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Rahul Gandhi receives death threat, Congress asks to beef up security

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Rahul-Gandhi

Puducherry: An anonymous letter threatening to kill Rahul Gandhi at an election meeting in Puducherry has been received by a senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy.

The Congress Vice President is scheduled to address an election rally of the Congress-DMK alliance tomorrow at Karaikal in Puducherry.

After the death threat letter surfaced, a delegation of top Congress leaders met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi today and urged him to beef up Rahul’s security. Singh assured the delegation there will be prompt action and security enhancement.

Narayanasamy, an AICC General Secretary and a former Union Minister, told PTI from Karaikal over phone that he had received an ‘unsigned letter’ at his Puducherry residence on May 5, threatening him and Rahul Gandhi.

He said the letter written in Tamil stated that “your party is responsible for closure of industries in Puducherry. We will attack you and your former Prime Minister’s son and be blasted while attending a meeting.”

Narayanasamy said he had filed a complaint with police and had also informed the party high command.

The Congress delegation including Ahmed Patel, Political Secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi; treasurer Motilal Vohra and Congress Deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma met Singh and apprised him about the threat to Rahul’s life.

“The Home Minister has assured prompt action and security enhancement. He has also assured us that the agencies of Centre and and states and SPG will be alerted to the threat that has been received,” Sharma told reporters after the 20- minute meeting with the Home Minister.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) guards the Prime Minister, the former prime ministers and their immediate family. Sonia Gandhi and her two children–Rahul and Priyanka –are SPG protectees.

Rahul’s father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during a suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur near Chennai in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991 shortly before he was to address a Lok Sabha poll rally.

(PTI)

Rahul slams Modi for silence on probe into Panama Papers

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Kamalpur: Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of making ‘big promises’ on bringing back black money and asked him to explain why he has not instituted a probe into the matter of the Chattisgarh chief minister’s son’s name featuring in the ‘Panama Papers’.

“The Panama Papers have been leaked and many names have been mentioned about black money kept in Panama. It has also mentioned that Chattisgarh chief minister’s son Abhishek Singh has account in Panama,” Gandhi said while addressing a Congress poll rally here for the second phase of Assam Assembly election on April 11.

“Modi makes big promises to you about bringing back black money kept abroad. He should have at least said why no investigation has been ordered into the featuring of the chief minister’s son name in them,” Gandhi said. He said he had asked Modi in Parliament why former IPL chief Lalit Modi, who had escaped from the country, had not been brought back.

“Modiji did not utter one word in response.” Claiming that the Modi government was not taking action against black money hoarders, Gandhi said, “Recently Jaitley brought a new ‘Fair and Lovely scheme’ whereby any gangster, goon, drug dealer can make their black money white by just taking it to the government and paying minimal tax on it.”

Modi, he said, only made false promises during Lok Sabha elections about bringing back black money. “None of the Indians have received the Rs 15 lakh of that money in their bank accounts as assured by Modi.”

Addressing another election rally at Dhamdhama, the Congress Vice President said this time two parties with diametrically opposite ideologies were contesting in the Assam Assembly elections.

“Congress believes in working for peace and development with feelings of brotherhood. On the other side is the BJP, RSS which indulge in divisive politics and talk only about violence, make one Indian fight with another Indian, Hindus with Muslims”, Rahul said.

Stating that 15 years ago when BJP’s present poll alliance partner AGP was in power in the state and the saffron party was at the Centre, he said, “there was only sad news, violence till Congress came and restored the peace”.

(Agencies)

Govt was forced to listen to people: Rahul Gandhi on EPF tax withdrawal

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rahul gandhi

New Delhi: As the government rolled back the controversial proposal to tax EPF withdrawal, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday mounted a fresh attack on it, saying the attempt to tax the safety net of the middle class was “morally” wrong.

The Congress Vice President, in a series of tweets, said the government was forced to listen to people and roll back the “patently unfair” tax on EPF.

“Finally the Govt was forced to listen to people and roll back the patently unfair tax on EPF.

“But the attempt to tax the safety net of millions of hard working middle class people was morally wrong and shows this Govt’s anti-ppl mindset (sic)”, he said on the micro-blogging site.

In the face of all round attack, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday completely rolled back the controversial proposal.

He made a suo motu statement in the Lok Sabha during which he also announced withdrawal of imposing monetary limit for contribution, of employers to provident and superannuation fund of Rs 1.5 lakh for taking tax benefit.

Terming as “big victory” for people of the country the roll back of the proposal, Congress said Modi once again “quickly and meekly” caved into the pressure exerted by Rahul Gandhi.

