M R K Panneerselvam sparks row with ‘North Indians clean tables’ in Tamil Nadu remark; BJP hits back
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday hit out at a Tamil Nadu minister over remarks about North Indian migrant workers, accusing the ruling DMK of repeatedly targeting migrants and fuelling social divisions in the state. The BJP was reacting to comments made by DMK agriculture minister M R K Panneer Selvam at a party event in Chengalpattu, where he referred to North Indians working in low-paying jobs. “People from the North are coming here to clean tables, engage in construction works, sell pani puri. Because he learnt only Hindi and had no job opportunity there, he has come here,” the minister said. In a post on X, the BJP said the remarks were derogatory and reflected a broader pattern within the DMK. “At a party event in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, DMK agriculture minister Shri MRK Panneer mocked North Indian migrants as “table cleaners and pani puri sellers.” In today’s India, people from every state work everywhere – North, South, and across the world. No job is small. No citizen is inferior,” the party said. — BJP4TamilNadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) The BJP alleged that such comments were particularly dangerous at a time when incidents of violence against migrant workers were being reported in Tamil Nadu. “This isn’t an isolated slip; it’s a pattern. DMK leaders have repeatedly derided migrant workers, especially for being North Indian or for speaking Hindi. At a time when violence against innocent migrant workers in Tamil Nadu is rising, such statements are reckless and dangerous, branding an entire community as “low standard” and fuelling hate on the streets,” the post said. The party also questioned the silence of leaders from the opposition INDI alliance over the controversy. “Now a direct question to the INDI alliance: if you claim to stand for unity, human dignity, and social justice, why this deafening silence? Is alliance compulsion more important than national unity? Do Shri RahulGandhi, Priyanka Gandhi , Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav endorse this hatred by staying quiet? Is this your idea of justice which is dividing Indians for votes? Complete shame!” the BJP said. There was no immediate response from the DMK or the leaders named by the BJP on the issue. Meanwhile, Tamilnadu BJP president in a post on X said, “Leaders of Arivalayam who incite hatred against North Indians! Even as attacks on North Indians are already rampant under the DMK regime, I strongly condemn the Minister of DMK, Mr. MRK Panneer ,for mocking them at a meeting held in Maduranthakam in Chengalpattu district by saying, “North Indians come to Tamil Nadu only to sell pani puri, work in construction, or wipe tables.” The DMK Minister must immediately seek a public apology from the people for his arrogant speech. In our Tamil land, which has upheld equality and brotherhood through the life philosophy of “Yadhum Oore, Yaavarum Keleer,” it is not only deplorable but also dangerous that DMK leaders continue to sow seeds of hatred against North Indians. Do the Congress and Communist parties, as alliance partners of DMK, endorse this divisive politics of the DMK, which strives to divide people ethnically into North and South? In our Bharat, which shares a unified cultural heritage “from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari,” the people will uproot and cast away this venomous creeper called DMK—which toils to seize power and authority by using North Indian people as scapegoats—in the upcoming Assembly elections!” — NainarBJP (@NainarBJP) 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’s reply deferred as protest stalls Lok Sabha; scared Modi ran away, says opposition
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday could not deliver his customary speech during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address because of the adjournment forced by the opposition, whose women members charged towards the treasury benches raising slogans and holding banners. Modi was scheduled to reach Lok Sabha when presiding officer Sandhya Rai, in for Speaker Om Birla, adjourned the House for the day to avert a clash that had seemed imminent because of counter-mobilisation of members, especially women, by the governing side. Modi is now expected to speak in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The adjournment was a fallout of the stand-off between the two sides over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on citing the unpublished book of former Army chief, Gen M M Naravane. The confrontation intensified due to what was seen as a tit-for-tat response by BJP member Nishikant Dubey, who sought to quote from books replete with unflattering references to members of the Gandhi-Nehru clan. Though the chair adjourned the House for the day, several opposition MPs questioned why Dubey was allowed speak. Congress members later met Speaker Birla and demanded his suspension. Speaker slams oppn MPs for Naravane banners The House witnessed similar protests during the question hour, and amid din, Speaker Om Birla adjourned proceedings till 12 noon. When the House re-assembled, opposition MPs were on their feet raising slogans