The Congress president rejected suggestions about any threat to the UPA coalition due to the frequent pressure from the Left on various issues and maintained that the party-led government faced 'no serious problem' so far.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in Delhi on Tuesday night for consultations with United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday on the issue of the Presidential poll nominee of the UPA, amid intense speculation on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for the post.
The former West Bengal chief minister will explain the Communist Party of India-Marxist's views on the implementation of the Common Minimum Programme.
Congress president said women were the biggest votaries for peace, and it is was the focus of her party to improve their lot. Describing the women of Jammu and Kashmir as 'brave daughters of the state', the Congress president said they had "faced trials and tribulations with fortitude and emerged as a symbol of courage". Sonia was addressing a one-day women's convention organised by the Mahila Congress in Jammu on Saturday.
She has advised External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to meet ex-Congressman K Natwar Singh, who is an acknowledged hand at diplomacy.
Recalling the time when he took a rath yatra in the early 1990s, Advani said even then the government had asked for proof to show that Ayodhya was the birthplace of Ram.
A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Gujarat high court seeking a prohibition order on Central government's advertisements carrying photos of United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who does not hold any constitutional position.
In the backdrop of the incident of a Dalit girl being beaten by police in Etawah, the United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said it was shameful that children were being tortured in India. At a function to give away the National Child awards in New Delhi, Gandhi said the country needs to implement laws protecting children very rigorously.
The reaction came a day after Gandhi obliquely attacked the Left, saying that "elements" opposing the nuclear agreement were not only "enemies" of the Congress, but also of the nation's progress and development.
Global crude oil prices have nearly doubled in the last one year but government has not raised domestic fuel prices on a direction from United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said.
'Most leaders, from Lalu Yadav and Mamata to M K Stalin, respect and trust Sonia. She should continue unless she expressly declines.'
She said her candidature would 'inspire' other women and help in their empowerment.
Claiming that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi are not on the same page, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday said government has to be large-hearted and not act as "big brother" for creating a political consensus, which is key to economic reforms.
Seeking to insulate small and marginal farmers from exploitation by moneylenders, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi has asked banks to provide credit to farming community at lower rates of interest.
Stating that she shared the concerns of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi regarding Sri Lankan Tamils issue, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi has told him that she "shall take up the matter" with the external affairs minister.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday alleged that instead of coming clear on whether expenses for United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's travel and treatment were paid from public exchequer and what was the amount spent, Congress is diverting attention by saying the opposition is raising issues about her health.
Singh, who along with United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Shivraj Patil, undertook a whirlwind tour of Mumbai, held the meeting with Maharashtra Governor S C Jamir and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, top state government and police officials of Maharashtra, senior officials of the army, paramilitary and intelligence officials were also present at the meeting
Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday led the nation in paying rich tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 61st birth anniversary.
Several industry leaders on Monday supported United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi's proposal of giving annuity to farmers in addition to compensation for land acquired for industrial purposes.
Hundreds of villagers turned up at the Bavari helipad to catch a glimpse of the Congress leader, who is on a one-day visit to the desert state.
The death of their only son due to roads being blocked for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's convoy in Kanpur on July 3 has provoked the parents to make a humble appeal to United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi. "We have sought to draw Sonia Gandhi's attention to the plight of common citizens during such VVIP visits," Aman's mother Usha Sharma Khan, a junior employee in the Kanpur based Ordnance factory, said.
Murdoch is expected to rake up the issue of Space TV, the DTH service proposed by Star in partnership with Tata, during his meeting with I&B minister Jaipal Reddy.
The hike in the prices of the petroleum products will affect the common man who are already burdened with high prices. Everyone should protest against the price hike, she said.
UPA-Left candidate Hamid Ansari who was also present at the dinner interacted with the members.
Before filing her nomination papers at the Collectorate Rae Bareli, the UPA chairperson held a roadshow and offered puja at the Congress central office.
Details of the coordination panel, including its role, is likely to be announced in the evening.
The incident acquires greater significance because the crime was committed in the well-guarded residential colony of National Thermal Power Corporation that runs a huge power generation plant in Unchahar town.
The flood situation in Assam continues to remain grim as the death toll has risen to 77. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are scheduled to visit the state to assess the situation. Nearly 20 lakh have been displaced in the flood, the worst in the state in more than a decade.
Left parties on Tuesday sought 'effective intervention' of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to bridle growing inflation and roll back 'arbitrary selling of national assets.'
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday dismissed an appeal seeking details of the "religion and faith" of United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her children under the Right To Information Act, saying the petitioner was trying to encroach on their privacy.
Amar alleged that Jaipal was trying to "humiliate" Amitabh at the behest of the Congress president.
The 980 MW (2x490 MW) Stage-II of the Dadri power project would supply electricity for the Commonwealth Games, next month.
The Congress will launch a nationwide campaign against the repeal of the United Progressive Alliance-era rural employment legislation Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) on January 5, similar to the pushback against the three farm laws which eventually forced the Narendra Modi government to rollback its decision, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
A first look on Sonia's tribute to WWI Indian soldiers.
The party is likely to table a privilege motion against Manmohan Singh.
They said the filing of nomination papers will be a big show of strength and the top Congress leadership will be present.
Bharatiya Janata party president Nitin Gadkari on Friday said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi should apologise to the nation for the "political conspiracy" under which BJP whistle-blowers were jailed in the cash-for-vote scam.
The Left Front on Friday welcomed the statements of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progress Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi about the nuclear deal, saying the government was committed to considering the findings of the joint mechanism set up to allay their concerns on the issue. Communist Party of India General Secretary A B Bardhan said that the deal has never been the 'end-all' of the government, as propagated all these days.
