Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Modi holds roadshow in Mumbai's Ghatkopar

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge ridiculed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would secure '400 paar' (over 400 seats) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“Modi and the BJP have been talking about ‘400-paar’. Fortunately they are not speaking about '600-paar' as there is a constitutional limit on the strength of Lok Sabha at 543 seats,” PTI quoted Kharge as saying at a rally in Raebareli.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the Supreme Court's decision to grant interim bail to Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, calling it special treatment. 

In an interview with news agency ANI, Amit Shah said, "I believe this is not a routine judgment. A lot of people in this country believe that special treatment has been given."

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday detained Jharkhand minister and Congress leader Alamgir Alam. He was arrested in connection with a huge cash recovery from the household help of his PS Sanjeev Lal.

Alam, the state’s rural development minister, appeared before the ED a day before on Tuesday for interrogation in connection with a money laundering case. He arrived at the ED office around 11 am.

Coming down heavily on Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah's remarks related to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is committed to taking back PoK and a nuclear power with 130 crore population will never be scared of anyone.

In an interview with ANI, Shah also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over Farooq Abdullah's remarks on Pakistan and said he should explain what his alliance partner is saying.

(With inputs from ANI)

Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams on Wednesday endorsed PM Modi, saying India needed his leadership to ovecome global headwinds.

"We offered a chadar at Piran Kaliyar and raised our hands praying for the formation of a strong government once again under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi so that the process of development in the country does not get derailed," Shams said.

He also slammed the opposition and said neither the Constitution nor Muslims were in danger.

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday dismissed BJP's allegations that the Gandhi family visits Amethi and Raebareli only during elections.

Vadra said, “There is not an iota of truth in this.”

She also accused Shah of monitoring her acitivities overseas.

Amit Shah is known for keeping an eye on who does what, when and where, especially women. A few days ago I went to see my daughter in Thailand and he made a reference to this in an election meeting,” Vadra was quoted as saying.

Amit Shah today spoke at a poll rally in Odisha's Ganjam. Here are some quotes from his speech.

"In 25 years of BJD rule, CM Naveen Patnaik pushed Odisha back 50 years"

"BJP to make public judicial commission report on missing keys of Jagannath temple's Ratna Bhandar if it comes to power in Odisha"

"BJP will implement 'One Nation One Ration Card' scheme in Odisha if it comes to power in state"

"Splitting budget on religious lines dangerous; for Congress, minority means its dear vote bank"

"Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was against religion-based reservation"

"Modi is the “chowkidar” of rights of the oppressed; he won’t let them be snatched away"

"Your service is my life's biggest aim. In the last 10 years, you have seen my work and now, I have come to seek your blessings for the third term, to seek your blessings for a 'Viksit Bharat'"

"INDI alliance leaders suggesting that small parties merge with Congress so that they can at least stand as Opposition party"

"Entire world is praising the way India fought against coronavirus"

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination from Varanasi, bidding for a third straight term in office and in the Lok Sabha from the constituency; people from the ancient temple town, especially the boatmen, came out in his praise for the wave of development and makeover the city has experienced in the recent past.

Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Santosh Sahni, a boatman from Varanasi, said, "Since Prime Minister Modi came to represent our city in the Lok Sabha, things have been going well for us. Our lives and livelihoods have changed for the better. Since the development and opening of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the city's tourism potential has grown by leaps and bounds. Better tourism prospects directly impact our lives and livelihoods. We wish that he would visit us every year and make our livelihoods even better. Could we ask for anything else? We will vote for him again."

Sunil Sahni, a young member of the Mallah (boatmen) community, said, "We have been into this profession since the time of our ancestors. Since Modi-ji became our MP and PM, our businesses have grown by leaps and bounds. Earlier, the development of tourism here lagged and largely ignored. However, since the opening of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, dedicated initiatives towards cleanliness and implementation of numerous other development schemes, the face of Kashi as we knew it has changed. Now, everybody wants to visit Varanasi. Those visiting our city in droves book boat rides as well. Hence, a boost in the city's tourism potential has had a positive impact on our earnings. Now, we use both oars and motors to run our boats."

A day after RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed that he was getting "full support" from "uncle" Nitish Kumar, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said the former is making "baseless statements out of his nervousness".

"After completion of four phases of LS polls in the country, leaders of INDI alliance have realised that they are going to face a humiliating defeat in this polls. The NDA under PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar will win 400 plus seats in the country and all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. RJD leader (Tejashwi Yadav) is nervous now. He is making these baseless statements out of his 'nervousness' only," said Singh.

The BJP leader, who is seeking re-election from Begusarai Lok Sabha seat, made the remark when journalists sought his views on former deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav's claim that he was getting "full support" from "uncle" Nitish Kumar.

The Congress party has promised to provide 10 kg of free ration per month to the poor if his party is voted to power.

