BJP misusing ED in National Herald case: Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
'People understand everything, there's no point in these things. Ever since these people came to power, they have been talking about a Congress-free country, an opposition-free country, and you know what they say about the Gandhi family...the family whose sacrifice and martyrdom is written in history...Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru handed over Anand Bhavan to the government, which was a property worth crores. He dedicated it to the country, and they are accusing that family...you see how these people misuse the ED...there has not been a transaction of even a single rupee, yet they are targeting Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi...,' Gehlot told ANI.
He further said that National Herald was started by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and the newspaper played an important role in the freedom movement.
'If the Congress wants to revive the newspaper, then what is the BJP's problem. When there is no money laundering, then how can Congress leaders be targeted?' he added.
Earlier, Gehlot, during the press conference, expressed deep concern over the political atmosphere in the country, alleging misuse of central investigative agencies and calling the current government 'fascist' in nature.
'The situation in the country is not normal. It's difficult to say in which direction India is heading. During the Congress rule, democracy was always strengthened. But now the central government sees opposition parties as enemies,' said Ashok Gehlot.
He accused the Modi government of weaponizing institutions like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department to target opposition leaders while giving a clean chit to those aligned with the ruling party. 'ED has created an atmosphere of fear. All corrupt people are being washed clean in the BJP's washing machine,' he said, in a sharp jibe at the ruling party.
The press conference, held at the Himachal Pradesh Congress headquarters, saw the presence of multiple dignitaries, including AICC national spokesperson and Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore, Cabinet Minister Anirudh Singh, former minister Asha Kumari, MLA Vivek Sharma, Congress co-incharge Chetan Chauhan, and former minister Ram Lal Thakur. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Wire
17 minutes ago
- The Wire
The Rhetoric of Social Justice Ignores the Need for it
Since the general elections of 2019, national and regional parties, especially the Congress party, have increasingly woven social justice into their political narratives, promising empowerment through the constitutional ideals of inclusive governance. As Bihar gears up for its assembly elections, the discourse on social justice has again taken centre stage, often reprimanding the ruling political class for the non-implementation of social justice policies. The Union government's recent announcement to conduct a caste census signals an intent to better understand India's complex social stratification, aiming to craft targeted welfare policies for the marginalised communities, particularly the Other Backward Classes. Though the democratic discourse is infatuated with the agenda of social justice there is a visible gap between rhetoric and reality. The continued marginalisation of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes from the sphere of power and privileges, raise questions about the commitment of the state and the political elites to bring transformative change in their lives. The Indian constitution lays a robust framework for uplifting SCs and STs through three key pillars: protection from social humiliation and exploitation with provisions like the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, ensuring that their social dignity and civic rights are safeguarded, equitable representation through reservations in state institutions that allows these groups to avail themselves crucial positions of power and privileges in governance, and last, advancing economic empowerment via dedicated budgetary provisions and policy initiatives. Policy measures like the special component plan for SCs and STs in the state budget were introduced to ensure financial assistance for the economic empowerment of these sections. However, implementation has been inconsistent on all three fronts, often with token value, leaving large sections of these communities outside the ambit of social justice policies. Persistent social injustices Despite substantive legal safeguards like the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, caste-based discrimination persists. The National Crime Records Bureau recorded 57,582 cases of atrocities against SCs and 10,062 against STs in 2022, reflecting deep-rooted systemic oppression and the limit of the state machinery to curb the menace. From rural areas, where Dalit people face violence for minor assertions of dignity, to urban centres, where discrimination in housing and employment is rampant, caste continues to shape access to opportunities. Such incidents are witnessed even in the arena of state institutions like universities (the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula) and legislative bodies (which see little discussion on the issues of caste-based violence). This underscores the failure of the governing classes to enforce protective measures effectively. Reservation: A partial success The reservation policy, designed to ensure SC and ST representation in state institutions, has seen uneven progress. While lower-level posts (Group C and D) in public sector units like railways and banks are often filled, senior positions remain largely inaccessible to marginalised groups even now. Especially in higher education, leadership roles such as vice-chancellors and professors are predominantly occupied by unreserved categories, highlighting structural barriers. Similarly, in the higher judiciary, SC and ST representation among judges and key functionaries is negligible, undermining the promise of equitable participation. The downsizing of public sector units has further eroded opportunities for reserved posts, exacerbating their economic exclusion. The positions of power and privileges in major state institutions are dominated by the social elites. Further, the political class and civil society have failed to engage in crucial deliberation to make private economy more inclusive with the increased participation Dalit and Adivasis. They mostly survive as the precarious labour class, distanced from the entitlements and privileges enjoyed by the middle-class. Economic marginalisation One of the major objectives of the special component plan for SCs and STs is to provide income generating assets and skill so as to enable the marginalised social groups to have a sustained economic upliftment. It intends to advance composite economic development programmes to elevate their class position. Even such a significant initiative has often been reduced to a symbolic gesture today. Exclusive funds meant for SC and ST welfare are frequently underutilised or diverted, with successive governments failing to prioritise these allocations for a substantive welfare of these groups. Under the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, this trend has