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Rahul mocks Modi with Gabbar Singh Tax (GST) barb in Gandhinagar rally

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8 years ago

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Rahul Gandhi

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Congress vice president launches scathing attack on Modi government in poll-bound Gujarat, flaunts his prize catch Alpesh Thakur

On a day when the BJP in poll-bound Gujarat received a major setback with the resignation of a key Patel leader and allegations of bribery by another prominent face of the Patel Andolan, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, on Monday, took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi that would have certainly riled the saffron party.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Visiting Gandhinagar in Gujarat a day after the Prime Minister went on a project inauguration spree in his home state and reiterated his oft-quoted attacks at the Congress, Rahul dubbed the Modi government’s version of the Goods and Services Tax – which was rolled out by Modi and his finance minister Arun Jaitley in July this year – as the Gabbar Singh Tax (GST). Hoping to draw voter support for his party by trying to cash in on the perceived anger among Gujarat’s trader and small-scale businesses community, the Congress vice president said that the new tax regime coupled with demonetisation have ruined the country’s economy.

“What happened on November 8? Modiji came on television and said I don’t like Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes. So I have decided to spike them from that midnight. And by doing that he attacked the whole country by one stroke,” Gandhi said at the rally.

The Nehru-Gandhi scion claimed that for the first couple of days after demonetisation, the Prime Minister “did not understand what has happened” but realised just a week later that he had made a mistake and so “he appeared on television and said if I don’t end the menace of black money by December 30 then hang me.”

In a speech which was generously peppered with direct attacks on Modi, his BJP, references to the controversy over BJP national president Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah’s rise in wealth under the BJP regime at the Centre and sarcastic swipes at various schemes of launched by the Prime Minister, Rahul sought to make a strong pitch for the Congress ahead of the assembly polls in Gujarat which are scheduled for December.

The Congress vice president didn’t forget to flaunt his party’s prized political catch in the state – OBC and Adivasi activist/leader Alpesh Thakore, who officially joined the Congress earlier in the day.

Rahul had earlier, on Monday, also given his party a theme for the election – Gujaratis are priceless and can’t be purchased – hoping to make incremental electoral gains by drawing on the pride of the voters in the state where Modi had managed to retain his clout by riding on the popularity of his ‘Gujarati Asmita’ remark.

Rahul’s ‘Gujaratis can’t be purchased’ remark was in reference to Patel Andolan leader Narendra Patel’s allegation that he had been offered Rs 1 crore as bribe by the BJP to join the party. Patel had in a dramatic turn of events, on Sunday night, convened a press conference and brandished wads of currency notes amounting to Rs 10 lakh, alleging that this was the “advance bribe” given to him by the BJP for his decision to join the party. He had then claimed that he was resigning from the party, which he had joined only hours earlier.

Rahul, who has in recent days been persistent with his attacks on Modi and his government over the slowing pace of India’s economy and the lack of job opportunities for the country’s youth, continued with his broadside on Monday too, attacking Modi’s Digital India, Make in India and Start Up India initiatives.

“He destroyed the entire economy. He did not stop there but went ahead with the GST,” Gandhi said. “GST was our thinking. We brought it, it was a thought of single tax of 18 per cent across the nation with less forms to be filled,” Rahuol claimed, adding: “Now there is a GST with 28 per cent tax and three return forms. Now GST has become a Gabbar Singh Tax,” he quipped, referring to the famous villain in Bollywood blockbuster Sholay.

Attacking the “Make in India” slogan of the PM Modi, Gandhi pointed out that it was Chinese goods everywhere in the country. “The government has to give employment to youth. India’s competition is with China. Should employment go to China or come to India?” he asked.

“Most of the products you use have the label of Made in China. Whether it is a shirt, cameras or anything else. When you click selfies or press a button for a picture, a Chinese youth gets employment,” he said, claiming that around 30 lakh youth are unemployed in Gujarat alone. “Everyday 30,000 people across the country enter the job market. But only 450 people get jobs.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre ahead of Vladimir Putin’s India visit

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government discourages visiting foreign dignitaries from meeting Opposition leaders, calling it a sign of “insecurity,” hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi.

Published

1 hour ago

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December 4, 2025

By

Rahul Gandhi

As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi today for the India-Russia Annual Summit, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has renewed his charge that the Centre discourages visiting foreign leaders from meeting Opposition representatives. He called it a sign of “insecurity” within the government.

Rahul Gandhi alleges break in long-followed tradition

Speaking outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said that it has traditionally been the norm for visiting foreign leaders to meet the Leader of the Opposition, a practice he claims continued during the tenures of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.

