Prime Minister&nbsp;Narendra Modi&nbsp;today reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to Railways. The PM noted&nbsp;that a&nbsp;large number of complaints were related to corrupt practices of officials, he called for strict&nbsp;action against Railway officials found guilty of corruption.

PM Modi directed the Indian Railways to work towards a unified single telephone number for all grievances and queries, including helpline in the case of an accident.

The PM was charing&nbsp;his eighteenth interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for pro-active governance and timely implementation.

In the meeting, Prime Minister reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the railway, road and power sectors&nbsp;spread over several states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland.

Among the projects reviewed today were&nbsp;the Mumbai Metro, the Tirupati-Chennai Highway, long-pending road projects in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand&nbsp;and Manipur&nbsp;and important power transmission lines in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East.

Reviewing the implementation of Swachhta action plan, the Prime Minister said that events such as Swachhta fortnights should be converted into movements towards permanent solutions. On the AMRUT mission, the Prime Minister asked officials to quantify and document the gains achieved with the latest technology, such as LED bulbs&nbsp;so that the benefits could be quantified.

The Prime Minister urged all secretaries in the government&nbsp;and all chief secretaries of states&nbsp;to come up with concrete plans and objectives for transformative change&nbsp;to be achieved by the 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022.&nbsp;

(WION)

Prime Minister urged all secretaries in the government and chief secretaries of states?to come up with concrete plans for transformative change

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to Railways. The PM noted that a large number of complaints were related to corrupt practices of officials, he called for strict action against Railway officials found guilty of corruption. PM Modi directed the Indian Railways to work towards a unified single telephone number for all grievances and queries, including helpline in the case of an accident. The PM was charing his eighteenth interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for pro-active governance and timely implementation. In the meeting, Prime Minister reviewed the progress of vital infrastructure projects in the railway, road and power sectors spread over several states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland. Among the projects reviewed today were the Mumbai Metro, the Tirupati-Chennai Highway, long-pending road projects in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur and important power transmission lines in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East. Reviewing the implementation of Swachhta action plan, the Prime Minister said that events such as Swachhta fortnights should be converted into movements towards permanent solutions. On the AMRUT mission, the Prime Minister asked officials to quantify and document the gains achieved with the latest technology, such as LED bulbs so that the benefits could be quantified. The Prime Minister urged all secretaries in the government and all chief secretaries of states to come up with concrete plans and objectives for transformative change to be achieved by the 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022. (WION)

Create single telephone line to address grievances: PM to Railways

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that mobile phones were banned from his meetings because he often found officers checking social media sites in the midst of official discussions.

&ldquo;I see these days that district-level officers are so busy, busy, that most of their time goes into it (social media). I have stopped the entry (of mobile phones) in my meetings as they (officers) would take them out and start (checking out social media sites),&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;

The social media should be used for the welfare of the people and not for self-praise, Modi, who has 29.3 million followers on Twitter, told bureaucrats at a meeting in New Delhi to mark Civil Services Day.

The world was moving from e-governance to mobile- governance and the best equipment needed to be used for the welfare of people, he added.

Social media sites were helpful when they were used for spreading information about the good work being done.

&ldquo;If I am informing the people about dates of polio vaccination through social media, saying that they should come out on a particular date for the vaccination, then it (social media) is helpful. But if during vaccination-related work, I am praising my own photograph on facebook, then it puts a question mark (on the work done by civil servants),&rdquo; he said.

Modi, whose speech was often met with cheers and laughter, said that he was not a part of the bureaucracy because he did not get the chance &ldquo;to attend coaching&rdquo;.

The reference was to tuition classes which many would-be bureaucrats join to be able to qualify for the civil services.

If he had, he said, he would have become a bureaucrat of the rank of a director after serving the people for 16 years.

&ldquo;It is my good luck that I am in public service for the past 16 years&hellip;I did not get the chance to attend coaching,&rdquo; he said.

