Tag: Cong

Himanta hasn’t delivered even 50% of BJP’s promises: Assam Cong chief

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Guwahati: Political pundits may be opining that the Congress in Assam looks like a puny force in front of the BJP’s massive election machinery and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s tall image. However, Bhupen Borah, the Assam unit Congress chief, looks rejuvenated after the recent state version of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, and exudes confidence.
Here are some excerpts from an exclusive interview with the Congress leader.
IANS: You have been constantly attacking AIUDF’s Badruddin Ajmal. Can the Congress party win elections in Assam without a tie-up with the AIUDF?
Borah: We forged an alliance with Ajmal’s party in the last assembly poll. But what we could see was that the AIDUF leaders were constantly delivering a series of provocative statements that, in turn, helped the BJP consolidate Hindu votes.
The saffron camp was trying their best to do polarisation, however, they had looked to be failure in achieving their target. It was AIUDF leaders’ statements that tremendously aided the BJP wheel the result in their favour.
IANS: Are you accusing Ajmal of having a pact with Himanta Biswa Sarma?
Borah: This is very evident. Badruddin Ajmal and his brother have showered huge praises on Sarma a number of times. His party’s MLA says Himanta Biswa Sarma is the most successful Chief Minister. How could you say that? That man could not even fulfil a mere 25 per cent of his party’s vision document.
The Chief Minister promised to give 1 lakh government jobs within a short time as he assumes the office. One and a half years have gone, the unemployed youths of Assam are crying for jobs, and there are still many unfulfilled promises. Hence, if you call Sarma a successful CM, then you must have a hidden agenda.

IANS: How have you planned to challenge the BJP’s election machinery?
Borah: We carried out an Assam version of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ from Dhubri to Sadiya. The BJP first claimed that people would not turn out for this campaign. But everybody has seen how much response we received during this yatra. Now, people from Barak Valley came to me and urged for a similar campaign in that area. We are launching it there also.
Actually, the people of Assam were never communal, and I am sure the BJP’s attempt to instil communalism will fail miserably in the next election. Moreover, the BJP has deprived almost every section of society, be it a government employee, a teacher, or a homemaker. They are not giving Old Pension Scheme. The government is trying to lay off 8,000 teacher jobs in the state. The BJP will have to pay the political price of all this.
IANS: Are you looking for an alliance with other parties leaving AIUDF?
Borah: In Assam, the AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) has lost its significance. When our Bharat Jodo Yatra was passing through the constituencies of AGP’s top leaders like Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta, people living adjacent to their houses also joined with us in large numbers. This shows how much they have lost people’s trust by going with the BJP.
IANS: What about the Trinamool Congress? Ripun Bora already declared that they are ready to forge an alliance with you.
Borah: We cannot take this decision at the state level. Our party’s national leaders will take a call on whether to go with the Trinamool Congress or not. The same situation applies for the Aam Aadmi Party too. But we are keeping close relations with the Left parties, the NCP, Akhil Gogoi, and Lurinjyoti Gogoi. They joined our yatra at different places.
IANS: Do you expect this crowd will turn into votes in next year’s Lok Sabha election?
Borah: I don’t think this is an appropriate time to answer this as we have more than one year left for the election. But people were earlier afraid of talking about the misrule of Himanta Biswa Sarma in the state. This has changed with our recent ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. People are now believing that the Congress is ready to take on BJP.
IANS: Recently, Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that he controls at least 50 per cent of the Congress party in the state.
Borah: I don’t think this is a right statement. However, he has ties with a few Congress leaders in Assam. We know who these people are, and the party’s high command has also been informed. Those leaders are keeping a relation with the Chief Minister for the sake of their personal benefit. I hope they will change very soon otherwise we have to take a strong decision.
IANS: Is this not an embarrassing and helpless situation for you?
Borah: In 2006, Himanta Biswa Sarma poached five out of 11 MLAs of the BJP in Assam and claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party had been finished in the state. A few years later, that man had to join the BJP. He might have made pacts with three or four leaders, but he cannot control the party. We run the Congress in the state, no doubt about that.
IANS: The BJP is already saying that they will win 12 out of the 14 seats in Assam in the next Lok Sabha polls…
Borah: It is too early to comment as the election result is always decided in the last three months. But I must say that as of now, we are ahead of the BJP in at least eight Lok Sabha seats in the state.
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#Himanta #hasnt #delivered #BJPs #promises #Assam #Cong #chief
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 29, 2023
Maha Cong chief questions investments by PSUs, LIC in Adani Group; seeks SIT probe

