Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday constituted five regional groups to be headed by Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gan Priyanka Gandhi, and Ahmed Patel to carry out wider consultations and decide on a name for the President's post, but the Gandhis refused to be part of it.&nbsp;

Under the decision was taken by the party's highest decision-making body, Sonia Gandhi will the eastern region group, Singh the southern group, Rahul the western region, Priyanka the north region and Patel the northeast region. However, Sonia told reporters that to put their (Sonia and Rahul) names was not right. "We cannot be part of this consultation committees. That is why we are leaving" she said.

&nbsp;Rahul also left the deliberations. Many names are doing rounds for the post of Congress president but no consensus has been achieved yet. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has batted for a young leader to head the party, while Mumbai Congress leader Milind Deora suggested the names of Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot to take up the responsibility.

A few leaders like Shashi Tharoor have suggested that an interim president be appointed at the earliest. A lawmaker from Wayanad constituency, Gandhi offered to step down from the post of Congress president at the CWC meeting on May 25, taking moral responsibility for the party's drubbing in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

However, his offer was unanimously rejected by the CWC with several top leaders rallying behind him asking him to continue to lead the party. Almost two months after that not only did the 49-year-old leader make his resignation public but also removed the tag of 'Congress President' from the bio of his twitter handle.

Many protests and scores of resignations have come to the fore to stop Rahul Gandhi from resigning. Chief Ministers of all Congress-ruled states had met with Gandhi in Delhi to advice him to reconsider his decision to resign but of no avail.

The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than its 2014 Lok Sabha results.&nbsp;

Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday constituted five regional groups to be headed by Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gan Priyanka Gandhi, and Ahmed Patel to carry out wider consultations and decide on a name for the President's post, but the Gandhis refused to be part of it.

Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday constituted five regional groups to be headed by Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gan Priyanka Gandhi, and Ahmed Patel to carry out wider consultations and decide on a name for the President's post, but the Gandhis refused to be part of it. Under the decision was taken by the party's highest decision-making body, Sonia Gandhi will the eastern region group, Singh the southern group, Rahul the western region, Priyanka the north region and Patel the northeast region. However, Sonia told reporters that to put their (Sonia and Rahul) names was not right. "We cannot be part of this consultation committees. That is why we are leaving" she said. Rahul also left the deliberations. Many names are doing rounds for the post of Congress president but no consensus has been achieved yet. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has batted for a young leader to head the party, while Mumbai Congress leader Milind Deora suggested the names of Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot to take up the responsibility. A few leaders like Shashi Tharoor have suggested that an interim president be appointed at the earliest. A lawmaker from Wayanad constituency, Gandhi offered to step down from the post of Congress president at the CWC meeting on May 25, taking moral responsibility for the party's drubbing in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, his offer was unanimously rejected by the CWC with several top leaders rallying behind him asking him to continue to lead the party. Almost two months after that not only did the 49-year-old leader make his resignation public but also removed the tag of 'Congress President' from the bio of his twitter handle. Many protests and scores of resignations have come to the fore to stop Rahul Gandhi from resigning. Chief Ministers of all Congress-ruled states had met with Gandhi in Delhi to advice him to reconsider his decision to resign but of no avail. The Congress won 52 seats in the recent general elections, which is just eight more than its 2014 Lok Sabha results.

CWC constitutes groups to carry out wider consultations to choose new Congress chief

Responding to <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delay-hurting-us-giving-impression-of-drift-indecision-tharoor-on-appointment-of-congress-president-239220&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj_mdqWmNrjAhUKSo8KHaiaDOgQFjABegQIChAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw38vJlBfnzHpNdoaZQ2XFWd">Congress MP Shashi Tharoor</a>'s concerns for the party, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/priyanka-gandhi-perfect-choice-for-congress-president-cwc-to-take-final-call-amarinder-singh-239223&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj_mdqWmNrjAhUKSo8KHaiaDOgQFjAAegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1O1Ybv9TnkGk1KuCYse4vh">Congress</a> general secretary KC Venugopal on Monday said the party has not been orphaned.

Tharoor had expressed frustration over the delay in the appointment of a new Congress president, saying that it was giving an impression of "drift and indecision".

Talking to media today, Venugopal said,&nbsp;"Shashi Tharoor has expressed the sentiments of a common Congressman. It is, however, not an orphaned scenario."

"The Congress president has stepped down. When he (Rahul Gandhi) did that, he offered to run the office until a replacement was found. He said this in the last Working Committee meeting," he added.

"He (Rahul Gandhi) has been involving himself in the day to day activities of the parties," he further said.

Tharoor had lamented the disarray in the party, saying that it was "not worthy of a grand national party" that the Congress is.&nbsp;

"What we are seeing is a level of disarray which is not worthy of a grand national party that we are. It will end the moment a quick efficient decision is taken and then I believe a democratic process should take place that will open up the election to other candidates," said Tharoor.

Demanding that someone should be given authority to make decisions, he added: "First thing is to appoint an interim president or authorise someone to take decisions."

Responding to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's concerns for the party, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Monday said the party has not been orphaned. Tharoor had expressed frustration over the delay in the appointment of a new Congress president, saying that it was giving an impression of "drift and indecision".

Responding to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's concerns for the party, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Monday said the party has not been orphaned. Tharoor had expressed frustration over the delay in the appointment of a new Congress president, saying that it was giving an impression of "drift and indecision". Talking to media today, Venugopal said, "Shashi Tharoor has expressed the sentiments of a common Congressman. It is, however, not an orphaned scenario." "The Congress president has stepped down. When he (Rahul Gandhi) did that, he offered to run the office until a replacement was found. He said this in the last Working Committee meeting," he added. "He (Rahul Gandhi) has been involving himself in the day to day activities of the parties," he further said. Tharoor had lamented the disarray in the party, saying that it was "not worthy of a grand national party" that the Congress is. "What we are seeing is a level of disarray which is not worthy of a grand national party that we are. It will end the moment a quick efficient decision is taken and then I believe a democratic process should take place that will open up the election to other candidates," said Tharoor. Demanding that someone should be given authority to make decisions, he added: "First thing is to appoint an interim president or authorise someone to take decisions."

Congress party is not orphaned: General Secretary KC Venugopal

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday expressed frustration over the delay in the appointment of a new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/priyanka-gandhi-perfect-choice-for-congress-president-cwc-to-take-final-call-amarinder-singh-239223">Congress president </a>saying that it was giving an impression of "drift and indecision".

"To my mind, the delay is hurting us. It gives an impression of drift and indecision. Some very well-known names have expressed the same frustration to me. They have chosen not to go public. But my reason to go public is that this cannot be allowed to drag on," he said while speaking to ANI.

Tharoor lamented the disarray in the party saying that it was "not worthy of a grand national party that" Congress is.

"What we are seeing is a level of disarray which is not worthy of a grand national party that we are. It will end the moment a quick efficient decision is taken and then I believe a democratic process should take place that will open up the election to other candidates," said the Thiruvananthapuram MP.

Demanding that someone should be given authority to take decisions, Tharoor said, "First thing is to appoint an interim president or authorise someone to take decisions. So if somebody like Goa opposition leader leaves with most of the party, someone should be there to stop, persuade, argue or to do something rather than it just happening."

Praising the fight put up by Congress leader DK Shivakumar in Karnataka, Tharoor said, "Similarly in Karnataka, a brave fight was led by DK Shivakumar, but there was no visible national leader to backstop him. This is not good for a party like us. Who are they going to try and take next? Maybe they will come to Madhya Pradesh. Are we going to sit quietly and indifferently while this goes on? No. We must have a leader and the leader must work."

"At the same time, it's important to open up the process because right now, a lot of people are losing faith in us because of what has happened. If they would open up the process, name interim president, dissolve working committee, call for elections within a reasonable period of time, in which candidates may come forward, and then ask AICC which is 1000 people or PCC of roughly 10,000 people to actually have an election," he added.

Tharoor said that Congress is an opposition party which this democracy needs because it represents "very important principles."

"I believe in democracy, we should not be scared of elections. We want a leader to emerge who will galvanise the workers and inspire the voters. Too many voters have turned away in recent years and that is not good. We are the one opposition party that this democracy needs. Not only because we have a national footprint but also because we represent very important principles in Indian democracy."

"In our democracy, we must offer a robust defence of the idea of an inclusive India. That is something the Congress party is very-very well placed...it has been doing it for 70 years. After all, who was expressing this idea in the national movement? It was the Congress party. This is why I think India and Indian democracy need the Congress party. So the Congress party has to wake up and do its duty to India and Indian democracy," said Tharoor.

Asked about the delay in appointment of an interim president, he said, "Sadly, it is more than two months since Rahul Gandhi announced his resignation first. Then as we know that it was initially not accepted but then he made it very clear that they had no choice and he was walking out. I want my party to stay strong and for us to be a strong party we need leadership. I think the leader will have to be initially an interim president.

"Talking about the chances of a non-Gandhi becoming a Congress president, he said, "Personally, I have not said that there should be a non-Gandhi. In fact, when I was asked some days ago, I had said that Priyanka Gandhi has the charisma, she has the ability and many party workers admire her. I hope that she would throw her hat in the ring. Even she would gain from an electoral process within the party."

"But as we know, it is Rahul Gandhi himself who had said that no member of his family should lead. Now once that is closed, it is family themselves who can decide if they want to change that position. If they change, it will be welcomed in the party. But, if they don't change, the party can't wait. It has to act. It is the absence of the determination that is frustrating many people in the party," he added.

Talking about the role of Rahul Gandhi in the party, he said, "Congress party's DNA is inextricably tied with the DNA of Nehru-Gandhi family. So, whatever role he takes or doesn't take, even if he takes no position...his views, his influence in many ways is a sort of conscience keeper."

"In other words, if the new president does something which a prominent member of the Gandhi family was to disapprove, it would be a very serious issue within the party," he said.

Tharoor said that if Gandhi family says that they don't want to continue the leadership then the party has to respect it.

Criticising the ruling BJP, the Congress leader said, "As long as the ruling element continues to condone or encourage bigoted behaviour, it becomes indispensable that there is a voice which says there is another way. That this is not India that Mahatma Gandhi fought to free."

"That is the ideology Rahul Gandhi is talking about and he is right to talk about it," he said.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday expressed frustration over the delay in the appointment of a new Congress president saying that it was giving an impression of "drift and indecision".

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday expressed frustration over the delay in the appointment of a new Congress president saying that it was giving an impression of "drift and indecision". "To my mind, the delay is hurting us. It gives an impression of drift and indecision. Some very well-known names have expressed the same frustration to me. They have chosen not to go public. But my reason to go public is that this cannot be allowed to drag on," he said while speaking to ANI. Tharoor lamented the disarray in the party saying that it was "not worthy of a grand national party that" Congress is. "What we are seeing is a level of disarray which is not worthy of a grand national party that we are. It will end the moment a quick efficient decision is taken and then I believe a democratic process should take place that will open up the election to other candidates," said the Thiruvananthapuram MP. Demanding that someone should be given authority to take decisions, Tharoor said, "First thing is to appoint an interim president or authorise someone to take decisions. So if somebody like Goa opposition leader leaves with most of the party, someone should be there to stop, persuade, argue or to do something rather than it just happening." Praising the fight put up by Congress leader DK Shivakumar in Karnataka, Tharoor said, "Similarly in Karnataka, a brave fight was led by DK Shivakumar, but there was no visible national leader to backstop him. This is not good for a party like us. Who are they going to try and take next? Maybe they will come to Madhya Pradesh. Are we going to sit quietly and indifferently while this goes on? No. We must have a leader and the leader must work." "At the same time, it's important to open up the process because right now, a lot of people are losing faith in us because of what has happened. If they would open up the process, name interim president, dissolve working committee, call for elections within a reasonable period of time, in which candidates may come forward, and then ask AICC which is 1000 people or PCC of roughly 10,000 people to actually have an election," he added. Tharoor said that Congress is an opposition party which this democracy needs because it represents "very important principles." "I believe in democracy, we should not be scared of elections. We want a leader to emerge who will galvanise the workers and inspire the voters. Too many voters have turned away in recent years and that is not good. We are the one opposition party that this democracy needs. Not only because we have a national footprint but also because we represent very important principles in Indian democracy." "In our democracy, we must offer a robust defence of the idea of an inclusive India. That is something the Congress party is very-very well placed...it has been doing it for 70 years. After all, who was expressing this idea in the national movement? It was the Congress party. This is why I think India and Indian democracy need the Congress party. So the Congress party has to wake up and do its duty to India and Indian democracy," said Tharoor. Asked about the delay in appointment of an interim president, he said, "Sadly, it is more than two months since Rahul Gandhi announced his resignation first. Then as we know that it was initially not accepted but then he made it very clear that they had no choice and he was walking out. I want my party to stay strong and for us to be a strong party we need leadership. I think the leader will have to be initially an interim president. "Talking about the chances of a non-Gandhi becoming a Congress president, he said, "Personally, I have not said that there should be a non-Gandhi. In fact, when I was asked some days ago, I had said that Priyanka Gandhi has the charisma, she has the ability and many party workers admire her. I hope that she would throw her hat in the ring. Even she would gain from an electoral process within the party." "But as we know, it is Rahul Gandhi himself who had said that no member of his family should lead. Now once that is closed, it is family themselves who can decide if they want to change that position. If they change, it will be welcomed in the party. But, if they don't change, the party can't wait. It has to act. It is the absence of the determination that is frustrating many people in the party," he added. Talking about the role of Rahul Gandhi in the party, he said, "Congress party's DNA is inextricably tied with the DNA of Nehru-Gandhi family. So, whatever role he takes or doesn't take, even if he takes no position...his views, his influence in many ways is a sort of conscience keeper." "In other words, if the new president does something which a prominent member of the Gandhi family was to disapprove, it would be a very serious issue within the party," he said. Tharoor said that if Gandhi family says that they don't want to continue the leadership then the party has to respect it. Criticising the ruling BJP, the Congress leader said, "As long as the ruling element continues to condone or encourage bigoted behaviour, it becomes indispensable that there is a voice which says there is another way. That this is not India that Mahatma Gandhi fought to free." "That is the ideology Rahul Gandhi is talking about and he is right to talk about it," he said.

Delay hurting us, giving impression of drift, indecision: Tharoor on appointment of Congress president

Video-sharing app TikTok is again in news. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said in Parliament that there were reports that the Chinese government received data from TikTok through state-owned China Telecom.

"The federal regulators in the US recently slapped a fine of $5.7 million on TikTok for illegally collecting data on children," Tharoor said during the Zero Hour in Parliament on Monday.

But the company refuted the claims that it is illegally collecting user data and sending it to China. "These claims are simply untrue. The privacy and security of our users is a top priority for TikTok, and we abide by local laws and regulations in the markets where we operate," the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to TikTok, it "does not operate in the People's Republic of China and their government has no access to TikTok users' data, nor does it have any existing partnership with China Telecom."

