EC issues notices to West Bengal BJP chief over advertisements 'targeting' TMC

EC issues notices to West Bengal BJP chief over advertisements 'targeting' TMC The Election Commission (EC) issued two separate show-cause notices to West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar on Saturday for his party allegedly issuing advertisements targeting the state's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The poll panel has sought Majumdar's explanation on why two advertisements of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should not be treated as violative of the Model Code of Conduct, which is in force for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, and its advisory to political parties. The BJP leader has been asked to respond by 5 pm on May 21. According to an English transcript provided in the notices, one advertisement is titled ''Trinamool is root cause of corruption'' while the other is titled ''Anti-Sanatan Trinamool''. The first one alleged that West Bengal has become a cradle of corruption due to the state government. The other one, besides raising other issues, alleged that the Ram temple in Ayodhya is considered ''unholy'' in ''this state''. The TMC had approached the EC against the advertisements, dubbing those as ''misleading''. While issuing the notices, the poll watchdog reminded Majumdar about the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct, which deals with criticism based on unverified allegations, and its recent advisory to political parties that says unverified and misleading advertisements should not be published in the media.

In DNA of current EC to not take cognisance of 'brazen' MCC violations by PM: CPI(M)

In DNA of current EC to not take cognisance of 'brazen' MCC violations by PM: CPI(M) The CPI(M) on Saturday slammed the Election Commission, alleging that it is in the ''DNA'' of the current panel to not take cognisance of the ''brazen'' violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Citing Modi's remarks that the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress will ''bulldoze the Ram temple'' and its poll code violation complaints to the commission, the Left party claimed that the election panel has completely ignored its complaints. Modi, while addressing a Lok Sabha election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki on Friday, alleged that the Congress will run a bulldozer on the Ram temple if the INDIA bloc comes to power. ''If the SP-Congress comes to power, it will send Ram Lalla once again to a tent, and a bulldozer will be rolled over the temple,'' he said. The CPI(M), SP and the Congress are among the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc, formed to take on the BJP in the polls. Sharing a clipping of a headline in a post on X, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, ''It is in the DNA of the current ECI (Election Commission of India) not to take cognisance of such brazen violation of the MCC by PM Modi.'' ''Earlier my complaints on Modi's incendiary communal speeches in Ajmer on April 6, Nawada on April 7, Pilibhit on April 9 with video evidence and the speech of Banswara with clippings of newspaper reports were completely ignored without even the customary acknowledgment,'' he said. ''The ECI slogan, ''Desh ka garv'', to describe the current elections is totally hollowed out by such nonconduct of 'free and fair elections' with a level playing field,'' Yechury said. The CPI(M) has filed a number of complaints against Modi and other BJP leaders for violation of the Model Code of Conduct, including those related to his speech in Banswara in Rajasthan. While addressing a rally in Banswara on April 21, Modi had suggested that if the Congress comes to power, it would ''redistribute'' wealth to Muslims. He had also alleged that the Congress plans to give the people's hard-earned money and valuables to the ''infiltrators'' and ''those who have more children''. Yechury had written to the Election Commission on April 22 on the Banswara speech, calling it a violation of Section 123 (3) of the Representation of People's Act and the poll code. In another letter to the commission on April 13, the CPI(M) had raised various instances where Modi making references to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, levelled allegations against opposition parties and labelled them as ''opponents of the temple'', ''being against Lord Ram'' and ''insulting Lord Ram''. The letter gave references of speeches made by Modi in Nawada in Bihar on April 7, in Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh on April 9 and in Ajmer in Rajasthan on April 6.

Kharge Confident of Winning 46 Seats in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday claimed that the INDIA bloc is going to win 46 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and the opposition bloc will form the next government in the country. He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misusing the central agencies against the opposition. He held a joint press conference with Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP founder Sharad Pawar on the last day of campaigning for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The Congress president said that the BJP is toppling the opposition parties governments in the states, but the opposition parties are together fighting against the BJP. We are strong in Maharashtra. I think we can win 46 seats out of 48 seats in the state, he said. Mr. Kharge alleged that the constitutional institutions are being misused to issue threats to the opposition parties. Even the party symbols were taken away from the opposition parties and given to those who are supporting the BJP. Everything is being done on the instruction of Narendra Modi, he said. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was not an election issue, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to polarize people by talking about him during his campaign rally here. Mr. Modi, in his speech here on Friday, dared Mr. Pawar to make Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promise that he would not criticise the late freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue ever again. Savarkar is not an election issue, and Rahul has not spoken about him (lately). But Modi's speech was divisive and meant to instigate, polarise. I have never seen such a prime minister, Mr. Pawar said. Mr. Thackeray said the INDIA bloc's government will complete the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, while Mr. Pawar said it will be the duty of their government to protect not just temples, but the places of worship of all religions. Claiming that the INDIA alliance has several prime ministerial faces, Mr. Thackeray said the BJP has only one and even that is not working. Now they cannot replace the face at the fag end of poll campaign. We have decided what we should do when we get the majority, he said. To a question on his party's stand on Article 370, Mr. Kharge said, I am not answerable to Modi. We will implement what we have promised in our manifesto.

Uttar Pradesh Transforms Under Modi and Yogi Leadership: Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Highlighting Uttar Pradesh's transformation from a state known for producing country-made pistols to cannon balls, Union home minister Amit Shah said at an election rally in Lalitpur on Saturday that the state started developing only after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister and Yogi Adityanath the chief minister. Mr Shah also addressed an election rally in Banda and took part in a roadshow in Amethi in favour of BJP candidates. Canvassing for his party candidate from Jhansi Anurag Sharma, who is eyeing a second term, Mr Shah said, There was a time when country-made pistols were produced in Uttar Pradesh. But Mr Modi built a defence corridor in Bundelkhand and now cannon balls are made here. He added that if Pakistan makes any mistake, the shells made in Bundelkhand will be used to destroy them. Slamming Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's atom bomb remark that has sparked a political row, he said, Mr Aiyar said Pakistan should be respected as it has the atom bomb and not ask for PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) from the country. But this is Narendra Modi's government. We are not afraid of the atom bomb. PoK belongs to India and will remain so. We will take it. In a purported video clip that went viral on social media, Mr Aiyar is heard saying India should give respect to Pakistan as it is a sovereign nation and engage with it as it also possesses the atom bomb. Making a clarification, Mr Aiyar had said the video was old and dredged up now that the BJP's election campaign is faltering. The Congress said it totally disagreed with the remarks made by him some months ago. In a veiled attack on the Opposition, the Union minister said, This land fought against the Mughals and the British. Now Bundelkhand also has to fight against the desi angrez present in our country. Urging people to vote in favour of the BJP, the home minister said, This election is for the development of the country, for securing the country. This election is an election to protect our religion and culture. This election is to make India great. It is for the welfare of the poor in the country. And to quench the thirst of Bundelkhand. Launching a scathing attack on the Opposition, Mr Shah said, In this election, on one side there is the INDIA bloc which has committed a scam of `12-lakh crores. On the other hand, there is Mr Modi, who has together served for 23 years as a chief minister and Prime Minister, but no one can level a corruption allegation of even `25 paise on him. \On one side are (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi and (SP chief) Akhilesh Yadav, who were born with a silver spoon. On the other hand, there is our leader, Mr Modi, who was born in the house of a poor tea seller, the senior BJP leader said. On one side, there is the Samajwadi Party, which opened fire on Ram bhakts . On the other side, there is Mr Modi, who is building the Ram temple, he added. The home minister said the Congress party wants to divide the country into two halves -- South India and North India -- but no one can break India as long as the country is run under Mr Modi's leadership. Later, while addressing an election rally in Banda in favour of BJP candidate R.K. Singh Patel, Mr Shah pointed out that this election is between those who opened fire on Ram devotees and those who built the temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. The Union minister reminded the gathering that the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh had opened fire on karsevaks and devotees of Lord Ram during the Babri Masjid demolition and turned Saryu river red with blood. Mr Shah also said Mr Yadav, his wife and Dimple Yadav, Mr Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi did not attend the 'pran pratistha' ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya as they are afraid to lose their votebanks. Attacking the INDIA bloc and Mr Gandhi, the Union home minister said the Opposition Alliance members have said they will have different Prime Ministers on a rotational basis. But Rahul baba, this is not a grocery shop. To run the country, a strong Prime Minister is needed, one who has a 56-inch chest, he added. Sharpening his attack on the Opposition, he said, This entire ' ghamandia gathbandhan ' (arrogant alliance) is an alliance of familists who work only for their sons and daughters. Sharad Pawar wants to make his daughter Supriya Sule the chief minister, while Uddhav Thackeray wants the same position for his son Aditya Thackeray and Mamata (Banerjee) wants it for her nephew. And Mrs Gandhi wants to make her son the Prime Minister. In Uttar Pradesh, on the last day of campaigning for the fifth phase of polling in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Mr Shah took part in a roadshow taken out to garner support for Smriti Irani, the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate from Amethi. Mr Shah and Ms Irani greeted people in an open-top vehicle decorated with saffron flags, banners and flowers, with the slogan of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre written on it. As the roadshow started from the Ramlila Maidan and proceeded till the Devipatan temple, the crowd raised the Jai Shri Ram slogan. The Jhansi, Banda and Amethi Lok Sabha seats will vote in the fifth phase on May 20.

'I can say with confidence that Rahul Baba is losing from Rae Bareli,' asserts Amit Shah

LUCKNOW: In a last-minute push to BJP's poll campaign in the prestigious seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that he is confident that Rahul Gandhi is losing from Rae Bareli this time. Asking the people of Amethi to opt between PM Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he accused the latter of fleeing to Wayanad after losing Amethi in 2019. Now Rahul Baba is back in Raebareli. I have been in Raebareli for three days and can say with confidence that he is losing from there also, he said. Campaigning in 14 UP Lok Sabha constituencies, including Amethi and Raebareli, ended on Saturday evening as the voting is slated to take place on Monday, May 20. Shah held a 2-km road show in Amethi on Saturday, where he chose to denounce the Congress' claim that Amethi and Rae Bareli, widely considered as the bastion of Gandhi family, were their family seats. In a democracy it is the people, not a family, who send the candidate to the Parliament, Shah said questioning if any of the Gandhi family members turned up in Amethi or Raebareli during the pandemic. Shah, atop a four-wheeler turned into a Rath (chariot), was flanked by party candidate Smriti Irani, UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhury, senior BJP leaders and the party MLAs, including Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, of the assembly segments under Amethi Lok Sabha constituency. Wading through a humongous crowd of BJP cadre and local people, the roadshow, which commenced from Ramleela Ground culminated at Devipattan temple passing through Rajarshri Rananjai Tiraha, Gandhi Chowk and Sagra Tiraha amid the chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shree Ram. Groups of saffron clad youth could be spotted at various locations along the roadshow route dancing, blowing conch shells and beating damroos while the party supporters could be seen waving BJP flags and shouting the slogans. By holding the massive roadshow in Amethi where Congress has fielded KL Sharma against BJPs Smiriti Irani, Shah sought to firm up partys prospects in Raebareli and other adjoining seats including Sultanpur. Notably, Irani had emerged as giant killer in 2019 when she had defeated Rahul Gandhi by a margin of 55,000 votes. However, in Raebareli, BJPs Dinesh Pratap Singh had lost to Sonia Gandhi by a margin of over 1.67 lakh votes. In fact, Congress had won just Raebareli seat losing other 66 seats which it had contested in Uttar Pradesh in 2019. Earlier, the Union Home Minister addressed two poll rallies in Jhansi-Lalitpur and Banad-- in the Bundelkhand region of UP on Saturday. All the four seats of Bundelkhand including Jhansi, Banda, Hamirpur and Jalaun (SC) will vote in fifth phase on May 20. While addressing a poll rally in Jhansi, land of Rani Lakshmi Bai, Amit Shah reached out to people asking them to fight the desi Angrez just like they fought against the British and Mughals during the freedom struggle. He asked the people to choose between two categories of leaders. On one hand there are leaders who have been behind, Rs 12 lakh crore scams, born with a silver spoon and go to Thailand for Vacation, on the other, there was PM Narendra Modi who has his tenures both as CM and PM unblemished. He was born in a poor family and never took a holiday, Shah said. He also targeted Samajwadi Party as the ones who ordered firing at the Ram Bhakts in Ayodhya in 1990. On the other hand, we have Modi, who got the Ram Janmabhoomi case pursued, won it, and eventually got a temple constructed in Ayodhya, Shah asserted. Shah reiterated that the opposition leaders avoided going to the Ram Temple consecration ceremony for the sake of their vote bank. He claimed that Congress vote bank politics stood exposed as its leaders advised to keep away from the POK as Pakistan had atom bomb. We are not afraid of their vote bank. We would take back the PoK, which is an integral part of India, he said. Shah also claimed that after four phases, the BJP had crossed 270 mark. Now it is sure that Modiji will become PM for the third consecutive time and make India the third largest economy in the world, he said. The home minister said that there was a time when Bundelkhand was known for `Bahubalis. Give us the mandate, and we will ensure that Bundelkhand will give `udyogpatis (industrialists), he said, adding that the area would soon be prominently known for nestling the ambitious defense corridor that would wheel out state-of-the-art weapons. In Banda, he reached out to the women voters, saying that it was the BJP who empowered the women by giving them 33% reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. He took a potshot at the opposition for not having a definite PM candidate. If voted to power, they would make their leaders PM one-by-one every year, he said. There cannot be a PM stronger than Modi, who possesses a chest of 56 inches, he said.

Fifth phase: Campaigning ends for 49 seats; Amethi, Rae Bareli, Baramullah in limelight; WB sees highest security deployment

Fifth phase: Campaigning ends for 49 seats; Amethi, Rae Bareli, Baramullah in limelight; WB sees highest security deployment Campaigning concluded on Saturday for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls covering 49 constituencies in six states and two UTs including the high-profile Rae Bareli and Amethi seats from where former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Smriti Irani are in the fray respectively. In Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla, former chief minister Omar Abdullah, who is among 22 candidates in the fray, held a roadshow in Soibugh - a central Kashmir village that was once a hotbed of militancy- on the last day of campaigning. While temperatures soared across the country, there was no let up in the campaign heat as the Lok Sabha election season entered the last fortnight. The Election Commission on Tuesday said it expects star campaigners, particularly of the national parties, to lead by example in the remaining three phases of the Lok Sabha polls and not vitiate the delicate fabric of society. With over 40 of these seats with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Prime Minister Narendra and other BJP leaders tried to fend off the challenge posed by the INDIA bloc parties by raising the pitch on issues of appeasement, dynastic politics, Ram temple, Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), corruption and welfare initiatives taken by his government. ''If the SP and the Congress come to power, they will send Ram Lalla back to the tent and bulldoze the temple,'' Modi claimed. He also alleged that the opposition wanted to bring back Article 370. The Congress and other INDIA bloc parties accused the BJP of polarising voters with its ''Hindu-Muslim politics'', and not focusing on issues like unemployment and inflation. They also persisted with their offensive on the issues of reservations and protecting the Constitution. On Monday, polling will be held in 13 seats in Maharashtra, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, seven in West Bengal, five in Bihar, three in Jharkhand, five in Odisha and one each in J-K and Ladakh. This round covers the least number of seats (49) in the seven-phase election. The parties also wrapped up canvassing in 35 assembly constituencies in Odisha, where BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is among the candidates. Among other prominent candidates in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls are several Union ministers including Rajnath Singh (Lucknow, UP), Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North, Maharashtra), Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti (from Fatehpur, UP) and Shantanu Thakur (Bangaon, WB); LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan (Hajipur, Bihar), Shiv Senas Shrikant Shinde (Kalyan, Maharashtra ), and BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy and RJD president Lalu Prasad's daughter Rohini Acharya (both Saran, Bihar). Gandhi, who has contested from Wayanad in Kerala, is also in the fight for Rae Bareli, a Nehru-Gandhi family pocket borough that was represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi since 2004. The BJP has fielded UP minister Dinesh Pratap Singh. On Friday, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi tried to strike an emotional chord as she said at a rally that she is giving her son to the people of Rae Bareli and ''Rahul will not disappoint you''. ''My everything is all given by you. So, brothers and sisters, I am giving you my son'' said Sonia Gandhi, as Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stood by her side on the stage at the rally. Speaking before his mother, Rahul Gandhi said the ''youth across the country have made up their mind that they don't want Narendra Modi''. ''Narendra Modi will not remain prime minister after June 4 and the INDIA coalition government will be forme,'' he said. In Amethi, Union minister Smriti Irani, who had defeated Rahul Gandhi in 2019, is seeking a second term, while KL Sharma, an aide of the Gandhi family, has been fielded by the Congress. From Lucknow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is eyeing a fourth term. He is up against sitting SP MLA (from Lucknow Central) Ravidas Mehrotra. During a rally in Lucknow, Singh said, ''These elections are also to see who has raised the country's stature in the world.'' In the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, which covers the temple town of Ayodhya, the electoral contest is mainly between sitting BJP MP Lallu Singh, who is seeking a hat-trick, and Awadhesh Prasad, the SP MLA from Milkipur (SC) assembly constituency in Ayodhya. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on May 15 announced that if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, it will double the quantity of free rations provided by the BJP government to the poor. Farmers' loans will be waived and Minimum Support Price will be guaranteed, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Tuesday. In Baramulla, besides Abdullah, former separatist Sajad Lone, former MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias 'Engineer Rashid', who is currently lodged in the Tihar jail, and the PDP's former Rajya Sabha member Fayaz Ahmad Mir are also contesting. With the separatist-sponsored boycott politics a thing of past now, the people are expected to participate in the elections in large numbers to chose their favourite. Political parties fielded their stalwarts as they gave the last push in Maharashtra where elections will conclude with polling in 13 constituencies in North Maharashtra and Mumbai Metropolitan Region on May 20. Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday addressed campaign rallies in Kalyan and Dindori in support of the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP Mahayuti coalitions candidates and also held a roadshow in northeast Mumbai. Modi was again back in Mumbai on Friday for a rally in the citys Shivaji Park. Opposition bloc INDIA also held a rally the same day at the city's Bandra Kurla Complex that was attended by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. On the concluding day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held public meetings at Malegaon in Nashik district and Palghar to canvass for Mahayuti candidates. Security has been stepped up in West Bengal's seven constituencies, with over 57 per cent of the polling stations identified as sensitive in the fifth phase, the highest till now in this election. Over 60,000 personnel of central forces, besides around 30,000 personnel of the state police, have been deployed, which is more than in the four previous phases in the state, an official said. Star campaigners, including Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, have held rallies for their respective party candidates. In Barrackpore, BJP candidate Arjun Singh is contesting against TMC's Partha Bhowmick and CPI (M)'s Debdut Ghosh. In Serampore, TMC's sitting MP Kalyan Banerjee is fighting against BJP's Kabir Shankar Bose. In Hooghly, actor-turned-politician Locket Chatterjee of the BJP is contesting against a fellow member of the film fraternity, Rachana Banerjee of the TMC. Voting will take place in Saran, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Sitamarhi and Madhubani Lok Sabha seats of Bihar. In Saran, former Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy's bid to score a hat-trick has been challenged by RJD president Lalu Prasad's daughter Rohini Acharya, who had donated her kidney to her father. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who has suffered a back injury, campaigned for his elder sister in Saran. The curtains also came down on Saturday over campaigning for three Lok Sabha seats and Gandey assembly by-poll in Jharkhand. With the conclusion of Phase 4, polling for general elections had crossed the halfway mark as it was completed in 23 states/UTs and 379 Lok Sabha constituencies out of 543. The sixth and seventh phases are on May 25 and June 1 respectively. The counting of votes is on June 4.

