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Hello Jammu News at 3:14:00 PM 0

Bengaluru, Sep 24: In the run-up to the 2019 general elections, the Congress has planned a massive people contact and funds collection programme through its booth-level workers from October 2, AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge K C Venugopal said.

The party will conduct the door-to-door Sampark Abhiyan and fund collection programme between October 2 to October 19.

Congress workers, joined by booth presidents and leaders in that booth, will go door-to-door and give campaign material and request to them for funds too, Venugopal said.

"This is a new programme for Karnataka. All the Congress leaders should be on the street and remote places for collecting money and to campaign for the parliamentary elections," he said.

Each booth committee will be expected to collect at least Rs 10,000, said the Congress general secretary, adding that of this amount, 50 per cent will go to the AICC.

Of the rest, 20 per cent will go to the block committees and 15 per cent each to the district Congress committees and Pradesh Congress Committee.

The grand old party also intends to run a special programme called Shakti', said Venugopal.

It aims to put special focus on people in the age group of 18 and 21. The party will also collect relevant data about each voter and donor, which can be synergised with the 'Shakti' programme, he added.

The 'Shakti' programme is aimed at keep a constant connect between the party and people. This programme will be taken up in an aggressive manner, Venugopal said.

"We are very much confident that we can win majority of seats from Karnataka in the coming parliamentary elections. Before that, we are equipping our party functionaries from grassroots to top level," said the Congress leader.

Alleging that corruption is rampant under BJP rule at the Centre and the Rafale deal was a point in case, Venugopal said the BJP intentionally did not appoint Lokpal as the institution would have exposed the government's "wrongdoings". (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 4:14:00 PM 0

Hyderabad, Sep 19: The Congress would not name the Chief Ministerial candidate in poll-bound Telangana, where it would fight the Assembly elections jointly with the TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samithi, a key party leader said Wednesday.

The AICC In-charge of Telangana, R C Khuntia maintained that the usual practice in the Congress was not to name the party's Chief Ministerial candidate before any Assembly election.

"TPCC (Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee) President, Uttam Kumar Reddy will lead the campaign but the Chief Ministerial candidate will be finalised after the election," Khuntia told here.

"It will be decided after the election results come out, with the views of MLAs, in consultation with our President Rahul Gandhi", he said.

Telangana Assembly was dissolved on September six -- more than eight months ahead of the expiry of its term -- on the recommendation of (now) Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who opted to go for early elections.

The Election Commission is yet to come out with the poll schedule for the State.

The Congress which won 21 seats in the 119-member Assembly in the 2014 elections with a vote share of more than 25 per cent, has since struck an understanding with the TDP, the CPI and TJS of Prof M Kodandaram to fight the election jointly.

"Seat sharing details have not been finalised but we have agreed to fight jointly," Khuntia said. "We will have a common agenda, and also some strategy to campaign jointly," he added.

According to Khuntia, winnability of the alliance partners would decide as to who would get how many seats to contest.

"It's not the question of numbers; it's a question of winnability", he said, adding, while the Congress is the major partner, the three other parties would get "preference" in segments where they are in a better position.

The TDP fought the last election in alliance with the BJP, won 15 seats and had a close to 15 per cent vote-share. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 1:48:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Sep 3: All Congress leaders in poll-bound Rajasthan were "on the same page" and working unitedly for the victory of the party, AICC incharge of the state Avinash Pande has said amidst reports of infighting.

He also said a call was yet to be taken within the Congress on whether to go in for an alliance with the BSP and other parties in Rajasthan.

The AICC general secretary, however, asserted the party organisation was geared up and practically prepared on all the 200 constituencies of the state.

Pande told PTI here that the party was focussed on not just getting a simple majority, but on winning big in the assembly polls slated for later this year.

Asked if infighting could hamper the Congress' chance in the assembly polls, he said, "I should make it very clear on record that there is no infighting that the opposition and the media try to project. In Rajasthan, all the leaders are working together for the common goal of forming a strong government."

