Priyanka Gandhi assumes charge as AICC general secretary
New Delhi, Feb 6 : Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday took charge as AICC general secretary and will helm the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh East.
She arrived at the party headquarters at Akbar Road after dropping her husband at the office of the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money laundering case. She also met some party workers and leaders from the Hindi heartland state.
During her 15-minute stay at the party office, security personnel had a hard time controlling the crowd that had gathered there.
The atmosphere at the AICC headquarters was electric. Priyanka's official entry into politics is expected to boost the morale of the party workers in Uttar Pradesh, the state which sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha.
A large number of party workers welcomed her by raising slogans of "Priyanka Gandhi aayi hai, nayi roshni layi hai" (Priyanka Gandhi has come, she has brought light).
"I am extremely happy to be here," Priyanka told reporters soon after she reached the Congress headquarters.
She thanked her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi for entrusting her with the responsibility and said people of Uttar Pradesh had given a lot to her family.
Rahul and his mother Sonia Gandhi have been elected to the Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies. It is speculated that Priyanka might follow in their footsteps by contesting from a seat in the state.
Earlier, her father Rajiv Gandhi and grandmother Indira Gandhi were also elected from Uttar Pradesh.
While leaving the party office, Priyanka stepped out of her black Land Rover and greeted the Congress workers and supporters waiting outside. She waved to them and shook hands with some.
Priyanka, 47, was appointed as general secretary and in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East on January 23 by Rahul Gandhi.
She has been allotted an office adjacent to that of her brother's at the party headquarters.
She will share her office with Jyotiraditya Scindia, general secretary in-charge for Uttar Pradesh West. Scindia's appointment was made on the same day as Priyanka's and he assumed charge earlier in the day.
Priyanka will attend her first official meeting on Thursday. Rahul Gandhi has called for the meeting, which will also be attended by all other party general secretaries and in-charges of various states to plan the strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
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Karnataka MLCs question limestone mining nod to Adani Group despite legal objections
Bengaluru: Members of the Karnataka Legislative Council from both the treasury and opposition benches raised objections to the Mines and Geology Department’s decision to permit limestone mining by ACC Cement Limited, owned by the Adani Group, despite reservations expressed by the Law Department.
BJP MLC and former minister C T Ravi and Congress MLC K Shivakumar, speaking on behalf of party colleague Arati Krishna, said the department had overlooked the Law Department’s opinion in the matter, as reported by Deccan Herald.
Ravi told the House, on Tuesday that the Law Department had recommended initiating criminal proceedings against the company for allegedly failing to pay royalty amounting to Rs 850 crore to the government. “The Mines and Geology Department has not only failed to initiate action but has also renewed the company’s licence,” he said.
Both Ravi and Shivakumar sought clarity from the Mines and Geology Minister and urged the government to place on record the views of the Finance Department and the Advocate General regarding the issue.
Raising political questions over corporate links, Ravi asked what connection existed between “Ambani, Adani and the party that is always criticising them.”
Responding on behalf of Mines and Geology Minister S S Mallikarjun, Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy assured the House that action would be taken in accordance with the law.
He said the company had approached the court and, in compliance with judicial directions, the government permitted it to continue mining operations under its existing licence. “However, no new licence has been issued,” he clarified.
Addressing concerns over the recovery of pending royalty dues despite court orders, Chaluvarayaswamy said, “Adani is not a God here, and we have no connection with him. Royalty will be recovered as per the law.”