Amit Shah's Big Claim; Says 'Intruders From Bangladesh Are Cong Vote Bank' | Watch

In a charged election rally in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, Amit Shah takes aim at the Congress and Samajwadi Party. He questions the absence of Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav from the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha event, alleging fear of losing their vote bank. Shah further alleges that the Congress and SP consider intruders from Bangladesh their vote bank. He accuses Rahul and Akhilesh of indulging in vote bank politics. Additionally, Shah boldly predicts Narendra Modi's return as PM for the third time on June 4, sending a strong message to the India Alliance.

PM Modi Targets Congress Over Article 370 at Sonipat Rally

PM Modi Targets Congress Over Article 370 at Sonipat Rally Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday kept up the attack on the Congress, saying it should forget the ''dream'' of bringing back Article 370 as it has been ''buried'' in the ''kabristan (graveyard)''. Addressing a rally at Gohana here, his second of the day in Haryana, Modi referred to the Lok Sabha polls as a ''kurukshetra (battle)'' in which ''there is development on one hand and 'vote jihad' on the other''. Striking a chord with the locals, Modi referred to Gohana's famous ''Matu Ram ki jalebi'' to target the opposition. Attacking the INDIA bloc, he said they have a formula of having five prime ministers in five years if they come to power. ''Ask them is the prime minister's post our Matu Ram ki jalebi''. ''In the 2024 'kurukshetra', there is development on one hand and 'vote jihad' on the other,'' he said. ''I want to ask the people of Haryana... who will win?'' He waited for people to respond before saying, ''Your reply has decided 'Phir Ek Baar','' and the crowd went, ''Modi Sarkar''. Modi said now the Congress is not even hiding its ''desh-virodhi agenda (anti-national agenda). They are saying openly what Modi did in 10 years they will reverse it if they come to power, he said. But their ''dream'' of bringing Article 370 back will never be fulfilled, he added. ''They are saying that we will restore Article 370 in Kashmir... This means once again a free run for terrorism and bloodshed in the Valley,'' he said. ''From the brave land of Haryana, I want to tell those associated with the Congress that only tricolour will fly in Kashmir now,'' he said. ''Forget the dream of bringing back 370 in Kashmir. And if you try to do it 'lene k dene pad jayenge' (you will pay very heavy price).'' ''Dhara 370 ki deewar hamne kabristan me gaad diya hai....We have buried the hurdle of Article 370 in kabristan (graveyard),'' he asserted. Modi said the Congress is out of power for 10 years and therefore they are jittery. They are remembering their old days when the ''shahi parivar'' used to run the government with a remote control, he said. On the opposition naming their grouping INDIA, he said, ''The reality does not change by changing name. This INDI Alliance is a gang of the corrupt. (jJamaat of ghotalebaaz).'' ''They want power at any cost. And what is that cost? It is the country's security, stability and respect. And five prime ministers in five years. This is their formula to run the government,'' he said. ''Will the country benefit, if there is new PM each year. What will they do? Will you allow the country to go back to that period of instability.'' The prime minister claimed the Congress wants to give reservation meant for SC/ST and OBC to Muslims. He also ridiculed the party's manifesto, claiming it has Muslim League imprint. The Congress will X-ray people's property and distribute the ''excess'' to those who do 'vote Jihad', he said. He said the Congress party rejected the invitation for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration ceremony on January 22 whereas Iqbal Ansari, who used to fight against Ram temple in court, participated in it. Among those present on the occasion included Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate from Sonipat Mohan Lal Badoli. Voting for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase of elections on May 25.

Yogi Adityanath Rallies for BJP, Slams Congress on Ram Temple and Security Issues

Yogi Adityanath Rallies for BJP, Slams Congress on Ram Temple and Security Issues Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said Ram Lalla will not allow Congress to come to power again and accused the opposition party of questioning the martyrdom of security personnel during 26/11. Addressing a rally here to campaign for advocate Ujjwal Nikam, BJP candidate for Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency, Yogi said the ongoing elections are about choosing between Ram bhakts and Ram drohis. Ram bhakt is a rashtra bhakt who will serve the people of India and work for the country's progress. A Ram bhakt who paved the way for the construction of Ram temple can ensure respect for the people and the country as well as safety and security, he said. Mumbai North Central, where Congress has nominated its city chief Varsha Gaikwad, and 12 other constituencies in Maharashtra will go to polls in the fifth phase of the general elections on May 20. Campaigning for these seats ended at 6 pm on Saturday. Adityanath also accused the Congress and its allies of being upset with the construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple. Congress leaders say Ram temple shouldnt have been constructed. If the Congress is so upset about it, it can construct a Ram temple in Italy. If they dont want a Ram temple, they can build one dedicated to Bajrangbali (Lord Hanuman). Some Congress leaders say that if their party comes to power, they will destroy the Ram temple, claimed the senior BJP leader. Ram Lalla will not allow you to come to power, he said. The Uttar Pradesh CM said when the BJP speaks with confidence of winning 400-plus seats, the ground beneath slips for opposition parties. People say they will support only those who got the Ram temple (constructed), he said. Adityanath also accused the grand old party of insulting the martyrs of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks by questioning their sacrifice. Nikam, the special public prosecutor during the 26/11 trial, was instrumental in sending terrorist Ajmal Kasab to the gallows, he said. Nikam stood against anti-nationals. No one has dared target Mumbai again. This is new India under (Prime Minister) Narendra Modis leadership. Now, even if a tiny cracker is burst on Diwali, Pakistan has to clarify that it was not behind it, Adityanath said. He urged people to vote for Modi, stressing that a third term for him would destroy Aurangzebs soul that has ''crept into'' the Congress and its allies. India will be atmanirbhar (self-reliant) and viksit (developed), he said. Earlier in the day, Adityanath addressed rallies in Malegaon in Nashik district and Palghar in the state. After Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath, we have to move towards Mathura, he said. During Congress rule, Indias borders were unsafe and the countrys image had diminished, he said, adding that there is respect, security and welfare of poor in new India.

BJP's Lallu Singh Eyes Hat-Trick in Faizabad Amidst Political Tensions

BJP's Lallu Singh Eyes Hat-Trick in Faizabad Amidst Political Tensions Eyeing a hat-trick of poll victories from the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, incumbent BJP MP Lallu Singh feels that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav are not visiting the Ram temple in Ayodhya ''fearing that they will not get the votes of the minorities''. He also asserted that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) never indulges in the politics of Hindu-Muslim. ''They feel that if they visit (the Ram temple), they will not get the votes of the minorities and hence, they are not going there,'' Singh told PTI, when asked whether he feels that Gandhi and Yadav are hesitating to pay a visit to the newly-built temple. ''In July 2005, when hand grenades were hurled at the Ram Janmabhoomi and then there was a terror attack, it was (SP patriarch) Mulayam Singh Yadav's government in Uttar Pradesh. Not even a minister of state went to Ayodhya after the blasts. From this, you can make out (about them) and they claim that they are devotees of Lord Ram,'' he said. The July 5, 2005 terror attack in Ayodhya left two people dead and seven paramilitary personnel injured. Five suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were eliminated by security forces in retaliatory action. Asked about Gandhi's allegation that prominent personalities and big businessmen were invited to the Ram temple's consecration ceremony on January 22, while poor people, labourers and farmers were nowhere to be seen, Singh said, ''People from different sections of the society, who had helped build the temple, were invited. He (Gandhi) too was invited. Besides, seers from across the country were present at the ceremony.'' On February 12, Gandhi said in Chhattisgarh's Korba that he saw the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and big businessmen at the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, but poor people, labourers and farmers were nowhere to be seen. Singh said, ''He (Gandhi) should talk about his own history. Why did they (the Congress) fail to do what Modiji has done (in 10 years), despite remaining in power for 60 years? Electricity had not reached villages, people neither had houses nor toilets and no one had an LPG gas connection. They never pondered over these (issues) and are talking about useless things.'' Refuting claims that the unity among opposition parties might impact the outcome of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, the 69-year-old BJP leader said, ''Who is there (in the opposition) that they will unite? Does the Congress have anything in Uttar Pradesh? The Congress has nothing in Uttar Pradesh and the regional parties, whosoever they may be, have tied up with communal forces and are spreading casteism to get power. They do not think about the country. Gradually, people have understood everything.'' To a question on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) indulging in the politics of Hindu-Muslim, Singh said, ''We have never done it. You can ask the Muslims of Ayodhya and if we have done anything like this, then give examples.'' He also recalled that on December 30 last year, Modi unveiled a new-look old city with an airport, a revamped train station and projects worth Rs 15,700 crore, ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple. The Faizabad Lok Sabha seat consists of five Assembly segments -- Dariyabad, Rudauli, Mikipur (reserved for SC candidates), Bikapur and Ayodhya. Dariyabad is located in neighbouring Barabanki district while the four other Assembly constituencies are in Ayodhya district. SP candidate Awadhesh Prasad is the MLA from Milkipur, while Dariyabad is represented in the Assembly by BJP's Satish Sharma, Rudauli by BJP's Ram Chandra Yadav, Bikapur by the saffron party's Amit Singh Chauhan and Ayodhya by the party's Ved Prakash Gupta. Polling for the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat is scheduled to take place in the fifth phase of the seven-phase election on May 20 and the counting of votes will be taken up on June 4. Thirteen candidates are in the fray from Faizabad, with the main battle between Singh and Prasad. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has also fielded a candidate from the seat.

Congress Rebuts PM Modi's Ram Temple Bulldozer Claim

Congress Rebuts PM Modi's Ram Temple Bulldozer Claim The Congress on Saturday took strong objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charge that the party will ''bulloze the Ram temple'' if elected to power, accusing him of instigating people and demanded that the Election Commission takes action on him. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said it is the BJP that uses the bulldozer. ''It is the BJP that uses the bulldozer. We have never run a bulldozer on anyone till date. The Election Commission should take action against Modi ji and the BJP for saying such things about the temple of God which is currently under construction by the trust. By saying such things, they are creating anger among the public. They are inciting the public, they are instigating them. ''The Prime Minister himself is giving instigative speeches, action should be taken against him. If some small leader had done this, we would not have paid attention, but the person sitting on the post of Prime Minister is speaking such language,'' Kharge said in a post on X. Modi, while campaigning in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, had claimed that the Congress and the SP will run a bulldozer over the Ram temple if elected to power, and asked them to take lessons from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on where bulldozers should be used instead. ''If the SP and the Congress come to power, they will send Ram Lalla back to the tent and bulldoze the temple,'' he claimed. The Congress president, in his reaction, said Modi is inciting people by saying such things that are impossible as ''we cannot do such things''. ''The people of the country know that this will never happen. After our government comes, everything will be protected. This is what our constitution says, we will work under the constitution only,'' he said. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said the party in its manifesto has promised to ''put an end to the weaponisation of laws, arbitrary searches, seizures and attachments, arbitrary and indiscriminate arrests, third-degree methods, prolonged custody, custodial deaths, and bulldozer justice''. ''That is a complete answer to the outrageous and false charge that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc will take bulldozers to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya,'' he said in a post on X. ''Bulldozer justice may be the signature tune of the chief minister of U.P., but it is anathema to the Congress and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc,'' the former union minister also said.

Salman Khurshid takes exception to 'Congress will bulldoze temple' remark of PM

PATNA: Former Union minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday voiced strong displeasure over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charge that the Congress, if it came to power, will bulldoze the Ram temple at Ayodhya. Addressing a press conference at the Sadaqat Ashram, the state Congress headquarters, Khurshid also reminded Modi that he entire nation has accepted the temple that was built in accordance with a Supreme Court verdict. The Prime Minister should remember that the credit for the construction of the temple goes not to him but to the Supreme Court. God belongs to all, so do places of worship. It is unfortunate that the PM is speaking such language, said Khurshid. The senior Congress leader, who had held portfolios like Law and Justice and Minority Affairs in the UPA government, added Our party believes in the rule of law. We do not want to bulldoze any place of worship. He also scoffed at allegations made against the Congress, in recent past, by Modi like We will take away buffaloes of cattle owners and rob women of their mangalsutras. INDIA bloc will bulldoze Ram temple if it comes to power: PM Modi The PM has also claimed that our manifesto bore the imprint of the Muslim League. He should tell us when did he get to read the Muslim League's manifesto to draw such a comparison, added Khurshid. The Congress leader claimed that allegations of the PM and other senior BJP leaders were proof that even they have begun to sense that we are coming to power. We are confident of winning the elections, in any case. Once we come to power we will fulfil promises like scrapping of the Agniveer scheme and 10 kg free ration to the poor. The BJP has been boasting about its five kg ration scheme for which credit goes to the Right to Food Act that was passed under the UPA rule, said Khurshid. Modi inciting people, dividing society, alleges Kharge; Uddhav says 'acche din' coming after June 4 The senior Congress leader bristled at remarks of BJP leaders labelling a section of the population as Pakistan supporters and said Let them send their children to the neighbouring country which they refer to so frequently in their discourse. I am grateful to my ancestors who chose to stay back during Partition, preferring one's own mother to a stepmother (sauteli maa).

Khurshid takes exception to Congress will bulldoze temple remark of PM

Patna: Former Union minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday voiced strong displeasure over Prime Minister Narendra Modis charge that the Congress, if it came to power, will bulldoze the Ram temple at Ayodhya. Addressing a press conference at the Sadaqat Ashram, the state Congress headquarters, Khurshid also reminded Modi that the entire nation has accepted the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Salman Khurshid Rebukes PM Modi's Claims on Ayodhya Temple

Salman Khurshid Rebukes PM Modi's Claims on Ayodhya Temple Former Union minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday voiced strong displeasure over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charge that the Congress, if it came to power, ''will bulldoze the Ram temple'' at Ayodhya. Addressing a press conference at the Sadaqat Ashram, the state Congress headquarters, Khurshid also reminded Modi that ''the entire nation has accepted the temple that was built in accordance with a Supreme Court verdict''. ''The Prime Minister should remember that the credit for the construction of the temple goes not to him but to the Supreme Court. God belongs to all, so do places of worship. It is unfortunate that the PM is speaking such language'', said Khurshid. The senior Congress leader, who had held portfolios like Law and Justice and Minority Affairs in the UPA government, added ''Our party believes in the rule of law. We do not want to bulldoze any place of worship''. He also scoffed at allegations made against the Congress, in recent past, by Modi like ''We will take away buffaloes of cattle owners and rob women of their mangalsutras''. ''The PM has also claimed that our manifesto bore the imprint of the Muslim League. He should tell us when did he get to read the Muslim League's manifesto to draw such a comparison'', added Khurshid. The Congress leader claimed that allegations of the PM and other senior BJP leaders were ''proof that even they have begun to sense that we are coming to power''. ''We are confident of winning the elections, in any case. Once we come to power we will fulfil promises like scrapping of the Agniveer scheme and 10 kg free ration to the poor. The BJP has been boasting about its five kg ration scheme for which credit goes to the Right to Food Act that was passed under the UPA rule'', said Khurshid. The senior Congress leader bristled at remarks of BJP leaders labelling a section of the population as ''Pakistan supporters'' and said ''Let them send their children to the neighbouring country which they refer to so frequently in their discourse. I am grateful to my ancestors who chose to stay back during Partition, preferring one's own mother to a stepmother (sauteli maa)''.

INDIA bloc leaders slam PM Modi on bulldozer remark

Mumbai: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and other INDIA bloc leaders on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his claim that the opposition alliance would bulldoze the Ayodhya Ram temple if voted to power, and said they were committed to protecting the religious freedom of all citizens and ensuring that the country runs as per Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Quit SP Due to Ideological Differences, Manoj Pandey Tells News18 After Joining BJP, Slams Swami Prasad Maurya

The MLA from Unchahar assembly seat said he decided to part ways with the party when SP chief Akhilesh Yadav turned a blind eye towards Mauryas diatribe against the Ramcharitmanas and Lord Rams consecration ceremony in Ayodhya

Sri Lanka: Rath Yatra of Holy Saryu water flagged off for Seetha Amman Temple

Colombo , May 18 : In a ceremonial event imbued with spiritual significance, Indias High Commisioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, alongside Members of Parliament and other dignitaries, inaugurated the Rath Yatra of Holy Saryu Water from Mayurapathi Sri Badrakali Amman Kovil. The sacred water, drawn from the revered Saryu River in Ayodhya, India, marks the auspicious beginning of a journey destined for the Seetha Amman Temple in Seetha Eliya. The event, resonating with ancient traditions and divine reverence, symbolises [] The post Sri Lanka: Rath Yatra of Holy Saryu water flagged off for Seetha Amman Temple appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Lord Ram's Guardian: Yogi Adityanath Vows to Protect Ayodhya Temple from Opposition Control

Lord Ram's Guardian: Yogi Adityanath Vows to Protect Ayodhya Temple from Opposition Control Lord Ram will ensure that opposition doesnt come to power to destroy his temple in Ayodhya: Yogi Adityanath at rally in Maharashtra.

