'Excellent question': Rahul pokes Gadkari over 'where are the jobs' comment

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday took a potshot at the Narendra Modi-led government over the unemployment issue after one of his cabinet ministers conceded that there is a job crunch.

"Excellent question (Nitin) Gadkariji. Every Indian is asking the same question. Where are the jobs," Gandhi tweeted attaching a news report in which the Union Road Transport and Shipping Minister questioned the rationality behind a job reservation stir when there were not enough jobs in the first place.

Gandhi's remarks came a day after Gadkari on Sunday told reporters in Maharashtra that reservation would not guarantee employment as jobs were shrinking.

"Let us assume the reservation is given. But there are no jobs. Because in banks, the jobs have shrunk because of IT. The government recruitment is frozen. Where are the jobs?" Gadkari asked.

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Priyanka quits 'Bharat' in 'Nick of time', says director

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra is not going to be a part of superstar Salman Khan starrer "Bharat" any more. Director Ali Abbas Zafar broke the news saying the reason for her opting out in the "Nick of time" is "very special".

Zafar took to Twitter on Friday to announce the new development.

"Yes Priyanka Chopra is no more part of 'Bharat' and and the reason is very very special, she told us in the Nick of time about her decision and we are very happy for her... Team 'Bharat' wishes Priyanka Chopra loads of love and happiness for life," he tweeted.

Details about the actress coming in place of Priyanka have not been revealed yet.

The shooting for the film has already begun. The first schedule includes shooting for a grand circus sequence.

Rahul's midnight protest at India Gate: Priyanka irked at unruly crowd

As Congress President led a midnight march at India Gate to protest against the incidents of rape in Unnao and Kathua rape case, his sister Priyanka Gandhi was visibly miffed after she got pushed by the unruly crowd.

Huge crowd had gathered at the India Gate here on Thursday midnight to protest against the incidents of rape in Unnao in Uttar Pradesh and Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir.

Priyanka Gandhi was heard telling the crowd to respect the cause for which they gathered at the India Gate. She also appealed to the crowd to keep calm and march silently.

"Those who have come here to push people around must go home," she was heard saying.

Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra and her children (son and daughter) were also present.

Many were shouting slogans like "Modi Bhagao, Beti Bachao" as they held candles as a mark of protest.

PMO was aware of the PNB scam almost two years ago: Congress

PNB Scam - The Congress on Thursday said that a whistleblower had alerted the government in 2016 about the Rs 115 billion banking fraud by fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ignored the tip.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said whistleblower Hari Prasad had written to the Prime Minister's Office as early as July 2016, alerting the government about the "biggest bank loot scam in 70 years" in independent India.

"What does the Prime Minister do? Nothing. What does the Finance Ministry do? Nothing.

What does the Corporate Affairs Ministry do? Nothing. What does the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Finance Ministry do? Nothing," Surjewala told reporters on Thursday.

"You are in power, a fraud is happening under your nose. What were you doing and how did they let the accused escape? Face the truth and answer questions."

He also asked Prime Minister Modi what the fugitive billionaire was doing with him at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January.

Why atrocities on Dalits, minorities, farmers? Mevani to PM in Delhi rally

Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking why atrocities were being committed against Dalits, minorities and farmers in India and charged the BJP and RSS with instigating anti-Dalit violence in Bhima Koregaon in Maharasthra.

"The way in which Hardik (Patel), Alpesh (Thakore) and Jignesh (Mevani) with the support of the youth in Gujarat brought the BJP down from over 150 seats (target set by BJP in Gujarat) to 99 seats... That is the reason we are being targetted," Mevani told his Yuva Hunkar rally in New Delhi.

"And this is the reason why the people of the (Rashtriya Swayamsewak) Sangh and BJP spread violence in Bhima Koregaon," he said, referring to the violence that broke out in Bhima Koregaon near Pune last week in which one person lost his life and several vehicles were damaged.

The rally for which the Delhi Police had originally denied permission was held at Jantar Mantar, a short distance from Parliament House in central Delhi. But Mevani and his supporters shelved plans to take out a procession to the Prime Minister's Office.

The newly elected MLA also said that when he fought elections in Gujarat he always spoke about bringing people together.

"Throughout the election campaign, we said that for 22 years the BJP followed the politics of division, while we always spoke about binding people together," he said. "We don't follow love-jihad."

"We only talk about love and harmony. We will celebrate April 14 and Valentine's Day too," he said.

Referring to the violence that marked the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle in Pune last week, he asked: "Why the violence took place in Bhima Koregaon?

"I don't have to answer it but you have to answer me... This you have to answer why Rs 15 lakh didn't come in everyone's account, why no jobs to youth? Why farmers were shot dead in Mandsaur? Why no justice to the Una Dalit victims? Why Najeeb Ahmed went missing? Why Rohit Vemula died? We'll ask all these questions from you, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji."