Congress tried to grab power even as Parrikar was ailing: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the opposition Congress in Goa of scheming to gain power when then chief minister Manohar Parrikar was fighting for life.
Addressing a poll rally in Panaji, Mr. Modi paid tributes to the late leader, hailing his contribution as defence minister, especially during the surgical strike of September 2016.
Parrikar died on March 17 after a year-long illness. - PTI
MLA Alpesh Thakor quits Congress
Radhanpur legislator Alpesh Thakor, who spearheaded the OBC protests in Gujarat, has quit the Congress.
In his resignation letter to the State party president, Amit Chavda, Mr. Thakor said he had been betrayed by the party.
Earlier in the day, the Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena, an outfit floated Mr. Thakor before he joined the Congress, decided to severe its ties with the grand old party. The Sena also asked Mr. Thakor to resign from the Congress and clear his stand within 24 hours.
After emerging as a prominent OBC leader in Gujarat, Mr. Thakor joined the Congress before the 2017 Assembly polls. He recently met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and claimed his community and supporters were feeling “cheated” and “ignored“.
Rahul statement ‘verging on contempt of court’, says Nirmala
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses media on the Rafale issue in New Delhi, on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.
Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of gross contempt of court by attributing to the Supreme Court what it had never said in its decision to hear the Rafale fighter aircraft deal case review petitions.
Addressing a press conference, Ms. Sitharaman said, “The Congress president probably didn’t read even half a paragraph of the court’s order and saying that the court has said chowkidaar chor hai is verging on contempt of court.”
The president of a party that had been in power for so many years had shown his frustration by attributing words to the apex court that were not uttered. The court order was limited to whether it should consider the documents the government said were illegally obtained by petitioners. Mr. Gandhi had crossed the line of decency in his comments on the court. He had been repeatedly misleading people on the Rafale issue, she said.
After the Supreme Court decision, Mr. Gandhi claimed that the apex court had made it “clear” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “committed a theft“.
Mr. Gandhi then challenged Mr. Modi to a debate on the Rafale deal, which the Congress claims involved corruption, a charge repeatedly rejected by the government.
Asked whether the court order is a setback for the government, Ms. Sitharaman said, “Not at all”. She said things would now become crystal clear.
CM Naidu holds dharna in front of CEO's office
In an unprecedented action, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu held a dharna in front of Chief Electoral Officer G. K. Dwivedi's office at the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat in Amravati in protest against the “partisan, unilateral and undemocratic” action of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
After submitting a letter he had written to the ECI listing the ''partisan'' actions to the CEO, Mr. Naidu came out and sat in a dharna. He told reporters that the ECI's “arbitrary” action in transferring IPS and IAS officers was a cause of concern to all those who believed in democracy and autonomy of the ECI. A motivated complaint goes from the YSRCP and within hours, a police officer is transferred without giving a chance to the latter to explain his stand and the ground situation.
He said he would carry on the struggle till the ECI stopped taking such blatantly unfair actions.
In his letter to the ECI, Mr. Naidu alleged that the Commission was targeting TDP at the behest of the YSRCP and the BJP. “It was a matter of deep concern that theb country’s apex institution entrusted with the responsibilities of conducting free and fair elections has become subservient to the dictates of the BJP Government which is protecting the YSRCP,” he wrote.
The ECI was toeing the line of the BJP-led Union government, and also assisting the political parties which were supported by the BJP, he alleged. The Director-General of Police (Intelligence) and Superintendents of Police of Kadapa, Srikakulam and Prakasam were also shifted without giving any opportunity to clarify. The Chief Secretary who had impeccable track record throughout his career too was replaced, he said. “Thus it is evident that the ECI was acting on behalf of the YSRCP under the guidance of the BJP,” he alleged. “I strongly protest against such tyrannical and undemocratic attitude of the ECI and I hope that it conducts its business by ensuring a level playing field to all the contesting political parties in the state and uphold the democratic values and respect the Constitution of India,” he added.
ECI bans screening of Modi biopic till end of elections
The Election Commission of India banned the screening of the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the poll period, saying any such film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media.
The movie is to be released on April 11, the first phase of the general election.
Read the Election commission's order under Article 324 that prohibits display/exhibit any biopic/publicity material when Model Code of Conduct is in force.
Election commission issues notice to Chandrashekhar Rao
The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a show-cause notice to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, finding him prima facie guilty of allegedly passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing an election rally in Karimnagar in March 2019.