Modi inciting people, dividing society, alleges Kharge; Uddhav says 'acche din' coming after June 4

MUMBAI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of inciting people and dividing society through his election speeches. Kharge was addressing a press conference of the INDIA bloc, where NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders were present. The opposition alliance held an election rally in the city on Friday. No prime minister before Modi has ever indulged in inciting people like he has been doing. He speaks about democracy repeatedly but doesn't adhere to the tenets of democracy, Kharge said. Responding to a question on PM Modi' statement that the Congress will bulldoze the Ram mandir in Ayodhya and also restore Article 370 if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, Kharge said, We have never used a bulldozer on anyone. Modi has the habit of lying and inciting people about things which Congress will never do or the things that are impossible to be implemented. Asked about his party's stand on Article 370, Kharge said , I am not answerable to Modi. We will implement what we have promised in our manifesto. Attacking the PM further, he said, Wherever he goes, he tries to create division, speaks of dividing society. PM Modi had described the Congress' manifesto as Muslim League manifesto, but now he says it is a Maoist manifesto, Kharge added. The Congress chief assured that reservation as enshrined in the Constitution will continue and nobody can touch it. Speaking on the occasion, Thackeray said, 'Achche din' are coming from June 4 (when Lok Sabha poll results will be declared) when INDIA bloc-led government takes charge. PM Modi calls us 'nakli' (fake) Shiv Sena, tomorrow he may call RSS as 'nakli Sangh', the former chief minister said. The BJP is floating 'Pakistan flags in our rally' narrative to divert people's attention from issues like jobs, he alleged. Pawar said that after coming to power, the INDIA bloc government's duty will be to protect all religious places in the country. Kharge noted that if elected, the opposition alliance's government will implement a simple, single rate GST, replacing the present GST. We introduced Food Security Act, but PM Modi is taking credit for free ration supply, he alleged.

No seat is family seat, its all peoples: Shah to Priyanka

LUCKNOW: Confronting the claim of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra that Raebareli Union Home Minister Amit Shah said it was not a seat of any family but that of the people. She (Priyanka Gandhi) says that Rae Bareli and Amethi are the seats of my family. I say that this seat does not belong to any family. This is the seat of poor youth of both the districts. Whoever the people of Rae Bareli and Amethi want will go to the Parliament. This is democracy, family has no seat, he asserted. Shah made a blistering attack on the Congress for declining the invite to consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya claiming that if the Congress would come to power, it would put the lock in the temple again. Addressing a rally in Daulatpur of Unchahar assembly constituency represented by SP turncoat Manoj Pandey who joined the BJP formally on Friday in Shahs presence, the Home Minister said, Congress allies who say Ram temple has not been consecrated properly, if come, they will put the Babri lock on Ram temple again. Calling the opposition alliance a family-based congregation of parties, Shah said: RJD leader Lalu Yadav wants to make his son the chief minister, Mamata (Banerjee) wants her nephew to be the chief minister and Sonia Gandhi wants to make her son the prime minister. He claimed that with Smriti Irani winning in Amethi and Dinesh Pratap Singh in Rae Bareli, both the seats were going to go to the BJP. Assuring the people of Raebareli that Dinesh Pratap Singh would remain with them in their good and bad times, Shah said, I take a guarantee that if Dinesh Pratap is not seen in your good or bad times, it is my responsibility, he said. The Congress party was sitting on Article 370. (Prime Minister) Modi ended it. Congress says that we will bring back Article 370. Modi ji has ended terrorism from the country, the home minister said. No collectors office in Amethi till 2018 Discussing the development work done in Amethi during the last five years, Shah said, There was no collector office in the constituency, which they call the family seat for 70 years. Yogi government along with Smriti Irani laid foundation for the collector office in 2018, he said.

LS polls fifth phase: Fate of 5 Modi Ministers at stake in 14 UP seats

LUCKNOW: The political heartland of India will witness voting on 14 seats, including a couple of high-profile constituencies and fate of five Union ministers, in the fifth phase on May 20. The 14 seats comprise not only Congress citadels Rae Bareli and Amethi but also Ayodhya, the nerve centre of BJPs Hindutva plank. In fact, this phase will decide the tone and tenor of the sixth and seventh rounds, which will be concentrated across 27 seats of Purvanchal. Moreover, four constituencies of Bundelkhand will decide whether to let BJP achieve a hat-trick or vote for change. The BJP had swept the phase in 2019 by winning 13 of the 14 seats in fray. While the BJP had wrested Amethi from Congress, Sonia Gandhi had retained Rae Bareli as the only party MP from UP in 2019. The SP and BSP drew a blank in 2019 and 2014. In 2024, while Congress is contesting on two seats, ally SP is contesting on rest 12 seats. Rae Bareli One of the most prominent seats of fifth phase is set for a fight between Rahul Gandhi and BJP MLC and Yogi minister Dinesh Pratap Singh who had switched over to the saffron party in 2018. BSP has fielded an OBC nominee. Amethi Another high-profile seat witnesses a battle of nerves between Union minister Smriti Irani and KL Sharma, a representative of Congress first family of four decades. Smriti had defeated Rahul Gandhi in 2019 in Amethi and she is seeking a second term. BSP has fielded Nanhe Singh Chauhan. Faizabad The seat of Ram temple is set to test BJPs Hindutva plank. However, Faizabad has never been the saffron stronghold in the true sense. The Congress captured the seat in 2009, BSP won it in 2004 and SP in 1998. The BJP won the seat in 1991, 1996, 2014 and 2019. In 2019, BJPs Lallu Singh, five-time MLA and an MP twice, retained it defeating SPs Anand Sen. This time the contest is multi-cornered with SP having fielded its nine-time MLA Awdhesh Prasad, CPI former IPS officer Arvind Sena and BSP Sachhidanand Pandey. Lucknow The real challenge before the BJP is winning margin of MP Rajnath Singh who is seeking a third term carrying forward the legacy of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had represented Lucknow five times in the Lok Sabha from 1991 and 2004. Lucknow parliamentary constituency is the BJPs citadel. The party has never lost this seat since 1991. Singh won the seat in 2014 and 2019. Mohanlal Ganj and Barabanki Both the reserve seats are adjacent to Lucknow with Pasi community holding the key. Mohanlal Ganj BJP candidate and Union minister of state Kaushal Kishore is trying his luck for the third term in a row. Challenging him are the SPs RK Chaudhary and the BSPs Rajesh Kumar. Barabanki Another seat adjoining Lucknow has have tendency of changing winners each time. However, the BJP won the seat in 2014 and retained it in 2019. Pasis among the SCs and Kurmi voters among OBCs are decisive in the constituency. There are over 20% Muslim voters. In 2024, BJP replaced its MP Upendra Singh Rawat with Rajrani Rawat and Congress fielded Tanuj Punia, son of former bureaucrat and Congress leader PL Punia. Gonda BJP MP Kirti Vardhan Singh, from the royal family, is in the fray for the third consecutive term. Challenging him is SPs Shreya Verma, the granddaughter of party stalwart Beni Prasad Verma, and BSP pitted a Brahmin Saurabh Mishra. Fatehpur BJP has repeated its MP Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti who had defeated BSPs Sukh Lal Verma, as the joint SP-BSP candidate, in 2019. The SP fielded its state chief Naresh Uttam, a Kurmi by caste, and the BSP put stakes on Manish Sachan. Kaiserganj BJP has fielded Karan Bhushan Singh, son of Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, SP has named Baghatram Mishra and BSP has made the contest interesting by fielding another Brahmin Narendra Pandey. Kaushambi The reserved seat is set for in interesting battle between BJP MP Vinod Sonkar and one of the youngest SP candidates Pushpendra Saroj, son of SP MLA Indrajeet Saroj. Bundelkhand Four seats Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur and Banda.

PM: Forced to spell out facts to expose opposition's communal mindset

PM Narendra Modi challenges opposition's 'Hindu-Muslim narrative' allegation, exposes their communal mindset at a rally in Barabanki. Mentions BR Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru's opposition to reservation based on religion in Karnataka. Warns against Muslim community OBC status in UP, discusses Ram temple in Ayodhya, SC verdict, rapid development, 1,000cc performance, strong govt, and gifts while going abroad.

High-profile seats of Rae Bareli, Amethi to vote in Phase-V in UP, fate of 5 Union ministers at stake

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh, the political heartland of India, will witness voting in 14 seats in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20, with the fate of five Union ministers at stake. The 14 seats which will vote in the upcoming phase comprise not only the Congress citadels of Rae Bareli and Amethi but also Ayodhya, the nerve centre of the BJPs Hindutva plank. In fact, the fifth phase will decide the tone and tenor of the remaining sixth and seventh phases of the ensuing election which will be concentrated across 27 seats of Purvanchal. Moreover, four constituencies of Bundelkhand would also decide whether to let the ruling saffron brigade achieve a hat-trick or vote for a change going beyond the benefits of welfare schemes extended by the Modi government. Similarly, the political stature of the tainted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of the BJP, the six-time Lok Sabha MP, would also be put to test in Kaiserganj where his son is contesting as a proxy as he is caught in the sexual harassment case of ace female wrestlers of the country. The ruling BJP had swept the phase in 2019 by winning 13 of the 14 seats. While the BJP had wrested Amethi from the Congress, former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi had managed to retain Rae Bareli as the only party MP from UP in 2019. The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party had drawn a blank in this phase in 2019 and 2014. In the fifth phase, while the Congress is contesting in two seats Rae Bareli and Amethi its ally, the SP, is contesting in the remaining 12 seats. Rae Bareli is 'karmabhoomi' of both my 'mothers' Sonia and Indira Gandhi: Rahul At a glance Rae Bareli: One of the most prominent seats of the fifth phase is set for a fierce fight between former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi who has switched from his bastion Amethi replacing his mother and sitting MP Sonia Gandhi. He is being challenged by the BJPs MLC and Yogi government minister Dinesh Pratap Singh who had switched over to the BJP from the Congress in 2018. The BSP has fielded an OBC Thakur Prasad Yadav here. Amethi: Another high-profile seat witnesses a battle of nerves between Union minister and sitting MP Smriti Irani and KL Sharma, a low-profile representative of the Congresss first family of four decades. Smriti had defeated Rahul Gandhi in 2019 in Amethi and she is seeking a second term. The BSP has fielded Nanhe Singh Chauhan. Faizabad: The seat of the Ram temple is set to test the BJPs Hindutva plank. However, Faizabad has never been a saffron stronghold in the true sense. The Congress captured this seat in 2009, BSP won it in 2004 and the SP in 1998. The BJP won the seat in 1991, 1996, 2014 and 2019. In 2019, the BJPs Lallu Singh, five-time MLA and an MP twice, retained it defeating SPs Anand Sen by securing 48.65% of votes. Buoyed by the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the BJP hopes to win this seat with a huge margin in 2024. This time the contest is multi-cornered with the SP having fielded its 9-time MLA Awdhesh Prasad, while former IPS officer Arvind Sena of the CPI and Sachhidanand Pandey of the BSP are also in the fray. Lucknow: The real challenge before the ruling BJP is the winning margin of sitting MP Rajnath Singh who is seeking a third term carrying forward the legacy of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had represented Lucknow five times in the Lok Sabha from 1991 and 2004. The Lucknow parliamentary constituency is the BJPs citadel. The party has never lost this seat since 1991. BJP veteran and defence minister Rajnath Singh won the seat in 2014 and 2019. With no prominent candidate facing him, Rajnath Singh is expected to make a hat-trick. The SP has fielded sitting MLA Ravi Das Mehrotra while the BSP has given the ticket to a Muslim Sarwar Mallik. Time is an everchanging entity, Rae Bareli now Modi citadel: BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh Mohanlal Ganj: This reserved seat is adjacent to Lucknow with the Pasi community holding the key. BJP candidate and Union minister of state Kaushal Kishore is trying his luck for the third term in a row. Challenging him are the SPs RK Chaudhary and the BSPs Rajesh Kumar. Barabanki: Another reserved seat adjoining Lucknow, this has the tendency of changing winners each time. However, the BJP won the seat in 2014 and retained it in 2019. Pasis among the SCs and Kurmi voters among OBCs are decisive in the constituency. There are over 20% Muslim voters here. In 2024, the BJP replaced its sitting MP Upendra Singh Rawat with Rajrani Rawat and the Congress has fielded Tanuj Punia, son of former bureaucrat and Congress leader PL Punia. The BSP has fielded Shiv Kumar Dohre. Gonda: The BJPs sitting MP Kirti Vardhan Singh, hailing from the royal family, is in the fray for the third consecutive term. Challenging him is the SPs Shreya Verma, the granddaughter of party stalwart and prominent Kurmi leader Beni Prasad Verma, while the BSP has pitted a Brahmin Saurabh Mishra. Fatehpur: The BJP has repeated its sitting MP Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti who had defeated the BSPs Sukh Lal Verma, who was the joint SP-BSP candidate, with 54% of the votes in 2019. The SP has fielded its state chief Naresh Uttam, a Kurmi by caste, and the BSP has pinned its hopes on Manish Sachan. Kaiserganj: The BJP has fielded Karan Bhushan Singh, son of sitting MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, while the SP has fielded Baghatram Mishra and the BSP has made the contest interesting by fielding another Brahmin Narendra Pandey. Kaushambi: Adjacent to the Allahabad Lok Sabha constituency, this reserved seat is set for an interesting battle between the BJPs sitting MP Vinod Sonkar and one of the SPs youngest candidates, the debutant Pushpendra Saroj who is the son of SP MLA Indrajeet Saroj. The BSP has fielded Shubh Narain Gautam, a retired area development officer. Bundelkhand Jalaun: It is set for a three-cornered fight featuring Union Minister Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma of the BJP, Narayan Das Ahirwar of the SP, and Suresh Chandra Gautam of the BSP. While Verma has been a five-time MP and is seeking a third term from Jalaun, both the SP and BSP candidates are making their debut. Jhansi: This land of warriors is witnessing a showdown between Anurag Sharma, the sitting BJP MP, and Pradeep Jain Aditya of the Congress. The BSP has fielded Ravi Prakash making the contest three-cornered. Hamirpur: It is set for a tough contest between Kunwar Pushpendra Singh Chandel of the BJP and Ajendra Singh Rajput of the SP. Chandel is seeking his third term while the BSP has given an interesting dimension to the fight by fielding a Brahmin Nirdosh Kumar Dikshit. Banda: The BJP has repeated its sitting MP RK Singh Patel to clash with Krishna Patel of the SP, along with Mayank Dwivedi of the BSP who is depending on the votes of upper castes.

Visakhapatnam: Steel Employees Stage Dharna for Wages

Vizag Steel Plant entrance. (Photo: AFP/File) Vizag Steel Plant entrance. (Photo: AFP/File) Visakhapatnam: Steel plant employees led by the CITU staged a dharna in front of the work executive directors office on Friday demanding immediate release of wages. The union leaders later submitted a memorandum to the executive director. Honorary president of CITU, J Ayodhyaram, said that as per the company rules, the steel plant management should be paying wages by the seventh of every month. But, contrary to rules, the wage payments were irregular for the last three months. The salary bills total `90 crore a month. The unionists warned that the employees would launch a full-scale agitation if the salaries were not paid on time. JMS general secretary Varasala Srinivasa Rao said banks were slapping abnormal fines on EMIs for the delay in payment of instalments due to the irregular release of the wages. All the banks have declared health accounts as NPA and are pressing the employees for clearance of dues. The banks are waiving loans worth several crores in the case of big business, but are harassing the employees who just missed one or two EMIs, Srinivasa Rao said. Sources said the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd, for the first time in its 42-year-old history, found it difficult to pay salaries to its employees. The steel plant has 13,557 regular employees, including 9,154 non-executive cadre employees and 4,403 executive cadre employees. A senior officer of RINL said the management was paying salaries before the scheduled date till some time ago. However, due to the current non-movement of raw material from Gangavaram Port to the Steel Plant due to the employees strike, the regular business was affected. The problem has been solved and we will pay the salaries in a day or two.

