News Analysis India

Tag: Jairam Ramesh

  • Ramesh slams PM, says Project Cheetah was initiated by UPA govt

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for claiming credit for reintroduction of cheetahs in India, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that the Project Cheetah was launched in 2009. The Congress leader tweeted a letter, which he had written to MK Ranjitsinh of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in 2009 as the minister for Environment and Forests (MoE&F) conveying his approval for preparation of a roadmap for the reintroduction of the Cheetah and include a detailed analysis of different potential sites.

    Ramesh also called Modi a ‘pathological liar’ in reply to his allegations that ‘no constructive efforts’ were made by the previous governments to the reintroduction of big cats in India since its extinction in 1952.“This was the letter that launched Project Cheetah in 2009.

    Our PM is a pathological liar. I couldn’t lay my hands on this letter yesterday because of my preoccupation with the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Ramesh tweeted. Modi had made the remarks after releasing three of the eight cheetahs flown in from Namibia into special enclosures in the Kuno National Park (KNP) in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.

    On Saturday, Ramesh also shared a clipping of new articles he had written on reintroduction of cheetah.“Even by his own standards, the Jagatguru of Jhooth has hit a new low today. His claim that for decades nothing was done for cheetahs is a blatant lie! In this article, I have documented the efforts over the years,” his tweet read.

    “I have received your letter dated September 28 and October 6, 2009. Please go ahead and prepare a detailed roadmap for the reintroduction of the Cheetah,” reads Ramesh’s letter to Ranjitsinh.

    NEW DELHI:  Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for claiming credit for reintroduction of cheetahs in India, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that the Project Cheetah was launched in 2009. The Congress leader tweeted a letter, which he had written to MK Ranjitsinh of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in 2009 as the minister for Environment and Forests (MoE&F) conveying his approval for preparation of a roadmap for the reintroduction of the Cheetah and include a detailed analysis of different potential sites.

    Ramesh also called Modi a ‘pathological liar’ in reply to his allegations that ‘no constructive efforts’ were made by the previous governments to the reintroduction of big cats in India since its extinction in 1952.
    “This was the letter that launched Project Cheetah in 2009.

    Our PM is a pathological liar. I couldn’t lay my hands on this letter yesterday because of my preoccupation with the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Ramesh tweeted. Modi had made the remarks after releasing three of the eight cheetahs flown in from Namibia into special enclosures in the Kuno National Park (KNP) in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.

    On Saturday, Ramesh also shared a clipping of new articles he had written on reintroduction of cheetah.
    “Even by his own standards, the Jagatguru of Jhooth has hit a new low today. His claim that for decades nothing was done for cheetahs is a blatant lie! In this article, I have documented the efforts over the years,” his tweet read.

    “I have received your letter dated September 28 and October 6, 2009. Please go ahead and prepare a detailed roadmap for the reintroduction of the Cheetah,” reads Ramesh’s letter to Ranjitsinh.

  • Parties dreaming of an Opposition front minus Congress possibly live in fool’s paradise: Jairam Ramesh 

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday asserted that non-BJP parties that dream of opposition unity without the grand old party as the fulcrum is possible are living in a “fool’s paradise”.

    Without naming any outfit, he said many regional parties have back-stabbed the grand old party in the past to serve their own self-interests, and that such parties should stop using Congress as a punching bag.

    “There cannot be any opposition unity without the Congress as its fulcrum. That is fundamental. If any non-BJP outfit thinks any alliance sans the Congress can provide a stable government for five years, it is living in a fool’s paradise. There can never be any opposition unity minus the Congress,” Ramesh affirmed in an interview with PTI in Kolkata, where he had come to attend a party programme. 

    Although he dubbed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the “B-team” of the BJP, Ramesh stopped short of analysing the role of the Trinamool Congress, which too, like the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, is opposed to the Congress, by saying, “It (TMC) has Congress in its name.” 

    “We have said this before. There is ample evidence to prove that AAP is the B-team of the BJP. If you look at its history or the background of its leaders, you will know it. Regarding the TMC, I am yet to make my assessment, but I think they, too, have Congress in their name,” he said.

    Without naming anyone, Ramesh said those who talk of opposition unity without the Congress only want to weaken the opposition front and the grand old party. 

    “In an alliance, you give something and receive something in return. It is an understanding. So far, the Congress has been offering, and everyone has benefited from it. And after getting benefits, they have been trying to use the Congress as a punching bag to weaken it. This has to stop now,” he said.

    Terming the Congress the “big elephant of Indian politics”, Ramesh said no one should make the mistake of “writing it off”.

    Speaking on the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said a strengthened Congress and a more durable and constructive opposition would be the end product of the march.

    “We have started the Yatra over national issues. The country is going through a situation where our politics, economy, and institutions are falling apart due to the BJP and its divisive politics. Another motive of the Yatra is to galvanise the rank and file of the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls,” the former union environment minister said.

    Ramesh said the Yatra was not aimed at state elections in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. When told that the Congress is speaking of “Bharat Jodo” when the party itself is in disarray, Ramesh said the outfit is trying to fix its internal issues. 

    “We have to set our house in order, and we are doing it. We have to fix our issues and are in the process of doing it. The Congress is a 137-year-old party; sometimes, there are some crucial moments in history when you need out-of-the-box thinking to reach out to the masses. Bharat Jodo Yatra is one such thinking and will be a game changer,” he said.

    A nearly 3,650-km-long padayatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir is being undertaken by senior leader Rahul Gandhi since September 7. The five-and-a-half month-long march aims to galvanise Congress cadres and strengthen the organisation, breathing in new energy.

    Taking a swipe at Congress ‘G-23’ leaders, senior politicians of the party who had sought an organisational overhaul and elections at all levels in a letter to the Congress president in August 2020, Ramesh said that after the age of 65, senior politicos should act as “mentors and groom next-generation leaders”.

    “Senior Congress leaders should act as mentors. I believe I am now 68 and don’t have the same energy I used to have ten or five years back. After the age of 65, one should identify people who are in their 30s and 40s and groom them for becoming next-generation leaders,” he said.

    Speaking on the ongoing desertion of senior leaders from the party, Ramesh said those who have got everything from the Congress are leaving the party.

    “There are two types of people who are leaving the Congress. The first type includes those who have benefited immensely from the party. Ghulam Nabi Azad is an example. He got everything from the party and has now left it. The second type are those leaving the Congress to escape investigative agencies which are after them for their previous sins. Dedicated Congressmen will never desert the party,” he said.

    When asked whether the idea of the Bharat Jodo Yatra to mobilise masses has been taken from the Ram Rath Yatra of the BJP in the 90s, Ramesh replied in the negative.

    “Earlier, on several occasions, the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have taken out yatras, but maybe not of this scale. And regarding BJP’s yatra, it was in response to V P Singh’s Mandal Commission. The Bharat Jodo Yatra is against the divisive politics and policies of the BJP,” he added.

