Rae Bareli:

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP from Rae Bareli, on Thursday one again spoke of two Indias being created. Rahul Gandhi mentioned that on one side are the wealthy people who can fulfil whatever they want, while on the other side are hardworking individuals who struggle to make a living.

“Two India’s are being created. On one side, there are wealthy people who get whatever they want….. During Corona, lakhs of loans were forgiven. On the other side, there’s an India for farmers, unemployed youth, and hard workers,” Rahul Gandhi said, addressing a rally in his Lok Sabha constituency, Rae Bareli.

“We cannot have two India’s; we want one India. How did we reach here? The Narendra Modi government finished small businesses by implementing policies like demonetization,” Mr Gandhi added.

Further highlighting the significance of the Constitution in protecting the rights of common citizens, he said, “If there is a voice for poor people, labourers, farmers, and small traders in this country, it is because of the Constitution.” Showing the Constitution to the people, he said, “This is the voice of the people of India.”

“Gandhiji, Ambedkarji, Nehru ji gave us this Constitution. They went to jail and fought against the British,” he added.

“Today, those who were in power are attacking this (Constitution). It is the duty of political parties to protect the Constitution. The media’s role is also to protect the Constitution,” he further stated.

Recalling his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which spanned from September 2022 to 2023, he said, “Lakhs of people walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, and we gave a message there: ‘Nafrat ke bazaar mein Pyaar ki Dukaan kholenge’ (Open a shop of love in the market of hatred). A country built on hatred can never progress. When two members of a family fight, that family is destroyed. So, if a country is fighting, how will it progress? We did the Bharat Jodo Yatra, from Samandar to Pahad (Sea to Mountain), walking 4000 km, and Congress gave the message that this country is one of love.”

“When anyone tries to divide India, you must stop it. Do not accept that this country will be of hatred. This country is of love and will always remain one of love,” Mr Gandhi concluded.

During his visit to Rae Bareli, Congress MP unveiled the statue of Rana Beni Madhav Singh in his parliamentary constituency. He also offered prayers at a temple in Rae Bareli.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Raebareli:

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hailed the contribution of the Dalits towards the making of the Constitution and said it is “your ideology but wherever you go now, you are crushed by the system”.

The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Raebareli MP said this while interacting with a group of Dalit students of ‘Mool Bharti’ hostel near Bargad Chauraha here. He was accompanied by Congress Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma and other party leaders.

Naming some top private companies which are part of the “big 500” firms, Mr Gandhi asked the youths how many of those had a Dalit at its helm.

When one youth responded “none”, Mr Gandhi asked him, “Why not?” Another youth replied “because we don’t have adequate facilities”.

Mr Gandhi disagreed and said “(B R) Ambedkar ji did not have any facility. He was alone in his efforts yet he shook the politics of the country.” “There is an entire system which is against you and doesn’t want you to progress. The system attacks you everyday and half of the time you don’t even get to know how it attacks you,” the former Congress president told them.

“You need to understand that the ideology of the Constitution is your ideology. I can say this to you with guarantee that had there not been Dalits in this country, it would not have got its Constitution. It’s your ideology, it’s your Constitution but wherever you go now, you are crushed by the system,” Mr Gandhi added.

Mr Gandhi is on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency from Thursday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

The BJP on Wednesday accused Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by offering him “shradhanjali” (homage) on his birth anniversary instead of the customary “adaranjali” (respectful tribute).

BJP MLA from Mumbai, Atul Bhatkhalkar, criticised Rahul Gandhi’s choice of words, stating that “shradhanjali” is inappropriate for such occasions.

Mr Bhatkhalkar accused Mr Gandhi of intentional or unintentional slight to Maharashtra’s pride and demanded that he immediately retract his post on social media platform X, or face legal consequences.

The controversy stemmed from Mr Gandhi’s post on X in Hindi which mentioned that he was offering “sadar naman and vinamra shraddhanjali” to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary.

छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराज जी की जयंती पर उन्हें सादर नमन और अपनी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करता हूं।

अपने साहस और शौर्य से उन्होंने हमें निडरता और पूरे समर्पण के साथ आवाज़ उठाने की प्रेरणा दी।

उनका जीवन हम सभी के लिए सदैव प्रेरणास्रोत रहेगा। pic.twitter.com/1jOCYOkrC1

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 19, 2025

“Rahul Gandhi has once again insulted Maharashtra’s pride. Using ‘shradhanjali’ instead of ‘adaranjali’ is not just a mistake. Rahul Gandhi either intentionally or unintentionally keeps expressing his disregard for iconic figures from Maharashtra. It is a serious matter,” Mr Bhatkhalkar told a Marathi news channel.

The Maharashtra BJP unit also raised the issue on X, accusing Congress of misusing Shivaji Maharaj’s name for political gain. “Hindus will never forgive Congress for this,” the BJP’s post read.

“Rahul Gandhi has demonstrated his perversity deliberately on the birth anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj. Congress is once again exposed as it uses Shivaji Maharaj for its political benefits,” the BJP stated.

Responding to the criticism, Congress state spokesperson Atul Londhe claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in the past used “shradhanjali” in his message on Shiv Jayanti.

“If the BJP believes using ‘shradhanjali’ is an insult, will they demand an apology from Modi as well?” Mr Londhe asked.

He accused the BJP of repeatedly disrespecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“They talk about honouring Shivaji Maharaj, but what happened to the statue in Malvan (Sindhudurg district) Modi had inaugurated? It collapsed. What happened to the grand memorial in the Arabian Sea for which Modi performed ‘jalpujan’? Not a single brick has been laid,” Mr Londhe alleged.

The Congress spokesperson alleged that BJP leaders, including former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, had disrespected Shivaji Maharaj.

“The BJP has repeatedly used Maharaj for political gains while failing to honour his legacy. When will they apologise for their own actions?” Mr Londhe asked.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Gyanesh Kumar, who was named as an Election Commissioner last year, has been appointed the next Chief Election Commissioner of India, replacing the outgoing Rajiv Kumar. Mr Kumar will oversee the conduct of the Bihar Assembly election later this year and the polls in Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu next year. He took charge as the new poll chief this morning.

Mr Kumar’s appointment came in a late-night development on Monday, within hours after a meeting of a three-member panel consisting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi. However, it has sparked a row as Mr Gandhi did not approve of the appointment.

Row on Gyanesh Kumar’s appointment explained

The appointment of Mr Kumar as the poll chief was done based on the Chief Election Commissioners and Election Commissioners (ECs) under the 2023 law. According to these rules, the Chief Election Commissioners and Election Commissioners will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a selection committee consisting of PM Modi as the Chairperson, a cabinet minister nominated by the PM – Amit Shah, and the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha.

However, the law was challenged in the Supreme Court as the three-member panel allowed the Centre a dominant role.

The top court was set to take up a hearing on a “priority basis” on February 19.

Due to this, Mr Gandhi, who was present in the meeting, had opposed Mr Kumar’s appointment and asked the government to postpone it. However, the Centre planned to press on regardless, saying that halting the process would mean leaving the key post vacant.

After Mr Kumar’s appointment, the Congress leader gave a dissent note saying the meeting was meaningless as the new law has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

“During the meeting of the committee to select the next (Chief) Election Commissioner, I presented a dissent note to the PM and HM that stated: ‘The most fundamental aspect of an independent Election Commission… free from executive interference… is the process of choosing the Election Commissioner and Chief Election Commissioner. By violating the Supreme Court order and removing the Chief Justice of India from the committee, the Modi government has exacerbated the concerns of hundreds of millions of voters over the integrity of our electoral process,” Mr Gandhi wrote in a post on X.

He added, “As the LoP, it is my duty to uphold the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the founding leaders of our nation and hold the government to account. It is both disrespectful and discourteous for the PM and HM to have made a midnight decision to select the new CEC, when the very composition of the committee and the process is being challenged in the Supreme Court and is due to be heard in less than forty-eight hours.”

Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale also took a dig at the Centre, calling Mr Shah “India’s new Chief Election Commissioner”.

