Latest news with #PriyankaGandhi
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Is ED being weaponised by Modi government to target opposition? Experts debate
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is turning up the heat on the Congress. First, the ED filed a chart sheet against Priyanka Gandhi's husband, Robert Wadra, in a land deal on Thursday and a day later, the Agency arrested former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel's son, Chaitanya Bhagel in connection with an alleged Rs 2,161 crore liquor scam. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Centre, accusing it of carrying out a "witch hunt" against his brother-in-law Robert Vadra, after the Enforcement Directorate filed its latest chargesheet against him. So, Is ED being weaponised by Modi government to target opposition? And is Congress crying foul or are they justified? Watch as panellists debate.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
In A First For Kerala, Wayanad Coffee Selected For Centre's Promotional Initiative
The GI-tagged robusta coffee from the hill district has received a special mention in the Centre's One District One Product (ODOP) programme, Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi has said. In a post on social media platform X, the Congress leader claimed, "Wayanad Coffee has received a Special Mention under Category A - Agriculture in the GoI's ODOP program - the first such recognition for any product from Kerala". "This honour celebrates the dedication of Wayanad's farmers and the unique identity of our GI-tagged Robusta Coffee, a pillar of Wayanad's economy," she said on X and congratulated everyone who made this possible. "Let us continue to support and celebrate the richness of our land and the spirit of its people," she added. ✨ A proud moment for Wayanad! ✨ Wayanad Coffee has received a Special Mention under Category A – Agriculture in the GoI's ODOP program — the first such recognition for any product from Kerala. This honour celebrates the dedication of Wayanad's farmers and the unique identity… — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 15, 2025 The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative aims to promote balanced regional development across India by selecting, branding, and promoting a unique product from each district.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Priyanka Gandhi slams UP govt's school merger plan, warns of Right to Education rollback for marginalised children
Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Wayanad (Kerala) Priyanka Gandhi has sharply criticised the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to merge thousands of government schools, calling it a direct assault on the Right to Education and a blow to marginalised communities. In a post on her official X handle, Priyanka Gandhi alleged that the Yogi Adityanath-led administration is preparing to shut down nearly 5,000 schools under the guise of rationalisation, while teacher organisations warn that the actual number could reach as high as 27,000. The move, according to state officials, is part of a broader plan to consolidate schools with low enrollment—particularly those with fewer than 50 students—and merge them with nearby institutions to optimise resources and improve infrastructure. However, critics argue that such consolidation will disproportionately affect children from Dalit, tribal, backward, and minority communities, many of whom rely on local schools for access to basic education. Priyanka Gandhi invoked the legacy of the UPA government's Right to Education Act, which mandated the establishment of schools within close proximity to every village to ensure that children from economically weaker sections could attend school without facing logistical barriers. She questioned how young children, especially girls, would be expected to walk several kilometres to reach distant schools, warning that such a shift could lead to increased dropout rates and educational exclusion. 'This decision is not just administrative—it's ideological,' Priyanka Gandhi wrote. 'It undermines the constitutional promise of education for all and threatens to push thousands of children out of the classroom.' The Uttar Pradesh government has defended the plan, stating that it aims to address teacher shortages, underutilised infrastructure, and declining enrollment. Education officials have instructed district administrators to submit merger proposals by mid-November, with considerations for transportation and geographic challenges. Meanwhile, opposition parties and civil society groups have begun mobilising against the move, demanding transparency and a reassessment of its long-term impact. The controversy has sparked a wider debate on educational equity, rural access, and the role of public schooling in social upliftment.
