Imran Masood backtracks from Priyanka Gandhi remark, says Rahul Gandhi is the leader
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Imran Masood said Rahul Gandhi is the acknowledged leader of the party, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s, issuing a clarification after a remark of his – “if Priyanka was the PM, Hindus would not have faced persecution in Bangladesh like today” – triggered a row. Masood explained that he was asked a question about Priyanka in context of Bangladesh, and he centered his response around it. “Rahul Gandhi is leader of Congress, and he is also the leader of Priyanka… Rahul and Priyanka are grandchildren of Indira Gandhi. If they had the command, Hindus in Bangladesh would not have faced the situation that they are facing now (while BJP is in office). That’s all I said.” The clarification, apparently after a prod from All India Congress Committee, sought to address the confusion that Masood’s response caused, being grabbed by BJP and TV headlines – which called it opposition party’s lack of confidence in Rahul. As if complementing Masood’s remark, PTI quoted Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra as saying that “Priyanka has a bright future in politics, and a time will come when people would like to see her at the top office.” Masood also slammed senior party functionary Shashi Tharoor over the latter’s praise for “Bihar’s model of development”, calling the LS member from Kerala directionless: “He is at a stage in life where he is lost. He is with Congress and talks about BJP. BJP has no future in Kerala, what will he do?” Earlier, Masood had said, “Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the PM and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi. She is the granddaughter of Indira, who inflicted so much damage on Pakistan that those wounds still haven’t healed.” Seizing upon the issue, BJP spokesman Shehzad Poonawalla said, “Congress MP Imran Masood has clearly said he does not have faith in Rahul anymore and sought to bring Priyanka in his place. Then an endorsement to this came from Robert Vadra, who said, ‘Yes, it is correct’.” Congress is wary of “Rahul vs Priyanka” headlines, realising that overzealous supporters of the Gandhi siblings end up offering an opportunity to rival BJP. 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 deliver decisive treatment’: Congress MP endorses Priyanka Gandhi for PM; draws Indira parallel on Bangladesh
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Imran Masood on Tuesday said that Priyanka Gandhi will “deliver a decisive treatment” to Bangladesh if she becomes the Prime Minister. Refuting the charges from the BJP targeting Priyanka Gandhi for allegedly not speaking out strongly enough against violence against minorities in Bangladesh, Masood said that Wayanad MP spoke out the strongly the last time Bangladesh was becoming a central issue. “Priyanka Gandhi had raised her voice foremost last time when violence took place in Bangladesh. Make Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister first, and then see how she responds, just like Indira Gandhi,” Masood said. “Just like Indira Gandhi broke Pakistan into two places, Priyanka Gandhi will deliver a decisive treatment to the country (Bangladesh) so that it would not be able to become a hub of anti-India narratives,” he added. When asked what will Rahul Gandhi do if Priyanka becomes PM, Masood said,” Rahul Gandhi will act too—they are not separate. Rahul and Priyanka are like two eyes on the same face, the grandchildren of Indira Gandhi. Don’t look at them separately—they are two eyes, one vision”. Amid the ongoing protests in Dhaka, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged the Centre to take cognisance of the increasing violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities after the murder of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das in Bangladesh. The protests came in the backdrop of a mob lynching of the Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, a worker in a garment factory, in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district. According to reports, Dipu Das, who was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy charges, had his body hanged and set on fire on December 18. The Daily Star, citing Mymensingh’s Additional Superintendent of Police, Abdullah Al Mamun, stated that a factory official had informed Bhaluka police that a group of workers attacked Dipu inside the factory, accusing him of making communal remarks. Factory sources told The Daily Star that the assailants later took Dipu out of the factory premises, where residents also joined the attack, resulting in his death. However, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-14 Company Commander in Mymensingh, Md Samsuzzaman, told The Daily Star that investigators found no evidence suggesting the deceased had posted or written anything on Facebook that could have hurt religious sentiments, adding that neither residents nor fellow garment factory workers could point to any such activity by the victim. The victim’s brother, Apu Chandra Das, also filed a case at Bhaluka Police Station on Friday, naming 140 to 150 unidentified individuals as accused. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation among political leaders, religious organisations and minority groups in Bangladesh and India. 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
Democracy Under Attack in India, ED-CBI Turned into Weapons, Says Rahul Gandhi in Germany
