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Tag: Sonia Gandhi

  • ‘Hope You Will Stay With My Family’: Sonia Gandhi’s Emotional Post For People Of Raebareli |

    NEW DELHI: A day after filing her nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, Congress Parliamentary Committee chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday wrote an emotional letter addressing people of her Lok Sabha constituency – Raebareli – informing them about her decision to not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from there due to health reasons. In her letter, she wrote, “Whatever I am today is because of you… But due to increasing age and health, I will not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.” Thanking the people for their continued support towards her and her family, she added, “Roots of our family in Raebareli are very deep. I am proud to say that whatever I am today, is because of you… I know you will stand by me and my family in future, just as in the past.”

    “After this decision, I will not have the opportunity to serve you directly but my heart and soul will always remain with you,” her letter written in Hindi read. Congress party shared the letter written by Sonia Gandhi to the people of Raebareli on its official social media handle on X. 

     

    CPP चेयरपर्सन श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी जी का रायबरेली की जनता के नाम संदेश- pic.twitter.com/6zlJkWjwvi
    — Congress (@INCIndia) February 15, 2024

     

    Sonia Gandhi Shifts To Rajya Sabha

    In a strategic move, Sonia Gandhi, the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, on Wednesday filed her nomination for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election from Rajasthan, marking a significant shift in her political journey.

    Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination in the esteemed presence of key political figures, including party MP Rahul Gandhi, the party’s general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, and state party president Govind Singh Dotasra, signalling a unified front in this crucial endeavour.

    A Legacy of Leadership

    Sonia Gandhi has left an indelible mark during her tenure as Congress president for almost 22 years. With five consecutive terms as a Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, her influence reverberates across the political landscape.

    Her decision to contest for a Rajya Sabha seat assumes significance against the backdrop of impending Lok Sabha polls slated for April-May. This calculated move underscores the Congress party’s strategic positioning as it gears up for the electoral battleground.

    With Rajasthan offering 10 Rajya Sabha seats, the upcoming biennial elections present a crucial opportunity. The state’s political landscape is poised for a shuffle, with three seats up for contention. The distribution of seats reflects the intricate balance of power, with the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress vying for representation based on their respective strengths in the State Assembly.

    The electoral calculus comes into sharp focus as parties vie for a foothold in the Upper House. With BJP and Congress projecting their candidates, including stalwarts like Sonia Gandhi, the stage is set for a keenly contested battle.

    The Congress party’s nomination strategy underscores a calculated approach to maximize representation across key states. The announcement of candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections in various states reflects a meticulous selection process aimed at bolstering the party’s presence in crucial legislative bodies.

    Rajya Sabha Polls

    The last day for filing nomination papers is February 15. The term for Rajya Sabha MPs is six years and elections are held after every two years for 33 per cent of the seats. Currently, the Rajya Sabha has a strength of 245 members. Out of the total 245 members, out of which 233 are representatives of the States and Union territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir (w.e.f. 31.10. 2019) and 12 are nominated by the President. 12 are directly nominated by the President who are veterans in the fields of art, literature, sports, science etc.

  • ‘RSS-BJP Event’: Congress Says Won’t Attend Ram Temple Inauguration In Ayodhya |

    NEW DELHI: In a major political development, the Congress party on Wednesday said that it has decided to skip the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya slated to be held on January 22. The move, according to a party statement, is attributed to concerns over the event being strategically advanced for electoral gains by the BJP and RSS. ”The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been brought forward for electoral gain,” the statement issued by the Congress party said.

    Congress Leaders Decline Invitation 

    The statement emphasized the Congress party’s commitment to upholding the 2019 Supreme Court judgment while respecting the sentiments of millions who hold Lord Ram in high regard. Notable party figures, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, have gracefully declined the invitation, characterizing the event as distinctly aligned with the RSS and BJP, according to the statement. 

    “Last month, the Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and the Leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury received an invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya to be held on January 22nd, 2024,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in the statement.

