Congress Sonia Gandhi | Business Upturn

Congress President election delayed, final schedule yet to announce

Yakita Somani — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 10:14:05 +0000

The election for Congress President is expected to be postponed for a few weeks, and the final schedule will be decided at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on August 28.

According to Congress sources, the election will be held from August 21 to September 20.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi will travel abroad for a medical check-up with her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, amid speculation about front-runners for the party’s top job, with the names of several leaders making the rounds.

Meanwhile, Anand Sharma, a former union minister and senior Congress leader, said on Wednesday that the party needs to be revitalised, which is possible with collective effort.

In Shimla, he met with state party chief Pratibha Virbhadra Singh at the HP Congress Committee State office.

“We have taken up issues, and these issues have been thoroughly discussed in previous meetings. Many issues are addressed, while others are not. Hopefully, it is a sincere belief that if certain internal changes are implemented, the Congress will be renewed and revitalised “Sharma stated.

Rahul Gandhi resigned as Congress president in 2019 after the party suffered its second consecutive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, and Sonia Gandhi took over as interim president.

She also offered to resign in August 2020 after a group of senior party leaders known as G-23 wrote her a letter demanding an organisational overhaul and a full-time president.

However, the CWC had urged her to continue.

AICC spokesperson Sravan Dasoju quits Congress, blaming Telangana unit president

Yakita Somani — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 17:14:58 +0000

In a blow to the Congress in Telangana, AICC spokesperson Sravan Dasoju announced his resignation on Friday, citing disagreements with state Congress president and MP A Revanth Reddy’s leadership style.

He told reporters here that he is resigning from all party posts and primary membership of the party. He claimed that Reddy is not following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s principle of social justice, as well as the ideals for which party chief Sonia Gandhi granted Telangana statehood.

Sravan Dasoju, a backward class leader, claimed that Manickam Tagore, the AICC’s in-charge of party affairs in Telangana, did not correct Reddy when the latter spoke as if his own community should be powerful while backward classes, SCs, and STs would be ignored.

Other caste leaders did not agree with Reddy’s comments about caste chauvinism, he said.

Sravan Dasoju, who used to translate top AICC leaders’ speeches, including Rahul Gandhi’s, at public meetings, accused the PCC president of self-promotion at the expense of others.

Meanwhile, Congress Lok Sabha member Komatireddy Venkata Reddy expressed his displeasure with the PCC president’s induction of a leader who worked against him in the previous Lok Sabha elections into the Congress on Friday.

Venkata Reddy, who spoke to reporters in Delhi, was also outraged that a public meeting in his constituency had been announced without his knowledge.

Venkata Reddy’s brother and MLA Rajagopal Reddy had recently resigned from Congress. Rajagopal Reddy had also stated his intention to resign as MLA.

Sonia Gandhi: The devoted spouse who was forced to save the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty

Aayush Agarwal — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 11:55:23 +0000

Sonia Gandhi is the President of the Indian National Congress. The then Italian national was an 18-year-old student at a small language college in Cambridge and worked as a part-time waitress.

She was born in a small village near Vicenza, Italy and was raised in a Roman Catholic family. She moved for language classes to Cambridge where she met her future husband Rajiv Gandhi, and later married him in 1968.

Soon after marrying into Indian political royalty, she led a happy life as a devoted wife, daughter-in-law and mother of 2 children bearing the Gandhi grace. Her mother-in-law was Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India and that threw Sonia quite as anticipated in front of the press.

However, of Indira Gandhi’s 2 children, the younger Sanjay Gandhi was expected to take hold of his mother’s reigns. Thus, in the future the heir would contest in elections taking aboard his mother’s constituency allowing the Gandhi line to fall into the Prime Minister’s office again.

Sonia Gandhi after moving to India started living with her mother-in-law, the then-Prime Minister of India at her New Delhi residence. However, she kept away from the public sphere.

Sonia and Rajiv both avoided any involvement in politics of any kind. Rajiv worked as an airline pilot while Sonia took care of her family. She spent considerable amount of time with her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi. In a 1985 interview with the Hindi-language magazine Dharmyug, Sonia said. “She [Indira] showered me with all her affection and love”.

Unfortunately, Sanjay Gandhi died instantly succumbing to his head wounds in an air plane crash. Which took place on the 23rd of June, 1980. Near the Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi while he was flying a new aircraft of the Delhi Flying Club. And in attempts to successfully perform an aerobatic maneuver which was over his held aviation office, Sanjay lost control and crashed.

The only passenger in the plane who was Captain Subhash Saxena also died present in the crash.