    KOLKATA: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday asserted that non-BJP parties that dream of opposition unity without the grand old party as the fulcrum is possible are living in a “fool’s paradise”.

    Without naming any outfit, he said many regional parties have back-stabbed the grand old party in the past to serve their own self-interests, and that such parties should stop using Congress as a punching bag.

    “There cannot be any opposition unity without the Congress as its fulcrum. That is fundamental. If any non-BJP outfit thinks any alliance sans the Congress can provide a stable government for five years, it is living in a fool’s paradise. There can never be any opposition unity minus the Congress,” Ramesh affirmed in an interview with PTI in Kolkata, where he had come to attend a party programme. 

    Although he dubbed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the “B-team” of the BJP, Ramesh stopped short of analysing the role of the Trinamool Congress, which too, like the Arvind Kejriwal-led party, is opposed to the Congress, by saying, “It (TMC) has Congress in its name.” 

    “We have said this before. There is ample evidence to prove that AAP is the B-team of the BJP. If you look at its history or the background of its leaders, you will know it. Regarding the TMC, I am yet to make my assessment, but I think they, too, have Congress in their name,” he said.

    Without naming anyone, Ramesh said those who talk of opposition unity without the Congress only want to weaken the opposition front and the grand old party. 

    “In an alliance, you give something and receive something in return. It is an understanding. So far, the Congress has been offering, and everyone has benefited from it. And after getting benefits, they have been trying to use the Congress as a punching bag to weaken it. This has to stop now,” he said.

    Terming the Congress the “big elephant of Indian politics”, Ramesh said no one should make the mistake of “writing it off”.

    Speaking on the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said a strengthened Congress and a more durable and constructive opposition would be the end product of the march.

    “We have started the Yatra over national issues. The country is going through a situation where our politics, economy, and institutions are falling apart due to the BJP and its divisive politics. Another motive of the Yatra is to galvanise the rank and file of the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls,” the former union environment minister said.

    Ramesh said the Yatra was not aimed at state elections in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. When told that the Congress is speaking of “Bharat Jodo” when the party itself is in disarray, Ramesh said the outfit is trying to fix its internal issues. 

    “We have to set our house in order, and we are doing it. We have to fix our issues and are in the process of doing it. The Congress is a 137-year-old party; sometimes, there are some crucial moments in history when you need out-of-the-box thinking to reach out to the masses. Bharat Jodo Yatra is one such thinking and will be a game changer,” he said.

    A nearly 3,650-km-long padayatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir is being undertaken by senior leader Rahul Gandhi since September 7. The five-and-a-half month-long march aims to galvanise Congress cadres and strengthen the organisation, breathing in new energy.

    Taking a swipe at Congress ‘G-23’ leaders, senior politicians of the party who had sought an organisational overhaul and elections at all levels in a letter to the Congress president in August 2020, Ramesh said that after the age of 65, senior politicos should act as “mentors and groom next-generation leaders”.

    “Senior Congress leaders should act as mentors. I believe I am now 68 and don’t have the same energy I used to have ten or five years back. After the age of 65, one should identify people who are in their 30s and 40s and groom them for becoming next-generation leaders,” he said.

    Speaking on the ongoing desertion of senior leaders from the party, Ramesh said those who have got everything from the Congress are leaving the party.

    “There are two types of people who are leaving the Congress. The first type includes those who have benefited immensely from the party. Ghulam Nabi Azad is an example. He got everything from the party and has now left it. The second type are those leaving the Congress to escape investigative agencies which are after them for their previous sins. Dedicated Congressmen will never desert the party,” he said.

    When asked whether the idea of the Bharat Jodo Yatra to mobilise masses has been taken from the Ram Rath Yatra of the BJP in the 90s, Ramesh replied in the negative.

    “Earlier, on several occasions, the Congress and Rahul Gandhi have taken out yatras, but maybe not of this scale. And regarding BJP’s yatra, it was in response to V P Singh’s Mandal Commission. The Bharat Jodo Yatra is against the divisive politics and policies of the BJP,” he added.

  • Pastor’s ‘Jesus is real God’ remarks during meeting with Rahul: War of words start between Congress, BJP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday cited a video of a Christian priest’s purported comments mentioning Hindu goddess Shakti during a conversation with Rahul Gandhi to allege it shows the “anti-Hindu” face of the opposition party, drawing a sharp reaction.

    The Congress accused the BJP of spreading mischief through its “hate factory” and alleged that the ruling party has turned more desperate ever since the successful launch of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    In the video shared by several BJP leaders among others, the priest identified as George Ponnaiah is purportedly heard telling Gandhi that Jesus Christ is the “real god revealed as a human being. Not like Shakti.”

    He was responding to the Congress leader’s query if Jesus is considered god or not.

    BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed the video has exposed the reality of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    It insults goddess Shakti ahead of the beginning of Navratra, he told reporters.

    This is not the first time the Congress has been involved in such incidents as the party had earlier questioned the existence of Lord Ram, he said.

    During elections, Gandhi pretends to go to temples but the “anti-Hindu” face comes to the fore after the polls are over, he alleged.

    ALSO READ | BJP marks three years in office with ‘Jana Spandana’ event, Irani lashes out at Rahul over his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’

    “Is this ‘Bharat Jodo’? Denouncing one religion for the appeasement of the other. This Hindu hatred of Congress in general and Rahul Gandhi, in particular, is no more a clandestine affair. Rahul wears it on his sleeves with pride! ‘Bharat-Todo’ indeed by Rahul Gandhi,” Patra said.

    AICC general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said the BJP’s “hate factory” is sharing tweets about Gandhi which have no relation to the audio.

    “An atrocious tweet from the BJP hate factory is doing the rounds. It bears no relation whatsoever to what is recorded in the audio. This is typical BJP mischief that has become more desperate after the successful launch of Bharat Jodo Yatra which is evoking such a huge response,” Ramesh tweeted.

    “People who were responsible for the killing of Mahatma Gandhi and the murders of people like Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh are raising questions! What a morbid joke! Such attempts to damage the spirit of Bharat Jodo Yatra will fail miserably,” he said in another tweet.

    Targeting the Congress, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, said, “George Ponnaiah who met Rahul Gandhi says ‘Jesus is the only God unlike Shakti (and other Gods)’.

    ALSO READ | ‘Facilities at campsites, containers basic; BJP trying to defame Bharat Jodo Yatra’: Congress

    This man was arrested for his Hindu hatred earlier – he also said ‘I wear shoes because impurities of Bharat Mata should not contaminate us’. Bharat Jodo with Bharat Todo icons.”

    The opposition had “anti-Hindu DNA” which keeps reflecting itself, he alleged, referring to “saffron terror” remarks of the Congress when it was in power.

