Political speculation is growing in Tamil Nadu after Rahul Gandhi received an invitation linked to actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). 


Congress May Join TVK As Rahul Gandhi Gets Tamil Nadu Invite From Vijay’s Father | WION Dispatch

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday amid rumours of a rift between him and the party leadership. After the crucial meeting, Tharoor asserted that “all is good” and that he was on the “same page” with the Congress leadership. The meeting was held in Kharge’s chamber in the Parliament House complex and lasted for 90 minutes. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal was also present during the meeting.&nbsp;“We had a discussion with my two party leaders, the LoP and the Congress president. We had a very good, constructive, positive discussion,” Tharoor wrote in a post on X.“All is good and we are moving together on the same page, what more can I say,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INCIndia</a> President <a href="https://twitter.com/kharge?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kharge</a> ji and LS LoP <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> ji for a warm and constructive discussion today on a wide range of subjects. We are all on the same page as we move forward in the service of the people of India. <a href="https://t.co/T5l8jqkhUT">pic.twitter.com/T5l8jqkhUT</a>&mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/2016781679067877830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/economic-survey-flags-rising-digital-addiction-among-kids-youth-in-india-will-govt-put-curbs-1769688736105">Economic Survey flags rising digital addiction among kids, youth in India. Will govt put curbs?</a><h2>Tharoor had acknowledged ‘issues’ to be discussed with party leaders</h2>&nbsp;The meeting came after speculations of a rift between the party high command after Tharoor after the latter missed an All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting on preparations for the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls.The meeting took place after Tharoor had acknowledged the “issues” that were due to be discussed with the party leaders.Earlier, when Tharoor was asked about his decision to attend the Kerala literature festival instead of attending the Kerala poll-related meeting, he had said, “Whatever issues there are, I would have to discuss them with the party leadership, and I look forward to the opportunity to do so. I’m not entering into this issue in public at all.”While speaking at the Kerala literature festival, Tharoor affirmed his stance, saying he hadn’t violated the party’s position and remains unapologetic about his statement on Operation Sindoor.“I have at no stage violated any of the Congress’ positions in Parliament,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/gold-surges-past-5-500-silver-tops-120-amid-iran-tensions-us-fed-pause-and-weakening-dollar-1769682949030">Gold surges past $5,500, silver tops $120 amid Iran tensions, US Fed pause and weakening dollar</a><h2>Tharoor’s praise for PM initiated differences&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Tharoor’s ties with the Congress took a dive after the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year when he appreciated the Prime Minister’s handling of the crisis, inviting sharp reactions from Congress leaders targeting Tharoor.Things turned worse when the BJP asked Tharoor to lead a cross-party delegation to brief friendly countries about the Pahalgam attack and India’s response.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-india-comes-out-on-top-trump-s-trade-chief-greer-says-india-eu-trade-deal-benefits-delhi-1769607267742">‘India comes out on top’: Trump’s trade chief Greer says India-EU trade deal benefits Delhi</a>&nbsp;In June last year, he said, “It (praise for the Prime Minister) is not a sign of my leaping to join his party... as some people have, unfortunately, been implying. It is a statement of national unity...”The rift has been growing steadily since mid-2022, when he was part of a group of Congress leaders that wrote to then-boss Sonia Gandhi asking for a change in leadership after a series of election defeats, starting with a drubbing in the 2019 federal poll.&nbsp;Tharoor contested the election for the Congress President post but lost to Gandhi loyalist Mallikarjun Kharge.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s ties with the party took a dive after the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year when he appreciated the Prime Minister’s handling of the crisis, inviting sharp reactions from Congress leaders targeting the Lok Sabha MP from their own party.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday amid rumours of a rift between him and the party leadership. After the crucial meeting, Tharoor asserted that “all is good” and that he was on the “same page” with the Congress leadership. The meeting was held in Kharge’s chamber in the Parliament House complex and lasted for 90 minutes. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal was also present during the meeting. “We had a discussion with my two party leaders, the LoP and the Congress president. We had a very good, constructive, positive discussion,” Tharoor wrote in a post on X. “All is good and we are moving together on the same page, what more can I say,” he added.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s ties with the party took a dive after the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year when he appreciated the Prime Minister’s handling of the crisis, inviting sharp reactions from Congress leaders targeting the Lok Sabha MP from their own party.

‘We are on same page’: Shashi Tharoor, Rahul Gandhi put up united front amid rift rumours

A controversy has erupted over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being seated in the third row during the Republic Day parade. The Congress party’s general secretary has questioned whether the seating arrangement for the Leader of the Opposition meets established standards of decorum, tradition and protocol at a national event of such significance.


Republic Day 2026: Republic Day Row 3 Seat For Rahul Gandhi Sparks Protocol Row | WION

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the death of a 27-year-old software engineer in Noida, calling it a tragic example of systemic negligence and lack of accountability rather than shortage of resources or technology.Yuvraj Mehta lost his life in the early hours of Saturday when his car reportedly lost control amid heavy fog in Sector 150, Noida. The vehicle crashed through a drain barrier and plunged into a deep, water-filled excavation dug for the basement of an upcoming commercial complex.&nbsp;Reacting on social media platform X, Gandhi said that India’s cities are seeing a collapse where unsafe infrastructure and official apathy are fatal. Listing hazards such as roads, bridges, fires, pollution and corruption, he said indifference has become deadly. He added that urban disasters persist not due to lack of funds or solutions, but because there is “no accountability.” Gandhi also shared a video featuring an eyewitness who claimed that prompt intervention might have saved Mehta. The video included a statement from the victim’s father, who alleged that several bystanders were present at the scene but chose to record videos instead of helping.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/indians-lose-visa-free-access-to-these-countries-in-2026-check-the-list-here-1768896459936">Indians lose visa-free access to THESE countries in 2026: Check the list here</a>&nbsp;Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The three-member panel will be led by ADG (Meerut Zone) Bhanu Bhaskar, along with Meerut Divisional Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami and PWD Chief Engineer Ajay Verma. The team has been instructed to submit its findings within five days.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-moves-toward-polls-as-nomination-process-begins-ahead-of-march-5-vote-1768899976579/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-moves-toward-polls-as-nomination-process-begins-ahead-of-march-5-vote-1768899976579/embed</a>&nbsp;Mehta, who lived in Tata Eureka Park society, worked for a Gurugram-based firm and was returning home when the accident occurred. His body was recovered after an extensive operation involving police, fire services, SDRF and NDRF teams. According to the postmortem report, Mehta died from asphyxia leading to cardiac arrest. Mud and water found in his nasal passage confirmed death by drowning. His last rites were performed in Haridwar in the presence of family members.

'Roads kill, bridges kill': Rahul Gandhi flags ‘lack of accountability’ after techie’s death in Noida

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the death of a 27-year-old software engineer in Noida, calling it a tragic example of systemic negligence and lack of accountability rather than shortage of resources or technology. Yuvraj Mehta lost his life in the early hours of Saturday when his car reportedly lost control amid heavy fog in Sector 150, Noida. The vehicle crashed through a drain barrier and plunged into a deep, water-filled excavation dug for the basement of an upcoming commercial complex. Reacting on social media platform X, Gandhi said that India’s cities are seeing a collapse where unsafe infrastructure and official apathy are fatal. Listing hazards such as roads, bridges, fires, pollution and corruption, he said indifference has become deadly. He added that urban disasters persist not due to lack of funds or solutions, but because there is “no accountability.” Gandhi also shared a video featuring an eyewitness who claimed that prompt intervention might have saved Mehta. The video included a statement from the victim’s father, who alleged that several bystanders were present at the scene but chose to record videos instead of helping. Also Read: Indians lose visa-free access to THESE countries in 2026: Check the list here Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The three-member panel will be led by ADG (Meerut Zone) Bhanu Bhaskar, along with Meerut Divisional Commissioner Bhanu Chandra Goswami and PWD Chief Engineer Ajay Verma. The team has been instructed to submit its findings within five days. https://www.wionews.com/videos/nepal-moves-toward-polls-as-nomination-process-begins-ahead-of-march-5-vote-1768899976579/embed Mehta, who lived in Tata Eureka Park society, worked for a Gurugram-based firm and was returning home when the accident occurred. His body was recovered after an extensive operation involving police, fire services, SDRF and NDRF teams. According to the postmortem report, Mehta died from asphyxia leading to cardiac arrest. Mud and water found in his nasal passage confirmed death by drowning. His last rites were performed in Haridwar in the presence of family members.

