Achche din only when Congress returns to power in 2019: Rahul

PM mocked MGNREGA. He should explain why demand for work under MGNREGA is up now asked Rahul Gandhi

Breaking News : Congress vice president, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying "achche din will come only when Congress returns to power in 2019". He also reflected on the sufferings of the common people in the wake of demonetisation.

"The prime minister needs to spend some time with the poor and farmers of the country and ask them why suddenly people are running to villages for jobs?" Gandhi said speaking at the Jan Vedna Sammelan in the national capital.

"The prime minister mocked MGNREGA and said labour only digs ditches. He should tell why demand for MGNREGA work is up now," he added.

The Gandhi scion underlined that achche din will only return when Congress party comes to power in 2019.

"Today they (BJP) have weakened every institution. For the first time time in history the prime minister of India is being ridiculed. Every economist is calling it (demonetisation) a bad move," Gandhi said.

He asserted that the prime minister did not even understand the "concept of demonetisation" and went ahead with the move "without asking anybody".

"Today I read in newspaper that PM said he will transform India. But PM needs to ask himself why suddenly auto sales have fallen," Gandhi said.

Taking another dig at Modi, Gandhi said Yoga guru Ramdev has probably advised PM Modi on demonetisation.

"The prime minister knows he can not hide behind schemes like Skill India and Yoga. So, his primary economic advisor Ramdev had probably advised him on note ban," the Congress vice-president noted. (more)

How did Jayalalithaa enter politics from film industry?

1964- Jayalalithaa makes her film debut in a lead role in 'Chinnada Gombe' a Kannada film. To support her debt-ridden family, Jayalalithaa gives us on her dreams of becoming a lawyer and plunges into the film industry.

1965- Jayalalithaa's Tamil film debut comes in the landmark blockbuster hit, 'Venniraadai'. In the same year, she stars in a film, 'Aayirathil Oruvan', with Tamil cinema's biggest star MG Ramachandran (MGR) for the first time, to begin what remains among the most successful screen pairings in Tamil cinema, as well as one of the most critical relationships in her life.

1965 - 1980 -This was the peak of Jayalalithaa's film career. She was among the highest-paid actresses in the country at the time, and endorsed top brands. In this period, she acted in over 140 films, of which about 120 were blockbuster hits.

1970 - Jayalalithaa has a falling out with MGR, after he chooses to work with another leading lady.

1971 - Jayalalithaa's mother Sandhya dies.

1973 - She stars in a movie with MGR for the last time, in 'Pattikaattu Ponnaiya', a year after he split from the DMK to launch the AIADMK.

1977 - Jayalalithaa steps back from films.

1980 - Jayalalithaa stars in a Tamil movie, 'Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal', for the last time. Her last film in a leading role however was the Telugu film 'Nayakudu Vinayakudu'.

1981 - Jayalalithaa revives relationship with MGR.

1982 - Jayalalithaa joins MGR's AIADMK and soon after delivers her maiden political speech at the party conference.

1983- She is appointed the AIADMK's propaganda secretary.

1984 - She is elected to the Rajya Sabha, as MGR wants her there for her fluency in English and knowledge of several languages. She remains a member of the Rajya Sabha till 1989. She becomes a key campaigner for the AIADMK as the party wins a massive election victory despite MGR remaining hospitalized through the campaigning. Her rising prominence irks senior hands in the party. Her attempt to be named interim CM also does not go well with MGR.

1986 - MGR sacks Jayalalithaa from all party posts after she forms a parallel political outfit. However, she continues as Rajya Sabha member of the AIAMDK.

1987 - MGR dies, leaving no clear political heir. AIADMK descends into chaos over his legacy. Jayalalithaa competes with his widow Janaki for control of the party. The party splits into two major factions, one behind each woman.

1989 - The Assembly election saw the Jayalalithaa faction win 27 seats to the Janaki faction's two. Janaki steps aside to clear the way for Jayalalithaa's accession to MGR's legacy. Jayalalithaa becomes Tamil Nadu's first woman Leader of Opposition. During the budget session, she s assaulted in the Assembly Hall and a senior DMK leader attempts to disrobe her. She vows she will not return except as Chief Minister.

