‘RSS believes it knows the truth for everyone’: Rahul Gandhi attacks Sangh over ideology
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi Thursday accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of trying to impose its idea of truth on people across India, arguing that every individual must have the freedom to find and define their own truth. Speaking at the “Hara Bhara Swaraj: A Tribute to Rajiv Gandhi’s Vision” programme in New Delhi, the Gandhi Scion described the ideological contest in India as a deeper struggle over how people understand themselves, freedom and their place in society. The Congress leader also drew a distinction between the RSS’s worldview and Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of ‘Swaraj’, saying no organisation or individual could claim to know what is true for another person. “What Gandhiji was saying was that every living being is a unique entity with their own path towards the truth. I cannot tell you what your truth is. Today, the ideological battle in India is precisely that. It is not fundamentally about environment, politics, or free media–those are symptoms. The real fight is that a small group of people have decided, because they control the system, that they know the truth of everyone in this country. That is my problem with the RSS: the RSS has decided that they know the truth of 1.5 billion people. And I say, no. Only 1.5 billion people can know their own truth,” Rahul Gandhi asserted. He said even he could not claim to understand another person’s truth because people’s experiences, families and circumstances are different. “And I say, no. Only 1.5 billion people can know their own truth. Even I cannot do that. If I begin to believe that I know your truth, I would be a madman. Because I am not you. I haven’t faced what you’ve faced; I haven’t seen what you’ve seen; I haven’t dealt with what you’ve dealt with. I don’t have the same parents, the same friends, or the same life. So how can I say that I know your truth?” he added. ‘My Experiments with Truth’ reflects individual journeys Rahul Gandhi then referred to Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography, ‘My Experiments with Truth’, saying its title itself reflected the idea that truth is something each person explores through their own life. “Please notice, Gandhiji’s book was not called ‘The Truth’ or ‘My Understanding of the Truth’. It was titled ‘My Experiments with Truth’. I have experiments with my truth; you have experiments with your truth.” Rahul targets BJP-RSS over ‘exclusion’ The Congress leader also criticised the BJP and RSS over what he described as the exclusion of sections of Indian society. He said people from different religious and social communities must feel that they have an equal place in the country. “Imagine what the BJP and RSS have done. Imagine if I walked into this room and told 15-17 per cent of you–Muslims, Christians, Sikhs–‘You do not exist, and if you speak up, see what happens to you.’ Then telling 10 per cent Adivasis, ‘We will take your land whenever we want, and if you resist, we will shoot you,’ and Dalits, ‘You are complaining for nothing; everything is fine with the caste system.’ That is what is being done to our motherland. Every single person in this country–regardless of religion, community, or gender–must feel: ‘I belong here. I can walk freely in this country. I am loved, respected, and appreciated here, and my search for truth matters to the nation,’” he said. ‘Gandhi’s Swaraj is more than freedom’ Rahul Gandhi also explained why he believes ‘Swaraj’ should not simply be understood as the same thing as freedom or liberty in the Western sense. He used US President Donald Trump and Mahatma Gandhi to illustrate the difference, arguing that being legally free does not necessarily mean having control over one’s own actions and desires. “‘Swaraj’ is often confused with the Western word ‘freedom.’ People think that Swaraj means freedom; that it means liberty or independence. No–Swaraj means rule over oneself (Swa par raj / self-governance). If you go to America and ask, ‘Is Trump a free man?’, everyone will say, ‘Absolutely.’ But if you ask, ‘Does Trump rule over himself?’, the clear answer is, ‘No, he does not.’ Whereas Gandhiji in a prison 80 years ago would say, ‘I am not free, but I rule over myself. It is Swaraj,’” he explained. The Congress leader said this understanding of Swaraj makes it a personal responsibility rather than something that can simply be granted by a government or another person. “Swaraj is an Indian concept, and it carries deep responsibility. It is a way of thinking, and it is an individual project. I cannot give you Swaraj. Whatever I do… in a Western sense, I can grant you freedom by saying, ‘You are not in prison; I have given you freedom.’ But I cannot give you Swaraj. Because Swaraj is your personal relationship with the universe. Swaraj is an individual path. And Gandhiji’s conception of Swaraj was that every single person in this country should walk on this path.” His remarks placed the idea of individual self-rule at the centre of his criticism of the RSS, while presenting Gandhi’s philosophy of Swaraj as one based on personal responsibility and the freedom of each individual to pursue their own understanding of truth. 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
‘Control disguised as concern’: Women share their experiences after Rahul Gandhi’s Instagram appeal
