Political Archives - Page 218 of 339

PM Says Pongal Reflects The Spirit Of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’

editor January 14, 2024Leave a comment

CHENNAI/DELHI, Jan 14: On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Pongal celebration embodies the national ideal of "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" and that the Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam and Kashi-Tamil Sangamam share a same poignant bond. Speaking at the Pongal celebrations hosted at Union Minister L Murugan's home in the nation's capital, Modi expressed his desire for happiness, prosperity, and contentment in the lives of all people, noting that festive enthusiasm marked every Tamil Nadu home. The prime minister drew parallels between "Kolam" and India's diversity, saying that when people from all over the nation emotionally connect with one another, the strength of the country takes on new dimensions.Kolam, a popular art form, is sketching on the ground, at the door of a house, with different types of rice flour. It is considered a sign of auspiciousness and a welcome symbol. "The Pongal festival reflects the national spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat," declared Modi. The Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam traditions, which document the enthusiastic participation of a large number of Tamil people, exhibit the same attitude. "This sense of unity is the biggest force to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047," stated the prime minister. To energise and reinforce national unity is the primary purpose of the Panch Pran that I have called upon from the Red Fort.The prime minister emphasised the importance of educated citizens, trustworthy businesspeople, and high-quality crops in nation-building, citing the saint poet Thiruvalluvar. Since fresh crops are dedicated to God during Pongal, "Annadata Kisans" are at the heart of this joyous custom. He emphasised how every Indian celebration is connected to the countryside, crops, and farmers. Recalling a speech he gave on the relationship between millets and Tamil customs, he expressed his satisfaction that there is a "new awareness" about the "superfood Shri Anna" (millets) and that many young people are pursuing millet-based startup businesses. He disclosed that the promotion of millet directly benefits over three crore farmers who cultivate the grain.In his closing remarks, he urged "re-dedicating ourselves" to the goal of enhancing national cohesion in honour of Pongal. An programme of the Central government, "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat," stands for unity and seeks to foster mutual understanding and better communication between residents of different states and union territories. On January 15, the harvest festival of Pongal will be observed. [caption id="attachment_8972" align="alignnone" width="300"] PM Says Pongal Reflects The Spirit Of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’[/caption]

‘Tiger Zinda Hai’: Jairam Ramesh Rejects BJP’s Claims Of 2024 Being Done Deal

editor January 14, 2024Leave a comment

IMPHAL, Jan 14: With the words "Tiger zinda hai," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has refuted the BJP's assertions that the outcomes of the 2024 election are certain. He believes that the opposition alliance will repeat the events of 2004, when the saffron party was overthrown from power in spite of its "shining India" campaign. In an interview, Ramesh stated that the "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" is an attempt to fortify the venerable Congress and that only a powerful Congress can guarantee a powerful opposition. Regarding the way the party will manage both the election campaign and its east-to-west yatra, Ramesh stated that the party has a structure in place and that Rahul Gandhi will participate in the campaign even if he is focused on the yatra."By the time voting open, the yatra will be over. I anticipate that the elections will begin at some point, perhaps during the first week of April, by which point the yatra will have concluded. Zoom is a great place to hold meetings. I don't see it as a problem," he declared, brushing off worries that Gandhi's arduous 6,700-kilometer yatra from Manipur to Mumbai may interfere with election preparations. Using a line from a well-known Hindi movie, Ramesh joked, "Tiger zinda hai, that is my constant refrain," in response to questions concerning the BJP's claim that the outcomes of the 2024 election were inevitable and what he would tell them. A number of leaders in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would serve a third term in 2024 and that the party wants to win more than 400 seats. "All I can say is that in 2003, we lost Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, people wrote the Congress off," Ramesh responded when asked if he thought the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) could pull off a surprise in the general elections of 2024. At that time, India was thriving. According to Ramesh, the "anyay kaal" (time of injustice) of the previous ten years will have a greater impact on people than the "amrit kaal" dream. “Amrit kaal is a dream, anyay kaal is a nightmare,” he continued. Despite its loud and aggressive "shining India" campaign, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) administration was defeated in the 2004 elections by the Congress, which went on to form the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Ramesh commented, "A weak Congress cannot ensure a strong opposition," in response to a question about whether the yatra will strengthen opposition unity given that the Congress party has invited all leaders of the INDIA bloc to participate along its journey. A robust opposition can only be guaranteed by a powerful Congress. The purpose of the "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" is to fortify the Congress. Speaking about the necessity of a yatra that followed the Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Ramesh said that the yatra from Manipur is a continuation of that yatra and is based on the first line of the Constitution, which guarantees justice to all Indians. The Preamble is based on four pillars: equality, justice, liberty, and fraternity. The Congress national secretary stated, "Now, whereas liberty, equality, and fraternity constituted a large portion of the Yatra, we are now concentrating on the first pillar, which is listed in the first line of the Preamble: justice, economic, social, and political. "Therefore, the primary goal of this yatra is to advance the Bharat Jodo Yatra by emphasising the past ten years, which were not "amrit kaal," but rather "anyay kaal," and by outlining the Congress's plan to guarantee social, political, and economic justice," he stated. Moreover, the yatra serves as a conduit between the party hierarchy and internal structure. "We witnessed the Bharat Jodo Yatra results, and I am not evaluating them based on what transpired in Telangana or Karnataka. Rahul Gandhi was able to connect more easily and the organisation as a whole became more cohesive, as he previously noted. Accordingly, he continued, these connectedness and collectivity are crucial to the organisation."Whether or whether this (yatra) will affect elections is not my main worry. It is a political party's yatra. He declared, "It is an ideological yatra, not an electoral yatra." According to Ramesh, he won't evaluate the yatra based on how many seats the Congress anticipates winning in the polls taken in 2024. "In essence, Rahul Gandhi is trying to strengthen the Congress's ideological message through this yatra by drawing attention to the different injustices that people have experienced and outlining the Congress's and his own specific agenda for ensuring social, political, and economic justice over the course of the next 66 days," the speaker stated. According to him, the yatra also aims to uphold democratic institutions, end one-man rule in the nation, and expose injustices committed against young people, farmers, and women. "Yes, the Congress party is ideologically devoted, but what Gandhi (and his attempts to communicate with the people) need from time to time is reinforcement and communication," Ramesh added. According to him, it was also important to establish the agenda for public discourse and national politics, not just for the polls in 2024. "2024 is undoubtedly a halfway point that we must cross.We are not an NGO, therefore in the end, we must battle the polls.…

