<p>Ahead of Karnataka assembly polls, the two major parties BJP and Congress have initiated efforts for&nbsp;developing a stronghold in the poll-bound state.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>While addressing a rally in Karnataka, BJP chief Amit Shah has blamed the Karnataka government for doing vote bank politics. He also said that the state government is an anti-Hindu government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said &quot; This government (of Karnataka) is doing vote bank politics, it is an anti-Hindu government. They have withdrawn all cases against the Social Democratic Party of India(SDPI), which is an anti-India organisation.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This govt (of Karnataka) is doing vote bank politics, it is an anti-Hindu govt. They have withdrawn all cases against SDPI, which is an anti-India organisation: Amit Shah in Chitradurga <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karnataka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karnataka</a> <a href="https://t.co/U5vzuJV0NB">pic.twitter.com/U5vzuJV0NB</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/951007834828816384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/siddaramaiah-yogi-adityanaths-twitter-spat-continues-28949" target="_blank">Siddaramaiah-Yogi Adityanath&#39;s Twitter spat continues</a></p>

<p>Targetting Karnataka chief minister&nbsp;Siddaramaiah, he asked: &quot; Where did all the money given by centre go?&quot; He also asked the people if the money allocated for the state by the centre reach them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said &quot; Look for a Congressman in your village, 5 years back what used to be a thatched house will now be a huge 4-storey house with an expensive car parked in front.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Answering Siddaramaia&#39;s question on centre&#39;s contribution for Karnataka, Shah said that in 13th Finance Commission under UPA Rs 88,583 crore was allocated while under the present NDA government in 14th Finance&nbsp;Commission Karnataka has received Rs 2,19,000 crore.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">But where did all the money given by the centre go? Did it reach your village? Look for a Congressman in your village, 5 years back what used to be a thatched house will now be a huge 4 storey house with an expensive car parked in front: Amit Shah in Chitradurga <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karnataka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karnataka</a> <a href="https://t.co/4TarR9NYq5">pic.twitter.com/4TarR9NYq5</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/951004907070373889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Recently Siddaramaiah&#39;s Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath also accused him of intermixing religion and politics. While addressing a BJP rally in Bengaluru, He questioned Siddaramaiah on why he was &quot;endorsing beef eaters&quot; if he was a Hindu.</p>

<p>To which the Karnataka chief minister tweeted &quot;Many in Hindu religion eat beef and I will eat if I want to eat beef, but I don&#39;t like beef that&#39;s why I don&#39;t eat it. Who is he to ask?&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Siddaramaiah has time and again been favouring sub-nationalism&nbsp;by demanding&nbsp;a separate state flag for Karnataka and a strong protest against the imposition of Hindi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The legislative assembly in the state is scheduled for&nbsp;April- May 2018 to elect members of the 224 constituencies in the state.</p>


While addressing a rally in Karnataka, BJP chief Amit Shah has blamed the Karnataka government for doing vote bank politics

Ahead of Karnataka assembly polls, the two major parties BJP and Congress have initiated efforts for developing a stronghold in the poll-bound state. While addressing a rally in Karnataka, BJP chief Amit Shah has blamed the Karnataka government for doing vote bank politics. He also said that the state government is an anti-Hindu government. He said " This government (of Karnataka) is doing vote bank politics, it is an anti-Hindu government. They have withdrawn all cases against the Social Democratic Party of India(SDPI), which is an anti-India organisation." This govt (of Karnataka) is doing vote bank politics, it is an anti-Hindu govt. They have withdrawn all cases against SDPI, which is an anti-India organisation: Amit Shah in Chitradurga #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/U5vzuJV0NB — ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2018 × Also read: Siddaramaiah-Yogi Adityanath's Twitter spat continues Targetting Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, he asked: " Where did all the money given by centre go?" He also asked the people if the money allocated for the state by the centre reach them. He said " Look for a Congressman in your village, 5 years back what used to be a thatched house will now be a huge 4-storey house with an expensive car parked in front. Answering Siddaramaia's question on centre's contribution for Karnataka, Shah said that in 13th Finance Commission under UPA Rs 88,583 crore was allocated while under the present NDA government in 14th Finance Commission Karnataka has received Rs 2,19,000 crore. But where did all the money given by the centre go? Did it reach your village? Look for a Congressman in your village, 5 years back what used to be a thatched house will now be a huge 4 storey house with an expensive car parked in front: Amit Shah in Chitradurga #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/4TarR9NYq5 — ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2018 × Recently Siddaramaiah's Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath also accused him of intermixing religion and politics. While addressing a BJP rally in Bengaluru, He questioned Siddaramaiah on why he was "endorsing beef eaters" if he was a Hindu. To which the Karnataka chief minister tweeted "Many in Hindu religion eat beef and I will eat if I want to eat beef, but I don't like beef that's why I don't eat it. Who is he to ask?" Siddaramaiah has time and again been favouring sub-nationalism by demanding a separate state flag for Karnataka and a strong protest against the imposition of Hindi. The legislative assembly in the state is scheduled for April- May 2018 to elect members of the 224 constituencies in the state.

Karnataka government is anti-Hindu: Amit Shah

<p>Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah sounded the election bugle in Tripura on Sunday and said he was confident that his government will form the government in the state in March.</p>

<p>Amit Shah said the countdown to the assembly elections had begun and that the BJP would launch an attack against the corrupt.</p>

<p>&quot;The countdown has begun. BJP will form the govt here in March. Even if the corrupt goes underground, BJP will dig the earth and bring them out,&quot; the BJP chief said at a rally in Agartala.</p>

<p>Amit Shah also spoke about the poor levels of unemployment and the &quot;inadequate&quot; health facilities in the state.</p>

<p>&quot;More than seven lakh people, out of the 37 Lakh population of Tripura, are registered under the unemployment list. The health facilities here are inadequate. This is what was done here in 25 years, the BJP president said.</p>

<p>Amit Shah said he would like to tell the the chief minister Manik Sarkar-led Communist Party of India (Marxist) government that the BJP would not be scared away by violence.</p>

<p>&quot;I would like to tell the Manik govt that BJP will not cower down by violence. The more you spread the mud of violence, the better will the Lotus blossom,&quot; the BJP President said.</p>

<p>Tripura goes to polls in February.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The BJP chief sounded the election bugle in Tripura on Sunday and said he was confident that his government will form the government in the state in March

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah sounded the election bugle in Tripura on Sunday and said he was confident that his government will form the government in the state in March. Amit Shah said the countdown to the assembly elections had begun and that the BJP would launch an attack against the corrupt. "The countdown has begun. BJP will form the govt here in March. Even if the corrupt goes underground, BJP will dig the earth and bring them out," the BJP chief said at a rally in Agartala. Amit Shah also spoke about the poor levels of unemployment and the "inadequate" health facilities in the state. "More than seven lakh people, out of the 37 Lakh population of Tripura, are registered under the unemployment list. The health facilities here are inadequate. This is what was done here in 25 years, the BJP president said. Amit Shah said he would like to tell the the chief minister Manik Sarkar-led Communist Party of India (Marxist) government that the BJP would not be scared away by violence. "I would like to tell the Manik govt that BJP will not cower down by violence. The more you spread the mud of violence, the better will the Lotus blossom," the BJP President said. Tripura goes to polls in February.

Countdown to elections has begun, Amit Shah says in Tripura

<p>Eight days after being sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani today assumed charge of his office at Gandhinagar.</p>

<p>Before assuming the office for the second consecutive term, Rupani visited Swaminarayan temple at Vadtal in Kheda district and took blessings from the head priest Rakeshprasadjee Maharaj and some other saints, an official release said.</p>

<p>Earlier on December 26, the newly-elected BJP government under Vijay Rupani was sworn-in at a grand ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.</p>

<p>Visitors thronged Rupani&#39;s office to greet him after he took charge this afternoon.</p>

<p>While BJP won 99 seats, the main opposition Congress bagged 77 seats in the recently held polls to the Gujarat Assembly.</p>


While BJP won 99 seats, the main opposition Congress bagged 77 seats in the recently held polls to the Gujarat Assembly

Eight days after being sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani today assumed charge of his office at Gandhinagar. Before assuming the office for the second consecutive term, Rupani visited Swaminarayan temple at Vadtal in Kheda district and took blessings from the head priest Rakeshprasadjee Maharaj and some other saints, an official release said. Earlier on December 26, the newly-elected BJP government under Vijay Rupani was sworn-in at a grand ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. Visitors thronged Rupani's office to greet him after he took charge this afternoon. While BJP won 99 seats, the main opposition Congress bagged 77 seats in the recently held polls to the Gujarat Assembly.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani assumes office

<p>A brewing crisis in the recently formed Gujarat government seems to have ended as Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel has been handed over the finance ministry on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The decision came hours after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah reached out to Patel, who expressed his displeasure over not being given key portfolios. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel gets finance ministry portfolio. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/947436880697573376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Shah had assured him of giving suitable departments.</p>

<p>Patel was upset after finance and urban development portfolios, he handled in the previous government, were taken away from him.</p>

<p>However, the deputy CM had claimed that his fight is for prestige and not post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The finance portfolio was instead alloted to Saurabh Patel, while chief minister Vijay Rupani kept the urban development department.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Patel joined Chief Minister Vijay Rupani&#39;s cabinet and took charge of office.&nbsp;</p>


The decision came hours after BJP chief Amit Shah reached out to Patel

A brewing crisis in the recently formed Gujarat government seems to have ended as Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel has been handed over the finance ministry on Sunday. The decision came hours after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah reached out to Patel, who expressed his displeasure over not being given key portfolios. Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel gets finance ministry portfolio. #Gujarat — ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2017 × Shah had assured him of giving suitable departments. Patel was upset after finance and urban development portfolios, he handled in the previous government, were taken away from him. However, the deputy CM had claimed that his fight is for prestige and not post. The finance portfolio was instead alloted to Saurabh Patel, while chief minister Vijay Rupani kept the urban development department. Earlier in the day, Patel joined Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's cabinet and took charge of office.

'Displeased' Nitin Patel gets Gujarat's finance ministry

<p>Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel today said he had been assured by BJP chief Amit Shah that he would be given &quot;suitable departments&quot; in the newly-appointed government in the state.</p>

<p>&quot;I have been assured that I will be given suitable departments, I also talked to Amit Shah&nbsp;<em><em>ji</em></em> over the phone. I thank him for the assurance,&quot; Nitin Patel said.</p>

<p>Hours later Nitin Patel took charge as Gujarat deputy chief minister in Gandhinagar.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nitin Patel takes charge as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a> Deputy Chief Minister in Gandhinagar <a href="https://t.co/x3FydfKfCi">pic.twitter.com/x3FydfKfCi</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/947374762950516737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><br />
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/its-about-self-respect-says-sulking-gujarat-deputy-cm-nitin-patel-28134">A miffed Nitin Patel</a>, who had not taken charge all this while, had said on Saturday he expected a proper response from the BJP high-command and that the issue &quot;was not about some departments&quot; but about self-respect. Also&nbsp;Read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-fumes-after-hardik-asks-nitin-patel-to-join-congress-28141"> BJP fumes after Hardik asks Nitin Patel to join Congress</a></p>

<p>&quot;I have conveyed my feelings to the party high-command and I am hopeful that they will give a proper reply to my feelings soon,&quot; he had said.</p>

<p>&quot;This is not about some departments, this is about self-respect,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>The portfolios in the new BJP government, headed by Vijay Rupani, were allotted three days ago.</p>

<p>Nitin Patel, having been stripped of three key portfolios - finance, urban development and petroleum, was allotted road and building, health, medical education, Narmada, Kalpsar and capital projects this time.</p>

<p>The finance portfolio has been allocated to Saurabh Patel, while chief minister Rupani has kept the urban development department to himself.</p>

<p>The deputy chief minister, who belongs to the influential Patidar community, has not taken charge of his departments so far.</p>

<p>&nbsp;His supporters thronged his residence on Saturday to express solidarity with him.</p>

<p>On Saturday, Patidar leaders Hardik Patel and Lalji Patel declared support for the deputy chief minister.</p>

<p>The BJP seems to have woken up to the outpouring of Opposition support for the sulking deputy chief minister.</p>

<p>Senior Congress MLA Virji Thummar said on Saturday that Nitin Patel would be made the chief minister with the Congress&#39; support if he quit the BJP. The opposition party, however, clarified that Thummar was speaking in his personal capacity and described the row over portfolio distribution as the BJP&#39;s &quot;internal matter&quot;.</p>

