Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi addresses a press conference, in New Delhi on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
Credit: PTI Photo
Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal on Tuesday said farmers will show black flags to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visits Punjab for poll campaigning.
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The Election Commission on Tuesday directed the Andhra Pradesh police chief to take strict criminal action against YSRCP MLA P Ramakrishna Reddy who was allegedly seen damaging an EVM in the Macherla assembly constituency during the May 13 polls.
Reacting to Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole statement who questioned Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath over "being silent on the issue of China", Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma charged, "China is not capturing any territory. If Nana Patole wants, we can send him to Chinese boundary. He can go there, see and come back."
Slamming Modi government over claims of BJP bagging more than 400 seats, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi is in Varanasi on Wednesday where he said, "There is no '400 paar'...they are only talking about hatred. There are no talks about development, neither it is being told what work has been done in the last 10 years. I hope people will consider these things when they vote in the remaining two phases of (Lok Sabha) elections."
Clearing rumours over parties contesting against each other in the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was quoted by PTI on Wednesday (May 22) as saying, "No disunity among INDIA bloc partners in fight against central govt: Mallikarjun Kharge on parties contesting against each other. Conscious decision, compromise by Congress to contest on fewer seats to keep alliance together."
"INDIA alliance is going to form a government in the country. PM Modi, Amit Shah, NDA and BJP are worried, tensed, upset and disappointed because of this they keep making absurd statements. They make remarks on reservation, Constitution, Hindu-Muslim and mangalsutra, but never talk about unemployment, high inflation and border security," Congress leader Surendra Rajput was quoted by PTI as saying
"INDIA alliance is going to form the government. Akhilesh Yadav has said that the INDIA alliance will win 79 seats in Uttar Pradesh and will have a tough fight on one seat. Samajwadi (Party) has given a slogan '80 haarao, BJP hatao' and this will come true," Samajwadi Party leader Fakrul Hasan Chand told PTI.
Mocking BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut who is contesting LS polls from Himachal's Mandi, Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh told PTI, "Her time of entertainment is now completed in Himachal Pradesh. She had given enough statements that people couldn't stop laughing after listening. She is giving good competition to comedian Kapil Sharma. I think she should go back to Mumbai after June 4 and do films or else she can start a comedy show with Kangana Ranaut."
Addressing a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday, AAP leader Atishi said, "People of Delhi have made up their mind to give all seven (Lok Sabha) seats to INDIA alliance. And this is the reason why the BJP started to hatch conspiracies against Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party since election dates were announced. Within five days of announcement of election dates, ED arrested Arvind Kejriwal without any evidence,"
Addressing a public meeting in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said, "Congress and SP say that they will bring inheritance tax. This inheritance tax is nothing but the 'Jaziya' of Aurangzeb... 'Jaziya' was used to be taken from Hindus. Aurangzeb had asked Hindus either to convert to Islam or pay 'Jaziya'. We need to unmask the soul of Aurangzeb that is entering through the alliance of Congress and SP."
Regarding the recent polling in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti was quoted by ANI as saying, "The youth of Kashmir are angry with BJP and expressing their anger with their votes. They want to give a message to New Delhi...One cannot even protest in Kashmir. Therefore, voting is a way one can answer to the injustices done by the BJP..."
She added, "...BJP is using such parties whose people got the money via Hawala for militancy...BJP can do anything to keep Mehbooba Mufti out (of elections)..."
"It was already very clear when BJP started talking about 'Abki Baar 400 Paar' that this was a complete fantasy. Last time in 2019, thanks to the tragedy in Pulwama and the response in Balakot and the conversion of the election from what should have been a referendum on the economic failures of the first term of Mr Modi, it became a national security election in 2019. As a result, they maxed out in a number of states...In all those 11 states, those results are impossible to replicate and we are already seeing this very clearly....The strongholds of BJP have shown minimal turnout and significant drop in voting figures. Whereas, where the Congress candidates and the INDIA Alliance had attracted enthusiasm, the voting was carried out in good numbers...Our confidence has gone up even further," Tharoor said.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor while addressing a press conference in Delhi said, "The AAP has issued a statement on the matter which, I believe, cannot be improved and doesn't need to be added to. I honestly feel that this is a serious attempt to distract from the real issues facing the nation - unemployment, inflation...We have to focus on what touches the lives of ordinary Indians, not on these other issues. The media is often requested by the BJP to serve as a weapon of mass distraction. I request you, don't oblige this. Distraction from the real issues, doesn't serve anyone's interests."
