The Election Commission of India has begun declaring the results for Nagaland Assembly Elections 2023, along with the two northeastern states of Meghalaya and Tripura on Thursday (Mach 2).

The Election Commission of India has begun declaring the results for Nagaland Assembly Elections 2023, along with the two northeastern states of Meghalaya and Tripura on Thursday (Mach 2). ECI has announced the winning candidates for 59 out of 60 seats in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. The elections happened in Nagaland on February 27, 2023, after months of rigorous campaigns by national and regional political parties. ECI also conducted repolling in four polling stations of Nagaland, including Zunheboto, Sanis, Tizit, and Thonokyu constituencies. The exit poll results had predicted that National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) might win in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The NDPP contested in 40 seats, and BJP in 20 seats in the Nagaland Assembly Elections 2023. The Congress and the Naga People's Front contested in 23 and 22 seats, respectively. The voter participation in the Nagaland Assembly Elections 2023 was 83 per cent of the total eligible voters. The incumbent Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, contested for the fifth time in the Nagaland Assembly Elections. Around 1.3 million voters participated in the polls on February 27. Which party won Nagaland Assembly Elections 2023? As per the exit-poll predictions, BJP-NDPP alliance will retain power in the Nagaland Assembly Elections 2023. The BJP-NDPP alliance took the lead since the beginning of the vote counting and the early trends also indicated an easy win for the coalition of the two political parties. However, the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) has opened an account in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. At one point, they were leading in five seats of Nagaland. Other political parties contesting in the Nagaland Elections 2023 have also shown progress. The unique 'no opposition' feature of Nagaland Assembly was advantageous for the BJP-NDPP alliance. Nagaland Assembly Elections Results 2023 The vote-counting for the Nagaland Assembly Elections Results 2023 started on March 2, 2023, at 8 AM. The Election Commission of India has declared the Nagaland Assembly Election Results 2023 for 59 out of 60 seats. Nagaland Election Results 2023: Status Party Won Leading Total Bharatiya Janata Party 12 0 12 Independent 4 0 4 Janata Dal (United) 1 0 1 Lok Janshakti Party(Ram Vilas) 2 0 2 Naga Peoples Front 2 0 2 National People's Party 5 0 5 Nationalist Congress Party 7 0 7 Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party 25 0 25 Republican Party of India (Athawale) 2 0 2 Total 60 60 60 Nagaland Assembly Elections Results 2023: List of Winners Here's the full list of the winning candidates of the Nagaland Assembly Elections 2023, their constituencies and political parties. The following candidates will form the 14th Legislative Assembly of Nagaland. Constituency Winners Party Aboi C. Konyak (Winner) IND Aghunato G Ikuto Zhimomi (Winner) NDPP Akuluto Kazheto Kinimi (Winner unopposed) BJP Alongtaki Temjen Imna Along (Winner) BJP Angetyongpang Tongpang Ozukum (Winner) NDPP Aonglenden Sharingain Longkumer (Winner) NDPP Arkakong Nuklutoshi (Winner) NPP Atoizu Picto (Winner) CONG Bhandari Achumbemo Kikon (Winner) NPF Chazouba Kudecho Khamo (Winner) NDPP Chizami KG Kenye (Winner) NDPP Dimapur I H. Tovihoto Ayemi (Winner) BJP Dimapur II Moatoshi Longkumer (Winner) NDPP Dimapur III Hekani Jakhalu (Winner) NDPP Ghaspani I N Jacob Zhimomi (Winner) BJP Ghaspani II Zhaleo Rio (Winner) NDPP Impur TN Mannen (Winner) NDPP Jangpetkong Temjenmemba (Winner) NDPP Kohima Town Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso (Winner) NPP Koridang Imkong L. Imchen (Winner) BJP Longkhim Chare Sethronkyu (Winner) BJP Longleng A Pongshi Phom (Winner) NCP Meluri Z. Nyusietho Nyuthe (Winner) NDPP Moka A Nyamnyei Konyak (Winner) NPP Mokokchung Town Metsubo Jamir (Winner) NDPP Mon Town Y. Mankhao Konyak (Winner) NCP Monguya Imkongmar (Winner) NDPP Noklak P Longon (Winner) NCP Noksen Y. Lima Onen Chang (Winner) RPI-A Northern Angami I Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome (Winner) NDPP Northern Angami II Neiphiu Rio (Winner) NDPP Peren T R Zeliang (Winner) NDPP Pfutsero Dr. Neisatuo Mero (Winner) IND Phek Kuzholuzo Nienu (Winner) NPF Phomching K Konngam Konyak (Winner) BJP Pughoboto Dr Sukhato Sema (Winner) LJP Pungro Kiphire SK Yimchunger (Winner) NDPP Sanis Mhathung Yanthan (Winner) NDPP Satakha G Kaito Aye (Winner) NDPP Shamtorr Chessore S Keoshu Yimchunger (Winner) NDPP Siyuchong Sitimi C. Kipili Sangtam (Winner) NPP Southern Angami I Kevipodi Sophie (Winner) IND Southern Angami II Kropol Vitsu (Winner) BJP Suruhuto S. Toiho Yeptho (Winner) NCP Tamlu B Bangtick Phom (Winner) IND Tapi Noke Wangnao (Winner) NDPP Tehok C. L. John (Winner) NDPP Tenning Namri Nchang (Winner) NCP Thonoknyu Bennei M Lamthiu (Winner) NPP Tizit P. Paiwang Konyak (Winner) BJP Tobu Naiba Konyak (Winner) LJP Tseminyu Jwenga Seb (Winner) JDU Tuensang Sadar I P. Bashangmongba Chang (WINNER) BJP Tuensang Sadar II Imtichoba (WINNER) RPI-A Tuli A. Pangjung Jamir (Winner) BJP Tyui Yanthungo Patton (Winner) BJP Wakching W Chingang Konyak (Winner) NDPP Western Angami Salhoutuonuo Kruse (Winner) NDPP Wokha Y Mhonbemo Humtsoe (Winner) NCP Zunheboto K Tokugha Sukhalu (Winner) NDPP ALSO READ | LIVE | Nagaland Elections Results 2023: BJP-NDPP Alliance to retain power with 35-43 seats, predicts exit poll results

Nagaland Election Results 2023: CHECK full list of constituency-wise winners from BJP-NDPP, Congress & NPF

According to a poll by Washington Post-ABC News, two years into his presidency a majority of Americans believe incumbent United States President Joe Biden has not achieved much since taking office. The survey which was released days before the US president is set to deliver a State of the Union address on Tuesday (February 7) said that 62 per cent of Americans think he has accomplished “not very much” or “little or nothing” during his time in office, while 36 per cent say he has accomplished “a great deal” or “a good amount.”

The Post-ABC News poll which was conducted between January 27 and February 1 of 1,003 adults in the US also shows how neither Democrats nor Republicans are faring well as most Americans were seen supporting Biden’s position over the debt limit more than GOP’s.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, there is also very little confidence in either Biden or House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as just under two in 10 Americans have “a great deal” or “a good amount” of confidence in the speaker to make the right decision for the country’s future. While at least 71 per cent have “just some” or no confidence at all and 68 per cent say they lack confidence in Biden, as per the poll.&nbsp;

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Similarly, 72 per cent of the respondents noted that they are not confident about congressional Republicans making the right decisions, while 70 per cent believe so for congressional Democrats. During his State of the Union speech, Biden is set to tout economic progress following the COVID-19 recession and draw sharp contrasts between his GOP opponents, as per media reports.&nbsp;

However, the Post-ABC poll shows that 77 per cent of Democrats say Biden has accomplished at least a good amount, this number drops to 32 per cent in the case of Independents, and only seven per cent of Republicans who took the survey agree with the statement. The report also shows how Biden’s potential reelection bid could also be affected by these doubts about his achievements which are higher than former president Barack Obama in 2010 and 2012. In fact, it noted that the incumbent president’s negative ratings are roughly on par with his predecessor, former president Donald Trump who lost his reelection bid in 2020.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-democrats-feel-one-term-is-enough-for-biden-559456">U.S.: Democrats feel one term is enough for Biden</a>

Notably, the incumbent president’s State of the Union address also comes amid the ongoing investigation into classified documents found at his Delaware home and the office he used when he was serving as the vice president, during the Obama presidency, at the Penn Biden Center, a Washington-based think tank. A poll by the Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago also shows that despite more Americans disapproving of Biden’s handling of classified documents, his overall approval rating is holding steady.&nbsp;

According to the AP-NORC poll, overall 39 per cent disapprove of Biden’s handling of the situation since the classified documents were found while only 23 per cent of the 1,068 American adults questioned said they approve of the current president’s actions. Meanwhile, 36 per cent of people had no opinion on the subject and Democrats are more likely to approve while most Republicans disapprove of Biden's actions in the classified documents row, the report noted.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-when-will-biden-deliver-his-state-of-the-union-address-in-2023-and-what-to-expect-558681">Explained: When will Biden deliver his State of the Union address in 2023? and what to expect?</a>

Additionally, the poll conducted between January 26 and 30 also shows that assessments of the president’s job performance are “strongly partisan” since 41 per cent of people approve of Biden’s handling of the top job which is just a two per cent drop from the poll conducted in December, last year. Furthermore, at least 77 per cent of Democrats approve while 91 per cent of Republicans disapprove of Biden’s presidency, both of which remained unchanged since the last poll.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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According to a poll by Washington Post-ABC News, two years into his presidency a majority of Americans believe incumbent United States President Joe Biden has not achieved much since taking office.

According to a poll by Washington Post-ABC News, two years into his presidency a majority of Americans believe incumbent United States President Joe Biden has not achieved much since taking office. The survey which was released days before the US president is set to deliver a State of the Union address on Tuesday (February 7) said that 62 per cent of Americans think he has accomplished “not very much” or “little or nothing” during his time in office, while 36 per cent say he has accomplished “a great deal” or “a good amount.” The Post-ABC News poll which was conducted between January 27 and February 1 of 1,003 adults in the US also shows how neither Democrats nor Republicans are faring well as most Americans were seen supporting Biden’s position over the debt limit more than GOP’s. Meanwhile, there is also very little confidence in either Biden or House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as just under two in 10 Americans have “a great deal” or “a good amount” of confidence in the speaker to make the right decision for the country’s future. While at least 71 per cent have “just some” or no confidence at all and 68 per cent say they lack confidence in Biden, as per the poll. ALSO READ | PM Modi emerges as world's most popular leader, defeating Sunak, Biden Similarly, 72 per cent of the respondents noted that they are not confident about congressional Republicans making the right decisions, while 70 per cent believe so for congressional Democrats. During his State of the Union speech, Biden is set to tout economic progress following the COVID-19 recession and draw sharp contrasts between his GOP opponents, as per media reports. However, the Post-ABC poll shows that 77 per cent of Democrats say Biden has accomplished at least a good amount, this number drops to 32 per cent in the case of Independents, and only seven per cent of Republicans who took the survey agree with the statement. The report also shows how Biden’s potential reelection bid could also be affected by these doubts about his achievements which are higher than former president Barack Obama in 2010 and 2012. In fact, it noted that the incumbent president’s negative ratings are roughly on par with his predecessor, former president Donald Trump who lost his reelection bid in 2020. ALSO WATCH | U.S.: Democrats feel one term is enough for Biden Notably, the incumbent president’s State of the Union address also comes amid the ongoing investigation into classified documents found at his Delaware home and the office he used when he was serving as the vice president, during the Obama presidency, at the Penn Biden Center, a Washington-based think tank. A poll by the Associated Press and NORC at the University of Chicago also shows that despite more Americans disapproving of Biden’s handling of classified documents, his overall approval rating is holding steady. According to the AP-NORC poll, overall 39 per cent disapprove of Biden’s handling of the situation since the classified documents were found while only 23 per cent of the 1,068 American adults questioned said they approve of the current president’s actions. Meanwhile, 36 per cent of people had no opinion on the subject and Democrats are more likely to approve while most Republicans disapprove of Biden's actions in the classified documents row, the report noted. ALSO READ | Explained: When will Biden deliver his State of the Union address in 2023? and what to expect? Additionally, the poll conducted between January 26 and 30 also shows that assessments of the president’s job performance are “strongly partisan” since 41 per cent of people approve of Biden’s handling of the top job which is just a two per cent drop from the poll conducted in December, last year. Furthermore, at least 77 per cent of Democrats approve while 91 per cent of Republicans disapprove of Biden’s presidency, both of which remained unchanged since the last poll. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US President Biden’s approval ratings dwindle ahead of State of the Union address: Polls

US Representative George Santos, whose life story and resume turned out to be much of a lie, may lose his place in Congress if he is found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws, said House Oversight Committee Chairman and fellow Republican James Comer on Sunday.&nbsp;

While speaking at CNN's "State of the Union" programme, Comer said, “He's a bad guy."&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/george-santos-in-hot-soup-for-saying-911-attacks-claimed-my-mothers-life-547999">George Santos in hot soup for saying 9/11 attacks ‘claimed my mother’s life’</a>

"It's not up to me or any other member of Congress to determine whether he can be kicked out for lying. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress,” he added.&nbsp;

Santos has been refusing to submit his resignation repeatedly even though he has been pressurised by his own party to step down. He had stated on Thursday that he would resign from his New York City-area seat only when he will face a defeat in the next election.

Republican officials in huge numbers, a lot of them belonging to the district of Santos which includes parts of Queens and Long Island, have called for the newly elected congressman's resignation.&nbsp;

WATCH| US: George Santos rejects calls to resign, refuses to step down

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Santos' six fellow Republican representatives have also joined the officials from New York to pressurise him to submit his resignation.&nbsp;

House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that the fate of Santos will be left to the voters and the Ethics Committee.

(With inputs from agencies)

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US Representative George Santos, whose life story and resume turned out to be much of a lie, may lose his place in Congress if he is found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws, said House Oversight Committee Chairman and fellow Republican James Comer on Sunday.

US Representative George Santos, whose life story and resume turned out to be much of a lie, may lose his place in Congress if he is found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws, said House Oversight Committee Chairman and fellow Republican James Comer on Sunday. While speaking at CNN's "State of the Union" programme, Comer said, “He's a bad guy." ALSO READ| George Santos in hot soup for saying 9/11 attacks ‘claimed my mother’s life’ "It's not up to me or any other member of Congress to determine whether he can be kicked out for lying. Now, if he broke campaign finance laws, then he will be removed from Congress,” he added. Santos has been refusing to submit his resignation repeatedly even though he has been pressurised by his own party to step down. He had stated on Thursday that he would resign from his New York City-area seat only when he will face a defeat in the next election. Republican officials in huge numbers, a lot of them belonging to the district of Santos which includes parts of Queens and Long Island, have called for the newly elected congressman's resignation. WATCH| US: George Santos rejects calls to resign, refuses to step down Santos' six fellow Republican representatives have also joined the officials from New York to pressurise him to submit his resignation. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that the fate of Santos will be left to the voters and the Ethics Committee. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Santos to lose his place in Congress if found breaking campaign-finance laws, says committee chairman

China's former leader Hu Jintao was for the first time seen in public on Monday, days after he was escorted dramatically out of the Communist Party's Congress when he visited the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing to pay respect to his late predecessor Jiang Zemin.

In a very unusual and shocking incident at the ruling Communist Party Congress' concluding session, Hu was lifted from his chair by two men and escorted out under the complete glare of the media, disrupting and attracting a lot of media attention at the event in which Chinese President Xi Jinping secured the historic third term as the Communist Party's leader.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-may-announce-10-new-covid-19-measures-on-wednesday-report-540225">China may announce new COVID-19 easing measures on Wednesday: Report</a>

Later it was reported by the Chinese state media that Hu was not feeling well and hence was escorted, however, his clearly visible reluctance to exit the meeting fired speculations over whether it was a play of political factors.

On the morning of Monday, Hu was seen along with the Chinese People's Liberation Army's other top leaders in the hospital, where he paid his final respects to Jiang before the latter was cremated, as seen in the footage by the state broadcaster CCTV.

Jintao appeared frail as he stood next to Xi as the officials thrice bowed before the body of Jiang. Later, Hu was unsteadily walking with an attendant's help as the cadres were seen walking around the funeral display and expressing their grief to Jiang's widow.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-operating-over-100-police-stations-in-foreign-countries-report-says-540130">China operating over 100 police stations in foreign countries, report says</a>

At the high-attention-grabbing Congress, the premier was anointed as the party's general secretary for a period of another five years, breaking the norm of the president stepping down after completing two terms.

It was highly speculated that Hu's dramatic exit was aimed at sending a strong political signal to the leaders who might be opposing the coronation of Xi.

(With inputs from agencies)

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China's former leader Hu Jintao was for the first time seen in public on Monday, days after he was escorted dramatically out of the Communist Party's Congress when he visited the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing to pay respect to his late predecessor Jiang Zemin.

China's former leader Hu Jintao was for the first time seen in public on Monday, days after he was escorted dramatically out of the Communist Party's Congress when he visited the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital in Beijing to pay respect to his late predecessor Jiang Zemin. In a very unusual and shocking incident at the ruling Communist Party Congress' concluding session, Hu was lifted from his chair by two men and escorted out under the complete glare of the media, disrupting and attracting a lot of media attention at the event in which Chinese President Xi Jinping secured the historic third term as the Communist Party's leader. ALSO READ| China may announce new COVID-19 easing measures on Wednesday: Report Later it was reported by the Chinese state media that Hu was not feeling well and hence was escorted, however, his clearly visible reluctance to exit the meeting fired speculations over whether it was a play of political factors. On the morning of Monday, Hu was seen along with the Chinese People's Liberation Army's other top leaders in the hospital, where he paid his final respects to Jiang before the latter was cremated, as seen in the footage by the state broadcaster CCTV. Jintao appeared frail as he stood next to Xi as the officials thrice bowed before the body of Jiang. Later, Hu was unsteadily walking with an attendant's help as the cadres were seen walking around the funeral display and expressing their grief to Jiang's widow. ALSO READ| China operating over 100 police stations in foreign countries, report says At the high-attention-grabbing Congress, the premier was anointed as the party's general secretary for a period of another five years, breaking the norm of the president stepping down after completing two terms. It was highly speculated that Hu's dramatic exit was aimed at sending a strong political signal to the leaders who might be opposing the coronation of Xi. (With inputs from agencies)

China's former leader Hu Jintao makes first public appearance after dramatic Congress exit

Votes will be cast for 89 assembly seats in the Indian state of Gujarat tomorrow, on Thursday (December 1). Since 1995, the BJP has held on to power in Gujarat, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to keep his party's winning ways in his own state going.