Rahul Gandhi condemns the death of a Noida techie, blaming urban negligence and lack of accountability, as an SIT team investigates the tragic accident

Amid a political row over the centre reportedly attempting to halt the release of Tamil film Jana Nayagan, the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (13 Jan) accused the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of attacking Tamil culture and issued a warning to Prime Minister Modi, saying "you will never succeed in surpassing the voice of the Tamil people."&nbsp;“The I&amp;B Ministry’s attempt to block ‘Jana Nayagan’ is an attack on Tamil culture. Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.&nbsp;His statement came after the producer of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan moved to the Supreme Court against an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge decision to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie.&nbsp;On January 9, the Madras High Court stayed a single judge's order directing the CBFC to immediately grant a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan, leaving the fate of actor-turned-politician Vijay's film, which has drawn attention for its political overtones, in limbo. The controversy erupted after the I&amp;B ministry reportedly took steps to block or withhold clearance of the Movie with Vijay as the lead. The actor turned politician, Tamil Superstar Vijay, launched his own political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with intentions of contesting the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;Vijay’s Jana Nayagan was postponed just two days before its scheduled release on January 9. The film was submitted for certification on December 18 but ran into delays after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) flagged certain issues. Although the examining committee recommended a U/A certificate on December 22 after suggesting 27 cuts, the certificate was not issued, resulting in further postponement.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-bleeding-noses-blood-vomiting-mass-paralysis-did-us-deploy-sonic-weapons-in-venezuela-operation-to-extract-maduro-havana-syndrome-lawyer-says-1768296794658">'Bleeding noses, blood vomiting, mass paralysis': Did US deploy 'sonic weapons' in Venezuela operation that extracted Maduro?</a>&nbsp;Responding to Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayan Tirupathy alleged that the Congress is seeking an alliance with actor Vijay's TVK ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections.&nbsp;In a post on X, he wrote, “The so-called ‘Jannayak’ who got crushed miserably in the Bihar elections, is now desperately trying to latch onto the ‘Jananayagan’ vibe by tweeting in support of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan movie — accusing the Centre of blocking it as an ‘attack on Tamil culture.’ Knowing fully well that defeat is staring him in the face again (in TN 2026), Rahul Gandhi is chasing this lifeline from the film row to signal &amp; begging for a possible alliance with TVK."

Rahul Gandhi's statement came after the producer of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan moved to the Supreme Court against an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge decision to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie.

Amid a political row over the centre reportedly attempting to halt the release of Tamil film Jana Nayagan, the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (13 Jan) accused the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of attacking Tamil culture and issued a warning to Prime Minister Modi, saying "you will never succeed in surpassing the voice of the Tamil people." “The I&B Ministry’s attempt to block ‘Jana Nayagan’ is an attack on Tamil culture. Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. His statement came after the producer of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan moved to the Supreme Court against an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge decision to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie. On January 9, the Madras High Court stayed a single judge's order directing the CBFC to immediately grant a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan, leaving the fate of actor-turned-politician Vijay's film, which has drawn attention for its political overtones, in limbo. The controversy erupted after the I&B ministry reportedly took steps to block or withhold clearance of the Movie with Vijay as the lead. The actor turned politician, Tamil Superstar Vijay, launched his own political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with intentions of contesting the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. Vijay’s Jana Nayagan was postponed just two days before its scheduled release on January 9. The film was submitted for certification on December 18 but ran into delays after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) flagged certain issues. Although the examining committee recommended a U/A certificate on December 22 after suggesting 27 cuts, the certificate was not issued, resulting in further postponement. Also Read: 'Bleeding noses, blood vomiting, mass paralysis': Did US deploy 'sonic weapons' in Venezuela operation that extracted Maduro? Responding to Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayan Tirupathy alleged that the Congress is seeking an alliance with actor Vijay's TVK ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections. In a post on X, he wrote, “The so-called ‘Jannayak’ who got crushed miserably in the Bihar elections, is now desperately trying to latch onto the ‘Jananayagan’ vibe by tweeting in support of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan movie — accusing the Centre of blocking it as an ‘attack on Tamil culture.’ Knowing fully well that defeat is staring him in the face again (in TN 2026), Rahul Gandhi is chasing this lifeline from the film row to signal & begging for a possible alliance with TVK."

Rahul Gandhi's statement came after the producer of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan moved to the Supreme Court against an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge decision to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie.

‘Attack on Tamil culture’: Rahul Gandhi accuses Centre of blocking Vijay’s Jana Nayagan

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is visiting Germany, has waded into another controversy with his comment saying manufacturing is on the decline in India. After a visit to a plant of automobile manufacturer BMW in Munich, Gandhi posted a video on social media in which he is heard criticising the status of manufacturing in India. “Manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies. Sadly, in India, manufacturing is declining. For us to accelerate growth, we need to produce more—build meaningful manufacturing ecosystems and create high-quality jobs at scale,” he is heard saying in the video.&nbsp;The remark criticising India from abroad has expectedly ruffled the feathers of the BJP and elicited a strong reaction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LoP Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> visited BMW World in Munich, Germany, and took a guided tour of BMW Welt and the BMW Plant. He was pleased to see TVS’s 450cc motorcycle, developed in partnership with BMW—a proud moment to witness Indian engineering on display. Manufacturing is the… <a href="https://t.co/iqiMCAQD23">pic.twitter.com/iqiMCAQD23</a>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/2001194777153560968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-closes-visa-application-centre-in-dhaka-after-threats-from-radical-leaders-in-bangladesh-1765980439337">India closes visa application centre in Dhaka after threats from radical leaders in Bangladesh</a><h2>BJP rebuts claim of decline in manufacturing</h2>&nbsp;BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called Gandhi’s claim of decline ‘fake news’.&nbsp;In a post on social media platform X, Bhandari claimed 495 per cent growth in total electronics manufacturing in the last 10 years and a 760 per cent growth in exports.Indigenous production of automobiles, he said, has gone up 14 times since 1991.“Automobile Manufacturing (1991 vs 2024): Vehicle production 1991: 2 million units 2024: 28 million units +1,300 per cent increase (14x growth),” the X post added.&nbsp;The BJP spokesperson further added that India aims to produce 50 million vehicles by 2030 and to be among the top 2 auto manufacturers globally by 2047.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/man-injured-on-way-to-hospital-after-heart-attack-dies-on-bengaluru-streets-family-donates-eyes-1765975341000">‘Pleaded for help, humanity failed’: Man injured on way to hospital after heart attack dies on Bengaluru streets; family donates eyes</a>&nbsp;“What India is targeting next? 50 million vehicles by 2030, 200 million vehicles by 2047, and the Top-2 auto manufacturers globally. From import dependence to export dominance—this is manufacturing-led growth backed by data, not slogans. Rahul Gandhi may deny reality, but factories, exports, and numbers don’t lie. Under PM Modi, India’s growth story is real—and accelerating,” the BJP leader wrote.&nbsp;<h2>‘Good to see that the Indian flag is flying here’</h2>&nbsp;Gandhi, though, also praised Indian engineering once, when he said, “A highlight was seeing TVS’s 450cc motorcycle, developed in partnership with BMW. Good to see that the Indian flag is flying here.”&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi’s comments about India and the current government during his foreign tours have been generating a lot of criticism at home.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-ncr-air-pollution-measures-a-total-failure-only-for-interim-relief-supreme-court-1765970144168">Delhi-NCR air pollution measures a ‘total failure’, only for interim relief: Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;While sharing his experiences of Bharat Jodo Yatra during his visit to Cambridge in 2023, he had said that democracy in India is under attack.“I am an opposition leader in India; we are navigating that (opposition) space. The institutional framework that is required for a democracy—Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilisation, moving around—all are getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy,” he had said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi also praised Indian engineering once, when he said, “A highlight was seeing TVS’s 450cc motorcycle, developed in partnership with BMW. Good to see that the Indian flag is flying here.” 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is visiting Germany, has waded into another controversy with his comment saying manufacturing is on the decline in India. After a visit to a plant of automobile manufacturer BMW in Munich, Gandhi posted a video on social media in which he is heard criticising the status of manufacturing in India. “Manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies. Sadly, in India, manufacturing is declining. For us to accelerate growth, we need to produce more—build meaningful manufacturing ecosystems and create high-quality jobs at scale,” he is heard saying in the video. The remark criticising India from abroad has expectedly ruffled the feathers of the BJP and elicited a strong reaction.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi also praised Indian engineering once, when he said, “A highlight was seeing TVS’s 450cc motorcycle, developed in partnership with BMW. Good to see that the Indian flag is flying here.”&nbsp;

‘India’s manufacturing is declining’: Rahul Gandhi’s remark in Germany sparks row

