President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to the architect of the Constitution, B R Ambedkar, on his death anniversary.

The leaders paid floral tributes to Ambedkar, hailed for his contribution towards uplift of Dalits, at Parliament House Lawns here.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Thawar Chand Gehlot and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also paid respects to Ambedkar there.

Ambedkar passed away on this day in 1956 at the age of 65.

&quot;I bow to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his Mahaparinirvan Diwas,&quot; the prime minister said on Twitter.&nbsp;

Rahul pays tribute to Ambedkar

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today paid tribute to the architect of the Constitution, B R Ambedkar, on his death anniversary and said men might be mortal but their ideas need to be propagated.

Gandhi, poised to take over as Congress president, took to Twitter to remember Ambedkar, hailed for his contribution towards the upliftment of Dalits.

&quot;Men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise, both will wither and die. My tributes to #BabasahebAmbedkar on #MahaParinirvana Diwas,&quot; Gandhi said.

Ambedkar passed away on this day in 1956. He was 65 then.&nbsp;

The leaders paid floral tributes to Ambedkar, hailed for his contribution towards uplift of Dalits, at Parliament House Lawns here

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to the architect of the Constitution, B R Ambedkar, on his death anniversary. The leaders paid floral tributes to Ambedkar, hailed for his contribution towards uplift of Dalits, at Parliament House Lawns here. Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Thawar Chand Gehlot and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also paid respects to Ambedkar there. Ambedkar passed away on this day in 1956 at the age of 65. "I bow to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his Mahaparinirvan Diwas," the prime minister said on Twitter. Rahul pays tribute to Ambedkar Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today paid tribute to the architect of the Constitution, B R Ambedkar, on his death anniversary and said men might be mortal but their ideas need to be propagated. Gandhi, poised to take over as Congress president, took to Twitter to remember Ambedkar, hailed for his contribution towards the upliftment of Dalits. "Men are mortal. So are ideas. An idea needs propagation as much as a plant needs watering. Otherwise, both will wither and die. My tributes to #BabasahebAmbedkar on #MahaParinirvana Diwas," Gandhi said. Ambedkar passed away on this day in 1956. He was 65 then.

Ambedkar death anniversary: PM Modi, President Kovind, Rahul Gandhi pay tributes

Congress <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cwc-passes-resolution-to-make-rahul-gandhi-congress-president-24631">today released election dates to elect</a> the next president of the party.

The party has decided<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ncp-wont-fight-gujarat-elections-with-congress-praful-patel-24627"> to set December 16th</a> as the date of polls &quot;if necessary&quot;, with the counting of votes and declaration of results to take place on December 19th.

The last date of filing nominations will take place on December 4th, however, the date to watch out for will be December 5th which is the last date of scrutiny of nominations. In case there is no candidate apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress will announce his candidature on the last date of scrutiny.

Congress announced the dates even as the party passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi president of the party at a CWC meeting at 10, Janpath in the capital on Monday morning.

The meeting attended by top Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set out the path for Rahul Gandhi&#39;s crowing as party president.

Rahul&#39;s coronation as party president could coincide with the Gujarat elections in December especially if the Congress vice-president is declared the winner on December 5th.

The Congress leader will then have to contend with a bitter fight as soon as he takes over as the head of the grand old party.

In case there is no candidate apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress will announce his candidature on the last date of scrutiny

Congress today released election dates to elect the next president of the party. The party has decided to set December 16th as the date of polls "if necessary", with the counting of votes and declaration of results to take place on December 19th. The last date of filing nominations will take place on December 4th, however, the date to watch out for will be December 5th which is the last date of scrutiny of nominations. In case there is no candidate apart from Rahul Gandhi, Congress will announce his candidature on the last date of scrutiny. Congress announced the dates even as the party passed a resolution to make Rahul Gandhi president of the party at a CWC meeting at 10, Janpath in the capital on Monday morning. The meeting attended by top Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh set out the path for Rahul Gandhi's crowing as party president. Rahul's coronation as party president could coincide with the Gujarat elections in December especially if the Congress vice-president is declared the winner on December 5th. The Congress leader will then have to contend with a bitter fight as soon as he takes over as the head of the grand old party.

