Tag: Cong

Cong leader Jairam Ramesh takes dig at PM Modi over Adani issue

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New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed on Friday that a senior government official has described the recent developments involving the Adani Group as a “storm in a tea cup” and said the cup belongs to none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“A responsible senior official has dismissed the Adani affair as a storm in a tea cup. Well, he accepts it as a storm. As for the tea cup, it is of none other than the PM himself. No ordinary tea cup!” the former Union minister wrote on Twitter.
His remarks came after the opposition stepped up its attack on the BJP-led government over the Adani issue and slammed it for not taking action against the business conglomerate.
US-based short seller Hindenburg Research has accused the Adani Group of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The conglomerate, led by industrialist Gautam Adani, has denied any wrongdoing and threatened to sue Hindenburg.
The opposition stalled the proceedings in both houses of Parliament for the second straight day on Friday, demanding a discussion on the issue and a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe or a Supreme Court-monitored investigation.
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#Cong #leader #Jairam #Ramesh #takes #dig #Modi #Adani #issue

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 3, 2023
Cong steps up attack against govt over Adani row; accuses PM of ‘saving his friend’

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New Delhi: The Congress-led opposition stepped up its attack on Friday against the government over the Adani row and demanded that there should be a thorough investigation into what they alleged was a “mega scam” as it involved public money.
Opposition parties have been demanding a joint parliamentary probe or a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the allegations of fraud and manipulation by the US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research against billionaire Gautam Adani’s companies that have triggered an unprecedented stock crash.
“Due to the investment made by LIC-SBI in Adani Group, the money of common citizens of the country is sinking. The Opposition is demanding an inquiry into the entire matter,” the Congress said.
The party also said that it has been two days, and the Opposition is demanding a discussion on the Adani issue in Parliament.
“The money of the people of the country invested in LIC-SBI is sinking. The opposition wants to raise the voice of the public in the House and discuss their concerns. But, PM Modi is running away from the discussion, saving his friend. Fear of what,” the opposition party asked.
Adani Group has lost more than USD 100 billion in market value since Hindenburg Research accused it of stock manipulation and accounting fraud in the January 24 report. The group has denied any wrongdoing and has threatened to sue Hindenburg.
“Dow Jones dropped Adani from Sustainability Indices. Action is being taken against Adani all over the world, but PM Modi is quiet. Where are SEBI, ED, ROC, and SFIO? When will our government take action,” the Congress asked on Twitter.
The opposition parties met in the morning in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and coordinated their strategy for the day.

While 16 parties including the Congress, RJD, AAP, DMK, SP, CPI, CPI-M, BRS, Shiv Sena (Thackeray), JDU, NCP and NC participated in the meeting on Friday, Trinamool Congress did not attend the same. TMC was present in the Thursday meeting of opposition parties.
The Opposition later stalled the proceedings of both Houses of Parliament, which failed to transact any business and were adjourned within minutes.
“Parliament adjourned for another day because the Opposition demands a JPC on the PM-linked Adani issue that is playing havoc on the savings of crores of Indians,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.
“Modi sarkar says MPs are wasting public money. What about the crores people have lost over the last few days of the ‘Maha mega scam,” he asked.
He also accused the government of being fearful of the Opposition demands for a JPC on the Adani issue and alleged that the business group has patronage at the highest levels.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said,”the difference between the global financial community and India’s approach to allegations against Adani is stark.”
“Distant third parties like S&P Dow Jones remove Adani Enterprises on the severity of allegations. Our own regulators and government remain inactive and silent despite 10 days of mayhem,” she said on Twitter.
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also wrote to the SEBI chief demanding action on the Adani issue not just for the sake of shareholders who are losing their money but also in the national interest.
“Reminding SEBI about its authority to regulate the markets and ensure transparency, compliances are met with so as to not shake the investor confidence & wipe off wealth of investors,” she said on Twitter.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra also tweeted:”S&P Dow Jones removes Adani Enterprises from Dow Jones indices due to stock manipulation and accounting fraud charges.
“Why is NSE not reevaluating index membership of Adani stocks when international ones are.”
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#Cong #steps #attack #govt #Adani #row #accuses #saving #friend
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 3, 2023
Cong, CPI-M contesting Tripura polls together to save their existence: Nadda

