Rahul caught 'napping' in Lok Sabha, Congress says he was 'resting eyes'

The video clip, which showed Rahul Gandhi resting his head on his right hand, with eyes apparently shut, went viral on social networking sites.

In fact, Gandhi's momentary shut-eye occurred when Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and other Congress members were loudly protesting Home Minister Rajnath Singh's response to the members' queries on the violence on Dalits in Una, Gujarat.

Awaiting government response on GST, says Congress

The Congress on Sunday said it is still awaiting a concrete response from the Centre on its concerns over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill, and added the proposed legislation was not discussed at Sunday's all-party meeting.

The main opposition party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of stalling the proposed law for four to five years.

"The Congress gave birth to the GST bill. We believe the GST is in the country's interest, it cannot be a flawed GST," Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia told the media after the meeting called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar.

Will support GST if all issues of national interest are addressed: Congress

Categorically stating that they are not opposed to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, the Congress Party on Monday said that they would support it in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament provided all issues concerning national interest are addressed.

Anguished Sonia says no compromise on national security, deal with terrorism firmly

An anguished Congress party president Sonia Gandhi said on Monday that political parties must be allowed time to find "durable and enduring ways" to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Virbhadra Singh will not resign over `false allegations`: Congress

After the first arrest of an LIC agent Anand Chauhan, in connection with the money laundering case against Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh by the Enforcement Directorate, the grand old party on Sunday asserted that the main aim of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is to defame the ruling Congress party in Himachal and wants the Chief Minister to resign over 'false allegations'.

Modi government rejected CAG audit of telecom companies: Congress

The Congress on Thursday alleged that the Narendra Modi government overstepped its limits to order an alternate audit by the telecom ministry rejecting the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) scrutiny.

The audit by the CAG found under-reporting of income by six telecom companies to the tune of Rs 46,045.75 crore from 2006-07 to 2009-10.

Sonia Gandhi greets nation on occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr

 Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday greeted the nation 'Eid Mubarak'.

Congratulating all, who have undertaken the purifying Ramadan fast, she said "Holy Prophet's teachings of honesty, love, peace, compassion, equity and peaceful co-existence have immense value to strengthen our nation and enrich brotherhood."

Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in various parts of the country today.

Reports of Priyanka leading UP campaign highlights Rahul's failure: NCP

Taking a strong exception to the media reports on the possibility of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra leading the poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said it makes no difference if the face of the election is Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka, as the Congress Party has lost its relevance now.

BJP leader Dinesh Sharma told ANI that the Congress won't get much in Uttar Pradesh and they have nothing to lose as well.

'Influential' Priyanka campaigning across UP will greatly benefit us: Congress

With see-sawing developments over Priyanka Gandhi's announcement as the party's face in Uttar Pradesh Assembly election campaign, the Congress on Tuesday asserted that her influential personality will be greatly beneficial for them in the politically crucial state.

Speaking to ANI here, Congress leader P.L. Punia said Uttar Pradesh in-charge and party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad has clearly stated that he wants Priyanka's role to be expanded.

"Azad has said that Priyanka Gandhi's role which was limited to Amethi and Rae Bareilly will be expanded soon. She is an influential personality and if she campaigns it will be beneficial for us," Punia said.

According to reports, the Congress is expected to make the final announcement in the next 48 hours.

Past week has been terrible for humanity: Sonia Gandhi on Baghdad blasts

Condemning the deadly bomb blasts in Baghdad killing 80 people, Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi on Sunday stated that the past week, which also included the attack in Dhaka, had been terrible for the entire humanity.

In a statement released today, Sonia expressed her deepest condolences to family of those killed

"Smt. Gandhi called for the globe to unite, fight and defeat forces of terror and extremism that pose a serious threat to world peace and humanity," the statement added.

Selfie with rape victim "shameful and pathetic": Congress

The Congress on Monday castigated the selfie clicked by a member of the Rajasthan State Commission for Women with a rape victim and dubbed it to be "shameful and pathetic".

Demanding the resignation of the wilful defaulters, Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza told ANI it is shameful the saviours of women rights are violating laws.

"It is so shameful that the chairperson and the member of the Rajasthan Women Commission are taking selfie with a rape victim, who was tattooed and gang-raped by her husband and his brothers," said Ojha.

7th Pay Commission: Worst pay hike in history of independent India, asserts Congress

 Dubbing the Centre's recommendations on the Seventh Pay Commission as 'disappointing' the Congress has said it is the worst pay hike in the history of Independent India.

