A delegation of opposition party leaders on Friday met the top brass of Election Commission to raise its concerns over poll code violations by the ruling party leaders, and also flagged concerns over delay in release of voter turnout figures for the first two phases of the polls.
The Congress has served a legal notice on Swedish investigator Sven Lindstorm over his remarks about party chief Sonia Gandhi in connection with the Bofors scam, asking him to retract his statement and apologise in writing.
The Congress on Monday criticised the Bharaitya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani's remark that the grand old party was responsible for the defeat of the dalit icon and that it was anti-dalit saying such remarks smack of "complete ignorance of political history".
The Congress on Sunday evaded a direct reply when queried on whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would contest the Lok Sabha elections, noting that several premiers have been the members of Rajya Sabha. "This is a futile debate. Several prime ministers have been members of Rajya Sabha. The Constitution permits it. The Supreme Court has affirmed it in a detailed judgement," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.
The Delhi high court on Wednesday dismissed a plea for probe by the Bar Council of Delhi into the alleged CD row, purportedly involving senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the conviction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a 2019 defamation case over his Modi surname remark, restoring his status as an MP.
With Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani reportedly planning another rath yatra, the Congress on Monday attacked the BJP patriarch and hoped that this yatra did not create 'discord'. "There is yet another yatra by the eternal yatri, the Bhishm Pitamah of the BJP, L K Advani. The ambition of the yatri knows no bounds. We hope this is not a journey of vendetta, hatred and creating discord," said party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi.
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Mukesh Dalal was on Monday elected unopposed from Surat Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat after all other nominees withdrew from the fray, a poll official said.
Fondly remembering the contribution of retiring members from the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday said the wisdom shared by them would be greatly missed and their departure would leave a void.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena to rise above 'political bickering' and discuss who could head the national capital's power regulator Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), saying the two constitutional functionaries should get down to 'serious work of governance' away from glare of publicity.
The Bench did not give any interim direction when the Additional Solicitor General sought permission from the court that till the matter comes up for hearing, the authorities be allowed to use their administrative discretion.
Participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address to Parliament, senior Congress leader and party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said in the Rajya Sabha that the economy has grown by over eight per cent in the last four years.
The Congress had on Monday suggested that Gandhi did not name Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, but had the entire state administration in mind when she made those remarks.
A day after the Nationalist Congress Party demanded 50 per cent share of the seats in Maharashtra and a national alliance with the party, the Congress said it would sit together with its alliance partner to find a solution."Let me assure you that nothing is going to change the basic fact that we are fully capable of sitting together and finding an amicable solution," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said.Singhvi said the party's relationship with NCP was long standing.
Sonia's comment on foreign policy not aimed at Left: Congress
"It is a data collection exercise cutting across the whole country," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in New Delhi.
The Congress on Monday saw no wrong in the return of R R Patil as Maharashtra home minister, but dismissed suggestions of bringing back Shivraj Patil as the Union home minister, who too had quit in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.
The book had claimed that India was one of the countries "most successfully penetrated" by KGB and that the Kremlin spent a fortune trying to influence the press, police, ministers and the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that the trial court judge was in a "hurry" and did not afford a reasonable opportunity to the prosecutor to oppose Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam.
The Web site was traced after weeks of efforts, he said and added, the legal notice was served to them threatening prosecution against them, including the "co-conspirators."
"It is a larger question on which no formal decision has been taken," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters when asked about the quota for Muslims.
The bench said it would be difficult for the poll panel to mobilise manpower for uploading the voter turnout data on its website.
Despite Natwar Singh's outbursts against Sonia Gandhi, the Congress on Monday said it did not want to make him a martyr by summary expulsion as the former external affairs minister's aggression showed his "sense of guilt".
The Congress rebels are seeking to install a person of their choice as the new chief minister of the state.
Congress on Monday sought to ignore the pulling up of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Tamil Nadu government by the Supreme Court on the bandh issue.
Congress leader says Rahul would win the party next big match
"Our position is unchanged. You can draw your own conclusions from that," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi.
The Supreme Court on Monday deferred the hearing on the Tamil Nadu government's plea alleging delay by Governor R N Ravi in granting assent to bills passed by the state assembly to December 1.
A delegation of Congress leaders met the Election Commission and handed over complaints against the prime minister, alleging that he has trampled upon and violated the model code and directions of the poll body.
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has wrapped up hearings on the government policy allowing fixed-line telephone firms to offer cheaper limited mobility services and will rule later on the issue.
The Congress has alleged that a CD recently presented to the Liberhan Commission 'established beyond doubt' that the former prime minister had 'full knowledge' of the Dec 6, 1992 incident.
Rejecting reports of his evading the law, he told reporters that the charges against him and his son were 'nothing further from truth'.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that giving the lieutenant governor the power to nominate aldermen in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi would mean that he can destabilise an elected civic body.
The police team headed by special commissioner of police (law and order) Sagar Preet Hooda arrived at Gandhi's 12, Tughlaq Lane residence, officials said.
"I do not answer hypothetical, speculative questions... This is purely imaginary at the moment," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
'It's heartening that the Maharashtra Verdict came on the #ConstitutionDay, a Tribute to Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar'