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Agartala: BJP national president J.P. Nadda on Friday claimed that the Congress and the CPI-M during their governance destroyed Tripura on all fronts while the BJP during the five-year rule created a ‘new Tripura’, establishing peace and boosting development.
Addressing an election rally in Tripura’s Kumarghat, Nadda criticised the Congress-CPI-M seat adjustments, saying the two parties have come together not for the state’s welfare and development but to save their existence.
In a seat sharing deal, the four-party Left Front has fielded candidates in 47 seats and allotted 13 seats to their new ally Congress, even as they have been arch political rivals in Tripura since 1952. “Congress-CPI-M ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (big alliance) aimed to bring back commission raj, insurgency, corruption, lawlessness and other misdeeds,” the BJP leader said.
Nadda said that to establish peace in Tripura, the BJP government in the state and the Centre have signed a peace accord with the militant outfit National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), and then its 88 cadres surrendered to the government.
For the permanent settlement of the displaced Reang tribals, the Central government has also signed a four-partite agreement and over 35,000 Reang tribals are being provided with a permanent settlement in Tripura, investing Rs 600 crore, he pointed out.
Highlighting the BJP government’s efforts for the all-round development of the tribals across the country, Nadda said that for the first time a “tribal sister (Droupadi Murmu) is now a country’s President”.
“There are eight central ministers who are tribals, several governors and Chief Ministers are tribals. For tribal communities, the budget has been increased by four times,” Nadda said.
The BJP president said that Tripura witnessed insurgency, violence and road blockades before the 2018 Assembly elections, but the ‘double engine’ government ensured peace and development.

He said that investing Rs 980 crore for the Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) railway project was being implemented to boost the state’s trade and business and would facilitate the people of the state to go to other parts of the country very easily.
The BJP leader said that during the Congress and the CPI-M regime, food from ration shops were looted, ‘commission raj’ prevailed, and liquidation was everywhere.
Stressing on women empowerment, Nadda said that the BJP has nominated 12 women candidates in Tripura polls.
“The people of Tripura have already decided to return to the BJP government for the second time in the February 16 elections to ensure that the double engine government continues to further speed up the development,” he said.
Nadda’s rally on Friday was for the second time in the BJP-ruled Tripura in less than one month.
The BJP’s national president on January 12 addressed a rally in Agartala, after the eight-day long state-wide ‘Rath Yatra’, which was flagged off by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 5.
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#Cong #CPIM #contesting #Tripura #polls #save #existence #Nadda
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 3, 2023
‘Armchair liberals’ stayed away from BJY but pontificated on it: Ramesh’s swipe at ‘Cong bashers’

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New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday took a swipe at “arm-chair liberals” and “professional Congress bashers” who stayed away from the Bharat Jodo Yatra while continuing to pontificate on it, sharing an animation on them.
Taking to Twitter, Ramesh shared a 40-second animation with a Hindi voice which shows the “home of an arm-chair liberal”. The person is shown sitting on a chair while giving comments on social media, and finally the leg of his chair breaks.
The voice-over urges the “armchair liberal” not to depend on the chair always and “join the struggle”.
“Message to the arm-chair liberals, professional Congress bashers and commentators, who stayed away from the Bharat Jodo Yatra while continuing to pontificate on it,” Ramesh, Congress’ general secretary in-charge communications, tweeted along with the animation.
The Rahul Gandhi-led yatra culminated at the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk area with the unfurling of the national flag and a rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium after traversing 12 states and two Union Territories in over 140 days after its launch on September 7 last year, clocking over 4,000 km.
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#Armchair #liberals #stayed #BJY #pontificated #Rameshs #swipe #Cong #bashers

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 3, 2023
Cong calls protest on Feb 6 over Hindenburg report on Adani