Citing the example of the Congress' 'sankalp yatra' in the state, he said all leaders were moving together, addressing the masses, workers, and the message was "loud and clear" all the leaders were united under the leadership of party president Rahul Gandhi and don't have any differences.

"Rajasthan has got many senior leaders. While we have got a young leader in Sachin Pilot, we also have a very experienced face in Ashok Gehlot ji.

"We also have the very experienced and orgnaisationally strong C P Joshiji, Girija Vyas ji. Then we have Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Namo Narain Meena ji. They are all on the same page and trying unitedly for the victory of party in Rajasthan," Pande said.

The Congress has repeatedly dismissed reports of factionalism in the party in Rajasthan, projecting a united front.

Pande had warned Congressmen in July against making unwarranted statements after a leader had spoken in favour of Ashok Gehlot as CM candidate.

On the party taking the line that it will not declare a CM face, Pande said the Congress has never declared the CM face anywhere, barring the exception of one or two places.

"It has been the tradition of the Congress that it contests elections on its manifesto under the leadership of the national president and leadership, and at the state level, all the leaders come together and jointly fight the elections," he said.

Asked about the status of alliance for the polls, he said no talk or discussion, specifically on Rajasthan, has taken place so far with the BSP or any other party.

"This decision has to be first taken at an all India level within the Congress. Talks are on (within the party at the all India level), but a decision has not been conveyed yet to Rajasthan," he said.

Talking about the issues the Congress is likely to project in the run up to the assembly election, Pande said the priority was farmers' issues, unemployment, problems faced by the middle class, and the education system among others.

"Overall picture in Rajasthan is that people have already lost hope with the present government and are looking at the Congress," he claimed.

Pande asserted that the assembly polls in Rajasthan will have a major impact on the 2019 general election because they will indicate the direction in which the whole country, including the common man, is thinking. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 5:35:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Aug 21: Congress president Rahul Gandhi today appointed Ahmed Patel as the party's treasurer in place of Motilal Vora, who will now be AICC general secretary administration, a newly created post.

Patel, who was the political secretary of former party chief Sonia Gandhi, has earlier served the post of treasurer.

Rahul appointed former Union minister Anand Sharma as the chairperson of the party's foreign affairs department replacing Karan Singh, the Congress said in a statement.

Former speaker Meira Kumar has been made a permanent invite to the Congress working committee, the highest decision making body of the party.

Luizinho Faleiro was appointed as AICC general secretary in-charge of north-eastern states, excluding Assam, replacing CP Joshi. (PTI)

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Hello Jammu News at 12:51:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Jul 21: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today recorded his statement before a Delhi court in the National Herald case, filed by him against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, his mother Sonia Gandhi and other accused.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal recorded a part of Swamy's statement and posted the matter for hearing on August 25, when it will record the remaining part of his statement.

The BJP leader, in a private criminal complaint, has accused the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by paying only Rs 50 lakh, through which Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI) obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that Associate Journals Ltd owed to the Congress.

All the seven accused - the Gandhis, AICC treasurer Motilal Vora, AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and YI - have denied the allegations.

The court had summoned the accused persons and YI on June 26, 2014.

On December 19, 2015, it granted bail to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Vora, Fernandes and Dubey, who have appeared before it pursuant to the summonses.

Pitroda was granted bail on February 20, 2016 after he appeared in the court.

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Vora, Fernandes, Dubey and Pitroda were summoned for the alleged offences of misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust and cheating, read with criminal conspiracy of the Indian Penal Code. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 6:05:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Jul 13: Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy returned to the Congress fold today, four years after quitting the party.

Congress' communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala announced Reddy's return to the party after the former chief minister met party president Rahul Gandhi at his residence today.

Reddy, along with many of his associates, met the party chief and decided that they would work for strengthening the Congress, Surjewala said.

