Lok Sabha Elections Highlights: Mallikarjun Kharge writes to PM Modi, seeks time to explain Congress’s ‘Nyay Patra’

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will address a poll rally in Maharashtra's Udgir town in Latur district on April 27, news agency PTI reported. The Latur Lok Sabha constituency will go to polls on May 7 in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday demanded that the Election Commission ban Prime Minister Narendra Modi from campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections over his "redistribution of wealth" statements at the Banswara rally, news agency PTI reported. Gehlot further said that although the EC had served notices to both Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi, he would consider the chief electoral body impartial only when the the latter is banned from campaigning. 

Modi on Sunday suggested that if the Congress came to power, it would redistribute the wealth of people to Muslims and cited former PM Manmohan Singh’s remark that the minority community had the first claim on the country’s resources.

The Congress on Thursday named its Mumbai unit president Varsha Gaikwad as the party's Lok Sabha candidate from the Mumbai North-Central constituency, AICC said in a statement. The Congress will contest two Lok Sabha seats - the other being Mumbai North - in Mumbai in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as per the MVA seat-sharing deal. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest the other four seats. 

Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday released Shiv Sena's (UBT) poll manifesto, which promises farm loan waiver, increasing employment and stopping of 'loot' in Maharashtra, news agency PTI reported. Thackeray said the jobs would be created at the district level, so that the beneficiaries will not need to migrate to other areas in the state. He also promised the  implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

The Bahujan Samaj Party on Thursday released names of three more Lok Sabha candidates, fielding Thakur Prasad Yadav from the Rae Bareli constituency. The party has fielded Qamor Hyat Ansari as its candidate from Ambedkarnagar and Brajesh Kumar Sonkar from Bahraich (reserved) seat. The BJP and the Congress are yet to announce their candidates for the Rae Bareli seat. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday predicted severe heatwave conditions in areas in  West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh for the next five days. 88 seats across 13 states and union territories will be going to the polls on Friday, including 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Tripura.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took a dig at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying they had come together for politics of appeasement, news agency PTI reported.  "Can you expect development from the flop pair of 'Do ladkon ki jodi' (a pair of boys)?" Modi said while addressing a rally in UP's Shahjahanpur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Congress plans to implement the Karnataka model of reservation across the country. Addressing voters at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur, Modi said that they had to send a strong message to those who had an anti-national mindset. He further questioned whether power could be given to those who shed tears on the death of terrorists.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress party, saying that the latter intends to snatch away the reservations provided to the OBCs and give it to a vote bank of their choice, news agency PTI reported. While addressing an election rally in UP's Aonla, The Prime Minister said that the "INDI alliance" of the Congress and Samajwadi Party could go to any extent for appeasement. 

VIDEO | "The INDI alliance of Samajwadi Party and Congress can go to any extent for appeasement. The dangerous claw of the Congress is going to snatch away the rights of the people. Congress intends at snatching away the reservation of OBCs and give it to the vote bank of their… pic.twitter.com/ihzFK6qTqK

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 25, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that an alliance of Congress and Samajwadi Party will take away half of people's inheritance. Addressing an election rally at Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said. Sam Pitroda, during a recent interview, had said that the inheritance tax in America was an interesting law and could be issues that people could debate and discuss. “In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies, he can only transfer probably 45% to his children and 55% goes to the government. That’s an interesting law.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his Lok Sabha elections campaign in Karnataka, addressing election rallies in the state on April 28 and April 29, news agency PTI reported. The Prime Minister will address public meetings in five districts, beginning with an election rally in Belagavi on April 28. PM Modi will then fly to Sirsi, followed by poll rallies in Daangere and Ballari. He will travel to Bagalkote to attend a public meeting at 11 am on April 29. 

Bihar YouTuber Manish Kashyap on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, news agency PTI reported. Kashyap, who was arrested last year for allegedly curculating fake videos of Bihar migrants being harassed in Tamil Nadu, joined the party in the presence of  Anil Baluni, BJP national media department in-charge and co-in-charges Sanjay Mayukh and Manoj Tiwari.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking time to explain his party's manifesto, called the 'Nyay Patra'. Kharge had, earlier, sought an appointment with Modi to “convince him about the party’s manifesto.” PM Modi had, at a rally in Rajasthan on April 21, said that Congress, if voted to power, could distribute the nation’s wealth among “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”.

