The Evening Wrap: I am a full-time president of the INC: Sonia Gandhi

In a clear message to the Group of 23 letter writers who had sought internal reforms in the Congress, party president, Sonia Gandhi, on Saturday, reminded that she was a full-time, hands-on president and there was no need for colleagues to speak to her through the media. Revival of the organisation required “unity, discipline, self- control and keeping party’s interest paramount”, she stated. Her comments are being seen as a direct rebuttal of senior leader Kapil Sibal’s remarks that “in our party, at the moment, there is no president”. Senior G-23 members such as Shashi Tharoor had talked about the need for a permanent president to revive the party. Though it is yet to be officially announced, the party is learnt to have discussed and fixed an election schedule of September 2022 to elect new office-bearers, including a new party chief. “I am, if you will allow me to say so, a full-time and hands on Congress president,” Gandhi observed. In the past two years, a large number of young colleagues have taken leadership roles in taking party policies and programmes to the people, she asserted. “I have always appreciated frankness. There is no need to speak to me through the media. So let us all have a free and honest discussion. But what should get communicated outside the four walls of this room is the collective decision of the CWC,” she noted. Talking about the party’s revival, a key theme raised by the G-23, she said, “The entire organisation wants a revival of the Congress. But this requires unity and keeping the Party’s interests paramount. Above all, it requires self-control and discipline”. Gandhi said that the party had always stated on its position on a numerous issues from the farmers’ agitation, relief provision during the pandemic, issues concerning youth and women, atrocities on Dalits, Adivasis and minorities, price rise, and the destruction of the public sector---the party had never shied away from raising issues of public importance. “Never have we let issues of public importance and concern go unaddressed. You are aware that I have been taking them up with the Prime Minister as have Dr. Manmohan Singh and Rahul ji. I have been interacting with like-minded political parties regularly. We have issued joint statements on national issues and coordinated our strategy in Parliament as well,” she remarked. In her opening remarks, Gandhi also spoke about the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, the farmers’ agitation, inflation, foreign policy and the continuing border stand-off with China, targeted killing in Jammu and Kashmir and the disinvestment process. Rains in Kerala force Met to issue red alerts As torrential rains continue to lash Kerala under the influence of a low pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea, the India Meteorological Department extended the red alert to six districts, namely, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad, as per the latest weather update. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad are on orange alert for isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall. Northern districts Kannur and Kasaragod are on yellow alert today for isolated heavy rainfall. The Lakshadweep islands also are on yellow alert. Several districts of Kerala are on yellow alert on Sunday following freak rains. Around 30 houses were damaged in Kollam due to heavy rains and strong winds that lashed across the district during the last 24 hours. Though relief camps have been arranged in all taluks and opened in some; affected people are yet to move in. The district was by and large spared of extreme or heavy rainfall till the evening with light to moderate rain being the norm through the day. A bout of heavy rainfall in Kothamabgalam taluk that lasted all of 15 minutes in the morning was the only such instance to be reported at the emergency operations centre (EOC) being set up at the district collectorate. Neither any casualty nor large scale damage to properties was reported from the district except for partial damage to two houses at Muvattupuzha and North Paravur taluks. However, the real picture about the extent of damage, if any, is likely to emerge later as the authorities giving all their attention to relief and rescue measures as of now. Rahul Dravid to coach Indian Team Cricketer Rahul Dravid has agreed to become the coach of the Indian cricket team after BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah held a meeting and persuaded him to the become the coach of the Indian team. Ending months of speculation on who will coach the Indian team, Dravid’s appointment puts a lid on the speculation. The tenure of the current ccoach Ravi Shastri, comes to an end after the T20 World Cup. While it was widely reported that Dravid remains the frontrunner for the post of interim coach for the upcoming home series with New Zealand, “Dravid has confirmed he will be the next head coach of the Indian team. He will be stepping down as head coach of NCA soon," said a top BCCI officialIf media reports are to be believed, there remains the matter of inviting formal applications and Dravid applying for the post. It is also learnt that Dravid will draw a salary of Rs 10 crore and will be given a two-year contract. While Vikram Rathour is likely to continue as the batting coach, former Mumbai pacer Paras Mhambrey will take over from Bharat Arun as the bowling coach. Mhambrey has been Dravid’s deputy at the NCA and has worked extensively with India A and Under-19 bowlers. A decision is awaited on the fielding coach for the Indian team. The BCCI had always indicated its preference for an experienced player to mentor and several seasoned players, including the Australians, had shown interest in taking up the job. The BCCI had earlier also indicated its preference