Page 17 - Mallikarjun Kharge

Don't let BJP win LS polls in name of religion: Congress president Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his visibility on TV, saying that he is trying to become the 11th "avatar" of Lord Vishnu. He was addressing a meeting of party workers here. Asking people to oust the BJP from power, Kharge said they should not let the saffron party win the general elections in the name of religion. He also attacked the prime minister for his visibility on TV, and said every time one switches it on, "Modi is seen holding forth". "He is trying to become the 11th avatar of Lord Vishnu," Kharge alleged. The Congress leader said religion and politics are separate things but they are being mixed by the Modi government to mislead people and get their votes. He added that while Congress leaders have laid down their lives for the country, the BJP has never any such sacrifices. "Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives to keep the country united. Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru spent years in jai

Reached seat-sharing understanding with some INDIA bloc partners: Kharge

Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said his party has held talks with all alliance partners of INDIA bloc on seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, and reached an understanding with some of them, while the dialogue with others is at the final stages. He said the Congress has already begun preparation for the Lok Sabha polls with the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' led by party leader Rahul Gandhi and his own visit to various places across the country. "Our party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is going on. I have also visited Telangana, and will be travelling to Dehradun, Odisha, Bihar, Delhi, Kerala and other places. Dates have been fixed for my visits and Rahul Gandhi will also come to a few places. We have already started our preparations. It is our party work and programme, we will do, it should not be compared with other parties," Kharge told reporters here. On seat sharing with alliance partners, he said he has constituted a six-member committee headed by

Knew it would happen: Kharge on Nitish Kumar's exit from Mahagathbandhan

Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) national president Nitish Kumar arrived at the Raj Bhavan in Patna and handed over his resignation to Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Sunday

Kharge to launch Uttarakhand's Congress poll campaign from Dehradun

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will arrive here on Sunday to address a public meeting and launch the party's campaign in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "He is going all over the country. We are grateful that he has chosen Uttarakhand to give his call for a change," senior party leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat said. "Justice is what Rahul Gandhi's Nyay Yatra is all about. The party president's programme is a part of it," he said. "All sections of society are asking for justice, be it women, unemployed youths or farmers." Kharge's meeting will be held in the Bannu School ground in the Race Course area. The party had sought the district administration's permission to hold the public meeting on the Parade ground but it was not allowed as the venue has been renovated as part of the Dehradun Smart City project and no major public programmes are being held to protect it. The Congress alleged that it was the BJP government's conspiracy to sabotage the party's

Will make all efforts to keep INDIA bloc united, says Congress prez Kharge

Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said his party expects that those who have the desire to protect the country's Constitution and democracy, will definitely not take any hasty steps, amid indications that JD(U) was planning to revert to the BJP-led NDA. He said the Congress will make all efforts to keep the INDIA bloc united, while maintaining that he has no clarity as to what is in the JD(U) leadership's mind. Responding to a question on the possibility of JD(U) going out of the INDIA alliance, Kharge said, "Are they (JD(U)) going out? I have not got any information about it so far. I have written a letter to them (JD(U) leadership) and have tried to talk to them. I don't know clearly what is in their minds." There are strong indications that JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was planning to quit the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan' in the state and revert to the BJP-led NDA. Some JD(U) leaders like K C Tyagi have claimed that the INDIA bloc is on the ver

Justice, equality, secularism India's foundational pillars: Kharge on R-Day

He said that the pillars of fundamental rights, social justice, and political rights, ensured to every citizen by the Constitution are under attack

Congress to hold state-level workers' conventions for 2024 polls on Jan 25

Getting battle-ready for the 2024 general elections, the Congress will from Thursday start holding state-level workers' conventions where party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will preside over meetings of office bearers to energise organisational cadres. The first state-level workers' convention will be held on Thursday in Telangana where the Congress recently formed a government, ousting the K Chadrashekhar Rao government of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi. The party will then hold the state-level workers' convention in Uttarakhand on January 28, in Odisha on January 29, in Delhi on February 3, in Kerala on February 4, in Himachal Pradesh on February 10, in Punjab on February 11, in Tamil Nadu on February 13 and in Jharkhand on February 15, according to AICC general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal. During the conventions, Kharge will preside over meetings of office bearers from the booth to the state level and further "energise our dedicated cadre", Venugopal had said in a post ...

