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Assam CM Himanta calls for end to Bihu functions; Manipur Congress takes out ‘Jai Hind Yatra'

Assam CM Himanta calls for end to Bihu functions; Manipur Congress takes out ‘Jai Hind Yatra'

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday called for the cancellation of remaining Rongali Bihu functions scheduled from May 10 onwards.
No reason was cited for the cancellation, but the appeal understandably was made in light of the ongoing armed conflict between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack.
'Over the past month, we have joyfully celebrated Bihu across Assam through numerous cultural events. I sincerely thank everyone for their enthusiastic participation and contributions,' the Assam chief minister posted on X.
'However, the time has now come to conclude this festive season. I humbly appeal that all remaining Bihu functions scheduled from 10th May onwards be kindly cancelled. Let us bring this vibrant celebration to a graceful close, with the same unity and spirit in which it was celebrated,' he further wrote.
Rongali Bihu, also called Magh Bihu, is a spring festival that marks the Assamese New Year. The celebration begins mid-April and continues for over a month.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress in ethnic violence-hit Manipur took out 'Jai Hind Yatra' in the state capital Imphal on Friday to express its solidarity with the Indian armed forces, which are engaged in 'Operation Sindoor.'
The rally was taken out under the leadership of state Congress president Keisham Meghachandra Singh, legislature party leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Congress Working Committee member Gaikhangam which saw the participation of hundreds of Congress workers.

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Once a rebel, always a rebel? Congress's Tharoor dilemma - from Kharge challenger to PM Modi's 'global envoy'
Once a rebel, always a rebel? Congress's Tharoor dilemma - from Kharge challenger to PM Modi's 'global envoy'

Time of India

time41 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Once a rebel, always a rebel? Congress's Tharoor dilemma - from Kharge challenger to PM Modi's 'global envoy'

