Rahul Gandhi can become PM only in ‘Mock Parliament’: HM Amit Shah

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Chandigarh, Nov 1 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that if Rahul Gandhi wants to become the country’s Prime Minister, he should spend his entire life in a ‘Mock Parliament’ only, in the real one, “your number will never come”.

The Home Minister made the remark about Rahul Gandhi’s unfulfilled Prime Ministerial aspiration with reference to Congress party’s mock “impeachment proceedings” against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar a day before.

The Union Minister said Rahul Gandhi has been tasting defeat in elections for 15 years and his mother Sonia Gandhi’s dream of seeing her son occupying the PM’s chair has remained unfulfilled.

He added that the only way Rahul Gandhi can become Prime Minister is in a “Mock Parliament” as it is near impossible for the Congress leader to make it to Parliament as Prime Minister in his lifetime.

Speaking at an event here, Home Minister Shah condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for rubbing salt into the wounds of families of the anti-Sikh riot victims by organising a rally in Delhi on days of the community’s four-day mourning.

“On November 1, 1984, the Congress orchestrated the massacre of thousands of innocent Sikhs in Delhi, and today, on the same day, Rahul Gandhi held a rally in Delhi, rubbing salt into the wounds of those victim families,” the Union Minister said at an event.

“I condemn the Congress for this rally on the day of the massacre. And I want to tell him (Rahul Gandhi) that due to his insensitivity, his ‘Mohabat ki Dukan’ will not be able to give people anything other than hatred,” Home Minister Amit Shah added.

He said the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi reopened cases against the guilty Congress leaders and sent them to jail, apart from paying compensation to the victims’ families and offering jobs.

He added that Rahul Gandhi took instructions from abroad for organising the rally on Sunday despite requests from Sikh groups and our party not to do so.

“Delhi’s traders pleaded that the rally be held after Diwali, otherwise there would be heavy losses in business, but Rahul Baba just had to hold the rally on the very day the Sikh massacre took place,” Home Minister Shah said.

In another development, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri led a march in West Delhi against the 1984 riots organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party to “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy” and show solidarity with anti-Sikh riot victims.

In a message on social media platform X, Puri said, “The time of that tragedy in 1984, my parents were in Delhi, and some of my Hindu friends had sheltered them in their homes, setting an example of humanity and brotherhood.”

“This massacre was not merely a tragedy of one community, but a wound inflicted on the history of the entire nation, one that can never be forgotten. Protecting humanity, delivering justice to the victims, and fostering national unity — these are the greatest lessons to be drawn from that painful history,” he recalled.

–IANS

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‘Why separately?’: Omar Abdullah questions moves by BJP-ruled states to pursue UCC

Srinagar, Sep 15 (IANS) J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday questioned the decision of the BJP-ruled states to pursue a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying it should be taken up at the national level first.

Talking to reporters here, Abdullah criticised the move by BJP-ruled states to pursue the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying legislation on an issue of national importance should be brought before the Parliament rather than being introduced separately by individual states.

“If you have the numbers, bring it to Parliament. Why are you doing it separately in different states?” he asked.

He argued that the UCC could not be described as universal if it applied only to BJP-ruled states.

“The whole country is not BJP-ruled. There are a number of states and territories that the BJP does not govern,” he said.

Abdullah also pointed to differences within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying some of its allies were not in favour of implementing the UCC in their states.

“According to reports, the Janata Dal-United has directly said that it will not be implemented in Bihar. So if their own allies are not ready for it, how can they say that it should be implemented across the country?” he said.

He said a move of such national significance should be decided by the Parliament, which represents the entire country.

“Something of this nature should not be decided by individual states. It has to be decided by the country as a whole. The entire country is represented not in the states, but in the Parliament. Let the legislation come to Parliament.”

He also questioned why the government was pursuing the UCC through states while other major legislative proposals had been discussed in the context of the Parliament.

