A day before her maiden visit to Uttar Pradesh as Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that together with the people of the state she hopes to start a "new kind of politics" in which everyone will be a stakeholder.
Priyanka and Jyotiraditya Scindia will arrive in Lucknow today on their first trip to the state after being appointed the Congress general secretary in-charges of eastern and western UP respectively.
They will be accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi— all three visiting the crucial state for the first time after the appointments announced last month.
"I am coming tomorrow to Lucknow to meet all of you. I have hope in my heart that together we will start a new kind of politics, a politics in which all of you will be stakeholders — my young friends, my sisters and even the weakest person, all their voices will be heard," said Gandhi through the Congress's Shakti App.
"Come, let's build a new future, new politics with me. Thank you," she said in her message to the people ahead of the visit to the state.
Scindia, in his message, said: "Tomorrow I am coming to be with you. The youth of Uttar Pradesh need a roadmap for the future and the state needs change." "Come align with us and bring change to Uttar Pradesh," he said.
The two general secretaries will interact with party workers at the state Congress office in Lucknow on February 12, 13 and 14, while Rahul Gandhi is likely to return the same day.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu began a day-long fast in New Delhi on Monday, demanding that the Centre grant special status to the state and fulfil all promises made before its bifurcation in 2014.
A number of Opposition party leaders - including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal - are expected to extend their support to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief's fast at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar has claimed that BJP president Amit Shah's call to party leaders to reach out to minorities is nothing but an attempt to fool them.
However, the minorities cannot be "fooled", Chodankar said, and reminded about BJP's criticism in the past of their eating and dressing habits.
Shah last week asked the party leaders to reach out to minority communities to stress the "all-inclusive" character of the saffron party, Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik claimed on Sunday.
Naik also said that Shah was not specific about Goa when he spoke about minority communities during a closed door interaction with BJP functionaries from the state on Saturday.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Congress President Rahul Gandhi meets Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu is on a day-long hunger strike against the central government.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday extended support to her Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu over his day-long hunger strike in New Delhi.
He began his fast in the national capital demanding that the Centre grant special status to Andhra Pradesh and fulfil all the promises made before its bifurcation in 2014.
"Our party chief Mamata Banerjee has expressed her support towards Chandrababu Naidu's hunger strike. She asked our party leader Derek O'Brien to visit Naidu at the venue of hunger strike and express solidarity. The opposition stands united in the fight against the Modi government," said a senior Trinamool Congress leader.
Brien will visit Naidu, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, around 12 pm, the leader said.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said “Every defence deal has an anti-corruption clause. The Hindu has reported that the PM removed the anti-corruption clause. It is clear that the PM facilitated loot.”
PM has stolen money from people of Andhra and given it to his industrialist friend said Rahul Gandhi.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Supreme Court has dismissed the West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) petition seeking setting aside the West Bengal High Court order which had put a ban on use of mikes and loudspeakers in the residential areas in the state.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Supreme Court issues notice to the Uttar Pradesh Police on a plea filed by the son of Qasim, victim in Hapur lynching case, seeking direction for SIT probe with the officer from outside UP. The court also tagged the matter with earlier pending pleas.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
“NoMo anti corruption clause. The Chowkidar himself opened the door to allow Anil Ambani to steal 30,000 Cr. from the IAF,” tweets Congress chief Rahul Gandhi
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Former Prime Minister and Congress leader Manmohan Singh meets Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu on his day-long fast, at Andhra Pradesh Bhawan.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Supreme Court exempts personal appearance of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a local court in Amethi in a case of alleged derogatory remarks against Congress and BJP in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Supreme Court adjourns for July a plea of Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP, challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several others in 2002 Gujarat riots
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Bombay High Court slams Lt Col Purohit's (accused in 2008 Malegaon blasts) plea challenging the validity of prosecution sanction for his trial under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. HC says appeal isn't maintainable as it's an Interlocutory order, permits conversion of appeal into writ petition.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Monday extended support to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's day-long fast for special status to the state and said the central government should fulfil the promise without any further delay.
