Vadra further said that a government led by the Congress will work for women, farmers and the youth, who have been “all along neglected by the BJP.”…reports Asian Lite News
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said that the BJP-led central government has “weakened” institutions like Parliament and judiciary in the last 10 years.
“If they (the BJP) come to power again, they will change the Constitution and cut down on reservations. They (BJP) has weakened democracy in last 10 years, as well as institutions like Parliament and judiciary,” Vadra said while addressing a rally in Jharkhand’s Godda.
Priyanka Gandhi called Kalpana Soren, the wife of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren “lioness,” and claimed that all those who opposed the Centre’s policies were being victimised.
“The policies of Congress have always been there to give you more power. The BJP government does not know you and is not able to make proper policies. Your CM has been jailed before the elections based on fake statements and cases. The case filed against him cannot ever be true. You are forced to contest the elections without him. PM Modi must have thought that he would win elections easily after jailing Hemant Soren. But today, Kalpana Ji is fighting Hemant Ji’s battle. She is facing all problems like a lioness. She is telling everyone about the programs of the INDIA bloc. I consider her as a younger sister of mine and a symbol of ‘Nari Shakti’,” Vadra said.
She further alleged that capitalists are eying your ‘Jal, Jungle and Jameen’ (water, forest and land)” and said that “Your land, your water… has been given to PM’s billionaire friend Adani… this is BJP’s policy. Indira Gandhi ji gave you the rights to water, forest and land.”
Vadra further said that a government led by the Congress will work for women, farmers and the youth, who have been “all along neglected by the BJP.”
Meanwhile, the Congress General Secretary performed a traditional dance with locals in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
The BJP has fielded Nishikant Dubey from the Godda Lok Sabha constituency, where he is the sitting MP. The Congress has fielded Pradeep Yadav. He is also a former BJP member who joined Congress in 2019.
Dubey has been repeated by his party from his constituency. He has been winning from Godda for the last three terms.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Dubey defeated Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) Pradeep Yadav by a margin of 1,84,227 votes.
In 2019, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 12 seats in Jharkhand, with the BJP winning 11. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress got one seat each. (ANI)
SP chief asserts that the ongoing Lok Sabha elections are to protect the Constitution and BJP will yearn for even 140 seats in the polls…reports Asian Lite News
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who has been drawing huge crowds in his election rallies across Uttar Pradesh, is sparking hope of the party’s revival in India’s largest state.
On Tuesday, a stampede-like situation was witnessed during a public rally of the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Azamgarh when party supporters and police entered into a scuffle, days after chaos erupted in INDIA bloc rally at Prayagraj. The party supporters also took down loudspeakers installed at the event.
Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and leader Dimple Yadav were also present on the stage when the incident occurred.
Akhilesh was seen calming down the situation by asking people to remain seated. Visuals from the scene depicted chaos, with broken chairs scattered around. The disorder prompted police intervention, leading them to use a lathi charge to bring the situation under control.
This comes days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav were forced to cut short the public meeting in Prayagraj’s Phulpur constituency as the crowd broke the barricades and reached the dais, creating a stampede-like situation.
Both the leaders left the rally without addressing the people of the Phulpur constituency in Prayagraj. The campaign rally was organised in support of Amarnath Maurya, who is contesting on an SP ticket for the Phulpur Lok Sabha seat.
The workers of both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party went out of control and attempted to reach the stage to get near Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav. The police were struggling to control the excited crowd that went past the barricades that were put in place.
Afterwards, as they were unable to address the public, Rahul Gandhi posted a video on X where he talked with Akhilesh Yadav on major issues in the state.
Rahul Gandhi said, “Our mic broke so I thought we’d talk about Uttar Pradesh. We all saw that Narendra Modi has made Uttar Pradesh a centre of unemployment. Under the first job surety scheme, every graduate will get the right to a job, better training and Rs 1 lakh per year in a bank account. This time the cooperation of SP-Congress is completely different.”
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “When we make this video, people will know what we and you are talking about. India will win 79 seats out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh. This time Mann ki Baat will not suffice. This time there will be talk of 140 crore people and the Constitution. BJP had shown false dreams to the youth but realiry is that they got nothing. We have a natural alliance because people want to get employment.”
