Speaking while responding to questions related to the alleged Ram Temple donation controversy, Singh said his new mission would be to safeguard faith and religious values. He maintained that his campaign would not be politically motivated and would continue for the rest of his life.

"I understand Sanatan Dharma, and I also understand the BJP, VHP and RSS. My mission now is to protect religion. I will not do politics anymore. I want to work for the protection of faith till my last breath," Singh said while addressing the media.

The veteran Congress leader said he has turned 80 and believes it is time for a new generation to take up larger political responsibilities. Reflecting on his political journey, Singh said the Congress party had given him multiple opportunities to serve the public, including five terms as an MLA, two terms in the Lok Sabha and two terms in the Rajya Sabha.

According to Singh, he had already informed the Congress leadership that he did not wish to seek another parliamentary term and preferred that younger leaders be given the opportunity to move forward.

His latest remarks come ahead of a proposed "accountability yatra" from Ujjain to Ayodhya, which he has described as a non-political march aimed at raising questions over the alleged handling of Ram Temple donations. Singh has repeatedly said the march will not carry party flags and will focus on issues related to faith and accountability rather than electoral politics.

The Congress veteran has remained active in public life despite earlier speculation over his political future. Earlier this year, he clarified that while he did not want another Rajya Sabha term, he was not retiring from public life or from the Congress party. His latest statement signals a shift away from active electoral politics while continuing public engagement through religious and social issues.

Singh has been one of the Congress party's most prominent leaders in Madhya Pradesh, serving as Chief Minister from 1993 to 2003 and later representing the state in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Over the years, he has remained an influential voice on political, constitutional and social issues.

Further details regarding the proposed religious outreach programme and its schedule are awaited.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has intensified his criticism of the proposed Great Nicobar Island development project, alleging that the government is misrepresenting it as a national security initiative while it actually serves private commercial interests. In a 16-minute video shared on social media platform X, he claimed the project could lead to large-scale ecological damage and questioned its transparency and intent.

The remarks come amid ongoing political debate over one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure proposals, estimated at around ₹90,000 crore. The Centre, however, maintains that the project is aimed at strengthening India’s strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region and boosting maritime trade through a major transshipment hub.

Video claims and allegations

In his video message, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government has framed the Great Nicobar Island Project as a defence-linked initiative, while its actual purpose is to enable commercial development in a sensitive ecological zone. He also urged citizens to oppose the project and sign a public petition.

He further claimed that the project could impact forests, coral reefs, and indigenous tribal communities living on the island. According to him, the scale of proposed development raises serious environmental and social concerns that have not been adequately addressed.Environment and tribal concerns

The Congress leader said the project violates provisions of the Forest Rights Act and could threaten the livelihood and land rights of tribal communities in the region. He also alleged that large-scale tree felling and ecological disruption may occur if the plan is implemented in its current form.

He referred to his recent visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, stating that the region’s biodiversity, including coral reefs and dense forests, must be protected from large-scale construction activities.

Strategic importance of project

The Great Nicobar Island Project is planned as a multi-component infrastructure initiative, including an international transshipment port, airport, power plant, and a new township. The government argues that it will enhance India’s maritime capabilities and strengthen its position along key global shipping routes.

Officials have previously stated that the project is designed to improve trade connectivity, support defence infrastructure, and boost economic activity in the region. The Centre has rejected allegations that the initiative is driven by private interests.

Political debate intensifies

The issue has become a point of political confrontation, with opposition leaders questioning environmental clearances and project approvals. Rahul Gandhi has been one of the most vocal critics in recent weeks, raising concerns over transparency and consultation with local communities.

The government, on the other hand, continues to defend the project as a long-term strategic investment aligned with India’s national security and economic growth priorities in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a significant organisational reshuffle, the Raipur Congress Committee on Saturday announced its new city executive, marking a fresh round of changes in the Chhattisgarh Congress setup. The new team was cleared after approval from state Congress chief Deepak Baij, following which Raipur city Congress president Kumar Menon formally constituted the new panel.

The Raipur Congress Committee has formed a 61-member executive, with the leadership indicating that the new structure has been designed to strengthen the party at the grassroots and improve coordination ahead of the next electoral cycle.

61 members named

According to the list released by the organisation, the newly announced Raipur Congress Committee executive includes 12 vice-presidents, 19 general secretaries, 20 secretaries and 10 executive members.

Party functionaries said the distribution of responsibilities was carried out with a clear focus on organisational balance and booth-level expansion. The structure reflects an attempt to build a wider leadership base within the city unit while assigning defined roles to office-bearers.

The latest development is being seen as part of a broader internal restructuring exercise underway in the state unit, where district and city committees are being recalibrated to improve efficiency and electoral readiness.

Fresh faces preferred

A key feature of the new Raipur Congress Committee is the visible inclusion of several new faces in the city organisation. At the same time, a number of leaders who held positions in the previous executive have not found a place in the new list.

The move is being viewed within the party as a signal that the leadership is looking to infuse fresh energy into the organisation and reward workers considered active at the ground level.

Sources indicated that the latest exercise was aimed at improving participation among younger and more active workers, while also addressing complaints of organisational stagnation in some segments of the city unit.

Focus on expansion

Party insiders said the reconstituted Raipur Congress Committee has been shaped with a strong emphasis on expanding the organisation and improving its local reach across wards and booth clusters.

The leadership is understood to have prioritised stronger coordination between senior office-bearers and grassroots workers. According to officials, the objective is to sharpen the party’s city-level presence and ensure quicker mobilisation on civic and political issues.

This is also expected to help the Congress improve its response mechanism on local governance matters, public campaigns and ward-level outreach.

Election strategy in view

The timing of the new Raipur Congress Committee assumes significance as the Congress begins preparing its political roadmap for upcoming elections. Party leaders are expected to use the revamped city structure to accelerate public engagement and strengthen campaign machinery.

The new executive is likely to play a central role in expanding voter outreach, coordinating ward-level activities and amplifying the party’s messaging in urban constituencies.

As per reports, the leadership wants the city unit to take a more active role in public contact programmes and issue-based mobilisation in the months ahead. This aligns with broader Government Updates and political recalibration being tracked under Latest News Today and India News Update.

Workers show enthusiasm

The announcement has generated visible enthusiasm among party workers in Raipur, with local leaders viewing the new appointments as an opportunity to revive momentum in the city unit.

Party workers said the reshuffle has created fresh expectations within the organisation, particularly among those who had been seeking a more active and accountable structure in the city Congress.

The inclusion of new office-bearers is also expected to widen participation and improve internal coordination across different organisational layers.

What comes next

The immediate focus for the Raipur Congress Committee will now shift to implementation. The newly appointed office-bearers are expected to begin organisational meetings, ward-level reviews and outreach planning in the coming days.

With the new executive in place, the Raipur Congress Committee is expected to concentrate on cadre activation, local issue campaigns and voter engagement as the Congress looks to consolidate its urban base.