Saubhadra Chatterji is Deputy Political Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on both politics and policies.
Articles by Saubhadra Chatterji
Outrage as BJP’s South Delhi MP hurls religious slurs in Lok Sabha
BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri sparked controversy by directing religious slurs and hate speech towards BSP MP Danish Ali during a parliamentary session
Updated on Sep 23, 2023 12:51 AM IST
INDIA will conduct caste census if voted to power, says Rahul
Gandhi’s promise came two days after he pitched for the census and reservation for OBCs in the women’s reservation bill during a discussion in the Lok Sabha
Published on Sep 22, 2023 11:50 PM IST
Danish Ali seeks privileges charge against Ramesh Bidhuri; BJP issues notice too
Ramesh Bidhuri’s offensive remarks were expunged by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, who also issued a stern warning to the BJP MP
Updated on Sep 22, 2023 08:23 PM IST
INDIA will conduct caste census if voted to power: Rahul Gandhi
The promise came two days after Rahul Gandhi pitched in Parliament for the census and reservation for OBCs in the women’s quota bill
Published on Sep 22, 2023 02:57 PM IST
Women’s reservation bill clears Lok Sabha
Only All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) members Asaduddin Owaisi and Imtiaz Jaleel voted against the bill
Published on Sep 21, 2023 12:03 AM IST
Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
2 strange things, says Rahul Gandhi on census, delimitation condition in bill
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said only 3 of the 90 secretary-rank officers at the Centre are from the OBC community and they control just 5% of the Indian budget
Published on Sep 20, 2023 06:50 PM IST
Sonia Gandhi declares support to women’s reservation bill
In her speech, Gandhi recalled the contribution of Indian icons such as Sarojini Naidu, Sucheta Kriplani, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Aruna Asaf Ali
Updated on Sep 20, 2023 01:16 PM IST
Conceived in 1996, bill comes to life
The 128th Constitution amendment bill to reserve seats for women in Indian legislatures is likely to succeed after several major parties voiced their support.
Updated on Sep 20, 2023 08:09 AM IST
Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Women’s reservation bill tabled in Lok Sabha
The Indian government has introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to reserve a third of seats in the Lower House and state assemblies for women. The bill, which requires constitutional amendments, is expected to pass Parliament after receiving support from prominent parties. However, its implementation may take a few years, and quotas for women may not come into effect until after the 2026 delimitation exercise. The bill has sparked a battle for political credit, with the Congress and BJP both claiming credit for the move.
Updated on Sep 20, 2023 12:05 AM IST
Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
‘Can’t paint big picture on small canvas’: PM Modi on building stronger India
PM Modi said after 1952, 41 heads of states addressed MPs in the old Parliament building, and more than 4,000 bills were passed
Published on Sep 19, 2023 02:04 PM IST
Women’s Reservation Bill: Sonia Gandhi says it’s ours as Congress seeks credit
The Women’s Reservation Bill was cleared in the Rajya Sabha in 2010 amid a ruckus when Congress-led United Progressive Alliance was in power
Published on Sep 19, 2023 10:35 AM IST
Women’s quota bill cleared by Cabinet
The Union Cabinet on Monday evening approved a Constitution amendment bill to provide reservation for women in the national and state legislatures, officials familiar with the matter said, paving the way for the introduction of the landmark legislation in the ongoing special session of Parliament
Updated on Sep 19, 2023 12:12 AM IST
Women's reservation bill gets Cabinet nod at key meeting: Officials
Some BJP functionaries claimed that the new women's reservation bill won’t be identical to 2010 bill.
Updated on Sep 18, 2023 11:51 PM IST
Bring women’s bill in Parl special session, Cong tells govt
The Congress party has demanded the passing of the Women's Reservation Bill in the upcoming special session of Parliament to pre-empt the BJP's attempt to table the legislation. The bill, which reserves a third of all seats for women in state assemblies and the Lok Sabha, has been passed in the Rajya Sabha but not in the Lok Sabha. The Congress's push for the bill coincides with the government's efforts to introduce schemes for women. The bill has the potential to create a division in the opposition INDIA bloc as some alliance partners want sub-quota for SC, ST, and OBC communities.