<p>Patidar leader Hardik Patel said on Saturday that he would talk to the Congress to get Nitin Patel a &quot;good position&quot; if he was ready to leave the BJP with the support of 10 legislators.</p>

<p>Lalji Patel, whose Sardar Patel Group was at the forefront of the Patidar quota agitation, along with the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, met Nitin Patel in Gandhinagar.</p>

<p>He called for a bandh in Mehsana -- Nitin Patel&#39;s Assembly constituency and a place which was the epicentre of the Patel quota agitation -- on January 1.</p>

<p>With 99 MLAs, the BJP has a simple majority in the 182- member Gujarat Assembly, against the 77 MLAs of the Congress.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(<em>With inputs from agencies</em>)</p>


The Gujarat deputy chief minister today said he had been assured by BJP chief Amit Shah that he would be given a department of his choice in the newly-appointed government in the state

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel today said he had been assured by BJP chief Amit Shah that he would be given "suitable departments" in the newly-appointed government in the state. "I have been assured that I will be given suitable departments, I also talked to Amit Shah ji over the phone. I thank him for the assurance," Nitin Patel said. Hours later Nitin Patel took charge as Gujarat deputy chief minister in Gandhinagar. Nitin Patel takes charge as #Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister in Gandhinagar pic.twitter.com/x3FydfKfCi — ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2017 × A miffed Nitin Patel, who had not taken charge all this while, had said on Saturday he expected a proper response from the BJP high-command and that the issue "was not about some departments" but about self-respect. Also Read: BJP fumes after Hardik asks Nitin Patel to join Congress "I have conveyed my feelings to the party high-command and I am hopeful that they will give a proper reply to my feelings soon," he had said. "This is not about some departments, this is about self-respect," he added. The portfolios in the new BJP government, headed by Vijay Rupani, were allotted three days ago. Nitin Patel, having been stripped of three key portfolios - finance, urban development and petroleum, was allotted road and building, health, medical education, Narmada, Kalpsar and capital projects this time. The finance portfolio has been allocated to Saurabh Patel, while chief minister Rupani has kept the urban development department to himself. The deputy chief minister, who belongs to the influential Patidar community, has not taken charge of his departments so far. His supporters thronged his residence on Saturday to express solidarity with him. On Saturday, Patidar leaders Hardik Patel and Lalji Patel declared support for the deputy chief minister. The BJP seems to have woken up to the outpouring of Opposition support for the sulking deputy chief minister. Senior Congress MLA Virji Thummar said on Saturday that Nitin Patel would be made the chief minister with the Congress' support if he quit the BJP. The opposition party, however, clarified that Thummar was speaking in his personal capacity and described the row over portfolio distribution as the BJP's "internal matter". Patidar leader Hardik Patel said on Saturday that he would talk to the Congress to get Nitin Patel a "good position" if he was ready to leave the BJP with the support of 10 legislators. Lalji Patel, whose Sardar Patel Group was at the forefront of the Patidar quota agitation, along with the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, met Nitin Patel in Gandhinagar. He called for a bandh in Mehsana -- Nitin Patel's Assembly constituency and a place which was the epicentre of the Patel quota agitation -- on January 1. With 99 MLAs, the BJP has a simple majority in the 182- member Gujarat Assembly, against the 77 MLAs of the Congress. (With inputs from agencies)

Have been assured that I will be given suitable departments: Nitin Patel as he takes charge

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-seizes-second-ship-suspected-of-providing-oil-to-north-korea-28181">South Korea seizes&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-seizes-second-ship-suspected-of-providing-oil-to-north-korea-28181">second</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-seizes-second-ship-suspected-of-providing-oil-to-north-korea-28181"> ship suspected of providing oil to North Korea</a></p>

<p>South Korean authorities have seized a Panama-flagged vessel suspected of transferring oil products to North Korea in violation of international sanctions, a customs official said on Sunday.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/muslim-women-can-travel-for-haj-without-male-guardian-prime-minister-modi-28167">Muslim women can travel </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/muslim-women-can-travel-for-haj-without-male-guardian-prime-minister-modi-28167">for</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/muslim-women-can-travel-for-haj-without-male-guardian-prime-minister-modi-28167"> Haj without male guardian: Prime Minister Modi</a></p>

<p>Terming the policy of allowing Muslim women to perform Haj only in the company of a male guardian as &quot;injustice&quot;, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said his government has removed the restriction following which hundreds of women have applied to travel alone for the pilgrimage.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/have-been-assured-that-i-will-be-given-suitable-departments-nitin-patel-28155">Have been assured that I will be given suitable departments: Nitin Patel as he takes charge</a></p>

<p>Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel today said he had been assured by BJP chief Amit Shah that he would be given &quot;suitable departments&quot; in the newly-appointed government in the state.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/amitabh-bachchan-congratulates-rajinikanth-on-his-political-debut-28172">Amitabh Bachchan congratulates Rajinikanth on his political debut</a></p>

<p>As Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth announced his much-anticipated entry into politics, wishes poured in from fans and eminent personalities from all across.</p>

<p>Bollywood&#39;s megastar Amitabh Bachchan also congratulated his long-time friend Rajinikanth and conveyed his wishes on the start of his political journey.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iran-interior-minister-warns-government-will-confront-disorder-28162">Iran interior minister warns government &#39;will confront&#39; disorder</a></p>

<p>Iran&#39;s interior minister warned Sunday that &quot;violence, fear and terror&quot; will be confronted after a third night of protests against the regime.</p>

<p>&quot;Those who damage public property, disrupt the order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price,&quot; Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television.</p>


South Korea seizes second ship suspected of providing oil to North Korea South Korean authorities have seized a Panama-flagged vessel suspected of transferring oil products to North Korea in violation of international sanctions, a customs official said on Sunday. Muslim women can travel for Haj without male guardian: Prime Minister Modi Terming the policy of allowing Muslim women to perform Haj only in the company of a male guardian as "injustice", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said his government has removed the restriction following which hundreds of women have applied to travel alone for the pilgrimage. Have been assured that I will be given suitable departments: Nitin Patel as he takes charge Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel today said he had been assured by BJP chief Amit Shah that he would be given "suitable departments" in the newly-appointed government in the state. Amitabh Bachchan congratulates Rajinikanth on his political debut As Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth announced his much-anticipated entry into politics, wishes poured in from fans and eminent personalities from all across. Bollywood's megastar Amitabh Bachchan also congratulated his long-time friend Rajinikanth and conveyed his wishes on the start of his political journey. Iran interior minister warns government 'will confront' disorder Iran's interior minister warned Sunday that "violence, fear and terror" will be confronted after a third night of protests against the regime. "Those who damage public property, disrupt the order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price," Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television.

WION Evening News Brief, December 31, 2017

<p>Five-time legislator Jairam Thakur on Wednesday was sworn-in as the 14th chief minister of Himachal Pradesh after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to a comfortable win in the recently concluded assembly election.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Oath taking ceremony of Himachal CM elect Jairam Thakur and others in Shimla in the presence of PM Modi <a href="https://t.co/UmlrABGVsI">https://t.co/UmlrABGVsI</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945895901695950848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JaiRamThakur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JaiRamThakur</a> takes oath as chief minister of Himachal Pradesh <a href="https://t.co/Xv1kDII2H3">pic.twitter.com/Xv1kDII2H3</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945896811352354817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah were also present at the oath-taking ceremony in Shimla.</p>

<p>Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister &nbsp;Yogi Adityanath and other senior party leader were also in attendance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thakur, a leader from Mandi, was chosen over Jagat Prakash Nadda to lead the BJP&#39;s lawmakers in the Himachal Pradesh assembly on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 52-year-old leader edged past party stalwarts in the race to the top office and became the first leader from the politically-significant Mandi region to helm the hill state.</p>

<p>BJP&#39;s first declared chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal lots to his erstwhile aide in the recent elections.</p>

<p>The BJP ousted the Congress from the Himalayan state after clinching 44 of the 68 seats. &nbsp;</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah were also present at the oath-taking ceremony in Shimla

Five-time legislator Jairam Thakur on Wednesday was sworn-in as the 14th chief minister of Himachal Pradesh after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to a comfortable win in the recently concluded assembly election. #WATCH Oath taking ceremony of Himachal CM elect Jairam Thakur and others in Shimla in the presence of PM Modi https://t.co/UmlrABGVsI — ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2017 × #JaiRamThakur takes oath as chief minister of Himachal Pradesh pic.twitter.com/Xv1kDII2H3 — ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2017 × Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah were also present at the oath-taking ceremony in Shimla. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior party leader were also in attendance. Thakur, a leader from Mandi, was chosen over Jagat Prakash Nadda to lead the BJP's lawmakers in the Himachal Pradesh assembly on Sunday. The 52-year-old leader edged past party stalwarts in the race to the top office and became the first leader from the politically-significant Mandi region to helm the hill state. BJP's first declared chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal lots to his erstwhile aide in the recent elections. The BJP ousted the Congress from the Himalayan state after clinching 44 of the 68 seats.

Jairam Thakur sworn in as 14th chief minister of Himachal Pradesh

<p>Jairam Thakur<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jairam-thakur-to-be-new-himachal-pradesh-chief-minister-27582"> will be sworn in as chief minister of </a>Himachal Pradesh today.</p>

<p>The ceremony, to be held at the Ridge ground in Shimla, is expected to begin at&nbsp;11 am.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah will be attending, as will a number of other BJP leaders.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Himachal Pradesh&#39;s Shimla, received by CM elect <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JaiRamThakur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JaiRamThakur</a> <a href="https://t.co/LNfGAZMI5v">pic.twitter.com/LNfGAZMI5v</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945887948846784513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shimla: Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh &amp; UP CM Yogi Adityanath present for soon to begin oath taking ceremony of Himachal Pradesh CM elect <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JaiRamThakur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JaiRamThakur</a>; PM Narendra Modi to arrive shortly <a href="https://t.co/SroFVjwj4w">pic.twitter.com/SroFVjwj4w</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945892184250769409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Former deputy prime minister LK Advani will also be attending.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rupani-sworn-in-as-gujarat-chief-minister-modi-shah-in-attendance-27723" target="_blank">Rupani </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rupani-sworn-in-as-gujarat-chief-minister-modi-shah-in-attendance-27723" target="_blank">sworn</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rupani-sworn-in-as-gujarat-chief-minister-modi-shah-in-attendance-27723" target="_blank"> in as Gujarat chief minister; Modi, Shah in attendance</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The oath of office will be administered by Governor Aacharya Devvrat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The names of Thakur&#39;s ministers are still to be finalised, news reports said.</p>

<p>Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-thank-everyone-central-leadership-says-himachal-cm-elect-jairam-thakur-27585">&nbsp;&quot;I thank everyone, central leadership...,&quot; says Himachal CM-elect Jairam Thakur</a></p>

<p>The five-time BJP MLA from the hill state&#39;s Seraj constituency was chosen to lead the state after the BJP&#39;s original chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal failed to win in the recent elections.</p>

<p>The BJP ousted the Congress from Himachal Pradesh after winning 44 of the 68 seats in the recently-held Assembly polls.</p>


Prime Minister Modi and BJP President Amit Shah will be attending

Jairam Thakur will be sworn in as chief minister of Himachal Pradesh today. The ceremony, to be held at the Ridge ground in Shimla, is expected to begin at 11 am. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah will be attending, as will a number of other BJP leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla, received by CM elect #JaiRamThakur pic.twitter.com/LNfGAZMI5v — ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2017 × Shimla: Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh & UP CM Yogi Adityanath present for soon to begin oath taking ceremony of Himachal Pradesh CM elect #JaiRamThakur; PM Narendra Modi to arrive shortly pic.twitter.com/SroFVjwj4w — ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2017 × Former deputy prime minister LK Advani will also be attending. Also read: Rupani sworn in as Gujarat chief minister; Modi, Shah in attendance The oath of office will be administered by Governor Aacharya Devvrat. The names of Thakur's ministers are still to be finalised, news reports said. Also read: "I thank everyone, central leadership...," says Himachal CM-elect Jairam Thakur The five-time BJP MLA from the hill state's Seraj constituency was chosen to lead the state after the BJP's original chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal failed to win in the recent elections. The BJP ousted the Congress from Himachal Pradesh after winning 44 of the 68 seats in the recently-held Assembly polls.