In the Congress party 's grand old history, few members have both dazzled and defied the high command quite like Shashi Tharoor . Clearly not a quockerwodger, Tharoor has often seemed like a square peg in the round hole of Congress' hierarchy — respected, admired, but never quite aligned. These days, when the man speaks, Congress gets nervous, BJP listens, and Oxford updates its dictionary. From internal rebellions to off-script admiration for rivals, Tharoor's political journey within the party has been as unpredictable as his vocabulary. However, this is not the first time that Tharoor is giving a hard time to Congress. The two have had a bumpy ride, especially after the party lost 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to TOI, former Congress spokesperson and author Sanjay Jha, said "Congress needs to encourage a more freewheeling, inner party democracy." Congress needs to encourage a more freewheeling inner party democracy. To be honest, mostly it has been quite open to criticism and constructive feedback. What happens though is that the BJP likes to create fissures. For example, in this entire dispute or debate over overseas delegation, there was no need for the BJP to promote a couple of names on its own and at the same time ask a party to recommend four names. Sanjay Jha G-23: The rebels from within Tharoor was part group of 23 senior Congress leaders who wrote to the higher command in 2020 demanding internal reforms and a long-term stable leadership only to be dismissed by Gandhi loyalists. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) had unanimously rebuked the dissenters behind the letter and instead urged Rahul Gandhi to take over as party president. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Dismissing the G-23's demand for strong and permanent leadership, the CWC had asserted that it was Sonia and Rahul Gandhi who had consistently challenged the BJP government's actions. The move was widely seen as a mutiny against the Gandhi family's grip on the party. While the Congress dismissed the concerns as "constructive feedback," the message was loud and clear: Tharoor wasn't afraid to ruffle feathers. Frankly, that was an attempt to muddy the waters within the Congress and just to complicate and play some kind of a political game to further widen rifts between certain leaders. Congress party needs to be smart here and needs to tell the people the country that the Congress has the talent and expertise in the people who can't just influence policies but the BJP needs them. And that tells you of why the Congress probably as good as a government in waiting. Sanjay Jha on all-party delegations Tharoor vs Kharge: The battle of non-Gandhis In 2022, Tharoor took the rebellion a step further — by contesting the Congress presidential election. It was the party's first non-Gandhi face-off in 24 years, and the symbolism was rich. Facing off against Mallikarjun Kharge , the Gandhi-endorsed candidate, Tharoor spoke of the need for internal democracy, a level playing field, and meaningful change. Instead, what he got was a polite pat on the back and a resounding loss. He later noted the contest lacked a fair footing, subtly pointing to Kharge's proximity to the Gandhis as the real deciding factor. If there was ever a politically correct way to shout 'rigged,' Tharoor found it. The Malabar tour Not long after, Tharoor embarked on his own political safari across Kerala's Malabar region, drawing ire from the state Congress leadership. Party leaders accused him of running a "parallel campaign," with opposition leader VD Satheesan bluntly saying that the Congress "won't tolerate such activities." The trip seemed less like a listening tour and more like a soft launch of 'Brand Tharoor' — suave, solo, and slightly rebellious. The off-script moments Seeking clarity on his role: Tharoor has, at several times, questioned his role in the party- a subtle way of asking 'What exactly am I doing here?' Earlier this year, the rumours of rift got fuel after he publicly criticised leadership vacuum in Kerala Congress and met Rahul Gandhi to seek clarity over his own role within the party. Responding to whether Congress sees Tharoor as an asset or a liability at this point, Jha said with absolute certainty that the party sees Thiruvananthapuram MP as a "strategic asset". "If the party were to have, for example, a shadow cabinet, then Shashi Tharoor would be the external affairs minister," he said. However, he added that "Shashi is probably feeling that his talent and the value he brings to the table is not getting the respect and the recognition that it deserves". I am 100% convinced that the Congress sees Shashi Tharoor as a strategic asset for the party. If the party were to have, for example, a shadow cabinet then Shashi Tharoor would definetely be the external affairs minister in it. I think it's just a question of the fact that Shashi is probably feeling that his talent and the value he brings to the table is not getting the respect and the recognition that it deserves. Sanjay Jha When asked if Tharoor-Congress rift would alienate the grand old party from urban, liberal voters, Jha dismissed this saying that "urban voter or the liberal voter, as we call it, goes much beyond one individual". He, however, noted Tharoor's "huge impact, especially on the English-speaking more corporate and younger demography of India". Calling Congress 'family-run party': Bharatiya Janata Party has often used the dynasty-driven feature of Congress to attack the party. Making to the good books of the saffron party, the writer of 'Why I am a Hindu' had not-so-subtly commented on this. When he was asked who would be the PM if party won the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he had said, "My guess is from the Congress party either Mr Kharge who will then be the first Dalit Prime Minister of India or Rahul Gandhi since in many ways it is a 'family-run' party." Being in opposition, praising government: Tharoor sparked controversy after he praised the ruling government's policies- both at Centre and state of Kerala. His repeated praise for the Modi-government's polices on Covid vaccine, Russia-Ukraine and now, Operation Sindoor , made the Congress distance itself from his views. He even went against the party's narrative to defend Modi-government over Donald Trump claiming credit for India-Pakistan truce. The problem that happens in all political parties, the Congress is not an exception, is that the party takes a certain posture or a position over a certain issue and mostly everybody is expected to fall in line. And in this case, they had probably felt that Shashi had transgressed the party line. Having said that, I do believe that Shashi is an extraoridnary personality and he deserves to be accomodated within the Congress thinking despite the fact that occassionally, he might have a different viewpoint. Sanjay Jha His recent support for the Centre, especially Operation Sindoor, earned him the title of "super spokesperson of the BJP". He has, however, made it clear that he was only speaking in national interest, given that the BJP chose him to lead delegation to US to present India's side on Operation Sindoor. While the rumours on the road keep bringing Tharoor and BJP closer, Jha completely rejected this calling him one of the most "vocal critics" of the Modi government. "He is definitely not going to ever join the BJP," he said, adding that doing so would "completely negate his entire work done over his lifetime. "If you read his writings, his speeches outside the Parliamnet, he is one of the most vocal critics of Mr Modi's government," he said. I don't think Shashi Tharoor is going to leave the Congress. He is definitely not going to ever join the BJP if you read his writings, if you hear his speeches in Parliament and outside. He has been one of the most vocal critiques of Mr Modi's government. So, I don't see him going there at all because that will completely negate his entire work done over his whole lifetime. And you wouldn't do that for some kind of a small or petty political point to prove. I think it's important for Congress and Shashi Tharoor to have a conversation together and put this acrimony and bitterness behind as soon as possible. Sanjay Jha Now, the question is: will he walk away, or continue needling the Congress from within? Well, Jha suggests a conversation between the two. One thing is limpid— Tharoor is a rebel who arrives armed with both a dictionary and a dagger. But this time, it's not his florid prose, but his plainspoken candour that seems to have unsettled the party's upper echelons.

