Indira Gandhi remembered on her 94th birth anniversary

The nation remembered former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 94th birth anniversary on Saturday. President Pratibha Patil and Vice President Hamid Ansari, Congress President UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi paid rich tributes to the leader at her memorial Shakti Sthal in New Delhi on the banks of Yamuna.
Indira Gandhi, born on November 19, 1917 was the first woman Prime Minister of India. Her father Jawaharlal Nehru was a pivotal figure in the Indian independence movement and the first Prime Minister of independent India. After Nehru's death in 1964, she became a Rajya Sabha member and was inducted in Lal Bahadur Shastri's cabinet as Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
She held three consecutive terms as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984.

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Big infrastructure development focus in Rahul Gandhi’s Kashmir reach-out plan

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is taking note of every national and socio-political concern in the country. Now, he is learnt to have made a strong pitch to the government for two specific infrastructure projects in Jammu & Kashmir — a state of the art all-weather tunnel across the Zoji La pass on National Highway 1, and an extension of the runway in Kargil to enable commercial operations.

Rahul, who visited the state recently, believes that the central and state governments can do a lot more to integrate the local population by delivering on specific projects than just debating contentious issues such as removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that is currently splitting political opinion, sources said. Though he has recognized the need to constantly discuss such issues to carve out possible solutions, he emphasizes on the need to work at the ground level.

Sources say, the Gandhi scion has spoken with Road Transport and Highways Minister C P Joshi and Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi to have the two projects looked into urgently. He is believed to have expressed concern that these “basic issues” of connectivity were not addressed in so many years. If the projects are started and implemented well, then definitely they will benefit the people of the troubled state.

The Zoji La pass is snowed out for much of the year. Feasibility studies carried out in the past have not yielded results on the ground. Rahul has pushed for the best modern technology for the project, and Joshi is said to be planning a visit to the state. Once, the plans are realized, it would be convincing for the socio-economic framework in the far north state. Hope, Rahul Gandhi’s efforts do not go in vain.

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Rahul Gandhi: Mayawati running whimsical, not systemic govt.

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi recently while speaking in his constituency in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh said that in Delhi or Maharashtra there is a system of everything. “We need a proper system in UP. An adequate environment for providing security, health, education, employment and many other things, should be created for the people of Amethi,” he stressed. He said the Mayawati’s BSP government was not responding to the demands of the people. Mayawati was acting in a whimsical manner rather in a systemic manner. He emphatically said only Congress could ensure development after coming into power in the state. "Programmes are being chalked out in Delhi, but here problems are being created in their implementation. Frankly, without having a government in UP, it is not easy to carry out development works," said Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi. "We will make an effort to form a government in Uttar Pradesh, and then both the governments will work in tandem," he said.

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Congress has brought economic growth with social justice

The Congress Party does not believe in personal politics. From the very beginning it has worked for institution building. The same has been true in the field of national economy. The objectives of economic reforms were clearly identified from the beginning as economic growth with social justice. For the Congress party economic growth was always taken as instrument of social transformation, the removal of the poverty (garibi hatao), the upliftment of the vulnerable and the backward classes, the spread of education, health and shelter, especially to those who did not have market access to them, the empowerment of the women and for the protection of dalits and minorities, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes through affirmative action and special programmes. The success of the reform package resulted in accelerating the growth of the economy and in reducing the proportion of people living below the poverty line. But unfortunately the emphasis on proper mix and sequencing of reforms was lost sight of by BJP-led NDA government from 1998 to 2004 which retarded the economic development of our country.

