Have we kept our nuclear bomb for Diwali, asks Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India missed an “golden opportunity” to resolve Kashmir dispute during 1971 war when “under global pressure” it released hundreds of Pakistani troops who were in the custody of Indian Army. Speaking at an election rally at Barmer in Rajasthan, Mr. Modi said then Congress government signed the Shimla agreement (in 1972) “under global pressure” and released over 90,000 prisoners of war (PoWs) instead of resolving the Kashmir dispute “in lieu of the PoW”.
“Pakistan troops were in our custody. A big area of Pakistan was also captured by Indian forces during 1971 war but the Congress government lost it on table in Shimla agreement and they were released,” he said. “The government crumbled under global pressure and signed the Shimla agreement and the matter was closed. PoW and the capture land were released. That was a golden opportunity to resolve the Kashmir dispute in lieu of the PoW.”
The Prime Minister said that it was a trump card in the hands of the government but the chance was missed and the entire country is facing its result today. Mr. Modi said it was the reason why Congress leaders do not want nationalism to be an issue.
The statement from Mr. Modi came after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in his recent election rallies highlighted that a new nation (Bangladesh) was created by dividing Pakistan by Indian armed forces during the rule of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1971.
The Prime Minister also said India no more afraid of nuclear threats from Pakistan. “Otherwise, Pakistan used to give nuclear threats. What do we have? Have we kept it for Diwali ( Warna aay din nuclear button hai, ye kehte the. Hamare paas kya hai. Ye Diwali ke liye rakha hai kya )?” Mr. Modi said. He said Indian forces killed terrorists across the border without engaging in a war. “This is called a strong government. We have created fear among terrorist.”
Mr. Modi said his government crushed the ego of Pakistan and “forced the neighbouring country to roam in world with begging bowl”.
“ Hamne Pakistan ki sari hekdi nika di. Use katora leke dunia me ghumne ko mene majboor kar diya hai ,” he said.
The Prime Minister said people were happy and think the Modi government has done good but it is not the case with Congress leaders and its alliance partners. He said his government fulfilled long pending demands during Congress rule like One Rank, One Pension for the forces and National War Memorial in Delhi. “There was a long pending demand for war memorial but Congress built memorial for their family. They built ‘Samadhi’ for their family but did not built war memorial in the memory of jawans who sacrificed life for the country, he said.
Targeting the Chief Minister of Congress-JD(S) led Karnataka government, Mr. Modi said the CM had said that “those who are hungry and do not get two-time meals get into Army,” which, he said, was the insult of jawans and their family members.
He said that scams in defence sector used to happen during the former Congress governments’ rule and the defence forces lacked modern equipments and weapons.
“Therefore they (Congress) do not want to talk about national security,” Mr. Modi said.
The PM said there was no progress in Rafale deal during Congress rule, Mig planes kept on crashing but they did nothing to enhance the power of the forces. Referring to the issue of Pakistan refugees in India, Mr. Modi said that Hindus who are in minority in Pakistan face discrimination there and the government of India made efforts to get citizenship amendment bill passed. “The Chowkidaar has also made efforts to get citizenship amendment law passed for those having faith in the country (Maa Bharati). The people of this country who chose to live in Pakistan at the time of partition .... started facing atrocities because their faith and the way of revering god was different,” he said.
The PM said that efforts will be made to complete the long pending work after the government formation on May 23.
Mr. Modi said that the upcoming polls are also “very important” for those who are going to vote for the first time.
“I understand your dreams and ready to sacrifice my dreams for you,” he added.
Campaigning ends in 116 constituencies
Campaigning for the third phase of polling in 115 parliamentary constituencies on April 23 has ended with top leaders making a last-gasp effort to sway voters in favour of their respective parties.
Polling will be held in the 116 seats, spread across 14 States and Union Territories.
All seats in Gujarat (26), Kerala (20), Goa (2), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (1) and Daman and Diu (1) go to polls in the third of the seven-phase election. Besides, polling will be held in four seats in Assam, five in Bihar, seven in Chhattisgarh, one in Jammu and Kashmir, 14 in Karnataka, 14 in Maharashtra, six in Odisha, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, and five in West Bengal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and a host of Union ministers among others canvassed for their party candidates in the past few days, undertaking whirlwind tours of constituencies.
Among the key contestants in the fray are Mr. Shah (Gandhinagar, Gujarat), Mr. Gandhi (Wayanad, Kerala), and Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav (Mainpuri, U.P.).