Updated on Sep 18, 2023 12:13 AM IST
Onus on Congress to protect Constitution, democracy: Kharge at key panel meet
Mallikarjun Kharge has asked party leaders to “continuously raise” basic issues and expose and anti-people policies of BJP
Updated on Sep 18, 2023 05:00 AM IST
Kharge tells extended CWC not to praise PM unnecessarily
On Saturday, the Congress Working Committee had adopted a resolution criticising the Modi’s government’s systematic undermining of the federal structure.
Updated on Sep 18, 2023 06:39 AM IST
Congress key panel firms up poll plans, leaders voice concern on AAP tie-up
The resentment underlined how the Congress as well as the INDIA alliance face steep hurdles at the state level ahead of negotiations on seat-sharing.
Updated on Sep 18, 2023 12:33 AM IST
Saubhadra Chatterji, Hyderabad
Congress leaders from Delhi, Punjab express reservation about poll pact with AAP
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has assured the party leaders that the state units will be consulted before taking any decision on poll pacts
Published on Sep 17, 2023 07:14 PM IST
Removing BJP from power in 2024 will be true tribute to Mahatma Gandhi: Kharge
On Sunday, the extended CWC, which included chief ministers, state unit chiefs, and legislative party leaders apart from the members of the Working Committee, met to discuss the party’s strategy for the upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha polls
Updated on Sep 17, 2023 03:39 PM IST
CWC calls for reservation upper limit to be raised
The reconstituted CWC met for the first time after the Congress and 27 other parties formed the INDIA alliance in Patna on June 23
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 11:49 PM IST
Saubhadra Chatterji, Hyderabad
Congress distances itself from Sanatana Dharma row
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that BJP is trying to create diversion using Sanatana Dharma while Digvijaya Singh suggested to be cautious on the issue.
Updated on Sep 17, 2023 05:00 AM IST
Cadre seeks relaunch of Bharat Jodo Yatra
Congress working committee members have urged Rahul Gandhi to undertake another Bharat Jodo Yatra, this time from the east to west, raising expectations for the second phase of the foot march that has covered Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 11:43 PM IST
‘BJP tarnishing India’s secular image’: Kharge at Congress' key meet
Starting the two-day Congress working committee (CWC) meeting, Kharge drew attention to “many serious internal challenges” that India faces today.
Updated on Sep 17, 2023 02:13 AM IST
Kharge attacks govt for diverting attention from basic issues by coining slogans
In the first meeting of the CWC, after its reconstitution on August 20, Mallikarjun Kharge listed a number of raging issues, demanded a caste census.
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 07:51 PM IST
Manipur, inflation and INDIA bloc in focus of Congress' key meet
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) will discuss election preparations, the Manipur situation, border issues with China, rising prices, and unemployment.
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 02:43 AM IST
HT Interview: If Oppn fights together, we are going to succeed, says Kharge
The 81-year-old is feeling quietly confident about the upcoming five state assembly polls
Updated on Sep 16, 2023 07:19 AM IST
INDIA group will edge BJP out in ’24: Kharge
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge believes that the INDIA alliance will succeed in the upcoming elections, citing voting patterns and data. He also dismissed controversy over his absence from a recent G20 dinner, stating that he is of cabinet rank and not comparable to BJP party chief JP Nadda. Kharge also accused the BJP of using the upcoming special session of Parliament as a campaign tool. He expressed confidence in the alliance's unity and said that even if seat-sharing talks are 90% successful, the alliance will have an edge over the BJP. Kharge refused to comment on the topic of sanatana dharma.
Updated on Sep 15, 2023 11:58 PM IST
Adani, price rise top INDIA bloc’s agenda for special Parliament session
Three Opposition leaders from different parties maintained that the bloc is bracing for last-minute agenda changes from the government, and added that only conducting government business for the five days of the session will not be acceptable.
Updated on Sep 15, 2023 12:55 AM IST
Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
INDIA bloc to begin seat parleys, hold joint rallies
The coordination panel, which met in Delhi, announced that the group will take up the demand of the caste census, a nationwide count of all castes.
Updated on Sep 14, 2023 06:58 AM IST
Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
Meeting of INDIA bloc’s key panel today, focus on seat-sharing formula
The INDIA group’s coordination committee is expected to discuss formulas for seat adjustments and set deadlines for state pacts between the opposition parties.
Updated on Sep 13, 2023 06:54 AM IST
Saubhadra Chatterji, New Delhi
