After filing his nomination from Wayanad district, Rahul Gandhi remarked on the Left criticism about his decision to contest from a constituency in Kerala. “I know that that the CPM and Congress have been locked in a fight in Kerala, and this fight will go on. I want to make clear to my brothers and sisters in Kerala, my brothers and sisters in CPM, I understand that CPM has to protest against me. I understand that CPM has to fight me. But I am not going to say a word against the CPM. I am here to send the message of unity and the message that South India is important. I fully understand that CPM has to attack me. So, I absorb all their attacks with happiness. But you will not hear a word against the CPM in my campaigning,” he said.
Meanwhile addressing a rally in Nagpur, Rahul accused the Narendra Modi government of corruption, and said that the country’s “chowkidar” would be in jail after elections.
Rahul kept his focus on “corruption, unemployment and farmers’ problems” during the NDA government’s tenure.
An FIR has been filed against actor-turned-politician and BJP MP Hema Malini for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by holding a public meeting at Ajehi village without obtaining permission from the district administration. Besides the actor, two others have been named in the complaint which has been lodged at Vrindavan Police Station. Vrindavan Station Officer Sanjeev Dubey said that the FIR was filed after the Mathura MP addressed a public gathering without prior approval from the administration. READ MORE HERE
Huddled under the shade of a peepal tree on a sweltering afternoon, a quartet of sugarcane farmers wait patiently outside the Upper Doab Sugar Mills in western Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district for their turn to offload their produce from tractors. With less than a week to go before the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, it is not the prospect of a tantalising contest between BJP and the Mahagathbandan (Grand Coalition), but the mounting cane dues and the stray cattle menace that are stirring conversation among them in this sugarcane belt.
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Election manifestos are usually dull documents. By their very logic, they promise everyone something. They are the last slivers of a dull utopianism which construct a world where not many tough choices have to be made: There is a scheme or a policy for everyone. But they often elicit a yawn because by themselves they do not address the core political question: What is the credibility of the party making the promises? In an electorate that is used to having its hopes disappointed, there is always a sense that the real action is outside the manifesto. A manifesto can unwittingly turn into a reminder of past betrayals. But once in a while, the political context makes a manifesto an interesting document. The Congress manifesto is being criticised for its “welfarism.” And certainly, its schemes should be subject to detailed scrutiny, as must the schemes of all other political parties. Are they financially sustainable?
READ PRATAP BHANU MEHTA'S COLUMN HERE
Narendra Modi ko sab jante hain, gutter level politics karte hain. Jaise village mukhiya bol raha ho, jaise dehat mein koi municipality politics kar raha ho: Ahmed patel
Kela Devi doesn’t know her exact age. “I have voted for Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Mulayam Singh Yadav, does that tell you how old I am?” she asks, flashing a toothless smile. The septuagenarian resident of Deoband town in Western Uttar Pradesh left home at 7 am to attend the Saharanpur rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The woman wants just one answer. “I have no complaints, I just want one answer. When will they start our pension scheme?” she asks, referring to the recently announced pension scheme for people from the organised and unorganised sectors. The 40-km ride from Deoband to the venue of the rally was “harrowing” for Kela Devi.
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Congress president Rahul Gandhi will file his nomination from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat on April 10 and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will do the same from the Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency on April 11, party sources said on Thursday. Newly-appointed Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be present with her brother and mother when they file their nomination papers. The family will be together on both days with Rahul Gandhi accompanying his mother in Rae Bareli and Sonia Gandhi present while he files his papers in Amethi, the sources said. They said the filing of nomination papers will be a big show of strength and the top Congress leadership will be present.
PM went to Japan hugged their PM, in China, he hugged Xi Jinping, in Pakistan he had Biryani but he has never hugged a single person from Varanasi which is his own constituency, said Priyanka Gandhi during a roadshow in Ghaziabad.
Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on hatred, BJP president Amit Shah on Friday said the Congress chief now sees the entire humankind as full of hate, except himself. Shortly after his interaction with students in Pune, Gandhi said he loves everybody, including those "temporarily blinded by hatred". "Hatred is cowardice. I don't care if the entire world is full of hatred. I am not a coward. I will not hide behind hate and anger. I love all living beings, including those temporarily blinded by hatred," Gandhi tweeted.
(Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)
(Express Photo by Vishal Shrivastav)
Modi government is misleading our farmers by saying there is no money for loan waivers, whereas Anil Ambani gets Rs 30,000Cr worth Rafale deal. Chowkidar Modi has only served the interests of his industrialist friends. The contract for 6 airports was given to Adani when the nation was distracted during Pulwama terror attack.
Give Prime Minister Narendra Modi another five years, BJP will find out every illegal migrant and throw them out. Rahul Gandhi must clarify whether he supports Omar Abdullah's statement that Jammu and Kashmir should have a separate Prime Minister. An atmosphere of mourning prevailed in Pakistan and Congress camp, but the entire country celebrated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Air Force inside the neighbouring country to bust the terrorist camps. (PTI)
Rahul Gandhi talks on several subjects with which he does not even have a nodding acquaintance. He makes wild and unsubstantiated allegations against all and sundry. The only subject he refused to speak about or respond is the one on which he alone knows the truth – his own accounts When reports have indicated that his own personal ‘capital creation’ programme was on the strength of ‘Sweetheart Deals’ with ‘fly-by-night operators’, he imposed censorship on himself and also on otherwise an outspoken Media Cell of the Congress Party.
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Union Minister Arun Jaitley is addressing a press conference from BJP HQ in New Delhi. Attacking the Congress, Jaitley talks about the Augusta Westland scam during the UPA government. Arun Jaitley says Congress must answer on 'AP', 'FAM' and 'RG' used in ED chargsheet.
PM Modi after conducting a rally in Saharanpur, has now reached Dehradun in Uttarakhand. Addressing the crowd, PM Modi raked up the issue of AFSPA in J&K. He said the Congress and opposition want to remove the immunity provided to armed forces and paramilitary in J&K. They talk to those people who agitate stone pelters.
The Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) announces party chief and MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains as the candidate from Ludhiana seat. The announcement was made by his elder brother MLA Balwinder Singh Bains in presence of workers at their Kot Mangal Singh office in Ludhiana. LIP is contesting polls as part of Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA). It will be for the second time that Bains will contest from Ludhiana seat. In 2014, when he contested as an Independent (LIP formed later), he finished fourth in the four-cornered fight after AAP and SAD. The seat is currently held by Ravneet Singh Bittu of Congress.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi has reached Chandrapur and is addressing a public rally. he was earlier in Pune where he interacted with students.
Hatred is cowardice. I don’t care if the entire world is full of hatred. I am not a coward. I will not hide behind hate and anger. I love all living beings, including those temporarily blinded by hatred: Rahul Gandhi on Twitter
Amid speculation on her candidature from the Indore constituency, outgoing Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahan said Friday she won’t contest the elections. Mahajan wrote an open letter questioning the delay over the announcement of a candidate for the prestigious seat she has won since 1989. “I thought the party was hesitant so I told them to take a decision,’’ she told The Indian Express. “I am not a political person. I had made my stand clear to the party,’’ she replied when asked if she was ready to contest but was denied the ticket. She said she knew the party was applying ‘age criterion’ but was hesitating (to name another candidate in her place). “There is nothing more to it,’’ she said when asked if she was hurt. READ MORE HERE
(Source: Twitter/ECI)
(Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was his "best friend", adding there can be no fights with her. Interacting with students here, Gandhi said he has seen a lot of violence affecting his family and refereed to the assassinations of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Interacting with students here, he gave an insight into his rapport with his younger sibling, who formally entered politics a few months ago, and childhood memories. Asked if ever has fights or arguments with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he said, "There would be fights earlier. But not now. Since I was small, I have been through a lot of violence with the assassinations of my grandmother and father. "My sister has been my friend and we understand each other well. If there is a situation of argument, sometimes she backs off and sometimes I do." (PTI)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and top AIADMK leader K Palaniswami Friday hit out at DMK President M K Stalin for his "negative campaign" targeting him and other NDA leaders, saying no welfare activities were taken up by the opposition party while in power. AIADMK is leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state with its other constituents being BJP, DMDK and PMK among others, while DMK is heading the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) whose constituents include Congress and the Left parties. (PTI)
Been going on for a while, Modi ji is using ED, I-T & CBI. He is doing everything he can do to demoralise opposition & to win the elections, because he has lost hope of winning: Kharge
Addressing a public rally in Saharanpur of Uttar Pradesh, PM Narendra Modi targetted BSP's Mayawati saying that she mocked us " when I washed the feet of sanitation workers during Kumbh." PM once again raked in Babasaheb Ambedkar saying that the Congress neglected the father of the Indian constitution.
