Tag: VOTERS

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-Top News UK News

Sunak, Starmer face TV grilling by unhappy voters

A poll taken after the event in the northern English town of Grimsby said 64 percent believed Starmer had won the event on Sky News…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer were grilled by voters at a televised event on Wednesday, with both challenged over past decisions, pledges and how they would fund policies if they won a July 4 election.

At their last meeting in television studios before the poll, the two men took turns to face an interviewer and then an audience, whose questions and responses underscored the everyday struggles of many in Britain and the mistrust of politicians.

With just over three weeks until an election opinion polls suggest Labour will easily win, Sunak was booed and heckled over doctors’ strikes, migration and his policy to introduce national service for young people.

Starmer was taken to task for what one audience member said was his avoidance of answering questions, and over his previous support of his predecessor, left-wing veteran Jeremy Corbyn.

A poll taken after the event in the northern English town of Grimsby said 64 percent believed Starmer had won the event on Sky News.

Starmer told the audience that he would start implementing his policies from ‘day one’ if he won the election but shied away from answering whether he was being honest when in 2019 he said his left-wing predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, should become prime minister.

“I want to get the place when I can roll up my sleeves and work with you … to say the government is on your side,” Starmer said to applause. “That will be a massive difference to the last 14 years.”

Sunak was challenged over some of his policies, which audience members said had yet to solve their inability to get dentist appointments, reduce waiting lists in the National Health Service or stop the arrival of migrants in small boats.

“I know we’ve been through a tough time, of course we have… its been tough for all of you here tonight, all of you watching, but I do believe we have turned a corner and we’ve got a clear plan for the future,” he said.

“I am going to keep fighting hard until the last day of this election.”

The event came a day after Sunak unveiled 17 billion pounds of tax cuts in his governing party’s manifesto, trying to convince voters’ that he had a plan to make them better off while Labour’s policies are vague and ill-thought through.

He said again on Wednesday that a vote for Starmer was akin to writing him a blank cheque, repeating the contested accusation that a Labour government would increase taxes by more than 2,000 pounds. Starmer denied that was the case.

On Thursday, Labour will be try to set the story straight with its own manifesto, a document which sets out the policies the party will pursue in government, an agenda Starmer said would put wealth creation and economic growth at its heart.

Labour has repeatedly said it will stick to strict spending rules — a line Labour, traditionally seen as the party of tax and spend, has adopted not only to try to show it has changed since being led by Corbyn but also to challenge Conservative attacks that it will increase taxes.

But it was Corbyn who came back to haunt Starmer on Wednesday, when he was asked whether he believed what he said when in 2019 he said the veteran leftist would make a good prime minister and when he made 10 left-wing pledges to become Labour leader a year later, several of which he has since dropped.

“Have I changed my position on those pledges, yes I have,” said Starmer. “I think this party should always put the country first.”

ALSO READ-Labour to publish manifesto on Thursday

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INDIA 2024 India News Punjab

Punjab records estimated 62.8% voter turnout

In a letter dated June 1 by Suneel Dutt Bhardwaj, Office Secretary, BJP Punjab Office, urged swift action be taken against the Chief Secretary & other erring officials of State of Punjab…reports Asian Lite News

The 13 parliamentary constituencies of Punjab that went to polling on Saturday saw an estimated voter turnout of 62.80 per cent, according to the data shared by the Election Commission.

As per the poll body data released on Sunday, Gurdaspur saw a voter turnout of (66.67 per cent), Amritsar (56.06 per cent), Khadoor Sahib (62.55 per cent), Jalandhar (59.70 per cent), Hoshiarpur (58.86 per cent), Anandpur Sahib (61.98 per cent), Ludhiana (60.12 per cent), Fatehgarh Sahib (62.53 per cent), Faridkot (63.34 per cent), Firozpur (67.02 per cent), Bathinda (69.36 per cent), Sangrur (64.63 per cent), and Patiala (63.63 per cent).

The Aam Admi Party and Congress, allies in the INDIA bloc, separately contested the elections in the state.

Meanwhile, the Punjab BJP filed a complaint with the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Saturday against the Chief Secretary and other erring officials for allegedly forcing MGNREGA workers to work despite there being a mandatory holiday throughout Punjab due to the general elections.