against the govt over the issue of stand-off with China in 2020, referring to certain matters related to the unpublished “memoir” of General Naravane. Congress members had brought banners and posters featuring Naravane and defence minister Rajnath Singh, while Rahul was seen flashing a book in the House. The Speaker urged members to maintain dignity of the House and slammed the opposition for displaying banners and posters. The House was then adjourned till 2 pm. Later, the House was adjourned till 5 pm following an uproar over Dubey’s remarks targeting the Gandhi family. It was adjourned for the day by Rai. Scared Modi ran away from House, claim oppn MPs After the PM’s no-show in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said Narendra Modi feared being gifted General M M Naravane’s memoirs that narrate his account as Army chief during the 2020 Chinese aggression. Rahul remarked, “As I had said, PM will not come to LS because he does not want to face the truth.” Earlier Wednesday, Rahul dramatically posed in the Parliament complex with Naravane’s book “Four Stars to Destiny” that he was not allowed to cite in his speech on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, telling reporters, “I don’t think the PM will have the guts to come to LS today. If he comes, I will give him this book so that… he knows his reality.” After three days of logjam, the anti-BJP camp was excited that the PM had to back down from his scheduled speech for fear of disruptions. After the abrupt end to the evening’s proceedings, Trinamool Congress’ Kalyan Banerjee said, “He ran away for fear of the opposition.” Congress MP K C Venugopal said govt was making a mockery of Parliament, and the PM should be asked why he did not come for his speech. Congress MP Manickam Tagore said since the LOP was not allowed to speak in LS, the PM’s address too had to be cancelled. “This is the first time in parliamentary history… The united voice of 239 MPs will make India stronger,” he said. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also said Modi was too scared to come to the House. “The rail minister and Nishikant Dubey ran away like a bullet train,” she mocked. Quoting from the book to reporters, Rahul alleged Modi had abdicated responsibility during the Ladakh crisis. He said Naravane has said that he felt abandoned. He said the govt was now trying to deny the very existence of the book despite it being in the public domain. Rahul added that every young Indian should read the retired General’s detailed first-hand account of events in Ladakh. 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
Shashi Tharoor trips and falls at Parliament stairs; Akhilesh Yadav helps – video
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tripped and fell while descending the stairs at Parliament complex on Wednesday. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other MPs along with the staff members immediately assisted him to get back on his feet. — ians_india (@ians_india) The Lok Sabha was adjourned amid persistent sloganeering by Opposition members over the suspension of eight MPs during the ongoing Budget Session, disrupting proceedings shortly after they began. The suspended MPs staged a protest outside Parliament, holding placards reading “PM is compromised,” echoing allegations made by leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi while addressing the media on the India–US trade agreement. Those suspended include Congress MPs Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Dean Kuriakose, along with CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan. 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 didn’t fulfill his responsibility’: Rahul displays unpublished memoir of ex-Army chief Naravane outside Parliament
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday displayed excerpts from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane and accused PM Modi of “not fulfulling responsibility” during the 2020 India-China military clashes in Ladakh. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament the Congress leader said, “The speaker is saying that this book does not exist, Rajnath ji has said this book does not exist. This is Naravane ji’s book wherein he has written the account of Ladakh…Narendra Modi ji did not fulfil his responsibility.” “He told the Army Chief to do whatever he wants to do. Army Chief General Naravane has clearly written in this book that he felt really alone. This is what they are scared of me saying,” he added. “The main line is what the Prime Minister said – ‘jo uchit samjho wo karo’. When the former Chief of Army Staff General Naravane called up Rajnath Singh ji and said that Chinese tanks have reached the Kailash Ridge, so what should we do? First, Rajnath Singh did not respond to him,” he added. “I don’t think the Prime Minister will have the guts to come to the Lok Sabha today because if he comes, I am going to give him this book. If the PM comes, I will go physically and hand him this book so he can read it and the country can get to know the truth,” added Gandhi. Gandhi said the memoir of Naravane is published abroad, but the government is not allowing it to be published in India. “It’s available abroad, I think. It’s published abroad. Govt is not allowing it to be published