The Heir is dead, Crown the Spare

The death of Sanjay Gandhi impacted the political future of India. His death led his mother to induct her other son Rajiv Gandhi into politics. Thus, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her bodyguard, Rajiv succeeded her as Prime Minister of India.

When Rajiv entered politics in 1982 after the death of his younger brother Sanjay Gandhi. Sonia continued to focus on her family and avoided all contact with the public.

As the prime minister’s wife she acted as his official hostess and also accompanied him on a number of state visits.

The Gandhis seen with the former King Juan Carlos I & Queen Sophia of Spain

With the former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Prince Claus, the former queen’s late husband

With Prince Charles and late Princess Diana of Wales

The Gandhi Heiress: Sonia Maino

She started her political career after her husband, Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination when she was pleaded by the party to join them. Gandhi was invited by Congress leaders to lead the party, but she declined. She agreed to join politics in 1997 after much pleading from the party; the following year, she was nominated for party president, and elected over Jitendra Prasada.

Sonia Gandhi was a homemaker who was pushed into the shadows of politics. Since, she refused to succeed him as the Congress president and prime minister, the party settled on the choice of P. V. Narasimha Rao. Later, he became the Prime Minister after winning elections that year.

However, over the next few years, Congress fortunes continued to weaken and the party lost the 1996 elections. Several senior leaders such as Madhavrao Sindhia, Rajesh Pilot, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Arjun Singh, Mamata Banerjee, P. Chidambaram and Jayanthi Natarajan openly revolted against former Congress President Sitaram Kesri.

These quitters of Congress created their own factions later on.

With no choice left, Sonia Gandhi was forced to prevent her late husband and his dynastical family’s legacy from falling apart. In an effort to recover from a fall from grace, she joined the Congress Party as a primary member in the Calcutta Plenary Session in 1997. Later becoming the party leader in 1998.

In May 1999, three senior leaders of the party (Sharad Pawar, P. A. Sangma, and Tariq Anwar) challenged her right to try to become India’s Prime Minister. Since she was of foreign origin (Italian). In this response, she offered to resign as party leader. This resulted in outpouring support. The 3 rebels were hence kicked out from the party and formed their own Nationalist Congress Party.

Within 62 days of joining as a primary member, she was offered the party President post which she accepted.

She contested Lok Sabha elections from Bellary, Karnataka and Amethi, Uttar Pradesh in 1999. She won both seats but chose to represent Amethi. In Bellary, she had defeated veteran BJP leader, Sushma Swaraj

Under her leadership, the Congress went on to form the government post the 2004 elections in coalition with other centre-left political parties. Gandhi has since been credited for being instrumental in formulating the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Which was re-elected to power in 2009. Gandhi declined the premiership following the 2004 victory; she instead led the ruling alliance and the National Advisory Council.

Throughout her political career, she has been the topic of conversation revolving around her foreign birth.

In December 2017, She stepped down as the Congress president citing health concerns. But returned to lead the party in August 2019. Although she has never held any public office in the Government of India. Gandhi has been widely referred to as one of the most powerful politicians in the country. And is often credited as one of the most powerful women in the world.

In accordance with a successful and long political career of 22 years, Sonia Gandhi has also drawn criticism relating to the Bofors scandal and more recently the National Herald money laundering case. The National Herald case is still being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and Sonia Gandhi has been summoned by the agency for questioning. Her son Rahul Gandhi and few of the other party leaders have already been questioned by the central agency.

The Italian college freshman who found duty in her new family kept away from the galore of fame. It was in this thriving political dynasty where she was coronated against her wishes as the heiress to continue the family legacy. The Indian politician Sonia Gandhi continues to hold office as the Congress President and a member of the Lok Sabha.

Explained: Arrest of Congress Jharkhand MLAs and “Operation Lotus”

Yakita Somani — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 17:58:50 +0000

The Congress party has suspended the three Jharkhand MLAs who were arrested by the West Bengal police on Saturday with large sums of cash.

Following a tip-off, Irfan Ansari, Rajesh Kachhap, and Naman Bixal, all MLAs from Jamtara, were detained on NH-16. Moreover, in the Ranihati neighbourhood of Howrah district. According to Swati Bhangalia, superintendent of police for Howrah (Rural). Furthermore, Bhangalia stated that the SUV carrying the trio had a nameplate that read “MLA Jamtara Jharkhand” and was loaded down with “large amounts of cash.”

Congress spokesman Pawan Khera asserted at a media briefing on Sunday. That the central government and Narendra Modi’s ruling party are directly to blame for the deteriorating democratic spirit. Also, that there are several examples of the strategies the BJP adopts, the money it spends, and the agencies it abuses in states. Where it cannot win elections, according to Khera. He claimed that there are plans afoot by the BJP to topple the Jharkhand government.

