Delay in alliance talks by DMK ‘saddening’: Cong
Chennai: Congress leaders mounted pressure on DMK to constitute a panel to hold seat sharing talks ‘immediately,’ stating the delay on the part of DMK in constituting the panel was ‘saddening.’ Congress leaders, who held a meeting with Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday in New Delhi, appeared to toughen their stand. They said the delay in seat-sharing talks could affect ground level preparations for the assembly elections. “It has been more than 70 days since AICC president formed a committee comprising five members and it is more than two months since the committee called on chief minister M K Stalin on Dec 3,” Girish Chodankar, head of the five-member committee told reporters after the meeting in New Delhi. “We are waiting with hope against hope that they will start the negotiation,” Chodankar said. Chodankar said the absence of a formal coordination mechanism was ‘saddening’ and it had caused concern among party cadres and leaders. “There is no negotiation committee yet, no coordination, and alliance talks have not started. Our cadres keep asking why there is no progress. It may appear as though we are delaying matters, but that is not the case. We have met the CM and followed it up repeatedly, but there has been no development,” he said. Chodankar said elections were approaching fast and parties needed sufficient time to prepare. “We are not blaming anyone. We are only stating the fact that we have been waiting for 70 days and do not know the reason for the delay,” he said. TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai echoed the concern, urging Stalin to constitute the panel immediately. “Our request to CM is to form the panel immediately. Last-minute seat allocation and election processes do not work well,” he said stating the delayed preparations in Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections did not yield results. He said the message would be conveyed to Stalin directly on Wednesday. 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 says no to debate on Budget, wins allies’ praise
New Delhi: As the opposition gathered to decide strategy for the upcoming discussion on Budget on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi faced a unanimous demand from allies that he should start the debate, if only to get back at BJP which had not let him speak for seven days. The demand was led by DMK’s T R Baalu and supported by others. But Rahul resisted. He argued that if he stood up to speak, it would result in objections from the treasury benches. And the ensuing commotion would cost every opposition party the chance to speak. He underlined that all regional parties has important issues to raise, and they should not fall prey to “organised disruptions” of BJP. The move won a few hearts in the room, with an ally-critic of LoP Rahul Gandhi later describing it as a “magnanimous” gesture. The meeting was attended by Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge, K C Venugopal, Naseer Hussain and Manickam Tagore, Ramgopal Yadav (SP), N K Premachandran (RSP), Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant (SS), John Brittas (CPM), PC Gupta (RJD), Shatabdi Roy (TMC), E T Mohd Basheer (IUML), Rajaram Singh (CPI-ML), among others. That was how the plan was clinched, with the party sticking to Shashi Tharoor to initiate the discussion. Gandhi will speak on the Budget on Wednesday. When the India bloc leaders met in Kharge’s chamber to brainstorm on the future course, the allies decided on ending the logjam. If Gandhi is still blocked from speaking, they would submit the planned no-confidence notice against Speaker Om Birla, and then get on with the stalled business. If Gandhi is allowed, the notice will not be filed. Lok Sabha is now expected to hold normal proceedings. 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
Delhi Police register FIR over circulation of an unpublished book of ex-Army chief Naravane
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Monday registered an FIR over the circulation of an unpublished book of ex-Chief of Army Staff General Naravane on social media, cops told news agency PTI. A row erupted over General Naravane’s book after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi cited excerpts from the former Army chief’s unpublished memoir and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “not fulfilling responsibility” during the 2020 India-China military clashes in Ladakh. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament the Congress leader said, “The speaker is saying that this book does not exist, Rajnath ji has said this book does not exist. This is Naravane ji’s book wherein he has written the account of Ladakh…Narendra Modi ji did not fulfil his responsibility.” Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on reading purported extracts from the yet-to-be-published Naravane’s book shone the spotlight on the rules and regulations that restrict senior military officials from revealing classified information or crucial leadership decisions even after retirement. Meanwhile, Penguin Random House, which holds the publishing rights, said the book has “not gone into publication. No copies of the book – in print or digital form – have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public” by them. “In light of recent public discourse and media reporting, Penguin Random House India would like to clarify that we hold the sole publishing rights for the book Four Stars of Destiny, a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, former Chief of the Indian Army. We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. No copies of the book – in print or digital form – have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public by Penguin Random House India,” the publishing house wrote on X. — PenguinIndia (@PenguinIndia) There has been no official word from the author or even the ministry on the status of the book. Senior military officials, particularly those dealing with classified information, are subject to regulations under the Official Secrets Act that restrict the publication of books or information even after retirement to prevent such classified material from becoming public. While a general one-year “cooling-off” period exists for taking up commercial or private employment, regulations for publishing secret content require prior government clearance. “Four Stars of Destiny”, a memoir of Naravane, who was Army chief from December 31, 2019, to April 30, 2022, remains unpublished due to pending clearance from the defence ministry regarding sensitive details on the 2020 Line of Actual Control (LAC) standoff and Agnipath scheme. If the said rules and regulations are violated, the government can take legal action and such violations can also lead to the withholding of part or all of the pension of the military official concerned, as per CCS (Pension) Rules. There are chances that if the memoir is published, it could “flare up” the LAC situation with China. In May-June 2020, Indian and Chinese troops engaged in violent face-offs along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and Sikkim, most notably during the June 15, 2020, clash in Galwan Valley that resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers. There were casualties on the Chinese side as well. This marked the deadliest confrontation in decades, leading to major troop escalations. Under the then General Naravane’s command, India and China held a series of ground-level talks that led to “disengagement” in a phased manner from the stand-off areas. As of today, the situation along LAC is characterised by a “thaw” following a series of disengagement agreements, yet high-level military forward deployment from both sides persists. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
PM’s Lok Sabha absence not due to any threat from us: Women Congress MPs to Birla
NEW DELHI: Women MPs belonging to Congress told Speaker Om Birla Monday that under pressure from the govt, he made “false, baseless and defamatory allegations” that PM Modi faced potential threat from them, because of which he did not come to LS to reply to the motion of thanks. In a letter to Birla, the MPs said he made the allegations a day later under govt pressure “to defend the non-appearance of the PM”, arguing that “questioning our integrity is a attack on every woman who earns her place in public life with dignity and courage”. “His (PM) absence from the House was not due to any threat from us, it was an act of fear. He did not have the courage to face the opposition,” said the letter, signed by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, S Jothimani, R Sudha, Geniben Thakor, Varsha Gaikwad and Jyotsna Mahant. Rubbishing the idea that women members could have indulged in violence, Rahul Gandhi told reporters if any member did threaten, the govt should file an FIR and arrest that MP. The letter questioning the Speaker’s impartiality, with a remark like “you are no longer the decision maker”, marks a sharp escalation of tension that has prevailed between the governing camp-Speaker and the opposition during the Budget session. “It is amply clear that you are under sustained pressure from the ruling party. We urge you once again to act as impartial custodian of the Lok Sabha,” they wrote, adding, “let history remember you as one who stood for what was right in the most trying circumstances… let it not remember you as one who bowed to pressure from those who leave no stone unturned in subverting constitutional values and damaging the democratic fabric of our nation.” The MPs said while LoP Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to speak for four days and eight opposition MPs were suspended, a BJP MP was allowed to speak in a “vulgar and obscene manner against former PMs”, an unnamed reference to Nishikant Dubey’s speech. They claimed Birla had agreed that a wrong had happened but left Congress’ demand for Dubey’s suspension to be decided by ruling party. 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 to meet TNCC leaders, district presidents in Delhi
