Congress’s Mega Plan: Rahul Gandhi May Lead the Charge on MGNREGA and Aravalli Issues
Congress News: Congress is preparing for a major movement on the MGNREGA and Aravalli issues. A march from Gujarat to Delhi under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi is possible. The final decision on the strategy will be taken at the CWC meeting on December 27. Congress is preparing for a major movement on the MGNREGA and Aravalli issues. Jaipur: The Congress party is once again preparing to adopt an aggressive stance on the MGNREGA scheme and issues related to the Aravalli range. The Congress leadership is now formulating a plan for a large-scale public movement on these two issues. According to a media report, a march or a widespread public movement could be launched across four states, from Gujarat to Delhi, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. The final decision on this strategy may be taken at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on December 27. Movement likely under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership After cornering the central government on issues like vote rigging and the SIR (Special Investigation Report), the Congress is now preparing to push the MGNREGA and Aravalli issues in the changed political environment. The party believes that these issues are directly related to the common people, employment, and the environment, making it relatively easier to garner public support. This is why the Congress high command may give Rahul Gandhi the role of leading the movement and taking to the streets on these issues. Plan for a march across four states, including Rajasthan According to discussions within the party, the proposed march could start from Gujarat and pass through Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. Several public meetings and interaction programs will also be organized during the march. The objective is not only to question the policies of the central government but also to reactivate the organization at the grassroots level. Brainstorming among leaders in Jaipur, launch possible in the new year A detailed discussion on the strategy for this entire campaign took place in Jaipur between former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress leader Pawan Khera. The two leaders deliberated on the nature of the movement, the presentation of the issues, and the direction of public relations. The party leadership wants the movement to be effective and connect directly with the common people. According to Congress sources, the movement or march is likely to begin in the new year. Since everyone is currently busy with year-end and New Year’s programs, the campaign may start in the first week of January. All eyes are now on the CWC meeting on December 27, where the Congress’s future political direction is expected to be decided. Authored by: Sambrat Chaturvedi About the Author Sambrat Chaturvedi is an Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times Digital. He has over 20 years of experience in journalism. He covers news related to politics, crime, education, art, and culture in Rajasthan. He has been associated with NBT (Digital) for the past 5 years. His journalism career began at Rajasthan Patrika, Jaipur. Courtesy: Hindi News
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with Sonia and Priyanka, among 6 leaders issued notice by court, accused of sedition!
Rahul Gandhi MP MLA Court Notice: The Lucknow MP-MLA court has issued notices to 6 Congress leaders. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others will have to respond by January 5th. They have been accused of making anti-national statements. Rahul Gandhi, Sonia and Priyanka issued notice by court Abhay Singh Rathore, Lucknow: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and six other senior Congress leaders have been issued notices by the court. The Lucknow MP-MLA court issued the notices to the Congress leaders. The court has set January 5th as the date for all the accused to respond to the notice. Advocate Napendra Pandey had filed a complaint in the Lucknow MP-MLA court on September 9th. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Kunwar Pratap Srivastava, told the court that Rahul Gandhi, in his statement at the inauguration of the Congress headquarters, had said that he was fighting against the BJP, RSS, and the Indian nation. It should be noted that this entire matter is related to the alleged speech given during the inauguration of the newly constructed Congress headquarters in Delhi. The hearing in this case took place on Wednesday in the court of Special ACJM (MP-MLA) Judge Alok Verma. Anti-national and seditious statements After the hearing, the court issued notices against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi, KC Venugopal, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Jairam Ramesh. The plaintiff alleges that this statement falls under the category of anti-national and seditious statements. It was also stated that other senior Congress leaders supported Rahul Gandhi’s statement, which further increases its seriousness. The complaint also alleges that Rahul Gandhi is misleading the public by making false statements against responsible individuals holding constitutional positions and is trying to spread animosity in society. According to the plaintiff, such statements can lead the country towards a situation like a civil war, which is an anti-national act. After hearing all sides, the court has initially deemed the case admissible and issued notices to the accused Congress leaders, asking them to present their arguments on January 5. Edited by: Dhirendra Singh About the Author Dhirendra Singh is a Senior Journalist at Navbharat Times Online. Dhirendra Singh writes news on politics, crime, governance, and other issues. He also has experience in ground reporting in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir. He has about 11 years of experience in the field of journalism. He started his career in Delhi, where he covered several beats, including crime reporting. He has gained reporting experience at Hindustan Samachar News Agency Delhi, Navodaya Times Delhi, Rajasthan Patrika Uttar Pradesh, Amar Ujala Jammu and Kashmir, and Dainik Jagran Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. During his reporting in Jammu and Kashmir, he also covered the Pulwama terrorist attack and the curfew. He also has experience reporting during assembly elections. Currently, for about 4 years, he has been responsible for writing news on various beats such as politics, crime, soft stories, and other issues for Navbharat Times Digital in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He studied journalism at the prestigious Delhi University South Campus (2013-14 batch). Courtesy: Hindi News