Singh, who headed the UPA government at the Centre when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated, said, "This demand had support of all parties when it was discussed in Parliament. I stand in solidarity with Naidu." He said the special category status promise must be implemented without any further delay and that he had always stood by the people of the state.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
The Supreme Court on Monday allowed NGO Naz Foundation Trust to withdraw its curative plea challenging the apex court's 2013 verdict that had again criminalised gay sex between two consenting adults.
A bench headed comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna considered the plea of the NGO that its curative plea has now become infructuous in view of the five-judge constitution bench verdict in 2018 which had set aside the 2013 judgement.
The trust, which had first knocked doors of the Delhi High Court with its plea in 2001, seeking decriminalising of the consensual sexual act, had filed the curative petition.
After the 2013 verdict, the Supreme Court had dismissed the review plea that had laid the foundation to file the curative petition.
However, a five-judge constitution bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra entertained fresh petitions seeking decriminalising of the consensual gay sex.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Marking her political debut ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi arrived at the Lucknow airport on Monday afternoon to a rousing reception by party leaders and workers.
Accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and in-charge of the western region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, a beaming Priyanka Gandhi waved at partymen jostling for a glimpse of her.
As her 'rath' rolled on, it was a selfie galore with enthusiastic partymen taking vantage positions to click prized photographs for posterity.
When the trio embarked on a roughly 25-km-long roadshow through major thoroughfares of the state capital, rose petals were sprinkled and marigold garlands showered at their cavalcade.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Roadshow continues, amid slogans of “Chowkidar chor hai”
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
As Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's cavalcade rolled through the streets of Lucknow, the capital of politically crucial Uttar Pradesh, Congress workers showered rose petals and threw marigold garlands at her, celebrating the much-awaited political debut.
Priyanka Gandhi, accompanied by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and in-charge of the state's western region Jyotiraditya Scindia, waved and smiled.
Immediately after the 25-km journey began, supporters began taking vantage points through the route to click photographs for posterity.
Congress workers had been busy making arrangements for the roadshow since early morning. They were seen distributing food packets, tea and water to passers by.
Patriotic songs were played on loudspeakers, elevating the mood of supporters.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Congress workers were seen wearing T-shirts with photographs of Priyanka Gandhi. Members of "Priyanka Sena," a little-known organisation of her supporters, were also seen during the roadshow.
Some posters showed Priyanka Gandhi as Goddess Durga on a lion.
"Maa Durga ka roop behen Priyankaji (Sister Priyanka is Maa Durga's incarnation)," read a poster. Another highlighted her resemblance with her grandmother Indira Gandhi.
"With the Priyanka Sena at the Nehru Bhawan, Lucknow it is almost celebration here," tweeted Sushmita Dev, president of All India Mahila Congress. She attacked a photograph of her with members of the outfit.
Congress general secretary Shailendra Tiwari customised his car to welcome Priyanka Gandhi. The banner on the vehicle read: "Aagai Priyanka. Baj gaya danka. Brashtachar ki ab lagegi Lanka."
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
“I have asked Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia to fight injustice and ensure a just government. We would play on the front-foot, won't play on the back-foot. We won't be satisfied till a Congress government is formed in the state. We would ensure a government of the poor and farmers,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi place garlands on the statue of Sardar Patel at GPO Park, Hazratganj.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar by offering flowers at their statues at the Hazratganj crossing.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi got down from the bus to garland the statue of their late father Rajiv Gandhi. Congress Lucknow roadshow ends after reaching Uttar Pradesh Congress office.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, “People have seen what Narendra Modi has done in 5 years. Chowkidar has not given jobs, he said 2 crore people would get jobs but he only brought benefit to Anil Ambani, says Rahul Gandhi at UP Congress headquarters.”
“Congress started at UP and it cannot stay weak here,” says Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi at Congress headquarters in UP said, “Congress party has to make government in Uttar Pradesh.”
Priyanka, Scindia will make Congress strong in UP again, says Rahul Gandhi ending the roadshow.
Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST
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Published: 11 Feb 2019, 10:11 AM IST