Rahul as Congress president: Party says will hold polls 'if necessary'

A day after a sex video -- allegedly featuring Patidar leader Hardik Patel; the allegation has not been proved -- went viral on social media, another video has surfaced.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-sex-cd-goes-viral-allegation-is-it-features-hardik-patel-24122" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Gujarat elections: Sex CD goes viral, allegation is it features Hardik Patel</a>

PTI reported that this video features a man with a tonsured head relaxing on a bed with a woman and two men.&nbsp;

PTI added that Patel had tonsured his head in May this year along with his supporters to protest against alleged police atrocities on members of his community during the Patidar quota agitation.

Patel is still to react to the second video, but he had blamed the release of the first video on the BJP.&nbsp;

He had tweeted yesterday:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??,???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????
&mdash; Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) <a href="https://twitter.com/HardikPatel_/status/930078432314249217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
?? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??????,????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????
&mdash; Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) <a href="https://twitter.com/HardikPatel_/status/930005238991478784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Interestingly, Patel had foretold -- on November 10 -- the release of the &quot;sex CD&quot;.&nbsp;

Hardik had said then that the BJP would be responsible, and that they would do so for electoral gain.

&quot;The BJP has prepared a doctored sex CD to defame me and it will be released just before the election. What else can one expect from the BJP? So just wait, watch and enjoy,&quot; Hardik had said then.

When he was asked how he knew about the CD, Hardik had said, &quot;This is typical of the BJP.&quot;

The Patidar agitation

Patel had led the massive Patidar agitation in the state in 2015.

The Patidars had been asking for reservations for the community in government jobs and educational institutions.&nbsp;

The Congress has since been courting Patel, who has said that he will work towards beating the BJP in the upcoming Gujarat elections.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-invites-hardik-patel-to-contest-gujarat-elections-22699" target="_blank">Also read: Congress invites Hardik Patel to contest Gujarat elections</a>

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-cong-gives-3-quota-options-to-patidars-who-say-theyll-get-back-to-them-23775" target="_blank">Also read: Gujarat elections: Cong gives 3 quota options to Patidars who say they&#39;ll get back to them</a>

Redux

Attempts have been made to defame Patel earlier too.

A sex CD was also released in 2015, with exactly the same allegation -- that it featured Hardik. 
&nbsp;

This latest video features a man with a tonsured head relaxing on a bed with a woman and two men

A day after a sex video -- allegedly featuring Patidar leader Hardik Patel; the allegation has not been proved -- went viral on social media, another video has surfaced. Also read: Gujarat elections: Sex CD goes viral, allegation is it features Hardik Patel PTI reported that this video features a man with a tonsured head relaxing on a bed with a woman and two men. PTI added that Patel had tonsured his head in May this year along with his supporters to protest against alleged police atrocities on members of his community during the Patidar quota agitation. Patel is still to react to the second video, but he had blamed the release of the first video on the BJP. He had tweeted yesterday: ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??,???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ????????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???? — Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) November 13, 2017 × ?? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??????,????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? — Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) November 13, 2017 × Interestingly, Patel had foretold -- on November 10 -- the release of the "sex CD". Hardik had said then that the BJP would be responsible, and that they would do so for electoral gain. "The BJP has prepared a doctored sex CD to defame me and it will be released just before the election. What else can one expect from the BJP? So just wait, watch and enjoy," Hardik had said then. When he was asked how he knew about the CD, Hardik had said, "This is typical of the BJP." The Patidar agitation Patel had led the massive Patidar agitation in the state in 2015. The Patidars had been asking for reservations for the community in government jobs and educational institutions. The Congress has since been courting Patel, who has said that he will work towards beating the BJP in the upcoming Gujarat elections. Also read: Congress invites Hardik Patel to contest Gujarat elections Also read: Gujarat elections: Cong gives 3 quota options to Patidars who say they'll get back to them Redux Attempts have been made to defame Patel earlier too. A sex CD was also released in 2015, with exactly the same allegation -- that it featured Hardik.

Gujarat elections: Day after 'sex CD', another video of Hardik Patel with woman surfaces

Speaking exclusively to WION&rsquo;s Kartikeya Sharma, the former MoS Home Affairs also talks about Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi, and the state of Congress.

