Addressing a poll rally in Patan on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again mentioned about the Balakot airstrike and said that he had warned Pakistan of consequences if it did not return Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. He said a “senior American official” had said India was “ready with 12 missiles”, and there would be a “qatal ki raat” (night of murder).
Addressing a poll rally here in Gujarati, Modi, while referring to the Balakot air strike, said: “The second day, Pakistan thought to experiment in order to please their people, so they flew their aircraft. But we immediately did a dhamaka and destroyed one of their aircraft… They trembled… Our pilot was caught, they thought they got something by chance. So they (Opposition) said what about our pilot’s life, they forgot about this major attack a day before… But in the afternoon we said at the press conference, Pakistan beware, if our pilot is harmed, then don’t tell the world what Modi did to you,” he said.
All the 26 constituencies of Gujarat are going to polls on Tuesday, for which Sunday was the last day of campaigning.
The Election Commission of India Monday barred Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu from campaigning till 72 hours, effective from April 23, 10 am, for appealing Muslims "to vote unitedly". Sidhu made these comments at a public meeting in Katihar district of Bihar, which went on polls on April 18. Read more
BJP releases list of two candidates for Delhi; Gautam Gambhir to contest from East Delhi and Meenakshi Lekhi from New Delhi parliamentary constituencies.
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Three days after the Election Commission issued orders barring Himachal Pradesh BJP president Satpal Singh Satti from campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday and Sunday, the District Election Officer (DEO) in Una on Monday issued a warning to Satti for his recent speech where he passed personal remarks against Congress president Rahul Gandhi. During an election rally at Bhanjal in Una district on April 13, Satti had made derogatory remarks against Gandhi's personal life. Satti had said, “…Pradhan mantri kithe banna jis bande da vyah hee na ho paya jo apni amma nu dulhan nahi le ke aa paya, o pradhan mantri pad dega leya karke. Us Aadmi ki aesi kaaviliyat he nahi hai… (Rahul Gandhi, who couldn’t be married, couldn’t get a daughter-in-law for his mother, will he become the prime minister? That man is incapable of it…).”
Actor Shah Rukh Khan joined the league of Bollywood stars who have been encouraging Indians to vote in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. SRK on Monday shared a video urging the citizens of the nation to exercise their ballot and choose a responsible government. This is probably the first time he has crooned for a video issued in public interest. The song titled “Karo Matdan” has some catchy and fun lyrics like “Hum desh ki awaaz, desh ke deewane. Janta taiyaar apna faisla sunane.” In the song, he tells everyone to vote for a government that loves the country and its citizens more than themselves. Composed by Tanishk Bagchi and written by Abby Viral, the over-a-minute long song has been sung by Shah Rukh Khan himself.
Bihar ‘mahagathbandhan’ ally Vikassheel Insaan Party’s (VIP’s) head Mukesh Sahni, who is making his electoral debut from the Khagaria Lok Sabha seat, would be looking to bank on Rashtriya Janta Dal’s (RJD’s) Yadav and Muslim votes against sitting Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MP Choudhary Mehboob Ali Qaisar. Sahni, whose party is contesting on three seats in Bihar, enjoys the support of EBC Sahni/Mallah (who also write Kevat and Nishad) and Nonia votes (2.5 lakh).
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, while addressing a public rally in Bhopal, asked the crowd if they got Rs 15 lakh in their respective accounts, as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. To answer his question, a youth walked up to the stage and replied by saying, “Modi ji carried out surgical strikes and killed terrorists.” But before the youth could say anything more, he was taken off the stage by Singh’s supporters.
"I am happy to join the BJP as I have seen the changes brought brought in the country by Prime Minister Modi in the last five years. I think nobody should be ashamed of their background, when the prime minister is proud to state that he was a 'chaiwala' then why should I be ashamed of calling myself a 'nai' (barber)," he said.
Aam Aadmi Party candidate Atishi Monday filed her nomination from the East Delhi constituency.