Gujarat Elections 2022: Check full list of BJP, Congress and AAP candidates, their constituencies

Paolo Maino, the mother of Sonia Gandhi, the leader of India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, passed away in Italy.

According to a PTI report, Maino, who was in her 90s, passed away at her home in Italy on August 27. Her funeral was held on Tuesday (30th&nbsp;August).

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter to announce the demise of party president's mother. He wrote: "Smt. Sonia Gandhi's mother, Mrs. Paola Maino passed away at her home in Italy on Saturday the 27th August, 2022. The funeral took place yesterday".

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Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s mother, Mrs. Paola Maino passed away at her home in Italy on Saturday the 27th August, 2022. The funeral took place yesterday.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1564938856549720066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Reportedly, Sonia Gandhi is already abroad for a medical checkup along with her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and was also visiting her ailing mother.

The trio departed on August 23 from India. According to IANS, Rahul Gandhi will be back soon to take part in a Congress rally on September 4 in the national capital.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi belongs to Lusiana, a historically Cimbrian-speaking village about 35 km from Vicenza in Veneto, Italy. She came to India in 1968 following her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi, son of India's former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

India's&nbsp;incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to offer his condolences. Many INC leaders and party workers also offered prayers for the departed soul.

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Condolences to Sonia Gandhi Ji on the passing away of her mother, Mrs. Paola Maino. May her soul rest in peace. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the entire family.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1564968124277002242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Respected Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s mother, Mrs. Paola Maino passed away. 
May Departed soul rest in peace 🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/priyankagandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@priyankagandhi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INCIndia</a> <a href="https://t.co/RY7pgs0oO6">pic.twitter.com/RY7pgs0oO6</a>
— Akhilesh (@AkhileshLY) <a href="https://twitter.com/AkhileshLY/status/1564957461953781760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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It is learnt that @priyankagandhiji's and <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> Ji's Grand mother and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoniaGandhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SoniaGandhi</a> ji 's mother has passed away. 
My heartfelt condolences to them . Prayers for her soul Rest in Peace. <a href="https://t.co/bQRCPWXRmD">pic.twitter.com/bQRCPWXRmD</a>
— Sunil Ahire (@SunilAh64145529) <a href="https://twitter.com/SunilAh64145529/status/1564952242649800704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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RIP Mrs.Paola Maino. 
 
Our deepest condolences to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and family. <a href="https://t.co/e1Tz9DIQPn">pic.twitter.com/e1Tz9DIQPn</a>
— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCKerala/status/1564962088929628160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)

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Paolo Maino, the mother of Sonia Gandhi, the leader of India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, passed away in Italy. According to a PTI report, Maino, who was in her 90s, passed away at her home in Italy on August 27.

Paolo Maino, the mother of Sonia Gandhi, the leader of India's main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, passed away in Italy. According to a PTI report, Maino, who was in her 90s, passed away at her home in Italy on August 27. Her funeral was held on Tuesday (30th August). Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter to announce the demise of party president's mother. He wrote: "Smt. Sonia Gandhi's mother, Mrs. Paola Maino passed away at her home in Italy on Saturday the 27th August, 2022. The funeral took place yesterday". Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s mother, Mrs. Paola Maino passed away at her home in Italy on Saturday the 27th August, 2022. The funeral took place yesterday. — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 31, 2022 × Reportedly, Sonia Gandhi is already abroad for a medical checkup along with her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and was also visiting her ailing mother. The trio departed on August 23 from India. According to IANS, Rahul Gandhi will be back soon to take part in a Congress rally on September 4 in the national capital. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi belongs to Lusiana, a historically Cimbrian-speaking village about 35 km from Vicenza in Veneto, Italy. She came to India in 1968 following her marriage to Rajiv Gandhi, son of India's former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. India's incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to offer his condolences. Many INC leaders and party workers also offered prayers for the departed soul. Condolences to Sonia Gandhi Ji on the passing away of her mother, Mrs. Paola Maino. May her soul rest in peace. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the entire family. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2022 × Respected Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s mother, Mrs. Paola Maino passed away. May Departed soul rest in peace 🙏@RahulGandhi@priyankagandhi@INCIndia pic.twitter.com/RY7pgs0oO6 — Akhilesh (@AkhileshLY) August 31, 2022 × It is learnt that @priyankagandhiji's and @RahulGandhi Ji's Grand mother and #SoniaGandhi ji 's mother has passed away. My heartfelt condolences to them . Prayers for her soul Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/bQRCPWXRmD — Sunil Ahire (@SunilAh64145529) August 31, 2022 × RIP Mrs.Paola Maino. Our deepest condolences to Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and family. pic.twitter.com/e1Tz9DIQPn — Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) August 31, 2022 × (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

INC chief Sonia Gandhi's mother Paolo Maino passes away; PM Narendra Modi offers condolences

Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former aide, was on Friday (July 22) found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to testify before lawmakers investigating the assault on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.&nbsp;

The former White House Chief Strategist, who led Trump's 2016 presidential election campaign, is guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress. First, refusal to appear for a deposition; second, refusal to produce documents.&nbsp;

According to federal law, Bannon faces a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail. Although, the sentencing will be at a later date.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-and-russia-sign-food-crisis-deal-to-restart-grain-exports-499802">Ukraine and Russia sign food crisis deal to restart grain exports</a>&nbsp;

As he left the court in Washington, DC, Bannon spoke to reporters. He said that "we may have lost the battle here today, but we're not going to lose the war."&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
"I want to start by thanking the jury. We respect their jury decision today," he added. Referring to the Justice Department's closing argument, Bannon said that "the prosecutor missed one very important phrase – I stand with Trump and the Constitution and I will never back off that, ever."&nbsp;

During the trial, he was among hundreds of people called by a House of Representatives committee to testify. He was asked about the sequence of events that took place when hundreds of Trump supporters stormed Congress on January 6, 2021.&nbsp;

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The 68-year-old Republican strategist did not appear on the summons date or provide requested documents. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Bannon guilty of both misdemeanour charges.&nbsp;

As quoted by media reports, Bannon's&nbsp;attorney David Schoen said they planned to appeal the verdict, calling it a "bullet proof appeal."&nbsp;

"This is bullet proof appeal. Have you ever in another case seen a judge say six times in a case that he thinks the standard for willfulness is wrong,"&nbsp;he told reporters.&nbsp;

"He's saying it doesn't comport with modern jurisprudence, he said it doesn't comport with the standard definition, but he is saying his hands were bound by a 1961 decision. You will see this case reversed on appeal," he added.&nbsp;

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Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former aide, was on Friday (July 22) found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to testify before lawmakers investigating the assault on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former aide, was on Friday (July 22) found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to testify before lawmakers investigating the assault on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The former White House Chief Strategist, who led Trump's 2016 presidential election campaign, is guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress. First, refusal to appear for a deposition; second, refusal to produce documents. According to federal law, Bannon faces a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail. Although, the sentencing will be at a later date. ALSO READ | Ukraine and Russia sign food crisis deal to restart grain exports As he left the court in Washington, DC, Bannon spoke to reporters. He said that "we may have lost the battle here today, but we're not going to lose the war." "I want to start by thanking the jury. We respect their jury decision today," he added. Referring to the Justice Department's closing argument, Bannon said that "the prosecutor missed one very important phrase – I stand with Trump and the Constitution and I will never back off that, ever." During the trial, he was among hundreds of people called by a House of Representatives committee to testify. He was asked about the sequence of events that took place when hundreds of Trump supporters stormed Congress on January 6, 2021. ALSO READ | Criminal proceedings launched against pregnant Russian councillor, a Navalny ally The 68-year-old Republican strategist did not appear on the summons date or provide requested documents. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Bannon guilty of both misdemeanour charges. As quoted by media reports, Bannon's attorney David Schoen said they planned to appeal the verdict, calling it a "bullet proof appeal." "This is bullet proof appeal. Have you ever in another case seen a judge say six times in a case that he thinks the standard for willfulness is wrong," he told reporters. "He's saying it doesn't comport with modern jurisprudence, he said it doesn't comport with the standard definition, but he is saying his hands were bound by a 1961 decision. You will see this case reversed on appeal," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ex-Trump aide Steve Bannon found guilty of contempt of Congress

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday questioned Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper. The day was a show of strength for the party, with street protests and leaders courting arrest across the country.

The questioning of the 75-year-old, who is recovering from Covid, lasted for about two hours and the session ended on her request, officials said. She is likely to be called for another round of questioning in the next couple of days, they said.

The session was conducted keeping in mind Covid protocol with everyone participating equipped with a Covid negative certificate.

Sonia Gandhi was questioned by the same assistant director-level investigation officer who interrogated her son Rahul Gandhi in the case -- related to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns National Herald. A woman officer was part of the questioning team

The summons to the Congress president took political centrestage in Parliament, where opposition leaders raised the issue, and on the streets with party workers staging massive protests.

As parts of central Delhi went into gridlock, Sonia Gandhi reached the federal probe agency's headquarters in Lutyens Delhi's A P J Abdul Kalam Road a little after noon escorted by her Z+ category CRPF security cover.

The Congress president, seen wearing a mask, was accompanied by her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Priyanka Gandhi was allowed to stay in the Pravartan Bhawan headquarters of the agency, away from the questioning room, so she could be with her mother in case of a health issue and give her medicines. However, Rahul Gandhi left soon after.

Ahead of Sonia Gandhi's appearance, Delhi Police deployed a huge force, including CRPF and RAF personnel, and barricaded the entire over one kilometre stretch between her residence and the ED office.

The Congress party slammed the agency's action against its top leadership and termed it "political vendetta".

"All Congress MPs and CWC members have courted mass arrest outside our party headquarters in a show of collective solidarity with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, a target of 'Vishguru's' political vendetta, said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh.

His party colleague P Chidambaram said the ED is not higher than the Supreme Court.

"What is that the ED wants to 'investigate' that will not be examined by the SC," he asked.

&nbsp;Other Opposition leaders voiced their protest too. Leaders of 13 political parties, including the DMK, Shiv Sena, RJD and the Left, met at Parliament House and issued a statement accusing the government of unleashing a relentless campaign of vendetta against its political opponents and critics through the mischievous misuse of investigative agencies.

Prominent leaders of a number of political parties have been deliberately targeted and subjected to harassment in an unprecedented manner," the leaders said.

The opposition's presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha said he strongly condemned the ED's attitude to humiliate political leaders.

The officers of ED shd have gone to her residence even if they had questions to ask of Sonia Gandhi, he said on Twitter.

"Yet again the Extended Department (ED) of BJP is insulating the party from people's anger towards price rise, joblessness and inflation. By repeatedly calling opposition leaders with zero evidence against them is deliberate political vendetta carried out on behalf of the BJP," Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi.

The issue echoed in Parliament as well where the Congress and other Opposition parties sought to raise the issue.

With tempers running high, Union minister Pralhad Joshi asked whether the Opposition party believes everyone is equal before the law or not.

"Is she some 'super human' because she is the Congress president?" he asked.

The Congress chief had been summoned twice earlier but sought an exemption on grounds of Covid. Her statement was recorded by the agency under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The probe relates to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

Rahul Gandhi was questioned by the agency in the case for over 50 hours in sessions spread across five days last month.

The move to question the Gandhis was initiated after the ED late last year registered a fresh case under criminal provisions of the PMLA. This was after a trial court here took cognisance of an Income Tax department probe against Young Indian on the basis of a private criminal complaint by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are among the promoters and majority shareholders of Young Indian. Like her son, the Congress president too has 38 per cent shareholding.

Swamy had accused the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds, with YI paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that AJL owed to the Congress.

In February last year, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Gandhis for their response on Swamy's plea.

Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal were questioned by the ED in the case in April.

The Congress party has maintained that there has been no wrongdoing and Young Indian is a "not-for-profit" company established under section 25 of the Companies Act and hence there can be no question of money laundering.

It is understood that Rahul Gandhi, during his deposition before the ED, stuck to the position that there was no personal acquisition of assets by himself or his family.

According to the ED, assets worth about Rs 800 crore are "owned" by the AJL and it wants to know from the Gandhis how a not-for-profit company like Young Indian was undertaking commercial activities of renting out its land and building assets. 
&nbsp;

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The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday questioned Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper. The day was a show of strength for the party, with street protests and leaders courting arrest across the country.

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday questioned Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in a money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper. The day was a show of strength for the party, with street protests and leaders courting arrest across the country. The questioning of the 75-year-old, who is recovering from Covid, lasted for about two hours and the session ended on her request, officials said. She is likely to be called for another round of questioning in the next couple of days, they said. The session was conducted keeping in mind Covid protocol with everyone participating equipped with a Covid negative certificate. Sonia Gandhi was questioned by the same assistant director-level investigation officer who interrogated her son Rahul Gandhi in the case -- related to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns National Herald. A woman officer was part of the questioning team The summons to the Congress president took political centrestage in Parliament, where opposition leaders raised the issue, and on the streets with party workers staging massive protests. As parts of central Delhi went into gridlock, Sonia Gandhi reached the federal probe agency's headquarters in Lutyens Delhi's A P J Abdul Kalam Road a little after noon escorted by her Z+ category CRPF security cover. The Congress president, seen wearing a mask, was accompanied by her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Priyanka Gandhi was allowed to stay in the Pravartan Bhawan headquarters of the agency, away from the questioning room, so she could be with her mother in case of a health issue and give her medicines. However, Rahul Gandhi left soon after. Ahead of Sonia Gandhi's appearance, Delhi Police deployed a huge force, including CRPF and RAF personnel, and barricaded the entire over one kilometre stretch between her residence and the ED office. The Congress party slammed the agency's action against its top leadership and termed it "political vendetta". "All Congress MPs and CWC members have courted mass arrest outside our party headquarters in a show of collective solidarity with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, a target of 'Vishguru's' political vendetta, said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh. His party colleague P Chidambaram said the ED is not higher than the Supreme Court. "What is that the ED wants to 'investigate' that will not be examined by the SC," he asked. Other Opposition leaders voiced their protest too. Leaders of 13 political parties, including the DMK, Shiv Sena, RJD and the Left, met at Parliament House and issued a statement accusing the government of unleashing a relentless campaign of vendetta against its political opponents and critics through the mischievous misuse of investigative agencies. Prominent leaders of a number of political parties have been deliberately targeted and subjected to harassment in an unprecedented manner," the leaders said. The opposition's presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha said he strongly condemned the ED's attitude to humiliate political leaders. The officers of ED shd have gone to her residence even if they had questions to ask of Sonia Gandhi, he said on Twitter. "Yet again the Extended Department (ED) of BJP is insulating the party from people's anger towards price rise, joblessness and inflation. By repeatedly calling opposition leaders with zero evidence against them is deliberate political vendetta carried out on behalf of the BJP," Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi. The issue echoed in Parliament as well where the Congress and other Opposition parties sought to raise the issue. With tempers running high, Union minister Pralhad Joshi asked whether the Opposition party believes everyone is equal before the law or not. "Is she some 'super human' because she is the Congress president?" he asked. The Congress chief had been summoned twice earlier but sought an exemption on grounds of Covid. Her statement was recorded by the agency under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The probe relates to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper. Rahul Gandhi was questioned by the agency in the case for over 50 hours in sessions spread across five days last month. The move to question the Gandhis was initiated after the ED late last year registered a fresh case under criminal provisions of the PMLA. This was after a trial court here took cognisance of an Income Tax department probe against Young Indian on the basis of a private criminal complaint by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are among the promoters and majority shareholders of Young Indian. Like her son, the Congress president too has 38 per cent shareholding. Swamy had accused the Gandhis and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds, with YI paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that AJL owed to the Congress. In February last year, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Gandhis for their response on Swamy's plea. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal were questioned by the ED in the case in April. The Congress party has maintained that there has been no wrongdoing and Young Indian is a "not-for-profit" company established under section 25 of the Companies Act and hence there can be no question of money laundering. It is understood that Rahul Gandhi, during his deposition before the ED, stuck to the position that there was no personal acquisition of assets by himself or his family. According to the ED, assets worth about Rs 800 crore are "owned" by the AJL and it wants to know from the Gandhis how a not-for-profit company like Young Indian was undertaking commercial activities of renting out its land and building assets. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ED questions Sonia for two hours, Congress uses occasion to stage show of strength

It was a close contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition led by Congress for the 16 Rajya Sabha seats (India’s Upper House in parliament) across Indian states.

In some states, BJP won the elections comfortably, while the Congress and other opposition parties gave a tough fight in other states. There were also complaints of rules violation and cross-voting.

The victory is significant for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party ahead of the Presidential elections, where members of both Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha vote.

The latest electoral victory is expected to help the BJP's nominee for Indian president (yet to be declared)&nbsp;sail through without any problems, since the ruling party commands a majority in Lok Sabha and now in Rajya Sabha as well.

The polls took place in four states—Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana.

The BJP won 3 seats out of 6 in Maharashtra, and 3 out of 4 in Karnataka. In Haryana, the BJP won 1 seat, while an Independent candidate backed by the saffron party won the other out of 2 seats.

The Congress posted a big win in Rajasthan, winning all the 4 seats, while gaining 1 each in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra, the ruling Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance suffered a jolt as the main opposition BJP won three of the six Rajya Sabha seats in the state, the results of which were announced early Saturday.

The BJP winners include Union minister Piyush Goyal, former state minister Anil Bonde, and Dhananjay Mahadik.

Shiv Sena's ubiquitous face Sanjay Raut, NCP's Praful Patel, a former union minister, and Congress' Imran Pratapgarhi also won the fiercely-fought elections.

Former MP Dhananjay Mahadik of the BJP defeated Shiv Sena's Sanjay Pawar for the sixth seat.

The Congress suffered a major setback in Haryana where BJP's Krishan Lal Panwar and the saffron party-backed Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma won the two seats, while the grand old party's Ajay Maken, a former union minister, lost.

Returning Officer R K Nandal said Panwar got 36 votes, while Sharma got 23 first preference votes and 6.6 votes transferred by the BJP, taking his tally to 29.6. It was a photo-finish as Maken got 29 votes, but lost on account of having failed to secure any second preference votes.