here. That’s what I believe…The book is available…You can imagine where the book (that he is carrying today) has come from. You think about where it came from…” His remarks came after he tried to quote excerpts from the unpublished book during the Parliament session on Monday. Gandhi insisted on raising the issue of India-China confrontation of August 2020 and was interrupted repeatedly by defence minister Rajnath Singh and later home minister Amit Shah, who asked him not to quote from any unverified source. Naravane was the Army Chief at the time of the Ladakh confrontation. The excerpts cited by Rahul Gandhi were recently published by an online portal. Earlier, on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, registering his “strongest protest” over being denied the opportunity to speak on the President’s address during the ongoing Budget session. He described the restriction as a “blot on our democracy” and alleged that the government is “scared” of what is written in the book. 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
‘Just like ceasefire…’: Congress demands full details of India-US trade deal; fires four questions to Centre
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday urged the Centre to “take the Parliament and the entire country into confidence” over details of the India-US trade agreement after US President Donald Trump publicly announced and outlined its key components. Adding Indians have the right to know the full terms of the pact. In a post on X, Congress laid out several concerns, including claims that the deal was announced by Trump “on Modi’s request” and raised questions about its impact on Indian industry, traders and farmers. — INCIndia (@INCIndia) The grand old party flagging some issues fired four questions at the government demanding a complete clarity and details over the deal: Tariffs and market access: Trump said India would move to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers against US goods to “zero,” and India will benefit from a US reduction in reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 18%. It “seems India has agreed to completely open our market for America,” the Congress post said, asking what the deal specifically entails and how farmers’ interests are protected. Agriculture sector access: The party sought clarity on talk of opening India’s agriculture sector to American products, asking how the security and interests of Indian farmers have been ensured. Oil supply conditions: Trump’s announcement said PM Modi agreed to “stop buying Russian oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela.” Congress asked whether the government has formally accepted this condition. Buy American commitments: It also said according to the announcement, India would purchase over USD 500 billion of American goods, including energy, technology and agricultural products – raising questions in New Delhi about how this squares with the “Make in India” initiative. In his post announcing the deal, Trump wrote: “It was an Honor to speak with Prime Minister Modi… He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela… effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India… whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25% to 18%… They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO.” — RapidResponse47 (@RapidResponse47) Responding to Trump’s announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the US President, saying he was “delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%” and that stronger cooperation between the two democracies would benefit their people. — narendramodi (@narendramodi) Congress leaders have also questioned why key aspects of the trade deal were publicly disclosed from Washington, rather than jointly announced by both governments, and called for full disclosure of the agreement’s terms to lawmakers and the public. The government has not yet issued a comprehensive official statement detailing the full terms of the agreement beyond what was shared by Trump and acknowledged by PM Modi. 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
Parliament witnesses showdown as Rahul quotes Naravane memoir; Sanjay Raut calls Ajit Pawar’s death ‘suspicious’;
Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha speech sparked chaos after he quoted an unpublished Army chief memoir, leading to protests and an adjournment. The BJP hit back at the Opposition after Lok Sabha proceedings were repeatedly disrupted, defending the adjournment and citing rule violations. Sanjay Raut alleged Ajit Pawar’s plane crash death was “suspicious,” demanding a probe, while Sharad Pawar urged restraint. A Bangladesh court sentenced ex-PM Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in corruption cases linked to the Purbachal project. China slammed the Dalai Lama’s Grammy win, opposing what it called the use of the award for “anti-China activities.” Here are the top 5 news of the day: Lok Sabha uproar as Rahul Gandhi quotes unpublished Army chief memoir The Lok Sabha witnessed heated exchanges after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi quoted from former Army chief General MM Naravane’s memoir during the Motion of Thanks debate. Defence minister Rajnath Singh and home minister Amit Shah objected, saying the