As his audience applauded, he turned to Nripendra Misra, principal secretary in the PMO and asked him what rank he would have reached after 16 years in service.

&ldquo;Deputy secretary? Director,&rdquo; he said, after consulting Misra.

&ldquo;So I should have come in the director category.&rdquo; Modi added that there had been several committees and commissions on administrative reforms, comprising officers from central and state governments.

&ldquo;But all those who made all these reports, they must not have read them completely,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;I feel that those working in this system have enormous experience. What you (bureaucrats) have, the kind of suggestions you have, no reform can be bigger than that. But we don&rsquo;t value this (experience),&rdquo; the Prime Minister said.

(PTI)

Social media sites were helpful when they were used for spreading information about the good work being done, Modi said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that mobile phones were banned from his meetings because he often found officers checking social media sites in the midst of official discussions. “I see these days that district-level officers are so busy, busy, that most of their time goes into it (social media). I have stopped the entry (of mobile phones) in my meetings as they (officers) would take them out and start (checking out social media sites),” he said. The social media should be used for the welfare of the people and not for self-praise, Modi, who has 29.3 million followers on Twitter, told bureaucrats at a meeting in New Delhi to mark Civil Services Day. The world was moving from e-governance to mobile- governance and the best equipment needed to be used for the welfare of people, he added. Social media sites were helpful when they were used for spreading information about the good work being done. “If I am informing the people about dates of polio vaccination through social media, saying that they should come out on a particular date for the vaccination, then it (social media) is helpful. But if during vaccination-related work, I am praising my own photograph on facebook, then it puts a question mark (on the work done by civil servants),” he said. Modi, whose speech was often met with cheers and laughter, said that he was not a part of the bureaucracy because he did not get the chance “to attend coaching”. The reference was to tuition classes which many would-be bureaucrats join to be able to qualify for the civil services. If he had, he said, he would have become a bureaucrat of the rank of a director after serving the people for 16 years. “It is my good luck that I am in public service for the past 16 years…I did not get the chance to attend coaching,” he said. As his audience applauded, he turned to Nripendra Misra, principal secretary in the PMO and asked him what rank he would have reached after 16 years in service. “Deputy secretary? Director,” he said, after consulting Misra. “So I should have come in the director category.” Modi added that there had been several committees and commissions on administrative reforms, comprising officers from central and state governments. “But all those who made all these reports, they must not have read them completely,” he said. “I feel that those working in this system have enormous experience. What you (bureaucrats) have, the kind of suggestions you have, no reform can be bigger than that. But we don’t value this (experience),” the Prime Minister said. (PTI)

PM Modi to bureaucrats: Use social media for welfare, not self-praise

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured Bangladesh of an &quot;early solution&quot; to the emotive Teesta water sharing issue, a pact on which has remained elusive for nearly seven years.

The two sides inked nearly two dozen pacts in key areas of defence and civil nuclear cooperation after &quot;productive&quot; talks between Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here.

Modi held extensive discussions with Hasina on ways to strengthen ties between the two countries after which he announced a line of concessional credit of USD 4.5 billion for implementation of projects in Bangladesh.

Announcing an additional line of credit of USD 500 million to Bangladesh for military supplies, Modi said it will be driven by the requirement of that country.

However, the much-delayed pact on Teesta water sharing remained elusive for the two sides. Stressing that the deal was &quot;important&quot; for India-Bangladesh ties, Modi assured India&#39;s commitment to the issue.

He said an &quot;early solution can and will be found&quot; to the Teesta water sharing issue.

The Teesta deal was set to be signed during the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh&#39;s visit to Bangladesh in September, 2011 but was postponed at the last minute due to objections by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Teesta water is crucial for Bangladesh especially in the leanest period from December to March when the water flow often temporarily comes down to less than 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs. 
 