for Anil Kumble, who was forced to quit over differences with skipper Virat Kohli, to take over the role but the cricketer had recused himself. Kumble is currently the head coach of the IPL franchise Punjab Kings. It may be recalled that iconic former captain Dhoni was last month was brought in as mentor of India’s 15-member T20 World Cup squad by the BCCI, a move that everyone by surprise. Two people shot at in Kashmir A gol-gappa hawker from Bihar was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar today; a carpenter from Uttar Pradesh was also shot at by terrorists, leaving him critically injured, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. The attacks are the eighth in the spate of killings that have shaken the Valley. "Terrorists fired at two non-local labourers in Srinagar and Pulwama. Arbind Kumar Sah from Banka in Bihar died in Srinagar and Sagir Ahmad from Uttar Pradesh is critically injured in Pulwama. Areas have been sealed and searches are on," the police said in a tweet. The terrorists shot the gol-gappa hawker at point-blank range, sources said. A spate of targeted civilian killings in Kashmir has led to the exodus of several Kashmiri Pandits living in transit camps. Dozens of families - many government employees who returned to the valley after being given jobs under the Prime Minister's special employment scheme for Kashmiri migrants - have quietly left their accommodations. "Strongly condemn the killing of street vendor Arbind Kumar in a terror attack in Srinagar today. This is yet another case of a civilian being targeted like this. All Arbind Kumar did was come to Srinagar in search of earning opportunities and it's reprehensible that he was murdered," former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted. Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference leader Sajad Lone tweeted, "This is pure terror. Yet again a non-local vendor shot and killed in Idgah. What a shame. How cowardly can it get. "The police had launched a massive crackdown and detained some 900 people across Jammu and Kashmir for their suspected links with separatists. The targeted killings have sparked massive outrage and the police are under pressure to prevent these attacks. Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 3,40,65,384 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 4,52,129. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. [logo] The Evening Wrap 16 OCTOBER 2021 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( I am a full-time president of the INC: Sonia Gandhi In a clear message to the Group of 23 letter writers who had sought internal reforms in the Congress, party president, Sonia Gandhi, on Saturday, [reminded that she was a full-time, hands-on president]( and there was no need for colleagues to speak to her through the media. Revival of the organisation required “unity, discipline, self- control and keeping party’s interest paramount”, she stated. Her comments are being seen as a direct rebuttal of senior leader Kapil Sibal’s remarks that “in our party, at the moment, there is no president”. Senior G-23 members such as Shashi Tharoor had talked about the need for a permanent president to revive the party. Though it is yet to be officially announced, the party is learnt to have discussed and fixed an election schedule of September 2022 to elect new office-bearers, including a new party chief. [Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi during the Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi on October 16, 2021.]  “I am, if you will allow me to say so, a full-time and hands on Congress president,”  Gandhi observed. In the past two years, a large number of young colleagues have taken leadership roles in taking party policies and programmes to the people, she asserted. “I have always appreciated frankness. There is no need to speak to me through the media. So let us all have a free and honest discussion. But what should get communicated outside the four walls of this room is the collective decision of the CWC,” she noted. Talking about the party’s revival, a key theme raised by the G-23, she said, “The entire organisation wants a revival of the Congress. But this requires unity and keeping the Party’s interests paramount. Above all, it requires self-control and discipline”. Gandhi said that the party had always stated on its position on a numerous issues from  the farmers’ agitation, relief provision during the pandemic, issues concerning youth and women, atrocities on Dalits, Adivasis and minorities, price rise, and the destruction of the public sector---the party had never shied away from raising issues of public importance. “Never have we let issues of public importance and concern go unaddressed. You are aware that I have been taking them up with the Prime Minister as have Dr. Manmohan Singh and Rahul ji. I have been interacting with like-minded political parties regularly. We have issued joint statements on national issues and coordinated our strategy in Parliament as well,” she remarked. In her opening remarks, Gandhi also spoke about the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, the farmers’ agitation, inflation, foreign policy and the continuing border stand-off with China, targeted killing in Jammu and Kashmir and the disinvestment process. [underlineimg] Rains in Kerala force Met to issue red alerts As [torrential rains continue to lash Kerala]( under the influence of a low pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea, the India Meteorological Department extended the red alert to six districts, namely, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad, as per the latest weather update. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad are on orange alert for isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall. Northern districts Kannur and Kasaragod are on yellow alert today for isolated heavy rainfall. The Lakshadweep islands also are on yellow alert. [Thodupuzha town the administrative capital of Idukki district has gone under water flowing incessant rains.]  Several districts of Kerala are on yellow alert on Sunday following freak rains. Around 30 houses were damaged in Kollam due to heavy rains and strong winds that lashed across the district during the last 24 hours. Though relief camps have been arranged in all taluks and opened in some; affected people are yet to move in. The district was by and large spared of extreme or heavy rainfall till the evening with light to moderate rain being the norm through the day. A bout of heavy rainfall in Kothamabgalam taluk that lasted all of 15 minutes in the morning was the only such instance to be reported at the emergency operations centre (EOC) being set up at the district collectorate. Neither any casualty nor large scale damage to properties was reported from the district except for partial damage to two houses at Muvattupuzha and North Paravur taluks. However, the real picture about the extent of damage, if any, is likely to emerge later as the authorities giving all their attention to relief and rescue measures as of now. [underlineimg] Rahul Dravid to coach Indian Team Cricketer [Rahul Dravid has agreed to become the coach of the Indian cricket team]( after  BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah held a meeting and persuaded him to the become the coach of the Indian team. Ending months of speculation on who will coach the Indian team, Dravid’s appointment puts a lid on the speculation. The tenure of the current ccoach Ravi Shastri, comes to an end after the T20 World Cup. While it was widely reported that Dravid remains the frontrunner for the post of interim coach for the upcoming home series with New Zealand, “Dravid has confirmed he will be the next head coach of the Indian team. He will be stepping down as head coach of NCA soon," said a top BCCI officialIf media reports are to be believed, there remains the matter of inviting formal applications and Dravid applying for the post. It is also learnt that Dravid will draw a salary of Rs 10 crore and will be given a two-year contract. While Vikram Rathour is likely to continue as the batting coach, former Mumbai pacer Paras Mhambrey will take over from Bharat Arun as the bowling coach. Mhambrey has been Dravid’s deputy at the NCA and has worked extensively with India A and Under-19 bowlers. A decision is awaited on the fielding coach for the Indian team. The BCCI had always indicated its preference for an experienced player to mentor and several seasoned players, including the Australians, had shown interest in taking up the job. The BCCI had earlier also indicated its preference for Anil Kumble, who was forced to quit over differences with skipper Virat Kohli, to take over the role but the cricketer had recused himself. Kumble is currently the head coach of the IPL franchise Punjab Kings. It may be recalled that iconic former captain Dhoni was last month was brought in as mentor of India’s 15-member T20 World Cup squad by the BCCI, a move that everyone by surprise. [underlineimg] Two people shot at in Kashmir A gol-gappa hawker from Bihar was shot dead by terrorists in Srinagar today; a carpenter from Uttar Pradesh was also shot at by terrorists, leaving him critically injured, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. The attacks are the eighth in the spate of killings that have shaken the Valley. "Terrorists fired at two non-local labourers in Srinagar and Pulwama. Arbind Kumar Sah from Banka in Bihar died in Srinagar and Sagir Ahmad from Uttar Pradesh is critically injured in Pulwama. Areas have been sealed and searches are on," the police said in a tweet. The terrorists shot the gol-gappa hawker at point-blank range, sources said. A spate of targeted civilian killings in Kashmir has led to the exodus of several Kashmiri Pandits living in transit camps. Dozens of families - many government employees who returned to the valley after being given jobs under the Prime Minister's special employment scheme for Kashmiri migrants - have quietly left their accommodations. "Strongly condemn the killing of street vendor Arbind Kumar in a terror attack in Srinagar today. This is yet another case of a civilian being targeted like this. All Arbind Kumar did was come to Srinagar in search of earning opportunities and it's reprehensible that he was murdered," former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted. Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference leader Sajad Lone tweeted, "This is pure terror. Yet again a non-local vendor shot and killed in Idgah. What a shame. How cowardly can it get. "The police had launched a massive crackdown and detained some 900 people across Jammu and Kashmir for their suspected links with separatists. The targeted killings have sparked massive outrage and the police are under pressure to prevent these attacks. [underlineimg] Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 3,40,65,384 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 4,52,129. [underlineimg]  Evening Wrap will return tomorrow.  Today's Top Picks [[Explained | Who are the Nihangs?] Explained | Who are the Nihangs?]( [[Watch | India on the brink of a power crisis due to coal shortage] Watch | India on the brink of a power crisis due to coal shortage]( [[Worldview with Suhasini Haidar | Have India-China talks at the LAC hit an impasse?] Worldview with Suhasini Haidar | Have India-China talks at the LAC hit an impasse?]( [[‘Sardar Udham’ movie review: Nuanced portrait of the pride and pain of a revolutionary] ‘Sardar Udham’ movie review: Nuanced portrait of the pride and pain of a revolutionary]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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