Azamgarh Lok Sabha constituency, one among the 80 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, will vote on May 25 during Phase 6 of the Lok Sabha elections.
Akhilesh Yadav on Monday asserted that the ongoing Lok Sabha elections is to protect the Constitution adding that the BJP will yearn for even 140 seats in this polls.
“This government has discriminated against farmers, youth and businessmen for ten years. This election is to protect the Constitution. The public will make them (BJP) yearn for even 140 seats,” Akhilesh told reporters.
Earlier today, there was a huge uproar in the meeting of the SP President in Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. During this, the crowd went out of control. The crowd broke the barricades installed around the stage.
On Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president were forced to cut short the public meeting in Prayagraj’s Phulpur constituency as the crowd broke the barricades and reached the dais, creating a stampede-like situation.
Both the leaders left the rally without addressing the people of the Phulpur constituency in Prayagraj. The campaign rally was organised in support of Amarnath Maurya, who is contesting on an SP ticket for the Phulpur Lok Sabha seat.
The workers of both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party went out of control and attempted to reach the stage to get near Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav. The police were struggling to control the excited crowd that went past the barricades that were put in place.
Notably, polling for the Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh is being held across all seven phases. Voting in the first five phases has already been completed, while the remaining phases are scheduled for May 25, and June 1.
The counting of votes for all phases has been scheduled for June 4. In the 2019 polls, the BJP mopped up the bulk of the electoral spoils in the state, winning 62 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats, while ally Apna Dal (S) won two more seats. Mayawati’s BSP managed to secure 10 seats, while her then-alliance partner, Akhilesh Yadav’s SP, had to settle for just 5 seats. The Congress won just a lone seat in the state.
Police said no permission was sought by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg…reports Asian Lite News
The Delhi Police on Monday booked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders a day after they staged a protest which was led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal towards the BJP headquarters here without permission, officials said.
Police said that Section 144 of the CrPC was implemented near the BJP headquarters on Sunday after Kejriwal’s call for a protest march as no permission was sought by AAP at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg.
“A case under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at Indraprastha Estate police station,” said a senior police official.
On Sunday, the AAP workers led by Kejriwal marched toward the BJP headquarters and sat in front of the 10-foot barricades erected by the police to block them.
However, the protest ended after just 20 minutes, and all the leaders, including CM Kejriwal, returned to the party office.
Before the protest march, Kejriwal had accused the BJP of orchestrating “Operation Jhadu” to suppress the AAP.
To prevent any incidents and maintain order during the protest, the Delhi Police had deployed a significant number of officials and paramilitary personnel.
AAP faces ED heat
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has unearthed a Rs 7.08 crore alleged foreign donation scandal involving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which violated FCRA and election guidelines by manipulating the donor identities.
Sources said this amount was raised in violation of the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010, and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, by concealing, mis-declaring and manipulating the identities and nationalities of foreign donors as well as several other facts relating to foreign donations.
According to the sources, the ED during its investigation found several instances of irregularities in the collection of foreign funds by the AAP and its leaders, as it accused some of them, including AAP MLA Durgesh Pathak, of siphoning off the funds collected during a fund-raising event in Canada in 2016 for personal benefits.
The ED has substantiated the allegations through the contents of e-mails exchanged between various AAP volunteers and functionaries, including Aniket Saxena (Coordinator of AAP Overseas India), Kumar Vishwas (then Convenor of AAP Oversea India), Kapil Bhardwaj (AAP member), and Pathak.
The investigation so far has revealed that not only amounts were collected through fund-raising campaigns in the US and Canada, and the identities of the actual donors were concealed to circumvent the restrictions imposed under FCRA on donations by foreign citizens to a political party, but an analysis of the data of foreign donations also revealed that multiple donors used the same passport numbers, e-mail IDs, mobile numbers, and credit card details for donations.
“The ED has shared all the information with the Union Home Ministry relating to its investigations, including the details of the donors such as names, country, passport number, amount donated, mode of donation, bank account details of the receiver, billing name, billing address, billing telephone numbers, e-mail, time and date of donation, and the payment gateways used, etc., which were gathered during the investigation under PMLA,” the sources said.