Jairam Thakur sworn in as Himachal Pradesh chief minister

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rupani-sworn-in-as-gujarat-chief-minister-modi-shah-in-attendance-27723">Vijay Rupani&nbsp;</a>is back in the chief minister&#39;s chair after having survived the incumbency factor and a violent quota stir by the Patidars.</p>

<p>Born in Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar) Rupani, 61, joined an RSS <em>shakha</em> as a schoolboy, before graduating to the BJP via the Sangh&#39;s students wing--the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).</p>

<p>Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the BJP&#39;s face in the high-octane election campaign in his home state, Rupani, belonging to the relatively small Jain community, steered the party machinery in Gujarat, neutralising the incumbency factor against his government and surviving quota stir by the Patidar community, the bedrock of the party&#39;s support base.</p>

<p>Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/know-the-gujarat-ministers-who-took-oath-along-with-vijay-rupani-today-27731"> Know the Gujarat ministers who took oath along with Vijay Rupani today</a></p>

<p>Rupani also successfully contained disenchantment with the government over farm distress in some parts of the state, and economic slowdown due to demonetisation and roll out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), also stood him in good stead.</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/newly-elected-gujarat-cabinet-to-hold-first-meeting-tomorrow-27747">Newly-elected Gujarat cabinet to hold first meeting tomorrow</a></p>

<p>Despite the BJP&#39;s tally falling below 100 in a long time, Rupani&#39;s selection also suggested that the top party leadership wanted continuity before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.</p>

<p>Though only a second-time MLA, he made a mark as an able administrator.</p>

<p>Rupani, who worked mostly in the party organisation in Gujarat, fought his first Assembly election in 2014, winning a bypoll from Rajkot West. This time he won from the same seat with an impressive margin of over 53,000 votes.</p>

<p>A bachelor of law, Rupani was a Rajya Sabha member between 2006 and 2012.</p>

<p>It was under him as chairman of the Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation in 2006 that the hugely successful advertisement campaign &#39;<em>Khushboo Gujarat Ki</em>&#39;, featuring megastar Amitabh&nbsp;Bachchan, was launched to promote the state as a tourism hotspot.</p>

<p>He was also the chairman of the Gujarat Municipal Finance Board in 2013.</p>

<p>When the Rajkot West seat fell vacant in October 2014 after Speaker of the Assembly Vajubhai Vala was appointed the Karnataka Governor, Rupani won the bypoll.</p>

<p>On February 19, 2016 he was appointed the chief of the Gujarat BJP. It was seen as a victory for the Amit Shah camp in the state unit.</p>

<p>When the state&#39;s first and only woman chief minister Anandiben Patel resigned in August 2016 following allegations of inept handling of the Patidar and Dalit agitations, Rupani was catapulted to the hot seat.</p>

<p>Rupani honed his political skills in the crucible of the Gujarat Navnirman agitation, a socio-political movement in 1974 by students and the middle-class against economic crisis and corruption in public life.</p>

<p>It soon spread elsewhere, particularly in Bihar, where socialist legend Jayaprakash Narayan gave a call for &#39;Total Revolution&#39;.</p>

<p>The movement finally led to the fall of Indira Gandhi government and installation of the first non-Congress dispensation at the centre under Morarji Desai.</p>

<p>Rupani, who was then with the ABVP, was jailed for nearly a year during Emergency.</p>

<p>As the mayor of Rajkot in 1996-97, he endeared himself to people of the city with his initiatives for improvement of the civic infrastructure.</p>

<p>Rupani&#39;s mettle as a politician will be tested again in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when Modi bids for a second shot at power.</p>

<p>Delivering Gujarat to the BJP is the least he would expect from Amit Shah&#39;s man in Gandhinagar.&nbsp;</p>


Born in Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar) Rupani joined an RSS shakha as a schoolboy

Vijay Rupani is back in the chief minister's chair after having survived the incumbency factor and a violent quota stir by the Patidars. Born in Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar) Rupani, 61, joined an RSS shakha as a schoolboy, before graduating to the BJP via the Sangh's students wing--the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the BJP's face in the high-octane election campaign in his home state, Rupani, belonging to the relatively small Jain community, steered the party machinery in Gujarat, neutralising the incumbency factor against his government and surviving quota stir by the Patidar community, the bedrock of the party's support base. Also read: Know the Gujarat ministers who took oath along with Vijay Rupani today Rupani also successfully contained disenchantment with the government over farm distress in some parts of the state, and economic slowdown due to demonetisation and roll out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), also stood him in good stead. Also read: Newly-elected Gujarat cabinet to hold first meeting tomorrow Despite the BJP's tally falling below 100 in a long time, Rupani's selection also suggested that the top party leadership wanted continuity before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Though only a second-time MLA, he made a mark as an able administrator. Rupani, who worked mostly in the party organisation in Gujarat, fought his first Assembly election in 2014, winning a bypoll from Rajkot West. This time he won from the same seat with an impressive margin of over 53,000 votes. A bachelor of law, Rupani was a Rajya Sabha member between 2006 and 2012. It was under him as chairman of the Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation in 2006 that the hugely successful advertisement campaign 'Khushboo Gujarat Ki', featuring megastar Amitabh Bachchan, was launched to promote the state as a tourism hotspot. He was also the chairman of the Gujarat Municipal Finance Board in 2013. When the Rajkot West seat fell vacant in October 2014 after Speaker of the Assembly Vajubhai Vala was appointed the Karnataka Governor, Rupani won the bypoll. On February 19, 2016 he was appointed the chief of the Gujarat BJP. It was seen as a victory for the Amit Shah camp in the state unit. When the state's first and only woman chief minister Anandiben Patel resigned in August 2016 following allegations of inept handling of the Patidar and Dalit agitations, Rupani was catapulted to the hot seat. Rupani honed his political skills in the crucible of the Gujarat Navnirman agitation, a socio-political movement in 1974 by students and the middle-class against economic crisis and corruption in public life. It soon spread elsewhere, particularly in Bihar, where socialist legend Jayaprakash Narayan gave a call for 'Total Revolution'. The movement finally led to the fall of Indira Gandhi government and installation of the first non-Congress dispensation at the centre under Morarji Desai. Rupani, who was then with the ABVP, was jailed for nearly a year during Emergency. As the mayor of Rajkot in 1996-97, he endeared himself to people of the city with his initiatives for improvement of the civic infrastructure. Rupani's mettle as a politician will be tested again in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when Modi bids for a second shot at power. Delivering Gujarat to the BJP is the least he would expect from Amit Shah's man in Gandhinagar.

Vijay Rupani back as Gujarat's CM: The man who beat incumbency factor and Patidar stir

<p>Vijay Rupani was sworn in the chief minister of Gujarat on Tuesday morning.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Live from Gujarat: Swearing-in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar <a href="https://t.co/iKpAbRb9uV">https://t.co/iKpAbRb9uV</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945530296157462528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Nitin Patel was sworn in as his deputy.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gandhinagar: Nitin Patel takes oath as deputy CM for second consecutive term <a href="https://t.co/GUilKtnT4f">pic.twitter.com/GUilKtnT4f</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945536949619589120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>A total of 20 ministers, including Rupani and Patel, will take the oath of office today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;and BJP President Amit Shah are in attendance.</p>

<p>As is Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Other union ministers&nbsp;present include Ravi Shankar Prasad and&nbsp;Nitin Gadkari.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gandhinagar: Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath<br />
Singh and Ram Vilas Paswan &amp; BJP President Amit Shah at swearing-in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani <a href="https://t.co/x3IwPRrNQs">pic.twitter.com/x3IwPRrNQs</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945530502789808128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for swearing in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani and others <a href="https://t.co/zmYJwsEuNc">pic.twitter.com/zmYJwsEuNc</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945532227072303104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>A number of BJP chief ministers including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje, and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh are also attending.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/yogi-adityanath-attends-metro-inauguration-function-pm-modi-praises-him-for-breaking-noida-jinx-27660" target="_blank">Yogi Adityanath attends metro inauguration function, PM Modi praises him for breaking &#39;Noida jinx&#39;</a></p>

<p>As is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a> Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh at swearing-in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani and others in Gandhinagar <a href="https://t.co/bWv98XjeQp">pic.twitter.com/bWv98XjeQp</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945533103199600641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar at swearing in ceremony of Gujarat CM and others in Gandhinagar <a href="https://t.co/4s2GAYab8D">pic.twitter.com/4s2GAYab8D</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945532802967072768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The BJP won the recent Gujarat elections after a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-claims-pakistan-trying-to-influence-gujarat-elections-26391" target="_blank">long and bitter</a> campaign.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP won a total of 99 seats in the 182-member house, with the Congress trailing in at 77.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the win in the end was comfortable, the BJP won 16 fewer seats than it did the last time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That commentators say could mean that the BJP will have a tougher fight on its hands in the 2019 general elections.&nbsp;</p>


A number of BJP chief ministers also attended, as did Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

Vijay Rupani was sworn in the chief minister of Gujarat on Tuesday morning. #WATCH Live from Gujarat: Swearing-in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar https://t.co/iKpAbRb9uV — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2017 × Nitin Patel was sworn in as his deputy. Gandhinagar: Nitin Patel takes oath as deputy CM for second consecutive term pic.twitter.com/GUilKtnT4f — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2017 × A total of 20 ministers, including Rupani and Patel, will take the oath of office today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah are in attendance. As is Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Other union ministers present include Ravi Shankar Prasad and Nitin Gadkari. Gandhinagar: Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh and Ram Vilas Paswan & BJP President Amit Shah at swearing-in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani pic.twitter.com/x3IwPRrNQs — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2017 × Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for swearing in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani and others pic.twitter.com/zmYJwsEuNc — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2017 × A number of BJP chief ministers including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje, and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh are also attending. Also read: Yogi Adityanath attends metro inauguration function, PM Modi praises him for breaking 'Noida jinx' As is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. #Gujarat Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh at swearing-in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani and others in Gandhinagar pic.twitter.com/bWv98XjeQp — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2017 × Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar at swearing in ceremony of Gujarat CM and others in Gandhinagar pic.twitter.com/4s2GAYab8D — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2017 × The BJP won the recent Gujarat elections after a long and bitter campaign. The BJP won a total of 99 seats in the 182-member house, with the Congress trailing in at 77. While the win in the end was comfortable, the BJP won 16 fewer seats than it did the last time. That commentators say could mean that the BJP will have a tougher fight on its hands in the 2019 general elections.

