Alld HC: Implead centre in Rahul’s citizenship case
Lucknow: A Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court heard the case of Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship dispute on Thursday and asked the petitioner to implead the central govt as party in the case . As soon as the hearing began, senior advocate SB Pandey, representing the central govt, requested the court not to conduct the hearing in open court as the documents received from the home ministry were of a highly confidential nature. The single bench of Justice Rajiv Singh accepted his request and heard the case in his chamber. Following the hearing, the court passed an order requiring home ministry under secretary Vivek Mishra and assistant section officer Pranav Rai to appear with the relevant records. 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
Bus Body Code issue: Rahul flags cost burden; Gadkari stresses safety
NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari had surprise visitors at his chamber in the Lok Sabha. Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, accompanied by a delegation of small truck and bus body builders from Rajasthan reached his office seeking relaxations in the Bus Body Code as they flagged new standards and excessive fees could drive many small manufacturers out of business. Officials said Gadkari, in response, said that the decision to tighten safety norms was taken following a spate of bus fire incidents which have claimed lives. “The minister said relaxing any norms that would pose risk to passengers can’t be allowed and there is a need for professionalism in building bus and truck bodies in the country. However, he said that govt will take steps to make the process of getting approval easy,” one of them said. People who were present in the chamber during Gandhis meeting with Gadkari said that the minister highlighted the need to shift from using “hammers” (hathoda) in building bus bodies to improve the system so that there are no compromises made in safety parameters. “Rahul said that the people engaged in bus body building using hammers have skill and talent. All this happened on a lighter note,” said one of them. During the discussion, the minister pointed out that authorities had issued notices to manufacturers on seven occasions, but the lack of corrective action forced govt to take strict measures. Following the meeting with Gadkari, Priyanka Gandhi told reporters, “The truck and bus body builders faced the problem that they have to incur significant expenses to obtain licenses, and the process is also extremely time-consuming. Gadkari has assured us that he will resolve their issues expeditiously.” 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 must apologise to the nation’: 204 retired officers, Army veterans and advocates slam LOP in open letter on Parliament conduct
In an open letter addressed to citizens on Tuesday, 204 retired officers, including veterans of the Armed Forces, former bureaucrats, and senior advocates, expressed serious concerns over the conduct of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs during a protest on March 12 within Parliament premises. The signatories argued in the letter that the dignity of Parliament was “an essential element of the constitutional ethos” and that Members must uphold the highest standards of propriety and respect within all areas of the parliamentary precincts, including stairs, corridors, and lobbies. According to the letter, the events of March 12 were “deeply concerning.” The retired officers said that despite explicit instructions from the Speaker prohibiting demonstrations or protests within Parliament, Rahul Gandhi and several other MPs defied the directive. They described this as “a conscious disregard for parliamentary authority” and accused the Opposition of placing “personal political theatrics above the dignity of a constitutional institution.” They noted that Rahul Gandhi and other MPs were observed “sitting on the steps of Parliament having tea and biscuits in a manner that was wholly unbecoming of members of the nation’s highest legislative body.” The retired officers asserted that the steps of Parliament were “not a venue for spectacle or political theatre” and said such behaviour showed “arrogance and entitlement” as well as a lack of respect for Parliament. The signatories further contended that Rahul Gandhi had contributed to “lowering the level of public discourse and decorum” through repeated theatrics, suggesting a pattern of conduct motivated by “a sense of personal privilege” rather than respect for democratic institutions. They added that such actions disrupted parliamentary proceedings and wasted “valuable public time and resources,” further stating that “Shri Rahul Gandhi must apologise to the nation for this behaviour and introspect on the attitude that produced it.” The retired officers warned that the Leader of the Opposition’s conduct risked “damaging the reputation of our country and our democracy” and urged him to uphold the solemnity and authority of Parliament. Highlighting the symbolic importance of Members’ conduct, the letter warned that the behaviour of the Leader of the Opposition risked “damaging the reputation of our country and our democracy.” The retired officers urged Rahul Gandhi to apologise to the nation and reflect on his actions to ensure that “the solemnity, authority and institutional sanctity of Parliament remain fully preserved.” The letter concluded with a call from the retired officers to preserve and strengthen India’s democratic institutions, emphasizing that the “temple of democracy” must n 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