On the complaint by BJP Punjab to the CEO, the CEO directed all DCs to ensure to cast their votes.

In a letter dated June 1 by Suneel Dutt Bhardwaj, Office Secretary, BJP Punjab Office, urged swift action be taken against the Chief Secretary & other erring officials of State of Punjab.

In the previous Lok Sabha elections of 2019, the INC-led UPA alliance secured eight seats with a vote share of 40.6 per cent, while the NDA managed to secure four with a voting percentage of 9.7. The AAP, making its debut, secured one seat.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and AAP bagged 4 seats each while Congress secured 3 seats. The BJP managed to secure only two seats.

The voting for the 543-member Lok Sabha was held across seven phases over a period of 44 days from April 19-June 1.The counting will be done and results declared on June 4.

Polling for the earlier six phases of Lok Sabha elections was held on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20 and May 25. Assembly polls have also been held in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Odisha is also seeing simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and assembly in the last four phases. The polling of the last phase started on Saturday at 7 am in the 57 parliamentary constituencies spread across seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

According to the Election Commission of India, over 10.06 crore electors including approximately 5.24 crore male, 4.82 crore female and 3,574 third gender electors are expected to exercise their franchise. (ANI)

ALSO READ-BJP delegation meets EC against attempts to undermine elections

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INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Young Himachal voters weigh ‘dictatorship’ versus ‘unstable coalition’ choice

Hamirpur, May 26 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being felicitated with a mace during a public meeting for the Lok Sabha election, at Una in Hamirpur on Sunday. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is also present. (ANI Photo)

Another first-time voter Nitish said, “I am in a dilemma to choose between dictatorship and a coalition,” apparently referring to the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and the INDIA bloc, respectively…reports Asian Lite News

Quality education, job opportunities and women security top the priorities of first-time voters in Himachal Pradesh. Some of them also see the polls as a choice between a “BJP dictatorship” and an “unstable coalition” represented by the INDIA bloc.

According to the data shared by the Election Commission, there are over 1.70 lakh voters across the state aged between 18 and 19 years who will be voting for the first time. Elections for the four Lok Sabha seats and six assembly bypolls will be held simultaneously on June 1.

The policies of successive governments to appease voters by doling freebies should be discontinued, says Riya, a first-time voter from Solan.

“The tax-paying middle class bears the burden of freebies and money for development projects is diverted,” she said.

Another first-time voter Nitish said, “I am in a dilemma to choose between dictatorship and a coalition,” apparently referring to the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre and the INDIA bloc, respectively.

“It’s all about making my voice heard and advocating for positive change in the political landscape” he added.

Led by the Congress, the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc comprises 26 parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Trinamool Congress.

Rohit, a first-year student who will exercise his franchise for the first time said, “The BJP government has become arrogant, constitutional institutions are being misused and voting for Modi would imply (supporting) a dictatorial government. On the other hand, going in favour of INDIA bloc would mean (favouring) a coalition and unstable government, which is again not good for the country.” The performance of the past ten years of the BJP-led Central government evoked mixed response among the first-time voters with some lauding the tenure of the previous government, while others being critical of its functioning.

Anshul Thakur, a student of a journalism course in Government Post Graduation College, Sanjauli said she is excited to cast her first vote.

Thakur said she would vote for a party that is committed to bringing better job opportunities in government and private sectors and improving women safety.

Prikshit, a student of Government Post Graduation College, Chaura Maidan, said he is looking forward to being an entrepreneur and willing to explore the new era innovative sectors.

He said he would vote for party that is inclined towards new technologies and promoting the start-up culture with a focus on youth.

“As a first-time voter, I would like the government to work on the UCC (Uniform Civil Code) and education policies and focus on the states and places otherwise ignored by the government such as the country’s northeast region or Ladakh and include more culture-based services” said Vashisht Sharma, another student of PG College, Sanjauli.

There are also some first-time voters who said they would go with the NOTA (None of the Above) option to express their discontent with the candidates fielded by the political parties.

Aditi Thakur, a resident of Mandi who is set to cast her vote for the first time, said she will be opting for NOTA in the Lok Sabha elections, as she felt that none of the candidates met her expectations.