(PTI)

 
&nbsp;

India and Bangladesh inked nearly two dozen pacts in key areas of defence and civil nuclear cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured Bangladesh of an "early solution" to the emotive Teesta water sharing issue, a pact on which has remained elusive for nearly seven years. The two sides inked nearly two dozen pacts in key areas of defence and civil nuclear cooperation after "productive" talks between Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here. Modi held extensive discussions with Hasina on ways to strengthen ties between the two countries after which he announced a line of concessional credit of USD 4.5 billion for implementation of projects in Bangladesh. Announcing an additional line of credit of USD 500 million to Bangladesh for military supplies, Modi said it will be driven by the requirement of that country. However, the much-delayed pact on Teesta water sharing remained elusive for the two sides. Stressing that the deal was "important" for India-Bangladesh ties, Modi assured India's commitment to the issue. He said an "early solution can and will be found" to the Teesta water sharing issue. The Teesta deal was set to be signed during the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh in September, 2011 but was postponed at the last minute due to objections by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Teesta water is crucial for Bangladesh especially in the leanest period from December to March when the water flow often temporarily comes down to less than 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs. (PTI)

PM Modi assures Bangladesh PM of solution to Teesta water sharing issue, pact still elusive

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to politically surprise political adversaries but what happened today (April 7)&nbsp;surprised the Prime Minister Office itself. Highly placed sources confirmed that the prime minister travelled to the Technical terminal of the Indira Gandhi international airport to receive Bangladesh&rsquo;s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina without any traffic restrictions. Sources say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi left Lok Kalyan Marg in a truncated cavalcade to the airport an hour before the arrival of Sheikh Hasina.

Sources told DNA-WION that the truncated cavalcade of the prime minister had to stop at Sardar Patel Marg&rsquo;s red light and his cavalcade slowed down considerably near RR Hospital but people travelling around could not realise that the Prime Minister Modi was travelling inside one of the sedans. Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s plane touched down around 12.14 pm&nbsp;and PM Modi reached the venue around 12.09 pm. Sources say that it is a message from the prime minister that VVIP movement should not cause public inconvenience. &nbsp;Though the protocol was in place when the prime minister returned to his residence. A highly-placed source said, &quot;Since protocol was in place for Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister in a gap of six minutes took the same route.&quot;

DNA-WION spoke to Yashovardhan Azad former secretary security to government of India, who said, &quot;It can be done. It depends on the confidence of the protectee and the agency protecting him. More so unpredictability is the key. It accords security so it can be done.&rdquo; He also said that nature of route and terrain too makes a difference but if basic security remains then such feats can be achieved.

What was even more unusual was that Prime Minister Modi interacted with the Bangladeshi media&nbsp;after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the venue. Sources in the Prime Minister Office confirmed that Narendra Modi stayed at the tarmac for five&nbsp;to seven&nbsp;minutes and spoke to the delegation who to their heart&rsquo;s content took selfies with him. It is rare that Indian Prime Minister goes to the tarmac to receive dignitaries. Narendra Modi in past has received former United States President Barak Obama twice and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi once. He went and received Sheikh Hasina, a sign that he accords this visit lot of importance to this visit.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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In her 3-day visit to India from 7th-10th April, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to give the Indo-Bangladesh (WION)
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(WION)

 
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Sources say that it is a message from the prime minister that VVIP movement should not cause public inconvenience