AICC Andhra Pradesh in-charge Oommen Chandy, APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy and former Union minister M M Pallam Raju were also present during Kiran Reddy's meeting with Gandhi.

Speaking to reporters after joining the Congress, Kiran Reddy asserted that unless a Congress government comes back in Delhi, justice will not be done to the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

"Implementation of the Reorganisation Act, special status, special incentives -- all this will be possible only if the Congress comes back to power. The present Indian government, the state government and the opposition parties have failed miserably to implement the Reorganisation Act," he said.

Assurances given by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh in Rajya Sabha should also be implemented in totality, he said.

Expressing his happiness on returning to the Congress fold, Kiran Reddy said he cannot be separated from the party because whatever identity he has got was because of the Congress.

Chandy, welcoming Kiran Reddy into the party said, "When he was the chief minister, he did many good things for the state, especially for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He did a lot of things for the development of Andhra Pradesh."

Later, briefing reporters, Surjewala said the Congress was committed to get Andhra Pradesh special status.

Asked if the Congress would support a no-confidence motion against the government over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, he said the decision will be taken by the Congress Parliamentary party.

Kiran Reddy had quit as chief minister and the Congress in February 2014, protesting against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

His meeting with the Congress chief came following talks with the party's leaders over two months.

Kiran Reddy, the last chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh, had floated the Jai Samaikya Andhra party after quitting the Congress. He fought the 2014 elections, but failed to make a mark.

Interestingly, Kiran Reddy's younger brother Kishore Kumar joined the TDP a few months ago. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 7:03:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Apr 27: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached China for a two-day visit to Wuhan for informal talks with Chinese president Xi Jinping, the Congress on Friday called on him to remember his duty to protect India’s strategic interests and question Beijing on occupation of Doklam, an issue that impacts India’s national security.
In a statement issued here, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said, 'as Modi ji 'hugs' his friend, President Xi Jinping today in Wuhan, China, will he remember his innate duty to protect India’s strategic interests and question China on occupation of Doklam impacting India’s national security?'
In the statement, Mr Surjewala slammed Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for their failure to confront China on creation of a ‘full-fledged Chinese military complex’ in Doklam, right up to 10m from the Indian Army post, during their visit to China from April 20 to 24.
'Does the PM accept the failure of his Cabinet Ministers (Defence and External Affairs Minister) to confront China on creation of ‘full-fledged Chinese military complex’ in Doklam right up to 10m from the Indian Army post, during their visit on April 20-24, as an abdication of their duty to the nation?'
India is facing an increasingly aggressive China that has intruded into the ‘Chicken Neck’-Siliguri corridor by building a new road through South of Doklam (Gateway to the North East), but why is Modi Government clueless and incapable to send a strong message to China?' Mr Surjewala asked.
Claiming that the latest ‘satellite imagery’ from Google Maps of April 25, 2018 showed creation of additional structures by China metres away from Indian Army posts, Mr Surjewala asked ,'has PM and Defence Ministry taken note of it? Will PM Modi take up the issue in the ‘summit’ with Chinese President today in Wuhan, China?'
Mr Surjewala expressed the hope that Mr Modi would, during his meeting with the Chinese President, do some plain speaking on Doklam.
'Modi ji may not be able to show ‘red eyes’ as he loftily promised, but will he show the courage of conviction to do plain-speaking on Doklam and defend India’s interests ?' Mr Surjewala said.
The PM is on a two-day visit to China to hold informal talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. UNI