    Countering Ramesh, Poonawalla said the Congress’s “factory of hate” was witnessed in 1984 riots against the Sikhs when the then prime minister sought to allegedly justify it.

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday cited a video of a Christian priest’s purported comments mentioning Hindu goddess Shakti during a conversation with Rahul Gandhi to allege it shows the “anti-Hindu” face of the opposition party, drawing a sharp reaction.

    The Congress accused the BJP of spreading mischief through its “hate factory” and alleged that the ruling party has turned more desperate ever since the successful launch of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    In the video shared by several BJP leaders among others, the priest identified as George Ponnaiah is purportedly heard telling Gandhi that Jesus Christ is the “real god revealed as a human being. Not like Shakti.”

    He was responding to the Congress leader’s query if Jesus is considered god or not.

    BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed the video has exposed the reality of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    It insults goddess Shakti ahead of the beginning of Navratra, he told reporters.

    This is not the first time the Congress has been involved in such incidents as the party had earlier questioned the existence of Lord Ram, he said.

    During elections, Gandhi pretends to go to temples but the “anti-Hindu” face comes to the fore after the polls are over, he alleged.

    ALSO READ | BJP marks three years in office with ‘Jana Spandana’ event, Irani lashes out at Rahul over his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’

    “Is this ‘Bharat Jodo’? Denouncing one religion for the appeasement of the other. This Hindu hatred of Congress in general and Rahul Gandhi, in particular, is no more a clandestine affair. Rahul wears it on his sleeves with pride! ‘Bharat-Todo’ indeed by Rahul Gandhi,” Patra said.

    AICC general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said the BJP’s “hate factory” is sharing tweets about Gandhi which have no relation to the audio.

    “An atrocious tweet from the BJP hate factory is doing the rounds. It bears no relation whatsoever to what is recorded in the audio. This is typical BJP mischief that has become more desperate after the successful launch of Bharat Jodo Yatra which is evoking such a huge response,” Ramesh tweeted.

    “People who were responsible for the killing of Mahatma Gandhi and the murders of people like Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh are raising questions! What a morbid joke! Such attempts to damage the spirit of Bharat Jodo Yatra will fail miserably,” he said in another tweet.

    Targeting the Congress, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, said, “George Ponnaiah who met Rahul Gandhi says ‘Jesus is the only God unlike Shakti (and other Gods)’.

    ALSO READ | ‘Facilities at campsites, containers basic; BJP trying to defame Bharat Jodo Yatra’: Congress

    This man was arrested for his Hindu hatred earlier – he also said ‘I wear shoes because impurities of Bharat Mata should not contaminate us’. Bharat Jodo with Bharat Todo icons.”

    The opposition had “anti-Hindu DNA” which keeps reflecting itself, he alleged, referring to “saffron terror” remarks of the Congress when it was in power.

    Countering Ramesh, Poonawalla said the Congress’s “factory of hate” was witnessed in 1984 riots against the Sikhs when the then prime minister sought to allegedly justify it.

  • 60 containers for padyatris, different shoes: All you need to know about Congress’ logistics plans for ‘Bharat Jodo’ march

    By PTI

    KANYAKUMARI: About 230 Congress “padyatris” participating in the party’s ambitious “Bharat Jodo Yatra” will spend their nights in 60 containers mounted on trucks that will be moved daily from one place to another, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday.

    As former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and scores of party workers began the 3,570-km campaign from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Ramesh told reporters after the morning session of the yatra that in the containers, which will be stationed every night at temporary campsites of about two acres, there is no facility for having food or meetings.

    There is no TV inside, there is a fan, he said.

    The 119 “Bharat Yatris”, including Rahul Gandhi, who will walk the entire distance of 3,570 km, along with some “Atithi Yatris” , will be staying in the containers, Ramesh said.

    “We are staying in the containers since yesterday. There are 60 containers in which about 230 people stay. Every day the containers will move to a new site mounted on trucks. Some are one-bed, some two-bed, some four-bed and some 12-bed containers,” Ramesh said.

    Rahul Gandhi is also staying in the container since Wednesday night, he said.

    Bharat Jodo Yatra organising panel chief Digvijaya Singh said the containers are like railway sleeper compartments.

    Asked if there were air conditioners in the containers, Singh said there was no need for using the AC in such weather.

    Late in the night, the party released videos of the containers.

    ALSO READ | On day 2 of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, Rahul hoists national flag, meets Anitha’s kin

    Congress sources said the videos were of the campsite where all “Bharat Yatris” are being put up every night.

    The videos were of containers with 12 beds, four beds, two beds and one bed.

    The party also shared a video of a toilet container and the dining hall at the campsite.

    Some containers had attached toilets and washrooms.

    Some containers were seen fitted with air conditioners, as per the videos.

    This should debunk the “absolute lies” being peddled by the IT cell of the BJP and its surrogates, the party sources said.

    Elaborating on the containers, Ramesh earlier said they are mounted on TATA trucks that are from Mumbai.

    They are from a private company that is not undertaken by Adani, he said, adding there will be mobile toilets for the yatris at the campsites.

    Singh also said it has been decided that from places where the yatra is not passing, water and soil will be brought and 5-10 saplings will be planted by Rahul Gandhi at various places where the yatra halts.

    On Thursday, Gandhi planted saplings at the 101-year-old SMSM Higher Secondary School, where the Congress yatris halted between the morning and evening session.

    Incidentally, Mahatma Gandhi and C Rajagopalachari had also visited the school in 1937.

    Mahatma Gandhi had also signed the visitors’ book in Hindi and Tamil.

    After the evening session of the yatra, Ramesh tweeted, “We have just completed Day 1 of Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    Bharat Yatris walked about 20 kms.

    It’s a great beginning for the first day.

    The crowds have been huge and their enthusiasm is visible.

    ‘Headlinejeevi’ will do a lot to distract attention but only those who walk the talk count! he said.

    ALSO READ | Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra YouTube channel faces glitch on first day

    At the school, Rahul Gandhi had three interactions with civil society after the 13-km padayatra this morning.

    First was with women activists, second with Dalit groups and third with environmentalists.

    During the interactions, representations were handed over.

    This pattern will continue every day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Ramesh said.

    He said the yatris will halt in Scott Christian College on Thursday night.

    Singh said the food at the camp sites and during the “padyatra” is being arranged by the party’s state units.

    He said that on every day of the yatra the flag will be saluted and there will be a rendition of Vande Matram and the national anthem.

    The yatra formation would include a Seva Dal flag contingent in front, then “Bharat Yatris” and followed by state and other yatris as well as civil society members.

    Ramesh also alleged that the party’s state-level coordinator who wanted to visit Lakshadweep was not allowed to do so by Administrator Praful Patel, who was a BJP minister in Gujarat earlier.

    The “Bharat Yatris” have also been issued standard khadi bags, which have a water bottle, an umbrella and a pair of T-shirts.

