Janata Dal (United) leader and former Rajya Sabha MP KC Tyagi on Tuesday announced his decision to quit the party, ANI reported. The development comes a day after JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha from the state. Kumar
The Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (UPMSP) is set to commence the evaluation process for the classes 10th and 12th examinations starting tomorrow, March 18. Over 54 lakh students had appeared for the examination this year. After the evaluation of UP Board exam papers is complete
Meta Platforms shares rose nearly 3% on Monday after a Reuters report that the social media giant plans to lay off 20% or more of its workforce to offset heavy spending on artificial intelligence and bet on productivity gains from the technology. If Meta settles on the 20% figure
AB de Villiers has proposed that MS Dhoni should elevate his batting position within the Chennai Super Kings lineup. On another note, Anil Kumble has endorsed the idea of integrating Sanju Samson into the team's leadership structure, praising his stellar form and rapport with supporters
Oncologist explains why women are more likely to get thyroid cancer, shares 5 warning signs: Voice changes, lump in neckHear from an oncologist on why women are more vulnerable to this type of cancer than men, and what are some signs that can help one stay alert. Published on: Mar 17
Ram, Sonia Gandhi & Bengal Polls: VB-G Ram G Bill Adds To Congress Dilemma
Ram, Sonia Gandhi & Bengal Polls: VB-G Ram G Bill Adds To Congress Dilemma
Wearing a mask, Sonia Gandhi made it a point to be present at the Congress-led opposition protest on the government passing the VB-G Gram G bill.
That's because the original bill, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), which guaranteed ‘rozgar' and a minimum wage for daily workers, was being reworked and passed.
It was Sonia Gandhi's idea and desire to have a scheme like NREGA, and this was born out of the NAC, or the National Advisory Council, an important but non-government body of the UPA with Sonia Gandhi as its head. The NAC was often criticised for being the real power centre and pressure group on the Dr Manmohan Singh government.
When the Modi government decided to bring in changes to Gandhi's bill, it was expected that the Congress would be up in arms. But there were two hurdles in being the lead player in the protests.
Unlike the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had sensed that this new bill could be given a spin ahead of the Bengal polls. The TMC has always accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its main opponent in the state, of stealing or denying funds to Bengal. Mamata Banerjee has met the PM in the past demanding her share. And in Bengal, the narrative built by the TMC is that BJP is ‘Bangla virodhi' or anti-Bengal. So the TMC has gone back to doing what Mamata had done best: hit the streets.
In this case, hit the steps of Parliament. Moments after the bill was passed in Rajya Sabha, TMC MPs took out their blankets and decided to spend the night at the steps of the old Parliament building in protest from midnight to noon.
Many Congress leaders were seen being invited by the TMC to join their protest but they skirted it.
The TMC protest has taken the attention and sting away from the Congress protests on the new bill, and its claim to the origin of the bill.
In fact, the second story is of the confusion in the Congress ranks on the protests over the bill.
The BJP has termed the Congress protests as being anti-Ram. While Congress has rejected this by accusing the BJP of diverting attention, the fact is that many in the party were wary of how much to push the protests. After all, the ‘Ram' in the bill could be the point of attack by the BJP.
The BJP has made this point against the Congress that it's ‘Ram virodhi'. When the party decided not to attend the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, not everyone in the party was happy. Those from UP, Bihar were hassled that this could hurt them on the ground.
Said a senior UP leader from the Congress, “We have to hit the ground. I know BJP is needlessly making this an issue, but for those who have to fight on the ground, we can't afford this narrative that we are objecting to Ram."
The Congress played the anti-Mahatma card against the BJP to counter the anti-Ram charge of the BJP. But it wants to take no chance.
Swipe Left For Next Video
In a surprise move, Shashi Tharoor was one of the speakers fielded to speak on the topic in Lok Sabha. The Congress and he have not been sharing a good equation of late. So it came as a surprise to see him stand up to speak against, but there is a politics behind it. Shashi Tharoor has the image of a pro-BJP leader. He has written books on Hindu mythology, and so he could be the poster boy for the Congress to counter that the objection to the bill was because the Congress was objecting to Ram.
While for the TMC, hitting the ground on this is no big deal as it wants to show itself as the only champion of daily wagers, the Congress is once again caught in a dilemma. Can't let Sonia Gandhi down on one of her favourite bills, nor earn the anti-Ram tag.