‘Centre did not fulfil demands of apple farmers’

Ahead of the seventh phase of elections on June 1 in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress and BJP are attacking each other. The issue of apple imports is also becoming important these days. The Congress party is attacking the central government for not increasing the import duty on apples.

The state vice president of the Congress party and the media advisor to the Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan, said in a press conference in Shimla that apples have a huge contribution to the economy of Himachal and about three lakh families are directly connected with it.

“The Modi government did not fulfil the demand of the apple farmers to increase the import duty to 100 per cent. He had promised to increase it to 100 per cent in the elections, which he has not fulfilled in his ten-year tenure,” Chauhan said.

“The Congress government has always taken care of the interests of farmers and orchardists and we are continuously working for their development. We have fulfille demands in our 15 months tenure,” he added further.

Accusing the BJP of misleading the public, he said, “BJP does not have any issues in these elections and are misleading the public. They are diverting the attention of the public from the main issues. They have cheated every section of the society. Farmers had to do a huge movement to get their demands accepted”.

He also said that INDIA alliance government will be formed at the Centre after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“The people of the country want to bring change in the Union government and this time the INDIA Alliance government will be formed at the Centre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is supporting a few capitalists of the country and giving them benefits only,” he added further.

‘Modi is epicentre of corruption’

Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being the epicentre of corruption and claimed that all the corrupt leaders have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a rally in Himachal Pradesh’s Una, the Congress leader referred to PM Modi’s Friday speech in Mandi where he claimed that the state’s Congress government would not last and alleged that “PM Modi openly announced during his rallies that he would topple the Himachal Pradesh government through use of money.”

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the epicentre of corruption. All the corrupt leaders of the country have joined his party. There has been huge corruption in the Electrol Bond Scheme, why is the Central Government not revealing the names of those who donated? Through this scheme, donations have been taken from big companies by threatening them through ED and CBI,” Rahul Gandhi said.

He further took a jibe at PM Modi and said that while Modi has created 22 billionaires, they (Congress) would create crores of millionaires.

“A list of all poor people of the country will be made. The name of a woman from each family will be selected and on July 5, crores of women will get Rs 8,500 in their bank accounts. This amount will be deposited in the women’s account every month,” he said.

ALSO READ-Priyanka and I will raise voice of Himachal in Delhi: Rahul Gandhi

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-Top News INDIA 2024 India News

Modi lauds maturity of Indian voters  

Both Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal received admiration from Pakistani politician Fawad Chaudhry this month, apparently for their diatribe against Modi dispensation…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed shock and surprise over Pakistani voices of endorsement and praise for a select few Indian counterparts (Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal) in the middle of Lok Sabha elections and asserted that Indian voters are mature enough to see through their gimmicks.

Modi said that India’s voters are mature in their thoughts and can’t be influenced by any external factor. On questions of Pakistani politicians’ support to Congress leader and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal amid polls, Modi said: “I don’t understand why some select group of people, apparently those who harbour animosity against us, get endorsements from Pakistan, why voices of support emanate from there, for certain individuals.”

He further said that India is a mature democracy and boasts of rich and well-established electoral principles and traditions and such ‘provocation’ was a matter of grave concern and calls for a thorough investigation.

Notably, both Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal received admiration from Pakistani politician Fawad Chaudhry this month, apparently for their diatribe against Modi dispensation.

On May 1, Fawad Chaudhry, erstwhile minister in ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan-led cabinet wrote on X, “Rahul on fire” while tagging his video, where the Wayanad MP was criticising the BJP, particularly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This drew sharp reactions from BJP. The party called it an obvious case of ‘Congress dalliance with Pakistan’.

On May 25, the same Pakistani politician posted a message for Arvind Kejriwal, while replying to his X post and wrote: “May peace and harmony defeat forces of hate and extremism. #MorePower#IndiaElections2024.”

This, however, drew sharp condemnation from the AAP chief himself, who came down heavily on him and said that India will not tolerate interference from the biggest sponsors of terrorism in its internal matters.

‘UPI helped India fight pandemic’

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) facility played a significant role in India’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, even as several prosperous countries faced problems, Modi said.

Many countries could not ensure the provision of money to their citizens due to the lack of a UPI-like service, which India had during those distressed times.

