jairam ramesh – The Commune https://thecommunemag.com Mainstreaming Alternate Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:33:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://thecommunemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-TC_SF-1-32x32.jpg jairam ramesh – The Commune https://thecommunemag.com 32 32 Congress MP Jairam Ramesh Lies Again – Uses Jan 2025 US Readout To Attack PM Modi https://thecommunemag.com/congress-mp-jairam-ramesh-lies-again-uses-jan-2025-us-readout-to-attack-pm-modi/ Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:33:41 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=118152 A few days ago, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh amplified a misleading claim on social media platform X alleging that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was invited to the U.S. Army Day parade in Washington, D.C. Ramesh suggested this was a diplomatic failure for India and a blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the […]

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A few days ago, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh amplified a misleading claim on social media platform X alleging that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was invited to the U.S. Army Day parade in Washington, D.C.

Image Source: OpIndia

Ramesh suggested this was a diplomatic failure for India and a blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the narrative quickly unraveled when the White House clarified that no such invitation had been extended, exposing the claim as false.

The April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, came days after General Munir, on 16 April 2025, declared in Islamabad, “Our stance is absolutely clear, it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, we will not forget it. We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle,” referring to Kashmir.

Following President Trump’s rushed departure from the G7 Summit back to the US, Ramesh alleged, “Field Marshall Asim Munir, the man whose inflammatory, incendiary and provocative remarks were linked directly to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks, is having lunch today with President Trump in the White House. Is this why President Trump abandoned the G7 Summit a day early denying Mr. Narendra Modi a huge hug? President Trump himself has trumpeted 14 times that he brought about a ceasefire berween India and Pakistan meaning he ended Operation Sindoor. Gen. Michael Kurilla, the US Central Command Chief calls Pakistan a ‘phenomenal’ partner in counter-terrorism operations. This is triple jhatka to Howdy Modi by Namaste Trump! Indian diplomacy is being shattered and the PM is totally silent. And tomorrow is the fifth anniversary of his (in)famous clean chit to China.”

Speaking to ANI, Ramesh said, “… the statement given by Asim Munir about setting fire is directly related to the terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam on April 22. Today, this very person (Asim Munir) has received a special invitation to dine with President Donald Trump… Our delegation could only meet the Vice President, but Asim Munir has met the President… Today, news came that Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone for 35 minutes… There is a world of difference between what President Trump said about the conversation and what we were told… Prime Minister Modi, why don’t you call an all-party meeting? Why don’t you (Prime Minister Modi) invite the opposition?… In an all-party meeting, tell us what was discussed with them (US President Donald Trump)…”

As he was speaking to ANI, Ramesh also waved his phone dramatically, accusing the government of contradicting the US readout of a phone conversation between PM Modi and President Trump.

However, it was revealed that the readout he cited was from January 2025, not the latest conversation. No official U.S. release has yet been issued for the recent call. The last updated message is from 13 June 2025.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that Prime Minister Modi had a 35-minute phone conversation with President Trump, where the PM briefed him on Operation Sindoor. During the call, PM Modi briefed President Trump on Operation Sindoor, firmly stating that no trade-related topics were discussed in connection with the operation.

Reaffirming India’s long-standing position, the Prime Minister made it clear that India has never accepted and will not accept any form of third-party mediation. He further emphasized that India now views acts of terrorism not as proxy warfare, but as direct acts of war.

President Trump extended an invitation for an in-person meeting during his current U.S. visit, but PM Modi was unable to accept due to prior commitments. Both leaders, however, agreed to meet in the near future.

Once again, Jairam Ramesh has egg on his face for peddling lies and misinformation against PM Modi and India.

(With inputs from Live Mint)

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]]> Story Planter Jairam Ramesh’s History Of Peddling Misinformation https://thecommunemag.com/story-planter-jairam-rameshs-history-of-peddling-misinformation/ Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:54:07 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=117890 Congress MP and the Congress party’s media in-charge Jairam Ramesh is back in the news for amplifying fake news once again. Jairam Ramesh recently shared a misleading claim on social media platform X, alleging that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was invited to the U.S. Army Day parade in Washington, D.C. Ramesh suggested this […]

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Congress MP and the Congress party’s media in-charge Jairam Ramesh is back in the news for amplifying fake news once again. Jairam Ramesh recently shared a misleading claim on social media platform X, alleging that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was invited to the U.S. Army Day parade in Washington, D.C.

Image Source: OpIndia

Ramesh suggested this was a diplomatic failure for India and a blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the narrative quickly unraveled when the White House clarified that no such invitation had been extended, exposing the claim as false.

This is not the first time that Ramesh has peddled fake news. Let us take a look at some instances from the past where he has amplified propaganda.

#Fake News 1: GST being imposed on TN Temples

One of the notable instances where Congress MP Jairam Ramesh spread a misleading narrative occurred on 9 March 2025, when he alleged that temples in Tamil Nadu under the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department were being subjected to Goods and Services Tax (GST). Citing a report from Dinamalar, Ramesh tweeted that this was an “extraordinary” development, suggesting it was a cause for concern.

However, this claim was debunked upon review of official government policy and parliamentary records. As per a written reply in Parliament on February 3, 2025, temples and religious bodies are not required to pay GST for their core religious functions. The exemptions include:

  • Prasadam Distribution: Free or paid prasadam offerings are not subject to GST.
  • Religious Rituals: Services related to poojas and spiritual ceremonies are fully exempt.
  • Rental Income Below Thresholds: Rental of halls, shops, or spaces is not taxed if income remains below prescribed limits.