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Congress Leader Milind Deora Quits Party, Likely To Join Shinde-Led Sena

editor January 14, 2024

MUMBAI, Jan 14: On Sunday, Congress leader and former Union minister Milind Deora announced his resignation as the party's primary member. The former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP said, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey," in a post on the social networking platform X, formerly known as Twitter. My family's 55-year affiliation with the party has come to an end as I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership in the Congress. I am appreciative to all the leaders, associates, and karyakartas for their steadfast support throughout the years. In recent days, there has been much conjecture in political circles over his possible joining of the Shiv Sena, which is run by Eknath Shinde.In recent days, there has been much conjecture in political circles over his possible joining of the Shiv Sena, which is run by Eknath Shinde. Recently named joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, Deora had voiced her dissatisfaction of the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray claiming the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. Arvind Sawant of the united Shiv Sena, who is currently a member of the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the general elections of 2014 and 2019. Arvind Sawant of the united Shiv Sena, who is currently a member of the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the general elections of 2014 and 2019. At one point, Deora led the Mumbai Congress as well. His father, late party leader Murli Deora, is his son. [caption id="attachment_8946" align="alignnone" width="300"] Congress Leader Milind Deora Quits Party, Likely To Join Shinde-Led Sena[/caption]

Delegation of Martand Trust, Social Activist call on Lt Governor

editor January 14, 2024Leave a comment

JAMMU: A delegation of Martand Trust Mattan Anantnag led by its President Ashok Kumar Sidha called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan, today. Sandhya Dhar, Social Activist also called on the Lieutenant Governor.…

Disrespectful: Hansal Mehta On Omar Abdullah’s Criticism Of Show’s Filming In J&K Assembly Complex