Rupani sworn in as Gujarat chief minister; Modi, Shah in attendance

<p>The new BJP government led by Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel will be sworn in in Gandhinagar today.</p>

<p>The swearing in is expected to start at 11 am.</p>

<p>Rupani and Patel <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/vijay-rupani-nitin-patel-swearing-in-ceremony-to-take-place-on-december-26-27547">will take their oaths&nbsp;</a>as chief minister and deputy chief minister for the second consecutive term after having been elected on Friday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP National President Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmitShah</a>&#39;s rousing welcome at Ahmedabad airport on his first visit to Gujarat after election victory. <a href="https://t.co/mLli9Ndh51">pic.twitter.com/mLli9Ndh51</a></p>
&mdash; BJP (@BJP4India) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India/status/945294740605493249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah among other union ministers and senior leaders.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to crowd gathered on his way from the airport in Ahmedabad <a href="https://t.co/uXJ3u0UBhP">pic.twitter.com/uXJ3u0UBhP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945515329815420934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a>&#39;s Ahmedabad, to attend swearing-in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani and others <a href="https://t.co/nCuypAS5I6">pic.twitter.com/nCuypAS5I6</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/945513246869528576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Apart from Rupani and Patel, six to nine cabinet and around 15 ministers of state are also expected to be sworn in, party sources said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To be able to work for the welfare of the people and contribute in all-round development of the state is a reward of the life time. Humbled &amp; honoured indeed. <a href="https://t.co/KZWdj1hMh0">pic.twitter.com/KZWdj1hMh0</a></p>
&mdash; Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) <a href="https://twitter.com/vijayrupanibjp/status/944178381058273280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My sincere gratitude to Honourable PM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> Ji &amp; BJP President Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmitShah</a> Ji for reposing trust &amp; confidence in a humble Karyakarta like me. I also thank <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4Gujarat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJP4Gujarat</a> legislative party for sustaining trust.</p>
&mdash; Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) <a href="https://twitter.com/vijayrupanibjp/status/944181912721014784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>News reports said Rupani plans to keep the number of ministers in his cabinet to below 20, against the maximum provision of 27.</p>

<p>The newly-elected leader said the party would consider&nbsp;a mixture of factors such as experience, caste, and region while selecting its ministers.</p>

<p>The BJP won the election to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly&nbsp;with a clear majority of 99 seats.</p>

<p>The Congress Party trailed in second with 77 seats, followed by the Bharatiya Tribal Party (two), and NCP (one), while three seats were won by independent candidates.</p>

<p>Rupani secured a comfortable win by a margin of 1,31,586 votes from the Rajkot West seat.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With agency inputs)</em>&nbsp;</p>


Apart from Rupani and Nitin Patel as deputy chief minister, six to nine cabinet and around 15 ministers of state are also expected to be sworn in

The new BJP government led by Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel will be sworn in in Gandhinagar today. The swearing in is expected to start at 11 am. Rupani and Patel will take their oaths as chief minister and deputy chief minister for the second consecutive term after having been elected on Friday. BJP National President Shri @AmitShah's rousing welcome at Ahmedabad airport on his first visit to Gujarat after election victory. pic.twitter.com/mLli9Ndh51 — BJP (@BJP4India) December 25, 2017 × The ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah among other union ministers and senior leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to crowd gathered on his way from the airport in Ahmedabad pic.twitter.com/uXJ3u0UBhP — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2017 × Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches #Gujarat's Ahmedabad, to attend swearing-in ceremony of CM elect Vijay Rupani and others pic.twitter.com/nCuypAS5I6 — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2017 × Apart from Rupani and Patel, six to nine cabinet and around 15 ministers of state are also expected to be sworn in, party sources said. To be able to work for the welfare of the people and contribute in all-round development of the state is a reward of the life time. Humbled & honoured indeed. pic.twitter.com/KZWdj1hMh0 — Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) December 22, 2017 × My sincere gratitude to Honourable PM Shri @narendramodi Ji & BJP President Shri @AmitShah Ji for reposing trust & confidence in a humble Karyakarta like me. I also thank @BJP4Gujarat legislative party for sustaining trust. — Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) December 22, 2017 × News reports said Rupani plans to keep the number of ministers in his cabinet to below 20, against the maximum provision of 27. The newly-elected leader said the party would consider a mixture of factors such as experience, caste, and region while selecting its ministers. The BJP won the election to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly with a clear majority of 99 seats. The Congress Party trailed in second with 77 seats, followed by the Bharatiya Tribal Party (two), and NCP (one), while three seats were won by independent candidates. Rupani secured a comfortable win by a margin of 1,31,586 votes from the Rajkot West seat. (With agency inputs)

Rupani to be sworn in as Gujarat CM today, PM Modi, Amit Shah to attend

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-a-blistering-attack-mea-says-pakistan-heckled-kulbhushan-jadhavs-family-27755">In a blistering attack, MEA says Pakistan heckled Kulbhushan Jadhav&#39;s family</a></p>

<p>The statement gave a detailed account of incidents that violated the terms mutually agreed upon by both the countries with respect to Jadhav&#39;s meeting with his family.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rupani-sworn-in-as-gujarat-chief-minister-modi-shah-in-attendance-27723">Vijay Rupani </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rupani-sworn-in-as-gujarat-chief-minister-modi-shah-in-attendance-27723">sworn</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rupani-sworn-in-as-gujarat-chief-minister-modi-shah-in-attendance-27723"> in as Gujarat chief minister; Modi, Shah in attendance</a></p>

<p>Vijay Rupani was sworn in as the chief minister of Gujarat on Tuesday morning. A total of 20 ministers, including Rupani and Patel, took an oath of office today.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/newly-elected-gujarat-cabinet-to-hold-first-meeting-tomorrow-27747">Newly-elected Gujarat cabinet to hold first meeting tomorrow</a></p>

<p>The meeting is scheduled for 10 am in Gandhinagar.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-tops-34000-for-first-time-nifty-hits-record-high-27710">Sensex tops 34,000 for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-tops-34000-for-first-time-nifty-hits-record-high-27710">first</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-tops-34000-for-first-time-nifty-hits-record-high-27710"> time, Nifty hits record high</a></p>

<p>Sensex and Nifty rose in early trade to scale new highs on Tuesday morning.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/suspected-us-drone-kills-militants-on-pakistan-afghan-border-27771">Suspected US drone kills militants on Pakistan-Afghan border</a></p>

<p>It was not immediately clear whether the missile struck on the Afghan or Pakistani side or the border.</p>


In a blistering attack, MEA says Pakistan heckled Kulbhushan Jadhav's family The statement gave a detailed account of incidents that violated the terms mutually agreed upon by both the countries with respect to Jadhav's meeting with his family. Vijay Rupani sworn in as Gujarat chief minister; Modi, Shah in attendance Vijay Rupani was sworn in as the chief minister of Gujarat on Tuesday morning. A total of 20 ministers, including Rupani and Patel, took an oath of office today. Newly-elected Gujarat cabinet to hold first meeting tomorrow The meeting is scheduled for 10 am in Gandhinagar. Sensex tops 34,000 for first time, Nifty hits record high Sensex and Nifty rose in early trade to scale new highs on Tuesday morning. Suspected US drone kills militants on Pakistan-Afghan border It was not immediately clear whether the missile struck on the Afghan or Pakistani side or the border.

WION Evening News Brief, December 26, 2017

<p>The final verdict is not yet out but first round of the 2G spectrum &ldquo;presumptive&rdquo; scam goes to the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, DMK leader A Raja, party patriarch M Karunanidhi&rsquo;s daughter MK Kanimozhi and 15 others, including former top telecom ministry officials whose stand has been vindicated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Case will go through legal scrutiny from the High Court to the Supreme court. The Top court had earlier taken cognisance and cancelled the 122 licenses issued by Raja and even fined accused telecom companies in February 2012, citing wrongdoings in the allocation of 2G spectrum. The Supreme Court noticed that PM Manmohan Singh was kept in the dark at that time. The latest verdict also raises questions on the role of officials in Manmohan Singh led PMO. That may worry Congress but politically they have a reason to smile for now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Initial leaks in the case were fuelled by the UPA government&#39;s internal conflicts, emerging at the time due to the existence of many power centres, acting in their own capacities and interests over and above that of the Government.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Taint on Mr clean</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Post-2004 election victory, Sonia Gandhi had put her bait on Dr Manmohan Singh as the prime minister, projecting him as a leader with clean Image, which is rare in politics. Dr Manmohan Singh&rsquo;s claim, &ldquo;history will be kinder&rdquo; to him, is proven right in this round. An economist, founder of a liberalised economic regime in India, Manmohan Singh was questioned in scam after scam during UPA2.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>This Scam Series started with 2G spectrum allocation of 2008. Manmohan Singh has been given benefit of doubt but was questioned &ldquo;why did he let allies loot the nation under his nose&rdquo; when he was head of the government.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Reason for Congress rout</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Opposition NDA, led by BJP, tore the government apart on the issue inside parliament forcing adjournments. Dr Singh was often accused by LK Advani as weak and dummy PM to 10 Janpath, which happens to be the official residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Returning to power in 2009, Dr Manmohan Singh tried to assert his authority by internally rejecting to accommodate alliance partner DMK in his Council of Ministers. So, was there some admission of wrongdoing is the question.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Opposition NDA led by BJP, Anna Hazare with Arvind Kejrival took to the streets. Politically Congress paid the price, Arvind Kejriwal got a foothold in Delhi and Narendra Modi swept the country with a historic electoral verdict.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Rahul Gandhi&#39;s challenge</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>A clean chit in 2G and now Bombay High Court&#39;s &ldquo;no&rdquo; to prosecute Ashok Chavan in Adarsh scam have given a big boost to Congress. Dramatic events are building up to 8 states Assembly elections and the run-up to 2019, making it interesting. Turning the turf to his side will depend on political skills of Rahul Gandhi as the new president of the Grand Old Party. One thing is clear if Rahul was to pose any challenge, he would have to look for combinations which would be capable of taking on the election-winning duo of Modi and Shah as 2017 ends.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


2G verdict has emboldened Congress but Rahul Gandhi as the Congress President will have to come up with a combination which would be capable of taking on the election-winning duo of Modi and Shah as 2017 ends.

The final verdict is not yet out but first round of the 2G spectrum “presumptive” scam goes to the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, DMK leader A Raja, party patriarch M Karunanidhi’s daughter MK Kanimozhi and 15 others, including former top telecom ministry officials whose stand has been vindicated. The Case will go through legal scrutiny from the High Court to the Supreme court. The Top court had earlier taken cognisance and cancelled the 122 licenses issued by Raja and even fined accused telecom companies in February 2012, citing wrongdoings in the allocation of 2G spectrum. The Supreme Court noticed that PM Manmohan Singh was kept in the dark at that time. The latest verdict also raises questions on the role of officials in Manmohan Singh led PMO. That may worry Congress but politically they have a reason to smile for now. Initial leaks in the case were fuelled by the UPA government's internal conflicts, emerging at the time due to the existence of many power centres, acting in their own capacities and interests over and above that of the Government. Taint on Mr clean Post-2004 election victory, Sonia Gandhi had put her bait on Dr Manmohan Singh as the prime minister, projecting him as a leader with clean Image, which is rare in politics. Dr Manmohan Singh’s claim, “history will be kinder” to him, is proven right in this round. An economist, founder of a liberalised economic regime in India, Manmohan Singh was questioned in scam after scam during UPA2. This Scam Series started with 2G spectrum allocation of 2008. Manmohan Singh has been given benefit of doubt but was questioned “why did he let allies loot the nation under his nose” when he was head of the government. Reason for Congress rout Opposition NDA, led by BJP, tore the government apart on the issue inside parliament forcing adjournments. Dr Singh was often accused by LK Advani as weak and dummy PM to 10 Janpath, which happens to be the official residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Returning to power in 2009, Dr Manmohan Singh tried to assert his authority by internally rejecting to accommodate alliance partner DMK in his Council of Ministers. So, was there some admission of wrongdoing is the question. Opposition NDA led by BJP, Anna Hazare with Arvind Kejrival took to the streets. Politically Congress paid the price, Arvind Kejriwal got a foothold in Delhi and Narendra Modi swept the country with a historic electoral verdict. Rahul Gandhi's challenge A clean chit in 2G and now Bombay High Court's “no” to prosecute Ashok Chavan in Adarsh scam have given a big boost to Congress. Dramatic events are building up to 8 states Assembly elections and the run-up to 2019, making it interesting. Turning the turf to his side will depend on political skills of Rahul Gandhi as the new president of the Grand Old Party. One thing is clear if Rahul was to pose any challenge, he would have to look for combinations which would be capable of taking on the election-winning duo of Modi and Shah as 2017 ends. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: With 2G Verdict, parties gear up to tap the waves for 2019

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for strengthening the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at booth levels across India for &quot;victory in 2019 Lok Sabha elections&quot;. The Prime Minister was speaking at BJP&#39;s parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi</p>

<p>Union minister Ananth Kumar, also present in the meeting, said that the PM also called for promotion of youth in and outside party.</p>

<p>He also urged party leaders not to be affected by the opposition&#39;s &quot;disinformation&quot; campaign against the BJP, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters.</p>

<p>Booth level work, which is the root of a poll campaign, is the mother of an election victory, Kumar quoted Modi as saying.</p>

<p>Party sources said Modi turned emotional a few times as he recalled how the party organisation was built in Gujarat and young leaders were groomed by their seniors, including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.</p>

<p>All elected lawmakers and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/amit-shah-hails-gujarat-himachal-results-has-eyes-set-on-2019-27079">BJP chief Amit Shah</a> are present at the parliamentary party meet, which began at around 10 am on Wednesday.</p>

<p>One of the chief agendas to be picked up in this meeting is the chief ministerial faces of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/assembly-elections-2017-see-how-gujarat-voted-27051">Gujarat</a> and Himachal.</p>

<p>The BJP managed to pull a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-set-to-form-government-in-himachal-27056">landslide victory in Himachal Pradesh</a>, but its chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal lost his Sujanpur constituency to Congress. State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti also lost his seat.</p>