"Our Indian users' data is stored in the US and Singapore at industry-leading third-party data centres," it added.

The app was recently embroiled in legal issues in India when the Madras High Court, hearing a petition, asked the central government to ban TikTok, saying it encouraged pornography and made child users vulnerable to sexual predators. Google blocked access to TikTok on its Play Store in India in April after the high court observation.

The Supreme Court, however, gave the company relief and vacated the high court order.

Owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, TikTok has nearly 200 million users in India.

(With inputs from agencies)

Video-sharing app TikTok is again in news. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said in Parliament that there were reports that the Chinese government received data from TikTok through state-owned China Telecom.

Video-sharing app TikTok is again in news. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said in Parliament that there were reports that the Chinese government received data from TikTok through state-owned China Telecom. "The federal regulators in the US recently slapped a fine of $5.7 million on TikTok for illegally collecting data on children," Tharoor said during the Zero Hour in Parliament on Monday. But the company refuted the claims that it is illegally collecting user data and sending it to China. "These claims are simply untrue. The privacy and security of our users is a top priority for TikTok, and we abide by local laws and regulations in the markets where we operate," the company said in a statement on Tuesday. According to TikTok, it "does not operate in the People's Republic of China and their government has no access to TikTok users' data, nor does it have any existing partnership with China Telecom." "Our Indian users' data is stored in the US and Singapore at industry-leading third-party data centres," it added. The app was recently embroiled in legal issues in India when the Madras High Court, hearing a petition, asked the central government to ban TikTok, saying it encouraged pornography and made child users vulnerable to sexual predators. Google blocked access to TikTok on its Play Store in India in April after the high court observation. The Supreme Court, however, gave the company relief and vacated the high court order. Owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, TikTok has nearly 200 million users in India. (With inputs from agencies)

Data sharing: TikTok refutes Shashi Tharoor's claims

The Triple Talaq Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday amid&nbsp;opposition from Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and&nbsp;All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi over criminalising the offence.

The bill was put to vote and 156 members voted for introduction and 74 against it.

The voting was held through paper slips as the new Members of Parliament have not yet been allotted division number that allows them to vote using polling machine.

Speaker Om Birla then allowed Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to introduce the bill. Earlier he put up a stiff defence of the government move saying the issue was not of religion but of women.

Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the bill and said, ''Rights of Muslim women will be protected. It is about justice &amp; empowerment of women.''

''People have chosen us to make laws. It is our work to make laws. Law is to give justice to the victims of Triple Talaq,'' Prasad added.

Shashi Tharoor opposed the introduction of Triple Talaq Bill and said, ''The bill does nothing to improve the status of Muslim women.''

Asaduddin Owaisi also opposed and said,''&nbsp;Triple Talaq bill is unconstitutional. It's a violation of Constitution's Article 14 &amp; 15. We already have Domestic Violence Act 2005, CrPC Section 125, Muslim Women Marriage Act. If Triple Talaq Bill becomes a law it will be even greater injustice against women.''

Ravi Shankar Prasad on Congress opposing the Bill&nbsp;said,''&nbsp;It was a matter of great distress that Congress chose to oppose the introduction of Triple Talaq Bill. Earlier they had not opposed it, last time they had walked out from Lok Sabha. But today they were siding with the likes of Mr Owaisi who were opposing it.&nbsp;A woman leader like Sonia Gandhi ji is the leader of Congress party, yet Congress party takes an anti-women position in the Lok Sabha, opposing even the introduction of the Bill, I must say it is not only painful but deeply regrettable.''

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 seeks to replace an ordinance by the government in February.

The Triple Talaq Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday amid opposition from Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi over criminalising the offence.

The Triple Talaq Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday amid opposition from Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi over criminalising the offence. The bill was put to vote and 156 members voted for introduction and 74 against it. The voting was held through paper slips as the new Members of Parliament have not yet been allotted division number that allows them to vote using polling machine. Speaker Om Birla then allowed Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to introduce the bill. Earlier he put up a stiff defence of the government move saying the issue was not of religion but of women. Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the bill and said, ''Rights of Muslim women will be protected. It is about justice & empowerment of women.'' ''People have chosen us to make laws. It is our work to make laws. Law is to give justice to the victims of Triple Talaq,'' Prasad added. Shashi Tharoor opposed the introduction of Triple Talaq Bill and said, ''The bill does nothing to improve the status of Muslim women.'' Asaduddin Owaisi also opposed and said,'' Triple Talaq bill is unconstitutional. It's a violation of Constitution's Article 14 & 15. We already have Domestic Violence Act 2005, CrPC Section 125, Muslim Women Marriage Act. If Triple Talaq Bill becomes a law it will be even greater injustice against women.'' Ravi Shankar Prasad on Congress opposing the Bill said,'' It was a matter of great distress that Congress chose to oppose the introduction of Triple Talaq Bill. Earlier they had not opposed it, last time they had walked out from Lok Sabha. But today they were siding with the likes of Mr Owaisi who were opposing it. A woman leader like Sonia Gandhi ji is the leader of Congress party, yet Congress party takes an anti-women position in the Lok Sabha, opposing even the introduction of the Bill, I must say it is not only painful but deeply regrettable.'' The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 seeks to replace an ordinance by the government in February.

Opposition parties clash as Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduces Triple Talaq Bill in Lok Sabha

With just a day left for the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-budget-2019-bjps-vijay-goel-urges-opposition-not-to-stall-bills-during-budget-session-194036"> Budget Session of Parliament</a> to begin, Congress party has yet to appoint its Leader in the Lok Sabha.

Earlier there were talks that Rahul Gandhi, who is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/with-rahul-gandhi-firm-on-quitting-as-party-chief-congress-working-committee-to-meet-again-this-week-222138">reluctant to continue as Congress president </a>after the party's drubbing the polls, will be taking charge of the grand old party's attack on the government in the lower House.

&nbsp;With the party ruling out his discontinuation from his post, the speculations have died down creating further suspense on who would be the new leader.

With the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections of senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge's, who led Congress in the 16th Lok Sabha, the party is looking for a leader with excellent command over Hindi and English language, besides being loyal to the Gandhi family.

Sources in the party said former Union Ministers Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary and Kerala unit working president K Suresh are among the front runners for the job.

Chances run high for Shashi Tharoor (Thiruvananthapuram MP), K Suresh (Mavelikkara) and Manish Tewari (Anandpur Sahib) since the Congress has secured most of the seats in Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu, the states this leader hail from.

While Tharoor's impeccable English and a mild command over Hindi goes in his favour, his name in the Sunanda Pushkar case creates a hurdle in his path.

&nbsp;K Suresh, another figure from Kerala, is a Dalit and a long-time party loyal but his inability to speak Hindi and poor English speaking skill is somewhere he lacks behind.

Manish Tewari is leading the race with his equal authority over Hindi and English and his image as an excellent spokesperson. "Tewari" title tagged to his name may also help him get the job. Tewari, a product of student politics, was made Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology during the second term of UPA rule.

Congress' top leadership was reportedly unhappy for some time after he refused to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but he made a comeback as a spokesman. Meanwhile, Chaudhary and K Suresh have been instructed to attend the all-party meet on Sunday.

India's oldest party has to appoint leader and deputy leader of the party, main whip along with two other whips in the Lok Sabha in a period of 24 hours.

Congress has so far maintained that it will appoint the leader with time. The party faces an uphill task of balancing north-south mathematics in these appointments.

With just a day left for the Budget Session of Parliament to begin, Congress party has yet to appoint its Leader in the Lok Sabha. Earlier there were talks that Rahul Gandhi, who is reluctant to continue as Congress president after the party's drubbing the polls, will be taking charge of the grand old party's attack on the government in the lower House.

With just a day left for the Budget Session of Parliament to begin, Congress party has yet to appoint its Leader in the Lok Sabha. Earlier there were talks that Rahul Gandhi, who is reluctant to continue as Congress president after the party's drubbing the polls, will be taking charge of the grand old party's attack on the government in the lower House. With the party ruling out his discontinuation from his post, the speculations have died down creating further suspense on who would be the new leader. With the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections of senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge's, who led Congress in the 16th Lok Sabha, the party is looking for a leader with excellent command over Hindi and English language, besides being loyal to the Gandhi family. Sources in the party said former Union Ministers Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary and Kerala unit working president K Suresh are among the front runners for the job. Chances run high for Shashi Tharoor (Thiruvananthapuram MP), K Suresh (Mavelikkara) and Manish Tewari (Anandpur Sahib) since the Congress has secured most of the seats in Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu, the states this leader hail from. While Tharoor's impeccable English and a mild command over Hindi goes in his favour, his name in the Sunanda Pushkar case creates a hurdle in his path. K Suresh, another figure from Kerala, is a Dalit and a long-time party loyal but his inability to speak Hindi and poor English speaking skill is somewhere he lacks behind. Manish Tewari is leading the race with his equal authority over Hindi and English and his image as an excellent spokesperson. "Tewari" title tagged to his name may also help him get the job. Tewari, a product of student politics, was made Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology during the second term of UPA rule. Congress' top leadership was reportedly unhappy for some time after he refused to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but he made a comeback as a spokesman. Meanwhile, Chaudhary and K Suresh have been instructed to attend the all-party meet on Sunday. India's oldest party has to appoint leader and deputy leader of the party, main whip along with two other whips in the Lok Sabha in a period of 24 hours. Congress has so far maintained that it will appoint the leader with time. The party faces an uphill task of balancing north-south mathematics in these appointments.

A day left to Budget session, Congress inconclusive of its Lok Sabha leader

Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said the solution to the three-language formula is not by abandoning the idea but ensure its better implementation.

"The solution is not to abandon the three languages formula but to implement it in a better manner," said Tharoor when asked to comment on the new draft policy of National Education, which recommends among other things three languages formula in schools.

Tharoor said that the three-language formula goes back to mid-1960s but it was never properly implemented.

"Most of us in the South learn Hindi as a second language but nobody in the North is learning Malayalam or Tamil," he said.

In the draft National Education Policy 2019, the three-language formula recommends inclusion of English and Hindi besides mother tongue in non-Hindi speaking states, while Hindi speaking states should include English and one Indian language from other parts of the country.

When asked about the guests who were aggressively turned away by Pakistani security officials from an 'Iftar'&nbsp;party hosted by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Tharoor said, "I am sorry. I was not aware of that incident. Unfortunately, the relationship between India and Pakistan is really in a bad shape. It's in a trough."

"The new government really needs to do a thorough review of our Pakistan policy and decide in what ways and how they will pursue the matter. As you know the Pakistani government was not among the one invited for the Prime Minister's swearing-in unlike 2014, so the question that comes up is whether we are going to allow a negative feeling on both sides or whether some serious efforts have to be made to change this relationship," he said.

On being asked about the US withdrawing preferential trade agreement with India, Tharoor said, "The US policy on trade has become much tougher or shall we see less generous than it used to be. Not only India, even with China the US is at a trade war at the moment and other countries are facing the brunt as well."

"I leave to our competent negotiators to figure out what kind of solution is possible. I am told that there are about 11,000 goods we sell to the US and more than 5,000 will be affected by the new tariffs that will hurt our economy, our exporters and businesses. It is in our interest to find some sort of compromising formula at least for the majority of these items," he added.

Replying about his visit to his constituency after the Lok Sabha poll victory, Tharoor said, "It is a lovely Kerala tradition where we do 'thank you'&nbsp;parade and tour the constituency. I will be spending one day in every assembly constituency meeting the people and thanking them for their support."

Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said the solution to the three-language formula is not by abandoning the idea but ensure its better implementation.

Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said the solution to the three-language formula is not by abandoning the idea but ensure its better implementation. "The solution is not to abandon the three languages formula but to implement it in a better manner," said Tharoor when asked to comment on the new draft policy of National Education, which recommends among other things three languages formula in schools. Tharoor said that the three-language formula goes back to mid-1960s but it was never properly implemented. "Most of us in the South learn Hindi as a second language but nobody in the North is learning Malayalam or Tamil," he said. In the draft National Education Policy 2019, the three-language formula recommends inclusion of English and Hindi besides mother tongue in non-Hindi speaking states, while Hindi speaking states should include English and one Indian language from other parts of the country. When asked about the guests who were aggressively turned away by Pakistani security officials from an 'Iftar' party hosted by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, Tharoor said, "I am sorry. I was not aware of that incident. Unfortunately, the relationship between India and Pakistan is really in a bad shape. It's in a trough." "The new government really needs to do a thorough review of our Pakistan policy and decide in what ways and how they will pursue the matter. As you know the Pakistani government was not among the one invited for the Prime Minister's swearing-in unlike 2014, so the question that comes up is whether we are going to allow a negative feeling on both sides or whether some serious efforts have to be made to change this relationship," he said. On being asked about the US withdrawing preferential trade agreement with India, Tharoor said, "The US policy on trade has become much tougher or shall we see less generous than it used to be. Not only India, even with China the US is at a trade war at the moment and other countries are facing the brunt as well." "I leave to our competent negotiators to figure out what kind of solution is possible. I am told that there are about 11,000 goods we sell to the US and more than 5,000 will be affected by the new tariffs that will hurt our economy, our exporters and businesses. It is in our interest to find some sort of compromising formula at least for the majority of these items," he added. Replying about his visit to his constituency after the Lok Sabha poll victory, Tharoor said, "It is a lovely Kerala tradition where we do 'thank you' parade and tour the constituency. I will be spending one day in every assembly constituency meeting the people and thanking them for their support."

Solution to three languages formula lies in its better implementation: Shashi Tharoor on centre's draft education plan

Rahul Gandhi is the best person to pull the Congress out of its predicament following the setback in the Lok Sabha polls, says party leader Shashi Tharoor while declaring that his party is&nbsp;"alive and kicking" and it is too premature to write its obituary.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/with-rahul-gandhi-firm-on-quitting-as-party-chief-congress-working-committee-to-meet-again-this-week-222138">Congress has no time to sit and lick its wounds</a> as it must immediately pick itself up for the upcoming state elections, Tharoor said.

The party faces an existential crisis with the party president adamant on his decision to quit after the poll debacle -- winning just 52 Lok Sabha seats -- and its state governments facing an uncertain future.&nbsp;

Tharoor, who scored an electoral hat-trick by winning from the Thiruvananthapuram seat in the Lok Sabha polls, also said he is ready to take on the job of the Congress' leader in the Lok Sabha if offered the post.

The Congress still represents the only credible national alternative to the BJP and it will take its message to the country, hopefully under Gandhi's leadership, he said.

In his view, the Gandhi-Nehru family will continue to command "great clout and respect" within the party, on the basis of the tremendous contributions it has made in shaping and guiding the party since Independence.

The former Union minister said Gandhi has led the party from the front and still has far more to offer to the party.

