In Congress, chorus grows for Priyanka to contest LS polls

News Network
April 14, 2019

New Delhi, Apr 14: The Congress may have declined any move to field her from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat but the idea of AICC General secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting for Lok Sabha polls seems to have tremendous support among the party workers who feel it could have a ‘morale boosting’ effect on the party cadres in the state, where the grand old party is fighting against odds to make its presence felt.

Reports that Congress could field Ms Vadra from Varanasi have been doing the rounds since the last couple of days. When asked on the issue, the party on Saturday said that it would not comment on hearsay and that media would be informed if any such decision is taken.

Addressing mediapersons at AICC headquarters, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, responding to a question in this regard, said, 'We don’t comment on hearsay. The party will let you know if any decision will be taken on it.'

According to a section of party leaders, Ms Vadra contesting the Lok Sabha elections from a seat in Uttar Pradesh will benefit Congress in the state as well as other parts of the country.

In fact, party leaders and workers from Uttar Pradesh feel a decision by Ms Vadra to contest for the Lok Sabha elections will enhance the Congress’ poll prospects across the country.

The reports of Ms Vadra contesting the Lok Sabha elections have been doing the rounds ever since she was made the General secretary for Uttar Pradesh East.

In fact, in reply to queries by reporters during her campaign meetings in the state, Ms Vadra has expressed her willingness to contest for the Lok Sabha elections if the party wants.

Party leaders feel that a decision to field her, especially from the strategically important constituency like Varanasi , could strongly put forth a message among the people of the state that the party is fighting the election in Uttar Pradesh on the front foot.

It is notable that after being ignored by the BSP and SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress had announced its decision to go it alone in the state and contest on all 80 Lok Sabha seats.

Ms Vadra's candidature would only bolster this message.

Party sources said Ms Vadra's decision to campaign in Uttar Pradesh as well as other parts of the country is sure to improve chances of the Congress to oust the BJP from power.

Sources say that Ms Vadra taking on the might of PM Modi from Varanasi would enthuse the party cadres in the state, where the party has been reduced to being a fringe player in the last few years.

The best show by the party in the last two decades in UP was in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections when the party managed to win 21 seats , out of 80 Lok sabha seats of the state.

However, in the face of a strong Modi wave in 2014, the party was reduced to an abysmal two seats.

Though till now the party has remained non committal on her candidature, sources said the party top brasss is actively considering the idea of fielding her from Varanasi or Allahabad in an attempt to take the battle to the BJP in UP.

In this context, political observers attach significance to a statement made by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Raebareli earlier this week after filing her nomination for the seat.

Talking to reporters after filing her nomination from Rae Bareli , Ms Gandhi, when asked if she felt Mr Modi was invincible, said,’’not at all... Don't forget 2004, Vajpayee ji was invincible but we won":

"People of the country are fed up with BJP and Narendra Modi and they have made up their mind to replace him," she said.

If Ms Vadra contests from Varanasi, it will be the most-watched contest in the Lok Sabha election 2019, where a member of the Gandhi family will directly challenge the might of PM Modi, that too from Varanasi.

Though a final decision on her candidature from Varanasi would be taken only by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, political observers feel that she is best contender to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi.

Political observers feel that with sharp attacks on Prime Minister Modi during her campaign in Utar Pradresh over the last month, Ms Vadra has established herself as an able contender against him.

PM Modi, who contested for the first time from Varanasi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, won by a massive margin of 3.70 lakh votes. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal was the runner up, polling over 2 lakh votes. Congress candidate Ajay Rai got 75,000 odd votes.

Though taking on PM Modi on his home turf looks to be an impregnable task, many feel that Ms Vadra with her fresh appeal and her startling resemblance to her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, has the ability to win the hearts of the electorate, thus posing a serious challenge to the popularity enjoyed by Mr Modi.

Party workers in Uttar Pradesh say that with her confident demeanour and ability to win the hearts of the common man, Ms Vadra reminds them of Indira Gandhi. In fact, they feel that she is the most suitable candidate to take on the might of PM Modi.

Fielding Ms Vadra from Varanasi is being seen as another of the major surprises from the Congress for the BJP in these Lok Sabha elections.

Congress has already surprised political pundits by announcing Mr Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad, in Kerala apart from the traditional bastion of Amethi.

Even Ms Vadra's entry into formal politics ahead of Lok Sabha polls was a surprise.

Viewed in this context, the chances of Ms Vadra finally contesting against PM Modi cannot be completely ruled out.

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Agencies
July 24,2020

Mumbai, Jul 24: Reliance India Limited (RIL) on Friday overtook ExxonMobil to become the world's second most valuable energy company and 46th among the world's largest companies by market capitalisation.

RIL's market capitalisation stood at Rs 14.16 lakh crore (USD 189.3 billion) at market close on Friday. ExxonMobil's current market value is USD 184.77 billion.

"Reliance Industries, with a market capitalisation of USD 189.3 billion now is the second-most valuable energy company in the world. Reliance Industries now stands at 46th among the world's largest companies by market capitalisation ahead of well-known names like ExxonMobil, Abbott Laboratories, Oracle Corp, Chevron and Unilever Plc, and just below PepsiCo," RIL said in an official release.