continued, with flagship schemes for the general welfare of all (like the Jan Dhan Yojana) overshadowing the targeted welfare schemes and policies meant for marginalised groups. There are negligible initiatives to examine the precarious economic conditions of Dalits and introduce effective public policies and schemes for their empowerment and mobility. Beyond political rhetoric of social justice As social justice becomes a rallying cry in electoral politics, its transformative potential remains limited without concrete action. The constitutional framework, though robust, requires rigorous implementation through executive accountability and policy innovation. Political parties must move beyond populist rhetoric and prioritise social justice as a core governance agenda. While the ruling dispensation under the BJP has often pledged to uphold the ideals of social justice, its decade-long tenure has seen a steady rise in caste-based violence and a dilution of policies aimed at SC and ST upliftment. Though at the symbolic level it offered prominent political gestures (like naming Draupadi Murmu the president of India), there is an absence of new initiatives to enhance their representation in public and private sectors. The growing political rhetoric on social justice shall complement with substantive executive orders and fair implementation of policies. However, the governing elites hardly felt any moral pressure to perform under constitutional directives. Further, within the democratic polity, the Dalit-Adivasi claims for social justice and inclusivity have weakened or relegated to negligible space. Their movements are quelled and not allowed to flourish. Without a popular movement and mobilisation of Dalit, Adivasi and Bahujan groups, political elites would always hesitate to execute effective programmes for their welfare. The growing marginalisation of Dalits and Adivasis from the national discourse has allowed the traditional elites to dominate decision-making process and to neglect the social justice agenda. The future The national political discourse shall revolve around the welfare, security and advancement of the Dalit, Adivasi and Bahujan communities, ensuring their equitable participation in positions of power and privileges. The BJP and the Congress offer a visible space to the idea of social justice in their political manifestos, but overtly hesitate to ensure its appropriate implementation. To actualise the potentials of a social justice agenda, India needs a governing class that is sensitive and committed to the welfare of the marginalised social groups in a substantive manner. Further, there is a crucial need to amplify the Dalit and Adivasi voices for social justice, enabling new movements to drive national discourse for policy reforms. Finally, the social justice discourse needs to move beyond the claim for representation in public institutions and democratic polity. It needs to examine other spheres of power and privileges (like market economy, cultural industry, sports establishments, and so on) which are overtly dominated by the conventional ruling classes. The social justice agenda needs to be applicable to a broader arena of power to make it more diverse and representative through the participation of Dalit, Adivasi and Bahujan groups. Harish S. Wankhede is Assistant Professor, Center for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
United News of India
17 minutes ago
- United News of India
LS, RS proceedings disrupted, adjourned till 2 pm amid ruckus by Opposition
New Delhi, July 22: On the second day of the Monsoon Session today, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm following protests by opposition parties demanding discussion on 'Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam attack amid other issues. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned till noon amid uproar by Opposition leaders, particularly from the Congress who demanded a formal explanation from the Modi-led NDA government, questioning what transpired within a matter of hours that led to sudden resignation by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar from the constitutional post. In Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman Harivansh chaired the House proceedings a day after Dhankhar resigned late on Monday evening, citing health reasons. In the Lok Sabha, earlier in the day, the House had barely commenced its sitting at 11 am when opposition protests erupted, prompting Speaker Om Birla to adjourn proceedings until noon. Presiding officer Jagdambika Pal tabled essential bills and initiated Zero Hour, but the din from protesting members only grew louder. Despite repeated appeals for order, opposition MPs intensified their sloganeering in the House. In an attempt to restore calm, Pal reminded members that a consensus had been reached in the Business Advisory Committee to allocate 16 hours for discussion on "Operation Sindoor." He urged all parties to participate constructively by remaining seated and engaging in parliamentary debate. He further reiterated the government's willingness to hold discussions on any issue raised by the Opposition. However, the opposition bench remained unmoved, continuing to disrupt proceedings. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also assured members that the government was open to discussion on all matters, but his intervention failed to pacify the agitating MPs. Pal urged members to refrain from waving placards and shouting slogans, and instead support the functioning of the House. With chaos continuing, the House was adjourned till 2 pm. UNI AJ AAB
The Hindu
17 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns LIVE: What does the Constitution say about the V-P elections when the post falls vacant?
With the resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will have to announce polls to fill the position with immediate effect as the constitutional post cannot be left vacant. The V-P is elected by an Electoral College, which consists of the members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — both elected and nominated. Members of the Electoral College can vote according to their choice and are not bound by any party whip. WATCH | Analysis: Why did Vice-President Dhankhar resign Speculations are rife after Mr. Dhankhar's sudden resignation, with the Congress party today (July 22, 2025) alleging 'far serious reasons' behind it. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the Vice-President was not informed of the absence of two Union Ministers – J.P. Nadda and Kiren Rijiju – from the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting at 4.30 p.m. yesterday (July 21, 2025) and so Mr. Dhankhar 'rightly took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today at 1 p.m.' The Congress party has also asked the Centre to clarify if they had prior information about the resignation and if there was a transition plan. Also Read | Dhankhar's resignation 'totally unexpected', more to it than meets the eye: Congress However, Mr. Nadda responded to the charge and said that the V-P's office was informed of his and Mr. Rijiju's inability to attend the meeting. Meanwhile, Parliament reconvened today (July 22, 2025) for the second day of the Monsoon Session without Mr. Dhankhar. Deputy Chairman Harivansh chaired the House proceedings.