He adds that the policies of the ruling BJP government at the Centre have hurt the common man.&nbsp;

&nbsp; 
Here is the full transcript of the interview: 
&nbsp; 
Q: Is Congress&rsquo; election campaign in Gujarat on the line of UP ke ladke, the election campaign theme of SP-Cong in Uttar Pradesh? Rahul Gandhi plus three boys from the state against Narendra Modi? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: Not at all. I is not about individuals.&nbsp;It is not Rahul Gandhi vs anyone. It is not about individuals. It is about people of Gujarat and problems accruing from the policies of BJP-led state and central governments. People have suffered and Rahul Gandhi is only voicing the discomfort faced by people of Gujarat. It is people of Gujarat versus policies of the present government. 
&nbsp; 
Q: Demonetisation did not work in UP. What makes you think that GST as a political campaign will work in Gujarat? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: BJP did a smart thing during UP elections. The message which went out during UP elections was that haves were being attacked and money would eventually be ploughed back to have nots. BJP had earlier promised Rs 15 lakh in people&rsquo;s account and electorate thought that perhaps this scheme is probably a culmination of that promise. This messaging worked then, but now people understand that demonetisation led to nothing. And GST has hurt people. 
&nbsp; 
Q: What is the main challenge for the Congress in Jharkhand? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: BJP government in Jharkhand has been trying to tweak land laws to parcel out land from the tribal community. We have been trying to stall it. They have tried changing land acquisition rules too. There are many issues in the state like health and hunger. Many children died because their mothers were malnourished. Poor has suffered in the state. These are the issues we want to focus on. And then the main focus remains on organization. 
&nbsp; 
Q: Congress for quite some time has been in alliance with regional parties in the state. So how do you expect to challenge BJP? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: Congress has not done well in assembly and Lok Sabha elections last time around. We are trying to strengthen the Congress from booth level onwards. We are trying to take all communities on board. 
&nbsp; 
Q: Every assembly election, Congress jumps into the lap of a regional party. How will you change the outlook? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: In Jharkhand, we contested independently and votes against BJP got divided which helped them. We are making sure that Congress is present in all 81 seats. Though elections are two years away but even if we go for alliance this time around we would like to be equal partners this time around. We aren&rsquo;t ruling out alliance but it needs to be on equal footing. 
&nbsp; 
Q: What explains the rapid expansion of BJP in many states? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: This issue has been addressed many times. In the last two to three years, we lost touch with real issues and what people wanted from us. We did good work but did not communicate well enough. We weren&rsquo;t good at it then. The UPA did a good job in social sector. What we see today is strong communication by BJP but the work on the ground remains nil. 
&nbsp; 
Q: Did the issue of saffron terror controversy impact Congress very negatively? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: Those speeches have never ever been Congress party&rsquo;s view. Terror has no caste, religion or creed; those were individual remarks which I believe were communicated out of context. It has never been the Congress&#39; stand but a perception was created and it did impact the Congress party. 
&nbsp; 
Q: Why is elevation of Rahul Gandhi getting delayed? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: It is not getting delayed. There is an electoral process which is coming to close. PCC delegates have been elected and (his) elevation will happen soon. 
&nbsp; 
Q: Where lies the salvation of the Congress party? In building organization or electoral alliances to stop BJP? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: We need to build our cadre and make people believe in our ideology. 
&nbsp; 
Q: The general message is that Congress has turned Left of Centre? 
&nbsp; 
RPN Singh: We are a centrist party. I will quote late Mrs Indira Gandhi, &ldquo;We are in the centre and we will stand tall.&rdquo;

In an exclusive interview with WION, Singh also spoke about Rahul Gandhi and the state of the Congress party