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has alleged the money of LIC and other PSUs was invested in Adani Group at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which he claimed was “a massive scale of irregularities” and demanded a probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT).
He also demanded the Maharashtra government take back the Dharavi redevelopment project in Mumbai from the Adani group.
The Congress’ demand for an SIT probe came days after a New York firm alleged in a report that its two-year investigation found the Adani Group “engaged in a brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme over the course of decades”.
Adani Group has threatened to sue Hindenburg Research for its “reckless” attempt to sabotage the mega share sale at Adani Enterprises and called the report “maliciously mischievous”.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani’s close relations are well known. The money of State Bank of India, LIC (Life Insurance Corporation), and other public sector undertakings (PSUs) have been invested by PM Modi without any thought and procedure in Adani group,” Patole alleged in a statement issued on Saturday.
He claimed such “favouritism” over the Adani Group has caused the fear of losing this money (against the backdrop of the group’s share tumbling on bourses).
“It is a massive scale of irregularities and there should be an SIT to probe it,” the Congress leader stated.
Patole alleged Narendra Modi’s closeness with Adani was well-known even before Modi became the prime minister (in 2014).

“After coming to power at the national level, PM Modi showed special favour and helped the group with a loan from SBI. The LIC has invested nearly Rs 74,000 crore in it. Adani could rank among the world’s richest persons so soon only because of Modi’s blessings.
“The public sectors undertakings that were performing well, have been given to Adani group for its operations as well. The bubble was burst and Adani may have to go to jail like Sahara group’s Subrato Roy,” Patole alleged.
He said it is a “world-known secret” that probe agencies were used to force a company to hand over the Mumbai international airport’s operations to Adani Group.
“Even Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has planned to hand over operations of state distribution utility to Adani group but it could not materialise because of the strong opposition from its union,” Patole added.
He claimed a Dubai-based real estate development company had put in the highest bid for the Dharavi slum rehabilitation project in Mumbai but the contract was awarded to Adani Group.
“Going by this group’s irregularities, it endangers the people living there and small businesses. The government should take back the Dharavi redevelopment project from the Adani group,” he demanded.
The Adani Group has termed the Hindenburg report malicious with unsubstantiated contents.
“The maliciously mischievous, unresearched report published by Hindenburg Research on January 24, 2023 has adversely affected the Adani Group, our shareholders and investors. The volatility in Indian stock markets created by the report is of great concern and has led to unwanted anguish for Indian citizens,” Adani Group’s legal head Jatin Jalundhwala had said in a statement.
“We are evaluating the relevant provisions under US and Indian laws for remedial and punitive action against Hindenburg Research,” he stated.
However, Hindenburg has stood by the report.
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#Maha #Cong #chief #questions #investments #PSUs #LIC #Adani #Group #seeks #SIT #probe
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 29, 2023
Socialist leader Raghu Takhur blames Cong for rise of Hindutva politics