Rahul Gandhi questioned the fairness of elections in India, saying that the BJP has captured the institutional framework. He alleged that intelligence agencies, the CBI and ED have been weaponized, and there are fundamental problems with the electoral machinery. Gandhi said the opposition will have to find a way to counter this situation. New Delhi: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has once again raised questions about the fairness of elections in India and claimed that the BJP has completely captured the country’s institutional framework, but the opposition will have to find a way to counter this. Speaking at a dialogue program at the Hertie School in Berlin, the German capital, he alleged that intelligence agencies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Enforcement Directorate have been turned into weapons. Rahul Gandhi uploaded a video of the program ‘Politics is the Art of Listening’ held in Berlin on his YouTube channel on Monday. He said, ‘We are raising questions about the fairness of elections in India… Our country’s democratic framework is under attack from all sides.’ He mentioned that the name of a Brazilian model appeared 22 times in the Haryana voter list. Fundamental problems in the electoral machinery: Rahul The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, ‘We are not getting answers from the Election Commission to the questions we are raising.’ He said that there are some fundamental problems in the electoral machinery in India. ‘The institutional framework has been completely captured, when you look at our intelligence agencies, the CBI and the ED, you find that they have been completely weaponized.’ The Congress MP further said, ‘Look, how many cases are there against BJP people by the ED and CBI? The answer will be none.’ He claimed that most of the cases have been registered against people from the opposition. He alleged that if you are a big industrialist and intend to support the Congress, you will be threatened. The ED and CBI will come after you.’ BJP has a lot of money… In Berlin, Rahul Gandhi, while referring to election funding, said that the BJP has much more money than the Congress. Therefore, as the opposition, we have to find a way to counter the situation… but you have to understand that we are not just fighting the BJP, we are also fighting against its takeover of the Indian institutional framework.’ Responding to a question related to the air pollution situation in Delhi and some other major cities of India, Rahul said that there is no contradiction between production and pollution; what matters is the type of fuel you are using, the type of energy you use for production. The pollution in our big cities can be addressed through appropriate government intervention.’ He said that Germany has a lot of production, but the air here is clean. Response on the Israel issue The Congress leader, responding to a question related to Israel, said, ‘We buy weapons from many countries, we buy from Israel, we also buy from Russia and we also buy from America. In difficult situations, we will have to defend ourselves… What Hamas did was completely wrong, and what Israel did afterward was also wrong. Women and children should not have been bombed.’ Edited by: Abhishek Pandey About the author Abhishek Pandey is a Consultant Writer at Navbharat Times Online. He has more than three years of experience working on news related to current affairs, politics, crime, and public interest. He has also closely covered the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022 and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Courtesy: Hindi News
Rahul Gandhi doesn’t care about the country and is behaving like a child. Why did the BJP target him?
BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi’s Germany Visit: Rahul Gandhi made some comments during his visit to Germany that have raised the political temperature in India. The BJP even hit back, saying he is not the Leader of the Opposition, but an anti-India leader. BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi: Find out what he said New Delhi: During his visit to Germany on Monday, Rahul Gandhi said at an event that the country’s institutional structure is under massive attack. The BJP government is trying to steal votes. He also mentioned duplicate voters in the voter list. The Congress MP said that the 2024 Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections were not fair. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre has reacted strongly to the Leader of the Opposition’s comments in the Lok Sabha. BJP rebukes Rahul Gandhi BJP leader and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that the Congress MP is not the Leader of the Opposition, but an anti-India leader who goes abroad and speaks against the country. The Union Minister called Rahul Gandhi a child and said he doesn’t care about the country. BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s Congress wants anarchy! Shobha Karandlaje asked, “What does Rahul Gandhi want to achieve?” Reacting to the Congress leader’s comment, Shobha Karandlaje asked, “What does Rahul Gandhi want to achieve by doing this? Rahul Gandhi still behaves like a child, not a leader.” BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also targeted Rahul Gandhi. He asked, “Is there anyone who loves India who would want India to fail?” Pradeep Bhandari’s attack, referring to George Soros, stated, “Rahul Gandhi says in Germany that he thinks people will fight each other. India will fail. There will be unrest.” The BJP leader said, “From fighting the Indian state to threatening anarchy, Rahul Gandhi’s Congress, along with its ideological mentor, George Soros, wants anarchy and unrest in Indian democracy.” Congress hates Indian democracy: BJP The BJP leader further said that Rahul Gandhi goes abroad to unite such anti-India forces. Targeting the country’s main opposition party, he said that Congress hates Indian democracy. Congress hates India’s progress. Rahul Gandhi’s Congress wants anarchy! What Rahul Gandhi Said Rahul Gandhi, at an event in Germany on Monday, alleged a “massive attack” on India’s institutions. During a lecture in Berlin, Rahul Gandhi said that India’s institutional system has been largely taken over. He said that investigative agencies, such as the ED and CBI, have been weaponized. He claimed that the ED and CBI have no cases against the BJP, while most cases are against opposition leaders. He said that if a businessman supports the Congress, he is threatened. Curated by: Ruchir Shukla About the Author Ruchir Shukla has been with Navbharat Times Online since February 2020. He began his career with a news agency in 2011. During this time, he broke major news stories through reporting. He specializes in political, social, crime, and positive news. He has been working in digital media for nearly 12 years. He graduated from Delhi University. Courtesy: Hindi News
Is Rahul Gandhi meeting ‘enemies of the nation’ in Germany? Why did the BJP make a serious allegation against the Congress leader?