Moreover, under provisions of the Income Tax Act, services offered by temples for religious or spiritual purposes continue to remain GST-exempt. Sadly, Ramesh’s claim that temples are being forced to pay “crores” in GST misrepresents the facts. GST is levied only on commercial activities undertaken by temples—such as leasing out large spaces, shops, or guest houses on a commercial basis. This is a uniform tax rule applicable to all organizations, including private entities, trusts, and religious institutions—not something uniquely targeting temples. The 18% GST on commercial property rental is part of general taxation policy and not a targeted measure against Hindu temples or religious practices.

#Fake News 2: Amit Shah contacted DMs To Influence counting in Lok Sabha

In yet another instance of spreading unverified allegations, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stirred controversy by accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of attempting to influence the outcome of the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Ramesh alleged that Shah had contacted 150 District Magistrates (DMs) across an equal number of parliamentary constituencies to sway the counting process. This serious accusation was made publicly via Ramesh’s official handle on social media platform X.  He claimed, “The outgoing Home Minister has been calling up DMs/Collectors. So far he has spoken to 150 of them. This is blatant and brazen intimidation, showing how desperate the BJP is. Let it be very clear: the will of the people shall prevail, and on June 4th, Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah, and the BJP will exit, and the INDIA Janbandhan will be victorious. Officers should not get under any pressure and must uphold the Constitution. They are under watch.”

The Election Commission of India (ECI) responded swiftly, taking serious note of the allegation. It issued a formal notice to Ramesh, requesting him to provide specific details, including the names of the DMs who were allegedly contacted. Caught off guard by the ECI’s demand for evidence, Jairam Ramesh asked for a one-week extension to gather the details—a delay that raised further questions about the authenticity of his claims.

#Fake News 3: NSA Ajit Doval’s Son Operated A Hedge Fund, Apologised Later

In another instance in 2020, Jairam Ramesh, issued a formal apology to Vivek Doval, son of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, for making defamatory remarks based on an article published in The Caravan magazine. The apology led the Delhi court on 19 December to close the criminal defamation case filed against him.

The controversy began following the publication of an article titled “The D Companies” by The Caravan, which accused Vivek Doval of operating a hedge fund allegedly backed by promoters with questionable backgrounds. The piece led Ramesh to hold a press conference on  January 2019, where he made allegations against Vivek Doval, his family, and his business activities—claims later revealed to be unverified.

In response, Vivek Doval filed a defamation case against Jairam Ramesh, as well as The Caravan’s Editor-in-Chief Paresh Nath and journalist Kaushal Shroff.

In his written apology, Ramesh admitted the accusations were baseless and acknowledged that he should have independently verified the claims made in the article before taking them public. The apology was formally accepted by Vivek Doval. Ramesh stated, “I had conducted a press conference on 17 January 2019 making certain statements about you, your family and your business venture GNY Asia Fund. I understand these statements have hurt you deeply.” He added, “I want to clarify that these statements or accusations, were made drawing conclusions from an article that was published the previous day in the Caravan magazine. As the case progressed, I realized that perhaps some independent verification may have been in order.”

Ramesh felt it was appropriate to highlight the questions raised in the article as the general elections were about to take place. However, he added, “In retrospect, I may have gone overboard in making certain insinuations against you and your family. Thus, I would like to offer my apologies to you and your family for any hurt the statements have caused. I would also urge the INC to remove the press conference from the press releases available on their website,” he added.

#Fake News 4: Deflects DMK Failures, Shifts Blame to Centre Amidst PM Over Southern Outreach

In 2024, Jairam Ramesh raised several questions regarding Prime Minister Modi’s visits to Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He highlighted concerns about the Prime Minister’s attention to Tamil Nadu during crises with a tone buttressing its ally DMK, the impact of policies on textile factories, development remarks about Kerala, and environmental conservation efforts. In response, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai refuted these claims, emphasizing discrepancies in flood relief figures, attributing struggles in the power loom industry to the DMK government, and accusing the Congress of lacking understanding of ground realities. Annamalai urged Ramesh to direct his questions towards the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu and emphasized the BJP’s efforts in aiding MSMEs in Tamil Nadu.

On 19 March 2024, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh released a statement through his official X account, stating that, “The Prime Minister is visiting Salem, Tamil Nadu and Palakkad, Kerala today. Some important questions that he must address:

1. While the Prime Minister has been visiting Tamil Nadu frequently in the last few weeks, he has historically paid little attention to the state. For instance, he did not set foot here during the Cyclone Michaung crisis in December 2023. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has repeatedly urged for the release of Rs. 37,907 crores from the Modi Sarkar for rehabilitation and reconstruction after the cyclone. Does the Prime Minister plan to fulfill this critical need of the people of Tamil Nadu?

2. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Salem, he will hopefully notice the numerous textile factories that have either shut down and disposed of machinery or reduced working hours for laborers. After having single-handedly destroyed India’s MSME manufacturing capacities with demonetization, GST, and the unplanned COVID-19 lock-down, what is the Prime Minister’s vision to rescue these textile factories?

3. ⁠ Kerala is the state that the Prime Minister had infamously compared to Somalia. Kerala’s performance on development indicators has been consistently better than *all* Indian states. Will the Prime Minister finally apologize to the people of Kerala for his misleading commentary on the state?