    The march will cover 12 states and two union territories in 150 days.

    Asics and Adidas, no-fuss everyday shoes and some even barefeet, as Congress leaders and workers hit the road for their ambitious 3,570 km Bharat Jodo Yatra, shoes are the sole — but not only — concern.

    The dress code is white and Congressmen and women are mostly adhering to it.

    Adding a splash of colour in that sea of monochrome is the sheer variety of footwear.

    If former party president Rahul Gandhi chose a pair of sturdy blue Asics shoes, according to party insiders, general secretary Jairam Ramesh went for Adidas.

    Their party colleague Kanhaiya Kumar said he doesn’t need any special footwear and the party’s in-charge for training Sandesh Sachin Rao walked the first day of the yatra barefeet.

    Rahul Gandhi, along with several party leaders, embarked on the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Thursday, marking the beginning of a cross-country outreach campaign from Kanyakumari to Kashmir aimed at reviving its electoral fortunes.

    As they walk the political talk, several leaders are carrying multiple pairs of shoes.

    Rahul Gandhi, sources said, is carrying a couple of pairs of shoes in readiness to walk an average of 22-23 km a day.

    Ramesh, the party’s general secretary in charge of communications, found Adidas the most comfortable.

    “I decided that since I am going to be walking such long distances, I need to be comfortable. So I tried out five different brands. I found this Adidas pair very comfortable.”

    ALSO READ | ‘Congress will emerge in aggressive avatar with Bharat Jodo Yatra, won’t be taken for granted’: Jairam Ramesh

    Asked about Congress leaders sporting sports shoes for the Yatra, Ramesh said, “I am sure they have invested in shoes.”

    While many Congress leaders were seen wearing sports shoes keeping in mind the walk ahead, there were some who seemed unfazed by the long distance.

    Asked if he got a new pair of shoes for the long distance ahead of the yatra, ‘Bharat Yatri’ Kanhaiya Kumar said he doesn’t need any special footwear; he is from Bihar and always prepared to walk long distances.

    The ‘Bharat Yatris’ are those who will walk the entire 3,570 km distance.

    The 119 Congressmen and women were seen wearing largely white attire, kurta-pyjama, shirts, T-shirts, saris and salwar-suits.

    The Bharat Yatris have also been issued standard Khadi bags which have a water bottle, an umbrella and a pair of T-shirts.

    The march will cover 12 states and two Union Territories in 150 days.

    KANYAKUMARI: About 230 Congress “padyatris” participating in the party’s ambitious “Bharat Jodo Yatra” will spend their nights in 60 containers mounted on trucks that will be moved daily from one place to another, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday.

    As former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and scores of party workers began the 3,570-km campaign from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Ramesh told reporters after the morning session of the yatra that in the containers, which will be stationed every night at temporary campsites of about two acres, there is no facility for having food or meetings.

    There is no TV inside, there is a fan, he said.

    The 119 “Bharat Yatris”, including Rahul Gandhi, who will walk the entire distance of 3,570 km, along with some “Atithi Yatris” , will be staying in the containers, Ramesh said.

    “We are staying in the containers since yesterday. There are 60 containers in which about 230 people stay. Every day the containers will move to a new site mounted on trucks. Some are one-bed, some two-bed, some four-bed and some 12-bed containers,” Ramesh said.

    Rahul Gandhi is also staying in the container since Wednesday night, he said.

    Bharat Jodo Yatra organising panel chief Digvijaya Singh said the containers are like railway sleeper compartments.

    Asked if there were air conditioners in the containers, Singh said there was no need for using the AC in such weather.

    Late in the night, the party released videos of the containers.

    ALSO READ | On day 2 of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, Rahul hoists national flag, meets Anitha’s kin

    Congress sources said the videos were of the campsite where all “Bharat Yatris” are being put up every night.

    The videos were of containers with 12 beds, four beds, two beds and one bed.

    The party also shared a video of a toilet container and the dining hall at the campsite.

    Some containers had attached toilets and washrooms.

    Some containers were seen fitted with air conditioners, as per the videos.

    This should debunk the “absolute lies” being peddled by the IT cell of the BJP and its surrogates, the party sources said.

    Elaborating on the containers, Ramesh earlier said they are mounted on TATA trucks that are from Mumbai.

    They are from a private company that is not undertaken by Adani, he said, adding there will be mobile toilets for the yatris at the campsites.

    Singh also said it has been decided that from places where the yatra is not passing, water and soil will be brought and 5-10 saplings will be planted by Rahul Gandhi at various places where the yatra halts.

    On Thursday, Gandhi planted saplings at the 101-year-old SMSM Higher Secondary School, where the Congress yatris halted between the morning and evening session.

    Incidentally, Mahatma Gandhi and C Rajagopalachari had also visited the school in 1937.

    Mahatma Gandhi had also signed the visitors’ book in Hindi and Tamil.

    After the evening session of the yatra, Ramesh tweeted, “We have just completed Day 1 of Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    Bharat Yatris walked about 20 kms.

    It’s a great beginning for the first day.

    The crowds have been huge and their enthusiasm is visible.

    ‘Headlinejeevi’ will do a lot to distract attention but only those who walk the talk count! he said.

    ALSO READ | Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra YouTube channel faces glitch on first day

    At the school, Rahul Gandhi had three interactions with civil society after the 13-km padayatra this morning.

    First was with women activists, second with Dalit groups and third with environmentalists.

    During the interactions, representations were handed over.

    This pattern will continue every day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Ramesh said.

    He said the yatris will halt in Scott Christian College on Thursday night.

    Singh said the food at the camp sites and during the “padyatra” is being arranged by the party’s state units.

    He said that on every day of the yatra the flag will be saluted and there will be a rendition of Vande Matram and the national anthem.

    The yatra formation would include a Seva Dal flag contingent in front, then “Bharat Yatris” and followed by state and other yatris as well as civil society members.

    Ramesh also alleged that the party’s state-level coordinator who wanted to visit Lakshadweep was not allowed to do so by Administrator Praful Patel, who was a BJP minister in Gujarat earlier.

    The “Bharat Yatris” have also been issued standard khadi bags, which have a water bottle, an umbrella and a pair of T-shirts.

    The march will cover 12 states and two union territories in 150 days.

    Asics and Adidas, no-fuss everyday shoes and some even barefeet, as Congress leaders and workers hit the road for their ambitious 3,570 km Bharat Jodo Yatra, shoes are the sole — but not only — concern.

    The dress code is white and Congressmen and women are mostly adhering to it.

    Adding a splash of colour in that sea of monochrome is the sheer variety of footwear.

    If former party president Rahul Gandhi chose a pair of sturdy blue Asics shoes, according to party insiders, general secretary Jairam Ramesh went for Adidas.