The main opposition Congress managed to win only one of the two seats for which its nominees were in the fray, while the JD(S) drew a blank.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, actor-politician Jaggesh, and MLC Lehar Singh Siroya of the BJP, and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh of the Congress were declared victorious.

Sitharaman and Ramesh have been re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.

There was suspense over the outcome of the fight for the fourth seat, which witnessed a tight contest between all the three major political parties none of which had enough votes for an easy win.

However, BJP's Siroya triumphed over Mansoor Ali Khan of the Congress and D Kupendra Reddy (JDS), apparently aided by cross-voting from rival parties and the help of Independents.

In Rajasthan, the ruling Congress won three of the four seats and the BJP one.

(With inputs from agencies)

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It was a close contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition led by Congress for the 16 Rajya Sabha seats (India’s Upper House in parliament) across Indian states.

It was a close contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition led by Congress for the 16 Rajya Sabha seats (India’s Upper House in parliament) across Indian states. In some states, BJP won the elections comfortably, while the Congress and other opposition parties gave a tough fight in other states. There were also complaints of rules violation and cross-voting. The victory is significant for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party ahead of the Presidential elections, where members of both Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha vote. The latest electoral victory is expected to help the BJP's nominee for Indian president (yet to be declared) sail through without any problems, since the ruling party commands a majority in Lok Sabha and now in Rajya Sabha as well. The polls took place in four states—Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana. The BJP won 3 seats out of 6 in Maharashtra, and 3 out of 4 in Karnataka. In Haryana, the BJP won 1 seat, while an Independent candidate backed by the saffron party won the other out of 2 seats. The Congress posted a big win in Rajasthan, winning all the 4 seats, while gaining 1 each in Karnataka and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, the ruling Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance suffered a jolt as the main opposition BJP won three of the six Rajya Sabha seats in the state, the results of which were announced early Saturday. The BJP winners include Union minister Piyush Goyal, former state minister Anil Bonde, and Dhananjay Mahadik. Shiv Sena's ubiquitous face Sanjay Raut, NCP's Praful Patel, a former union minister, and Congress' Imran Pratapgarhi also won the fiercely-fought elections. Former MP Dhananjay Mahadik of the BJP defeated Shiv Sena's Sanjay Pawar for the sixth seat. The Congress suffered a major setback in Haryana where BJP's Krishan Lal Panwar and the saffron party-backed Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma won the two seats, while the grand old party's Ajay Maken, a former union minister, lost. Returning Officer R K Nandal said Panwar got 36 votes, while Sharma got 23 first preference votes and 6.6 votes transferred by the BJP, taking his tally to 29.6. It was a photo-finish as Maken got 29 votes, but lost on account of having failed to secure any second preference votes. The main opposition Congress managed to win only one of the two seats for which its nominees were in the fray, while the JD(S) drew a blank. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, actor-politician Jaggesh, and MLC Lehar Singh Siroya of the BJP, and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh of the Congress were declared victorious. Sitharaman and Ramesh have been re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. There was suspense over the outcome of the fight for the fourth seat, which witnessed a tight contest between all the three major political parties none of which had enough votes for an easy win. However, BJP's Siroya triumphed over Mansoor Ali Khan of the Congress and D Kupendra Reddy (JDS), apparently aided by cross-voting from rival parties and the help of Independents. In Rajasthan, the ruling Congress won three of the four seats and the BJP one. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Rajya Sabha polls: Prime Minister Modi's BJP wins big, major upset for Congress

Kapil Sibal, a senior Congress leader and former union minister, revealed he has quit the party on May 16 as he filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate endorsed by the Samajwadi Party (SP).

"I was a Congress leader but no longer," Sibal said while filing his nomination in Lucknow in the presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. "We are all coming together for 2024," he added.

Sibal has not officially joined the SP and is currently unaffiliated with any political party. The Congress wished him "peace in his new party."

Akhilesh Yadav said that Sibal had brought up several important matters in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the past.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Kapil Sibal filed nomination for Rajya Sabha elections, with the support of SP, in presence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav &amp; party MP Ram Gopal Yadav 
 
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The next round of Rajya Sabha elections is scheduled for June, with 11 seats from Uttar Pradesh on the ballot.

Sibal is the third Congress leader to resign within two weeks of the party's Udaipur brainstorming session on rebirth ahead of state elections and the general election in 2024. Gujarat Congress leader Hardik Patel and veteran Punjab Congress leader Sunil Jakhar had both quit from the grand-old party before him.

Sibal, a former union minister, was a member of the so-called G-23 band of Congress leaders who pushed for the party's organisational reforms. He, like many other leaders, has long been open about his dissatisfaction with the Congress party.

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Kapil Sibal, a senior Congress leader and former union minister, revealed he has quit the party on May 16 as he filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate endorsed by the Samajwadi Party (SP).

Kapil Sibal, a senior Congress leader and former union minister, revealed he has quit the party on May 16 as he filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate endorsed by the Samajwadi Party (SP). "I was a Congress leader but no longer," Sibal said while filing his nomination in Lucknow in the presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. "We are all coming together for 2024," he added. Sibal has not officially joined the SP and is currently unaffiliated with any political party. The Congress wished him "peace in his new party." Akhilesh Yadav said that Sibal had brought up several important matters in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the past. #WATCH | Kapil Sibal filed nomination for Rajya Sabha elections, with the support of SP, in presence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav & party MP Ram Gopal Yadav He says, "I've filed nomination as Independent candidate. I have always wanted to be an independent voice in the country" pic.twitter.com/HLMVXYccHR — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 25, 2022 × The next round of Rajya Sabha elections is scheduled for June, with 11 seats from Uttar Pradesh on the ballot. Sibal is the third Congress leader to resign within two weeks of the party's Udaipur brainstorming session on rebirth ahead of state elections and the general election in 2024. Gujarat Congress leader Hardik Patel and veteran Punjab Congress leader Sunil Jakhar had both quit from the grand-old party before him. Sibal, a former union minister, was a member of the so-called G-23 band of Congress leaders who pushed for the party's organisational reforms. He, like many other leaders, has long been open about his dissatisfaction with the Congress party. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Kapil Sibal says he has quit Congress on May 16, files Rajya Sabha nomination

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a 'three-day, three-nation' tour to Europe, appeared to take a shot at the Congress on Monday, stating that no Prime Minister will have to bemoan the fact that he sends one rupee but only 15 paise reaches the intended recipient.

"Woh kaunsa panja tha jo 85 paise ghis leta tha (which palm used to take away 85 paise)," he joked, without mentioning former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

During a visit to the drought-stricken Kalahandi district in Odisha in 1985, Rajiv Gandhi, India's youngest prime minister, remarked that barely 15 paise of every rupee spent by the government reached the intended beneficiary.

He claimed that his government had transferred more than Rs 22 trillion to beneficiaries through direct benefit transfers in the last eight years.

PM Modi told the Indian diaspora in Berlin that a resurgent India had resolved to move forward with determination, and he invited the Indian community to assist the country in making significant progress abroad.

He claimed that India's youthful and aspirational citizens recognised the need of political stability in achieving speedier development and that they had ended three decades of upheaval with the push of a button.

Recounting the success of the digital payment mechanism, the Prime Minister said India's share in real time digital payments world over is more than 40 per cent. He said the government was also using the digital payment mechanism to make payments to farmers directly in their bank accounts.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a 'three-day, three-nation' tour to Europe, appeared to take a shot at the Congress on Monday, stating that no Prime Minister will have to bemoan the fact that he sends one rupee but only 15 paise reaches the intended recipient.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a 'three-day, three-nation' tour to Europe, appeared to take a shot at the Congress on Monday, stating that no Prime Minister will have to bemoan the fact that he sends one rupee but only 15 paise reaches the intended recipient. "Woh kaunsa panja tha jo 85 paise ghis leta tha (which palm used to take away 85 paise)," he joked, without mentioning former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. During a visit to the drought-stricken Kalahandi district in Odisha in 1985, Rajiv Gandhi, India's youngest prime minister, remarked that barely 15 paise of every rupee spent by the government reached the intended beneficiary. He claimed that his government had transferred more than Rs 22 trillion to beneficiaries through direct benefit transfers in the last eight years. PM Modi told the Indian diaspora in Berlin that a resurgent India had resolved to move forward with determination, and he invited the Indian community to assist the country in making significant progress abroad. He claimed that India's youthful and aspirational citizens recognised the need of political stability in achieving speedier development and that they had ended three decades of upheaval with the push of a button. Recounting the success of the digital payment mechanism, the Prime Minister said India's share in real time digital payments world over is more than 40 per cent. He said the government was also using the digital payment mechanism to make payments to farmers directly in their bank accounts. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian PM Modi quotes Rajiv Gandhi’s ‘15 paise in one rupee’ remark to attack Congress

A report has raised an alarm over a “plot to destroy democracy” in the United States.

The annual report titled "Under Siege: The Plot to Destroy Democracy” has been released by nonpartisan civil rights organisation National Urban League (NUL).

It claims an “insidious and coordinated” effort between lawmakers and extremist groups is currently underway trying to threaten the American democracy, reports The Guardian.

The study calls for “the urgent case for a national mobilisation to protect and defend our most sacred constitutional right”.

NUL notes that four methods are being used to suppress the democratic rights of the people. They are: gerrymandering, voter suppression, misinformation and intimidation.

The report pointed out that in 2021, 20 states sought to redraw the boundaries of constituencies for the Congressional elections by leveraging census data.

It claimed that the new maps were proposed by Republican state lawmakers, adding that it amounted to “modern-day gerrymandering that strips voting power away from communities with Black and brown voters”.

The NUL report further claimed that 34 laws were passed in 19 states between January 1 and December 7, 2021, that sought to dilute the voting powers of the people.

Among the restrictions used for this purpose includes, shortening the window to apply and deliver mail ballots, laws limiting absentee voting lists, restricting assistance in returning a voter’s mail ballot, reducing the availability of mail ballot drop boxes, and increasing barriers for voters with disabilities, the research notes.

“The burden of these laws – strict photo ID requirements, the elimination or restriction of Sunday voting, voting by mail and early voting, and the closing of polling locations – overwhelmingly falls on Black voters,” Marc Morial, president and CEO of NUL,&nbsp;said&nbsp;in the report.

“Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the United States has seen a steady rise in disenfranchisement practices giving one party an edge over the other. But never before has the nation seen such an insidious and coordinated campaign to obliterate the very principle of ‘one person, one vote’ from the political process.”

(With inputs from agencies)

A report has raised an alarm over a “plot to destroy democracy” in the United States. The annual report titled "Under Siege: The Plot to Destroy Democracy” has been released by nonpartisan civil rights organisation National Urban League (NUL).

A report has raised an alarm over a “plot to destroy democracy” in the United States. The annual report titled "Under Siege: The Plot to Destroy Democracy” has been released by nonpartisan civil rights organisation National Urban League (NUL). It claims an “insidious and coordinated” effort between lawmakers and extremist groups is currently underway trying to threaten the American democracy, reports The Guardian. The study calls for “the urgent case for a national mobilisation to protect and defend our most sacred constitutional right”. NUL notes that four methods are being used to suppress the democratic rights of the people. They are: gerrymandering, voter suppression, misinformation and intimidation. The report pointed out that in 2021, 20 states sought to redraw the boundaries of constituencies for the Congressional elections by leveraging census data. It claimed that the new maps were proposed by Republican state lawmakers, adding that it amounted to “modern-day gerrymandering that strips voting power away from communities with Black and brown voters”. The NUL report further claimed that 34 laws were passed in 19 states between January 1 and December 7, 2021, that sought to dilute the voting powers of the people. Among the restrictions used for this purpose includes, shortening the window to apply and deliver mail ballots, laws limiting absentee voting lists, restricting assistance in returning a voter’s mail ballot, reducing the availability of mail ballot drop boxes, and increasing barriers for voters with disabilities, the research notes. “The burden of these laws – strict photo ID requirements, the elimination or restriction of Sunday voting, voting by mail and early voting, and the closing of polling locations – overwhelmingly falls on Black voters,” Marc Morial, president and CEO of NUL, said in the report. “Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the United States has seen a steady rise in disenfranchisement practices giving one party an edge over the other. But never before has the nation seen such an insidious and coordinated campaign to obliterate the very principle of ‘one person, one vote’ from the political process.” (With inputs from agencies)

US report warns about gerrymandering, voter suppression, misinformation and intimidation

President Volodomyr Zelensky&nbsp;of Ukraine made an urgent and emotional appeal to Congress on Wednesday to come to his country’s aid as it fights off a brutal Russian invasion, asking help protecting its air space, military assistance and stronger sanctions as part of what he cast as a war for the cause of democracy itself.

In a remarkably direct appeal by a wartime leader to policymakers in Washington, Zelensky&nbsp;addressed lawmakers on a large screen in a movie theater-style auditorium under the Capitol, invoking the memories of Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — when the United States came under attack — as he pleaded for support saying, “We need you right now.”

In remarks translated from Ukrainian, he said starkly: “I call on you to do more.”

Wearing a green T-shirt and seated next to a Ukrainian flag, Zelensky tailored his remarks to Americans and those who represent them, borrowing a phrase from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — “I have a dream” — as he asked for a no-fly zone over his country. “I have a need” to protect the sky, he said.

That request had little chance of being approved, given that it would thrust American pilots into direct confrontation with the Russians, and Zelensky&nbsp;quickly pivoted to something to which Republicans and Democrats have been far more receptive: asking for more weapons to enable his people to keep up the fight themselves.

He also asked lawmakers to get companies in their states and districts to send aid directly to Ukraine if they could.

Zelensky, whose background is in the entertainment industry, wrapped up his 18-minute speech with a graphic and wrenching video showing images of his war-torn country, including bombs exploding in cities around Ukraine, and civilians bloodied and killed by Russian attacks.

He concluded by speaking in English, calling upon the United States to take up what he portrayed as an obligation, given its place on the world stage to intervene in the conflict.

“To be the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace,” he said, as members of Congress grew visibly emotional.

As he addressed them directly, lawmakers sat rapt in their seats. Some scribbled notes, taking down quotations from his address, and many sniffled back tears.

“There was a collective holding of the breath,” said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.

President Volodomyr Zelensky of Ukraine made an urgent and emotional appeal to Congress on Wednesday to come to his country’s aid as it fights off a brutal Russian invasion, asking help protecting its air space, military assistance and stronger sanctions as part of what he cast as a war for the cause of democracy itself.

President Volodomyr Zelensky of Ukraine made an urgent and emotional appeal to Congress on Wednesday to come to his country’s aid as it fights off a brutal Russian invasion, asking help protecting its air space, military assistance and stronger sanctions as part of what he cast as a war for the cause of democracy itself. In a remarkably direct appeal by a wartime leader to policymakers in Washington, Zelensky addressed lawmakers on a large screen in a movie theater-style auditorium under the Capitol, invoking the memories of Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — when the United States came under attack — as he pleaded for support saying, “We need you right now.” In remarks translated from Ukrainian, he said starkly: “I call on you to do more.” Wearing a green T-shirt and seated next to a Ukrainian flag, Zelensky tailored his remarks to Americans and those who represent them, borrowing a phrase from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — “I have a dream” — as he asked for a no-fly zone over his country. “I have a need” to protect the sky, he said. That request had little chance of being approved, given that it would thrust American pilots into direct confrontation with the Russians, and Zelensky quickly pivoted to something to which Republicans and Democrats have been far more receptive: asking for more weapons to enable his people to keep up the fight themselves. He also asked lawmakers to get companies in their states and districts to send aid directly to Ukraine if they could. Zelensky, whose background is in the entertainment industry, wrapped up his 18-minute speech with a graphic and wrenching video showing images of his war-torn country, including bombs exploding in cities around Ukraine, and civilians bloodied and killed by Russian attacks. He concluded by speaking in English, calling upon the United States to take up what he portrayed as an obligation, given its place on the world stage to intervene in the conflict. “To be the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace,” he said, as members of Congress grew visibly emotional. As he addressed them directly, lawmakers sat rapt in their seats. Some scribbled notes, taking down quotations from his address, and many sniffled back tears. “There was a collective holding of the breath,” said Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.

Zelensky delivers plea to Congress: 'I call on you to do more'

A dispute among members of president-elect Xiomara Castro's party in the Honduran Congress turned violent on Friday. Several lawmakers took to fighting to put their point forward. &nbsp;&nbsp;

This comes as 20 rebel members proposed Jorge Calix, who was one of their cohorts, as provisional Congress president. On this, the legislators from her leftist Libre party protested. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The loyalists of Castro claimed it to be a violation of the pact with coalition partner of Libre. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unruly-passengers-force-us-plane-bound-for-tel-aviv-to-turn-around-mid-flight-what-triggered-it-446659" hreflang="en">Unruly passengers force US plane bound for Tel Aviv to turn around mid-flight. What triggered it?</a>

When Calix was being sworn in, angry Libre legislators forced their way to the podium amid cries of "traitors" and "Xiomara!". This forced him to flee under a flurry of punches, pushing and shoving. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Since election in November 2021, it was the first sitting of the 128-member Congress. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The crisis began on Thursday when Castro called 50 legislators of her party for a meeting to ask them to support Luis Redondo of the Salvador party of Honduras (PSH) as Congress president. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stray-bullet-causes-havoc-in-us-claims-life-of-uk-traveller-lying-in-bed-find-out-what-happened-446645" hreflang="en">Stray bullet causes havoc in US, claims life of UK traveller lying in bed. Find out what happened</a>

The 20 rebel members did not attend the meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Libre leader Gilberto Rios told AFP on Friday that the 20 are backed by groups that wish to stop Castro's promised anti-corruption campaign, including people in "organised crime" and "drug trafficking." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A dispute among members of president-elect Xiomara Castro's party in the Honduran Congress turned violent on Friday. Several lawmakers took to fighting to put their point forward.

