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Ahead of Modi’s Gujarat visit today, Rahul predicts “jumlon ki baarish”

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Rahul Gandhi

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Congress vice president has been consistently taking digs at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter to call him out on unfulfilled poll promises

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Gandhinagar on Monday to address a massive rally of party workers and supporters at the Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to give a sarcastic ‘weather forecast’, claiming that the poll-bound state will see a “jumlon ki baarish” (rain of rhetoric) during the Premier’s visit.

Modi’s address at the Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan, which marks the culmination of the BJP’s Gujarat Gaurav Yatra that had begun on October 1, is expected to be a high-octane attack against the Congress party which is hoping for a poll reversal in the state that is scheduled to go for Assembly polls in December. Considering that in each of his recent visits to the state, the Prime Minister has either launched a project (for example – the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train and the Sardar Sarovar Dam) or announced multiple sops and schemes, it is expected that Modi would make some announcements on Monday too which would endear voters to the BJP.

Pre-empting that the Prime Minister will try to woo voters by announcing new schemes or dangling some poll promise, Rahul took to Twitter to caution Gujaratis against buying the poll rhetoric.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The Congress vice president’s “jumlon ki baarish” is also a reference to a much publicised remark made by BJP national president Amit Shah months after the BJP romped to power at the Centre in May 2014 on the promise of bringing back black money stashed by Indians abroad and crediting bank accounts of all Indian citizens with Rs 15 lakh each- something that Shah had dismissed as a “chunavi jumla (poll rhetoric) when he was asked for a timeline within which these promises would be fulfilled.

In recent weeks, Rahul – usually chided by his political opponents for his gaffes and poor oratory – seems to have started using social media platforms to his advantage by hitting out at Modi through sarcastic comments on crucial matters.

With Gujarat expected to witness a high-voltage poll campaign and the Congress hoping to cash in on anti-incumbency (the BJP has been in power in the state for 22 years), dissent among Muslims and Dalits of the state who have been victims of communal violence and lynch mobs and traders who have lost business due to the GST roll-out, Rahul is pulling all stops to use Twitter to hit out at the BJP in general and Modi’s leadership in particular.

On October 11, the Congress vice president – who has himself visited Gujarat a couple of times over the past month to campaign for his party – had taken a swipe at Narendra Modi by predicting his possible poll promises for the state.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]On Sunday, Rahul Gandhi had taken to Twitter to mock Modi’s much-photographed and discussed proclivity for hugging foreign dignitaries and heads of state during his diplomatic engagements. The Nehru-Gandhi scion had used a tweet posted by US President Donald Trump where he spoke of an improvement in his relations with Pakistani leaders to take a swipe at Modi. The Prime Minister has been hosted by the White House a couple of times in the past year while the BJP machinery had alluded to these meetings as being the reason behind America’s alienation of Pakistan.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Lok Sabha clears bill to levy cess on pan masala and similar goods for health, security funding

The Lok Sabha has passed a bill to impose a cess on pan masala manufacturing units, aiming to create a dedicated revenue source for public health and national security initiatives.

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Nirmala Sitharaman

The Lok Sabha has approved the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, paving the way for a new cess on pan masala manufacturing units. The legislation aims to generate dedicated funds for strengthening national security and improving public health, both areas identified as critical national priorities.

Bill aims to create predictable funding stream

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, responding to the debate before the bill was passed by voice vote, said that the cess will be shared with states because public health falls under the state list.

The new cess will be applied over and above the GST, based on production capacity and machinery used in units manufacturing pan masala and similar goods. The minister clarified that this cess will not affect GST revenue, and that pan masala already attracts the maximum GST slab of 40 per cent.

According to the bill text, the objective is to build a “dedicated and predictable resource stream” to support expenditure related to health and national security.

Sitharaman also mentioned that cess collection as a percentage of gross total revenue currently stands at 6.1 per cent, lower than the 7 per cent average between 2010 and 2014.

