National
Resignations of Lovely, Naseeb and Basoya indicate Congress high command's disconnect with ground reality
New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) The resignations of two Congress functionaries, Naseeb Singh and Neeraj Basoya, from the primary membership of the party, following closely on the heels of Delhi Congress President Arvinder Singh Lovely’s departure over the “humiliating” alliance with Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), come as yet another reminder that the grand old party’s central leadership is cut off from the ground realities, and the feelings and sentiments of its hard-core workers.
Both Singh and Basoya were Congress election observers for the North-West Delhi and West Delhi Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively. Though their resignation letters are addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, it’s easy to guess who they are meant for, the actual decision-makers.
Their letters express the deep anguish of the ordinary Congress workers and sympathisers, underlining the drift and disconnect of the Gandhi family and those around them calling the shots.
Singh and Basoya’s letters also provide insight into the humiliation experienced by the Congress workers daily, especially in the context of the alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The reference to an AAP candidate mocking them as “4 per cent vote party” underscores the indignity and ridicule faced by the Congress workers on multiple counts, almost on a daily basis.
This perceived lack of respect and recognition further exacerbates the sense of alienation and disenchantment among the party members.
The spate of resignations by important Congress leaders across the country since the time Rahul Gandhi began his long winding “Nafrat ke Bazaar mein Mohabbat Ki Dukan” two-phased Bharat Jodo Yatra, from “east to west” and “south to north”, only proves that there were no takers for ‘Dukan’ even within his own party’s rank and file.
Significantly, Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to rejuvenate the Congress’ electoral prospects through his nationwide tour appears to have fallen short of expectations, as evidenced by the lack of support within his own party’s rank and file.
The party continues to implode even when the seven-phase parliamentary polls are underway. Its existential crisis thus becomes more critical.
After speaking to some Congress leaders, one finds that their grievances against the party leadership are indeed multifaceted, and the situation in Delhi adds a layer of acute hurt and anger.
The decision to align with the AAP, coupled with the expectations to defend AAP’s alleged corruption and misdeeds on various platforms, has left many Congress members feeling betrayed and disrespected.
The taunts and disrespect from their newfound ally only add insult to injury, exacerbating the sense of humiliation and disillusionment within the party ranks.
The grievances outlined in detail by leaders like Arvinder Singh Lovely, Naseeb Singh, and Neeraj Basoya reflect only a fraction of the discontent simmering within the Congress. In private conversations, many Congress leaders express even harsher criticisms and frustrations with the party’s leadership and the decision-making process.
They question the party leadership’s desperation to keep alive the INDI Alliance and the compulsion to bend backward to accommodate the wishes of each noteworthy partner under the slightest pressure.
AAP recognised the Congress high command’s weaknesses to first make an entry into the opposition bloc, then forced the Congress to take a position on the Delhi Ordinance issue, so much so that the party, which was otherwise disrupting parliamentary proceedings every day, sat through the debate on the issue in both Houses of the Parliament, defending Arvind Kejriwal’s position to the best of its capacity, even bringing an unwell former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a wheelchair to the Parliament to vote on the Bill.
Even in the 2019 elections, the Congress was number two while AAP was number three, but it was AAP which agreed to give three seats to the Congress in Delhi and in the bargain, made the Congress agree to offer AAP seats in Gujarat and Haryana. It also made Congress leaders talk about AAP’s “magnanimity” of not contesting in Goa.
In Delhi, the BJP was the clear winner garnering close to 57 per cent votes, while the Congress managed 22 per cent, and the AAP 18 per cent.
It was the Congress leaders in Delhi who first brought details relating to the liquor scam and Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ in the public domain. But in the end, they were not just made to carry AAP’s tainted baggage on their shoulders, but also defend the alleged wrongdoer.
The Congress workers have questioned their leaders’ compulsion, particularly that of Sandeep Dikshit, a former two-term MP and the son of ex-Chief Minister late Sheila Dikshit, to rush to Kejriwal’s house to show solidarity.
Kejriwal’s political foundation was built on making wild allegations against Sheila Dikshit and promises to send Congress leaders to jail for their alleged corrupt deeds.
Kejriwal had practically taken the Congress’ support base lock, stock, and barrel in Delhi. Yet the Congress compromised, knowing well that the alliance would last till the next Assembly polls scheduled early next year.
Some even rue how the Gandhi family could be so forgetful – overlooking Kejriwal getting a resolution passed in the Delhi Assembly demanding Rajiv Gandhi’s Bharat Ratna be withdrawn, or the AAP leader’s multiple statements demanding Sonia Gandhi be put in jail and interrogated to spell out the details of the corrupt deals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also hit out at the “plight” of the Gandhi family in these elections, in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will not vote for the Congress from the New Delhi constituency for the first time as the Congress has conceded the seat to AAP.