4. Kerala is home to the Western Ghats, an extremely fragile but important ecosystem. In the last 10 years, under Modi’s tutelage, there have been continuous assaults on its ecosystem. The Modi Government has diluted all environment and forest laws to help a few favored corporates, and perhaps to repay the debts incurred for their purchase of the BJP’s electoral bonds. Will the Prime Minister come clean on what his motivations were when he was diluting our environmental protection regime to favor his corporate friends?”

The Tamil Nadu BJP president, K Annamalai, promptly busted the allegations and released a statement via his official handle on social media platform X that, “Thiru @Jairam_Ramesh, known for banning the pride of TN, the Jallikattu, has a newfound affection for Tamil Nadu (Understandable as elections are around the corner). Sitting in an ivory tower, Congress leaders do not see the ground reality. Neither have they changed nor their poll promise of “Roti, Kapada, Makkan” since the 1980s.

1. The flood relief sought by TN is not ₹37,907 Crore but ₹15,645 Crore (Confirmed by the Ministry of Finance in the Lok Sabha). The total SDRF fund available with the TN Govt was ₹2013 Crore & ₹3406 Crore was the total flood relief work carried out by the DMK Govt. We asked the DMK Govt to furnish the breakup of the ₹37,907 Crore inflated flood relief they sought but are faced with defeating silence.

We request Thiru @Jairam_Ramesh to ask his alliance partner to furnish the necessary details before politicising this matter. Does Thiru @Jairam_Ramesh know that the DMK Govt claimed completion of 99% of stormwater drain works in Chennai before the floods and flipped to 42% after the floods? Is scamming people the single-point agenda of the I.N.D.I. Alliance?

2. The Powerloom industry in Tamil Nadu is struggling due to the gross inefficiency of the DMK Government. Electricity tariff increased between 15 to 50%, Peak hour charges were increased from 35/KW to 150/KW, and there was a phenomenal increase in fixed charges.

Recently, @BJP4TamilNadu exposed the monumental corruption of the DMK Government in the Free Dhoti scheme & regardless of it, the Handloom & Textile Minister of Tamil Nadu continues to exploit the handloom & powerloom weavers of Tamil Nadu by taking a fixed fee as commission for orders placed to them.

When the Ambattur industrial estate was flooded due to the incapability of the DMK Govt, our Hon FM Smt @nsitharaman avl swiftly arranged the necessary assistance from the insurance companies to help them restart their business activity.

This is one of the many instances that we could quote! Thiru @Jairam_Ramesh , please do your homework right & your questions should be posted to DMK & not our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl. And please look into the quantum of assistance/loans issued to MSMEs in TN through PM Mudra, PMEGP & MSME Credit Guarantee programmes before pointing fingers the next time.”

Ghulam Nabi Azad Accuses Jairam Ramesh Of “Planting Stories”

A 2023 interview of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad went viral recently where he accused Ramesh of ‘planting stories’ irrespective of the government in power. Azad said, “I don’t know the person, he is a person whose biodata in Congress party nobody knows. Nobody knows where, which state does he belong? which district he belong? which party he belonged to? He was never in Youth Congress, NSUI, he was never in Congress, he was not in block committee, district committee, state committee, PCC. All of a sudden by doing these tweets we saw him becoming MP. We saw him becoming cabinet minister. And he is the one in cabinet minister who would put his telephone on, so that the media people will listen. That is the type of person. He is the person in a house sleeps with the laptop and gives messages. Earlier, he used to plant messages and plant stories against the government, against the opposition leaders. Now he’s planting stories against me. So many dirty stories.”

He further added, “He is 24/7 doing all these planting of stories. He is a great story planter, you know, very famous for planting stories then and now. So, his job is this that’s why he was made the media head.”

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]]> When Ghulam Nabi Azad Called Out Jairam Ramesh For Planting Stories https://thecommunemag.com/when-ghulam-nabi-azad-called-out-jairam-ramesh-for-planting-stories/ Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:40:12 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=117824 The Congress party has once again found itself mired in controversy, accused of prioritizing political opportunism over national interest. Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh recently shared a misleading claim on social media platform X, alleging that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was invited to the U.S. Army Day parade in […]

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The Congress party has once again found itself mired in controversy, accused of prioritizing political opportunism over national interest. Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh recently shared a misleading claim on social media platform X, alleging that Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was invited to the U.S. Army Day parade in Washington, D.C. Ramesh suggested this was a diplomatic failure for India and a blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the narrative quickly unraveled when the White House clarified that no such invitation had been extended, exposing the claim as false.

Image Source: OpIndia

This incident has sparked significant backlash, with many questioning not only the credibility of the Congress party but also that of its affiliated media supporters.

This isn’t the first time Jairam Ramesh has faced accusations of spreading misinformation. His consistent pattern of promoting misleading narratives to target opposition figures has been widely noted, including by former Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad. In an interview with a private TV channel, Azad directly criticized Ramesh, accusing him of habitually spreading falsehoods to stay in the spotlight.

The anchor during the interview read Ramesh’s post from X, “Jairam Ramesh has tweeted, you must have seen. Everyone and many people in the Congress have come out and criticized what you said. Jairam Ramesh tweeted, ‘A man who has been treated by the greatest respect by the Congress leadership has betrayed it by his vicious personal attacks which reveals his true character. GNA’s DNA has been modified or MODI-fied.'”