Chennai: Chennai: The Congress high command has summoned senior Tamil Nadu Congress leaders and the newly appointed district presidents to New Delhi on Tuesday. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said the district presidents have been invited to Delhi for a training session. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to interact with the district presidents. Later, he would meet the senior leaders to take stock of the alliance dynamics in Tamil Nadu. “Rahul would be seeking the views of the senior leaders on alliance and seat sharing in TN,” a TNCC leader said. The meeting comes days after DMK MP Kanimozhi called on Rahul in Delhi in the wake of a section of the Congress functionaries batting for a power sharing arrangement. Senior TN Congress leaders had a similar meeting with Rahul in Delhi on Jan 18. Congress sources said the meeting is also expected to review the party’s preparedness for the 2026 assembly elections and assess district-level structures following the recent organisational changes. TNCC leaders said all 76 newly appointed district presidents are set to participate in the training programme, along with Selvaperunthagai, Congress legislative party leader S Rajeshkumar, and AICC in-charge for TN Girish Chodankar. Rahul will be joined by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, and former Union finance minister P Chidambaram. “This is the first training session. The second session will be held after the assembly election,” TNCC spokesperson A Gopanna told TOI. The district presidents were appointed on merit, after doing away with the `quota system,’ where each TNCC leaders was allotted a certain number of postings for them to fill up with their supporters. “ Their functioning will be directly monitored by the AICC,” Gopanna said. As part of the training, the district presidents would also be briefed on the poll strategy to be adopted. 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’s tactics of destructive mentality
Keshav Upadhye, a young, dynamic and prominent face, has been working with the Bharatiya Janata Party for over two decades. In 2014, the then state president Devendra Fadnavis … MORE Prince Rahul Gandhi has, as usual, begun leveling accusations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this time by citing a reference from an unpublished book by former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Naravane. Pointing out the government’s mistakes is undoubtedly the duty of an opposition leader. However, under the pretext of performing this duty, Rahul Gandhi has begun using tactics to create anarchy in the country, so it has become necessary to counter him in the same language. Let us keep aside the rest of the discussion regarding the details in that book. But Rahul Gandhi’s super-talented brain has still not registered one simple yet extremely important fact that the Prime Minister had granted the Army the authority to take all decisions regarding the aggression of the Chinese forces at that time. The Manmohan government, remote controlled by Rahul Gandhi’s own mother, had rejected the plan of the Indian Air Force to attack Pakistan after the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks. But it has been seen time and again that the Prince lacks the basic understanding that before showing off his intelligence he should first question his own mother about reasons behind this rejection. The Prince clearly does not possess the intelligence to understand the difference between the rejection in 2008 and the consent granting complete authority to take action in 2020. Therefore, the Prince is euphoric, thinking of it as a great hunt. He needs to be reminded of a few incidents. The then Union Home Minister, Chidambaram, has clearly stated in a recent interview that his government was prepared to launch an attack on Pakistan after the 26/11 attacks, but backed off due to pressure from the United States. “I was the Union Home Minister at that time. I was of the opinion that Pakistan should be given a befitting reply. However, due to pressure exerted by the United States, we had to change our decision to attack Pakistan,” Chidambaram said in an interview to a news channel. In the same interview, Chidambaram also shared information on how the then U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, came to India and how she tried to persuade India not to launch an attack. Many people keep on telling stories about how great and strong Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was, despite being a man of few words. Dr. Manmohan Singh was, no doubt, a great scholar. He was equally great as a human being. However, he remained silent after such a massive attack from Pakistan and the answer to how history will take note of this will depend on each person’s intellectual capacity. Prince Rahul, who is pretending to be brave today, must first answer why he did not urge the Manmohan government to attack Pakistan. He will definitely not answer that. Former Chief of the Air Staff B.S. Dhanoa has openly stated that “We had given a proposal to the government after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. We had informed the government that the Air Force was fully prepared to strike Pakistan. However, the government rejected the proposal for an airstrike on Pakistan”. Dhanoa also stated that “We had information about terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and the Air Force was fully prepared to destroy these terrorist camps. But the decision of whether to carry out an airstrike ultimately lies with the government”. One year after the Mumbai attacks, Fali Homi Major, the then Chief of the