PM Narendra Modi (PTI Photo)
General (Lok Sabha) Elections 2019 HIGHLIGHTS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said that political parties and leaders with thinking still stuck in last century cannot understand the aspirations of the youth of 21st century. Speaking at a rally in Mumbai, Modi said, “The country’s youth looks toward 2047, not 1947 when the country will complete 100 years of independence. Parties and leaders with thinking still stuck in the last century cannot understand the aspirations of the youth of 21st century.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said he is committed to the empowerment of women and that is why a decision has been taken to deploy the women at the borders to defend the country. Speaking at a rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi, Modi said, “The government is running schemes for the safety and empowerment of the daughters and sisters of this country from their birth to different stages of life. Your chowkidar has made provision of the death penalty for heinous crimes like rape. India’s daughters have complete faith in this chowkidar. That is why, for the first time, a decision has been taken to deploy the women at the borders to defend the country.”
After Congress chief Rahul Gandhi complained about “engine trouble” on his flight en route to Patna, the DGCA began a probe in the incident on Friday. Gandhi who is scheduled to visit three states – Bihar, Odisha and Maharashtra – said that he is running late as his flight had to return to New Delhi.
Election News HIGHLIGHTS: A huge crowd chanting ‘Vande Mataram’ marched along with Modi's cavalcade as he waved at the crowd.
PM Modi in Mumbai: Our policy is 180 degrees different from that of Congress. You must have noticed that in the last five years.
PM Modi in Mumbai: I pity the thought of the country's oldest party, who think that the middle class is selfish.
PM Modi in Mumbai: "I want to thank the middle class of this country. With your support, your chowkidaar has been able to work towards the empowerment of poor and infrastructure development."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said that political parties and leaders with thinking still stuck in last century cannot understand the aspirations of the youth of 21st century. Speaking at a rally in Mumbai, Modi said, “The country’s youth looks toward 2047, not 1947 when the country will complete 100 years of independence. Parties and leaders with thinking still stuck in the last century cannot understand the aspirations of the youth of 21st century.”
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Modi is not a brand, but a life who has not lived for himself. Modi tries to live for the people as much as possible. Not only in front of the camera, I live like this in the normal life as well."
Congress leader Hardik Patel alleged Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was doing politics in the name of soldiers because he did "nothing" in the past five years.
"In the last five years, Modi ji did nothing except continuously touring the country and abroad as 'prachar mantri' (publicity minister)," PTI quoted Patel as saying. "Had he (Modi) done something, he would have gone to the people with a list of the works to show instead of seeking votes in the name of soldiers."
"He is using martyrs for political gains," he added.
(PTI)
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Friday said Congress President Rahul Gandhi is showing signs of desperation as the "fake" narratives built by him over the Rafale jet deal and loan waivers to business houses have evaporated.
In a Facebook post, Jaitley said the desperation reached a peak when Gandhi offered four Lok Sabha seats in Delhi to the Aam Aadmi Party without realising that its chief Arvind Kejriwal was "playing games" with the Congress.
"He (Gandhi) displayed the desperation of a loser," Jaitley said.
The minister further claimed that going by the euphoric reaction on the ground, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) would get a larger mandate in the ongoing general elections than what it had received in 2014.
"Rahul Gandhi, in the last one year, built up a fake narrative on Rafale and loan waiver to business houses, which was contrary to the truth. The fake issues evaporated and now strike no chord in the electorate," he said.
The "desperation of Gandhi was at a climax" when the Congress and the NCP outsourced the job of attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Raj Thackeray without realising the fallout of such a move in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other north Indian States, Jaitley said.
(PTI)
Amit Shah in Jalore, Rajasthan: "Congress' allies in Kashmir are saying that there should be two prime ministers. Listen carefully Rahul (Gandhi) baba, no one can separate Kashmir from India."
PM Modi in Jabalpur: If there are naamdars in Delhi, then there are chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan who are only working to make the career of their children.
PM Modi in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh: Remember how Congress people made fun of 'Swachh Bharat mission'. They didn't leave any chance to call the idea a small one. Whenever I used to pick the broom, they used to spend the entire day trolling me on social media.
PM Modi in Jabalpur: Opposition is competing against each other for who can give bigger abuse to Modi.
PM Modi in Jabalpur: Those who were saying before April 11 there is no Modi wave, they have given up now.
PM Modi is conducting a rally at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. He earlier conducted a rally at Sidhi in the state.
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh: He (Sunny Deol, BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Gurdaspur) is a filmy 'fauji', while I am a real fauji. We will defeat him, he is no threat to Sunil Jakhar (Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Gurdaspur) or the Congress. (ANI)
Union minister Arun Jaitley Friday said that the Congress is contesting the elections on 1971 agenda and is not in sync with the current times.