In response, Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “I don’t know the person, he is a person whose biodata in Congress party nobody knows. Nobody knows where, which state does he belong? which district he belong? which party he belonged to? He was never in Youth Congress, NSUI, he was never in Congress, he was not in block committee, district committee, state committee, PCC. All of a sudden by doing these tweets we saw him becoming MP. We saw him becoming cabinet minister. And he is the one in cabinet minister who would put his telephone on, so that the media people will listen. That is the type of person. He is the person in a house sleeps with the laptop and gives messages. Earlier, he used to plant messages and plant stories against the government, against the opposition leaders. Now he’s planting stories against me. So many dirty stories.”

He further added, “He is 24/7 doing all these planting of stories. He is a great story planter, you know, very famous for planting stories then and now. So, his job is this that’s why he was made the media head.”

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]]> No, Jairam Ramesh, Temples Are Not Being Taxed For Religious Activities – Here’s The Truth https://thecommunemag.com/no-jairam-ramesh-temples-are-not-being-taxed-for-religious-activities-heres-the-truth/ Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:54:53 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=110284 Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has claimed that temples under the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department are being subjected to Goods and Services Tax (GST), citing a report from Dinamalar. However, a review of official records and government statements reveals that his assertions are misleading and factually incorrect. Today's Dinamalar has a truly extraordinary […]

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Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has claimed that temples under the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department are being subjected to Goods and Services Tax (GST), citing a report from Dinamalar. However, a review of official records and government statements reveals that his assertions are misleading and factually incorrect.

What Does the Law Actually Say?

According to the official response in Parliament dated 3 February 2025, temples and religious institutions enjoy comprehensive exemptions from GST for their core religious and spiritual activities. These exemptions include:

  • Prasadam distribution: No GST is levied on the sale or supply of prasadam in temples.
  • Religious ceremonies: Rituals and services conducted within temples for religious purposes remain outside the GST purview.
  • Premises rental below thresholds: Temples are exempt from GST on renting of halls, community spaces, or shops if the rental income remainswithin legally defined limits.

Additionally, services provided by temples for religious and spiritual purposes under various sections of the Income Tax Act are fully exempt from GST.

GST Applies Only to Commercial Activities, Not Religious Functions

Contrary to Ramesh’s claim that temples are being forced to pay crores in GST, the tax applies only to commercial activities conducted by temples—such as renting out large properties, shops, or lodges for commercial use. The imposition of GST on commercial property rentals is a standard policy applied across all sectors, including businesses, trusts, and religious institutions.

GST law mandates an 18% tax on rental income from commercial properties, applicable to all property owners, including religious institutions leasing out land or buildings. This is not a special provision targeting temples but a general tax law.

Congress’ Misplaced Outrage And Political Opportunism

Jairam Ramesh’s attempt to paint this as an attack on Hindu temples is ironic, given that the GST Council—responsible for tax policy decisions—includes representatives from both the Centre and State Governments, including Congress-ruled states and its INDI Alliance partners. If Ramesh had genuine concerns, he should have raised them with his own allies.

Furthermore, Congress’ sudden concern for temples contrasts sharply with the party’s track record. In Tamil Nadu, where the HR&CE Department is controlled by the ruling DMK (a Congress ally), temple funds have reportedly been diverted for non-religious purposes, including:

  • Purchasing office supplies for government departments using temple money.
  • Constructing commercial shopping complexes instead of temple maintenance.
  • Reports of devotees and priests being harassed by ruling party functionaries.

If Congress is truly worried about the state of Hindu temples, it should first address these real issues instead of misleading the public with false claims about GST. Jairam Ramesh’s claims about GST being unfairly imposed on temples are misleading and politically motivated. The law clearly exempts religious services and rituals from GST, with taxation applying only to commercial rentals—something that applies across the board, not just to temples.

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The post No, Jairam Ramesh, Temples Are Not Being Taxed For Religious Activities – Here’s The Truth appeared first on The Commune.

]]> ‘Haryana Poll Results Not Acceptable, Will Approach EC With Complaints’, Says Congress After Defeat https://thecommunemag.com/haryana-poll-results-not-acceptable-will-approach-ec-with-complaints-says-congress-after-defeat/ Tue, 08 Oct 2024 13:06:20 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=90715 The Congress has decided to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) with regard to what it describes as irregularities in the electoral process in Haryana. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed disbelief at the election results, claiming they contradicted public sentiment and ground realities. “The results are totally unexpected and surprising. It goes against […]

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The Congress has decided to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) with regard to what it describes as irregularities in the electoral process in Haryana. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed disbelief at the election results, claiming they contradicted public sentiment and ground realities. “The results are totally unexpected and surprising. It goes against what the people of Haryana were seeking — a mandate for change and transformation,” Ramesh said on Tuesday, questioning the credibility of the poll outcome.

He also alleged that authorities were intimidated, leading to unexpected losses in Haryana constituencies where Congress performed well. Ramesh further revealed that serious complaints about the counting process and the functionality of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in at least three districts had been raised.

“We have received complaints about EVM malfunctions in Hisar, Mahendragarh, and Panipat, with issues regarding machine batteries and inconsistent results,” he said.

These complaints are being gathered and will be presented to the ECI in the coming days. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera echoed these concerns, labeling the election “a victory for manipulation and a defeat for democracy.”

