Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) In her first message after assuming charge as the interim Congress president, Sonia Gandhi has greeted countrymen on Eid al-Adha and wished that it brings peace, good health and happiness to all.

Wishing countrymen on the occasion, she said this auspicious festival marks the spirit of devotion to the almighty as also celebrating the spirit of brotherhood by giving and sharing with fellow human beings.

"May this auspicious occasion bring peace, good health and happiness to all," she said in her message.

New Delhi, Aug 12 (PTI) Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday extended his greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Adha and hoped for peace and happiness for all.

"Greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. May everyone be blessed with joy, peace and happiness," Shah said in a tweet.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated across India on Monday.

New Delhi, Aug 9; GANASHAKTI: The Left parties hit out at the government on Friday after CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI chief D Raja were barred from entering Kashmir, saying if the situation was normal, why the two leaders were stopped at the Srinagar airport.

Phagwara, Aug 10 (PTI) Amid reports of the demolition of a temple dedicated to Guru Ravidas by the authorities on the direction of the apex court at Tughlakabad in New Delhi on Saturday, Dalits held protests at several places in Punjab's Doaba region.

They blocked the Jalandhar-Amritsar highway, resulting in a traffic jam for over two hours.

Reports of protests by Dalits also poured in from Nawanshahr, Adampur, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur.

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) Sonia Gandhi was named interim Congress president on Saturday, returning at the helm after almost 20 months.

The announcement was made Sunday night after Congress Working Committee (CWC) accepted Rahul Gandhi's resignation during its second meeting of the day.

A number of leaders, including state chiefs and MPs, backed Rahul Gandhi to continue on the post despite his refusal to reconsider his resignation. However, he did not budge from his stand of quitting as party chief.

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The National Conference on Saturday moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Presidential Order on Article 370 that revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

The petition filed by NC leaders Mohammad AKbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi sought a direction from the apex court to declare the Presidential Order relating to Article 370 as "unconstitutional, void and inoperative" in Jammu and Kashmir.

The NC also sought to declare the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 as "unconstitutional".

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) As the Congress Working Committee began consultations on Saturday to find its next president, UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and outgoing party head Rahul Gandhi left the meeting midway, saying they couldn't be part of the process.

"We cannot be part of this process," Sonia Gandhi said after she recused herself from the deliberations.

Rahul Gandhi left soon after, saying he would be visiting his parliamentary constituency Wayanad in Kerala, which is currently ravaged by heavy rains.

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Centre signed on Saturday a pact with an insurgent group of Tripura under which it has agreed to lay down arms and join the mainstream.

According to a Home Ministry statement, the tripartite Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed here by the governments of India and Tripura, and the National Liberation Front of Twipra led by Sabir Kumar Debbarma (NLFT-SD).

The NLFT-SD has agreed to abjure the path of violence, join the mainstream and abide by the Constitution of India, it said.

New Delhi, Aug 9; GANASHAKTI - Students and professionals hailing from Jammu and Kashmir staged a demonstration in the city on Friday to protest against the scrapping of Article 370 and asked the Centre to lift the restrictions in the state.

The protesters, residing in various cities of Delhi-NCR, covered their mouths with black ribbons and carried placards during the protest at Jantar Mantar Road.

Dozens of students from Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, JNU and other educational institutions in Delhi as well professionals took part in the protest.

New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) Senior Congress leaders on Friday met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her residence here ahead of the crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting to decide on the new party chief.

Sources said senior leaders Ahmed Patel, A K Antony and K C Venugopal are learnt to have discussed with Sonia Gandhi some names of probables who could be made provisional president of the party, after Rahul Gandhi resigned and decided to not take back his decision despite pleas by many partymen.