    Their party colleague Kanhaiya Kumar said he doesn’t need any special footwear and the party’s in-charge for training Sandesh Sachin Rao walked the first day of the yatra barefeet.

    Rahul Gandhi, along with several party leaders, embarked on the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Thursday, marking the beginning of a cross-country outreach campaign from Kanyakumari to Kashmir aimed at reviving its electoral fortunes.

    As they walk the political talk, several leaders are carrying multiple pairs of shoes.

    Rahul Gandhi, sources said, is carrying a couple of pairs of shoes in readiness to walk an average of 22-23 km a day.

    Ramesh, the party’s general secretary in charge of communications, found Adidas the most comfortable.

    “I decided that since I am going to be walking such long distances, I need to be comfortable. So I tried out five different brands. I found this Adidas pair very comfortable.”

    ALSO READ | ‘Congress will emerge in aggressive avatar with Bharat Jodo Yatra, won’t be taken for granted’: Jairam Ramesh

    Asked about Congress leaders sporting sports shoes for the Yatra, Ramesh said, “I am sure they have invested in shoes.”

    While many Congress leaders were seen wearing sports shoes keeping in mind the walk ahead, there were some who seemed unfazed by the long distance.

    Asked if he got a new pair of shoes for the long distance ahead of the yatra, ‘Bharat Yatri’ Kanhaiya Kumar said he doesn’t need any special footwear; he is from Bihar and always prepared to walk long distances.

    The ‘Bharat Yatris’ are those who will walk the entire 3,570 km distance.

    The 119 Congressmen and women were seen wearing largely white attire, kurta-pyjama, shirts, T-shirts, saris and salwar-suits.

    The Bharat Yatris have also been issued standard Khadi bags which have a water bottle, an umbrella and a pair of T-shirts.

    The march will cover 12 states and two Union Territories in 150 days.

  • ‘Made allegations against Irani family on Goa restaurant based on their acknowledgement of connection’: Congress leaders to HC

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D’Souza have told the Delhi High Court that they had made allegations against Union Minister Smriti Irani based on multiple and repeated positions taken by her and her family allegedly “acknowledging the ownership or connection” with a restaurant in Goa.

    The Congress leaders, in a common written statement filed in response to Irani’s defamation suit against them, claimed they made a “fair comment” in public interest and it was the moral and constitutional duty of the Opposition to hold members of the ruling government to account.

    Irani has filed the suit against the Congress leaders for allegedly making baseless and false accusations against her and her 18-year-old daughter.

    The Congress leaders alleged that the suit was an “abuse of process of law” and the minister deliberately and knowingly suppressed documents, information and linkages and intentionally placed distorted and concocted facts before the court.

    The statement said the BJP leader has miserably failed to show any pre-planned conspiracy being hatched by the Congress leaders.

    “The answering defendants (Congress leaders) had made the allegations based on multiple and repeated positions taken by the plaintiff (Irani) herself and her family acknowledging ownership/ connection with. (restaurant).”

    “These declarations have been in the public domain for several months and the plaintiff has taken absolutely no steps to correct this record if it was incorrect. In fact, to the contrary the plaintiff has shared social media posts and endorsed the content,” it said.

    The high court, on July 29, issued summonses to three Congress leaders on the civil defamation suit and had also asked them to take down tweets and other social media posts on allegations levelled against the union minister and her daughter.

    The Congress leaders said despite the various misleading statements in the plaint, it is pertinent to mention that the plaintiff herself has admitted to the existence of “an old social media post” which “very conveniently has been suppressed” from the court.

    It is this “social media post” and other relevant material available in the public domain, which draw a clear connection between the subject matter restaurant and the plaintiff and her family members, the written statement said.

    “The statements made by answering defendants, clearly fall within the ambit of ‘fair comment,’ as the statements were made in public interest and in relation to a public issue, that is, a restaurant being operated on a licence renewed in the name of a deceased person and being obtained through fraudulent means.”

    “With all the above-mentioned evidence connecting the plaintiff with the restaurant being available in public domain, it was in public interest to make fair comments and question the plaintiff on her linkage with the restaurant,” it claimed.

    The Congress leaders submitted that Irani, the Minister for Women and Child Development, did not have any prima facie case to seek the ad-interim stay and the balance of convenience also does not lie in her favour as she has “clearly misled” the court and in the process “tried to throttle the answering defendants from voicing their concern on matters of public importance”.

    They said it was clear that the BJP leader has sought relief for her family members, however, neither have the family members been impleaded nor has she filed any application or suit seeking to represent her family members’ interest.

    “It is humbly submitted that the answering defendants are also citizens of India, and they expect the Council of Ministers advising the Prime Minister to be above-board and not indulge in illegal activities. In view of the same, the defendants raised questions which till date remain unanswered,” the statement said and sought dismissal of the suit and also to award the cost of the suit in their favour.

    The high court had earlier noted in its order that Irani and her daughter are neither the owners of the restaurant in Goa nor they ever applied for licence for food and beverages at the eatery, as alleged by the Congress leaders in a July press conference.

    The court has also passed an interim injunction directing the Congress leaders to remove from social media the allegations made against Irani and her daughter.

    The court said in case the defendants fail to comply with its directions to remove tweets, retweets, posts, videos and photos from social media in relation to the allegations made against Irani, and her daughter within 24 hours, social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and YouTube shall take down the material.

    Irani’s action came after the Congress targeted her daughter Zoish Irani and demanded the sacking of the minister.

    The Union minister approached the court after the Congress leaders failed to respond to the legal notice sent to them by her.

    NEW DELHI: Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera and Netta D’Souza have told the Delhi High Court that they had made allegations against Union Minister Smriti Irani based on multiple and repeated positions taken by her and her family allegedly “acknowledging the ownership or connection” with a restaurant in Goa.

    The Congress leaders, in a common written statement filed in response to Irani’s defamation suit against them, claimed they made a “fair comment” in public interest and it was the moral and constitutional duty of the Opposition to hold members of the ruling government to account.

    Irani has filed the suit against the Congress leaders for allegedly making baseless and false accusations against her and her 18-year-old daughter.

    The Congress leaders alleged that the suit was an “abuse of process of law” and the minister deliberately and knowingly suppressed documents, information and linkages and intentionally placed distorted and concocted facts before the court.

    The statement said the BJP leader has miserably failed to show any pre-planned conspiracy being hatched by the Congress leaders.

    “The answering defendants (Congress leaders) had made the allegations based on multiple and repeated positions taken by the plaintiff (Irani) herself and her family acknowledging ownership/ connection with. (restaurant).”

    “These declarations have been in the public domain for several months and the plaintiff has taken absolutely no steps to correct this record if it was incorrect. In fact, to the contrary the plaintiff has shared social media posts and endorsed the content,” it said.

    The high court, on July 29, issued summonses to three Congress leaders on the civil defamation suit and had also asked them to take down tweets and other social media posts on allegations levelled against the union minister and her daughter.