INDIA bloc will bulldoze Ram temple if it comes to power: PM Modi

LUCKNOW: Claiming that the opposition alliance, especially the Congress, had the intention of reversing the Supreme Court verdict on the Ram temple, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that if they come to power they would get the temple bulldozed. Addressing a poll rally in Zaidpur in Barabanki on Friday, PM Modi advised the INDIA bloc to learn from CM Yogi Adityanath where to run bulldozers. A senior SP leader had said on Ram Navami that the Ram temple is useless. At the same time, the Congress is preparing to overturn the Supreme Court's decision on the temple. For them, only their family and power matter. If the SP and Congress come to power, they will send Ram Lalla back to the tent and bulldoze the temple, he claimed while asking them to take uition from Adityanath as to where bulldozers should be used. The PM addressed three poll rallies in UP at Barabanki, Hamirpur and Fatehpur on Friday. Underlining that the power of a vote had ended a 500-year wait and led to the enthronement of Shri Ram Lalla in the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the PM took a dig at the opposition saying that they never felt bad witnessing Ram Lalla in a tent. When people used to see Ram Lalla in a tent under the sky, they would abuse the government of the day, said the PM. He launched a scathing attack on the opposition bloc claiming that it was an incohesive conglomerate of power-hungry forces. PM Modi said that opposition parties was still not sure of their PM face and were fighting amongst themselves for the position but would eventually disintegrate like a pack of cards after the Lok Sabha election results on June 4. Modis Babbua & new Bua jibe at Akhilesh and Mamata He added that the shehzada of SP (SP chief Akhilesh Yadav), had a heartbreak when a Congress leader claimed that the people of Rae Bareli would elect the next PM of India. PM Modi was reflecting on the statement of ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel that after Indira Gandhi, the people of Rae Bareli were going to elect the Prime Minister of the country. He also hinted at the chinks in the INDI Alliance. Referring to the AAP and Congress, he said, An INDI alliance party has told the other not to mess with it in Punjab. The PM was seeking support for BJP candidate Rajrani Rawat in Barabanki and the partys Mohanlal Ganj candidate and Union Minister Kaushal Kishore. Aware of the caste dynamics of both the reserved constituencies, Modi accused the Congress of insulting SP stalwart and former MP Beni Prasad Verma, a tall Kurmi leader. Even now the SP shehzada is silent, he said. Maintaining that othing is bigger than vote bank for the SP-Congress, Modi said when he exposed them, they became restless and lost sleep. They start saying anything and start hurling abuses. This is a battle between BJP's policy of contentment vs INDIA bloc's appeasement politics: Modi The SP-Congress have surrendered to appeasement. And when Modi is telling the truth to the country, they say Modi is creating Hindu-Muslim divide. Even their vote bank has also started understanding the truth. Our mothers and sisters are happy with the law on triple talaq and are continuously blessing the BJP, Modi claimed. He said that the local MP from the opposition camp, if elected, will have just one task: abuse Modi day and night. People here should aspire for an MP who can work for them and develop their area and so the people have the only option of Kamal (lotus) , he said. Taking a swipe at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, the PM said: The Babuaji here, the socialist prince, has now taken refuge under a new Buaji. Apparently referring to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Modi said: The new Buaji in Bengal has said that she would back the 'INDI alliance' from outside. In Fatehpur, the PM took a jibe at the Congress saying its aim was to win just 50 seats in the country so that it could save its honour. He also mocked Rahul Gandhi for contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Rae Baraeli instead of Amethi which he lost to the BJP's Smriti Irani in 2019. Taking a further swipe, Modi said, The dreams of 'panja' (Congress poll symbol) and 'cycle' (SP poll symbol) have shattered 'khata-khat, khata-khat'. Now they are planning for post-June 4 as to who should be blamed for the defeat 'khata-khat, khata-khat'. And, someone was telling me that tickets for foreign trips have also been booked 'khata-khat, khata-khat'. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had used the phrase Khata-khat khata-khat to claim that a fixed stipend would flow into the accounts of poor women if his party came to power. Addressing another rally in Hamirpur, the PM cautioned the people against the inheritance tax allegedly proposed in the Congress manifesto. He said the SP and the Congress would use people's votes to come to power and then gift a part of their property to those who carry out vote jihad for them. Today I have come to caution you against the SP and the Congress. They will take your vote, but after coming to power, they will distribute these gifts to those who do vote jihad for them, he said.

Mumbai: PM Modi pays tributes to BR Ambedkar, Veer Savarkar

Mumbai: PM Modi pays tributes to BR Ambedkar, Veer Savarkar Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Veer Savarkar and Bhimrao Ambedkar in Mumbai on Friday. He paid tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar, the former Union Minister and head of the Constitution committee, at Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai. Prime Minister Modi also paid tribute to the Veer Savarkar, freedom fighter leader of Hindu Mahasabha, at the Veer Savarkar Memorial in Mumbai. Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra are being held in five phases: April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20. 13 constituencies including the six seats in Mumbai are among the ones that will vote on May 20. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. The state, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the lower house of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh. Known for its political diversity and significant electoral influence, Maharashtra plays a crucial role in shaping national politics. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the largest party with 23 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena with 18 seats. Earlier in the day, during his address in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur, PM Modi sharpened his attack against the Congress party, Samajwadi Party, and INDIA bloc, accusing it of appeasement politics. He said that Congress intends to change the Constitution by giving people's property to their vote bank that is engaged in vote jihad for them. Addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur on Friday, PM Modi said, This time, the SP-Congress has made their intentions clear even before the elections. Congress is saying that it will investigate everyone's property. Then they will give a part of your property to the vote bank that does vote jihad for them. Where there is Congress government, these people are reducing the reservation of Dalits and backward classes and giving it to Muslims. Now these people want to change the Constitution and give the entire reservation of SC-ST-OBC to Muslims, he added. Prime Minister Modi also addressed a mega public meeting at UP's Barabanki, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Congress party and Samajwadi Party said they would run a bulldozer over the Ram Temple in Ayodhya if elected in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. If the Congress, SP, and their INDIA partners come to power, our Ram Lalla would have to return to the tent again as they would run a bulldozer over the Ram Mandir. They should take lessons from Yogi-ji (Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath) on where to run bulldozers and where not to, PM Modi said. (ANI)

Amit Shah attacks Priyanka Gandhi for calling Rae Bareli 'family seat'

Rae Bareli : Union Home Minister Amit Shah at an election rally here on Friday attacked Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi for calling Rae Bareli a family seat, and said it's not a seat of any family but that of the people.Shah made a scathing attack at the Congress for turning down invitations for Ram Mandir's 'Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya, and said if the Congress came to power, they would put the Ayodhya lock in the temple again. Shah held a public meeting in Daulatpur of Unchahar assembly constituency. During the rally, rebel SP MLA from Unchahar, Manoj Kumar Pandey joined the BJP and sat beside Shah on the stage. Congress says that Ram temple has not been consecrated properly. If the INDI alliance comes, they will put the 'Babri lock' on Ram temple again, he said. Shah also called the INDIA bloc a family-based alliance. Lalu (Prasad Yadav) wants to make his son the chief minister, Mamata (Banerjee) wants her nephew to be the chief minister and Sonia Gandhi wants to make her son the prime minister, Shah said. She (Priyanka Gandhi) says that Rae Bareli and Amethi are the seats of my family. I say that this seat does not belong to any family. This is the seat of poor youths of both the districts. Whoever the people of Rae Bareli and Amethi want will go to the Parliament. This is democracy, family has no seat, he said. With Smriti Irani winning in Amethi and Dinesh Pratap Singh in Rae Bareli, both the seats are going to go to the BJP, Shah said. The Congress party was sitting on Article 370. (Prime Minister) Modi ended it. Congress says that we will bring back Article 370. Modi ji has ended terrorism from the country, he said. On one hand, there is Narendra Modi, who is not accused of (scam of) four annas despite being the chief minister and prime minister for 23 years, Shah said. The Union home minister said that PM Modi will put in jail all those who have committed corruption. There was no collector office in the parliamentary constituency which they call the family seat for 70 years, Shah said, adding that the Yogi Adityanath government along with Smriti Irani laid the foundation stone of the collector office in 2018. Shah said that BJP candidate Singh will be among the people 24 hours. I take a guarantee that if Dinesh Pratap is not seen in your good or bad times, it is my responsibility, he said.

'Congress will bulldoze Ram temple if it comes to power,' says Modi in UP's Barabanki

Barabanki (UP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday here alleged that the Congress will run a bulldozer over the Ram temple if the INDIA bloc comes to power. Addressing an election rally, PM Modi said the Congress is planning to challenge the Supreme Court's order on the Ram temple once it comes to power and will eventually demolish the temple. If Samajwadi Party-Congress comes to power, it will send Ram Lalla once again to a tent, and a bulldozer will be rolled over the temple, he said. PM Modi also accused the Congress of being responsible for the Partition. He said what used to be thought of as impossible - that the country could ever be divided - was done by the party. When the freedom struggle was going on and the talk of dividing the country used to come up, every person used to wonder: Can the country be divided? Did it happen or not? They did it or not? They can go to any extent. Their track record is such, he said referring to the Congress. The country does not matter to them. For them, the game is for family and power, he added. The Prime Minister was in Barabanki to seek support for party candidate Rajrani Rawat who is contesting from the Lok Sabha seat. He thanked the people for voting for him in the previous elections, saying it was their vote which ended the 500-year-long wait for the Ram Mandir. People from Barabanki walked on foot to Ayodhya with bricks with 'Ram' inscribed on them. The youngsters, the first-time voters, will not understand the 500 years of wait ... Generation after generation of our ancestors struggled and sacrificed, he said. He alleged that Congress under its regime sent Ram Lalla to a ent and when it, along with the Samajwadi Party, was invited to the temple's consecration ceremony, the party refused to attend. There is so much poison in their belly... I don't know what enmity they have with Ram, PM Modi said. In Barabanki, there are 13 candidates in the fray with the main contest between Tanuj Punia of the Congress and BJP's Rajrani Rawat. Mr Punia is the son of Congress leader PL Punia, a former MP from Barabanki (SC) Lok Sabha seat. In March, a day after an explicit video allegedly involving him surfaced online, sitting BJP MP Upendra Singh Rawat, who was fielded again by the party, said he would not contest any election until proven innocent. Subsequently, the party gave the ticket to Rajrani Rawat. Barabanki will vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the state on May 20.

Home Minister Shah attacks Priyanka Gandhi for calling Rae Bareli 'family seat'

Shah made a scathing attack at the Congress for turning down invitation for Ram Mandir's 'Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya, and said if the Congress came to power, they would put the Ayodhya lock in the temple again. Rebel Samajwadi Party MLA Manoj Pande joined the BJP and sat beside Shah on the stage. Shah asserted Pande rightly said the Gandhi family never visited Rae Bareli during natural calamities or accidents.

Lok Sabha polls: Lord Ram on my side, says Samajwadi Party candidate in Ayodhya fight

LS polls: Lord Ram on my side, says SP candidate in Ayodhya fight

They will run bulldozer on Ram Temple: PM Modi blasts Congress-SP combine in UP's Barabanki

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned against Congress and Samajwadi Party's potential threats to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, citing expelled Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam's claim. He accused them of appeasement politics and asserted BJP's path to a third term. Modi highlighted BJP's support among women and urged decisive voting.

'Our Ram Lalla would...': PM Modi makes big statement against Congress-SP in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki

Acharya Krishnam dropped a bombshell, claiming that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had planned to overturn the landmark judgment, settling the decades-old title dispute and paving the way for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Ayodhya voters: BJP fulfilled promises, but...

The year began with Ayodhya getting ready for the Ram temple consecration ceremony. Almost four months later, the excitement has settled down and some voters are crediting the Bharatiya Janata Party for fulfilling its promise while others feel that development should reach every corner of the district.

In Ayodhya's Faizabad, High-Stakes Battle Between BJP, Samajwadi Party And BSP

In the temple town of Ayodhya, BJP's Lallu Singh is eyeing a third term from the Faizabad constituency against Samajwadi Party's Awadhesh Prasad and BSP's Sachchidanad Pandey.

LS polls: Lord Ram on my side, says SP candidate in Ayodhya fight

LS polls: Lord Ram on my side, says SP candidate in Ayodhya fight Asserting that he enjoys the benevolence of Lord Ram, Samajwadi Party candidate from Faizabad Lok Sabha seat Awadhesh Prasad has claimed the BJP will not get any advantage of the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. ''Ayodhya's Ram temple is not at all an issue this time. And the BJP will not be able to get even one per cent of benefit from it,'' he told PTI in an interview. ''I am fortunate that I was born in Ayodhya. In this Lok Sabha poll, Lord Ram's benevolence will be on me, and his benevolence cannot be simply ignored,'' Prasad added. As campaigning for the Faizabad seat, which will go to polls on May 20, gathers momentum, Prasad -- a nine-time MLA -- is busy addressing public meetings in various assembly segments of Ayodhya which is part of the Faizabad parliamentary constituency. Attacking BJP's Faizabad candidate and sitting MP Lallu Singh, he said, ''The voters have been telling me that he (Singh) has never visited them in the last 10 years. If you ask this question to 100 persons, then at least 80 per cent of them will stand in my favour.'' On Singh making efforts to win Faizabad seat for a third term, the 78-year-old SP leader said he (Singh) will not be able to save his deposit in the polls. Denying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's road show in Ayodhya has possibly increased the BJP candidate's chances, Prasad said, ''Modi ji had come to Ayodhya, but there were no discussions about his visit.'' He also said that unlike previous elections, ''this time, it is the people who are contesting the polls on my behalf. They are campaigning for me, and they have made up their mind to make the Samajwadi Party and INDIA bloc candidate victorious in the elections''. When asked how strong the INDIA bloc is in Faizabad, Prasad said, ''The alliance is very strong...local Congress leaders are extending full support to us in every assembly segment of the constituency.'' ''If we have to save the Constitution, save democracy and also the reservations, then we have to defeat the BJP. ''The voters of Faizabad want to defeat the BJP because it has virtually ruined their lives. Inflation is adversely impacting various sections of society, a large number of youngsters are jobless,'' the former UP minister said. He also thanked SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for reposing faith in him and fielding him from the seat. Prasad had won the Sohawal assembly seat for the first time in 1977 on a Janata Party ticket, followed by his victories in 1985 on a Lokdal ticket and in 1989 as Janata Dal nominee. In the elections held in 1993, 1996, 2002 and 2007, he won from Sohawal assembly seat as Samajwadi Party candidate. He then won the 2012 and 2022 UP assembly elections from Milkipur (SC) assembly constituency. According to Parasnath Yadav, the SP district president, Prasad began his political career when he was around 21-year-old. During the Emergency, he was jailed. Prasad was a cabinet minister and minister of state in the governments headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav. Faizabad Lok Sabha seat consists of five assembly segments of Dariyabad, Rudauli, Milkipur (SC), Bikapur and Ayodhya. Of these assembly segments, Dariyabad is located in neighbouring Barabanki district, while the rest of the four assembly constituencies are in Ayodhya district. Except Milkipur (SC) seat which is with the SP, the other four assembly segments were won by the BJP in 2022 state polls. There are 13 candidates in the fray with the main battle being between BJP's Singh and SP's Prasad. The Bahujan Samaj Party has also fielded a candidate from the Faizabad constituency.

In Ayodhya, voters talk of a promise fulfilled and yearning for development

In Ayodhya, voters talk of a promise fulfilled and yearning for development The year began with Ayodhya getting ready for the Ram temple consecration ceremony. Almost four months later, the excitement has settled down and some voters are crediting the BJP for fulfilling its promise while others feel that development should reach every corner of the district. Prajjwal Singh, a resident of Arhgarha Chauraha, told PTI that Ayodhya's transformation began on January 22, when the Ram temple consecration ceremony was held. ''On January 22, 2024, the promise that was made to us by various BJP leaders was fulfilled in a grand manner. From that day, Ayodhya set out on the path of development,'' he said. ''The hospitality sector has seen visible growth. A number of eateries and food joints have come up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath deserve a round of applause for such a positive transformation of Ayodhya,'' Prajjwal Singh told PTI. He said there are some traffic woes in the area but they are temporary and will be resolved subsequently. Tulsinagar resident Amit Pathak said growing up, he has witnessed the political and physical transformation of Ayodhya. ''No prime minister or chief minister has visited Ayodhya as many times as Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath. Electric buses, railway station beautification and airport inauguration are some examples of this transformation,'' he said, adding that today, it is easier to reach Ayodhya from any other part of the country. Himanshu Varma, a resident of Nirmochan Chauraha, said Ayodhya has witnessed development and it will take time to reach the entire district. Yashvendra Pratap Singh, a resident of the Khajurhat area of Ayodhya said there is no doubt the Ram temple has had a positive impact on the minds of people and that it has given an edge to the BJP over its rivals. ''However, infrastructure development should also take place in the outskirts of Ayodhya,'' he said. ''Holistic development of the entire district should take place. For example, the pilgrims who come to visit the Ram temple have to walk a few kilometres in scorching heat. There should be arrangements to provide water to them,'' he added. Homepathy doctor Indroneel Banerjee said issues like parking and sewerage system need attention. ''These elections will definitely be fought by the ruling party in the name of Lord Ram. A number of positive things have happened. The service sector has benefited in the last four months thanks to the Ram temple,'' he said. ''But some problems like lack of parking space remain. For a city which wants to take the next step in road traffic management, having parking lots is essential. The sewerage system could be a challenge in the days to come. We will come to know what steps have been taken to tackle waterlogging,'' he said. Shailesh Singh, a resident of the Balapakauli area, said rest houses should be built for pilgrims and steps should be taken to minimize traffic jams. For Adarsh Prakash, inflation and income tax relief and not Ram temple are the main issues in this election. Polling in the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency will be held in the fifth round of the seven-phase elections on May 20. It comprises five assembly segments -- Dariyabad, Rudauli, Mikipur (SC), Bikapur and Ayodhya Of these, Dariyabad is located in neighbouring Barabanki district and the remaining four assembly segments are in Ayodhya district. There are 19,27,459 eligible voters in the Faizabad constituency. Thirteen candidates are in the fray, including sitting BJP MP Lallu Singh and Samajwadi Party's sitting Milkipur MLA Awadhesh Prasad. Lallu Singh is eyeing a hat-trick from the seat.

Nobody Can Change Constitution: BJP Ayodhya MP To NDTV

BJP MP and Ayodhya candidate Lallu Singh denied that his party was planning to amend the Constitution, adding that PM Modi's vision for India matches Dr BR Ambedkar's vision for the Indian Constitution. Ahead of polls in Faizabad constituency in Phase 5 of the Lok Sabha elections, NDTV's Tanishq Punjabi speaks to BJP's Ayodhya pick.

Shah promises grand Sita temple in Sitamarhi in line with Ayodhya

PATNA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Thursday that the next NDA government at the center would develop the Punaura Dham Mandir in Bihars Sitamarhi district into a massive temple dedicated to Goddess Sita, believed to be her birthplace. Addressing an election rally in the Sitamarhi constituency in support of JD(U) candidate and Bihar legislative council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur, Shah stated that the Punaura Dham Mandir would be developed as an international pilgrimage site. We will construct a massive temple of Sita Mata in Sitamarhi after the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he remarked, making special reference to the Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya after a long legal battle. He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has built the Ram Temple for Prabhu Ram. The revered Prabhu Ram was in a tent before that. Congress and RJD created hurdles in the construction of the Ram Temple for years. But Modi won the case, laid the foundation, and consecrated the temple. Earlier, the Bihar government had approved Rs 72.47 crore for development of the temple. The Union Minister emphasized that the BJP doesnt fear vote banks. He said, Those who kept themselves away from the Ram temple cant do it. But if anyone can build a temple for Mother Sita, it is Narendra Modi and the BJP. He contended that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was part of India and the country would reclaim it at any cost. He also accused Congress and other constituents of the INDIA bloc of creating fear about Pakistans atomic power. He mentioned that the former Congress president Rahul Gandhi claimed bloodshed would happen after the abolition of Article 370, but not a single pebble had been thrown even after five years. PoK is ours and will remain so, he asserted. He also criticised National Conference leader Farooq Abdullahs remarks about PoK, accusing him of scaremongering by saying that India could not take back PoK as Pakistan had atom bombs. Modi government will also ensure full security along the India-Nepal border in its third term, he added. Shahs reference to PoK assumed significance given Sitamarhis proximity to the Nepal border. He said that the Modi government would ensure full security along the India-Nepal border in its third term. Launching an attack on RJD and Lalu Prasad, Shah said the Lalu-led RJD has joined hands with Congress only to make his son Tejashwi the chief minister of Bihar. What the state needs is Vikas Raj and not Jungle Raj. BJP ally JD(U) has fielded Devesh Chandra Thakur as its candidate against Arun Ray of RJD. Thakur is considered close to CM Nitish Kumar. Sitamarhi candidate Home MInister Amit Shahs election campaign on Thursday was in support of the JD(U) candidate and Bihar legislative council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur. BJP ally JD(U) has fielded Thakur as its candidate against Arun Ray of RJD. Thakur is considered close to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In 2019, JD(U) leader Sunil Kumar Pinto won the election, but this time, he was denied the ticket from Sitamarhi.