Khera said: “We have received very serious complaints on counting and the functioning of EVMs in at least three districts. We have spoken to our senior colleagues in Haryana, and information is still being collected. We will present this to the Election Commission. Our candidates have raised serious questions. What we have seen today in Haryana is a victory for manipulation, a victory for subverting the will of the people and a defeat of the democratic process.”

He criticised the process, citing disbelief over the unexpected results, and mentioned that Congress candidates had already submitted grievances to local returning officers.

The Congress also focuses on the ongoing political developments in Jammu and Kashmir, where the National Conference-Congress alliance has secured a clear mandate. The coalition’s priority, according to Ramesh, would be the restoration of statehood. “The chapter on Haryana is still not complete. It will continue. Of course, the chapter in Jammu and Kashmir will have a coalition government. As I said yesterday, various attempts were made to ensure the majority would not come to the Congress-NC alliance. Still, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given a very clear mandate for this coalition government,” Jairam Ramesh said.

Earlier in the day, the Congress had complained to the poll body, alleging that there was a slowdown in the update of poll results data on the ECI website. The ECI had rejected the claims and said that the entire counting process is being done in the presence of observers and micro-observers as per the statutory scheme. According to the latest data of the Election Commission of India, the BJP is going to win at least 48 seats in Haryana and will form the next government in the state for the third time in a row.

–IANS

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]]> ECI Refuses To Grant Extra Time To Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh For Response Over His Claim On Union HM Amit Shah https://thecommunemag.com/eci-refuses-to-grant-extra-time-to-congress-leader-jairam-ramesh-for-response-over-his-claim-on-union-hm-amit-shah/ Mon, 03 Jun 2024 13:52:14 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=77772 Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had contacted 150 District Magistrates of an equal number of Parliamentary constituencies to influence the counting process of the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. Election Commission of India issued a notice to Jairam Ramesh asking him to furnish the details/disclose the names of the […]

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Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had contacted 150 District Magistrates of an equal number of Parliamentary constituencies to influence the counting process of the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. Election Commission of India issued a notice to Jairam Ramesh asking him to furnish the details/disclose the names of the DMs. In response, Jairam Ramesh requested that he be given a week’s time to gather the details.

The request from Jairam Ramesh, spokesperson for the Congress, for a week’s time to respond to a letter from the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been denied. The ECI has instructed the Congress leader to provide a response by 7 PM on 3 June 2024 concerning his previous assertions.

A communication sent by ECI dated on 3 June 2024, requested a response by 7:00 PM on the same day. The letter stated, “Dear Sir, 1 am directed to refer to your letter dated 03.06.2024 in response to the Commission’s letter of even number dated 02.06.2024 whereby you have sought an extension of one week to file a detailed reply. Your allegation that attempts have been made to influence the District Magistrates of around 150 Parliamentary Constituencies, who are also the ROs/DEOs, has serious connotation and direct bearing on the sanctity of the counting process, scheduled for tomorrow.”

The letter added, “As mentioned in Commissions letter dated 02.06.2024, no DM has reported any such undue influence as alleged by you. Therefore, the Commission hereby outrightly rejects your request for time extension and directs you to file your response along with the factual matrix/basis of your allegation by 19.00 hours today i.e. 03.06.2024, failing which it would be presumed that you have nothing eubstantive to say in the matter and the Commission would proceed ahead to take appropriate action.” 

The Commission highlighted the seriousness of such allegations, emphasizing the need to address them in the public interest. Although no district magistrates reported undue influence, the Commission sought clarification from Ramesh regarding the alleged calls made by Amit Shah to 150 district magistrates. Ramesh had accused the BJP of intimidation tactics, urging officials not to succumb to pressure and uphold the Constitution. As the exit poll results suggested BJP’s return to power with Narendra Modi potentially securing a historic third consecutive term, Ramesh criticized the alleged intimidation tactics and expressed confidence in the victory of the INDIA Janbandhan coalition. He reaffirmed the importance of upholding democratic principles and resisting pressure, stating that officials are being closely observed.

Jairam Ramesh the Congress general secretary of communications via his official X handle claimed, “The outgoing Home Minister has been calling up DMs/Collectors. So far he has spoken to 150 of them. This is blatant and brazen intimidation, showing how desperate the BJP is. Let it be very clear: the will of the people shall prevail, and on June 4th, Mr. Modi, Mr. Shah, and the BJP will exit, and the INDIA Janbandhan will be victorious. Officers should not get under any pressure and must uphold the Constitution. They are under watch.”

In this backdrop today (3 June 2024) during the press briefing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar has strongly responded to allegations made by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claiming Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s alleged calls to 150 district magistrates after the conclusion of Lok Sabha elections voting.

Kumar emphasized the importance of not spreading rumors and casting doubt on everyone, questioning whether it was feasible for someone to influence all district magistrates. He asserted that if such influence had occurred, the responsible party would face consequences. CEC Rajiv Kumar questioned, “Can someone influence them (DMs/ROs) all? Tell us who did this. We will punish the person who did it…It is not right that you spread a rumour and doubt everyone.”