“Earlier, when they (the Congress) were in power, they had said Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation. This means they will distribute this wealth to those who have more children, to infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money be given to infiltrators? Do you agree to this?” he said. “Congress’s manifesto says they will take stock of the gold mothers and daughters have, and will distribute that wealth. Manmohan Singh’s government had said Muslims have the first right to wealth. Brothers and sisters, this Urban Naxal thinking will not spare even the mangal sutras of my mothers and sisters),” the PM added.

West Bengal Chief Minisyer Mamata Banerjee on Thursday called Calcutta High Court's decision to cancel 25,000 school jobs as 'gross injustice. While addressing an election rally in Medinipur, the TMC supremo alleged that it was a ploy by the BJP to stop people who lost their jobs from being deployed for poll duty, news agency PTI reported.

A DIVISION bench of the Calcutta High Court had, on Monday, cancelled the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff made through the State Level Selection Test (SLST) 2016 in schools sponsored and aided by the West Bengal government. The Bench, also comprising Justice Md Shabbar Rashidi, said, “All appointments granted in the selection processes involved, being violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, are declared null and void and cancelled.”

"OBCs will have to understand the game of Congress-SP. There are many OBC castes in UP like Kurmi, Maurya, Kushwaha, Jat, Gurjar, Rajbhar, Teli, Pal. This is their right. They (Congress) want to give reservation to their favorite vote bank," says PM Modi in Agra.

"The Congress government of Karnataka declared all Muslim castes as OBCs overnight on a paper. Told them that you are the Maalik of 27 percent now. Congress intends to play the same game in UP also. Wherever they get a chance in the country, they will rob the rights of OBC, SC and ST and give it to 'them'," says PM Modi at Agra rally.

"We are ending 'tushtikaran' (appeasement) and working for 'santushtikaran' (satisfying people)", says PM Modi.

"Congress insults Baba Saheb every day and insults the Constitution. Social justice has been torn to pieces. The same Congress, in Karnataka, in Andhra Pradesh and in its manifesto, repeatedly advocated reservation on the basis of religion," says PM Modi in Agra.

At a rally in Agra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "The manifesto released by Congress for the 2024 elections has 100% Muslim League stamp on it... Whereas our manifesto is to dedicate to the country. Since independence, it has become clear that reservation will never be given on the basis of religion in India."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has asserted that a Maharashtra Bhavan will be built in Jammu and Kashmir and with the Centre's support, no one will dare to oppose it.

Speaking at a rally in Maharashtra's Amravati district on Wednesday, Shinde claimed that National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has opposed the construction of the Maharashtra Bhavan in Kashmir.

"The state government has received land in Kashmir for building the Maharashtra Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are with us. So no one will dare to oppose it," the CM said.

CM Shinde last year requested Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha for a land parcel to construct the Maharashtra Bhavan to provide accommodations and facilities for tourists and officials from the state visiting the Valley.

The Maharashtra cabinet last month approved a proposal to construct the Maharashtra Bhavan, clearing the decks for the first state-run guest house to come up in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370. --PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Kothi Meena Bazaar Ground in Agra, where he is set to address an election rally. 

AAP launches Lok Sabha campaign song 'jail ke jawab mein hum vote denge'.

MUST WATCH??

AAP's Campaign Song For 2024 Lok Sabha Elections Is OUT NOW ??#AAPKaCampaignSong pic.twitter.com/JnVf3pEr8Y

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) April 25, 2024

SP leader Akhilesh Yadav files his nomination from Kannauj.

"These (Congress) people are again using religious appeasement as a pawn. There is a Congress government in Karnataka...They have declared all the people of the Muslim community in Karnataka as OBC. Congress added so many new people into the OBC community that earlier OBCs used to get reservations in education and government jobs but now the reservation they used to get was secretly snatched away from them and given to Muslims," says PM Modi in Morena.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remark on the caste census, PM Modi said, 'Congress will x-ray your lockers and loot them'.

"If Congress comes to power, it will snatch more than half of your earnings through inheritance tax," said PM Modi at Morena rally.