“If there was no UPI, can someone tell me how we would have fought the battle of Covid? Even the rich countries could not provide money to their people despite having sufficient funds. We gave it easily to the needy,” Modi said.

“Today, we can send money to 11 crore farmers within 30 seconds. Now, UPI is user-friendly because of talented youth who create such world-class products that any common person can use,” he said.

Modi also noted that internet data was made cheap in India during the Covid-induced lockdowns in the country in 2020 and 2021, which helped children and the youth bring about a change in their lives. He said that during the pandemic, he was worried about the life of “his now first-time voters, who were 14-15 years old at the time of Covid”.

“So we made data very cheap. I was worried that if they remain stuck within the four walls of their homes, it will lead to the end of their childhood,” the Prime Minister said.

The logic behind making data cheaper, said PM Modi, was that “I wanted them to use the Internet and look at a new world, and it happened. We have benefited from it”.

According to data from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the cost of internet data in 2020 was reduced to Rs 10.55 per GB, enabling affordable internet access for millions of citizens. The inexpensive data has also helped the country create world-class solutions for the world, according to the Prime Minister.

These measures helped “India play a huge role in turning the problems of Covid into an opportunity”, he said.

‘I understand young India’s aspirations fully’

Having already given a clarion call to the first-time voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that he understands the aspirations of the country’s youth and considers it as a responsibility to provide them with a launching pad so that they can achieve their desired goals.

“I understand their aspirations. Today’s youth is very different from the past. They don’t want to conform to the previous standards. They want to make a big leap in every field to reach their intended destinations, even if it means bypassing some steps. Our responsibility is to provide them launching pads, give them a platform to fulfil their aspirations. There is a need to understand youth and their thinking pattern,” said PM Modi in an exclusive interview with the IANS.

While campaigning in various parts of the country over the past many weeks, Prime Minister Modi has been urging the first-time voters to exercise their voting right in record numbers, insisting that the 18th Lok Sabha will also be a “symbol of youth aspiration”.

PM Modi-led government had launched ‘mera pehla vote desh ke liye’ (my first vote for the country) campaign to ensure universal enlightened participation of the youth in elections.

PM Modi has also been getting an insight into the minds of the young generation of India through interactive initiatives like ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ and ‘Mann Ki Baat’ monthly programme.

Labelling the millions of questions that are posed to him by youngsters as nothing but a “treasure trove”, he insists that the interactions give him an opportunity to analyse what the young minds of the country think.

“When I do Pariksha Pe Charcha, I get to interact with thousands of students. I come across many students who are thinking decades ahead of their time. A major gap will emerge if the government and the leadership fail to understand aspirations of this new generation,” said the Prime Minister.

Stating that his government turned the Covid pandemic crisis into an opportunity, PM Modi said that he completely understands the true potential of technology and how it can be harnessed effectively.

“During Covid period, I was worried about the country’s young generation. I was worried about their youthfulness confined to the four walls of the room. In my video conferencing sessions, I tried to energise them with certain tasks in order to lift their spirits. That is why we made data very cheap. My logic behind the move was to turn them towards the new digital world, and we succeeded in it,” Modi said.

He added that the digital revolution that is being witnessed right now is a result of India successfully managing to turn around the huge Covid crisis into an opportunity.

“The digital and Fintech revolution in the country owes much to the government’s focus on converting the crisis into an opportunity during that time. I fully understand the prowess of technology and the impactful changes that it can bring for generations and therefore want to harness it to full potential,” said PM Modi.

ALSO READ-Modi govt never waived farm loans: Priyanka

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INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Over 8 cr voters to decide fate of 695 candidates in Phase 5

The eight states/UTs going to polls in phase 5 are: Bihar, J&K, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal…reports Asian Lite News

As the Lok Sabha elections enter the fifth phase, over 8.95 crore voters will exercise their franchise in 49 constituencies across 8 states/UTs on Monday.

Voting began at 7am and continues until 6pm. Those who are in line before the cutoff time are still allowed to vote.

Elections to 35 constituencies of the Odisha Legislative Assembly will also be held simultaneously on Monday, according to the Election Commission of India.

According to the ECI, over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore men, 4.26 crore women and 5,409 voters of the third gender, will decide the fate of 695 candidates tomorrow.

