Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the party should not re-admit leaders—especially younger faces—who left after enjoying positions and benefits in the Congress and later joined the BJP. He said the party should not even consider their return, calling it his personal view.
In a separate political statement, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien criticised reports that the BJP government in West Bengal is planning to remove eggs from the school mid-day meal scheme. He alleged the move amounts to imposing vegetarian food and would harm children’s nutrition.
O’Brien also recalled the controversy during election campaigning over remarks related to eating fish, and said the current plan reflects an attempt to push dietary choices.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said the return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir depends more on joint efforts by Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits than on the government alone. She said both communities are equal and urged people to look to the future rather than the past.
