Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged all officials on election duty not to forget their constitutional responsibilities in the face of pressure and warned of strict action against anyone who insults the constitutional oath once the INDIA bloc forms government. His remarks on 'X' came over Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav's post on the social media platform in which he shared a video purportedly showing a person voting for the BJP "eight times". Late in the night, responding to the posts of the Congress and Samajwadi Party, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said in post on 'X' that an FIR has been registered in the matter at the Nayagaon police station in Etah district. He also said that one person has been arrested and instructions given to suspend an institute disciplinary proceedings against all members of the polling party. "Repolling has been recommended to the ECI in the polling station," he said In a post on X, Gandhi said, "Seeing its defeat,
BJP candidate from the North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat Manoj Tiwari on Sunday said the fight in his constituency is between those who promote "tukde-tukde" (divisive) ideology and those who chant "Bharat Mata Ki Jai". The Congress has pitted Kanhaiya Kumar against the BJP's Tiwari who is seeking a hattrick of victory in North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat. Campaigning for the BJP in the constituency, Union Minister Giriraj Singh referred to his victory against Kumar in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Bihar's Begusarai. "A person's poster has been pasted in Begusarai who is a member of the tukde-tukde gang and is missing there. He has changed the party now," he said. Kumar contested against Singh in 2019 as a CPI candidate. He later crossed over to the Congress. The former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president was charged with sedition by the Delhi Police over "anti-India slogans" that were allegedly raised on the university campus on February 9, 2016. At a poll
The Delhi BJP on Sunday claimed Chief Minister Kejriwal wanted to send a senior lawyer to the Rajya Sabha and the alleged assault on Swati Maliwal, an AAP member of the Upper House, was connected to it. The BJP's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva also asked how AAP came to the conclusion about the saffron party's involvement in the matter when Maliwal was allegedly assaulted at Kejriwal's residence by his close aide Bibhav Kumar. AAP leaders have claimed that Maliwal's allegation is a conspiracy by the BJP to trap Kejriwal. Kejriwal on Sunday claimed the BJP has launched "Operation Jhadoo" to crush AAP as the saffron party sees his party as a "challenge". The BJP's Delhi chief Sachdeva, however, said AAP supremo Kejriwal is enacting a "political drama" over Maliwal's "assault" charge while maintaining silence on the issue. The Delhi chief minister and AAP leaders held a protest near the BJP headquarters in the national capital earlier in the day. Kejriwal had earlier alleged tha
People of Punjab across all spectrums mainly benefited from the funds provided by the Modi government in the 10 years of the BJP rule at the Centre, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said on Sunday. The benefits of the "massive" funds disbursed by the Modi government under its flagship and other schemes penetrated right up to the last mile, he said. "Be it social security, agriculture, health, infrastructure, welfare, railways, housing, power, nutrition, road network or employment, Punjab received enormous central assistance in the last decade that has been instrumental in elevating Punjab on the socio-economic pedestal," Jakhar said here. Highlighting the schemes and their corresponding impact, both economic and social, Jakhar said that while the BJP at the Centre continued to help Punjab grow without bias, the people of Punjab can now see through the "false narrative" propelled by the ruling AAP dispensation under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, which allegedly failed to live up to many
The Delhi BJP Saturday accused AAP leaders of circulating "edited" videos to tarnish the image of their own party MP Swati Maliwal, who has accused an aide of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of assaulting her. It is regrettable that "edited" videos are being circulated on social media groups since Friday in an attempt to "defame" Maliwal who is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva claimed. Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police arrested Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar who has been accused by Maliwal of assaulting her at the CM's residence on Monday. A couple of videos from the chief minister's residence from the day of the incident have surfaced on social media, one showed Maliwal having an argument with security personnel, while the other showed her walking out of the CM's residence in the Civil Lines. "Now that the entire Aam Aadmi Party is tarnishing the image of Swati Maliwal, it's time Kejriwal comes forward and speaks on the matter," Sachdeva ...
The INDIA opposition bloc is a "temporary coalition" as its constituents are fiercely contesting the Lok Sabha polls against each other in Punjab and slinging mud at each other, while they are conveniently in an "unholy" tie-up in Chandigarh, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said here on Tuesday. "Have you ever seen such a self-serving alliance?" the BJP leader asked while referring to the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which are fighting the Lok Sabha polls in an alliance in Chandigarh but contesting the election on their own in Punjab. Dhami was addressing a public meeting in favour of Sanjay Tandon, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Lok Sabha poll nominee from Chandigarh. He claimed that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) faces ideological challenges and its "ulterior" motive is to work for the so-called main leaders' family interests and not for the common people. "Uttarakhand has become the first state to implement the ...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks against Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha and said threats are being issued against these socio-religious organisations to "appease" one's vote bank. Addressing a rally in Purulia, Modi said the TMC has crossed the limits of decency by stooping so low that it is "spreading canards against ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha". The TMC has gone beyond its limits by spreading canards against ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha. West Bengal Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is threatening them. They are threatening them just to appease their vote bank, he said. Addressing an election rally in Goghat under the Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee had claimed, "Some monks of Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha are working under the influence of BJP leaders in Delhi. Those who are looking after temples are doing great .