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Bhopal: Socialist Raghu Thakur expressed concern over the increasing communal polarization in the country’s politics, and held the Congress responsible for it.
He alleged that the Congress helped build the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) to weaken the socialists in the country.
The BJS, the political arm of RSS, existed from 1951 to 1977.
In a special conversation with IANS, Raghu Thakur said, after Independence, the Congress party tried to take politics to the religious path. The Congress helped build the BJS and it is because of that the condition of the Congress is such today.
Thakur alleged said that the Congress strategised in a planned manner and tried to take the BJS forward. Congress believed that the staunch Hinduist party would not get the support of many people, because the government is of Congress and Congress also runs on Hindu mindset, Muslims will continue to vote for Congress because of their fear. In this way, the Congress started communal polarisation.
He further said that Congress adopted the policy of appeasement of Muslims to take them along in the structure it prepared, but Congress forgot that the consequences of Muslim appeasement would be harmful for itself.
BJP has been successful in uniting Hindus after 70 years and that is the reason why it is in power today. The socialist movement has to bear its biggest loss, the reason for this is because socialists are neither Hindus nor Muslims. This is the reason why many a time Samajwadi contests elections even in Muslim dominated areas and has to face defeat.
In response to a question, Raghu Thakur said that in the present era, BJP is completely moving forward on fanatical Hinduism, while the Muslim vote-bank tries to defeat BJP. But, the result of this is that BJP gets benefitted. Two elections in Bhopal are examples of this, once Agnivesh contested and second time Digvijay Singh, both had to face a big defeat.

In response to a question, Raghu Thakur said both BJP and Congress are opposed to small parties. He said that while Congress swallows small parties, BJP chews them and swallows them.
Raghu Thakur believes that the socialist ideology has deep roots. He says that even though the socialist movement has become weak, the socialist ideology is still there in the society and the political parties are running on it only.
Whether it is BJP or Congress, both move forward with socialist ideas. Examples of this are giving equal rights to women, providing bread to the poor, as well as running schemes for the welfare of the poor.
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#Socialist #leader #Raghu #Takhur #blames #Cong #rise #Hindutva #politics
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 29, 2023
Adani stock fall: LIC, SBI ‘lost over Rs 78k cr’ in market cap, FM still on ‘mute mode’, says Cong

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New Delhi: The Congress Saturday questioned the “silence” of the Union finance minister and probe agencies after LIC and SBI “lost over Rs 78,000 crore” in market capitalisation of their shares due to exposure in Adani Group.
LIC and SBI continue to invest in the Adani group even after the Hindenburg research report alleged share price manipulation and financial misappropriation by the group, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala claimed.
“LIC is public money! Post Hindenburg Report, the value of LIC investment in Adani Group shares have fallen from Rs 77,000 Crore to Rs 53,000 crore — loss of Rs 23,500 crore.
“Also, LIC shares have lost Rs 22,442 Crore. Why is LIC still investing Rs 300 crore in Adani Group,” Surjewala asked.
3/3
Between Jan. 24 and 27 i.e in 3 days, #SBI & #LIC have lost “market cap” of ₹ 78,118 CR in value of their shares alone!
The Loan Exposure of SBI & Invest Value decline of LIC in Adani Group is in addition thereto.
YET..
RBI,
SEBI,
ED,
SFIO,
CBI,
FM remain on “mute” mode.
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) January 28, 2023
The Congress leader claimed that after the publication of the report, the SBI share’s market cap has declined by a whopping Rs 54,618 crore.
Also, the loan exposure of SBI and other banks to Adani Group is Rs 81,200 crore, he claimed.
“The question is, why are SBI Employees Pension Fund and SBI Life still investing Rs 225 crore in Adani Group,” Surjewala asked.
The Rajya Sabha MP also claimed that between January 24 and 27, the SBI and LIC lost a market cap of Rs 78,118 crore in value of their shares alone.

“The loan exposure of SBI and Invest Value decline of LIC in Adani Group is in addition thereto. Yet… RBI, SEBI, ED, SFIO, CBI, and the FM remain on ‘mute’ mode,” Surjewala said in a series of tweets.
The Congress leader has earlier said that elsewhere “the prime minister would be asked to explain, the finance minister would be sacked and a full investigation would have been ordered.”
The Hindenburg Report has pointed to the alleged manipulation of stock price by the Adani Group and alleged financial irregularities. The Adani Group has denied the allegations and termed it a campaign to defame the company ahead of its follow on a public issue.