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra vehicles 'attacked' in Assam, Congress to file FIRs

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the party will take "appropriate legal action" against the "BJP stooges"

Panel for 'one nation, one election' should be dissolved: Cong Prez Kharge

The Congress on Friday strongly opposed the "undemocratic" idea of holding simultaneous elections in the country and said it goes against the guarantees of federalism and the basic structure of the Constitution. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also demanded that the idea be abandoned and the high-powered committee formed to study it be dissolved. In a letter to the secretary of the committee on one nation, one election, he requested former president Ram Nath Kovind, who heads the panel, "not to allow his persona and the office of the former president of India to be abused by the Union government to subvert the constitution and parliamentary democracy in this country". "The Indian National Congress is strongly opposed to the very idea of 'One Nation, One Election'. For the sake of maintaining a thriving and a robust democracy, it is imperative that the entire idea must be abandoned and the high-powered committee dissolved," Kharge said in his letter to Niten Chandra, the secretary

More than 'Amrit Kaal', we need 'Shiksha Kaal' for India: Cong Prez Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday hit out at the Modi government over the state of education in the country, and said India shall ensure justice for its students in 2024. "More than 'Amrit Kaal', we need 'Shiksha Kaal' for India," he said in a post on X. "In 2024, India shall ensure NYAY for our students from the Modi Government, for its report card on 'Education' is marked with gross Failure," he said citing the Annual State of Education Report (ASER). Quoting from the report, he said "56.7 percent of 14 to 18-year-old students in rural India can't do class 3 math and 26.5 percent of this age group still cannot read a class 2 level text fluently in their regional language". He also noted that 25 percent of youth in the 17-18 age group have discontinued education, mostly due to "lack of interest". Kharge also posted a 35-second video along with his post that alleged that the "BJP is destroying the future of our young.

Ram temple LIVE: Ram Lalla idol placed in 'Garbha Griha' in Ayodhya

Ayodhya Ram Mandir News Live Updates: Catch all the latest updates on the run-up to the the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony

Cong launches website to seek people's suggestions for LS poll manifesto

The Congress launched a website and an email ID on Wednesday, inviting suggestions from the public for its manifesto for this year's Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a press conference here, P Chidambaram, who heads the Manifesto Committee of the Congress, said the party is holding consultations and seeking suggestions from the public for the manifesto. He said the manifesto for the Lok Sabha election will be a "people's manifesto". "The present exercise is to receive suggestions from the members of the public. This will be a people's manifesto. So it is important to gather as many suggestions as possible in the few weeks available to us," Chidambaram said. "We want to involve the people of India in making the manifesto. We hope people from every walk of life will give their suggestions. We appeal and invite you to give suggestions you would like to be incorporated in the manifesto to make it a people's manifesto," he added. The former Union minister said at least one consultation will

YS Sharmila appointed Andhra Congress Chief after G Rudra Raju quits post

The Congress on Tuesday appointed Y S Sharmila, the daughter of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, as the new president of the party's Andhra Pradesh unit. Sharmila, the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, had joined the Congress on January 4 in Delhi in the presence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. "Congress president has appointed Y S Sharmila Reddy as the president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect," an official announcement by the party said. "Congress president has also appointed Shri Gidugu Rudra Raju, the outgoing PCC president, as special invitee to the Congress Working Committee. The party appreciates the contributions of Gidugu Rudra Raju in his role as PCC president," the Congress said. Sharmila while thanking the Congress leadership for her appointment said she would work faithfully towards restoring the past glory of the party in the state with total commitment and integrity. "I tha