Ashwini Vaishnaw: Rahul Gandhi’s praise for Karnataka jobs affirms Make in India success
NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi’s praise for “transformative” job creation in Karnataka led I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Wednesday to assert that it was an acknowledgement of the success of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme. He said on X, “Thanks Rahul Gandhi for acknowledging the success of PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme. As you have noted, we are becoming a producer economy as we implement our PM’s vision.” In a recent social media post, the LoP in Lok Sabha had cited a news report to highlight the hiring of 30,000 staff in 8-9 months, the fastest factor ramp-up seen in India so far, by Foxconn in the Congress-ruled Karnataka. Rahul had said, “It is transformative job creation. What makes it even more powerful is that the unit is largely women-led, with around 80% women, most aged 19-24, and for many, this is their first job. Karnataka is setting an example by creating an ecosystem where manufacturing can grow at this scale and speed. This is India we must build: jobs with dignity, and opportunities for all.” Officials pointed out that it was during Covid that the Modi government, tapping into the widespread recognition to diversify supply chains, nudged Apple’s vendors, including Foxconn, to shift significant parts of their manufacturing operations from China. The nudge often resembled a covert operation as Beijing sought to block reshoring. At the time, it was a BJP government in Karnataka and Centre’s production linked incentives played a major role as it provided sops to mobile manufacturers. The government followed it up with incentives for electronic components. Since then Foxconn has bolstered its operations in the country with a large presence in Tamil Nadu and is also looking at facilities in UP. 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
Priyanka Gandhi to take over Congress leadership? Why did Kushwaha say – there is no longer any trust in Rahul?
Priyanka Gandhi Congress Leadership: Speculation about giving a new responsibility to Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi has stirred up politics in Bihar. There are indications that Priyanka Gandhi may be given an important role in the organization in 2026. Patna: The buzz about Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi getting a big and important responsibility within the party in 2026 has intensified the political activity in Bihar. While statements from Congress leaders are raising demands for a bigger role for Priyanka, the opposition is portraying it as a ‘failure’ of Rahul Gandhi. Let’s find out. Priyanka Gandhi may get a new responsibility Priyanka Gandhi is currently serving as General Secretary without any specific portfolio. After the defeat in the 2022 UP assembly elections, she was removed from the post of UP in-charge. According to sources, instead of limiting her to one state, she may be given a new and influential position such as ‘Campaign Committee Head’ or ‘Election Management Committee’. Meanwhile, statements from Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra and Congress MP from UP, Imran Masood, have fueled discussions about a leadership change. While Masood called her a contender for the PM’s post, Vadra said that the public’s demand to see Priyanka in a bigger role is constantly increasing. Political analysts are interpreting Robert Vadra’s statement as a hint towards the Congress president’s post. Congress doesn’t trust Rahul’s leadership: Upendra Kushwaha Reacting sharply to Vadra’s statement, Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha raised strong questions about Rahul Gandhi’s leadership abilities. Kushwaha said, “The way Robert Vadra is talking about bringing Priyanka Gandhi forward, it is clear that even the Congress itself no longer trusts Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.” Kushwaha further taunted that whether it is Priyanka or Rahul, no Congress leader will be able to reach the Prime Minister’s chair for many years to come. He emphasized that the country is currently safe under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will continue to remain so. What did Kushwaha say about Rahul’s statement abroad? Upendra Kushwaha also strongly objected to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of Indian institutions in Berlin. He said, “When will Rahul Gandhi understand that matters concerning the country should be discussed within the country itself? Criticizing one’s own system abroad is objectionable.” Kushwaha said that the public has already responded to his statements like these in the past, and he will have to face the consequences in the future as well. Edited by: Sudhendra Pratap Singh About the Author Sudhendra Pratap Singh, Principal Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online. Started his journalism career in Agra. Began his journey with the local newspaper Agrabharat. From there, his career progressed through Kalpataru Express, Hindustan newspaper, and News18 before joining NBT.com. Courtesy: Hindi News
‘Demands from everywhere’: Robert Vadra on Congress leader’s Priyanka for PM pitch; claims many want him in politics
NEW DELHI: Robert Vadra on Tuesday joined chorus after Congress MP Imran Masood pushed Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s name as the party’s face for the prime minister’s post. Responding to the remarks, Priyanka Gandhi’s husband, Robert Vadra told news agency IANS, “There are demands from everywhere that Priyanka should come forward. There are also demands that I should enter politics. But right now, we should focus on the real issues that concern the people.” — ians_india (@ians_india) Earlier in the day, Congress MP Imran Masood said that if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were made Prime Minister, she would respond strongly like her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was defending Priyanka Gandhi’s comments on the rising violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh. Speaking to ANI news agency, Masood said, “… Is Priyanka Gandhi the Prime Minister? Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate like Indira Gandhi. She is Priyanka Gandhi. She has Gandhi added behind her name. She is the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi, who inflicted so much damage on Pakistan that those wounds still haven’t healed. Make her the Prime Minister and see how she will retaliate. You won’t dare to do that.” While, the grand old party has traditionally supported Rahul Gandhi as its main face challenging the strong position of the BJP in national politics. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had recently urged the Centre to take cognisance of the increasing violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities in Bangladesh after the murder of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das. In a post on X, she wrote, “The news of the brutal murder by a mob of Hindu youth Deepu Chandra Das in Bangladesh is extremely alarming. In any civilised society, discrimination, violence, and murder based on religion, caste, identity, etc., are crimes against humanity. The Government of India should take cognisance of the rising violence against Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist minorities in the neighbouring country and firmly raise the issue of their safety with the Government of Bangladesh.” Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested seven people in connection with the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old garment worker and follower of Sanatan Dharma, who was beaten to death on December 18 in the Bhaluka area of Mymensingh district. According to police, the killing was allegedly triggered by accusations of blasphemy. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, the country’s largest minority organisation, strongly condemned the murder, calling it a brutal act that threatens communal harmony. 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
CPM MP John Brittas questions Rahul Gandhi’s absence from Parliament
NEW DELHI: CPM MP John Brittas on Tuesday questioned leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s absence from Parliament in the final days of winter session when crucial bills, including VB-G RAM G, were passed despite opposition’s protests. He also criticised Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s participation at the end of the session in the tea meeting hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla in his chambers, which was also attended by PM Narendra Modi. “It was a desire that when a crucial legislation like VB-G RAM G is being bulldozed in Parliament along with other crucial bills on nuclear energy and insurance, we expected the leader of opposition (Rahul) to lead INDIA bloc or opposition rank and file. That was an expectation and a desire,” he told NDTV. Speaking to channels and news agencies, Brittas also said that he was not alone and other politicians from INDIA bloc too felt the same way about Rahul’s absence. He said they felt that Rahul’s presence would have made a big difference. “The calendar of winter session is known to all members. So, I feel the LoP would have looked at the session’s calendar and in all fairness he should have been there. Rahul’s presence would have made a big difference,” he reiterated. However, Brittas said that it is up to Rahul and his party to decide whether he needs to be in Parliament or he needs to be elsewhere. On Priyanka’s decision to attend the tea meeting, Brittas was clear that it sends out the “wrong message” and cited how in past sessions, when govt passed waqf bill and did not hold a discussion on special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, opposition skipped these meetings. “Compared to all those boycotts, this was a humongous issue,” he told ANI referring to VB-G RAM G’s passage. “Just couple of hours after bulldozing the bill to eliminate MGNREGA, it was not a good scene for us to see Priyanka and others sitting at the tea party along with the PM,” he added. 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
No Rahul Gandhi meeting for DK Shivakumar in New Delhi
Bengaluru/Delhi: The much-anticipated visit of deputy chief minister and Congress state president DK Shivakumar to New Delhi on Tuesday failed to trigger any political movement, as he could not meet Rahul Gandhi, who is on a five-day trip to Germany to attend various events. Shivakumar’s visit had generated political interest amid speculation over a possible CM change in Karnataka, with expectations that he would meet Rahul. The developments had drawn the attention of both his and chief minister Siddaramaiah’s supporters. Speaking to reporters in the national capital, Shivakumar downplayed the purpose of his Delhi visit, saying it was limited to meetings with Union ministers on state-related issues. “I have not come for any politics here; I have come just to meet Union ministers regarding our state, for irrigation and urban development. I don’t want to comment on other political issues that are not on the cards now,” he said. The visit comes amid renewed speculation about a rotational chief ministership in Karnataka, with talk of a 2.5-year power-sharing arrangement resurfacing as the Congress govt crossed the halfway mark of its term on Nov 20. Meanwhile, Shivakumar also criticised the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, claiming that the revised funding pattern would make the scheme unworkable for states. “This is the beginning of the end. By changing Mahatma Gandhi’s name, they wanted to kill the programme (MNREGA). Which state govt will give 40% funding? No state, including BJP-ruled states, can do this. This scheme will fail… 40% is impossible for any state to provide,” he said. Approve Metro Phase III, DKS asks Centre Shivakumar urged the Centre to grant clearance for Phase III of Bengaluru Metro, connecting Hebbal and Sarjapur, and to approve the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) linking Bengaluru with neighbouring states. He met the Union minister for housing and urban affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, and submitted a requisition seeking approvals for key mass transit projects. The proposed Hebbal-Sarjapur Metro corridor will span 36.6km with 28 stations. The govt has also sought central approval for the revised completion cost of Metro Phase II. The cost of the 75km project — of which 21km is yet to be operational — escalated from Rs 26,405 crore to Rs 40,425 crore. The revised cost was approved by the state in June, citing delays, land acquisition issues, and design changes. 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
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