Retired officials demand Rahul Gandhi’s apology over Parliament protest
NEW DELHI: Over 200 retired armed forces officers, former civil servants, diplomats and lawyers Tuesday accused leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of violating parliamentary decorum during the opposition’s protest and demanded his apology. “Rahul Gandhi, along with several MPs, was seen sitting on the steps of Parliament having tea and biscuits in a manner that was wholly unbecoming of members of the nation’s highest legislative body. The steps of Parliament are not a venue for spectacle or political theatre,” they said in an open letter endorsed by 204 signatories. They alleged that Rahul’s action within the Parliament complex amounted to a deliberate defiance of the chair and showed disregard for parliamentary authority. “It shows an attitude of arrogance and entitlement,” they added. They said Speaker Om Birla had issued an explicit instruction against demonstrations or protests within Parliament premises but the opposition, led by Rahul, disregarded the directive. “Rahul must apologise to the nation for this behaviour and introspect the attitude that produced it, so that the solemnity, authority and institutional sanctity of the Parliament remain preserved,” they said. 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 demands Bharat Ratna for BSP founder Kanshi Ram; writes to PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that the Bharat Ratna be conferred posthumously on Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram. In a post on X, he wrote, “I demand that the Government of India honor the great warrior of social justice and the guiding light of Bahujan consciousness, the esteemed Shri Kanshi Ram Ji, with the Bharat Ratna. This highest national honor will be a tribute to Shri Kanshi Ram Ji and the entire movement that showed millions of Bahujans the path to rights, participation, and self-respect.” In his letter to PM Modi, Gandhi highlighted Kanshi Ram’s transformative role in Indian politics. He also pointed out that calls from Dalit intellectuals and leaders for the Bharat Ratna have been consistent and deeply felt. “Recently, I attended a programme in Lucknow where this demand was reiterated strongly by the leaders and participants present, reflecting a widespread sentiment. Conferring the Bharat Ratna on him posthumously would recognise his immense contribution to our nation. It would honour the aspirations of millions of people who continue to view him as a symbol of empowerment and hope.” Earlier Congress leader paid tribute to Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary. In a post on X, he wrote: “On the birth anniversary of the Bahujan hero, the respected Manyavar Kanshi Ram Ji, I pay my humble respects. His tireless struggle and dedication for the rights of the poor, Dalits, and the deprived is an inspiration for all of us.” Kanshi Ram founded BSP in 1984 with the aim of uniting Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and religious minorities into a formidable political force. He dedicated his life to the upliftment and empowerment of the marginalised and to carrying forward the ideas of Dr BR Ambedkar. BSP chief Mayawati paying tributes to the founder in a post on X wrote, “On the occasion of the birth anniversary of the founder and architect of the Bahujan Samaj Party (B.S.P.), the revered Shri Kanshi Ram Ji, I, along with my leadership, offer a hundred salutations and boundless tributes of reverence from his followers across Uttar Pradesh and the entire country.” Yesterday, Mayawati questioned the Congress over its proposal to confer the Bharat Ratna on BSP founder Kanshi Ram if it comes to power at the Centre, pointing out that the party never honoured BR Ambedkar while in power. In a post on X, she wrote: “The Congress never gave due honour to Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar — the messiah of Dalits and the principal architect of the Constitution — nor did they ever confer upon him the title of Bharat Ratna… How can the same party now honour Kanshi Ram,” she said in her post.” 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
Cong banks on Kerala to end its long season of electoral upsets
