Rahul Gandhi to launch youth outreach in Prayagraj against paper leaks
Lucknow: Congress MP and the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Prayagraj on July 10 as part of the party’s nationwide campaign against paper leaks, irregularities in examinations and rising unemployment.The programme in Prayagraj is among the first-phase events announced by the Congress to highlight what it described as a growing crisis confronting India’s youth. According to AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, the campaign seeks to bring together students, job aspirants, youth organisations, educators and those affected by examination scandals and recruitment irregularities. The Prayagraj convention will be held between similar outreach events scheduled in Kota on June 17, Patna on July 11, and Delhi on July 14. The party plans extensive mobilisation through the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Youth Congress and local organisational units. Outreach activities will include campus visits, interactions at coaching centres, universities and schools, as well as digital campaigns aimed at engaging students and job aspirants. Rahul Gandhi is likely to reiterate demands including decentralisation of NEET, abolition of examination fee, stringent action against those involved in paper leak rackets and greater accountability in the education system. The party has also sought a comprehensive discussion in Parliament on issues affecting students and unemployed youth. While the visit is centred around youth-related concerns, it also carries political significance as Uttar Pradesh gears up for Assembly elections. Gandhi has maintained a steady presence in the state over the past several months. Between Jan 20 and 21, the Rae Bareli MP visited his parliamentary constituency and addressed an MGNREGA Chaupal. He was again in Uttar Pradesh on March 13 to participate in a ‘Samvidhan Sammelan’ in Lucknow, where he paid tribute to Dalit leader Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary. Most recently, on May 19 and 20, Gandhi visited Rae Bareli and Amethi, where he inaugurated development projects, addressed public meetings, interacted with women and party workers, and laid the groundwork for the Congress’ “Mission UP” campaign ahead of the Assembly polls. 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
Punjab Congress eyes Dalit-OBC consolidation ahead of 2027 polls, Channi emerges as frontrunner for party chiefPublished Date: 14-06-2026 | 7:01 pmAayush Goel
Chandigarh: With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections now firmly on the horizon, the Congress is scrambling to resolve a leadership crisis that has simmered for months — and is increasingly pointing toward former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi as its best bet to lead the state unit and anchor the party’s Dalit and OBC outreach. Punjab’s demographic arithmetic makes the calculus compelling. Dalits constitute approximately 32 per cent of the state’s population — the highest SC share of any state in India — while OBCs account for an estimated 15–20 per cent. Together, the two groups represent nearly half the state’s electorate, spread across communities including Mazhabi Sikhs, Ravidassias, Balmikis, Sainis, Kamboj, Ramgarhia and Gujjars. Yet despite their numbers, neither group has historically exercised political influence proportionate to their share of the vote. The Congress high command convened a meeting of top party leaders last week to finalise the shape of an organisational overhaul in Punjab. The party has also appointed senior leaders Ajay Maken, Meenakshi Natarajan and Bhajan Lal Jatav as observers for Punjab, a move seen within the organisation as part of the ongoing exercise to assess the state unit and recommend structural changes ahead of the 2027 elections. According to party sources, internal popularity surveys conducted as part of the Congress leadership’s review of the Punjab unit have shown Channi in a stronger position than incumbent PPCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring — a finding that has sharpened the pressure on the high command to act. When contacted, Channi refused to confirm or deny his candidature for the post. Sources in Delhi Congress, however, said he remained the party’s most viable option given his mass appeal, Dalit identity, and ability to cut across regions. His strongest appeal lies among sections of the Dalit electorate, particularly in Doaba, with some resonance in Malwa. As Punjab’s first Dalit chief minister, his identity adds a powerful political dimension that no other contender in the race can replicate. A section of leaders has been flagging that ahead of the 2027 polls, the optics of two Jat leaders — Warring and CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa — occupying both top positions would need to be reworked by adjusting Dalit, OBC and Hindu faces. Channi himself raised the point publicly, questioning why all key positions — PPCC chief, Leader of Opposition, and women’s wing president — were held by upper-caste leaders, despite Dalits alone constituting over 32 per cent of the population and OBCs adding a further 15–20 per cent. Others in contention for the PPCC post include Partap Singh Bajwa, former minister Pargat Singh, Fatehgarh Sahib MP Dr Amar Singh, and former MP Vijay Inder Singla. Warring’s