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New Delhi: The Congress party has decided to hold nationwide district level protests on Monday, February 6, in front of the Life Insurance Corporation office and the State Bank of India office here over the Hindenburg report.
“The government can’t jeopardize the hard earned money of the people of India to profit the crony friends of the Prime Minister.” said KC Venugopal, party general secretary.
He said the LIC has invested Rs 36,474.78 crore in the Adani Group whereas Indian banks together have invested nearly Rs 80,000 crore in the group. They continue to do so even when there are allegations of stock manipulation, accounting fraud and other malfeasance.
The group has lost $100 billion since the Hindenberg report came out.
All the Pradesh Congress Committees have been requested to issue the necessary instructions to the District Congress Committees so that apart from senior leaders, party functionaries and workers, mobilisation from the BCC, Panchayat and Booth level is ensured in full measure.
The Congress is also demanding a JPC probe or an enquiry under the supervision of the Chief Justice of India into the Adani saga, involving hundreds of thousands of crores of public money.
He said that amidst the all round gloom due to unprecedented unemployment, uncontrolled inflation and economic distress, the Modi government was expected to present a budget which addressed these urgent concerns of the people.
“Sadly, the characteristically insensitive and callous government, rather than acting to safeguard the people’s interest and stop the squandering and loot of public money, is still single mindedly bent on helping PM Modi’s friends, blatantly throwing all caution and prudence to the winds,” he said.

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#Cong #calls #protest #Feb #Hindenburg #report #Adani
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 2, 2023
Cong demands SC-monitored probe or JPC to look into fraud charges against Adani Group

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New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday demanded an impartial investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court or a joint parliamentary committee to probe the charges raised in the Hindenburg report against the Adani Group.
A joint opposition raised the Hindenburg report in both the Houses of Parliament demanding a discussion on the issue. The opposition parties also created an uproar after adjournment notices by several members in this regard were rejected by the chair in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, leading to adjournment of the Houses for the day.
No business was transacted in the Houses.
The Congress has also decided to protest outside the offices of LIC and SBI in all districts across the country on February 6.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed it as a “scam” and said the opposition parties have also called for day-to-day reporting of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) or the SC-monitored probe into the issue concerning public money.
“Keeping public interest in mind, we want a thorough probe into the Adani issue either by a joint parliamentary committee or a Supreme Court-monitored probe. There should also be day-to-day reporting of the investigation on the issue,” he told reporters.
Kharge said on behalf of like-minded opposition parties, he demands either a JPC or an SC-monitored investigation in the manner in which government owned companies “are forced to invest in firms that have been exposed by the Hindenburg report”.
He said along with him eight other opposition MPs had given notices in the Rajya Sabha for a discussion on the Adani Group crisis and investment of PSUs like Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) and State Bank of India (SBI) in the group.
“Whenever we have given a notice, it has not been accepted by the chair”, the Congress leader said, noting that this is the reason all opposition parties jointly decided to raise the issue in the Upper House.