Watch:&nbsp;Rahul insists on resigning as Cong President; CWC to hold another meeting

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rahul-insists-on-resigning-as-cong-president-cwc-to-hold-another-meeting-222176/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Asked about Gandhi's offer to resign and if he was still Congress' best bet in terms of leadership, Tharoor said attempts in the media to pin all the blame for the party's electoral setback on his shoulders are simplistic and unfair.

"I think it does a disservice to the very complex challenges facing the Congress party to reduce it to a question of one person.

"While Rahulji has bravely taken full responsibility for the defeat, we all are responsible for what went wrong and we all have a responsibility to ensure the party's revival," the 63-year-old leader said.

Gandhi will easily beat any other interested candidate by a landslide if the party decides to hold a free and fair election tomorrow for the position of party president, he claimed.

"That is the kind of place he has built in the hearts of the rank and file of the Congress party and therefore, to my mind, he still undoubtedly remains the best person to help rally the party out of the predicament it finds itself in and help us collectively move forward," Tharoor said.

Asked whether a non-Gandhi could lead the party, Tharoor said others can rise to prominent positions in the Congress and a case in point is that the last two Congress prime ministers were not Gandhis.

"Still, I have no doubt the Gandhi-Nehru family will continue to command great clout and respect within the party, just on the basis of the tremendous contributions they have made in shaping and guiding the party since Independence," the former diplomat said.

Two former prime ministers from the Gandhi family -- Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi -- even sacrificed their lives for the nation and this is the proud legacy to which Rahul Gandhi is heir, he said.

Asked if the Congress still remains a credible alternative to the BJP, he said, "It's far too premature to write an obituary for the party as Kerala and Punjab have shown, we are very much alive and kicking."

Despite Congress' poor showing across the country, the party performed well in Kerala and Punjab, winning 15 and eight seats respectively.

"I strongly believe that we have no time to sit and lick our wounds and must instead pick up again immediately and effectively not least because we have several state elections coming up, some of which are four or five months away," he said.

Elections are due in the states of Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra later this year.

Tharoor said he strongly disagreed with Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav's recent "ill-considered" statement that the "Congress must die".

"I genuinely and passionately believe that what the Congress stands for and offers the nation is fundamentally indispensable to the future of the country," he said.

The Congress represents an alternate vision of the idea of India, an inclusive and pluralist vision, that reflects truly the heart and soul of the country, Tharoor said.

Asked if he would take up the role of Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, he said, "If offered, certainly I would, but that is not for me to determine. It is clear, though, that since so many of our stalwarts have lost these elections, those of us who remain will have to pull our weight and take on extra responsibility. I am ready for that."

Talking about polarisation playing a role in elections, Tharoor said certainly the party has to understand why voters chose not to vote in their economic self-interest.

With unemployment at a 45-year high, farmers in such distress that record numbers are committing suicide, and small and micro enterprises are shutting down all over the country, one would think that economics would decide the election, he said.

"...Why should a young man who voted for Mr Modi in 2014 in the hope of getting a job vote for him again in 2019 when he still doesn't have a job? And yet he did," Tharoor said.

"Undoubtedly, increasing religious polarisation was a factor. But it is not the whole story, I think. The larger-than-life personality cult around the PM seems to have convinced some voters that he is the only one to lead the country and keep it safe from real and imagined enemies, within and without," he said.

Rahul Gandhi is the best person to pull the Congress out of its predicament following the setback in the Lok Sabha polls, says party leader Shashi Tharoor while declaring that his party is "alive and kicking" and it is too premature to write its obituary.

Rahul Gandhi is the best person to pull the Congress out of its predicament following the setback in the Lok Sabha polls, says party leader Shashi Tharoor while declaring that his party is "alive and kicking" and it is too premature to write its obituary. The Congress has no time to sit and lick its wounds as it must immediately pick itself up for the upcoming state elections, Tharoor said. The party faces an existential crisis with the party president adamant on his decision to quit after the poll debacle -- winning just 52 Lok Sabha seats -- and its state governments facing an uncertain future. Tharoor, who scored an electoral hat-trick by winning from the Thiruvananthapuram seat in the Lok Sabha polls, also said he is ready to take on the job of the Congress' leader in the Lok Sabha if offered the post. The Congress still represents the only credible national alternative to the BJP and it will take its message to the country, hopefully under Gandhi's leadership, he said. In his view, the Gandhi-Nehru family will continue to command "great clout and respect" within the party, on the basis of the tremendous contributions it has made in shaping and guiding the party since Independence. The former Union minister said Gandhi has led the party from the front and still has far more to offer to the party. Watch: Rahul insists on resigning as Cong President; CWC to hold another meeting Asked about Gandhi's offer to resign and if he was still Congress' best bet in terms of leadership, Tharoor said attempts in the media to pin all the blame for the party's electoral setback on his shoulders are simplistic and unfair. "I think it does a disservice to the very complex challenges facing the Congress party to reduce it to a question of one person. "While Rahulji has bravely taken full responsibility for the defeat, we all are responsible for what went wrong and we all have a responsibility to ensure the party's revival," the 63-year-old leader said. Gandhi will easily beat any other interested candidate by a landslide if the party decides to hold a free and fair election tomorrow for the position of party president, he claimed. "That is the kind of place he has built in the hearts of the rank and file of the Congress party and therefore, to my mind, he still undoubtedly remains the best person to help rally the party out of the predicament it finds itself in and help us collectively move forward," Tharoor said. Asked whether a non-Gandhi could lead the party, Tharoor said others can rise to prominent positions in the Congress and a case in point is that the last two Congress prime ministers were not Gandhis. "Still, I have no doubt the Gandhi-Nehru family will continue to command great clout and respect within the party, just on the basis of the tremendous contributions they have made in shaping and guiding the party since Independence," the former diplomat said. Two former prime ministers from the Gandhi family -- Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi -- even sacrificed their lives for the nation and this is the proud legacy to which Rahul Gandhi is heir, he said. Asked if the Congress still remains a credible alternative to the BJP, he said, "It's far too premature to write an obituary for the party as Kerala and Punjab have shown, we are very much alive and kicking." Despite Congress' poor showing across the country, the party performed well in Kerala and Punjab, winning 15 and eight seats respectively. "I strongly believe that we have no time to sit and lick our wounds and must instead pick up again immediately and effectively not least because we have several state elections coming up, some of which are four or five months away," he said. Elections are due in the states of Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra later this year. Tharoor said he strongly disagreed with Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav's recent "ill-considered" statement that the "Congress must die". "I genuinely and passionately believe that what the Congress stands for and offers the nation is fundamentally indispensable to the future of the country," he said. The Congress represents an alternate vision of the idea of India, an inclusive and pluralist vision, that reflects truly the heart and soul of the country, Tharoor said. Asked if he would take up the role of Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, he said, "If offered, certainly I would, but that is not for me to determine. It is clear, though, that since so many of our stalwarts have lost these elections, those of us who remain will have to pull our weight and take on extra responsibility. I am ready for that." Talking about polarisation playing a role in elections, Tharoor said certainly the party has to understand why voters chose not to vote in their economic self-interest. With unemployment at a 45-year high, farmers in such distress that record numbers are committing suicide, and small and micro enterprises are shutting down all over the country, one would think that economics would decide the election, he said. "...Why should a young man who voted for Mr Modi in 2014 in the hope of getting a job vote for him again in 2019 when he still doesn't have a job? And yet he did," Tharoor said. "Undoubtedly, increasing religious polarisation was a factor. But it is not the whole story, I think. The larger-than-life personality cult around the PM seems to have convinced some voters that he is the only one to lead the country and keep it safe from real and imagined enemies, within and without," he said.

Rahul best person to lead party, too premature to write Congress' obituary: Shashi Tharoor

A Delhi court Tuesday allowed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-court-seeks-delhi-police-reply-on-shashi-tharoors-plea-to-travel-abroad-214562">Congress leader Shashi Tharoor</a>, an accused in a case related to wife Sunanda Pushkar's death, to travel abroad.

Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj granted permission to Tharoor to go to the USA from May 5-20.

In his application, Tharoor had claimed that he has to attend certain press conferences there.

While granting him bail in the case, the court had directed not to leave the country without its prior permission.

The former Union minister has been charged under Sections 498-A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 of the IPC, but has not been arrested in the case.

Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in the city on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel as the official bungalow of Tharoor was being renovated at that time.&nbsp;

A Delhi court Tuesday allowed Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, an accused in a case related to wife Sunanda Pushkar's death, to travel abroad. Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj granted permission to Tharoor to go to the USA from May 5-20.

A Delhi court Tuesday allowed Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, an accused in a case related to wife Sunanda Pushkar's death, to travel abroad. Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj granted permission to Tharoor to go to the USA from May 5-20. In his application, Tharoor had claimed that he has to attend certain press conferences there. While granting him bail in the case, the court had directed not to leave the country without its prior permission. The former Union minister has been charged under Sections 498-A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 of the IPC, but has not been arrested in the case. Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in the city on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel as the official bungalow of Tharoor was being renovated at that time.

Delhi court allows Shashi Tharoor to travel abroad

A Delhi court has sought a response from the city police on a plea by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, accused in the death case of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, seeking its nod to travel abroad.

Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj issued a notice to Delhi Police and directed it to file a reply by tomorrow when he will hear the matter.

Tharoor has sought court's permission to travel the USA from May 5-20.

The former Union minister has been charged under sections 498-A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 of the IPC but has not been arrested in the case.

Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in the city on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel as the official bungalow of Tharoor was being renovated at that time.&nbsp;

A Delhi court has sought a response from the city police on a plea by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, accused in the death case of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, seeking its nod to travel abroad.

A Delhi court has sought a response from the city police on a plea by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, accused in the death case of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, seeking its nod to travel abroad. Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj issued a notice to Delhi Police and directed it to file a reply by tomorrow when he will hear the matter. Tharoor has sought court's permission to travel the USA from May 5-20. The former Union minister has been charged under sections 498-A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 of the IPC but has not been arrested in the case. Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in the city on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel as the official bungalow of Tharoor was being renovated at that time.

Delhi court seeks Delhi Police reply on Shashi Tharoor's plea to travel abroad

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been summoned by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court&nbsp;on June 7 for his alleged "scorpion" remark against PM Modi.

Tharoor had <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ravi-shankar-prasad-hits-out-at-shashi-tharoor-over-shiv-linga-remarks-174058">stirred up a controversy</a> in October last year after he had claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper).

Speaking at the Bengaluru Literature Festival in October, Tharoor had said, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, who expressed their frustration to curb Modi - 'Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a 'shivling'. You can't remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a 'chappal'&nbsp;(slipper) either."&nbsp;

Tharoor had made the&nbsp;remarks&nbsp;at the launch&nbsp;of his book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi And His India" at the Bengaluru Literature Festival.

(With inputs from ANI)

&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been summoned by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on June 7 for his alleged "scorpion" remark against PM Modi. Tharoor had stirred up a controversy in October last year after he had claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper).

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been summoned by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on June 7 for his alleged "scorpion" remark against PM Modi. Tharoor had stirred up a controversy in October last year after he had claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper). Speaking at the Bengaluru Literature Festival in October, Tharoor had said, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, who expressed their frustration to curb Modi - 'Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a 'shivling'. You can't remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a 'chappal' (slipper) either." Tharoor had made the remarks at the launch of his book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi And His India" at the Bengaluru Literature Festival. (With inputs from ANI)

Court issues summons to Shashi Tharoor over his 'scorpion' remark on PM Modi

Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor Monday suffered head injuries while performing 'thulabharam' ritual at a temple here.

According to party sources, Tharoor who is aiming for a hat-trick from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency sustained injuries on his head, which required six stitches.

He also suffered a minor leg injury after the hook of the weighing scale came off and hit his head, they added.

'Thulabharam' is a Hindu ritual in which a person is weighed against a commodity such as flowers, grains, fruits and similar articles in temples and the equal value or quantity is offered as donation.

Monday being the Malayalam new year day ('Vishu'), Tharoor performed the ritual at a Devi temple here in the morning before embarking on his poll campaign.

He was accompanied by his family members and party leaders and workers including MLA, V S Sivakumar.

While he was sitting on one of the pans of the weighing scale, the hook came off and fell on his head, the party sources added.

He was taken to Trivandrum Medical College hospital for detailed examination, the sources said.

Television channels showed the former union minister getting into a car with a bandaged head and waving to onlookers wearing a blood-stained kurta.&nbsp;

Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor Monday suffered head injuries while performing 'thulabharam' ritual at a temple here. According to party sources, Tharoor who is aiming for a hat-trick from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency sustained injuries on his head, which required six stitches.

Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor Monday suffered head injuries while performing 'thulabharam' ritual at a temple here. According to party sources, Tharoor who is aiming for a hat-trick from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency sustained injuries on his head, which required six stitches. He also suffered a minor leg injury after the hook of the weighing scale came off and hit his head, they added. 'Thulabharam' is a Hindu ritual in which a person is weighed against a commodity such as flowers, grains, fruits and similar articles in temples and the equal value or quantity is offered as donation. Monday being the Malayalam new year day ('Vishu'), Tharoor performed the ritual at a Devi temple here in the morning before embarking on his poll campaign. He was accompanied by his family members and party leaders and workers including MLA, V S Sivakumar. While he was sitting on one of the pans of the weighing scale, the hook came off and fell on his head, the party sources added. He was taken to Trivandrum Medical College hospital for detailed examination, the sources said. Television channels showed the former union minister getting into a car with a bandaged head and waving to onlookers wearing a blood-stained kurta.

Shashi Tharoor sustains injuries while performing 'thulabharam' at Temple

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will go on trial on February 21 for the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.&nbsp;The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram is being tried for abetment to suicide.&nbsp;

Delhi's Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Monday sent the case against Tharoor to a sessions court.&nbsp;

The court dismissed Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking to assist the court in the case and has directed Delhi Police to preserve a vigilance report in the matter.

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Sunanda Pushkar death case: Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court commits the case to Sessions Court. Court also dismisses Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking to assist the court in the case. Next date of hearing is 21st February.
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1092343631279677441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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On January 14, Delhi's Patiala House Court had adjourned the case till January 21.

Previously the hearing had been deferred under Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) as some of the digital documents supplied to Tharoor were not accessible, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

Section 207 of the CrPC says that the police complaint, statements of all witnesses and all other relevant documents relating to the case should be furnished to the accused.

In December last year, the court had directed the Delhi Police to hand over certain documents to Tharoor in connection with the case in which he is named as an accused.

Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014. Pushkar and her husband Shashi Tharoor were staying in the hotel as Tharoor's official bungalow was being renovated at that time.&nbsp;

Former Union minister Tharoor has been charged under sections 498-A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He has not been arrested in the case.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will go on trial on February 21 for the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram is being tried for abetment to suicide.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor will go on trial on February 21 for the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram is being tried for abetment to suicide. Delhi's Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court on Monday sent the case against Tharoor to a sessions court. The court dismissed Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking to assist the court in the case and has directed Delhi Police to preserve a vigilance report in the matter. Sunanda Pushkar death case: Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court commits the case to Sessions Court. Court also dismisses Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking to assist the court in the case. Next date of hearing is 21st February. — ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2019 × On January 14, Delhi's Patiala House Court had adjourned the case till January 21. Previously the hearing had been deferred under Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) as some of the digital documents supplied to Tharoor were not accessible, news agency ANI reported. Section 207 of the CrPC says that the police complaint, statements of all witnesses and all other relevant documents relating to the case should be furnished to the accused. In December last year, the court had directed the Delhi Police to hand over certain documents to Tharoor in connection with the case in which he is named as an accused. Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014. Pushkar and her husband Shashi Tharoor were staying in the hotel as Tharoor's official bungalow was being renovated at that time. Former Union minister Tharoor has been charged under sections 498-A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) and 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He has not been arrested in the case. (With inputs from agencies)

Sunanda Pushkar death: Trial against Shashi Tharoor to begin on February 21

Calling the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/union-budget-2019-no-income-tax-for-annual-income-upto-rs-5-lakh-says-piyush-goyal-194324">interim Budget </a>presented by Centre on Friday as "yet another jumla", the Congress hit out at the BJP led government claiming that the Budget was an insult to the farmers.

The Congress post on its Twitter handle said, "After having failed to deliver on any of the promises to farmers, Modi govt insults them once again with yet another jumla !".

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After having failed to deliver on any of the promises to farmers, Modi govt insults them once again with yet another jumla!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Budget2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Budget2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AakhriJumlaBudget?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AakhriJumlaBudget</a> <a href="https://t.co/f6ocdzKByS">pic.twitter.com/f6ocdzKByS</a>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1091267874138644480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Party President Rahul Gandhi also targetted the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/budget-will-take-india-on-path-to-development-pm-modi-194378">Modi government</a> over the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/big-takeaways-from-union-budget-2019-194331">Budget</a>.

" Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for, " Gandhi's tweet read.

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Dear NoMo, 
 
5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. 
 
Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AakhriJumlaBudget?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AakhriJumlaBudget</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1091267096938467328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram termed the Budget as "an account for votes" adding that the 2019&nbsp;Budget was accompanied by an election campaign speech.

"The Interim Finance Minister tested our patience by the longest interim Budget speech in the recent memory. It was not an interim Budget, it was a full-fledged Budget accompanied by an election campaign speech.... My one line comment on the Budget is that it is not a vote on account but an account for votes."

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P Chidambaram, Congress on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Budget2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Budget2019</a>: The Interim Finance Minister tested our patience by the longest interim budget speech in the recent memory. It was not an interim budget, it was a full fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech. <a href="https://t.co/AlY8uxmQpD">https://t.co/AlY8uxmQpD</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1091263193190522881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Congress leader Shashi Tharoor questioned the credibility of the&nbsp;income support assured to the farmers under the Budget. He however praised the government's move of providing tax exemption to the middle class.

Tharoor said, " The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We have seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour and dignity?"

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S Tharoor, Congress: The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&amp;dignity? <a href="https://t.co/kZDRhkKSWi">pic.twitter.com/kZDRhkKSWi</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1091250025655463938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said, "This government has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for five years when they'll not be in power; the government will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless".

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WB CM Mamata Banerjee: This govt has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for 5 years when they'll not be in power; the govt will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless. <a href="https://t.co/rK4CBge5Sw">pic.twitter.com/rK4CBge5Sw</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1091283305909997570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the promises made by the BJP in this Budget are mere poll sops and "jumlas", which will not be fulfilled as the BJP has a mandate to rule only till May this year.

Further calling it as BJP's election manifesto, he charged the party of bribing to voters.

"This is all being done for elections. I directly charge them of paying bribe to voters.There is politics in everything they do and there is nothing for the poor in this budget...This budget is only an election manifesto that the BJP read in Parliament and it is only for getting votes," Kharge said.

"They are distributing money in elections to please farmers, but the reality is that in the first three months they would give only Rs 2,000 in first instalment," he said.

On the announcement of Income Tax exemption up to Rs 5 lakh to tax-payers, he alleged the BJP parliamentarians are creating a 'tamasha' in Parliament.

"You have a mandate up to May and instead they have presented a full year's Budget and are trying to befool the people of the country, keeping elections in mind.

"Who will fulfil these promises made. If they do not come to power, who will fulfil these promises. The next government will come and only it can deliver".

Karnataka chief minister Kumaraswamy said, "I want to ask if this Budget was prepared by officials of Finance department or RSS? In this Budget, Narendra Modi has given cotton candy for farmers. When I announced loan waiver scheme, PM mocked it as lollipop. Friends of BJP have prepared this budget".

(With inputs from agencies)

Calling the interim Budget presented by Centre on Friday as "yet another jumla", the Congress hit out at the BJP led government claiming that the Budget was an insult to the farmers.

Calling the interim Budget presented by Centre on Friday as "yet another jumla", the Congress hit out at the BJP led government claiming that the Budget was an insult to the farmers. The Congress post on its Twitter handle said, "After having failed to deliver on any of the promises to farmers, Modi govt insults them once again with yet another jumla !". After having failed to deliver on any of the promises to farmers, Modi govt insults them once again with yet another jumla!#Budget2019 #AakhriJumlaBudget pic.twitter.com/f6ocdzKByS — Congress (@INCIndia) February 1, 2019 × Party President Rahul Gandhi also targetted the Modi government over the Budget. " Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for, " Gandhi's tweet read. Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for. #AakhriJumlaBudget — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 1, 2019 × Former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram termed the Budget as "an account for votes" adding that the 2019 Budget was accompanied by an election campaign speech. "The Interim Finance Minister tested our patience by the longest interim Budget speech in the recent memory. It was not an interim Budget, it was a full-fledged Budget accompanied by an election campaign speech.... My one line comment on the Budget is that it is not a vote on account but an account for votes." P Chidambaram, Congress on #Budget2019: The Interim Finance Minister tested our patience by the longest interim budget speech in the recent memory. It was not an interim budget, it was a full fledged budget accompanied by an election campaign speech. https://t.co/AlY8uxmQpD — ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 × Congress leader Shashi Tharoor questioned the credibility of the income support assured to the farmers under the Budget. He however praised the government's move of providing tax exemption to the middle class. Tharoor said, " The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We have seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour and dignity?" S Tharoor, Congress: The whole exercise has turned out to be a damp squib. We've seen one good thing that is tax exemption for the middle class. Rs 6000 in income support for farmers boils down to Rs 500 per month. Is that supposed to enable them to live with the honour&dignity? pic.twitter.com/kZDRhkKSWi — ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 × TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said, "This government has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for five years when they'll not be in power; the government will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless". WB CM Mamata Banerjee: This govt has no moral authority or responsibility to place the budget for 5 years when they'll not be in power; the govt will go for expiry. After expiry, if you give medicine, is there any value? What will be the value? This is absolutely valueless. pic.twitter.com/rK4CBge5Sw — ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2019 × Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the promises made by the BJP in this Budget are mere poll sops and "jumlas", which will not be fulfilled as the BJP has a mandate to rule only till May this year. Further calling it as BJP's election manifesto, he charged the party of bribing to voters. "This is all being done for elections. I directly charge them of paying bribe to voters.There is politics in everything they do and there is nothing for the poor in this budget...This budget is only an election manifesto that the BJP read in Parliament and it is only for getting votes," Kharge said. "They are distributing money in elections to please farmers, but the reality is that in the first three months they would give only Rs 2,000 in first instalment," he said. On the announcement of Income Tax exemption up to Rs 5 lakh to tax-payers, he alleged the BJP parliamentarians are creating a 'tamasha' in Parliament. "You have a mandate up to May and instead they have presented a full year's Budget and are trying to befool the people of the country, keeping elections in mind. "Who will fulfil these promises made. If they do not come to power, who will fulfil these promises. The next government will come and only it can deliver". Karnataka chief minister Kumaraswamy said, "I want to ask if this Budget was prepared by officials of Finance department or RSS? In this Budget, Narendra Modi has given cotton candy for farmers. When I announced loan waiver scheme, PM mocked it as lollipop. Friends of BJP have prepared this budget". (With inputs from agencies)

It was not an interim Budget but a full fledged Budget: Chidambaram

Film stars in south India are worshipped and given godly status. Fans build temples, shrines for their favourite stars quite often. So it isn't surprising that Shah Rukh Khan, superstar of Bollywood, has got one of his own in Munnar, Kerala.&nbsp;

Congress party leader and MP Shashi Tharoor chanced upon a shrine dedicated to SRK recently at a hotel in Munnar. The hotel room in which SRK had stayed while shooting for 'Chennai Express' has been converted into a shrine with posters of the film plastered on walls. The room also has a lifesize cut-out of the superstar in it.&nbsp;Coincidentally, Tharoor also stayed in the same room during his recent visit.

Tharoor, while sharing photos of the room, tweeted, "Dear @iamsrk, when on a brief visit to Munnar yesterday I took rest in the room you occupied in 2013, which has been converted into a shrine for you &amp; #ChennaiExpress! Every wall is decorated w/posters of the film &amp;the suite is dominated by this cut-out of you." The politician joking added, "No place for rest!" at the end of the tweet.&nbsp;

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Dear <a href="https://twitter.com/iamsrk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iamsrk</a>, when on a brief visit to Munnar yesterday I took rest in the room you occupied in 2013, which has been converted into a shrine for you &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChennaiExpress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChennaiExpress</a>! Every wall is decorated w/posters of the film &amp;the suite is dominated by this cut-out of you. No place for rest! <a href="https://t.co/hFUYCgXLEc">pic.twitter.com/hFUYCgXLEc</a>
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1087345927789064192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Rohit Shetty's 'Chennai Express' released in 2013 and was a blockbuster hit. The film also featured Deepika Padukone as the female lead.&nbsp;

Film stars in south India are worshipped and given godly status. Fans build temples, shrines for their favourite stars quite often. So it isn't surprising that Shah Rukh Khan, superstar of Bollywood, has got one of his own in Munnar, Kerala.

Film stars in south India are worshipped and given godly status. Fans build temples, shrines for their favourite stars quite often. So it isn't surprising that Shah Rukh Khan, superstar of Bollywood, has got one of his own in Munnar, Kerala. Congress party leader and MP Shashi Tharoor chanced upon a shrine dedicated to SRK recently at a hotel in Munnar. The hotel room in which SRK had stayed while shooting for 'Chennai Express' has been converted into a shrine with posters of the film plastered on walls. The room also has a lifesize cut-out of the superstar in it. Coincidentally, Tharoor also stayed in the same room during his recent visit. Tharoor, while sharing photos of the room, tweeted, "Dear @iamsrk, when on a brief visit to Munnar yesterday I took rest in the room you occupied in 2013, which has been converted into a shrine for you & #ChennaiExpress! Every wall is decorated w/posters of the film &the suite is dominated by this cut-out of you." The politician joking added, "No place for rest!" at the end of the tweet. Dear @iamsrk, when on a brief visit to Munnar yesterday I took rest in the room you occupied in 2013, which has been converted into a shrine for you & #ChennaiExpress! Every wall is decorated w/posters of the film &the suite is dominated by this cut-out of you. No place for rest! pic.twitter.com/hFUYCgXLEc — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 21, 2019 × Rohit Shetty's 'Chennai Express' released in 2013 and was a blockbuster hit. The film also featured Deepika Padukone as the female lead.

Shashi Tharoor visits a shrine dedicated to Shah Rukh Khan in Kerala, shares photos on Twitter

Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday further adjourned Sunanda Pushkar death case till January 21.

Earlier, the court had deferred hearing in the case till January 14. Previously the hearing had been deferred under Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) as some of the digital documents supplied to Tharoor were not accessible.

Section 207 of the CrPC says that the police complaint, statements of all witnesses and all other relevant documents relating to the case should be furnished to the accused.

In December last year, the court had directed the Delhi Police to hand over certain documents to Tharoor in connection with the case in which he is named as an accused.

Pushkar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a Delhi hotel on the night of January 17, 2014.

The couple was staying in the hotel as their house was undergoing renovation.

Tharoor was charged under Sections 306 (abatement of suicide) and 498A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He, however, has dismissed the charge sheet and termed it as "preposterous.

Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday further adjourned Sunanda Pushkar death case till January 21. Earlier, the court had deferred hearing in the case till January 14.

Delhi's Patiala House Court on Monday further adjourned Sunanda Pushkar death case till January 21. Earlier, the court had deferred hearing in the case till January 14. Previously the hearing had been deferred under Section 207 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) as some of the digital documents supplied to Tharoor were not accessible. Section 207 of the CrPC says that the police complaint, statements of all witnesses and all other relevant documents relating to the case should be furnished to the accused. In December last year, the court had directed the Delhi Police to hand over certain documents to Tharoor in connection with the case in which he is named as an accused. Pushkar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a Delhi hotel on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel as their house was undergoing renovation. Tharoor was charged under Sections 306 (abatement of suicide) and 498A (husband or his relative subjecting a woman to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He, however, has dismissed the charge sheet and termed it as "preposterous.

Sunanda Pushkar death case hearing adjourned till January 21

Cases involving political bigwigs like P Chidambaram, Lalu Prasad and Shashi Tharoor made headlines in 2018 from Delhi courts which drew global attention while dealing with the case of extradited alleged middleman Christian Michel in<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/vvip-chopper-case-enforcement-directorate-arrests-christian-michel-185835"> the VVIP chopper scam</a>.

The eventful year in courts saw British national Michel, who was brought to India on December 4 after his extradition from the UAE in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper deal, spending 14 days in CBI custody and now in jail.

While Michel's case drew eyeballs, fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, who is currently in London and has been declared a proclaimed offender here for evading summons in a money laundering case related to alleged FERA violation, also faced the heat when a court ordered attachment of his properties.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/metoo-mj-akbar-a-thorough-gentleman-woman-journalist-says-in-court-176880">The #MeToo movement </a>gathered momentum in India and forced veteran journalist and former union minister M J Akbar to approach a Delhi court with a private criminal defamation complaint against a scribe, who accused him of sexual misconduct nearly two decades ago.

Akbar, who had to resign as a minister following the uproar, has denied all the allegations.

Cases involving political heavyweights dominated court proceedings here and the year saw both the CBI and the ED tightening the noose around Congress leader P Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case by filing charge sheets against them.

His party colleague Shashi Tharoor was also named in a charge sheet by Delhi Police for allegedly abetting the suicide of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. Police in its nearly 3,000-page charge sheet also accused the former union minister of subjecting his wife to cruelty.

The Congress further suffered an embarrassment when ED filed a charge sheet against former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, accusing him of projecting around Rs 7 crore proceeds of crime as agricultural income in connivance with others and investing these in purchasing LIC policies.