Rahul Gandhi, The Self-Anointed ‘Leader Of Pakistan'
Rahul Gandhi, The Self-Anointed ‘Leader Of Pakistan'

News18

timean hour ago

  • News18

Rahul Gandhi, The Self-Anointed ‘Leader Of Pakistan'

Last Updated: Gandhi's 2025 outbursts, particularly around Operation Sindoor—India's surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK—reveal a man hell-bent on tarnishing his own nation In the murky swamp of Indian politics, few have perfected the art of national betrayal quite like Rahul Gandhi. The Congress dynasty's eternal heir-apparent, with his sanctimonious smirk and rehearsed outrage, has turned slandering India into a grotesque performance piece. His latest misadventure—implicitly styling himself as the 'Leader of Pakistan" (LoP) rather than the Leader of Opposition—has sparked a firestorm, and rightly so. This isn't just a clever jab from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); it's a damning verdict backed by Gandhi's own venomous words, spewed both at home and abroad, that consistently undermine India's sovereignty, morale, and global stature. From Washington to London, Singapore to Bahrain, his rhetoric reads like a love letter to Pakistan's propaganda machine. Let's rip apart the tapestry of his anti-India tirades, exposing the rot beneath his self-righteous veneer, and demand: whose side is this man really on? Gandhi's 2025 outbursts, particularly around Operation Sindoor—India's surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and PoK—reveal a man hell-bent on tarnishing his own nation. On May 17, 2025, he took to X, accusing the government of a 'crime" by allegedly tipping off Pakistan before the strikes: 'Jaishankar's silence screams guilt. How many Indian jets were lost because Pakistan was pre-warned? This wasn't a mistake—it was treason." The External Affairs Ministry shredded this lie, clarifying Pakistan was informed post-strike, as per diplomatic norms. Yet Gandhi, undeterred, clung to his narrative, parroting Pakistan's claims and casting doubt on India's military prowess. On May 22, he sneered that PM Modi had 'surrendered India's honour" by pausing military action, questioning why Modi trusted Pakistan's anti-terror assurances. This wasn't opposition; it was a gut-punch to the jawans who neutralised over 100 terrorists. On May 23, Gandhi escalated his assault, declaring India's foreign policy a 'wreck" and whining, 'Why didn't a single country back India against Pakistan after Pahalgam? Why are we hyphenated with Pakistan? Who invited Trump to 'mediate'?" This wasn't just a dig at Jaishankar; it was a deliberate attempt to equate India with a failing state, a narrative India has fought tooth and nail to reject. His Trump jab handed Pakistan's DG ISPR a golden opportunity to mock India's global clout. BJP's Gaurav Bhatia called it 'sinister," accusing Gandhi of sapping the morale of India's forces. And he's not wrong—Gandhi's words don't just sting; they embolden enemies. In April 2025, while pandering to the Indian diaspora in Boston, Gandhi smeared the Election Commission, claiming it was 'bought and sold" and alleging 65 lakh voters were added to Maharashtra's rolls in two hours—a logistical absurdity. 'More adults voted in Maharashtra than exist there," he scoffed, offering zero proof. 'The EC is a puppet now." BJP's Sambit Patra branded this an 'old trick" of defaming India abroad, while the EC itself debunked his claims as baseless. Union minister Ramdas Athawale roared that Gandhi was spitting on India's democratic soul, and he wasn't exaggerating. A Trail of Treachery Abroad Gandhi's 2025 antics are just the latest stains on his sordid record of trashing India overseas. In September 2024, in Herndon, Virginia, he claimed India's elections were 'rigged to the core", alleging a caste divide and questioning whether Sikhs could wear turbans or visit gurdwaras. 'The fight is about whether a Sikh can wear his turban or kada in India," he pontificated, triggering FIRs in Chhattisgarh for stoking religious discord. BJP's Hardeep Singh Puri slammed him for misleading Sikhs abroad, while Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused him of tarnishing India's image. Even Congress's Pawan Khera, scrambling to defend him, could only muster that criticising the BJP isn't criticising India—a weak dodge for a damning act. At Georgetown University in 2024, Gandhi pushed for a caste census, saying, 'Reservations will go when India is fair, and India is nowhere near fair." This painted India as a cesspool of discrimination, conveniently ignoring similar divides in the US. His meeting with Ilhan Omar, a US lawmaker notorious for anti-India resolutions, drew fire from BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi, who called it a 'dangerous liaison" with India's foes. In 2023, at Cambridge University, Gandhi wailed that Indian democracy was 'under siege," claiming the judiciary, press, and Parliament were gagged. 'The framework of democracy—Parliament, free press, judiciary—is being choked," he said, practically begging for Western intervention by calling India's democracy a 'global public good". BJP's JP Nadda branded this 'treasonous", accusing Gandhi of inviting foreign meddling. In 2022, at London's 'Ideas for India' conference, he likened India to Pakistan, moaning: 'The deep state—CBI, ED—is devouring India, just like Pakistan." BJP's Gaurav Bhatia called it betrayal for equating India with a junta-run state. In 2018, in Hamburg, Germany, Gandhi sneered at India's gender equality, implying women were universally oppressed. In Singapore, he claimed an 'atmosphere of fear" gripped India, accusing the BJP of divisive politics. In 2017, at UC Berkeley, he alleged 'hatred and violence" were engulfing India, blaming the BJP for communal strife. That same year in Bahrain, he decried joblessness, saying, 'Anger is spilling onto the streets." Each time, he painted India as a dystopian failure, ignoring Congress's own checkered past. The Damning Pattern Gandhi's apologists, like Sam Pitroda, insist he's merely critiquing the government. But when Pakistani media celebrates his rants, and when Congress stalwarts like Tharoor and Khera tiptoe away from his recklessness, the truth is undeniable: Gandhi's words arm India's enemies. His 2010 remark to a US ambassador, per WikiLeaks, calling 'Hindutva" a bigger threat than terrorism, set the stage for his anti-India crusade. His 2023 claim that Modi dismissed 70 years of progress was a lie he himself contradicted in London, claiming he never defames India—yet his actions scream otherwise. His 2025 X post alleging Modi brokered a China-Pakistan alliance ignores India's strategic calculus, fuelling anti-India narratives. The nation demands Rahul Gandhi's open letter addressing his compulsions and reasons for not going opting, in fact, evading a delegation addressing and exposing Pakistan's terror factory. Was it the 2008 China MoU that crippled him? Yuvraj Pokharna is an independent journalist and columnist. He tweets with @iyuvrajpokharna. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. About the Author Yuvraj Pokharna Yuvraj Pokharna is a Surat-based author and media panelist who vociferously voices his opinions on issues of Hindutva, Islamist Jihad, politics, policies, and sometimes mules over books. He can be followed on More tags : Operation Sindoor Pahalgam attack Rahul Gandhi Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 07, 2025, 16:16 IST News opinion Write Mind | Rahul Gandhi, The Self-Anointed 'Leader Of Pakistan'