“That is why, we decided to raise the (Adani) issue in one voice in the House as crores of money of common people is invested in LIC, and public money in banks is being given to such companies against whom foreign agencies have come out with charges of irregularities,” he said.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said responding to the “public sentiments and outrage against the moves of the government”, the Congress Party has decided to hold a nationwide district level protest on Monday, February 6, 2023, in front of LIC offices and SBI offices.
“The government can’t jeopardize the hard earned money of the people of India to profit the crony friends of the Prime Minister,” Venugopal said.
He also said all the PCCs (Pradesh Congress Committees) have been requested to issue necessary instructions to the District Congress Committees (DCCs), so that apart from senior leaders, party functionaries and workers’ mobilisation from Block Congress Committees, panchayat and booth level is ensured in full measure.
“The Modi government is protecting its best friend by repeatedly adjourning Parliament and scuttling the opposition’s voice. We demand a JPC and a Supreme Court-monitored probe to investigate the entire matter and the government’s involvement in this massive scam,” Venugopal said on Twitter.
He claimed that the LIC has “invested a total of Rs 36,474.78 crore” in Adani Group, whereas Indian banks together have “invested nearly Rs 80,000 crore” in the same and they continue to do so even when there is allegations of stock manipulation, accounting fraud and other malfeasance.
AICC head of media and publicity department, Pawan Khera, said the Congress has raised three important demands from the Narendra Modi government.
“An impartial investigation under the Chief Justice of Supreme Court, with day-to-day reports, should be carried out, or a JPC should be formed to investigate the Hindenburg Research report in detail,” he said at a press conference.
“Risky investments” by LIC, SBI and other nationalised banks in Adani Group should be discussed in Parliament and appropriate steps be taken to protect the investors, he said.
Congress leader and whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore, who had given an adjournment notice in the Lower House to discuss the row, also said that the party wants a JPC probe into the entire matter along with a discussion on the issue.
Congress MP Manish Tewari tweeted “JPC on Adani Saga” and said the party will demand that a JPC be constituted to investigate the allegations.
“It is not a question about one promoter, but about the efficacy of the entire regulatory system,” he said, adding that the Congress and other political parties demand JPC on “a-la-affaire Adani”.
Earlier, the Congress was supported by several other opposition parties, including DMK, TMC, SP, JD(U), Shiv Sena, CPI(M), CPI, BRS, NCP, IUML, NC, AAP, Kerala Congress and RJD in demanding the JPC probe or SC-monitored investigation into the row.
Khera said the Congress strongly underlines that when Rahul Gandhi talks about “Suit Boot Ki Sarkar”, “Hum Do, Hamare Do” and now “Mitra Kaal”, he is not talking about any particular industrialist, “he is talking about the murky system that Modi ji has set up for his selected friends to loot the country”.
“We are not against any particular Indian corporate house, we are against crony capitalism. When the rules are changed to benefit selected billionaires, we are against it,” he said, alleging that “Hum Do Hamare Do” of “Mitra Kaal” are brazenly selling the “Family Silver” of the nation.
“The ‘Pradhan Mentor’ handed over shares in LIC and SBI to a group which has been accused of biggest corporate fraud of this country. The ‘saheb’ has left no stone unturned in sinking the deposits of crores of Indians,” he said, asking when will the serious allegations made by Hindenburg Research against Adani be investigated.
He also said the Modi government has maintained a stoic silence on the report.
“We want to tell PM Modi that we have nothing to say if you cheat your best friend, but shall not keep quiet if you cheat the investors of India – 29 crore policy holders of LIC and 45 crore account holders of SBI,” the Congress leader said.
“The family silver of the country is at stake due to the sinking of the Adani Group, the hard-earned money of crores of investors and crores of policy holders is at risk,” he alleged.
Adani Group stocks have taken a beating on the bourses after Hindenburg Research made a litany of allegations in its report, including fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation at the Gautam Adani-led group.
Adani Group has dismissed the charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. It called the Hindenburg report baseless and has threatened to sue the short seller.
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#Cong #demands #SCmonitored #probe #JPC #fraud #charges #Adani #Group
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 2, 2023
Sonia attends joint sitting of Parliament as senior Cong leaders stuck in Kashmir

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New Delhi: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi sat alone in her designated front row bench in Parliament’s Central Hall during the president’s address on Tuesday as senior leaders of her party remained stuck in Srinagar due to bad weather, after attending an event to mark the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
However, a steady stream of leaders from across the aisle approached Sonia Gandhi and exchanged pleasantries.
Before the joint sitting began, BJP MPs were seen congratulating J P Nadda, whose term as party president was extended till June 2024, as he entered the Parliament building.
Gandhi, who is usually flanked by senior party colleagues, was also greeted by both President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was sitting near Sonia Gandhi, was also seen leaning and speaking to her.
Gandhi, however, was seen engaged in a conversation for around half an hour with TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien who was sitting a row behind her.
Incidentally, the TMC had earlier said the party had not been called to join the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra.
O’Brien and Gandhi were seen having a lengthy conversation before Murmu’s speech began.

Putting political rivalries aside, AIADMK leader M Thambi Durai and DMK’s TR Baalu were seen smiling and hugging each other while having a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After the Economic Survey was presented and the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day, PM Modi also enquired from Chirag Paswan about his mother’s health.
In her first address to the joint sitting of Parliament on the first day of the Budget session, President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said the country has a government that is “stable, fearless, decisive”, giving thrust to ‘virasat’ (heritage) as well as ‘vikas’ (development) and working for all classes without any discrimination.
Friendly vibes were visible among different party MPs during the joint sitting of Parliament.
A bench, which usually seats five people, was seen being shared by six MPs from three different parties — NCP’s Supriya Sule, DMK’s Kanimozhi, TMC’s Saugata Ray and BJP leaders, Neeraj Shekhar, Shivkumar Udasi and Nishikant Dubey.
During the speech, BJP MPs were seen thumping their desks frequently, which the opposition claimed they were instructed to do so.
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#Sonia #attends #joint #sitting #Parliament #senior #Cong #leaders #stuck #Kashmir
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 31, 2023
Govt looking at ‘wrong place’ to find ‘right’ person: Cong over vacancies in tech institutes