NEW DELHI: Congress’s fortunes post-2014 have followed a familiar pattern: rout in the national elections and then a long wait for assembly wins. It was an extended barren patch of three and a half years before Congress won a state poll (Himachal) after being routed in the Pulwama-dictated 2019 Lok Sabha contest. This time, Congress is hoping that the wait – which should have ended immediately after the 2024 LS polls with wins in Haryana and then Maharashtra – will finally be over through a win in Kerala. The polls in four states and one UT are an opportunity for Congress to get back into the reckoning, which the party prematurely hoped that the creditable performance in the difficult 2024 polls would ensure. If Kerala-2026 is the essence of Congress’s stakes in the coming battles, the principal opposition party is aiming to score significant political points in Assam, TN and Bengal, given that arch-rival BJP has positioned itself as a player across the national geography. After all, in the years since the Modi-led party turned into a political juggernaut, the Rahul Gandhi-run Congress has chosen to define itself ideologically and in sole opposition to BJP – a process which has also led to greater convergence among foes within the secular camp. For once, Congress ended the longstanding dichotomy of being an ally of CPM at the national level and in Bengal, while being a rival in Kerala – which provided BJP with an easy line of attack. It decided early to go solo in Bengal. Like many of the ‘Congress vs BJP’ fields, Assam has turned barren for the former with back-to-back defeats. Communal polarisation, marginalisation via defections and Assam-specific delimitation have made its political task a challenge. Congress belatedly plumped for Gaurav Gogoi, a young face with socio-political pedigree, as its flag-bearer. By all indications, Congress is hoping for a respectable performance that can debunk the growing perception of Assam becoming a one-party turf and keep the party alive in the state. After an unexpected public squabbling with DMK, Congress settled for a minor seat share for the polls. Given that BJP has inserted itself in the AIADMK-led bloc, and speculations are rife that TVK of Tamil superstar, Vijay, can be “influenced” by BJP after elections, Congress is eager that DMK sails through. The post-Jayalalithaa landscape in the state has proved easier for DMK, as witnessed in the 2024 LS polls, but TVK’s emergence and the prospect of a three-way split of votes have created uncertainty. Reduced to less than a fringe player in Mamata Banerjee’s fief, Bengal Congress is moving with a two-fold target in its solo run. The party believes it cannot go below 2021’s pathetic result of zero seats and 3% votes. AICC state in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir said the party’s vote share should move upwards of 15%. 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
Under fire for no-show, Rahul plans four rallies by month-end
Chennai: Amid criticism from opposition parties over Rahul Gandhi not holding any campaign visits to Tamil Nadu even after the completion of seat-sharing talks, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee said the Congress leader would tour the state later this month and address four rallies in different parts of the state. As per the tentative plan, Rahul would address the campaign meetings over a period of two to three days. The exact dates and venue would be announced once the plan is finalised, said TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai. Opposition parties, however, questioned the delay. BJP state vice-president N Jayaprakash said Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu three times this year so far. “The prime minister visits the state frequently because he is concerned about the welfare of Tamil people,” he said, asking why Gandhi visited Kerala and Telangana but chose not to visit TN. BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam said the only time Rahul came to Tamil Nadu this year was to visit a school in Gudalur, close to his Wayanad constituency. AIADMK functionaries alleged that Rahul’s absence from campaign activity was a sign of friction in DMK–Congress alliance. “Forget campaigning, Rahul did not even post a congratulatory message on the finalising of seat-sharing talks,” he said. Though Congress was demanding 35 seats and a share in power, DMK turned down both demands, leaving the Congress to settle for 28 seats. During the campaign for the 2021 assembly election in the state, Rahul had made multiple visits to the state, including a three-day tour in Jan during which he held roadshows and addressed public meetings. Selvaperunthagai denied the charges, attributing the delay in Rahul’s visit to the standard operating procedures (SOP) governing political meetings in the state. Under the existing rules, applications for major rallies by parties have to be submitted two to four weeks in advance, he said. 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
Govt failed to keep promises made to farmers, says Rahul