NEW DELHI: Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has asked women across the country to share what being an Indian woman means to them, seeking responses on their experiences, struggles, dreams and the challenges they face. In an Instagram video, Gandhi posed the question: “What does it mean to be an Indian woman?” “I want to know how you feel. Not society’s voice, not your family’s, but what does your own voice say?” he said, asking women to share their struggles, obstacles, perspectives and dreams. He also shared some of the responses he received, many of which highlighted experiences of control, patriarchy, discrimination and social expectations. Rahul Gandhi’s Instagram story ‘Constantly facing control disguised as concern’ One woman said she was “constantly facing control disguised as concern”, while another spoke about how paper leaks, unaffordable colleges and academic difficulties could push women towards early marriage. Another response said: “Patriarchy killing dreams, moral policing and being threatened for expressing.” Several women spoke about being unheard, overworked and misunderstood. One response read: “Unheard, compromising, misunderstood, made fun of, abused, weak, overworked but called devi.” Another said women “don’t get to choose how we want to spend our life.” Fear, struggle and sacrifice also emerged as recurring themes, with one woman describing herself as “somebody’s daughter, somebody’s wife” and saying women are marginalised. ‘From childhood, told you have to go to another home’ Some responses focused on the expectations placed on women from childhood. “Bachpan se yaad dilana ki tumhe kisi aur ke ghar jana hi hoga aur usi hisab se hume palna,” one woman wrote. Another spoke about restrictions on clothing, saying women are told they cannot wear certain clothes because “the men might lose control.” Other responses raised concerns over healthcare and governance, with one woman saying she felt “oppressed by the govt, & society” and that women were provided poor medical facilities. Gandhi says exercise helped him understand women’s experiences Gandhi said the idea came while his team was preparing material for his upcoming ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme, which is aimed at women. He said he asked women in his team to share their thoughts on being an Indian woman, including how society treated them, as well as the positive and negative experiences they had. The exercise, he said, helped him understand their experiences to some extent. “My team decided, why not open this up to everyone and make it accessible?” Gandhi said, inviting women attending the programme as well as those watching it to share their own experiences. Rahul Gandhi’s Pune event Gandhi is scheduled to participate in the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Pune. The event received permission from the Maharashtra government subject to 30 conditions. The programme is being positioned as a platform for women to share their experiences and perspectives, with Gandhi now seeking responses from a wider audience ahead of the event. 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 change in Punjab Congress leadership, says Baghel
Chandigarh: Amid sustained pressure from a section of Punjab Congress leaders seeking a change in the state leadership, AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday once again ruled out any change in the existing organisational structure, saying the focus was on expanding the committees already announced and bringing more leaders into the party’s election preparations. “There will be no changes now. Only expansion will take place,” Baghel said, making it clear that the existing committees would be enlarged by adding more members and new committees could also be constituted as part of the party’s organisational preparations. The development comes against the backdrop of an increasingly bitter power struggle within Punjab Congress, particularly between a group of senior leaders associated with former chief minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi and the camp led by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. The differences became more pronounced after Congress, on July 1, retained Warring as the PPCC president while announcing several election-related committees. The camp of leaders backing Channi, including senior figures such as Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rana Gurjeet Singh and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, has since expressed dissatisfaction with the organisational arrangements and pressed the party high command to address their concerns. They have been seeking the removal of Warring and a greater role for Channi. Baghel, however, dismissed the suggestion that senior Punjab leaders meeting the party high command were doing so merely to lodge complaints. Meanwhile, Congress is working on a proposal for a programme involving senior party leader Rahul Gandhi in Punjab, with the plan awaiting his approval. Baghel said a proposal had been submitted to Rahul Gandhi and that the party was waiting for his approval. As part of the tentative plan, Rahul Gandhi may begin a bus journey from Amritsar after paying obeisance at Golden Temple. He is expected to travel with senior Punjab Congress leaders in an apparent effort to bring them onto a common platform. According to party sources, the proposed first phase of the journey could cover the stretch from Amritsar to Hussainiwala, a distance of around 135 kilometres, and pass through approximately 25 to 30 Assembly constituencies. If finalised, the programme could provide Congress an opportunity to publicly project unity among its senior leaders at a