“Congratulations to Sh Amit Shah on becoming India’s new Chief Election Commissioner. The nation is confident that under your able leadership, the goal of reducing ECI to a wing of BJP will be successfully achieved,” he said, adding that the BJP would not succeed in West Bengal despite the appointment.

Who is Gyanesh Kumar

Mr Kumar is a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre. He is the senior of the two commissioners on the three-member panel that was led by Rajiv Kumar till he demitted office. The other commissioner on the panel is Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, an officer from the Uttarakhand cadre.

The new Chief Election Commissioner was a part of the Union Home Ministry earlier and had helped draft the bill that scrapped Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 and split the former state into two union territories.

He has also served as the Joint Secretary (Kashmir Division) and the Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry.

New Delhi:

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has slammed the centre’s ‘midnight decision’ to appoint Gyanesh Kumar as the next Chief Election Commissioner, calling his nomination a ‘violation of the Supreme Court order (by) removing the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee”.

Mr Gandhi, part of that three-member panel, as are Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, had last night objected to picking a new CEC at this time, pointing out a challenge to the law governing his/her selection is to be heard by the Supreme Court this week.

The Congress leader had shared a dissent note, which he posted on X today.

However, sources later told NDTV the centre planned to press on regardless, since halting the process would mean leaving the key post vacant. Hours later Mr Kumar was named as the new CEC, replacing Rajiv Kumar. And, this morning Mr Gandhi went on the warpath.

“During the meeting of the committee to select the next (Chief) Election Commissioner, I presented a dissent note to the PM and HM that stated: ‘The most fundamental aspect of an independent Election Commission… free from executive interference… is the process of choosing the Election Commissioner and Chief Election Commissioner.”

During the meeting of the committee to select the next Election Commissioner, I presented a dissent note to the PM and HM, that stated: The most fundamental aspect of an independent Election Commission free from executive interference is the process of choosing the Election… pic.twitter.com/JeL9WSfq3X

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 18, 2025

“By violating the Supreme Court order and removing the Chief Justice of India from the committee, the Modi government has exacerbated the concerns of hundreds of millions of voters over the integrity of our electoral process,” Mr Gandhi said on X.

“As the LoP (Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha), it is my duty to uphold the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the founding leaders of our nation and hold the government to account.”

READ | “Can’t Operate In Ego”: Congress On Meet To Select New Poll Body Chief

“It is both disrespectful and discourteous for the PM and HM to have made a midnight decision to select the new CEC, when the very composition of the committee and the process is being challenged in the Supreme Court and is due to be heard in less than forty-eight hours.”

The row over the appointment of the next CEC stems from a controversial change in the law, which now says he/she will be selected by a panel consisting of the PM, a cabinet minister (in this case, the HM) and the Leader of the Opposition. Critics argue this gives the centre an edge in selecting the individual who will oversee conduct of nearly two dozen state elections over the next four years.

READ | Gyanesh Kumar Appointed New Chief Election Commissioner

This edge, critics, including the opposition parties, have argued and will argue before the Supreme Court this week, robs the CEC selection panel of even the appearance of neutrality.

This contentious new law was pushed through by the government in 2023 after the Supreme Court ruled the selection committee should consist of the PM, the LoP, and the Chief Justice.

The top court is expected to hear this case on February 22.

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New Delhi:

Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the senior of the two election commissioners after Chief Election Commission Rajiv Kumar, will succeed him, the government announced late this evening. As the next Chief Election Commissioner, he would be in charge of elections in five states – Opposition-ruled Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and NDA-ruled Bihar and Assam — in the immediate future. The election in Bihar is due later this year – the rest take place in 2026.

Mr Kumar, who will stay in the post January 26, 2029 — will altogether steer the Commission through 20 Assembly elections, elections for President and Vice-President in 2027, and preparations for the 2029 Lok Sabha election.

The announcement came shortly after a meeting of the Election Committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, where the Congress leader had given a note of dissent.   

Mr Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre, was part of the Union Home Ministry and helped draft the bill that scrapped Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. He is known to be close to Mr Shah.