PM Modi said, 'The people of Madhya Pradesh know that once you get rid of a problem, you should always stay away from that problem. The Congress party is one such big anti-development problem and people should stay away from it. Congress made the bad law-and-order a symbol of Chambal during their regime, but in BJP’s rule, the state and especially Chambal got a new glorious recognition everywhere.'

"Madhya Pradesh had become one of the 'Bimaru Rajya' during Congress' rule. After filling the potholes of Congress, the BJP has given a new identity to Chambal and Madhya Pradesh...The people of Bhind, Morena and Gwalior, who have seen the dark period of the Congress, are experiencing the development that has taken place under the BJP government more," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Morena.

Politics in Rae Bareli and Amethi is heating up with the Congress delaying announcing its candidates for the two Lok Sabha constituencies, which have determined the fortunes of the Nehru-Gandhi family for more than half a century.

In this vacuum, speculation is rushing in and, other than Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi, their cousin has been drawn into it. For, there is buzz that Varun Gandhi, who was denied a ticket by the BJP from his seat Pilibhit, and is currently in the political cold, may have got a feeler to test the waters in Rae Bareli.

Read more

"It has become difficult for them (Samajwadi Party) not me. Tej Pratap was given ticket (from Kannauj), however, their supporters said he will not be able to win and demanded him (Akhilesh Yadav) to contest. There will be a contest and the BJP will emerge victorious," says BJP's candidate from UP's Kannauj Lok Sabha seat, Subrat Pathak.

VIDEO | "It has become difficult for them (Samajwadi Party) not me. Tej Pratap was given ticket (from Kannauj), however, their supporters said he will not be able to win and demanded him (Akhilesh Yadav) to contest. There will be a contest and the BJP will emerge victorious,"… pic.twitter.com/azwtp3tOHM

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 25, 2024

Sharad Pawar-led NCP releases its manifesto for general elections in Pune.

Key poll promises include fixing cooking gas price at Rs 500, abolishing of article 356 which gives power to center to interfere in state government functioning, caste census after every 5 years, implementation of Sacchhar committee report, and chief minister's say in the appointment of Governor.

The stage is set for a three-cornered contest in eight Lok Sabha constituencies of Uttar Pradesh going to polls in the second phase on Friday. Staggered over seven stages, the first phase of the elections held last Friday for 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories saw a voter turnout of around 65.5 per cent.

The poll campaigning for the second phase ended on Wednesday evening with leaders of all the major political parties criss-crossing the constituencies, garnering support for their candidates.

The eight constituencies of Uttar Pradesh where voting will be held on Friday are Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Mathura. Prominent among the total of 91 candidates whose future will be decided in the second phase are actors-turned-politician Hema Malini, who is seeking a third term from Mathura; and Arun Govil, who played the role of Lord Rama in the famed TV serial Ramayan.

He has been fielded by the saffron party from his native place Meerut. The Congress' Danish Ali from Amroha, and the BJP's Atul Garg from Ghaziabad and Mahesh Sharma from Gautam Buddha Nagar toured their constituencies seeking the people's support.

Altogether, Uttar Pradesh has 80 parliamentary constituencies and polling will take place in all the seven phases of the Lok Sabha election. With the NDA, the INDIA bloc and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fielding their candidates, a three-cornered contest is on the cards.

The BJP's campaign for the second phase was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. For the Samajwadi Party (SP), its president Akhilesh Yadav led the campaign while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, BSP president Mayawati and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Singh were on a hectic campaign trail of these constituencies during the past couple of days.

The pitch for the campaign was set by the prime minister at an election rally in Aligarh, a constituency with a sizeable Muslim population, on Monday accusing the Congress of planning to redistribute the people's property if it is voted to power, but stopped short of saying that the wealth would go to Muslims. Modi accused the opposition Congress and the SP of following a policy of appeasement and yet doing nothing to uplift the socio-economic condition of the community.

Yadav hit out at the BJP, saying "Speaking wrong things about a particular community by naming it is an insult to that community spread across the world". Mayawati, in a poll rally at Bulandshahr the same day, accused the BJP of taking credit for the development of the Noida and Greater Noida region by the BSP while it was in power in the state.