Seeking a second term from Sultanpur, BJP leader Maneka Gandhi on Sunday said her focus is on local issues and asserted that her victory margin will be bigger this time. However, the former Union minister refused to comment on the BJP denying poll ticket to her son Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit Varun, she said, will soon campaign for her in Sultanpur. In an interview to PTI, the eight-time MP said she is only concerned about the problems of her constituency and does not wish to comment on the BJP's call to wipe out the Congress from Rae Bareli. "I have no comments to make...I am concerned about problems of my own constituency and people here", she told PTI when asked about the BJP's promise to wipe out the Gandhi family from Rae Bareli. Amethi and Rae Bareli are in close proximity to the district. While Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Rae Bareli this time, Gandhi family loyalist K L Sharma is pitted against Smriti Irani in Amethi. Maneka Gandhi, who had won from Sultanpur in 2019 by
Maintaining that investors were afraid to come to West Bengal, Union minister Subhas Sarkar claimed that businesses will stay away from the state as long as the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government is in power. Sarkar said the TMC's land acquisition policy and allegations of across-the-board corruption were to blame for the poor job situation in Bengal. "Industrialists shy away from coming to West Bengal. There is a dire need to change this government to attract investment in the state," Sarkar, the Union Minister of State for Education, told PTI in an interview. The TMC had risen to power in 2011 over its anti-forcible land grab policy plank, and agitations over land acquisition by the erstwhile Left Front government in Nandigram and Singur. The Left has repeatedly claimed that the acquisitions were meant for the re-industrialisation of the state and creating job opportunities for the youth. Stating that problems of unemployment and migration of labour from Bengal to
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lashed out at the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, asserting that any industrialist will think 50 times before investing in states ruled by the party, owing to the shehzada's use of Maoist language. Modi, addressing a poll rally here, also accused the grand old party of patronising dynastic politics and considering Lok Sabha seats as ancestral properties. "The language used by the Congress shehzada' will make any industrialist think 50 times before investing in states ruled by the party... The 'shehzada' is using language spoken by Maoists and is extorting money through innovative methods, the PM said, in an apparent reference to Gandhi. I dare the CMs of Congress and INDIA bloc-ruled states to answer as to whether they agree with the anti-industry and anti-industrialist language of their 'shehzada'," Modi said. Taking a dig at Gandhi over his decision to contest from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat, he said the Congress shehzada' rushed to
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday claimed the BJP has launched a campaign -- "Operation Jhaadu" -- to crush the Aam Aadmi Party as the saffron party sees the AAP as a challenge. Addressing party workers and leaders ahead of the AAP's proposed protest march to the BJP headquarters here, he said there will be bigger challenges ahead and asked the cadre to be prepared to face them. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is worried about the rise of the AAP. The party has risen too fast. They have started 'Operation Jhaadu' to crush the party. In the coming time, our bank accounts will be frozen and we will be brought on the road since our office will also be taken away," he said. "There will be bigger challenges ahead. Please be ready to face them. Remember one thing we faced many challenges in the past. We have the blessings of Lord Hanuman and God. We would have not survived these. Walk on the path of truth. We want to work for the society," he told them. Kejriwal, who is out on
The Delhi Police has beefed up security at the BJP headquarters here in view of a protest announced by AAP's national convenor and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal there on Sunday, officials said. The traffic police has also issued an advisory in view of the protest planned outside the BJP office on the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. "In view of the proposed protest by a political party at DDU Marg Delhi, Traffic will remain heavy at DDU Marg, IP Marg, Minto Road and Vikas Marg. DDU marg may be closed for traffic movement between 11 am to 2 pm. Kindly avoid these roads and plan your journey accordingly," the traffic police in a post on X. A senior police officer said security at the BJP headquarters has been heightened as a precautionary measure. "An adequate number of police personnel has been deployed and the area has been barricaded," said the police officer. On Saturday, addressing a press conference, Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "playing the game" of sending AAP
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that NCP and BJP leaders, who are part of the present government in Maharashtra, did not want Eknath Shinde as the chief minister in 2019. Talking to reporters, Raut also claimed that NCP leaders like Ajit Pawar, Dilip Walse Patil and Sunil Tatkare had opposed Shinde's name for the CM's post saying they will not work under a junior and inexperienced person like him. "Congress and NCP said they had several senior leaders and the alliance leader should be someone who is experienced, senior and can take everyone along," the Rajya Sabha member said. Similarly, before the Shiv Sena (then undivided and headed by Uddhav Thackeray) joined hands with the Congress and NCP (as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi to form government), BJP leaders like Devendra Fadnavis, Girish Mahajan and Sudhir Mungantiwar told the Sena that they will not like Shinde as the CM, Raut claimed. Ajit Pawar and Fadnavis are currently deputy chief ministers in the state