<p>Their defeat has put a question mark on the face of the next chief minister.</p>

<p>Source told Zee News that Union minister JP Nadda and newly-elected BJP MLA Jairam Thakur are the frontrunners of Chief Minister&#39;s post.</p>

<p>Meanwhile in Gujarat, where the BJP managed to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-2017-live-results-27014">retain power for a record sixth time</a>, is mulling a course correction after losing several seats to Congress.</p>

<p>The party leadership is reportedly considering a new face to replace the incumbent Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, despite his victory from the Rajkot West seat.</p>

<p>Among the names floating around are Textiles and Information &amp; Broadcasting (I&amp;B) Minister Smriti Irani and Union Minister of State for Road Transport &amp; Highways and Shipping Mansukh L Mandaviya.</p>

<p>Irani, however, has denied being a contender for the CM&#39;s post.</p>


One of the chief agendas to be picked up in this meeting is the chief ministerial faces of Gujarat and Himachal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for strengthening the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at booth levels across India for "victory in 2019 Lok Sabha elections". The Prime Minister was speaking at BJP's parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi Union minister Ananth Kumar, also present in the meeting, said that the PM also called for promotion of youth in and outside party. He also urged party leaders not to be affected by the opposition's "disinformation" campaign against the BJP, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters. Booth level work, which is the root of a poll campaign, is the mother of an election victory, Kumar quoted Modi as saying. Party sources said Modi turned emotional a few times as he recalled how the party organisation was built in Gujarat and young leaders were groomed by their seniors, including former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. All elected lawmakers and BJP chief Amit Shah are present at the parliamentary party meet, which began at around 10 am on Wednesday. One of the chief agendas to be picked up in this meeting is the chief ministerial faces of Gujarat and Himachal. The BJP managed to pull a landslide victory in Himachal Pradesh, but its chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal lost his Sujanpur constituency to Congress. State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti also lost his seat. Their defeat has put a question mark on the face of the next chief minister. Source told Zee News that Union minister JP Nadda and newly-elected BJP MLA Jairam Thakur are the frontrunners of Chief Minister's post. Meanwhile in Gujarat, where the BJP managed to retain power for a record sixth time, is mulling a course correction after losing several seats to Congress. The party leadership is reportedly considering a new face to replace the incumbent Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, despite his victory from the Rajkot West seat. Among the names floating around are Textiles and Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Smriti Irani and Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Mansukh L Mandaviya. Irani, however, has denied being a contender for the CM's post.

Strengthen BJP at grass root level for 2019 victory: PM at parliamentary party meeting

<p>The new BJP government in Gujarat is likely to be sworn in on December 25, party sources said amid speculation that a new leader could be chosen to helm the state where it secured a narrow victory in the assembly polls.</p>

<p>December 25 has been chosen for the swearing-in as it is the birthday of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, sources said.</p>

<p>BJP president Amit Shah had announced during the campaign that the party was fighting Gujarat elections under Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was, however, the face of the party in the keenly contested elections.</p>

<p>The BJP managed to retain power for a record sixth time in Gujarat, but is mulling a course correction after losing several seats to Congress.</p>

<p>The party leadership is reportedly considering a new face to replace the incumbent Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, despite his victory from the Rajkot West seat.</p>

<p>Modi and the central parliamentary board of the party will take the final call, sources said.</p>

<p>Asked who will be the next chief minister, Rupani told reporters, &quot;The BJP fought this election in Gujarat with my face. But the final decision will be taken by the party&#39;s parliamentary board.&quot;</p>

<p>BJP won 99 seats in the 182-member Assembly, securing seven seats more than the 92 needed for a simple majority, while the Congress and its allies won 80.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Gujarat chief secretary J N Singh inspected the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad, the likely venue of the ceremony. &quot;We have come here to inspect the stadium as the oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held here,&quot; Singh told reporters.</p>

<p>He, however, said the team will also inspect other venues like Mahatma Mandir and Sabarmati Riverfront, which has been the showpiece of the BJP&#39;s development politics. Modi had personally escorted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, besides Japanese premier Shinzo Abe and his spouse to the Sabarmati Riverfront.</p>

<p>Sources in the BJP said Modi, party chief Amit Shah as also chief ministers of BJP-ruled states are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony.</p>

<p>&quot;After the election victory, there is a process. Observers will come from Delhi and preside over the meeting of newly elected MLAs to decide on the chief minister. After the meeting, the newly elected chief minister will stake claim to form government and the oath-taking ceremony will be held,&quot; state BJP spokesperson Jagdish Bhavsar said.</p>

<p>On Monday, the BJP had announced that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and party general secretary Saroj Pandey will be the observers for the selection of the new Gujarat chief minister.</p>

<p>Observers are likely to visit Gujarat after December 21 to elect the new leader, party sources said.</p>


BJP president Amit Shah had announced during the campaign that the party was fighting Gujarat elections under Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was, however, the face of the party in the keenly contested elections.

The new BJP government in Gujarat is likely to be sworn in on December 25, party sources said amid speculation that a new leader could be chosen to helm the state where it secured a narrow victory in the assembly polls. December 25 has been chosen for the swearing-in as it is the birthday of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, sources said. BJP president Amit Shah had announced during the campaign that the party was fighting Gujarat elections under Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was, however, the face of the party in the keenly contested elections. The BJP managed to retain power for a record sixth time in Gujarat, but is mulling a course correction after losing several seats to Congress. The party leadership is reportedly considering a new face to replace the incumbent Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, despite his victory from the Rajkot West seat. Modi and the central parliamentary board of the party will take the final call, sources said. Asked who will be the next chief minister, Rupani told reporters, "The BJP fought this election in Gujarat with my face. But the final decision will be taken by the party's parliamentary board." BJP won 99 seats in the 182-member Assembly, securing seven seats more than the 92 needed for a simple majority, while the Congress and its allies won 80. On Tuesday, Gujarat chief secretary J N Singh inspected the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad, the likely venue of the ceremony. "We have come here to inspect the stadium as the oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held here," Singh told reporters. He, however, said the team will also inspect other venues like Mahatma Mandir and Sabarmati Riverfront, which has been the showpiece of the BJP's development politics. Modi had personally escorted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, besides Japanese premier Shinzo Abe and his spouse to the Sabarmati Riverfront. Sources in the BJP said Modi, party chief Amit Shah as also chief ministers of BJP-ruled states are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony. "After the election victory, there is a process. Observers will come from Delhi and preside over the meeting of newly elected MLAs to decide on the chief minister. After the meeting, the newly elected chief minister will stake claim to form government and the oath-taking ceremony will be held," state BJP spokesperson Jagdish Bhavsar said. On Monday, the BJP had announced that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and party general secretary Saroj Pandey will be the observers for the selection of the new Gujarat chief minister. Observers are likely to visit Gujarat after December 21 to elect the new leader, party sources said.

New BJP government in Gujarat likely to take oath on December 25

<p>With the BJP all set to form government in both <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/assembly-elections-2017-see-how-gujarat-voted-27051">Gujarat</a> and Himachal Pradesh, party chief Amit Shah seems to have set his eyes on 2019 Lok Sabha polls.</p>

<p>&quot;Under PM Modi&#39;s leadership, BJP will also win Meghalaya, Mizoram and Karnataka, and 2019 will once again prove how the people of India trust Modiji,&quot; Shah said while addressing mediapersons at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. Elections are due in four northeastern states along with Karnataka next year.</p>

<p>He also hailed his party&#39;s electoral <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-bow-to-people-of-gujarat-and-himachal-modi-27072">win in the two states</a> today, saying it is a &quot;victory of development over dynasty&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;Congress tried to bring down the level of campaigning in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarats-mood-is-countrys-mood-who-said-what-on-gujarat-elections-results-27042">Gujarat</a>, but the BJP managed to secure victory in the assembly election. This shows that only politics of performance will work in the country. This is the sixth time that we are going to form government in the state,&quot; the BJP chief said while addressing mediapersons in New Delhi.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-2017-live-results-27014"><strong>Gujarat election results: Track live updates</strong></a></p>

<p>He also said that the BJP is continuously increasing its support base. &quot;In Gujarat, we increased our support base by 1.25 per cent,&quot; Shah said.</p>

<p>Almost every prominent leader of Congress has been defeated in Gujarat, the BJP chief added.</p>

<p>In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP is set to wrest power from Congress with its candidates on a victory lap in 36 of the 68 seats in the assembly elections.</p>

<p>&quot;We have won with two-third majority in Himachal Pradesh. This shows that the hill state wants to be a part of BJP&#39;s development agenda,&quot; Shah said.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/2017himachal-pradesh-elections-himachal-poll-live-results-27015"><strong>Himachal Pradesh election results: Track live updates</strong></a></p>

<p>BJP has witnessed an increase of 10 per cent in vote share in Himachal Pradesh elections, he added.</p>

<p>The BJP is headed for a record sixth straight victory in Gujarat assembly polls, and was set to evict the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, tightening the party&#39;s grip over the country&#39;s politics with general elections only 18 months away.</p>


"Under PM Modi's leadership, BJP will also win Meghalaya, Mizoram and Karnataka, and 2019 will once again prove how the people of India trust Modiji," Shah said

With the BJP all set to form government in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, party chief Amit Shah seems to have set his eyes on 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "Under PM Modi's leadership, BJP will also win Meghalaya, Mizoram and Karnataka, and 2019 will once again prove how the people of India trust Modiji," Shah said while addressing mediapersons at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. Elections are due in four northeastern states along with Karnataka next year. He also hailed his party's electoral win in the two states today, saying it is a "victory of development over dynasty". "Congress tried to bring down the level of campaigning in Gujarat, but the BJP managed to secure victory in the assembly election. This shows that only politics of performance will work in the country. This is the sixth time that we are going to form government in the state," the BJP chief said while addressing mediapersons in New Delhi. Gujarat election results: Track live updates He also said that the BJP is continuously increasing its support base. "In Gujarat, we increased our support base by 1.25 per cent," Shah said. Almost every prominent leader of Congress has been defeated in Gujarat, the BJP chief added. In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP is set to wrest power from Congress with its candidates on a victory lap in 36 of the 68 seats in the assembly elections. "We have won with two-third majority in Himachal Pradesh. This shows that the hill state wants to be a part of BJP's development agenda," Shah said. Himachal Pradesh election results: Track live updates BJP has witnessed an increase of 10 per cent in vote share in Himachal Pradesh elections, he added. The BJP is headed for a record sixth straight victory in Gujarat assembly polls, and was set to evict the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, tightening the party's grip over the country's politics with general elections only 18 months away.