The Congress objected to the selection as the law on appointment of the Chief Election Commission has been challenged in the Supreme Court, which will hear the matter on Saturday. The party has alleged that the government wants control of Election Commission and is not concerned about its credibility.

The government, sources said, did not want to postpone the selection process as it would leave a vacancy in the poll commission. The court had not stayed the appointment and legal opinion was sought before making the move, sources said.

Before parliament formed a law on the matter in 2023, the Chief Election Commissioner was appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Prime Minister. Traditionally, the seniormost of the two remaining Election commissioners gets the job.

Under the Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023, a committee headed by the law minister has to shortlist five candidates and the selection team – the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and a cabinet minister — has to make the final selection.

But the parliamentary law had set aside the Supreme Court’s guideline that made the Chief Justice of India a part of the selection committee. The replacement of the CJI with a cabinet minister has been challenged in court, with petitioners alleging that it interfered with the balance of power in the committee and affected its neutrality. 

New Delhi:

Hours after a devastating stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station that led to 18 deaths and left several others injured last night, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the Centre and the Railways, accusing them of negligence and failure to manage the crisis. 

“The news of several people dying and many getting injured due to the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station is extremely sad and distressing. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Mr Gandhi said.

He blamed the government and the railway administration for failing to anticipate the crowd surge, particularly given the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

नई दिल्ली रेलवे स्टेशन पर भगदड़ मचने से कई लोगों की मृत्यु और कईयों के घायल होने की ख़बर अत्यंत दुखद और व्यथित करने वाली है।

शोकाकुल परिवारों के प्रति अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं और घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की आशा करता हूं।

यह घटना एक बार फिर रेलवे की नाकामी और सरकार…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 16, 2025

“This incident once again highlights the failure of the Railways and the insensitivity of the government. Considering the large number of devotees going to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station. The government and administration should ensure that no one has to lose their life due to mismanagement and negligence,” Mr Gandhi added.

READ | “No One Was Listening”: Air Force Official Recounts Delhi Stampede Horror

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed her brother’s concerns, calling the loss of lives “extremely sad.”

“The news of the death of many people including women and children in the stampede due to crowd at New Delhi Railway Station is extremely sad. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” she said.

नई दिल्ली रेलवे स्टेशन पर भीड़ की वजह से मची भगदड़ में महिलाओं और बच्चों समेत कई लोगों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है।

ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति प्रदान करें। शोक-संतप्त परिजनों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करती हूं।

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 16, 2025

Party leader KC Venugopal went further, calling the stampede a “massive calamity” and raised questions about the Centre’s handling of the situation. 

READ | “My Sister Was Dead When We Found Her”: Chilling Tales From Delhi Stampede

“This kind of a disaster taking place in the national capital, under the direct watch of the Central Government, shows that the government is utterly incompetent and is only capable of PR, not actual management. The Government has again tried to downplay the situation. When will we know the exact figures of the dead and injured? Why were crowd control measures not in place? Why did the railways not run special trains when they knew this crowd was to be anticipated in light of the Mahakumbh? Mr Venugopal asked. 

The stampede at New Delhi Railway Station is shocking and deeply tragic. The visuals that have come out are scary, and point to a massive calamity. I convey my deepest condolences to the families of the innocent victims, and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.

This kind…

— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) February 16, 2025

Former Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav called for the resignation of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

What We Know So Far

The stampede happened around 9:55 PM on Saturday night on platform numbers 14 and 15 of the New Delhi Railway Station. The crowd consisted mostly of passengers bound for Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh is currently taking place.

The stampede resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including 11 women and four children – two of whom were under the age of 10. Fifteen others sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital.

The Delhi Police have launched an official investigation into the incident. They are reviewing CCTV footage from the station and analysing public announcements made at the time.

Eyewitness Accounts

Passengers present at the scene described horrifying moments of chaos.

A survivor, Dharmendra Singh, said he was travelling with his family when the stampede broke out.

“I was going to Prayagraj but many trains were running late or were cancelled. The station was overcrowded. There were far more people than I have ever seen at this station. In front of me, six or seven women were taken away on stretchers,” Mr Singh said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Another passenger, Pramod Chaurasia, described the intensity of the crowd surge.