position has weakened considerably. The pressure has intensified after the recent municipal elections, where the Congress failed to convert anti-incumbency sentiment into a statewide challenge. Out of 1,977 wards, AAP won 954, while Congress finished a distant second with 393. Independents secured 251 wards, followed by SAD with 192, BJP with 172 and BSP with seven. The results reinforced AAP’s organisational advantage at the grassroots level despite Congress leaders’ claims of growing public discontent with the Mann government. Concerns have mounted over the party’s organisational performance, particularly after setbacks in Gidderbaha — considered his traditional stronghold — where AAP swept 17 of 19 wards in municipal council elections. At the May 29 meeting in New Delhi — attended by Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, and senior state leaders — most state party leaders pressed for Warring’s replacement, though Baghel publicly denied any immediate proposal to do so. The party’s Punjab unit has long been dominated by Jat Sikhs, who account for roughly 25–30 per cent of the population but have held the chief ministerial post for all but a brief interlude since 1966. While Congress has made conscious efforts since 2021 to broaden its social coalition through Dalit, OBC and Hindu outreach, structural realities — land ownership, rural seats, and community mobilisation — continue to give Jat Sikhs the upper hand internally. The dilemma for the high command is acute. Replacing Warring with Channi could consolidate the Dalit-OBC bloc — collectively the state’s single largest voting constituency — that Congress desperately needs to dent AAP’s 2022 mandate of 92 seats. But any move risks deepening Jat Sikh alienation within a party already down to 15 of 117 assembly seats. The Congress top brass has so far not signalled enthusiasm for projecting Channi as a chief ministerial face, with Bhupesh Baghel recently stating the party would not declare a CM candidate ahead of the 2027 polls. That position, insiders say, is unlikely to hold. Aayush Goel Courtesy : The Financial World Note: This news is originally published on https:/thefinancialexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Will PM Modi convey to Trump India’s condemnation of killing of Indian sailors in US attack?’: Congress
Trump will meet Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting in France on Wednesday, American media reported quoting US officials. In a scathing attack on the Modi government, the Congress on Sunday said India must put off the upcoming visit of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and asserted that any self respecting nation will do more than mere phone calls and press statements to defend its sovereignty against “bullies”. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to meet US President Donald Trump this week, the opposition party also asked whether he will raise India’s strongest condemnation over the killing of three Indian sailors in a US attack on a ship off the Oman Coast, and the “threatening and really unacceptable” language used by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in his conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on June 12. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh noted that Prime Minister Modi is set to meet his self-declared good friend President Trump shortly. “The question that is uppermost on the minds of all Indian citizens is whether PM Modi will raise (i) India’s strongest condemnation to the killing of three Indian sailors in a US attack on a ship off the Oman Coast; and (ii) the threatening and really unacceptable language used by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in his conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on June 12th, 2026,” Ramesh said on X. The US Trade Representative Greer is also set to visit India shortly to clinch the Indo-US Trade Deal, he noted. “We must remember that the ‘framework for an Interim Agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade’ was announced by President Trump — on what he said was at the specific request of PM Modi — on the night of February 3, 2026, while PM Modi was under pressure from Rahul Gandhi’s expose in Parliament of his cowardice relating to China. “The ‘deal’ which was more like a steal saw the Modi Government unilaterally make enormous concessions that threaten our farmers and industries,” Ramesh alleged. Countries like Malaysia have declared their trade agreements with the US ‘null and void’ after the US Supreme Court ruling which struck down the Trump-tariffs that formed the backdrop to these agreement, the Congress leader pointed out. The Modi government has not only failed to renounce this trade deal which endangers the futures of crores of India’s farmers but has instead sat mute and helpless while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has proclaimed that the Modi Government has committed to purchasing USD 500 billion in US goods over the next five years, effectively doubling our annual US imports, Ramesh said. “In light of the Rubio-Jaishankar interaction, the US Supreme Court’s overturning of President Trump’s tariff system, and the patent unfairness of the trade deal, the least India must do is to put off the visit of the US Trade Representative,” he said. “Any self respecting nation will do more than mere phone calls and press statements to defend its sovereignty against bullies,” Ramesh said. Trump will meet Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting in France on Wednesday, American media reported quoting US officials. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders since February last year in Washington and comes against the backdrop of concerns over the death of Indian mariners on commercial ships targeted by the US navy in the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting between Trump and Modi will also be the first face-to-face interaction since the India-US relationship hit a rough patch after Operation Sindoor and Washington’s decision to impose heavy tariffs on New Delhi. The two leaders have had a couple of phone calls and also agreed on a framework for an interim bilateral trade deal in February, which is being negotiated. Ramesh’s remarks come a day after the US said it conveyed to India that any violation of its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated. Rubio conveyed this to Jaishankar, who spoke with him on Friday to lodge a strong protest against the death of Indian nationals in US attacks on ships off the coast of Oman. According to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, Secretary of State Rubio stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait. Rubio underscored that violations of the US blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated, Pigott said in Washington. The US has imposed a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz since April 13, preventing transit of ships to and from the ports of the Islamic Republic as part of its efforts to restrict Tehran from profiting from oil trade. Three vessels with Indian crew came under attack off the Oman coast this week. One of them resulted in the death of three Indian seafarers on Wednesday. Jaishankar then called Rubio to protest their death in a US military strike on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman. “Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified,” Jaishankar had said in a post on X after he spoke with Rubio. Earlier on Friday, India summoned US Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks in New Delhi and told him that the American military’s lethal strikes on commercial vessels with Indian crew members off the coast of Oman are unacceptable. Hours later, Trump accused Iran of carrying out drone attacks against Indian ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was totally unacceptable. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Rahul Gandhi to kick off Congress campaign on youth issues from Rajasthan’s Kota
Rahul Gandhi will engage in a direct dialogue with students and aspirants preparing for competitive exams on paper leaks and major youth-related issues. JAIPUR: The Congress party will launch a nationwide movement on June 17 from Kota, renowned as the country’s “coaching capital”, to focus on issues such as paper leaks, examination irregularities, unemployment and other key issues affecting the youth. The Leader of the Opposition in the lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will engage in a direct dialogue with students and aspirants preparing for competitive exams on paper leaks and major youth related issues. This effort is being viewed as not just a political event but as the launch of a new youth-centric narrative for the Congress to mobilize students across the country. The choice of Kota in Rajasthan is significant as it not only attracts thousands of students from across the country but also as it is represented in the Lok Sabha by Speaker Om Birla. The Congress is keen to corner the BJP in what is being seen as a major bastion for the saffron party and the RSS. Kota District Congress President Rakhi Gautam and Kota Rural Congress President Bhanu Pratap Singh stated that the decision was made to launch this nationwide campaign from Kota as it is the country’s “coaching hub”. Through this initiative, students across the nation will be connected, and their issues will be raised at the national level. Preparations for Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to Kota next week are already underway. Continuous contact is being maintained with students and coaching institutes regarding the student conference. Additionally, information about Rahul Gandhi’s interactive session is being disseminated to students via social media. At the Kota event, Rahul Gandhi will interact directly with students and the youth, listening to their concerns and suggestions. Discussions will cover various topics related to education and employment, including the repeated paper leak scandals, the NEET exam controversy, and key issues concerning the CBSE. The entire Congress team in Kota is actively engaged in preparing for the event. However, a final decision regarding the venue has not yet been reached. Congress leaders say that details of potential venues in Kota have been submitted to AICC officials and the venue will be announced once a final approval is received. Notably, this marks Rahul Gandhi’s second visit to Rajasthan within a fortnight. He had previously visited Pushkar in Ajmer district on June 1 to attend the concluding ceremony of the national training camp for Congress district presidents. It was during the Pushkar conference that he was invited