The Gandhi family voting for AAP has multiple implications for the Congress, considering that both parties are fighting against each other in Punjab.
Giving a ticket to erstwhile Leftist student leader Kanhaiya Kumar from North-East Delhi and the Congress manifesto taking a Leftist tilt were the last straws for the likes of Arvinder Singh Lovely, Naseeb Singh, and Neeraj Basoya, among others.
–IANS
sj/arm
National
K'taka MUDA land scam: 'If there is no connection, why transfer DC?', Pralhad Joshi to CM Siddaramaiah
Hubballi (Karnataka), July 6 (IANS) Reacting over the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam allegedly involving Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi asked the Congress-led state government that if no corruption took place within the government body then why was the Mysuru District Commissioner transferred.
Speaking to the media in Hubballi, Union Minister Joshi said: “The MUDA scam involves massive corruption and it is evident at the outset. In 2017, the decision was taken and the MUDA land scam took place with the full knowledge of CM Siddaramaiah.”
He added that Rs 4,000 crore corruption took place involving MUDA land which the Congress government claims was awarded during the previous BJP government.
However, the transactions happened between 2013 and 2018 during the first term of Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister, the Minister said.
“This is a major scam committed for self-gains. The investigation has to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). If CM Siddaramaiah claims that he has done nothing, then the scam must be handed over to the CBI,” Union Minister Joshi added.
“The Congress dubbed the BJP government as a 40 per cent government without any basis. The defamation suit was filed in the court. Now, there is the role of CM Siddaramaiah in two scandals — the MUDA scam and tribal welfare board scam,” he alleged.
“On the one hand, there is the Valmiki tribal welfare board’s scam, on the other hand, the MUDA scam has come to light. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had arrested a few persons to hide the case. Former Minister B. Nagendra is served notice only on Friday. There is a conspiracy to hush up everything. CM Siddaramaiah’s government is mired in corruption,” Joshi said.
“There is no development work under CM Siddaramaiah-led government. No development works are taken up in the name of bogus guarantee schemes. The funds reserved for Dalits are being used for guarantees,” the Minister claimed.
–IANS
mka/khz
National
Govt tells auto firms to liberalise repair services for consumers’ benefit
New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) The Centre’s Department of Consumer Affairs has asked automobile manufacturers to enhance efforts towards democratisation of repair manuals and videos accessible to all, fostering a robust ecosystem for third-party repair services and upholding consumer rights.
The issue was taken up by Secretary, Department Consumer Affairs, Nidhi Khare at a meeting with Automobile Associations and their partner companies in the Automobile Sector with the objective of onboarding auto companies onto the Right to Repair Portal India, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.
The meeting was attended by various representatives of Automobile Associations like ACMA, SIAM, ATMA, EPIC Foundation and companies including Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, TVS, Royal Enfield, Renault and Bosch, Yamaha Motors India, Honda Car India were also present.
The Government has launched the Right to Repair Portal India (https://righttorepairindia.gov.in/) to provide consumers with easy access to information for repairing their products and enabling them to reuse it, thereby contributing to the circular economy as well as reduction of e-waste in a hassle-free manner.
In the meeting, it was emphasised that products that cannot be repaired or are subject to planned obsolescence—designed with an artificially limited lifespan—contribute to e-waste and compel consumers to purchase new products due to lack of repair options or extremely expensive repair options for reuse. Therefore, the goal is to eliminate obstacles such as restricted access to tools or repair information, ensuring that consumers have complete ownership of the products they purchase.
“Over time, it has been noted that repair services are increasingly constrained due to significant delays in service and absence of repair documentation for vehicles. Additionally, products are sometimes repaired at excessively high costs, leaving consumers dissatisfied with repair services which often delays repairs, even if necessary, due to limited repair options,” it was pointed out at the meeting.
A major constraint is also the availability of genuine spare parts at affordable prices. Often their unavailability at affordable prices forces consumers towards purchasing counterfeit spare parts from the grey markets. Further, lack of accessible information for minor repairs or do it yourself guides, exacerbates consumer distress, adding to their financial burden and overall dissatisfaction.
Stress was also laid on offering roadside assistance to consumers, especially on highways and introducing a repairability index of the vehicle that provides information on the life of the product, easy repair ecosystem, availability of spare parts, detailed manual on self-repair, warranty on different parts.