book was unpublished and could not be cited. Read full story Lok Sabha adjourned after uproar, BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following sustained disruptions and heated exchanges between the treasury benches and the Opposition. The BJP accused Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of defying the Speaker’s ruling and violating parliamentary rules, saying his conduct led to a waste of the House’s time. Read full story Sanjay Raut calls Ajit Pawar’s death ‘suspicious’, seeks probe Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut raised doubts over the death of NCP chief and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati, calling it “suspicious” and demanding a thorough investigation. Drawing parallels with the Justice Loya case, Raut alleged Pawar was planning an NCP reunion and faced pressure over past cases. Read full story 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
‘Not trying to defame the Army’: Priyanka Gandhi defends Rahul Gandhi amid Lok Sabha standoff over Naravane memoir
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday defended her brother, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying he was not attempting to defame the Army but was merely quoting from a magazine article referring to excerpts from the unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane. Speaking to news agency ANI, she said, “He was not trying to defame the Army. He was reading an excerpt from the book of the Army Chief. They [BJP] always say this whenever something comes out that they want to hide.” The Lok Sabha witnessed repeated disruptions and was adjourned for the day amid a prolonged standoff over Gandhi’s insistence on speaking about the 2020 India-China border tensions while referring to the report citing Naravane’s memoir. BJP members objected strongly, arguing Gandhi was speaking outside the rules of the House. The House, which was discussing the motion of thanks on the President’s Address, was adjourned first till 3 pm, then till 4 pm, and finally for the day. Speaker Om Birla ruled that Gandhi should not make references to the unpublished book or article, urging him to proceed without citing the material. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Gandhi of trying to demoralise the armed forces. “Rahul Gandhi flouted rules and started quoting from a book whose publication and authenticity is not clearly mentioned…He started speaking on the China border…Can the Congress party bring back the landmass that was captured by China in 1959 and 1962? Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation,” Rijiju said. He added, “If someone is born in a known family, are they above the Parliament? Are they above the rules? India is a democratic nation and functions as per rules…Rahul Gandhi doesn’t follow any rules.” Defence minister Rajnath Singh also urged the Chair to prevent Gandhi from making such references. Government sources cited by news agency PTI claimed that Gandhi was reading “concocted things” on China and noted there was ample information in the public domain on the India-China standoff during Nehru’s tenure. Despite repeated warnings from Speaker Birla, Gandhi insisted on raising the matter of national security. “It is uncomfortable for the defence minister and the prime minister, I understand. I consider national security the most important issue. If it was not uncomfortable, they would have let me speak, but the fact they are not allowing me to speak shows that they are uncomfortable,” he said. Several opposition leaders, including TMC’s Mahua Moitra, RJD’s Manoj Jha, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Kalyan Banerjee, supported Gandhi in pressing the 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
‘Blind to India’s real crises’: Rahul Gandhi hits out at Centre after Union Budget
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabh Rahul Gandhi on Sunday slammed the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it “blind to India’s real crises” and accusing the government of ignoring deep economic distress faced by ordinary citizens. In a post on X, the Leader of the Opposition laid out what he described as the country’s pressing problems: “Youth without jobs. Falling manufacturing. Investors pulling out capital. Household savings plummeting. Farmers in distress. Looming global shocks – all ignored.” He added that it was “a Budget that refuses course correction, blind to India’s real crises.” Gandhi’s remarks came soon after finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Budget, in which she raised the capital expenditure target to Rs 12.2 lakh crore for FY27, up from Rs 11.2 lakh crore in the current fiscal. The Budget also outlined infrastructure measures, including projects in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, against a backdrop of global uncertainty, trade frictions and slowing exports. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also slammed the budget, arguing that the government lacked both ideas and direction. “The Modi Government has run out of ideas. Budget2026 does not provide a single solution to India’s many economic, social, and political challenges,” he wrote. In another post, Kharge said, “‘Mission Mode’ is now ‘Challenge Route’. Reform Express rarely stops at any ‘Reform’ Junction. Net result: NO policy vision, NO political will.” He also pointed to rural distress and inequality. “Our Annadata Farmers still await meaningful welfare support or an income security plan. Inequality has surpassed the levels seen under the British Raj, but the Budget does not even mention it,” Kharge said, adding that states under financial stress had not been offered relief and that “Federalism has become a casualty”. 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