Air Staff, told Rediff.com that the Manmohan Singh government had “never made up its mind” to give a befitting reply to Pakistan. Major further said, “The government never made a decision to go to war. I know that the entire country was filled with anger and resentment. The Indian Air Force was fully prepared to attack Pakistan. We had contingency plans. But the Manmohan government remained silent. The Indian Air Force had assured Manmohan Singh that the force was prepared, with everything from weapons to aircraft, to attack terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Mumbai attacks. He had described this indecisiveness as “a huge, missed opportunity.” The Prince will not utter a word about the revelations made by Dhanoa, Fali Major and Chidambaram regarding the incompetence of the Manmohan government. Later, Rahul Gandhi’s tactics of gheraoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha through Congress women MPs clearly reflected a destructive mindset. The attempt to gherao the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha was not merely an act of opposition. An anarchic mind was behind it. The women MPs who were going to do it were not aware of its seriousness. These MPs became aggressive in the Lok Sabha to follow the orders of their party leadership. Rahul Gandhi wants to destroy the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by one way or the other. That is exactly why he had made allegations like corruption in the Rafale aircraft purchase. Eventually, he had to apologize unconditionally in the Supreme Court, as he failed to prove these allegations. But now this Prince has stooped to a level where he is making despicable efforts to defame the Modi government by using women as a shield and creating a ruckus in Parliament. Keshav Upadhye 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 became violent’: Ravneet Singh Bittu on ‘traitor’ face-off, says LoP came towards him after ‘losing his temper’
NEW DELHI: Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Saturday reacted to his face-off with Rahul Gandhi over the latter’s “traitor” remark at Parliament earlier this week. Bittu alleged that the Lok Sabha leader of opposition lost his “temper” and became “so violent” that he had to be held back by other Congress leaders. The former Congress leader said that he was walking to the Parliament when Rahul came towards him “after losing his temper”, PTI reported. And he was offering a handshake, thinking that he is a ‘shahanshah’ (emperor), Bittu said. “His one arm was held by Congress leader K C Venugopal and the other by Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Randhawa,” PTI cited Bittu saying. “He became so violent, do not know what he had, only God knows,” claimed Bittu. The incident occurred outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar, the main entrance used by MPs to access the new Parliament building, where Rahul was standing with suspended Congress MPs, most of them from Punjab, who were protesting on the steps. “Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face,” Rahul said, directed at Bittu. He offered to shake hands, saying, “Hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to Congress).” Bittu refused to shake hands and retorted, “Desh ke dushman..” The verbal exchange was caught on camera. He further said that he did not quit the Congress mid-term, adding that he completed his third term as a Congress MP before joining the BJP Bittu joined BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He is a Rajya Sabha MP and was inducted as a minister during PM Narendra Modi’s third term in office. 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
How Shashi Tharoor-Congress ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai’ moment gives UDF a timely lift before Kerala polls
NEW DELHI: The recent patch-up and the ‘all is good’ moment between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress high command have given the Congress in Kerala much-needed momentum ahead of the April–May assembly elections. Tharoor’s meeting with Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, after weeks of speculations about his strained ties with the party, has ended what many within the Congress described as an “awkward episode” and positioned him as a central campaign face for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). At a time when the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is battling incumbency fatigue and the BJP is testing the limits of its expansion in the state, the reconciliation gives the UDF a renewed sense of coherence and momentum. ‘All is good’ at a critical moment The recent Tharoor–Congress thaw sends a strong signal of unity to cadres and allies alike at a crucial time. Tharoor reportedly had been upset over the treatment meted out to him by Rahul Gandhi at a Kochi event recently and attempts by some leaders to sideline him in Kerala. For a party often in crisis over factionalism in its state units, the optics in Kerala were damaging. The reconciliation addressed that head-on. The leader of the opposition in the assembly, VD Satheesan’s faction, and leaders seen as sympathetic to Tharoor now have little room for parallel power centres. The warmth also saves Congress