Congress Abusing Several People of the Country on Basis of Skin Colour: PM Modi in Telangana

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai while speaking in an exclusive conversation with Republic Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on Super Primetime Max Wednesday expressed deep shock over Pitroda's remarks as he asserted that "it showed us the Congress's ‘Idea of India’. “We all saw that with shock, it was the Congress party's actual ‘Idea of India that came out today”, Annamalai told Arnab. Read the full story here

Karnataka recorded 71.84 per cent voter turnout in the 14 constituencies in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls held in the state, Election Commission officials said on Wednesday.

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Indore, May 8 (PTI) The BJP in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday hit out at Congress for appealing voters to exercise NOTA option and said it was an attack on democracy, while a councillor of the saffron party in Indore removed a poster stuck on an autorickshaw advocating the same. Councillor Sandhya Yadav's act prompted Congress to approach the Election Commission (EC) and lodged a complaint against her.

Elsewhere, state BJP chief V D Sharma said that instigating people to press `None Of The Above' (NOTA) button was a crime in democracy.

The opposition Congress received a jolt in Indore after its candidate Akshay Kumar Bam withdrew his nomination on April 29, the last date for the withdrawal of nominations for the Lok Sabha elections.

Bam later joined the BJP, prompting the Congress to appeal the people to press NOTA during the polling in Indore on May 13 to teach the saffron party a lesson.

The Congress lodged a complaint with the EC after a video showing Yadav removing a poster of an organisation named `Loktantra Bachao Samiti' asking people to support NOTA surfaced on social media.

Asserting that she will continue to do so, the BJP councillor told PTI that she fulfilled her "duty of being a conscientious citizen" and removed the poster promoting NOTA from an autorickshaw.

Promoting this voting option is not in the interest of democracy, she said.

While claiming that angry voters were running the NOTA campaign, state Congress general secretary Rakesh Singh Yadav alleged that Sandhya Yadav threatened the autorickshaw driver and forcibly removed the poster. She was accompanied by goons, he claimed.

The Congress functionary said he has filed a complaint with the EC by submitting a video of the incident.

Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Sharma, on the other hand, claimed that encouraging the NOTA option is "an attack on democracy." "In democracy, instigating people to press the NOTA button is a crime. The Congress leadership wants to weaken democracy," he further said.

In a swipe at state Congress chief Jitu Patwari, Sharma said, "Your candidate voluntarily withdraws his nomination at the last moment. The public is not stupid. You are on the wrong side, and asking the public to vote for NOTA. This will not do." Asked about Bam's induction in the BJP, Sharma said, "We have purifiers and X-ray machines installed here. Nothing to worry about.'' 

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An FIR has been lodged by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau against Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan and 20 others in connection with alleged illegal conversion and registration of land in Chinnakanal area of this hilly Kerala district. A senior VACB officer said on Wednesday that a preliminary enquiry by the agency found that the Muvattupuzha MLA's resort was located on surplus land which could not have been converted or registered.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has set up four special polling booths for the Kashmiri migrant community at various locations in Delhi, officials on Wednesday said. Over 1.13 lakh Kashmiri migrants are registered to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for the Anantnag, Srinagar and Baramulla constituencies in the Kashmir Valley, they said. Polling for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency will be held on May 25 followed by Srinagar on May 13 and Baramulla on May 20.

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Repolling has been ordered at two polling stations in Khagaria Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar. Voting was disrupted when electronic voting machines (EVMs) were vandalised, the Election Commission of India said on Wednesday. Polling will now take place on May 10 at booth numbers 182 and 183 under the Beldaur assembly segment.

Altogether 81.56 per cent of the 2.45 crore voters of 14 constituencies registered their franchise in the total three phases of the Lok Sabha Elections in Assam, election officials said on Wednesday. In the 2019 parliamentary polls, the state recorded an overall voter turnout of 81.55 per cent.

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Union Minister Smriti Irani has challenged Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for a debate in the constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. "I challenge them (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi) to pick time and date and the issue to debate on with BJP. Dono bhai-behen ek taraf aur BJP ka ek pravakta ek taraf, doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani ho jaayega...Congress is running away from the issues," quipped Irani, while speaking to ANI.

