New Delhi Apr 24 PTI The Congress on Sunday termed as political vendetta the allegation by Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor who has told the Enforcement Directorate that he was forced to buy an M F Husain painting from party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and questioned his and the EDs credibilityKapoor has told the ED that he was forced to buy the M F Husain painting from Priyanka Gandhi and the sale proceeds were utilised by the Gandhi family for the medical treatment of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New York according to the charge sheet filed by the federal anti-money laundering agency in a special court in MumbaiHe told the Enforcement Directorate ED that he was told by the then petroleum minister Murli Deora that the refusal to buy the painting will not only prevent him from building a relationship with the Gandhi family but also prevent him from getting the Padma Bhushan awardKapoor also told the agency that Ahmed Patel a close confidante of Sonia Gandhi had told him that by supporting the Gandhi family at an opportune time for medical treatment of Sonia Gandhi I Kapoor had performed a good deed for the family and it would be duly considered for the Padma Bhushan awardAsked about the allegations at a press conference Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said This is absolutely astonishing I dont want to use a strong word it is absolutely disgusting that a 2010 transaction a person who is behind bars for years whose 20-30 bail applications have been rejected who is called a crook and a fraudster makes allegations about dead people and the government is jumping with joy only because it suits their political angle The government wants to keep the pot boiling for 2022 for a transaction in 2010 when neither Murli Deora is here to deny it nor Ahmed Patel is here to deny Singhvi saidWhat is the objective of this is it the result of your government pressure tactics and coercion on a person behind bars eager to get his freedom to record statements against political opponents and to keep a 12-year-old thing boiling just for convenience of politics the Rajya Sabha MP said hitting out at the governmentHowever BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya alleged that it is quite clear from Rana Kapoors confession to the ED that the Gandhis and the Congress are not just extortionist but were also selling the countrys highest civilian honour to the highest bidder or durbaris who did their biddingIn his response to the allegations Singhvi cited that in March 2014 the Yes Bank loan book stood at Rs 55000 crore and in March 2019 it had increased nearly five times to Rs 241 lakh croreThe loan book of Yes Bank also showed a very dramatic increase between two other dates which are very inconvenient for the Modi government about which neither the government nor the prime minister talk about anymore In March 2016 it was Rs 98000 crore and in March 2018 it became 203 lakh crore about more than double Remember when demonetisation happened November 2016 he saidSinghvi also pointed out that the BJP-led Haryana government invested Rs 2500 crore as government money into accounts of a sinking Yes BankThey are trying to create a fear psychosis to scare people to do political vendetta they should know better than that At least spare the dead At least dont defame people like Deora and Ahmed Patel he saidWe all know the credibility of the ED and more than that the credibility of the person accused in this case who is supposed to have made this statement he addedThe statements of Rana Kapoor are part of the second supplementary charge sheet overall third filed in the special court recently against the Yes Bank co-founder his family Dewan Housing Finance Limited DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan and others in a money laundering caseStating that he had paid a cheque of Rs 2 crore Kapoor claimed that Milind Deora son of the late Murli Deora and former Congress MP later conveyed to him confidentially that the sale proceeds were utilised by the Gandhi family for the medical treatment of Sonia Gandhi in New YorkKapoor is currently in judicial custody following his arrest in the case in March 2020 The Wadhwans too are in jail custody after their arrest in another case PTI ASK ASK ANB ANB

New Delhi Apr 19 PTI A National Commission for Minorities delegation led by chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura has visited the Jahangirpuri area where violence took place during a Hanuman Jayanti procession and it called upon the administration to quickly nab the culprits while ensuring that no innocent person is booked in the matterClashes broke out between two communities during the procession at Jahangirpuri on Saturday leaving eight police personnel and a local resident injuredAccording to police there was stone-pelting and arson during the clashes and some vehicles were also torchedNational Commission for Minorities NCM chairperson Lalpura along with NCM members Rinchen Lhamo and DJ Gunde visited Jahangirpuri where the clashes took place on April 16The team took stock of the situation from the North West Delhi deputy commissioner of police and was informed that the procession on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti which didnt have permission was being organised by VHP-Bajrang Dal an NCM statement saidThere was a minor scuffle between two groups which later turned violent and police immediately rushed to the spot and controlled the situation the statement saidThe commission appreciated the role of the district administration in containing the rising tension between the two communities it saidThe NCM noted that eight of the nine persons injured during the incident were police personnelThe commission advised the administration to quickly nab all the culprits and take necessary steps so that this kind of incident do not happen in the future the statement saidNo innocent person should be booked in this process the NCM assertedThe commission also had a joint meeting with representatives of both communities and they were advised to conduct Aman peace committee meetings regularly PTI ASK ASK ANB ANB