‘Like You, I'll Never Marry': Bihar Woman's Remark To Rahul Gandhi Goes Viral
‘Like You, I'll Never Marry': Bihar Woman's Remark To Rahul Gandhi Goes Viral

News18

timean hour ago

  • News18

‘Like You, I'll Never Marry': Bihar Woman's Remark To Rahul Gandhi Goes Viral

Last Updated: During the Mahila Samwad programme, Riya Paswan told Rahul Gandhi that it was his journey that inspired her to step into politics. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections sparked a viral moment during a women's outreach event in Gaya, where social media personality and grassroots activist Riya Paswan- widely known as 'Pad Girl'- said that she has political ambitions and vowed to remain unmarried, just like Rahul Gandhi. During the Mahila Samwad programme, Riya Paswan told Rahul Gandhi that it was his journey that inspired her to step into politics. 'I owe my progress to the Shakti Abhiyan," she said, referring to the Congress party's initiative aimed at increasing women's political participation. She added that politics was the foundation for change in sectors like education, but said that there is a lack of female representation, especially from marginalized communities. आज गया में Shakti Samvad कार्यक्रम के मंच से मैंने अपनी आवाज़ उठाई – महिलाओं के मुद्दे, मोहल्ले की समस्याएं, और जनता की सच्चाई को Rahul Gandhi ji के सामने रखा।मैं Riya Paswan हूं, और मैं हर ग़लत के खिलाफ खड़ी हूं। — Riya Kumari (@kumarir6529) June 7, 2025 Riya Paswan, who lives in a slum and has mobilized a strong grassroots team through the Congress-led campaign, told the crowd, 'We've built a large team in slum areas during the Shakti Abhiyan. Now, if people have any issues, they come directly to us." A video of the interaction, widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), showed Rahul Gandhi smiling as Riya Paswan addressed the gathering. 'You give good speeches," he told her. She went on to say, 'I want to become a leader and serve the people. The Shakti Abhiyan helped me understand what politics really means." Who Is Riya Paswan? Riya Paswan rose to national prominence in 2022 when she famously confronted IAS officer Harjot Kaur Bhamra at a public event, asking why the government couldn't provide free sanitary pads- earning her the nickname 'Pad Girl.' First Published:

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