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India News

Simone Tata passes away at 95: A look at the visionary who shaped Lakme and modern retail

Simone Tata, the pioneering business leader who built Lakme and helped shape India’s modern retail sector, passed away at 95. Here’s a look at her legacy.

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simone tata

Ratan Tata’s stepmother and celebrated business leader Simone Tata passed away on December 5, 2025, at the age of 95. Known for her pioneering role in building Lakme and transforming India’s retail landscape, she leaves behind a remarkable legacy that redefined Indian consumer culture.

A legacy that shaped Indian business

Simone Tata, born in Geneva in 1930, first came to India at the age of 23. Two years later, in 1955, she married Naval H. Tata and gradually became an integral part of the Tata family’s business vision. Her journey with the Tata Group began in the 1960s, when she was appointed to Lakme—then under Tata Oil Mills.

Under her leadership, Lakme quickly grew into one of India’s most trusted cosmetic brands. She rose to the position of managing director and later chairperson, introducing global formulations and modernising beauty products for the Indian market. Lakme’s rise was also rooted in a strong national vision—launched on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s suggestion to reduce foreign exchange spent on imported makeup.

Transforming retail through Trent and Westside

After Lakme was sold to Hindustan Lever Limited in 1966, Simone moved to Trent, where she helped build one of India’s earliest modern retail chains. This later gave birth to Westside, a brand that has become synonymous with contemporary Indian shopping culture.

She also played a key role in philanthropic initiatives, guiding organisations such as the Sir Ratan Tata Institute and supporting cultural and children-focused foundations.

Family, personal life and final farewell

Simone Tata is survived by her son Noel, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya and Leah. She also drew public attention in recent years for being the only member of the Tata family to attend Cyrus Mistry’s funeral, despite the widely known strained ties between the families.

Her funeral will take place on Saturday morning at the Cathedral of the Holy Name Church in Colaba, Mumbai.

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India News

Centre orders probe into IndiGo crisis, expects normal flight operations in three days

Amid record cancellations by IndiGo, the Centre has ordered a high-level inquiry and expects flight schedules to stabilise by Saturday, with full normalcy in three days.

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indigo

The Centre has initiated a high-level inquiry into the massive disruption of IndiGo’s operations, with the government projecting that flight schedules will begin stabilising by Saturday and full normalisation is expected within three days. The announcement comes as cancellations by the airline crossed 500 for the second consecutive day, severely impacting passengers across major airports.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the government has directed urgent measures to ensure swift restoration of services. Within minutes of his statement, the aviation regulator DGCA announced the formation of a four-member committee to examine the circumstances leading to the delays and cancellations.

DGCA forms committee as cancellations spark scrutiny

The DGCA said IndiGo was given sufficient time to implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), yet the airline recorded the highest number of cancellations in November. The regulator added that the pattern suggested gaps in the carrier’s internal oversight and preparedness, warranting an independent probe.

The committee will review the sequence of events that triggered disruptions and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.

Flight duty rules relaxed; minister defends move

Amid criticism from the Opposition and experts, the DGCA temporarily suspended certain FDTL rules, increasing pilot duty limits from 12 to 14 hours. The changes were widely questioned, with allegations that the government was yielding to pressure from IndiGo.

Naidu defended the decision, stating the move was taken solely to safeguard passengers and that safety standards would not be compromised.
He reiterated that passenger care and convenience remain the top priority.

Assurance of refunds, real-time updates, and support

Highlighting steps taken to ease passenger distress, the minister said airlines must:

  • Provide accurate, real-time updates before travellers leave for airports
  • Initiate automatic refunds for cancelled flights without requiring follow-ups
  • Arrange hotel accommodation for passengers stranded for extended periods

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities have been accorded special priority, including access to lounges and additional assistance. Refreshments and essential services are to be provided to all affected travellers.

Inquiry to determine accountability

The government said the high-level probe will identify what went wrong at IndiGo, establish responsibility, and recommend systemic corrections to ensure such disruptions do not occur again.

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