    “Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in our country. Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain. While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event,” the statement added.

     

    Here is the statement of Shri @Jairam_Ramesh, General Secretary (Communications), Indian National Congress. pic.twitter.com/JcKIEk3afy


    — Congress (@INCIndia) January 10, 2024

     

    Sonia, Kharge, Chowdhury On The Guest List

    Previously invited to the consecration ceremony on January 22, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury were individually extended invitations. The ongoing invitation process is expected to include former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda, along with various other opposition leaders in the coming days.

    Diverse Guest List Raises Eyebrows

    While the heads of major national political parties have received invitations, chief ministers and governors are notably absent from the list, despite their party leadership roles. The inclusive guest list features figures from various domains, including spiritual leaders, actors, industrialists, and heads of temples like Kashi Vishwanath and Vaishno Devi.

    Advani, Joshi Invited Amid Health Concerns

    In a notable move, the Vishva Hindu Parishad has extended invitations to BJP veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, key figures from the ’90s Ram Mandir movement. Both leaders, now in their nineties, expressed their intent to participate, contingent on their health conditions.

    PM Modi To Attend Idol Installation

    The grand ceremony is set to witness the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be attending the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla. As per temple officials, the ceremony will be held over seven days starting from January 16. Preparations are underway in full swing for the Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ on January 22, which will draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22. 

    Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, holds great spiritual, historical, and cultural significance for the people of India.

  • Demand to implement Women’s Reservation Act soon, Sonia Gandhi said – Congress will wage a fight

    Sonia Gandhi said that now the Women’s Reservation Bill has finally been passed because of the tireless determination and efforts of not only Congress but all of us. But we all know that there is still a long way to go in this direction. He highlighted the intervention made by opposition MPs in Parliament on the actual implementation of the Bill and whether it will be implemented in one year, two years or three years? “We have no idea,” he said. She further said, “Although some men are happy, we are not happy, we women are not happy.

  • Hearing on petitions of Rahul, Sonia, Priyanka Gandhi and AAP postponed in Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court has asked at what stage the court proceedings are. Why did the petitioner file the writ with a delay of five months? Justice Sanjeev Khanna said that delay in such cases can be fatal?

    He said that, as far as concurrent jurisdiction is concerned, subject-matter jurisdiction and territorial jurisdiction are different. Generally we intervene only where there is a lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. Also, it is important to note that it is not being shifted out of Delhi. All this is in Delhi only.

    Challenge the decision of Delhi High Court

    Actually, the Supreme Court heard the petitions filed by Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka, Rahul Gandhi, Aadmi Party and five trusts. Everyone has challenged the decision of Delhi High Court. A demand has been made to stay the High Court’s decision. The High Court had upheld the Income Tax decision to transfer tax assessment to the central circle.

    On May 26, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Aam Aadmi Party did not get relief. The Delhi High Court had upheld the Income Tax Department’s decision to transfer assessment to the central circle. The petitions challenging the decision to transfer the cases from faceless assessment to the Central Circle were rejected.

    The High Court had said that there is no fundamental or inherent legal right to conduct assessment through faceless assessment. The assessment has been transferred as per law and for better coordination.

    The transfer was in accordance with the law

    The bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma had said that this transfer was as per the law. However, the court clarified that it did not examine the case on merits. The parties are free to present their arguments before the appropriate statutory authority.

    Actually, the Income Tax Department had transferred the IT assessment of five non-profit organizations – Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Trust, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust, Young Indian and Jawahar Bhawan Trust. This was challenged in the Delhi High Court. The challengers included Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Aam Aadmi Party and Charitable Trust.

  • Women’s Reservation Bill: Sonia Gandhi will be the main speaker from Congress’s side for the debate.

    Lok Sabha on Wednesday Women’s Reservation Bill Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi will be the main speaker on behalf of her party for the debate. There is a possibility of a 7-hour long debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill on Wednesday. It is known that the Central Government on Tuesday introduced the historic ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Bill’ in the Lok Sabha related to providing one-third reservation to women in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and Delhi Assembly.