The stakes are high for the ruling BJP as among the eight constituencies going to the polls, it had won seven seats in the 2019 elections while the BSP had bagged Amroha. There are 1.67 crore voters in these eight Lok Sabha constituencies, out of which 90.11 lakh are male voters, 77.38 lakh are female voters and 787 are of the third gender. There are a total of 7,797 polling stations and 17,677 polling booths in these constituencies. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is going to file his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election from the Kannauj constituency in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, a day after the party replaced Tej Pratap Yadav with Akhilesh as its candidate from the seat.

In a flip-flop, the SP announced Wednesday that Akhilesh will file his nomination papers from Kannauj on Thursday — the last date for filing nominations for the seat which goes to polls in the fourth phase on May 13.

89 seats across 13 states and union territories will be going to the polls on Friday, including 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Tripura.

As the campaigning ended Wednesday for the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls to be held on April 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public rally in Agra, which will go to polls in the third phase on May 7.  UP CM Yogi Adityanath would also be in attendance at the Agra rally.

Campaigning for the election to the Jammu Lok Sabha seat ended Wednesday evening, setting the stage for over 17.81 lakh eligible voters to exercise their franchise on April 26 to decide the fate of 22 candidates in the fray.

This is the second Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir to go to polls in this election. Earlier, polling was held in the Udhampur seat on April 19 and a voter turnout of over 68 per cent was recorded.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir Pandurang K Pole said there was no untoward incident reported during the campaigning. Necessary action has been taken against violators of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and cash, drugs, liquor and other goods worth over Rs 20 crore seized since the announcement of the election, he added.

Twenty-two candidates are in the fray from the constituency spread across 17 Assembly segments of Jammu, Sabma and Reasi districts and one assembly constituency in Rajouri district.

Ensure that your voices are heard and your opinions are represented ?

Listen to @M_Raj03 as she shares her excitement about voting for the first time.#ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #ECI #IVote4Sure #GeneralElections2024 #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/xaVMntfdWZ

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 24, 2024

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav contest from the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat and will file nomination papers on Thursday. This comes days after the party had declared Tej Pratap Yadav as its candidate from the seat. Akhilesh had won from the Kannauj seat in 2000. Voting on this seat will be held on May 13.

Campaigning for three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal Darjeeling, Raiganj and Balurghat going to polls in the second phase on April 26 came to an end at 6 pm.

A total of 51,17,955 voters - 26,07,389 men, 25,10,356 women and 210 third-gender - are eligible to exercise their franchise in 5,298 polling stations. Out of the 47 candidates contesting the election in this phase, three are women.

The second phase of polls would be witnessing a contest between political heavyweights in Balurghat, as the BJP's West Bengal president and sitting MP Sukanta Majumdar would take on state minister Biplab Mitra.

There are a total of 13 candidates contesting from the Balurghat constituency. Altogether 14 candidates, including sitting MP Raju Bista, are contesting from the Darjeeling seat. The TMC has fielded former bureaucrat Gopal Lama while the Congress nominated Munish Tamang.

Union minister Virendra Kumar and Madhya Pradesh BJP chief VD Sharma are among 80 candidates in the fray from six constituencies in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state, campaigning for which ended on Wednesday evening.

The upcoming contest is a straight fight between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, which had won just one of the 29 seats in MP in the 2019 general elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the main campaigner for BJP who highlighted "Modi's guarantees" while seeking a huge mandate with the "abki baar 400 paar" slogan at poll rallies in Damoh and Pipariya.

On the other hand, the Congress mainly stuck to the "threat to the Constitution" theme, with the party president Mallikarjun Kharge telling voters that the BJP would end democracy if voted to power again.

Voting will be held in Tikamgarh (SC), Damoh, Khajuraho, Satna, Rewa and Hoshangabad constituencies, which cover 55 assembly segments, in the second phase.

Heading out to vote?

Why walk alone when you can walk together to #GoVote ?#SaathChalenge #YNWA#ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #Elections2024 pic.twitter.com/ROUudEdJwo

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 24, 2024

Union minister Nitin Gadkari took to X to confirm that he is healthy and will be addressing a poll meeting in Maharashtra' Warud. 'I felt uncomfortable due to the heat during the rally in Pusad, Maharashtra. But now I am completely healthy and am leaving for Varud to attend the next meeting. Thank you for your love and good wishes,' he wrote in Hindi.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari fainted during an election rally in Maharashtra's Yavatmal. Visuals showed people picking him up and carrying him off stage. At the time of his rally, the city of Yavatmal saw a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius.