‘Talks with DMK to resume soon’
Chennai: TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said on Sunday the talks with the DMK will resume in ‘two or three days.’ He reiterated the Congress was holding alliance talks only with DMK. “We commenced our talks with DMK two months ago. After the recent meeting of DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi with our party leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, DMK informed us that alliance talks will resume in another two to three days,” Selvaperunthagai told reporters in Chennai. When asked about AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar’s statement that even new parties are interested in allying with Congress, Selvaperunthagai said Girish just meant that Congress was strong. His remarks do not mean that Congress was holding talks with new parties, he said. Earlier, Congress’ panel for alliance talks held a meeting here. The meeting was to discuss resuming talks with DMK and to plan the TN visit of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi in Feb end. 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
‘Alternative govt’: Shashi Tharoor on his vision of Congress’ role; dismisses rift rumours
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday dismissed speculation of a rift within the party, asserting that he is on the same page with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The statement comes after a recent closed-door meeting with the party’s top leadership. Referring to his meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said, “We’re on the same page. We’re moving forward determinately. I think it’s extremely important, both at the state level and at the national level, that Congress must represent not just an opposition party, but an alternative government.” Emphasising the party’s readiness to govern, Tharoor added, “An alternative government is what the people want to see, whether at the centre or the state. We need to stay together, work together and move forward together, and we’re doing that.” Tharoor’s remarks come after weeks of speculation about internal unease following his perceived sidelining at a Congress event in Kochi last month and his subsequent absence from a key Kerala strategy meeting chaired by Kharge. The tensions had triggered concerns within the party that the issue could snowball into a larger messaging problem ahead of the high-stakes Kerala elections. After weeks of visible discomfort, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi met Tharoor on Thursday in a detailed “redressal” meeting. The meeting, held in Kharge’s chamber in the Parliament House complex, lasted over an hour and forty-five minutes. Emerging from the meeting, Tharoor struck a conciliatory tone. Speaking to reporters, he said, “We had a discussion with my two party leaders, the LoP and the Congress president. We had a very good, constructive, positive discussion. All is good and we are moving together on the same page.” Sources told PTI that the discussion was “comprehensive”, covering a wide range of issues, with the leadership making time for a thorough exchange. Tharoor later reinforced the truce on social media, thanking Kharge and Gandhi for a “warm and constructive discussion” and reiterating that they were “all on the same page” as the party moves forward “in the service of the people of India”. Addressing speculation over the Congress’ chief ministerial face in Kerala, Tharoor categorically denied any such ambition. “That was never the issue. I am not interested in being the candidate for anything. At the moment I am already an MP, that is my job,” he said. The Congress leader also dismissed reports suggesting he might quit the party. “I can say that I am going to be in the Congress and that I am not going anywhere,” he said, adding that he would campaign extensively across Kerala’s 140 Assembly constituencies for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Tharoor highlighted that he had campaigned in 56 constituencies in the last Assembly elections and hoped to cover even more this time. “It is very important that we send the right message to voters and have an opportunity to make a significant impact on people’s lives,” he said. Rejecting reports of discord, Tharoor described them as “exaggerated” and maintained that discussions within the party were healthy. “I see it in a positive way that one has an opportunity to discuss all issues very cordially and constructively in the spirit of camaraderie,” he said. The Congress is seeking to wrest power from the Left Democratic Front after a decade in opposition in Kerala. Party leaders acknowledge that unity will be critical as the BJP also looks to expand its footprint in the state. 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