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Hello Jammu News at 3:02:00 PM 0
New Delhi, Apr 26: Congress president Rahul Gandhi and four other passengers travelling on a chartered flight from Delhi to Karnataka got a major scare on Thursday after the aircraft reportedly developed "multiple faults" and pilots managed to land it at Karnataka's Hubli after two aborted attempts, congress sources said.
The Congress has filed a complaint with the DGCA and the Karnataka DGP to seek a probe to determine if there was any "intentional tampering" of the aircraft.
The sources said the complaint was filed by Kaushal Vidyarthee, a key member of Rahul Gandhi's team who was accompanying the Congress president.
The sources said that Mr Gandhi's plane, which brought him to Karnataka where he is leading the Congress' campaign against the BJP for next month's assembly elections, had taken off from Delhi at around 9.20 am.
At around 10.45 am, the aircraft suddenly tilted to one side. It lost altitude and there was violent shuddering of the aircraft body though the weather outside was clear.
According to sources, the complaint said the entire experience had left the passengers "with a lot of anxiety and distress" and positively fearing for their lives".
.Later in a tweet, Mr Vidyarthee called it the most "frightening experience in my life", referred to the plane going into what he called was a "free fall"
''Glad to be in a room and getting some rest....thankful for being alive...never had such a frightening experience in my life...plane went into free fall...couldnt believe CP's composure and calmness as he stood beside pilots trying to save the situation.,''he retweeted.
He, and another co passengers however, admired Mr Gandhi's composure and calmness "as he stood beside pilots trying to save the situation".
"Never thought we would make it through what happened in the aircraft today...cant believe how brave RG is...being a pilot himself he was constantly by the side of the crew through the crisis. Respect! ,'' said Rahul S Ravi, a co passenger in the plane. 
According to AICC media incharge Randeep surjewala, ''A formal complaint has been submitted... to inquire into entire matter including possibility of foul play which led to technical slag, failure of autopilot and failure of rudders, which is completely unprecedented." UNI  
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Hello Jammu News at 6:28:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Apr 19: Reacting to the Supreme Court order dismissing a set of petitions seeking an SIT probe into the death of special CBI judge B H Loya, the Congress on Thursday said the judgment left many questions unanswered and pitched for a fair investigation in the matter.
Talking to reporters here, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said, 'today is a ‘Sad Letter Day’ in India’s history. The verdict leaves many questions unanswered. The issue of criminality or the lack thereof can only be decided through investigation. No one, without an investigation, can decide whether the death is natural or unnatural.'
Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that Judge Loya's death was due to a natural cause, and went on to dismiss petitions seeking a probe.
However, Mr Surjewala contended that overwhelming material shows that the death was not a natural one.
'Can statements of some judges made in an administrative enquiry before a police officer be the sole yardstick for arriving a conclusion, more so when there is suspicion being raised by available forensic evidence, opinion of experts, documents, discrepancies and statements of various witnesses given to different organisations pointing towards a possible conspiracy? In law, according to us, statements made even by a judge before a police officer have no evidentiary value. Can such statements then be the sole criteria for not conducting any investigation?
Overwhelming material available in public domain needs to be investigated and examined for its truthfulness before arriving at a conclusion. This could only be done in an investigation and not in a Public Interest Litigation,' Mr Surjewala said.
Mr Surjewala said that Judge Loya's sister gave an interview, alleging that he was offered a bribe of Rs 100 crore along with a flat in Mumbai if he were to deliver a verdict in favour of the accused. 
'The ECG and histopathology report showed no evidence of a heart attack whatsoever. AIIMS doctor RK Sharma clearly stated that there was no sign of a heart attack and there was evidence that Loya was hit on head by a blunt weapon," Mr Surjewala said.
Loya, who allegedly died of cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014, had reportedly shared a hotel room with two judges when he was attending the wedding of a colleague's daughter in Nagpur.
"Loya's family had publicly stated that clothes had blood stains, especially near his neck. There are discrepancies even in recording Loya's name correctly in the post-mortem report," Mr Surjewala 
said.
Refuting the BJP's allegations that the Congress party was behind the petitions filed in the matter in the Supreme Court, Mr Surjewala said, 'BJP’s attempts to make false political capital out of Supreme Court judgement must be condemned. Original petitioners before the court were Bombay Advocates Association. Intervenor was Centre for Public Interest Litigation. Hostility of the third petitioner to the Congress party and proximity to the ruling BJP is well known in public domain.
Congress party was not a petitioner before the Supreme Court. Congress including 14 other political parties raised the issue before the President of India and in people’s court. For a vile BJP to misinterpret SC’s judgement to attack the Congress party reflects their jitteriness and frustration. We reject and condemn the malicious attempts of BJP to misinterpret Supreme Court judgment for finger-pointing. ' UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 3:56:00 PM 0