Congress spokesman Sanjay Jha tweeted “Modi, ONCE AGAIN, quickly/ meekly caves in to pressure exerted by @OfficeOfRG, fighting for the common man. #EPF(sic)”.

Party’s chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala termed it as a “big victory” for people of the country.

“Modi government was forced to withdraw the anti-people measure in the wake of nationwide protests of the salaried class. It is a big victory of people (sic),” he said on the micro-blogging site.

(Agencies)

‘Fair and Lovely’ scheme launched to convert black money into white: Rahul Gandhi

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New Delhi: Congress vice president on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government, saying it launched a “‘Fair and Lovely Yojana’ to convert black money into white money”.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said: “Nobody who has black money will be jailed under Modi’s ‘Fair and Lovely’ scheme. All those who have black money can make it white under this scheme.”

Gandhi was participating on the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President on his address to the joint sitting of parliament’s two houses, marking the beginning of the budget session.

He hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “Modi ji had promised that he will put people with black money behind bars, now they have come up with way to save those people.”

“I was shocked to see Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launching such scheme.”

He said the prime minister failed to fulfil his poll promise of bringing the black money from foreign countries.

Gandhi also raked up the issue of suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula and said the prime minister neither called up his mother nor did he speak on the issue.

Gandhi slammed the prime minister for his silence over the violence done with students and media persons at a Delhi court.

“Why were you silent, Modi ji, when journalists, teachers and students were beaten,” he said.

On the ongoing Jawaharlal Nehru University row, Gandhi said: “I had heard (JNUSU president) Kanhaiya’s whole speech, not a word in his speech was anti-national.”

He said the government could not “crush the JNU” or the “poor people of the country”.

(Agencies)

Rahul Gandhi on day-long fast along with agitating students

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rahul gandhi rohith vemula

Hyderabad: Stepping up the offensive on Dalit scholar suicide issue, Rahul Gandhi today commenced a day-long fast along with agitating students of Hyderabad Central University here after participating in a candle light vigil in the wee hours.

The Congress Vice President spent about two hours with agitating students past midnight and participated in the candle light vigil along with 2,000 students to mark the birthday of Rohith, who would have turned 27 today.

Rahul returned to the protest site this morning to begin the fast, expressing solidarity with them. “Rahulji is on fast,” NSUI President Roji M John said.

Rahul, who is visiting the campus for the second time in as many weeks, tweeted, “I am here today at the request of Rohith’s friends and family, to stand with them in their fight for justice.

“A young life full of dreams and aspirations was cut short. We owe it to him, to the memory of (Mahatma) Gandhiji and to every single Indian student who dreams of an India free from prejudice and injustice,” he said in another tweet.

Rohith’s mother Radhika and brother Raju were also present at the protest site.

Gandhi, who arrived here at 12.10 AM, spoke to the agitating students and lit candles before Rohith’s picture.

As students raised slogans against Irani and Dattaretreya, Rahul intervened and politely told them not to shout ‘murdabad’ (a slogan wishing death to).

“Let us not say ‘murdabad’ to somebody. That will not do justice,” he said. Velpula Sunkanna, one of the research scholars whose suspension was revoked recently, said Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile should be removed from the VC post.

“On January 17, we have filed SC/ST Atrocities case against Appa Rao and (five) others. These six people should be arrested immediately. Thats the only demand,” Sunkanna, who is on an indefinite fast along with Vijay Kumar (another scholar whose suspension was revoked), said.

On Rahul Gandhi’s second visit to the campus, he said, “I look at it the way others..Arvind Kejriwal, Sitaram Yechury, CPI leaders and many people who came and supported us do. The same way we see Rahul Gandhi”.

(Agencies)

Rahul Gandhi a kid, he should chew toffees: Azam Khan

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Rahul-Gandhi

Rampur: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Sunday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress vice president is still a kid and nobody takes him seriously.

When asked about Gandhi’s recent trip to Bundelkhand, Khan said the Congress vice president must be tired of visiting here and there. “He should take some toffees along, have them, and distribute them among other kids too,”said IBN7 quoted Khan as saying.

On Saturday, Gandhi undertook a ‘padyatra’ (foot march) in drought-hit Bundelkhand.

Addressing villagers during his nearly seven-km-long march, he demanded that some of the money saved by the government due to big drop in crude oil prices be diverted to the region.

(Agencies)

Dalit student’s death:Protest escalates, Rahul visits campus

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rahul gandhi rohith vemula

Hyderabad: Protests escalated today over the alleged suicide by a dalit research scholar with activists of a local outfit demonstrating outside the residence of Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, who has been accused in the case, demanding his immediate resignation.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited the University of Hyderabad and interacted with students over the issue even as several students in campuses outside the state came out of classes in solidarity with their counterparts here.