to visit Kota. Kota is considered the country’s largest coaching hub, attracting thousands of students from all corners of the country every year for medical and engineering entrance exam preparations. Consequently, the Congress sees Kota as a most suitable platform to raise issues like paper leaks and transparency in the examination system. Rahul Gandhi had previously met with coaching students during a brief break from his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in December 2022. The Congress party also acknowledges that the NEET paper leak case has links to Rajasthan. Against this backdrop, Rahul Gandhi is set to hold a direct dialogue with students at the upcoming conference in Kota. At the Pushkar event recently, Rahul had praised the working style of state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Tikaram Jully. He remarked that the united manner in which the Congress organization is functioning in Rajasthan serves as a model for other states. Political analysts believe that Rajasthan was chosen for this national campaign because the party is considered organizationally strong there, and the participation of both party workers and the general public can be ensured for large-scale events. Kota is the parliamentary constituency of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and is considered a stronghold of the BJP and the RSS. But Shanti Dhariwal, a senior Cabinet minister in the previous Congress government and a close confidante of former CM Ashok Gehlot, is the most influential Congress leader in Kota. Dhariwal is considered as a key figure in raising a formidable challenge for the BJP in Kota. Following the event in Kota, the first phase of the campaign will include programs in Allahabad on July 10, Patna on July 11, and Delhi on July 14. The Congress says this campaign will not be limited solely to the NEET paper leak issue. Instead, it will evolve into a nationwide movement addressing broader concerns such as the future of the youth, employment, transparency in recruitment exams, and much-needed reforms in the education system. Rajesh Asnani Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Battle of real ‘TMC’ begins as rebel MPs merge with Nationalist Citizens Party
NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: The internal crisis in the Trinamool Congress appeared to intensify on Sunday after a group of dissident MPs claimed they had broken away from the party and announced their merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party. The rebel MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and sought recognition as a separate group in Parliament. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, rebel MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar claimed that two-thirds of the TMC’s Lok Sabha members had backed the move. “Two-thirds MPs of TMC have given a letter to the Speaker for a separate seating arrangement. We will merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party and support the NDA,” she said. Senior TMC leader and Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said the dissident group had already merged with the Nationalist Citizens Party, describing it as a regional party. The Nationalist Citizens Party is a lesser-known registered, unrecognised party from Tripura. The ‘real party disputes’ The move has triggered a fresh political battle over who represents the “real TMC”. Asked about the claim by the Mamata Banerjee-led faction, Bandyopadhyay said the matter would ultimately be decided by courts. “Court will decide later who is the real TMC. We met the Speaker and gave him our request,” he said. He added that the faction would also stake claim to the party’s electoral symbol of two flowers. Meanwhile, TMC leaders Kirti Azad and Sagarika Ghosh met Speaker Birla and submitted a letter from TMC Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee, urging him not to recognise any separate faction. The letter, dated June 10 and earlier sent through email, argued that the Constitution does not allow the creation of a separate group within an existing political party. It also said the anti-defection law does not permit such a split. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal criticised the rebel MPs and called for their disqualification, arguing that they cannot merge with another party. Sibal said in a post on X, “TMC rebels: Will merge with Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP). Indian democracy has become the ‘theatre of the absurd’. A joke!” “The rebels of the TMC legislative party cannot merge with a political party; that can happen only if the TMC wished to do so!” he added. “Disqualify them!” he said. The earlier cases Shiv Sena split (2022-23): After the split between the Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions, the Election Commission recognised the Shinde faction as the Shiv Sena and allowed it to retain the party’s “bow and arrow” symbol. Nationalist Congress Party split (2023-24): After Ajit Pawar’s rebellion, the Election Commission recognised the Ajit Pawar faction as the real NCP and allotted it the party’s “clock” symbol. AIADMK dispute (2017): After the split between the factions led by Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam, the Election Commission decided that the Palaniswami faction was entitled to the AIADMK name and the “two leaves” symbol. Samajwadi Party dispute (2017): During the fight between Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav factions, the Election Commission recognised Akhilesh Yadav’s faction as the Samajwadi Party and allowed it to retain the “cycle” symbol. How are ‘real party’ disputes decided? The Election Commission decides disputes over a party’s name and election symbol by examining the claims of rival factions. In earlier cases, the poll panel has looked at factors including the support enjoyed by each faction among elected representatives and the party organisation before deciding which group can use the original party name and symbol. The EC’s decisions can later be challenged in courts. 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
