Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly criticised the Congress party and the previous UPA government amidst the row over IDBI Bank's divestment, alleging they used banks and financial institutions as "personal entities" and pressured employees to extend loans bypassing prudent norms. She defended the current government's decision to sell a stake in IDBI Bank to Fairfax, stating it was revived through professionalism and recapitalisation.
Sonia Gandhi's memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," reveals that Pranab Mukherjee hinted at his desire to become prime minister during a 2010 conversation. Gandhi recounts her surprise at his suggestion for a "change at the top." The book also addresses criticisms of Gandhi being a "back seat driver" during the UPA years, which she refutes. Mukherjee's daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, has since questioned Gandhi's "shock," asserting her father's ambition was earned through hard work, not dynastic entitlement.
India's Parliament has set a new record by remaining unprorogued for 88 days since the Monsoon session was adjourned indefinitely on August 13. This unusual procedural move is linked to speculation about convening Parliament at short notice to consider a constitutional amendment for the Women's Reservation Bill. The decision allows for quicker reconvening compared to starting a fresh session.
Sonia Gandhi's memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," reveals her interactions with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, including a phone call after the 2001 Parliament attack and a heated exchange during a joint session in 2002 over the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO). Gandhi recounts Vajpayee's strong reaction to her criticism and her later reflection on the incident.
'It is very significant that she mentioned that the issue of her foreign origin was not restricted to the BJP or Sangh Parivar, but was also very much alive in her own party.'
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to disclose details of his foreign trips to the public, saying they have a right to know since he was the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has alleged "great damage" to India's fabric, democracy, and institutions over the last 12 years, expressing optimism for a return to proper governance. In an interview, she also discussed the resilience of the Congress party against challenges and provided insights into her upcoming memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey of Love', which covers her personal life and political journey.
A man, Kafeel Ahmed, arrested in a Rs 25 crore narcotics case, was shot in the leg on Monday after allegedly attempting to escape from Ahmedabad Crime Branch custody during a medical check-up. A sub-inspector was also injured in the scuffle, and police are expected to provide more details on Tuesday.
Modi's greater weakness is his inability since July when he directed the exit of Dharmendra Pradhan, to come up with a political counter strategy. Security measures and executive orders as seen in recent days will only likely further weaken him and make him as lame duck a premier as many prior to him, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh included, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
'If Gyanesh Kumar had some shame he would have resigned and would have taken agni pariksha.'
A Delhi court is set to rehear arguments on charges against RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and others in a money laundering case linked to the railways land-for-jobs scam. The case, investigated by the Enforcement Directorate, alleges that land was transferred as bribes for railway jobs during Yadav's tenure as Railway Minister. The proceedings are restarting after a previous judge was transferred.
Easing Gyanesh Kumar out would create a hazardous political precedent because forcing out a top official, due to public pressure, projects an image of reactive, defensive governing. Furthermore, making a high-level official like the CEC to hand in his papers would validate Opposition claims that Constitutional referees have been compromised, observes Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
The Indian government has challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's criticism of levying fees on UPI payments above Rs 2,000 to merchants. The government highlighted that a parliamentary standing committee, which included Congress MPs, had previously backed a tiered Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework for UPI. This move aims to ensure the financial sustainability of the UPI ecosystem and reduce its dependence on government subsidies, a concern raised by the committee due to the significant funding gap between allocations and operational costs.
The Congress party has strongly refuted government claims that its MPs on the Parliament Standing Committee on Finance supported a fee on high-value UPI payments. Congress leaders, including Gaurav Gogoi and Manish Tewari, stated that the "UPI tax" proposal was not specifically discussed by the committee, accusing the Modi government of diverting attention from public backlash and appeasing US companies. The government, however, cited the committee's report which pressed for a tiered Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework.
Digital money is gradually starting to behave like software. It's no longer inert -- sitting passively in accounts. In the not-so-distant future, your money could become 'smart' and 'active,' understanding your preferences, paying your bills automatically, optimising your returns, and managing your risks -- all without you having to manage the details.