After returning to consciousness, Gadkari left for Warud.

VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari fainted during an election rally in Maharashtra's Yavatmal earlier today.

Gadkari later shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he was fine and was leaving for Warud, Maharashtra to address another rally.… pic.twitter.com/FwaW3uL3DM

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 24, 2024

#VoterHelpline is your friend indeed!

Using our Voter Helpline App you can:
? Request new forms
?Lodge Complaints
? Confirm your name in the voter list#ChunavKaParv #DeshKaGarv #Elections2024 #ECI pic.twitter.com/PdiG3I89Km

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) April 24, 2024

Electronics Corporation of India Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd have refused to disclose the names and contact details of the manufacturers and suppliers of various components of EVMs and VVPATs under the RTI Act citing "commercial confidence", according to RTI responses from the PSUs to an activist.

Activist Venkatesh Nayak had filed two identical Right To Information applications with the ECIL and BEL, seeking the details of the manufacturers and suppliers of various components used in the assembling of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs).

Nayak also sought a copy of the purchase orders for the components from both PSUs. "Information sought is in commercial confidence. Hence details cannot be provided under Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act," BEL said in its response.

Speaking at an election rally in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the state was known as 'Bimaru' during the Congress regime. "Development happened when Congress rule ended and BJP came to power," he said.

Sagar Lok Sabha Constituency will go to polls on 7 May in the third phase.

PM Narendra Modi said at an election rally in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh said a stable and strong government is a must for development of the country.

BJP workers staged a protest against the Congress party's manifesto, at Delhi's Akbar Road on Wednesday. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva was also present at the protest.

#WATCH | BJP workers staged a protest against the Congress party's manifesto, at Delhi's Akbar Road.

Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva also present at the protest. pic.twitter.com/lU6tjgd419

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024

Speaking at the Samajik Nyay Sammelan in Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that “Congress manifesto aims to give back 90% Indians a part of Rs 16 lakh cr given to big businessmen as loan waiver’.

“PM has panicked after seeing our revolutionary manifesto. Injustice is being done to 90% Indians and the moment I called for checking this injustice, PM, BJP started attacking me,” he said.

“Congress manifesto aims to give back 90% Indians a part of Rs 16 lakh cr given to big businessmen as loan waivers. Not a single Dalit, tribal was seen at Ram temple and Parliament building inauguration,90% of population understands this,” he said.

"This election is for making a violence-free Kerala. This so-called 'INDI alliance' has been totally exposed. The two partners of the 'INDI alliance' - Communists and Congress - come together on one stage in Delhi but in Kerala and Bengal they fight against each other. Their fight is fake... 'ilu-ilu' is going on between the Congress and Communists,” said Amit Shah in Kerala today.

VIDEO | Here's what Union minister Amit Shah (@AmitShah) said addressing a public rally in Kerala's #Alappuzha.

"This election is for making a violence-free Kerala. This so called 'INDI alliance' has been totally exposed. The two partners of the 'INDI alliance' - Communists and… pic.twitter.com/0RLjtPw7pJ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 24, 2024

AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said as the first round of voting of the Lok Sabha polls was over, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was afraid of invisible voters and that's why he is always criticising the Congress party.

If the Congress is nothing, why is the Prime Minister bothered about the grand old party, Kharge asked at a press conference here.

He said he had travelled to nearly 10-12 states and that the party was getting a very good response from voters there. 

Addressing a rally in Alappuzha, Kerala on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that “Communists and Congress were taking support of banned organisations like PFI”.

Communists are finished in the world and India. Congress too has declined. It is time for BJP, he said.

This election is for making Narendra Modi the PM for a third time and also for freeing the state from violence, said Shah.

“Communists and Congress are taking support of banned organisation PFI’, he alleged

Addressing the Vijay Sankalp Shankhnaad Maharally in Chhattisgarh, PM Modi alleged that the Congress party “planned to implement reservation based on religion all over the country”.