A dispute among members of president-elect Xiomara Castro's party in the Honduran Congress turned violent on Friday. Several lawmakers took to fighting to put their point forward. This comes as 20 rebel members proposed Jorge Calix, who was one of their cohorts, as provisional Congress president. On this, the legislators from her leftist Libre party protested. The loyalists of Castro claimed it to be a violation of the pact with coalition partner of Libre. Also Read: Unruly passengers force US plane bound for Tel Aviv to turn around mid-flight. What triggered it? When Calix was being sworn in, angry Libre legislators forced their way to the podium amid cries of "traitors" and "Xiomara!". This forced him to flee under a flurry of punches, pushing and shoving. Since election in November 2021, it was the first sitting of the 128-member Congress. The crisis began on Thursday when Castro called 50 legislators of her party for a meeting to ask them to support Luis Redondo of the Salvador party of Honduras (PSH) as Congress president. Also Read: Stray bullet causes havoc in US, claims life of UK traveller lying in bed. Find out what happened The 20 rebel members did not attend the meeting. Libre leader Gilberto Rios told AFP on Friday that the 20 are backed by groups that wish to stop Castro's promised anti-corruption campaign, including people in "organised crime" and "drug trafficking." (With inputs from agencies)

Dispute among president-elect Castro's party members in Honduras Congress turns violent

After a rally in Ferozepur was called off due to protesters blocking his route, BJP President JP Nadda slammed the Punjab Congress administration for having a "cheap mentality" and adopting "all possible methods" to undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi's programmes.

What's more concerning, according to Nadda, is that the occurrence was also a major security breach.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/major-lapse-in-indian-pm-narendra-modis-security-convoy-stuck-on-a-flyover-for-20-minutes-442397">Also read | Major lapse in Indian PM Narendra Modi's security, convoy stuck on a flyover for 20 minutes</a>

"What is extremely worrisome is that this incident was also a big security lapse as far as the PM is concerned. Protestors were given access to the Prime Minister's route while the Punjab CS (chief secretary) and DGP gave assurances to SPG that the route is clear. To make matters worse, CM Channi refused to get on the phone to either address the matter or solve it. The tactics used by the Congress government in Punjab would pain anyone who believes in democratic principles," he said in a tweet.&nbsp;

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What is extremely worrisome is that this incident was also a big security lapse as far as the PM is concerned. Protestors were given access to the Prime Minister’s route while the Punjab CS and DGP gave assurances to SPG that the route is clear.
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To make matters worse, CM Channi refused to get on the phone to either address the matter or solve it. 
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— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) <a href="https://twitter.com/JPNadda/status/1478656918251966464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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According to Nadda, the state police were ordered to block people from attending Modi's rally, and a large number of buses were stranded as a result of the police's high-handedness in collusion with the demonstrators.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After a rally in Ferozepur was called off due to protesters blocking his route, BJP President JP Nadda slammed the Punjab Congress administration for having a "cheap mentality" and adopting "all possible methods" to undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi's programmes.

After a rally in Ferozepur was called off due to protesters blocking his route, BJP President JP Nadda slammed the Punjab Congress administration for having a "cheap mentality" and adopting "all possible methods" to undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi's programmes. What's more concerning, according to Nadda, is that the occurrence was also a major security breach. Also read | Major lapse in Indian PM Narendra Modi's security, convoy stuck on a flyover for 20 minutes "What is extremely worrisome is that this incident was also a big security lapse as far as the PM is concerned. Protestors were given access to the Prime Minister's route while the Punjab CS (chief secretary) and DGP gave assurances to SPG that the route is clear. To make matters worse, CM Channi refused to get on the phone to either address the matter or solve it. The tactics used by the Congress government in Punjab would pain anyone who believes in democratic principles," he said in a tweet. What is extremely worrisome is that this incident was also a big security lapse as far as the PM is concerned. Protestors were given access to the Prime Minister’s route while the Punjab CS and DGP gave assurances to SPG that the route is clear. — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 5, 2022 × To make matters worse, CM Channi refused to get on the phone to either address the matter or solve it. The tactics used by the Congress government in Punjab would pain any one who believes in democratic principles. — Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 5, 2022 × According to Nadda, the state police were ordered to block people from attending Modi's rally, and a large number of buses were stranded as a result of the police's high-handedness in collusion with the demonstrators. (With inputs from agencies)

'Extremely worrisome': BJP chief Nadda lashes at Congress over breach in security of PM Modi

In an interview on Sunday, US Vice President Kamala Harris warned that if Congress fails to pass voting rights legislation, America will lose its "role model" reputation.

With Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., effectively killing President Biden's Build Back Better bill, the administration appears to be shifting its focus to other policy areas. During the summer, Harris was entrusted with promoting voting rights.

"People around the world watch what we do as America, because we have held ourselves out to be a model of the efficacy of the ability of a democracy to coexist with economic strength and power," Harris said.

"We have been a role model, saying, you can see this, aspire to this, and reject autocracies and autocratic leadership," she added.

She warned that right now, we're about to take ourselves off the map as a role model if we let people destroy one of the most important pillars of democracy, which is free and fair elections. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vice-president-kamala-harris-admits-biden-admin-failed-to-see-omicron-variant-coming-437918">Also read | US Vice President Kamala Harris admits Biden admin ‘failed to see Omicron variant coming’</a>

She pushed for the passage of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

In her most recent remarks on her voting rights mission, she cautioned Americans that unless Congress works together on the bill, the country will be thrown off its pedestal. 
 
Watch | United States: Kamala Harris to become 1st women with presidential powers

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/united-states-kamala-harris-to-become-1st-women-with-presidential-powers-430673/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

While most Americans may not consider voting rights to be an "urgent" issue, Harris believes that the more the administration emphasises the issue, the more people will recognise that some are "suppressing the right of the American people to vote."

(With inputs from agencies)

In an interview on Sunday, US Vice President Kamala Harris warned that if Congress fails to pass voting rights legislation, America will lose its "role model" reputation.

In an interview on Sunday, US Vice President Kamala Harris warned that if Congress fails to pass voting rights legislation, America will lose its "role model" reputation. With Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., effectively killing President Biden's Build Back Better bill, the administration appears to be shifting its focus to other policy areas. During the summer, Harris was entrusted with promoting voting rights. "People around the world watch what we do as America, because we have held ourselves out to be a model of the efficacy of the ability of a democracy to coexist with economic strength and power," Harris said. "We have been a role model, saying, you can see this, aspire to this, and reject autocracies and autocratic leadership," she added. She warned that right now, we're about to take ourselves off the map as a role model if we let people destroy one of the most important pillars of democracy, which is free and fair elections. Also read | US Vice President Kamala Harris admits Biden admin ‘failed to see Omicron variant coming’ She pushed for the passage of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. In her most recent remarks on her voting rights mission, she cautioned Americans that unless Congress works together on the bill, the country will be thrown off its pedestal. Watch | United States: Kamala Harris to become 1st women with presidential powers While most Americans may not consider voting rights to be an "urgent" issue, Harris believes that the more the administration emphasises the issue, the more people will recognise that some are "suppressing the right of the American people to vote." (With inputs from agencies)

US will be 'off the map as a role model' if voting rights law not passed: Kamala Harris

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit by Donald Trump that sought to block Congress from obtaining his tax returns, ruling that the law gives a House committee chairman broad authority to request them despite Trump’s status as a former president.

In a 45-page opinion, Judge Trevor McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, held that the Treasury Department can provide the tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee, which could vote to publish them. McFadden, however, stayed his ruling for 10 days to give Trump time to file an appeal, which he is very likely to do.

Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, first requested copies of Trump’s tax returns in early 2019, after Democrats took over the House. A federal law gives the chairman of that panel broad authority to request any person’s tax returns.

The Trump administration refused to comply, however, and the House eventually filed a lawsuit. After Trump left office this year, Neal issued a fresh request for the ex-president’s tax returns from 2015 to 2020 and the Biden administration issued a Justice Department memorandum saying he was entitled to receive them.

Trump’s lawyers, however, sought an injunction to block the request, saying that it served no legitimate purpose and that the real motive was to expose Trump’s financial information for political gain. Lawyers for the House said there were legislative reasons to seek the returns, including studying whether changes are needed to an Internal Revenue Service program that audits presidents.

Even though many House Democrats have expressed a desire to expose Trump’s tax documents without mentioning the IRS program, that rationale was sufficient under the law, McFadden wrote.

“Even if the former president is right on the facts, he is wrong on the law,” wrote McFadden. “A long line of Supreme Court cases requires great deference to facially valid congressional inquiries. Even the special solicitude accorded former presidents does not alter the outcome. The court will therefore dismiss this case.”

In a statement, Neal called the ruling “no surprise.”

“The law is clearly on the committee’s side,” he said. “I am pleased that we’re now one step closer to being able to conduct more thorough oversight of the IRS’ mandatory presidential audit program.”

Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But a member of his legal team has previously vowed to fight the congressional effort “tooth and nail.”

The case traces back to Trump’s decision — first as a presidential candidate in the 2016 election and then in office — to break with modern precedent by refusing to make his tax returns public.

When Democrats won control of the House, they began trying to investigate his finances using congressional oversight powers. Among other things, they heard testimony from Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who said that Trump had boasted about inflating the value of assets when it served him, and undervaluing them when it helped to lower his taxes.

As prosecutors in Manhattan weigh whether to charge Trump with fraud, they have zeroed in on financial documents that he used to obtain loans and boast about his wealth, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The same federal law that empowered Neal to request Trump’s tax returns from the Treasury Department also would permit House Democrats to publish them in the Congressional Record, although that power has rarely been used, McFadden wrote.

Writing that the case put the country in “uncharted territory,” the judge — a 2017 appointee of Trump — warned that he did not think it would be wise for Congress to use its authority to publish Trump’s tax returns.

“Anyone can see that publishing confidential tax information of a political rival is the type of move that will return to plague the inventor,” the judge wrote. But he added: “It might not be right or wise to publish the returns, but it is the chairman’s right to do so.”

In his ruling, McFadden also weighed and rejected a series of other arguments put forward by Trump’s legal team as inadequate. Among them, he ruled that the case should be evaluated based on Neal’s 2021 request — after Trump was no longer president — rather than his 2019 one.

And he rejected the lawyers’ argument that allowing Congress to obtain — and potentially expose — a former president’s tax returns would be unconstitutional as a matter of separation of powers, reasoning that the “threat” of such later exposure would have “minimal” impact on how presidents perform their duties.

But while McFadden ultimately ruled for Congress, his handling of the case illustrated the success of Trump’s strategy of using the slow pace of litigation to run out the clock on congressional oversight efforts. The House filed the case in early July 2019, and nearly 2 1/2 years had elapsed by the time McFadden issued his ruling on Tuesday.

House Democrats have been pursuing a parallel lawsuit to enforce a subpoena of Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars USA, seeking to obtain a broader set of his financial records. In 2020, the Supreme Court sent the Mazars case back down to be reconsidered using a tighter legal standard. An appeals court heard oral arguments in that matter on Monday.

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit by Donald Trump that sought to block Congress from obtaining his tax returns, ruling that the law gives a House committee chairman broad authority to request them despite Trump’s status as a former president.

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit by Donald Trump that sought to block Congress from obtaining his tax returns, ruling that the law gives a House committee chairman broad authority to request them despite Trump’s status as a former president. In a 45-page opinion, Judge Trevor McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, held that the Treasury Department can provide the tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee, which could vote to publish them. McFadden, however, stayed his ruling for 10 days to give Trump time to file an appeal, which he is very likely to do. Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, first requested copies of Trump’s tax returns in early 2019, after Democrats took over the House. A federal law gives the chairman of that panel broad authority to request any person’s tax returns. The Trump administration refused to comply, however, and the House eventually filed a lawsuit. After Trump left office this year, Neal issued a fresh request for the ex-president’s tax returns from 2015 to 2020 and the Biden administration issued a Justice Department memorandum saying he was entitled to receive them. Trump’s lawyers, however, sought an injunction to block the request, saying that it served no legitimate purpose and that the real motive was to expose Trump’s financial information for political gain. Lawyers for the House said there were legislative reasons to seek the returns, including studying whether changes are needed to an Internal Revenue Service program that audits presidents. Even though many House Democrats have expressed a desire to expose Trump’s tax documents without mentioning the IRS program, that rationale was sufficient under the law, McFadden wrote. “Even if the former president is right on the facts, he is wrong on the law,” wrote McFadden. “A long line of Supreme Court cases requires great deference to facially valid congressional inquiries. Even the special solicitude accorded former presidents does not alter the outcome. The court will therefore dismiss this case.” In a statement, Neal called the ruling “no surprise.” “The law is clearly on the committee’s side,” he said. “I am pleased that we’re now one step closer to being able to conduct more thorough oversight of the IRS’ mandatory presidential audit program.” Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But a member of his legal team has previously vowed to fight the congressional effort “tooth and nail.” The case traces back to Trump’s decision — first as a presidential candidate in the 2016 election and then in office — to break with modern precedent by refusing to make his tax returns public. When Democrats won control of the House, they began trying to investigate his finances using congressional oversight powers. Among other things, they heard testimony from Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who said that Trump had boasted about inflating the value of assets when it served him, and undervaluing them when it helped to lower his taxes. As prosecutors in Manhattan weigh whether to charge Trump with fraud, they have zeroed in on financial documents that he used to obtain loans and boast about his wealth, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The same federal law that empowered Neal to request Trump’s tax returns from the Treasury Department also would permit House Democrats to publish them in the Congressional Record, although that power has rarely been used, McFadden wrote. Writing that the case put the country in “uncharted territory,” the judge — a 2017 appointee of Trump — warned that he did not think it would be wise for Congress to use its authority to publish Trump’s tax returns. “Anyone can see that publishing confidential tax information of a political rival is the type of move that will return to plague the inventor,” the judge wrote. But he added: “It might not be right or wise to publish the returns, but it is the chairman’s right to do so.” In his ruling, McFadden also weighed and rejected a series of other arguments put forward by Trump’s legal team as inadequate. Among them, he ruled that the case should be evaluated based on Neal’s 2021 request — after Trump was no longer president — rather than his 2019 one. And he rejected the lawyers’ argument that allowing Congress to obtain — and potentially expose — a former president’s tax returns would be unconstitutional as a matter of separation of powers, reasoning that the “threat” of such later exposure would have “minimal” impact on how presidents perform their duties. But while McFadden ultimately ruled for Congress, his handling of the case illustrated the success of Trump’s strategy of using the slow pace of litigation to run out the clock on congressional oversight efforts. The House filed the case in early July 2019, and nearly 2 1/2 years had elapsed by the time McFadden issued his ruling on Tuesday. House Democrats have been pursuing a parallel lawsuit to enforce a subpoena of Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars USA, seeking to obtain a broader set of his financial records. In 2020, the Supreme Court sent the Mazars case back down to be reconsidered using a tighter legal standard. An appeals court heard oral arguments in that matter on Monday.

Judge dismisses Trump's bid to keep his taxes from Congress

The House Committee on Ethics on Thursday released four reports into separate violations of ethics rules by four congressmen, portraying what investigators suggested was a sweeping array of improper financial conduct.

The allegations against three Republicans and one Democrat center on stock trades and the improper use of campaign funds, according to the Office of Congressional Ethics, which investigated the cases.

Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., is under scrutiny over stock purchases by his wife that investigators say were affected by his actions as a member of Congress. Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., is facing allegations that he failed to properly disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock trades. Rep. Alex X. Mooney, R-W.Va., is accused of improperly using campaign funds for personal expenses, and Rep. Jim Hagedorn, R-Minn., of improperly awarding contracts to companies owned by his aides’ relatives.

All four cases will continue to be reviewed by the House Ethics Committee, a bipartisan panel of lawmakers charged with enforcing the chamber’s internal rules.

In a particularly scathing report about Kelly and his wife, Victoria Kelly, investigators concluded that there was “substantial reason to believe” that she had bought stock in a steel company with a plant in her husband’s district “based upon confidential information” that he had “learned from his official job duties.”

Kelly’s case involves a frantic effort to aid the steel plant that employs 1,400 people in his district after it was acquired last year by Cleveland-Cliffs. The CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs publicly testified that unless the federal government was able to provide his company with additional trade protections, it would shutter that plant, as well as one in Ohio.

Investigators found that Mike Kelly became personally involved in Cleveland-Cliffs’ efforts to lobby the White House, pressing officials at the Commerce Department, as well as Mark Meadows, then President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, to enact additional protections.

On April 28, 2020, investigators wrote, the Commerce Department informed the chief of Cleveland-Cliffs that it intended to open an investigation that could benefit the company. Relieved, Cleveland-Cliffs executives canceled planned layoffs. The news traveled to Mike Kelly’s office, investigators wrote, citing witness interviews and emails.

The next day, Victoria Kelly bought $15,000 to $50,000 of stock in Cleveland-Cliffs, according to the congressman’s financial disclosures. Investigators deemed that purchase “atypical” because she had not held or purchased individual stocks for nearly a year before then.

When she sold the stock in January, she earned a profit: While she had bought the shares at $4.70, she sold them for approximately $18, investigators said.

Neither Mike Kelly nor his wife cooperated with the investigation, though members of his staff and officials at Cleveland-Cliffs did. Mike Kelly has since maintained that neither he nor his wife committed any wrongdoing, and a lawyer for Mike Kelly called the investigation “fatally flawed.”

A spokesperson for Mike Kelly told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in September 2020 that Victoria Kelly had made “a small investment to show her support for the workers and management of this 100-year-old bedrock of their hometown.” He did not explain why Victoria Kelly did not publicly disclose the purchase at the time, if her intent was to show solidarity with the company.

In the report on Hagedorn, investigators found that there was substantial reason to believe that his office had steered nearly $500,000 in government funds to contract services from companies owned or controlled by his aides’ relatives, and that it used private office space at a cost far below market rate and tried to mislead the public about it.

Investigators concluded that Hagedorn’s office spent an unusually large sum of government money on official mail to his constituents and that much of it went to two separate printing companies owned by relatives of two of his aides, who charged Hagedorn “significantly more” than the fair market price for such services. While the average congressional office spent less than 1% of its budget on such mail, Hagedorn’s office spent nearly 20%.

Investigators were unable to verify whether one of the companies, owned by the brother of Hagedorn’s former chief of staff, had any clients other than the congressman’s office.

Because Hagedorn did not cooperate with the inquiry, investigators wrote, they were unable to definitively determine whether he was aware of the practices. But they said they had uncovered evidence showing he “knew or should have known” of the irregularities in his mail operation.

Hagedorn hired outside counsel last year to look into the matter and came to many of the same conclusions as the Office of Congressional Ethics investigators. However, that internal review concluded that he was unaware that the contracts were benefiting his aides’ relatives.