Muslim League is a virus and Congress is infested with it, says Yogi Adityanath. "Think of what would happen if they won? The virus will spread throughout the country," he adds.
Indicating that policy of votebank has done major harm to the country, PM Modi attacked Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and asked, " What was the law and order situation earlier in the western up? At the time of Samajwadi Party government, the culprits had got an open exemption."
"BJP government today has control over it," he adds.
Express Photo by Premankur Biswas
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav released its Manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, says " this manifesto is for every section of the society."
"Replying to terrorists in their own language is not being liked by some people. When India hits back at the enemy, some people here start crying. When Pakistan is being exposed in front of the world these people start speaking in support of Pakistan," says PM Modi
Accusing Congress of considering terror as a vote bank, Modi said that he can never weigh terror issues for vote bank. " All terror helpers are in jails today," he added.
Opposition parties like Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party have taken a soft approach on terrorism.
" These parties have not only helped terror, they have also worked to put your life and existence in peril," said the Prime Minister
"Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates honoured your prime servant with the greatest honour, Zayed Medal. This honour is not mine, this for you and for crores of Indians working in the Gulf countries, " said PM Modi to the crowd of Amroha after recieving the highest civil award of UAE
Addressing a public meeting at Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi thanked the public for being with for the last five years. He said, " In the last five years, the way you have joined this watchman, I bow down to all of you with humility," he said.
Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejaswani Yadav pointed out that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had indicated his father Lalu Prasad, with deals and offers with six months of him allying with BJP.
Responding to a student's question on Balakot airstrike, Rahul Gandhi said, "Indian Air Force should take credit for Balakot air strike."
When asked by a student as to how he envisioned the participation of women in politics, Rahul promised that there would be 33 percent reservation of all Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha seats if the Congress is voted to power in 2019. He also said he is planning to employ a similar reservation in various other sectors as well.
"From truth comes humility, from humility, comes courage," said Rahul, while interacting with students in Pune.
Rahul said that if he decides that something has to be done, his nature is to do it. "I talk about farmers and the poor, even though it is not fashionable to do so," he said.
Addressing the media, Finance Minister Rahul Gandhi said, today all of the North East has BJP-led governments which means the people of North East has expressed trust in us.
The manifesto put out by the Congress Party is not an expression of the Party but the people. It has come from the people of India and we will work for the Country.
Talking about the pilot project of minimum income guarantee to the poor, Rahul Gandhi said, " we have studied the project, we have calculated where the money will come from, how it will be implemented and what the poor will receive. "
Praising Arunachal Pradesh's Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Shah said, " Arunachal Pradesh earned Rs 927 crore revenue and the credit goes to Prema Khandu ji. It's going to make this state financially independent."
"It's for the first time that BJP fighting on all the seats of state assembly of Arunachal Pradesh. Our winning streak started with this region when three MLAs of our party were elected uncontested," added Shah.
BJP government has made sure to resolve issues of Arunachal Pradesh. " Modi ji instructed his ministers to visit northeast every fortnight. It was done to pay attention to the issues and resolve them," shah said
"Five years ago, the northeast was disturbed and there was hardly any development. After five years, BJP brought peace in the region and is on path of development," said the BJP Chief.
Morarji Desai was the last PM who attended a meeting of NEC in the northeast. After 40 years, PM Modi attended the meeting in Shillong, Shah added saying that BJP's investing more and more focus on the North East.
Addressing a rally in Arunachal Pradesh's Changland, Amit Shah said Arunachal Pradesh is now well connected through all transport means.
The BJP government allocated 50,000 crores to Arunachal Pradesh's development.
Arunachal Pradesh is no more a small state, BJP is constantly working for its development.