from embarrassment in front of its own LDF allies. Last year, as Tharoor had pointed out, “absence of a leader” in the Kerala party unit, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) chief Sadiq Ali Thangal had publicly asked the Congress to resolve internal differences, warning that visible discord would only benefit rivals. By bringing Tharoor back in confidence, that concern has now been allayed. This unity boost matters electorally. Since the late 1980s, Kerala voters have flipped governments every five years between the UDF and the LDF. However, this changed in the 2021 assembly polls, when the LDF failed to make gains and the LDF under Pinarayi Vijayan won a second consecutive term. The LDF improved its tally from 91 seats in 2016 to 99 in 2021, while the UDF dropped from 47 to 41 seats. Tharoor’s voter magnetism In the 2021 assembly polls, the biggest drive for the LDF sweep came from the Travancore belt, which includes Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. The LDF won a majority of seats in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, traditionally swing-heavy areas. Tharoor’s Lok Sabha seat, Thiruvananthapuram, had also historically been a swing constituency, alternating between the Congress and the Left, and more recently becoming a BJP target seat. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP fielded Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar against Tharoor, but the Congress leader retained the seat for the fourth time by over 16,000 votes. The UDF swept 18 of 20 Lok Sabha seats. Tharoor’s appeal has been particularly visible among educated, salaried and first-time voters, segments that have shown increasing volatility in recent state and local elections. This cohort has not consistently aligned with the Congress organisation and has, at times, been receptive to the BJP’s urban outreach or the LDF’s governance pitch. Tharoor’s sustained wins in Thiruvananthapuram suggest an ability to arrest that drift, even when broader party trends are mixed. At a strategic level, this gives the UDF a pathway to expand beyond its traditional social bases without alienating them. Urban centres such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode, where turnout fluctuates and margins are often narrow, are likely to play an outsized role in 2026. Tharoor’s presence allows the Congress to contest these spaces more credibly, particularly at a time when the BJP has signalled intent through incremental municipal gains and a recent mayoral victory. The Congress leadership’s decision to deploy Tharoor as a campaign spearhead, tasked with touring all 140 constituencies, adds star power to a contest that often hinges on narrative dominance. Tharoor’s oratory, media presence and ability to frame local issues within a national and global context give the UDF an edge in reaching undecided voters. Countering LDF and BJP narratives The patch-up blunts rival narratives at once. For the BJP, which has repeatedly highlighted Congress infighting to project itself as a disciplined alternative (recently by also using Tharoor’s name frequently), the reconciliation weakens the “internal chaos” line of attack. This comes at a moment when the BJP is seeking to capitalise on its recent mayoral win in Thiruvananthapuram municipal corporation, a symbolic breakthrough that signalled growing urban traction, even if assembly-level success remains elusive. Moreover, Tharoor’s active presence on the campaign trail is likely to help the UDF attract the younger demographic, especially aspirants and educated youth. The Congress leader’s credibility as an author, diplomat and global speaker also gives him unique traction among voters in Kerala, given the state’s high literacy rate. Both the LDF and the BJP-led NDA have also often portrayed the Congress as dynastic and directionless. The image of Tharoor standing alongside Rahul Gandhi will undercut those claims, at least for now. Risks contained, momentum regained Perhaps the most immediate benefit of the reconciliation is risk mitigation. Speculation that Tharoor might drift towards the LDF or even explore non-Congress platforms has been firmly quashed. His integration into the Congress election campaign gives a message of consistency. The memory of 2021 still looms large for Congress strategists. Despite favourable anti-incumbency indicators then, the UDF failed to convert opportunity into victory. The Tharoor patch-up is being seen as a corrective step, aimed at ensuring that organisational weaknesses do not once again squander political openings. By restoring unity, the Congress-Tharoor patch-up gives the opposition UDF a credible shot at turning the page after years of Left rule. Whether it translates into seats in elections will depend on execution, alliances and local dynamics, but for now with this ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai’ image, the UDF has scored an early and much-needed win before heading into the elections. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely
‘Habit of repeating false things’: Kharge targets PM Modi over RS speech; cites Naravane ‘memoir’ in fresh salvo