Amit Shah hails Gujarat, Himachal results; has eyes set on 2019

<p>As election season heats up in Gujarat and the media awaits the final &lsquo;masterstroke&rsquo; from the BJP President Amit Shah to quell the restive Patidars, public interest in the deeper underlying reasons for the social disquiet in the state remains limited. The media remains focused on individuals and their political moves. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-2017-live-results-27014" target="_blank">As Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi toured the state over the past few weeks, the buzz around personalities and key players has acquired greater traction.</a></p>

<p>Three angry young men Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore Jignesh Mevani for whom Amit Shah derisively coined the acronym HAJ, are threatening to undermine the Vibrant Gujarat narrative and hurt the BJP&rsquo;s electoral performance.Though there is a good reason to believe that the BJP is resilient enough to contain the challenge, it is the attacks from the Congress on the already fraying development narrative in Gujarat, that has caused some alarm in the ruling establishment.</p>

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<h5>Hardik Patel the young man from Viramgam in North Gujarat has muddled the BJP&rsquo;s developmental and Hindutva agenda by resurrecting the issue of reservation his community had once so vehemently opposed.</h5>
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<p>Notwithstanding the angry voices of Alpesh Thakore representing OBC grievances, or Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani who first drew our attention to the atrocities against young men of his community at Una earlier this year, its Hardik Patel and the Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) whose voice is heard loudest. This is not without reason. Hardik Patel the young man from Viramgam in North Gujarat has muddled the BJP&rsquo;s developmental and Hindutva agenda by resurrecting the issue of reservation his community had once so vehemently opposed.</p>

<p>Many among the Patels, however, argue that not only are Hardik&rsquo;s demands for reservation in the Other Backward Class category untenable but unrepresentative. These are the voices of those Patidars who have lived up to the popular image of the community as both affluent and dominant. They are industrialists, diamond merchants, real estate developers, and of course owners of large landed properties. &nbsp;With them are large sections of the Patidar diaspora too, the thousands that went out to live their dreams of prosperity in East Africa, the US, UK and later Australia.</p>

<p>So when a forty-thousand strong gathering filled the GMDC grounds in Ahmedabad on August 25th, 2015, most of us were in a state of utter disbelief. In all the long decade I&rsquo;d lived in the city, I never saw a political rally or a march comparable in scale to the ones I&rsquo;ve grown up within Kolkata. In fact, there were hardly any rallies at all. The Opposition was virtually decimated and civil society threatened and bullied into silence. So when the dramatic events of the day unfolded with the arrest of the young leader of PAAS, and the violence unleashed on his angry supporters later that night, it was evident that the there was a political churn in the state.</p>

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<h5>Gujarat model of development had rendered the reservation question redundant for all time to come.</h5>
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<p>That the churn would come from the Patidar community, known for their unflinching loyalty to the BJP, and through the seemingly &lsquo;unreasonable&rsquo; demand for reservations was doubly surprising.</p>

<p>Barring a few academics, most political commentators in the media had made us believe that the Gujarat model of development had rendered the reservation question redundant for all time to come. This was largely because it was the Patidars who spearheaded the violent anti-reservation agitations in the 1980s and had vigorously argued the case for &lsquo;merit&rsquo; as the prime driver of Gujarat&rsquo;s &#39;Vikas&#39;.</p>

<p>So it was not clear as to why some months ago, a song curiously titled &#39;vikas gando thhayachhe&rsquo; roughly translated as &lsquo;development gone crazy&rsquo; would go viral on social media and meld into the deep reserves of Patidar resentment.</p>

<p>For sociologists observing these developments over the longue duree, the Patidar churn is not surprising. For them what we see today are manifestations of a series of separate but inter-related social phenomena. Foremost among these are the peculiarities of the class/caste configurations that define the Patidars as a distinctive social group.</p>

<p>David Pocock one of the earliest anthropologists to study the community in the 1950s, described Patidars as intensely &lsquo;hierarchical and competitive&rsquo; and drew attention to the practice of hypergamy (the drive to marry one&rsquo;s daughter up) as the structuring principle of their community life. Even if the community cohered around kinship ties and common religious, sectarian or social values, he argued that the ceaseless drive to leverage power among wealthier Patidars normalised the existing inequalities within it.</p>

<p>Pocock studied these developments through documenting the historical process through which the Kanbi or a cultivating caste became the larger group known as Patidars in the mid-twentieth century. His study focused on the two main groups within the Kanbis, the Leva Kanbis and the Kadva kanbis.</p>

<p>These groups were distributed unevenly in the regions of the south, central and north Gujarat. The wealthiest among them, the Leva kanbis came from Kheda district in the fertile Charotar tract the region, lying roughly between Ahmedabad and Baroda while Kadvas resided in parts of northern and southern Gujarat.</p>

<p>The Kanbis, in general, were known to be skilled cultivators who lived in a spartan manner, remained committed to a strict work ethic and were the earliest to take to commercial agriculture. &nbsp;They directed their spending to improvements in farming and benefited greatly from the patronage they received from the British since the mid-19th century, particularly from the positions they acquired as tax collectors and village headmen known as patels.</p>

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<h5>Sociologists have long held that the Patidar community offered unique insights into the nature of social stratification and mobility within Gujarat pointing to the fact that far from being a conservative agricultural community, the Patidars were deeply aspirational.</h5>
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<p>The wealthier within the caste developed new practices of collective holding and sharing the produce of large tracts of fertile land. They legitimised this new landholding order through deeds known as &lsquo;pattis&rsquo; from which the title Patidar acquired currency. They often farmed the richest areas of the village through hired farm labour of the lesser Kanbis.</p>

<p>Sociologists have long held that the Patidar community offered unique insights into the nature of social stratification and mobility within Gujarat pointing to the fact that far from being a conservative agricultural community, the Patidars were deeply aspirational. They moved from being agricultural labourers, to agrarian capitalists, to manufacturers and entrepreneurs. In the period between the World Wars they rose to prominence as Gandhian nationalists who drove the Kheda satyagraha under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).</em></p>


The Patidar group in Gujarat is an affluent and deeply aspirational group and that is why it is difficult to understand their demand for reservation

As election season heats up in Gujarat and the media awaits the final ‘masterstroke’ from the BJP President Amit Shah to quell the restive Patidars, public interest in the deeper underlying reasons for the social disquiet in the state remains limited. The media remains focused on individuals and their political moves. As Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi toured the state over the past few weeks, the buzz around personalities and key players has acquired greater traction. Three angry young men Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore Jignesh Mevani for whom Amit Shah derisively coined the acronym HAJ, are threatening to undermine the Vibrant Gujarat narrative and hurt the BJP’s electoral performance.Though there is a good reason to believe that the BJP is resilient enough to contain the challenge, it is the attacks from the Congress on the already fraying development narrative in Gujarat, that has caused some alarm in the ruling establishment. Hardik Patel the young man from Viramgam in North Gujarat has muddled the BJP’s developmental and Hindutva agenda by resurrecting the issue of reservation his community had once so vehemently opposed. × Notwithstanding the angry voices of Alpesh Thakore representing OBC grievances, or Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani who first drew our attention to the atrocities against young men of his community at Una earlier this year, its Hardik Patel and the Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) whose voice is heard loudest. This is not without reason. Hardik Patel the young man from Viramgam in North Gujarat has muddled the BJP’s developmental and Hindutva agenda by resurrecting the issue of reservation his community had once so vehemently opposed. Many among the Patels, however, argue that not only are Hardik’s demands for reservation in the Other Backward Class category untenable but unrepresentative. These are the voices of those Patidars who have lived up to the popular image of the community as both affluent and dominant. They are industrialists, diamond merchants, real estate developers, and of course owners of large landed properties. With them are large sections of the Patidar diaspora too, the thousands that went out to live their dreams of prosperity in East Africa, the US, UK and later Australia. So when a forty-thousand strong gathering filled the GMDC grounds in Ahmedabad on August 25th, 2015, most of us were in a state of utter disbelief. In all the long decade I’d lived in the city, I never saw a political rally or a march comparable in scale to the ones I’ve grown up within Kolkata. In fact, there were hardly any rallies at all. The Opposition was virtually decimated and civil society threatened and bullied into silence. So when the dramatic events of the day unfolded with the arrest of the young leader of PAAS, and the violence unleashed on his angry supporters later that night, it was evident that the there was a political churn in the state. Gujarat model of development had rendered the reservation question redundant for all time to come. × That the churn would come from the Patidar community, known for their unflinching loyalty to the BJP, and through the seemingly ‘unreasonable’ demand for reservations was doubly surprising. Barring a few academics, most political commentators in the media had made us believe that the Gujarat model of development had rendered the reservation question redundant for all time to come. This was largely because it was the Patidars who spearheaded the violent anti-reservation agitations in the 1980s and had vigorously argued the case for ‘merit’ as the prime driver of Gujarat’s 'Vikas'. So it was not clear as to why some months ago, a song curiously titled 'vikas gando thhayachhe’ roughly translated as ‘development gone crazy’ would go viral on social media and meld into the deep reserves of Patidar resentment. For sociologists observing these developments over the longue duree, the Patidar churn is not surprising. For them what we see today are manifestations of a series of separate but inter-related social phenomena. Foremost among these are the peculiarities of the class/caste configurations that define the Patidars as a distinctive social group. David Pocock one of the earliest anthropologists to study the community in the 1950s, described Patidars as intensely ‘hierarchical and competitive’ and drew attention to the practice of hypergamy (the drive to marry one’s daughter up) as the structuring principle of their community life. Even if the community cohered around kinship ties and common religious, sectarian or social values, he argued that the ceaseless drive to leverage power among wealthier Patidars normalised the existing inequalities within it. Pocock studied these developments through documenting the historical process through which the Kanbi or a cultivating caste became the larger group known as Patidars in the mid-twentieth century. His study focused on the two main groups within the Kanbis, the Leva Kanbis and the Kadva kanbis. These groups were distributed unevenly in the regions of the south, central and north Gujarat. The wealthiest among them, the Leva kanbis came from Kheda district in the fertile Charotar tract the region, lying roughly between Ahmedabad and Baroda while Kadvas resided in parts of northern and southern Gujarat. The Kanbis, in general, were known to be skilled cultivators who lived in a spartan manner, remained committed to a strict work ethic and were the earliest to take to commercial agriculture. They directed their spending to improvements in farming and benefited greatly from the patronage they received from the British since the mid-19th century, particularly from the positions they acquired as tax collectors and village headmen known as patels. Sociologists have long held that the Patidar community offered unique insights into the nature of social stratification and mobility within Gujarat pointing to the fact that far from being a conservative agricultural community, the Patidars were deeply aspirational. × The wealthier within the caste developed new practices of collective holding and sharing the produce of large tracts of fertile land. They legitimised this new landholding order through deeds known as ‘pattis’ from which the title Patidar acquired currency. They often farmed the richest areas of the village through hired farm labour of the lesser Kanbis. Sociologists have long held that the Patidar community offered unique insights into the nature of social stratification and mobility within Gujarat pointing to the fact that far from being a conservative agricultural community, the Patidars were deeply aspirational. They moved from being agricultural labourers, to agrarian capitalists, to manufacturers and entrepreneurs. In the period between the World Wars they rose to prominence as Gandhian nationalists who drove the Kheda satyagraha under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Congress is leading in Patidar districts. Why?

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi will conclude the last of the election&nbsp;campaign in Gujarat with a visit to Ambaji Mata temple.</p>

<p>While addressing a press conference BJP President Amit Shah said that&nbsp;PM Modi will visit Ambaji temple on 12 December.</p>

<p>He added that his&nbsp;visit will be done uniquely to promote tourism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, &quot;Modi will take off in a seaplane&nbsp;from Sabarmati riverfront, land in Dharoi dam&#39;s pond and will proceed to the temple by road.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="it"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a>: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to travel from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam via sea plane, shortly <a href="https://t.co/GWjrVO5Sgz">pic.twitter.com/GWjrVO5Sgz</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/940429243011317761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> of sea plane Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling in, from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam shortly <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a> <a href="https://t.co/C8mqgzm1LA">pic.twitter.com/C8mqgzm1LA</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/940432703161110529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Amit Shah&#39;s clarification came after<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-gujarat-police-denies-permission-to-pm-modi-rahul-for-roadshow-26431" target="_blank"> the state police denied the request for a&nbsp;road show</a> on the last day of the election campaign in Gujarat.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Since admn asked to not conduct road show of PM Modi on 12th he&#39;ll go to Ambaji Mata temple tomorrow. It&#39;ll be done uniquely. To promote Gujarat tourism, he&#39;ll take off in a sea plane from Sabarmati river front, land in Dharoi dam&#39;s pond &amp; will go to temple by road: Amit Shah <a href="https://t.co/5L7Tam3AMD">pic.twitter.com/5L7Tam3AMD</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/940264089737076742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Gujarat police had turned down the request made by political parties for conducting a road show in the state.</p>

<p>BJP and Congress had requested for a roadshow to be conducted on Tuesday, however, the state police rejected their request citing law and order situation.</p>

<p>The state will undergo the second phase of elections on December 14&nbsp;for 93 seats in North and Central Gujarat.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The counting of votes is scheduled for December 18.&nbsp;</p>
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The Gujarat police turned down the request made by political parties for conducting a road show in the state on the last day of election campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will conclude the last of the election campaign in Gujarat with a visit to Ambaji Mata temple. While addressing a press conference BJP President Amit Shah said that PM Modi will visit Ambaji temple on 12 December. He added that his visit will be done uniquely to promote tourism. He said, "Modi will take off in a seaplane from Sabarmati riverfront, land in Dharoi dam's pond and will proceed to the temple by road." #Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to travel from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam via sea plane, shortly pic.twitter.com/GWjrVO5Sgz — ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017 × #WATCH: #Visuals of sea plane Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling in, from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam shortly #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/C8mqgzm1LA — ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017 × Amit Shah's clarification came after the state police denied the request for a road show on the last day of the election campaign in Gujarat. Since admn asked to not conduct road show of PM Modi on 12th he'll go to Ambaji Mata temple tomorrow. It'll be done uniquely. To promote Gujarat tourism, he'll take off in a sea plane from Sabarmati river front, land in Dharoi dam's pond & will go to temple by road: Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/5L7Tam3AMD — ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2017 × The Gujarat police had turned down the request made by political parties for conducting a road show in the state. BJP and Congress had requested for a roadshow to be conducted on Tuesday, however, the state police rejected their request citing law and order situation. The state will undergo the second phase of elections on December 14 for 93 seats in North and Central Gujarat. The counting of votes is scheduled for December 18.

