India Political Highlights: Congress ready for foundation day, Rahul Gandhi to begin Bharat Nyay Yatra on Jan 14

Ghulam Ahmad Mir, General Secretary AICC says, "Today the senior Congress leaders of J&K had a meeting with the central leadership. Talks were held regarding the preparations for the upcoming J&K elections, and about issues we have, regarding the I.N.D.I.A block...all the leaders put forward their opinions and issues in front of the leadership..."

BJP MP Locket Chatterjee on West Bengal BJP Core committee meeting

Working to eliminate the ‘Frankenstein’ TMC govt: BJP's Suvendu Adhikari

“BJP is committed and fighting to establish the ‘Double Engine’ government in Bengal. We are sincerely working against the family politics, appeasement and corruption and fighting to eliminate the ‘Frankenstein’ TMC government being run under the leadership of ‘aunty’ and her ‘great nephew’,” says BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari after BJP senior leadership meeting in Kolkata.

BJP sets sights on double digits in Telangana

With an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has prepared a 90-day action plan intending to bag double digits from Telangana, which sends 17 members to the Lok Sabha.

The action plan, according to party sources, will be set into motion in January. Currently, BJP has four MPs- Union Minister G Kishan Reddy representing Secunderabad, Banndi Sanjay from Karimnagar, Dharmapuri Aravind from Nizamabad and Soyam Bapu Rao represents Adilabad.

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Amit Shah most incompetent home minister in independent India: Priyank Kharge

On Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on CAA, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge says, "Amit Shah is perhaps the most incompetent Home Minister in independent India. How come he has time to comment on CAA and watch his son administer cricket matches in Ahmedabad, but does not want to comment on Manipur or comment on the Parliament security breach issue...Instead of trying to divert the topic, he should inform us where the investigation is leading to..." (ANI)

Rahul Gandhi to hold Bharat Nyay Yatra from January 14 to March 20 from Manipur to Mumbai.

Addressing a presser, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal says, "Now Rahul Gandhi is doing a yatra with great experience from the first Bharat Jodo Yatra. This Yatra is going to interact with youth, women and marginalised people. This Yatra will cover a distance of 6,200 kms. It travels the states including Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chattisgarh, UP, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat and finally Maharashtra. The mode of yatra is through the bus..."

Kharge, Rahul hold meet with Andhra Congress leaders at party's Delhi office

“Rahul Gandhi’s yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir was very fruitful and positive. People understood that this person speaks about peace and love. I believe the new yatra from East to West will similarly prove to be profitable for the Congress party and bring gains for the I.N.D.I.A bloc which will be seen in the 2024 elections,” says JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey on Congress's 'Bharat Nyay Yatra' announcement. (PTI)

'Ram mandir not built for people who don't believe in Lord Ram,' says BJP's Meenakashi Lekhi on Congress's Sam Pitroda's statement that it bothers him that the Ram Temple and the lighting of lamps are national issues in today's politics in the country.

Mamata Banerjee to not attend Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya: Report

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will not attend the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, reported news agency PTI, citing unnamed sources.

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After the Andhra Pradesh Congress leaders meeting at AICC, Congress MP Manickam Tagore says,"...Congress party is ready for the battle of 2024... Mission Andhra starts now... The coming year will be a year of Congress in Andhra Pradesh... Bharat Jodo Yatra has rejuvenated the Congress. Now the Bharat Nyay Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai is going to be historic for Congress..." (ANI)

CPM invites Hamas into Kerala, but when it comes to Hindu faith, they show ill-treatment...: Rajeev Chandrasekhar

On Sabarimala Row, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar says, "... The government of Kerala has made such careless arrangements at a place which sees devotees from across the nation... On one hand, CPM invites radical outfits like Hamas into the state, but when it comes to Hindu faith, they show ill-treatment..."

Farooq to be part of Bharat Nyay Yatra

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah says "We were a part of Bharat Jodo Yatra and will be a part of Bharat Nyay Yatra...There can be a situation in Kashmir (like that in Gaza) if India and Pakistan do not go for dialogue... On one side we have Pakistan and on the other there's China. If a war breaks out, the people of Kashmir will be affected. Atal Bihari Vajpayee once said, "We can change our friends, but not our neighbours"..."

Athawale takes pot shots at Rahul Gandhi

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale says, "Rahul Gandhi did Bharat Jodo Yatra but his goal was not to unite the country but to pull it apart since the Congress party has always played the role in pulling India apart...Even after years of rule, they didn't work to keep India together, and now Rahul Gandhi is up to do it."

I.N.D.I.A block to remain intact

There are no cracks in the JD (U). The I.N.D.I.A alliance is also intact. We have only one mission - to make India BJP-free and all the leaders are working for it,” says senior JD (U) leader Shrawan Kumar on reports of fissures in the party.

Thakur flays Rahul Gandhi over Bharat Nyay Yatra

"Those who include members of 'tukde-tukde' gang, those who work to divide India into regions and religions - what 'nyay' (justice) they will give? What justice will they give under whose regime 1984 riots took place? SIT probe for anti-Sikh riots was initiated by PM Modi's government. The public are also aware of their real face," says Union Minister Anurag Thakur when asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's proposed Bharat Nyay Yatra

Congress appoints new communication co-ordinators

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has appointed communication co-ordinators for all the state units ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. They will work with the respective state units for smooth functioning of media.

Union minister flays Rahul Gandhi

"They can take out any yatra they want to... When they took out Bharat Jodo Yatra, they lost all elections. Let us see what they lose after Bharat Nyay Yatra," says Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Nyay Yatra.

Congress gears up for foundation day

The Congress would celebrate its 138th foundation day in Nagpur on Thursday. The rally would be held at Dighori Naka, which has been named as Bharat Jodo Maidan.

Tagore asks Congressmen to return

"We welcome the leaders and workers who have left Congress in Andhra and believe in the ideology of Congress to come back and contribute to building a better Andhra Pradesh," says AICC general secretary Manickam Tagore, who is charge of party's affairs in Andhra Pradesh.  

Andhra Congress leaders want Sharmila in the party

Large number of leaders from Andhra Pradesh urged the Congress leadership to induct YS Sharmila, sister of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, into the party.

AAP accuses BJP of prejudice

"On Republic Day, every state's tableau is displayed about their progress and achievement. Since BJP came to power in the Centre, they're showing partiality to Punjab. During freedom struggle, the people of Punjab sacrificed their lives the most...BJP insulted those who sacrificed their lives for the country...people will give reply to BJP...Central govt and BJP's steps are really condemnable" says Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.

Patole attacks Centre

In a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief President Nana Patole said that the four pillars of democracy are under threat but the Congress would make every effort to save the Constitution.

Ram Mandir creating gloom in Congress: Pradhan

"Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha is creating sense of loss and gloom in Congress," says Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan after Sam Pitroda had raised questions about it.

Not invited for Ram temple inauguration: Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said he hasn’t been invited to the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya next month and targeted the BJP saying it was difficult to understand whether the party was using the issue for political or commercial purposes.

Kharge calls meeting

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting of newly appointed general secretaries and state In charge of AICC on Thursday in Nagpur later in the evening after the foundation day rally.