Kharge, Rahul write to PM for J&K statehood
'Your goodself has, on multiple occasions, personally reiterated the government's commitment to restoring statehood. While addressing a rally in Srinagar on September 19, 2024, you reaffirmed:
'We have said in Parliament that we will restore the region's statehood',' the letter reminded, also pointed out that the Centre had made similar assurances before the Supreme Court in the Article 370 matter, submitting that statehood would be restored 'at the earliest'.
The Congress leaders also sought a law to include Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule.
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Indian Express
30 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Uddhav says necessary for him and Raj to come together to fight for ‘Marathi manoos'
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has asserted it is necessary for him and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray to come together as both are fighting for the Marathi language and people. In the second and last part of his interview with Saamana's executive editor and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut published in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece on Sunday, the former state chief minister also said that on the issue of alliance, the Congress expressed an opinion that it will take a decision at the local level. 'If that is the case, it will happen that way,' he said. The Congress is a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) along with the Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). Elections to various local and civic bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, are likely to be held later this year. Uddhav Thackeray said he is ready to do anything for the Marathi language, Maharashtra 'dharma' and 'Marathi manoos' (Marathi people). If anyone has an issue with him and Raj coming together, then it is their problem, he maintained. To a question on 'Marathi manoos' coming together on the issue of Marathi, Thackeray said, '(Marathi manoos) should come together because whom are we fighting for? The Marathi manoos.' The buzz of rapprochement between the estranged cousins gained traction after the two addressed a mega victory rally earlier this month to celebrate the government's rollback of the two contentious GRs on introducing Hindi for students of classes 1 to 5 in the state under the three-language formula. Uddhav said now the two cousins can call each other and also meet, and there is no problem in it. He asserted the Thackerays meet everyone openly. Asked about the MVA and the alliance in the local body polls, he said, 'It's their (Congress) business. There was a discussion with the Congress and they were of the opinion that they will take a decision at the local level. Fair enough. If that is the case, it will happen that way.' Every party has its unit at the civic body level, Uddhav Thackeray noted. 'We will do what the parties (in the MVA) think is politically appropriate for them,' he added. Uddhav also commented on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently referring to Sangh ideologue late Moropant Pingley's remarks about stepping aside at the age of 75. Speaking at the release of a book on the late RSS ideologue, Bhagwat had said, 'Pingley once said…if you are honoured with a shawl after turning 75, it means that you should step aside and make way for others.' Uddhav said it is BJP's internal matter to decide who will succeed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 75 in September. 'They may have found an answer to this and may be that is why Bhagwat spoke,' he added.
News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
Panchayat committees will strengthen Congress, create new leaders: Sirivella
Last Updated: Chaibasa, Jul 20 (PTI) Congress leader Sirivella Prasad on Sunday said the party's decision to form committees at the panchayat level will not only help strengthen the organisation but also create new leaders. Prasad, the co-in-charge of the Congress in Jharkhand, said the party would constitute committees in all 4,402 panchayats in the state. 'A panchayat committee will have 12 members, including a president and two vice-presidents. Around 55,000 people will be included in the panchayat committees across the state. These people will be future leaders," he said. He was addressing the party's 'Sangathan Srjian' programme in Chaibasa. As part of this, a training session for the gram panchayat Congress committee was organised, and it was attended by senior leaders, district presidents, district observers, block presidents, block observers and mandal presidents of Saraikela-Kharswan, West Singhbhum and East Singhbhum. Prasad said the party has also developed a mobile for Jharkhand. 'It's an interactive app where people's issues could be raised, how the party is working could be known, and suggestions could be shared," he said. State Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh urged the district, block and mandal presidents to unfurl the tricolour in their areas on August 15. He said block committees have been set up, and mandal committees would be formed after the constitution of panchayat committees. The process of formation of panchayat committees will be completed by August 15, he said. PTI SAN SOM view comments First Published: July 20, 2025, 18:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
A student asked Shashi Tharoor the ‘inevitable' Congress question. How the MP responded
'Politics is, unfortunately or otherwise, in any democracy, it's about competition,' he says in the 2.36-minute video he shared on his X account. 'And as a result, when people like me say that we respect our parties, we have certain values and convictions that keep us in our parties, but we need to cooperate with other parties in the interest of national security… sometimes the parties feel that is disloyal to them. And that becomes a big problem.' The Thiruvananthapuram MP said he had been steering clear of such political discussions in public but felt the 'inevitable question' by a high school student during an event in Kochi 'deserved a response'. New Delhi: Amid his ongoing rift with his party, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has shared a video on social media in which he responds to a student's question about the differences. 'Which is your first loyalty? To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better.' Tharoor said political differences on economic policies, regulations or ideologies are all a part of democracy. 'Ultimately, we must all be committed to a better India, a safer India, an India whose borders are protected, whose territory is safe, whose people's well-being can be nurtured. And that is my commitment.' The goal of national security should transcend party lines. 'Not just bipartisan, multi-partisan.' Also Read: Kharge's 'Modi first' swipe at Tharoor. Congress MP responds 'wings are your, sky belongs to no one' Friction after Operation Sindoor His current public differences with the party began after India conducted Operation Sindoor against terrorists and terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the 22 April Pahalgam attack. Many in his party did not like his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government for Operation Sindoor. In Kochi today, I was asking inevitable question by a high school student. While I have been steering clear of such political discussions in public, I felt a student deserved a response: — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 19, 2025 Tharoor had said he appreciated the government's decisive response, even as his party later adopted a more critical tone. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge publicly rebuked Tharoor without naming him: 'For the Congress, it is country first, but for some people, it's Modi first.' This came shortly after Tharoor had been chosen by the Modi government to head an international outreach delegation post-Operation Sindoor. Tharoor accepting the government offer was viewed by many in the Congress as a breach of party discipline. His name was not in the list the Congress had given to the government to represent the party in the delegations. 'As you know, if you're following the news, a lot of people have been very critical of me because of the stand I have taken supporting our armed forces and our government and what happened recently in our country and on our borders. But I will stand my ground because I believe this is the right thing for the country,' he says in the video. 'And when I speak of India, I speak for all Indians, not just those who may like my party.' He then quoted first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's famous line which he is 'very fond of' quoting. 'Who lives if India dies? And that's a question to which there is no answer. India must come first. Then only can we all live,' he said. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Emergency column puts Tharoor in firing line. Congress says 'decide which party you belong to'