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New Delhi: The Congress on Monday said over 50 institutes of national importance including seven IITs and 22 NITs are without chairpersons and alleged that the government is looking at the “wrong place” to find the “right” person.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the government has not filled up the vacancies even after many of the institutes have written to it.
He also reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi about claims made of providing world class futuristic education at these institutes even when basics were forgotten.
“Narendra Modi ji, 50 institutes of national importance are without chairpersons.
10 are vacant since the year your government came to power. Many institutes have written to government, but no avail. You speak about ‘world class futuristic education’ but forget the ‘basics’,” Kharge said.
The Congress chief said this on Twitter while recalling that institutions without full-time chairpersons included seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), 22 National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and 20 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs).
Congress leader P Chidambaram also alleged that 10 such institutes are without chairpersons for the last eight to nine years.
“The Modi government’s commitment to excellence in higher education has been exposed. IIT (7), NIT (22) and IIIT (20) are without a full-time chairperson of the Board. In 10 institutes, no chairperson has been appointed for the last eight-nine years,” he alleged.
“In a country with a population of 140 crore, the government cannot find 50 persons who can serve as chairperson of such an institute. I suspect the government is looking at the wrong place to find the ‘right’ person,” Chidambaram said.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had earlier told the Parliament in a written reply that 39 posts of chairman and directors are vacant at the IITs and the NITs.
Admitting that several posts of chairman at IITs and NITs are lying vacant, Pradhan had told the Lok Sabha that “the nomination and selection of chairman and other posts is a continuous process”.
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#Govt #wrong #place #find #person #Cong #vacancies #tech #institutes
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 31, 2023
All-party meet ahead of Budget: YSR Cong demands caste-based economic census

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New Delhi: The YSR Congress on Monday demanded a nationwide caste-based economic census at an all-party meet convened by the government ahead of the Budget session of Parliament.
It is necessary to know the economic status of the backward castes who are “lagging behind” on social and development indicators, the party said.
YSR Congress leader Vijaysai Reddy said backward castes are over 50 percent of the total population and the census will help find their economic status.
The ruling party in Andhra Pradesh has joined the likes of the JD(U) and the RJD, both of which have demanded a caste census.
The grand alliance government in Bihar has rolled out a state-wide caste census.
Reddy said his party also demanded the women quota bill for ensuring reservation for them in Parliament.
Parties including the TRS, TMC, and the BJD also supported the demand.

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#Allparty #meet #ahead #Budget #YSR #Cong #demands #castebased #economic #census
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 30, 2023
Bharat Jodo Yatra not for winning elections: Cong chief Kharge

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Srinagar: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra was not for winning elections but to counter the hate spread by the BJP and the RSS in the country.
Addressing a rally to mark the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, amid heavy snowfall, he also said Gandhi was determined to restore Jammu and Kashmir statehood.
“The yatra was not for winning elections but against hate. BJP people are spreading hate in the country. Rahul Gandhi has proven that he can unite the country from Kanyakumari to Kashmir on issues like unemployment and inflation,” Kharge said at the rally here to mark the culmination of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar.
Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RSS and the BJP were pursuing the policy widening the poor-rich divide in the country.
“(Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji, RSS and BJP want to keep poor people poor and to make rich, richer. Ten per cent people are looting 72 per cent wealth of the country while 50 per cent own just three per cent,” he said.
While addressing the rally, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she was also apprehensive initially if people will join the yatra.
“My brother has been walking for the last five months from Kanyakumari. Earlier I also thought, it was a long journey whether people will come out. But they came out everywhere. They came out because people of the country have spirit for unity,” she said.
She said Gandhi, as he was entering Jammu and Kashmir, sent a message to their mother Sonia Gandhi saying that he was going home.

“The whole country supported the yatra. The politics that is happening in the country cannot benefit the country. The politics that divides cannot benefit the country. Those who walked have shown a ray of hope,” she added.
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#Bharat #Jodo #Yatra #winning #elections #Cong #chief #Kharge
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 30, 2023