Additionally, Kumar acknowledged the concerns raised by multi-party delegations ahead of the vote counting, assuring that their demands, including CCTV camera monitoring of control unit movements, would be addressed. Kumar said, “All issues raised by multi-party delegations have been addressed. They demanded that there should be CCTV camera monitoring of the movements of the control units. That will be done,”

(With inputs from Hindustan Times)

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]]> “Privileged A**H*le”: When Congress Leader Mani Shankar Aiyar Was Called Out For Being A Communist And Allegedly Raising Funds For China During Indo-China War https://thecommunemag.com/privileged-ahle-when-congress-leader-mani-shankar-aiyar-was-called-out-for-being-a-communist-and-allegedly-raising-funds-for-china-during-indo-china-war/ Wed, 29 May 2024 15:17:37 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=77457 Former Union minister and Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has once again sparked controversy with his remarks on China. During a speech at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia, Aiyar referred to the 1962 Indo-China war as an “alleged Chinese invasion.” In a video that has gone viral, he is heard saying, “In October […]

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Former Union minister and Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has once again sparked controversy with his remarks on China. During a speech at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia, Aiyar referred to the 1962 Indo-China war as an “alleged Chinese invasion.”

In a video that has gone viral, he is heard saying, “In October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India.” When an audience member questioned his use of “allegedly,” Aiyar apologized, acknowledging he had used the term mistakenly. During the launch event for the book ‘Nehru’s First Recruits‘, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar remarked, “In October 1962, the Chinese allegedly invaded India. On the day that Tawang fell, the foreign service exams began in London. When they were over, the newspapers used to make references to me as being very left wing and a communist”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticized Aiyar’s comments, with BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya accusing him of attempting to “whitewash the Chinese invasion.” Malviya pointed to historical actions by Congress leaders, claiming Nehru, Rahul Gandhi, and others had compromised India’s stance on China. He cited Nehru’s decision against a permanent UN Security Council seat in favor of China, a secret MoU signed by Rahul Gandhi, funds accepted by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation from the Chinese Embassy, and market access granted to Chinese companies under Sonia Gandhi’s UPA government, which hurt Indian MSMEs. Malviya asserted that Aiyar’s recent comments were part of a continued pattern.

Amit Malviya in his official X account stated, “Mani Shankar Aiyar, speaking at the FCC, during launch of a book called Nehru’s First Recruits, refers to Chinese invasion in 1962 as ‘alleged’. This is a brazen attempt at revisionism. Nehru gave up India’s claim on permanent seat at the UNSC in favour of the Chinese, Rahul Gandhi signed a secret MoU, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation accepted funds from the Chinese Embassy and published reports recommending market access for Chinese companies, based on them, Sonia Gandhi’s UPA opened up Indian market for Chinese goods, hurting MSMEs and now Congress leader Aiyar wants to whitewash the Chinese invasion, post which the Chinese have been in illegal occupation of 38,000 sq km of Indian territory. What explains Congress’s love for the Chinese?”

The Congress party quickly distanced itself from Aiyar’s statements with General Secretary Jairam Ramesh emphasized that Aiyar had apologized unreservedly for his “mistaken” use of “alleged invasion” and attributed the error to his age. Ramesh reaffirmed that the Chinese invasion of India in 1962 was real, as were the incursions in Ladakh in May 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and a disrupted status quo.

Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh stated in his X official account that, “Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar has subequently apologised unreservedly for using the term “alleged invasion” mistakenkly. Allowances must be made for his age. The INC distances itself from his original phraseology. The Chinese invasion of India that began on October 20, 1962 was for REAL. So too were the Chinese incursions in Ladakh in early May 2020 in which 20 of our soldiers were martyred and the status quo disturbed. The outgoing PM, however, gave a clean chit publicly to the Chinese on June 19th 2020, seriously weakening our negotiating position. 2000 sq km of territory including Depsang and Demchok remain out of bounds for Indian troops.”

Jairam Ramesh’s initially peddled that 40 Indian soldiers were martyred but later corrected it to 20 in the now-edited tweet.

Jairam Ramesh is currently asserting that the Modi administration exonerated China for its unlawful incursions into Indian territory in 2020. He references a partial video of Prime Minister Modi’s comments from a June 2020 all-party meeting. However, PM Modi did acknowledge the Galwan clashes.

The Prime Minister stated, “Neither have they intruded into our border, nor has any post been taken over by them (China). Twenty of our jawans were martyred, but those who dared Bharat Mata, they were taught a lesson.”

Commie Days of Mani Shankar Aiyar:

During his time at Cambridge, Mani Shankar Aiyar was a full-blown Communist. In 1986, Journalist Dhiren Bhagat in the satirical magazine, Private Eye, described Mani Shankar Aiyar as a “privileged asshole” who had “romped” as “general secretary of a local Communist cell” to raise money for the Chinese against the backdrop of the India-China war. This was again republished in his book “The Contemporary Conservative,” in 1990. Here’s the excerpt from the book:

In 1962 China invaded India and while we (ineffectually) fought the yellow bastards and our wives’ knitted sweaters and donated their jewelry for the nation’s defense, this privileged asshole romped about the Backs as General Secretary of the local Communist cell raising money for the Chinese! In a just world he’d have been strung and quartered the day he came back home; the world being what it is, Mani had the gall to apply to join our foreign service. The police — reasonable enough — considered him a security risk and handed the examining authorities the file on him; Aiyar’s family pulled strings and the President finally intervened to ease Mani’s entry to the service.

Although Mani Shankar Aiyar denied that he collected any money for the Chinese on any occasion, he never sued Bhagat or the publication for defamation.