‘INDIA bloc has already won 2029 elections’: Rahul Gandhi lays out strategy of ‘resistance with unity’
Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asserted that the INDIA bloc has effectively “already won” the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, while stressing that opposition parties must remain united to counter the BJP. Sharing a Hindi version of his speech delivered at the INDIA bloc meeting on June 8, Gandhi said unity and resistance were essential at a time when the country’s institutions and democratic values were under strain. ‘We did not lose 2024’ In a post on X, Gandhi said, “I am saying it again… We did not lose the 2024 elections, and we have already won the 2029 elections.” He maintained that the opposition would continue to organise people and collectively challenge what he described as the BJP’s takeover of institutions. “When India’s thinking, the soul of the country, is in crisis… when there is a takeover of institutions… when the voice of the people is suppressed… then only resistance with unity works,” he wrote. ‘Will defeat BJP’ Gandhi further expressed confidence that all INDIA bloc constituents would remain committed to defending the idea of India. “We will remain united, organize every individual, and defeat the BJP’s takeover of India’s institutions with the power of resistance.” In the meeting held on Monday, Rahul Gandhi gave a call to the opposition leaders to stay united, saying it is easy to beat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “if we stand together and resist”. He also expressed disappointment over the lack of support from some partners on issues such as alleged “vote chori”. Dravida Munnetra Kazahagam (DMK) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) refrained from joining the meeting. 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
‘It’s easy to defeat BJP if we stand together and resist’: Rahul Gandhi at INDIA bloc meeting
“We have to go into the mode of resistance. Resistance is CBSE. Resistance is NEET. Resistance is going to Great Nicobar. Resistance is the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Rahul Gandhi said. At the INDIA bloc meeting held in New Delhi on June 8, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the importance of unity among alliance partners and urged them to believe in their ability to defeat the BJP. He asserted that, state after state and election after election, the BJP would eventually be defeated, regardless of whether the contests were conducted fairly or marred by irregularities. “Let me tell you, it is easy to beat them if we stand together and resist,” he said. The meeting was boycotted by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which had earlier indicated that it could no longer continue as part of the INDIA bloc following the Congress party’s decision to exit the alliance in Tamil Nadu. Urging opposition parties to avoid internal conflicts and present a united front, he argued that the challenge extended beyond winning elections to safeguarding the integrity of democratic processes. According to him, public discontent with the government was already widespread, but concerns remained about the fairness of future electoral contests. Rahul Gandhi said the BJP will not last, because, in his view, it had undermined democratic institutions and compromised the future of the Indian people. He dismissed claims that opposition parties lack coordination, describing them as a narrative promoted by the BJP. He expressed confidence that alliance partners, including the DMK, would stand united when it came to defending the idea of India. While acknowledging political differences among opposition parties and ongoing regional rivalries, he argued that such disagreements should not overshadow broader common objectives. Gandhi urged opposition leaders to remain flexible and united, contending that there was a concerted effort to portray the opposition as weak and divided. “We are fundamentally opposed to the vision of the RSS. We will die — we will die in the Congress Party — before we stand with or compromise with the BJP or the RSS. You will have to cut off our heads to make it happen. I know lakhs and lakhs of Congress workers in this country who will say: cut off our heads, we will not bow before the RSS.” Rahul Gandhi argued that democratic institutions were increasingly being brought under the influence of the BJP and the RSS, making conventional political engagement less effective. Drawing a parallel with the Congress party’s transformation during the freedom movement, he said the party must