    Sonia Gandhi declared the Women’s Reservation Bill as her own

    Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, amid reports of the Union Cabinet getting approval for the Women’s Reservation Bill, said on Tuesday that the bill is her own. Congress Parliamentary Party chief was asked that it is being said that the Women’s Reservation Bill is being brought in this special session and this was also your demand, so what do you want to say? In response he said, this (bill) is ours. In fact, the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in the year 2010 during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre. At that time Sonia was the chairperson of UPA and Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister of the country.

    Opposition is unable to digest introduction of ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Bill’: Shah

    central minister Amit Shah On Tuesday, she hit out at the opposition parties for terming the Women’s Reservation Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha as an ‘election gimmick’ and alleged that they were unable to digest the move. Shah also alleged in a post on ‘Are there. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur also described the Women’s Reservation Bill as a revolutionary step and said that if there is Modi then it is possible. Thakur accused Congress of playing games in the name of women’s reservation.

    Congress called the bill an election slogan

    Congress termed this bill as an ‘election gimmick’ and said that women have been cheated because it has been said in the bill that it will be implemented from 2029 after the latest census and delimitation. Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh also said that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had any real intention to give priority to women empowerment, the Women’s Reservation Bill would have been implemented immediately without any ifs and buts. He alleged that the government has failed to conduct the 2021 census.

    Digital copy of Women’s Reservation Bill already provided to MPs

    Keeping in mind the system established since 2020 to reduce the use of paper in the conduct of the work of the Lok Sabha, the digital copy of the bill related to women’s reservation introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday was already uploaded on the portal of the Members of Parliament. Officials said that on the initiative of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, several steps have been taken to promote the use of latest information technology tools in providing access to parliamentary papers including bills to the Members of Parliament. According to sources, the digital copy of the ‘Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill (Nari Shakti Vandan Bill 2023)’ introduced in the Lok Sabha today was already uploaded on the members’ portal.

    Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced women’s reservation bill in Lok Sabha

    It is noteworthy that when Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stood up to introduce the Nari Shakti Vandan Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the opposition members created noise accusing the government of not giving the copy of the bill. On this, Meghwal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi told the members that everything has been uploaded on the screen equipped with new technology. He said that the information about the bill has been uploaded in the supplementary list. Amidst the noise of the opposition members, Lok Sabha Speaker Birla told the members that they can see the bill through the device installed at their respective seats. Amidst the noise, Meghwal introduced the bill.

  • Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sonia Gandhi seen sitting together in Parliament program

    After some time, Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Choudhary left their seats to share the stage with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha leader Piyush Goyal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. After this, Scindia went and sat near Sonia Gandhi.

    Scindia had left Congress along with 22 MLAs, due to which the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh fell in 2020.

    Members of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha had gathered in the Central Hall to participate in the program organized on the rich heritage of Parliament.

    Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Rajya Sabha leader Piyush Goyal addressed the MPs in the program.

    In her address, BJP MP Maneka Gandhi said she was proud to be part of a moment when the government would give women an “equal stake in the future of India”. Maneka Gandhi has been the Minister of Women and Child Development.

    In his opening remarks at the event, he said, “I am as surprised as you are to see me here.”

    read this also :

    * VIDEO: “This is ours”, Sonia Gandhi on Women’s Reservation Bill
    * Sonia Gandhi promised 6 ‘guarantees’ to the people of Telangana before the assembly elections.
    * Need to fight together with ‘INDIA’ alliance: Sonia Gandhi gave message of unity in CWC meeting

    (Except the headline, this story has not been edited by the NDTV team and is published directly from a syndicated feed.)

  • Babar people will get angry, Rahul Gandhi will never visit Ramlala: Himanta Biswa Sarma

    Before the assembly elections in 5 states including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, politics regarding Sanatan and Hindutva has intensified. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who reached Surajpur in Chhattisgarh, has given a challenge to CM Bhupesh Baghel and former MP CM Kamal Nath. Sarma has asked him to take former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to Ram temple in Ayodhya.