He has been asked to furnish a reply by April 12 evening, failing which the Commission will take a decision “without any further reference to you“.
The ECI said VHP State president M. Rama Raju had filed a compliant, which claimed that the Telangana Rashtra Samathi chief “tried to secure votes by passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing an election rally at Karimnagar on March 17.”
The ECI has produced his remarks in Telugu but did not give English translation of the same.
”...The Commission is, prima facie , of the opinion that by making the aforesaid statement which has the potential of disturbing harmony and aggravating existing differences between social and religious communities, and appealing to communal feelings, you have violated the ... the Model Code of Conduct,” the notice served on April 9 said.
The Commission reminded Mr. Rao of the provision of the poll code, which states that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity that may aggravate the existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic; and prohibits appeal to communal feelings for securing votes.
Rahul files papers in Amethi
Congress workers shouting slogans in support of party president and candidate for Amethi parliamentary constituency Rahul Gandhi at Gauriganj, in Amethi, during the filling of his nomination papers on Tuesday.
Congress workers shouting slogans in support of party president and candidate for Amethi parliamentary constituency Rahul Gandhi at Gauriganj, in Amethi, during the filling of his nomination papers on Tuesday.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha election from Amethi.
His mother Sonia Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and brother-in-law Robert Vadra were with him in the Collectorate when he filed the papers.
The three-term MP will take on Union Minister and BJP candidate Smriti Irani.
Congress indulging in a ‘Tughlaq Road Chunavi ghotala’: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of a “Tughlaq road election scam” where money meant for poor, pregnant women was looted from people.
Notably, Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s official residence is on Tughlaq Road in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally at Junagadh in Gujarat on April 10, 2019. Photo: Twitter/@narendramodi
The Income Tax Department recently conducted raids on close aides of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath and others in four States on Sunday.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), which frames policies for the I-T Department, had said the department had detected a trail of Rs 20 crore suspect cash allegedly being moved to the “headquarters of a major political party in Delhi” from the house of an important person who lives on Tughlaq Road, home to many VIPs.
Addressing a poll rally at Junagadh in Gujarat, Mr. Modi said it was known by many names as far as scams are concerned. “Now it has got a new name, but with proofs. The Congress is indulging in a ‘Tughlaq Road Chunavi ghotala’, where money meant for the poor is being usurped for their own leaders. Money meant for pregnant women is looted.”
Pakistan has ‘officially’ allied with Modi: Congress
The Congress cited a media report to claim that Pakistan has “officially allied” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It said a vote for him would be a vote for the neighbouring country.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala criticised Mr. Modi over the report quoting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan saying he believes there may be a better chance of peace talks with India and settling the Kashmir issue if Modi’s party BJP wins the general election.
Mr. Khan said other parties would be afraid of right-wing backlash in case of a settlement on the Kashmir issue.
“Pak has officially allied with Modi! A vote for Modi is a vote for Pakistan!” Mr. Surjewala tweeted.
Deep in Maoist turf, no sign of polls
Munshi Madavi probably holds the most challenging job in the entire Dandkaranya forest range in central India. The 37-year-old farm labourer is pondering resignation as de facto village patil responsible for 123 inhabitants of Kasnasur, 190 km from Gadchiroli in Maharashtra.
Nearly a year after around 40 alleged Maoists were gunned down by security forces near the village on April 22, 2018, in what was later described by civil rights activists as a “questionable” encounter, some 27 families continue to live in the shadow of fear.
As April 11 [voting day] looms large, the village — an arduous eight-kilometre trek from Tadgaon towards the banks of the Indravati river — seems to have completely missed out on the biggest celebration of Indian democracy — the Lok Sabha election.
Nizamabad farmers to vote for themselves
Contesting farmers in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency and their families have unanimously resolved to vote for themselves and not for the ruling party until their demands are met.
They have also resolved to contest in large numbers in every future election such as the MPP, ZPTC and MPTC. “We don’t mind even if the farming community vote for other parties but they should not vote for the ruling party in this election,” said Rajender Reddy, one of the contestants from Dharmaram village in the Korutla Assembly segment.
A number of farmers from different mandals in the constituency attended the Rythu Ikya Vedika sadassu (farmers’ unity forum meet) held on Tuesday. Among those who attended the meeting included High Court advocate B. Rachana Reddy, who fought for farmers in the court on their demands for postponement of polling and the use of ballot, and former MLC K. Nageswar.