    The Congress leaders said despite the various misleading statements in the plaint, it is pertinent to mention that the plaintiff herself has admitted to the existence of “an old social media post” which “very conveniently has been suppressed” from the court.

    It is this “social media post” and other relevant material available in the public domain, which draw a clear connection between the subject matter restaurant and the plaintiff and her family members, the written statement said.

    “The statements made by answering defendants, clearly fall within the ambit of ‘fair comment,’ as the statements were made in public interest and in relation to a public issue, that is, a restaurant being operated on a licence renewed in the name of a deceased person and being obtained through fraudulent means.”

    “With all the above-mentioned evidence connecting the plaintiff with the restaurant being available in public domain, it was in public interest to make fair comments and question the plaintiff on her linkage with the restaurant,” it claimed.

    The Congress leaders submitted that Irani, the Minister for Women and Child Development, did not have any prima facie case to seek the ad-interim stay and the balance of convenience also does not lie in her favour as she has “clearly misled” the court and in the process “tried to throttle the answering defendants from voicing their concern on matters of public importance”.

    They said it was clear that the BJP leader has sought relief for her family members, however, neither have the family members been impleaded nor has she filed any application or suit seeking to represent her family members’ interest.

    “It is humbly submitted that the answering defendants are also citizens of India, and they expect the Council of Ministers advising the Prime Minister to be above-board and not indulge in illegal activities. In view of the same, the defendants raised questions which till date remain unanswered,” the statement said and sought dismissal of the suit and also to award the cost of the suit in their favour.

    The high court had earlier noted in its order that Irani and her daughter are neither the owners of the restaurant in Goa nor they ever applied for licence for food and beverages at the eatery, as alleged by the Congress leaders in a July press conference.

    The court has also passed an interim injunction directing the Congress leaders to remove from social media the allegations made against Irani and her daughter.

    The court said in case the defendants fail to comply with its directions to remove tweets, retweets, posts, videos and photos from social media in relation to the allegations made against Irani, and her daughter within 24 hours, social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and YouTube shall take down the material.

    Irani’s action came after the Congress targeted her daughter Zoish Irani and demanded the sacking of the minister.

    The Union minister approached the court after the Congress leaders failed to respond to the legal notice sent to them by her.

  • INS Vikrant a collective effort of all govts since 1999, will PM acknowledge it, asks Congress

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking credit for the commissioning of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and accused him of “hypocrisy” for not recognising the contributions made by earlier governments.

    Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh also shared a video of former defence minister A K Antony launching INS Vikrant in August 2013 and said it just happens that the Modi government is in power when the aircraft carrier is being commissioned.

    “The Modi government has nothing to do with this. The Modi government just happens to be in power when it is being commissioned. In fact, INS Vikrant was launched years ago by Mr A K Antony when he was the defence minister. It has taken 22 years to design, manufacture, test, launch and finally be commissioned today. All that the Modi government has done is commissioning of the vessel and he is taking credit for it,” Ramesh told PTI.

    “So this is hypocrisy, which is typical of the current Prime Minister,” he said, adding that the credit goes to earlier governments, the credit goes to the Indian Navy and scientists, the engineers and the workers in the shipyard.

    “It is an achievement that will add to the country’s strength. It is very typical of Mr Modi not to recognise the contributions made by earlier governments, of which he is the beneficiary,” the senior Congress leader added.

    ALSO READ | PM Modi unveils Indian Navy’s new ensign inspired by Chatrapati Shivaji, sheds colonial legacy

    Sharing a video of A K Antony’s speech, Ramesh also tweeted, “then defence minister AK Antony launched India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on 12.08.2013. The PM commissioned it today. A self-reliant (Aatmanirbhar) India existed before 2014. All other Prime Ministers would have acknowledged continuity in governance. India’s 1st indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant commissioned today is a collective effort of all governments since 1999. Will PM acknowledge?” he tweeted while noting that we should also recall the original INS Vikrant that served us well in the 1971 war and that the much-reviled Krishna Menon played a key role in getting it from the UK.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned India’s maiden indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on Friday, placing the country into a select league of countries with the domestic capability to develop such large vessels.

    Ramesh said this is a tribute to the Indian Navy’s engineers, officers and the workers of Cochin Shipyard where this aircraft was manufactured.

    “One of the problems in Mr Modi is that he does not recognise continuity in governance and that there was India before 2014. Self-reliance in defence production was established by Mr Krishna Menon when he was the defence minister of India in 1957 and Jawaharlal Nehru was the prime minister. It is the same self-reliant, Atmanirbhar defence production capability that Mr Modi’s government is privatising. There are several defence public sector units that have given India atmanirbharta in defence production,” he said.

    ALSO READ | PM Modi commissions India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant

    Modi unveiled a plaque to mark the induction of INS Vikrant, named after its predecessor that played a crucial role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, into the Navy.

    With Vikrant’s induction, India has joined a select club of nations such as the US, the UK, Russia, China and France in having niche capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier.

    The 262 m long and 62 m wide carrier displaces approximately 43000 T when fully loaded, having a maximum designed speed of 28 knots with an endurance of 7500 NM.

    Built at an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore, it has state-of-the-art features and can operate an air wing consisting of 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, besides the domestically manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH).

    “Today, India has joined those countries in the world, which manufacture such a huge aircraft carrier with indigenous technology. Today INS Vikrant has filled the country with new confidence,” Modi said while addressing a large gathering ahead of the commissioning ceremony in Kochi.

    Modi also said the warship was a testimony to Indian skills and talent.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking credit for the commissioning of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and accused him of “hypocrisy” for not recognising the contributions made by earlier governments.

    Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh also shared a video of former defence minister A K Antony launching INS Vikrant in August 2013 and said it just happens that the Modi government is in power when the aircraft carrier is being commissioned.

    “The Modi government has nothing to do with this. The Modi government just happens to be in power when it is being commissioned. In fact, INS Vikrant was launched years ago by Mr A K Antony when he was the defence minister. It has taken 22 years to design, manufacture, test, launch and finally be commissioned today. All that the Modi government has done is commissioning of the vessel and he is taking credit for it,” Ramesh told PTI.

    “So this is hypocrisy, which is typical of the current Prime Minister,” he said, adding that the credit goes to earlier governments, the credit goes to the Indian Navy and scientists, the engineers and the workers in the shipyard.

    “It is an achievement that will add to the country’s strength. It is very typical of Mr Modi not to recognise the contributions made by earlier governments, of which he is the beneficiary,” the senior Congress leader added.