now see itself not merely as a political organisation but as a resistance movement. He maintained that resistance, rather than institutional mechanisms, would be the most effective response to perceived injustice and democratic erosion. Citing his experience during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi said sustained public mobilisation could bring about change even without the support of traditional political structures. Referring to issues such as education policy, competitive examinations, environmental concerns, and mass outreach campaigns, Gandhi described resistance as a broad-based civic and political effort. He concluded by pledging to endure criticism and personal setbacks in the interest of strengthening opposition unity, describing the cause as a moral and deeply personal commitment rather than a purely political one. “We have to go into the mode of resistance. Resistance is CBSE. Resistance is NEET. Resistance is going to Great Nicobar. Resistance is the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he said. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
RS row part of BJP’s one-party rule plan akin to N Korea: CM
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday accused the BJP of trying to turn India into an “absolute one-party system” on the lines of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and alleged that the controversy over AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan’s rejected Rajya Sabha nomination was part of that larger political design. Speaking to mediapersons in Delhi after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Revanth alleged that the BJP had moved beyond ‘stealing votes’ and was now attempting to ‘steal seats’ by misusing institutions. “The saffron party’s decision to field a third candidate despite lacking the necessary numbers exposed their conspiracy. After being successful in snatching Meenakshi’s seat, BJP and BRS indulged in an aggressive campaign by alleging that there were coverts in the Congress. This ploy was only to divert attention from the BJP’s illegal actions,” Revanth alleged. Defending Meenakshi over the private complaint that led to the rejection of her nomination papers by the returning officer in Madhya Pradesh, Revanth said she had no role in resolving disputes between individuals. “Meenakshi does not have the authority to resolve a dispute between two persons. When a private complaint is filed in the court, the court issues summons as part of the procedure. Nomination only requires the details of criminal cases to be included but there is no time limit for the notices to be included. Even notices could have been issued on PM Modi but all such notices may not have been mentioned in his election affidavit,” he explained. He alleged that the returning officer had acted in a partisan manner. “The Election Commission returning officer acted like a BJP party worker and took a decision benefiting the BJP. As per the Supreme Court’s instructions, we will file an election petition,” he said. While Revanth maintained that cabinet expansion did not figure in his discussions with Rahul Gandhi, sources said the issue came up briefly and could be taken up later this month. “The present cabinet is good. All the MLAs of the Congress are eligible for a ministerial berth. Anyone can meet Rahul Gandhi,” he said. Sources said Revanth also briefed Rahul Gandhi on the Meenakshi complaint, political situation in Telangana, Congress govt’s performance over the past two-and-a-half years and its roadmap for the remainder of the term. Responding to questions on Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister and Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan, Revanth said that permission had not been denied to him for political reasons. “Pawan Kalyan is free like everyone to come and go and contest elections in Telangana. Why would that be a problem to us? Our ministers responded because he had allegedly spoken against the sentiments of Telangana,” he said. The chief minister also sought to downplay the significance of his recent interaction with Modi. “It was PM Modi who hugged me. I did not initiate it. Nothing more should be seen into it. When Centre and states work in coordination, then only states and the country will develop. I requested him to cooperate in the pending projects in the state and sought approvals and central funding for projects,” he said. Revanth accused the Centre of discriminating against Telangana and said Union minister G Kishan Reddy was blocking approvals and funds meant for the state. “There are internal differences among the Telangana BJP MPs. If the eight BJP MPs from Telangana threaten to resign, the Centre will approve projects and release funds to the state,” he said. On inter-state projects, Revanth said Telangana required around 2,000 acres in Maharashtra for the proposed Tummidihatti barrage under the Pranahita-Chevella project and that his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis had agreed to discuss the issue in July. ‘I never said Hitler was my role model’ CM Revanth said his remarks invoking Hitler at a meet had been distorted. “Why would anyone living in a democracy ever claim Hitler as their role model? My comments were distorted. I had taken the name of Hitler only to clarify that HYDRAA is going after land sharks and protecting water bodies in Telangana, and that there was reportedly one HYDRA during Hitler’s regime too,” 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