These excerpts from Bhagat’s book have once again resurfaced and gone viral. It is noteworthy that during Mani Shankar Aiyar’s tenure as Petroleum Minister, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray used this narrative to mock Aiyar following a spat over Aiyar’s critical remarks about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Aiyar had ordered the removal of a poem by Savarkar from the Cellular Jail in the Andamans, where Savarkar had been imprisoned for 11 years. Shiv Sena has drawn extensively from Bhagat’s book, which highlights Aiyar’s days in the 1960s as a secretary member of the Cambridge unit of the Communist party.

 

(With Inputs From IE)

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]]> Annamalai Busts Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh’s Claims On Cyclone Michaung & Textile Crisis In TN https://thecommunemag.com/annamalai-busts-congress-leader-jairam-rameshs-claims-on-cyclone-michaung-textile-crisis-in-tn/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 07:52:25 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=72434 Against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s road show in Palakkad, Kerala, and Salem, Tamil Nadu, on 19 March 2024, the Congress, aiming to propagate a negative narrative suggesting discontent among the visited populace, faced rebuttal. Jairam Ramesh, an MP and Congress’s communication head, crafted inquiries purportedly representing public sentiment. However, Tamil Nadu State […]

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Against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s road show in Palakkad, Kerala, and Salem, Tamil Nadu, on 19 March 2024, the Congress, aiming to propagate a negative narrative suggesting discontent among the visited populace, faced rebuttal. Jairam Ramesh, an MP and Congress’s communication head, crafted inquiries purportedly representing public sentiment. However, Tamil Nadu State President Annamalai swiftly countered these assertions.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised several questions regarding Prime Minister Modi’s visits to Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He highlighted concerns about the Prime Minister’s attention to Tamil Nadu during crises with a tone buttressing its ally DMK, the impact of policies on textile factories, development remarks about Kerala, and environmental conservation efforts. In response, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai refuted these claims, emphasizing discrepancies in flood relief figures, attributing struggles in the power loom industry to the DMK government, and accusing the Congress of lacking understanding of ground realities. Annamalai urged Ramesh to direct his questions towards the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu and emphasized the BJP’s efforts in aiding MSMEs in Tamil Nadu.

On 19 March 2024, Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh released a statement through his official X account, stating that, “The Prime Minister is visiting Salem, Tamil Nadu and Palakkad, Kerala today. Some important questions that he must address:

1. While the Prime Minister has been visiting Tamil Nadu frequently in the last few weeks, he has historically paid little attention to the state. For instance, he did not set foot here during the Cyclone Michaung crisis in December 2023. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has repeatedly urged for the release of Rs. 37,907 crores from the Modi Sarkar for rehabilitation and reconstruction after the cyclone. Does the Prime Minister plan to fulfill this critical need of the people of Tamil Nadu?

2. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Salem, he will hopefully notice the numerous textile factories that have either shut down and disposed of machinery or reduced working hours for laborers. After having single-handedly destroyed India’s MSME manufacturing capacities with demonetization, GST, and the unplanned COVID-19 lock-down, what is the Prime Minister’s vision to rescue these textile factories?

3. ⁠ Kerala is the state that the Prime Minister had infamously compared to Somalia. Kerala’s performance on development indicators has been consistently better than *all* Indian states. Will the Prime Minister finally apologize to the people of Kerala for his misleading commentary on the state?

4. Kerala is home to the Western Ghats, an extremely fragile but important ecosystem. In the last 10 years, under Modi’s tutelage, there have been continuous assaults on its ecosystem. The Modi Government has diluted all environment and forest laws to help a few favored corporates, and perhaps to repay the debts incurred for their purchase of the BJP’s electoral bonds. Will the Prime Minister come clean on what his motivations were when he was diluting our environmental protection regime to favor his corporate friends?”

The Tamil Nadu BJP president, K Annamalai, promptly busted the allegations and released a statement via his official handle on social media platform X that, “Thiru @Jairam_Ramesh, known for banning the pride of TN, the Jallikattu, has a newfound affection for Tamil Nadu (Understandable as elections are around the corner). Sitting in an ivory tower, Congress leaders do not see the ground reality. Neither have they changed nor their poll promise of “Roti, Kapada, Makkan” since the 1980s.

1. The flood relief sought by TN is not ₹37,907 Crore but ₹15,645 Crore (Confirmed by the Ministry of Finance in the Lok Sabha). The total SDRF fund available with the TN Govt was ₹2013 Crore & ₹3406 Crore was the total flood relief work carried out by the DMK Govt. We asked the DMK Govt to furnish the breakup of the ₹37,907 Crore inflated flood relief they sought but are faced with defeating silence.

We request Thiru @Jairam_Ramesh to ask his alliance partner to furnish the necessary details before politicising this matter. Does Thiru @Jairam_Ramesh know that the DMK Govt claimed completion of 99% of stormwater drain works in Chennai before the floods and flipped to 42% after the floods? Is scamming people the single-point agenda of the I.N.D.I. Alliance?

2. The Powerloom industry in Tamil Nadu is struggling due to the gross inefficiency of the DMK Government. Electricity tariff increased between 15 to 50%, Peak hour charges were increased from 35/KW to 150/KW, and there was a phenomenal increase in fixed charges.

