Latest news with #CONGRESS
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Row over Rajasthan textbook glorifying Congress PMs, minister orders probe
A controversy has erupted in Rajasthan after Education Minister Madan Dilawar alleged that a Class 12 textbook glorified former Congress prime ministers while omitting BJP minister has ordered an investigation into the contents of the book, which has already been distributed in 20,000 government schools for the current academic textbook, titled "Azadi Ke Baad Ka Swarnim Bharat Ka Itihaas" (Glorious history of India after Independence), includes extensive chapters on former Congress prime ministers, particularly those from the Gandhi-Nehru family, and Dr Manmohan Moreover, the book contains over 15 photographs of these leaders across various pages. However, it has no mention of BJP stalwarts such as former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Narendra state education department has objected to the omission of these names and their contributions in the PREPARED IN CONGRESS REGIMEThe syllabus was prepared during the previous Congress government and the textbooks are published by the Rajasthan State Textbook Board. The BJP came to power in the state in 2023."We are reviewing the entire matter. This book appears to be a Congress publication, filled with stories of those who once undermined democracy. It cannot be allowed to continue in the curriculum," Dilawar further said that changes would be made to the content and a balanced representation of all leaders would be year, the minister had triggered a row by asserting that any textbook depicting Mughal emperor Akbar as "great" would be burned. He had said that Akbar had plundered the country for years."He was an aggressor. Calling him great was great stupidity," Dilawar had said.- Ends
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi Confidential: Special greetings
Among the host of greetings that President Droupadi Murmu received on her 67th birthday on Friday, one message stood out for its special wish in the President's native language — Santhali. Sent by the Ukrainian embassy in New Delhi, 'Sagun Janam Maha', which translates to 'a blessed birthday', had the photo of Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk presenting his credentials to Murmu. The embassy also greeted the President in English and in their own language alongside the Santhali greetings. Decision Pending THE CONGRESS high command is yet to finalise the appointment of its district committees (DCC) in Gujarat — a pilot project for empowering DCCs across the country — but it has already held meetings with AICC observers appointed to oversee the same exercise in Haryana and MP. Sources said the observers for the two states met the Congress high command virtually Friday. The observers submitted reports to the party leadership and gave suggestions for DCC chiefs, it is learnt. For Gujarat, the observers had submitted the reports for each district more than a month ago, but the appointments are pending. Insignia of Honour TO APPRECIATE the hard work of jail staff in Delhi Prisons, DG (Prisons) Satish Golcha has approved a new insignia — specifying Delhi Karagaar in red and blue and including the national emblem — for all the uniformed personnel in the department, asking them to wear it on the upper right side, above the name tag, from July 1. A communication to senior jail staff stated that Delhi Prisons is a torch-bearer institution of the country for its various correctional programmes for its inmates. It is important to highlight that throughout the three waves of Covid-19 pandemic, the Delhi Prisons administration has tirelessly endeavoured to safeguard the health of around 20,000 inmates from the risk of infection in the confined environment of the prisons, the communication stated.
Otago Daily Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Trump to decide US' Israel-Iran action in next two weeks
President Donald Trump will decide in the next two weeks whether the U.S. will get involved in the Israel-Iran air war, the White House said, raising pressure on Tehran to come to the negotiating table. Citing a message from Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks." The Republican president has kept the world guessing on his plans, veering from proposing a swift diplomatic solution to suggesting the U.S. might join the fighting on Israel's side. On Wednesday (local time), he said nobody knew what he would do. A day earlier he mused on social media about killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, then demanded Iran's unconditional surrender. The threats have caused cracks in Trump's support base between more hawkish traditional Republicans and the party's more isolationist elements. But critics said that in the five months since returning to office, Trump has issued a range of deadlines - including to warring Russia and Ukraine and to other countries in trade tariff negotiations - only to suspend those deadlines or allow them to slide. "I think going to war with Iran is a terrible idea, but no one believes this 'two weeks' bit," Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on the social media platform X. "He's used it a million times before to pretend he might be doing something he's not. It just makes America look weak and silly." Leavitt told a regular briefing at the White House that Trump was interested in pursuing a diplomatic solution with Iran, but his top priority was ensuring that Iran could not obtain a nuclear weapon. She said any deal would have to prohibit enrichment of uranium by Tehran and eliminate Iran's ability to achieve a nuclear weapon. "The president is always interested in a diplomatic solution ... if there's a chance for diplomacy, the president's always going to grab it," Leavitt said. "But he's not afraid to use strength as well I will add." BYPASSING CONGRESS? Leavitt declined to say if Trump would seek congressional authorization for any strikes on Iran. Democrats have raised concerns over reports on CBS and other outlets that Trump has already approved a plan to attack Iran, bypassing Congress, which has the sole power to declare war. Leavitt said U.S. officials remained convinced that Iran had never been closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon, saying it would take Tehran just "a couple of weeks" to produce such a weapon. Leavitt's assessment contradicted congressional testimony in March from Trump's intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard. She said then that the U.S. intelligence community continued to judge that Tehran was not working on a nuclear warhead. This week, Trump dismissed Gabbard's March testimony, telling reporters: "I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having one." On Wednesday, Trump lieutenant Steve Bannon urged caution about the U.S. joining Israel in trying to destroy Iran's nuclear program. Israel bombed nuclear targets in Iran on Thursday and Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel after hitting an Israeli hospital overnight, as a week-old air war escalated and neither side showed any sign of an exit strategy. Leavitt said Trump had been briefed on the Israeli operation on Thursday and remained in close communication with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She said Iran was in "a deeply vulnerable position" and would face grave consequences if it did not agree to halt its work on a nuclear weapon. Iran has been weighing wider options in responding to the biggest security challenge since its 1979 revolution. Three diplomats told Reuters that Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have spoken by phone several times since Israel began its strikes last week.