In a significant setback for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a Delhi court on Tuesday (December 16) declined to take cognisance of the money laundering chargesheet filed against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court held that the ED’s complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was legally unsustainable, as it was founded on a private complaint rather than a registered First Information Report (FIR).&nbsp;&nbsp;The court noted that, under the law, such a complaint could not form the basis for taking cognisance. However, it added that the ED may pursue legal remedies if it chooses to do so. Apart from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the agency had also named Congress leaders Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, along with entities including Young Indian, Dotex Merchandise and businessman Sunil Bhandari as accused in the case. The Congress party has consistently argued that the ED’s investigation is driven by political motives, while the agency has maintained that the case involves serious financial wrongdoing, alleging forgery and money laundering linked to assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) worth over ₹2,000 crore.&nbsp;According to reports, ED is likely to challenge the Rouse Avenue Court’s order. The agency’s legal team is examining the detailed judgment and may file an appeal. According to sources, the ED believes the court may have overlooked key portions of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case, and that the complaint was not an ordinary private one, as cognisance of the underlying offence had already been taken earlier. Reacting to the ruling, the Congress posted on X, saying, “Truth has triumphed.” The party accused the Modi government of misusing investigative agencies to target the opposition and claimed the court had exposed the ED’s actions as unlawful and driven by malice.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/goa-nightclub-fire-luthra-brothers-land-in-delhi-after-deportation-from-thailand-first-pic-here-1765876593184">Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers land in Delhi after deportation from Thailand – First pic here</a>&nbsp;In its statement, the Congress said the court found that, in the absence of an FIR, the ED had no jurisdiction to proceed. It further asserted that allegations of money laundering, transfer of property and proceeds of crime were baseless and politically motivated. “The attempt to intimidate the Congress leadership has failed,” the party said, adding that it would continue to stand by truth and constitutional values. The statement concluded with the phrase, “Satyameva Jayate.”&nbsp;Senior Congress leader and MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi also welcomed the decision, describing the case as fundamentally flawed. He said there had been no movement of funds or transfer of immovable property, and that all AJL assets remained with the company. Singhvi argued that the only change was AJL’s shareholding structure, with Young Indian holding a majority stake, which did not amount to money laundering. He criticised the BJP for what he called exaggerated claims around the case.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue Court clarified that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other accused are not entitled to receive a copy of the FIR registered by Delhi Police in connection with the National Herald matter. The court ruled that while the accused can be informed about the registration of the FIR, they cannot demand a copy at this stage.

Delhi court refuses to take cognisance of ED’s National Herald chargesheet against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, citing that there was no FIR

In a significant setback for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a Delhi court on Tuesday (December 16) declined to take cognisance of the money laundering chargesheet filed against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court held that the ED’s complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was legally unsustainable, as it was founded on a private complaint rather than a registered First Information Report (FIR). The court noted that, under the law, such a complaint could not form the basis for taking cognisance. However, it added that the ED may pursue legal remedies if it chooses to do so. Apart from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, the agency had also named Congress leaders Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, along with entities including Young Indian, Dotex Merchandise and businessman Sunil Bhandari as accused in the case. The Congress party has consistently argued that the ED’s investigation is driven by political motives, while the agency has maintained that the case involves serious financial wrongdoing, alleging forgery and money laundering linked to assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) worth over ₹2,000 crore. According to reports, ED is likely to challenge the Rouse Avenue Court’s order. The agency’s legal team is examining the detailed judgment and may file an appeal. According to sources, the ED believes the court may have overlooked key portions of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case, and that the complaint was not an ordinary private one, as cognisance of the underlying offence had already been taken earlier. Reacting to the ruling, the Congress posted on X, saying, “Truth has triumphed.” The party accused the Modi government of misusing investigative agencies to target the opposition and claimed the court had exposed the ED’s actions as unlawful and driven by malice. Also Read: Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers land in Delhi after deportation from Thailand – First pic here In its statement, the Congress said the court found that, in the absence of an FIR, the ED had no jurisdiction to proceed. It further asserted that allegations of money laundering, transfer of property and proceeds of crime were baseless and politically motivated. “The attempt to intimidate the Congress leadership has failed,” the party said, adding that it would continue to stand by truth and constitutional values. The statement concluded with the phrase, “Satyameva Jayate.” Senior Congress leader and MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi also welcomed the decision, describing the case as fundamentally flawed. He said there had been no movement of funds or transfer of immovable property, and that all AJL assets remained with the company. Singhvi argued that the only change was AJL’s shareholding structure, with Young Indian holding a majority stake, which did not amount to money laundering. He criticised the BJP for what he called exaggerated claims around the case. Meanwhile, the Rouse Avenue Court clarified that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other accused are not entitled to receive a copy of the FIR registered by Delhi Police in connection with the National Herald matter. The court ruled that while the accused can be informed about the registration of the FIR, they cannot demand a copy at this stage.

Delhi court refuses to take cognisance of ED’s National Herald chargesheet against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, citing that there was no FIR

'Truth has triumphed', says Congress as court dismisses National Herald case against Sonia, Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Argentine football icon Lionel Messi in Hyderabad on Saturday (Dec 13) during the second leg of Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025. Messi also presented Gandhi with a signed jersey and the two shared small interaction at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Addressing fans, Messi thanked everyone "for the love I've received today and always".&nbsp;&nbsp;"The truth is that I've seen a lot of things before getting here, throughout this whole time, during the last World Cup, and honestly thank you so much for all this love. It's an honor for us to be able to share these days here in India with you, so I'm truly grateful," he said, as quoted by India Today.&nbsp;&nbsp;Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was also at the venue and was seen spending some time with Messi on the field, lightly kicking the football together before Rahul Gandhi arrived. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Watch: Lionel Messi having some on the pitch as fans erupt in joy 😍 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MessiInIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MessiInIndia</a> <a href="https://t.co/86r0cbBaRn">pic.twitter.com/86r0cbBaRn</a>&mdash; Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) <a href="https://twitter.com/ddsportschannel/status/1999863410780217784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What went wrong at the event in Kolkata</h2>Lionel Messi reached Salt Lake Stadium along with his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez. State sports officials, event organisers and police were also present. Trouble started when Messi walked around the field to greet fans. The crowd pushed forward, making it hard for police to maintain the perimeter.&nbsp;&nbsp;A planned training session with children from across West Bengal was also cancelled as the number of people on the field kept rising. Due to safety concerns, Messi left the stadium earlier than scheduled.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messi-kolkata-visit-satadru-dutta-detained-by-police-confirms-fans-to-get-refund-1765620626307">Lionel Messi Kolkata visit: Organiser arrested by police, confirms fans to get refund</a>&nbsp;After his exit, angry fans broke into the ground and threw water bottles, damaged seats and tore posters. Many spectators were upset as some had paid up to INR 20,000 for tickets.<h2>What next for Messi on India GOAT Tour</h2>The GOAT tour will move to Mumbai on Sunday (Dec 14), where Messi will again play a charity match and later participate in a fashion event, which will also see him team up with Luis Suarez. The last day of the tour will be in New Delhi as the Argentine will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Dec 15) before concluding his tour at an event in New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.&nbsp;

The GOAT tour will move to Mumbai on Sunday (Dec 14), where Messi will again play a charity match and later participate in a fashion event, which will also see him team up with Luis Suarez. 

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Argentine football icon Lionel Messi in Hyderabad on Saturday (Dec 13) during the second leg of Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025. Messi also presented Gandhi with a signed jersey and the two shared small interaction at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Addressing fans, Messi thanked everyone "for the love I've received today and always". "The truth is that I've seen a lot of things before getting here, throughout this whole time, during the last World Cup, and honestly thank you so much for all this love. It's an honor for us to be able to share these days here in India with you, so I'm truly grateful," he said, as quoted by India Today. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was also at the venue and was seen spending some time with Messi on the field, lightly kicking the football together before Rahul Gandhi arrived.

The GOAT tour will move to Mumbai on Sunday (Dec 14), where Messi will again play a charity match and later participate in a fashion event, which will also see him team up with Luis Suarez.&nbsp;

Lionel Messi meets Rahul Gandhi, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad during India GOAT Tour

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday (Dec 12) said that the centre is ready to debate the Delhi air pollution crisis in the parliament, as the national capital is finding it difficult to catch a breath under a dense layer of smog with the air quality hovering in the 'very poor' category. Rijiju's statement marked a rare occasion of agreement between the treasury benches.&nbsp;Responding to demands raised during Zero Hour, Rijiju stressed that the government had “from day one" maintained its willingness to discuss all important matters and incorporate suggestions from all members, including the principal opposition party.“The government, from day one, had made our position very clear that on all important matters, the government is ready to discuss and also to find a solution, taking along the suggestions from all the members, including the principal opposition party led by Rahul Gandhi ji," he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-pax-silica-initiative-the-us-led-grouping-that-excluded-india-china-us-modi-trump-jinping-trade-war-tariffs-semiconductor-us-hegemony-1765541403919">What is Pax Silica Initiative? The US-led grouping that excluded India</a>&nbsp;Rijiju’s statement came after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi called for an in-depth, forward-looking discussion on the air pollution crisis, calling on all parties to avoid a blame game and instead work jointly toward solutions.&nbsp;“Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air. Millions of children are getting lung disease. Their future is being destroyed. People are getting cancer. Older people are struggling to breathe," Gandhi said.&nbsp;Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed Rahul Gandhi's demand seeking an extensive debate in Parliament on the air pollution issue, saying that the issue needed to be addressed urgently and that the government should come up with a good action plan.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bengal-sir-over-5-mn-voters-identified-for-likely-exclusion-from-voter-list-election-bjp-congress-tmc-rahul-gandhi-modi-1765537185482">West Bengal SIR: Over 5 million voters identified for likely exclusion from voter list</a>&nbsp;"I completely agree, and I think everyone agrees. The government also said we should all discuss it and develop an action plan. It is increasing every year. We discuss all other topics, so this should also be discussed, and something concrete should come out of it. If the government makes a good action plan and takes it forward, it will be great," she said.