The fifth phase will witness important contests in various constituencies. Leaders like Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah and RJD leader Rohini Acharya will be on seek electoral success.

The eight states/UTs going to polls in phase 5 are: Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Cities like Mumbai, Thane and Lucknow go to the polls in this phase, which has suffered from urban apathy in voting in the past. The committee especially calls on these city residents to erase the stigma by taking action in larger numbers.

Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, 7 from West Bengal, 5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand, 5 from Odisha and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

In an effort to create a peaceful atmosphere for voters, a total of 2,000 flying squadrons, 2,105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams and 502 video viewing teams are monitoring the 94,732 polling stations 24 hours a day.

A total of 216 international border checkpoints and 565 interstate border checkpoints closely monitor any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash and freebies. Sea and air routes are strictly monitored, the ECI said.

The ECI said the polling stations are ready to welcome voters with adequate shade, drinking water, ramps, toilets and other basic facilities to ensure that the elections take place in a comfortable and safe environment. The concerned CEOs/DEOs and state apparatuses have been advised to take adequate measures to control hot weather conditions in areas where it is forecast, it added.

The Commission has called on voters to come to polling stations in greater numbers and vote with responsibility and pride. So far, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have witnessed a poll turnout of around 66.95 per cent. About 451 million people have already voted in the first four phases of the ongoing general election, the ECI said.

ECI has partnered with a host of prominent figures to engage and motivate voters to cast their votes during the ongoing elections.

With four phases completed, general election polling has reached its halfway mark with polling completed in 23 states/UTs and 379 parliamentary constituencies. Elections to the state legislative assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh and the 28 seats of the Odisha State Assembly have also been completed.

The results of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections will be declared on June 4.

In a bid to create a peaceful atmosphere for the electors, a total of 2,000 flying squads, 2105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams, and 502 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock across the 94,732 polling stations.

A total of 216 international border check posts and 565 inter-state border check posts are keeping a strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash, and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept on sea and air routes, the ECI said.

The ECI said that the polling stations are ready to welcome the voters with ample shade, drinking water, ramps, toilets, and other basic facilities to ensure that polling takes place in a comfortable and secure environment.

The concerned CEOs, DEOs, and state machinery have been advised to take adequate measures to manage hot weather conditions in areas where it is forecast, it added.

The Commission has called upon voters to turn out in greater numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride. Until now, the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 have seen a voter turnout at polling stations of about 66.95 per cent.

Around 451 million people have already voted during the first four phases of the ongoing general elections, the ECI added.

ECI has partnered with a host of prominent figures to appeal to and motivate voters to cast their vote during the ongoing elections.

The remaining phases of the polls will continue until June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. Polling for 23 states (UTs) and 379 PCs was completed in a smooth and peaceful manner in the first four phases of the general elections.

With the conclusion of four phases, polling for general elections has crossed the halfway mark, with polling completed in 23 states/UTs and 379 parliamentary constituencies.

Polling is also completed in general elections for the state legislative assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Andhra Pradesh and the 28 assembly seats of the Odisha State Assembly.

The results of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections will be announced on June 4.

ALSO READ-Polls 2024: Cong to hold election town halls in Delhi

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India News Politics

Congress takes ‘justice’ message to voters

The party is fighting the elections on the issue of ‘five nyay’ (justices) giving 25 guarantees which have been announced by the Congress president and Rahul Gandhi..reports Asian Lite News

The Congress Working Committee held a detailed discussion on the manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls which has a heavy thrust on the party’s ‘nyay’ agenda and authorised party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to grant it final approval.

Addressing a press conference after the CWC meeting, Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh said that the party will build on the momentum of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, during which the party announced five guarantees and a plan has been prepared to take the message of guarantees at the grassroots level.

The party is fighting the elections on the issue of ‘five nyay’ (justices) — ‘Bhagidari Nyay’, ‘Kisan Nyay’, ‘Nari Nyay’, ‘Shramik Nyay’ and ‘Yuva Nyay’ — giving 25 guarantees, five for each nyay, which have been announced by the Congress president Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

Jairam Ramesh said that the party is ready for the Lok Sabha polls.