    Himanta said in the rally organized in Surajpur, ‘Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh and Bhupesh Baghel in Chhattisgarh say that we are also Hindus. I challenge them that if they are Hindus then they should take Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to the Ram temple in Ayodhya for once. Take it once.

    Sarma said, ‘Yesterday I told Madhya Pradesh to Kamal Nath, there is no use in saying that you are a Hindu. You take Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to Ayodhya once to see Ramlala. If those people go to Ramlala then I will accept that you people are Hindus. But he will not go. That land was given to Babar. There was a wait for Modi ji. We kicked Babar out and the work of building Ram temple started. That land belonged to Ram only, never to Babar. Babar was the aggressor. Today, the work of building Ram temple has been going on for a year, have you ever heard that Rahul Gandhi has had darshan of Ramlala. Never, he will not go. Will go to another temple but will not go to Ramlala, because by doing so Babar people will get angry.

    Sarma fiercely attacked the Congress Party over the controversial statements given by some leaders regarding Sanatan Dharma. He said, ‘Just now Rahul Gandhi started the Ek India alliance. Ever since this alliance came, a conspiracy is being hatched to create an anti-Hindu atmosphere in the entire country. The son of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu says that Hinduism is like dengue and malaria. Next day another of his ministers’ statement comes that Hindus are AIDS, not dengue and malaria. We asked the Congress party what politics is this, why are you doing this. Congress President Kharge’s son says that Hindu religion should be eliminated from the world. Will you destroy Hindus? Was Hinduism created by your father? Hinduism has been in India for 5 thousand years and will remain Hindu as long as there is moon and sun.

  • INDIA Alliance Meeting: First rally of ‘India’ will be held in Bhopal, brainstorming on seat distribution in the coordination committee meeting.

    Opposition alliance ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’ (IndiaThe first meeting of the coordination committee of NCP was held on Wednesday at the residence of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar in New Delhi. In which various issues including future strategy, coordination of seats, election campaign programs and public meetings were discussed.

    The first rally of the opposition alliance will be held in the first week of October: Venugopal

    After the meeting of the ‘INDIA’ alliance coordination committee, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, the committee has decided to hold joint public rallies in different parts of the country. The first joint public rally will be held in Bhopal in the first week of October on the issues of price rise, unemployment and corruption by the BJP government. The coordination committee has decided to start the process of deciding the distribution of seats. It was decided that the member parties would hold talks and take a decision as soon as possible.

    What did Raghav Chadha say after the meeting?

    After the meeting of the coordination committee of INDIA alliance, AAP party MP Raghav Chadha said, all the parties will take a decision on seat sharing as soon as possible. A joint public rally will be held in Bhopal in the first week of October. Cast sense will be picked up.

    What did PM Hemant Soren say after the meeting?

    Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said after the meeting of the coordination committee of INDIA alliance, whatever was discussed in the meeting today, KC Venugopal has put before you. Keeping an eye on all the developments, INDIA Alliance is working on its strategy.

    Omar Abdullah made such a demand on seat sharing

    After the meeting of INDIA alliance coordination committee, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Vice President of National Conference, Omar Abdullah said, I have made the point that the seats (Lok Sabha) already held by INDIA alliance parties should not be discussed. Should be done unless the party holding the seat wants to give it up. The distribution of (Lok Sabha) seats held by BJP, NDA and parties outside the alliance should be discussed. Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, big scams have taken place in Madhya Pradesh, issues of unemployment and inflation have been discussed.

    Consent to raise the issue of caste census vigorously: Aved Ali Khan

    After the meeting of INDIA Coalition Coordination Committee, Samajwadi Party leader Javed Ali Khan said, seat distribution will be done soon. A big rally will be held in Bhopal in the first week of October. All the members present have talked about raising the issue of caste census loudly.