Rijiju’s remarks followed Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s call for an in-depth, forward-looking debate on the air pollution crisis. Gandhi urged all parties to steer clear of blame games and work together to find effective solutions.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday (Dec 12) said that the centre is ready to debate the Delhi air pollution crisis in the parliament, as the national capital is finding it difficult to catch a breath under a dense layer of smog with the air quality hovering in the 'very poor' category. Rijiju's statement marked a rare occasion of agreement between the treasury benches. Responding to demands raised during Zero Hour, Rijiju stressed that the government had “from day one" maintained its willingness to discuss all important matters and incorporate suggestions from all members, including the principal opposition party. “The government, from day one, had made our position very clear that on all important matters, the government is ready to discuss and also to find a solution, taking along the suggestions from all the members, including the principal opposition party led by Rahul Gandhi ji," he said. Also Read: What is Pax Silica Initiative? The US-led grouping that excluded India Rijiju’s statement came after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi called for an in-depth, forward-looking discussion on the air pollution crisis, calling on all parties to avoid a blame game and instead work jointly toward solutions. “Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air. Millions of children are getting lung disease. Their future is being destroyed. People are getting cancer. Older people are struggling to breathe," Gandhi said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed Rahul Gandhi's demand seeking an extensive debate in Parliament on the air pollution issue, saying that the issue needed to be addressed urgently and that the government should come up with a good action plan. Also Read: West Bengal SIR: Over 5 million voters identified for likely exclusion from voter list "I completely agree, and I think everyone agrees. The government also said we should all discuss it and develop an action plan. It is increasing every year. We discuss all other topics, so this should also be discussed, and something concrete should come out of it. If the government makes a good action plan and takes it forward, it will be great," she said.

Rijiju’s remarks followed Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s call for an in-depth, forward-looking debate on the air pollution crisis. Gandhi urged all parties to steer clear of blame games and work together to find effective solutions.

Centre ‘ready to discuss’ Delhi air pollution in Parliament; 'Something concrete should come out of it,' says Priyanka Gandhi

A sharp political confrontation has erupted in India as an opposition leader and the Home Minister exchange heated accusations. The dispute, sparked by recent policy decisions and national security remarks, has intensified tensions in Parliament and dominated public debate. 


India: War of Words Between Opposition Leader & Home Minister 

During the Winter Session of Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi engaged in a fiery clash over electoral reforms and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. The confrontation erupted when Gandhi challenged Shah on alleged ‘vote chori’ in Haryana and Bihar. Shah insisted on controlling parliamentary proceedings and accused the Opposition of protecting infiltrators, prompting a walkout by Congress and allies.

Amit Shah-Rahul Gandhi Clash In Parliament Over Voter Roll Revision

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (December 8) brushed aside the ongoing parliamentary debate over the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ with a brief four-word comment: “Priyanka ka bhashan suno” (Listen to Priyanka's speech), urging members to listen to Priyanka Gandhi’s address instead. The discussion started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened a special debate in the Lok Sabha to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram. This comes weeks after the PM alleged that the Congress, during its 1937 Faizabad session, removed important stanzas of the song, calling the act one that “planted the seeds of partition” and divided a symbol of national pride.&nbsp;The Congress countered the claim, saying the decision followed advice from Rabindranath Tagore, and was meant to respect the sentiments of people from diverse religious communities. The party accused the BJP of distorting history and demanded an apology for what it termed an insult to both the 1937 Congress Working Committee and Tagore. Tensions around the national song had already flared before the Winter Session started, after the Rajya Sabha secretariat reiterated that MPs should avoid slogans such as Vande Mataram and Jai Hind inside the House to preserve decorum. Opposition parties said this reflected the NDA’s discomfort with symbols of India’s freedom movement.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-can-irritate-muslims-jinnah-opposed-vande-mataram-nehru-agreed-with-him-says-pm-modi-1765182991929">'Can irritate Muslims': Jinnah opposed Vande Mataram, Nehru agreed with him, says PM Modi</a><h2>What PM Modi Said in the Lok Sabha</h2>PM Modi highlighted the song’s role in India’s struggle for independence, saying that Bankim Chandra Chatterjee first published it in Bangadarshan on November 7, 1875. He described Vande Mataram as more than a patriotic ode, “a spiritual call for liberation from colonial rule.” He added that while the British partitioned Bengal in 1905, the song became a rallying force for unity.&nbsp;Attacking the Congress, the PM recalled that the song’s centenary occurred during the Emergency, calling that period a “dark chapter” when democratic values were crushed. He said the country now has a chance to restore the honour associated with Vande Mataram and should seize the moment. The ruling NDA has been allotted three hours out of the ten hours set aside in the Lok Sabha for the debate, news agency IANS reported. Congress leader and deputy leader of the Opposition Gaurav Gogoi is also scheduled to speak in response later in the day.

'Listen to Priyanka Gandhi's...': Rahul Gandhi's reply on Vande Mataram debate as PM Modi targets Congress in parliament

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (December 8) brushed aside the ongoing parliamentary debate over the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ with a brief four-word comment: “Priyanka ka bhashan suno” (Listen to Priyanka's speech), urging members to listen to Priyanka Gandhi’s address instead. The discussion started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened a special debate in the Lok Sabha to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram. This comes weeks after the PM alleged that the Congress, during its 1937 Faizabad session, removed important stanzas of the song, calling the act one that “planted the seeds of partition” and divided a symbol of national pride. The Congress countered the claim, saying the decision followed advice from Rabindranath Tagore, and was meant to respect the sentiments of people from diverse religious communities. The party accused the BJP of distorting history and demanded an apology for what it termed an insult to both the 1937 Congress Working Committee and Tagore. Tensions around the national song had already flared before the Winter Session started, after the Rajya Sabha secretariat reiterated that MPs should avoid slogans such as Vande Mataram and Jai Hind inside the House to preserve decorum. Opposition parties said this reflected the NDA’s discomfort with symbols of India’s freedom movement. Also Read: 'Can irritate Muslims': Jinnah opposed Vande Mataram, Nehru agreed with him, says PM Modi What PM Modi Said in the Lok Sabha PM Modi highlighted the song’s role in India’s struggle for independence, saying that Bankim Chandra Chatterjee first published it in Bangadarshan on November 7, 1875. He described Vande Mataram as more than a patriotic ode, “a spiritual call for liberation from colonial rule.” He added that while the British partitioned Bengal in 1905, the song became a rallying force for unity. Attacking the Congress, the PM recalled that the song’s centenary occurred during the Emergency, calling that period a “dark chapter” when democratic values were crushed. He said the country now has a chance to restore the honour associated with Vande Mataram and should seize the moment. The ruling NDA has been allotted three hours out of the ten hours set aside in the Lok Sabha for the debate, news agency IANS reported. Congress leader and deputy leader of the Opposition Gaurav Gogoi is also scheduled to speak in response later in the day.