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#Adani #stock #fall #LIC #SBI #lost #78k #market #cap #mute #mode #Cong
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 28, 2023
Goa: Cong to distribute Rahul’s letters promising LPG cylinders at Rs 500

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Panaji: The Congress in Goa will distribute letters written by its leader Rahul Gandhi which mention that the party will provide LPG cylinders at Rs 500 if it comes back to power in 2024.
The Congress launched the ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo’ programme in the capital city of Panaji, which is a follow-up and further programme to the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.
This programme will continue for the next two months and cover all 40 constituencies of the coastal state.
According to the Congress leaders, they will cover each and every village in Goa, spreading the message of Rahul Gandhi to fight against communal forces, divisive forces, policies affecting the future of the country.
“The main focus of this program is to distribute letters from Rahul Gandhi to the people of Goa and also the ‘chargesheet’ on BJP,” Amit Patkar, chief of Congress in Goa, said.
Patkar said the BJP does not believe in democracy and the Constitution. “There are many examples of this. They have changed the municipal law to satisfy their MLA,” he said.
“There is inflation in the country. Prices have skyrocketed. Hence, Rahul Gandhi in his letter promised to give an LPG cylinder at Rs 500. We will distribute this letter written by him to every house in Goa,” he said.
Patkar said that there is unemployment in the country and the BJP has failed to provide jobs.

“Today’s rate of unemployment is the highest. Never saw such in the last 45 years. Even education fees are increased thrice a time,” Patkar said.
Member of Parliament Francisco Sardinha said the Congress workers sacrificed their lives for the independence of India.
“Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is showing how the BJP is destroying the nation. The Constitution has given us rights. But today, the minorities are sidelined. This has never happened in the country. They, too, have contributed to the independence of India. They (BJP) have no right to sideline anyone,” he said.
Lambasting the BJP government on the price rise, he said the prices of LPG cylinders, petrol and diesel were hiked by this government.
“GST is levied on medicines and other products to garner money. People are suffering due to this and the BJP is saying they are making progress. A good government always takes care of people and also of progress,” he said.
“If the nation has to progress, one should not fight over religion and caste,” he said, adding one should respect humanity.
He also said while the Congress had maintained unity in the country, the BJP had divided the people.
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#Goa #Cong #distribute #Rahuls #letters #promising #LPG #cylinders
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 26, 2023
Karnataka Cong leader slams RSS for trying to ‘link’ with Netaji

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Bengaluru: Congress MLA from Bengaluru, Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday attacked the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh and raised questions over the RSS’s attempts to link with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Wishing people on the occasion of birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, MLA Dinesh on his social media handle stated that, “Netaji was against the ideologies of RSS. He never believed in RSS philosophy.”
“RSS is planning to make a grand celebration of Netaji’s birth anniversary. But, Netaji never identified with RSS and now suddenly what is the reason for sudden love for him?”
“Netaji never supported the RSS philosophy of one nation, one religion and one language. Netaji’s ideology included all philosophies and he was for taking people of all religions along. Why is RSS trying to hijack Netaji, who had a different ideology now?” he questioned.
“RSS contributed nothing for the Indian independence struggle and tried to project the heroes of the freedom struggle as its people. Sometime ago, RSS tried to hijack Bhagat Singh, when it came to light that he was against RSS philosophy, Bhagat Singh was relegated to the corner. Now it is the turn of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose,” Rao said.
“Netaji’s daughter Anita Bose has opposed the celebration of birthday by the RSS. By celebrating his birthday, RSS is projecting Netaji as Hindutvavadi. Netaji was like us as a Hindu and never believed in Hindutva philosophy,” he underlined.
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#Karnataka #Cong #leader #slams #RSS #link #Netaji
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 23, 2023
Cong to stage protests during peak traffic hours in Bangalore, police deny permission