The trial courts also dealt with some of<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/on-anti-sikh-riot-allegations-kamal-nath-says-no-case-fir-against-me-184867"> the 1984 anti-Sikh riots</a> cases and in one case, the death sentence was awarded to a man and life imprisonment to another for killing two persons in south Delhi's Mahipalpur area.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/1984-anti-sikh-riots-no-ground-for-granting-relief-to-sajjan-kumar-says-high-court-185604">Even Sajjan Kumar</a>, who after his conviction and a life term in one such case resigned from the Congress, was attending the trial court in connection with another anti-Sikh riots case.

So was the case of another senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who is finding it hard to get discharged from his alleged involvement in the riots even after the CBI gave him a clean chit and sought closure of the case against him.

The criminal case filed by BJP leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/national-herald-case-subramanian-swamy-submits-it-order-against-rahul-sonia-gandhi-30158">Subramanian Swamy against Congress leaders</a> including Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case also made news from the trial court.

The RJD, an ally of the Congress in Bihar, also had a bad time as its top leadership including jailed chief Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejaswi Yadav had to face legal proceedings in the IRCTC scam.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/enforcement-directorate-summons-lalu-yadavs-son-in-law-in-money-laundring-case-17844?amp">Lalu's daughter </a>Misa Bharti and her husband Shailesh Kumar were summoned as accused and granted bail in a separate money laundering case in which the ED had earlier attached their Delhi farmhouse.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/arvind-kejriwal-to-be-charged-in-delhis-chief-secretary-assault-case-reports-158876">Aam Aadmi Party and its leadership</a> continued to hog the limelight from trial courts which summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as accused in Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash assault case along with his deputy and others.

Kejriwal had a sigh of relief when he settled various defamation cases against himself by apologising to Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and ex-Union minister Kapil Sibal's son Amit Sibal.

While politicians were facing the heat in the trial courts here, bureaucrats also had a tough time, particularly in cases arising out of the alleged coal block allocation scam during Congress-led UPA regime with former coal secretary H C Gupta getting three-year imprisonment in one such case.

Gupta, the coal secretary from December 31, 2005, to November 2008, has already been convicted in two other cases of coal block allocation in which he has been sentenced for two and three years respectively. He is out on bail in all the cases. Two other bureaucrats also were convicted in Coalgate cases.

The CBI vs CBI case also had its imprint on the courts as the agency arrested one of its own Deputy Superintendents of Police and an alleged middleman.

While DySP Devender Kumar was released after the CBI preferred not to oppose his bail, alleged Dubai-based middleman Manoj Prasad secured relief after the agency failed to file its charge sheet within the stipulated time.

A trial court also framed molestation charges against former TERI chief R K Pachauri in a case of alleged sexual harassment.

The year witnessed anti-terror agencies tightening the noose against terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir with NIA filing charge sheet against separatists and naming Hafiz Saeed, the head of banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, for allegedly conspiring to wage a war against the country.

The NIA also arrested and charged Syed Shahid Yusuf, son Salahuddin, with indulging in unlawful activities and raising funds for terror operations in a separate case of 2011.&nbsp;

Cases involving political bigwigs like P Chidambaram, Lalu Prasad and Shashi Tharoor made headlines in 2018 from Delhi courts which drew global attention while dealing with the case of extradited alleged middleman Christian Michel in the VVIP chopper scam.

Cases involving political bigwigs like P Chidambaram, Lalu Prasad and Shashi Tharoor made headlines in 2018 from Delhi courts which drew global attention while dealing with the case of extradited alleged middleman Christian Michel in the VVIP chopper scam. The eventful year in courts saw British national Michel, who was brought to India on December 4 after his extradition from the UAE in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper deal, spending 14 days in CBI custody and now in jail. While Michel's case drew eyeballs, fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, who is currently in London and has been declared a proclaimed offender here for evading summons in a money laundering case related to alleged FERA violation, also faced the heat when a court ordered attachment of his properties. The #MeToo movement gathered momentum in India and forced veteran journalist and former union minister M J Akbar to approach a Delhi court with a private criminal defamation complaint against a scribe, who accused him of sexual misconduct nearly two decades ago. Akbar, who had to resign as a minister following the uproar, has denied all the allegations. Cases involving political heavyweights dominated court proceedings here and the year saw both the CBI and the ED tightening the noose around Congress leader P Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case by filing charge sheets against them. His party colleague Shashi Tharoor was also named in a charge sheet by Delhi Police for allegedly abetting the suicide of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. Police in its nearly 3,000-page charge sheet also accused the former union minister of subjecting his wife to cruelty. The Congress further suffered an embarrassment when ED filed a charge sheet against former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, accusing him of projecting around Rs 7 crore proceeds of crime as agricultural income in connivance with others and investing these in purchasing LIC policies. The trial courts also dealt with some of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases and in one case, the death sentence was awarded to a man and life imprisonment to another for killing two persons in south Delhi's Mahipalpur area. Even Sajjan Kumar, who after his conviction and a life term in one such case resigned from the Congress, was attending the trial court in connection with another anti-Sikh riots case. So was the case of another senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who is finding it hard to get discharged from his alleged involvement in the riots even after the CBI gave him a clean chit and sought closure of the case against him. The criminal case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against Congress leaders including Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case also made news from the trial court. The RJD, an ally of the Congress in Bihar, also had a bad time as its top leadership including jailed chief Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejaswi Yadav had to face legal proceedings in the IRCTC scam. Lalu's daughter Misa Bharti and her husband Shailesh Kumar were summoned as accused and granted bail in a separate money laundering case in which the ED had earlier attached their Delhi farmhouse. Aam Aadmi Party and its leadership continued to hog the limelight from trial courts which summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as accused in Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash assault case along with his deputy and others. Kejriwal had a sigh of relief when he settled various defamation cases against himself by apologising to Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and ex-Union minister Kapil Sibal's son Amit Sibal. While politicians were facing the heat in the trial courts here, bureaucrats also had a tough time, particularly in cases arising out of the alleged coal block allocation scam during Congress-led UPA regime with former coal secretary H C Gupta getting three-year imprisonment in one such case. Gupta, the coal secretary from December 31, 2005, to November 2008, has already been convicted in two other cases of coal block allocation in which he has been sentenced for two and three years respectively. He is out on bail in all the cases. Two other bureaucrats also were convicted in Coalgate cases. The CBI vs CBI case also had its imprint on the courts as the agency arrested one of its own Deputy Superintendents of Police and an alleged middleman. While DySP Devender Kumar was released after the CBI preferred not to oppose his bail, alleged Dubai-based middleman Manoj Prasad secured relief after the agency failed to file its charge sheet within the stipulated time. A trial court also framed molestation charges against former TERI chief R K Pachauri in a case of alleged sexual harassment. The year witnessed anti-terror agencies tightening the noose against terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir with NIA filing charge sheet against separatists and naming Hafiz Saeed, the head of banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, for allegedly conspiring to wage a war against the country. The NIA also arrested and charged Syed Shahid Yusuf, son Salahuddin, with indulging in unlawful activities and raising funds for terror operations in a separate case of 2011.

Cases of high and mighty, VVIP chopper scam kept trial courts busy in 2018

It took 13 rounds of diplomatic discussions between India and China to resolve the face-off between their militaries in Doklam last year, according to a report by a parliamentary panel.&nbsp;

The report by the committee on External Affairs termed the Chinese intrusion at Doklam as a “blatant but unsuccessful attempt” to unilaterally change the status quo at the India, Bhutan, China tri-junction in Doklam, seriously affecting India’s security interests.

Complimenting the government’s handling of the face-off, the committee said it remained concerned that Chinese infrastructure built “uncomfortably” close to the tri-junction has not yet been dismantled.

The committee, headed by former minister of state in External Affairs Ministry Shashi Tharoor, said Doklam was not a sovereignty issue for India as the disputed territory was Bhutanese, but nevertheless, it was a major security challenge for New Delhi.&nbsp;

“The committee would like to put on record their highest appreciation for the brave and timely action of our security forces which checked the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) troops from continuing with their road construction activity in South Doklam,” the panel said in the report tabled in Parliament on Monday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/central-asia/post-doklam-india-china-to-hold-joint-military-exercise-in-chengdu-180291">Troops of India and China </a>were locked in a 73-day face-off in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The impasse ended on August 28. The report quoted the then Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar as telling the panel on October 18 last year that 13 rounds of diplomatic discussions were held with China and they were led by the Indian envoy in Beijing.

Vijay Gokhale, who succeeded Jaishankar as Foreign Secretary in January, was India’s Ambassador to China during the Doklam crisis.

The report said <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/g20-summit-bring-a-truce-in-us-china-trade-relations-181105">diplomatic communications with China</a> began following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Hamburg on July 7 last year on the sidelines of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/india-to-host-g20-summit-in-2022-pm-modi-announces-in-argentina-180796">G20 summit.</a>&nbsp;

In the talks, India contested the Chinese claim of sovereignty in Doklam region, conveyed to Beijing that its action represented a significant change in status quo with serious security implications for India and amounted to a unilateral determination of the tri-junction point, according to the foreign secretary.

The committee complimented the government’s overall handling of the crisis as it managed to send necessary signals to China that India will not “acquiesce” in its unilateral and forceful attempts to change the status quo at any of India’s territorial boundaries.&nbsp;

It expressed concerns over multiple reports which allude to Chinese presence around Doklam plateau and the statements from Chinese authorities about chances of similar happenings in future also even after the standoff at Doklam ended.

“The government has categorically denied that there is any direct threat from Chinese troops presently. The committee, however, are of the opinion that while dealing with China, it is always better to have a sense of ‘healthy scepticism’,” it said.&nbsp;

The panel said India’s defence forces and the diplomatic corps have shown firmness in responding to the crisis without actually being drawn into any kind of political rhetoric.

The foreign secretary was quoted in the report as saying that during the entire course of the Doklam standoff, the ground situation was “very civil and that there was no body contact”.&nbsp;

To avoid border skirmishes, the panel strongly desired that a comprehensive Border Engagement Agreement is concluded between the Indian Army and the PLA, subsuming all established mechanisms for confidence building between the two sides.

The Committee also expressed unhappiness over grossly inadequate border road infrastructure along the India-China frontier. It was also of the opinion that an objective and in-depth assessment of India’s relationship with China should be carried out by the government promptly so that a broad national consensus is evolved on how to deal effectively with China.

It took 13 rounds of diplomatic discussions between India and China to resolve the face-off between their militaries in Doklam last year, according to a report by a parliamentary panel.

It took 13 rounds of diplomatic discussions between India and China to resolve the face-off between their militaries in Doklam last year, according to a report by a parliamentary panel. The report by the committee on External Affairs termed the Chinese intrusion at Doklam as a “blatant but unsuccessful attempt” to unilaterally change the status quo at the India, Bhutan, China tri-junction in Doklam, seriously affecting India’s security interests. Complimenting the government’s handling of the face-off, the committee said it remained concerned that Chinese infrastructure built “uncomfortably” close to the tri-junction has not yet been dismantled. The committee, headed by former minister of state in External Affairs Ministry Shashi Tharoor, said Doklam was not a sovereignty issue for India as the disputed territory was Bhutanese, but nevertheless, it was a major security challenge for New Delhi. “The committee would like to put on record their highest appreciation for the brave and timely action of our security forces which checked the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) troops from continuing with their road construction activity in South Doklam,” the panel said in the report tabled in Parliament on Monday. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day face-off in Doklam from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. The impasse ended on August 28. The report quoted the then Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar as telling the panel on October 18 last year that 13 rounds of diplomatic discussions were held with China and they were led by the Indian envoy in Beijing. Vijay Gokhale, who succeeded Jaishankar as Foreign Secretary in January, was India’s Ambassador to China during the Doklam crisis. The report said diplomatic communications with China began following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Hamburg on July 7 last year on the sidelines of the G20 summit. In the talks, India contested the Chinese claim of sovereignty in Doklam region, conveyed to Beijing that its action represented a significant change in status quo with serious security implications for India and amounted to a unilateral determination of the tri-junction point, according to the foreign secretary. The committee complimented the government’s overall handling of the crisis as it managed to send necessary signals to China that India will not “acquiesce” in its unilateral and forceful attempts to change the status quo at any of India’s territorial boundaries. It expressed concerns over multiple reports which allude to Chinese presence around Doklam plateau and the statements from Chinese authorities about chances of similar happenings in future also even after the standoff at Doklam ended. “The government has categorically denied that there is any direct threat from Chinese troops presently. The committee, however, are of the opinion that while dealing with China, it is always better to have a sense of ‘healthy scepticism’,” it said. The panel said India’s defence forces and the diplomatic corps have shown firmness in responding to the crisis without actually being drawn into any kind of political rhetoric. The foreign secretary was quoted in the report as saying that during the entire course of the Doklam standoff, the ground situation was “very civil and that there was no body contact”. To avoid border skirmishes, the panel strongly desired that a comprehensive Border Engagement Agreement is concluded between the Indian Army and the PLA, subsuming all established mechanisms for confidence building between the two sides. The Committee also expressed unhappiness over grossly inadequate border road infrastructure along the India-China frontier. It was also of the opinion that an objective and in-depth assessment of India’s relationship with China should be carried out by the government promptly so that a broad national consensus is evolved on how to deal effectively with China.

Parliamentary panel concerned over Chinese infrastructure close to Doklam

Realising that middle class opinion matters most in the age of social media, Congress has formed Political Action Group (PAG) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.&nbsp;

The PAG is a body which works under the parental body, the Professional Congress headed Dr Shashi Tharoor. The idea is to organise contacts across the country in middle and upper middle class who are pre-disposed towards Congress. The membership can be taken online and chapters automatically close once membership touches 100.

Every chapter of Professional Congress has a president and a vice-president and they are allowed to take up issues of their choice. They are also allowed to pick and organize there out-reach programme.&nbsp;

The PAG also remains in touch with the overseas Congress and lastly, it wants these cells to be the networking platforms across the country.&nbsp;

The idea is to curate debates and narratives which are close to Congress or independent and popular with the middle class. Congress feels that professionals can also be an independent feedback system to the party on the work which the ruling government is doing.

It is also expected to work as a platform for knowledge sharing whereby the expertise of the professionals can be shared, the party, in turn, can provide insight into the political process and functioning to the professionals.

WION spoke with Amita Singh who is part of the Political Action Group, she said that Professional Congress will be a platform for the middle class.&nbsp;

“Educated professionals should start feeling that they can also contribute to the idea of India and that their opinion matters,” said Amita Singh. The AIPC will also curate discussions both nationally and regionally and one such discussion is being organized in Delhi on November 30th which is being moderated by Shashi Tharoor. The topic is, “Is India being redefined.”

Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Shashi Tharoor and P Chidambaram will be part of the discussion.