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Rahul Gandhi intervenes for more transparency in public life

In the era of leaders who have been indulging in blame game on their political opponents, here is a different young leader Rahul Gandhi who silently intervenes in the matters related to the interest of the country as well as its people. The recent letters he sent to the Prime Minister reveal that the young Congress General Secretary, without making noise, had tried to highlight many issues and sought the intervention of the Union Government. In a total of seventeen letters he sent to the Prime Minister, he addressed several issues including the relief and reconstruction efforts undertaken by the Government in flood-ravaged Leh, the plight of weavers, the problems of Sri Lankan Tamils and Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu, safety of Indian fishermen who face attacks from Sri Lankan Navy and the issues related to the UP village, Bhatta-Parsaul.

Further, most importantly, in one of his letters Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi also stressed for the need to ensure more transparency in public life. Rahul Gandhi had requested the Union Government to make policies so as disclose the assets of not only the Ministers but also their spouses and children. His idea is that Ministers' kin should also come clean on their wealth and properties. Accordingly, in September this year, the Union Government had promptly acted by publishing the assets of its Ministers and their close relatives.

"I have read reports in certain sections of our media that on your request the Cabinet Secretary is writing to all the members of the Union Council of Ministers seeking details of the assets and liabilities of your ministerial colleagues. I feel this is a very welcome step towards transparency and probity in public life. I would like to suggest that, for the purpose of completeness and in order to clearly demonstrate the transparency which you are seeking to bring into public life, the Government may seek financial disclosure not merely from the members of the Union Council but also from their spouses, progeny, siblings and parents. I feel bringing immediate family members into the fold will strengthen the endeavour," Rahul Gandhi had written to the PM on November 23, 2010.

The Prime Minister had acknowledged Rahul's letter on December 1, 2010. On December 9, the PMO sent a confidential note to the cabinet secretary's office with a note that Rahul Gandhi's suggestion "be kindly examined".

Congress General Secretary has been trying to air his views during his public meetings and interactions. During his visit to Jammu & Kashmir he had expressed his opinion that unless the democracy reaches the common people, our country cannot develop.

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Rahul Gandhi: Performance is only criteria for promotion within Congress

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is taking round of the country to revamp the party organizations and imbibing further spirit among party workers to strengthen the party from grassroots upward. There are no more nominations of office bearers from above. Congress frontal organizations like NSUI and Youth Congress are being reorganized on complete democratic set-up. Rahul Gandhi said that whoever has to go ahead in these organizations, they will have to go through their work. He further said that there will not be any pressure on Panchayat units from district level organization. Congress General Secretary said that the doors of the Youth Congress and NSUI are open for all with some preconditions. He said that one, who is below 35 years of age, does not have any criminal record and have faith in Congress ideology is most welcome to party’s youth organizations. He has also suggested to the youth of the country to fight against corruption and anarchy.

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Sonia Gandhi: Congress Party’s concern is ‘aam aadmi’

Congress is the only party which takes in its focus ‘aam aadmi’.  For it strongly believes that benefits of development that are taking place in the country must reach the poor said Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.  Only then fair and equitable development will reach every nook and corner of the country instead of remaining confined to few metro cities as show-case pieces. Sonia Gandhi as Congress President echoed the same sentiments when she said “until the weaker section of the society gets uplifted, the basic objective of development could not be achieved.” Therefore development is an issue for the Congress. The Party’s concern for the common people is the issue.  Education, employment, health care, infrastructure are the issue for the Congress party. Weaker sections, minority communities, women and children are the issue. Congress has a vision of 21^st century with which it is taking the country forward by planning and implementing progressive pro-people policies. People are seeing the changes that are taking place and brining changes in their lives.

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Congress is alive and responsive to Telengana issue

Congress has always been responsive and alive to the demands of the people. Every region has its own aspirations. Sometimes there are issues of developmental imbalances within the same region or same state. Such cases wherever they exist have been addressed successfully and to the entire satisfaction of the concerned people. Telengana is one such issue. It is a sensitive matter. Congress has geared its efforts and is trying to find a solution. Congress knows that people of Telengana are with the party and expecting early action in the matter. The only option is balance, patience. Provocative statement or intransient stance will not help the matter. Nor is this called for from anybody. Congress spokesman has already clarified that certainly it is not unaware or ignorant about the sensitivities and sensibilities of the issue. It is also aware that the atmosphere is surcharged. Congress fully understands the emotions but let us hold our horses and be patient.