“The meeting we had today was not just for our manifesto but for our ‘nyay patra’. Congress is absolutely ready for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In the meeting today, there were discussions on our agenda. For the last 63 days, Rahul Gandhi has been talking about our five Nyay and has announced 25 guarantees…This is not just a simple manifesto but an important ‘nyay patra’ so that the people of our country can see a better future,” he said.

Laying thrust on the party’s promise to fulfil vacancies in the government, KC Venugopal said the Congress government in Telangana has given 30,000 government jobs in three months.

“In the same way, we are giving promises to the people of the country addressing the concerns of the rural youth, women and farmers,” he said.

Answering a query about the opposition’s allegation of misuse of probe agencies by the BJP-led government at the Centre, Ramesh said that the issue was discussed in detail at the CWC meeting and the party’s manifesto will mention steps to prevent misuse of agencies like CBI, Enforcement Directorate besides Income Tax Department.

The Congress, he said, will take its message of “nyay” to every home in the country over the next month.

The meeting of CWC, the party’s highest decision-making body, was held days after the announcement of schedule for the Lok Sabha elections. The Lok Sabha polls and assembly polls in four states will be held from April 19 and June 1 and results will be declared on June 4.

The manifesto committee, chaired by former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, had earlier given its draft to Kharge.

According to sources, the manifesto would put forth the party’s intent to bring in necessary amendments to curb the misuse of central investigating agencies. For example, the manifesto is likely to talk about the need to do away with the controversial provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act which are allegedly being misused by the Enforcement Directorate to target opposition leaders.

As per sources, there was a discussion on the party pledging to implement the recommendations of the Sachar committee on improving the social, economic, and educational status of Muslims.

“The guarantees announced under the five Nyays are going to be a game-changer in this election. The party will launch a massive campaign to take the Nyays to the people,” K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary in-charge of organisation, told reporters after the CWC meeting.

The Committee successfully ensured public participation in this exercise, rather than merely confining it to an academic one. It held extensive consultations in different parts of the country and submitted a draft to me on March 6th, 2024, Kharge said.

He said that suggestions and comments were also solicited through an online website which was rightly called “Awaaz Bharat Ki”.

“Whatever has been promised in Manifesto, will be strictly implemented. Before making promises in the Manifesto, in-depth deliberation has been made to ensure that these promises are implementable,” he said.

He said it is because of this very fact that right from 1926, the Congress Party’s Manifesto has been regarded as a “document of trust and commitment”.

Kharge recalled after independence, the Congress party’s first manifesto was released under the leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru which was famously called “What Congress stands for”.

Speaking on the recently concluded Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, he said, “Mumbai is an important place for us because our party was formed here. The freedom movement got its final fillip with the Quit India movement in 1942”.

“These were not just political Yatras but will be noted as the largest mass contact movement in our political history. One can’t undermine the fact that nobody in our times has undertaken such a massive exercise. Both these Yatras managed to take the issue of the people to the national centre stage,” Kharge said.

“During the Yatra, both me and Rahul Ji addressed several public rallies in which we spoke of our guarantees and commitments under the Five pillars of the Yatra – Kisan Nyay, Yuva Nyay, Naari Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari nyay,” he said. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Congress, BJP stalwarts to clash in 7 Rajasthan seats 

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-Top News UK News

47% of UK voters like Sunak

It’s not impossible for the Conservatives to rebuild their popularity before the next election, due by the end of 2024. But it won’t be easy. Current polls suggest the Labour Party would win handily…reports Asian Lite News

Rishi Sunak has been Britain’s prime minister for a month. In the tumultuous world of U.K. politics in 2022, that’s an achievement.

Sunak, who took office a month ago Friday on Oct. 25, has steadied the nation after the brief term of predecessor Liz Truss. Britain’s first prime minister of color, Sunak has stabilized the economy, reassured allies from Washington to Kyiv and even soothed the European Union after years of sparring between Britain and the bloc.

But Sunak’s challenges are just beginning. He is facing a slowing economy, a cost-of-living crisis — and a governing Conservative Party that is fractious and increasingly unpopular after 12 years in power.

Opinion polls have good news and bad news for Sunak. The public quite likes the 42-year-old former investment banker, but his party is another matter.

