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Rahul Gandhi is already No. 2 in Congress party, Janardan Dwivedi says

[email protected] (TNN)
October 31, 2012
Rahul_formally_congress

New Delhi, October 31: The build-up to Rahul Gandhi's elevation as Congress number two has started with the emphatic assertion that there is no doubt about his position in the party.

Asked when he would be formally designated as secretary general or working president, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said, "Something is due. It may happen when it is ready. Rahul Gandhi is number two in the party. His place is after the Congress president. It is not a hidden fact. There is no ambiguity about it. PM Manmohan Singh has said that Rahul is the future leader. There is no shying away from it."

The proclamation of Rahul's imminent coronation amid speculation over the timing of AICC reshuffle to promote him indicated that it is time for bugles for another generation of Gandhis to take over the party.

The recast of Congress organization will come after the Sunday rejig of the Union ministry which saw promotion and induction of young ministers who are seen as the party's GenNext. It is a prelude to Rahul taking over the organization as the launch pad for the 2014 elections.

Dwivedi made it clear that even as general secretary, Rahul was the first among equals and that the designation, whenever it comes, would merely be a de jure stamp on what is already de facto. "This has been accepted by every forum in the party — from block level to the plenary," he said.

The definitive tone marks the onset of "succession season", likely to end with 2014 polls. Partymen say it may not be succession in literal terms since Sonia Gandhi was still going to be the party chief but Rahul would soon be handling day-to-day management of the party after he is delineated number two.

Rahul is expected to be designated as either 'secretary general' or "working president'. He is presently general secretary in charge of youth outfits.

"It is part of the succession plan," a leader said.

The timing of AICC rejig to promote Rahul's takeover is planned to complement the reshuffle of the Union ministry that would convey a sense of purpose in the ruling camp which has been in disarray. The corruption issue and the policy paralysis at the Centre have hurt the popular perception about Congress.

Rahul's elevation would be part of his projection as prime ministerial candidate in 2014 polls with a message that the party was looking to move on from the old guard that has represented old politics.

The rejig will help Congress steal a march on the leadership issue over the opposition NDA, which is still to settle its PM candidate in view of jostling among the BJP satraps.


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Agencies
July 30,2020

New Delhi, Jul 30: India's gold demand in 2020 is expected to fall to the lowest level in 26 years with domestic bullion prices hitting a record high and as falling disposable incomes could curtail retail purchases, the World Gold Council (WGC) said on Thursday.

Lower demand by the world's second-biggest bullion consumer could limit a rally in global prices, which hit a record high earlier this month, although it could also reduce India's trade deficit and support the ailing rupee.

"Fast rising gold prices could act as headwinds," said Somasundaram PR, the managing director of WGC's Indian operations.

Local gold futures have jumped 35% so far this year after rising a quarter in 2019.

India's gold consumption in the first half of 2020 plunged 56% on-year to 165.6 tonnes. Meanwhile, the coronavirus-triggered lockdown also slashed demand by 70% in the June quarter to 63.7 tonnes, the lowest in more than a decade, the WGC said in a report published on Thursday.

Millions of Indians have lost their jobs or taken a pay cut after the country imposed a lockdown on its 1.3 billion people to curb the spread of the virus that has infected more than 1.5 million Indians.

Consumption is generally high during the June quarter due to weddings and key festivals such as Akshaya Tritiya, but lockdown restrictions kept shoppers indoors this year.

The weak demand in the first half could drag down India's gold consumption in 2020 to the lowest since 1994, when demand stood at 415 tonnes, Somasundaram said, adding that it is still difficult to provide an estimate for full-year demand as the coronavirus crisis is still unfolding.

"Indian demand has previously jumped as much as 300 tonnes in a quarter. Latent demand could come out in the second half," Somasundaram said.

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Agencies
May 6,2020

New Delhi, May 6: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has extended the validity of electronic way (E-way) bills, whose expiry date fell between March 20 and April 15, till May 31.

"Notification No. 40/2020-Central Tax issued to extend the validity of e-way bills till May 31 for all those e-way bills which were generated on or before March 24, 2020 and had expiry between the period from March 20 to April 15, 2020," the CBIC tweeted on Tuesday.

E-way bill is produced by transporters and businessmen before a Goods and Services Tax (GST) inspector for moving goods worth over Rs 50,000 from one state to another.

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News Network
May 28,2020

May 28: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday asked the central government to unlock its coffers and help the needy affected by the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

In a video message posted as part of the Congress' 'Speak Up India' campaign, she lamented that even though the country is passing through a serious economic crisis with loss of livelihood due to the pandemic and the lockdown, the central government has not heard the cries of pain and trauma of people.

"We again urge the Centre to unlock its coffers and help the needy. Put direct cash of Rs 7,500 per month in the account of every family for the next six months and provide Rs 10,000 immediately; ensure safe and free travel of labourers back home, employment opportunity and rations; and also increase the number of work days under MNREGA to 200 days to facilitate jobs in villages," Gandhi said.

"Instead of loans, provide financial relief to small and medium industry so that crores of jobs are saved and the country progresses," she said in her video message on the party's social media handles.

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