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Rahul Gandhi: Leftists mislead Kerala farmers

During recent Assembly elections in Kerala Leftists rightly apprehended that they would be swept off their feet for all round failure. To deflect the situation they tried to mislead the farmers. Reassuring the farmers Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said, “I would like to point out about the ASEAN free trade agreement. There is a worry in Kerala that certain crops in Kerala will be impacted. I just want to make it clear that there are the crops in Kerala, are either in the negative list or in the special list and will not be impacted. So, the ASEAN, as far as Kerala is concerned is a non-issue. We are not going to let, and the government in Delhi is the government of the poor; we are not going to let the farmers of Kerala to suffer. There is no question of that. This is (the view) from the Prime Minister of the country. So, the Left Front is most welcome to make it a election issue; as far as we are concerned nothing we do is going to damage the interests of the farmers of the Kerala.”

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Rahul Gandhi visits a tribal’s house, had dinner

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi , true to his style of function, visited a tribal village Medki, Mauranipur near Jhansi, without any preplanned schedule. Rahul Gandhi knocked at the door of Kunjhilal, a villager, and the family could not believe their eyes when they saw Rahul Gandhi. They were further shocked when Rahul Gandhi expressed his desire to have dinner at their house. The poor family which consists of ten members including Kunjilal's two sons and two daughters-in-law happily served him puri and sabzi. Rahul stayed in the house for nearly half an hour. He then held a village 'chaupal' and heard the grievances of the local villagers. He was on a tour to Bundelkhand to motivate Youth Congress workers.

During interaction Rahul Gandhi took feedback on MGNREGA and also enquired whether they get proper benefit of the scheme. He also asked whether they get the timely payment under MGNREGA. Rahul Gandhi said that UPA Government at the centre sanctions funds under various schemes for the welfare of the people and if the money is not reaching to the people, it is the weakness of the state Government. Late in the night, Rahul Gandhi slept at the local primary school building.

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Congress : Mayawati’s BSP govt. put a gloss over rape and crime incidents

It is unfortunate that instead of taking immediate and strong action against increasing incidents of rape and crime against women particularly those belonging to ‘dalit’ and minority communities, Mayawati administration have been trying to play down the grave situation in the state said a Congress press release. Police officers of the state have been saying that these are isolated incident. Congress party condemns such attitude on the part of the police. Not one of these incidents has been denied. There is no question of these incidents being isolated said Congress. Every single incident has been captured by the media on television. Police itself have not denied these incidents and there is no question of these incidents being isolated said the Congress spoke person. In a civilized society, such incidents should not happen. Six rapes and murders – one or two involving policemen – are a terrible blot upon the government and the entire current ruling establishment of Uttar Pradesh added Congress.

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Lokpal Bill requires all parties support: Congress

To any sane person it is clear that Lokpal bill is a serious issue which demands national rather than party based approach said Congress. As promised Congress government has introduced the Bill in the parliament. But its further process requires all party support to become a reality. It is simply unacceptable that someone should demand that only his version of a bill be passed by Parliament. What we need, and should happen, is a constructive debate in Parliament on the Lokpal Bill with various versions considered. The government can well claim that it has, in fact, accepted even the contentious points of Hazare's version for discussion. But the Congress cannot pass the Lokpal Bill all on its own. There is need to bring on board all other parties. And if Anna Hazare decides to target only the Congress it is totally unfair. At the level which Anna has reached he should not get emotional and get personal when he echoes the sentiments of millions. Crying for his own version of bill is incorrect. Tomorrow any one can sit down on ‘dharna’ demanding daily or monthly payment to all the people who are poor and can't have two square meals a day. Who will be then judge and who will be jury then?

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