'Modi had his own cricket team in his school days. He was a good cricketer.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'dimagi Naxal' (intellectual Naxal) remark, made during his Independence Day address, has ignited a significant political debate, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju clarifying that the comment targets those who support Maoists and separatists, not opposition leaders, while opposition figures like P Chidambaram have embraced the label in defiance.
The Lok Sabha witnessed a heated debate between BJP and Congress members regarding the handling of Naxalism, with the BJP accusing the previous UPA government of failing to contain left-wing extremism and the Congress defending its efforts to curb the threat.
'Wages have not risen. Rural wages have stagnated. The growth was 0.7 per cent last year. For casual and irregular labour, the wage growth is negative.'
'It is not because of the war in West Asia, which began on February 28.' 'Petroleum product prices are already going through the roof. They are bound to have a serious inflationary impact.' 'A country's leadership is tested in trying times. It is here that the current leadership is failing.'
Following the Supreme Court's clean chit in the coal block allocation case, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has lauded former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's integrity and accountability, drawing a sharp contrast with the Narendra Modi government's operational style and alleged misuse of investigative agencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDA leaders reviewed India's progress in international sports and significant growth in youth employment opportunities at their weekly parliamentary meeting.
'They want to sabotage the caste census and bury Muslim backward classes, Hindu backward classes, Sikh backward classes and Buddhist backward classes.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and leaders of the National Democratic Alliance allies on Tuesday attended the ruling coalition's weekly meeting of parliamentarians, where the absence of three Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) MPs stood out amid signs of differences within the 20-member group of Trinamool Congress rebels over its association with the alliance.
After six days of stalemate, a discussion on the anti-paper leak bill began on Tuesday in Lok Sabha with the government describing it as a reaffirmation of ruling dispensation's commitment to safeguard the welfare of students but opposition hit back over the lathi-charge on protesters, saying every blow on them hurt the government's prestige more than the backs of the youth.
'The BJP has all the instruments with them and they do have a sense of purpose, so I don't think there will be a challenge.'
Holding Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for alleged police brutalities on protesting students, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that "Jan Shakti" (people's power) will "drag him out" one day to make him accountable.
The NCERT has included in the class 9 social science textbook a section on Emergency, which it described as "one of the major challenges to democracy in India" with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailing the move saying future generations should know about the "dark deeds".
Amid the buzz over a split in the ranks of Lok Sabha MPs of Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray through "Operation Tiger", Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the "operation" has been successful. His deputy and Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde said he never leaves an operation incomplete.
Amidst the INDIA bloc conclave in Delhi, a significant number of Trinamool Congress MPs convened a closed-door meeting, signalling a deepening internal rebellion and discontent within the party's parliamentary ranks following recent electoral setbacks.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to introduce polymer banknotes to address the rising demand for currency, improve durability, and reduce production costs, with a pilot project expected soon.
Following through announcements with enforcement of measures is key, as a run through recent Indian economic history shows, points out A K Bhattacharya.
Whether Vijay has the political spine to stitch together a stable government from this patchwork of conditions, demands, and midnight drama is the question Tamil Nadu is living through right now.
'Congress needs a positive agenda rather than primarily picking up on two business houses.'
MNS president Raj Thackeray questions the fuel consumption during recent election campaigns, asking if austerity measures are only meant for the common people.
Ashok Lahiri, a distinguished economist with experience in government, the private sector, and electoral politics, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, tasked with strengthening India's reform trajectory and policy-making.
'People don't like leaders who just crib and complain without offering a clear objective.' 'Theoretically and pragmatically, Rahul has to show an agenda beyond bad-mouthing Mr Modi on economic policies, foreign policy...'
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement a legislative ban on the sale of cigarettes to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009, aiming to create a smoke-free generation in India.
Former Union minister Dinesh Trivedi has been appointed as India's next High Commissioner to Bangladesh, signalling efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
A Sri Lankan court has ordered the continued detention of the former head of the state intelligence service in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed nearly 270 people.