Avinash Pande, who is in charge of Jharkhand, announced during the press conference that Sonia Gandhi, the interim Congress president, had immediately suspended the 3 MLAs. The MLAs were reportedly being questioned by the police on Saturday regarding the whereabouts of the money.

Congress leaders attacked the BJP by referring to the episode as “Operation Lotus”. Which is a euphemism for the BJP’s alleged poaching of MLAs. “In Howrah tonight, the BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ in Jharkhand is exposed. The goal of “Hum Do” in Delhi is to establish the E-D pair in Jharkhand. Just like they did in Maharashtra, according to a tweet from Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh. Who is also in charge of communication.

“Rashtrapatni” Insult Case: Did MP Chowdhury ever apologize to Madam President Murmu?

Yakita Somani — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 19:48:54 +0000

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury apologized in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu on Friday for his offensive remarks.

He said in a letter to the President that he accidentally used the wrong word for her and that it was a slip of the tongue.

“I am writing to express my regret for having mistakenly used an incorrect word. To describe the position you hold. I assure you that it was a slip of the tongue. I apologize and request you to accept the same,” Chowdhury said in his letter to the President.

Chowdhury used the term “Rashtrapatni” for President Murmu while speaking to the media during their demonstration at Vijay Chowk on Wednesday. This sparked an argument, and the ruling BJP brought the matter up in Parliament, seeking an apology from both him and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Following Chowdhury’s use of the term “Rashtrapatni” in a video clip, the BJP, led by ministers Smriti Irani in the Lok Sabha and Nirmala Sitharaman in the Rajya Sabha, objected vehemently on Thursday and demanded an apology from both Chowdhury and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. Calling the President “Rashtrapatni” was a “sexist insult,” according to Sitharaman in the Rajya Sabha, because “Rasthrapati is a gender neutral word.”

“Rashtrapatni” Insult Case: Sexism or slip of tongue?

Yakita Somani — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 09:59:37 +0000

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a congressman, caused a huge uproar by calling President Droupadi Murmu “Rashtrpatni.” The argument started after a video of Lok Sabha Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury emerged in which he was heard referring to President Droupadi Murmu as “Rashtrapatni.” Later on, though, he described it as a “slip of the tongue” and an “error.”

Rashtrapatni insult?

Congress President Sonia Gandhi was asked to apologize by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for calling President Droupadi Murmu “Rashtrapatni”. Responding Sonia Gandhi said. “Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has already apologised”. Her response to the media about the “Rashtrapatni” statement made by party member Adhir Chowdhury was, “He has already apologized.”

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, however, asserted that he had referred to President Murmu as a “Rashtrapatni”. Inadvertently and that the ruling party was purposefully attempting to turn a molehill into a mountain.

There is no need to apologize. If you want to hang me for saying “Rashtrapatni” incorrectly, go ahead. The ruling party is intentionally trying to turn a molehill into a mountain. Claimed Congress Chowdhury on his ‘Rashtrapatni’ remark.

Senior party officials were summoned to an urgent meeting by Sonia Gandhi at the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) office. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Mallikarjun Kharge, two party leaders, were also invited. When Sonia Gandhi, Adhi Ranjan Chowdhury, and NK Suresh met with the Lok Sabha Speaker, they asked her to provide him with an opportunity to address the accusations levelled against him for his statement on the House floor.

The country is aware that the opposition party is “anti-tribal, anti-Dalit, and anti-women,” according to Union Minister Smriti Irani, who also criticised the Congress and sought an apology for intentionally targeting President Droupadi Murmu.

Rashtrapatni: Misogyny or speech error

Smriti Irani stated that Congress should apologise in Parliament and on Indian streets. Nirmala Sitharaman, the finance minister, pressed Sonia Gandhi for an apology in the Rajya Sabha. Smriti Irani addressed Adhir’s remarks in the Lok Sabha and demanded an apology from both Sonia Gandhi and him.
She was referred to by congressmen as a puppet candidate, and they also dubbed her a symbol of evil. Even though Droupadi Murmu Ji has been elected to the nation’s highest constitutional post, their attacks on her continue, according to Smriti Irani, who spoke to reporters today before the Parliament convened.

The opposition party claimed that despite being led by a woman, Sonia Gandhi, Congressmen still treat women in constitutional positions with contempt. The Union Minister retaliated by attacking the opposition party. Ajoy Kumar, a senior in the Congress, had previously stated on Wednesday that Droupadi Murmu symbolises a “very evil philosophy of India.”