    ALSO READ | PM Modi unveils Indian Navy’s new ensign inspired by Chatrapati Shivaji, sheds colonial legacy

    Sharing a video of A K Antony’s speech, Ramesh also tweeted, “then defence minister AK Antony launched India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on 12.08.2013. The PM commissioned it today. A self-reliant (Aatmanirbhar) India existed before 2014. All other Prime Ministers would have acknowledged continuity in governance. India’s 1st indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant commissioned today is a collective effort of all governments since 1999. Will PM acknowledge?” he tweeted while noting that we should also recall the original INS Vikrant that served us well in the 1971 war and that the much-reviled Krishna Menon played a key role in getting it from the UK.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned India’s maiden indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on Friday, placing the country into a select league of countries with the domestic capability to develop such large vessels.

    Ramesh said this is a tribute to the Indian Navy’s engineers, officers and the workers of Cochin Shipyard where this aircraft was manufactured.

    “One of the problems in Mr Modi is that he does not recognise continuity in governance and that there was India before 2014. Self-reliance in defence production was established by Mr Krishna Menon when he was the defence minister of India in 1957 and Jawaharlal Nehru was the prime minister. It is the same self-reliant, Atmanirbhar defence production capability that Mr Modi’s government is privatising. There are several defence public sector units that have given India atmanirbharta in defence production,” he said.

    ALSO READ | PM Modi commissions India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant

    Modi unveiled a plaque to mark the induction of INS Vikrant, named after its predecessor that played a crucial role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, into the Navy.

    With Vikrant’s induction, India has joined a select club of nations such as the US, the UK, Russia, China and France in having niche capability to indigenously design and build an aircraft carrier.

    The 262 m long and 62 m wide carrier displaces approximately 43000 T when fully loaded, having a maximum designed speed of 28 knots with an endurance of 7500 NM.

    Built at an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore, it has state-of-the-art features and can operate an air wing consisting of 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, besides the domestically manufactured Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH).

    “Today, India has joined those countries in the world, which manufacture such a huge aircraft carrier with indigenous technology. Today INS Vikrant has filled the country with new confidence,” Modi said while addressing a large gathering ahead of the commissioning ceremony in Kochi.

    Modi also said the warship was a testimony to Indian skills and talent.

  • Bharath Jado Yatra to be Congress’ biggest political mobilisation: Jairam Ramesh

    By Express News Service

    CHENNAI: AICC general secretary and former union minister Jairam Ramesh, while addressing reporters after a consultative meeting with TNCC functionaries, said the Congress’ proposed Bharath Jado Yatra would unite the country, unlike the yatras of the BJP, which, he said, divided people. The yatra would be live-steamed on a dedicated web portal.

    The meeting was held at the TNCC headquarters Sathyamoorthi Bhavan on Wednesday and was chaired by Jairam Ramesh and Congress leader Digvijay Singh. The meeting discussed the public meeting that will mark the beginning of the foot march.

    Speaking to reporters later, he said Bharat Jodo Yatra would be the “biggest political mobilisation” undertaken by the Congress. Factors such as social polarisation, economic inequality, and concentration of powers with the Centre were reasons behind Rahul Gandhi’s embarking of the foot march.

    On the difference between Bharat Jodo Yatra and the yatras took out by the BJP, he said Rahul Gandhi was not going to give speeches; he was going to listen to the public. “The BJP believes in Bharat todo (divide India) but the Congress believes in Bharat jodo (unite India),” he said and asserted that Rahul would cover the entire distance by foot.

    “This is a public, open, and transparent exercise,” he said. Inviting other parties, Ramesh said: “Those who want to oppose the divisive and antipeople policies of the Union government can join the rally.” After addressing a massive public rally on September 7 in Kanniyakumari, Rahul will embark on the journey the next morning.

    CHENNAI: AICC general secretary and former union minister Jairam Ramesh, while addressing reporters after a consultative meeting with TNCC functionaries, said the Congress’ proposed Bharath Jado Yatra would unite the country, unlike the yatras of the BJP, which, he said, divided people. The yatra would be live-steamed on a dedicated web portal.

    The meeting was held at the TNCC headquarters Sathyamoorthi Bhavan on Wednesday and was chaired by Jairam Ramesh and Congress leader Digvijay Singh. The meeting discussed the public meeting that will mark the beginning of the foot march.

    Speaking to reporters later, he said Bharat Jodo Yatra would be the “biggest political mobilisation” undertaken by the Congress. Factors such as social polarisation, economic inequality, and concentration of powers with the Centre were reasons behind Rahul Gandhi’s embarking of the foot march.

    On the difference between Bharat Jodo Yatra and the yatras took out by the BJP, he said Rahul Gandhi was not going to give speeches; he was going to listen to the public. “The BJP believes in Bharat todo (divide India) but the Congress believes in Bharat jodo (unite India),” he said and asserted that Rahul would cover the entire distance by foot.

    “This is a public, open, and transparent exercise,” he said. Inviting other parties, Ramesh said: “Those who want to oppose the divisive and antipeople policies of the Union government can join the rally.” After addressing a massive public rally on September 7 in Kanniyakumari, Rahul will embark on the journey the next morning.

  • Congress launches website, tagline of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’; to kickstart ‘people’s movement’ on September 7

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday launched the logo, tagline and website of its upcoming ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, billed as a mass contact programme of an unprecedented scale.

    Addressing a press conference, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the main yatra will cover 3,570 km from Kanyakumari in the south to Kashmir in the north over a period of about five months beginning September 7.

    Simultaneously, smaller ‘Bharat Jodo Yatras’ will be taken out in various states.

    Digvijaya Singh, who heads the party’s yatra organising committee, told the press conference that Congress president Sonia Gandhi wants people from every religion, caste and community participate in the campaign.

    Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will participate in the yatra from Kanyakumari.

    “There will be 100 ‘padayatris’ who will walk from start to finish. They will be ‘Bharat Yatris’. Around 100 people will keep joining from the states through which this yatra is not passing, these people will be ‘Atithi Yatras’. Around 100 yatris will be involved from the states through which the journey will pass, these will be ‘Pradesh Yatris’. At a time, there will be 300 padayatris,” Singh said.

    Responding to a question, he said, “Rahul Gandhi is a big leader of the country and will be a ‘Bharat Yatri’ in the yatra.”

    Singh said the country has not witnessed neither a ‘padayatra’ nor any mass contact programme of this scale before.

    “We are proud that the Congress, which secured independence for the country through a people’s movement is now aiming to bring back social harmony and prevent the country from losing its character through people’s movement,” he said.

    Today’s burning need is for unity to protect and reforge our republic. 150 civil society representatives from across India took a key step today by welcoming and agreeing to engage with the Bharat Jodo Yatra announced by Congress. The group will issue a detailed appeal soon. pic.twitter.com/EDr3HzSraR
    — Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 22, 2022
    “We want to bring the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the form of a public movement,” he said.

    Singh and Ramesh unveiled the tagline of the yatra — ‘Mile Kadam, Jude Watan’ — a four-plage pamphlet.