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to politically surprise political adversaries but what happened today (April 7) surprised the Prime Minister Office itself. Highly placed sources confirmed that the prime minister travelled to the Technical terminal of the Indira Gandhi international airport to receive Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina without any traffic restrictions. Sources say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi left Lok Kalyan Marg in a truncated cavalcade to the airport an hour before the arrival of Sheikh Hasina. Sources told DNA-WION that the truncated cavalcade of the prime minister had to stop at Sardar Patel Marg’s red light and his cavalcade slowed down considerably near RR Hospital but people travelling around could not realise that the Prime Minister Modi was travelling inside one of the sedans. Sheikh Hasina’s plane touched down around 12.14 pm and PM Modi reached the venue around 12.09 pm. Sources say that it is a message from the prime minister that VVIP movement should not cause public inconvenience. Though the protocol was in place when the prime minister returned to his residence. A highly-placed source said, "Since protocol was in place for Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister in a gap of six minutes took the same route." DNA-WION spoke to Yashovardhan Azad former secretary security to government of India, who said, "It can be done. It depends on the confidence of the protectee and the agency protecting him. More so unpredictability is the key. It accords security so it can be done.” He also said that nature of route and terrain too makes a difference but if basic security remains then such feats can be achieved. What was even more unusual was that Prime Minister Modi interacted with the Bangladeshi media after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the venue. Sources in the Prime Minister Office confirmed that Narendra Modi stayed at the tarmac for five to seven minutes and spoke to the delegation who to their heart’s content took selfies with him. It is rare that Indian Prime Minister goes to the tarmac to receive dignitaries. Narendra Modi in past has received former United States President Barak Obama twice and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi once. He went and received Sheikh Hasina, a sign that he accords this visit lot of importance to this visit. In her 3-day visit to India from 7th-10th April, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to give the Indo-Bangladesh (WION) × (WION)

PM Modi breaks protocol, travels without traffic restrictions to receive Bangladesh PM

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi &nbsp;inaugurated India&#39;s longest road tunnel connecting the Kashmir Valley with Jammu on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Sunday afternoon.

The 10.9 km-long Chenani-Nashri tunnel&nbsp;will reduce distance between the two places&nbsp;by 31 km.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a> live from J&amp;K: PM Narendra Modi takes a view of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel <a href="https://t.co/JWXgDREe5t">https://t.co/JWXgDREe5t</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/848484391328202753">April 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Chenani-Nashri Tunnel - An Engineering marvel<a href="https://t.co/4PFTpc0lwR">https://t.co/4PFTpc0lwR</a>
&mdash; Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) <a href="https://twitter.com/nitin_gadkari/status/848530257925652481">April 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel will have a transformative impact on Jammu &amp; Kashmir&rsquo;s progress. The tunnel is truly world class. <a href="https://t.co/JxCPl8QIdC">pic.twitter.com/JxCPl8QIdC</a>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/848535294676795392">April 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The tunnel, which bypasses the snow-bound upper reaches of the Valley, will reduce the journey time between Jammu and Srinagar by two hours and provide a safe, all-weather route to commuters travelling from Jammu and Udhampur to Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar.

The prime minister drew a contrast between &quot;misguided&quot;&nbsp;stone-pelters who have been clashing with security forces and &quot;the youth of Kashmir who are using the same stones to build infrastructure&quot;.&nbsp;He praised the &quot;2,500 youth of Jammu and Kashmir who&nbsp;have toiled hard to make this tunnel a reality&quot;.

&quot;On one hand, some misguided youth pelt stones in Kashmir, on the other hand, the same stones are carved by other youth to build infrastructure,&quot; PM Modi said&nbsp;while addressing a rally in&nbsp;Udhampur&#39;s Battal Balian. 
 
&quot;The path of terrorism has neither helped anyone or never will,&quot; he said.

Measures have been taken to safeguard the Himayalas and the environment, the prime minister assured.

He said the tunnel would &quot;change the fortunes of the Valley&#39;s farmers&quot;, since their produce will not rot due to road closures.

The prime minister arrived in a special plane at the airfield at Udhampur, where the headquarters of the army&#39;s Northern Command are located. He flew in an army helicopter to Chenani where he inaugurated the tunnel&nbsp;that connects the Udhampur and Ramban districts on the highway.

The tunnel will save fuel worth nearly Rs 99 crores a year. &quot;Rs. 27 lakh worth of fuel is likely to be saved per day,&quot; the Prime Minister&#39;s Office said earlier.