The BJP has complained against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the Election Commission for inciting her followers to use intimidation and threatening during election. The BJP said it was a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct and urged the EC to take the strongest action against her. (ANI)
Curbing insurgency in the Northeast has been his biggest achievement as home minister, Rajnath Singh told PTI in an interview, saying Naxal violence in the country is also on the wane.
The Union Home Minister asserted that BJP will come back to power with a thumping majority as people want the good governance of the Narendra Modi dispensation to continue.
"The way Modiji has led the country at national and international levels in the last five years, there is not an iota of doubt about our win with three-fourths majority in these polls," he said.
Singh said as the home minister, he worked, among other things, towards curbing insurgency in the Northeast and Naxalism in parts of the country.
"Insurgency in Northeast is almost finished," he said.
On Naxalism, he said, "We are now in the most favourable position since 1971, when more security personnel used to get killed than Naxals. Now the trend has reversed... Our security forces have been giving a befitting reply and eliminating Naxals."
Earlier Naxals operated in 126 districts, but now their activities are limited to just six-seven districts, he said.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said in Asansol Friday, "Modi didn't come to Bengal earlier and in elections he needs votes from Bengal. We will give him rasgulla from Bengal. We will make sweets from soil and put pebbles in it similarly like cashew nuts & raisins are used in laddu, that will break teeth." (ANI)
Famous Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi Friday joined the BJP at its Delhi office in the presence of Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari and Union minister Vijay Goel. BJP's candidate from northwest Delhi constituency Hans Raj Hans, Union minister and Chandni Chowk candidate Harsh Vardhan and other party leaders were also present. (PTI)
BSP chief Mayawati took potshots at the BJP Friday, saying, "Ab toh BJP ke jo awara janwar hain hamari chunavi jansabha mein unko chhode ja rahe hain. Kal Kannauj mein humari jansabha thi wahan humare aane se pehle BJP ke logon ne aise lagta hai shararat ke tehet wahan par awara janwaron ko bheja." (ANI)
PM Modi in Sidhi: "Congress speaks about removing the army from Kashmir, removing the special status given to forces. They speak of removing the sedition law. How can this Congress then put an end to terrorism? Due to this, the terrorists kept playing their deadly game in the under the Congres rule and Pakistan kept mocking us. But this is new India. Now terrorists know that if they make a mistake next time they will have to face Modi. He will find them even in the gallows and will hit them inside their home."
Your chowkidar is committed to the empowerment of women. The government is running schemes for the safety and empowerment of the daughters and sisters of this country from their birth to different stages of life.
Your chowkidar has made provision of the death penalty for heinous crimes like rape. India's daughters have complete faith in this chowkidar. That is why, for the first time, a decision has been taken to deploy the women at the borders to defend the country.
PM Modi in Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh: "Congress had promised to reduce electricity bills and found a solution to do so by reducing electricity supply in your homes. Congress govt here is running on the formula of supplying lesser electricity than previous Shivraj govt. Is this not betrayal?"
Aam Aadmi Party's East Delhi Lok Sabha candidate Atishi Marlena filed a criminal complaint against BJP's candidate and cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir for allegedly enrolling as a voter in more than one constituency. Demanding a police probe, the complaint alleges that Gambhir is registered both in Rajinder Nagar constituency as well as Karol Bagh.
As per Section 17 of The Representation of the People Act, 1950, no person is entitled to be enrolled as a voter in more than one constituency. Section 31 makes a false declaration in the matter of inclusion or exclusion of voter rolls punishable with up to one year in prison. Consequently, any such declarations made in order to obtain registration as a voter in two or more constituencies is a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment up to one year, or fine, or both.
According to the complaint, while Gambhir had declared the Rajinder Nagar constituency in his affidavit, there was no mention of Karol Bagh. " Unfortunately for the public, a candidate who is unaware of the law and legal processes has been parachuted into the fray to extract a benefit from his stardom. But the party and the candidate will pay the cost of unpreparedness and inexperience through eventual disqualification and possible jail term for Gambhir," the party said in a press release.
A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said the Hawker 850 XP aircraft VT-KNB on which Rahul Gandhi was travelling returned to Delhi due to a technical snag. "The DGCA has initiated investigation as per the laid down procedure," he told PTI. The aircraft landed safely in Delhi at 10.20 am. Ten people, including two crew members, were on board when the incident occurred, the official said.
On April 26 last year, a plane carrying Gandhi and some others from Delhi to Hubballi airport in Karnataka for campaigning for assembly polls developed a technical problem and tilted heavily on the left side. The plane dipped steeply with violent shuddering, but soon recovered and landed safely.
The DGCA had come out with its 30-page report on that incident in which it pinned the blame on the pilots for the near-crash of the Congress president's chartered plane. After the incident, Gandhi had expressed his desire to go on Mansarovar Yatra, which he undertook later that year.