editor January 13, 2024Leave a comment

Mumbai, Jan 13: In response to Omar Abdullah, the vice-president of the National Conference, who criticised the show's filming in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly complex, director Hansal Mehta stated that India is viewed as a "unfriendly shooting location" because of this "unwelcoming attitude." Former J&K chief minister Abdullah slammed the Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday for permitting the film "Maharani," starring Huma Qureshi, to be filmed inside the assembly building, calling it a "complete disgrace." Mehta, who has created critically acclaimed television shows including "Scam 1992" and "Scoop," responded to Abdullah's post on X by labelling it "regressive" and "disrespectful."Why does it feel so bad? How does the "mother of democracy" or democracy itself suffer from the filming of a drama? The director stated, "Everyone on a movie set, including background actors and actors (who you refer to as "extras"), is a citizen of this nation and has the right to work with dignity. They also deserve respect and understanding, at least from someone as intelligent as you. Mehta further stated that performers and filmmakers are permitted to shoot in public spaces, government buildings, and council rooms across the globe. "We frequently prefer shooting abroad because of this inhospitable attitude, which makes India seem like an undesirable shooting location. The director remarked, "I have a lot of respect for you, but this feels really rude, backwards, and narrow-minded.Subhash Kapoor's film "Maharani" was filmed in June of last year within the Jammu assembly building. The show draws inspiration from the political upheavals in Bihar during the 1990s, when Lalu Prasad, the then-chief minister, appointed his wife Rabri Devi as his successor while embroiled in the scandalous fodder fraud. Abdullah wrote on X, describing it as "the genuine face of 'the mother of democracy'," where actors and extras use it as a set for TV shows, while elected representatives of the people from all parties, religions, ethnicities, and sections of J&K once legislated on subjects of great importance." The speaker expressed his dismay over the "awful state of affairs caused by the BJP-led government in J&K, which has reduced the symbol of democracy, where they once sat and governed." "They even have a fake CM coming out of an office I was privileged to occupy for six years," Abdullah stated in his subsequent letter. What a complete shame! The Governor disbanded the J-K legislative assembly on December 20, 2018. Since August 5, 2019, when J-K and Ladakh were divided into two Union territories, there have not been any assembly elections in J-K. Additionally, the Centre revoked Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave the former state a special status. Ladakh is an assembly-free Union Territory. [caption id="attachment_8922" align="alignnone" width="300"] Disrespectful: Hansal Mehta On Omar Abdullah’s Criticism Of Show’s Filming In…

Consensus on Kharge’s appointment as chairperson of I.N.D.I.A bloc

editor January 13, 2024Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: On Saturday, sources indicated that a compromise had been reached about the nomination of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to head the opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A. The bloc's leaders convened digitally to talk about a range of topics, including the alliance and the upcoming April–May Lok Sabha elections. According to sources, the Samajwadi Party, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, and the leaders of the Trinamool Congress did not attend the meeting. The sources claim that Kharge's nomination as the bloc's chairperson was approved by unanimity. We're waiting on an official announcement regarding the appointment. The sources added that the leaders also decided to designate Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar as the bloc's convenor. However, a final decision would be made following consultation with the parties whose representatives were not present at the meeting. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) unites up to 28 opposition groups to challenge the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. [caption id="attachment_8913" align="alignnone" width="300"] Consensus on Kharge's appointment as chairperson of I.N.D.I.A bloc[/caption]

ED Issues Fourth Summons To Kejriwal In Delhi Excise Policy Case For Jan 18

editor January 13, 2024Leave a comment

NEW DELHI, Jan 13: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has received a fourth summons from the Enforcement Directorate to appear for questioning in connection with a money laundering case involving the Delhi excise policy, according to official sources on Saturday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener, Kejriwal, has been summoned to resign before the agency on January 18 at its headquarters here, according to a statement from the organisation. Kejriwal is scheduled to visit Goa for three days from January 18 to January 20 to assess his party's readiness for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, according per AAP sources. The 55-year-old leader had stated that the agency's "non-disclosure and non-response approach" could not withstand the test of law, equity, or justice and that its "obstinacy" amounted to taking on the roles of judge, jury, and executioner. On January 3, the leader had declined to depose before the ED for the third time. Previously, the chief minister was asked to step down on November 2, 2023, and December 21, 2023.Kejriwal's argument that the summons he was given was "not in consonance with the law" and should be withdrawn has once again been rejected by the ED with the issuance of the new notice. The sources state that the agency feels Kejriwal's summonses were "well within the PMLA procedures and law." In charge sheets the ED submitted in the case, Kejriwal's name has appeared several times. The agency has alleged that the accused were in communication with him over the preparation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.The AAP might be named as a "beneficiary" of the purported kickbacks obtained under the excise policy in the ED's anticipated new supplemental charge sheet. The Delhi government's excise policy for 2021–22, which granted licences to liquor dealers, is accused of enabling cartelization and favouring some dealers who had reportedly paid bribes for it—a allegation that the AAP has always denied. After the policy was abandoned, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena suggested a CBI investigation, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a complaint in accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). [caption id="attachment_8892" align="alignnone" width="300"] ED Issues Fourth Summons To Kejriwal In Delhi Excise Policy Case For Jan 18[/caption]

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