Valley has duped 31 lakh investors.” He alleged that industries in Bengal face a “double blow” — with Banerjee closing factories in the state while Modi was “destroying the broader industrial sector”. Rahul also came down heavily on BJP, saying, “BJP and RSS have deleted the names of lakhs of voters from the electoral roll. We will ensure that everyone’s name is included in the voter list again. They are stealing votes in the name of SIR.” Claiming Congress to be the only “challenger”, he said: “BJP knows that Trinamool cannot challenge them nationally. It is only Congress which can stop 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
‘PM Modi is a deshdrohi’: Rahul Gandhi repeats his ‘sold India in US trade deal’ claim
NEW DELHI: Sharpening his anti-government tirade over the India-US trade deal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “deshdrohi” (traitor), doubling down on his claim that “PM Modi sold off India”. Addressing a poll rally in Bengal, the Lok Sabha leader of opposition accused the Modi government of “handing over India’s energy security to the US by succumbing to Washington’s pressure”. “India’s agricultural sector will be devastated. Modi sold off India in the trade deal with the US. He is not ‘desh bhakt’ (patriot), he is ‘deshdrohi’ (traitor),” Gandhi alleged as per news agency PTI while addressing the rally in Malda, where the Congress traditionally has had a strong presence. Stating that data security is of paramount importance as a country’s strength is built on it, Gandhi accused the Modi government of giving up India’s data to the USA. “National security has been badly harmed by this,” he said. Alleging that the Modi government has given a commitment to the US that it would buy goods from it worth Rs 9.5 lakh crore, Gandhi said, “If American goods enter India like a tsunami, then our country’s small and medium scale factories will close down.” “This will cause double loss for Bengal since Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already closed down industries in the state,” he said. US trade deal will lead to closure of small, mid-size industries, cause job loss in India: Rahul Gandhi in Bengal. PM not ‘desh bhakt’ (patriot), he is ‘deshdrohi’ (traitor): Rahul Gandhi at poll rally in Bengal. In a two-pronged attack , Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and the RSS of destroying the Constitution with their “hate-filled thinking”, while claiming the ruling TMC has failed in fulfilling its promise of providing jobs to the state’s youth. Addressing poll rallies in Raiganj and Malda, Gandhi claimed that 84 lakh youths in Bengal have applied for the unemployment allowance promised by the Mamata Banerjee government. “Chief minister Mamata Banerjee promised jobs to five lakh people. But 84 lakh youths have applied for unemployment allowance,” he said. Targeting the BJP and RSS, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha accused the two outfits of destroying the Constitution by their “hate-filled thinking” and being “involved in vote theft”. Gandhi termed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls “unconstitutional” and alleged that wherever the BJP and RSS get a chance, they make insinuations against the Constitution. 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
Tamil Nadu elections 2026: Kejriwal to campaign for Stalin; Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi to also hold rallies
NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu on April 20, where he will address election rallies in support of the DMK and chief minister MK Stalin on April 20 and 21, the party said on Tuesday. AAP has not fielded any candidates in the Assembly elections and has extended support to the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Congress in-Charge Girish Chodankar said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy and Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, is expected to campaign in the state. The Congress is part of the DMK-led SPA. Chodankar said an official announcement regarding Rahul Gandhi’s visit would be made soon and that Priyanka Gandhi is also expected to participate in the campaign. He added that Rahul Gandhi and MK Stalin are likely to campaign together. “Rahul Gandhi will come and campaign for the Tamil Nadu elections, and all our leaders will come. All our leaders will start campaigning when the campaigning becomes very aggressive. We have already appointed party cadres and formed special committees in all 234 assembly constituencies so that we can help all the allied parties’ candidates with whatever forces we have in each assembly constituency, ” he added. He reiterated that an announcement regarding Rahul Gandhi’s visit would be made within the next two to three days. Separately, chief minister and DMK candidate from Kolathur, MK Stalin, conducted a door-to-door campaign in Vellore. Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. The main contest is expected to be between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance led by the AIADMK, with the BJP and PMK as allies. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with his party, TVK, which could make the contest triangular. 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: TMC paving way for BJP through dictatorship raj
