Latest news with #LakshmanSingh
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress expels Digvijaya's brother Lakshman for 6 yrs
Bhopal: In a major blow to former chief minister Digvijaya Singh , the Congress party on Wednesday expelled his brother and former MLA Lakshman Singh for six years from primary membership of the party. A release from AICC disciplinary committee member Tariq Anwar on Wednesday afternoon, said, "Hon'ble Congress President has expelled Lakshman Singh from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress for a period of six years, with immediate effect, due to his anti-party activities. After the Pulwama terror attack on tourists, former MP from Rajgarh seat, Lakshaman Singh gave statements in public against Lok Sabha LOP Rahul Gandhi , Robert Vadra — husband of MP from Wayanad AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi — and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah which was perceived as indiscipline and anti-party activity. Speaking to reporters, former state Congress president Arun Yadav said, "I don't agree to speaking against the party in public." State BJP president VD Sharma said, "This is the decision of the Congress party. I don't need to say anything on it. But many times, Lakshman Singh showed Congress the mirror. And this is what happens to people who show the mirror of truth to the Congress party." On April 24, at a function organised to pay homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Lakshman Singh said, "Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra are immature. The country is suffering the consequences of their immaturity." He also said, "Robert Vadra is Rahulji's brother-in-law. He said that the (Pahalgam) attack is because Muslims are not permitted to offer Namaz on the roads. Till when are we going to tolerate such childishness? Rahul Gandhi should think before he speaks, he is the LOP." Lakshman Singh further alleged that Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah was in collusion with terrorists and Congress should withdraw its support from the alliance with the National Conference govt. "I am saying this on camera that the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir is in collusion with terrorists. I urge Rahul Gandhi and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to withdraw support from him," Lakshman Singh said. The former MLA from Chachoura assembly seat had even said, "If the party wants to remove me, they may do so today." After one-and-half months, the party finally acted on the recommendation sent by the AICC Disciplinary Committee to expel him from primary membership of the party. On May 9, the DAC member secretary Tariq Anwar issued the show-cause notice to Lakshman Singh with a directive to respond within 10 days.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Digvijaya Singh's brother finally faces axe for relentless criticism of Congress high command
THE CONGRESS has finally cracked down on Lakshman Singh, a former Madhya Pradesh MLA and the brother of senior party leader Digvijaya Singh, who has been known more recently for his tirades against the party high command, including Rahul Gandhi. AICC Disciplinary Action Committee member Tariq Anwar announced Lakshman Singh's expulsion on Wednesday from the Congress's primary membership 'for a period of six years, with immediate effect, due to his anti-party activities'. While Digvijaya Singh is one of the titans of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Lakshman Singh has never really been at ease in the party and even left it to join the BJP for a while. The Congress took him back but, insiders say, his relentless criticism recently had made Lakshman Singh an unmanageable liability. The 70-year-old has been attacking the party leadership since he lost from the Chachoura seat in the 2023 Assembly elections. His criticism has spanned from personal attacks on Gandhi and questioning the party's electoral strategy to the Congress response to the Pahalgam terror attack and its boycott of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony. He has even refused to support Digvijaya's campaign against EVMs in the state. On Wednesday, Lakshman Singh remained unreachable for comment. A senior Congress functionary said: 'When Rahul Gandhi came to Bhopal as part of the party organisation overhaul, he had spoken about senior leaders making nonsensical statements. This (Lakshman Singh's) expulsion signals to all those involved in anti-party activities that such behaviour damaging the party will no longer be tolerated.' Earlier, a show-cause notice had been served to Lakshman Singh after he commented on some remarks by Rahul Gandhi and brother-in-law Robert Vadra in context of the Pahalgam terrorist attack last month, saying: 'Gandhi and Vadra are immature. The country is suffering the consequences of their immaturity… How long will the Congress have to put up with (their) immaturity?' He added: 'Rahul Gandhi should think before he speaks, he is the LoP (Leader of the Opposition).' When the Congress decided to stay away from the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration last year, Lakshman Singh said: 'As far as invitation is concerned, what is the meaning of declining it? What message are we sending? When Rajiv Gandhi got it (the locks of the Babri Masjid) unlocked, who are you to decline it? If our leadership keeps such advisors, the results would be the same as they have been so far.' In December 2023, Lakshman Singh told reporters: 'Rahul Gandhi is just a party worker. He is just an MP. Apart from that, he is nothing. You people too should not highlight Rahul Gandhi so much, nor should we. No one becomes a great leader by birth, one becomes great by his/her actions. Don't consider Rahul Gandhi such a great leader, I don't.' Even earlier, during protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Lakshman Singh had gone against the party line and advocated acceptance of the legislation, now that it had been passed. 'All parties have expressed their views. More comments, statements on this subject are meaningless. Let's accept it and move on.' The former Congress MLA also criticised the Congress for failure to fulfill its signature promise of farm loan waivers when in power briefly between 2019 and 2022, demanding that Gandhi apologise to the Madhya Pradesh farmers for the same. 