Rahul Gandhi News

Indian politics is taking a leaf out of the US playbook. With Lok Sabha elections just weeks away, political merchandise is taking off in a big way for the first time in the world's largest democracy. Ecommerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho are cashing in on the poll fever, selling 'election clothing' such as t-shirts, caps and sweatshirts with messages such as 'NaMo Hat Trick', referring to Prime Pinister Narendra Modi, and 'Rahul is Hope', referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. «At least two dozen sellers have onboarded different ecommerce platforms with election merchandise. We are consistently getting requests from sellers as the election momentum builds up,» said an executive at a large ecommerce platform asking not to be named. Amazon, specifically, is selling merchandise under a 'Wear Your Opinion' franchise on the online platform.

INDIA bloc leaders will attend the rally at Delhi's Ramleela ground tomorrow. The rally is being held to protest Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.

Congress asserted on Saturday that the INDIA opposition bloc's "Loktantra Bachao Rally" that will be held at the Ramlila Maidan here is not aimed at protecting a person but at saving the Constitution and democracy. The opposition party said a «strong message» will be sent out from the rally on Sunday to Lok Kalyan Marg (where the prime minister's residence is located) that the BJP-led government's «time is up». Addressing a press conference on the rally, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi will address the rally, among other senior leaders. «It is not a person-specific rally. That is why it is called Loktantra Bachao Rally. This is not one party's rally, about 27-28 parties are involved in it. All constituents of the INDIA jan bandhan will be taking part in the rally,» Ramesh said.

Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that when they come to power, they will take «strict action» against those trying to «murder the democracy.» Accusing the Income Tax Department of double-standards, Congress on Friday alleged that while it has been penalised for «a violation of Rs 14 lakh», the income tax authorities were completely silent on «Rs 42 crore violation» by the BJP and that the violations by the ruling party at the Centre entailed a penalty of Rs 4,600 crore. «When the government changes, action will definitely be taken against those who 'murder the democracy'! And such action will be taken that no one will have the courage to do all this again. This is my guarantee,» Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP-led Centre on Friday of misusing institutions like the income-tax department, ED and CBI to subvert democracy and belittle the Constitution, and asked why is the I-T department being used as a weapon to harass the principal opposition party. He asserted that such actions would not deter the Congress from contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and vowed that his party will free the country's institutions from the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) «dictatorship». Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also hit out at the BJP, accusing it of indulging in «tax terrorism». «When the government changes, action will definitely be taken against those who have 'disrobed democracy'. And such exemplary action will be taken that no one will dare to do all this again. This is my guarantee,» Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

Kangana Ranaut, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi on Friday said that people of Mandi should give a befitting reply to Rahul Gandhi over his 'Shakti' remarks, adding that «how can he say such things in a Hindu Rashtra». Questioning who has been writing his speeches, Kangana Ranaut said, «Rahul Gandhi says he wants to destroy 'Shakti'. Who writes such speeches for him? How can Rahul Gandhi say such kind of things in Hindu Rashtra? I want the people of Mandi to give an answer to those who have spoken indecently about women. The people of India have always blessed me.» The 'Shakti' remarks row erupted earlier this month following Gandhi's remarks during the campaign conclusion speech in Mumbai's Shivaji Ground.

Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the money laundering case linked to the Delhi Excise policy ‘scam’. Sources in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) named some of the leaders who are likely to attend the rally. The names included: 1.

Ranaut said it would take time for her to remember the names of all the party leaders. “Lekin mai aapki beti hun, behan hun to mujhe pata hai mai yahan par choti-moti galtiyan kar skti hun. Ye koi film industry nahi hai ki mujhe suli par chada diya jayega. [I am your daughter and sister, so I know that I can make small mistakes here.

Congress will reserve 50 per cent of government jobs for women if it is voted to power, former party chief Rahul Gandhi said on Friday, asserting that powerful women will change the destiny of India. Gandhi asked why even today only one in three women is employed and why is there only one woman in 10 government jobs. «Isn't the population of women in India 50%? Is the presence of women in higher secondary and higher education not 50%? If so, then why is their share in the system so less?» the former Congress chief said. «Congress wants — 'Aadhi Abaadi Poora Haq', we understand that women's potential will be fully utilized only when women have equal contribution in the government running the country,» he said in a post in Hindi on X.

Smriti Irani on Wednesday said the Congress leadership fears a loss in Amethi and Rae Bareli, and that's why there is a delay in announcing candidates for these two seats. Irani was speaking at the Times Now Summit. Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Irani said Amethi is his second choice. «Rahul Gandhi has already declared his candidature from Wayanad.