Congress deputed lawyers against Ram temple's construction: Anurag Thakur

Congress deputed lawyers against Ram temple's construction: Anurag Thakur Hitting out at the Congress, Union minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday claimed it had deputed a battery of lawyers to ensure that the Ram temple in Ayodhya could not be constructed. Addressing a public rally in Bilapsur district, Thakur also attacked the INDIA bloc and alleged that members of the opposition alliance sent lawyers who contested cases of terrorists like Ajmal Kasab and Dawood Ibrahim to the Rajya Sabha. ''What kind of character is this of the Congress and the opposition parties...they fielded a battery of lawyers against the construction of Ram temple and at the same time they sent lawyers to fight cases of the terrorists,'' he said. ''These are the same people who knocked the door of the court at 2:30 in the night to stop Afzal Guru's hanging,'' the senior BJP leader added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is engaged in securing the borders of the country while Congress leaders are giving slogans to break the country into pieces, he said. PM Modi considers Himachal as his second home and gave big projects worth thousands of crores of rupees to the state, Thakur said and added that today the entire country including Himachal has only one choice -- Modi. ''If you go to any corner of the country, people are saying 'My Choice Modi'. After four phases, it has become clear that the public has cast their vote for a stable and honest government -- the Modi government,'' he said. He said Modi is going to become the PM for the third time, and only an official announcement is to be made on June 4.

Ayodhya: Lallu Singh Is In War Mode

After Ram mandir, BJP now wants to build a Sita temple

Amit Shah announced BJP's plan to build Ma Sita temple at Punaura Dham, akin to Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya, showcasing BJP's dedication to Hindu heritage and cultural significance.

After Ram temple in Ayodhya, Amit Shah promises magnificent temple of 'Maa Sita' in Sitamarhi

After construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday promised that a big and magnificent temple of Maa Sita would be constructed in Sitamarhi and this would also be connected with Ramayan circuit.

Lallu Singh In War Mode; Not Taking Anything For Granted: Ground Report From Ayodhya

Congress follows Gandhi who said 'Hey Ram' before dying, not anti-religion: Priyanka

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra defends Congress at 'Chaudah Mill roundabout,' 20 km from district HQ in Uttar Pradesh, citing Mahatma Gandhi's 'Hey Ram' ideals against Modi's anti-religion accusations about pitiable state-run cowsheds, turning down Ayodhya ceremony invites, and highlighting Gandhi family bond with Rae Bareli. She also criticizes Modi government for taking credit for free ration scheme

Congress follows Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of religious harmony: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Congress follows Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of religious harmony: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said her party follows the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi who uttered ''Hey Ram'' before dying and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was wrong in accusing it of being anti-religion. ''They accuse us of being against the Hindu religion. We follow Mahatma Gandhi's ideal who had chanted 'Hey Ram' before dying,'' she said, addressing a poll rally at 'Chaudah Mill roundabout,' about 20 km from the district headquarters. She alleged that while the saffron party claims to be a ''champion of Hindu religion,'' the condition of the state-run cowsheds in Uttar Pradesh remains pitiable. ''They accuse us of being against religion for turning down invitations for the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. Just look at the condition of the cowsheds in UP where a video showed dogs eating flesh of a dead cow,'' she said. She said that during the Congress rule in Chhattisgarh, the party improved the condition of cowsheds and used to purchase cow dung to aid self help groups running the cowsheds. Priyanka has been canvassing every day in the Rae Bareli constituency, where Rahul Gandhi has thrown in his hat replacing his mother Sonia Gandhi, who had to vacate the seat after being nominated to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. Priyanka highlighted the strong bond the Gandhi family has with the constituency since the days of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. ''Bhaiya (Rahul Gandhi) will follow the tradition after winning the election,'' she said. She accused the Modi government of trying to take credit for free ration scheme by putting his photograph on the papers related to the scheme, saying it was the Congress-led UPA government that brought the Right to Food Act. The Congress leader also lambasted the BJP over frequent question papers leak in UP and promised stringent laws to stop such leaks. She promised doing away with GST on education and scrap Agni-Veer scheme for recruitment in the armed forces if her party comes to power at the Centre. She said her party will restore the earlier method of permanent appointment with pension provision for the army personnel. The Congress general secretary also spoke about creating a Rs 5,000 crore fund to help small entrepreneurs. Voting in Rae Bareli is scheduled in the fifth phase on May 20. BJP has fielded Dinesh Pratap Singh to take on Rahul Gandhi. BSP of Mayawati has given ticket to Thakur Prasad Yadav.

How Madhya Pradesh Emerged At The Heart Of BJP's Influencer Strategy

Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, CAA and more Malay Dixit and his social media army work as an extended arm of BJPs IT Cell across Madhya Pradesh to push the narrative of the saffron party in the assembly elections and now the ongoing Lok Sabha Polls.

This election is to choose prime minister who can make world aware of India's strength, says PM Modi in Jaunpur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of the upcoming Lok Sabha election, urging the country to choose a leader capable of leading a strong government that showcases India's strength on the global stage. Speaking at an election rally in Jaunpur, Modi supported BJP candidates Kripashankar Singh and BP Saroj. He highlighted the development initiatives in Kashi and Ayodhya, pledging to transform Purvanchal's future along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Lok Sabha election: BJP, SP battle in Faizabad/Ayodhya, the birthplace of Ram Lalla

The Faizabad/Ayodhya Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, historically significant due to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the tearing down of the Babri mosque, is in the spotlight as it gears up for polling in the fifth phase on May 20. Sitting BJP MP Lallu Singh faces competition from Awadhesh Prasad of the Samajwadi Party.

Faizabad/Ayodhya: In birthplace of Ram Lalla, BJP, SP battle for poll sweepstakes

The News Mill

Ram Lalla Rath visits Fremont Hindu Temple

Ritu Maheshwari India Post News Service Ram Lalla Rath with Ram idol, Prasad and Akshat from Ayodhya are visiting all the 700+ temples in USA. Ram Lalla Rath visited Fremont Hindu Temple on Saturday, May 11th. There was outpouring of devotees excited to get a glimpse of Ram Lalla and be part of Ayodhya celebrations. []

People will vote for efforts of Modi, Yogi for Ayodhyas transformation' says Lallu Singh

A tryst with destiny that wasnt to be

AMETHI: Amethi is waiting for Godot. Or for a Gandhi. Not just for a 53-year-old with that name, but something inclusive of thatand more than that. A Nehru-Gandhi did not get into a direct contest here, but had long-time aide KL Sharma stand in. Those within and outside who had bet big on a re-run of 2019 are disappointed. The gladiatorial fight that was to be is now substantially downscaled. But a fight is on, albeit by proxy, and reduced to a scrimmage of competitive accusations. Even while abandoning Rahul in 2019, its as if Amethi kept up its love for high-profile contests, as if to keep itself in the reckoning by default, its own little tryst with destiny. They are getting one, even if in an abridged version. Smriti Irani, Union minister and the BJPs prime commentator-critic on all things Nehru-Gandhi, has stayed put to defend her turf. Though Rahul Gandhi has shifted to adjoining Rae Bareli, he looms large even in his absence. Mostly because his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, is quite visibly there. Even though the Congress has appointed Rampur MLA Aradhana Mishra Mona as the party poll in-charge for Amethi, Priyanka is managing the electioneering here along with Rae Bareli, like a safe-keeper of the legacy vote. All around the constituency, the pockmarked narrative of Indian democracy reveals itself. Amethi moves through its village dirt tracks and peri-urban roadways at a groaning pace, as if caught in a time zone of struggle all its own. But also representative, at once, of the cracks in the India story. Despite its seeming mundaneness, the Amethi electorate stands witness to history. Its creation, in 1967, was coeval with the unfolding of the crucial post-Nehru phase in modern Indian politics. Since then, it has in a way reflected the mood of the nation at all the cusp moments. Electing a Congress candidate, Vidya Dhar Bajpai, as its first MP, going with the Janata Party candidate in 1977 and a BJP candidate in 1998 and 2019. Loyalty towards family, caste or party? What will decide the elections in Rae Bareli and Amethi? Does Amethi have no dreams? Yes, it would like to be Baramati... Intermittently, and for a long period till 2014, Amethi backed the Congressall of nine times. Emerging as a family bastion that sent Sanjay and Rajiv Gandhi, and then Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, to the Lok Sabha. In the first instance, the seat changed MPs under a tragic circumstance (Sanjay died in a plane crash). In the latter instance, it was an entitled transfer of legacy, giving rise to the third generation of Indians to use the phrase dynastic politics. Nonetheless, Amethi was waiting for Rahul Gandhi. When he decided to make Rae Bareli his second arena, as part of his much-awaited return to north India, it undoubtedly became a bit of a letdown for his supporters. A proxy war has been raging since, with Smriti Irani left stranded in a lonely fight almostshe had been camping in the constituency for weeks before the Congress made up its mind. If insiders are to be believed, INDIA bloc leaders strongly advised the GOP not to let any part of the election become a clash of big names. Avoid Smriti vs Rahul contest, it was said. For that would have hogged the headlines, overshadowing all else. It was to be made localor rather, issue-based. Amethi cannot entirely vanish into the provincial anonymity that is the lot of its other contiguous constituencies. (Who after all thinks of Pratapgarh or Sultanpur? Although Ayodhya, its northern neighbour, is another matter.) Such diminution of stature is impossible. What with Priyanka at the helm of an army come to reclaim its castle. And the aggressive Didijias Smriti is called in these partsis also quite hands-on, not confining herself to the plushness of her Gauriganj residence. The BJP top brass too have rolled up their sleeves, strategising to retain the seat, come what may. What benefits have accruedor notto the people of this star constituency under this regime or that? What development has happened? Thats the ball being thrown around in the heat and dust of Amethi. Memories, long and short, are being dredged up. Both sides claim to know Amethi like the back of their hand and take credit for having done transformative work. Each side disagrees entirely with the other, of course. What have the Gandhis ever done for Amethi? Look at the work of the last five years, from electricity to roads, Smriti thunders in meeting after meeting, bite after bite. What has she done? Can she even count the number of villages in Amethi on her fingers? Priyanka retorts. She lists the universal themesjoblessness, high prices, and the promise of instant Nyay. Theres nothing meethi about Amethi right now. Bitterness is writ large over the discourse as the attacks get personal . It may not be easy for the Congress. The ground is a bit more alien than it used to be. Part of the reason lies in Amethis five assembly segments. Three of these are held by the BJPTiloi, Jagdishpur (SC) and Salon (SC). Two by the Samajwadi PartyGauriganj and Amethi. Ironically, the latter two segments, particularly Gauriganj, are better off than the three held by the BJP. In a curious inversion, therefore, the SP MLAs and their familiesGayatri Prajapatis wife Maharaji Prajapati and Rakesh Pratap Singhare supporting Smriti. This is while the Congress has a tie-up with Akhilesh Yadavs party and is dependent on its workers for election work. Former Congress MLA Deepak Singh admits its time to read carefully. He can barely hide his disappointment that Rahul changed mind about contesting from Amethi. Were working on the ground silently, he says. The community map is more or less equalsavarnas (29%), OBCs (26%), Muslims (20%) and SCs (26%)but they are deeply divided. Sharma is attempting an MY + Brahmin combination. Whether he will succeed or not depends on who you ask. Didiji has put in a lot of hard work. She lives here and votes here. She has a clear edge because of her track record of development work, says Govind Singh, a local BJP worker, brushing aside talk about her being a bit brusque in her interactions with the local unit. Amethi has never seen such an involved MP before. Didi sab ka dukh sukh ki saathi hai (shes with everyone in their happiness and sorrow), says another BJP worker. Any delay or uneven development is blamed on the local bureaucracy. However, even as she wades from one village chaupal to the next, talk about Smriti focusing more on Gauriganj and Salon fly in the air. The constituency is also divided into micro zones of influence. The Congress presence is more in the southern parts of Amethi, Tiloi and Jagdishpur, where, local leaders claim, Smriti has focused less. Added to this is the still-simmering controversy over the shutting down and reopening of the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Munshiganj. There are also whispers about the BJPs Tiloi MLA Mayankeshwar Saran Singh having uneven equations with the MP. For cycle mechanic Rajesh, none of this matters much. He straightens his half-clad, sun-browned body and wipes the sweat off his brow as he says, So far, no one has come to ask for votes. My grandfather and father used to campaign for Rajiv Gandhi. Its my family legacy, cant break my ties with Rahulji. Does he know Rahul is not contesting? He turns his glazed eyes to the far horizon. How does it matter? Dilli bahut dur hai. My work can only earn my family two daily meals, he adds. Does Amethi have no dreams? Yes, it would like to be Baramati. But for that, UP has to become Maharashtraa growth engine. As of now, though, college student Ankush Tiwaris wish list is only to get to Mumbai for a job. Will UP's rural voters spring a surprise in this election? Rae Bareli is 'karmabhoomi' of both my 'mothers' Sonia and Indira Gandhi: Rahul

Reservations will end, Ill go to jail if we lose: CM; Oppn. is in disarray: BJP

BJP wont cross 250-seat mark, says Kejriwal in his first roadshow for Cong. nominees; Modi govt. made Lord Ram smile in Ayodhya, vote for us so that Lord Krishna smiles in Mathura, says M.P. CM

Ram temple was built in Ayodhya because of BJP govt's efforts: MP CM Mohan Yadav

Ram temple was built in Ayodhya because of BJP govt's efforts: MP CM Mohan Yadav The Ram temple was built in Ayodhya because of the efforts of the BJP government and this time when the party returns to power, ''even Lord Shri Krishna in Mathura will smile'', Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Wednesday. The BJP leader was in Delhi to campaign for his party for the Lok Sabha elections. The seven parliamentary seats in the national capital will go to polls on May 25 in sixth round of the seven-phase of general elections. ''If Lord Ram is smiling in his temple in Ayodhya, it is because of the efforts of the (Narendra) Modi government... So once again it will be the Modi government and this time, even Lord Shri Krishna in Mathura will smile. For this votes should go only to the BJP,'' he said. He said Delhi saw incidents of terrorism during the tenures of previous governments at the Centre. But nothing happened during the 10 years of the Modi government, Yadav said. ''This is an example of the strong leadership of the Modi government,'' he said. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed a poll rally in Malkaganj in support of his party's North East Delhi seat candidate Manoj Tiwari. He dubbed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi a ''Ranchordas (deserter)'' for fighting the Lok Sabha polls from Rae Bareli instead of Amethi. Both parliamentary seats are in Uttar Pradesh. ''In the previous Lok Sabha polls, he left Amethi and contested from Wayanad in Kerala. Now he is contesting from Rae Bareli. Why did not Rahul Baba contest from Amethi. He has become 'Ranchordas','' Chouhan said. He also attacked Congress' candidate from North East Delhi, Kanhaiya Kumar, alleging that he raised slogans ''Bharat tere tukde honge''. A gathering of Sikhs in the Chandni Chowk constituency earlier in the day extended support to BJP candidate Praveen Khandelwal. BJP national secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, ''Now Sikhs across the country have understood that if anyone can fulfill the dream of a developed India, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On one hand there is the Congress which massacred Sikhs and on the other hand there is the BJP, which is a partner in the sorrows and joys of Sikhs.'' Manoj Tiwari campaigning for South Delhi BJP candidate Ramvir Singh Bidhuri in Sangam Vihar appealed to the Purvanchali people to vote for him to make Modi prime minister again of the country.

PoK will be merged with India if BJP gets 400 seats in Lok Sabha polls: Himanta

PoK will be merged with India if BJP gets 400 seats in Lok Sabha polls: Himanta Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Wednesday asserted that if the BJP wins 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will be ''merged with India'', and a Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and Gyanvapi temple will be built in Mathura and Kashi, respectively. Addressing an election rally in Jharkhand's Ramgarh, he said the BJP needs to secure over 400 seats to also implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across the country. PoK will be merged with India if the BJP gets 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The party needs that many seats to build the 'Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and 'Gyanvapi temple', just like when it crossed the 300-seat mark in 2019, it built the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Sarma said. Later, at a press conference in state capital Ranchi, the BJP leader also accused the Congress of suppressing Hindu sentiments. There is a Hindu awakening in the country after years and their voice cannot be suppressed amid this Modi tsunami across India, Sarma said. ''During the Congress regime, a law was enacted that discussion can be held on the Ram temple... Congress brought in such a law that no civil court, high court or the Supreme Court can adjudicate on the ownership of Krishna Janmabhoomi and the so-called Gyanvapi Mosque. Is such a law acceptable that prohibits us from building God's temples?'' the Assam CM said. The injustice on India by Aurangzeb and Babar (Mughal leaders) has been minimised with the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Sarma claimed. Sarma also emphasised on the need to check infiltration in Jharkhand, cautioning that unless that happens, original inhabitants will be reduced to minorities in 20 years and infiltrators from Bangladesh will become original citizens. He said Assam and West Bengal committed blunders by not checking infiltration during the Congress regime. Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the BJP leader said: ''He roams around with a red-colour copy of the Constitution, whereas our original Constitution has pictures of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna on every page... It can never be red... China's constitution can be of red colour.'' He also wondered whether the copy of the Constitution displayed by Gandhi has directive principles of state policy. ''If yes, then why did your manifesto say that you will strengthen the (Muslim) Personal Law? It is mentioned in our Constitution that there cannot be Personal Law. The Constitution says that the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in our country,'' Sarma added.