Rahul Gandhi dismisses the Vande Mataram debate with a brief remark as PM Narendra Modi and Congress clash in parliament over the song’s history and political legacy

The worsening air conditions in Delhi led many people to gather at the India Gate on Sunday (Nov 9) to protest against increasing air pollution. They came together to urge the government to take quick and serious actions to improve the city’s air quality and also demanded transparency from the government on air quality data. Several footage surfaced on social media showing protesters being stopped by the police. A few protesters claimed that they were handled in the wrong way, and some children were also detained, though the police denied these claims.&nbsp;“India Gate is not a protest site. The designated protest site in New Delhi is Jantar Mantar, as per the Supreme Court’s directions. That is why we have advised everyone to follow the guidelines," said New Delhi district DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla.&nbsp;“At India Gate, people come along with their families to enjoy, and it is a national monument. There are VIP routes here; we are deployed here regularly”, he added, according to ANI.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/j-k-police-busts-jem-aguh-terror-module-7-arrested-including-two-doctors-huge-arms-including-2900-kg-explosives-cache-seized-in-multi-state-raids-1762763182479">J&amp;K police busts JeM-AGuH terror module: 7 arrested, including two doctors; huge arms including 2900 kg explosives cache seized in multi-state raids</a><h2>Watch the viral protest videos below -&nbsp;</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Delhi has deployed riot police to stop a protest against air pollution. As the AQI touches 600 long before peak winter, the government is busy tampering with monitors with water sprinklers and beating up young mothers and students for fighting for clean air. National disaster. <a href="https://t.co/pDppxkSKZj">pic.twitter.com/pDppxkSKZj</a>&mdash; Anish Gawande (@anishgawande) <a href="https://twitter.com/anishgawande/status/1987511742960893976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi | A resident of Delhi says, &quot;The AQI is touching heights... We are being evacuated and not allowed to protest peacefully here... Common people are dying. Yet the government is not designing any policies and hiding the data. They are sprinkling water at the data… <a href="https://t.co/TLtClPblVp">https://t.co/TLtClPblVp</a> <a href="https://t.co/tMJmxQAa0X">pic.twitter.com/tMJmxQAa0X</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1987500967999545719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also questioned why Delhi Police had detained citizens protesting peacefully against the city’s poor air quality. &nbsp;&nbsp;“The right to clean air is a basic human right. The right to peaceful protest is guaranteed by our Constitution. Why are citizens who have been peacefully demanding clean air being treated like criminals?” Rahul said in a social media post. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-have-delhi-authorities-not-imposed-grap-3-yet-despite-toxic-smog-aqi-nears-400-in-national-capital-1762656538791">Why have Delhi authorities not imposed GRAP 3 yet despite toxic smog? AQI nears 400 in national capital</a><h2>Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) today</h2>Delhi’s air quality stayed in the very poor category on Monday (Nov 10), with an AQI of 345 at 2 pm, according to IITM data. Pollution levels across the capital remained dangerous for residents.

Delhi’s air quality stayed in the very poor category on Monday (Nov 10), with an AQI of 345 at 2 pm, according to IITM data.

The worsening air conditions in Delhi led many people to gather at the India Gate on Sunday (Nov 9) to protest against increasing air pollution. They came together to urge the government to take quick and serious actions to improve the city’s air quality and also demanded transparency from the government on air quality data. Several footage surfaced on social media showing protesters being stopped by the police. A few protesters claimed that they were handled in the wrong way, and some children were also detained, though the police denied these claims. “India Gate is not a protest site. The designated protest site in New Delhi is Jantar Mantar, as per the Supreme Court’s directions. That is why we have advised everyone to follow the guidelines," said New Delhi district DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla. “At India Gate, people come along with their families to enjoy, and it is a national monument. There are VIP routes here; we are deployed here regularly”, he added, according to ANI. Also Read - J&K police busts JeM-AGuH terror module: 7 arrested, including two doctors; huge arms including 2900 kg explosives cache seized in multi-state raids Watch the viral protest videos below -

Delhi’s air quality stayed in the very poor category on Monday (Nov 10), with an AQI of 345 at 2 pm, according to IITM data.

WATCH - Anti-pollution protesters detained at India Gate as Delhi's AQI remains 'very poor'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of attempting to "divide" the Indian Army along religious and caste lines. Shah's statement followed days after the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha gave his controversial remark that "10 per cent of the population have control over the Army". In addition, he also criticised RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav during his address.&nbsp;Union Home Minister also hailed the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for decisive action against the "anti-national" Popular Front of India. "PM Modi has made the country safe. The PFI (Popular Front of India) even reached Phulwarisharif. It was an anti-national organisation... Tell me, should PFI be banned or not?" Amit Shah questioned the crowd, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;"From Kerala to Phulwarisharif, PM Modi put everyone from PFI behind bars. Lalu says they should be released. Lalu ji, they will never be released, remember my words," Shah also said.<h3>The government banned the PFI&nbsp;</h3>The Ministry of Home Affairs had officially banned the PFI and its affiliates in September 2022, designating them as an “unlawful association.” "Rahul Gandhi just made a statement about how many people from a certain caste our religion are in our Army. Shame on you, Rahul Gandhi. You're dividing the Army based on religion and caste. We respect brave soldiers of any caste or religion who join the army," Amit Shah added.&nbsp;While addressing a campaign rally on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that a small fraction of the population of India, seemingly referring to upper castes, holds disproportionate control over the Army. His statement sparked widespread criticism from political rivals.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) confirmed that a voter turnout of 60.13 per cent for the first phase of assembly elections as of 5:00 PM.

While addressing a campaign rally on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that a small fraction of the population of India, seemingly referring to upper castes, holds disproportionate control over the Army.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of attempting to "divide" the Indian Army along religious and caste lines. Shah's statement followed days after the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha gave his controversial remark that "10 per cent of the population have control over the Army". In addition, he also criticised RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav during his address. Union Home Minister also hailed the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for decisive action against the "anti-national" Popular Front of India. "PM Modi has made the country safe. The PFI (Popular Front of India) even reached Phulwarisharif. It was an anti-national organisation... Tell me, should PFI be banned or not?" Amit Shah questioned the crowd, news agency ANI reported. "From Kerala to Phulwarisharif, PM Modi put everyone from PFI behind bars. Lalu says they should be released. Lalu ji, they will never be released, remember my words," Shah also said. The government banned the PFI The Ministry of Home Affairs had officially banned the PFI and its affiliates in September 2022, designating them as an “unlawful association.” "Rahul Gandhi just made a statement about how many people from a certain caste our religion are in our Army. Shame on you, Rahul Gandhi. You're dividing the Army based on religion and caste. We respect brave soldiers of any caste or religion who join the army," Amit Shah added. While addressing a campaign rally on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that a small fraction of the population of India, seemingly referring to upper castes, holds disproportionate control over the Army. His statement sparked widespread criticism from political rivals. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) confirmed that a voter turnout of 60.13 per cent for the first phase of assembly elections as of 5:00 PM.

While addressing a campaign rally on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that a small fraction of the population of India, seemingly referring to upper castes, holds disproportionate control over the Army.

‘Don’t divide the Army by caste and religion’: Amit Shah hits out at Rahul Gandhi

Amplifying his allegations of widespread election fraud through faulty electoral rolls, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday dropped his much-awaited "H Bomb", alleging that 2.5 million votes were stolen in the North Indian state of Haryana, a state which has a total of 20 million voters. "This means one in eight voters in Harayana is fake", the Congress leader said.Addressing a press conference on alleged voter fraud in Haryana Assembly elections, Gandhi said several Congress candidates from the state raised suspicion after the elections that something was wrong. Declaring that Congress would have swept the state. Gandhi further added that Congress was expected to win the elections according to most exit polls. However, the results came in favour of the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) coming back to power with a massive majority.To back his claims, the Rae Bareli Member of Parliament (MP) displayed the photo of a Brazilian model, whose image, he claimed, appeared 22 times across polling booths in Harayana under various names such as Seema, Sweety and Saraswati.“Who is this lady? What is her name? Where does she come from? But she votes 22 times in Haryana, at 10 different booths, and has multiple names: Seema, Sweety, Saraswati, Rashmi, Vilma... But turns out she is actually a Brazilian model,” he alleged.Moreover, Gandhi said that this is the first instance in Haryana's history when the results of postal voting contradicted the results in polling booths."I am questioning the Election Commission and the democratic process in India, and I am doing this with 100 per cent proof. We are sure that a plan was put in motion to convert Congress's landslide victory into a loss," he said.Accusing the Election Commission of working on the behest of the ruling BJP, Gandhi said Congress lost eight constituencies with very narrow margins, including one seat where the margin was only 32 votes. These margins total to 22,779. "Congress party lost Harayana Assembly elections by just 22,779 votes, to give you context, how close it was," he added.Strengthening his claims, he cited another example of case duplication where he highlighted 100 voter IDs with the same woman's image in one assembly segment."This lady gets to vote 100 times in Haryana if she feels like. This is to create space so that anybody can vote, so that BJP people can move, come from other states and vote," Gandhi asserted. The leader of the opposition displayed another woman's photograph and claimed she featured 223 times in the voter list of two polling booths. "This is the reason the Election Commission destroys CCTV footage of booths," he emphasised.

Gandhi alleged that 2.5 million votes were stolen in Haryana, a state which has a total of 20 million voters. "This means one in eight voters in Harayana is fake", the Congress leader said.