The agency has also gathered materials relating to the donations through e-mail IDs and mobile numbers of Canadian nationals.
“The FCRA violation and other irregularities in receiving foreign funds by the AAP emerged during the investigation in a case registered in Punjab’s Fazilka district against an international drugs cartel involved in smuggling of heroin from Pakistan through the barbed fencing on the Indo-Pak border,” said the sources.
In this connection, a special court in Fazilka issued a summons to then AAP MLA from Bholath, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, to face the trial as an accused.
During the ED investigation, searches were conducted at the residential premises of Khaira and his associates, which resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents containing details of foreign donations (four type-written pages containing a list of donors in the US, and eight hand-written pages of a diary).
The ED alleged that the scrutiny of the seized documents revealed the receipt of foreign donations amounting to $1,19,000.
Khaira in his statement claimed that the foreign funding of $1,19,000 was raised during overseas fund-raising campaigns in the US organised by the AAP in April-May 2015, ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections in Punjab.
The ED said that in this context, Pankaj Gupta, the national secretary of AAP, was summoned, who admitted that AAP received foreign donations either through cheque or through the online mode.
“The investigation also revealed that AAP set up a body — AAP Overseas lndia — along with volunteers in countries like the US, Canada, Australia etc., whose primary task was to mobilise foreign funds for AAP in India.
It also revealed that a target of overseas donations of Rs 50 crore was fixed for these volunteers in 2016,” the sources said.
Donations totalling Rs 51,15,044 were received using e-mail IDs and mobile numbers of 19 Canadian nationals, as per the ED probe.
However, the names of these Canadian nationals were not reflected correctly in the records, the sources said.
Instead, different names were mentioned against these donations, which was done intentionally by the AAP to hide donations by foreign nationals, which are in violation of Section 3 of FCRA, and Section 298 of the Representation of the People Act, the sources said.
‘Earlier I was ‘Lady Singham’, now a ‘BJP agent?’
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal said on Monday that until she filed a complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s former PS Bhibav Kumar, she was the ‘Lady Singham’ and today she has become a ‘BJP agent’.
“Since yesterday, Delhi ministers are spreading lies that an FIR has been filed against me for corruption, hence I did all this on the instructions of the BJP. The FIR was lodged eight years ago in 2016, after which both the CM and the L-G appointed me as the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women twice. The case was completely fake on which the high court put a stay for 1.5 years,” Maliwal wrote in a detailed post on X.
In 2016, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filed a charge sheet against Maliwal, accusing her of making unlawful appointments in the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and alleging that she showed favouritism towards AAP workers.
“According to them, until I filed a complaint against Bibhav Kumar, I was ‘Lady Singham’ and today I have become a BJP agent,” Maliwal asked.
“The entire troll army was deployed against me just because I spoke the truth. Everyone in the party is being called and told to send Swati’s personal video if they have one, as it has to be leaked. They’re putting my relatives’ lives in danger by tweeting their details, including their car numbers,” she alleged.
“Well, lies don’t last long. But in the intoxication of power and in the passion to bring someone down, it should not happen that when the truth comes out, you are not able to look even your family in the eye. I will take you to court for every lie you spread,” she wrote.
Last week, Maliwal filed an FIR against Bibhav Kumar for allegedly assaulting her when she had gone to meet Arvind Kejriwal at his residence in Delhi’s Civil Lines area on May 13. The police have taken Kumar into custody.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the arrest of his aide Bibhav Kumar was part of the BJP’s ‘Operation Jhadoo’ aimed at “crushing” AAP….reports Asian Lite News
The confrontation between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified on Sunday following the alleged assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the arrest of his aide Bibhav Kumar was part of the BJP’s ‘Operation Jhadoo’ aimed at “crushing” AAP by jailing its leaders, freezing its accounts, and evicting it from office.
Kejriwal led a protest march towards the BJP headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, but heavy police barricades halted the protesters about 50 meters from the office. Despite the obstacles, AAP maintained that they “waited for half an hour on the road for the police to come and arrest us, but the BJP accepted its defeat”.