The PMO added that&nbsp;the tunnel &quot;is an alternative all weather route&quot;.

&quot;It is an alternative to the highway which often closes at the time of snow and rains. It will boost trade and increase revenue in the state. It will also help boost tourism,&quot; the PMO said. 
 
It is equipped with world-class security systems, and is expected to boost tourism and economic activities in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, senior ministers of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta, Council Chairman Haji Inayat Ali and top army, police and civil administration officials welcomed PM Modi when he arrived in Udhampur.

The Chenani-Nashri tunnel is India&#39;s first and the world&#39;s sixth tunnel to have a&nbsp;transverse ventilation system, which provides fresh air to passengers. 
 
In such long tunnels, ventilation systems are essential to maintain clean air, permissible carbon dioxide levels and expel harmful vehicle emissions.

The tunnel, constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,519 crore, will ensure a safe and swift passage for commuters, even in adverse weather conditions.&nbsp;

The Chenani-Nashri tunnel is among the longest highway tunnels in Asia. The tunnel, at an altitude of 1,200 meters, is a part of National Highway Authority of India&#39;s (NHAI&#39;s) project between Jammu and Srinagar, along the National Highway 44.

The key features of the tunnel are that it is a single-tube bi-directional tunnel, with a 9.35-metre carriageway, and a vertical clearance of 5 metres.

There is also a parallel escape tunnel, with &#39;Cross Passages&#39; connecting to the main tunnel at intervals of 300 metres.

It also has smart features such as an Integrated Traffic Control System; Surveillance, Ventilation and Broadcast Systems; Fire Fighting System; and SOS call-boxes at every 150 metres.

Technologically, this is one of the most advanced road tunnels built in the country, surmounting challenges of terrain and distance, Sanjeev Sharma, Managing Director, ABB India, which has built the ventilation system&nbsp;said. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

The Chenani-Nashri tunnel will reduce the distance between the two places from the existing 41 kms to 10.9 kms

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's longest road tunnel connecting the Kashmir Valley with Jammu on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Sunday afternoon. The 10.9 km-long Chenani-Nashri tunnel will reduce distance between the two places by 31 km. #WATCH live from J&K: PM Narendra Modi takes a view of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel https://t.co/JWXgDREe5t — ANI (@ANI_news) April 2, 2017 × Chenani-Nashri Tunnel - An Engineering marvelhttps://t.co/4PFTpc0lwR — Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) April 2, 2017 × The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel will have a transformative impact on Jammu & Kashmir’s progress. The tunnel is truly world class. pic.twitter.com/JxCPl8QIdC — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 2, 2017 × The tunnel, which bypasses the snow-bound upper reaches of the Valley, will reduce the journey time between Jammu and Srinagar by two hours and provide a safe, all-weather route to commuters travelling from Jammu and Udhampur to Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar. The prime minister drew a contrast between "misguided" stone-pelters who have been clashing with security forces and "the youth of Kashmir who are using the same stones to build infrastructure". He praised the "2,500 youth of Jammu and Kashmir who have toiled hard to make this tunnel a reality". "On one hand, some misguided youth pelt stones in Kashmir, on the other hand, the same stones are carved by other youth to build infrastructure," PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Udhampur's Battal Balian. "The path of terrorism has neither helped anyone or never will," he said. Measures have been taken to safeguard the Himayalas and the environment, the prime minister assured. He said the tunnel would "change the fortunes of the Valley's farmers", since their produce will not rot due to road closures. The prime minister arrived in a special plane at the airfield at Udhampur, where the headquarters of the army's Northern Command are located. He flew in an army helicopter to Chenani where he inaugurated the tunnel that connects the Udhampur and Ramban districts on the highway. The tunnel will save fuel worth nearly Rs 99 crores a year. "Rs. 27 lakh worth of fuel is likely to be saved per day," the Prime Minister's Office said earlier. The PMO added that the tunnel "is an alternative all weather route". "It is an alternative to the highway which often closes at the time of snow and rains. It will boost trade and increase revenue in the state. It will also help boost tourism," the PMO said. It is equipped with world-class security systems, and is expected to boost tourism and economic activities in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, senior ministers of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta, Council Chairman Haji Inayat Ali and top army, police and civil administration officials welcomed PM Modi when he arrived in Udhampur. The Chenani-Nashri tunnel is India's first and the world's sixth tunnel to have a transverse ventilation system, which provides fresh air to passengers. In such long tunnels, ventilation systems are essential to maintain clean air, permissible carbon dioxide levels and expel harmful vehicle emissions. The tunnel, constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,519 crore, will ensure a safe and swift passage for commuters, even in adverse weather conditions. The Chenani-Nashri tunnel is among the longest highway tunnels in Asia. The tunnel, at an altitude of 1,200 meters, is a part of National Highway Authority of India's (NHAI's) project between Jammu and Srinagar, along the National Highway 44. The key features of the tunnel are that it is a single-tube bi-directional tunnel, with a 9.35-metre carriageway, and a vertical clearance of 5 metres. There is also a parallel escape tunnel, with 'Cross Passages' connecting to the main tunnel at intervals of 300 metres. It also has smart features such as an Integrated Traffic Control System; Surveillance, Ventilation and Broadcast Systems; Fire Fighting System; and SOS call-boxes at every 150 metres. Technologically, this is one of the most advanced road tunnels built in the country, surmounting challenges of terrain and distance, Sanjeev Sharma, Managing Director, ABB India, which has built the ventilation system said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Some youth pelt stones, others build infrastructure: PM Modi says as he inaugurates India's longest road tunnel in J&K