    These people were present in the opposition meeting

    Apart from Sharad Pawar, Congress’s KC Venugopal, DMK’s TR Baalu, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Tejashwi Yadav, Janata Dal (United)’s Sanjay Jha, Aam Aadmi Party’s Raghav Chadha, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, National Omar Abdullah of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti of the Communist Party of India (CPI), D Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Javed Ali Khan of the Samajwadi Party and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren attended the conference. Congress leader Gurdeep Sappal was also present in this meeting. Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee could not attend this meeting due to his appearance before the Enforcement Directorate. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has not yet selected its representative for this committee.

    Opposition parties form ‘India’ to defeat Modi government in upcoming Lok Sabha elections

    More than two dozen opposition parties have formed ‘India’ to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the next Lok Sabha elections. In the recent meeting of the leaders of the constituent parties of ‘India’ in Mumbai, a 14-member coordination committee was formed to prepare the outline of the future programs of the alliance.

    Opposition parties have held three meetings so far

    In the first meeting of the opposition group in Patna in June this year, it was decided that the strongest candidate from each seat would be selected for the Lok Sabha elections. In the resolution issued on September 1 after the third meeting of the opposition alliance held in Mumbai, it was said that the parties will fight the elections unitedly as far as possible and the work of distribution of seats in various states will start immediately and will be completed as soon as possible. According to opposition leaders, while the issue of seat coordination has been resolved in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar, coordination of seats in some states like Delhi, Punjab and West Bengal is a big challenge.

  • Congress and its allies are ‘insulting’ Hindus, but Sonia, Rahul Gandhi are silent: Anurag Thakur

    Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, while addressing the recent meeting of Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association in Chennai, termed Sanatan Dharma as against equality and social justice and said that it should be abolished.

    Udhayanidhi compared Sanatan Dharma to coronavirus, malaria, dengue virus and fever caused by mosquitoes, saying that such things should not be opposed but destroyed, while another DMK leader A Raja criticized Sanatan Dharma. Compared to leprosy and HIV. This comment of both the leaders has created a political controversy.

    Thakur said, “Leaders of Congress allies are talking about ending Sanatan Dharma… but Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are silent. They are silent because elections are important for them. But for BJP, not elections, Sanatan Dharma and Baba Saheb’s Constitution are supreme.

    He said, “Mughals came and the British also came and went, but Sanatan is there and will remain so.”

    Thakur alleged, “Congress and its allies call Sanatan Dharma as AIDS, dengue and malaria for votes.” Congress raised question marks on the existence of Lord Ram and termed him imaginary. Congress and its allies say that Sanatan Dharma will have to be rooted out.

    He said this while addressing a public meeting under Bharatiya Janata Party’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Barwani district.

    Thakur said that Congress leaders will go to the voters to seek votes by claiming themselves to be devotees of Lord Shiva, Devi, Hanuman and Krishna, but the truth is that this party (Congress) and its allies want to destroy Hindus.

    He said, “Does the Constitution of India have no value in the eyes of Congress? Look at the rule of law, the Congressmen who once described Lord Ram as imaginary are now calling themselves true Hindus. Why does Congress, which raises questions on Hindus, want to destroy Sanatan and the Constitution from its roots?

    Thakur said that on one hand, people of the ‘Ghamandiya’ alliance (opposition alliance ‘India’) are insulting Hindutva, while on the other hand, the central and state governments of BJP are working to increase the cultural splendor of the country.

    He said that due to the devotion and efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, many works like construction of Divya Mahakal Mahalok in Ujjain, construction of the grand statue of Adi Shankaracharya in Omkareshwar are being done.

    The Union Minister said that Chief Minister Chouhan is working for the development of other places of religious and cultural importance in the state. To continue this journey of cultural and religious development, once again form the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh.

    read this also :

    * ‘One Nation-One Election’ is in the interest of India, it will save time and money: Anurag Thakur
    * An arrogant alliance full of ego is making cheap statements against Sanatan: Anurag Thakur
    * Why do opposition parties have problem with the name ‘Bharat’: Anurag Thakur

    (This news has not been edited by the NDTV team. It is published directly from the syndicated feed.)