Recently, @BJP4TamilNadu exposed the monumental corruption of the DMK Government in the Free Dhoti scheme & regardless of it, the Handloom & Textile Minister of Tamil Nadu continues to exploit the handloom & powerloom weavers of Tamil Nadu by taking a fixed fee as commission for orders placed to them.

When the Ambattur industrial estate was flooded due to the incapability of the DMK Govt, our Hon FM Smt @nsitharaman avl swiftly arranged the necessary assistance from the insurance companies to help them restart their business activity.

This is one of the many instances that we could quote! Thiru @Jairam_Ramesh , please do your homework right & your questions should be posted to DMK & not our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl. And please look into the quantum of assistance/loans issued to MSMEs in TN through PM Mudra, PMEGP & MSME Credit Guarantee programmes before pointing fingers the next time.”

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]]> Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri slams former bureaucrats for their bizarre letter against Central Vista https://thecommunemag.com/union-minister-hardeep-singh-puri-slams-former-bureaucrats-for-their-bizarre-letter-against-central-vista/ Tue, 01 Jun 2021 09:16:19 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=31409 In a press conference held by Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri on the Central Vista project said he objects to the statements that were made in an open letter by former bureaucrats last year that has been making rounds on social media platforms. “This project began, if reports are to be […]

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In a press conference held by Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri on the Central Vista project said he objects to the statements that were made in an open letter by former bureaucrats last year that has been making rounds on social media platforms.

In the statement, the bureaucrats had said, “There is a great deal wrong with the conceptualization of the project. Rather than establishing the necessity of the project with sound prior studies on environmental and technical parameters, this project began, if reports are to be believed, because of a superstitious belief that the present Parliament building is ‘unlucky’, as well as with the thought of leaving a particular government and its leader’s impress on the architecture of Delhi.”

Puri called the bureaucrats educated fools and said, “These are not educated fools but a disgrace to the country. I will not put my signatures on a letter that talks about superstitious belief.”

He went on to say that the need for the new parliament was made by the Congress government in 2012 and the old parliament lacks facilities and lack of space for the members. He said, “The parliament was designed for fewer people. We are making a bigger parliament building for the people of India.” He further said, “I think some of these guys need to have their head examined before they sign letters like this.”

Puri then excoriated the people who wrote this letter making rounds in the social media and said,  “I do not know what agenda they have but they need to get their facts right.”

He talked about the false narrative being created and propagated around the Central Vista project and was aghast with the accusation that this was a vanity project. He also made it very clear that none of the heritage buildings would be touched.

The new parliament building will be ready as India celebrates the 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022. The estimated cost of the new parliament building is Rs 852 crores and the estimated cost of Central Vista avenue is Rs 477 crore.

Puri said that in 2012, it was the UPA government that had decided to build a new parliament and quoted Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, then-Union Minister for Rural Development who had said, “We badly need a new parliament building. This one simply isn’t functional and is outdated.” 

It must be noted that the Delhi High Court had dismissed a PIL filed against the Central Vista project and called it a “motivated plea” and imposed a fine on the petitioners Anya Malhotra and Sohail Hashmi for wasting the court’s time in frivolous petitions.

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]]> Jairam Ramesh tenders apology to NSA Ajit Doval’s son for false accusations https://thecommunemag.com/jairam-ramesh-tenders-apology-to-nsa-ajit-doval-son-for-false-accusations/ Sun, 20 Dec 2020 05:19:22 +0000 https://thecommunemag.com/?p=17208 Jairam Ramesh, who is a close confidant of the Nehru-Gandhi family-led Congress Party has tendered an apology to National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval’s son Vivek Doval over comments he made after an unsubstantiated article was published in The Caravan Magazine accusing Ajit of running a hedge fund whose promoters were of dubious antecedents. After […]

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Jairam Ramesh, who is a close confidant of the Nehru-Gandhi family-led Congress Party has tendered an apology to National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval’s son Vivek Doval over comments he made after an unsubstantiated article was published in The Caravan Magazine accusing Ajit of running a hedge fund whose promoters were of dubious antecedents.

After the apology was made the Delhi Court on Saturday (19 December) closed the criminal defamation case against Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

In an article published in The Caravan article titled ‘The D Companies’, Vivek Doval was accused of running a hedge fund whose promoters were of dubious antecedents.

This led to an immediate filing of a criminal defamation case against Ramesh and Caravan magazine Editor-in-Chief Paresh Nath and reporter Kaushal Shroff for damaging his reputation.

In his letter of apology, Ramesh admitted that he made baseless allegations against Ajit and regrets that he should have conducted independent verification on the facts of the articles before jumping to a conclusion. The apology was accepted by Vivek Doval.

Ramesh stated, “I had conducted a press conference on 17 January 2019 making certain statements about you, your family and your business venture GNY Asia Fund. I understand these statements have hurt you deeply.”

He added, “I want to clarify that these statements or accusations, were made drawing conclusions from an article that was published the previous day in the Caravan magazine. As the case progressed, I realized that perhaps some independent verification may have been in order.”

Ramesh felt it was appropriate to highlight the questions raised in the article as the general elections were about to take place. However, he added, “In retrospect, I may have gone overboard in making certain insinuations against you and your family,”.

“Thus, I would like to offer my apologies to you and your family for any hurt the statements have caused. I would also urge the INC to remove the press conference from the press releases available on their website,” he added.

The case against Jairam Ramesh is now closed, however, the defamation proceedings against the magazine and journalist Kaushal Shroff will continue.

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