Ajoy Kumar claimed that the situation of scheduled castes in India had gotten “worse”. And that the ruling party shouldn’t be using Droupadi Murmu as an “Adivasi emblem.”

“Droupadi Murmu is not the issue. Additionally qualified candidates Yashwant Sinha and Murmu are both good people. However, she stands for a really terrible Indian worldview. She shouldn’t represent “Adivasis,” in our opinion. The gang rape and murder of a young Dalit lady in Uttar Pradesh occurred in Hathras, during the administration of President Ram Nath Kovind. Has he spoken at all? The situation for scheduled castes has gotten worse, according to Kumar.

In response to the Congress MP’s remark, BJP lawmakers on Thursday joined Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Hence, in protesting in front of Parliament.

Congress MPs detained by Delhi Police

United News of India (UNI) — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 09:59:23 +0000

Congress MPs were detained by Delhi Police on Wednesday while they were marching from Vijay Chowk to the President’s House to protest against the Enforcement Directorate’s quizzing of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and suspension of MPs from Parliament.

“We want to raise the voice of the common people in Parliament. We were moving towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan. But were stopped by the police. We have been detained”. Congress MP Manish Tewari said while being taken away from the site.

Earlier, the police detained Congress workers outside the AICC headquarters.

Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday recorded her statement for a third day before the ED in a case of alleged money laundering connected to the National Herald newspaper.

Congress MPs also held a sit-in at Vijay Chowk. And raised slogans against the alleged misuse of agencies. Such as the ED and the suspension of opposition members from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and other leaders of the Congress alleged that the government is running away from the debate on important issues.

They raised the issue of price rise and the imposition of the Goods and Services Tax. On certain essential daily use items.

(Except for the headline. This story has not been edited by Business Upturn staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

National Herald Case: Sonia Gandhi to be examined by ED once again

Yakita Somani — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 15:17:18 +0000

Sonia Gandhi, Congress President is scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday for her second round of interrogation in the money laundering case involving the National Herald newspaper.

According to officials, she is expected to appear in a deposition before the federal investigation agency on July 26. Around noon so that the ED investigating officer can record her statement.

The agency initially intended to summon her on Monday but it got postponed by a day.

During her first day of questioning in the case on July 21, the 75-year-old Gandhi was interrogated for more than two hours. While responding to 28 questions posed by the agency. The case is an investigation into alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-supported Young Indian Private Limited. Which owns the National Herald newspaper.

Sonia Gandhi to be questioned again

In addition, a sizable force from the Delhi Police, including members of the CRPF and the RAF, are anticipated to be sent there. Further, to barricade the more than one-kilometer distance between her home and the ED office.

After the ED late last year filed a new case under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Action to question the Gandhis was taken.

This came about after a trial judge in this location recognized an Income Tax agency investigation into Young Indian. Which was as a result of a 2013 private criminal complaint filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy.

A majority shareholder and one of Young Indian’s promoters are Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The Congress president owns 38% of the company, just like her son.

The federal probe agency’s move against its senior leadership has been criticised by Congress and dubbed a “political vendetta.”

The ED asserts that the AJL “owns” assets worth roughly Rs 800 crore. And the agency wants to hear from the Gandhis especially Sonia Gandhi. Moreover, how a not-for-profit organization like Young Indian Limited was engaging in commercial operations. Such as leasing out its real estate and other assets.

Sonia Gandhi summoned by ED on July 21 for questioning

News Desk — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 14:15:52 +0000

National Herald case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now asked interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi to depose before it. Moreover, on July 21 for questioning in connection with the National Herald newspaper-linked money-laundering case.

Sonia Gandhi was earlier issued a second notice for June 23 by the ED. But the 75-year-old Congress leader could not follow up with the date. As she was “strictly advised to rest at home following her hospitalization on account of Covid-19 and a lung infection”.

The ailing interim Congress chief had tried to postpone the summons by four weeks. Hence, she has been asked to depose before the agency on July 21, the officials said. The Congress president was first issued the notice for an appearance on June 8 but after she reported positive for Covid, the summons for June 23 were issued.

The ED probe against the Gandhi family revolves around the alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper. The newspaper is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Private Limited.

Rahul Gandhi also underwent a series of questionings. Which were spanning 10-12 hours over five days, by the central probe agency in the same case.

He went ahead and said, “The Government of India…the Prime Minister thinks that by making me sit in the ED (office) for five days, I will change my behaviour. This is a confusion in the mind of the Prime Minister”

Apart from the Gandhi family, the ED has also questioned senior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge. And Pawan Bansal as part of the investigation.