“I had a sleeper-class ticket for Purushottam Express, but even those with confirmed tickets could not board the train. One of my friends and a female passenger got stuck in the crowd. There was too much pushing and jostling. We managed to stay safe by waiting outside with our children.”

One of the victims’ relatives broke down as he described losing his mother in the crush.

“We were travelling to our home in Chhapra, Bihar, in a group, but my mother died in the chaos. People were pushing each other. The doctor has confirmed to us that my mother has died,” the relative said. 

Government Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the tragedy in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede.”

Distressed by the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured have a speedy recovery. The authorities are assisting all those who have been affected by this stampede.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 15, 2025

“Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi railway station. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for speedy recovery of those injured,” President Droupadi Murmu said in a post on X.

Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in a stampede at New Delhi Railway station. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray for speedy recovery of those injured.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 16, 2025

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also expressed his grief at the deaths

“Deeply saddened by the unfortunate stampede that occurred at New Delhi Railway Station. My prayers are with all those who have lost their loved ones. The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident,” he said. 

Deeply saddened by the unfortunate stampede that occurred at New Delhi Railway Station. My prayers are with all those who have lost their loved ones. The entire team is working to assist all those who have been affected by this tragic incident.

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 15, 2025

The Railways has announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh for the victims’ families, Rs 2.5 lakh for those severely injured, and Rs 1 lakh for those who suffered minor injuries. 

Guwahati:

The BJP has claimed that the wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has links with Pakistan and its intelligence agency ISI, drawing a sharp retort from the leader. 

BJP Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged on Wednesday that Elizabeth Colebourn, the wife of Mr Gogoi, had ties with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) while she worked with the Climate and Knowledge Development Network (CDKN) in Islamabad under Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a former advisor to the Planning Commission of Pakistan. Ms Colebourn allegedly continues to hold British citizenship.

After similar allegations were also made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, without naming Mr Gogoi, the Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha hit back with a movie reference and said sarcastically that he must then be a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) agent. The Congress MP also said that the Assam chief minister was making the claims because of cases of alleged land grabbing against his family. 

Claiming that it was a matter of national security, BJP Spokesperson Bhatia posted on X, “Very disturbing and serious facts have come to light that the Deputy Leader of Opposition, Gaurav Gogoi and his wife have links with Pakistan and the ISI. I am saying this with some responsibility that Gaurav Gogoi’s wife Elizabeth Colburn (sic), has links with Tauqir Sheikh (sic), who happens to be the advisor in the Pakistan Planning Commission.”

“This is a serious issue which poses a threat to the national security of the country therefore we wish to ask Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge that Gaurav Gogoi needs to come out and give clear details of Elizabeth’s association with ISI and Pakistan…Why is Elizabeth Colburn working with Pakistani ISI agents,” he asked.

Referring to Mr Gandhi’s remarks on “fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian state itself”, Mr Bhatia continued, “Are they working in furtherance of the statement made by Mr Rahul Gandhi that the fight of Rahul Gandhi and Congress is with the Indian state? Will the Congress start supporting ISI and Pakistan to make their political ends meet… Why is it that the Congress party always turns out to be the best friend of Pakistan and ISI when it comes to conspiring against India?”

‘Ecosystem Involved’

Without giving details or naming Mr Gogoi, Assam Chief Minister Sarma questioned if foreign powers – linked to US billionaire George Soros’ “ecosystem” – had influenced a major decision of Assam Congress in 2014. 

In a series of posts on X, Mr Sarma wrote, “Serious questions need to be answered regarding allegations of ISI links, leading young individuals to the Pakistan Embassy for brainwashing and radicalisation, and the refusal to take Indian citizenship for the past 12 years. Additionally, participation in a conversion cartel and receiving funds from external sources, including George Soros, to destabilise national security are grave concerns that cannot be ignored. At some point, accountability will be necessary. Simply deflecting responsibility or attempting to shift the focus onto others will not serve as an easy escape route. The nation deserves transparency and truth”.