RIL continued its rally on Friday, notwithstanding overall weak market conditions.

RIL shares made a new all-time high of Rs 2,163 and were last traded at Rs 2,148.8 on NSE with a gain of 4.4 per cent. The market capitalisation of fully paid-up shares stands at Rs 13.62 lakh crore (USD 182.06 billion), the release said.

Reliance partly paid-up shares gained 9.33 per cent on NSE today to last trade at Rs 1289.95. The partly paid-up shares now have a market capitalisation of Rs 0.55 lakh crore (USD 7.29 billion).

"Reliance's share price had touched a bottom of Rs 867 on March 23, 2020, when the total market value of the company stood at Rs 5.5 lakh crore or $73.5 billion. Thus, RIL has added $115.9 billion to shareholder wealth within just four months - one of the highest value creation feats in the world in such a short time," the release said.

Reliance had earlier raised Rs 212,809 crore through Rights Issue, combined investments in Jio Platforms and investment by bp.

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News Network
February 5,2020

New Delhi, Feb 5: Taking on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after Shaheen Bagh shooter Kapil Baisala was identified as an AAP worker by police, BJP chief J P Nadda on Tuesday said it exposed the party and Kejriwal who were playing with the country's security.

The Aam Aadmi Party hit back, questioning the police investigation.

In a series of tweets, Nadda said people of the country and Delhi today have seen the "dirty face" of AAP.

"For political longing, Kejriwal and his people even sold the security of the country. Earlier, Kejriwal used to insult the Army and advocate terrorists, but today relations with those who carry out their terrorist activities came to light," he said.

Nadda said he wanted to make it clear to Kejriwal that this country is bigger than any election, any government, and "this nation will not forgive those who play with its security. Kejriwal and his entire team have been exposed. The people of Delhi will give a befitting reply".

He claimed the entire country has seen "photos of Imam Hussain, the MLA and former minister of the Delhi government, with a radical terrorist organisation, PFI".

Days before Delhi goes to polls, police claimed that Baisala is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party. They said Baisala joined the party in early 2019 along with his father.

Police said it had photos of Baisala purportedly joining AAP along with his father Gaje Singh last year.

AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that photos which were part of investigation were leaked to the BJP. He also said the party will approach the Election Commission to raise this issue, which has cropped up four days before the polling date.

"On whose instance, the police is giving statement? How did the photos which were part of the investigation reach the BJP? Before the news came out, Manoj Tiwari in the morning stated that the accused was from AAP. How did Manoj Tiwari get this news," Singh questioned in a press conference.

Union minister and BJP's in-charge for the Delhi polls, Prakash Javadekar, in a press conference alleged that "their (AAP's) designs are very clear from the beginning and they are trying every trick".

The whole conspiracy of AAP is to "divide society, cause fear in a community and create a vote bank," he charged.

Javadekar also claimed that photos of Baisala were recovered by police from his mobile phone although they were erased.

He also claimed that Baisala and his father were welcomed by Sanjay Singh at their joining of AAP.

"This proves AAP misleads youth and pushes them on the wrong path. AAP's strategy is to divide two communities, they want to instigate riots in Delhi," Javadekar alleged.

He further alleged that AAP leader Sanjay Singh had said violence would take place in Delhi. Their "conspiracy has been exposed by Delhi Police," he claimed.

"We condemn this politics of AAP," he said.

Javadekar also claimed this was "not an isolated incident" as AAP member Amanatullah Khan made a "very provocative speech" and the party supported Shaheen Bagh and did not give permission for the prosecution of members of the "tukde-tukde gang".

He hinted the BJP could approach the Election Commission against AAP over the issue.

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Agencies
July 1,2020

Sopore, Jammu And Kashmir: A three-year-old boy survived as his grandfather was killed in a terror attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore town this morning. A CRPF jawan was also killed in the line of duty as terrorists opened fire on a patrol team.

In heart-wrenching images, the child is seen sitting on the blood-splattered body of his grandfather, a civilian caught in the crossfire. The boy was numb with fear when he was picked up by policemen, according to the police.

The Kashmir police also tweeted a photo of the child being carried to safety by a policeman.

"Jammu and Kashmir police rescued a three-year-old boy from getting hit by bullets during the terrorist attack in Sopore," said the tweet by the Kashmir Zone Police.

The child was travelling in a Maruti car with his grandfather from Srinagar to Handwara when it was hit by a spray of bullets in Sopore town, which is in Baramulla district about 50 km from Srinagar.

The police said terrorists hiding in a mosque fired indiscriminately at the patrol team as it was getting off a bus. The CRPF troops retaliated but the terrorists managed to escape.

According to the CRPF, the grandfather stopped the car and got out to run to a safe spot but was shot dead in the firing by terrorists. The boy was later rescued by a policeman standing nearby.

Last week, a six-year-old boy was killed during a terror attack on the CRPF in Anantnag.

Little Nihaan Bhat was sleeping in a parked car when he was hit by a bullet. Police say the terrorist was on a bike and opened fire from a pistol on a CRPF patrol. One jawan was killed. The child's killing drew widespread anger and condemnation.

The terrorist believed to be involved in the Anantnag attack escaped yesterday after an encounter with security forces. Police said two other terrorists who were hiding with him at a village were killed.

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