"The pay hike is a mere 15 percent on the basic pay, compared to 23.5 percent, which is being falsely claimed by the Central Government. It is the lowest hike in last 70 years, i.e. since Independence," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told ANI.

Asserting that the Congress has always stood for the workers of India, Surjewala said the pay hike reflected the mal-intent and lack of sincerity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government.

Priyanka downplays hype surrounding ED's notice to Vadra

Priyanaka Gandhi took a jibe at the critics for creating unwarranted hype surrounding the Enforcement Directorate's notice to her husband Robert Vadra over his alleged involvement in land scam in Rajasthan's Bikaner city and said the over enthusiastic media broke the news yesterday while the copy has been received today.
"Apparently we received it at 4 pm today, but you (media) received it a day before," said Gandhi.

Dombivli MLA's piglets rant shows BJP's mindset: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday dubbed as extremely unfortunate BJP MLA Ravindra Chavan's remark comparing Dalits with pigs and said this is a reflection of the saffron party's thinking with regard to the Hindu caste system as well as the Dalits in the country.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi told ANI that the BJP has always been harsh with the people of lower castes.

Nation bleeding from inflation, thanks to Modi's 'Achhe Din': Congress

With the prices of vegetables and pulses shooting through the roof, the Congress trained its guns at the Centre, reminding them of their 'Achhe Din' rhetoric in run-up to the 2014 general elections, and said on Thursday that the rising inflation was a clear example of what the Modi-government had in store for the common man.

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Shobha Oza said the soaring inflation that too before the monsoon was turning into a major cause for worry.

"When pulses were Rs. 70 per kg and tomatoes Rs. 30, the BJP came down on the Congress citing inflation, saying "Ab Ki Baar Modi Sarkar". And now, thanks to 'Achhe Din', tomatoes have hit Rs. 100 per kg and pulses are selling at Rs. 200," she said.

Congress to wait and watch as Ajit Jogi heads for split

Even as senior Congress leader Ajit Jogi is headed for Kotmi in the Marwahi assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh to announce his future political course on Monday, the Congress high command on Sunday dropped hints it will "wait and watch".

"He is holding a workers' meeting on Monday. So, we will wait and watch what he does," Congress General Secretary B.K. Hariprasad, who is in charge of the party's affairs in Chhattisgarh, told IANS.

However, a section of party leaders both in Delhi and in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state seemed to have reconciled themselves to the imminent exit of one-time Sonia Gandhi loyalist.

Mathura violence 'stark reminder' of deteriorating law and order in UP, says Rahul Gandhi

Hitting out at the Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government for the Mathura violence that claimed 22 lives, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the episode is a "stark reminder of deteriorating law and order situation in the state".

"Unabated violence is a stark reminder of the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh," Gandhi said in a tweet.

Gandhi also expressed his condolence to the families of policemen and others, who were killed in the violence.

Sting operation in K'taka: Congress plays safe, pulls up JD(S)

The Congress Party on Friday pinned the blame on Janata Dal (Secular) following a sting operation, which showed the Karnataka MLAs seeking bribes ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls, and said it is an open secret that H.D. Kumaraswamy-led party has not been able to keep its flock together.Congress leader D. K. Shivakumar told ANI none of the Congress leaders are involved.

"Why do we need trading? They are not animals to be traded; they are not animals to be poached. They are our leaders, important leaders, respected leaders. I have come from their constituencies, (they have) won with a huge margin and it is our duty to respect them. The relationship has to be made strong," said Shivakumar.

Ajit Jogi quitting good for Congress: Digvijaya

Downplaying the reports of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi contemplating to leave the Congress, senior leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday said the former had sold party's candidate Mandu Pawar to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and it is for the good of the grand old party that such inmates quit.

Singh told ANI, "Ajit Jogi had sold the Congress candidate Mandu Pawar to the BJP. So it's good for the Congress that such people are leaving the party."

However, Jogi earlier said he has no choice but to quit the Congress to improve the state's condition as the grand old party is presently working like 'Team-B' for Raman Singh-led state government.

Jogi's news of quitting the party came after reports of the Congress vice-president being elevated as the party president started doing round in the political arena.
-Source ANI

Rahul can take over, Priyanka will be an asset: Amarinder

As speculation raged over the issue, Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh today said that time is right for Rahul Gandhi to take over from his mother as Congress President and favoured Priyanka's entry into active politics.

"Sonia Gandhi is a brilliant leader. I have said that she has been working (as Congress President) for the last 20 years. If she feels that time has come to give it to a new generation, then she should pass it on and we will fully support Rahul (to take over)," he told a press conference here.

He was replying to a question whether time has come for Congress Vice-President to take over from Sonia Gandhi.