time when factionalism has emerged as one of the party’s biggest challenges in Punjab. Congress leadership has held several rounds of meetings in recent weeks in an effort to ease tensions within the state unit and resolve differences among senior leaders. Party assessments have also underlined the need to contain infighting, which has repeatedly hurt Congress in Punjab. The internal rift became particularly visible during ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign, when Baghel and Warring travelled across different parts of the state. Supporters of rival factions raised slogans at some programmes, while protests against Baghel were also witnessed. At some meetings, tensions between supporters of different groups reportedly escalated into scuffles. The infighting later spilled into a poster war, with posters portraying Baghel as General Dyer appearing at some places, while separate posters targeting Warring also surfaced. 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 asks Congress to monitor party netas’ social media stands
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have asked the party to monitor social media of functionaries if they are amplifying the party line on social justice issues. The direction came after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at CWC meeting Wednesday said that many netas don’t push the party’s stand in public. Kharge also lamented that he did not get enough support from the party when “RSS-BJP” workers did a “purification” of the rally venue in Haldwani where he had addressed a gathering – an act of caste discrimination. Interestingly, sources said, there was a difference of opinion between Rahul and Congress MP Manish Tewari at CWC meeting over the history and trajectory of students’ movements in the country. Tewari, sources said, argued that the big four students’ movements in the past including anti-Mandal Commission protests had been organic and not led by the students’ wings of the political parties. Rahul apparently argued that students were with the Congress till very late. A day later, apparently reflecting his pique over the exchange and an oblique warning to the leadership, Tewari tweeted a quote from Churchill, “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body; it calls attention to the development of an unhealthy state of things. If it is heeded in time, danger may be averted; if it is suppressed, a fatal distemper may develop.” On the Haldwani issue, sources said, when some leaders said that party functionaries had organised demonstrations and participated in them, Kharge took a dig that “those who write well and look good” did not raise the issue strongly and urged them to pitch in in future. 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
Minorities erased, Adivasis threatened, Dalits ignored in BJP’s India
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday that the BJP tells Muslims, Christians and Sikhs that they don’t exist, Adivasis that their land will be taken, and they will be shot if they protest and Dalits that their oppression doesn’t matter, IANS reported. “The BJP tells Muslims, Christians and Sikhs that they don’t exist. BJP tells Adivasis that their land will be taken, and if they protest, they will be shot. BJP tells Dalits that their oppression doesn’t matter. This is what has been done to our country,” he said. “That needs to be reversed,” Rahul Gandhi asserted, stressing that every single person should feel a sense of belonging, love and respect in the country. He said that the nation must make every person feel that they are loved, regardless of religion, caste, age or gender. Addressing a congregation’ Hara Bhara Swaraj’ organised to commemorate former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi’s 82nd birth anniversary here, the LoP lashed out at the BJP for targeting minorities, Dalits and tribals. The senior Congress leader maintained that the word ‘Swaraj’ is an Indian concept and is wrongly translated as “freedom” in English. He said Swaraj means “ruling over oneself”, adding that while one could grant freedom to another, one could not bestow Swaraj upon another. Describing an individual’s personal relationship with the world as Swaraj, Rahul Gandhi added that Mahatma Gandhi wanted every person in the country to walk this path. He said that Gandhiji considered every living being a unique entity, with his or her own path towards the truth. He added that Gandhiji’s vision cannot exist without certain fundamental things. “It cannot exist with an education system that is as expensive as it is. It cannot exist with a testing system that is as unfair as it is. It cannot exist with a financial system that is monopolised by two or three people. It cannot exist without a political system that reaches deep into the country. So that is really what you have to do,” he said. Addressing students and young people directly, Rahul Gandhi said their aspirations should be respected. The LoP added, “You want to be an engineer, a cook, or a shoemaker. Good for you, be a shoemaker. You want to be an astronaut. Good for you, be that.” He said, “It is the job of the government and the country to open the doors to your imagination and make you feel and believe. The country should help you walk on that path. That is Gandhi Ji’s vision for India, and that is the path of Swaraj.” Courtesy : Madhyamam Note: This news is originally published on https:/madhyamam.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
SP attacks BJP after Dalit MLA alleges caste bias at temple