Responding to Priyanka Gandhi, Union Minister Smriti Irani asked the Congress leader to go see the reality of the poor in the constituency, saying, "I have been an actor, so it is better that Priyanka Gandhi can end the drama. As far as the poor citizens, who do not even have shoes to wear, are concerned, please oblige us if you have any shame and go and see the reality yourself."
Priyanka Gandhi lashes out at BJP's Amethi candidate Smriti Irani for distributing shoes to people in the constituency. "Smriti Irani came here and distributed shoes so that she can say that people here do not even have footwear. She is thinking that she is insulting Rahul Gandhi like this but she is actually insulting the people of Amethi by doing so."
BJD writes to Election Commission questioning its inaction against BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan, who allegedly 'obstructed flying squad on election duty from discharging their duties and abused them.'
Accusing TMC chief Mamata Banerjee of questioning the air strikes to "appease" her minority vote bank, BJP chief Amit Shah on Monday said she can do "Ilu Ilu" (I love you) with Pakistan but if that country fire bullets on us we would respond with cannon balls. 'Apko (Mamata) Pakistan ke saath ilu ilu (I love you) karna hain toh kijiye. Lekin agar Pakistan goli marega toh hum gola marenge' (If you are interested in showing love with Pakistan, you can do that but we would respond to their bullets with canon balls), Shah said, referring to the popular Hindi song from a film in the early 1990s. Shah further demanded TMC chief Mamata Banerjee to clarify whether she too favoured a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir like her ally National Conference leader Omar Abdullah. Read More
BJP president Amit Shah, who was in West Bengal to address election rallies, Monday said his party will scrap Article 370 of the Constitution which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and introduce National Register for Citizens across the country after returning to power. Shah accused TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee of questioning the air strikes to "appease" her minority vote bank and wryly said she can do "Ilu Ilu" (I love you) with Pakistan but if that country fire bullets on us we would respond with cannon balls.
Bikaner: Salesmen display sarees with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi printed on them, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, in Bikaner, Sunday, April 21, 2019. (Source: PTI Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday accused the opposition parties of spreading rumours that reservations will modified if he returns to power. Addressing a poll rally here in north Maharashtra, Modi said he will ensure that the quota quantum is not disturbed. "Till Modi is here, nobody can touch the reservations, given to us by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar," he said. Modi also assured people in the tribal dominated constituencies in north Maharashtra that his government will ensure they would not face eviction from their land. (PTI)
The electronic voting machines were distributed to the staffers at six locations in Pune. Voting for Pune constituency is on Tuesday, April 23. The material was being taken to polling stations through GPS installed PMPML buses. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)
BJP candidate Manoj Tiwari filed nomination from North East Delhi.
AAP's Raghav Chaddha comes to file nomination with mother.
Won't allow reservations to be scrapped, says Modi in a public rally in Nandurbar, Maharashtra.
Malegaon blasts accused Pragya Thakur files her nomination as a BJP candidate from Bhopal.
In a press conference, Sitharaman, Minister of Defence, said, Rahul Gandhi has learnt no lessons. "He is peddling lies and has lost credibility," she said.
After apologising to Supreme Court, Rahul repeats 'chowkidar chor' jibe in Amethi rally and gets slammed by Nirmala Sitharaman.
Atishi Marlena, AAP's candidate from East Delhi constituency, on road show with education minister Manish Sisodia.
Rahul Gandhi promises freedom of press after 2019 Lok Sabha elections
After two phases of election in West Bengal, it's quite clear that Mamata is bound to lose in the elections. This has led to her desperation & hence she is blaming opposition & the ECI. The voters of Bengal should freely exercise their right to vote: Amit Shah
Amit Shah speaks in Nadia, West Bengal.
EVM and VVPAT dispatched to the centres before third phase of Lok Sabha elections. (Express Photos: Bhupendra Rana)
"In five years, the chowkidar (PM Modi) has taken away whatever we had given to you," says Rahul Gandhi in Amethi.
Opposition worried as BJP ahead in trends of first two phases of Lok Sabha polls, said Modi. He also took a dig at Congress that some experience electric current the moment he talks about dynasty, national security.
Amethi returning officer declares Congress President Rahul Gandhi's nomination valid.