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government over what he called a denial of facts surrounding the publication of former Army chief General M.M. Naravane’s memoir, saying the issue was “right under your nose” and accusing the government of evading key questions raised by the Opposition. Kharge’s remarks came after Opposition parties walked out of the Rajya Sabha during the Prime Minister’s reply to the debate on the President’s address yesterday, alleging that their concerns – particularly on national security and China – were not addressed. “There is no need to react to the PM’s speech, but I would like to respond to the things he said. Because repeating the lies has been one of his habits,” Kharge said, referring to the Prime Minister’s speech. “In 97 minutes of this speech, the PM did not say anything conclusive, he didn’t reply to any of the concerns we had raised during the discussion, but only spoke about the last 100 years, 75 years and 50 years.” Referring to the controversy over former Army Chief General Naravane’s memoir, Kharge questioned the government’s claim in Parliament that the book had not been published. “When we talk about the country’s defences, we received the published book by General MM Naravane (Retd), but how did you not get it? And you say in the parliament that the book hasn’t been published. How can the Defence Minister say that the book is not published? It is a privilege. It is right under your nose,” Kharge said. He alleged that both home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh repeated the same position in the House before Rahul Gandhi brought an alleged “memoir” of ex-Army Chief Naravane in Parliament. “In the end it turned out to be true,” he said. Kharge also questioned the government’s response when Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of China during the debate. “Why were they troubled when LoP Rahul Gandhi raised the issue (China issue)? Listen to the truth and reply… deny it,” he said. Kharge said the Opposition decided to walk out as it felt the Prime Minister had failed to substantively respond to the debate. “It is so unfortunate that he had no substance and answer to the issues we had raised in the House. Later, they only kept abusing me,” he said. Rejecting allegations that the Congress had insulted the Sikh community, after Rahul Gandhi’s comment calling Union minister Raveneet Bittu “traitor” snowbowled into a big controversy, drawing sharp reaction from BJP. Kharge said, “We respect the Sikh community.” He cited former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying, “Dr Manmohan Singh, a renowned economist was appointed the Finance Minister and PM twice, the same post as Modi ji.” Accusing the ruling party of relying on attacks rather than governance, Kharge said, “In the last 10 years, what have they done except abuse the Congress?” 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
Indo-US trade deal a death knell for farmers: Congress
Jandiala Guru: Congress leaders on Friday sounded alarm bells over the Indo-US trade deal, saying it will sound the death knell for the country’s farmers as the US agricultural products will flood Indian markets. They also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi surrendered under pressure from the US President Donald Trump and was forced to accept these conditions, which were against the country’s interests. Addressing the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ rally here on Friday, the Congress leaders resolved that, in the way PM Modi was forced to withdraw the three controversial “black” agricultural laws, the same way he will be forced to restore the MGNREGA by the Congress. Bhupesh promised that, in case the BJP govt does not restore the MGNREGA, the Congress govt, which will be formed in Punjab in 2027, will make special provisions for the poor labourers so that they are not affected by its withdrawal. Similarly, he said, once the Congress govt is formed at the Centre in 2029 with Rahul Gandhi as the PM, the MGNREGA will be restored in its original form. Referring to the Indo-US trade deal, he said it was the sign of a weak PM who completely surrendered before Trump. He said, under Modi, the country was seen as weak as it was being arm-twisted by the US and the Chinese. Speaking on the occasion, the Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring blamed both the central and the state govt for the failure to implement the MGNREGA scheme in Punjab. He said that while Modi scrapped the scheme now, chief minister Mann already failed as Punjab was providing negligible work under this scheme. Warring also lashed out at the BJP and its leaders for trying to distort the conversation between Rahul Gandhi and Ravneet Singh Bittu. Giving details of the conversation, he said he was very much present on the occasion when Rahul addressed Bittu as his “traitor friend”. He condemned the BJP for trying to give communal colour to the issue and accuse Rahul of insulting the Sikhs. He pointed out it was Bittu himself who said it so many times that he started wearing a turban at the behest of Rahul Gandhi only. Moreover, he added, Rahul Gandhi had so much faith and respect for the Sikh religion that he performed seva at Darbar Sahib round the clock. “Can such a person really insult Sikhs?” he asked. 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