LIVE: Modi slams Cong over Pitroda's 'hua toh hua' remark on 1984 riots

Narendra Modi will campaign in Punjab's Hoshiarpur today, while Rahul Gandhi will address rallies in Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Catch LIVE updates on Lok Sabha Elections 2019

5:45 PM

Rahul seeks to rest Rafale statement controversy, SC reserves verdict

Congress President Rahul Gandhi Friday told the Supreme Court that he has already tendered unconditional apology for "wrongly attributing" to it the "chowkidar chor hai" remarks and the criminal contempt proceedings against him should be closed

 

 

 

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2:39 PM

No alliance with MGP at least during current tenure, says Sawant

The ruling BJP in Goa will not have any alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) at least for the remaining tenure of the party-led government in the state, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said.

 

The MGP, Goa's oldest regional party, had won three seats in the 2017 assembly polls and later joined the BJP-led ruling coalition.

 

The MGP suffered a jolt when two of its MLAs joined the BJP in March, soon after Sawant took charge, ending the alliance between the two parties.

2:29 PM

Mamata and Naidu hold closed door meeting on Mahagathbandhan

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu has held a closed door discussion with his West Bengal counterpart Mamanta Banerjee in Kharagpur on future plans of the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance).

 

The meeting between Banerjee and Naidu took place for over 15 minutes late Thursday evening, according to a well-placed source in the TrInamool Congress.

 

The two leaders met and spoke about the future plans of the Mahagatbandhan. Naidu and Didi (Banerjee) also discussed about the TDP leaders meeting with Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi Wednesday, a senior TMC member told PTI.

 

2:26 PM

PM Narendra Modi: Congress can't fight elections on issues of development

PM Narendra Modi: Congress can't fight elections on issues of development so they manufacture a lie for which no facts are needed, but BJP is answerable to people and we keep all issues in front of public

2:15 PM

PM Narendra Modi on Sam Pitroda's remark on 1984 riots: This is Congress's arrogance, which got them 44 seats and now people of India will ensure that they slip even further.

2:09 PM

PM Modi on KCR/Chandrababu Naidu meeting opposition leaders: For first three phases they were all abusing Modi, now since then when they sensed, which way wind was blowing they started abusing EVMs. Like in cricket the batsman who gets out sometimes abuses the umpire, they are abusing EC.

1:57 PM

Modi hits out at Cong over Pitroda's remark on Sikh riots

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday slammed the Congress for its leader Sam Pitroda's reported remark on the anti-Sikh riots, saying it showed the "character and mentality" of the party.

 

The remarks reflect the "arrogance" of the Congress, he said addressing a poll rally on the last day of campaigning for the sixth phase here.

 

Modi said, "Congress, which ruled for a maximum period, has been insensitive and that is reflected by the three words spoken yesterday...these words have not been spoken just like that, these words are character and mentality and intentions of the Congress”.

 

“And which were these words, these were 'hua to hua',” said Modi referring to Pitroda's remarks made on Thursday on anti-Sikh riots of 84.

“Hua to hua,” repeated Modi and told the gathering that they must be wondering what the Prime Minister was saying.

1:35 PM

More than 20 Congress MLAs are not happy with the present government, says BS Yeddyurappa

Former Karnataka CM & BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa: More than 20 Congress MLAs are not happy with the present government, they might take any decision at any time. Let us wait and see.

1:15 PM

Madhya Pradesh: Election Commission issues notice to Congress leader & state minister Omkar Singh Markam

Madhya Pradesh: Election Commission issues notice to Congress leader & state minister Omkar Singh Markam for meeting Govt officers in presence of Collector, Shahdol at collectorate in the night of 20 April, thus violating Model Code of Conduct; asks him to respond within 24 hrs.

1:09 PM

Narendra Modi addresses rally in Rohtak

PM Modi in Rohtak, Haryana: 'Hua so hua'- the three words that sum up Congress's arrogance were uttered yesterday by one of its most senior leaders, he said this on 1984 anti-Sikh riots. This leader is one of the closest people to the Gandhi family.

12:56 PM

'My wine in their bottle': Bhupinder Hooda on Modi govt's quota for poor

Haryana's former two-time chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda dubs the Modi government's 10 per cent reservation for poor in the general category "his wine in their bottle" and says though the BJP can take credit for his work, it will not get the votes.

 

Accusing the BJP of indulging in "political vendetta", the senior Congress leader, who is contesting from Sonipat Lok Sabha seat, alleged that the CBI raids at his Rohtak residence in January were aimed at maligning him ahead of the May 12 election.