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to Germany, is once again in the BJP’s crosshairs. This time, the BJP has accused him of meeting with enemies of the nation and conspiring against them. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has questioned Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with the President of the Berlin-based Hertie School. Is Rahul Gandhi meeting ‘enemies of the nation’ in Germany? Why did the BJP make a serious allegation against the Congress leader? New Delhi: The BJP has once again targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on a visit to Germany. On Saturday, the BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi met with ‘enemies of India’ during his visit to Germany. The BJP questioned the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha about what kind of ‘conspiracy’ he is hatching against the country by colluding with such forces. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with a professor. Claim of receiving funding from Jorge Soares At a press conference at BJP headquarters, party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia displayed an alleged photograph of Gandhi with Professor Cornelia Voll, President of the Berlin-based Hertie School. Bhatia called this “evidence” of the Congress leader’s meeting with “anti-India forces in Germany.” Bhatia claimed that Voll is one of the trustees of the Central European University, which receives funding from the Open Society Foundations of American billionaire investor George Soros. There was no immediate reaction from Rahul Gandhi or the Congress party. Rahul had spoken on the decline in manufacturing. Earlier, on Wednesday (December 17), after visiting the BMW Welt and BMW Plant in Munich, Rahul Gandhi had said that manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies, but the sector is declining in India. In an Instagram post, the Congress leader said that India needs to build a meaningful manufacturing ecosystem to accelerate growth. The BJP had called Rahul’s claim anti-India. The BJP had termed this claim by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as “anti-India.” The BJP had claimed that production in the country was “constantly increasing.” BJP leader Sambit Patra alleged that Rahul Gandhi and responsibility cannot coexist. The BJP MP stated that Rahul Gandhi’s frequent foreign trips, his insults and anti-India statements from foreign soil, clearly demonstrate the sentiments of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party toward India. Edited by: Anil Kumar About the Author Anil Kumar is part of the home page team at Navbharat Times Digital. He has nearly 16 years of experience in both newspaper and digital media. He has been with Navbharat Times Online since January 2021. He writes news and analysis on politics and current affairs for the India and Delhi sections of the home page. He has previously reported on sports and education for Dainik Bhaskar in Haryana and Dainik Jagran in Chandigarh. He has worked on the central desks of Rajasthan Patrika, Jaipur, and Amar Ujala, Noida. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Delhi University and a PG Diploma in Journalism. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘2 years on, Congress is yet to fulfil Telangana pledges,’ says G Kishan Reddy
NEW DELHI: Union minister G Kishan Reddy Sunday urged Congress leader Sonia Gandhi to clarify the party’s position on the promises made to farmers and others in Telangana. In a letter, the BJP leader recalled that during the Telangana assembly poll campaign in 2023, Gandhi unveiled Congress’s poll manifesto titled “Abhayahastam” and personally assured people that the Congress’s guarantees would be implemented immediately upon it coming to office. “Congress subsequently won the poll and has now completed two full years in office. During this period, have you ever reviewed or enquired about the status of the manifesto that you, along with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Congress, promised to people of Telangana? Did you even raise this issue when the CM met you recently,” he asked. “Under guise of development, state govt has tried to introduce new narrative through a vision document, while earlier guarantees remain unaddressed. The party leadership seems content congratulating itself…” 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
Rahul Gandhi Sidelined in Congress, Sonia Gives Command to Priyanka? 5 Big Signs