"Arvind Kejriwal is going back to jail on June 2 and he should start preparing for it. In Delhi, where his party is ruling, they (AAP and Congress) won't be able to secure any seat. There is a massive wave of PM Modi," says UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Excerpts of a statement by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena’s office on EVM damaged by YSRCP MLA on May 13 were quoted by PTI as stating: “In Macherla Assembly Constituency, EVMs were damaged in seven polling stations including the PS no (polling station number) 202 where this incident of damage of EVM by the sitting MLA P Ramakrishna Reddy was recorded in the web camera.”
Reacting on the EVM damage incident, BJP leader Lanka Dinakaran asserted, "The webcam has captured P Ramakrishna, YSRCP siting-MLA, vandalising EVM and terrorising officers, threatening opposition parties polling agents there. This is the democracy that we are seeing in Andhra Pradesh."
Reacting to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's 'Jhoothon Ka Sardar' remark against PM Modi, LJP (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan has said, "In the first five phases, we have already cross the 300 to 315-mark. Now, on 25th (May) and 1st (June), we will definitely cross the 400-mark."
Union Minister and BJP leader Hardeep Singh Puri slammed Congress and AAP leaders for their statements on the alleged assault of Swati Maliwal. "You (Shashi Tharoor) worked for so many years in the United Nations in different departments, would you say that the issue of women empowerment is not important? One of their leaders, Atishi also said the same thing. They ought to be ashamed of themselves who are saying that this is not an important issue," said Puri.
"Political violence has almost finished democracy in West Bengal. In the Panchayat elections, more than 200 people were killed, but people from Kanthi needn't fear, in five phases Mamata's goons haven't been able to touch anyone... We have put our demands before the Election Commission to keep paramilitary forces company here even after the counting."
Shah claimed, "PM Modi has crossed 310 seats whereas Mamata Banerjee's INDI alliance has been wiped out. PM Modi will get 30 seats here in the state and after that TMC will be dispersed into pieces..."
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed PM Modi over his 'Babri lock' remark and said, "When he announced demonetisation, several small and medium industries got locked down...During lockdown, people from Uttar Pradesh were stuck in different parts of the country, several of them died. He does not speak about that lock."
Taking a dig at West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in a poll rally at Kanthi, Shah alleged: "Mamata Banerjee compromising national security for sake of vote bank. TMC has turned Bengal into a safe haven for infiltrators. Bomb-making only flourishing industry in Bengal now. Mamata Banerjee should stop attacking monks for the sake of winning polls."
Addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Basti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Siddharthnagar and Domariyaganj have always trusted me, BJP, our work, vision and promises. That's why I never have and never will leave any stone unturned in keeping this trust."
Addressing the poll rally in UP's Basti, PM Modi referring to Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi charged, "Both the shehzadas of Congress and SP are spreading rumours that they will win 79 seats of UP. Earlier I used to hear that people used to daydream, but now I understand what it means to daydream. On June 4, the people of UP will awake them and then they will blame EVM."
"The situation of terrorist country Pakistan, that used to threaten us, is now 'na ghar ka na ghat ka'. Pakistan is devastated but its well wishers, Congress and Samajwadi Party, are now trying to intimidate India. They say that we should be afraid of Pakistan," said Modi in UP's Basti.
Addressing a public meeting in Haryana's Mahendragarh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, "...PM Narendra Modi has made the Jawans of India like labourers... Army doesn't want Agniveer scheme, it's a scheme made by PMO. Once Congress come to power we will throw this scheme in the dustbin..."