National Herald case explained: The voice of India’s freedom struggle corrupted into political subterfuge

United News of India (UNI) — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 08:08:22 +0000

New Delhi, June 13: Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is all set to be questioned by the Enforcement Directorate on Monday in connection with corruption allegations in the National Herald case.

The ED issued summons week before last to both Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul. The ED is expected to record both statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Both leaders are accused of “misappropriating” Associated Journals’ assets “worth over Rs 2,000 crore” for “only Rs 50 lakh”.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy had accused the Gandhis of misusing party funds. To buy a firm Associated Journals Limited (AJL) that published the now-defunct National Herald newspaper. A charge that the Gandhis have continued to deny of involving any financial impropriety.

To give a brief history, the National Herald newspaper was started in 1938 by Rahul Gandhi’s great grandfather, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was the first prime minister.

It was published by AJL founded in 1937 with thousands other freedom fighters as shareholders. AJI also published two other dailies — Navjeevan in Hindi and the Qaumi Awaz in Urdu.

Overseen by some of the most powerful leaders of the pre-Independence era, the National Herald identified with India’s freedom struggle.

The British government banned it in 1942, forcing the daily to shut printing. However, it was resume three years later.

In 1947, when India became Independent, Nehru resigned as chairman of the board as he became PM.

The party though continued to play a big role in shaping the newspaper’s ideology. During the National Herald’s silver jubilee in 1963, Nehru accepted the paper “generally favouring Congress policy” while maintaining “an independent outlook”.

The paper was among leading English dailies with some of the finest journalists as the party continued to fund it.

In 2008, it wrapped up over financial crisis. And in 2016, it was relaunched as a digital publication.

In between, around 2012/13 Swamy filed a private complaint against the Gandhis.

Swamy alleged Gandhis used Congress party funds. And took over AJL to try to acquire over Rs 20 billion in property assets.

In 2008, while shutting down temporarily before turning digital. The National Herald publisher AJL owed the Congress a debt of Rs 900 million

In 2010, the Congress assigned the debt to Young India Private Limited, a non-profit body. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are among its board of directors and they each own 38 per cent of the company.

The remaining was owned by Congress leaders Motilal Vora. And Oscar Fernandes, journalist Suman Dubey and entrepreneur Sam Pitroda, all named in the case.

Swamy alleged the Gandhis used “malicious” means to “take over” assets worth millions. As Young India acquired complete control over AJL and its real estate, located in Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai and other cities.

When ED issued summons against the two Congress leaders from the Gandhi family. The party described it as “a strange case of alleged money laundering without any money”. And accused the BJP of “political vendetta”.

The party said, in 2010 AJL became debt-free when it swapped its debt for equity. And assigned the shares to the newly created Young India Private Limited.

It insisted that AJL “continues to be the owner, printer and publisher of National Herald. And that there is no change or transfer of property”.

The party accused the Modi government of using government agencies to target opposition.

Navjot Sidhu welcomes Bhagwant Mann as the new CM of Punjab

Mymun Malik — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:36:32 +0000

A glorious victory for AAP’s elected CM Bhagwant Mann as he took an oath at a lavish do in Punjab.

This year Congress was defeated massively in the Punjab elections, letting Sonia Gandhi demand an immediate step down of Navjot Sidhu from his position as the president of the party’s unit. Not only Navjot but also the other presidents of the 4 states that gave a vote last month were asked to resign after Congress saw a landslide defeat.

Navjot Sidhu without a further delay handed in his resignation letter in an iconic one-liner letter to Sonia Gandhi.

As desired by the Congress President I have sent my resignation … pic.twitter.com/Xq2Ne1SyjJ

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) March 16, 2022

Navjot later tweeted his blessings on the AAM AADMI Party leader Bhagwant Mann on taking the new position of a CM of Punjab state.

The happiest man is the one from whom no one expects … Bhagwant Mann unfurls a new anti – Mafia era in Punjab with a mountain of expectations …hope he rises to the occasion , brings back Punjab on the revival path with pro – people policies … best always

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) March 17, 2022

AAP won over Congress in a majority of 92 of 117 seats and their candidate won over Navjot in Amritsar (East).

AAP also took away the limelight from the former CM Charanjit Channi with 2 seats.

Bhagwant Mann took his oath in a lavish do on Wednesday at Khatkar Kalan, (freedom fighter Bhagat Singh’s ancestral village). The 48-year-old won against Congress’ Dalvir Singh Goldy who contested from Dhuri in Sangrur district; he was the Lok Sabha MP from this region.

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi chief minister, and AAP leader have welcomed Bhagwant Mann and passionately stated that he is confident that, under Bhagwant’s leadership, Punjab will prosper.