Speaking exclusively to WION’s Kartikeya Sharma, the former MoS Home Affairs also talks about Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi, and the state of Congress. He adds that the policies of the ruling BJP government at the Centre have hurt the common man. Here is the full transcript of the interview: Q: Is Congress’ election campaign in Gujarat on the line of UP ke ladke, the election campaign theme of SP-Cong in Uttar Pradesh? Rahul Gandhi plus three boys from the state against Narendra Modi? RPN Singh: Not at all. I is not about individuals. It is not Rahul Gandhi vs anyone. It is not about individuals. It is about people of Gujarat and problems accruing from the policies of BJP-led state and central governments. People have suffered and Rahul Gandhi is only voicing the discomfort faced by people of Gujarat. It is people of Gujarat versus policies of the present government. Q: Demonetisation did not work in UP. What makes you think that GST as a political campaign will work in Gujarat? RPN Singh: BJP did a smart thing during UP elections. The message which went out during UP elections was that haves were being attacked and money would eventually be ploughed back to have nots. BJP had earlier promised Rs 15 lakh in people’s account and electorate thought that perhaps this scheme is probably a culmination of that promise. This messaging worked then, but now people understand that demonetisation led to nothing. And GST has hurt people. Q: What is the main challenge for the Congress in Jharkhand? RPN Singh: BJP government in Jharkhand has been trying to tweak land laws to parcel out land from the tribal community. We have been trying to stall it. They have tried changing land acquisition rules too. There are many issues in the state like health and hunger. Many children died because their mothers were malnourished. Poor has suffered in the state. These are the issues we want to focus on. And then the main focus remains on organization. Q: Congress for quite some time has been in alliance with regional parties in the state. So how do you expect to challenge BJP? RPN Singh: Congress has not done well in assembly and Lok Sabha elections last time around. We are trying to strengthen the Congress from booth level onwards. We are trying to take all communities on board. Q: Every assembly election, Congress jumps into the lap of a regional party. How will you change the outlook? RPN Singh: In Jharkhand, we contested independently and votes against BJP got divided which helped them. We are making sure that Congress is present in all 81 seats. Though elections are two years away but even if we go for alliance this time around we would like to be equal partners this time around. We aren’t ruling out alliance but it needs to be on equal footing. Q: What explains the rapid expansion of BJP in many states? RPN Singh: This issue has been addressed many times. In the last two to three years, we lost touch with real issues and what people wanted from us. We did good work but did not communicate well enough. We weren’t good at it then. The UPA did a good job in social sector. What we see today is strong communication by BJP but the work on the ground remains nil. Q: Did the issue of saffron terror controversy impact Congress very negatively? RPN Singh: Those speeches have never ever been Congress party’s view. Terror has no caste, religion or creed; those were individual remarks which I believe were communicated out of context. It has never been the Congress' stand but a perception was created and it did impact the Congress party. Q: Why is elevation of Rahul Gandhi getting delayed? RPN Singh: It is not getting delayed. There is an electoral process which is coming to close. PCC delegates have been elected and (his) elevation will happen soon. Q: Where lies the salvation of the Congress party? In building organization or electoral alliances to stop BJP? RPN Singh: We need to build our cadre and make people believe in our ideology. Q: The general message is that Congress has turned Left of Centre? RPN Singh: We are a centrist party. I will quote late Mrs Indira Gandhi, “We are in the centre and we will stand tall.”

Gujarat election is about people vs govt policies: Former Union Minister RPN Singh tells WION

Congress president Sonia Gandhi told a private TV channel today that vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be taking over as party chief shortly.

The development comes as Punjab Congress Committee today passed a resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the All India Congress Committee(AICC) president.

Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Congress had passed a similar resolution.

However, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hasn&#39;t commented on his impending&nbsp;elevation as the party chief.&nbsp;

The Congress Working Committee(CWC) - the party&#39;s highest decision-making body -&nbsp; is expected to decide on the dates of election for the new president soon.

Sonia Gandhi,&nbsp;the present&nbsp;Congress president, was elected in 1998.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hasn't commented on his impending?elevation as the party chief

Congress president Sonia Gandhi told a private TV channel today that vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be taking over as party chief shortly. The development comes as Punjab Congress Committee today passed a resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the All India Congress Committee(AICC) president. Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Congress had passed a similar resolution. However, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hasn't commented on his impending elevation as the party chief. The Congress Working Committee(CWC) - the party's highest decision-making body - is expected to decide on the dates of election for the new president soon. Sonia Gandhi, the present Congress president, was elected in 1998.

Rahul Gandhi to be Congress chief, hints Sonia