Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed BJP after the Allahabad High Court annulled the merit list for the selection of 69,000 assistant teachers and directed Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government to release a fresh list of selected candidates for the recruitment conducted five years ago.

In a post on X, the former Congress chief said the decision of the Allahabad High Court on the recruitment of 69,000 assistant teachers is a befitting reply to the machinations of the BJP government which is tampering with the reservation system.

The Raebareli MP further said that this was not only the victory of thousands of youth like Amit Maurya who have been continuously fighting on the roads in winter, summer, and rain for the last 5 years, but also the victory of every warrior fighting for social justice.

Launching a scathing attack, he said BJP’s stubbornness to snatch away reservations has pushed the future of hundreds of innocent candidates into darkness. After wasting five years of hardships, those who will get jobs through the new list and those whose names may now be removed from the selected list, the BJP is the only culprit for both, he accused the saffron party.

The Congress leader criticised the BJP government for pushing students into violence instead of allowing them to focus on their studies and making their life meaningful.

In its order on Friday, the Allahabad High Court directed the State government to prepare a fresh merit list within three months, ensuring compliance with the Basic Education Rules and Reservation Guidelines. Notably, the Court has set aside the merit lists issued on June 1 in the year 2020, and January 5 in 2022. 

A bench comprising Justice A R Masoodi and Justice Brijraj Singh delivered the judgment while hearing 90 special appeals filed by Ashok Yadav and other candidates. These appeals challenged the decision of a single-judge bench dated March 13, 2023, regarding the improper implementation of reservation quotas. The bench had reserved its decision after concluding hearings in March, and the final verdict was pronounced last Tuesday.

The Congress on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre after Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot granted sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam case.

Addressing a press conference, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the Governor’s sanction for the prosecution of the Chief Minister was against the law and the Congress party would fight it legally.

Shivakumar said there is no question of the Chief Minister resigning and he will not come under any pressure. He assured that Siddaramaiah will continue in the post. On the Governor’s sanction, the party will fight legally in the Court, and it will fight it politically as well, he asserted.

“On August 1, we held a cabinet meeting and demanded the Governor to withdraw the decision. We also told him that the complaint has no merit and democracy must be saved by dismissing the complaint”, Shivakumar said during a conference.

The Congress Karnataka unit has been asked by the top leadership in the part to initiate a state-wide protest against the prosecution.

Speaking on the matter, State Minister Priyank Kharge said Raj Bhavan was being misused by the saffron party as a tool to undermine a democratically elected government in Karnataka.

Speaking to media, he said this is being scripted by PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Just like how things have been happening in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Maharashtra, it’s happening here also, he added.

He wondered why should Siddaramaiah resign. He asked a single reason why he should resign. “We will take the legal course. There is still the constitution of India that people believe in”, he asserted.

Meanwhile, the BJP hit back at the grand old party and said the decision of the Governor for the prosecution of the Chief Minister was legal, The party added that the Governor was well within his constitutional powers to allow legal action to be taken against Siddaramaiah in the alleged land scam worth Rs 4,000 crore.

At the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed his concern over the uncertainty in the world saying terrorism, extremism, and separatism pose a serious threat to our society.

Addressing the Summit being held virtually, PM Modi asserted that war-like situations have raised challenges in the developmental journey. The world is already facing the challenges of climate change, but countries are also worried about health, food, and energy security.

He also pointed out that the technology divide and economic and social challenges related to technology are also coming forward. The PM added that Global Governance and Financial Institutions built in the last decade have proven to be incapable of fighting the challenges faced in this century.

During the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Mohammad Yunus, also attended the summit.

In inclusive growth, the contribution of digital public infrastructure is no less than a revolution, PM Modi emphasised. This was the first multilateral consensus on the Global DPI Depository formed during India’s G20 Presidency, he said. India will make an initial contribution of $25 million to the Global DPI Fund, PM Modi announced.

“Our mission for health security is ‘One World, One Health’ and our vision is ‘Aarogya Maitri’, meaning ‘Friendship for Health’, PM Modi said at the Summit. During the humanitarian crisis, India helps its friendly countries as a first responder, he reminded.

The Voice of Global South Summit is a platform where countries can give voice to the needs and aspirations of those who remain unheard, said PM. He believes that “our strength lies in our unity, and we will move in a new direction.”

PM Modi also spoke on the UN organising the ‘Summit of the Future’ next month, where deliberations are going on for the ‘Pact for the Future’. Speaking on that, PM Modi appealed for a positive approach so that all the nations raise the voice of the Global South through this Pact.

During his closing remarks at the Summit, PM Modi said today’s discussions have paved the way to move forward with mutual cooperation. He believed that this would help Global South countries achieve shared goals faster. He presented a mutual Global Development Compact on behalf of India based on India’s developmental journey and shared experiences.

He said this compact was decided upon by countries of the Global South inspired by developmental priorities. This will be human-enteric and multidimensional for development and promote a multisectoral approach, he added. This development will not dominate the needy countries for loans in the name of finance, adding that the focus will be on trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, technology sharing, project-specific concessional finance, and grants.

To promote trade promotional activities, India will start a fund of $2.5 million including a $1 million fund that will be provided for capacity building and trade promotion, he asserted.