Since Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trip, a major shift is visible in the Congress party’s approach. Priyanka Gandhi is leading the Congress and the INDIA bloc from the front. The Congress is doing everything that wouldn’t have happened while Rahul was in charge. Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi New Delhi: The winter session of Parliament, which concluded on Friday, has signaled two major changes in Indian politics. First, if it was thought that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had weakened due to the expected reduction in BJP seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, this session has dispelled that illusion. The BJP is running the government almost exactly as it has in the previous two terms. The second change is being seen in the main opposition party, the Congress. Since the initial part of the session, Priyanka Gandhi has led the Congress and its allies from the front, and Rahul Gandhi appears to have been sidelined. Tea with PM Modi Since Narendra Modi entered active politics in 2002, the top leadership of the Congress has maintained a political distance from him that is rarely seen in any democracy in the world. But on December 19, 2025 (Friday), the day the winter session of Parliament concluded, the country and the world witnessed a major change. The enthusiasm Priyanka showed in fulfilling the parliamentary ritual at the Speaker’s invitation is historic. She comfortably participated in the meeting with PM Modi, his ministers and MPs, and MPs from opposition parties. During this time, she not only discussed her parliamentary constituency of Wayanad with PM Modi, but the leaders were also seen laughing together. This would never have been possible with Rahul Gandhi around. Meeting with Gadkari in his chamber Just a day earlier, on Thursday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in his chamber in the Parliament House. She had expressed her desire to meet him in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, and Gadkari immediately agreed. It’s difficult to expect or imagine such behavior from Priyanka’s elder brother and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The way Priyanka has displayed a strong sense of being a prominent Indian politician and a leading Member of Parliament of the opposition party in just two days during his absence from India is not typical for the Congress party under Rahul’s leadership. This means that Priyanka is now making decisions on her own, or she has been instructed to do so! Central Minister’s Controversial Claim The fact is that while the Modi government was preparing to pass some very important bills in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, despite being the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, went on a trip to Germany. Regarding this, Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu made a significant claim in a conversation with a reporter. Bittu, who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party from Congress just a year and a half ago, said that “there is a big fight going on between Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Priyanka gave some speeches in Parliament that led to comparisons with Rahul. Angered by this, Rahul went abroad. There are problems in his party and family because of this.” Rahul’s Allies Distance Themselves For some time now, Rahul Gandhi has been making “vote theft,” the possibility of EVM tampering, and the SIR (Special Investigation Report) a major issue. In the monsoon session, the opposition INDIA bloc also strongly supported him on these issues. In Bihar, Rahul made a tremendous effort to create a stir on these issues. He tried out all the leaders of the INDIA bloc by bringing them onto the streets of Bihar. However, not only was the Grand Alliance wiped out in the Bihar elections, but even the Congress party’s MLAs, who were few in number, failed to win. As a result, all the allies of the INDIA bloc started distancing themselves from him. Omar Abdullah called vote theft a Congress agenda, while Supriya Sule started praising the EVMs. Lalu Yadav was left with no reaction, and Mamata Banerjee started showing even more distance from Congress. The only one left was the DMK, which had no choice but to become a follower of Congress in Tamil Nadu. Previously, this situation was kept under wraps, but the Bihar elections exposed the weaknesses of the INDIA bloc. The letter addressed to Sonia During the winter session of Parliament, on December 8, a Congress leader from Odisha and former MLA, Mohammed Moquim, wrote a five-page letter to Sonia Gandhi demanding that the reins of the party be handed over to a young leader, and he even suggested the name of party MP and her daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He questioned the Congress party’s continuous defeats in state and national elections and suggested open-heart surgery within the party. In the letter, he mentioned how difficult it is for leaders like him to even meet Rahul Gandhi. Although the party expelled him, the glimpse of change seen in the Congress party’s attitude afterward suggests that Priyanka’s increased activity is not without reason. She seems to be preparing herself to play on the front lines, sidelining her brother. Authored by: Anjan Kumar About the Author Anjan Kumar is an Assistant Editor at Navbharat Times Online. He has over 23 years of experience in electronic and digital media. He is interested in writing on topics related to politics, current affairs, judiciary, defense, foreign affairs, and business. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘PM also does it’: Omar Abdullah backs Rahul Gandhi on foreign visits; rejects BJP claim of ‘anti-India’ meetings
NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday defended Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after the BJP accused him of meeting “anti-Indian forces” during his visit to Germany. Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said that travelling abroad, meeting people outside the country is not a crime and that the prime minister does it too. “When has Rahul Gandhi met any anti-Indian personality? Is it a crime to go abroad? He is free to go anywhere and talk (to anyone). Everyone does it. The prime minister does it. All ministers do it. Why should the BJP people object?” said Abdullah, as quoted by PTI. He was responding to remarks by BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, who accused Gandhi of meeting “enemies of India” during his visit to Germany. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia showed a photograph of Gandhi with Berlin-based Hertie School president and professor Cornellia Woll, calling it “proof” of the Congress leader meeting “anti-India forces in Germany.” He also claimed that Woll is a trustee of the Central European University, which he said is funded by US-based billionaire investor George Soros’s Open Society Foundation. Separately, Abdullah spoke about the dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the lack of rain or snowfall since November has raised concerns over water supply, air quality, and the winter tourism season. “We are waiting impatiently for snow. It has been dry since November. And we are feeling a little shortage of water everywhere. Pollution has also increased in both, Jammu and Kashmir regions. Whether it is rain or snow, the air will be cleaner. But the big thing is that our winter tourism season will start,” 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
Fought for MGNREGA earlier, will fight again: Sonia Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Amplifying the threat of agitation coming from Congress in recent days, Sonia Gandhi Saturday said she fought for MGNREGA two decades ago, and is as committed to fight for it again. The statement, as part of a video message criticising the repeal of MGNREGA and promulgation of “black law” ‘VB-G RAM G’, came a day after Rahul Gandhi said Congress will force the Modi govt to withdraw the new law. Sonia accused the Modi govt of “bulldozing” MGNREGA, and asserted that the “black law” that seeks to repeal it will be defied by lakhs of party workers across the country. She said BJP govt has attacked the interests of crores of farmers, labourers, and landless across the country, after the Centre has ignored interests of rural poor for last 11 years. Slamming the repeal of MGNREGA, she said, “We are all ready to counter this attack. Twenty years ago, I too fought to secure the right to employment for our poor brothers and sisters; today, I remain as committed to fighting against this black law.” 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 calls G RAM G bill anti-rural poor, vows to force government to withdraw it
NEW DELHI: Raising the battle stakes over MGNREGA with the BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday said Congress will force the Modi govt to withdraw the disbanding of the job guarantee scheme, with the party warning that farmers’ protest forced the Centre to roll back the “three black farm laws”. ‘Congress also warned that after MGNREGA, the BJP will target the acts on forest rights, food security and land acquisition, while RTI has already been hollowed out. In comments issued while abroad, Rahul said MGNREGA provided the vulnerable sections with “leverage” and “bargaining power” which brought down “exploitation” and distress migration, while improving wages and working conditions.”That leverage is precisely what this govt wants to break … Prime Minister Modi’s targets are clear: weaken labour, weaken the leverage of rural India, especially Dalits, OBCs and adivasis,” he said, adding the VB-G RAM G will enfeeble the job guarantee that was “rural poor’s last line of defence”, and is “anti-state and anti-village”. Rahul’s statement of intent – he did not participate in the LS debate as he is in Germany for an international political meeting – came as the Congress Working Committee is set to meet on Dec 27, likely to discuss an action plan for a nationwide stir. Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh and Manickam Tagore warned, “Farmers protested and forced the PM to roll back the three farm laws. The CWC will hopefully come out with an action plan on how to raise the issue.” The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha added, “We will stand with workers, panchayats and states to defeat this move and build a nationwide front to ensure this law is withdrawn.” With a joint protest inside the Parliament chambers, the opposition believes the issue can serve as an important outreach to the weaker sections while papering over the divisions that mar the anti-BJP bloc. The opposition members have in recent days spoken about the protests against the land acquisition bill and the farm laws, to argue that weakening of the job scheme structure will have resonance with the poor who have come to depend on MGNREGA. Jairam Ramesh said, “Like the three black farm laws were to impact the farmers, this G Ram G law will hurt the vulnerable sections.” That advocacy groups and NGOs will complement their effort in taking the message to target groups has only bolstered their hope of an effective agitation. 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