The Congress on Sunday claimed that the Modi government's Forest Conservation Amendment Act had "undid" the progress of the historic Forest Rights Act of 2006 and accused the BJP of diluting tribal rights. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rally in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur. "Why do the people of Jamshedpur still suffer from poor connectivity? Why is it that the 2As and their tempo-loads of black money roam free, while Jharkhand's Adivasi CM was put in jail? Why is the Adityapur Industrial Area still waiting for environmental clearance? Why has the PM denied Adivasis their religious identity and refused to recognize the Sarna code?" Ramesh said. Elaborating on what he said were "jumla details", he said Jamshedpur, despite being an industrial hub, has poor transport connectivity. The number of trains running to key cities such as Bhagalpur, Bengaluru, and Delhi are inadequate, he said. The city had a functional airp
Shrikant Shinde had comfortably won the Kalyan Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra in the last two elections, but the stakes are higher this time as his father, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, now heads a truncated faction of the Shiv Sena following a bitter split in the party. The constituency, part of the Thane district and close to Mumbai, contains densely populated urban areas and industrial belts. It will go to polls on May 20. Shrikant Shinde entered politics in 2014, contesting as a candidate of the then undivided Shiv Sena and won with a margin of 2,50,749 votes. He increased the margin to 3,44,343 in the 2019 general elections. But the political scenario has changed drastically since then, as his father rebelled against party chief Uddhav Thackeray and walked away to join hands with the BJP to become chief minister in June 2022. Uncertainty surrounded Shrikant Shinde's candidature this time as the BJP sensed the possibility of contesting more seats in Maharashtra, and its leader a
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had accused Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of spreading lies about the quantity of rice given to people under the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the state. The Congress' habit of lying will not go away so easily, Sai said in a post on X on Saturday night. In an interview to a news channel, Priyanka Gandhi had claimed that during the previous Congress government in Chhattisgarh, 35 kg ration (per family) was being offered but it was reduced to 5 kg under the Sai-led BJP government. Reacting to her statement, Sai said on X, "Congress has been suffering from the disease of lying for 70 years, it will not go away so easily. Priyanka ji, if you get spare time from spreading lies, then say a few words on the Rs 5,000 crore rice scam committed by the (previous) Congress government in Chhattisgarh." "Taking advantage of your ignorance, Chhattisgarh Congress leaders fool you people every time. Last time, Congressmen had told Rahul ji th
Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday claimed that authorities did not permit Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's helicopter to land in Barabanki where he had to attend a rally, but the district administration denied the allegation as "baseless". Addressing the Nyay Sankalp rally organised in Haidergarh here, Baghel alleged that Rahul Gandhi could not come to Barabanki as the district administration did not issue permission for the landing of his helicopter till late at night as the BJP was "scared" of Gandhi. Countering the Congress leader's charge, District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar, in a statement issued here, said that Congress Lok Sabha candidate Tanuj Punia had applied for permission for a helipad at Rahul Gandhi's rally venue on May 15, for which the district administration had granted permission on May 16. He said that Punia wrote a letter to the District Election Officer on May 17 stating that the pre-scheduled programme of the former Congress president
AAP's New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency candidate Somnath Bharti's wife Lipika Bharti on Saturday urged Union Finance Minister and BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman to not use her family matters for "political mileage". Addressing a press conference on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal assault case on Friday, Sitharaman cited past instances of accusations of attacking women against several AAP leaders, including Bharti, and called the party an "anti-women" party. Lipika, along with her husband, said in a press conference that they were living happily as husband and wife. "Every couple has their dispute. We had a dispute 10 years ago and it was resolved back then only. My appeal is that do not use us for your political mileage," she said. Lipika added that the AAP leader understands his responsibilities as husband and father. Bharti also hit out at Sitharaman saying if the BJP government had worked at the Centre, she would not need to rake up his family matter to hurt his wife and ...
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Two persons were injured in a clash between activists of TMC and BJP in West Bengal's Nadia district on Saturday, police said. The clash broke out in Gayeshpur when a procession in support of Union Minister and BJP's Bongaon Lok Sabha candidate Shantanu Thakur was passing by a locality where a TMC street-corner meeting was going on, a senior officer said. TMC Nadia South president Debasish Ganguly alleged, "BJP workers intentionally took the route where our street-corner meeting was taking place. Our activists urged those present in the BJP procession to turn off the microphone but they did not listen. They assaulted one of our women activists." Countering the allegation, a local BJP leader claimed that one of the saffron party workers was injured after being attacked by TMC activists and admitted to AIIMS Kalyani. Thakur said, "The incident shows how the Trinamool Congress has become jittery as they are losing ground. People will respond to such attacks." There was a report of tw