Rahul Gandhi will face defeat in Raebareli, should have declared intention to contest two LS seats: Amit Shah

Rahul Gandhi will face defeat in Raebareli, should have declared intention to contest two LS seats: Amit Shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed confidence that BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh will defeat Rahul Gandhi in the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat and took a dig at the Congress leader, stating that he should have told people of Wayanad in Kerala that he will contest from two seats. In an interview with ANI, Amit Shah alleged the INDIA bloc oycotted Ram Mandir Pran Prathishta ceremony fearing their minority vote bank. Targeting Rahul Gandhi, he said stature is built by the people and does not come by birth. Stature is built by the people of the country. It is not built by birth...What does democracy mean?...Dinesh Pratap Singh will defeat Rahul Gandhi, he said. Amit Shah said Rahul Gandhi should have declared that he is going to contest from two Lok Sabha seats and it is not right to hide it. Anyone can contest from anywhere but Rahul Gandhi should have said before elections that he is going to contest on two seats. I think from the democratic point of view, it is not right to hide it...He should have told the people of Wayanad about it and then asked them to make their choice...When you see a threat in post-poll survey, and then you come to Raebaerli, I think it is not correct.., he said. Rahul Gandhi, who is MP from Wayanad and is re-contesting from the seat, later decided to contest from Raibareli in Uttar Pradesh, a Congress stronghold, and a seat which his mother Sonia Gandhi has won from 2004. Rahul Gandhi lost to Union Minister Smriti Irani in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Amethi. He has won the seat from 2004. Raebareli will go to the polls on May 20 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election. Asked about his remarks that Sonia Gandhi spent over 70 per cent of MP funds on minorities, Amit Shah said the objection was to use most of it for a particular section. We object to 'minority only'. Are the rest of the voters, not yours? Are you taking them for granted? It is just a small question, he said. Shah also expressed confidence of BJP improving its tally in Uttar Pradesh, saying that the party will win more than 65 seats it won in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Asked about the opposition's Dakshin mein BJP saaf aur Uttar mein half retort, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the BJP party will emerge as the single largest party in the five southern states. I stand by my remarks. Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu - combining the seats in these five states, BJP will emerge as the single largest party, he said. Asked if the BJP gained politically because of the construction of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, Amit Shah said it was not a matter of political gain or loss for the party and was a question of the trust of crores of people of the country. For us, there was no question of political gain or loss. From the beginning, it was a question of the trust of crores of people of the country, it was a question of faith and it was a question of devotion... Ram Temple became an issue during the elections when the Pran Pratishtha ceremony was taking place and invitations were sent to all the political parties, the entire INDI alliance boycotted the Pran Pratistha and this is my clear allegation that they did not consider it appropriate to go there due to fear of their minority vote bank, Amit Shah said. The entire Ghamandiya alliance (INDI Alliance) boycotted the Ram Mandir Pran Prathishta ceremony - My clear allegation is that they did this fearing their minority vote bank...On Eid, you have no issues spending, celebrating Eid with Muslim brothers, even though you aren't Muslim, but despite being Hindu you won't attend the Ram Mandir Pran Prathistha because your Muslim vote bank will be upset...what kind of politics is this? he asked. On Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Krishna Janmabhoomi, Amit Shah said both these cases are before the court. The court has also taken cognizance of it. It would not be appropriate for me to say anything on this... We decided to construct the Ram temple only after the court's decision, he said. Asked about his remark that BJP is getting 270 seats after four phases of Lok Sabha polls, Amit Shah said he believes that elections and the results of elections have great importance. Whatever government is elected, it should get support from every part of the country and the government should be stable and have a full majority...I believe that the opposition, as usual, has tried to politicise our '400 paar slogan', which is their short-sightedness. Stable governments give strength to the country, help in taking decisive steps, providing welfare to the poor, crushing internal security threats like terrorism, Naxalism and in changing the country's agenda and the country's position in the world, he said. He slammed the opposition parties for trying to mislead people over BJP's '400 paar' slogan for the party-led NDA. ...It has been very clearly explained that if our aim was to remove reservation, we would have the majority for 10 years, but we did not do that. As far as reservation for Muslims is concerned, I am still of the opinion that there should be no reservation in this country on the basis of religion, it is not the scheme of the Constitution, the Constitution does not agree with it. Bharatiya Janata Party will not provide reservation on the basis of religion. On the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), he said it is mentioned in the party's manifesto for Lok Sabha polls. This is certainly an important issue in our 'Sankalp Patra'. We will bring UCC...We also want to bring 'One Nation, One Election'. This too should be discussed. One of our important poll issues is that in the days to come, we will not allow personal laws to come, he said. Four phases of Lok Sabha polls have been held and the voting will conclude on June 1 with results on June 4. (ANI)

'Dream-come-true' moment for those who got Indian citizenship under CAA

'Dream-come-true' moment for those who got Indian citizenship under CAA Bharat Kumar's protracted struggle to call India home after escaping religious persecution in Pakistan ended following an 11-year wait as he was among the 14 people who were granted Indian nationality under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on Wednesday. ''It is a great feeling to be an Indian. It has given a new life to me,'' the 24-year-old told PTI minutes after he received the citizenship certificate from Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla at a special function held here. Kumar said his family came to India to escape religious persecution in the Sindh province of Pakistan. ''When we came here, I was just 13 years old. We had to leave Pakistan as it was difficult to live there under constant fear,'' he said about the life across the border. In Delhi, Kumar's family lives in the Majnu Ka Tila area and they are engaged in small-time business. He said a total of five people got Indian citizenship in his locality on Wednesday. Over a hundred had applied for it, he said. ''We were told that the rest of the applicants will also get the citizenship in due course,'' he said, adding that getting Indian citizenship is a ''dream come true'' for him. He said they were grateful to the government for ending the uncertainty and their woes. Seetal Das, who also lives in Majnu Ka Tila and sells mobile phone covers for a living, said his family of 19 too came from Sindh in Pakistan in 2013 and three of them got citizenship on Wednesday. ''I am very happy. The government has fulfilled our desire. Now I can live a dignified life in India.'' Asked about the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, Kumar said he would miss exercising his franchise this time as the deadline to include his name in the voters' list is already over. ''I will definitely vote in next election as an Indian,'' he told PTI. Yoshoda, who too came from Sindh in Pakistan and received the Indian citizenship on Wednesday, said she can now live a dignified life as an Indian. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said that with her Indian nationality, the future of her family and children would be secured now. ''My long wait for getting Indian citizenship is over now. I am really happy.'' The first set of citizenship certificates under the CAA was issued Wednesday here to 14 people, nearly two months after rules under the contentious law were notified to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from three neighbouring countries. The union home secretary handed over the certificates to the 14 people after their applications were processed online through a designated portal. The CAA was enacted in December 2019 for granting Indian nationality to persecuted Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. After the enactment, the CAA got the president's assent but the rules under which the Indian citizenship was granted were issued on March 11 this year after over a delay of four years. Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed it a ''historic day'', saying the decades-long wait of those who faced religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan is over. Dayal Das, a 47-year-old resident of Majnu Ka Tila, said, ''Our kids' future is secure now as we have received the Indian citizenship certificate after struggling a lot to flee Pakistan. We came to India from Hyderabad in Sindh, Pakistan, in 2013. We felt unsafe there and came to our country. Today, our struggle has paid off and we can call ourselves Indians. I am really thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for implementing CAA and giving us citizenship.'' Das' two children -- Bharat and Yashoda (25) -- have also been granted citizenship along with him. ''My children will have access to education and other facilities. After our other family members also get citizenship, we will visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya to offer prayers. It is due to the blessings of the almighty that we have got citizenship of our country,'' he said. Das said that now he will apply for a voter card. ''It will be the first document that I will get. Then we will get other identity cards made. I will get to vote and I plan to exercise my franchise in the Delhi Assembly elections next year,'' he said. Das runs a cold drink shop in Majnu Ka Tila.

Shah Accuses Naveen Patnaik of Blocking Ram Temple Participation

Bhubaneswar: Union home minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Wednesday attacked Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik by accusing that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government headed by him very tactfully stopped the people of the state from participating in Prana Pratishta Utsav of Ram Lalla at Ayodhyas Ram Temple on January 22. He asserted that people of Odisha will not forgive Naveen Patnaik for his misdemeanour and vote him out of power this time. When the whole world was celebrating the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla, Naveen Babu very cunningly deprived them of the opportunity to be part of this festival. This is a sheer act of ungratefulness, Shah said while addressing a grand public rally at Soroda in Ganjam district. Shah, as per political experts, hinted at the BJD government celebrating Jagannath Parikrama Pakalpa, a renovation programme of Lord Jagannath temples courtyard in Puri, in a grand style, apparently to divert the attention of Odisha people from all the euphoria that was created around the Prana Pratishta Utsav. The home minister also castigated the ruling BJD for not the Centres Ayushman Bharat healthcare programme saying CM Naveen Patnaik denied the scheme to people of Odisha fearing that it will account for rise in Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity in the state. He also took a potshot at the BJD for rebranding the free rice provided by the Centre to the poor in the state. Naveen Babu! You have pushed Odisha backward by 25 years. People of Odisha have decided to say Bye-bye, Tata, Goodbye to you. You cannot any longer cheat them. Odisha will have a new government after the elections and an Odia will become the chief minister of the state, declared Shah. The home minister, while questioning the state government on its silence over the missing of Lord Jagannaths Ratna Bhandar keys, assured that the Narendra Modi government will ensure that the persons responsible for missing of the keys are brought to book and punished. He also told the people that the patrons of chit fund scamsters who have looted Odisha people to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore will also be strictly dealt with. The BJP stalwart said there had been a complete halt in extremism and Maoist activism in the country due to strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier, we used to see bloodshed caused by the Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. After Narendra Modi came to power at the Centre, he challenged them and destroyed the enemy camps in Pakistan soil. Now, bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir has stopped and Maoist activities have also come to an end, said Shah. Later in the evening, Shah held a roadshow in Cuttack city seeking votes for the party's Lok Sabha candidate Bhartruhari Mahtab and MLA candidates.

Three Sadhus Dead in Road Accident in Uttar Pradesh's Basti

Three Sadhus Dead in Road Accident in Uttar Pradesh's Basti Three sadhus were killed on Wednesday after being hit by a pickup vehicle near Raipur village here, police said. The police identified the victims as Ram Milan Pal (55) of Ayodhya, Achhe Lal (58) of Maharajganj and Ram Bhajan Pal (53) of Maharajganj district. According to police, the victims were going to Katra Kuti Dham from Makhauda Dham, after completing 'Chaurasi Kosi Parikrama' on foot. They were hit by a vehicle from behind, killing them on the spot, they said. A case was registered and the bodies were sent for postmortem. Efforts are being made to arrest the driver, they added.

Congress plotting to send Ayodhya's Ram Lalla back to the tent: PM Narendra Modi

Religion-based reservation dangerous; Cong wanted to implement it, says PM Modi at poll rally

NASHIK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday alleged the Congress during its previous rule wanted to allocate 15 per cent of the government budget for minorities and vowed not to allow splitting of budget or reservation in jobs and education on the basis of religion. Addressing an election rally at Pimpalgaon Baswant in north Maharashtra's Nashik district in support of Mahayuti candidates, Union minister Bharati Pawar (BJP) and Hemant Godse (Shiv Sena), the PM said splitting budget on religious lines was dangerous. The BJP's star campaigner maintained Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution, was firmly against religion-based reservation in jobs and education. Modi claimed the Congress, when in power at the Centre, had drawn up plans to allocate 15 per cent of the total budget to minorities. When I was the chief minister (of Gujarat), the Congress had brought up this proposal. The BJP opposed this move strongly and hence it could not be implemented. But the Congress wants to bring this proposal again, he told the gathering. The PM asserted Ambedkar was against religion-based quota, but the Congress wants to take away reservation rights of SCs/STs/OBCs and give them to Muslims. BJP wants over 400 seats to help RSS succeed in 'conspiracy' to abolish reservation: Congress Modi is the chowkidar (watchman) of rights of deprived sections of society and will never let the Congress take away their rights, the BJP stalwart declared. Modi said the ongoing Lok Sabha polls are about electing a prime minister who takes strong decisions for the country. In the last 10 years, the PM said, his government has provided free ration, water, electricity, houses and gas connections irrespective of religion. Welfare schemes are made for every one, he maintained. Without naming NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, Modi said, An INDI alliance leader from Maharashtra knows the Congress is losing badly (in elections). So, he has suggested that small parties merge with the Congress so that it at least stands as an opposition party. When the duplicate Shiv Sena (referring to Sena UBT) merges with the Congress, I will remember Balasaheb Thackeray because the late leader dreamt of a grand Ram mandir in Ayodhya and abolishing Article 370, he added. BJP wants to destroy Constitution, scrap reservation: Rahul Gandhi

With 300 we built Ram Mandir, with 400 well build Mathura; take back PoJK: Assam CM Himanta Sarma pitches for Modis return for the 3rd term

Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that when the BJP got 300 seats, it built the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and now temples will be built at Krishna Janmabhoomi site in Mathura and in place of the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi after it gets 400 seats in Lok Sabha polls

LS polls: Caste looms over temple in Ayodhya

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradeshs Faizabad constituency, comprising Ayodhya, could be easily mistaken for the nerve centre of temple politics but if past Lok Sabha elections are anything to go by, the poll outcome in this temple town has mostly been tied to the caste factor. And the 2024 LS poll is no different. Sitting BJP MP Lallu Singh, also a five-time MLA from Ayodhya, is pitted against the Samajwadi Partys Awadhesh Prasad, a nine-time MLA and a former minister in the Akhilesh cabinet. Lallu Singh, who is a contractor by profession, is seeking a third term riding on the back of the general goodwill for the BJP after the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya and the resultant development in the district. In 2014, he had polled an impressive winning margin of 2.8 lakh votes, which however came down drastically to just 65,000 in 2019. This time, he is fighting anti-incumbency and a formidable SP candidate, who has the support of the Congress. The SP-Congress combine hopes their joint candidate can defeat the BJP this time. However, votes tell a different story. In 2019, the BJP had bagged 5,29,021 votes, while the SP got 4,63,544 and the Congress 53,386. This time, a third factor could influence poll calculations as the CPI has fielded former IPS officer Arvind Sen as its candidate. Sen is the son of veteran politician late Mitrasen Yadav, who had represented the constituency thrice in Parliament. Sen is expected to poll a considerable number of votes from the same electorate pool that the SP hopes to tap into. All this boils down to the constituencys caste dynamics, which can swing results. The BJP has retained Singh, a Thakur by caste, for the battle in the land of Lord Ram, who himself was a Rajput. The saffron party has the support of Thakurs and other upper castes as well as a section of non-Yadav OBCs. SP candidate Prasad comes from the Dalit Kori community and is trying to mobilise Dalits, who constitute a sizeable population of 5.5 lakh in the constituency. He can also expect help from the SPs traditional Muslim-Yadav vote bank. Meanwhile, CPIs Sen, an OBC, is getting traction among his caste group on the ground. The BSP has also fielded Sachidanand Pandey, a Brahmin, as its candidate for Faizabad but the community is not strong enough to create a ripple.

After Ayodhya, we will now focus on Mathura

Beyond the bluster of wild poll promises

Periodic polls are the lifeline of vibrant democracies and an occasion for slugfests between those in power and the opposition. Its a no-holds-barred war of words between the two sides. Impossible promises to the electorate and wild allegations against opponents are routine.In this mad race for power, facts are twisted, arguments are turned upside down, and lies are concocted to spin helpful narrativesusually in acerbic toneseither to expand ones support base or to demonise opponents. The ongoing 18th Lok Sabha election is no exception. The public discourse at present is reeking of toxicity, which is typical of Indian elections. The incumbent Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, seeking a third term, started his campaign by building on his achievements in the last decade and promising a bright future for India. He shared his dream to fully develop the country by 2047, the hundredth year of its independence. PM Modi has a lot to showcase and claim credit for. Arraigned against him is a rainbow coalition of 26 partiesincluding the Congress, Leftists, DMK, TMC, SP and RJDbearing the moniker INDI Alliance. These parties have little in common. They have often used the choicest of expletives against each other in the not-too-distant past. In many states, they are at each others throats, even after the formation of the alliance. The glue that holds the disparate opposition together is their visceral hate for Modi and his vision of India. The INDI Alliance parties had been considering drafting a common programme and holding joint rallies. However, they have failed to do both so far, thanks to their sharp differences on various issues and clash of interests. Among Modis notable achievements are a slew of welfare schemes that have changed the lives of millions of Indians for the better, the restoration of normalcy in strife-torn Jammu & Kashmir following the abolition of Articles 370 & 35A, the development of a Covid vaccine and its successful administration across India, and a massive impetus to the economypushing it to within touching distance of the third slot in the global ranking, from the tenth in 2014. The revamp of Kashi Vishwanath at Varanasi and the reconstruction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya are significant steps in Indias quest to rediscover itself and reclaim its spiritual past. Indias unprecedented progress in development parameters and rediscovery of its cultural roots may appear unrelated at the surface; still, they are part of a single phenomenonthe countrys spiritual renaissance. Rampant corruption, especially among politicians and senior bureaucrats seeping to the lowest rungs of officialdom, has corroded independent Indias administrative set-up for long and wrecked successive governments development plans. Even the best schemes, made with the noblest intentions, came to nought. The then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi estimated that out of the funds allocated, only 15 percent reached the target group, and 85 percent was stolen on the way. Modi stopped it. It was a singular achievement because none of his predecessors could do so. He was innovative, used technology and disbursed money through direct transfers to the bank accounts of millions of beneficiaries. A class of local leaders who doubled as dalals and siphoned off the public funds easily was decimated. More important, there wasnt any discrimination, against or for, any creed, caste or gender in the distribution of these freebies. As a part of their strategy, his detractors (read opposition parties), however, have largely side-stepped the developmental issues. Muslims, who constitute about 15 percent of the electorate, have been repeatedly told that Modi, if voted again to office, would disenfranchise them and reduce them to third-class citizens. Modi is also being painted as an authoritarian out to squash dissent, snuff democracy, upturn the Constitution, and do away with reservations for various vulnerable sections of the societyin vogue since the birth of the republic. There is absolutely no evidence that sustains these allegations. There isnt even a remote hint in any of the BJP documentsmanifesto, party resolutionsor the statements of its top leaders suggesting any such move. The BJPs manifesto celebrates Indias civilisational values, thought, wisdom and traditional knowledge, and seeks to craft policies to further Indias national interests with the spirit of Vishwa Bandhu and a Bharat First attitude. For the BJP, the last decade has witnessed the transformation of India from one of the fragile five to one of the top five economies of the world. The crux of Rahul Gandhi and Congresss electoral campaign, however, is identity politicsseeking to divide the country on the basis of castesomething the party had abhorred in the past. In a letter to chief ministers dated June 27, 1961, Jawaharlal Nehru observed, If we go in for reservations on communal and caste basis, we swamp the bright and able people and remain second-rate or third-rate. I am grieved to learn how far this business of reservation has gone based on communal considerations. It has amazed me to learn that even promotions are based sometimes on communal or caste considerations. This way lies not only folly, but disaster. Let us help the backward groups by all means, but never at the cost of efficiency. How are we going to build the public sector or indeed any sector with second-rate people? But to meet the exigencies of political ambitions, party policies in vogue for long can be buried fathoms deep. The Congress manifesto and statements made by Rahul Gandhi also indirectly speak about the redistribution of national wealth among various sections of societyscheduled castes, tribes, backward classeson the basis of their share in the national population. The plans for evaluation and distribution are lacking in detail. It appears that Rahul is on some sort of a nostalgic excursion, romanticising a bygone era when his grandmother Indira Gandhi successfully sailed to power on the Garibi hatao (eradicate poverty) promise. The result of her policies was disastrous for the country. Most of the commodities of daily use were either in short supply or available in the black market. Will the rich-poor binary, which yielded results in the 1970s, work in 2024? Looks difficult. (Views are personal) (punjbalbir@gmail.com) Balbir Punj Former Rajya Sabha member & author, most recently of Tryst with Ayodhya: Decolonisation of India