Bengaluru, Apr 17: The first list of 218 candidates announced by Congress has given a shot in the arm to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as most of his demands were conceded by the party high command while his detractors like Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Malikarjun Kharge had little to cheer about.
The ticket distribution hardly left another camp led by former Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily also aggrieved as Congress president Rahul Gandhi acceded to Siddaramaiah’s nominations and accommodated lot many turncoats who defected only recently to the Congress.
Over 100 of sitting Congress MLAs and Chief Minister's proteges have been renominated and the ticket distribution decided by Central Election Committee headed by Rahul Gandhi also rejected state unit president G Paremshwara’s suggestion of one family – one ticket.
Rebellion surfaced across the state including in Siruguppa, Lingsugur, Tarikere, Tipkur, Byadgi and Hangal forcing several Congress leaders in Bengaluru and in districts to wonder whether Congress is ready to pay the price.
Contrary to Mr Paremeshwara’s suggestion, Congress issued tickets to the chief minister (Chamundeshwari) and his son Dr. Yathinder for Varuna, the state Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy will be party nominee for BTM Layout and his daughter Soumya Reddy will contest from the Jayanagara constituency in Bengaluru.
Law minister T B Jayachandra's son Santosh Jayachandra has been fielded from the Chikanayakanhalli seat in Tumkur region while the Minister will be Congress candidate from Sira.
As a matter of fact, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank Kharge was given a ticket for Chitapur (Reserved) seat in Gulbarga district.
“This is a more pragmatic approach from the Congress high command wherein winnability factor has been encouraged. Moreover, Siddaramaiah has been almost given free hand in deciding tickets for many new entrants whom he had given assurance,” a Congress district office bearer from Bagepalli assembly segment told here.
Many disgruntled Congress men and women from Bagepalli had gathered at KPCC office on Monday and staged noisy protest against ticket distribution to a new entrant S N Subbareddy, also a Siddramaiah loyalist. In the process the claims of N Sampangi was turned down.
Congress sources also said that all seven JD(S) defectors were also given tickets while the party’s central election committee negated the recommendation of Mr Kharge in deciding the candidate for Pulakeshinagar assembly seat. While Mr Kharge reportedly backed the claims of four-time MLA B Prasanna Kumar, the party opted for Akhanda Srinivasmurthy, whom the Chief Minister is said to have given a word Mr Kumar had won the Pulakeshinagar in 2008 by a huge margin of over 17,000 but had lost the seat to JD(S) nominee Srinivasmurthy in 2013.
In fact, for Mr Moily, party MP from Chikaballapur, the going was tough from very beginning.
“I have decided, my son (Harsha) has also decided that he will not contest the election this time. We have decided to work for the victory of Congress party,” a visibly upset Mr Moily had announced last month itself.
So much has been the influence of Siddaramaiah factor in deciding the Congress tickets that even controversial and scam tainted leaders – including former BJP leaders – have been entertained.
AICC spokesman Brijesh Kalappa ventilated his anguish over Madikeri assembly ticket allocation to H S Chandramouli, an advocate who once represented fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi.
In Bellary district, Mr Rahul Gandhi did not mind fielding ‘scamsters’ of illegal mining – B Nagendra (from Bellary) and Anand Singh (from Vijaynagar) – turncoats from BJP.
They both are opponents of BJP leader B S Sreeramalu and hence the Chief Minister will be banking on these two leaders to sway “additional votes” into the Congress kitty.
The Congress leadership also entertained the claims of Siddaramaiah faction and allotted ticket to Ashok Kheny for Bidar South constituency. Mr Kheny also lately faced corruption charge for a major developmental project.
Mr Kharge and Mr Moily right from beginning were strongly opposing party tickets to these individuals. In fact, sources say the Twitter row related to Mr Moily, which he later denied, that ticket distribution was linked to money bags related to these constituencies only.
Among those decisions wherein protestors resorted to arson at party offices were in Mandya, where Congress fielded actor-turned-politician M H Ambareesh. The decision seemed to have angered local Congress leaders like Ravi Kumar for being denied the ticket.
Known as 'Mr rebel-star' of Kannad films Mr Ambaresh had scored a huge victory in Mandya in 2013 when he defeated sitting JD(S) legislator M Srinivas by a margin of 42,937 votes.
There is already dissidence in C V Raman Nagar constituency in Bengaluru wherein party leader P Ramesh has revolted and is set to contest on JD(S) ticket.
The Congress leadership has decided to nominate Sampath Raj for the seat.
In the ultimate analysis, however, leaders like Mr Moily and Mr Kharge are unhappy as the lion’s share of first round battle went to Mr Siddaramaiah.
“It is win-win situation for Chief Minister. Rahul Gandhi has kept his words and allowed the necessary liberty to Chief Minister to prepare his battle strategy. The formula had worked earlier in Punjab and will work again,” said one AICC general secretary over phone trying to make light of the dissension. He pointed out that four crisis management teams have been set up to look into the grievances of disgruntled leaders.
Among the new entrants to Congress B R Patil, Satish Sail, Mankala Subba Vaidy, G Manjunath and Anil Kumar have been given Congress tickets. UNI 
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Hello Jammu News at 8:13:00 PM 0