In their inquiry of Mooney, investigators faulted him for using campaign funds for what they said were most likely personal purposes. The report found that there was substantial reason to believe that Mooney used campaign contributions during frequent visits to fast-food restaurants such as Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread, Taco Bell and a variety of pizza vendors near his house, when there was no clear campaign purpose to the spending.

Mooney also twice used campaign dollars to pay for trips in West Virginia that he called “site visits” but investigators said were “primarily personal in nature.” He used $2,445 in campaign funds at the Canaan Valley Resort and spent $302 on a private guided fishing tour at the Smoke Hole resort, investigators said.

“While Rep. Mooney’s cooperation greatly facilitated this investigation, and he attempted to remedy violations as they became apparent to him and his counsel during this review, the nature and overall pattern of the violations raised concerns,” the report said.

The investigation into Malinowski’s stock trades found that he did not file required reports for transactions in 2019 and 2020, and he admitted to failing to do so in an interview with investigators. The report is likely to cast a cloud over Malinowski as he faces a difficult reelection race next year.

In the interview, Malinowski blamed “carelessness on my part” for the lack of disclosure and said he regretted and took full responsibility for it.

“This is not a justification or excuse,” he said.

“I have an overwhelmingly busy job, and this was one of the things I knew I needed to do,” he added. “But I did not put enough pressure on myself to do it every 45 days, and that was simply careless.”

The House Committee on Ethics on Thursday released four reports into separate violations of ethics rules by four congressmen, portraying what investigators suggested was a sweeping array of improper financial conduct.

The House Committee on Ethics on Thursday released four reports into separate violations of ethics rules by four congressmen, portraying what investigators suggested was a sweeping array of improper financial conduct. The allegations against three Republicans and one Democrat center on stock trades and the improper use of campaign funds, according to the Office of Congressional Ethics, which investigated the cases. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., is under scrutiny over stock purchases by his wife that investigators say were affected by his actions as a member of Congress. Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., is facing allegations that he failed to properly disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock trades. Rep. Alex X. Mooney, R-W.Va., is accused of improperly using campaign funds for personal expenses, and Rep. Jim Hagedorn, R-Minn., of improperly awarding contracts to companies owned by his aides’ relatives. All four cases will continue to be reviewed by the House Ethics Committee, a bipartisan panel of lawmakers charged with enforcing the chamber’s internal rules. In a particularly scathing report about Kelly and his wife, Victoria Kelly, investigators concluded that there was “substantial reason to believe” that she had bought stock in a steel company with a plant in her husband’s district “based upon confidential information” that he had “learned from his official job duties.” Kelly’s case involves a frantic effort to aid the steel plant that employs 1,400 people in his district after it was acquired last year by Cleveland-Cliffs. The CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs publicly testified that unless the federal government was able to provide his company with additional trade protections, it would shutter that plant, as well as one in Ohio. Investigators found that Mike Kelly became personally involved in Cleveland-Cliffs’ efforts to lobby the White House, pressing officials at the Commerce Department, as well as Mark Meadows, then President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, to enact additional protections. On April 28, 2020, investigators wrote, the Commerce Department informed the chief of Cleveland-Cliffs that it intended to open an investigation that could benefit the company. Relieved, Cleveland-Cliffs executives canceled planned layoffs. The news traveled to Mike Kelly’s office, investigators wrote, citing witness interviews and emails. The next day, Victoria Kelly bought $15,000 to $50,000 of stock in Cleveland-Cliffs, according to the congressman’s financial disclosures. Investigators deemed that purchase “atypical” because she had not held or purchased individual stocks for nearly a year before then. When she sold the stock in January, she earned a profit: While she had bought the shares at $4.70, she sold them for approximately $18, investigators said. Neither Mike Kelly nor his wife cooperated with the investigation, though members of his staff and officials at Cleveland-Cliffs did. Mike Kelly has since maintained that neither he nor his wife committed any wrongdoing, and a lawyer for Mike Kelly called the investigation “fatally flawed.” A spokesperson for Mike Kelly told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in September 2020 that Victoria Kelly had made “a small investment to show her support for the workers and management of this 100-year-old bedrock of their hometown.” He did not explain why Victoria Kelly did not publicly disclose the purchase at the time, if her intent was to show solidarity with the company. In the report on Hagedorn, investigators found that there was substantial reason to believe that his office had steered nearly $500,000 in government funds to contract services from companies owned or controlled by his aides’ relatives, and that it used private office space at a cost far below market rate and tried to mislead the public about it. Investigators concluded that Hagedorn’s office spent an unusually large sum of government money on official mail to his constituents and that much of it went to two separate printing companies owned by relatives of two of his aides, who charged Hagedorn “significantly more” than the fair market price for such services. While the average congressional office spent less than 1% of its budget on such mail, Hagedorn’s office spent nearly 20%. Investigators were unable to verify whether one of the companies, owned by the brother of Hagedorn’s former chief of staff, had any clients other than the congressman’s office. Because Hagedorn did not cooperate with the inquiry, investigators wrote, they were unable to definitively determine whether he was aware of the practices. But they said they had uncovered evidence showing he “knew or should have known” of the irregularities in his mail operation. Hagedorn hired outside counsel last year to look into the matter and came to many of the same conclusions as the Office of Congressional Ethics investigators. However, that internal review concluded that he was unaware that the contracts were benefiting his aides’ relatives. In their inquiry of Mooney, investigators faulted him for using campaign funds for what they said were most likely personal purposes. The report found that there was substantial reason to believe that Mooney used campaign contributions during frequent visits to fast-food restaurants such as Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread, Taco Bell and a variety of pizza vendors near his house, when there was no clear campaign purpose to the spending. Mooney also twice used campaign dollars to pay for trips in West Virginia that he called “site visits” but investigators said were “primarily personal in nature.” He used $2,445 in campaign funds at the Canaan Valley Resort and spent $302 on a private guided fishing tour at the Smoke Hole resort, investigators said. “While Rep. Mooney’s cooperation greatly facilitated this investigation, and he attempted to remedy violations as they became apparent to him and his counsel during this review, the nature and overall pattern of the violations raised concerns,” the report said. The investigation into Malinowski’s stock trades found that he did not file required reports for transactions in 2019 and 2020, and he admitted to failing to do so in an interview with investigators. The report is likely to cast a cloud over Malinowski as he faces a difficult reelection race next year. In the interview, Malinowski blamed “carelessness on my part” for the lack of disclosure and said he regretted and took full responsibility for it. “This is not a justification or excuse,” he said. “I have an overwhelmingly busy job, and this was one of the things I knew I needed to do,” he added. “But I did not put enough pressure on myself to do it every 45 days, and that was simply careless.”

House ethics committee details accusations against 4 lawmakers

Twitter account of Congress party unit in southern Indian state of Karnataka has deleted a tweet that called&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'angootha-chhaap' (illiterate). A political slugfest soon erupted after the tweet was posted on Monday (October 18).

"Congress built schools but Modi never went to study. Congress even set up schemes for adults to learn, Modi didn't learn there too. &nbsp;People who chose to beg for a living despite beggary being prohibited are today pushing citizens to beggary. Country is suffering because of "#angoothachhaap modi," read the tweet made in the state's Kannada language. The tweet has now been deleted.

<img alt="Tweet" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="992d3d04-daa7-4409-b135-7b531c686319" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Tweet.JPG" />

The tweet, seen as a personal attack on PM Modi, resulted in angry reactions from BJP.

“Only the Congress could stoop so low,” said Karnataka BJP spokesperson Malavika Avinash

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The Congress admitted that the tweet used unparliamentary language. Karnataka Congress spokesperson Lavanya Ballal admitted that tone of the tweet was 'unfortunate'. She said an inquiry would be conducted.&nbsp;

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar said on Twitter later that the earlier tweet calling PM Modi illiterate fell shoft of "civil and parliamentary language". He blamed the tweet on a 'novice social media manager'.

"I have always believed that civil and parliamentary language is a non-negotiable pre-requisite for political discourse. An uncivil tweet made by a novice social media manager through the Karnataka Congress official Twitter handle is regretted and stands withdrawn," he tweeted.

The controversy erupted just ahead of bypolls in assembly constituencies of Sindagi and Hangal. The bypolls will take place on October 30.

Twitter account of Congress party unit in southern Indian state of Karnataka has deleted a tweet that called Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'angootha-chhaap' (illiterate).

Twitter account of Congress party unit in southern Indian state of Karnataka has deleted a tweet that called Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'angootha-chhaap' (illiterate). A political slugfest soon erupted after the tweet was posted on Monday (October 18). "Congress built schools but Modi never went to study. Congress even set up schemes for adults to learn, Modi didn't learn there too. People who chose to beg for a living despite beggary being prohibited are today pushing citizens to beggary. Country is suffering because of "#angoothachhaap modi," read the tweet made in the state's Kannada language. The tweet has now been deleted. The tweet, seen as a personal attack on PM Modi, resulted in angry reactions from BJP. “Only the Congress could stoop so low,” said Karnataka BJP spokesperson Malavika Avinash Also Read | Indian man wants Covid certificate without PM Modi's picture The Congress admitted that the tweet used unparliamentary language. Karnataka Congress spokesperson Lavanya Ballal admitted that tone of the tweet was 'unfortunate'. She said an inquiry would be conducted. Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar said on Twitter later that the earlier tweet calling PM Modi illiterate fell shoft of "civil and parliamentary language". He blamed the tweet on a 'novice social media manager'. "I have always believed that civil and parliamentary language is a non-negotiable pre-requisite for political discourse. An uncivil tweet made by a novice social media manager through the Karnataka Congress official Twitter handle is regretted and stands withdrawn," he tweeted. The controversy erupted just ahead of bypolls in assembly constituencies of Sindagi and Hangal. The bypolls will take place on October 30.

Congress deletes tweet that called PM Modi 'illiterate'

Five US lawmakers have accused Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and other executives of lying to the Congress about firm’s business practices, saying that they are now considering referring Amazon “for criminal investigation”.

The allegations follow an investigation by news agency Reuters that claimed Amazon copied products and rigged its search results in India to boost sales of its own brands.

In a letter to the Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, the members of the US House Judiciary committee wrote that “credible reporting” in the Reuters story and recent articles in several other news outlets “directly contradicts the sworn testimony and representations of Amazon’s top executives – including former CEO Jeffrey Bezos.”

“At best, this reporting confirms that Amazon’s representatives misled the Committee. At worst, it demonstrates that they may have lied to Congress in possible violation of federal criminal law,” Reuters cited the letter as saying.

Amazon, however, has strongly denied the allegations.

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“Amazon and its executives did not mislead the committee, and we have denied and sought to correct the record on the inaccurate media articles in question.”

&nbsp;“As we have previously stated, we have an internal policy, which goes beyond that of any other retailer’s policy that we’re aware of, that prohibits the use of individual seller data to develop Amazon private label products. We investigate any allegations that this policy may have been violated and take appropriate action,” it added.

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Since 2019, the House Judiciary Committee has been investigating competition in digital markets, including how Amazon uses proprietary seller data from its platform, and whether the company unfairly favors its own products.

In sworn testimony before the Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee last year, Bezos said the company prohibits its employees from using data on individual sellers to benefit its own private-label product lines. In another hearing in 2019, Nate Sutton, Amazon’s associate general counsel, testified that the company does not use such data to create its own branded products or alter its search results to benefit them.

(With inputs from agencies)

Five US lawmakers have accused Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and other executives of lying to the Congress about firm’s business practices, saying that they are now considering referring Amazon “for criminal investigation”.

Five US lawmakers have accused Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and other executives of lying to the Congress about firm’s business practices, saying that they are now considering referring Amazon “for criminal investigation”. The allegations follow an investigation by news agency Reuters that claimed Amazon copied products and rigged its search results in India to boost sales of its own brands. In a letter to the Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, the members of the US House Judiciary committee wrote that “credible reporting” in the Reuters story and recent articles in several other news outlets “directly contradicts the sworn testimony and representations of Amazon’s top executives – including former CEO Jeffrey Bezos.” “At best, this reporting confirms that Amazon’s representatives misled the Committee. At worst, it demonstrates that they may have lied to Congress in possible violation of federal criminal law,” Reuters cited the letter as saying. Amazon, however, has strongly denied the allegations. Also read | Jeff Bezos is pouring money to crack secret of living 'forever' “Amazon and its executives did not mislead the committee, and we have denied and sought to correct the record on the inaccurate media articles in question.” “As we have previously stated, we have an internal policy, which goes beyond that of any other retailer’s policy that we’re aware of, that prohibits the use of individual seller data to develop Amazon private label products. We investigate any allegations that this policy may have been violated and take appropriate action,” it added. Also read | Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin accused of 'toxic' work culture involving sexual harassment Since 2019, the House Judiciary Committee has been investigating competition in digital markets, including how Amazon uses proprietary seller data from its platform, and whether the company unfairly favors its own products. In sworn testimony before the Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee last year, Bezos said the company prohibits its employees from using data on individual sellers to benefit its own private-label product lines. In another hearing in 2019, Nate Sutton, Amazon’s associate general counsel, testified that the company does not use such data to create its own branded products or alter its search results to benefit them. (With inputs from agencies)

5 US lawmakers accuse Jeff Bezos of lying to Congress on Amazon’s ‘business practices’

Amarinder Singh, who recently resigned from the post of India's Punjab&nbsp;state chief minister, met the country’s home minister Amit Shah at his residence in the national capital Delhi on Wednesday, triggering speculations of him ditching the Congress party and joining the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to reports, Singh visited Shah to discuss the prevailing security scenario in the border state of Punjab and the ongoing farmers’ agitation.&nbsp;This is the first meeting between the two leaders after Amarinder resigned from the chief minister's post.&nbsp;

Amarinder had reached Delhi on Tuesday, saying that he was on a personal visit.

“I am here to vacate Kapurthala House (the official residence of Punjab Chief Minister in Delhi). I am not going to meet any politician here,” he told reporters.

His media advisor Raveen Thukral had said that “too much being read into Captain Amarinder’s visit to Delhi”.

Earlier this month, Amarinder stepped down from as the Punjab Chief Minister a year ahead of elections, after a long and bitter feud with detractors, including cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was elevated by the Gandhis to the post of the party chief.

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While stepping down as chief minister, Amarinder had slammed the party leadership saying he had been let down.

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The former chief minister further said he felt “humiliated”, adding that he had been summoned thrice by the central leadership in the past two months.

However, it was Amarinder who had the last laugh after Sidhu resigned as the Congress’ Punjab unit president.

“I told you so...he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab,” Amarinder had said in a tweet.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amarinder Singh, who recently resigned from the post of India's Punjab state chief minister, met the country’s home minister Amit Shah at his residence in the national capital Delhi on Wednesday, triggering speculations of him ditching the Congress party and joining the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Amarinder Singh, who recently resigned from the post of India's Punjab state chief minister, met the country’s home minister Amit Shah at his residence in the national capital Delhi on Wednesday, triggering speculations of him ditching the Congress party and joining the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to reports, Singh visited Shah to discuss the prevailing security scenario in the border state of Punjab and the ongoing farmers’ agitation. This is the first meeting between the two leaders after Amarinder resigned from the chief minister's post. Amarinder had reached Delhi on Tuesday, saying that he was on a personal visit. “I am here to vacate Kapurthala House (the official residence of Punjab Chief Minister in Delhi). I am not going to meet any politician here,” he told reporters. His media advisor Raveen Thukral had said that “too much being read into Captain Amarinder’s visit to Delhi”. Earlier this month, Amarinder stepped down from as the Punjab Chief Minister a year ahead of elections, after a long and bitter feud with detractors, including cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was elevated by the Gandhis to the post of the party chief. Also read | India's Punjab minister quits after Navjot Sidhu resigns as state Congress chief While stepping down as chief minister, Amarinder had slammed the party leadership saying he had been let down. Also read | A day after bitter power tussle, India's northern Punjab state gets new CM The former chief minister further said he felt “humiliated”, adding that he had been summoned thrice by the central leadership in the past two months. However, it was Amarinder who had the last laugh after Sidhu resigned as the Congress’ Punjab unit president. “I told you so...he is not a stable man and not fit for the border state of Punjab,” Amarinder had said in a tweet. (With inputs from agencies)

Ousted Punjab CM Amarinder Singh meets home minister & BJP leader Shah, sparks defection rumours

Razia Sultana put in her papers as the Punjab Cabinet minister in "solidarity" with Navjot Singh Sidhu, who resigned from the post of the state Congress chief on Tuesday.

Sultana is considered close to Sidhu and her husband Mohd Mustafa, a former IPS officer, is a principal strategic adviser to the Congress leader.

In her resignation letter to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, the minister said, "I, Razia Sultana, hereby resign as cabinet minister, Punjab, in solidarity with Navjot Singh Sidhu, PPCC president, and millions of Congress workers across the state."

"I will continue to work for the party as a worker in the best interest of Punjab. My heartfelt thanks to Sonia Gandhiji, hon'ble Congress president, and Rahul Gandhiji for their countless blessings on me and my family in our hours of need," she said in her resignation letter.

Mustafa shared the resignation of his wife on his Twitter handle.

"So proud of my wife Razia Sultana for her principled decision to resign in the best interest of Cong and its leadership, in particular Rahul Gandhi our benefactor," tweeted Mustafa.

Both Mustafa and Sultana went to Patiala to meet Sidhu at his residence there.

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Sidhu on Tuesday resigned as the chief of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, plunging the party into a fresh crisis just months ahead of the assembly elections in the state.

Sidhu quit the post shortly after the allocation of portfolios to members of the new state Cabinet.

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In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he said he will continue to serve the party.

Sidhu had taken over as the state party chief in July amid a bitter power tussle with Amarinder Singh, who stepped down as CM 10 days back while accusing the party high command of humiliating him.

The Charanjit Singh Channi-led government in Punjab on Tuesday allotted portfolios to all ministers in the state, two days after 15 ministers were inducted.

Sultana has been allotted departments of water supply and sanitation, social security, women and child development and printing and stationery.

Earlier, she held the charge of the transport department in the Amarinder Singh-led government.

Razia Sultana put in her papers as the Punjab Cabinet minister in "solidarity" with Navjot Singh Sidhu, who resigned from the post of the state Congress chief on Tuesday.