Following Kumar’s arrest on Saturday, Kejriwal announced that AAP leaders would march to the BJP headquarters to challenge the Prime Minister’s intentions. The BJP ridiculed Kejriwal, suggesting his protest was ineffective and lacked support. They criticized him for not protesting similarly for his jailed colleagues Manish Sisodia and Satyender Jain, accusing him of defending his PA who allegedly assaulted Maliwal.
Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP’s national spokesperson, urged Kejriwal to address the assault allegations rather than engaging in theatrics. Maliwal also criticized AAP leaders, pointing out their previous advocacy for justice in the Nirbhaya case compared to their current support for her alleged assailant.
The Delhi Police seized electronic devices, including a CCTV DVR, from Kejriwal’s residence as part of their investigation into the alleged assault on Maliwal on May 13. AAP accused the police of planting stories about deleted CCTV footage, asserting that the footage had already been seized.
Maliwal accused Kumar of assaulting her at the Chief Minister’s residence. AAP refuted these allegations, claiming Maliwal was cooperating with the BJP to frame Kejriwal falsely. Addressing party workers, Kejriwal warned of greater challenges ahead, alleging that the Prime Minister aimed to destroy AAP through ‘Operation Jhadoo’. He claimed the BJP viewed AAP as a significant threat and was targeting its top leaders.
Kejriwal also suggested that AAP’s bank accounts would be frozen and that the party would be forced to vacate its office, accusing the BJP of fabricating cases against AAP leaders. The BJP responded by calling on Kejriwal to address the Maliwal incident directly. Poonawalla questioned Kejriwal’s involvement in the alleged assault and the missing CCTV footage.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused Kejriwal of protesting to protect Kumar, questioning why Kejriwal was silent on Maliwal’s allegations and instead supporting Kumar. Tiwari highlighted Maliwal’s injuries and asserted that the BJP could not remain silent on violence against women.
Kumar, arrested on Saturday, was remanded to five days of police custody for further investigation. The police collected electronic devices from Kejriwal’s residence to obtain footage of the alleged assault. AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj dismissed claims that CCTV footage was deleted, arguing that the police were creating stories to damage AAP’s image ahead of the elections.
In a post on X, Maliwal expressed regret that jailed AAP leader Manish Sisodia was not present to support her, reflecting on the party’s past efforts for justice compared to the current situation. She lamented that AAP, once united in seeking justice for Nirbhaya, was now defending an accused within their ranks.
Chandrapur [Maharashtra], Apr 8 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting for the Lok Sabha elections, in Chandrapur on Monday. (ANI Photo)
‘We had made the PM, not a police officer’
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that all AAP leaders were put in jail, adding, “Humne Pradhanmantri banaya tha, Thanedaar thodi lekar aaye the.”
Delhi CM addressed a rally in support of South Delhi Lok Sabha Seat candidate Sahiram Pahalwan today.
Kejriwal said that if people press the lotus button, he will have to go to jail again. But if they press the broom button, he will remain among them.
“They are after us. All the party leaders were put in jail. Yesterday, my PA was put in jail. And now they are saying that Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj will also be put in jail. Is this how the country runs? Humne Pradhan Mantri banaya tha, Thanedaar thodi lekar aaye the (We had made the Prime Minister, not a police officer),” he said.
“I ask for votes based on my work. After being in power for ten years, all you (PM Modi) are saying is ‘bhatakti aatma’, ‘nakli santaan’, and ‘mangal sutra’. What is all this?” he added.
Further, CM Kejriwal emphasised that on June 4, the Modi government will not come back.
“They also know this and that is why they are in shock. INDIA bloc government will be formed and Delhi will be given the status of full state. We have improved the electricity, water and health sectors in Delhi. When Delhi gets full statehood, law and order will also be improved. After June 4, Delhi’s LG will work for people. There will be a big change,” Kejriwal said.
The Delhi CM also alleged that his medicines were stopped when he was in Tihar jail.