The BJP has released the 19th list for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, which includes names of three candidates from Punjab. Take a look at the names, as under:

Amidst the controversy on his racist comments on Indians, Sam Pitroda has resigns as Chairperson of Indian Overseas Congress, say reports. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda encouraged the public in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh to vote for Bollywood actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut. While speaking in Mandi today at a public meeting, JP Nadda said, “I have had the privilege of coming to this programme to seek blessings for Kangana ji. You have made up your mind to send Kangana ji to Delhi after winning the elections from Mandi. This election is not just about winning the Mandi Lok Sabha. This election is a pledge to complete a developed India under the leadership of (Prime Minister) Modi ji.”

A notice has been issued to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda and the party's national convener of the IT Cell, Amit Malviya by the Bangalore High Grounds Police Station. The notice is to appear for interrogation in the case of a social media video on ‘Congress favouring Muslims in reservation’, allegedly posted by the BJP. A first information report (FIR) was registered in the case by the Bangalore Police against JP Nadda, Amit Malviya and Karnataka state BJP chief BY Vijayendra. Read the full story here

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple in Telangana today. " I prayed for the good health of 140 crore Indians," the PM said. The PM is on tour Telangana and Andhra Pradesh today for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 campaigning.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said if the INDI Bloc comes to power after the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, it will put a "Babri" lock at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He accused Rahul Gandhi of pushing Pakistan's agenda and said the Congress leader would be defeated in Raebareli after which he should settle down in Italy, the only place left for him. Referring to SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav's statement in which he said the Ram temple issue is "bekar' (useless), Shah said, "Ram Gopal says the temple is useless. Remember me, though it is not going to happen, if the opposition parties come to power, they will put a Babri naam ka tala (Babri lock) at the Ram temple."

He accused the Congress of stalling the Ram temple issue for 70 years and said, "When you made Modi the prime minister for the second time, he not only won the legal dispute involving the Ram Janmabhoomi but also performed the bhoomi puja (groundbreaking ceremony) of the Ram temple and its pran pratishtha (consecration) was held in January." 

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the Congress manifesto is like a "new version of the Muslim League". Addressing the media at the Gorakhnath temple premises, Adityanath said, "This is not a 'Nyay Patra', but 'Anyay Patra' towards the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Castes and Sanatana Dharma. A new version of the Muslim League has come. Nothing can be more shameful than the manifesto of the country's oldest political party, Congress, representing the Muslim League," he said, according to a statement issued in Lucknow. PTI

Ahead of Phase 4 of the Lok Sabha elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will launch its "Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se," on May 13 with multiple events such as "Mahila Samvad" and "Trade Town Hall", party leader Gopal Rai said, PTI reported. 

Speaking at a press conference, Gopal said that the party had organised a door-to-door campaign, multiple "sankalp sabha" events and roadshows featuring jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal.

"Under the campaign, we went from door to door against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. Now, we will enter the next phase of the campaign that will be run from May 13 to May 23," he said. 
 

Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Anurag Thakur addressed a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur, said, "Those who used to say, repress Sanatan, won't leave Hindus, Ram is an imaginative figure, Ram Setu doesn't exist and even today they are saying that we will build Babri Mosque at the place of Ram Temple. I want to ask, when the land for Babri mosques has been allotted separately, why do these people want Babri mosque at the place of Ram temple, why these people are doing appeasement politics...Their intentions will never be fulfilled."

"Under PM Modi's rule, on one side daughters of India lead the parade at Republic Day, on the other hand, at the borders they send Pakistani infiltrators into the grave. A few days back, we lost one of our brave hearts of Air Force in a cowardly terrorist attack, but today our Jawans have sent two terrorists to their '72 hours," he added. 

"The polling for three phases have been completed... PM Modi has crossed 190 seats. Under the leadership of PM Modi, BJP and NDA are moving towards 400 seats in the upcoming 4th phase of elections. Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress have been wiped out," Shah said in Lakhimpur. 