‘To stake claim as real TMC’: Rebel MPs to meet Lok Sabha Speaker on Monday
NEW DELHI: The Trinamool Congress crisis deepened on Friday as dissident MPs prepared to approach Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as the party’s “real TMC” parliamentary group. According to PTI, rebel MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia said the dissident faction had already submitted a representation to the Speaker and would formally stake its claim next week. “We have submitted the letter… On Monday, we will go to the Speaker and stake our claim to form the real TMC parliamentary group. We will ask the Speaker to give recognition to our claim,” Basunia told PTI Videos. The Cooch Behar MP, who is among lawmakers seeking to support the NDA in the Lok Sabha, claimed that 19 MPs had signed the representation. He said the process of collecting signatures began on June 8. Sources cited by PTI said the timing of the proposed meeting with the Speaker had not yet been finalised. Basunia also rejected allegations by TMC MP Kirti Azad that lawmakers were being induced to switch sides. “Kirti Azad is a liar. This is not right to say. We are 19 MPs and he is also an MP… it is not right to make such allegations,” he said. Meanwhile, Azad accused the BJP of attempting to engineer defections through “Operation Lotus”. In a post on X, he cited the resignation of Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik, meetings involving dissident MPs and BJP leaders, and recent political outreach efforts as evidence of “an organised attempt” to weaken the party. “Operation Lotus under the guidance of (Home Minister) Amit Shah is underway,” Azad said, while claiming that the effort had failed so far. The crisis follows TMC’s defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections and has since spread to Parliament. On Thursday, Prakash Chik Baraik became the third TMC parliamentarian this week to resign from both the party and the Rajya Sabha, after Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev. 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
More trouble for Mamata Banerjee? FIR registered against ex-Bengal CM over alleged inflammatory speech
NEW DELHI: An FIR has been registered against former West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee over a speech she allegedly delivered at a rally in Kolkata earlier this year. According to news agency ANI, police sources said the FIR was registered on June 7 at 3.45 pm and has been lodged under Sections 196(1), 351(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the complaint filed by Tushar Kanti Das, Banerjee’s speech at the Dharna Mancha near Metro Channel in Esplanade (Dharmatala) on March 9 allegedly contained misleading remarks aimed at provoking a breach of peace, disturbing public tranquillity and affecting communal harmony. The complainant also alleged that the speech posed a threat to the state’s democratic framework. Police said the investigation is currently at a preliminary stage. A senior officer quoted by ANI said that authorities have received the complaint and registered the case in accordance with legal procedure. “We have received the complaint, and a case has been registered in accordance with legal procedure. All aspects of the speech and the context in which it was delivered are being thoroughly examined,” the officer said. TMC terms case politically motivated The FIR has added to the political tensions in West Bengal following the recent assembly election results. Opposition parties have welcomed the registration of the case, describing it as necessary to uphold the rule of law and electoral standards. The TMC, however, has termed the FIR “politically motivated” and alleged that it is part of continued attempts to target the party leadership. The complaint comes at a time when the TMC is facing a major internal crisis. The party has been grappling with a rebellion by a section of its MPs following its defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections. TMC faces growing internal dissent Purported signatures of 19 TMC MPs recently surfaced on a communication to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition of a separate parliamentary bloc under Barasat MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and extending support to the BJP-led NDA. The authenticity of the signatures could not be independently verified. However, sources in the dissident camp claimed that the lawmakers had informed the Speaker about forming a separate parliamentary group while retaining a distinct political identity. The developments followed an earlier revolt within the state assembly, where 58 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs reportedly backed expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition instead of the party’s official nominee. In response to the crisis, Mamata Banerjee had dissolved all party committees and announced a revamped organisational structure on June 5. With the police probe into the FIR now underway and internal dissent continuing to challenge the party leadership, the political spotlight remains firmly on Banerjee and the future direction of the TMC. 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