In Maharashtra, the prominent seats in the third phase include Jalna, where State BJP president Raosaheb Danveis in the fray against Vilas Autade of the Congress, and Baramati, where Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, is contesting against BJP’s Kanchan Kul.
Another keenly watched seat will be Ahmednagar where Sujay Vikhe Patil is the BJP’s nominee. He is the son of Congress veteran and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. Mr. Sujay Vikhe Patil joined the BJP in the run-up to the polls, after the NCP refused to vacate the Ahmednagar seat for the Congress. He is now pitted against NCP’s Sangram Jagtap.
Key constituencies in Karnataka to be watched out for during the polls include Gulbarga, where Mallikarjun Kharge is pitted against Umesh Jadhav, who ahead of polls joined the BJP quitting Congress and as MLA; and Shivamogga, where former Chief Minister Yeddyurappa’s son B.Y. Raghavendra is pitted against another former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa’s son Madhu Bangarappa.
In 14 constituencies that will go to the polls in the second phase on April 23, BJP is contesting all the seats. Congress and JD(S) that are facing the polls in alliance have fielded their candidates in 12 and two constituencies respectively.
The BJP has a huge stake in this phase in Uttar Pradesh with the party having won seven out of the ten seats in the region in 2014, leaving three for the Samajwadi Party, but facing a tough challenge from SP-BSP-RLD combine.
The political heavyweights, whose fate will be decided in the third phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh, include Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, Union Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar, who is fighting from Bareilly and BJP’s Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit.
Happy to contest from Varanasi if asked by Rahul, says Priyanka
Amid speculations that she could be pitted against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has said she will be happy to contest if asked by party president Rahul Gandhi.
“You will find out. If my Congress president tells me to contest, I will be happy to contest,” Ms. Vadra, sister of Mr. Gandhi, told reporters in Wayanad.
She was responding to a question whether she will contest the poll from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from where Mr. Modi is seeking re-election.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra interacting with widows of farmers at Pulpally in Wayanad district.
In March, Ms. Vadra had thrown a hint that she is not averse to taking on Mr. Modi in Varanasi. “Shouldn’t I fight from Varanasi,” Ms. Vadra had said when a party worker asked her to contest from Rae Bareli, setting of speculations about her possible candidature.
Earlier, the Congress leader had also said she would contest the election if the party wanted her to do so.
In her media interaction in Wayanad, Ms. Vadra dismissed BJP leader and Union Minister Uma Bharati’s controversial remarks that the country will see her the way it views a “thief’s wife“.
“From my grandmother, grandfather, father, mother, they have said one thing or the other about all of my family. They will keep on saying such things. But we will keep on doing our job,” she said.
When asked to comment on the impact Ms. Vadra could have on the poll outcome, Ms. Bharati had said: “Nothing. Why will she have an impact... Whose husband is facing theft charges. She will be seen the way India sees a thief’s wife.”
‘Vote for saving country from narrow minded ideology’
Ms. Vadra, after visiting the family of CRPF jawan V.V. Vasanthkumar killed in the Pulwama terror attack, said the Congress was not contesting the polls for power but for the larger idea of the country and to strengthen the forces of democracy.
“This election is to save the country that we all love, the country that we all believe in. The country in which all of us are equal, in which all of us are free to express ourselves, our religion, our ways of eating, our ways of living,” she said.
Ms. Vadra, who has been campaigning for Mr. Gandhi contesting the polls from Wayanad besides in his traditional Amethi seat, appealed to the electorate in the state to vote for Congress for the bigger cause.
“I appeal to you to vote for our alliance as we are fighting for a much greater thing. We are not fighting just to gain power. We are fighting for a much bigger thing in this election,” the AICC general secretary in-charge of Eastern Uttar Pradesh said.
She claimed that suddenly people were not free to express themselves. “Suddenly people are afraid. The institutions that are to protect the rights of the people are undermined. Democracy is being undermined and we must all realise that this is no ordinary election,” Ms. Vadra said.
The Congress leader, who did not name either the BJP or the NDA or Prime Minister Narendra Modi throughout her interaction, asked the people to save the country from a government which she said feared criticism.
“Save the country in which rules are being imposed on us by a narrow minded ideology, where only one kind of thinking prevails. Save the country in which there is a government that is afraid of criticism, which wants to suppress you when you raise your voice. So when you cast your vote you must think of this. A larger idea of our country,” she added.
Ms. Priyanka spent about half-an-hour at Vasanthkumar’s house and consoled the grieving family.
She also met the family of Sreedhanya Suresh, the first Tribal woman from Wayanad to clear the civil services exam.