    The leaders also launched the website and urged those wanting to participate in the yatra to register on it.

    “Ek tera kadam, ek mera kadam, mil jaye to jud jaye apna watan (one step yours, one step mine, together they can unite India),” Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet and also put the logo of the yatra as his Twitter profile picture.

    Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted the tagline of the yatra and put the logo as her Twitter profile picture.

    Several Congress social media handles changed their profile picture to display the logo.

    Ramesh said Rahul Gandhi has identified three main reasons of the Bharat Jodo Yatra — economic, social and political.

    He said the yatra was needed as there were grave economic challenges confronting the country on account of inflation, unemployment and concentration of economic wealth and growing regional disparities.

    He also pointed to social polarisation based on caste, religion, dress, food and language.

    Ramesh alleged there were political challenges on account of the growing use of the Centre’s institutions and the complete weakening of the states.

    The foot march will cover 12 states and two Union territories.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday launched the logo, tagline and website of its upcoming ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, billed as a mass contact programme of an unprecedented scale.

    Addressing a press conference, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the main yatra will cover 3,570 km from Kanyakumari in the south to Kashmir in the north over a period of about five months beginning September 7.

    Simultaneously, smaller ‘Bharat Jodo Yatras’ will be taken out in various states.

    Digvijaya Singh, who heads the party’s yatra organising committee, told the press conference that Congress president Sonia Gandhi wants people from every religion, caste and community participate in the campaign.

    Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will participate in the yatra from Kanyakumari.

    “There will be 100 ‘padayatris’ who will walk from start to finish. They will be ‘Bharat Yatris’. Around 100 people will keep joining from the states through which this yatra is not passing, these people will be ‘Atithi Yatras’. Around 100 yatris will be involved from the states through which the journey will pass, these will be ‘Pradesh Yatris’. At a time, there will be 300 padayatris,” Singh said.

    Responding to a question, he said, “Rahul Gandhi is a big leader of the country and will be a ‘Bharat Yatri’ in the yatra.”

    Singh said the country has not witnessed neither a ‘padayatra’ nor any mass contact programme of this scale before.

    “We are proud that the Congress, which secured independence for the country through a people’s movement is now aiming to bring back social harmony and prevent the country from losing its character through people’s movement,” he said.

    Today’s burning need is for unity to protect and reforge our republic. 150 civil society representatives from across India took a key step today by welcoming and agreeing to engage with the Bharat Jodo Yatra announced by Congress. The group will issue a detailed appeal soon. pic.twitter.com/EDr3HzSraR
    — Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 22, 2022
    “We want to bring the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the form of a public movement,” he said.

    Singh and Ramesh unveiled the tagline of the yatra — ‘Mile Kadam, Jude Watan’ — a four-plage pamphlet.

    The leaders also launched the website and urged those wanting to participate in the yatra to register on it.

    “Ek tera kadam, ek mera kadam, mil jaye to jud jaye apna watan (one step yours, one step mine, together they can unite India),” Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet and also put the logo of the yatra as his Twitter profile picture.

    Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted the tagline of the yatra and put the logo as her Twitter profile picture.

    Several Congress social media handles changed their profile picture to display the logo.

    Ramesh said Rahul Gandhi has identified three main reasons of the Bharat Jodo Yatra — economic, social and political.

    He said the yatra was needed as there were grave economic challenges confronting the country on account of inflation, unemployment and concentration of economic wealth and growing regional disparities.

    He also pointed to social polarisation based on caste, religion, dress, food and language.

    Ramesh alleged there were political challenges on account of the growing use of the Centre’s institutions and the complete weakening of the states.

    The foot march will cover 12 states and two Union territories.

  • Cong shares draft of Nehru’s ‘tryst with destiny’ speech; he had written ‘date with destiny’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress Sunday shared former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s handwritten draft of his famous first Independence day speech in which he had written about the country’s “date with destiny” but delivered it as “tryst with destiny”.

    Congress general secretary, Communications, Jairam Ramesh also shared the video of Nehru’s speech delivered at the midnight session of the Constituent Assembly as India achieved independence on August 15, 1947.

    Ramesh said on Twitter, “75 years ago, a little after midnight, Nehru gave his immortal ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. Here’s his handwritten draft dated 14.8.47. He had penned it as ‘date with destiny’, but in a moment of true genius delivered it as ‘tryst with destiny’.” 

    75 years ago, a little after midnight, Nehru gave his immortal ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. Here’s his handwritten draft dated 14.8.47. He had penned it as ‘date with destiny’, but in a moment of true genius delivered it as ‘tryst with destiny’.The video: https://t.co/Ba0QESuZ8L pic.twitter.com/N5M5KgP7MZ
    — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 14, 2022
    Nehru in his draft note wrote, “Long years ago we made a date with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.  At the strike of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will wake to life and freedom.” 

    “Our moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of the nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.” Nehru said in his draft note of August 14, 1947.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress Sunday shared former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s handwritten draft of his famous first Independence day speech in which he had written about the country’s “date with destiny” but delivered it as “tryst with destiny”.

    Congress general secretary, Communications, Jairam Ramesh also shared the video of Nehru’s speech delivered at the midnight session of the Constituent Assembly as India achieved independence on August 15, 1947.

    Ramesh said on Twitter, “75 years ago, a little after midnight, Nehru gave his immortal ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. Here’s his handwritten draft dated 14.8.47. He had penned it as ‘date with destiny’, but in a moment of true genius delivered it as ‘tryst with destiny’.” 

    75 years ago, a little after midnight, Nehru gave his immortal ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech. Here’s his handwritten draft dated 14.8.47. He had penned it as ‘date with destiny’, but in a moment of true genius delivered it as ‘tryst with destiny’.
    The video: https://t.co/Ba0QESuZ8L pic.twitter.com/N5M5KgP7MZ
    — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 14, 2022
    Nehru in his draft note wrote, “Long years ago we made a date with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially.  At the strike of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will wake to life and freedom.” 

    “Our moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of the nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.” Nehru said in his draft note of August 14, 1947.

  • Sonia Gandhi discharged from hospital, advised rest at home 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi was discharged from the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here on Monday evening and was advised rest at home, the party said.

    She was admitted to the hospital on June 12, days after she tested positive for COVID-19 on June 2.

    “Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has been discharged from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital this evening and advised rest at home,” party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

    Ramesh had said earlier that Gandhi was admitted to the hospital after profuse bleeding from the nose following a recent Covid infection.

    She was immediately put under treatment and underwent a follow-up procedure on June 15, he said.

    “A fungal infection in her lower respiratory tract was also detected upon admission. She is currently being treated for it, along with other post-Covid symptoms,” he had said on Friday.

    Gandhi, 75, was scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case on June 8 but had sought more time from the probe agency in view of her Covid infection.

    The agency has issued a fresh summons to her for appearance before it on June 23.