Amplifying his allegations of widespread election fraud through faulty electoral rolls, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday dropped his much-awaited "H Bomb", alleging that 2.5 million votes were stolen in the North Indian state of Haryana, a state which has a total of 20 million voters. "This means one in eight voters in Harayana is fake", the Congress leader said. Addressing a press conference on alleged voter fraud in Haryana Assembly elections, Gandhi said several Congress candidates from the state raised suspicion after the elections that something was wrong. Declaring that Congress would have swept the state. Gandhi further added that Congress was expected to win the elections according to most exit polls. However, the results came in favour of the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) coming back to power with a massive majority. To back his claims, the Rae Bareli Member of Parliament (MP) displayed the photo of a Brazilian model, whose image, he claimed, appeared 22 times across polling booths in Harayana under various names such as Seema, Sweety and Saraswati. “Who is this lady? What is her name? Where does she come from? But she votes 22 times in Haryana, at 10 different booths, and has multiple names: Seema, Sweety, Saraswati, Rashmi, Vilma... But turns out she is actually a Brazilian model,” he alleged. Moreover, Gandhi said that this is the first instance in Haryana's history when the results of postal voting contradicted the results in polling booths. "I am questioning the Election Commission and the democratic process in India, and I am doing this with 100 per cent proof. We are sure that a plan was put in motion to convert Congress's landslide victory into a loss," he said. Accusing the Election Commission of working on the behest of the ruling BJP, Gandhi said Congress lost eight constituencies with very narrow margins, including one seat where the margin was only 32 votes. These margins total to 22,779. "Congress party lost Harayana Assembly elections by just 22,779 votes, to give you context, how close it was," he added. Strengthening his claims, he cited another example of case duplication where he highlighted 100 voter IDs with the same woman's image in one assembly segment. "This lady gets to vote 100 times in Haryana if she feels like. This is to create space so that anybody can vote, so that BJP people can move, come from other states and vote," Gandhi asserted. The leader of the opposition displayed another woman's photograph and claimed she featured 223 times in the voter list of two polling booths. "This is the reason the Election Commission destroys CCTV footage of booths," he emphasised.

Gandhi alleged that 2.5 million votes were stolen in Haryana, a state which has a total of 20 million voters. "This means one in eight voters in Harayana is fake", the Congress leader said.

‘Brazilian model voted 22 times’: Rahul Gandhi drops ‘H bomb’ on Haryana polls

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, kicked up a new controversy on Tuesday by saying that the Army is ‘under the control of 10 per cent of the country’s population,’ while referring obliquely to the so-called upper castes. Campaigning in Aurangabad, ahead of the first phase voting of Bihar Assembly elections on Thursday, he said, “Only 10 per cent of the country’s population (i.e., the ‘upper castes’) get opportunities in corporate sectors, bureaucracy, and the judiciary... even the Army is under their control.” “The remaining 90 per cent—backward classes, Dalits, scheduled tribes, and other minorities—are nowhere to be seen,” he said, reiterating his political stance on social justice and equal opportunities and demand for a national caste census.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kutumba, Bihar: Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, &quot;Make a list of India’s top 500 biggest companies, and you will not find anyone from the backward, extremely backward, Dalit, or Adivasi communities in it.... Only 10% of people from one section hold all the wealth — the bank money… <a href="https://t.co/KVBvu6aitH">pic.twitter.com/KVBvu6aitH</a>&mdash; IANS (@ians_india) <a href="https://twitter.com/ians_india/status/1985688081639583806?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;“If 90 per cent people don’t have participatory rights, the Constitution can’t be protected,” he has said.However, this is for the first time Rahul Gandhi has mentioned the military in this context, though it is not the first time he has made eyebrow-raising comments about the Army.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-vote-for-nda-will-rename-bihar-s-mohiuddinnagar-as-mohan-nagar-yogi-adityanath-1762264058102">‘Vote for NDA, will rename Bihar’s Mohiuddinnagar as Mohan Nagar’: Yogi Adityanath</a>&nbsp;In August, the Supreme Court had reprimanded the Congress leader over his comment—“Chinese troops are thrashing Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh”—made during his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.&nbsp;Rahul’s comment was in reference to the India-China military face-off in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector in December 2022.A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice AG Masih took strong exception to the remarks. “How did you get to know that 2,000 sq km of Indian land has been taken over by China? If you are a true Indian... you won’t say all of this,” Justice Datta rebuked Gandhi.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/towering-republican-and-46th-us-vice-president-dick-cheney-dies-at-84-1762257177051">Towering Republican and 46th US vice president Dick Cheney dies at 84</a>&nbsp;Earlier, in May, the Allahabad High Court quashed Rahul Gandhi’s plea challenging a summons by a special court, and said freedom of speech does not include the right to ‘defame’ the Army, after a retired defence official in Lucknow filed a defamation complaint against Rahul alleging that his remarks insulted and tarnished the image of the Indian Army.The Congress hit back, saying the courts could not decide on ‘real’ Indians.&nbsp;Reacting to his remarks on Tuesday, BJP leader Suresh Nakhua said, “Rahul Gandhi is now searching for castes in the Armed Forces and says 10% of people control it. In his hate for PM Modi, he has already crossed the line of hating India.”

Earlier, in May, the Allahabad High Court quashed Rahul Gandhi’s plea challenging a summons by a special court and said freedom of speech does not include the right to ‘defame’ the Army, after a retired defence official in Lucknow filed a defamation complaint against him.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, kicked up a new controversy on Tuesday by saying that the Army is ‘under the control of 10 per cent of the country’s population,’ while referring obliquely to the so-called upper castes. Campaigning in Aurangabad, ahead of the first phase voting of Bihar Assembly elections on Thursday, he said, “Only 10 per cent of the country’s population (i.e., the ‘upper castes’) get opportunities in corporate sectors, bureaucracy, and the judiciary... even the Army is under their control.” “The remaining 90 per cent—backward classes, Dalits, scheduled tribes, and other minorities—are nowhere to be seen,” he said, reiterating his political stance on social justice and equal opportunities and demand for a national caste census.

Earlier, in May, the Allahabad High Court quashed Rahul Gandhi’s plea challenging a summons by a special court and said freedom of speech does not include the right to ‘defame’ the Army, after a retired defence official in Lucknow filed a defamation complaint against him.

‘10% of India controls Army’: Rahul Gandhi’s caste remark in Bihar kicks up new storm

Rahul Gandhi Swims, Clicks Selfies With Locals in Begusarai Pond During Bihar Campaign Trail |

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (October 29) criticised RJD chief Lalu Prasad for attempting to make his son, Tejashwi Yadav, as the Chief Minister of Bihar, while also accusing Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of aiming to make her son, Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister. Shah emphasised that neither position is available, referring to the BJP's merit-based ticket system in contrast to the opposition's ‘family-driven politics’.&nbsp;Addressing a rally in Darbhanga to support BJP candidate Maithili Thakur from Alinagar, Shah termed the opposition coalition, the Mahagathbandhan, a “thug bandhan”. He further accused Lalu of being linked to various corruption scandals, including the fodder scam, bitumen scam, and the land-for-jobs scandal, while also alleging that Congress was involved in ₹12 lakh crore worth of corruption. Shah also questioned whether the RJD would ensure that members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) remained in jail if they came to power, pointing to the NDA's stance against the radical group. He highlighted the NDA’s welfare initiatives, such as providing free rations to 8.52 crore Biharis, forming a Makhana Board, and supplying 125 units of free power to citizens.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-modi-dance-for-votes-bihar-rally-bjp-response-1761742026169">'Tell Modi to dance, he’ll dance for votes': Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar remark triggers BJP outrage</a>&nbsp;Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's comment that Prime Minister Modi would ‘dance on stage’ for votes, Shah warned that the Congress leader would pay a price for his derogatory remarks in the upcoming elections. Shah claimed that every time Rahul Gandhi insults PM Modi, it only strengthens the BJP, referencing the BJP's continued success despite such attacks. Shah also remarked, “The people of Bihar will not forget the disrespect shown to Chhath Maiya and Prime Minister Modi.” The war of words between the BJP and opposition parties has escalated as the Bihar Assembly elections draw near. The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of mocking Bihar voters, with BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari asserting that Rahul’s comments were an insult to the people of Bihar and India.

Bihar Elections 2025: Shah accuses opposition of ‘family politics,’ defends NDA’s welfare initiatives in state

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (October 29) criticised RJD chief Lalu Prasad for attempting to make his son, Tejashwi Yadav, as the Chief Minister of Bihar, while also accusing Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of aiming to make her son, Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister. Shah emphasised that neither position is available, referring to the BJP's merit-based ticket system in contrast to the opposition's ‘family-driven politics’. Addressing a rally in Darbhanga to support BJP candidate Maithili Thakur from Alinagar, Shah termed the opposition coalition, the Mahagathbandhan, a “thug bandhan”. He further accused Lalu of being linked to various corruption scandals, including the fodder scam, bitumen scam, and the land-for-jobs scandal, while also alleging that Congress was involved in ₹12 lakh crore worth of corruption. Shah also questioned whether the RJD would ensure that members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) remained in jail if they came to power, pointing to the NDA's stance against the radical group. He highlighted the NDA’s welfare initiatives, such as providing free rations to 8.52 crore Biharis, forming a Makhana Board, and supplying 125 units of free power to citizens. Also Read: 'Tell Modi to dance, he’ll dance for votes': Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar remark triggers BJP outrage Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's comment that Prime Minister Modi would ‘dance on stage’ for votes, Shah warned that the Congress leader would pay a price for his derogatory remarks in the upcoming elections. Shah claimed that every time Rahul Gandhi insults PM Modi, it only strengthens the BJP, referencing the BJP's continued success despite such attacks. Shah also remarked, “The people of Bihar will not forget the disrespect shown to Chhath Maiya and Prime Minister Modi.” The war of words between the BJP and opposition parties has escalated as the Bihar Assembly elections draw near. The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of mocking Bihar voters, with BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari asserting that Rahul’s comments were an insult to the people of Bihar and India.

Amit Shah targets Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rahul Gandhi over family politics and corruption, while defending NDA's welfare schemes ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections

In a sharp political attack, Rahul Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of resorting to “drama and theatrics” to win votes, saying the PM would even “dance for votes.” The comments, made during a rally, have sparked a heated exchange between Congress and the BJP. Here’s how both sides are responding and what this fiery exchange says about India’s election season tone.

Rahul Gandhi Slams PM Modi, Accuses Him Of Theatrics For Votes

During a rally on October 29, 2025 (Wednesday) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scurrilous attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During a joint address alongside RJD leader and the Chief Ministerial face Tejaswi Yadav, Gandhi said,“If you tell Narendra Modi to dance in exchange for your votes, he will dance on stage.”“They are engaged in stealing your votes. Because they want to end this election disease. I am telling you, they stole elections in Maharashtra, they stole elections in Haryana, and they will try their best in Bihar,”said Gandhi.He also accused the Nitish Kumar ruled alliance government to be ‘remote-controlled’ from Delhi. BJP also responded sharply. Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called Gandhi’s comments “local goon” language and accused him of insulting everyone who voted for Modi.Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also pointed out the hypocrisy of Narendra Modi, as he got a special pool made for himself while other devotees prayed in the polluted Yamuna in Delhi."Narendra Modi went to bathe in his swimming pool. He has nothing to do with the Yamuna. He has nothing to do with Chhath Puja. He just wants your vote" said Rahul Gandhi.The tempo is soaring higher as the Bihar Assembly election is approaching. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ialong with his oratory skills is famous for his flair of theatrics. During the 2024 General Assembly election Modi becomes visibly emotional and shed tears on record, remembering his mother and to connect viewers to his personal struggle.&nbsp;Beyond the theatrics of "dance for votes", Gandhi’s speech also referenced contested topics like paper-leaks in Bihar, industrial land deals, and governance failures. BJP will likely use this to seize on the popular support by portraying Congress against the ordinary voters. While Rahul Gandhi will be hoping to appeal to voters apathy and cynicism, especially the first time voters.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Narendra Modi can even dance on stage for your votes. Rahul Gandhi just stands there and speaks facts 😭😭 Roasting level: 10000+ 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/g8whZowjNe">pic.twitter.com/g8whZowjNe</a>&mdash; Amock (@Politicx2029) <a href="https://twitter.com/Politicx2029/status/1983456598707376347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also pointed out the hypocrisy of Narendra Modi, as he got a special pool made for himself while other devotees prayed in the polluted Yamuna in Delhi."Narendra Modi went to bathe in his swimming pool. He has nothing to do with the Yamuna. He has nothing to do with Chhath Puja. He just wants your vote," said Rahul Gandhi.The tempo is soaring higher as the Bihar Assembly election is approaching. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with his oratory skills, is famous for his flair for theatrics. During the 2024 General Assembly election, Modi became visibly emotional and shed tears on record, remembering his mother and connecting viewers to his personal struggle.&nbsp;Beyond the theatrics of "dance for votes", Gandhi’s speech also referenced contested topics like paper leaks in Bihar, industrial land deals, and governance failures. BJP will likely use this to seize on the popular support by portraying Congress against the ordinary voters. While Rahul Gandhi will be hoping to appeal to voters' apathy and cynicism, especially among first-time voters.

At a Bihar rally, Rahul Gandhi said PM Modi would “dance for votes”, accused the BJP of stealing elections; the BJP calls the remarks “local goon” language.

During a rally on October 29, 2025 (Wednesday) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scurrilous attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During a joint address alongside RJD leader and the Chief Ministerial face Tejaswi Yadav, Gandhi said,“If you tell Narendra Modi to dance in exchange for your votes, he will dance on stage.” “They are engaged in stealing your votes. Because they want to end this election disease. I am telling you, they stole elections in Maharashtra, they stole elections in Haryana, and they will try their best in Bihar,”said Gandhi. He also accused the Nitish Kumar ruled alliance government to be ‘remote-controlled’ from Delhi. BJP also responded sharply. Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called Gandhi’s comments “local goon” language and accused him of insulting everyone who voted for Modi. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also pointed out the hypocrisy of Narendra Modi, as he got a special pool made for himself while other devotees prayed in the polluted Yamuna in Delhi. "Narendra Modi went to bathe in his swimming pool. He has nothing to do with the Yamuna. He has nothing to do with Chhath Puja. He just wants your vote" said Rahul Gandhi. The tempo is soaring higher as the Bihar Assembly election is approaching. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ialong with his oratory skills is famous for his flair of theatrics. During the 2024 General Assembly election Modi becomes visibly emotional and shed tears on record, remembering his mother and to connect viewers to his personal struggle. Beyond the theatrics of "dance for votes", Gandhi’s speech also referenced contested topics like paper-leaks in Bihar, industrial land deals, and governance failures. BJP will likely use this to seize on the popular support by portraying Congress against the ordinary voters. While Rahul Gandhi will be hoping to appeal to voters apathy and cynicism, especially the first time voters.

At a Bihar rally, Rahul Gandhi said PM Modi would “dance for votes”, accused the BJP of stealing elections; the BJP calls the remarks “local goon” language.

'Tell Modi to dance, he’ll dance for votes': Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar remark triggers BJP outrage

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has jumped into a controversy started by US President Donald Trump on Oct 15. While commenting on Trump's claims that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ‘assured’ him that he won't buy Russian oil, Rahul Gandhi said that PM Modi is ‘afraid’ of the US president. In a five-point charge, Gandhi claimed that Modi has allowed Trump to unilaterally announce that India would stop purchasing Russian oil, without issuing any clarification or denial. He pointed out that Modi continues to send congratulatory messages to Trump despite being repeatedly snubbed.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Lok Sabha MP also noted the recent cancellation of the Indian Finance Minister’s visit to the US and Modi's absence from the Gaza peace summit in Sgypt's Sharm el-Sheikh. Lastly, he criticised the Indian Prime Minister for staying silent on Trump’s controversial claims about Operation Sindoor. Rahul Gandhi was referring to Trump's claiming that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan in May. The remarks by Gandhi came even after teh Indian government including the MEA has refuted Trump's claims categorically several times.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20251016/image-1760603402010.png"></figure><h2>Here's what happened</h2>US President Donald Trump, while talking to reporters on Oct 15, claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "assured" him that New Delhi will soon stop buying oil from Russia. &nbsp;“So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he [Modi] assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump said, adding, “That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”&nbsp;However, soon after Trump's statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement, saying that its priority is to “safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.” “Energy policy includes broad-basing energy sourcing, diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.” The MEA did not directly accept or refute Trump's claims, but said, “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.” It also said that energy cooperation discussion with the US were “ongoing”. "Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of being "afraid" of Donald Trump after Trump claimed Modi assured him India would stop buying Russian oil. Gandhi cited Modi’s silence on “Operation Sindoor,” missed global events, and diplomatic retreats, despite MEA issuing a clarification

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has jumped into a controversy started by US President Donald Trump on Oct 15. While commenting on Trump's claims that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ‘assured’ him that he won't buy Russian oil, Rahul Gandhi said that PM Modi is ‘afraid’ of the US president. In a five-point charge, Gandhi claimed that Modi has allowed Trump to unilaterally announce that India would stop purchasing Russian oil, without issuing any clarification or denial. He pointed out that Modi continues to send congratulatory messages to Trump despite being repeatedly snubbed. The Lok Sabha MP also noted the recent cancellation of the Indian Finance Minister’s visit to the US and Modi's absence from the Gaza peace summit in Sgypt's Sharm el-Sheikh. Lastly, he criticised the Indian Prime Minister for staying silent on Trump’s controversial claims about Operation Sindoor. Rahul Gandhi was referring to Trump's claiming that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan in May. The remarks by Gandhi came even after teh Indian government including the MEA has refuted Trump's claims categorically several times. Here's what happened US President Donald Trump, while talking to reporters on Oct 15, claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "assured" him that New Delhi will soon stop buying oil from Russia. “So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he [Modi] assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia,” Trump said, adding, “That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.” However, soon after Trump's statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement, saying that its priority is to “safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.” “Energy policy includes broad-basing energy sourcing, diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.” The MEA did not directly accept or refute Trump's claims, but said, “India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario. Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective.” It also said that energy cooperation discussion with the US were “ongoing”. "Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement. This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current Administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing."

Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of being "afraid" of Donald Trump after Trump claimed Modi assured him India would stop buying Russian oil. Gandhi cited Modi’s silence on “Operation Sindoor,” missed global events, and diplomatic retreats, despite MEA issuing a clarification

'Frightened of Trump': Rahul Gandhi launches fierce attack on PM Modi after US president's 'India won't buy Russian oil' claims

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has once again targeted the BJP-led NDA government in India on foreign soil, alleging that the idea of free and scientific thinking was under “tremendous attack” in India. He also accused the government of creating massive trading monopolies and weakening small and medium businesses. Rahul made the comments during an interaction with students at the University of Chile on the country’s education system. While interacting with students at the University of Chile, Rahul Gandhi said, “There are tremendous attacks on independent thinking, scientific thought, and rationality in India.”&nbsp;When a student asked what he would like to do about the Indian education system, Rahul Gandhi replied, while referring to her, “The curiosity that Amrita has, I would like to protect it in the Indian education system. And make sure that she can ask questions, she can raise issues, she can think openly without being constrained in any way. So that would be the central idea... And this is, by the way, in India, this is under attack. The idea of free thinking, the idea of being open, the idea of being scientific, of being logical, this is under tremendous attack in India currently.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India needs to build an alternative manufacturing system that thrives in a democratic setup. Thus, a partnership with Peru or the US could be the way forward. When it comes to education, it begins with curiosity and the freedom to think openly and ask questions without any fear… <a href="https://t.co/LyOvmSysaJ">pic.twitter.com/LyOvmSysaJ</a>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1977298219177554306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>‘India’s social system is dominated by upper castes’</h2>&nbsp;He added that India’s social system is dominated by upper castes, while nearly 90 per cent of the population is of middle and lower castes. “Their history, traditions, and thinking have not been given a place in education. Our education system is for the upper castes. Therefore, I would like to include the history and traditions of tribal, middle, and lower castes in the education system,” he said.He further said that India’s education system has suffered greatly in the last ten years and scientific consciousness has been destroyed because the current government does not believe in a scientific approach. “This needs to be corrected. I would like to do this,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The BJP govt is creating massive trading monopolies, our biggest companies today are not manufacturers or producers, they are traders with immense monopolistic power. BJP’s policies are deliberately weakening small and medium businesses, the true backbone of India’s… <a href="https://t.co/sOfMnLT6iU">pic.twitter.com/sOfMnLT6iU</a>&mdash; Sama Ram Mohan Reddy (@RamMohanINC) <a href="https://twitter.com/RamMohanINC/status/1977290229884088722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>‘BJP government is creating massive trading monopolies’</h2>&nbsp;The Congress leader further alleged that the BJP government is creating massive trading monopolies and claimed that the biggest companies in India today are not manufacturers or producers but traders with immense monopolistic power.“BJP’s policies are deliberately weakening small and medium businesses, the true backbone of India’s manufacturing sector,” Rahul said.&nbsp;&nbsp;WATCH: Durgapur horror: Bengal CM's shocker after gang rape; three accused held in alleged gang rape case<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/durgapur-horror-bengal-cm-s-shocker-after-gang-rape-three-accused-held-in-alleged-gang-rape-case-1760280641423/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/durgapur-horror-bengal-cm-s-shocker-after-gang-rape-three-accused-held-in-alleged-gang-rape-case-1760280641423/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Reacting to the remarks, the BJP has hit out at Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of again besmirching India on foreign soil.&nbsp;“Rahul Gandhi is not Leader of the Opposition. He is the leader of propaganda, of hypocrisy. He goes abroad and talks against India’s constitutional bodies, India’s democratic system, India’s judiciary, and India’s sovereignty—this has become his habit,” said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla.&nbsp;“Rahul Gandhi says he is fighting against the Indian state. From opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he is now into spreading lies against India. He says there is no space for free thinking. That happens in your party. If someone speaks against Rahul Gandhi, what happens? Look at Shashi Tharoor. He was made an example of because he championed the cause of the country and its armed forces,” he added.Rahul has recently returned from a trip to South American countries. A video of his interaction at the university was shared on his social media account.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the BJP government is creating massive trading monopolies and claimed that the biggest companies in India today are not manufacturers or producers but traders with immense monopolistic power.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has once again targeted the BJP-led NDA government in India on foreign soil, alleging that the idea of free and scientific thinking was under “tremendous attack” in India. He also accused the government of creating massive trading monopolies and weakening small and medium businesses. Rahul made the comments during an interaction with students at the University of Chile on the country’s education system. While interacting with students at the University of Chile, Rahul Gandhi said, “There are tremendous attacks on independent thinking, scientific thought, and rationality in India.” When a student asked what he would like to do about the Indian education system, Rahul Gandhi replied, while referring to her, “The curiosity that Amrita has, I would like to protect it in the Indian education system. And make sure that she can ask questions, she can raise issues, she can think openly without being constrained in any way. So that would be the central idea... And this is, by the way, in India, this is under attack. The idea of free thinking, the idea of being open, the idea of being scientific, of being logical, this is under tremendous attack in India currently.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the BJP government is creating massive trading monopolies and claimed that the biggest companies in India today are not manufacturers or producers but traders with immense monopolistic power.

‘Independent thinking under attack in India,’ says Rahul Gandhi in Chile, BJP slams him

Indian Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi landed in a political storm after his remarks on the topic that why cars are heavier than motorcycles. Speaking at EIA University in Envigado, Colombia, the Congress leader tried to explain the weight difference between the two vehicles.&nbsp;"To carry one passenger, you need 3,000 kg of metal in a car, while a 100-kg motorcycle carries two passengers. So why is a motorcycle able to carry two passengers with 150 kg of metal, and a car needs 3,000 kg?" Gandhi asked the students.&nbsp;The politician continued to explain to students that a car engine “kills the driver on impact,” whereas a motorcycle is lighter because its engine separates from the rider during an accident.&nbsp;“In a motorcycle, when you have an impact, the engine is separated from you. So, the engine doesn’t hurt you. In a car, when you have an impact, the engine comes into the car. So, the car is designed to stop the engine from killing you,” the Congress leader said.&nbsp;The politician then said that &nbsp;electric mobility could solve the particular issue by decentralising power through multiple smaller motors rather than a centralised engine.Gandhi said, “The electric motor allows you to put a motor there, and there, and there. So, the electric motor is a decentralisation of power. That’s really its effectiveness."&nbsp;'I haven't heard this much gibberish'&nbsp;Gandhi's explanation did not go well with the BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, as he termed the Congress leader's words as "gibberish".&nbsp;“I haven’t heard this much gibberish in one go. If anyone can decode what Rahul Gandhi is trying to say here, I would be glad to be enlightened. But if you are as amused as I am, rest assured, you are not alone,” Malviya wrote, sharing the clip on X.

Speaking at EIA University in Envigado, Colombia, the Congress leader tried to explain the weight difference between the two vehicles.

Indian Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi landed in a political storm after his remarks on the topic that why cars are heavier than motorcycles. Speaking at EIA University in Envigado, Colombia, the Congress leader tried to explain the weight difference between the two vehicles. "To carry one passenger, you need 3,000 kg of metal in a car, while a 100-kg motorcycle carries two passengers. So why is a motorcycle able to carry two passengers with 150 kg of metal, and a car needs 3,000 kg?" Gandhi asked the students. The politician continued to explain to students that a car engine “kills the driver on impact,” whereas a motorcycle is lighter because its engine separates from the rider during an accident. “In a motorcycle, when you have an impact, the engine is separated from you. So, the engine doesn’t hurt you. In a car, when you have an impact, the engine comes into the car. So, the car is designed to stop the engine from killing you,” the Congress leader said. The politician then said that electric mobility could solve the particular issue by decentralising power through multiple smaller motors rather than a centralised engine. Gandhi said, “The electric motor allows you to put a motor there, and there, and there. So, the electric motor is a decentralisation of power. That’s really its effectiveness." 'I haven't heard this much gibberish' Gandhi's explanation did not go well with the BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, as he termed the Congress leader's words as "gibberish". “I haven’t heard this much gibberish in one go. If anyone can decode what Rahul Gandhi is trying to say here, I would be glad to be enlightened. But if you are as amused as I am, rest assured, you are not alone,” Malviya wrote, sharing the clip on X.

Speaking at EIA University in Envigado, Colombia, the Congress leader tried to explain the weight difference between the two vehicles.

Why are cars heavier than bikes? Here’s what Rahul Gandhi explains - and leaves BJP ‘amused’

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Why are cars heavier than bikes? Here’s what Rahul Gandhi explains