After meeting both the families at Vasanthkumar’s house, Ms. Priyanka came out of the house holding Sreedhanya close by.
A smiling Ms. Priyanka was seen talking to beaming Sreedhanya and their exchange of pleasantries ended with a warm hug.
Hundreds of party workers and locals gathered in the area.
Sumalatha alleges threat to those campagining for her
Multi-lingual film actress Sumalatha Ambareesh, who will take on Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son, Nikhil Kumaraswamy in Mandya Lok Sabha seat, on Sunday alleged threat to those campaigning for her.
She also said those who stood in her favour were “targeted and harassed.”
“This is something which should be taken seriously,” Ms. Sumalatha told reporters in Mandya.
She emphasised that she wished to improve the atmosphere and create a healthy environment after the elections were over.
Expressing concern over the safety of film stars, who canvassed for her, she sought to know the meaning of the statements made post the first phase of election.
“Some leaders have stated that those film stars who canvassed for me will have to repent. I need to know what it means. Is it a threat? They should explain what it means.
I want to know what the motives are behind the statement and whom are they threatening,” she said.
Referring to the JD(S) leadership, Ms. Sumalatha said those in power should not target people from other party.
She further said she would take up the matter with Mandya Superintendent of Police.
I will stand by the people and take steps to protect them, she added.
Allaying her fears, Minister for Minor Irrigation C S Puttaraju, who is in charge minister of Mandya, said there was no need for her to get worried.
“Let her take rest. We will not let any low level politics happen in the district,” he told a news channel.
Making new India responsibility of first-time voters: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing an election meeting in Thiruvananthapuram | File photo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that people of the country have faith that he can tolerate attacks against himself and risk his political future but cannot let the nation down.
Addressing a poll rally in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh, Modi said making new India was the responsibility of first-time voters.
“The country has faith that Modi can tolerate attacks on himself and can risk his political future but cannot let the country down,” he said.
In a sharp attack against the Congress, the prime minister said “injustice” was meted out to the country’s resources under Congress’ rule. He claimed that the Congress has three realities ‘naamdaar parivar’ (dynastic family), corruption and plenty of false promises.
“Do you want a stronger India or helpless India? Do you want a Congress govt that makes country weak or BJP that makes country strong?” Modi said. “Tiny nations which gained independence during the time when India got independence went ahead in development but our country lagged behind.”
He said in the last five years, his government has fought against poverty, illiteracy, terrorism, etc.
“The country trusted Congress for decades but it spent more than five decades in serving one family. Justice was not done with the country’s resources and potential during the period,” Modi said.
Rajasthan will vote to elect 25 MPs to the 17th Lok Sabha in the fourth and fifth phases of the Lok Sabha elections. Polling will be held on April 29 and May 6.
-PTI
Prestige of three powerful political clans at stake in western Maharashtra
Seeking accountability: NCP chief Sharad Pawar addresses a press conference in Mumbai on Friday.
As 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra go to polls in the third phase on April 23, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is locked in a titanic struggle with Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to gain supremacy in western Maharashtra, which comprises ten of these seats.
Pawar, Vikhe-Patil, Rane
The prestige of several powerful political clans, including the Pawars’ (in the Baramati Lok Sabha seat), the Vikhe-Patils’ (in Ahmednagar) and the Rane family (in Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg), are at stake here.
While the BJP-Shiv Sena ‘Mahayuti’ is pulling out all stops to obliterate the influence wielded by the NCP satraps, especially the Pawar clan, in the ‘sugar belt’ the contest remains unpredictable owing to the personality-centric politics that have prevailed here for so long.
The weight of the NCP’s influence in this region was proportionately reflected in its seat-sharing with the Congress, with Mr. Pawar’s party fielding candidates in six of the 10 seats in western Maharashtra, leaving only two for the Congress (Pune and Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg), while the others (Hatkanangale and Sangli) were claimed by their ally, Raju Shetti of the Swabhimani Paksha.
“The sugar cooperative has been the political unit in western Maharashtra for several decades, and the politics here has continually revolved round the influential sugar barons and political clans in this region. Despite several nationally prominent leaders hailing from districts here, ‘development’ has generally been restricted to small pockets while pressing civic issues have been completely sidelined,” says a local analyst from Sangli.
AAP announces three candidates for Lok Sabha elections in Haryana
File photo: JJP leader Dushyant Chautala and AAP convenor Gopla Rai addressing a joint press conference announcing the alliance for forthcoming Lok Sabha election in Haryana, in New Delhi, earlier this month
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday announced its three candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Haryana. The AAP has been contesting the Lok Sabha elections in the State in a coalition with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), which is fighting in seven out of the ten seats in the Haryana.