1991 -Allied with the Congress, and rocketed by the sympathy wave following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Jayalalithaa storms to power as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time.

Live: Jlithaa laidayala to rest next to her mentor MGR at Marina Beach

Facing sedition charge, Cong leader Ramya refuses to apologise for Pak comment

Facing sedition charge, Cong leader Ramya refuses to apologise for Pak comment

The Kannada actor and Congress member Ramya, who is accused of sedition over her remarks of praising the people of Pakistan after a recent visit, said on Tuesday that there is “no question of apologising.”

She said, "BJP will not do anything to repeal the law, because they are using it to their advantage", Congress leader Ramya on Tuesday refused to apologise for her statement that "Pakistan is a good country, not hell."

The 33-year-old Divya Spandana visited Islamabad to attend Saarc Young Parliamentarians Conference, responded to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statement, “Going to Pakistan is like going to hell,” with “Pakistan is not hell, people there are just like us. They treated us very well.”

She made the remarks during a rally in her former constituency Mandya, saying how the people of Pakistan went out of their way on making her stay and comfortable after they got to know that she is from India.

Her comments outraged K Vittal Gowda, an advocate from Karnataka, who lodged a “sedition case” in Kodagu in southern Karnataka, around 250 km from state capital Bengaluru.(more)

Bandh over Mahanadi river issue hits normal life in Odisha

Bandh over Mahanadi river issue hits normal life in Odisha

Normal life was crippled in most parts of Odisha on Tuesday due to a dawn-to-dusk bandhcalled by Congress protesting the construction of dams on the upstream of the Mahanadi river in Chhattisgarh and demanded immediate intervention by the Centre to halt these projects.

The party also hit out at the ruling BJD in Odisha for its "inaction" and silence, and also at BJP, which is in power in Chhattisgarh, for "unilateral" construction on the river.

Congress supporters blocked railway tracks at many places. Several trains were halted at various stations including Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Cuttack and a large number of passengers were left stranded at railway stations in many places, a police official said.

Vehicular movement virtually came to a standstill in many places with the party supporters blocking the roads by burning tyres and putting hurdles. Traffic came to a grinding halt on National Highway five between the twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Similar situations were witnessed elsewhere.

Shops, business establishments, markets, educational institutions were closed in most parts of the state as Congress supporters picketed to enforce the bandh, police said.Read more.

Narendra Modi cabinet likely to see 19 new ministers: Who are they?

Narendra Modi cabinet likely to see 19 new ministers: Who are they?

At least 19 new ministers are to be sworn in today, which government sources have said will strengthen the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led team with “experience, expertise and energy”.

Sources said the PM laid down the selection procedure “to bring in doers and performers who would deliver on his vision of development and good governance, and further his central priority of gaon (villages), garib (poor) and kisan (farmers). “New ministers were identified from various walks of life to bring to bear their unique rich experience and expertise to their office,” sources said.

The list has several who are OBCs, five Dalits, two from minority communities and two women. The 19 have been drawn from 10 states. However, several of the new ministers are in their 60s and have been brought in primarily to ensure the delivery of promises the government has made in its three budgets and the BJP manifesto.

Let's take a look at the new ministers in Modi cabinet:

Cabinet rejig: RPI's Athawale to take oath tomorrow, vows to work for Dalits

Cabinet rejig: RPI's Athawale to take oath tomorrow, vows to work for Dalits

Expressing his delight over a Dalit getting representation in the Cabinet after Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Ramdas Athawale today thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this opportunity and vowed to work for the backward sections of the society.

Talking to the media in New Delhi after attending a meeting called by BJP president Amit Shah, Athawale confirmed that he would be taking oath tomorrow.

"I just talked to Amit Shah ji and he has given me the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He told me that I will be taking oath tomorrow. I am very happy that Prime Minster Modi and party president have given us this opportunity," he said.

Athawale recalled that Dr Ambedkar was a minister in India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's Cabinet and said that the RPI didn't get an opportunity after that.