"If INDIA bloc government is formed, we will provide 10 kg of free ration per month to the poor," said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge while noting that the Congress made a law — the Food Security Act — to ensure food is provided to the poor.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk about development matters rather than other issues in his campaign speeches, and said "mutton-chicken", "Hindu-Muslim" are his words and not ours.

His remarks came after Prime Minister Modi in an interview said he won't be fit for public life if he starts playing the Hindu-Muslim card.

"Why is the PM not seeking votes on the work he did in the last 10 years," he said at a joint press conference with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav here.

On PM Modi's remarks that he has never discriminated between Hindu and Muslim, Kharge responded, "Had the prime minister not said mutton, beef, chicken, fish and mangalsutra. These words are not mine but his (PM's).

"I am saying that leave these things, tell people about the work you did and seek votes on its behalf. They talk of mutton-chicken not us," Kharge said.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik addresses a public rally in Deogarh under Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency. In his address to the people, he said, "No need to pay electricity bill from July this year. No bills will come from July. The opposition is lying. BJP leaders are shedding crocodile tears. Vote for BJD. Vote for Conch symbol and BJD candidates both in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections."

Addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "The media that you see today, on TV channels they'll tell you that the country is progressing, the economy is getting stronger, you see happy farmers on TV."

"They show that PM Modi has done so much in these 10 years that Congress hasn't done in 70 years. You see this as all the channels belong to billionaires, they have bought all in these 10 years. You don't see the truth, the truth is in your lives, you haven't made any progress..."

Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, while speaking on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi contesting Lok Sabha elections from two seats - Wayanad and Raebareli said, "You can not go to a constituency just because the demography will suit you. We all know the demography of Wayanad and Rahul Gandhi thinks it is a safe seat, nothing is a safe seat in our country. During Wayanad, Kerala campaign, Rahul Gandhi never spoke about second seat."

"He shifted to the second seat after voting got over in Kerala. People of Kerala know it is a clear case of breaking the confidence you have on a particular leader. Let us imagine you are winning both Wayanad, Raebareli - which seat the Congress will leave? Is that also a part of strategy? This is stupidity and if Congress is calling stupidity a strategy, I am very sorry for Congress."

Madhavi Raje Scindia, mother of Union Civil Aviation Minister and BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia passed away on May 15 at AIIMS, New Delhi. 

“She was suffering from pneumonia and had been on ventilator support for the last few days,” media reports said citing sources. 

Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh said, "...PM's entire campaign has been based on Hindu-Muslim. Everyone knows it and everyone has seen it. Today, he says that if he does Hindu-Muslim politics, he is not fit to lead a public life. Yes, you are not fit. Such a PM who doesn't speak the truth even by mistake...'Satyameva Jayate' is written below our national emblem. He is the first PM whose basic principle is 'Asatyameva Jayate'. Bluff and rule. He is a bluffmaster..."
 

If INDIA bloc govt is formed, we will provide 10 kg of free ration per month to the poor: Cong president Mallikarjun Kharge in Lucknow

Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Lucknow visit was cancelled. 

CM Arvind Kejriwal will be visiting Punjab on May 15 and will hold a mega road show in Amritsar. He will also campaign in Punjab for Lok Sabha elections and will visit Shri Harminder Sahib.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will be holding his first joint election campaign with Congress. 

Kejriwal will lead two roadshows for Congress candidates at Jahangirpuri and Model Town in New Delhi. 

The roadshows will be held in support of Congress candidates Jai Prakash Agarwal from Chandni Chowk, Udit Raj from North West Delhi, and Kanhaiya Kumar from North East Delhi, as per the Delhi Congress.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM KP Maurya says, "They (INDIA Alliance) may do as many press conferences, rallies and meetings as they want but PM Modi lives on the mind of people of the country. The public lives on the minds of the people. Blessings of the country are with PM Modi, BJP and 'Lotus'. So, we will win all 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh and it will be 'Abki baar 400 paar' in the country. Modi government will be formed with a thumping majority..."

Maharashtra | Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says, "The PM who alleged Praful Patel of having relations with Dawood and Iqbal Mirchi, he was with the same Praful Patel yesterday. He (Praful Patel) put the turban of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the head of PM Modi, we don't give that turban to someone, it's special. Who has given this right to Praful Patel?... PM Modi and Praful Patel have disrespected Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Maharashtra."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained that he believes "people of my country will vote for me". He added that "the day I do Hindu-Muslim, I will be unworthy of public life" and "it is my resolve that “I will not do Hindu-Muslim".

Modi's remarks came days after his April 21 speech in Banswara in Rajasthan where, while attacking the Congress, he said, "Earlier, when they [Congress] were in power, they had said Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation. That means, who will they distribute this wealth to? They will give it to those who have more children, to infiltrators. Should your hard-earned money be given to infiltrators? Do you agree with this?."