 

"I brought it (reservation for poor in general category) in Haryana first. I ensured that irrespective of caste and economy, everybody gets reservation. They (BJP) opposed it at that time. Now they have repackaged it at the national level and are trying to reap its benefits. It is my wine in their bottle," Hooda told PTI in an interview.

 

The Hooda-led Haryana government had in 2013 approved a proposal to grant 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections in the general category on the recommendation of the Haryana Backward Classes Commission.

12:54 PM

Akhilesh Yadav's rallies in Azamgarh cancelled

A controversy has erupted over the cancellation of four rallies of the Samajwadi Party in Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh.

 

The rallies were to be addressed by SP President Akhilesh Yadav who is a candidate from Azamgarh.

 

The Samajwadi Party on Thursday night claimed that the district administration had withdrawn permission for the rallies to be held on Friday.

 

However, Shivakant Dwiwedi, the District Magistrate of Azamgarh, claimed that he had received a request for cancellation of public meetings of the former Chief Minister from SP district party chief Havaldar Yadav.

12:51 PM

Going alone in UP for Congress's long-term interest, will do a good job this time: Scindia

The Congress decided to go it alone in Uttar Pradesh keeping its "long-term interests" in mind, says senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, exuding confidence that the party will do much better than in 2014 in the state.

 

The Congress general secretary, in-charge of the party's affairs for Uttar Pradesh (West), said the strategy was to build the party in the state and the results will show that fighting the elections on its own strength was the right decision.

 

After spending sometime in Uttar Pradesh that sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, Scindia is now concentrating on the Guna parliamentary constituency in Madhya Pradesh as he seeks mandate for a fifth term.

12:48 PM

Meet Atishi, AAP's East-Delhi candidate for 2019 Lok Sabha battle

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” — Margaret Mead

 

Atishi’s Twitter account has this quote from the famous American anthropologist. Atishi — who has supposedly dropped her second name ‘Marlena’ — is the Arvind Kejriwal regime’s brain trust. It was largely her work that propelled education reform by the government since 2015. Read more to know about AAP's East Delhi candidate for Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

11:11 AM

South Delhi: Congress, Aam Aadmi Party all guns blazing in BJP's den

 The vast Lok Sabha constituency — from Dwarka (in the west) to Badarpur (in the east) and from Saket in the north to the Delhi-Haryana Gurgaon border in the south — not only houses more than 1.75 million electors but is a unique mishmash of close to 70 villages nestling with posh Delhi localities like Vasant Kunj and Sainik Farms. And the issues that are emerging from the ground are as diverse as its demography. From women’s safety and lack of basic amenities like well-maintained roads to the absence of car-parking spaces, voters are concerned about many a thing other than the country’s national security. Read on...

11:02 AM

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11:01 AM

Congress has degraded election campaign, says Nitin Gadkari

BJP accused the Congress party of bringing down the level of the election campaign by diverting from the issue of development.

 

Talking to the media here, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said: "The election should have been fought on the work done by the BJP-led NDA government. But the Congress had brought down the level of the election campaign by abusing the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)."

 

He said in total, the Prime Minister has been abused 56 times.

10:58 AM

Polling underway in rural local body polls in Telangana

The second phase of polling in elections for Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTC) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTC) got underway in Telangana Friday.

 

The election is being held for 179 ZPTCs, for which 805 candidates, including 162 independents, are in the fray.

 

Officials said in the second phase, polling is being held for 1,850 MPTCs.

 

A total of 6,146 candidates are in the fray.

10:53 AM

Goog people don't enter politics because of Kejriwal-like politicians, says Gambhir

Gambhir said that it is because of people like Kejriwal that "good" people don't enter politics.

 

"You know why good people avoid entering politics? It is because of people like Arvind Kejriwal. They know they have to fight people like Arvind Kejriwal who can stoop to any low just for the sake of winning elections," he said.

10:51 AM

Will tender resignation drafted by Kejriwal if proven guilty: Gautam Gambhir

A day after AAP candidate from Delhi East Atishi accused her BJP opponent Gautam Gambhir of circulating pamphlets with derogatory and casteist remarks against her, the latter asserted that if proven guilty, he would request AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to draft his resignation letter, which he will tender publicly.

 

Speaking to ANI, Gambhir said he would retire from politics the day allegations against him are proven.

 

"If he has proof, then he must bring it today. My resignation would be written by Arvind Kejriwal and I will sign it publicly," said Gambhir. "If they have proof I am ready to take retirement from politics today itself. I will take retirement on May 23 if they come with proof but what if he doesn't turn up with proof? Will he resign as Delhi Chief Minister and retire from politics?" he asked.