BJP shot to power in 2014 on the shoulder of an anti-corruption campaign headed by independent actors throughout the country. With social media, middle class opinion has become loud and influential. After the economic reforms, the Indian middle class has become larger and metamorphosed into a strong political constituency.&nbsp;

Congress has a lot of catching up to do but feels that if it can organize the middle class to its advantage then it will have a fighting chance in urban areas during Lok Sabha elections. 
&nbsp;

Realising that middle class opinion matters most in the age of social media, Congress has formed Political Action Group (PAG) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

Realising that middle class opinion matters most in the age of social media, Congress has formed Political Action Group (PAG) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. The PAG is a body which works under the parental body, the Professional Congress headed Dr Shashi Tharoor. The idea is to organise contacts across the country in middle and upper middle class who are pre-disposed towards Congress. The membership can be taken online and chapters automatically close once membership touches 100. Every chapter of Professional Congress has a president and a vice-president and they are allowed to take up issues of their choice. They are also allowed to pick and organize there out-reach programme. The PAG also remains in touch with the overseas Congress and lastly, it wants these cells to be the networking platforms across the country. The idea is to curate debates and narratives which are close to Congress or independent and popular with the middle class. Congress feels that professionals can also be an independent feedback system to the party on the work which the ruling government is doing. It is also expected to work as a platform for knowledge sharing whereby the expertise of the professionals can be shared, the party, in turn, can provide insight into the political process and functioning to the professionals. WION spoke with Amita Singh who is part of the Political Action Group, she said that Professional Congress will be a platform for the middle class. “Educated professionals should start feeling that they can also contribute to the idea of India and that their opinion matters,” said Amita Singh. The AIPC will also curate discussions both nationally and regionally and one such discussion is being organized in Delhi on November 30th which is being moderated by Shashi Tharoor. The topic is, “Is India being redefined.” Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Shashi Tharoor and P Chidambaram will be part of the discussion. BJP shot to power in 2014 on the shoulder of an anti-corruption campaign headed by independent actors throughout the country. With social media, middle class opinion has become loud and influential. After the economic reforms, the Indian middle class has become larger and metamorphosed into a strong political constituency. Congress has a lot of catching up to do but feels that if it can organize the middle class to its advantage then it will have a fighting chance in urban areas during Lok Sabha elections.

Congress targets middle class for 2019 elections

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "hero on a white stallion with an upraised sword in his hand".

Tharoor had waded into a controversy at the Bangalore Literature Festival Sunday last by claiming that an unnamed RSS leader had compared Modi to "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-a-scorpion-on-shivling-cant-remove-with-hand-or-hit-with-chappal-shashi-tharoor-173998">a scorpion sitting on a Shivling</a>" and "you cannot remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a chappal either".

A criminal defamation complaint had been filed against him in a Delhi court earlier in the day for his "scorpion" remark.

Tharoor again took a swipe at the prime minister, calling him "a hero on a white stallion with an upraised sword in his hand saying I know all the answers".

"Modi is a one-man government and everybody is dancing to what he says," he said at an event organised by an industry body, adding India now has the "most centralised PMO" in history.

"Every decision is taken by the PMO (prime minister's office). Every file has to be sent to the PMO for approval," he claimed.&nbsp;

On the next parliamentary election, Tharoor said that there will be both pre-poll and post-poll alliances between the Congress and other opposition parties, but Congress president Rahul Gandhi "may not be" the prime ministerial face.

The coming Lok Sabha election is important in that it will deny the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a second term in power, the Congress MP said.

He said the decision on the prime ministerial face of the Congress alliance would be a collective one and "it may not be him (Gandhi). The Congress has a broader notion of a leader unlike the BJP. We had people like Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram and others having tremendous track record".

Gandhi is the unquestionable choice of Congress workers as their leader. "If free and fair elections are held among the Congress workers, Rahul Gandhi wins hands down," the Congress MP said.

Continuing his criticism of the Modi government, Tharoor said, "We are having a top-down, over-centralised and inefficient government running the country and there is nothing positive in the Indian economy."

"Demonetisation was a bad idea implemented badly and GST was a good idea implemented badly," Tharoor said.

He said that the Indian stock is down across the globe. "The rupee was heading towards the 'Margdarshak Mandal' (a reference to a BJP panel comprising its elderly leaders)," he quipped and later clarified that the BJP panel had leaders above the age of 75.

He said that communalism, cow vigilantism and mob lynching have been so extreme that India had never seen such "bizarre politics in the past".

"There are damning statistics to prove that," he added.

Tharoor, who was the minister of state for external affairs in the UPA government and is currently chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, said there was "total collapse of relations between India with other countries".

"Nobody knows what is the coherent foreign relations policy with Pakistan, similarly with Nepal and Sri Lanka," he said.

Tharoor regretted that Gandhi is being dubbed a 'Pappu' by some in the social media. "This is not fair and it is unjustified. Congress workers are really stitched to the Gandhi family and want their leader to be from there," he said.

Regarding the Sabarimala temple controversy, Tharoor said, "These issues are being whipped up to distract attention from the real problems like oil price rise, Rafale deal, etc."

Speaking at another programme, he alleged that the trend of erecting statues and raising the issue of Ram temple in Ayodhya were attempts to distract the masses from "failures" of the BJP government at the Centre.

He said the trend of erecting statues reminded him of the Roman empire when people where distracted from the oppression they faced through 'bread and circuses' (distribution of free food and staging of huge spectacles).

"The issues of Statue of Unity, Ram temple, Ram statue at Ayodhya are distractions. I would urge the public of India to move away from these distractions and focus on the realities and lives of the Indians," the Congress MP said.

"The reality is the Indian Aam Aadmi (common man) has been suffering for the last four and half years... This suits the agenda of the government that has failed to perform," he said.

Tharoor's comment comes in the backdrop of plans to install a statue of Lord Ram on the banks of the Sarayu river in Ayodhya.

Joining the chorus for the construction of Ram temple in the Uttar Pradesh pilgrim town of Ayodhya, Union minister Vijay Goel had Friday said it should be done at the earliest through any means -- constitutional, legislative, judicial or community dialogue.

The VHP and the RSS have demanded an ordinance to acquire land for constructing the temple in Ayodhya.&nbsp;

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "hero on a white stallion with an upraised sword in his hand". Tharoor had waded into a controversy at the Bangalore Literature Festival Sunday last by claiming that an unnamed RSS leader had compared Modi to "a scorpion sitting on a Shivling" and "you cannot remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a chappal either".

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "hero on a white stallion with an upraised sword in his hand". Tharoor had waded into a controversy at the Bangalore Literature Festival Sunday last by claiming that an unnamed RSS leader had compared Modi to "a scorpion sitting on a Shivling" and "you cannot remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a chappal either". A criminal defamation complaint had been filed against him in a Delhi court earlier in the day for his "scorpion" remark. Tharoor again took a swipe at the prime minister, calling him "a hero on a white stallion with an upraised sword in his hand saying I know all the answers". "Modi is a one-man government and everybody is dancing to what he says," he said at an event organised by an industry body, adding India now has the "most centralised PMO" in history. "Every decision is taken by the PMO (prime minister's office). Every file has to be sent to the PMO for approval," he claimed. On the next parliamentary election, Tharoor said that there will be both pre-poll and post-poll alliances between the Congress and other opposition parties, but Congress president Rahul Gandhi "may not be" the prime ministerial face. The coming Lok Sabha election is important in that it will deny the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a second term in power, the Congress MP said. He said the decision on the prime ministerial face of the Congress alliance would be a collective one and "it may not be him (Gandhi). The Congress has a broader notion of a leader unlike the BJP. We had people like Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram and others having tremendous track record". Gandhi is the unquestionable choice of Congress workers as their leader. "If free and fair elections are held among the Congress workers, Rahul Gandhi wins hands down," the Congress MP said. Continuing his criticism of the Modi government, Tharoor said, "We are having a top-down, over-centralised and inefficient government running the country and there is nothing positive in the Indian economy." "Demonetisation was a bad idea implemented badly and GST was a good idea implemented badly," Tharoor said. He said that the Indian stock is down across the globe. "The rupee was heading towards the 'Margdarshak Mandal' (a reference to a BJP panel comprising its elderly leaders)," he quipped and later clarified that the BJP panel had leaders above the age of 75. He said that communalism, cow vigilantism and mob lynching have been so extreme that India had never seen such "bizarre politics in the past". "There are damning statistics to prove that," he added. Tharoor, who was the minister of state for external affairs in the UPA government and is currently chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, said there was "total collapse of relations between India with other countries". "Nobody knows what is the coherent foreign relations policy with Pakistan, similarly with Nepal and Sri Lanka," he said. Tharoor regretted that Gandhi is being dubbed a 'Pappu' by some in the social media. "This is not fair and it is unjustified. Congress workers are really stitched to the Gandhi family and want their leader to be from there," he said. Regarding the Sabarimala temple controversy, Tharoor said, "These issues are being whipped up to distract attention from the real problems like oil price rise, Rafale deal, etc." Speaking at another programme, he alleged that the trend of erecting statues and raising the issue of Ram temple in Ayodhya were attempts to distract the masses from "failures" of the BJP government at the Centre. He said the trend of erecting statues reminded him of the Roman empire when people where distracted from the oppression they faced through 'bread and circuses' (distribution of free food and staging of huge spectacles). "The issues of Statue of Unity, Ram temple, Ram statue at Ayodhya are distractions. I would urge the public of India to move away from these distractions and focus on the realities and lives of the Indians," the Congress MP said. "The reality is the Indian Aam Aadmi (common man) has been suffering for the last four and half years... This suits the agenda of the government that has failed to perform," he said. Tharoor's comment comes in the backdrop of plans to install a statue of Lord Ram on the banks of the Sarayu river in Ayodhya. Joining the chorus for the construction of Ram temple in the Uttar Pradesh pilgrim town of Ayodhya, Union minister Vijay Goel had Friday said it should be done at the earliest through any means -- constitutional, legislative, judicial or community dialogue. The VHP and the RSS have demanded an ordinance to acquire land for constructing the temple in Ayodhya.

Modi a hero on a white stallion with upraised sword: Shashi Tharoor

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Saturday alleged the trend of erecting statues and

Raising the issue of Ram temple at Ayodhya were attempts to distract the masses from "failures" of the BJP government at the Centre.

He said the trend of erecting statues reminded him of the Roman empire when people where distracted from the oppression they faced through 'bread and circuses' (distribution of free food and staging of huge spectacles).&nbsp;

"The issues of Statue of Unity, Ram temple, Ram statue at Ayodhya are distractions. I would urge the public of India to move away from these distractions and focus on the realities and lives of the Indians," the Congress MP said.

"The reality is the Indian Aam Aadmi (common man) has been suffering for the last four and half years... This suits the agenda of the government that has failed to perform," he said.

Tharoor's comment comes in the backdrop of plans to install a statue of Lord Ram on the banks of the Sarayu river in Ayodhya.

Joining the chorus for the construction of Ram temple in the Uttar Pradesh pilgrim town of Ayodhya, Union minister Vijay Goel had Friday said it should be done at the earliest through any means -- constitutional, legislative, judicial or community dialogue.

The VHP and RSS have demanded an ordinance to acquire land for constructing the temple in Ayodhya.&nbsp;

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Saturday alleged the trend of erecting statues and Raising the issue of Ram temple at Ayodhya were attempts to distract the masses from "failures" of the BJP government at the Centre.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Saturday alleged the trend of erecting statues and Raising the issue of Ram temple at Ayodhya were attempts to distract the masses from "failures" of the BJP government at the Centre. He said the trend of erecting statues reminded him of the Roman empire when people where distracted from the oppression they faced through 'bread and circuses' (distribution of free food and staging of huge spectacles). "The issues of Statue of Unity, Ram temple, Ram statue at Ayodhya are distractions. I would urge the public of India to move away from these distractions and focus on the realities and lives of the Indians," the Congress MP said. "The reality is the Indian Aam Aadmi (common man) has been suffering for the last four and half years... This suits the agenda of the government that has failed to perform," he said. Tharoor's comment comes in the backdrop of plans to install a statue of Lord Ram on the banks of the Sarayu river in Ayodhya. Joining the chorus for the construction of Ram temple in the Uttar Pradesh pilgrim town of Ayodhya, Union minister Vijay Goel had Friday said it should be done at the earliest through any means -- constitutional, legislative, judicial or community dialogue. The VHP and RSS have demanded an ordinance to acquire land for constructing the temple in Ayodhya.

Ram statue, temple attempts to distract masses from Centre's failures: Shashi Tharoor

A criminal defamation complaint has been filed in Delhi's Patiala House Court against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for his alleged remark 'Modi is like a scorpion on Shivling'.

The court has adjourned the hearing in the matter for November 16, reported ANI.

Tharoor, who made the remark during an event in Bengaluru, attributed it to an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source.&nbsp;

"There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, that, "Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling, you can't remove him with your hand &amp; you cannot hit it with a chappal either," Tharoor reportedly said at the event.&nbsp;

Tharoor reportedly made the controversial comment while addressing the audience at the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF). He also read a few pages from his new book, The Paradoxical Prime Minister, on the occasion.&nbsp;

The book is highly critical of Modi calling him a ''paradoxical man who says one thing and does another''. &nbsp;

A criminal defamation complaint has been filed in Delhi's Patiala House Court against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for his alleged remark 'Modi is like a scorpion on Shivling'.

A criminal defamation complaint has been filed in Delhi's Patiala House Court against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for his alleged remark 'Modi is like a scorpion on Shivling'. The court has adjourned the hearing in the matter for November 16, reported ANI. Tharoor, who made the remark during an event in Bengaluru, attributed it to an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source. "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, that, "Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling, you can't remove him with your hand & you cannot hit it with a chappal either," Tharoor reportedly said at the event. Tharoor reportedly made the controversial comment while addressing the audience at the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF). He also read a few pages from his new book, The Paradoxical Prime Minister, on the occasion. The book is highly critical of Modi calling him a ''paradoxical man who says one thing and does another''.

Criminal defamation complaint filed against Tharoor for 'Modi is like a scorpion' taunt

Condemning the remark made by Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh on Sunday said Tharoor would have been silenced if he had made the remark in Pakistan.

"Had Tharoor been in Pakistan, he would have been made to shut his mouth. He has not only insulted the Prime Minister but crores of Hindus and followers of Lord Shiva in this country. How can Rahul Gandhi claim to be a follower of Lord Shiva when his party man can say such a thing? He should come out and apologise on behalf of Tharoor. The Congress has crossed all limits now," Singh told ANI.

Accusing the Congress of practising politics of "division and hatred," senior BJP leader Anil Vij added, "It (Tharoor's remark) is extremely condemnable. The Congress party is strategically imparting a politics of division and hatred. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi claims to be a devout follower of Lord Shiva, on the other hand, the Congress leaders, in some way or the other, are humiliating the Hindus of this country. It's time we reject this."

Earlier in the day, Tharoor, while speaking at an event in Bengaluru, had said Prime Minister Modi was, in a way, like a "scorpion sitting on a Shivling."