'When the Congress manifesto came out, I had said on the same day that the Congress manifesto had the stamp of the Muslim League on it. When the Constitution was being made, it was decided under the leadership of Baba Saheb Ambedkar that there would be no reservation on the basis of religion in India.  But for vote bank Congress did not care about the words of these great men, did not care about the sanctity of the Constitution nor did it care about the words of Baba Saheb Ambedkar,” said Modi.

“Years ago, Congress had tried to give reservation on the basis of religion in Andhra Pradesh. Then Congress planned to implement it all over the country...Congress said that reservation should be given to some people based on religion by stealing some part of the SC/ST and OBC quota. This was mentioned in their manifesto in 2009 and 2014,” he said further.

#WATCH | Addressing the Vijay Sankalp Shankhnaad Maharally in Surguja, Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, 'When the Congress manifesto came out, I had said on the same day that the Congress manifesto had the stamp of the Muslim League on it. When the Constitution… pic.twitter.com/7wP5hYgsSJ

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024

A day after the chairman of Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda was on the receiving end over his comments regarding the US inheritance tax, he issued a clarification saying that his statements were twisted and had nothing to do with the Congress party or their manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Sam Pitroda, during a recent interview, had said that the inheritance tax in America was an interesting law and could be issues that people could debate and discuss. “In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies, he can only transfer probably 45% to his children and 55% goes to the government. That’s an interesting law.” (Read the full story here)

"The advisor (Sam Pitroda) of the 'prince' and the 'royal family' had said some time ago that more taxes should be imposed on the middle class. Congress says that it will impose an inheritance tax, and it will also impose tax on the inheritance received from parents. Your children will not get the wealth that you accumulate through your hard work, rather the claws of the Congress government will snatch it away from you," said PM in Chhattisgarh today. 

VIDEO | Here's what PM Modi (@narendramodi ) said while addressing a public gathering in Surguja, Chhattisgarh.

"The advisor (Sam Pitroda) of the 'prince' and the 'royal family' had said some time ago that more taxes should be imposed on the middle class. Congress says that it… pic.twitter.com/MzHzHMQ9W7

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 24, 2024

"It enrages Congress and some foreign powers when I say 'Viksit Bharat'. If India becomes powerful, then the game of some forces will be ruined. If today, India becomes self-sufficient then businesses of some forces will shut down that is why they want the INDIA alliance's weak government for India," said PM Modi while addressing a rally in Surguja, Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. 

VIDEO | Here's what PM Modi (@narendramodi ) said while addressing a public gathering in Surguja, Chhattisgarh.

"It enrages Congress and some foreign powers when I say 'Viksit Bharat'. If India becomes powerful, then the game of some forces will be ruined. If today, India… pic.twitter.com/gHAGBlcnM0

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 24, 2024

Speaking during a rally in Chhattisgarh today, Prime Minister Modi alleged that Congress wants to “change the constitution” and “take away the rights of SC, ST, and OBC to give it to their vote bank”.

"I want to tell my Adivasi brothers and sisters, my Dalit brothers and sisters that the Congress’ intentions are not right, it does not go with the Constitution. Only BJP can protect your reservation rights,” he said.

VIDEO | Here's what PM Modi (@narendramodi ) said while addressing a public gathering in Surguja, Chhattisgarh.

"Congress wants to change the Constitution and wants to take away the rights of SC, ST, and OBC to give it to their vote bank. I want to tell my Adivasi brothers and… pic.twitter.com/zvnZdtTAUG

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 24, 2024

Speaking on the Caste census at the Social justice conclave in Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that those who call themselves ‘deshbakt' are scared of the ‘X-ray' of caste census and asserted that no force can stop it.

“As soon as our government is formed, the first thing that would be done is caste census,” Gandhi said.

He said that the Congress manifesto aims to give back 90 per cent Indians a small part of the Rs 16 lakh crore given to big businessmen as loan waivers.

#WATCH | Speaking on the Caste census at the Social justice conclave in Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, "...After 70 years, it is an important step, we should assess what is the situation now and what direction we need to take. We will implement this." pic.twitter.com/UVZo4PFNDW

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024

The Supreme Court Wednesday said it needed more clarification over pleas seeking 100 per cent verification of votes made through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with their Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips, and sought the presence of Election Commission officials in the court at 2 pm today.

A bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta is likely to pronounce its judgement on the batch of petitions today.