He alleged that the present government advises foreign dignitaries against such meetings. “When foreign leaders come, the government suggests they should not meet the Leader of the Opposition. This is their policy,” Gandhi said. He added that a meeting with the Opposition offers visiting leaders a broader perspective, as “we too represent India.”

Gandhi further stated that this approach reflects the government’s reluctance to allow engagement between the Opposition and foreign guests.

Former Foreign Secretary counters Gandhi’s remarks

Responding to Gandhi’s allegations, former Foreign Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla said visiting leaders operate on very tight schedules and there is no protocol mandating a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition. He stressed that such interactions depend entirely on the guest’s time and preference, noting that the required meetings are those with the President and the Prime Minister.

Putin’s schedule packed with bilateral engagements

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to land in Delhi this evening on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation. His itinerary includes:

  • A private dinner with PM Modi
  • Visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Raj Ghat
  • Engagements at Bharat Mandapam and Hyderabad House
  • A banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu

The visit forms part of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

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TMC MLA Humayun Kabir suspended after Babri Mosque replica proposal sparks row

TMC suspended MLA Humayun Kabir after he proposed building a Babri mosque replica in Murshidabad, a move that drew criticism from the party and sparked political tension.

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1 hour ago

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December 4, 2025

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Trinamool Congress on Thursday suspended MLA Humayun Kabir after he publicly announced plans to construct a replica of the Babri Masjid in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. Party leaders said Kabir had earlier been cautioned for making such statements but continued to push ahead with the controversial proposal.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said the MLA’s remarks were unacceptable, stressing that the party stood firmly by its secular stance. “We noticed that one of our MLAs suddenly declared he would build the Babri masjid. We had warned him before. As per the party’s decision, we are suspending him,” he said.

Kabir vows to continue project, may form new party

Kabir had planned to lay the foundation stone for the mosque replica in Beldanga on December 6. Sources indicated he is likely to resign from Trinamool on Friday and float a new party while continuing with the project.

The choice of date and nature of the project drew sharp criticism from the Trinamool leadership. Hakim alleged the move reflected a “divisional politics” strategy aligned with the BJP. “Why December 6? He could build a school or college. This is divisional politics,” he said.

Sources also said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was “hugely annoyed” by Kabir’s remarks and informed him that the party would not support or associate with such activities.

Governor raises concerns, administration on alert

West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose questioned why action was not being taken if the MLA’s statements risked creating a law-and-order issue. He said intelligence inputs suggested attempts to turn Murshidabad into a “hub of scandal,” adding that authorities would not remain silent if communal tensions were provoked.

Officials confirmed that while Kabir has permission to hold the December 6 event, the administration is maintaining a high-level alert in Murshidabad.

Minutes after his suspension, Kabir withdrew from Mamata Banerjee’s rally in the India–Bangladesh border district, where she was protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

BJP attacks Kabir over remarks

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo condemned Kabir’s comments, claiming they were intended to “create communal tensions.” He said any attempt to raise structures linked to historical rulers would trigger disputes similar to the Babri Masjid conflict.

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Putin begins two-day India visit today, defence, energy and trade talks on agenda

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi today for a two-day visit that will focus on defence, energy and trade, including S-400 deliveries and crude oil supply discussions.

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5 hours ago

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December 4, 2025

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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi today for a two-day visit that is set to focus on defence cooperation, energy supplies, mobility agreements and trade expansion. His trip includes a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

Key highlights of the visit

President Putin is scheduled to land in the capital this evening, where an informal dinner with PM Modi will set the stage for formal discussions on Friday. He will receive a ceremonial welcome in the morning before visiting Rajghat to pay homage at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial. The two leaders will then meet at Hyderabad House for the annual summit, followed by a working lunch.

India is expected to raise the issue of pending military hardware deliveries, which have slowed since the Ukraine conflict began. The agenda also includes additional S-400 air defence systems — part of a USD 5 billion contract under which three squadrons have already been delivered. Two more units are expected by mid-next year.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has indicated that talks may also touch upon India’s interest in the Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft, with New Delhi currently assessing several next-generation platforms.

Energy cooperation will be another crucial component of the dialogue. Russia is expected to update India on efforts to maintain steady crude oil supplies amid US sanctions that have impacted shipments. Peskov noted that supplies may dip briefly, but Moscow is working to stabilise flows.

On the sidelines, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov are expected to hold discussions on key military programmes.

President Putin’s visit comes as India navigates recent friction with Washington, including steep tariffs — 50 per cent across several categories and an additional 25 per cent linked to Russian crude oil imports.

The Russian President is also expected to brief PM Modi on the latest US diplomatic moves concerning the Ukraine conflict. India continues to advocate for a resolution based on dialogue and diplomacy while refraining from criticising Moscow.

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