Assam CM Sarma Demands Vice President's Intervention in Alleged Incident Involving AAP MP Maliwal

Assam CM Sarma Demands Vice President's Intervention in Alleged Incident Involving AAP MP Maliwal Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the vice president should take suo motu cognisance of the incident with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence. ''There was an earlier allegation that a Delhi chief secretary was beaten by Kejriwal. Yesterday, he also thrashed a Rajya Sabha MP. I think the vice president, who is also the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, should take suo motu cognisance of how a chief minister can beat a Rajya Sabha MP,'' Sarma told reporters. Maliwal on Monday went to the Civil Lines Police Station and alleged that a member of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal staff ''assaulted' her at the chief minister's official residence, police officials said. The Assam chief minister also addressed a public meeting in support of BJP candidate Harsh Malhotra in Laxmi Nagar. Sarma said, ''The BJP government had promised the Ram temple (in Ayodhya) and the government kept the promise. The BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled all the promises.'' He said that a magnificent temple will also be built in Mathura, and a grand temple of Baba Vishwanath will be built after winning 400 seats. Attacking the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Sarma said, ''The Lal Qila (Red Fort) and the Qutub Minar are the main attractions of the capital, but the CM of Delhi invites people to show Mohalla Clinics, which are in bad conditions.'' He further said that medical colleges are being built in every district of Assam, and if the BJP is voted to power again, the government will build super-specialty hospitals and medical colleges in the national capital. Local MLA Abhay Verma, deputy president of Delhi BJP Lata Gupta and many other BJP leaders and workers were present during the meeting.

Ram Rajya will begin in country now, doesnt mean theocratic state: Rajnath

Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said he felt that Ram Rajya will begin in the country now that the temple in Ayodhya has come up, but stressed that this does not mean a theocratic state. Addressing an intellectuals meet in his parliamentary constituency, he said Ram Rajya does not mean a theocratic state, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Rajnath Singh Clarifies: Ram Rajya Implies Rule of Law, Not a Theocratic State

Rajnath Singh Clarifies: Ram Rajya Implies Rule of Law, Not a Theocratic State Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said he felt that Ram Rajya will begin in the country now that the temple in Ayodhya has come up, but stressed that this does not mean a theocratic state. Addressing an intellectuals meet in his parliamentary constituency, he said Ram Rajya does not mean a theocratic state, but developing a sense of responsibility and duty among people. ''We had said that Ram is the centre of our faith. If we get a majority, grand Ram Mandir will be built in Ayodhya. You saw, that work was also done. Now I have started feeling that Lord Ram has now come out of his hut and entered his palace, hence I have a firm belief that Ram Rajya will begin in India,'' he said. Explaining the concept of Ram Rajya, he said, ''If I talk about Ram Rajya, it does not mean that I am talking about any theocratic state. Ram Rajya means that a sense of responsibility and sense of duty should be developed among the common people. If a sense of duty is not developed, and there is only a sense of rights, then Ram Rajya cannot come. ''You should read the whole story of the Ramayan and see that Kaikeyi did not have a sense of duty but only sense of rights due to which the whole crisis had arisen, and Lord Ram had to go to the forest,'' he added. The defence minister said that politics means a system that takes the society towards the right path, but the irony is that in independent India the word 'politics' has lost its meaning. He said, ''I believe that India needs such politicians who can re-establish the lost meaning and spirit of the word politics in the Indian political system.'' Without naming anyone, he said, ''In the field of politics, I believe that the crisis of credibility should not arise under any circumstances. There should be no difference between the words and actions of leaders. Whatever the leader says, he should do it, only then there will be no crisis of trust in Indian politics.'' Asserting that he never gives assurances to people, he said, ''At the age of 26, when I was contesting the assembly elections, I had given some assurances once or twice. After that a thought arose in my mind that I have given assurances to the public so that we can get votes, but I have doubts whether I will be able to fulfil these assurances or not. ''The truth is that despite becoming an MLA, I was not able to fulfil some assurances, that is why I vowed that if I contest any election, I will not give any direct assurance to the public.'' However, Singh also said that the party he belongs to had not only accepted the crisis of credibility that had arisen in Indian politics as a challenge, but also won over it. ''I am saying this so that someone can pick up our election manifesto and look at it. Whatever promises we made in it, we have fulfilled them,'' he added. Referring to the abolition of the triple talaq system by the BJP government, Singh said, ''If it is a question of triple talaq, I know many people will say why are you interfering in the matter of another religion. ''The question is not about religion. I believe that be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jew, anyone, everyone's mother is like our, irrespective of the religion they follow. If we feel that she is being tortured, then to hell with politics... we don't worry about it. We will stand up to protect that sister and daughter. That is why we ended the practice of triple talaq,'' he added. At another meeting at the Awadh crossing, Singh said ''India's global stature has surged significantly. Previously, India's perspectives on international platforms lacked resonance, but today, the world pays heed to our nation's voice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi deserves recognition for this transformation. His mission, vision, and passion have propelled India to new heights across various domains.'' The defence minister further said that Pakistan MP Fazlur Rehman said that India is becoming a world superpower so fast, but Pakistan is ''begging'' the world to save itself from destruction. He added that India's economy is the fastest growing and it is acknowledged. We have diligently worked towards realising (former prime minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji's vision for Lucknow, and we remain committed to advancing it further in the future, the Defence Minister said. Upon securing majority in both Houses of the Parliament, we swiftly revoked Article 370, granting Jammu and Kashmir equal status with other states,'' he said. In his address UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath acknowledged the work done by Singh for his constituency. Polling in Lucknow will be held on May 20 in the fifth phase. Singh is vying to win the seat for the third consecutive term.

Ram Rajya will begin in country now, doesn't mean theocratic state: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh envisions the start of Ram Rajya in India post Ayodhya temple completion, emphasizing duty over rights, reviving politics' essence, fulfilling manifesto promises, and BJP's triple talaq actions. He highlights the upcoming Lucknow polling and commitment to protecting women.

Ram Rajya Principles to Guide Nation-Building, Clarifies Rajnath Singh

Ram Rajya Principles to Guide Nation-Building, Clarifies Rajnath Singh Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said he felt that Ram Rajya will begin in the country now that the temple in Ayodhya has come up, but stressed that this does not mean a theocratic state. Addressing an intellectuals meet in his parliamentary constituency, he said Ram Rajya does not mean a theocratic state, but developing a sense of responsibility and duty among people. ''We had said that Ram is the centre of our faith. If we get a majority, grand Ram Mandir will be built in Ayodhya. You saw, that work was also done. Now I have started feeling that Lord Ram has now come out of his hut and entered his palace, hence I have a firm belief that Ram Rajya will begin in India,'' he said. Explaining the concept of Ram Rajya, he said, ''If I talk about Ram Rajya, it does not mean that I am talking about any theocratic state. Ram Rajya means that a sense of responsibility and sense of duty should be developed among the common people. If a sense of duty is not developed, and there is only a sense of rights, then Ram Rajya cannot come. ''You should read the whole story of the Ramayan and see that Kaikeyi did not have a sense of duty but only sense of rights due to which the whole crisis had arisen, and Lord Ram had to go to the forest,'' he added. The defence minister said that politics means a system that takes the society towards the right path, but the irony is that in independent India the word 'politics' has lost its meaning. He said, ''I believe that India needs such politicians who can re-establish the lost meaning and spirit of the word politics in the Indian political system.'' Without naming anyone, he said, ''In the field of politics, I believe that the crisis of credibility should not arise under any circumstances. There should be no difference between the words and actions of leaders. Whatever the leader says, he should do it, only then there will be no crisis of trust in Indian politics.'' Asserting that he never gives assurance to people, he said, At the age of 26, when I was contesting the assembly elections, I had given some assurances once or twice. After that a thought arose in my mind that I have given assurances to the public so that we can get votes, but I have doubts whether I will be able to fulfil these assurances or not. ''The truth is that despite becoming an MLA, I was not able to fulfil some assurances, that is why I vowed that if I contest any election, I will not give any direct assurance to the public.'' However, Singh also said that the party he belongs to had not only accepted the crisis of credibility that had arisen in Indian politics as a challenge, but also won over it. ''I am saying this so that someone can pick up our election manifesto and look at it. Whatever promises we made in it, we have fulfilled them,'' he added. Referring to the abolition of the triple talaq system by the BJP government, Singh said, ''If it is a question of triple talaq, I know many people will say why are you interfering in the matter of another religion. ''The question is not about religion. I believe that be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jew, anyone, everyone's mother is like our, irrespective of the religion they follow. If we feel that she is being tortured, then to hell with politics... we don't worry about it. We will stand up to protect that sister and daughter. That is why we ended the practice of triple talaq,'' he added. Polling in Lucknow will be held on May 20 in the fifth phase. Singh is vying to win the seat for the third consecutive term.

Hunch Mobility sees notable surge in charters for spiritual travel

In the wake of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir opening, Hunch Mobility has experienced a notable uptick in charter services catering to spiritual travel. Hunch Mobility, a provider of personalised charter services in India, has been operating a diverse fleet of helicopters, and aircraft across India for the past four years. While initially, charters were primarily...

Pilot Says INDIA Will Form Next Govt, Cong To Get More Seats Than BJP In Two States

Pilot Says INDIA Will Form Next Govt, Cong To Get More Seats Than BJP In Two States Asserting that people are voting for change, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday exuded confidence that an INDIA bloc government would be formed at the Centre and claimed his party will get more seats than the BJP in both Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The AICC general secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said there was a ''sea change'' from the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with the people voting for real change this time. While Rajasthan has 25 Lok Sabha seats, Chhattisgarh has 11 parliamentary segments. The Congress had drawn a blank last time in Rajasthan and won only two seats from Chhattisgarh. In an interview with PTI while campaigning here for Rahul Gandhi, Pilot also accused the BJP of seeking votes in the name of religion and said it was doing so as it could not ask for mandate on its performance. ''It is absolutely incorrect to ask for votes in the name of religion. The Ram temple (in Ayodhya) was constructed with the order of the Supreme Court which all of us respected. We have always welcomed it but to seek votes in the name of religion is unbecoming of anybody, especially the ruling party,'' the Congress general secretary said. Urging the BJP to refrain from seeking votes in the name of religion, Pilot said, ''this shows that they (BJP) can't ask for votes on performance, delivery, fulfillment of promises, and that is why they have to resort to this politics of mangalsutra, mandir and masjid and Hindus and Muslims etc.'' ''I think people have moved beyond this and they must talk about real issues and keep religion out of politics,'' he asserted. Talking about his assessment of the ground situation after four rounds of polling, Pilot said his sense is that the Congress and the INDIA bloc candidates are ''surging ahead''. ''That is also reflected in the speeches of the BJP leaders. Top BJP leaders are now making outlandish statements and I get a sense that they have understood that people have voted against them,'' Pilot said. This is an election for change as people have had a government of the same party for 10 years and nothing has been delivered, he said. ''In the four phases of polls that we have had, the Congress and the INDIA bloc are way ahead of the BJP and the NDA,'' the Congress leader said. Pilot said he is absolutely confident that the ''ground is slipping from under the BJP's feet''. ''Come June 4, the INDIA bloc parties plus the Congress will get enough members of Parliament to form a government. The NDA has been given a chance for two consecutive terms and now people want change and the INDIA bloc will get a required majority on June 4,'' Pilot said. Asked about his assessment of his home state Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, he said, ''There is a bipolar contest between the BJP and the Congress. In both the states, we will get more seats than the BJP.'' On whether the Congress is headed for double digits tally in Rajasthan after drawing a blank in the last two Lok Sabha elections, Pilot said, ''absolutely, we will get more seats than the BJP.'' ''There are 25 seats in Rajasthan. Last time we did not get any seats. This time there is a huge change and I can see the atmosphere ' our campaign was better, our candidates were better, our manifesto was better, I think we will get more seats than the BJP in Rajasthan,'' he reiterated. On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that the Congress will get fewer seats than the age of Rahul Gandhi, Pilot said this kind of random assessment about numbers has no bearing, as ultimately it is the people of India who decide who will get how many seats. ''The BJP has stopped talking about '400 paar' because they have understood that they are on the backfoot, people want a change. Young people, farmers, cities, villages, everyone has decided that they have given them two chances and nothing has come out of it. Therefore people have made up their minds (for change),'' he said. Pilot accused the BJP of making baseless allegations against the Congress. ''The prime minister has himself talked about black money being transported in big tempos, to a party. They should go analyze, assess and investigate. They had promised that they are going to eradicate black money and corruption, when you yourself confess to the statement that has been made, it is very surprising. We are all waiting to see what action is taken on the allegations the PM himself has made,'' he said. Pilot said that on the other hand, the Congress' manifesto speaks for itself and people have liked what it has said. The BJP has not been able to match the Congress' governance track record, he said and added that his party's historical background suggests that when it says something, it means it. ''We will bring a law for MSP purchase, we will give 30 lakh government jobs to people of this country, we are going to increase the MGNREGA payments to Rs 400 a day. I think what has happened now is that when four phases are over, they (BJP) are running out of ideas and making baseless allegations against Mr Rahul Gandhi, Congress or the previous prime minister Manmohan Singh, but it will not pay any dividends,'' he said. The BJP must come forward and debate on real issues and talk about things that matter to the voter and that is what it is avoiding, Pilot said. The Congress on Monday claimed the BJP's graph is on a ''relentless downward trajectory'' and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign is getting ''more desperate''. The fourth phase of the seven-phase elections concluded on Monday. The counting if votes will be held on June 4.

Three people killed in road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda

Three people, including two brothers, lost their lives in a road accident in Gonda (UP) on May 14. The victims died on the spot after a speeding car collided with them on the Ayodhya-Gonda highway. The driver of the car escaped.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Files Nomination from Varanasi Lok Sabha Constituency

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Files Nomination from Varanasi Lok Sabha Constituency Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday, an event attended by several NDA leaders including Union ministers and chief ministers in a show of strength as he seeks a third term from the constituency. In the morning, he offered prayers at the Dashashwamedh Ghat and the Kaal Bhairav temple here. He performed Ganga aarti at the ghat amid chanting of Vedic mantras and then took a cruise ride to reach the Namo Ghat. From there, Modi reached the Kaal Bhairav temple. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accompanied Modi during his visit to the temple where the prime minister offered his prayers. In a post in Hindi on X before filing his nomination, Modi said, ''My relationship with my Kashi is amazing, inseparable and incomparable... all I can say is that it cannot be expressed in words!'' After visiting the Kaal Bhairav temple, the prime minister reached the Varanasi collectorate to file his nomination. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and two of the four proposers of the prime minister's nomination were present when Modi submitted the papers. BJP chief J P Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Hardeep Singh Puri, Anupriya Patel and Ramdas Athawale, and a host of chief ministers and other leaders of the ruling party and NDA constituents were present at the collectorate for the occasion. Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar did not attend the event citing health reasons. According to the BJP's Varanasi district unit media co-incharge Arvind Mishra, the four proposers of Modi's nomination were Pandit Ganeshwar Shastri, long-time RSS functionary Baijnath Patel, Lalchand Kushwaha and Sanjay Sonkar. While Shastri was the one who decided the auspicious time for the consecration event at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Lalchand Kushwaha hails from the OBC category and Sanjay Sonkar, a Dalit, is the general secretary of the BJP's Varanasi district unit. Among the proposers, Shastri and Patel were present during Modi's nomination filing. PM Modi is eyeing a hattrick at the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, a seat he won for the first time in 2014. He was dressed in a white kurta-pyajama and blue sadri when he arrived at the Varanasi collectorate to file his nomination paper. He waved at the crowd gathered there on the occasion. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma, NCP leader Praful Patel, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan, Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha, UP minister and NISHAD party chief Sanjay Nishad, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Omprakash Rajbhar, RLD Chief Jayant Chaudhary, LJP (Ram Vilas) Chief Chirag Paswan, Anbumani Ramadoss, GK Vasan, Devanathan Yadav, Tushar Vellappalli and Atul Bora were also present at the collectorate. After the nomination process, Modi will hold a meeting with BJP workers at the Rudraksha Convention Centre. The prime minister held a dazzling roadshow in Varanasi a day ago and vowed to do a lot more to serve the holy city in his third term. A day later, he posted a clip from his Monday's roadshow on 'X' and said, ''The love and blessings that my family members of Kashi showered on me during the road show has become an unforgettable moment in my life.'' Voting in Varanasi will take place in the seventh phase on June 1.