Expressing his gratitude to the people of Varanasi, Modi after filing his papers said, "Thankful to the people of Kashi. They have again blessed me after 5 years. Such a grand roadshow yesterday was possible only in Kashi. Don't fall into trap of those who say it's okay not to vote because Modi has already won the poll battle. Voting is your right, it's a festival of democracy."
Aviation regulator DGCA has begun a probe into the incident involving plane carrying Rahul Gandhi. The Congress president earlier tweeted that engine trouble on a flight to Patna forced him to return to Delhi mid-way.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday filed his nomination papers from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, accompanied by a galaxy of top BJP and NDA leaders.
Besides BJP chief Amit Shah, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, top NDA leaders such as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, SAD leader Prakash Singh Badal and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray were with Modi at the Collectorate as he filed his papers.
The PM touched the feet of Prakash Singh Badal while greeting the NDA leaders
(Twitter/ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi files his nomination from Varanasi. In the 2014 elections, PM Modi won from Varanasi by a margin of 3.37 lakh votes. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Congress’ Ajay Rai were in the fray. Rai will once again fight the prime minister in the temple city, putting an end to the speculation of Priyanka vs Modi contest. In 2014, Rai managed to poll just 75,000 votes and finished third.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the District Collectorate's office in Varanasi to file his nomination. He was greeted by NDA leaders Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Nitish Kumar, Uddhav Thackeray among others
Before heading to the District Collectorate's office, Prime Minister Modi offered prayers at Kaal Bhairav Temple in Varanasi
Supreme Court refuses to interfere with the Election Commission order banning release of biopic 'PM Narendra Modi'.
After watching the film, the EC has told the Supreme Court that PM Narendra Modi is not only a biopic, but also has dialogues, symbols, and presentation that “eulogises a public representative”.
“Gazab ka junoon hai iski aankh main (There’s a remarkable obsession in his eyes).” “Rashtravaad hi meri sampatti hai (Nationalism is all I have acquired).” “…ek din ek sachha mard Dilli ki kursi par baithe (One day, a true man should take the helm in Delhi).” These are among the 17 lines in the film, PM Narendra Modi, the Election Commission has cited in its report to the Supreme Court to endorse its stand on deferring the release of the biopic until after the Lok Sabha polls.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi who is scheduled to address three rallies today is running late thanks to the engine trouble on his flight en route to Patna. " We’ve been forced to return to Delhi. Today's meetings will run late. Apologies for the inconvenience," he wrote on Twitter
Bringing out the "Ahmedabadi" in him, PM Modi listed a few inexpensive ways of campaigning for polls. From having tea at a neighbour's house to explaining Modi's interview, the prime minister said, "You don't need money power to campaign. People to people contact crucial in the elections."
"Everyone knows that the elections in Varanasi are over. Now media will not show any interest in Varanasi. People of Varanasi blessed me in the roadshow yesterday. They have made up their minds, they want Modi sarkar again," PM Modi said.
Calling the party workers real candidates in democracy, Modi said, "I will not enjoy winning the elections if my workers lose at any of the polling booths. There should only be one 'mantra' now: Mera booth, sabse mazboot. (My booth, the strongest). Modi winning from a large margin is not important. I am not interested in i it. I am interested in seeing the workers win. I am interested in seeing the democracy win"
External Affaris Minister Sushma Swaraj who is present at the NDA meeting in Varanasai called the peeople of Varanasi "lucky." "The people of Varanasi are very lucky as they are choosing the prime minister of India, while people of other constituencies are choosing their MPs," she told ANI.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh who is also present at the venue expressed confidence of NDA winning "3/4th majority in the country."
"We (Narendra Modi, Amit Shah etc) are only the medium of elections. It is the people of India who are contesting the polls. There have always been governments in the country but this is the first time that the people of the country have seen a functional, working government in the country," PM Modi said. "I have been keeping a close watch on the elections. There is a festive mood in the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The reason why BJP is such a big party in the country is not because of media. We are not from a big family. We are the soldiers of this motherland and I have always tried to stay in touch with the party cadre," Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing BJP workers in Varanasi. Expressing his gratitude to them for seeking votes for him, Modi said, "I have been a grassroot worker too. I have also stuck posters on the wall." Amid chants of "Phir ek baar, Mdo sarkar," by the crowd, Modi said, "This is the first time that there is no anti-incumbency in the elections."
BJP President Amit Shah is present at a meeting by NDA leaders in Varanasi. Later today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will file his nomination from Varanasi Parliamentary seat.
Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena - part of the NDA alliance - offered prayers at Varanasi's Kaal Bhairav temple.
Welcome to The Indian Express' live blog. Prime Minister Modi will file his nomination from Varanasi today. Rahul Gandhi will also campaign in three states. Follow us to track the latest news and updates in the race of Lok Sabha elections.