However, the Congress leader later clarified that the comment was made by an unnamed member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) six years ago, and not by him.&nbsp;

Condemning the remark made by Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh on Sunday said Tharoor would have been silenced if he had made the remark in Pakistan.

Condemning the remark made by Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh on Sunday said Tharoor would have been silenced if he had made the remark in Pakistan. "Had Tharoor been in Pakistan, he would have been made to shut his mouth. He has not only insulted the Prime Minister but crores of Hindus and followers of Lord Shiva in this country. How can Rahul Gandhi claim to be a follower of Lord Shiva when his party man can say such a thing? He should come out and apologise on behalf of Tharoor. The Congress has crossed all limits now," Singh told ANI. Accusing the Congress of practising politics of "division and hatred," senior BJP leader Anil Vij added, "It (Tharoor's remark) is extremely condemnable. The Congress party is strategically imparting a politics of division and hatred. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi claims to be a devout follower of Lord Shiva, on the other hand, the Congress leaders, in some way or the other, are humiliating the Hindus of this country. It's time we reject this." Earlier in the day, Tharoor, while speaking at an event in Bengaluru, had said Prime Minister Modi was, in a way, like a "scorpion sitting on a Shivling." However, the Congress leader later clarified that the comment was made by an unnamed member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) six years ago, and not by him.

Had this been Pakistan, Tharoor would've been silenced: Giriraj Singh

Union minister Prakash Javadekar Sunday said Congress leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ravi-shankar-prasad-hits-out-at-shashi-tharoor-over-shiv-linga-remarks-174058">Shashi Tharoor's remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> and Shiv Linga reflected the party's mentality which had become evident when former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi dubbed the opposition a "scorpion" in 1984 polls.

He also accused the Congress of "indirectly supporting" Maoists and said the BJP governments at the Centre and in Chhattisgarh, where elections would be held next month, were determined to finish the Naxal menace in the coming years.

No Congress leader was available for comments.

"When Chhattisgarh was formed and the Congress was in power in the state, Naxalism was at its peak. Now it has come down to one-third of the total area which was in control of Naxalites earlier," the human resource development minister said in a press conference in Raipur.

Javadekar criticised Tharoor for his reported remark Saturday in which he claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that "Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper)".

When asked about the remark, Javadekar said, "The Congress is wondering on how to take on Modi at the political level and therefore it has resorted to abusing. Rahul baba keeps on abusing daily. People will do only those things which they know. Shashi Tharoor is a bit sophisticated but he has also come down to the 'bichhu' remark."

"This was the Congress' advertisement in 1984. Rajiv Gandhi had brought this advertisement of calling the opposition a scorpion in the 1984 elections. It reflects the mentality of Congress," the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader claimed.

On Naxalism, he said 350 ultras were gunned down in the last five years in Chhattisgarh.

"Not only that, around 5,000 misguided tribals have surrendered while thousands of Naxals have been arrested," he said.

Hitting back at Congress leader Abhishek Manu Sanghvi who Sunday accused the Chhattisgarh government of being weak in tackling Naxalism, Javadekar said on the contrary the menace was at its peak during the Congress' rule in Chhattisgarh between 2000 and 2003.

"The Congress gave birth to Naxalism and it is the party which has encouraged it. The senior Congress leader indirectly supports Maoists. The party had appointed overground supporters of Maoist to the planning commission. It is the record of the Congress," he alleged.

Accusing the Congress of adopting "double standards", Javadekar alleged the party had backed overground supporters of Maoists.

"Their sympathy towards Maoist is not hidden. No decisive action was taken by the previous UPA government against Naxals. However, the action has been taken against Maoists since the last four years under Modi government and very soon the menace will be neutralised," he claimed.

"Chhattisgarh will be free from Maoist activities in the next three years. We are determined to finish the Maoist challenge in the next couple of years which is totally violent and undemocratic. Our policy is clear," the minister said.

Slamming Tharoor, Javadekar said the Congress leader had recently said Ram Mandir should not be built in Ramjanmabhoomi in Ayodhya because a mosque existed at that place.

"Tharoor has forgotten that Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya and his temple existed at the spot. A mosque was built after demolishing the temple.

"A public protest for Ram temple has been on from last 500 years. No BJP or Congress were there in the movement. It was a public protest. Now, the Supreme Court has fixed the dates of hearing (the Ayodhya title suit). We are hopeful that soon justice will be done and Ram Mandir will be built in Ramjanmabhoomi," he said.

When asked if Ram Mandir will be the BJP's agenda for Lok Sabha elections in 2019, Javdekar said, "Ram Mandir had never been an agenda of our politics or election but the temple should be built in Ramjanmabhoomi because people of the country want it. This is a national demand and sentiments of people are attached with it. This is a matter of faith of people and we never do politics over it."

Responding to a query on a row over a Supreme Court judgment allowing women of all age to visit Sabarimala shrine in Kerala, Javadekar said people reacted because orders were passed against public sentiments.

"Despite peaceful opposition by the devotees, the brutal treatment meted against them by the incumbent Communist government is severely criticised by the Bharatiya Janata Party," he added.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar Sunday said Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shiv Linga reflected the party's mentality which had become evident when former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi dubbed the opposition a "scorpion" in 1984 polls.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar Sunday said Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shiv Linga reflected the party's mentality which had become evident when former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi dubbed the opposition a "scorpion" in 1984 polls. He also accused the Congress of "indirectly supporting" Maoists and said the BJP governments at the Centre and in Chhattisgarh, where elections would be held next month, were determined to finish the Naxal menace in the coming years. No Congress leader was available for comments. "When Chhattisgarh was formed and the Congress was in power in the state, Naxalism was at its peak. Now it has come down to one-third of the total area which was in control of Naxalites earlier," the human resource development minister said in a press conference in Raipur. Javadekar criticised Tharoor for his reported remark Saturday in which he claimed that an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that "Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper)". When asked about the remark, Javadekar said, "The Congress is wondering on how to take on Modi at the political level and therefore it has resorted to abusing. Rahul baba keeps on abusing daily. People will do only those things which they know. Shashi Tharoor is a bit sophisticated but he has also come down to the 'bichhu' remark." "This was the Congress' advertisement in 1984. Rajiv Gandhi had brought this advertisement of calling the opposition a scorpion in the 1984 elections. It reflects the mentality of Congress," the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader claimed. On Naxalism, he said 350 ultras were gunned down in the last five years in Chhattisgarh. "Not only that, around 5,000 misguided tribals have surrendered while thousands of Naxals have been arrested," he said. Hitting back at Congress leader Abhishek Manu Sanghvi who Sunday accused the Chhattisgarh government of being weak in tackling Naxalism, Javadekar said on the contrary the menace was at its peak during the Congress' rule in Chhattisgarh between 2000 and 2003. "The Congress gave birth to Naxalism and it is the party which has encouraged it. The senior Congress leader indirectly supports Maoists. The party had appointed overground supporters of Maoist to the planning commission. It is the record of the Congress," he alleged. Accusing the Congress of adopting "double standards", Javadekar alleged the party had backed overground supporters of Maoists. "Their sympathy towards Maoist is not hidden. No decisive action was taken by the previous UPA government against Naxals. However, the action has been taken against Maoists since the last four years under Modi government and very soon the menace will be neutralised," he claimed. "Chhattisgarh will be free from Maoist activities in the next three years. We are determined to finish the Maoist challenge in the next couple of years which is totally violent and undemocratic. Our policy is clear," the minister said. Slamming Tharoor, Javadekar said the Congress leader had recently said Ram Mandir should not be built in Ramjanmabhoomi in Ayodhya because a mosque existed at that place. "Tharoor has forgotten that Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya and his temple existed at the spot. A mosque was built after demolishing the temple. "A public protest for Ram temple has been on from last 500 years. No BJP or Congress were there in the movement. It was a public protest. Now, the Supreme Court has fixed the dates of hearing (the Ayodhya title suit). We are hopeful that soon justice will be done and Ram Mandir will be built in Ramjanmabhoomi," he said. When asked if Ram Mandir will be the BJP's agenda for Lok Sabha elections in 2019, Javdekar said, "Ram Mandir had never been an agenda of our politics or election but the temple should be built in Ramjanmabhoomi because people of the country want it. This is a national demand and sentiments of people are attached with it. This is a matter of faith of people and we never do politics over it." Responding to a query on a row over a Supreme Court judgment allowing women of all age to visit Sabarimala shrine in Kerala, Javadekar said people reacted because orders were passed against public sentiments. "Despite peaceful opposition by the devotees, the brutal treatment meted against them by the incumbent Communist government is severely criticised by the Bharatiya Janata Party," he added.

Rajiv Gandhi had dubbed opposition scorpion in 1984: Prakash Javadekar

The BJP&nbsp;on October 28 hit out at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor over his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shiv Linga, asking Congress chief Rahul Gandhi whether he supports his party leader's comments. The party, seeking a response from Gandhi, said he should apologise to Hindus, if he does not support the statements made by his party MP Tharoor.

The BJP's reaction came a day after Tharoor reportedly claimed an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper).

"The Congress claims to represent the heritage of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Today, under the presidentship of Rahul Gandhi it has been reduced to hurling abuses and the worst form of civil discourse," BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here.

He said while he would not like to comment on Tharoor's remarks "against whom a charge sheet has been filed in a murder case", but he would like to know where Rahul Gandhi, who claims to be a Shiv Bhakt, stands on the issue.

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Shashi Tharoor who is accused in a murder case has attempted to disrespect Lord Shiva. 
 
I seek a reply from Rahul Gandhi who claims himself to be a Bhakt of Lord Shiva on this horrific denunciation of Hindu gods by a Congress MP. 
 
Rahul Gandhi must apologize to all Hindus. <a href="https://t.co/QeShJoCHDZ">pic.twitter.com/QeShJoCHDZ</a>
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) <a href="https://twitter.com/rsprasad/status/1056525661379198977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Gandhi claims to be a Shiv Bhakt now he should make it clear whether he supports Tharoor's remarks which are an insult to Lord Shiva. If he does not support the remarks he should apologise to Hindus," Prasad said.

"The whole nation is watching ... while Rahul Gandhi who claims himself to be a Shiv Bhakt, one of his small leader has almost abused the sanctity of Shiv Linga and Lord Mahadev by referring to chappal attack through named sources. Please reply to this very horrific denunciation of Lord Mahadev," he told reporters.

Tharoor had made these remarks&nbsp;on October 27 while speaking at the Bengaluru Literature Festival on his recently launched book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi And His India".

The BJP on October 28 hit out at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor over his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shiv Linga, asking Congress chief Rahul Gandhi whether he supports his party leader's comments.

The BJP on October 28 hit out at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor over his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shiv Linga, asking Congress chief Rahul Gandhi whether he supports his party leader's comments. The party, seeking a response from Gandhi, said he should apologise to Hindus, if he does not support the statements made by his party MP Tharoor. The BJP's reaction came a day after Tharoor reportedly claimed an unnamed RSS source had told a journalist that Prime Minister Modi was like a scorpion sitting on a Shiv Linga who cannot be removed by hand or hit with a chappal (slipper). "The Congress claims to represent the heritage of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Today, under the presidentship of Rahul Gandhi it has been reduced to hurling abuses and the worst form of civil discourse," BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said here. He said while he would not like to comment on Tharoor's remarks "against whom a charge sheet has been filed in a murder case", but he would like to know where Rahul Gandhi, who claims to be a Shiv Bhakt, stands on the issue. Shashi Tharoor who is accused in a murder case has attempted to disrespect Lord Shiva. I seek a reply from Rahul Gandhi who claims himself to be a Bhakt of Lord Shiva on this horrific denunciation of Hindu gods by a Congress MP. Rahul Gandhi must apologize to all Hindus. pic.twitter.com/QeShJoCHDZ — Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) October 28, 2018 × "Gandhi claims to be a Shiv Bhakt now he should make it clear whether he supports Tharoor's remarks which are an insult to Lord Shiva. If he does not support the remarks he should apologise to Hindus," Prasad said. "The whole nation is watching ... while Rahul Gandhi who claims himself to be a Shiv Bhakt, one of his small leader has almost abused the sanctity of Shiv Linga and Lord Mahadev by referring to chappal attack through named sources. Please reply to this very horrific denunciation of Lord Mahadev," he told reporters. Tharoor had made these remarks on October 27 while speaking at the Bengaluru Literature Festival on his recently launched book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi And His India".

Ravi Shankar Prasad hits out at Shashi Tharoor over Shiv Linga remarks

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor courted a fresh controversy on Sunday when he quoted an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source to compare Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a “scorpion sitting on a Shivling”.

AN ANI video quoted Tharoor as saying in Bengaluru, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, that, "Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling, you can't remove him with your hand &amp; you cannot hit it with a chappal either."

Tharoor reportedly made the controversial comment while addressing the audience at the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF). Tharoor also read a few pages from his new book, The Paradoxical Prime Minister, on the occasion.&nbsp;

The Congress leader heavily criticised the prime minister in the book and called him a ''paradoxical man who says one thing and does another''.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Shashi Tharoor in Bengaluru, says, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, that, "Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling, you can't remove him with your hand &amp; you cannot hit it with a chappal either."(27.10) <a href="https://t.co/E6At7WrCG5">pic.twitter.com/E6At7WrCG5</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1056454318272995328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor courted a fresh controversy on Sunday when he quoted an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source to compare Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a “scorpion sitting on a Shivling”.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor courted a fresh controversy on Sunday when he quoted an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source to compare Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a “scorpion sitting on a Shivling”. AN ANI video quoted Tharoor as saying in Bengaluru, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, that, "Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling, you can't remove him with your hand & you cannot hit it with a chappal either." Tharoor reportedly made the controversial comment while addressing the audience at the Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF). Tharoor also read a few pages from his new book, The Paradoxical Prime Minister, on the occasion. The Congress leader heavily criticised the prime minister in the book and called him a ''paradoxical man who says one thing and does another''. #WATCH Shashi Tharoor in Bengaluru, says, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, that, "Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling, you can't remove him with your hand & you cannot hit it with a chappal either."(27.10) pic.twitter.com/E6At7WrCG5 — ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 ×

Modi a 'scorpion on Shivling', can’t remove with hand: Tharoor quotes RSS source

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh&nbsp;on Friday said Narendra Modi has failed to fulfill public faith in last four years and that he is a ''paradoxical prime minister''.

Singh was speaking at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's new book&nbsp; __ The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi and His India __ launch.

Modi was elected as India's 14th prime minister on the back of many lofty promises but he failed to fulfill those promises, he said and added that Tharoor has demonstrated this through his "superbly written and devastatingly accurate book".

He said that the prime minister is silent on the current crisis in which CBI's top two bosses were divested of their powers and sent on leave by the government.

"He (Modi) has spoken of being a prime minister for all Indians but the government he presides over has been mostly silent in the face of widespread communal violence, mob lynching and cow vigilantism,'' Singh said.