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Bengaluru: The Congress on Monday will stage silent protests during the peak traffic hours at 300 locations across the state capital to demand the eradication of corruption to ‘save’ Bengaluru.
The police department has refused to give permission for the protest. Congress party sources stated that the party will go ahead with its protest plan.
The protest will be staged at 51 metro stations, 26 flyovers and 200 traffic signals. The party has said that they will not create any trouble for the passengers, vehicle riders and drivers during their morning rush hours through the protest.
“The Congress workers are going to hold placards against the ruling BJP and stage protests. The party wants to give a message and create awareness among people to save Bengaluru and also save the state,” Congress MLA N.A. Harris stated.
The police department has given directions to jurisdictional DCP’s to take action against the Congress leaders. The department has deputed 5,000 policemen to monitor and control the situation.
Police sources said that the protest was expected to cause traffic jams across the city and they have got orders to detain the Congress leaders.
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#Cong #stage #protests #peak #traffic #hours #Bangalore #police #deny #permission
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 23, 2023
Telangana unit Cong in-charge stresses need for unity in view of polls

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Hyderabad: Aiming to end the infighting and forge unity in the Congress party in Telangana ahead of this year’s Assembly elections, the new in-charge for the party in the state Manikrao Thakare made it clear on Saturday that he neither is in anyone’s favour nor against someone.
He asked the party’s state unit leaders to work with unity and if they are any issues bring them to his notice. He advised them not to speak on the internal issues before the media as this would damage the party’s interests.
Addressing the extended executive meeting of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) in Hyderabad, the in-charge told the leaders that his duty is to act as per the orders of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
He asked the party leaders to make the ‘Hath Se Hath Jodo’ programme in the state a huge success like Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.
Thakare directed the party leaders and cadres to work with unity to take the programme to every village and every street. He told the participants in the meeting that Rahul Gandhi undertook the nation-wide yatra in a bone-chilling cold and it is ‘our responsibility to take the message of the yatra’ to every house.
The AICC in-charge said TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy will undertake yatra in at least 50 Assembly constituencies in the state and asked senior leaders to cover another 20-30 constituencies.
Thakare said everyone in the party should work hard to make the yatra successful in view of the coming Assembly elections. “If all of us work together, the Congress party will definitely win the election and come to power,” he said.
Revanth Reddy said Hath Se Hath Jodo Yatra in Telangana will begin on February 6 and will continue for two months. He said a resolution was passed during the meeting, appealing to the central leadership to arrange a day’s visit to Telangana by Priyanka Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi.

He said the yatra would be formally launched from Bhadrachalam on January 26.
The meeting was attended by Revanth Reddy, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, former PCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy, three AICC incharge secretaries and other leaders.
Manikrao Thakare also had meetings with the Campaign Committee, Election Management Committee and AICC Program Implementation Committee Chairman regarding expansion of these committees and their work.
The AICC on January 4 appointed Thakare as the new in-charge amid infighting in the party’s state unit.
Thakare, a senior leader from Maharashtra replaced Manickam Tagore, who was shifted to Goa following complaints by a section of senior leaders he had been supporting Revanth Reddy and taking unilateral decisions.
A section of senior leaders had last month slammed Revanth Reddy for packing the party panels with his loyalists.
They had also announced to save Congress in Telangana movement, terming it a fight between what they called real Congress and the leaders who came from other parties. This was an open attack on Revanth Reddy and others who quit Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to join Congress a few years ago.
A day after senior leaders raised the banner of revolt, 13 loyalists of Revanth Reddy had announced resignations from party posts.
The crisis had forced the high command to send senior leader Digvijay Singh to Hyderabad. He individually met the leaders from both the groups and based on the feedback received submitted a report to the high command.
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#Telangana #unit #Cong #incharge #stresses #unity #view #polls
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 21, 2023