In response to a query on Mallikarjun Kharge's 'INDIA alliance will win over 300 seats' remark, BJP leader Tejasvi Surya said, "Rahul Gandhi has held two yatras - 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. After the elections, Rahul Gandhi will have to do 'Congress Dhundho Yatra', and Mallikarjun Kharge will work as this yatra's coordinator."
"You may recall that PM Modi gave a speech against MGNREGA in Parliament, he wanted to shut down MGNREGA. Then, they got to know that the people won't like it. Later, during his entire tenure he slowly weakened MGNREGA," said Priyanka Gandhi addressing an election rally in Jharkhand.
The Congress' General Secretary (Communication) said, "The polling on 428 seats has been completed, 115 seats are remaining. But it was clear in the first two phases, 'South mein BJP Saaf, Uttar, Pashchim aur Uttar Bharat mein BJP half'... The INDIA Alliance will get a clear majority on June 4... It is clear from the speeches and body language of the PM that he is nervous..."
"Today also, the 'Modani' scam has been exposed. We will form a JPC within a month... The Prime Minister of the INDIA Alliance will be appointed within a day or two (after the results). After that, we will form a JPC. The PM has said himself that Ambani and Adani send money in tempos. From where did the black money come even after you did demonetisation in 2016?... One industrialist who has benefitted in the last 10 years, is Gautam Adani..."
Addressing a poll rally in Jharkhand's Godda, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi alleged that 'several healthy people died after they were asked to take Covid vaccines'.
Priyanka charged: "You all have got the (Covid) vaccine? I got it too, however, I didn't want to get it. It has been revealed now that there is something in that vaccine which causes some reaction. Several young, healthy people died. Cases have been filed in foreign countries against the vaccine (manufacturing) company. Do you remember, PM Modi's photo was there on vaccine certificate, now it has been removed because Modiji took Rs 52 crore donation from the vaccine company."
A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned as to why “preferential treatment” was meted out to the 17-year-old son of businessman Vishal Agarwal who ran over and killed two people under the wheels of a luxury car, the BJP hit back with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying that perhaps the Wayanad MP was not aware of the steps being taken by the government and police.
"The I.N.D.I. alliance has diseases worse than cancer. They can destroy the whole of India if they spread. These three diseases can be more destructive for the country than cancer. These diseases are, these people are extremely communal, these people are extremely racist, these people are extreme nepotists", said PM Modi at an election rally in Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh.
"I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that just saying that he is not anti-Hindu is not enough, you will need to be 'Hindu premi'. India is a Hindu civilisation. Hindus have enriched India for the last 5,000 years," says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma during a media interaction in Jharkhand's Bokaro.
- With PTI inputs
The Election Commission of India has directed both the BJP and the Congress to refrain from carrying out election campaigns along the lines of caste, community, language, and religion, emphasising that India’ socio-cultural milieu cannot be made a casualty to elections.
Nearly a month after it issued notice to BJP president J P Nadda on charges of Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving a divisive speech in Rajasthan's Banswara, the poll watchdog rejected his defence and asked him and his party's star campaign on religious and communal lines.
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Narendra Modi at a poll rally in Dwarka, Delhi.
Credit: X/@BJP4India
"For 60 years, the Jamia Millia Islamia University was running like regular educational institutions and the Dalits, STs and OBCs used to get reservations. To win the elections of 2014, the Congress govt, in 2011, declared the Jamia Millia Islamia University a minority institution. Due to this, 50 per cent reservation was implemented for the Muslims", said PM Modi at an election rally in Dwarka, West Delhi.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent Delhi Police to interrogate the elderly parents of Arvind Kejriwal tomorrow. I want to ask PM Modi and BJP that 85 years old father of Arvind Kejriwal who cannot walk alone without support and the mother of Arvind Kejriwal who just returned home a few days ago after spending a long time in the hospital, do they think that 85-year-old patients raised their hands on Swati Maliwal? Does the BJP feel this?", said Delhi minister Atishi at a press conference.
-ANI