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He(Modi) has spoken of being a prime minister for all Indians but the govt he presides over has mostly been silent in face of widespread communal violence,mob lynching,cow vigilantism.Environment of our universities&amp; national institutions like CBI has been vitiated:Manmohan Singh <a href="https://t.co/IImHpRtSsf">pic.twitter.com/IImHpRtSsf</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1055863153534402561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"At the same time, academic freedoms are being sought to be curbed. The environment in our universities and national institutions like the CBI is being vitiated and dissent stifled," Singh continued.

Talking about recent price hike in petrol Manmohan Singh said, ''Petrol &amp; diesel prices are at historic high despite fall in international crude oil prices because Modi govt chose to levying excessive excise duties instead of passing on benefit of low prices to Indians.''

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Petrol&amp;diesel prices are at historic high despite fall in international crude oil prices because Modi govt chose to levying excessive excise duties instead of passing on benefit of low prices to Indians:Manmohan Singh at release of Shashi Tharoor's"The Paradoxical Prime Minister" <a href="https://t.co/MXmwl6jsvj">pic.twitter.com/MXmwl6jsvj</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1055863913743609857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Concluding his speech at the book launch he said, ''Modi's rule has not been good for India and it all arises from the Modi paradox that Tharoor has shown in his book.''

"Much of what the Modi government is all about has turned out to be little more than a series of empty gestures...With very little substance having been achieved on the ground," he concluded.&nbsp;

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said Narendra Modi has failed to fulfill public faith in last four years and that he is a ''paradoxical prime minister''.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said Narendra Modi has failed to fulfill public faith in last four years and that he is a ''paradoxical prime minister''. Singh was speaking at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's new book __ The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi and His India __ launch. Modi was elected as India's 14th prime minister on the back of many lofty promises but he failed to fulfill those promises, he said and added that Tharoor has demonstrated this through his "superbly written and devastatingly accurate book". He said that the prime minister is silent on the current crisis in which CBI's top two bosses were divested of their powers and sent on leave by the government. "He (Modi) has spoken of being a prime minister for all Indians but the government he presides over has been mostly silent in the face of widespread communal violence, mob lynching and cow vigilantism,'' Singh said. He(Modi) has spoken of being a prime minister for all Indians but the govt he presides over has mostly been silent in face of widespread communal violence,mob lynching,cow vigilantism.Environment of our universities& national institutions like CBI has been vitiated:Manmohan Singh pic.twitter.com/IImHpRtSsf — ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2018 × "At the same time, academic freedoms are being sought to be curbed. The environment in our universities and national institutions like the CBI is being vitiated and dissent stifled," Singh continued. Talking about recent price hike in petrol Manmohan Singh said, ''Petrol & diesel prices are at historic high despite fall in international crude oil prices because Modi govt chose to levying excessive excise duties instead of passing on benefit of low prices to Indians.'' Petrol&diesel prices are at historic high despite fall in international crude oil prices because Modi govt chose to levying excessive excise duties instead of passing on benefit of low prices to Indians:Manmohan Singh at release of Shashi Tharoor's"The Paradoxical Prime Minister" pic.twitter.com/MXmwl6jsvj — ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2018 × Concluding his speech at the book launch he said, ''Modi's rule has not been good for India and it all arises from the Modi paradox that Tharoor has shown in his book.'' "Much of what the Modi government is all about has turned out to be little more than a series of empty gestures...With very little substance having been achieved on the ground," he concluded.

Modi's rule has not been good for India: Manmohan Singh

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has kicked up a row with remarks that no "good" Hindu would favour a Ram temple in Ayodhya by demolishing somebody else's place of worship, drawing stinging criticism from the BJP which dubbed his party and its chief Rahul Gandhi "anti- Hindu".

Tharoor, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, made the comments at an event in Chennai on Sunday.

"As a Hindu, obviously, I am conscious that a vast majority of my fellow Hindus believe that that was the specific birthplace of Ram.

"For this reason, most good Hindus would want to see a Ram temple at the site where Ram was supposed to be born. But I also believe that no good Hindu would have wanted that a temple be built by demolishing somebody else's place of worship," he said.

The BJP hit back at Tharoor over his remarks, with the party's national spokesman Sambit Patra saying they "exposed" the real face of Rahul Gandhi.

"Rahul Gandhi's real face stands exposed," Patra told a tv news channel, criticising Tharoor's comments. He made a reference to the Congress president's frequent visits to temples in election-bound states.

He said while Gandhi "does fancy dress shows" by visiting Hindu temples, a leader of his party makes such comments.

"These remarks completely expose the Congress....Rahul Gandhi. They are anti-Hindu," he said.

Tharoor insisted his comments were personal and not those of his party. His remarks, Tharoor insisted, were distorted out of malice.

"I was asked for my personal opinion at a literary festival &amp; gave it as such. I am not a Spokesperson for my party &amp; did not claim to be speaking for @incindia," he tweeted.

"I condemn the malicious distortion of my words by some media in the service of political masters. I said: most Hindus would want a temple at what they believe to be Rams birthplace. But no good Hindu would want it to be built by destroying anothers place of worship."

Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said Tharoor was trying to "arrogate" to himself spiritual powers and that he has his "lost balance".

"He is no authority on Hindu. He has led a life which has nothing to do with Hinduism. He is arrogating to himself spiritual powers or powers of religious authority. He has lost his balance," Swamy said.

Tharoor had sparked off a controversy in July with comments that if the BJP was voted to power again, it will rewrite the Constitution that will eventually create a "Hindu Pakistan".

At an event in Thiruvanthapuram, Tharoor said, "If they are able to win a repeat of their current strength in the Lok Sabha then, frankly, our own democratic Constitution, as we understand [it], will not survive... Because then they will have all the three elements they need to tear up the Constitution of India and write a new one."

"And that will enshrine the principle of Hindu Rashtra, that will remove equality for the minorities, and that will create a Hindu Pakistan...And that is not what Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad and great heroes of freedom struggle fought for," he noted.

The Congress had distanced itself from Tharoor's comments.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has kicked up a row with remarks that no "good" Hindu would favour a Ram temple in Ayodhya by demolishing somebody else's place of worship, drawing stinging criticism from the BJP which dubbed his party and its chief Rahul Gandhi "anti- Hindu".

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has kicked up a row with remarks that no "good" Hindu would favour a Ram temple in Ayodhya by demolishing somebody else's place of worship, drawing stinging criticism from the BJP which dubbed his party and its chief Rahul Gandhi "anti- Hindu". Tharoor, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, made the comments at an event in Chennai on Sunday. "As a Hindu, obviously, I am conscious that a vast majority of my fellow Hindus believe that that was the specific birthplace of Ram. "For this reason, most good Hindus would want to see a Ram temple at the site where Ram was supposed to be born. But I also believe that no good Hindu would have wanted that a temple be built by demolishing somebody else's place of worship," he said. The BJP hit back at Tharoor over his remarks, with the party's national spokesman Sambit Patra saying they "exposed" the real face of Rahul Gandhi. "Rahul Gandhi's real face stands exposed," Patra told a tv news channel, criticising Tharoor's comments. He made a reference to the Congress president's frequent visits to temples in election-bound states. He said while Gandhi "does fancy dress shows" by visiting Hindu temples, a leader of his party makes such comments. "These remarks completely expose the Congress....Rahul Gandhi. They are anti-Hindu," he said. Tharoor insisted his comments were personal and not those of his party. His remarks, Tharoor insisted, were distorted out of malice. "I was asked for my personal opinion at a literary festival & gave it as such. I am not a Spokesperson for my party & did not claim to be speaking for @incindia," he tweeted. "I condemn the malicious distortion of my words by some media in the service of political masters. I said: most Hindus would want a temple at what they believe to be Rams birthplace. But no good Hindu would want it to be built by destroying anothers place of worship." Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said Tharoor was trying to "arrogate" to himself spiritual powers and that he has his "lost balance". "He is no authority on Hindu. He has led a life which has nothing to do with Hinduism. He is arrogating to himself spiritual powers or powers of religious authority. He has lost his balance," Swamy said. Tharoor had sparked off a controversy in July with comments that if the BJP was voted to power again, it will rewrite the Constitution that will eventually create a "Hindu Pakistan". At an event in Thiruvanthapuram, Tharoor said, "If they are able to win a repeat of their current strength in the Lok Sabha then, frankly, our own democratic Constitution, as we understand [it], will not survive... Because then they will have all the three elements they need to tear up the Constitution of India and write a new one." "And that will enshrine the principle of Hindu Rashtra, that will remove equality for the minorities, and that will create a Hindu Pakistan...And that is not what Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad and great heroes of freedom struggle fought for," he noted. The Congress had distanced itself from Tharoor's comments.

Good Hindus won't want temple by demolishing someone else's place of worship: Tharoor

The Delhi High Court Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking cancellation of Shashi Tharoor's anticipatory bail granted by a trial court in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

A bench of Justice R K Gauba dismissed the plea filed by lawyer Deepak Anand challenging the Congress MP's move to bypass a magisterial court and directly approach a sessions court for anticipatory bail in the death case of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

On September 25, the Delhi Police had partly supported the plea where the Delhi Police Standing Counsel (Criminal) Rahul Mehra informed the high court that Tharoor ought to have first gone to the magisterial court that had summoned him as an accused, to seek bail.

Delhi Police had also filed a status report in the matter.

Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in the city on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel, as the official bungalow of Shashi Tharoor was being renovated at that time.&nbsp;

The Delhi High Court Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking cancellation of Shashi Tharoor's anticipatory bail granted by a trial court in the Sunanda Pushkar death case.

The Delhi High Court Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking cancellation of Shashi Tharoor's anticipatory bail granted by a trial court in the Sunanda Pushkar death case. A bench of Justice R K Gauba dismissed the plea filed by lawyer Deepak Anand challenging the Congress MP's move to bypass a magisterial court and directly approach a sessions court for anticipatory bail in the death case of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. On September 25, the Delhi Police had partly supported the plea where the Delhi Police Standing Counsel (Criminal) Rahul Mehra informed the high court that Tharoor ought to have first gone to the magisterial court that had summoned him as an accused, to seek bail. Delhi Police had also filed a status report in the matter. Pushkar was found dead in a suite of a luxury hotel in the city on the night of January 17, 2014. The couple was staying in the hotel, as the official bungalow of Shashi Tharoor was being renovated at that time.

HC dismisses plea challenging cancellation of Shashi Tharoor's bail plea in Pushkar death case

The Delhi Police has handed over the copies of documents, including electronic evidence, to the counsel of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in connection with the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

Tharoor had earlier requested for the documents. The case will next be heard on October 12 in Delhi's Patiala House Court.

Earlier on May 14, the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the court naming Tharoor as an accused under Sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Tharoor, however, had dismissed the charge sheet as "preposterous".Sunanda was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014.

The Delhi Police has handed over the copies of documents, including electronic evidence, to the counsel of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in connection with the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

The Delhi Police has handed over the copies of documents, including electronic evidence, to the counsel of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in connection with the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar. Tharoor had earlier requested for the documents. The case will next be heard on October 12 in Delhi's Patiala House Court. Earlier on May 14, the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet in the court naming Tharoor as an accused under Sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Tharoor, however, had dismissed the charge sheet as "preposterous".Sunanda was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a suite of a five-star hotel in Delhi on the night of January 17, 2014.

Sunanda Pushkar death: Police hands over copies of docs to Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Wednesday said the country should make efforts to continue oil supplies from Iran against the backdrop of US sanctions as Iranian oil is the cheapest it could get.

As per the sanctions, any country or company that violates the sanctions can itself come under it, he said.

The European Union (EU) has come up with a collective position saying they will work out their own arrangements to trade with Iran despite the sanctions and in Euros rather than in dollars, he said.

It will be interesting to see how that works and whether there is some way for a country like India, he said.

"Because, for us, Iranian oil is the cheapest and easiest oil to get," Tharoor, Chairman of Standing Committee on External Affairs, said.

It would be expensive for the country if it ends up buying American oil (stopping supplies from Iran), he said.

"I don't want to give you a definitive answer because I am not in the government. I don't know what the government is thinking," the Congress leader said.

Tharoor, however, said the country should resist for as long as possible having to stop supplies from Iran.

"Keep it going for as long as possible. But, in the end, explore and we can find another way of sustaining those supplies rather than giving in to the US and ending up having to pay much more for our oil," he said.

Tharoor, who was speaking at an interactive session at the Indian School of Business (ISB) here, was replying to a question on India vis-a-vis US sanctions.

About the recent Supreme Court verdict permitting women of all ages to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala, he said an issue that confronted the court in deciding the case was, "does the yardstick of rational legislation and constitutional reasoning apply to matters of faith."

A woman judge dissented in the matter saying Constitutional reasoning cannot be applied to issues of faith, he said.

Every time any historic change came, there were a lot of traditionalists who resisted, Tharoor&nbsp;said.

"...Those women who do feel very strongly that this is wrong, need not go. The court's judgement does not require anyone to go to Sabarimala. It just says if you want to go, you can no longer be prevented on the grounds of...I think that's the judgment that we all have to follow," he said.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Wednesday said the country should make efforts to continue oil supplies from Iran against the backdrop of US sanctions as Iranian oil is the cheapest it could get.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Wednesday said the country should make efforts to continue oil supplies from Iran against the backdrop of US sanctions as Iranian oil is the cheapest it could get. As per the sanctions, any country or company that violates the sanctions can itself come under it, he said. The European Union (EU) has come up with a collective position saying they will work out their own arrangements to trade with Iran despite the sanctions and in Euros rather than in dollars, he said. It will be interesting to see how that works and whether there is some way for a country like India, he said. "Because, for us, Iranian oil is the cheapest and easiest oil to get," Tharoor, Chairman of Standing Committee on External Affairs, said. It would be expensive for the country if it ends up buying American oil (stopping supplies from Iran), he said. "I don't want to give you a definitive answer because I am not in the government. I don't know what the government is thinking," the Congress leader said. Tharoor, however, said the country should resist for as long as possible having to stop supplies from Iran. "Keep it going for as long as possible. But, in the end, explore and we can find another way of sustaining those supplies rather than giving in to the US and ending up having to pay much more for our oil," he said. Tharoor, who was speaking at an interactive session at the Indian School of Business (ISB) here, was replying to a question on India vis-a-vis US sanctions. About the recent Supreme Court verdict permitting women of all ages to enter the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala, he said an issue that confronted the court in deciding the case was, "does the yardstick of rational legislation and constitutional reasoning apply to matters of faith." A woman judge dissented in the matter saying Constitutional reasoning cannot be applied to issues of faith, he said. Every time any historic change came, there were a lot of traditionalists who resisted, Tharoor said. "...Those women who do feel very strongly that this is wrong, need not go. The court's judgement does not require anyone to go to Sabarimala. It just says if you want to go, you can no longer be prevented on the grounds of...I think that's the judgment that we all have to follow," he said.

India should continue buying oil from Iran: Shashi Tharoor

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