"But now the RPI is getting a representation in the Cabinet. All the Dalits of the country will be very happy. The Prime Minister will decide on the portfolios tomorrow. I will work for the Dalits and backward classes of the society," he added.

Dr Ambedkar, popularly known as Babasaheb, was Independent India's first law minister and the principal architect of the Constitution of India.

With an eye on the politically crucial assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh scheduled next year, the much-awaited expansion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet will take place tomorrow. Read more.

Yashwant Sinha slams Modi govt on Pak, NSG

Yashwant Sinha slams Modi govt on Pak, NSG

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday seemed to disagree with South Block's public comments on China blocking India's bid to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). He advocated stronger India-China ties.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader Yashwant Sinha was more forthright in criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies, both on NSG and Pakistan. Sinha termed the efforts to be an NSG member as "misguided". He criticised the PM's Pakistan policy in the light of the terrorist attack in Pampore. "I say this strongly that India should not accept the NSG membership. We should not go there as an applicant. Whatever we had to get, we have got it," 83-year-old Sinha said.

Meanwhile, South Block expressed hope that the nuclear export control group could take up the issue of India's membership at its proposed meeting by the end of the year.

Sinha, who has more than once criticised the PM and party president Amit Shah, said India has already got what it needed from NSG by the 2008 waiver and had more to lose than gain by now becoming a member.

On Modi's Pakistan policy, Sinha said "nothing" has come out, or will.

Returning to India after a six-day China tour, Chouhan said in Bhopal that dialogue with Beijing should continue, despite it having opposed India's NSG membership. "Dialogue with China should continue to strengthen economic ties. Both countries have their own nationalinterests," he said. Read more.

Water tanker scam: What is it about and how are Arvind Kejriwal, Sheila Dikshit involved

Water tanker scam: What is it about and how are Arvind Kejriwal, Sheila Dikshit involved

The Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Monday filed a first information report (FIR) against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his predecessor Sheila Dikshit in connection with the water tanker scam.

The ACB also said that the two could be called for questioning.

ACB chief M K Meena told IANS that the FIR was registered on the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Vijender Gupta against Kejriwal "for causing delay and not cancelling the contract for water tankers".

What is the scam all about and how did it come to light

The alleged scam came to light when Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, in June 2015, constituted a fact-finding committee to probe the irregularities in hiring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the Delhi Jal Board in 2012, during Dikshit's rule.

The five-member committee was formed by Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra.

Its report, submitted to Kejriwal in August 2015, highlights alleged corruption of Rs 400 crore in the process of awarding tenders for hiring water tankers.

It recommended an FIR against Congress leader Dikshit by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ACB.

Last week, on Monday, almost a year later, the report was sent to the prime minister and Delhi's lieutenant governor by the AAP government.

What did the Delhi government do after the panel submitted its report

On June 12, state Water Minister Mishra had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung recommending either a CBI or ACB probe against Dikshit in connection with alleged scam. Read more.

People not satisfied with mere slogans, PM tells party

People not satisfied with mere slogans, PM tells party

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is yet to resolve its confusion on who would be its chief ministerial candidate for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and whether at all it should announce one. But the aggression in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah's speeches at a public rally here underscored the importance of a good performance by the BJP in the UP elections, slated for early 2017, if Modi is to return as prime minister in 2019.

Both Modi and Shah appealed to the people of UP to reject the nepotism, casteism and lawlessness wrought by Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, who were hand-in-glove in corruption. Modi credited the people of UP for enabling BJP to win a majority of seats in the Lok Sabha elections and that the state has given India several of its prime ministers. BJP, along with its ally Apna Dal, won 73 of UP’s 80 seats in 2014. Shah was more direct. “The road to Delhi goes via Lucknow. BJP forming a government in the state in 2017 will pave Modi's way to Delhi in 2019,” he said.

While Modi stayed away from the more contentious issues and promised development to the youth of the state and to its farmers, Shah raked up alleged exodus of Hindus from Kairana in western UP. Read more.