Source: News18
Related Posts: Gen Z Employee Joins Team Call With Neem Face Mask Mask' Movie X Review Rahul Gandhi disrespected Northeast by not wearing Adityanath warns against present-day demons in Vijayadashami speech Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings more relevant in present situations of uncertainty When Will FM Nirmala Sitharaman Present Union Budget 2026 Can basic skin care products present cancer risk 7 people present with Zubeen Garg at time of death yet to join probe Jannik Sinner gifted ‘exceptional’ birthday present by Cincinnati opponent Politics increasingly trumps economics in present era
New Renault Duster: Renault has launched the all-new Duster in India at a starting price of Rs 10.49 lakh. The top-end variant goes up to Rs 18.49 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi. 2026 Renault Duster: Renault has launched the all-new Duster in India at a starting price of Rs 10.49 lakh
1 days ago
Sourav Ganguly joins TMC rumours: Sourav Ganguly has officially quashed rumours of his political entry ahead of West Bengal's upcoming Assembly elections. His office stated these claims are entirely baseless. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India is implementing robust
1 days ago
Mumbai man says plumber earns ₹18 LPA, owns house and car: 'Contemplating my life choices'The plumber explained how he earns from multiple societies where he regularly handles plumbing work. Updated on: Mar 17, 2026 5:48 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link A Reddit post claiming that a
1 days ago
Former MP KC Tyagi quits JD(U)His exit comes amid shifting political currents within the JD(U) and its alliances, and is being viewed in political circles as an indication of possible churn within the party’s senior leadership Published on: Mar 17, 2026 6:01 PM IST By Sanjeev K Jha
1 days ago
Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri shared a decades-long friendship and creative partnership, marked by unwavering loyalty, mutual respect, and a shared passion for authentic, groundbreaking cinema. In the memoirs of Indian cinema, few friendships have been as legendary as that of Naseeruddin Shah and
1 days ago
The controversy surrounding the song ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’ from the Kannada movie KD: The Devil, featuring Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt, continues to intensify. After the song’s lyrical video went viral on social media, many netizens and celebrities slammed the song’s ‘vulgar’ lyrics
1 days ago
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will contest from Bhabanipur. She faces BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in a key electoral battle. The Trinamool Congress has released its candidate list for all 294 seats. The upcoming elections are crucial for Banerjee's political future
1 days ago
A number of festivals are lined up this week, including Eid-ul-Fitr, Chaitra Navratri and Gudi Padwa. As Muslims and Hindus alike look forward to these auspicious festivals, preparations are in full swing to mark the celebrations this year. This week’s festivities begin with Gudi Padwa and
1 days ago
Joan Laporta was reelected as the president of FC Barcelona for another five years after winning a leadership vote among members of the Spanish soccer powerhouse. Shortly after midnight in Barcelona, the club announced Laporta had won. His only rival, Víctor Font
1 days ago
The Odisha Congress on Tuesday suspended three of its MLAs for defying the party whip during the recently held Rajya Sabha elections, in a move aimed at enforcing discipline within the party. The suspended legislators — Ramesh Jena, Sofia Firdous and Dasarathi Gamang — were accused of
1 days ago
US President Donald Trump was cautioned ahead of military action against Iran that Tehran could retaliate against American allies in the Gulf, according to officials familiar with US intelligence assessments. Sources said pre-war briefings had identified Iranian retaliation as a likely scenario
1 days ago
Akshay Kumar opens up about spooky incident at home: ‘My son pointed at nothing and asked someone to leave…’As he returns to the horror-comedy genre, Akshay Kumar spoke about an eerie experience that once left him shaken Published on: Mar 17
1 days ago
“Micro dreaming games" are trending on social media, with many claiming they help anxious minds and people with insomnia fall asleep faster. The idea is gaining popularity largely because of how simple it sounds. For anyone who has spent hours staring at the ceiling
1 days ago
FM Sitharaman’s remarks come amid broader discussions on financial sector health, where overall MSME NPAs remain lower at around 3.6 per cent as of March 2025, compared to Mudra-specific figures. New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reaffirmed the transformative role of the Pradhan
1 days ago
The liver is one of the most vital organs in the human body. From digesting the food we eat to filtering toxins from the blood, it performs hundreds of essential functions that keep the body running smoothly. However, modern lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits have led to a rise in serious
1 days ago
Vivo T5x 5G Price In India: The smartphone supports 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi, GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and a USB Type-C port. The phone also includes sensors like an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, e-compass, gyroscope, and proximity sensor
1 days ago
Mustard oil is one of those kitchen staples you rarely question. It sits on the shelf, gets heated till it smokes, and finds its way into everything from tadkas to pickles. But lately, there’s been a growing unease around what exactly is going into that bottle
1 days ago
The National Investigation Agency has arrested seven foreign citizens on charges of conspiring to carry out terrorist activities against India, ThePrint reported on Monday. While six of them are Ukrainians, one is from the United States, The Indian Express reported
1 days ago
As West Bengal gears up for assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress announced its candidate list, a critical exercise to maintain dominance after 15 years. The party focused on balancing experience with youth, analyzing local equations and feedback to counter anti-incumbency and ensure
1 days ago
Eid is a time of celebration, togetherness, and sharing delicious food with loved ones. This festive season, add a special touch to your Eid table with flavorful and nourishing recipes made with nuts, offering the perfect balance of taste, tradition, and festive indulgence
1 days ago
China announced emergency humanitarian assistance for Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq, aiming to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis in the region. The foreign ministry expressed deep sympathy for affected populations, emphasizing the ongoing conflict's devastating impact
1 days ago
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested seven foreign nationals, six Ukrainians and one American for allegedly providing terrorist training to insurgent groups in Myanmar to carry out attacks in northeast India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had a major breakthrough on March
1 days ago
If you love Korean cuisine, these K-dramas are a must-watchIf you love to savour Korean cuisines, these K-dramas featuring food as the main character are definitely a must-watch. Updated on: Mar 17, 2026 5:14 PM IST By Anukriti Srivastava Share via Copy link Korean dramas have taken the world by
1 days ago
A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Cuba early on Tuesday (March 17, 2026), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake hit at a depth of 11.6 kilometers (7.2 miles) about 49 kilometers south-southwest of Cuba's easternmost municipality of Maisi at 12:28 a.m.
1 days ago
In the third week of the joint US-Israeli war against Iran, Donald Trump faces decisions that could define the rest of his presidency. But if the American commander-in-chief is grappling with a war of choice that seems in danger of spiralling in ways he can't control
1 days ago
‘I want Nayanthara’: AIADMK MP remarks while criticising Stalin at women safety rally stokes controversyWhile participating in the party's protest against the DMK dispensation in Villupuram , Shanmugam, a former state minister remarked "I want Nayanthara''. Published on: Mar 17
1 days ago
All Indian Cine Workers Association demands ban on Nora Fatehi song Sarke Chunar, FIR against producersThe All Indian Cine Workers Association has said that songs such as Sarke Chunar with vulgar and double-meaning content is unacceptable in Indian cinema. Mar 17, 2026
1 days ago
