
CM Revanth Reddy gets PM Modi's time, not Rahul Gandhi's appointment: BJP
'The Chief Minister made 46 trips to Delhi in the last 19 months. Neither Mr. Gandhi nor other senior Congress leaders had bothered to meet him. But, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Central Ministers gave appointments to Mr. Revanth Reddy,' reminded State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Monday.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi at the Telangana Bhavan, the BJP chief said Congress leaders are 'fooling' the Telangana people with regard to the 42% quota bill for the Backward Classes (BCs) and deliberately enacting a 'drama' to avoid holding local body polls.
Reiterating the party's stand against including 10% Muslims quota in the 42% reservation for the BCs, he questioned the government's seriousness about the reservations as it seemed to have overlooked the prevailing legal issues pending in the Supreme Court.
'Does the Congress government know the procedure to include the BCs quota in the Ninth Schedule? What is the opinion of their legal advisors? The government has to amend section 285 of the Panchayat Raj Act to include the BC quota,' he said.
It is not fair on the part of the State government to blame the Centre without having a clear idea on how to go about implementing the BCs quota in the forthcoming local body elections, he maintained and said that even if the quota is inserted into the Ninth Schedule, it can still come under the judicial review as was made clear in the 1973 Kesavanand Bharati case by the SC.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Vice President Dhankhar Resigns Citing Health Reasons
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Epaper In a surprise move, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned late on Monday citing health reasons . The 74-year-old leader had undergone a cardiac procedure in March but continued to maintain a hectic schedule since resignation had not been accepted by President Droupadi Murmu till press time his resignation letter, the lawyer-turned-politician expressed his gratitude to her, the Prime Minister, the union council of ministers and the MPs for the 'warmth, trust and affection' he had received during his tenure.'To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution,' Dhankhar wrote in his letter that he also shared on social media site who turned 74 in May, had undergone a cardiac procedure on March 9. He had been rushed to AIIMS, Delhi, after he complained of chest pain. He was back in Parliament — the budget session was ongoing at the time — after a few had chaired the sessions, albeit with some breaks. Since then, he continued to maintain a demanding public was heightened activity in the corridors of Parliament on Monday, but officials did not say if it was connected to Dhankhar's took the Treasury Benches by surprise when he mentioned in the Rajya Sabha that he received a notice from the Opposition to constitute a statutory committee for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma and that it has been signed by more than 50 members of the Upper was expected that the government would initiate the process first in the Lok Sabha. Soon after, a meeting was held in defence minister Rajnath Singh's chamber in Parliament. Top union ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar attended the meeting. MPs from the ruling alliance including BJP's allies then came and signed on a Congress party urged Dhankhar to withdraw his resignation and hoped PM Modi would get him to change his mind. The Opposition is expected to seek government clarification on the matter in Parliament Tuesday. 'The sudden resignation of the Vice President and chairman of Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable. I was with him alongside a number of other MPs till around 5 PM today and had spoken to him over the phone at 7:30 PM,' Congress chief whip in the Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh wrote on his X handle. "No doubt Mr Dhankar has to give topmost priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye,' he said.'We wish him the best of health but also request him to reconsider his decision. We also expect the Prime Minister to get Mr Dhankar to change his mind. This will be in the nation's interest. The farming community particularly will be greatly relieved," Ramesh has been a privilege and satisfaction to partake in India's remarkable economic progress and unprecedented exponential development during this periodOutgoing Vice President .


Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gurgaon's problem is it's remote-controlled from Chandigarh, Rao Inderjit Singh says at TOI Townhall
When Rao Inderjit Singh said "we don't have the autonomy we need", the audience nodded in appreciation and agreement. It was a nod both to the minister's candour as well as his ability to get to the nucleus of the problem that affects a Gurgaon resident all year – the city's acute infrastructure and governance problem. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now There are few who know and can read the city as well as Singh, who is currently serving his sixth term as MP from Gurgaon and his third stint as a minister in the central govt led by Narendra Modi. So, when a question came on the city's governance, Singh's diagnosis was quick and precise. Despite the presence of senior state govt functionaries in the city and frequent visits by both the current and former CMs, key decisions regarding Gurgaon's future, he observed, continue to be made in Chandigarh. "Gurgaon is remote-controlled from Chandigarh," he said, speaking at the second edition of TOI's #WeMakeGurgaon Townhall, held on Saturday at Indiabulls Centrum Park in Sector 103. In a conversation that covered a spectrum of subjects, from the city's rain miseries to his own political career, the Union minister offered a forthright and wide-ranging address, candidly acknowledging deficiencies and also laying out his vision for what is to come in the months and years ahead. Speaking about the "Chandigarh-centric approach" that slows down decision-making in a city that helps generate the bulk of the state's revenues, Singh said, "Even when the CM is in Gurgaon, the files still have to go to Chandigarh." He acknowledged that Gurgaon contributes 60-65% of the state's total revenue but struggles to receive proportional attention in terms of development funds and infrastructure support. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "When we contribute this much, we are right to expect a fair share in return," he said. Recalling the tenure of former CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Singh mentioned the move to set up a grievance redress committee as a positive step, which remains active and its results visible. "But administrative limitations persist," he said. "Even Nayab Singh Saini, who now leads the grievance committee, shows interest in Gurgaon. But the problem is not intent — it is structure. We still lack the leeway to take decisions on the ground," Singh said. The minister went on to underline Gurgaon and south Haryana's deep-rooted political loyalty to BJP, seen in the consistent support for the party in both state and national elections. "These constituencies have made it possible for BJP to form the govt. Our voters here deserve more focus, more attention, and more support. And not just because they vote for us but because their needs are real, urgent and growing." To a question on whether Haryana should consider making Gurgaon its capital, Singh responded by saying it was an impractical idea. "Not a chance," he said. "Gurgaon is already bursting at the seams. We don't have enough water, infrastructure or public services to absorb that level of institutional expansion. Before we talk about a capital, we need to upgrade our current systems." However, he added, "Given our legal infrastructure and population of professionals, I believe Gurgaon should house a high court". Singh mentioned progress on highways, arterial roads and flyovers, all designed to ease the city's notorious traffic problems and improve inter-sector mobility. But there are major gaps still, he admitted. Waterlogging and inadequate sewerage systems continue to plague many areas, especially during monsoon. "Basic issues still remain. But we're actively working on them. These are not being ignored," he assured. Asked if Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), created with the vision of enabling unified urban planning for a city with too many agencies and little coordination, had, in his opinion, fulfilled its purpose, Singh said it continues to evolve and holds significant promise. "The intention behind GMDA was to bring Gurgaon under a single development umbrella. It's a work in progress, but we've taken the first steps towards autonomy. " For representatives of RWAs in new sectors around Dwarka Expressway who were among those in the audience, this was an opportunity to voice their grievances before their MP. Lack of public transport, erratic sanitation services, frequent water shortages, and poor road maintenance were the four main problems they brought up. Singh listened, took notes, and assured them he would take these up with the appropriate departments. "I will personally follow up," he said. "Your voices matter." Many in the audience said this was the first time they had been able to speak directly to their elected representative in such an open and public forum. "I'm here to listen and I will act. I may not be able to solve everything immediately, but I promise you will be heard," was Singh's message to them. As the conversation moved to his long political career, and whether he might hang up his boots as he has hinted before, Singh dismissed a question on whether he would turn his attention to state politics with a shake of the head. Does he see himself as a future CM contender? "The chief minister's chair is a bed of thorns," he said with a smile. "I'm 75 years old. I have no ambition to pursue that path." His political journey, he said, would continue in whichever direction the party deemed fit. But he made it clear he had no plans to contest another Lok Sabha election. "I think it's time for someone else. If the party insists, I will follow its directive, but my own preference is to step aside from electoral politics." He made it clear that stepping away from Parliament would not mean stepping away from public service. "Being an MP ties me to Delhi and central responsibilities. Many of the issues Gurgaon faces are local and require state-level coordination. It's frustrating not to be able to give them the attention they deserve. I'm not going anywhere. I'll continue to serve, just perhaps in a different capacity." For residents who packed the venue to listen to him, Singh had a message: "The Gurgaon of tomorrow will only thrive through cooperation, transparency and sustained civic involvement. "


Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
BJP will say ‘Joy Bangla' after 2026 assembly polls: Abhishek
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday said he would ensure that after 'Joy Ma Kali' and 'Joy Ma Durga', BJP would also say 'Joy Bangla' after the 2026 assembly polls. Speaking at the Martyrs' Day rally at Esplanade, Banerjee said: "BJP used to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' earlier but now are saying 'Joy Ma Kali' and 'Joy Ma Durga'. Mark my words and write this down, I will make them say 'Joy Bangla' after the 2026 elections. " "This is a victory for Trinamool Congress, this is a victory for the people of Bengal. BJP now has to bow before the very people it wanted to starve (by blocking central funds) and say 'Joy Ma Kali' and 'Joy Ma Durga'. This is a victory for 12 crore farmers, labourers, youth, tapashilis, Adivasis, and a victory for the culture and heritage of Bengal," he said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "They used the income tax department to disturb Durga Puja committees and stop Durga Puja. They insulted Durga Puja, and now they have to say 'Joy Ma Durga'," he said. "We will proudly speak Bengali. We should make a rule that in this session, we will speak Bengali in Parliament. Let me see who stops us. We are the children of Bengal, and we will not surrender," the MP added. Banerjee said: "Before 2021, we said 'Khela Hobe'. This time we are saying 'Poddo Phool Upre Fela Hobe (we will uproot the lotus)'." "Why is BJP so irritated if someone speaks Bengali? Is it because they could not win in Bengal?" the Trinamool neta said. "Last month, I said that BJP would not cross 50 seats in Bengal. I do not make political predictions, but when I do, I do so after proper thought and with faith in the people." "I can responsibly say that the way these people have humiliated, oppressed, tortured, insulted and exploited the people of Bengal day after day, just for their arrogance, ego, and pride, the few handfuls of Bangla-birodhi who are left — we have to oust them and throw them into the Bay of Bengal," he said. Referring to the special intensive revision (SIR) by EC in Bihar, Banerjee said: "Thrity-two years ago on July 21, in demand of photo-based identification, 13 people sacrificed their lives to return democratic rights to the people of the country. On July 21, 2025, if we, the Trinamool workers, have to sacrifice our lives on the roads to stop the scam by Election Commission, we will do it. We will not let them it on Bengal's voter list. If required, Trinamool will organise a greater movement in Delhi with the permission of CM Mamata Banerjee." Banerjee also slammed Assam govt for trying to slap NRC notices on people from Bengal. "This time, they are using the Assam Foreign Tribunal, which does not hold any power in the land of Bengal, to send letters to our Rajbanshi brothers and label them Bangladeshi. Is it a crime to speak in Bengali? We will speak in Bengali. The more we do, the more they get irritated. Be proud to speak in Bengali," he said.