“I gave free medicines for the whole of Delhi but when I went to Tihar, they stopped my medicines for 15 days. I have been a diabetic patient for 20 years. I have been taking insulin injections for 10 years. My injections were also stopped in Tihar. I kept pleading in front of them that give me an injection. But as soon as the public and media raised their voice, they started giving me the injection,” he added.
Earlier yesterday, exuding confidence in winning the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the Bharatiya Janata Party knows that on June 4, their government will not be formed.
Addressing the rally, he said, “Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se’, 25 May, BJP gayi. They (BJP) are after us, putting all the leaders of our party in jail. What is this? If you can’t win in Delhi, will you put everyone behind bars? I seek a vote based on the development work that our party has done. They know that on June 4, their government will not be formed. They also know that they will get fewer seats than 200.”
AAP’s Sahiram Pehelwan is in the electoral fray against BJP’s Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. (ANI)
Kapil Patil, who hopes to score a hat-trick, faces a tough challenge from Suresh Mhatre, who is a seasoned politician and Nilesh Sambre who runs a well-known Jijau Sanghatana, reports Sanjay Jog
BJP nominee and Union Minister Kapil Patil, NCP(SP) candidate Suresh Mhatre and an Independent, Nilesh Sambre are locked in a triangular contest in Bhiwandi constituency which is famous for its powerloom industry and logistic activities in Thane District.
Patil, who hopes to score a hat-trick, faces a tough challenge from Mhatre, who is a seasoned politician and Sambre who runs a well-known Jijau Sanghatana.
While Patil and Mhatre come from the Aagri community, Sambre hails from the Kunbi community.
Incidentally, Aagris and Kunbis along with the sizable Muslim community will be the deciding factor in this constituency.
In addition, the three candidates cannot neglect the tribal community which is struggling to stay afloat due to the rising threat of encroachment on their lands.
Patil hopes to weather anti-incumbency especially in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Kalyan on Wednesday and also because of praises showered upon him by his boss.
Even though Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis intervened to bring together the warring Patil and party Legislator from Murbad, Kisan Kathore, the BJP is struggling to put up a show of unity which is crucial to send an “all is well’’ signal to the voters.
However, Patil hopes to ride on PM Modi’s guarantee and the support from cadres of the BJP, NCP, Shiv Sena, RPI and MNS.
Patil is confident of getting overwhelming support from the Muslim community due to his outreach and a number of works carried out for their development during his two terms.
On the other hand, Mhatre with his network of logistics and storehouses is optimistic about encashing on the anti-incumbency factor against Patil due to the simmering discontent among the youth due to burgeoning unemployment, price rise and also among the Aagri and farming communities due to constraints on carrying out their traditional activities due to rapid urbanisation.
Mhatre heaved a sigh of relief after the former Congress MP Suresh Mhatre opted out of the fray.
Suresh Mhatre had staked his claim but Congress ultimately withdrew from the contest, adhering to the alliance dharma.
Further, Mhatre expects that there won’t be a division of Muslim votes despite the MIM’s candidate in the fray. He hopes that Muslims will largely support him because of the Samajwadi Party’s association and also due to their strong opposition to the BJP fearing change in the Constitution if it comes to power for the third time.
On his part, Sambre expects victory due to the division of votes and on the dint of his social work.
Apart from that, the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s support is another positive for Sambre.
There are 27 candidates in the fray with a total number of 20,87,244 voters. As many as 37 per cent belong to the Kunbi community, 21 per cent are Muslim, 15 per cent Aagri and 27 per cent Dalits and others.
Of the six Assembly segments, the BJP represents Bhiwandi West and Murbad while Bhiwandi Rural and Kalyan West are held by Shiv Sena, Bhiwandi East by Samajwadi Party and Shahapur by NCP.
The power distribution done by a franchise appointed by the state-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company and the issues with regard to supply has been a major issue raised by voters.
They are making a strong pitch for cheaper power tariffs. The powerloom industry, once a flourishing sector, faces a survival threat after demonetisation and implementation of the GST regime amid volatile economic conditions. The industry expects time-bound solutions in the form of tax benefits.
The voters are insisting that connecting Bhiwandi with Thane and Kalyan through the Metro rail corridor will partially ease the traffic congestions in the area.