Varun Gandhi has opted out of the Lok Sabha election 2024 from Pilibhit, according to his close associates. Varun was dropped by the BJP and replaced with former Congress leader Jitin Prasada to contest from Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit seat in the party’s fifth list of candidates released on March 25. Pilibhit, the seat in Uttar Pradesh that Varun won twice, goes to polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 19.

Lok Sabha elections 2024. The video titled ‘INDIA Alliance Mein Fight, Main Hi Dulha Hun Right' wasshared by the saffron party on its X handle on March 26. The 2.23-minute-long video tries to send out a message that leaders in the INDIA bloc consider themselves contenders with no consensus on one common face to lead the fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP in the upcoming elections.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday claimed that Varun Gandhi was denied a Lok Sabha ticket by the BJP because of his connection with the Gandhi family and extended an invitation to him to join the grand old party. Chowdhury described Varun as a «dabang neta (strong leader)» and said he is a learned man with a clean image. «He is a dabang neta and a very educated man. He has a clean image. Varun Gandhi has a connection with the Gandhi family. This is why the BJP denied him a ticket (for Lok Sabha polls). I think he should come (join the Congress), we will be very happy,» Chowdhury, the leader of the Congress party in the outgoing Lok Sabha, said. Varun and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi are cousins.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal effectively invited his own arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) due to his repeated failure to respond to summonses, suggesting that it might have been a tactic to garner political sympathy. Sarma emphasised that when a person disregards nine summonses from the ED, it indicates a deliberate invitation for arrest. He remarked that if Kejriwal had complied with the initial summonses, his arrest might have been avoided. Speaking to reporters at the state BJP headquarters here after a poll-preparedness meeting on Saturday, Sarma said, «If the ED serves someone nine summonses and that person doesn't show up, it is evident that he is inviting his arrest. The ED didn't arrest Kejriwal, he invited the agency to arrest him.»

Lok Sabha polls. Danish Ali was suspended from Mayawati-led BSP citing ‘anti-party activities’. Ali later joined Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra when it was passing through Amroha.

Congress has multiple bank accounts and just three-four of them have been attached, «not frozen», for non-payment of tax dues, the BJP said Saturday, accusing the opposition party of making misleading statements on the issue sensing its «imminent» defeat in the Lok Sabha poll. «These bank accounts have not been frozen, they are operational. You (Congress) can deposit money in these accounts and withdraw too, except Rs 125 crore, which has been attached by the Income Tax department due to the non-payment of dues as per Income Tax rules,» BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said. Referring to media reports, he said the Congress has about Rs 1,000 crore in its multiple bank accounts, opened with «multiple PAN» numbers in «violation of its own party constitution». The Congress also has a fixed asset of worth Rs 500 crore, the BJP leader claimed. He said the Income Tax Department has attached three-four bank accounts of the Congress due to the non-payment of outstanding Rs 135 crore as per rules.

Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday. Raut compared India's political atmosphere with Russia and China. The Rajya Sabha MP said, "Today, no one is safe in this country.

Jairam Ramesh on Friday rejected the BJP's claims that the 2024 poll results are a foregone conclusion, saying «tiger mein abhi bahut jaan hai» and the opposition bloc will repeat the history of 2004 when the saffron party was unseated from power despite its 'shining India' campaign. The Congress general secretary in-charge communications also said his party is going into the Lok Sabha polls with its «five nyays» and «25 guarantees», and has full confidence that the opposition INDIA bloc will get a clear mandate. In an interaction at the PTI office here, Ramesh also said the Congress' guarantee is not of one person but of the party and its «ghoshna patra (manifesto)» will be called the «nyay patra» which will focus on Yuva Nyay, Nari Nyay, Shramik Nyay, Kisaan Nyay and Hissedari Nyay and the 25 guarantees under these. Asked if the polls will be about «Modi ki Guarantee» versus the Congress' «nyay» guarantees, he said, «Our guarantee is not of one person. We are giving the Congress guarantee and are giving these guarantees on the basis of our experience.»

Arvind Kejriwal, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of adopting dictatorial tactics to suppress dissent and destroy democracy in the country. "A scared dictator wants to create a dead democracy," the Wayanad MP said in a post on microblogging platform X (formerly Known as Twitter) in Hindi, without naming anyone.

Tere Naam, saying that ‘Mere Naam’ movie should be made due to the PM’s frequent crying during speeches. Netizens were quick to react to the ‘abuse’ charges. Social media was flooded with mixed reactions as some showed support, while others retaliated over the statements.

₹285 crore currently in its bank accounts because of the freezing by Income Tax authorities. Maken, who is also the treasurer of the party, said that the party has received a notice by Income Tax Department for the reassessment of taxes for FY 1994-95. "Efforts are being made to weaken Congress financially.