New Delhi, Apr 16: Reacting to reports on the proposal by the information and broadcasting ministry to install chips in set top boxes to conduct surveillance on the television programmes watched by consumers, the Congress on Monday charged the Government of violating the privacy of the individual.
In a post on social media, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said,'BREAKING! The Next Stage of Surveillance by BJP Revealed! In a serious breach of privacy, Smriti Iraniji wants to know what show you watch on your TV, within the four walls of your bedroom, without your permission! Why? अबकी बार Surveillance सरकार, निजता का हक़ कर तार-तार (violating the right to privacy of the individual) .'
As per the reports, a proposal for installing chips on set top boxes to monitor the television programmes watched by consumers has been sent by the information and broadcasting ministry to the telecom regulatory authority of India. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:10:00 PM 0


Bengaluru, Apr 10: Former External Affairs Minister and veteran politician S M Krishna will not be leaving the BJP and rejoin Congress and the rumour was floated by the Congress which is fearing a debacle in the May 12 Assembly elections in Karnataka, former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters here the BJP leaders said the veteran politician was touring abroad and he had spoken to him and he had denied any such reports.
He said the party was ready to accommodate any family member of
Mr Krishna either in Bengaluru or elsewhere if they wished to contest on a BJP ticket in the coming elections.
Earlier in the day reports had suggested that Mr Krishna was contemplating leaving BJP and rejoining the Congress party as he was sidelined by the saffron party. After being in Congress for decades
Mr Krishna had left the party and joined BJP one-and-half years ago. His reentry back in Congress will be welcomed by AICC President Rahul Gandhi.
Mr Ashok said Mr Krishna would take part in campaigning for BJP candidates soon after his return from abroad. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:54:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Apr 10: After Congress president Rahul Gandhi, AICC General Secretary Digvijaya Singh has also said that if strategised well, Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be defeated not just in Varanasi but across the country.
In an interview to India Today TV, Mr Singh, who completed his 'Narmada Parkrama' Yatra on Monday, said, ' Mr Gandhi will try his best to defeat Modi in 2019 general elections.'
Supporting the idea that a United opposition can defeat Mr Modi and the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Mr Singh said, "The bypoll results in Phulpur and Gorakhpur are examples of opposition parties joining hands against BJP and managing to defeat the saffron party.'
Slamming the Narendra Modi government for its misgovernance and increase in communal tensions under its rule, the Congress veteran said, 'It has been four years since Mr Modi became the Prime Minister. During this time, the administration is in shambles, the economy has collapsed and communal tensions are a source of major concern."
When asked about his future course of action, Mr Singh said,'Of course, I will be in politics, not fry pakodas. However, my future political course of action will be decided by my party leader Rahul Gandhi.'
Asked for his reaction in case he is removed as general secretary like party organisation and training-in-charge Janardan Dwivedi was replaced with general secretary of Gujarat affairs Ashok Gehlot, Mr Singh said, "I am ready. I have been general secretary for 14 years. How long can I continue? I will abide by Rahul Gandhi's decision."
On the upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh, Mr Singh said he was not in the race for chief ministership.
"I want to clearly state that I do not want to be CM," he said. Asked as to what he thinks should be the Congress strategy to come back to power in MP, Mr Singh said, "Our leaders should reach out to the electorate and feel its pulse, and tickets should be given to popular leaders."