In a survey by pollster Ipsos, 47% of respondents said they liked the prime minister, while 41% disliked him.

“That’s definitely better than Boris Johnson was getting earlier this year,” said Gideon Skinner, Ipsos’ head of political research. But he said Sunak’s popularity “is not showing signs of rubbing off onto the Conservative Party brand.”

In the same survey the Conservative Party was liked by just 26%, and disliked by 62% — the worst figures for the party in 15 years. The Ipsos phone survey of 1,004 adults is considered accurate to within plus or minus four percentage points.

Many voters welcome Sunak as a change from Truss and her predecessor Johnson, who quit in July after three scandal-plagued years in office. But the party has been in power since 2010, making it hard for Conservatives to avoid blame for the country’s financial woes.

Lingering allegations of misconduct also are tarnishing its image. On Wednesday Sunak appointed a senior lawyer to investigate allegations of bullying against his deputy prime minister, Dominic Raab.

It’s not impossible for the Conservatives to rebuild their popularity before the next election, due by the end of 2024. But it won’t be easy. Current polls suggest the Labour Party would win handily.

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic Sunak, then Britain’s treasury chief, gained popularity by spending billions to support shuttered businesses and pay the salaries of furloughed workers.

Now he has to deliver bitter medicine. Britain’s economy is being weighed down by the pandemic, by Brexit and especially by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has driven global energy prices sky-high.

Millions of people in Britain have seen energy bills soar, though a government-imposed cap has prevented even higher prices. Pandemic-related backlogs and staff shortages have caused record waiting times for health care in Britain’s National Health Service.

Amid financial squeeze, Sunak gets a $1.5m garden sculpture  

As millions feel a financial crunch, the government has splurged 1.3 million pounds (US$1.5 m) on a sculpture for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s garden.

The bronze sculpture by Henry Moore, titled Working Model for Seated Woman, has been sent to 10 Downing Street amid burgeoning cost of living crisis in the UK, The Sun reported.

The 1980 sculpture bought by the taxpayer-funded Government Art Collection is believed to have been sold at a Christie’s auction last month for just over 1.3 million pounds.

According to the Christie’s website, the piece of art “conveys a strong sense of maternity and pregnancy — from the gentle watchfulness of the woman’s face and her guarded posture to the protective nature of her arms and the architectural shelter she offers between her lap and shoulders to this, semi-abstract, embryonic and Jean Arp-like form”.

Downing Street said no politicians were involved in the decision to buy, The Sun reported.

With inflation hitting a 41-year high of 11.1 per cent in October, Britons have been cutting back on their spending.

According to a GlobalData for VoucherCodes research, Britons will spend 8.7 billion pounds ($10.5 billion) over the Black Friday weekend (November 25 – November 28).

Amid financial squeeze, a $1.5m sculpture for UK PM’s garden.(photo:Christie’s)

A new MetLife UK research said 48 per cent of the people are worried about missing their mortgage repayments due to the soaring cost of living crisis.

The study further revealed that 42 per cent have no savings to fall back on if they found themselves unable to pay their mortgage.

Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty were recently ranked 17th on the UK’s ‘Asian Rich List 2022’, with an estimated wealth of 790 million pounds.

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BJP goes all out to woo women voters

The BJP women wing is organising ‘Mahila Chaupal’ and ‘Kirtan’ at block and village levels in Uttar Pradesh along with other reach out programmes in which they interact with the beneficiaries of government schemes and appeal to vote for the party in Assembly polls…reports Asian Lite News

Knowing the importance of women voters for winning the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls for the second consecutive terms, the BJP is holding a ‘Mahila chaupal’ and ‘kirtan’ across the state.

The saffron party believes that women voters will play a crucial and decisive role in next year’s poll as they constitute nearly half (46 per cent) of the total electorate of state and their participation has increased over a period of time. In the last 2017 Assembly polls, over 60 per cent women cast their vote, more than the men.

The BJP women wing is organising ‘Mahila Chaupal’ and ‘Kirtan’ at block and village levels in Uttar Pradesh along with other reach out programmes in which they interact with the beneficiaries of government schemes and appeal to vote for the party in Assembly polls.

