Arrogance led to Cong's downfall, ready to take charge in 2019: Rahul

News Network
September 12, 2017

New Delhi, Sept 12: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that he is ready to take charge of his party in 2019 even as he attacked the BJP government for its decision to demonetise the old currency notes and rising cross-border terrorism. He made these remarks during an interaction with the students of the prestigious University of California, Berkeley, United States.

The theme of the event was 'India@70: Reflections on the Path Forward' during which he shared his ideas about the need to rebuild the Congress in view of future challenges facing the party.

The Congress no 2 also attempted to deflect criticism on dynastic politics, saying this is the problem with most political parties in India and that's how things work. 

“Most of the country runs like this. That’s how India works. Dynastic politics is a problem in all political parties. Akhilesh (Yadav), (MK) Stalin and even (actor) Abhishek Bachchan are dynasts. Even (Prem Kumar) Dhumal’s son (Anurag Thakur) is a dynast, so don’t go just after me,” Rahul said at the event.

Stressing on the need to rebuild the party, the Gandhi scion also admitted that his party may have become susceptible to “arrogance” in 2012, two years before it lost power at the Centre to the BJP.

“Around 2012, a certain arrogance crept into the Congress and they stopped having conversations with the people,” he admitted.

More importantly, the young Congress leader said that he was ready to take charge of the party in 2019 when the next Lok Sabha elections will be held. However, he added that changes in his party will be made through a democratic process of elections. 

The Congress leader also recalled the assassinations of his grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi and said ''who better than me understands the menace of terrorism.''

“I lost my grandmother and father to violence. If I don’t understand violence, who will? The idea of non-violence is under attack today, yet it is the only idea which can take humanity forward,” he said.

“Hatred, anger and violence can destroy us. The politics of polarisation is very dangerous,” he said.

In a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi alleged that "politics of divide and polarisation is radicalising and isolating people in India."

Gandhi also came down heavily on the BJP regime at the Centre over what he called the ''faulty implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the demonetisation decision which led to a sharp decline in economic growth.

Rahul Gandhi said that the notes ban move has caused damage to agriculture and deep distress among farmers.

He opined that the decision to demonetise the old currency notes was taken without consulting either the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) or the Parliament, resulting in severe damage across various sectors.

The Congress leader also highlighted the fact that the notes ban move has done no good to the nation as millions of jobs were lost.

Taking on the BJP and the Narendra Modi government, Rahul said the Prime Minister had clamped down on RTI Act which was much more transparent during Congress rule.

While reacting to the current situation in J&K, Rahul Gandhi blamed the BJP government for rising cross-border terrorism in J&K and the deteriorating situation there.

''When we started, terrorism was rampant in Kashmir, when we finished there was peace, we had broken the back of terrorism by 2013, but the BJP-PDP alliance destroyed the good work done by the UPA governments in just 30 days,'' he said.  

Rahul Gandhi also blamed the PM and his party for running a false campaign against him. ''The man who is running the government was spearheading an operation to spread rumours about me being a reluctant politician,'' he said.

However, in a rare praise for PM Narendra Modi, Rahul called him a “good communicator” .

“He is my Prime Minister too. He is a very good communicator. His messaging ability is very subtle and effective. But he does not converse with the people he works with,” he said.

Talking of the current political set-up in India, Rahul said that political reform is much more important than administrative.

Advocating that power should be given back to the MPs, Rahul saID, “Today, there is no power in Parliament. Power is outside the House and with the PMO and ministers. We need to give this power back to the lawmakers.”

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s speech, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said it was the Congress leader’s “frustration” speaking.

Sambit Patra called him "deplorable" for "slamming his own country" while abroad.

The Congress leader is on a two-week visit to the US. Gandhi will interact with global thinkers and political leaders, and address overseas Indians as part of an outreach initiative by his party during his US visit. Rahul Gandhi's grandfather and the country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had earlier delivered a historic speech at the American university in 1949.

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News Network
November 11,2024

Udupi, Nov 11: A traveller reportedly lost ₹4.1 lakh after attempting to book a cab online in Udupi. 

At around 1:30 PM on November 7, the man from West Bengal searched for car rentals on Google and selected a website named "Shakti Car Rentals." Shortly after, he was contacted by someone claiming to be "Rohit Sharma," who directed him to pay a registration fee of ₹150 on the site.

After unsuccessful payment attempts via both his Canara Bank debit card and SBI credit card (without receiving an OTP), "Rohit Sharma" instructed him to pay the driver directly. But at 1:47 PM, he received messages showing deductions of ₹3.3 lakh from his SBI credit card and ₹80,056 from his Canara Bank debit card, totaling ₹4.1 lakh.

The complainant alleges fraud through a deceptive link disguised as a booking token fee. A case has been registered at Udupi Town Police Station.

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News Network
November 10,2024

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Mangaluru: A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in the quiet Bellayuru village on the outskirts of Mangaluru as a man’s life ended on a railway track following an apparent double murder. Authorities from the Mulki police station identified the man as Karthik Bhat, 32, whose lifeless body was discovered on the tracks with his head positioned on the rail, indicating a tragic suicide.

Nearby, police recovered keys to a scooter and a house, which eventually led them to uncover a series of chilling events. Following the trail, officers located Bhat’s scooter parked near Mahammayi Temple. Inside the vehicle, they found documents confirming his identity, including an RC, insurance papers, and his driving license.

Their search continued to Bhat's home in Pakshikere, Kemral village, where they discovered a locked room. With the keys retrieved from the tracks, police unlocked the door, only to be confronted by a horrifying sight. The bodies of Priyanka (28) and her young son Hriday (4) lay in a pool of blood, pointing to a brutal murder that occurred just hours before Bhat’s suicide.

Initial investigations suggest Bhat, beleaguered by ongoing family disputes, committed the murders of his wife and son on the evening of November 8 before tragically ending his own life. A death note found in his diary hinted at his mental state and tragic intentions.

Priyanka’s family, residing in Shivamogga, was informed of the incident. The couple, married for six years, now leaves behind grieving relatives and unanswered questions. Police have initiated formal proceedings, collecting statements from family members as they continue their investigation into the tragic sequence of events.

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News Network
November 18,2024

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Mangaluru: The Ullal police have arrested Manohar, the owner of Vazco Beach Resort, and its manager Bharath in connection with the drowning of three college girls from Mysuru at the resort’s swimming pool on November 17.

City Commissioner of Police Anupam Agrawal confirmed the arrests, stating that a case has been registered under Section 106 of BNS. The bodies of the victims, all in their twenties, have been handed over to their parents. The women had arrived at the resort for a weekend getaway on November 16.

Following the tragic incident, the resort was sealed by officials led by Mangaluru Assistant Commissioner Harshavardhan. The trade license of the resort, issued on June 13, 2024, has been suspended, and the tourism department has temporarily revoked the resort's registration. These actions prohibit the resort from engaging in any tourism-related activities until further notice.

Someshwara TMC Chief Officer stated that the suspension was due to the resort's failure to implement adequate safety measures, which resulted in the loss of three lives. Further investigations are underway.

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