'Fear of humiliation': Mallikarjun Kharge on why he skipped Ayodhya Ram Mandir's 'pran-prathista'

Live Update: PM Modi Files Nomination from Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to file his nomination from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat for the third consecutive time today. Starting off at the Dashashwamedh Ghat, he will mark the auspicious occasion of Ganga Saptami with prayers and rituals. A multitude of Union Ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, as well as Chief Ministers from 16 states, and other prominent leaders of the NDA are slated to accompany PM Modi during this significant event. Stay tuned for the latest updates on PM Modi's nomination process. Impressive Assembly of Leaders in Kashi The nomination of Prime Minister Modi from Varanasi holds symbolic significance for the BJP, aiming to convey a powerful message, particularly to the opposition. The initial roadshow witnessed a diverse turnout reminiscent of India's cultural diversity, attracting a crowd of thousands. Now, as the nomination process unfolds, leaders and ministers from the NDA across the nation converge in Kashi, showcasing their collective strength. May 14, 2024 - 9:09 AM Acharya Ganeshwar Shastri, who presided over the consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, along with Dravid Disabled National Shooter Sumedha Pathak and Padma awardees, will propose Narendra Modi's nomination this time. May 14, 2024 - 8:49 AM Filing the nomination amidst the auspicious Pushya Nakshatra, Sarvartha Siddhi, and Ravi Yoga on Ganga Saptami. Varanasi Nomination: Modi's Sacred Pledge Embracing the ethos of Sanatan (eternal) values, Prime Minister Narendra Modi meticulously aligns his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections with traditional customs. The chosen date, Vaishakh Shukla Saptami, holds profound theological significance, believed to mark the birth of Mother Ganga in heaven and her descent into Lord Shiva's locks. Ahead of filing his nomination, Modi will partake in rituals at Dashashwamedh Ghat, honoring the sacredness of the occasion. Tightened Security Measures As Prime Minister Narendra Modi gears up to file his nomination from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, stringent security measures have been put in place outside the District Magistrate's office. Lord Ram wishes that PM Modi will form govt again, Says UP CM Yogi Phase 4 Lok Sabha Voting: Live Updates, 40% Polling by 1 p.m., Bengal Violence PM Modi Alleges INDIA Alliance Undermining National Interests

Amit Shah attacks Uddhav Thackeray for no-show at Ayodhya event

Union home minister Amit Shah confidently proclaims BJP's imminent victory in the upcoming election, highlighting massive turnout and criticizing opposition leaders. Shah emphasizes PM Modi's potential third term and BJP's dedication to key issues like Uniform Civil Code and job opportunities for locals.

Did not attend Ram mandir opening fearing humiliation as I am Dalit: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attempting to establish dictatorial rule in the country. He mentioned that the fear of humiliation prevented Modi from attending the Ram temple inauguration in Ayodhya. Kharge highlighted the importance of upcoming elections and urged voters to prevent the rise of a dictatorial government.

PM Modi Slams Opposition, Accuses INDIA Bloc in Bihar Rally

New Delhi/Muzaffarpur/Hajipur/Saran (Bihar) : Reminding Bihar of the jungle raj during the earlier RJD rule in the state and a huge legacy of crime and atrocities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lashed out at the Opposition INDIA bloc, calling its leaders cowards who were scared of Pakistan's nuclear power, about recent statements by INDIA bloc leaders. Mr Modi addressed three back-to-back rallies in Bihar's Hajipur, Muzaffarpur, and Saran Lok Sabha constituencies. He also recalled the scars of Naxalism faced by Bihar for decades and claimed that previous governments had fostered and exploited Naxalism against its people. Mr Modi, who later held a roadshow in his parliamentary seat in UPs Varanasi, from where he will be filing his nomination on Tuesday, also visited the Patna Sahib gurdwara and performed seva there and served langar. The PM was offered a samman patra from the gurdwara committee and a portrait of Mata Gujri, whom the PM hailed as a beacon of courage and sacrifice. The INDIA bloc seems to have leaders who are scared of Pakistan and have nightmares about its nuclear power If Pakistan does not wear bangles, we will make the country wear these. I knew they did not have food grains. Now, I come to know they do not even have an adequate supply of bangles, said the PM, whose remarks came in the backdrop of comments by National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah about Pakistan having atom bombs and not wearing bangles. But, we must look carefully at the Opposition which seems to be full of cowards and timid people, who give a clean chit to Pakistan on terrorism, raise doubts on surgical strikes their Left allies even want our nuclear arsenal to be dismantled, he said. Maintaining that the INDIA bloc had worked out a formula, which would allow five of its leaders, if the coalition came to power, to enjoy a year of premiership each, Mr. Modi said: Just imagine what type of a mess we would get to see if the bloc's plan to have a different PM, every year, for five years, succeeds. However, they are a motley group that is bound to fail. He asserted that the ongoing elections were for having a government that would give a further boost to the standing and clout enjoyed by the country. Asserting that money recovered in raids against politicians belonged to the countrys poor, the PM said: I will tell you why they are crying hoarse against the action of agencies like the ED. During the previous Congress regime, the ED seized only Rs 35 lakhs, which could be contained in a school bag. Ever since we took over, the agency has recovered Rs 2,200 crores, which would require 70 small trucks to be carried. The Prime Minister said unlike his opponents, who were concerned about promoting their offspring, I have no waaris (successor). The common people are my waaris. He reiterated the charge that parties like the Congress and the RJD will give away reservations to Muslims to pursue their vote bank politics, but added that as long as I am alive, I will not let this happen. Kidnapping and extortion flourished during RJD rule in Bihar the NDA fights for social justice, 60 per cent Union ministers from OBC/SC/ST categories, he asserted. It has been several days since I challenged the Congress-led Opposition to give it in writing that it will not give reservations on religious lines. They are yet to respond, Mr Modi said. The PM also alleged that the Opposition had plans to impose an inheritance tax but Modi would stand like a wall in their way, thwarting attempts to rob people of their wealth. He accused the Opposition parties of deliberately hurting people's sentiments by making obnoxious statements about the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Targeting RJD leaders Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, mentioning neither by name, Mr. Modi referred to the fodder scam, the land for jobs scam and attempts to take credit for work done by our ally (chief minister and JD-U president) Nitish Kumar. Speaking on a day when the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections was underway, he urged the people to turn out in large numbers and vote for the NDA to enable the formation of a strong government. In his speech, Mr. Modi also touched upon his government's track record on development, citing the construction of highways at a rapid rate and underscoring commitment to social justice and empowerment, while accusing the Opposition of trying to put hurdles in the way of measures like women's reservations.

BJP alleges Rahul Gandhi skipped Ayodhya event out of fear of losing Muslim vote bank

BJP alleges Rahul Gandhi skipped Ayodhya event out of fear of losing Muslim vote bank Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday claimed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya as he feared losing his ''Bhendi Bazaar'' vote bank. The mention of Bhendi Bazaar is significant given it is a Muslim-dominated area in south Mumbai. He also asserted that despite the Congress' opposition to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the BJP government will introduce the common law. Shah addressed election rallies in Dhule district in north Maharashtra and Vasai, where he accused Congress of not removing Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir because of appeasement politics. This government will not run as per Sharia Law, Shah said while addressing a campaign rally at Vasai near Mumbai. ''Rahul Gandhi didn't visit the Ram Temple inauguration because he feared losing his vote bank, the vote bank of Bhendi Bazar,'' Shah said while campaigning for Hemant Savara, the BJP nominee from Palghar Lok Sabha constituency, who is pitted against Bharti Kamdi of Shiv Sena (UBT). Shah alleged the ''Sonia-Manmohan Singh government'' was involved in corruption amounting to Rs 12 lakh crore. ''But there is no such allegation against the Narendra Modi government (in the last 10 years),'' he said. ''I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray whether he is comfortable to sit with people who were soft on (Pakistani terrorist) Ajmal Kasab. The Congress is against UCC, but we will introduce it for sure. This government will not run as per the Sharia Law,'' the Home Minister added. Earlier in the day, Shah addressed a campaign rally in Dhule district for BJP's Dhule Lok Sabha seat candidate and former Union minister Subhash Bhamre. Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only helped in the resolution of the Ram temple issue but also facilitated its construction. Shah also targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Congress ally Uddhav Thackeray on Rahul Gandhi opposing the abrogation of article 370. The Congress did not remove Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir because of the appeasement politics, the senior BJP leader alleged. He claimed Rahul Gandhi and Congress insulted (Hindutva ideologue) Veer Savarkar. ''What does Thackeray have to say about it?'' ''I also want a clarification from Uddhav Thackeray. One of the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc is DMK led by M K Stalin, and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin has insulted Sanatan Dharma. Does Uddhav agree with them?'' Shah said. In a dig, he said at least 20 attempts were made to ''launch and relaunch'' Rahul Gandhi as a leader. ''Can he or his government ever give a befitting response to Pakistan? Can they end Naxalism or terrorism in the country? Can they make India prosperous?'' Shah asked. Dhule and Mumbai South constituencies will go to polls on May 20.

Rahul Gandhi Didn't Attend Ram Temple Event For Fear Of Losing Vote Bank: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday claimed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya as he feared losing his Bhendi Bazaar vote bank.

Kharge Criticizes Modi's Leadership Approach in Upcoming Election

Kharge Criticizes Modi's Leadership Approach in Upcoming Election Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in dictatorship and the opposition will teach him a lesson in the elections. Addressing an election rally in Jharkhand's Latehar for Congress's Chatra candidate KN Tripathi, he alleged former CM Hemant Soren was put behind bars for not parting ways with the INDIA bloc. ''We believe in democracy and he believes in dictatorship. We will teach him a lesson,'' Kharge said. ''PM Modi is an RSS weapon and we are fighting against RSS ideology propagated by him,'' he added. Kharge said the PM did not forget to invite actors and industrialists during the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya but failed to invite President Droupadi Murmu.

Amit Shah accuses Rahul Gandhi of avoiding Ram Mandir visit for vote bank

Amit Shah said Rahul Gandhi declined the Ayodhya Ram Mandir opening invitation for fear of losing political support.

Rahul Gandhi didn't visit Ram temple for fear of losing vote bank: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for not visiting the Ram temple in Ayodhya, accusing him of fearing a loss of vote bank. Shah also questioned Gandhi's opposition to the abrogation of Article 370 and sought the views of Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray. Shah praised PM Modi's role in resolving the temple issue and accused the Congress of appeasement politics. Shah was campaigning for BJP's candidate in Dhule, Maharashtra, ahead of the upcoming elections.

Rahul Gandhi Didnt Visit Ram Temple For Fear Of Losing Vote Bank: Amit Shah

MUMBAI, May 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya as he feared losing his vote bank. Addressing a rally in Maharashtras Dhule district, Shah also said Gandhi opposed the abrogation of Article 370, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and sought to know the views of Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray on the Congress leaders stand. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp [] The post Rahul Gandhi Didnt Visit Ram Temple For Fear Of Losing Vote Bank: Amit Shah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Hindu culture making contribution to humanity since time immemorial:Maharaj

THANE, May 13: Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has said the Hindu culture is making a contribution to the entire humanity since time immemorial. He also said there are many temples of Lord Ram in the country but his birthplace Ayodhya has its own importance. He was speaking on Sunday night here at the release of a Marathi book, Ayodhya Andolanacha Talebandh, written by Dr Ashok Modak and Dr Prashant Dharmadhikari, [] The post Hindu culture making contribution to humanity since time immemorial:Maharaj appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

'Baap Dada Ki Kamai Khanewale': PM takes jibe at Tejashwi Yadav during Bihar election rally

HAJIPUR (BIHAR): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a blistering attack on RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav for his allegation against him on employment by commenting that those dependent on their fathers wealth were unaware of employment and job creation. Addressing an election rally at Kutubpur in Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency from where LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan is contesting election, Modi sought to hit hard on former deputy chief minister Tejashwi for his repeated accusations against his government on the issue of employment. Baap Dada Ki Kamai Khane Wale Ko Rozgar Ka Pata Nahin, he remarked. Tejashwi who is trying hard to brighten electoral prospects of both RJD and the opposition INDIA bloc in the election, claims how he succeeded in providing five lakh government jobs to youths when his party was in power for 17 months last time. His party's election manifesto also promises one crore jobs if INDIA forms the government at the centre. Modi said that the country's economy was growing fast, creating jobs in various sectors like railway, road, fertilizer and thermal power and various infrastructure projects. Alleging that RJD would abolish women's reservation in Lok Sabha and state assemblies if INDIA was voted to power, the PM said that his government ensured for 33 percent reservation for women under the bill. He, while obliquely referring to the past instances of RJD MPs tearing copies of the bill in the Parliament, said that RJD and Congress and RJD could only increase migration from the state. How could Centre determine Hindu, Muslim population without even conducting Census: Tejashwi Yadav While referring to Enforcement Directorate (ED) seizing heaps of currency notes from the houses of leaders, PM Modi said that the central agency had seized Rs 22000 crore from the premises of corrupt people which would require 70 small trucks to be carried. On the other hand, the agency had seized only Rs 35 lakh when the UPA was in power at the centre, he added. Modi vowed to continue with his governments crackdown on corruption, notwithstanding allegations of misuse of central agencies against the Opposition. He said the money recovered in raids belonged to the countrys poor. Referring to Opposition leaders allegations that PM Modi had no waaris (successor), he said that they were promoting their offspring but 'I have no waaris' to promote. The common people are my waaris, he told the gathering. Talking about the Oppositions repeated accusations against BJP that it was planning to abolish reservation if voted to power, Modi said, As long as I am alive, I will not let this happen. He, however, alleged that Opposition would give reservations to Muslims to pursue their vote bank politics. The PM also accused the Opposition parties of deliberately hurting peoples sentiments by making obnoxious statements about the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Earlier in the morning, he participated in serving Langar at Patna Sahib Gurudwara. Modi also visited Sri Harmindir Ji Patna Sahib on Monday before leaving for Hajipur, Muzaffarpur and Saran to address election rallies. BJP manifesto ignores unemployment, issues concerning farmers, inflation: Tejashwi Yadav

STAAH Ventures into Ayodhya Amidst Rising Hotel Demand

The inflow of tourists and pilgrims into Ayodhya has seen a massive upswing with the recent inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. As a result, hotels, homesteads, and vacation rentals in the holy city are struggling to make sure that their booking process is streamlined, and they are able to maximize their revenue. STAAH,... The post STAAH Ventures into Ayodhya Amidst Rising Hotel Demand first appeared on Hospitality Biz India: Latest News & Analysis . The post STAAH Ventures into Ayodhya Amidst Rising Hotel Demand appeared first on Hospitality Biz India: Latest News & Analysis .

INDIA bloc leaders scared of Pakistan's nuclear power: PM Modi

MUZAFFARPUR/HAJIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lashed out at the opposition INDIA bloc, calling its leaders cowards who were scared of Pakistan's nuclear power. Addressing an election rally in Muzaffarpur Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar, Modi made an apparent reference to a recent statement of National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, without mentioning him by name. The INDIA bloc seems to have leaders who are scared of Pakistan and have nightmares of its nuclear power, he said. The remarks come in the backdrop of comments by Abdullah about Pakistan having atom bombs and not wearing bangles. If Pakistan does not wear bangles, we will make the country wear these. I knew they did not have food grains. Now, I come to know they do not even have adequate supply of bangles, the PM said. But, we must look carefully at the opposition which seems to be full of cowards and timid people, who give a clean chit to Pakistan on terrorism, raise doubts on surgical strikes their Left allies even want our nuclear arsenal to be dismantled, he said. Earlier, addressing an election rally in Hajipur Lok Sabha constituency, Modi said the money recovered in raids against politicians 'belonged to the country's poor'. I will tell you why they are crying hoarse against the action of agencies like the ED. During the previous Congress regime, the ED seized only Rs 35 lakh, which could be contained in a school bag. Ever since we took over, the agency has recovered Rs 2,200 crore, which would require 70 small trucks to be carried, said the PM. Modi said unlike his opponents, who were concerned about promoting their offspring, I have no 'waaris' (successor). The common people are my 'waaris'. He reiterated the charge that parties like the Congress and RJD, which 'allowed extortion and kidnapping to flourish' while in power, will 'give away reservations' to Muslims 'to pursue their vote bank politics', but added that as long as I am alive, I will not let this happen. Kidnapping and extortion flourished during the RJD rule in Bihar...NDA fights for social justice, 60 per cent Union ministers from OBC/SC/ST categories, he asserted. Modi's roadshow draws enthusiastic crowds, first by a PM in Bihar's capital The prime minister also accused the opposition parties of deliberately hurting people's sentiments by making obnoxious statements about the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Speaking on a day when the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections were underway, he urged the people to turn out in large numbers and vote for the NDA to enable formation of a strong government. In his speech, Modi also touched upon his government's track record on development, citing construction of highways at a rapid rate and underscoring commitment to social justice and empowerment, while accusing the opposition of trying to put hurdles in the way of measures like women's reservations. Fondly recalling late Ram Vilas Paswan, his former cabinet colleague, whose son Chirag is contesting from Hajipur, Modi called upon people to vote for the young leader and ensure his victory with a margin that could beat his father's record-breaking wins. LS Polls Phase 4 | LIVE updates | Violence breaks out in several parts in West Bengal; TMC, BJP clash in Durgapur

Did Rahul Gandhi Visit Ayodhya Post Filing Nomination For 2024 Elections?

Claim: A video of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is viral claiming that it captures Gandhi's visit to the Ram temple in Ayodhya following his nomination filing from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli for the Lok Sabha elections. Fact: BOOM found that the video is old and from Jharkhand's Deoghar district. The footage shows Gandhi's visit to the Baba Baidyanath Dham temple as part of his nationwide Bharat Jodo Nyay rally on February 3, 2024. Tools used: BOOM ran a reverse image search on one of the keyframes from the viral video and found several news reports from February 3, 2024, carrying visuals of Gandhi coming out of a temple during his Bharat Jodo Nyay rally. Additionally, we came across news reports various other media outlets, such as News 18 and Punjab Kesari, who carried similar footages of Gandhi at that time. Read the full fact-check here .