Razia Sultana put in her papers as the Punjab Cabinet minister in "solidarity" with Navjot Singh Sidhu, who resigned from the post of the state Congress chief on Tuesday. Sultana is considered close to Sidhu and her husband Mohd Mustafa, a former IPS officer, is a principal strategic adviser to the Congress leader. In her resignation letter to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, the minister said, "I, Razia Sultana, hereby resign as cabinet minister, Punjab, in solidarity with Navjot Singh Sidhu, PPCC president, and millions of Congress workers across the state." "I will continue to work for the party as a worker in the best interest of Punjab. My heartfelt thanks to Sonia Gandhiji, hon'ble Congress president, and Rahul Gandhiji for their countless blessings on me and my family in our hours of need," she said in her resignation letter. Mustafa shared the resignation of his wife on his Twitter handle. "So proud of my wife Razia Sultana for her principled decision to resign in the best interest of Cong and its leadership, in particular Rahul Gandhi our benefactor," tweeted Mustafa. Both Mustafa and Sultana went to Patiala to meet Sidhu at his residence there. Also read | Sonia Gandhi appoints Navjot Singh Sidhu as Chief of Punjab Congress Sidhu on Tuesday resigned as the chief of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, plunging the party into a fresh crisis just months ahead of the assembly elections in the state. Sidhu quit the post shortly after the allocation of portfolios to members of the new state Cabinet. Also read | Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh opposes challenge to Gandhi family leadership In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he said he will continue to serve the party. Sidhu had taken over as the state party chief in July amid a bitter power tussle with Amarinder Singh, who stepped down as CM 10 days back while accusing the party high command of humiliating him. The Charanjit Singh Channi-led government in Punjab on Tuesday allotted portfolios to all ministers in the state, two days after 15 ministers were inducted. Sultana has been allotted departments of water supply and sanitation, social security, women and child development and printing and stationery. Earlier, she held the charge of the transport department in the Amarinder Singh-led government.

Minister in India's Punjab quits after Navjot Sidhu resigns as state Congress chief

Congress veteran Amarinder Singh on Saturday resigned as chief minister of Punjab, declaring that he feels "humiliated" and said he won't accept state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu as the next CM or the party face in the Assembly polls.

The development has come amid a power tussle that polarised the ruling party in the state headed for elections in just about four months.

Sidhu was made the state Congress chief earlier this year despite opposition by Amarinder Singh.

"I feel humiliated," Amarinder Singh told reporters outside the Punjab Raj Bhawan after submitting his resignation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

"I have resigned, let them make anyone (next CM)," he further said.

The Congress leader, however, in another interaction with the media said he won't accept Navjot Singh Sidhu as the Punjab chief minister, describing him as "a total disaster".

The man who could not handle one ministry, can never run entire Punjab, he said.

Replying to a question, he said he will never agree to Navjot Singh Sidhu as the next chief minister.

"He is a total disaster. When he was a minister (in Amarinder cabinet), he could not even run one ministry, now can he run entire Punjab? I know that man has no capability at all," said Amarinder Singh.

If Sidhu is made the face of the Congress for the Punjab polls, Singh said he will oppose him "tooth and nail".

Earlier in the day after submitting his resignation, when asked about his next course of action, Singh told reporters, "There is always an option and I will use that option when time comes."

"I have been in politics for the past 52 years and I have been a chief minister for nine-and-a-half years. I will talk to my colleagues, supporters," he said.

He submitted his resignation along with that of his council of ministers, his media adviser said. The resignation has been accepted by the Governor.

Singh's resignation came hours before a crucial meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Saturday evening, pre-empting what was widely being seen as a move to remove him from the CM's post.

In the meeting, Punjab Congress MLAs authorised party's national president Sonia Gandhi to pick a new CLP leader and in a unanimously passed resolution praised Amarinder's contribution for Punjab and the Congress.

"I spoke to the Congress president in the morning and I told her that I am resigning today," Amarinder Singh told reporters.

"They called the MLAs to Delhi twice and now convened a CLP here in Chandigarh today," he said.

"I think if there is an element of doubt on me that I could not run (the government) or if there was something else, I feel humiliated the way things have happened," he said.

To a question on joining any other party, he said, "Whatever you have to say, you can say. I can only tell you that I have been a chief minister from the Congress. And I am in the Congress and

I will consult my colleagues and then we will decide the future course of politics."

"I have only resigned for myself," he said.

"I hereby tender my resignation as the chief minister, and that of my council of ministers," the one-line resignation letter said.

In another interaction with the media later, Amarinder Singh said he had already told Sonia Gandhi during his meeting with her a few weeks back that he should be relieved of the charge.

"I had told her that you relieve me of this charge because I cannot work in this way where Mr Sidhu is pulling right and I am pulling left. In that meeting, Congress general secretary (Harish) Rawat was also present. Soniaji then said no I want you to carry on,? said Amarinder Singh.

The Congress leader said he performed his duty to the best of his ability.

"I have been in politics for 52 years, so I don't care about these things, I am in politics and I will remain in politics," he said when asked about the circumstances in which he had to resign.

"In politics, options are always there, they are never closed. I can tell you one thing, I am not going to leave it like this," he said. 
Politics is a very fast moving game, he said replying to another question.

Singh was accompanied by his wife and MP Preneet Kaur and son Raninder Singh when he submitted his resignation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

MPs Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Ravneet Singh Bittu, AG Atul Nanda and Chief Principal Secretary to CM Suresh Kumar were also present.

"I am proud to accompany my father to Raj Bhawan when he submits his resignation as CM of Punjab and leads us as head of our family into a new beginning," Raninder Singh said in a tweet earlier.&nbsp;

Congress veteran Amarinder Singh on Saturday resigned as chief minister of Punjab, declaring that he feels "humiliated" and said he won't accept state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu as the next CM or the party face in the Assembly polls.

Congress veteran Amarinder Singh on Saturday resigned as chief minister of Punjab, declaring that he feels "humiliated" and said he won't accept state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu as the next CM or the party face in the Assembly polls. The development has come amid a power tussle that polarised the ruling party in the state headed for elections in just about four months. Sidhu was made the state Congress chief earlier this year despite opposition by Amarinder Singh. "I feel humiliated," Amarinder Singh told reporters outside the Punjab Raj Bhawan after submitting his resignation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit. "I have resigned, let them make anyone (next CM)," he further said. The Congress leader, however, in another interaction with the media said he won't accept Navjot Singh Sidhu as the Punjab chief minister, describing him as "a total disaster". The man who could not handle one ministry, can never run entire Punjab, he said. Replying to a question, he said he will never agree to Navjot Singh Sidhu as the next chief minister. "He is a total disaster. When he was a minister (in Amarinder cabinet), he could not even run one ministry, now can he run entire Punjab? I know that man has no capability at all," said Amarinder Singh. If Sidhu is made the face of the Congress for the Punjab polls, Singh said he will oppose him "tooth and nail". Earlier in the day after submitting his resignation, when asked about his next course of action, Singh told reporters, "There is always an option and I will use that option when time comes." "I have been in politics for the past 52 years and I have been a chief minister for nine-and-a-half years. I will talk to my colleagues, supporters," he said. He submitted his resignation along with that of his council of ministers, his media adviser said. The resignation has been accepted by the Governor. Singh's resignation came hours before a crucial meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Saturday evening, pre-empting what was widely being seen as a move to remove him from the CM's post. In the meeting, Punjab Congress MLAs authorised party's national president Sonia Gandhi to pick a new CLP leader and in a unanimously passed resolution praised Amarinder's contribution for Punjab and the Congress. "I spoke to the Congress president in the morning and I told her that I am resigning today," Amarinder Singh told reporters. "They called the MLAs to Delhi twice and now convened a CLP here in Chandigarh today," he said. "I think if there is an element of doubt on me that I could not run (the government) or if there was something else, I feel humiliated the way things have happened," he said. To a question on joining any other party, he said, "Whatever you have to say, you can say. I can only tell you that I have been a chief minister from the Congress. And I am in the Congress and I will consult my colleagues and then we will decide the future course of politics." "I have only resigned for myself," he said. "I hereby tender my resignation as the chief minister, and that of my council of ministers," the one-line resignation letter said. In another interaction with the media later, Amarinder Singh said he had already told Sonia Gandhi during his meeting with her a few weeks back that he should be relieved of the charge. "I had told her that you relieve me of this charge because I cannot work in this way where Mr Sidhu is pulling right and I am pulling left. In that meeting, Congress general secretary (Harish) Rawat was also present. Soniaji then said no I want you to carry on,? said Amarinder Singh. The Congress leader said he performed his duty to the best of his ability. "I have been in politics for 52 years, so I don't care about these things, I am in politics and I will remain in politics," he said when asked about the circumstances in which he had to resign. "In politics, options are always there, they are never closed. I can tell you one thing, I am not going to leave it like this," he said. Politics is a very fast moving game, he said replying to another question. Singh was accompanied by his wife and MP Preneet Kaur and son Raninder Singh when he submitted his resignation to Governor Banwarilal Purohit. MPs Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Ravneet Singh Bittu, AG Atul Nanda and Chief Principal Secretary to CM Suresh Kumar were also present. "I am proud to accompany my father to Raj Bhawan when he submits his resignation as CM of Punjab and leads us as head of our family into a new beginning," Raninder Singh said in a tweet earlier.

India's Punjab state chief minister resigns, says 'feel humiliated'

US Capitol Police is investigating an active bomb threat outside the Library of Congress in Washington.

The police department took to Twitter to warn the locals about the bomb threat and asked people to "please stay away from this area".

People who were present at the Cannon House Office building said they received an alert that asked them to immediately abandon the building and instead rush to the Longworth House Office Building for their safety.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NOW: The USCP is responding to a suspicious vehicle near the Library of Congress. 
 
Please stay away from this area and follow this account for the latest information. <a href="https://t.co/LMBYBTJn4t">pic.twitter.com/LMBYBTJn4t</a>
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/CapitolPolice/status/1428351927784333323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Evacuation process was started as soon as the bomb threat was detected.

"We are monitoring this situation closely and will update this account as we get information we can release," US Capitol police said in a tweet.

Capitol Police has also asked the FBI to intervene and respond to the incident. In addition to this, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is also helping the Capitol Police in this incident.

The Congress, meanwhile, is currently on break.

A little after the threat was revealed, the Capitol Police reported that a man in a pickup truck was threatening to detonate a bomb on the Capitol Hill. "The driver of the truck told the responding officer on the scene that he had a bomb and what appeared, the officer said, appeared to be a detonator in the man's hand," Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger told reporters.&nbsp;

The man also live streamed the entire incident on Facebook as he demanded to meet the US President Joe Biden.

"I'm trying to get Joe Biden on the phone. I'm parked up here on the sidewalk right beside all this pretty stuff," said the bald-headed man with a salt-and-pepper goatee, wearing a white T-shirt and identified on the Facebook page as Ray Roseberry.

"I'm not hurting nobody Joe. I'm not pulling the trigger on this thing. I can't," he said. "I'm telling you, them snipers come in, they start shooting this window out, this bomb's going off."&nbsp;

The matter is under investigation right now.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Capitol Police is investigating an active bomb threat outside the Library of Congress in Washington. The police department took to Twitter to warn the locals about the bomb threat and asked people to "please stay away from this area".

US Capitol Police is investigating an active bomb threat outside the Library of Congress in Washington. The police department took to Twitter to warn the locals about the bomb threat and asked people to "please stay away from this area". People who were present at the Cannon House Office building said they received an alert that asked them to immediately abandon the building and instead rush to the Longworth House Office Building for their safety. NOW: The USCP is responding to a suspicious vehicle near the Library of Congress. Please stay away from this area and follow this account for the latest information. pic.twitter.com/LMBYBTJn4t — U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) August 19, 2021 × Evacuation process was started as soon as the bomb threat was detected. "We are monitoring this situation closely and will update this account as we get information we can release," US Capitol police said in a tweet. Capitol Police has also asked the FBI to intervene and respond to the incident. In addition to this, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is also helping the Capitol Police in this incident. The Congress, meanwhile, is currently on break. A little after the threat was revealed, the Capitol Police reported that a man in a pickup truck was threatening to detonate a bomb on the Capitol Hill. "The driver of the truck told the responding officer on the scene that he had a bomb and what appeared, the officer said, appeared to be a detonator in the man's hand," Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger told reporters. The man also live streamed the entire incident on Facebook as he demanded to meet the US President Joe Biden. "I'm trying to get Joe Biden on the phone. I'm parked up here on the sidewalk right beside all this pretty stuff," said the bald-headed man with a salt-and-pepper goatee, wearing a white T-shirt and identified on the Facebook page as Ray Roseberry. "I'm not hurting nobody Joe. I'm not pulling the trigger on this thing. I can't," he said. "I'm telling you, them snipers come in, they start shooting this window out, this bomb's going off." The matter is under investigation right now. (With inputs from agencies)

'You're killing America': Man threatens to detonate bomb at US Capitol Hill

Even as Americans across the country hunt for a lifesaving shot in a bid to get back to a semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy, more than a quarter of members of Congress, just a phone call away from receiving a coronavirus vaccine, have turned it down.

Lawmakers who have continued to meet in person during the pandemic, often in violation of public health advice, have had access to the Pfizer vaccine since late December. But in the House, about 25% of lawmakers have not received a vaccination, the top Republican wrote this week to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, citing data from the Office of the Attending Physician. It is unclear how many senators have been vaccinated, although a handful of Republicans have said they do not intend to get one.

The hesitance around receiving the vaccine mirrors a broader trend across the United States, where there are differing degrees of opposition to being inoculated against the coronavirus, but polling suggests that Republicans are far more skeptical. Because vaccinations are confidential health information, there is no breakdown of which lawmakers have received one or what their party affiliations are. But in recent weeks, several Republicans have publicly rejected the idea of being vaccinated.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a former ophthalmologist, said he was “going with the science on this one” in refusing a vaccine.

“I have not chosen to be vaccinated because I got it naturally,” Paul, who tested positive for the virus last March, recently told reporters. (The science says the opposite; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people get vaccinated even if they have already had the coronavirus.)

“I had COVID,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. “I think that probably provides me the best immunity possible actually having the disease.”

The reluctance is just the latest barrier that Congress is confronting as leaders consider how to begin reinstating a sense of normalcy on Capitol Hill, where partisanship has become inextricably tied to health decisions and offices amount to their own fiefs, each with their own rules and perceptions of risk. It is emerging at a time when many aides on Capitol Hill — some of whom work for lawmakers who expect them to show up in person to the office — are themselves struggling to find a vaccine dose amid uneven policies about who should get one.

Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters Friday that the House should be aiming for “100%” of members to be vaccinated but lamented that she could not force anyone to accept a shot. If Republicans refused, she said, it would simply take longer to get the House back to normal, as members of that party have been pushing to do.

“You can’t tell anybody to do anything, least of all around here,” Pelosi said. “The more people who get vaccinated, the shorter time we have to stay separated on the floor.”

Lawmakers appear to have varying rationales for declining the vaccine, with some in both parties feeling uneasy about obtaining one at a time when many of their constituents are unable to do so. But Republicans have been particularly vocal in expressing misgivings about the vaccine and other virus precautions.

Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a first-term Republican who has styled herself in former President Donald Trump’s image and proudly carries her pistol through the halls of Congress, has said it is “not the proper role of government to force injections of any kind in anyone.”

On Thursday, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., a former obstetrician-gynecologist, stood maskless in the Senate basement and read Dr. Seuss’ “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” aloud in an apparent attempt to call attention to his argument that people who have been vaccinated should not have to wear masks.

His choice of children’s book also reflected how many Republicans have taken to deriding coronavirus precautions as part of what they call liberal hysteria run amok. Marshall appeared to be tying them to a recent decision by author Theodor Geisel’s estate to stop selling works he wrote that include racist material, which conservatives complained was a symptom of “cancel culture.”

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who tested positive for the coronavirus in October, has taken to wearing a mesh mask to demonstrate his disdain for the safety measure.

Some Democrats and Republicans have publicly and privately said they were uncomfortable about the optics of getting vaccinated before their constituents could and would refrain from it until access was more widespread.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., argued on Twitter that lawmakers “are not more important” than teachers and other front-line workers and should not be able to skip the line.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., became an unwitting example of the political downside of accepting the shot after he posted a photograph on Twitter of himself getting one in December, a move intended to bolster public confidence in the vaccine. Instead, critics on Twitter piled on, accusing him of playing down the threat of the virus only to rush to protect himself before others had the chance.

“There were some genuine internal struggles by some members of Congress who had the vaccination,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., an emergency medicine physician. “Guilt of being vaccinated when others in their district weren’t able to get vaccinated.”

Even ensuring that lawmakers’ aides have access to the vaccine has been a charged proposition. Members of Congress were initially told that only two staff members from each office could receive the jab, setting off an uncomfortable round of actuarial calculations and decisions.

One office sent around a Google document to gauge interest; others wrestled with whether to prioritize vaccinating lower-level aides who had been working from home but had health conditions that made them more vulnerable to the virus, or more senior aides who wanted to come in to the office.

This week, the Capitol physician announced a significant expansion of vaccine availability, saying that each member’s office would be able to obtain shots for six aides. That prompted a flood of calls from hopeful congressional staff members, with multiple aides reporting listening to hold music — a medley of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Hail to the Chief” on repeat — for one to two hours as they waited to schedule their appointments.

The scattershot approach reflects the lack of consistent procedures for protecting Congress from the coronavirus, a challenge that has persisted throughout the pandemic. While Democratic leaders in the House have imposed a series of strict guidelines governing the use of masks on the floor and have pivoted to proxy voting and remote hearings, there are no requirements for how each office should function.

Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician, urged lawmakers in a memo late last month to continue teleworking, saying remote work would “continue indefinitely for significant numbers of staff” and pleading with lawmakers to avoid in-person meetings whenever possible.

But congressional offices have largely patched together a case-by-case set of rules guiding their transitions back to work. While many Republican offices have brought staff back, Democratic offices have largely maintained skeleton crews, and some aides returning to the Capitol complex said they were appalled to see staff from neighboring offices walking through the halls without masks.

House Republicans, who have been impatient to return to work as normal, argue that because lawmakers have been granted the special dispensations afforded to essential workers, they should be required to show up to perform their jobs in person.

They have been particularly alarmed by what they see as bipartisan abuse of telework that they fear could become the new status quo. Lawmakers in recent weeks have appeared remotely during hearings from trains, boats and, in one case, an automobile they were operating on what appeared to be a freeway; a group of Republicans used proxy voting to cast their votes from the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida.

Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, said that the report that 75% of all House members had been vaccinated was an argument for a return to normalcy and that “there is a strong desire to get back to a regular schedule here on the floor.”

Democratic leaders are not so convinced. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 House Democrat, told reporters this week that leaders wanted to be careful not to “put the cart before the horse” and return to normal operations before it was fully safe. He pointed to variants of the virus spreading around the world and suggested that even if most lawmakers were vaccinated, they could still pose a risk to the thousands of staff who work in the Capitol complex who may not be.

“At some point in time, it will come to an end, but I don’t know the timeline and I don’t think anyone knows the timeline,” Hoyer said. “What we don’t want to risk is that happening, a third sort of surge of the virus and its mutations, its variants.”

Marissa Baker, a professor at the University of Washington’s public health school who specializes in occupational health, said that Congress was a particularly difficult workplace to protect because of the large number of in-person interactions across the nation that constitute lawmakers’ routines.

“It’s not really a light switch where we can pretend it's 2019 again,” Baker said. “It needs to be considered more as a gradual return to baseline.”

Ruiz said a “hybrid model” would most likely persist for some time.

“We’re not going to be back to normal, where we’re taking public meetings in our office, where people are touring the Capitol — like the hustle and bustle of Capitol Hill was prior to the pandemic — for a very long time,” he said.

Even as Americans across the country hunt for a lifesaving shot in a bid to get back to a semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy, more than a quarter of members of Congress, just a phone call away from receiving a coronavirus vaccine, have turned it down.

Even as Americans across the country hunt for a lifesaving shot in a bid to get back to a semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy, more than a quarter of members of Congress, just a phone call away from receiving a coronavirus vaccine, have turned it down. Lawmakers who have continued to meet in person during the pandemic, often in violation of public health advice, have had access to the Pfizer vaccine since late December. But in the House, about 25% of lawmakers have not received a vaccination, the top Republican wrote this week to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, citing data from the Office of the Attending Physician. It is unclear how many senators have been vaccinated, although a handful of Republicans have said they do not intend to get one. The hesitance around receiving the vaccine mirrors a broader trend across the United States, where there are differing degrees of opposition to being inoculated against the coronavirus, but polling suggests that Republicans are far more skeptical. Because vaccinations are confidential health information, there is no breakdown of which lawmakers have received one or what their party affiliations are. But in recent weeks, several Republicans have publicly rejected the idea of being vaccinated. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a former ophthalmologist, said he was “going with the science on this one” in refusing a vaccine. “I have not chosen to be vaccinated because I got it naturally,” Paul, who tested positive for the virus last March, recently told reporters. (The science says the opposite; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people get vaccinated even if they have already had the coronavirus.) “I had COVID,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. “I think that probably provides me the best immunity possible actually having the disease.” The reluctance is just the latest barrier that Congress is confronting as leaders consider how to begin reinstating a sense of normalcy on Capitol Hill, where partisanship has become inextricably tied to health decisions and offices amount to their own fiefs, each with their own rules and perceptions of risk. It is emerging at a time when many aides on Capitol Hill — some of whom work for lawmakers who expect them to show up in person to the office — are themselves struggling to find a vaccine dose amid uneven policies about who should get one. Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters Friday that the House should be aiming for “100%” of members to be vaccinated but lamented that she could not force anyone to accept a shot. If Republicans refused, she said, it would simply take longer to get the House back to normal, as members of that party have been pushing to do. “You can’t tell anybody to do anything, least of all around here,” Pelosi said. “The more people who get vaccinated, the shorter time we have to stay separated on the floor.” Lawmakers appear to have varying rationales for declining the vaccine, with some in both parties feeling uneasy about obtaining one at a time when many of their constituents are unable to do so. But Republicans have been particularly vocal in expressing misgivings about the vaccine and other virus precautions. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a first-term Republican who has styled herself in former President Donald Trump’s image and proudly carries her pistol through the halls of Congress, has said it is “not the proper role of government to force injections of any kind in anyone.” On Thursday, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., a former obstetrician-gynecologist, stood maskless in the Senate basement and read Dr. Seuss’ “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” aloud in an apparent attempt to call attention to his argument that people who have been vaccinated should not have to wear masks. His choice of children’s book also reflected how many Republicans have taken to deriding coronavirus precautions as part of what they call liberal hysteria run amok. Marshall appeared to be tying them to a recent decision by author Theodor Geisel’s estate to stop selling works he wrote that include racist material, which conservatives complained was a symptom of “cancel culture.” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who tested positive for the coronavirus in October, has taken to wearing a mesh mask to demonstrate his disdain for the safety measure. Some Democrats and Republicans have publicly and privately said they were uncomfortable about the optics of getting vaccinated before their constituents could and would refrain from it until access was more widespread. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., argued on Twitter that lawmakers “are not more important” than teachers and other front-line workers and should not be able to skip the line. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., became an unwitting example of the political downside of accepting the shot after he posted a photograph on Twitter of himself getting one in December, a move intended to bolster public confidence in the vaccine. Instead, critics on Twitter piled on, accusing him of playing down the threat of the virus only to rush to protect himself before others had the chance. “There were some genuine internal struggles by some members of Congress who had the vaccination,” said Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., an emergency medicine physician. “Guilt of being vaccinated when others in their district weren’t able to get vaccinated.” Even ensuring that lawmakers’ aides have access to the vaccine has been a charged proposition. Members of Congress were initially told that only two staff members from each office could receive the jab, setting off an uncomfortable round of actuarial calculations and decisions. One office sent around a Google document to gauge interest; others wrestled with whether to prioritize vaccinating lower-level aides who had been working from home but had health conditions that made them more vulnerable to the virus, or more senior aides who wanted to come in to the office. This week, the Capitol physician announced a significant expansion of vaccine availability, saying that each member’s office would be able to obtain shots for six aides. That prompted a flood of calls from hopeful congressional staff members, with multiple aides reporting listening to hold music — a medley of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Hail to the Chief” on repeat — for one to two hours as they waited to schedule their appointments. The scattershot approach reflects the lack of consistent procedures for protecting Congress from the coronavirus, a challenge that has persisted throughout the pandemic. While Democratic leaders in the House have imposed a series of strict guidelines governing the use of masks on the floor and have pivoted to proxy voting and remote hearings, there are no requirements for how each office should function. Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician, urged lawmakers in a memo late last month to continue teleworking, saying remote work would “continue indefinitely for significant numbers of staff” and pleading with lawmakers to avoid in-person meetings whenever possible. But congressional offices have largely patched together a case-by-case set of rules guiding their transitions back to work. While many Republican offices have brought staff back, Democratic offices have largely maintained skeleton crews, and some aides returning to the Capitol complex said they were appalled to see staff from neighboring offices walking through the halls without masks. House Republicans, who have been impatient to return to work as normal, argue that because lawmakers have been granted the special dispensations afforded to essential workers, they should be required to show up to perform their jobs in person. They have been particularly alarmed by what they see as bipartisan abuse of telework that they fear could become the new status quo. Lawmakers in recent weeks have appeared remotely during hearings from trains, boats and, in one case, an automobile they were operating on what appeared to be a freeway; a group of Republicans used proxy voting to cast their votes from the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican, said that the report that 75% of all House members had been vaccinated was an argument for a return to normalcy and that “there is a strong desire to get back to a regular schedule here on the floor.” Democratic leaders are not so convinced. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 House Democrat, told reporters this week that leaders wanted to be careful not to “put the cart before the horse” and return to normal operations before it was fully safe. He pointed to variants of the virus spreading around the world and suggested that even if most lawmakers were vaccinated, they could still pose a risk to the thousands of staff who work in the Capitol complex who may not be. “At some point in time, it will come to an end, but I don’t know the timeline and I don’t think anyone knows the timeline,” Hoyer said. “What we don’t want to risk is that happening, a third sort of surge of the virus and its mutations, its variants.” Marissa Baker, a professor at the University of Washington’s public health school who specializes in occupational health, said that Congress was a particularly difficult workplace to protect because of the large number of in-person interactions across the nation that constitute lawmakers’ routines. “It’s not really a light switch where we can pretend it's 2019 again,” Baker said. “It needs to be considered more as a gradual return to baseline.” Ruiz said a “hybrid model” would most likely persist for some time. “We’re not going to be back to normal, where we’re taking public meetings in our office, where people are touring the Capitol — like the hustle and bustle of Capitol Hill was prior to the pandemic — for a very long time,” he said.

As Republicans shun vaccines, Congress toils to return to normal

FBI Director Chris Wray will testify to the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday about the investigation of the deadly attack on the Capitol by Donald Trump's supporters and the bureau's efforts to stop right-wing extremist violence.&nbsp;

The hearing will mark Wray's first testimony before Congress since the January 6 attack, a failed bid to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's election victory in November.&nbsp;

The Justice Department has charged more than 250 people on criminal counts, ranging from conspiracy to attacking police and obstructing Congress. The rioting led to five deaths.&nbsp;

At least 18 people associated with the far-right Proud Boys have been charged and nine people tied to the anti-government militia known as the Oath Keepers are facing charges they conspired as far back as November to storm the Capitol to prevent Biden from becoming president.&nbsp;

The FBI has not yet arrested any suspects in the death of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, or for pipe bombs that were discovered outside the headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic national committees.&nbsp;

The FBI has obtained a video that shows a suspect spraying bear spray on police officers, including Sicknick, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation.&nbsp;

The suspect has not yet been identified by name, and it is still not clear if the bear spray contributed to Sicknick's death.&nbsp;

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said he spoke directly with Wray on how the bureau is allocating resources to the investigation, and said that for far too long, the federal government has 'turned a blind eye' to the threats of domestic terrorism by white supremacists.&nbsp;

FBI Director Chris Wray will testify to the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday about the investigation of the deadly attack on the Capitol by Donald Trump's supporters and the bureau's efforts to stop right-wing extremist violence.

FBI Director Chris Wray will testify to the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday about the investigation of the deadly attack on the Capitol by Donald Trump's supporters and the bureau's efforts to stop right-wing extremist violence. The hearing will mark Wray's first testimony before Congress since the January 6 attack, a failed bid to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's election victory in November. The Justice Department has charged more than 250 people on criminal counts, ranging from conspiracy to attacking police and obstructing Congress. The rioting led to five deaths. At least 18 people associated with the far-right Proud Boys have been charged and nine people tied to the anti-government militia known as the Oath Keepers are facing charges they conspired as far back as November to storm the Capitol to prevent Biden from becoming president. The FBI has not yet arrested any suspects in the death of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, or for pipe bombs that were discovered outside the headquarters of both the Republican and Democratic national committees. The FBI has obtained a video that shows a suspect spraying bear spray on police officers, including Sicknick, according to a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation. The suspect has not yet been identified by name, and it is still not clear if the bear spray contributed to Sicknick's death. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said he spoke directly with Wray on how the bureau is allocating resources to the investigation, and said that for far too long, the federal government has 'turned a blind eye' to the threats of domestic terrorism by white supremacists.

FBI Director to testify before Congress over Capitol assault 

Young voters of Vadodara city have received an attractive election promise from the opposition Congress for civic body elections.&nbsp;

To attract young voters Congress in its manifesto, which was released on Tuesday, has promised to set up coffee shops for youngsters from the middle class and lower-middle-class backgrounds.&nbsp;

According to the party's city unit president Prashant Patel, such facilities are the need of the hour.&nbsp;

"Coffee shops or cafes are expensive. Youths from middle and lower-middle-class can hardly afford to pay huge bills. We are in the 21st century and we must promote a culture where our youngsters can sit and enjoy private moments without any fear," Patel told PTI.&nbsp;

If the Congress is voted to power, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will build cafes, which will double up as dating destinations, he said.&nbsp;

These amenities will also generate employment for locals, he added.&nbsp;

Notably, over 60,000 students take admission every year at state-run MS University and three to four private universities that have campuses in and around Vadodara city.&nbsp;

Apart from cafes, the city Congress has also promised to build clubhouses where women can organise kitty parties at affordable rates, Patel said.&nbsp;

Elections to six municipal corporations in Gujarat, including the BJP-ruled VMC, will take place on February 21.&nbsp;

As many as 81 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats will go to polls on February 28. &nbsp;

&nbsp;(With inputs from agencies)

Young voters of Vadodara city have received an attractive election promise from the opposition Congress for civic body elections. To attract young voters Congress in its manifesto, which was released on Tuesday, has promised to set up coffee shops for youngsters from the middle class and lower-middle-class backgrounds.

Young voters of Vadodara city have received an attractive election promise from the opposition Congress for civic body elections. To attract young voters Congress in its manifesto, which was released on Tuesday, has promised to set up coffee shops for youngsters from the middle class and lower-middle-class backgrounds. According to the party's city unit president Prashant Patel, such facilities are the need of the hour. "Coffee shops or cafes are expensive. Youths from middle and lower-middle-class can hardly afford to pay huge bills. We are in the 21st century and we must promote a culture where our youngsters can sit and enjoy private moments without any fear," Patel told PTI. If the Congress is voted to power, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) will build cafes, which will double up as dating destinations, he said. These amenities will also generate employment for locals, he added. Notably, over 60,000 students take admission every year at state-run MS University and three to four private universities that have campuses in and around Vadodara city. Apart from cafes, the city Congress has also promised to build clubhouses where women can organise kitty parties at affordable rates, Patel said. Elections to six municipal corporations in Gujarat, including the BJP-ruled VMC, will take place on February 21. As many as 81 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats will go to polls on February 28. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress promises to build ‘dating destinations’ if it wins Vadodara civic polls 

The early weeks of the Biden administration have brought a surge of support, in the White House and across party lines in Congress, for what could be the most ambitious effort in a generation to reduce child poverty.

The plans vary in duration, design and the amount they would add to the federal debt, but they share a new, central premise in the policy debate over how to help the poor: that sending monthly payments through tax credits to parents, even if they do not earn income from work, is the best way to help feed, clothe and house children from low-income families.

One such plan is a cornerstone of the legislative text that House Democrats introduced Monday as part of what will become a sweeping bill to implement President Joe Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion economic aid package. That text included a monthly benefit of $300 per child for those age 5 and younger — and $250 per child ages 6 to 17 — as a means of making good on Biden’s pledge to increase the value of the child tax credit and help more families, even those with little or no income, reap its benefits.

While that payout would expire after a year, several Democrats and one influential Republican are pushing to permanently increase child benefits, which researchers say could lift the United States into the ranks of wealthy nations like Canada and the United Kingdom, both of which enjoy significantly lower child poverty rates.

The proposal released Monday came at the start of a week of committee hearings that will determine the final details of the Democratic plan to combat the economic and health toll from the coronavirus.

The Democrats called for sending $1,400 direct checks to individuals earning up to $75,000 a year and couples earning up to $150,000, the same threshold as previous rounds of payments. The size of the checks would shrink more rapidly for higher earners than in previous rounds, and no household earning more than $200,000 would be eligible for payments of any size.

The draft legislation also includes a provision, championed by progressive Democrats, that would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. The Congressional Budget Office estimated Monday that such an increase would cut the poverty rate by nearly 1%, but reduce employment by 1.4 million jobs. That potential job loss, which the budget office has previously predicted, was immediately cited by conservatives who oppose the provision.

The full draft legislation, which largely mirrors Biden’s proposals and the president is expected to support, also includes billions of dollars to support schools and colleges, small businesses, and renters and homeowners. It expands benefits for the unemployed, dedicates $25 billion in aid to struggling restaurants and provides a financial rescue for certain private-sector pension plans that cover 1 million workers and retirees.

The congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimated Monday that Biden’s temporary expansion of the child tax credit would cost $110 billion and that the direct payments to individuals would cost $422 billion. The committee has not yet prepared a cost estimate of the full legislative proposal.

To help hold down the overall cost, Democrats reduced an extension of unemployment benefits from six months to five, a change that Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the Finance Committee, vowed to reverse in the Senate.

Democrats hope to have the entire package signed into law by mid-March to avoid yet another lapse in crucial unemployment benefits. U.S. stocks moved further into record territory Monday in a sign of investor optimism that Congress would soon pass another large spending package.

Optimism has also grown among lawmakers, who have long pushed for aggressive federal action to reduce child poverty, sensing a window from the crisis and an opportunity to work across the aisle.

“The escalation of hardship and uncertainty during the pandemic has renewed the focus on making sure that low-income families with children, in particular, have the resources they need to put food on the table for their children,” said Zachary Parolin, an assistant professor at Bocconi University in Italy and a senior researcher at the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University.

Passing any of the plans under debate, he said, “would be one of the most important moments in the development of our social safety net since the development of Social Security.”

Three in 20 Americans under the age of 18 lived below the poverty line at the end of last year, according to the center. The share rises to more than 1 in 5 for Black and Hispanic children, which is more than double the rate for white children. And while Congress has passed several tax credits in recent decades — including a child tax credit created by the 2017 Republican tax overhaul — to help the poor, many do not reach children whose parents are out of work, which includes wide swaths of the Black and Hispanic children living in poverty.

“This was already a policy that was structured in such a way to prevent children who need it the most from getting it,” said Sophie Collyer, the research director at the Columbia poverty center.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, proposed last week to create monthly payments up to $350 per child, even larger than the temporary ones in Biden’s proposal. They would be sent from the Social Security Administration to families from the very poor to near the top of the income spectrum.

To avoid adding to the deficit, Romney’s plan would eliminate or streamline other safety net programs and eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes, which largely benefits high earners in high-tax states like New Jersey and New York. The moderate Niskanen Center estimates the net effect of the plan would be to cut the child poverty rate by a third.

Congressional Democrats in both chambers, even before they vote to approve Biden’s temporary rescue plan, are already working to write a large expansion of child benefits permanently into the tax code.

“We build the architecture for the future,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, who introduced legislation with Reps. Suzan DelBene of Washington and Ritchie Torres of New York on Monday that would establish a permanent expansion of the child tax credit and make it fully refundable. “That has been underlying so that we’re not just throwing money at a situation, but we are looking at enduring, transformational change.”

Anti-poverty groups and a growing group in Congress have pushed for years to send more federal aid to parents. But they have run into long-standing concerns over “disincentives to work,” which conservative groups have lodged against their proposals. Those groups say that sending money not conditioned on earning income outside the home would make it easier for low-income parents to quit their jobs and rely solely on government support.