When asked if he felt that the party should project a chief ministerial face in MP, Mr Singh said Mr Gandhi will decide whether the party should promote a leader as the next Chief Minister.
Asked on what difference he felt between the functioning of Mr Gandhi and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Mr Singh said,'It is unfair to comment on their styles of functioning. Right now, the party should give a free hand to Mr Gandhi to effect changes according to his wisdom." UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 3:04:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Apr 9: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday led a nationwide fast by the Congress workers against the 'anti-Dalit ' attitude of the BJP Government and to promote communal harmony and peace across the country.
As part of the protest, Mr Gandhi participated in a fast at Rajghat with Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken and party workers, which also aimed at highlighting the government's failure to ensure a discussion in Parliament on important issues such as the bank scams, the CBSE paper leak, farmers' distress, the dilution of the SC /ST Act, the Cauvery issue and Special Category status to Andhra Pradesh.
The fast saw the participation by hundreds of Congress workers and leaders.
Speaking on the occasion, AICC media in-charge Randeep Surjewala said, 'Communal harmony and brotherhood is under threat in Modi Government. They want to divide the society. Hence it is the duty of Congress party to fight against such powers and this is what we have come together for.'
As part of the nationwide protest, the Congress workers are holding a day-long fast at all state and district headquarters.
The BJP MPs will also observe a fast on April 12 to protest the disruption of Parliament by the Congress. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:03:00 PM 0


Bengaluru, Apr 7: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister H N Ananth Kumar has held Congress responsible for end of Budget Session without taking up any business during its 23 days of sitting.
“Congress could not digest Prime Minister Narendra Modi gaining popularity day by day and hence behaving without giving respect to the democracy. Congress has not culture,” he told newsmen here on Saturday.
Stating that the Parliament Sessions were held smoothly for two years, Mr Kumar said “after Mr Rahul Gandhi became AICC Chief, the Congress is trying to stall the Session without having any culture.”
“We were ready for discussion on Bank issue, Cauvery and the issue of special status to Andhara Pradesh but Congress was not ready for debate but only interested in stalling the Session for political mileage”.
Mr Kumar said that BJP MPs have decided not to take the 23 day sitting fee For the washed out Session.
He said that BJP will observe April 12 as protest day throughout the country. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 5:54:00 PM 0


Bengaluru, Apr 7: Continuing his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that “he has no moral right to speak about corruption.”
Mr Gandhi arrived in Karnataka earlier in the day for a two-day electioneering tour for the May 12 election to the State Assembly.
After road show in Mulabagalu, speaking at a public meeting he said that “Mr Modi has no moral right to speak about corruption since his Chief Ministerial Candidate B S Yeddyurappa was jailed on graft charges and many of his Cabinet colleagues during his (Mr Yeddyurappa) tenure as Chief Minister were tainted and allegedly involved in corruption.”
Mr Gandhi began his tour by offering prayer to Lord Ganapathi at Kurudamole Temple at Mulabagalu. He also visited Hajarat Baba Hyderali Darga and other temples and Dargas.
The tour was halted for some time after the specially built bus for his electioneering developed technical snag after hitting a road hump. However, it was repaired immediately and Mr Rahul continued his tour. (eds: pls pick up from earlier series). UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 5:06:00 PM 0