BJP Mahila Morcha national vice president Rekha Gupta said that the party is reaching out to the women voters through ‘Mahila Chaupal’ and ‘Kirtan’. “We are organising a series of programmes to reach out to women voters and ‘Mahila Chaupal’ and ‘Kirtan’ are two of them. In chaupal, all the attendees are beneficiaries of the government schemes. Similarly, we are reaching out to women through kirtan mandali (group). These programmes are done at village and block levels,” Gupta said.

According to Gupta, office-bearers of the mahila morcha interact with the beneficiaries following the Covid protocols and guidelines led by the Election Commission. “We tell them the people are with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for tremendous work he has done in the last five years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We explain that no government has done so much work in this short span of five years. We appeal to them to elect the BJP government to take Uttar Pradesh to a new height of development under a double engine government,” Gupta said.

Women voters played an important role in the BJP victory in 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and ensured the return of the Modi government at the Centre in 2019. Knowing that they will also play an important and decisive role in this poll, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to win their support.

The Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls will be held in seven phases in February-March starting from February 10. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.

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Voters have every right to cast me out, says PM

In remarks he delivered via a pre-recorded video to the Summit for Democracy, hosted by US President Joe Biden the Prime Minister said he would “not wish it any other way” than for voters to be able to get rid of him at the ballot box, reports Asian Lite News

Boris Johnson has said voters have “every right” to cast him “down and out again” as he championed the benefits of living in a democracy.

In remarks, he delivered via a pre-recorded video to the Summit for Democracy, hosted by US President Joe Biden the Prime Minister said he would “not wish it any other way” than for voters to be able to get rid of him at the ballot box.

He said: “Out of Athens more than 2,500 years ago, there came a simple and beautiful idea: that people are neither passive nor powerless, but free citizens with a right to participate in the governance of their country. The idea of democracy has gathered force down the centuries, inspiring billions across the world, and converging on the principles we all share. We believe that our peoples are entitled to elect and remove their governments through the ballot box, overseen by independent courts and a free media. We’re only here because our electorates have, at least for the time being, raised us to positions of responsibility for their affairs – but they have every right to cast us down and out again, and we would not wish it any other way.”

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is representing the UK at the opening session.

Biden opened the summit by saying protecting democracy is the “challenge of our time” and noted that “half of all democracies have experienced a decline in at least one aspect of democracy over the last 10 years, including the United States”.

The PM’s speech comes at a time when the leader is facing mounting criticism in recent times.

In a survey held last month, Johnson’s Conservatives have lost their lead in two opinion polls after a growing parliamentary standards scandal prompted almost two thirds of respondents in one survey to say the British prime minister’s party was disreputable.

In the midst of growing criticism, Conservatives were fined nearly £18,000 for failing to properly disclose a donation used to redecorate Johnson’s Downing Street flat.

The latest development in a scandal dubbed “wallpaper-gate” comes with Johnson embroiled in a series of other high-profile controversies, including claims of lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street last Christmas.

The Electoral Commission, which regulates political finance, found that the Tories failed to “accurately report the full value” of a £67,801.72 donation which covered a portion of a lavish Downing Street refurbishment.

“The investigation found that decisions relating to the handling and recording of these transactions reflected serious failings in the party’s compliance systems,” it said in a statement, announcing two fines totalling £17,800.

“The payment was incorrectly described in internal records and the full value of the donation was not correctly identified and reported,” the commission added.

Issues around the expensive refurbishment of quarters above Number 11 Downing Street — next door to his Number 10 office — that he shares with his family have dogged Johnson throughout this year.

Most of the historic estate is maintained with public money, but every prime minister gets an annual allowance of £30,000 to redecorate the living space.

But concerns emerged over how Johnson and his wife Carrie Symonds paid for a reportedly £200,000 bill for their lavish makeover — in an affair also dubbed “cash for curtains”.

Reports suggested the couple had tried to create a White House-style trust to manage the refurb, but when that failed to get off the ground the tab was settled by the Conservatives and a wealthy donor before Johnson reimbursed the party.

A newly appointed adviser on ministerial standards found earlier this year that Johnson leader had acted “unwisely” over the funding arrangements, but was not guilty of any impropriety.

However, opposition parties have seized on the saga to burnish their portrayal of Johnson as a sleazy, untruthful leader.

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