Rahul Gandhi asks new district chiefs in MP to work at grassroots level, be upright
Narmadapuram (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked the new district unit presidents of the party in Madhya Pradesh to work at the grassroots level, and also to stay upright so that they could not be blackmailed, a local leader said.
Gandhi spoke at an ongoing camp organised for the 71 newly appointed district presidents of the party at Pachmarhi under the `Sangathan Srajan Abhiyan' to strengthen the Congress organisation.
"Rahul ji asked us to reach the grassroots level, booth level, respect the smallest worker by keeping aside our ego, and tour the area religiously to ensure victory in the (assembly and Lok Sabha) polls in the state," said a camp participant.
Gandhi also ate dinner with the families of participants, he added.
"He gave us some examples of leaders who had amassed ill-gotten wealth and were now crawling before the government after being hounded. He asked us to be upright and righteous so that we can not be blackmailed or made to kneel," the Congress functionary added.
Before meeting the district presidents, Gandhi met senior party leaders in the state including Digvijaya Singh, Arun Yadav, Ajay Singh, MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari and Leader of Opposition in MP Assembly Umang Singhar.
Ajay Singh told reporters that Gandhi stressed the need for coordination and strengthening the organisation at grassroots level for winning the 2028 assembly elections.
The Congress held power in the state under Kamal Nath's leadership for a brief 15-month period from December 2018 to March 2020. Apart from that, it has been out of power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003.
In 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress failed to win even a single seat in Madhya Pradesh.
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Shivakumar says Hate Speech Bill to safeguard constitutional values, hits back at BJP
Belagavi (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said that a bill to curb hate speech was to safeguard constitutional values and curb provocative political discourse.
He also hit out the opposition BJP for criticising the bill.
The state government on Wednesday tabled in the Assembly the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill that proposed a jail term of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 1 lakh.
Speaking to reporters at the Belagavi Circuit House, Shivakumar said the opposition had no reason to object it.
"If the BJP refrains from indulging in hate speech, everything will be fine. They have been the pioneers of creating hostility, be it through caste-based, religious, or personal attacks," he said.
He argued that the bill aims to reinforce constitutional principles, countering the BJP's allegation that it is being introduced to target political opponents.
"Let the BJP conduct itself as per constitutional values. This legislation is meant to safeguard the Constitution," the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Speaking about Karnataka State Cricket Association's request to hold cricket matches at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is suspended following June 4 stampede that killed 13 people, Shivakumar confirmed that the issue would be taken up in Thursday's Cabinet meeting.
Calling the stampede at the stadium unfortunate, he said, "Such an incident should never have happened. Several mistakes have taken place and they must be rectified in line with proper guidelines. My only wish is that the reputation of Karnataka should not be tarnished."