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party has reacted sharply to allegations of caste discrimination levelled by BJP’s Dalit MLA from Mohanlalganj Jai Devi at Sheetla Temple in Lucknow’s Kakori, saying that the incident has exposed the caste bias rampant under state govt. Jai Devi has accused the temple administration of denying her due respect during a bhoomi pujan and foundation-laying ceremony for the temple’s renovation. She alleged that she was not allowed to touch a brick, light an incense stick or break the coconut as part of the ritual held on Wednesday. National general secretary of SP Baba Sahab Ambedkar Vahini, Rambabu Sudarshan, described the incident as ‘very unfortunate’. “The fact that such an incident has happened in the state capital and after 9 years of BJP govt explains the state of affairs at caste discrimination front across UP. The incident has only proven BJP’s position on caste bias. The allegations are levelled by BJP’s own sitting Dalit MLA who is the wife of two-time BJP MP and former Union minister late Kaushal Kishore. Had it been any MLA from another party, the BJP’s troll army would have painted the whole incident as politically motivated,” he said. Sudarshan said the incident not only highlights the plight of a sitting Dalit MLA but also the sentiments and emotions of crores of Dalits in the state and in the country. “BJP and RSS talk of uniting Hindus with slogans like Batenge to Katenge (divided we lose). Is this how the BJP wants to unite Hindus? Such incidents prompts one to ponder if the BJP even recognises Dalits as Hindus or not?” Sudarshan 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
Why Kharge ‘Purification’ Row Has Become A Caste And Political Fight
Kharge told party colleagues that he was “hurt” due to lack of action from the senior Congress leaders in the Haldwani incident Mallikarjun Kharge told the CWC he was “hurt” by the muted response from some Congress leaders to the Haldwani “purification” row. The controversy began after a havan was held at Ram Lila Ground two days after Kharge addressed a rally there. Kharge said the ritual humiliated him as a Dalit and raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha. The controversy over a “purification” ritual held at a rally venue used by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has now travelled from Uttarakhand to Parliament and into the Congress Working Committee (CWC), turning what began as a local event into a wider political battle over caste, dignity and untouchability. At the CWC meeting on Wednesday, Kharge told party colleagues that he was “hurt” due to lack of action from the senior Congress leaders in the Haldwani incident, The Indian Express reported. Without naming anyone, Kharge reportedly expressed disappointment that several members, particularly the “good-looking people” who frequently appear in the media, had not spoken forcefully against the ritual. AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal responded that the Congress had condemned the incident, though Kharge was reportedly unconvinced. The episode has become politically potent because Kharge, a Dalit and the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has interpreted the ritual through the history of caste-based notions of purity and untouchability. The BJP has rejected allegations that it was involved. What Happened At Haldwani Rally Venue? Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Haldwani’s Ram Lila Ground on August 8 as part of the party’s preparations for the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly election. Two days later, on August 10, members of Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas Sangathan conducted a havan at the venue as part of what they described as a “shuddhikaran”, or purification, ceremony, according to The Times of India. Videos of the ceremony subsequently circulated online, triggering allegations from the Congress that the ritual had been performed because a Dalit leader had occupied the stage. Those involved in the ceremony have offered a different explanation. Girish Chandra Pandey, identified as a member of the organisation, said the Ram Lila Ground had religious and cultural significance and should not have been used for political programmes. He also claimed some slogans during the Congress event “sounded like Islamic slogans”, The Times of India reported. Kharge Call It An Insult To Dalits For Kharge, the political question is not simply that a ritual followed a Congress rally but what the language of “purification” signifies when applied to a space immediately after a Dalit leader has used it. Raising the matter in the Rajya Sabha on August 13, Kharge said he had never sought protection or sympathy because of his Dalit identity but felt personally humiliated by the incident. “There were lakhs of people present at the time. I did not name any community or religion. I only spoke about the problems faced by the people there. But after my speech, BJP workers performed a havan,” he said, according to reports. “Is this the way in a democracy? How are you protecting the Constitution? I am the LoP… I never wanted to politicise these issues,” he added. Kharge demanded legal action against those responsible, saying: “I am saying register a case, arrest them… This is what we demand.” He argued that the incident made him experience the “pain of untouchability”. Who Carried Out The “Shuddhikaran” Ritual? Reports have allegedly identified Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas Sangathan as the group that organised the ceremony. Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal alleged that the organisation was associated with the BJP. The BJP has categorically denied any connection with the group. No evidence establishing that the ceremony was officially organised or directed by the BJP has so far been publicly established. ‘BJP Does Not Subscribe To Such Activities’ BJP president and Union minister JP Nadda distanced the party from the ceremony when Kharge raised the issue in Parliament. “Please don’t say repeatedly that we (BJP) did. The BJP does not subscribe to such activities,” Nadda said. He also described the episode as regrettable and promised that it would be examined. “It is a matter of great regret for all of us that your sentiments were hurt,” he told Kharge. Uttarakhand BJP spokesperson and minister Khajan Das, however, told PTI that slogans raised at the Congress rally may have offended members of the Sanatan community because of the religious significance attached to the ground. The BJP’s position, therefore, has been to reject responsibility for the ritual while acknowledging that the incident should be looked into. Why Has The Issue Reached Parliament? Kharge is both Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, giving the controversy a national institutional dimension. When he raised it on the final day of the Monsoon Session, Congress MPs protested in the House. Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan said there could be no justification for untouchability. “It should be condemned. Those who have done it should be caught. There is no two opinions on this,” he said. The row consequently moved beyond a Congress-BJP dispute in Uttarakhand into a debate about constitutional equality, caste discrimination and the treatment of the country’s principal Opposition leader. Why Is Caste Becoming A Sharper Political Faultline? The Congress and several Opposition parties have increasingly framed their politics around representation, social justice and protection of constitutional safeguards for Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs. The BJP, meanwhile, has built its own substantial support among sections of these communities and rejects the Opposition’s accusation that its politics undermines them. The coming caste enumeration has raised the stakes further. The Centre has confirmed that Census 2027 will enumerate caste for all individuals — the first such exercise in a post-Independence national Census. Congress is already challenging aspects of how that enumeration will be conducted. For the Congress, “purifying” a venue after Kharge’s presence invokes a history in which Dalits were treated as
‘Voice sample is not required’: Rahul Gandhi’s counsel opposes plea in Savarkar defamation case
NEW DELHI: The defence counsel for leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday opposed a plea seeking his voice sample in the defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, grandson of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, in a Pune court. Congress MP’s lawyer Milind D Pawar argued that the case had not yet reached the stage where the defence would examine whether the alleged speech was actually made with a defamatory intention, and therefore a voice sample was not required at this stage. Speaking to news agency ANI, Pawar said the special MP/MLA court in Pune has directed the defence to file its formal response to the application by September 1. According to Pawar, the application was moved after Rahul’s appearance in Pune on August 22, with the complainant seeking to have his voice sampled. “A deformation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar against Rahul Gandhi. On 31st of December 2025, the chief examination of Satyaki Savarkar has been completed and thereafter on behalf of Rahul Gandhi, cross examination is going on,” Pawar said. He added, “Yesterday the complainant has filed an application that Rahul Gandhi came in Pune on 22nd of August, 2026 and therefore, he may kindly be called for voice sample.” Pawar said the court accepted his argument that the voice sample was premature. “Still we are not come on that defence that whether we have really given that speech where our intention is defamation that defence is not yet to be came before the court and therefore at this stage voice sample is not required,” he said. Satyaki Savarkar’s deposition brings Godse-RSS links into focus The voice sample plea came amid further cross-examination of Satyaki Savarkar, during which he made statements about the relationship between the Savarkar and Godse families and the latter family’s links with the RSS. According to the deposition cited by ANI, Satyaki said, “It is true to say that my grandfathers Gopal Godse and Nathuram Godse were active members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.” Satyaki identified Gopal Godse as his maternal grandfather and Sindhu Godse as his maternal grandmother. His mother was Himani Savarkar. He also acknowledged that the Savarkar and Godse families were related, although he said he did not have complete information about their historical relationship or whether relevant records were available in government archives. Satyaki said his mother died in Pune in 2015 and Gopal Godse died there in 2007. He also said that both his mother and grandfather worked for the Hindu Mahasabha until their deaths. The cross-examination also touched upon the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 and the historical roles of the people involved. Some questions concerning the RSS and Digambar Badge were objected to by the