New Delhi, Apr 6: The Congress will observe a nationwide fast on April 9 to protect and promote communal harmony between different sections of society and expose the failure of the NDA Government at the Centre and the state governments ruled by the BJP to protect the Dalit community.
A direction in this regard has been issued by Congress president Rahul Gandhi to party leaders in all states and the district headquarters, AICC General secretary Ashok Gehlot said.
According to the AICC General secretary, 'Congress president Rahul Gandhi has directed to organise a nationwide fast to protect and promote communal harmony between different sections of society across the country on April 9 in all states and district headquarters.'
Slamming the NDA Government at the Centre and the state governments ruled by the BJP to protect the Dalit community and prevent the violence during the recent Bharat Bandh, the AICC said, 'Peace and harmony have been embodied in the soul of this country and the responsibility to uphold it lies with the Congress. What has happened on April 2 during the Bharat Bandh was very unfortunate. 
'It is very dangerous for the social fabric of this country. Clearly, BJP rule Central Government and the state Governments did not initiate any steps to curb the violence nor to protect the fraternity. Therefore , it becomes even more important for the Congress to lead the Nation in this tough time.' UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 8:08:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Apr 4: Alleging that Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has links with Shirdi industries, a company which had defrauded the banks, the Congress on Wednesday demanded an inquiry into the 'scam' by a sitting judge of the Supreme court into the matter.
Talking to reporters here, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily and AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera said, 'Union Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal, was chairman and‘whole time director’ of Shirdi Industries Ltd. from April 25, 2008 to July 1, 2010. During this time, Shirdi Industries Ltd worked out a loan of Rs 258.62 crore from a consortium of banks, headed by Union Bank of India.
"However, on June 8, 2015, Shirdi Industries Ltd was declared ‘sick’ for being unable to repay loans.'
Mr Azad said it was a surprise that despite the fact that Shirdi Industries Ltd. (of Rakesh Agarwal and Mukesh Bansal) had been declared ‘sick’ for being unable to repay loans, their sister company, Asis Industries proceeded to grant an unsecured loan of Rs 1.59 crore in 2015-16 to Intercon Advisors Pvt Ltd, a company owned by Seema Goyal, wife of Mr Piyush Goyal. 
Mr Goyal was also director of this company from 15.09.2005 to 22.07.2013.

The Congress leaders said that Shirdi Industries Ltd went to the National Consortium of Banks Limited (NCLT) and told them that they had an outstanding loan amount of Rs 651.87 crore. 'Shockingly, the consortium of banks agreed to take a haircut (waive off) 65 per cent of loan amount and settled for Rs 228.85 crore (Rs 173.85 crore to be paid between December 2017-March 2022 and Rs 55 crore to be paid between June, 2022 –March 2024). 
Surprisingly, no one raised an objection that promoter of Shirdi Industries Ltd could not have bid in view of prohibition contained in Section 29A of the Insolvency Code.

Alleging that a loot of public money by Shirdi Industries had happened at the behest of Mr Goyal, Mr Azad demanded a probe into the matter by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.
'The web of corporate entities that ties Mr Piyush Goyal and his family to Rakesh Agarwal/Mukesh Bansal, is thus, glaringly apparent and serious and scandalous facts warrant a thorough independent judicial investigation by a sitting Supreme Court judge. It has made the position of Union Minister Piyush Goyal untenable to serve as Union Cabinet Minister. Mr Piyush Goyal must be sacked forthwith,' the Congress leaders said. UNI
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