Gujarat elections: On last day of election campaign PM Modi to visit Ambaji Temple via seaplane

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi today suggested Pakistan was trying to influence the Assembly elections in Gujarat, claiming some Pakistani officials and ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh met a day before Mani Shankar Aiyar made the &quot;neech&quot; jibe against him.</p>

<p>In a new twist to the vitriol-filled campaign, Modi said the meeting took place at Aiyar&#39;s residence.</p>

<p>He also raised questions about the alleged appeal by former director general (DG) of the Pakistan Army Sardar Arshad Rafiq to make senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel the chief minister of Gujarat.</p>

<p>&quot;There were media reports yesterday about a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar&#39;s house. It was attended by Pakistan&#39;s high commissioner, Pakistan&#39;s former foreign minister, India&#39;s former vice president and former prime minister Manmohan Singh,&quot; Modi told an election rally at Palanpur.</p>

<p>The meeting at Aiyar&#39;s house continued for almost three hours, Modi said, adding &quot;the next day, Mani Shankar Aiyar said Modi is &#39;neech&#39; (a vile man). This is a serious matter.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;(On one hand) Pakistan Army&#39;s former DG is interfering in Gujarat&#39;s election, on the other, Pakistani people are holding a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar&#39;s house. After that meeting, people of Gujarat, backward communities, poor people and Modi were insulted. Don&#39;t you think such events raise doubts,&quot; Modi asked.</p>

<p>Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala, however, rubbished Modi&#39;s claim, terming it as &quot;baseless&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;Holding the country&#39;s topmost post, Modiji is making baseless allegations. Modiji is worried, dejected, angry. Such a statement has no truth or fact, and is based on lies. Such a behaviour is unbecoming of a prime minister,&quot; Surjewala told reporters in Ahmedabad.</p>

<p>Though Modi did not name the ex-vice president present at the meeting, BJP president Amit Shah said in Ahmedabad that it was Hamid Ansari.</p>

<p>Shah told reporters that the Congress leaders had not informed the ministry of external affairs or the Indian government about the meeting.</p>

<p>Modi also accused the Congress of creating a &quot;rift&quot; between various communities and spreading the &quot;poison of casteism&quot; in society for power.</p>

<p>The prime minister, who did not speak much due to sore throat at the Palanpur rally, slammed the Congress for spreading a false propaganda that the Modi government worked only for the rich.</p>

<p>Modi cited the case of Genabhai Patel, a progressive farmer from Banaskantha district who was recently conferred with &#39;Padma Shri&#39;, to claim his government&#39;s pro-poor credentials.</p>

<p>&quot;Just compare those who received Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan during the 10 year rule of the Congress with those who were given the same awards in my three-year tenure (as PM so far). That comparison would tell you who was pro-rich and who is pro-poor,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>&quot;Do you know who received that award (Padma Shri) from Banaskantha? That was our Genabhai. Is he rich or is he a mill owner? Does he have an aeroplane?..This shows who is working for the poor,&quot; Modi said.</p>

<p>He said the entire north Gujarat region, particularly Palanpur, would witness &quot;unbelievable growth&quot; over the next five years due to the Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor.</p>

<p>Later, while addressing a rally in Kaalol town, Modi accused the Congress of sowing seeds of enmity between various communities for power.</p>

<p>&quot;It seems that Congress just doesn&#39;t want to improve. They still believe in acquiring power by creating enmity between two communities and by creating a rift between brothers. They spread poison of casteism in the society to retain power in the past,&quot; the prime minister said.</p>

<p>Referring to Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia&#39;s claim that the EVMs used for the first phase of polling on December 9 might have been tampered with, Modi said the party was &quot;preparing excuses&quot; to insulate Rahul Gandhi against impending defeat.</p>

<p>&quot;On December 18 (the day of counting), party leaders will claim on television that Congress lost because of (Mani Shankar) Aiyar&#39;s comment. They won&#39;t say that party lost because of Rahul. There is an agenda in the Congress- &#39;Save Rahul, Save Family&#39;,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>During the first phase of Gujarat elections yesterday, Modhwadia, the party candidate for Porbandar seat, alleged that his cell phone was getting connected to an EVM through bluetooth, a claim the Election Commission said was incorrect.</p>

<p>Modi seized on Modhwadia&#39;s claim to attack the Congress.</p>

<p>&quot;To be on the safer side, they have prepared one more excuse. Yesterday, when the polling was on, some leaders claimed that (one) EVM was connected with bluetooth. They should have used common sense. EVMs are not online devices and can never be connected with bluetooth,&quot; he said.</p>


The Congress rubbished Modi's claim, calling it 'baseless'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today suggested Pakistan was trying to influence the Assembly elections in Gujarat, claiming some Pakistani officials and ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh met a day before Mani Shankar Aiyar made the "neech" jibe against him. In a new twist to the vitriol-filled campaign, Modi said the meeting took place at Aiyar's residence. He also raised questions about the alleged appeal by former director general (DG) of the Pakistan Army Sardar Arshad Rafiq to make senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel the chief minister of Gujarat. "There were media reports yesterday about a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar's house. It was attended by Pakistan's high commissioner, Pakistan's former foreign minister, India's former vice president and former prime minister Manmohan Singh," Modi told an election rally at Palanpur. The meeting at Aiyar's house continued for almost three hours, Modi said, adding "the next day, Mani Shankar Aiyar said Modi is 'neech' (a vile man). This is a serious matter." "(On one hand) Pakistan Army's former DG is interfering in Gujarat's election, on the other, Pakistani people are holding a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar's house. After that meeting, people of Gujarat, backward communities, poor people and Modi were insulted. Don't you think such events raise doubts," Modi asked. Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala, however, rubbished Modi's claim, terming it as "baseless". "Holding the country's topmost post, Modiji is making baseless allegations. Modiji is worried, dejected, angry. Such a statement has no truth or fact, and is based on lies. Such a behaviour is unbecoming of a prime minister," Surjewala told reporters in Ahmedabad. Though Modi did not name the ex-vice president present at the meeting, BJP president Amit Shah said in Ahmedabad that it was Hamid Ansari. Shah told reporters that the Congress leaders had not informed the ministry of external affairs or the Indian government about the meeting. Modi also accused the Congress of creating a "rift" between various communities and spreading the "poison of casteism" in society for power. The prime minister, who did not speak much due to sore throat at the Palanpur rally, slammed the Congress for spreading a false propaganda that the Modi government worked only for the rich. Modi cited the case of Genabhai Patel, a progressive farmer from Banaskantha district who was recently conferred with 'Padma Shri', to claim his government's pro-poor credentials. "Just compare those who received Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan during the 10 year rule of the Congress with those who were given the same awards in my three-year tenure (as PM so far). That comparison would tell you who was pro-rich and who is pro-poor," he said. "Do you know who received that award (Padma Shri) from Banaskantha? That was our Genabhai. Is he rich or is he a mill owner? Does he have an aeroplane?..This shows who is working for the poor," Modi said. He said the entire north Gujarat region, particularly Palanpur, would witness "unbelievable growth" over the next five years due to the Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor. Later, while addressing a rally in Kaalol town, Modi accused the Congress of sowing seeds of enmity between various communities for power. "It seems that Congress just doesn't want to improve. They still believe in acquiring power by creating enmity between two communities and by creating a rift between brothers. They spread poison of casteism in the society to retain power in the past," the prime minister said. Referring to Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia's claim that the EVMs used for the first phase of polling on December 9 might have been tampered with, Modi said the party was "preparing excuses" to insulate Rahul Gandhi against impending defeat. "On December 18 (the day of counting), party leaders will claim on television that Congress lost because of (Mani Shankar) Aiyar's comment. They won't say that party lost because of Rahul. There is an agenda in the Congress- 'Save Rahul, Save Family'," he said. During the first phase of Gujarat elections yesterday, Modhwadia, the party candidate for Porbandar seat, alleged that his cell phone was getting connected to an EVM through bluetooth, a claim the Election Commission said was incorrect. Modi seized on Modhwadia's claim to attack the Congress. "To be on the safer side, they have prepared one more excuse. Yesterday, when the polling was on, some leaders claimed that (one) EVM was connected with bluetooth. They should have used common sense. EVMs are not online devices and can never be connected with bluetooth," he said.

Modi claims Pakistan trying to influence Gujarat elections

<p>Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using objectionable language indiscriminately and asked them to improve their conduct.</p>

<p>The statement comes after BJP leader Amit Shah said Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar&#39;s &#39;low-born&#39; remark against Prime Minister Modi had resonated the culture of the Congress Party.</p>

<p>Claiming that the prime minister had crossed all limits, Surjewala told ANI, &quot;The BJP and Prime Minister Modi have been using intemperate and objectionable language and sometimes downright filthy language for the Congress leadership and the Congress Party. Prime Minister Modi had crossed all limits when he tried to belittle, humiliate and berate.&quot;</p>

<p>Shah had tweeted, &quot;Neither shocked nor surprised by Mani Shankar Aiyar&#39;s referring to PM as &#39;Neech.&#39; This is the culture of the Congress Party. People of Gujarat will punish anti-poor, anti-Dalit, anti-Tribal and anti-OBC Congress.&quot;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Congress Party has suspended Mani Shankar Aiyar from the primary membership of the party, in the wake of his &#39;neech&#39; remark sparking a controversy.</p>

<p>Surjewala, on Thursday, took to Twitter to apprise of the development.</p>

<p>To this end, he told ANI that Congress had a Gandhian culture and heritage, which is why party vice president Rahul Gandhi publically reprimanded and directed Aiyar to apologise to the prime minister for using unacceptable and unparliamentary language.</p>

<p>&quot;We may oppose each other on policies and issues. But the balance of language, the gravitas of politics and the balance of culture, respect for opponent should never be lost,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Asking the BJP and Prime Minister Modi to keep a check on their language, Surjewala added, &quot;We hope Prime Minister Modi will now show the courage or conviction to take an action against his own party members and also looking within to improve his language and conduct.&quot;</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Aiyar had told ANI that it was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who turned Dr Ambedkar&#39;s wish into reality and it was not correct to badmouth the Nehru-Gandhi family.</p>

<p>&quot;This person [PM Modi] is a &#39;neech aadmi&#39; (low-minded). He is not civilised and in a situation like this, there is no need to practice such dirty politics,&quot; Aiyar had said.</p>

<p>He later &#39;apologised&#39; for calling Prime Minister Modi &#39;neech???????&#39;, saying he implied a different meaning for the word and denied calling the prime minister a &#39;Chaiwala&#39;.&nbsp;</p>


The statement comes after BJP leader Amit Shah said Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's 'low-born' remark against Prime Minister Modi had resonated the culture of the Congress Party.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using objectionable language indiscriminately and asked them to improve their conduct. The statement comes after BJP leader Amit Shah said Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's 'low-born' remark against Prime Minister Modi had resonated the culture of the Congress Party. Claiming that the prime minister had crossed all limits, Surjewala told ANI, "The BJP and Prime Minister Modi have been using intemperate and objectionable language and sometimes downright filthy language for the Congress leadership and the Congress Party. Prime Minister Modi had crossed all limits when he tried to belittle, humiliate and berate." Shah had tweeted, "Neither shocked nor surprised by Mani Shankar Aiyar's referring to PM as 'Neech.' This is the culture of the Congress Party. People of Gujarat will punish anti-poor, anti-Dalit, anti-Tribal and anti-OBC Congress." Meanwhile, the Congress Party has suspended Mani Shankar Aiyar from the primary membership of the party, in the wake of his 'neech' remark sparking a controversy. Surjewala, on Thursday, took to Twitter to apprise of the development. To this end, he told ANI that Congress had a Gandhian culture and heritage, which is why party vice president Rahul Gandhi publically reprimanded and directed Aiyar to apologise to the prime minister for using unacceptable and unparliamentary language. "We may oppose each other on policies and issues. But the balance of language, the gravitas of politics and the balance of culture, respect for opponent should never be lost," he said. Asking the BJP and Prime Minister Modi to keep a check on their language, Surjewala added, "We hope Prime Minister Modi will now show the courage or conviction to take an action against his own party members and also looking within to improve his language and conduct." Earlier in the day, Aiyar had told ANI that it was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who turned Dr Ambedkar's wish into reality and it was not correct to badmouth the Nehru-Gandhi family. "This person [PM Modi] is a 'neech aadmi' (low-minded). He is not civilised and in a situation like this, there is no need to practice such dirty politics," Aiyar had said. He later 'apologised' for calling Prime Minister Modi 'neech???????', saying he implied a different meaning for the word and denied calling the prime minister a 'Chaiwala'.