NEW DELHI: Congress’s Rahul Gandhi alleged Saturday that the BJP-led govt has not honoured promises it made to farmers and is prepared to sacrifice India’s agriculture for its own interests. In a Facebook post, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha shared the written response to a question he had asked the minister of agriculture in the lower House. Citing the written response, Gandhi said, “In the Lok Sabha, I asked a direct question to the govt: Why has the promise of a statutory Minimum Support Price – calculated at C2+50% – made to farmers in 2021, not yet been implemented? “Evading a direct response, the govt merely reiterated its existing MSP policy,” he said. “The govt also admitted to pressuring states to discontinue MSP bonuses – a move it sought to justify, without any logical basis, in the name of ‘national priorities’,” Gandhi said in his post in Hindi. He went on to add that there is another critical question: “The trade agreement with the US speaks of reducing “non-trade barriers”. Does this imply an intent to undermine the MSP mechanism and govt procurement? “The govt is evading this question as well,” the former Congress chief claimed. “We will continue to raise our voices – both inside and outside Parliament – to defend farmers’ rights and protect the MSP,” the Congress politician asserted. 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
DU dismisses Rahul’s allegation that it uses interviews to eliminate students
NEW DELHI: The Delhi University (DU) has dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that it uses interviews to eliminate students. In a post on X late on Friday, it said: “The University of Delhi admits students primarily based on the CUET scores, and the standard admission process does not mandate interviews for most undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.” “If the Leader of Opposition was referring to recruitments (such as faculty positions), the University in the recent past has recruited thousands of teachers across all categories. We strongly object to such comments, as they create a non-conducive environment in the University. The Leader of Opposition should have verified the facts before making such a statement. @EduMinOfIndia,” it added. This was in response to the remarks of Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleging that the DU eliminates students on the basis of caste. “I had gone to the Delhi University. Interview is just a way to eliminate students. They ask what your caste is and then you fail in the interview,” Gandhi said on Friday while addressing an event in Lucknow to mark the birth anniversary of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram. Targeting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Congress leader further said, “Take out the list of the RSS. Those who are their pracharaks and seniors in the organisation, you will not find one OBC, one Dalit, one Adivasi among them. This is completely against the Constitution.” This has triggered a further controversy, with the Indian National Teachers’ Congress (INTEC), along with some DU professors, including academic and executive council members, pointing out that public record shows that in several departments of the university, despite a large number of teaching posts being advertised under the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories, qualified candidates were declared “not found suitable (NFS)” after the interview stage. 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
US deal harming India’s energy & economic interests, claims Rahul
Lucknow: Congress MP and leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “compromising India’s economic, digital and energy security in trade deal with the United States”. Gandhi also raised concerns over India’s energy policy, alleging that the govt had ceded decision-making authority to Washington. “India had agreed to follow US instructions on whether to buy oil and gas from countries like Russia, Iran or Iraq. The recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatened India’s energy stability, because of these policy changes,” he added. The LoP made the remarks while addressing Congress workers at the Samvidhan Sammelan in Lucknow, where he continued his criticism of what he called “unfair terms” in India-US trade and data arrangements. Gandhi alleged that India had surrendered strategic leverage by allowing the US access to Indian data. “The PM handed over all the data of the people of India to the American govt and companies, permitting them to store it anywhere and granting a 20-year tax holiday. This change left India unable to monitor or regulate how the data of its citizens is used,” claimed Gandhi. “The govt has agreed to purchase goods worth Rs 9 lakh crore annually from the US, a move that will severely harm Indian businesses,” Gandhi said. Listing agricultural products such as cotton, soybeans, pulses, fruits and nuts, he said imports from large, mechanized American farms would undercut small Indian farmers operating on two to five acres of land. According to Gandhi, India received nothing in return from these decisions, asserting that taxes had increased and domestic producers were left vulnerable. He alleged that the prime minister was “compromised and has surrendered”, referencing financial and international controversies by name while claiming they weakened India’s negotiating position. 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