complainant’s lawyer, Sangram Kolhatkar. The court recorded that the objections would be dealt with at the time of the final decision. Case stems from Rahul’s 2023 London remarks Satyaki Savarkar, a grandson of one of V D Savarkar’s brothers, filed the defamation case against Rahul over remarks the Congress leader allegedly made about Savarkar during an Overseas Congress event in London on March 5, 2023. Satyaki subsequently approached a magistrate court in Pune in April 2023, alleging that former Congress president’s remarks were false and defamatory and had damaged the reputation of Savarkar and caused distress to his family and supporters. The case is currently at the stage of cross-examination of the complainant. Pawar said the chief examination of Satyaki had been completed on December 31, 2025, while his cross-examination by Rahul’s legal team is continuing. The proceedings were deferred to September 1, when the defence is expected to respond formally to the voice sample application. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress Working Committee discusses Vande Mataram, firm on singing just 2 stanzas
NEW DELHI: The Congress Working Committee Wednesday directed the party’s chief ministers to come up with a concrete plan to revamp education and examination systems in their states, which the party can showcase across the country – in an imaginative bid to tap into the restive youth sentiment. Congress also decided to hold nationwide protests at the village level to highlight the Ram temple “Chanda Chori” under BJP govt.CWC demanded that Lok Sabha be frozen at the present 543 MPs for the next 25 years and women’s quota be implemented from the 2029 national elections. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy is learnt to have said that the party should declare Rahul Gandhi as the PM candidate for the 2029 polls. He also warned against allowing outfits like Cockroach Janta Party to spread on Congress turfs. The party has also decided to expand its “Chhatron ki Goonj” students’ conventions led by Rahul to 800 towns and cities. Sources said Rahul directed the CMs to revamp the education system, arguing that the party should be able to hold them up as examples in the country. The CMs have been asked to submit a plan, based on inputs from experts and students’ bodies, within a month. The CWC meeting was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, Sachin Pilot, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, CMs DK Shivakumar, Revanth Reddy, Sukhwinder Sukhu and VD Satheesan, among others. Rahul expressed an optimistic picture of the future, saying PM Modi has lost his sheen and the mood of the country is changing. He referred to the PM’s Independence Day speech to claim that he has lost confidence. The meeting also witnessed a discussion on the raging controversy around Vande Mataram. Kharge detailed the issue by reading the 1937 CWC resolution to argue that Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose had approved Vande Mataram on the advice of Rabindranath Tagore. Venugopal told reporters that Congress will sing only two stanzas, as approved by the Constituent Assembly and the 1937 resolution. CWC also expressed concern over reports of Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and over the E-20 ethanol policy. It called Modi govt’s foreign policy a “surrender policy”, be it with the US or China. On Ram temple “Chanda Chori”, Congress demanded an SC-monitored probe while stating the PM cannot call it a state subject after having appropriated every step leading to the temple’s construction, including the announcement of the Ram Temple Trust. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘PM Modi’s political rule in final phase, successor search under way’: Rahul Gandhi at CWC meet
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Wednesday, reportedly said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political rule is in its “final phase” and that a search for his successor is already underway. “Narendra Modi ka siyasi ant ho chuka hai. Inka waqt khatam ho gaya hai. Modi ka shasan aakhiri daur mein hai. Inke uttaradhikari ki talash chal rahi hai (Narendra Modi’s political end has come. His time is over. Modi’s rule is in its final phase. A search for his successor is underway),” sources quoted the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as saying. Rahul Gandhi also described the government as being “completely on the back foot” and urged Congress leaders to adopt a more aggressive approach in taking on the government. The remarks were made during the CWC meeting at the Congress headquarters, Indira Bhawan, in Delhi, where senior party leaders discussed the political situation in the country and the party’s strategy on key issues. Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who also addressed the meeting, alleged that the Centre had “devastated the future of the youth” over the past 12 years. He claimed that 94,000 schools had shut down in recent years and called for a clear, comprehensive and time-bound “Education-to-Employment Roadmap” for young people. Kharge also questioned the money, gold and other donations received by the Ram Mandir trust. He said people had the right to know how the donations were being accounted for and used, and called for any financial wrongdoing to be properly investigated and those responsible to be held accountable. The CWC meeting was attended by Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, among other senior party leaders. 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