Ahead of Assembly polls in Bihar, the battle for votes of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and the minority communities, especially Muslims, has increased manifold, with Congress having stepped up outreach to Dalit and backward class students. Meanwhile, the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was not being allowed by the police to enter the Ambedkar Hostel in Bihar’s Darbhanga district, where he was to communicate with students of SC/ST, OBC and EBC under the party’s ‘Siksha Nyay Samvad’. As police personnel refused to cooperate and open the entrance gate, Rahul got down from his car and walked to the hostel where a large number of students were waiting for him. Later interacting with students, Rahul alleged that the double engine government in Bihar and at the Centre has failed to deliver justice to SC/ST students. He exhorted youngsters to remain focused on three demands: an effective caste census, like in Congress-ruled Telangana, reservations in private educational institutions, and the release of funds under the SC/ST sub-plan. After Darbhanga, Rahul left for Patna’s party headquarters in Sadaquat Ashram, where he watched the movie, Phule. Top Congress leaders in Delhi rallied behind Rahul and slammed the NDA government in Bihar.
SHARAD PAWAR DROPS MORE HINTS OF REUNION BETWEEN NCP FACTIONS
With the ongoing speculation of a potential reunion between the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Sharad Pawar-led group held a crucial state committee meeting at its Mumbai office on 14 May. However, the party leadership made it clear that only Sharad Pawar will address matters related to the merger. The meeting also emphasized on the preparations for the upcoming local body elections, a key battleground for the party to strengthen its grassroots presence. In a significant move, NCP (SP) took stance to empower local party units with the authority to decide on alliances for these polls. Now all eyes arefixed on Sharad Pawar, whose next move could reshape the NCP’s future and alter the state’s political equations. While the party is putting its cards close, focusing on unity and strategy as it gears up for the challenges ahead.
UMA BHARTI ASKS VIJAY SHAH TO RESIGN OVER REMARKS ON COL QURESHI
Senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti expressed great surprise over the delay and confusion looming around the removal of minister Vijay Shah, whose controversial remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi have sparked national outrage. “Either we should sack Minister Vijay Shah, who is like my dear brother, or he should resign. His uncivilised statement is embarrassing all of us. The confusion in sacking him is surprising,” Bharti said in one of her social media posts. Uma Bharti is the only senior leader from the BJP who has openly criticised Vijay Shah’s remarks and called for action against him after the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the state police to register an FIR against him. Meanwhile, Congress party said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should ask state minister Vijay Shah to resign over his objectionable remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Colonel Qureshi previously gained national attention for conducting joint press briefings with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh on Operation Sindoor.
IS CONGRESS UPSET WITH THAROOR’S INDEPENDENT LINE ON OP SINDOOR?
Murmurs within the Congress revealed that Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor had overstepped the Lakshman Rekha with his comments on the India-Pakistan conflict, Tharoor on Thursday clarified that his remarks in support of Operation Sindoor were made in his personal capacity as an Indian and a proud citizen and not as a representative of his party. He also said that he did not receive any communication from the Congress leadership on the matter and was unaware of any reference about him at the Congress Working Committee meeting. At the CWC meeting held on Wednesday in Delhi, senior leaders had discussed the importance of unity and discipline, warning against individual leaders sharing personal opinions on sensitive matters of national security. While this is not the first time that Shashi Tharoor has taken an independent stance, his recent comments have landed uncomfortably close to a red line drawn by the Congress high command.
CONGRESS ANNOUNCES ‘JAI HIND SABHAS’ TO RAISE QUESTIONS ON PAHALGAM
The Congress had announced Jai Hind Sabhas across the country from May 20 to May 30 to honour the valour of the Indian Armed Forces and to raise questions on security lapses and the Prime Minister’s silence on US President Donald Trump’s claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the halting of the operation. The decision to hold the ‘Jai Hind Sabhas’ was taken at a meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) members on Wednesday, which was attended by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress General Secretaries KC Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and Mukul Wasnik as well as Treasurer Ajay Maken among others. On the other hand, the CWC also adopted a resolution that said Mr. Trump’s claim of brokering had internationalised the Kashmir issue and represented a “dangerous and unprecedented hyphenation of India with Pakistan”. Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also wrote letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a special session of the Parliament. (IPA Service)
Revamped PLFS Too Does Not Show The Real Picture Of Joblessness In India 