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Take steps for evacuating Indian students from Iran: Congress to Govt
THE CONGRESS on Sunday condemned Israel's attack against Iran, saying it represents 'a dangerous escalation with grave regional and global consequences'. The party's statement came a day after India distanced itself from a statement issued by Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) condemning the military strikes carried out by Israel. Congress communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said the Congress 'unequivocally condemns Israel's recent bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil'. 'This attack on Iran's sovereignty and encroachment of its rights, whether through aerial strikes or covert killings, only deepens instability and sows the seeds of further conflict,' said Ramesh. 'With lakhs of Indian citizens living and working across West Asia, peace in the region is a vital national interest apart from being a geopolitical concern. India must speak clearly, act responsibly and use every diplomatic channel available to defuse tensions and promote a return to dialogue,' said Ramesh. Congress media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera said Indian students in Iran 'are calling for help'. 'But the government remains largely unresponsive, even as missiles rain from the sky.' 'With flights suspended, airspace over Tehran closed, and Internet access disrupted, more than 1,500 Indian students are left in a state of precarity and uncertainty — with no information about evacuation or safe zones,' said Khera. 'The Indian Embassy has issued a generic advisory urging the students to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities,' said Khera, adding that the MEA 'must move beyond passive advisories and immediately establish a coordinated evacuation mechanism'. He said this is not 'the first time Indian citizens have been left pleading for help during foreign crises'. 'Whether it was Sudan, Ukraine or now Iran, Modi's government has turned evacuations into propaganda opportunities — stepping in late, speaking too much, and doing too little, too slowly,' said Khera. Ramesh said the Congress 'firmly believes that diplomacy, dialogue and international cooperation and not violence are the legitimate and sustainable path forward'.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Digvijaya Singh's brother finally faces axe for relentless criticism of Congress high command
THE CONGRESS has finally cracked down on Lakshman Singh, a former Madhya Pradesh MLA and the brother of senior party leader Digvijaya Singh, who has been known more recently for his tirades against the party high command, including Rahul Gandhi. AICC Disciplinary Action Committee member Tariq Anwar announced Lakshman Singh's expulsion on Wednesday from the Congress's primary membership 'for a period of six years, with immediate effect, due to his anti-party activities'. While Digvijaya Singh is one of the titans of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Lakshman Singh has never really been at ease in the party and even left it to join the BJP for a while. The Congress took him back but, insiders say, his relentless criticism recently had made Lakshman Singh an unmanageable liability. The 70-year-old has been attacking the party leadership since he lost from the Chachoura seat in the 2023 Assembly elections. His criticism has spanned from personal attacks on Gandhi and questioning the party's electoral strategy to the Congress response to the Pahalgam terror attack and its boycott of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony. He has even refused to support Digvijaya's campaign against EVMs in the state. On Wednesday, Lakshman Singh remained unreachable for comment. A senior Congress functionary said: 'When Rahul Gandhi came to Bhopal as part of the party organisation overhaul, he had spoken about senior leaders making nonsensical statements. This (Lakshman Singh's) expulsion signals to all those involved in anti-party activities that such behaviour damaging the party will no longer be tolerated.' Earlier, a show-cause notice had been served to Lakshman Singh after he commented on some remarks by Rahul Gandhi and brother-in-law Robert Vadra in context of the Pahalgam terrorist attack last month, saying: 'Gandhi and Vadra are immature. The country is suffering the consequences of their immaturity… How long will the Congress have to put up with (their) immaturity?' He added: 'Rahul Gandhi should think before he speaks, he is the LoP (Leader of the Opposition).' When the Congress decided to stay away from the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration last year, Lakshman Singh said: 'As far as invitation is concerned, what is the meaning of declining it? What message are we sending? When Rajiv Gandhi got it (the locks of the Babri Masjid) unlocked, who are you to decline it? If our leadership keeps such advisors, the results would be the same as they have been so far.' In December 2023, Lakshman Singh told reporters: 'Rahul Gandhi is just a party worker. He is just an MP. Apart from that, he is nothing. You people too should not highlight Rahul Gandhi so much, nor should we. No one becomes a great leader by birth, one becomes great by his/her actions. Don't consider Rahul Gandhi such a great leader, I don't.' Even earlier, during protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Lakshman Singh had gone against the party line and advocated acceptance of the legislation, now that it had been passed. 'All parties have expressed their views. More comments, statements on this subject are meaningless. Let's accept it and move on.' The former Congress MLA also criticised the Congress for failure to fulfill its signature promise of farm loan waivers when in power briefly between 2019 and 2022, demanding that Gandhi apologise to the Madhya Pradesh farmers for the same. 'He should also clarify to them how long it will take for a loan waiver,' Lakshman Singh said. A seasoned politician, Lakshman Singh has served five terms as MP and three as MLA, establishing his credentials across multiple constituencies. His political journey began in 1987 from the Raghogarh municipality. Since then, he has won twice from the Raghogarh Assembly seat, before achieving a five-term victory streak from the Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency. One of these times, in 2004, Lakshman Singh won from Rajgarh on the BJP ticket, having shifted to the party. But the Congress won back the constituency in 2009, defeating Lakshman Singh as the BJP candidate. Soon, Singh was in trouble within the BJP, and in July 2010, was expelled from the party's primary membership after publicly condemning senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. By January 2013, Singh was back in the Congress fold.