The activists of TJYF (Telengana Jagruti Youth Front), a cultural outfit headed by TRS MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha, raised slogans outside the house of Dattatreya at Ram Nagar here and blamed him for the death of PhD scholar Rohit Vemula, who was found hanging in his hostel room on Sunday, triggering angry reactions.

Holding placards, the protestors demanded that the minister should resign immediately.

“Thirty seven of the protesters were taken into preventive custody when they held a dharna near the Union Minister’s house,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone) V B Kamalasan Reddy said.

They were later let off.

On the university campus, scores of students, who intensified their protests, demanded that Dattatreya, BJP MLC Ramchander Rao, university’s Vice Chancellor P Appa Rao and two ABVP leaders, against whom cases were registered for abetting suicide of Rohit, be jailed.

Raising slogans like “We want justice”, they held Dattatreya and others responsible for Rohit’s death and took out a rally on the campus.

Resignation of the Vice Chancellor, immediate revocation of suspension of the four students by the university, employment to a member of Rohit’s family, an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh were among the other demands made by the agitators.

Rohit was among the five research scholars who were suspended by the university in August last year and also one of the accused in the case of assault on a student leader.

(Agencies)

Rahul Gandhi to be away in Europe for ‘few days’

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Rahul-Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today said he will be travelling to Europe for a “few days”, the first time that he has gone public about a trip abroad.

Gandhi, whose foreign trips in the past have led to intense speculation, took to Twitter to announce this.

“I will be traveling to Europe for a few days. A very Happy New Year to everyone,” he said.

“Hope the new year brings much joy and happiness to you and everyone close to you!,” he wished.

Gandhi had been out of the country during New Year on some occasions in the past as well.

His last two trips abroad were much talked about. His around two-month sabbatical after an AICC session in February this year to reflect upon the party’s debacle in Delhi elections and deliberate on a future course for Congress had led to BJP taking potshots at him.

There was a political controversy even over his September visit to Aspen, US to attend a conference.

This is the first time that Gandhi has taken to Twitter to make public his plan to travel abroad.

The party has not assigned any reason for his visit.

When the BJP raised questions about the Congress claim of Gandhi attending the conference in Aspen, the Congress vice president’s office had uploaded photographs of the same on Twitter to counter the attack.

(Agencies)

National Herald case: Sonia, Rahul appear in court, granted bail

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New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi were granted bail in the National Herald case on Saturday by a court here.

They appeared in the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Loveleen in the Patiala House courts complex amid tight security.

A team of Special Protection Guard (SPG), Border Security Force, and anti-bomb squad has been deployed at the Patiala House court premise here.

A large number of Congress party workers gathered at the party’s headquarters to express solidarity with the two top leaders.

Sonia Gandhi had reportedly asked party leaders and supporters from other states not to throng the capital on Saturday.

Congress leaders have alleged a “political vendetta” for the National Herald cheating and misappropriation case involving the Gandhis.

“Its a political vendetta. We will fight the legal battle in accordance with law. We have complete respect for the judicial process,” said Congress spokesman R.S. Surjewala.

Another Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Shinghvi said: “We have faith in the judiciary, all legal options including bail are available. We will proceed to court in a serious and dignified manner. No reason for hype.”

The court had ordered Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to appear on Saturday in connection with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy’s complaint in the National Herald case.

On June 26 last year, the trial court issued summons to the Congress leaders on Swamy’s complaint about “cheating” in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by Young India Ltd (YIL), a firm in which Sonia Gandhi and her son each own a 38 percent stake.

The Delhi High Court last week dismissed the plea of the Gandhis to quash the summons issued to them by a trial court.

(IANS)

100 per cent political vendetta coming out of PMO: Rahul Gandhi

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Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today said the National Herald case is “hundred per cent political vendetta coming out of PMO” but declared that he has full faith in the judiciary.

He also rejected the charge that Congress was using Parliament to threaten judiciary saying “it is the other way round”.

“One hundred per cent political vendetta. Pure political vendetta coming out of PMO. It is their way of doing politics. Pure 100 per cent vendetta,” Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.

He said he has full faith in the judiciary. “I have full faith in judiciary. We will see at the end what comes out. Truth will come out.”

Asked about Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu’s charge that Congress was using Parliament to threaten judiciary (by disruption), he said, “It is the other way round. Who is threatening judiciary. We all know.”

Congress members disrupted proceedings in both the houses of Parliament yesterday and got the Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 PM today.

(Agencies)

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