'Neech' remark row: BJP should improve their language, says Surjewala

<p>Congress leader Randeep Surejwala has said that Congress stand has always been clear and that the BJP is playing the role of &#39;Manthara&#39;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Surejwala said, &quot; The Congress stand has always been clear, that Ayodhya case will be decided by Supreme Court, same has been said by Law minister many times.&quot;</p>

<p>He said that that the Congress party has nothing to do with who Kapil Sibal represents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Referring to Arun Jaitley&#39;s representation in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy&nbsp;case, the Congress leader asked: should the entire BJP be blamed for that?</p>

<p>BJP President Amit Shah had asked&nbsp;Congress to clear their stand on temple issue after&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ayodhya-case-next-hearing-in-supreme-court-in-february-2018-25932" target="_blank">Kapil Sibal asked for a delay in Ramjanambhoomi case</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said at a point when Rahul&nbsp;Gandhi is visiting temples in Gujarat, Kapil Sibal is asking for a delay in Ram Janambhoomi case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Senior advocate Kapil Sibal who is representing the Sunni Waqf Board in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/a-wion-perspective-ayodhyas-temple-of-harmony-7163" target="_blank">Ayodhya Babri Masjid case</a>&nbsp;has asked the Supreme Court&nbsp;to take up the matter on July 15, 2019 once all the pleadings are complete.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>He told the Supreme Court that serious repercussions will be created outside the court, whenever the matter is heard. To preserve the decorum of law and order, the court should conduct the proceedings after all pleadings are complete.&nbsp;</p>


Replying to Amit Shah, Congress leader Randeep Surejwala has said that Congress stand has always been clear and that the BJP is playing the role of Manthara

Congress leader Randeep Surejwala has said that Congress stand has always been clear and that the BJP is playing the role of 'Manthara'. Surejwala said, " The Congress stand has always been clear, that Ayodhya case will be decided by Supreme Court, same has been said by Law minister many times." He said that that the Congress party has nothing to do with who Kapil Sibal represents. Referring to Arun Jaitley's representation in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, the Congress leader asked: should the entire BJP be blamed for that? BJP President Amit Shah had asked Congress to clear their stand on temple issue after Kapil Sibal asked for a delay in Ramjanambhoomi case. He said at a point when Rahul Gandhi is visiting temples in Gujarat, Kapil Sibal is asking for a delay in Ram Janambhoomi case. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal who is representing the Sunni Waqf Board in Ayodhya Babri Masjid case has asked the Supreme Court to take up the matter on July 15, 2019 once all the pleadings are complete. He told the Supreme Court that serious repercussions will be created outside the court, whenever the matter is heard. To preserve the decorum of law and order, the court should conduct the proceedings after all pleadings are complete.

BJP playing the role of 'Manthara': Congress leader

<p>BJP President Amit Shah has asked&nbsp;Congress to clear their stand on temple issue after&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ayodhya-case-next-hearing-in-supreme-court-in-february-2018-25932" target="_blank">Kapil Sibal asked for a delay in Ramjanambhoomi case</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said at a point when Rahul&nbsp;Gandhi is visiting temples in Gujarat, Kapil Sibal is asking for a delay in Ram Janambhoomi case.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, &quot; Today a surprising stand was taken in Supreme Court by Congress leader and Sunni Waqf Board lawyer Kapil Sibal Ji, he said hearing should be deferred till&nbsp;2019 LS polls. Congress should clear its stand on this.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Rahul Ji should tell us what is his view on this.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rahul ji is visiting temples in Gujarat but on the other hand Kapil Sibal is being used to delay Ram janmbhoomi case. Rahul ji should tell us what his view on this is: Amit Shah <a href="https://t.co/dDwuV1YfXl">pic.twitter.com/dDwuV1YfXl</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/938020019715186688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Senior advocate Kapil Sibal who is representing the Sunni Waqf Board in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/a-wion-perspective-ayodhyas-temple-of-harmony-7163" target="_blank">Ayodhya Babri Masjid case</a>&nbsp;has asked the Supreme Court&nbsp;to take up the matter on July 15, 2019 once all the pleadings are complete.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>He told the Supreme Court that serious repercussions will be created outside the court, whenever the matter is heard. To preserve the decorum of law and order, the court should conduct the proceedings after all pleadings are complete.&nbsp;</p>


BJP President Amit Shah has asked?Congress to clear his stand on temple issue after?Kapil Sibal asked for a delay in Ramjanambhoomi case

BJP President Amit Shah has asked Congress to clear their stand on temple issue after Kapil Sibal asked for a delay in Ramjanambhoomi case. He said at a point when Rahul Gandhi is visiting temples in Gujarat, Kapil Sibal is asking for a delay in Ram Janambhoomi case. He said, " Today a surprising stand was taken in Supreme Court by Congress leader and Sunni Waqf Board lawyer Kapil Sibal Ji, he said hearing should be deferred till 2019 LS polls. Congress should clear its stand on this." "Rahul Ji should tell us what is his view on this." Rahul ji is visiting temples in Gujarat but on the other hand Kapil Sibal is being used to delay Ram janmbhoomi case. Rahul ji should tell us what his view on this is: Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/dDwuV1YfXl — ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2017 × Senior advocate Kapil Sibal who is representing the Sunni Waqf Board in Ayodhya Babri Masjid case has asked the Supreme Court to take up the matter on July 15, 2019 once all the pleadings are complete. He told the Supreme Court that serious repercussions will be created outside the court, whenever the matter is heard. To preserve the decorum of law and order, the court should conduct the proceedings after all pleadings are complete.

Clear your stand on temple issue: Amit Shah to Rahul Gandhi

<p>BJP President Amit Shah told Rahul Gandhi on Sunday to &quot;please&nbsp;respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shah, who was campaigning in Mahuva, Gujarat, said the Congress vice-president had asked for proof after the surgical strike carried out by the army in Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;He (Rahul Gandhi) was asking, who saw the surgical strikes taking place?&quot; said Shah.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Rahul bhai, please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When Uri terror attack took place, anger was brewing in the entire nation.<br />
Everyone thought PM would give a statement&amp; things will get over but this time it wasn&#39;t the government of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh rather it was a govt chosen by you: Amit Shah in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a>&#39;s Mahuva <a href="https://t.co/6uco6zh7hb">pic.twitter.com/6uco6zh7hb</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937245797397098496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Within ten days Indian Army went to Pakistan, took revenge &amp; came back.Pak was left red faced&amp; Rahul Gandhi was demanding proof. He was asking, who saw the surgical strikes taking place? Rahul Bhai, please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders:Amit Shah <a href="https://t.co/bsIe0EqWAg">pic.twitter.com/bsIe0EqWAg</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937246142026301440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>This was not the first attack on Gandhi on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had reacted to Rahul&#39;s &quot;development has gone mad&quot; comment by saying&nbsp;&quot;unke dimaag par taras aata hai&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;Development can slow down, it can speed up, it can stop, but does it ever go mad?&quot; Singh had said. Adding,&nbsp;&quot;And what do you call someone who says that?&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank">&#39;Unke </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank">dimaag</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank"> par </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank">taras</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank">aata</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/unke-dimaag-par-taras-aata-hai-rajnath-singh-on-rahul-gandhis-development-has-gone-mad-remark-25734" target="_blank"> hai&#39;: Rajnath Singh on Rahul Gandhi&#39;s &#39;development has gone mad&#39; remark</a></p>

<p>Gandhi had himself on Sunday accused the BJP government of not providing the women of poll-bound Gujarat with security, education, or nutrition.</p>

<p>Gujarat goes to the polls on December 9 and 14.&nbsp;</p>


Shah said Rahul Gandhi had asked for proof of the 'surgical strike'

BJP President Amit Shah told Rahul Gandhi on Sunday to "please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders". Shah, who was campaigning in Mahuva, Gujarat, said the Congress vice-president had asked for proof after the surgical strike carried out by the army in Pakistan. "He (Rahul Gandhi) was asking, who saw the surgical strikes taking place?" said Shah. "Rahul bhai, please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders," he added. When Uri terror attack took place, anger was brewing in the entire nation. Everyone thought PM would give a statement& things will get over but this time it wasn't the government of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh rather it was a govt chosen by you: Amit Shah in #Gujarat's Mahuva pic.twitter.com/6uco6zh7hb — ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2017 × Within ten days Indian Army went to Pakistan, took revenge & came back.Pak was left red faced& Rahul Gandhi was demanding proof. He was asking, who saw the surgical strikes taking place? Rahul Bhai, please respect the honour and valour of our jawans guarding the borders:Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/bsIe0EqWAg — ANI (@ANI) December 3, 2017 × This was not the first attack on Gandhi on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had reacted to Rahul's "development has gone mad" comment by saying "unke dimaag par taras aata hai". "Development can slow down, it can speed up, it can stop, but does it ever go mad?" Singh had said. Adding, "And what do you call someone who says that?" 'Unke dimaag par taras aata hai': Rajnath Singh on Rahul Gandhi's 'development has gone mad' remark Gandhi had himself on Sunday accused the BJP government of not providing the women of poll-bound Gujarat with security, education, or nutrition. Gujarat goes to the polls on December 9 and 14.

Rahul bhai, please respect honour & valour of jawans guarding borders: Amit Shah

<p>The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday ridiculed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its chief Amit Shah and said the party should bring an amendment in the constitution following which an individual will be certified as a Hindu.</p>

<p>&quot;Mr. Amit Shah and the BJP should bring an amendment to the constitution which says in order to qualify to be a Hindu every claimant must visit temples at this frequency per day, per week, per month, per year. Only then will Mr. Amit Shah certify if one is a Hindu or not,&quot; JDU leader Pavan Varma told ANI.</p>

<p>A heated controversy on religion emerged after the BJP raised a question on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi after his name was allegedly listed as a non-Hindu visitor in the visitor-book during his visit at Gujarat&#39;s Somnath Temple.</p>

<p>The controversy started when party&#39;s media coordinator Manoj Tyagi allegedly entered names of Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Ahmed Patel in the special register for non-Hindus visiting the temple.</p>

<p>Later, Rahul Gandhi had said his family is devotee of Lord Shiva, but does not believe in using it for political gain.The Congress also issued a clarification on Twitter saying, &quot;There is only one visitor&#39;s book at Somnath Temple that was signed by Congress VP Rahul Gandhi. Any other image being circulated is fabricated. Desperate times call for desperate measures.&#39;&#39;</p>


The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday ridiculed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its chief Amit Shah and said the party should bring an amendment in the constitution following which an individual will be certified as a Hindu

The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday ridiculed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its chief Amit Shah and said the party should bring an amendment in the constitution following which an individual will be certified as a Hindu. "Mr. Amit Shah and the BJP should bring an amendment to the constitution which says in order to qualify to be a Hindu every claimant must visit temples at this frequency per day, per week, per month, per year. Only then will Mr. Amit Shah certify if one is a Hindu or not," JDU leader Pavan Varma told ANI. A heated controversy on religion emerged after the BJP raised a question on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi after his name was allegedly listed as a non-Hindu visitor in the visitor-book during his visit at Gujarat's Somnath Temple. The controversy started when party's media coordinator Manoj Tyagi allegedly entered names of Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Ahmed Patel in the special register for non-Hindus visiting the temple. Later, Rahul Gandhi had said his family is devotee of Lord Shiva, but does not believe in using it for political gain.The Congress also issued a clarification on Twitter saying, "There is only one visitor's book at Somnath Temple that was signed by Congress VP Rahul Gandhi. Any other image being circulated is fabricated. Desperate times call for desperate measures.''

JDU takes on BJP over Rahul Gandhi temple entry row

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