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a rally in Lakhimpur. Launching a scathing attack on Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP, Shah said, "Congress Party, Samajwadi Party and BSP ... are trying to malign the image of PM Modi and BJP. They are saying that if you give 400 seats to PM Modi, then you will lose the reservation. If there is anyone who is trying to rob the reservations of Backward Classes, it is the Congress Party. In Karnataka, they have given 5% reservations to Muslims. The reservations of Backward Classes are compromised there... The BJP will remove this unconstitutional Muslim reservation and give it to Backward Classes."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the recent controversy sparked after Congress' Sam Pitroda made some racist slur. PM said, "I want to ask a serious question today...I am very angry today, if someone abuses me I can take it but this philosopher of 'Shehzada' has given such a big abuse that has filled me with anger. Will the potential of the people of the country be decided on the skin colour?"

"Who gave this right to 'Shehzada'?. The people dancing with the Consitution on their head are insulting my countrymen on the basis of their skin colour," he added.

Urging Rahul Gandhi to respond to this, PM said, "Shehzade aapko jawaab dena padega'. My country will not tolerate the disrespect  of my countrymen on the basis of their skin colour and Modi will never tolerate this."

"No one can forget the sins of the Congress central government of 10 years ago. Every few days, a scam worth thousands of crores of rupees came to light. There were serial bomb blasts in big cities of the country...This time INDI alliance has come up with a formula of 5 years 5 PM. Just imagine, what will happen to the country if they get power. Every year there is a new PM, second year, second PM, third year, and third PM? What good can they do to the country," PM said during a rally in Telangana. 

After Karminagar, PM on Wednesday addressed a rally in Telangana's Warangal. He said, "Today in front of you all is the dream of 'Viksit India' and 'Viksit Telangana'...There is instability, unrest and crisis everywhere in the world. In such a situation, can the command of the country be given to the wrong hands? This is why the country is saying 'Phir ek baar Modi sarkaar'..."

In his address in Karimnagar, PM Narendra Modi said, "...For all these years, both these parties (Congress & BRS) have given Hyderabad to AIMIM on lease. If someone has challenged the AIMIM for the first time, it's BJP. More than AIMIM, it's Congress & BRS who are rattled by the challenge from the BJP. Both are helping AIMIM to win in Hyderabad."

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North, Piyush Goyal participates in an election campaign on a scooter in Mumbai.

On Wednesday, repolling is underway at the Dudhwa Khurd polling station in Rajasthan's Barmer Lok Sabha constituency.

Repolling is being done after several complaints of breach of confidentiality of votes were made with videos showing bogus voting and the voters being denied their right to franchise going viral on social media.

The Barmer District Election Officer suspended four members of the polling team which had conducted the voting at the booth.

Voting was held in this Lok Sabha constituency in the second phase on April 26.

(With PTI inputs)

BJP fields Gujjula Premender Reddy as its candidate for the Telangana Legislative Council biennial elections in Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates' constituency.

“BJP always works on the 'nation first' policy whereas Congress and BRS work on the principle of 'family first'. Their political parties are like 'by the family, for the family, of the family'. Congress and BRS are no different and what connects them? Corruption, appeasement politics and the model of zero governance connect these two parties.,” PM Modi said in the rally.

PM Narendra Modi in his address to a rally in Telangana's Karimnagar, said, "Yesterday, the third phase of elections in the country has been completed. 'Congress aur INDI alliance ka teesra fuse ud gya hai.'"

PM Modi on Wednesday addressed a rally in Telangana's Karimnagar. He said, "I  am overwhelmed and fortunate that you all have come here to bless me. I am indebted to you all."

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at Sri Rajarajeshwara Swamy temple at Vemulawada, about 150 km from here. The temple priests applied tilak on PM Modi's forehead and gave Vedic blessings, PTI reported. 

Home voting began in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday, May 8. Elections are scheduled in Srinagar for May 13. 

Mayawati running BSP like a private firm, 'party with mission' turned into 'party with commission', said BJP's Rakesh Tripathi after Mayawati removed nephew Akash Anand as party co-ordinator, 'successor' on Tuesday. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday will address a rally in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district and will later hold a roadshow at Vijayawada in the NTR district.

The rally is scheduled at around 2 pm at Kaliri near Rajampeta while the roadshow is expected to commence around 5 pm from the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium on Bandar Road in Vijayawada, PTI reported.

"Let's welcome our Prime Minister who is coming to Rajampeta to give an assurance for the aspirations of Andhra people," the Andhra Pradesh BJP said in a post on X. 

On Tuesday, former Amritsar Deputy Mayor Avinash Jolly resigned from AAP and joined the BJP in Amritsar.