New Delhi Mar 30 PTI The BJP on Wednesday accused the AAP government in Delhi of not giving dues to municipal corporations for political reasons and asserted that the move to merge the three municipal corporations of the national capital was a necessary step for the betterment of the peopleParticipating in the discussion on the Delhi Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill 2022 BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri targeted the Congress alleging that the municipal corporation was divided into three parts in a hurry so that one family one party continues to enjoy powerBidhuri an MP from South Delhi pointed put that at the time of the trifurcation of the municipal corporation of Delhi in 2011-12 both at the Centre and in Delhi there was a Congress governmentHe said that when the common and poor people of Delhi started being elected in the corporation those who praised one family did not like it and the trifurcation was done in a hurry to reduce the powers of the mayor and standing committee chairpersonThe BJP MP alleged that the current AAP government in Delhi was not giving the dues to the municipal corporations despite a court orderBidhuri said that the Delhi government has passed in the assembly that the recommendation of the Delhi Finance Commission to give money to corporations will not be acceptedThe government had said in the assembly that it would give Rs 17000 crore to the corporations but gave only Rs 6129 crore Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is taking revenge from 25 crore people of Delhi over his political fight with the BJP by not giving money to the corporations Bidhuri saidThe Delhi government did not even accept the proposals of the three municipal corporations to increase their revenue through measures such as tax parking and issuance of bonds he saidIn Delhi sanitation workers teachers are not getting salary widows are not getting pension the BJP leader said PTI ASK ASK ANB ANB

New Delhi Jan 31 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the loss of lives in a road accident in Kanpur and wished speedy recovery to the injuredAt least six people reportedly died and several others were injured when an electric bus lost control in Kanpur and ran over bystanders Very sad to learn about the road accident in Babupurwa area of Kanpur My deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this accident Modi said in a tweet in Hindi I also wish a speedy recovery to all those injured in this accident he said PTI ASK ASK ANB ANB

New Delhi Nov 26 PTI With the protests against the Centres farm laws completing a year Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said the agitation will be remembered for the farmers unshakable satyagraha the martyrdom of 700 farmers and the arrogance of the ruthless BJP governmentFarmers have been protesting against three central agri laws on various borders of Delhi since November 26 last yearOne year of farmers movement Will be known for the unshakable satyagraha of farmers the martyrdom of 700 farmers the arrogance of the ruthless BJP government and the atrocities on annadatas Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in HindiBut farmers have always been hailed in India and will always be the Congress general secretary saidThe victory of the farmers struggle is proof of this she said and added Jai KisanFarmer leaders have said the protesters will stay put at border areas of Delhi until the Centre formally repeals the farm laws in Parliament after Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise announcement last FridayThe prime minister during an address to the nation had announced repeal of the three laws which were enacted in September last year PTI ASK ANB ANB ANB

New Delhi Oct 31 PTI The Congress on Sunday paid tributes to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary with party leader Rahul Gandhi hailing her as a great example of women powerRahul Gandhi paid floral tributes to Indira Gandhi at her memorial Shakti Sthal hereIndira Gandhi the then prime minister was assassinated on this day in 1984 by two of her own security guardsMy grandmother served the country fearlessly till the last moment -- her life is a source of inspiration for us former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in HindiA great example of women power humble tributes to Mrs Indira Gandhi on her martyrdom day he saidPosting her picture as a kid with Indira Gandhi Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Your life is a message of courage fearlessness and patriotism Your life is a message to keep fighting for justice by walking on the path of ideals Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said history will always be a witness to the enormous contribution of Indias first woman prime minister and a symbol of womens empowerment Indira GandhiThe Congress in a tweet from its official Twitter handle also lauded the former prime ministers contribution to the country She represented strength She epitomised sacrifice She personified service A billion salutes to the Iron Lady of India our very first woman Prime Minister a true Bharat Ratna Smt Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary the Congress said in its tweet PTI ASK ANB ANB

New Delhi Sep 21 PTI India and France on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the situation in Afghanistan with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron discussing the possible spread of terrorism narcotics illicit weapons and human traffickingIn a telephonic conversation Modi and Macron discussed regional issues including recent developments in Afghanistan a statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office PMO here saidIn this context they shared their concerns about possible spread of terrorism narcotics illicit weapons and human trafficking as well as the need to ensure human rights rights of women and minorities the statement saidThe French presidents office also issued a statement over the Modi-Macron talks which stated that the two leaders expressed their grave concerns about the situation in Afghanistan The authorities in power must cut their ties with international terrorism allow humanitarian organisations to operate throughout the country and respect the fundamental rights of Afghan women and men Evacuation operations should continue unhindered the French presidency saidPrime Minister Modi on Friday had asked the global community to decide thoughtfully in recognising the new set-up in Kabul in view of questions about its legitimacy as the change of power was not inclusive and happened without negotiationIn a virtual address at a meeting of the heads of state of the SCO and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation on Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover there Modi had said the developments in the war-torn country will have the greatest impact on neighbouring countries like India and underscored the need to ensure that Afghan soil was not used to spread terrorism in any country PTI ASK ANB ANB