“So far, whenever they have talked about legislation in the Parliament, whether it is ‘One Nation, One Election’ or reservation, they have not brought it to the Parliament. Now, with this too, they are talking about bringing it in the states. Bring it to the Parliament and let us see whether you can pass it,” he said.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a proposed single law in India that aims to replace religion-based personal laws with a common set of rules for all citizens.

–IANS

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Delhi CM Rekha Gupta participates in ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar’ campaign at AIIMS

New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday took part in the ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar’ (Healthy Woman, Empowered Family) campaign at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and urged greater focus on women’s empowerment.

The Chief Minister said: “A healthy woman is the foundation of an empowered family and a developed nation.”

She stated that women are the driving force at the forefront of the country’s development and that their well-being ensures the empowerment of families, society, and the nation.

On this occasion, she highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched this campaign nationwide from September 17 to October 2.

Over one lakh health camps are being organised nationwide, providing women with comprehensive health check-ups completely free of cost.

She praised Prime Minister Modi’s visionary initiative, which places the health of the nation’s women at the forefront.

The Chief Minister noted that this mega health camp at AIIMS has been going on since September 17, benefiting thousands of women daily.

She expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for recognising women not merely as the pivot of the family but as the force shaping society and the nation.

She also mentioned that the Central government has reduced GST rates on several life-saving medicines and medical devices to make healthcare more affordable, benefiting homemakers and middle-class families in particular.

Echoing the Prime Minister’s message, CM Gupta urged all women to visit the nearest health camp for a check-up and emphasised that the time has come for women to prioritise their health.

In a country like India, where even women in well-off families commonly suffer from deficiencies in haemoglobin and vitamins, this campaign is highly relevant. The Prime Minister has also initiated the National Nutrition Month, encouraging everyone to adopt a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, she said.

The Chief Minister congratulated AIIMS, the Central government, and the PM for the initiative and requested all women to attend the nearest health camp for a check-up.

–IANS

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Delhi-NCR’s AQI worsens to ‘very poor’; stage III GRAP measures reimposed

New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS) The air quality in Delhi-NCR has deteriorated to the ‘very poor’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital recorded at 383 on Saturday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

This marks the second consecutive day that the city’s air quality has remained in this category.

Some regions even recorded an AQI of 400 plus — Anand Vihar (469), Ashok Vihar (423), ITO (401), Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (418), RK Puram (415), Okhla Phase 2 (459).

Furthermore, the neighbouring cities of Faridabad (312), Noida (465), Gurugram (363), and Ghaziabad (414) also exhibited poor air quality levels, significantly increasing health risks.

Following a brief respite at the end of 2024 due to heavy rainfall that improved Delhi’s air quality to the ‘moderate’ category, the conditions worsened again as the AQI slipped to the ‘poor’ category on Thursday.

In response to the rising pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has reimplemented Stage III measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). GRAP is a framework designed to combat air pollution through a tiered system of interventions based on AQI severity.

Stage III restrictions, which include curbs on industrial activities and construction work, are activated when the AQI surpasses 350, while Stage IV measures are enforced if the index crosses 400.

The Supreme Court has previously instructed authorities to promptly implement GRAP measures when thresholds are exceeded.

CAQM officials attributed the worsening air quality to dense fog, low wind speeds, and other unfavourable meteorological factors.

On Saturday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded 350, reaching 371 by 4:00 p.m. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that these adverse conditions are likely to persist, keeping air quality in the “very poor” category in the coming days.

Temperatures in Delhi have also plummeted, with a minimum of 7°C recorded on Saturday morning, exacerbating the situation. Dense fog has further disrupted daily life and commutes across the region.

GRAP measures range from Stage I for ‘poor’ air quality (AQI 201-300) to Stage IV for ‘severe plus’ conditions (AQI above 450).

Restrictions under Stage III include bans on construction and demolition activities, the closure of brick kilns, and enhanced monitoring of industrial emissions.

Delhi is currently dealing with significant air pollution and thick fog. In response, officials are advising residents to limit their exposure, refrain from outdoor activities during times of high pollution, and implement preventive measures to protect their health.

–IANS

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