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Hardik tells Congress to clear Patidar quota stand by Nov 3 or face protests

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8 years ago

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File photo of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti founder Hardik Patel. Photo credit: Agencies

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hardik Patel reportedly wants Congress to publicly commit to ensuring 20 per cent reservation for economically backward classes if it is voted to power

Hardik Patel, the popular leader of the raging Patidar/Patel agitation in Gujarat, has put the Congress party in a piquant situation in the poll-bound state. On Saturday, Patel warned the party that if it didn’t clarify its stand on reservations for the community by November 3 then his supporters would unleash the same chaos at Congress rallies as they recently did at a public meeting of BJP national president Amit Shah in Surat.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Patel, who the Congress has been trying to convince to campaign for its candidates in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls in a bid to defeat the BJP which has stayed in power for 22 long years, had recently met Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot in Ahmedabad, while he had also vehemently refuted rumours of a meeting with the party’s vice president Rahul Gandhi. However, Patel had conceded that he had placed his demands before Gehlot, a fact that the Congress general secretary also confirmed.

However, with Patel now setting a deadline of November 3 for the Congress to come clean on its stand over the demand of the state’s politically influential Patel/Patidar population, the grand old party will need to quickly take a decision on the prickly issue which could make or mar its political fortunes in the state.

So far, Patel had made it clear that while he won’t join the Congress party, he was open to campaigning for the party to ensure the defeat of the BJP, which he has accused of cheating the state’s over 12 per cent Patidar population which holds the key to victory in at least 60 of Gujarat’s 182 assembly constituencies.

Congress sources say Patel wants the party to give a majority chunk of its tickets – between 30 to 40 per cent – to candidates from the Patidar community. He also wants the Congress leadership, preferably Rahul Gandhi, to publicly declare that the party would ensure a 20 per cent reservation in government jobs for economically backward classes (a demand that is likely to mostly help Patidars if it is fulfilled) if it is voted to power riding on the support of his community.

Rahul Gandhi is set to address a series of public meetings across Gujarat between November 1 and 3. This leaves the party with less than a week to discuss the contentious demand with Congress leaders from Gujarat who represent other communities, which unlike the Patidars, have formed the Congress’ vote bank in the state at some or the other point in time in recent years. The Patidar community, however, has traditionally voted for the BJP in Gujarat and its support to the saffron party is seen as the reason for its 22-year-long stint in power in the state. It is only in the past two years that the Patidars, under the banner of Hardik Patel’s Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), have revolted against the BJP over their demand for reservation based on economic backwardness.

Agreeing to Hardik’s demands, especially publicly, may not be an easy choice for the Congress as in doing so the party risks alienating backwards castes, Dalits and adivasis who currently enjoy benefits of reservation and could see such a commitment as one that impinges on their constitutionally mandated right.

Accepting Hardik’s demand could also turn into an electoral nightmare for the Congress as the party has only recently managed to bring popular OBC leader Alpesh Thakore within its fold and is assiduously pursing a similar plan with Jignesh Mewani, the activist who commands mass support among the state’s huge Dalit population. Neither Jignesh Mewani nor Alpesh Thakore is likely to agree to Hardik’s demand for a 20 per cent reservation for economically backward castes, although the duo have so far aligned with Hardik to attack the BJP.

In Gujarat, other backward classes (OBCs) comprise 146 castes and make up around 40 per cent of the state’s population. They have a 27 per cent quota in government jobs and education. The scheduled castes are entitled to a 7 per cent quota while the 15 per cent has been reserved for scheduled tribes. This makes a total of 49 per cent reserved seats in the state which is just under the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the Supreme Court.

How the Congress would manage to add another 20 per cent of reservations without curtailing the quotas allotted to OBCs, SCs and STs is a mystery. Last year, the BJP-ruled state government had given 10 per cent reservation for the poor among non-reserved castes – a move aimed at placating the Patidars – but the Gujarat high court had struck down the provision on the ground that it violated the Supreme Court’s cap of 50 per cent on reservations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India and Russia vow to walk together against terrorism, reaffirm strategic partnership

PM Modi and President Putin reaffirm India-Russia unity against terrorism, deepen energy and trade cooperation, and discuss peace efforts amid the Ukraine conflict.

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1 hour ago

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December 5, 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that India and Russia “walk together in the fight against terrorism,” reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership that remains steady amid global geopolitical churn. The leaders issued the joint statement following talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where they also announced steps to boost trade, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

India-Russia stand firm on counter-terror cooperation

PM Modi described President Putin as a “dear friend” and highlighted Moscow’s consistent support to India on counter-terror efforts. Russia had earlier strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, and reiterated solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism in all forms.

The joint remarks emphasized that the bilateral friendship, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has remained resilient for decades despite global challenges.

Focus on energy, trade and use of national currencies

A key highlight of the engagement was Russia reaffirming “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. PM Modi expressed gratitude for Russia’s commitment, noting energy cooperation as a crucial pillar of the relationship. While he did not specifically mention oil purchases, given ongoing Western pressure, he emphasised cooperation in civil nuclear and clean energy.

The two countries also discussed expanding economic ties, including a possible free trade agreement. President Putin said bilateral trade was being targeted to reach USD 100 billion, and acknowledged progress toward using national currencies for payments — a remark expected to draw global attention.

Putin shares peace plan insights on Ukraine conflict

Putin briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s perspective for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war and appreciated India’s continued role as a “champion of peace.” PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy.

Agreements across jobs, health, shipping and minerals

Officials exchanged multiple agreements covering employment mobility, health, shipping, chemicals and cooperation in critical minerals — further broadening the strategic footprint of the partnership.

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RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

Published

6 hours ago

on

December 5, 2025

By

Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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India News

IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

Published

6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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