'He should also clarify to them how long it will take for a loan waiver,' Lakshman Singh said. A seasoned politician, Lakshman Singh has served five terms as MP and three as MLA, establishing his credentials across multiple constituencies. His political journey began in 1987 from the Raghogarh municipality. Since then, he has won twice from the Raghogarh Assembly seat, before achieving a five-term victory streak from the Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency. One of these times, in 2004, Lakshman Singh won from Rajgarh on the BJP ticket, having shifted to the party. But the Congress won back the constituency in 2009, defeating Lakshman Singh as the BJP candidate. Soon, Singh was in trouble within the BJP, and in July 2010, was expelled from the party's primary membership after publicly condemning senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. By January 2013, Singh was back in the Congress fold.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Lakshman may face Cong action for outburst against RaGa, Vadra
Bhopal: The AICC disciplinary action committee (DAC) has recommended expelling senior leader Lakshman Singh, former MLA, five-time MP, and younger brother of Digvijaya Singh , from the party for six years over "repeated public statements against the leadership" that damaged the party's image. On Saturday, sources in the Congress state unit said the party could expel him from primary membership after his comment on Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra. Lakshman Singh was served with a show-cause notice after he asked how long will the Congress have to put up with the immaturity of Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra? On April 24, while paying homage to victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack at a function, Lakshman Singh said: "Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra are immature. The country is suffering the consequences of their immaturity." He also said, "Robert Vadra is Rahulji's brother-in-law. He said the attack is because Muslims are not permitted to offer Namaz on the roads. Till when are we going to tolerate such childishness? Rahul Gandhi should think before he speaks, he is the LOP." Lakshman Singh had also launched a scatching attack on Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah. "I am saying this on camera that the CM of Jammu and Kashmir is in collusion with terrorists. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo I urge Rahul Gandhi and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to withdraw support from him," Lakshman Singh said. The former MLA from Chachoura assembly seat also added, "If the party wants to remove me, they may do so today." On May 9, DAC member secretary Tariq Anwar issued the show-cause notice to Lakshman Singh that said, "This is to bring to your notice that a complaint has been received from MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari and AICC general secretary in-charge of MP Harish Chaudhary regarding your repeated public statements that have caused serious damage to the image and dignity of the Congress." The notice further said, "It has been further noted that your recent statement has crossed all limits, particularly the derogatory and disrespectful remarks directed at senior party leadership, including the Honourable Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. You are hereby issued a show-cause notice and directed to submit a written explanation within ten days from the date of receipt of the notice." A senior state Congress office-bearer said the DAC has recommended expulsion of Lakshman Singh for indiscipline. The final decision will be taken soon by AICC president Kharge, the office-bearer said.
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
SBI sets up four baby feeding centres in Bengaluru
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the State Bank of India's Bengaluru Circle, in collaboration with the Child Help Foundation, has established four baby feeding centres across Bengaluru. The centres are located at Banashankari, R.V. Road, Benniganahalli Metro Stations, and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health. These facilities provide clean, private spaces for nursing mothers — a vital resource for working women and daily commuters, said a release from SBI. Strategically positioned in busy transit hubs and a children's hospital, the centres aim to meet the pressing need for accessible breastfeeding spaces in public areas. Joohi Smitha Sinha, chief general manager of SBI Bengaluru Circle, inaugurated the Benniganahalli centre on Wednesday. Lakshman Singh, Chief General Manager of BMRCL, and Rajiv Menon from the Child Help Foundation were present.
India Today
26-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Omar Abdullah 'may be in cahoots' with terrorists: Ex-Congress MLA's big charge
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's brother and former MLA Lakshman Singh on Friday tore into the leadership of his party in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and asserted Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra were said he did not mind getting expelled from the party for these statements, since the security of the country was paramount to Singh, a Congressman who has had a stint with the BJP, also claimed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah "may be in cahoots" with terrorists. During a condolence meeting organised in Raghogarh to pay tribute to those who died in Tuesday's attack, Lakshman Singh said, "Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah may be in cahoots with terrorists. In such a situation, the Congress should withdraw support from the National Conference government (in the Union Territory). I am going to write to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in this regard."Lakshman Singh also came down heavily on the statements of Gandhi and Vadra post the attack."Robert Vadra's statement that the terrorists attacked because they did not allow Muslims to offer namaz on the road is not only irresponsible but also a statement that poses a threat to the security of the country. I am saying all this in front of the camera, so that no one is confused. Congress should think 10 times before speaking, otherwise the public will answer in the elections," he Gandhi and Robert Vadra are naive. The country is suffering the consequences of their immaturity," he added.