“At the very least, policies shouldn’t create disincentives to work, produce long-term economic consequences, nor enable dependency on the benefit,” said Veronique de Rugy, an economist at the libertarian Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Romney’s plan, she said, “would do that by transporting us to a pre-1996-welfare-reform world where the benefit is available no matter the marital or employment status of the parents.”

Biden campaigned on an expansion of child benefits to combat poverty. He and his cabinet have repeatedly invoked the plight of children in stressing the need for his economic aid package.

“We have 24 million adults and 12 million children that are going hungry every day,” Janet L. Yellen, the Treasury secretary, told CNN on Sunday. “And we need to provide them with food. We have people suffering, particularly low-wage workers and minorities, and through absolutely no fault of their own. We have to get them to the other side and make sure this doesn’t take a permanent toll on their lives.”

Democrats are poised to maneuver Biden’s rescue plan through a complex budget process to bypass the need for Republican votes in the Senate. As a result, any provision changing the child benefits will have to adhere to a series of parliamentary parameters. It is unclear if a permanent expansion of the benefit would prevail under the strict rules, as well as adhering to the overall price tag of the package outlined in a resolution that passed both chambers this month.

While longtime champions of a permanent expansion have endorsed Biden’s plans for a one-year expansion of the credit, they are continuing to make the change permanent. DeLauro, who has fought for the expansion for nearly two decades, personally lobbied the White House to ensure Biden included the expansion of the tax credit and is continuing to push for its permanence, while Romney is continuing to champion his proposal among moderate Republicans.

Such efforts could play out in the debate later this year over Biden’s next big economic proposal, which is expected to spend trillions on infrastructure, clean energy, education, health care and other liberal priorities, offset by tax increases on high earners and corporations.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., has been mounting his own push for a permanent expansion, including making a case with Yellen when she joined a recent Democratic caucus call and discussing the issue privately with a number of his colleagues, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent in charge of the Senate Budget Committee, according to two people familiar with the conversations.

Booker, along with Rep. Ayanna S. Pressley, D-Mass., has also pushed Democratic leaders to move on a so-called baby bonds proposal, which would create a federally funded savings account for each U.S. child.

The early weeks of the Biden administration have brought a surge of support, in the White House and across party lines in Congress, for what could be the most ambitious effort in a generation to reduce child poverty.

The early weeks of the Biden administration have brought a surge of support, in the White House and across party lines in Congress, for what could be the most ambitious effort in a generation to reduce child poverty. The plans vary in duration, design and the amount they would add to the federal debt, but they share a new, central premise in the policy debate over how to help the poor: that sending monthly payments through tax credits to parents, even if they do not earn income from work, is the best way to help feed, clothe and house children from low-income families. One such plan is a cornerstone of the legislative text that House Democrats introduced Monday as part of what will become a sweeping bill to implement President Joe Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion economic aid package. That text included a monthly benefit of $300 per child for those age 5 and younger — and $250 per child ages 6 to 17 — as a means of making good on Biden’s pledge to increase the value of the child tax credit and help more families, even those with little or no income, reap its benefits. While that payout would expire after a year, several Democrats and one influential Republican are pushing to permanently increase child benefits, which researchers say could lift the United States into the ranks of wealthy nations like Canada and the United Kingdom, both of which enjoy significantly lower child poverty rates. The proposal released Monday came at the start of a week of committee hearings that will determine the final details of the Democratic plan to combat the economic and health toll from the coronavirus. The Democrats called for sending $1,400 direct checks to individuals earning up to $75,000 a year and couples earning up to $150,000, the same threshold as previous rounds of payments. The size of the checks would shrink more rapidly for higher earners than in previous rounds, and no household earning more than $200,000 would be eligible for payments of any size. The draft legislation also includes a provision, championed by progressive Democrats, that would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. The Congressional Budget Office estimated Monday that such an increase would cut the poverty rate by nearly 1%, but reduce employment by 1.4 million jobs. That potential job loss, which the budget office has previously predicted, was immediately cited by conservatives who oppose the provision. The full draft legislation, which largely mirrors Biden’s proposals and the president is expected to support, also includes billions of dollars to support schools and colleges, small businesses, and renters and homeowners. It expands benefits for the unemployed, dedicates $25 billion in aid to struggling restaurants and provides a financial rescue for certain private-sector pension plans that cover 1 million workers and retirees. The congressional Joint Committee on Taxation estimated Monday that Biden’s temporary expansion of the child tax credit would cost $110 billion and that the direct payments to individuals would cost $422 billion. The committee has not yet prepared a cost estimate of the full legislative proposal. To help hold down the overall cost, Democrats reduced an extension of unemployment benefits from six months to five, a change that Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the Finance Committee, vowed to reverse in the Senate. Democrats hope to have the entire package signed into law by mid-March to avoid yet another lapse in crucial unemployment benefits. U.S. stocks moved further into record territory Monday in a sign of investor optimism that Congress would soon pass another large spending package. Optimism has also grown among lawmakers, who have long pushed for aggressive federal action to reduce child poverty, sensing a window from the crisis and an opportunity to work across the aisle. “The escalation of hardship and uncertainty during the pandemic has renewed the focus on making sure that low-income families with children, in particular, have the resources they need to put food on the table for their children,” said Zachary Parolin, an assistant professor at Bocconi University in Italy and a senior researcher at the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University. Passing any of the plans under debate, he said, “would be one of the most important moments in the development of our social safety net since the development of Social Security.” Three in 20 Americans under the age of 18 lived below the poverty line at the end of last year, according to the center. The share rises to more than 1 in 5 for Black and Hispanic children, which is more than double the rate for white children. And while Congress has passed several tax credits in recent decades — including a child tax credit created by the 2017 Republican tax overhaul — to help the poor, many do not reach children whose parents are out of work, which includes wide swaths of the Black and Hispanic children living in poverty. “This was already a policy that was structured in such a way to prevent children who need it the most from getting it,” said Sophie Collyer, the research director at the Columbia poverty center. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, proposed last week to create monthly payments up to $350 per child, even larger than the temporary ones in Biden’s proposal. They would be sent from the Social Security Administration to families from the very poor to near the top of the income spectrum. To avoid adding to the deficit, Romney’s plan would eliminate or streamline other safety net programs and eliminate the deduction for state and local taxes, which largely benefits high earners in high-tax states like New Jersey and New York. The moderate Niskanen Center estimates the net effect of the plan would be to cut the child poverty rate by a third. Congressional Democrats in both chambers, even before they vote to approve Biden’s temporary rescue plan, are already working to write a large expansion of child benefits permanently into the tax code. “We build the architecture for the future,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, who introduced legislation with Reps. Suzan DelBene of Washington and Ritchie Torres of New York on Monday that would establish a permanent expansion of the child tax credit and make it fully refundable. “That has been underlying so that we’re not just throwing money at a situation, but we are looking at enduring, transformational change.” Anti-poverty groups and a growing group in Congress have pushed for years to send more federal aid to parents. But they have run into long-standing concerns over “disincentives to work,” which conservative groups have lodged against their proposals. Those groups say that sending money not conditioned on earning income outside the home would make it easier for low-income parents to quit their jobs and rely solely on government support. “At the very least, policies shouldn’t create disincentives to work, produce long-term economic consequences, nor enable dependency on the benefit,” said Veronique de Rugy, an economist at the libertarian Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Romney’s plan, she said, “would do that by transporting us to a pre-1996-welfare-reform world where the benefit is available no matter the marital or employment status of the parents.” Biden campaigned on an expansion of child benefits to combat poverty. He and his cabinet have repeatedly invoked the plight of children in stressing the need for his economic aid package. “We have 24 million adults and 12 million children that are going hungry every day,” Janet L. Yellen, the Treasury secretary, told CNN on Sunday. “And we need to provide them with food. We have people suffering, particularly low-wage workers and minorities, and through absolutely no fault of their own. We have to get them to the other side and make sure this doesn’t take a permanent toll on their lives.” Democrats are poised to maneuver Biden’s rescue plan through a complex budget process to bypass the need for Republican votes in the Senate. As a result, any provision changing the child benefits will have to adhere to a series of parliamentary parameters. It is unclear if a permanent expansion of the benefit would prevail under the strict rules, as well as adhering to the overall price tag of the package outlined in a resolution that passed both chambers this month. While longtime champions of a permanent expansion have endorsed Biden’s plans for a one-year expansion of the credit, they are continuing to make the change permanent. DeLauro, who has fought for the expansion for nearly two decades, personally lobbied the White House to ensure Biden included the expansion of the tax credit and is continuing to push for its permanence, while Romney is continuing to champion his proposal among moderate Republicans. Such efforts could play out in the debate later this year over Biden’s next big economic proposal, which is expected to spend trillions on infrastructure, clean energy, education, health care and other liberal priorities, offset by tax increases on high earners and corporations. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., has been mounting his own push for a permanent expansion, including making a case with Yellen when she joined a recent Democratic caucus call and discussing the issue privately with a number of his colleagues, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent in charge of the Senate Budget Committee, according to two people familiar with the conversations. Booker, along with Rep. Ayanna S. Pressley, D-Mass., has also pushed Democratic leaders to move on a so-called baby bonds proposal, which would create a federally funded savings account for each U.S. child.

Crisis spurs Congress toward big measures to lift families from poverty

Veteran Congress leader and two-time former chief minister Motilal Vora passed away on Monday following post-Covid-19 complications, his family said.&nbsp;

Vora, who marked his 93rd birth anniversary on Sunday, was admitted to the Escorts Hospital in New Delhi a few days ago as he developed a severe lung infection and was put on ventilator support.&nbsp;

He was a two-time former chief minister of the undivided central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and former Governor of Uttar Pradesh.

In his political career that lasted nearly five decades, he was also elected for the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) for four times and one time for the Lok Sabha (Lower House).

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were among the leaders who expressed grief on Vora's demise.&nbsp;

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Sad to hear that veteran Congress leader Shri Motilal Vora is no more. He was humility personified, and belonged to a generation of leaders who carry their politics with unflinching conviction till end. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1340980110883622913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"Sad to hear that veteran Congress leader Shri Motilal Vora is no more. He was humility personified, and belonged to a generation of leaders who carry their politics with unflinching conviction till end. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," Kovind wrote in a tweet.&nbsp;

The vice president called him an "ideal" lawmaker and said the nation lost an "honest", "simple" and "committed" leader.&nbsp;

"When I came to Rajya Sabha in 2014, I used to listen to his speeches and watch his behaviour in the House closely. For me he had the qualities of an ideal Member of Parliament," Naidu said.

"In Vora ji's demise, the country has lost an honest, simple and committed leader. It is an irreplaceable loss not only to the Congress party but also to the country."&nbsp;

Modi also expressed "sadness" over Vora's demise and paid condolences to his family and well-wishers.&nbsp;

"Shri Motilal Vora Ji was among the senior-most Congress leaders, who had vast administrative and organisational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. Om Shanti," the PM's office tweeted.

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Shri Motilal Vora Ji was among the senior-most Congress leaders, who had vast administrative and organisational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. Om Shanti: PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1340971721860505602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Rahul described him as a "true" Congress leader and said that the party will "miss him very much".

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Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much. 
 
My love &amp; condolences to his family and friends. <a href="https://t.co/MvBBGGJV27">pic.twitter.com/MvBBGGJV27</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1340963606486106114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much. My love and condolences to his family and friends," Rahul wrote on Twitter.&nbsp;

Veteran Congress leader and two-time former chief minister Motilal Vora passed away on Monday following post-Covid-19 complications, his family said. Vora, who marked his 93rd birth anniversary on Sunday, was admitted to the Escorts Hospital in New Delhi a few days ago as he developed a severe lung infection and was put on ventilator support.

Veteran Congress leader and two-time former chief minister Motilal Vora passed away on Monday following post-Covid-19 complications, his family said. Vora, who marked his 93rd birth anniversary on Sunday, was admitted to the Escorts Hospital in New Delhi a few days ago as he developed a severe lung infection and was put on ventilator support. He was a two-time former chief minister of the undivided central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and former Governor of Uttar Pradesh. In his political career that lasted nearly five decades, he was also elected for the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) for four times and one time for the Lok Sabha (Lower House). President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were among the leaders who expressed grief on Vora's demise. Sad to hear that veteran Congress leader Shri Motilal Vora is no more. He was humility personified, and belonged to a generation of leaders who carry their politics with unflinching conviction till end. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 21, 2020 × "Sad to hear that veteran Congress leader Shri Motilal Vora is no more. He was humility personified, and belonged to a generation of leaders who carry their politics with unflinching conviction till end. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," Kovind wrote in a tweet. The vice president called him an "ideal" lawmaker and said the nation lost an "honest", "simple" and "committed" leader. "When I came to Rajya Sabha in 2014, I used to listen to his speeches and watch his behaviour in the House closely. For me he had the qualities of an ideal Member of Parliament," Naidu said. "In Vora ji's demise, the country has lost an honest, simple and committed leader. It is an irreplaceable loss not only to the Congress party but also to the country." Modi also expressed "sadness" over Vora's demise and paid condolences to his family and well-wishers. "Shri Motilal Vora Ji was among the senior-most Congress leaders, who had vast administrative and organisational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. Om Shanti," the PM's office tweeted. Shri Motilal Vora Ji was among the senior-most Congress leaders, who had vast administrative and organisational experience in a political career that spanned decades. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. Om Shanti: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 21, 2020 × Rahul described him as a "true" Congress leader and said that the party will "miss him very much". Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much. My love & condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/MvBBGGJV27 — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 21, 2020 × "Vora ji was a true congressman and a wonderful human being. We will miss him very much. My love and condolences to his family and friends," Rahul wrote on Twitter.

Veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora passes away

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is set to meet some of the Congress dissenters who had earlier written a letter to her flagging leadership crisis.&nbsp;

Several reports claimed that Gandhi will be holding a series of meetings on December 19 and 20 with party leaders over key issues and will also meet some important members of the rebel leaders.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-extends-support-to-bharat-bandh-as-deadlock-between-farmers-govt-continues-347886">Congress extends support to 'Bharat Bandh' as deadlock between farmers, govt continues</a>

It is not clear whether other key Congress leaders and Sonia's children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be a part of the meeting.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/khurshid-slams-congress-critics-says-support-to-gandhis-apparent-to-anyone-who-isnt-blind-344717">Khurshid slams Congress critics, says support to Gandhis 'apparent to anyone who isn't blind'</a>

The dissent leaders include Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Ghulam Nabi Azar and deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha (Rajya Sabha) Anand Sharma will meet the party chief, sources told news agency PTI.

This will be the first face-to-face meeting of Sonia with party leaders after the coronavirus pandemic spread in India.

The meetings will focus on key issues that are concerning Congress, its performance in the recent polls and its strategy ahead of the winter session of Parliament.&nbsp;

Reports suggest that senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath played a key role in acting as a mediator between Congress dissenters and party leadership which resulted in this meeting.

On August, 23 Congress leaders signed a letter demanding party to have a "full and active leadership", more than a year after its lacklustre performance in the 2019 general election and after it lost power in the state of Madhya Pradesh. &nbsp;

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is set to meet some of the Congress dissenters who had earlier written a letter to her flagging leadership crisis. Several reports claimed that Gandhi will be holding a series of meetings on December 19 and 20 with party leaders over key issues and will also meet some important members of the rebel leaders.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is set to meet some of the Congress dissenters who had earlier written a letter to her flagging leadership crisis. Several reports claimed that Gandhi will be holding a series of meetings on December 19 and 20 with party leaders over key issues and will also meet some important members of the rebel leaders. Also read | Congress extends support to 'Bharat Bandh' as deadlock between farmers, govt continues It is not clear whether other key Congress leaders and Sonia's children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be a part of the meeting. Also read | Khurshid slams Congress critics, says support to Gandhis 'apparent to anyone who isn't blind' The dissent leaders include Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Ghulam Nabi Azar and deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha (Rajya Sabha) Anand Sharma will meet the party chief, sources told news agency PTI. This will be the first face-to-face meeting of Sonia with party leaders after the coronavirus pandemic spread in India. The meetings will focus on key issues that are concerning Congress, its performance in the recent polls and its strategy ahead of the winter session of Parliament. Reports suggest that senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath played a key role in acting as a mediator between Congress dissenters and party leadership which resulted in this meeting. On August, 23 Congress leaders signed a letter demanding party to have a "full and active leadership", more than a year after its lacklustre performance in the 2019 general election and after it lost power in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Sonia Gandhi agrees to meet 'rebel' Congress leaders in person

Congress president Sonia Gandhi condoled senior party leader Ahmed Patel's death on Wednesday, saying she has lost an "irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend" whose entire life was dedicated to the party.

Patel (71) passed away in the early hours on Wednesday at a Delhi hospital due to multiple organ failure more than a month after he tested positive for COVID-19.

In her condolence message for Patel, who served as her political secretary for years, Gandhi said, “In Shri Ahmed Patel, I have lost a colleague, whose entire life was dedicated to the Congress Party."

His faithfulness and dedication, his commitment to his duty, his always being there to help, his generosity were rare qualities that distinguished him from others, she said.

"I have lost an irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend. I mourn his passing and I feel deeply for his bereaved family to whom I offer my sincere feelings of empathy and support," the Congress president said.&nbsp;

Patel had tested positive for Covid-19 on October 1. He was hospitalised on November 15 after his health condition deteriorated.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Congress president Sonia Gandhi condoled senior party leader Ahmed Patel's death on Wednesday, saying she has lost an "irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend" whose entire life was dedicated to the party.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi condoled senior party leader Ahmed Patel's death on Wednesday, saying she has lost an "irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend" whose entire life was dedicated to the party. Patel (71) passed away in the early hours on Wednesday at a Delhi hospital due to multiple organ failure more than a month after he tested positive for COVID-19. In her condolence message for Patel, who served as her political secretary for years, Gandhi said, “In Shri Ahmed Patel, I have lost a colleague, whose entire life was dedicated to the Congress Party." His faithfulness and dedication, his commitment to his duty, his always being there to help, his generosity were rare qualities that distinguished him from others, she said. "I have lost an irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend. I mourn his passing and I feel deeply for his bereaved family to whom I offer my sincere feelings of empathy and support," the Congress president said. Patel had tested positive for Covid-19 on October 1. He was hospitalised on November 15 after his health condition deteriorated. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Lost an irreplaceable comrade, faithful colleague’: Sonia Gandhi on Ahmed Patel's demise

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