These measures aim to empower consumers with informed choices regarding the post-sales service of their products, besides ease in enjoying their products fully. The meeting concluded with the consensus to onboard the Right to Repair Portal and adopt a greater collaborative approach in providing a vibrant post-sale services to the consumers.
The discussions also covered topics such as aligning standardisation of parts along with standardisation of skilled workmanship, companies developing catalogues that should benefit consumers for post-purchase service and longevity of product life, and measures for addressing deceptive practices in repair workshops in the name of motor insurance that contribute to unnecessary generation of plastic waste.
It was stressed that details of Companies Service Centre across India and Recognition third-parties repairers, if any, by the companies and Information on country of origin to be explicitly mentioned.
Some companies like TVS have shared their post-onboarding experiences on the portal. Companies including Tata Motors and TVS discussed how, based on complaints received from the National Consumer Helpline, they identified key repair issues and subsequently created repair videos accessible to consumers via their official YouTube channels.
–IANS
sps/kvd
National
Three killed as two cars collide in Karnataka
Shivamogga, July 6 (IANS) At least three persons were killed and two others injured as two cars collided head-on in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district on Saturday.
The deceased were identified as Chandru, Siddanna and Imam Saab, all residents of Belagere village near Challakere town in Chitradurga district.
The injured were shifted to the Meggan Hospital in Shivamogga.
According to police, the incident occurred due to overspeeding.
One of the cars was en route to Sagara town from Shivamogga and the other car was coming towards Shivamogga from Sagara town.
Kumasi Police have rushed to the spot and taken up the investigation.
Both vehicles were severely mangled in the crash.
Details are awaited.
–IANS
mka/svn
National
On Syama Prasad Mookerjee's birth anniversary, an account of how PM Modi championed his ideals
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, on his birth anniversary.
“Respectful tributes to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary, who made India proud with his strong nationalist views. His dedication and sacrifice for the motherland will always inspire the citizens of the country,” said the Prime Minister in a post on X.
As the nation observes his birth anniversary, here is an account of how PM Modi not only championed his ideals but also realised his dream of ‘One Nation’.
Modi Archive, a popular X handle, on Saturday, shared information on PM Modi steadfastly upholding Mookerjee’s beliefs and ardently pursuing his efforts to unify the country. It accentuates the special tribute paid by PM Modi to the Bharatiya Jan Sangh founder in 2013.
It informs that after becoming BJP’s campaign committee chairman for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi led his first rally at the spot where Mookerjee was arrested in 1953. This event also marked Mookerjee’s ‘Balidan Diwas.’
The public rally was held in Punjab’s Pathankot, the very location where the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder was arrested in 1953 and kept in custody for 45 days. His sudden death in prison stunned the nation, leading to the abolition of the Permit System in J&K, shortly thereafter.
Mookerjee, a strong proponent of United India, passed away while fighting for the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the nation.
In 2019, the Modi government actualised Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s vision by revoking Article 370, thereby paving the way for the revocation of its special status. A few months later, on January 1, 2020, the government took another historic step by abolishing the last traces of Jammu and Kashmir’s enforced autonomy, thereby locking Mookerjee’s dream of a fully integrated India.
Also, the government ceased operations at the Lakhanpur Toll Plaza in Pathankot, the very site where Mookerjee was arrested, a location signifying the artificial legal barrier between J&K and the rest of India.
–IANS
sd/uk
National
Love jihad helpline: Pralhad Joshi seeks probe into bomb threat to Sri Rama Sena
Hubballi, (Karnataka) July 6 (IANS) Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, on Saturday demanded a probe into bomb threats allegedly issued to the Sri Rama Sena for opening helplines for victims of ‘love jihad’.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi on Saturday, Joshi said, “The closure of Facebook accounts of Sri Rama Sena is wrong. It is also wrong to issue bomb threats. Violence isn’t right always. The state government should investigate the matter.”
Earlier, addressing the media, Gangadhar Kulkarni, a senior Sri Rama Sena leader stated that after they began a campaign against ‘love jihad’ by opening a helpline on May 29, bomb threats and life threats were given.
The Sena has got more than 170 such calls already and the threat calls are made through internet, he alleged.
The Facebook accounts of all Sri Rama Sena members and the main page have been closed for the last two days, Kulkarni alleged.
“We don’t know whether this was done by jihadis or the government. This has been done to prevent the awareness campaign on love jihad by us,” Kulkarni slammed.
“All Facebook accounts should be allowed to operate, failing which, statewide protests would be launched,” Kulkarni warned.
–IANS
mka/rad
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