Moreover, the increasing traffic jams in Bhiwandi and Kalyan, rising water scarcity and inefficient health system are some of the other important issues faced by the citizens from the constituency.
He claimed that the BJP can never form government at the Centre as it is losing in many states…reports Asian Lite news
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday picked holes in the BJP’s claims of winning more than 400 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, saying the ruling party will not even cross the 200-seat mark.
“PM Modi is raising the slogan of ‘400 paar’ everywhere, but from where will they get so many seats? The BJP doesn’t have any presence in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Its chances are 50-50 in Karnataka and Maharashtra. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik used to get more seats here, but now the Congress is leading in Odisha as well,” Kharge said during a presser on Thursday.
He also claimed that the BJP can never form government at the Centre as it is losing in many states.
“I think they can’t get more than 200 seats. Our alliance has the numbers to stop them and keep them away from power,” Kharge claimed.
The Congress President also said that PM Modi never fulfilled his promises to provide two crore jobs or doubling of farmers’ income, adding that the Prime Minister’s ‘guarantees’ only mean a hike in the prices of petrol, diesel, fertilisers, etc.
Kharge later addressed a public gathering at Phulbani in Kandhamal district where he accused the BJP of trying to snatch the rights of Dalits, backward-class people, tribals, and minorities by destroying the Constitution.
Kharge also lashed out at the BJD government in Odisha for failing to fulfil its promise to provide irrigation facilities to 35 per cent of agricultural land in every block of the state.
Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1. The results will be out on June 4.
Meanwhile, Kharge also said that if anyone tries to bring the BJP back to power, it will be a betrayal of Dalits, backward classes, tribals, poor people, and farmers.
Addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Raebareli on Wednesday, Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Modi is not concerned about anything but only power.
“People aren’t getting food to eat or jobs; do something about it. But he (PM Modi) is not concerned about this but power. ‘Jo satta Sonia Gandhi ne thukra diya tha, us satta par inki aankhein hain’ (They have their eyes on the power that Sonia Gandhi had rejected),” he said.
“If anyone tries to bring back such people, I think it is a betrayal of Dalits, backward classes, tribal people, poor people, and farmers. If someone votes for the BJP, he will vote against all these societies,” Kharge added.
Further, the Congress President also asserted that his party would fulfil the promise of giving justice (Nyay) to the youth, farmers, and women.
“Rahul Gandhi and I have signed it on the card to give justice to the youth and farmers. We will fulfil this promise. We will give the eldest woman in the family Rs 1 lakh, each year; will PM Modi give it?” he asked.
The Himachal Deputy CM said that the aim of Congress is to advance development, provide employment, bring prosperity, and end “dictatorship” in the country…reports Asian Lite News
In a scathing attack against the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Mukesh Agnihotri said that during its regime in the last ten years, the poor have become poorer and the job opportunities have shrunk in the country.
“During the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the poor have become poorer. The country’s economy suffered with the weakening of the Indian rupee. Those who promised to provide employment to 2 crore youth are silent on the unemployment of the youth today,” Agnihotri said while addressing an election campaign rally here in support of Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi.
Mukesh said that the aim of Congress is to advance development, provide employment, bring prosperity, and end “dictatorship” in the country.
“Rahul Gandhi is fighting against dictatorship and is carrying forward his struggle in the interest of the country without any post. Rahul has travelled 4,000 kilometers on foot to express his gratitude to India,” he said.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who enriched a few capitalists, did not take any care of the poor,” he added.
He said that the BJP has lost its senses due to Rahul Gandhi’s campaign.
“From the way BJP has done the campaign based on religion, it is clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become fearful of losing power,” he said.
He alleged that the BJP wants to end the reservation for the socially and economically backward communities.
“Reservation in the country is the contribution of Congress, keeping in mind the interest of every class. The way reservation is being discussed today regarding a particular religion, it is clear that there is turmoil in the BJP. BJP’s intention has been revealed many times that it wants to end reservation,” Agnihotri said.
The Congress, on May 3, announced Rahul Gandhi as a candidate from Raebareli and loyalist KL Sharma from Amethi.