India Gazette
26-06-2025
- Climate
- India Gazette
Loss of lives and missing persons in rain-hit Himachal
New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday called the situation in rain-hit Himachal Pradesh 'extremely distressing' as she expressed deep concern over the loss of lives and property and urged the government to act with caution by taking weather warnings seriously and prioritising rescue and relief efforts. In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi offered her condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and prayed for the safe return of those still missing due to landslides and flash floods. 'The news of loss of life and property, and several people going missing due to heavy rainfall in many districts of Himachal Pradesh is extremely distressing. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the grieving families. I pray for the safe return of those who are missing. Relief and rescue operations are ongoing. I appeal to the government to take the weather department's warnings into account and exercise utmost caution and vigilance to ensure maximum safety,' She wrote on X. Earlier in the day, Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives and property due to heavy rainfall in several districts of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu confirmed that at least five people have lost their lives and several remain missing following a cloudburst that triggered flash floods and widespread destruction in Himachal Pradesh. Speaking to ANI, CM Sukhu confirmed five deaths and five missing.'So far, we have confirmation of five people who have died due to the rains and flash floods. Three persons are reported missing in the Kullu district. Rescue operations are ongoing,' he said. He added that significant damage occurred in the Dharamshala region of Kangra and in parts of the Himalayan belt, due to a cloudburst. 'The damage is concentrated in areas where our Himalayas rise steeply. After the cloudburst, three people were confirmed dead, and five are missing. One person was earlier believed to be missing but was later found safe. He had moved into the forest near the roadside,' the Chief Minister said. A major incident was also reported in Kullu's Sainj sub-tehsil, where a cloudburst near Jeeva Nalla on Wednesday afternoon swept away four houses. The incident occurred around 1:41 PM downstream of the Jiwa Trench Weir in Majhan Nallah, leading to a sharp rise in the water level of the Sainj River. According to a situation report issued by the Himachal Pradesh State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) at 5:10 PM, two to three people were feared missing after being washed into the Jeeva Nalla. The District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC), Kullu, confirmed the cloudburst and noted the resulting rise in river levels due to increased inflow. the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast isolated heavy rainfall over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and West Uttar Pradesh from June 25 to July 1. (ANI)
The Print
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Tharoor admits to ‘difference of opinion' with Congress, says not asked to campaign in Nilambur
The Lok Sabha MP added that he prefers to discuss the disagreements directly within the party, as he believes that it is not the time for such discussions, given that the voting for the Nilambur bypoll is underway. 'You know that I have had some differences of opinion with the current Congress leadership. Many of these things are public,' the Thiruvananthapuram MP told reporters Thursday. Thiruvananthapuram: Breaking his silence on the growing rift, Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor went public with his 'differences of opinion with the current party leadership', stating that he was kept away from campaigning during the Nilambur bypoll in Kerala. Tharoor said he had been working with party workers for the past 15-16 years, adding there should be no doubts regarding the love and camaraderie he feels for the Congress party and its workers. The bypoll was necessitated after Left Democratic Front-backed Independent MLA P.V. Anvar resigned from his post following disagreements with the LDF leadership. More importantly, it comes just months before Kerala heads to the assembly elections. A victory in the bypoll and the assembly polls is necessary for the Congress, which has been in opposition since 2016. A seat where the Congress and its key ally the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) have held sway, Nilambur has seen the entire state Congress leadership actively campaigning. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi was also seen in the campaign for party candidate Aryadan Shoukath. Polling is being held in Nilambur on Thursday, while results will be out 23 June. Tharoor told the media that he wasn't invited by the party to campaign in Nilambur. 'During a busy time, usually they call and ask when we'll be coming. Usually, there will be a schedule. For example, when we had elections in Wayanad with Priyanka Gandhi, an invitation came, and then we planned. We also looked for convenience. But once we reach there, there should be a programme,' he said, adding that the campaign programmes are typically prepared by the local leadership and communicated to leaders, something that did not happen in Nilambur. 'I will go where I am invited,' the four-time MP said, adding that wished the Congress candidate's victory. Regarding his recent meeting with the Prime Minister and the speculation that he may be getting closer to the BJP, Tharoor clarified that the meeting pertained only to an all-party delegation's visit to nations and discussions after Operation Sindoor. It was not an occasion to discuss domestic politics, he added. Tharoor's relationship with the Congress party has deteriorated in recent weeks due to his public divergence from the party's official positions. He has repeatedly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, most recently endorsing Operation Sindoor. However, Congress leadership including Jairam Ramesh quickly clarified that Tharoor's statements 'did not reflect the party's stance.' Ramesh also accused the Centre of indulging in 'cheap political games' by selecting Tharoor to lead an all-party delegation to explain India's position on the conflict with Pakistan, especially when the Congress had submitted four other MP names for consideration, none of whom were chosen. Similarly, a senior Congress leader close to the high command had accused Tharoor of crossing Lakshman Rekha in variance with the party line. On Thursday, Tharoor explained his stand regarding his role in the all-party delegation. 'I'm telling you now—when Operation Sindoor was happening, what I said was my own opinion. No one from the government called and asked me to say anything. I simply expressed what I felt. Those were the opinions of an Indian. That's how I spoke. That's how I served. I had also told you before leaving that if the government asks, when the country needs my service, I'm always ready for it,' he said, adding that it was the government, not the party, that had asked him to lead the delegation. The Lok Sabha MP recalled that when he first became chairman of the External Affairs Committee in 2014, he had stated that there is no such thing as a Congress foreign policy or a BJP foreign policy, and emphasised that his views on this have not changed. He also noted that nobody in the party has asked him for any clarifications. 'If they have any questions about what I said, they can ask me directly. So far, no such questions have come. I also saw that there were some misunderstandings. It's unfortunate that sometimes things escalate so quickly.' Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan and Kerala state party president Sunny Joseph were unavailable for comment. Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary said it was inappropriate for state leaders to respond, as Tharoor is a member of the Congress Working Committee. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Shashi Tharoor is hot property for everyone but Rahul Gandhi