Y S Sharmila joins Congress, calls it largest secular party in India

Y S Sharmila, the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and founder of YSR Telangana Party, joined the Congress here on Thursday. She also announced the merger of her YSR Telangana Congress with the Congress, and said she would fulfil any responsibility given to her. Sharmila joined the Congress in the presence of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party president Rahul Gandhi. Lauding the Congress, she said it is the largest secular party in the country as it unwaveringly serves all communities and unites all sections of people. After chairing her party meeting on Tuesday in Hyderabad, Sharmila had said she and other leaders will meet the top leadership of the Congress, including Kharge, and make a "crucial" announcement in Delhi. Sharmila is the younger sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. She said it was her father's dream to see Rahul Gandhi as prime minister and she would be happy to contribute to it. Sharmil

Startup India has become vehicle to garner publicity for PM: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged on Tuesday that the Narendra Modi government is only drum-beating about the National Startup Day and that "Startup India" has become a vehicle to garner publicity for the prime minister as it has fallen short on delivery. He also asked the government why has it not provided tax benefits to 97.5 per cent of the recognised startups in the country. "The Modi government is drumbeating and telling us to celebrate National Start Up Day. But our startup entrepreneurs, creative people and our jobless young have been pushed to the wall, since the launch of 'Startup India' in 2016 by PM Modi," Kharge said in a post on X. He said the Congress wants to ask three direct questions -- "The BJP promised Rs 20,000 crore for Startup Seed Fund in its 2019 manifesto. What happened to that? Reality: They have approved a pittance of Rs 525.27 crore for it, that also for a 4-year period starting 2021-22." "Is it true that 1,00,000 people have lost jobs in ...

Rahul Gandhi interacts with people on second day of Cong's Nyay Yatra

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi began the second day of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Sekmai here on Monday and interacted with the people who had lined up along the route to greet him. Starting the yatra in a custom-made Volvo bus, Gandhi also walked for some distance meeting people and enquiring about their problems. Several people, mostly women and children, had lined up along the yatra route and cheered on Gandhi as his bus made its way along several busy areas here. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Day 2 of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra began bright and early at 7:30 am with the traditional flag hoisting by Seva Dal at the campsite. PCC President of Manipur @meghachandra_k hoisted the flag." "The yatra will move from Sekmai to Kangpokpi and then Senapati in Manipur before finally halting in Nagaland at night," he said. The yatra began Sunday from violence-hit Manipur with Gandhi asserting that the party will present a new vision for India that will

Congress Prez Kharge, Rahul Gandhi extend wishes on 76th Army Day

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday extended their wishes on the 76th Army Day

Bharat Jodo 2.0 kicks off in Manipur; Rahul talks unemployment, inflation

At the launch of the Yatra in Manipur's Thoubal, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state refused Congress permission to hold a public meeting at Imphal's Palace Ground

Rahul embarks on Nyay Yatra, says Cong will present new vision for India

The Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra began from violence-hit Manipur on Sunday with Rahul Gandhi asserting that the party will present a new vision for India that will be based on harmony, brotherhood and equitability and devoid of hatred, violence and monopoly. At a rally here to flag off the over-6,700-km yatra from Manipur to Mumbai, Gandhi and Congress president Kharge attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur as it reeled under ethnic violence, and vowed to ensure justice for its people. Gandhi said he had to undertake the yatra as the country was going through a period of "great injustice" and stressed the party wants to listen to people's 'Mann Ki Baat'. Ahead of the January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple, Kharge said everyone has faith in God but one should not resort to "dhongbaazi (deception)" for securing votes. "Wo samandar ke upar sair karte firte hai, aur jap karte baithte hain -- Ram Ram Ram Ram (He is seen enjoying the sea, .

Rahul pays homage at Khongjom War Memorial in Manipur's Thoubal district

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday paid homage at the Khongjom War Memorial in Manipur's Thoubal district. Gandhi reached the Imphal airport in the afternoon, and was accorded a rousing welcome by Congress supporters. From there, he went straight to the memorial. After paying homage to those killed in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, he spent a few minutes there. He then went to a nearby private ground, named 'Nyay Maidan', from where the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will begin. The monument commemorates the heroes of the erstwhile Manipur Kingdom who fought the British forces in the war. The yatra will traverse 6,713 km, mostly by buses, but also on foot. It will cover 110 districts in 67 days, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.