Rahul Gandhi is a sitting MP in Kerala’s Wayanad, where he is seeking a fresh term alongside Rae Bareli. Rahul represented Amethi from 2004 until 2019.
He will face Congress defector and three-time MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh of BJP in Raebareli.
Raebareli constituency goes to the polls on May 20 in the fifth phase. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi won the constituency, bagging 5,34,918 votes. Her closest rival, Dinesh Pratap Singh, put up a formidable challenge, gathering 3,67,740 votes.(ANI)
The incident occurred amid ongoing polling for all 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, with Latha contesting against AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi in the Hyderabad constituency…reports Asian Lite News
Election authorities have initiated legal action against BJP candidate K Madhavi Latha for allegedly requesting burqa-clad Muslim voters to unveil their faces for identity verification at a polling booth in Hyderabad’s Lok Sabha seat, as captured in a surfaced video clip.
The Hyderabad Collector confirmed the registration of a case against Latha under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act, while Latha was also observed instructing police officers to conduct thorough checks before permitting voters into the polling booths.
The incident occurred amid ongoing polling for all 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, with Latha contesting against AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi in the Hyderabad constituency.
BJP leader Shazia Ilmi supported Latha and said that as a candidate, she has a right to check the identity of the person.
Speaking with ANI, Shazia Ilmi said, “Madhavi Latha is a woman and a candidate. She has requested a woman wearing a burqa to reveal her identity, as a candidate she has this right.”
She added, “It has happened in the past where bogus voting has been done covering the face and therefore, it is her right to check the identity of the person.”
Stepping up her attacks on AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi, Ilmi said, “Owaisi is in fear as she ( Madhavi Latha) is giving him a tough fight. She is being accused and cases are being filed against her as Owaisi is afraid of her.”
A case has been registered against Latha checking the voter ID cards of Muslim women during her visit to a polling booth.
The case has been registered under sections 171C, 186, 505(1)(c) of IPC and Section 132 of the Representation of the People Act.
Hyderabad, Collector in a post on X wrote, “A case is registered in Malakpet Police Station against Smt Madhavi Latha, contesting candidate, BJP under sections 171C, 186, 505(1)(c) of IPC and Section 132 of the Representation of the People Act.”
In the video, the BJP candidate can be seen asking Muslim women inside the booth to remove the Burkha and identify themselves, along with checking their voter identity cards. Speaking about the video, the BJP leader told ANI that she had only requested the women to verify their identity and there was nothing wrong with this.
“I am a candidate. As per law, a candidate has the right to check the ID cards without the facemasks. I am not a man, I am a woman and with a lot of humbleness, I have only requested them – can I please see and verify with the ID cards? If somebody wants to make a big issue out of it, that means they are scared,” she said.
Madhavi Latha is pitted against a formidable opponent in the form of four-time Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi, from Hyderabad Lok Sabha Constituency and BRS’ Gaddam Srinivas Yadav.
This is the first time that the BJP has fielded a female candidate from the Hyderabad constituency. (ANI)
OFBJP-USA Hosted Webinars with 32 BJP Candidates, Urged Supporters to Encourage Voting in India…reports Asian Lite News
As people of Indian descent in the US who are shut out from voting observe India’s parliamentary elections with interest, supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been working to mobilise voter turnout back home and direct it to the party that aligns with their ideology — while invoking divine blessings.
The Overseas Friends of BJP-USA (‘OFBJP-USA’) has organised webinars with 32 BJP candidates from across India and is asking members and supporters to call their relatives and acquaintances back home to ensure they go out and vote — and for the BJP — the President of the organisation told IANS here in a recent interview here.
The friends have also held yagnas, the ritual offering to divinity for blessings, in temples at eight places across the US to bring help from the heavens to the BJP in the elections, he said.
Chandrapur [Maharashtra], Apr 8 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting for the Lok Sabha elections, in Chandrapur on Monday. (ANI Photo)
He clarified that the yagnas were conducted by individuals supporting the BJP and not by the temples.
In addition, he said, ‘OFBJP-USA’ also organised car rallies in four places as of May beginning, to rouse interest in the elections, he added.