The AAP has fielded its Haryana unit chief Naveen Jaihind from Faridabad; former Himachal Pradesh Director-General of Police (DGP) Prithvi Raj from Ambala; and advocate Krishan Kumar Agarwal from Karnal. The announcement was made by senior AAP leader and Haryana in-charge Gopal Rai in a joint press conference with JJP leader Dushyant Chautala at the party’s Delhi office.
- Ashok Kumar
Send message you don’t need someone ‘airdropped from Delhi’: Nirmala Sitharaman to voters
Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a road show in Wayanad as part of the NDA campaign in the state and asked the people to vote for its ally Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, to send a message that they don’t require someone ‘airdropped from Delhi.”
Her visit comes a day after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi campaigned at Wayanad for her brother and AICC chief Rahul Gandhi.
“We faced floods. The stategovernment failed to open the dams on time, If they did, the devastation could have been avoided. Please vote for BDJS candidate Tushar Vellappally so that it will send a message that the people of Wayanad do not need someone air dropped here,” Sitharaman said.
The constituency has shot into the limelight after Congress declared the candidature of Rahul Gandhi in the district. Rahul had visited the constituency twice with his sister Priyanka. The ruling CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front in Kerala has fielded CPI candidate P.P. Suneer to take on Rahul Gandhi.
-PTI
"Take care of 'son of soil'"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing an election rally. File
My government will come back to power said Narendra Modi at a rally in Patan on Sunday asking them to give all 26 seats to him.
"Duty of people of my home state to take care of 'son of soil', give all 26 seats in Gujarat to me," says Mr. Modi.
"If Gujarat doesn’t give 26 seats (to BJP), TV discussion on May 23 will be why it happened," he added.
- PTI
In Firozabad, Mulayam clan feud sets up Yadav vs Yadav battle
Akshay Yadav has accused Shivpal (in picture) of being the BJP’s “B-Team”.
Don’t waste your votes on candidates of outfits propped up “behind the curtains” and campaigning in the name of caste, religion and kin, BSP chief Mayawati cautioned voters in Firozabad on Saturday.
Addressing a rally of the SP-BSP alliance, she did not name anyone but her target was obvious: Shivpal Yadav, the estranged uncle of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. It’s not quite the “uncle vs nephew” contest that observers had hoped for, but Firozabad is the ground for a fresh bout between the members of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s clan. His brother Shivpal, who quit the SP to start his own party — Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) — after a long feud with his cousin Ramgopal and nephew Akhilesh, is contesting against Mr. Ramgopal’s son Akshay.
The Yadavs are the focus of this constituency, known for its glass and bangle industries. And the bitterness between the two sides has been a major feature of the campaign. Mr. Akshay Yadav, the SP’s sitting MP, has accused Mr. Shivpal of being the BJP’s “B-Team”.
In Saturday’s rally, he suggested that his uncle was being funded by the BJP, wondering how a new party could afford helicopter rides for canvassing.
Special security focus on north Kerala booths
With just three more days to go for the Lok Sabha election, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Teeka Ram Meena on Friday reviewed the security arrangements in the State.
There will be special focus on polling stations in north Kerala regions that face Maoist threat, he said. “Maximum focus is on those areas,” Mr Meena said. State Police Chief Loknath Behera and senior police officers, officers of the Central Industrial Security Force and Border Security Force attended the review. “'We have reviewed the entire arrangements for ensuring free and fair elections in the State. We have deployed adequate security forces including the police everywhere. Each and every booth we have taken care off,” he added. The CEO held a video-conference with the general, expenditure and police observers as part of reviewing the Statewide arrangements for the April 23 election.
NDA’s totalitarian regime will end soon: Deve Gowda
Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s style of functioning ‘dictatorial’, H.D. Deve Gowda, national president, JD(S), said the totalitarian regime of the NDA government at the Centre will soon end.
He was addressing an election campaign meeting at Umblebailu village near here on Saturday.
Alleging that the decision taken by the BJP-led government on demonetisation sent the rural economy into disarray, he said that despite his repeated requests to Mr. Modi to compensate farmers who have suffered financial losses due to the drought that had prevailed in Karnataka, no action was taken. The rural distress would oust the BJP from power, he said. Mr. Gowda said the JD(S) and Congress had joined hands to form the government in Karnataka to strengthen democracy. Though there were differences between the cadres of JD(S) and Congress initially, they have now understood the objective behind forging the alliance, he said.
Published - April 21, 2019 12:05 pm IST