The chief minister added, “During my interactions with an IFS (Indian Foreign Service) officer in Singapore, I learned that officers in the Indian Foreign Service cannot marry a foreign national without prior permission from the Government of India. Moreover, even when permission is granted, it comes with the condition that the spouse must acquire Indian citizenship within six months. Interestingly, this rule does not apply to our lawmakers. However, allowing a foreign spouse of a lawmaker to retain foreign citizenship for 12 years is far too long. Loyalty to the nation must always take precedence over all other considerations,” he added. 

‘Ploy To Save Himself’

Gaurav Gogoi counterattacked with a movie reference. 

“If Salman Khan’s wife can be an ISI agent like in ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, then I must be a RAW agent too,” Mr Gogoi said. 

“It is something laughable, the BJP has nothing to do. Someone’s land-grabbing cases are unearthed one after another, defamation cases are being filed one after another. These are baseless allegations without any substance. This shows their weakness and the fact that they are fast losing ground,” he said. 

“Those who make such allegations must see their family is facing cases of land grabbing and engaged in the debate of setting up a resort. The Assam chief minister is tense that the new BJP president Dilip Saikia will become chief minister in another two or three months. The BJP leadership in New Delhi knows about the land cases of the Sarma family and he is worried about getting replaced. This is a ploy to save himself,” the Congress MP alleged.

New Delhi:

Congress’s Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has been summoned by a court in Lucknow in connection with his alleged derogatory remarks against the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Mr Gandhi will have to appear before the Lucknow MP MLA court — a special court that can try cases against MPs and MLAs — in the last week of March. 

Former director of Border Road Organization or BRO Uday Shankar Srivastava had filed the complaint against Mr Gandhi on basis of which the defamation case was registered. 

Mr Gandhi had apparently made the remarks on the Indian Army during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in December 2022.

The comment that “Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh” – a dig at the government over Chinese action at the Line of Actual Control — drew sharp criticism from many quarters and led to a massive political row.

Many BJP leaders had declared that Mr Gandhi as anti-national, accused his family of receiving Chinese hospitality and funds in the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

It did not deter Mr Gandhi who continued to target the government over the China issue. 

In March 2023, Mr Gandhi was barred from attending for a while after he was found guilty in a defamation case for a remark targetting Prime Minister M Narendra Modi over his last name. The Gujarat court which was hearing the case, sentenced him to a two-year jail term. 

Though the sentence was suspended, the duration was exactly what was needed to bar leaders from parliament, the Opposition pointed out, calling it a conspiracy against the Congress leader. 

Mr Gandhi later received relief from the Supreme Court, which put his conviction on hold, pointing out that the trial judge has awarded the maximum sentence of two years in the case. If the sentence was a day lesser, it would not have attracted disqualification, the court had added in its judgment.

New Delhi:

Rahul Gandhi’s comment that the Congress has lost the confidence of Dalits because it did not protect the interests of the Dalits and backwards the way it should have in the 1990s, has been accepted by the young generation of the party. 

“Such an admission is a sign of his large heartedness,” said party MP Tanuj Punia. 

“There must be something in it if Rahul Ji said it. There have been shortcomings which must be addressed now,” said party MP Kumari Selja. 

Yesterday, addressing a programme organised by Dalit influencers, Mr Gandhi said merely getting political representation for the Dalits and backwards would not help solve their problems unless they got “bhagidari” in institutions and wealth.

He also said that once the “original base” of the Congress party is back, the BJP and the RSS would have to run away. It will happen soon, he added.

The admission, though, did not move the Congress’s INDIA allies much. 

“If the Congress had not lost their (Dalits’ and backward castes’) confidence, they would not be in this condition today,” said Samajwadi Party’s Ramgopal Yadav. 

Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Manoj Jha said what Mr Gandhi said was a “fact”.

“We were students then. But the Congress of that time — we do not know what difficulties they were facing. But the honesty with which he admitted to it – i think he is clear what the next step should be, what the plan of action is. Refusing to call it a damage control measure, he said it was much more than that,” he added. 

Asked about the caste census, a key demand of the Opposition including the Congress, he said it should happen. 

If “85 per cent of the population want something, they would make themselves heard. If people do not hear them, they will do something explosive,” he added.