The calls to voters in India is to “make sure that they understand the importance of the elections, that it’s absolutely imperative to go out and vote (for the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi) because that’s the future of India,” he said.
“The elections are the biggest celebration of democracy,” he added.
He said that the group was interested in getting the message of Prime Minister Modi’s development story to the voters of the South, East, and the Northeast.
Dasgupta said that the webinars are for “spreading the word, the awareness, out here in the US and also in India” and bringing in some of the candidates for “learning from them, and to see how we can assist them or how we can help them”.
BJP Lok Sabha member and former West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh recontesting from Bardhaman-Durgapur, and candidates K. Annamalai contesting from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and Madhavi Latha, an actress contesting from Hyderabad, were among those who participated in the webinars, he added.
OFBJP-USA Vice-President Rudra Talukdar said that the organisation is for anybody who supports BJP and is open to all.
Dasgupta added the organisation has more than 500 dues-paying registered members and tens of thousands of supporters.
He emphasised that the OFBJP-USA, which is a registered, tax-exempted non-profit organisaiton, is not a unit of the BJP or its agent.
“We are friends, we do share the ideology, what is called integral humanism, integral humanity,” Dasgupta said.
“We share ideology with them. We do talk with them. We do exchange views. But at the same time, you know, we are an organisation based in the US, we follow US laws,” he added.
The calls to India are done individually by supporters using their personal touch and the organisation does not use any mass dialers or phone lists, he said.
Robocalls are absolutely out, he added.
Another group that also calls itself Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (USA) posted on Facebook that it had organised last month “Modi ka Parivar” – Family of Modi – marches in New York, Hollywood, Detroit and Chicago with photographs of the events.
The New Jeresy-based group that was active during the 2019 elections did not reply to e-mailed requests for information.
Dasgupta asserted that his organisation had registered its name and logo with the US Patent and Trademark office and, therefore, it alone could use the name.
The BJP hit back saying the Congress is upset because of the welfare works done by Yadav’s government…reports Asian Lite News
Madhya Pradesh Congress has taken a swipe at Chief Minister Mohan Yadav after he apparently forgot the assembly seat of his party MLA from the state during an event.
The BJP, however, hit back saying the Congress is upset because of the welfare works done by Yadav’s government.
A video of CM Yadav, during a programme on Friday at Janapav (the birthplace of Lord Parshuram) under the Mhow assembly seat in Indore district from where Usha Thakur is the BJP MLA, surfaced on social media on Sunday.
Yadav, while addressing the gathering, is heard in the video congratulating his cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on his birthday.
“I congratulate Kailash ji Bhaisaheb. He worked here together with Usha ji. Now even though Usha ji is no longer the MLA here, earlier Usha ji was the MLA here.”
A voice from the public is then heard saying she is “still the MLA from here (Mhow)”.
Amid laughter, the CM then said, “Bharat Mata ki Jai. I thought you were shifted to Indore number-3, sorry Didi.”
The video also shows Indore-3 seat MLA Golu Shukla sitting at the dais where the CM was delivering the speech.
The MP Congress shared the video on its X handle and claimed, “Meet the bhulakkad (forgetful) CM of Madhya Pradesh. Calling his own sitting legislator a former MLA. The MLA from another area also had to stand up and get his seat confirmed.”
“Mohan Yadav ji, what kind of intoxication of power is this? When you don’t even recognise the MLA, then with what hope will the unfortunate public vote for you?” it added.
A CM chosen by “parchi” (paper slip) will “forget everyone in arrogance,” the Congress claimed.
Usha Thakur was the MLA from Indore-3 from 2013-2018. In the 2018 and 2023 state polls, she successfully contested on BJP’s ticket from Dr Ambedkar Nagar-Mhow assembly seat.
Asked about the opposition party’s barb, state BJP spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi told PTI, “The Congress, whose supreme leader Rahul Gandhi (former Congress chief) made the whole world laugh with his wit and amnesia, doesn’t have the right to make such comments.”
The Congress is upset because of the welfare works being done by the state government headed by Mohan Yadav, he added.