Kolkata/Malda/Behrampore: Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Trinamool of ushering in a “dictatorship raj” in Bengal and paving the way for BJP, saying people in the state were “stuck” between an “anti-people” TMC and a “hate-spreading” BJP. Addressing a rally at Shamsherganj in Murshidabad, the Congress neta alleged governance failure under CM Mamata Banerjee. “There is complete dictatorship raj in Bengal. Teachers’ jobs are being sold, factories are closed and women are being tortured in Bengal. There is no accountability in the state,” he said. Rahul, who addressed three rallies across North Dinajpur, Malda and Murshidabad, reiterated his 2016 charge of “dictatorial” functioning, drawing parallels between Banerjee and PM Narendra Modi. “Five years back, the CM (Mamata Banerjee) had promised five lakh jobs. The reality is that 84 lakh youths have filed applications for unemployment allowance now,” he said. Blaming TMC for the dismal condition of industries in the state, Rahul said, “They have shut down factories and spread hatred. Unemployment is the highest in Bengal and the state has broken all records of corruption. 17 lakh investors were cheated in the Saradha scam and nobody got a penny from Rs 1,900 crore looted from people. Rose Valley has duped 31 lakh investors.” He alleged that industries in Bengal face a “double blow” — with Banerjee closing factories in the state while Modi was “destroying the broader industrial sector”. Rahul also came down heavily on BJP, saying, “BJP and RSS have deleted the names of lakhs of voters from the electoral roll. We will ensure that everyone’s name is included in the voter list again. They are stealing votes in the name of SIR.” Claiming Congress to be the only “challenger”, he said: “BJP knows that Trinamool cannot challenge them nationally. It is only Congress which can stop 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
‘Himanta most corrupt in country’: Rahul Gandhi backs Pawan Khera as passport row escalates
NEW DELHI: Even as the dust of Assam’s poll campaign has settled, the ugly faceoff witnessed during the high-octane showdown between chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Congress escalated on Monday, with Rahul Gandhi calling the Assam CM “the most corrupt in the country” who is “abusing state power to harass his political opponents”. Backing his party colleague Pawan Khera, whose Delhi house Assam police raided after an explosive claim against Himanta’s wife, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha said the “Congress stands with Pawan Khera” and that the “party will not be intimidated”. “The present CM of Assam is the most corrupt in the country. He will not escape the law. His abuse of state power to harass his political opponents and critics is against the Constitution. The questions that are being raised have to be probed. Transparency, accountability of power and rule of law are the basis of our Constitutional values. The Congress Party stands with Pawan Khera. We will not be intimidated,” Rahul Gandhi wrote against Himanta, who switched from Congress to the BJP in 2016. Khera struck Himanta’s nerve after he alleged, in a press conference, the Assam CM’s wife held multiple foreign passports, prompting a sharp rebuttal and legal threat from the BJP leader. “We have documents showing that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma holds three passports. The first is a UAE Golden Card, the second an Antigua and Barbuda passport, and the third an Egyptian passport. Two of these belong to Islamic countries, yet they continue to claim religious adherence publicly,” Khera said. Later, Sarma dismissed the claims as politically motivated and said that both he and his wife will file a defamation case against Khera within 48 hours. “Today’s press conference by Pawan Khera reflects the deep frustration and panic within the Congress party. As Assam moves decisively towards a historic mandate, such desperate and baseless attacks only expose their sinking ground,” he wrote on X. As the faceoff began to worsen, Telangana High Court granted anticipatory bail to Khera in connection with a case registered against him over his alleged defamatory remarks against CM Sarma and his wife. 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
‘Deeply flawed’: Sonia Gandhi slams women’s quota bill, calls it ‘assault on Constitution’
NEW DELHI: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday warned that the Centre’s reported push on delimitation—not women’s reservation—is the “real issue” behind the special Parliament session, calling it “extremely dangerous” and an “assault” on the Constitution. In an article published in The Hindu, Congress Rajya Sabha MP argued that any exercise to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha must be “politically and not just arithmetically equitable”, stressing that states which have performed better on population control must not be disadvantaged. She also accused the government of rushing legislation during an ongoing election cycle in states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to “derive political advantage and place the Opposition on the defensive”. “There can be only one reason for the extraordinary hurry,” she said, alleging it was to gain political advantage. She further accused the prime minister of being “economical with the truth.” Women’s reservation ‘not the issue’, says Congress Referring to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, Sonia noted that Parliament had already unanimously passed the law in September 2023, linking women’s reservation to a future Census and delimitation exercise under Article 334-A. “The Opposition had not asked for this condition,” she said, adding that Congress had pushed for implementation from the 2024 Lok Sabha elections itself. She questioned the reported move to amend the provision to enable implementation from 2029, asking why the government was making a “U-turn” after 30 months. She also pointed out that Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had demanded immediate implementation, which the government declined. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi echoed her concerns, stating that the risks of a “rushed delimitation” were central to the debate. Sonia also highlighted that the law provides for “reservation within reservation” for SCs and STs, and noted that a similar demand for OBC women’s reservation had been raised during the 2023 debate. Census delay, caste count under fire Fomer Lok Sabha MP also linked the issue to delays in the Census, noting that the 2021 exercise had been postponed and that enumeration has only recently begun after a five-year delay. She added that the delay had deprived over 10 crore people of their legal entitlements under the National Food Security Act, 2013. She argued that claims that a caste census would slow down the process were unfounded, citing quicker surveys conducted by states like Bihar and Telangana. She also referenced statements by officials that most Census 2027 data would be available the same year due to its digital format, calling the government’s urgency “hollow.” Alleging inconsistency, she said the government had earlier rejected a caste census before later announcing it as part of Census 2027. “The Prime Minister’s real intention now is to further delay and derail the caste census,” she claimed. Govt pushes ahead with special session The remarks come ahead of a special Parliament sitting from April 16 to 18, where amendments linked to women’s reservation are expected. The government is also considering a separate delimitation bill, with projections suggesting Lok Sabha seats could increase from 543 to 816. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan’ in New Delhi, aimed at building support for enhancing women’s representation in legislatures. Former Congress President said Opposition leaders had written thrice seeking an all-party meeting after April 29 to discuss the proposals, but the request was rejected. She criticised the government for instead resorting to op-eds and public outreach, calling it an “underhand tactic” reflecting a “my way or the highway” approach. She also argued that there is no urgency, noting that the Monsoon session begins in mid-July and that proposals could have been discussed then, after wider consultation and public debate. Sonia, however, maintained that the process being followed is “deeply flawed and anti-democratic,” asserting that “reservation for women is not the issue here… the real issue is delimitation.” “Reservation for women is not the issue here. That has already been settled. The real issue is delimitation which, based on the information unofficially available, is extremely dangerous and an assault on the Constitution itself,” Sonia wrote. 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 wants to remove Rahul Gandhi from leadership team: Fadnavis
Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday claimed there is a growing movement within the Congress party to remove Rahul Gandhi from the leadership team. Replying to a query from reporters about Gandhi’s recent statements that his fight is against the BJP-RSS ideology, Fadnavis said these were mere attempts to change the narrative. Fadnavis was speaking on the sidelines of a public event in Nagpur. “Rahul Gandhi’s fight is merely a superficial one. His struggle is only about how to shield himself from the continuous electoral defeats he has been facing. Within the Congress party, there is a growing sentiment that Gandhi is unable to lead them to victory, so he should be removed. Gandhi’s recent statements are being made to divert attention from that atmosphere,” Fadnavis said. Former state cabinet minister and senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar refuted the allegations saying it’s a figment of Fadnavis’ imagination. Wadettiwar said, “BJP can say anything they want to, but even they know there is no truth in it. If Rahul ji started giving hate speeches, dividing people on basis of religion and caste, then Congress would have a 100% electoral strike rate. If Congress started stealing votes, deleting names through Special Intensive Review (SIR) then we would have won every election. But Rahul ji is fighting as per rules set by the Constitution and that is why BJP is afraid of him.” Regarding Gandhi’s leadership and Fadnavis’ allegation, Wadettiwar said, “From the rank and file to top echelons in the party, everybody stands behind Rahul ji. He is steering the party by staying true to the core ideology of Congress which is to take everyone along and not discriminate among one’s own citizens.” Fadnavis on Sunday denied rumours of a home department meeting discussing withdrawal of cases registered during the Maratha agitation. “No such meeting has taken place. Cases involving loss of govt property cannot be withdrawn — these are explicit directions of the Supreme Court. All other cases, we are withdrawing,” Fadnavis said. He added that he had already provided case withdrawal figures to the legislature. 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