Cow slaughter is now a non-bailable offence and punishable with life imprisonment in India&rsquo;s western state of Gujarat. The Gujarat assembly on Friday amended the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act of 1954 to make laws even more stringent.&nbsp;The maximum jail term under the previous law was seven years.&nbsp;

Modi&rsquo;s home state&nbsp;now has the toughest law against cow slaughter in the country.

As per the provisions of the Bill those found guilty will face &ldquo;imprisonment for a term, which may extend to 10 years but shall not be less than seven years and with fine, which shall not be less than one lakh rupees&rdquo;.

Transporting of cows for the purpose of slaughter is also criminalised, where the punishment will be 10 years in jail.

The decision comes just ahead of the Assembly polls in the State.

The manufacture, storage, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages is also banned in Gujarat. It is&nbsp;the only Indian state with a death penalty for the manufacture and sale of homemade liquor that results in fatalities.

The Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 is still in force in Gujarat state.&nbsp;

(WION)

PM Modi?s home state?now has the toughest law against cow slaughter in the country

Cow slaughter is now a non-bailable offence and punishable with life imprisonment in India’s western state of Gujarat. The Gujarat assembly on Friday amended the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act of 1954 to make laws even more stringent. The maximum jail term under the previous law was seven years. Modi’s home state now has the toughest law against cow slaughter in the country. As per the provisions of the Bill those found guilty will face “imprisonment for a term, which may extend to 10 years but shall not be less than seven years and with fine, which shall not be less than one lakh rupees”. Transporting of cows for the purpose of slaughter is also criminalised, where the punishment will be 10 years in jail. The decision comes just ahead of the Assembly polls in the State. The manufacture, storage, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages is also banned in Gujarat. It is the only Indian state with a death penalty for the manufacture and sale of homemade liquor that results in fatalities. The Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 is still in force in Gujarat state. (WION)

In Gujarat, cow slaughter now punishable by life imprisonment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a strong pitch to party MPs to switch to digital electoral campaigns for future elections.&nbsp;

PM Modi in a breakfast meeting with members of Parliament from Telangana, Karnataka and Chattisgarh said mobile phones and social media have become the biggest interface with the people and this change has to be absorbed by the party.

The prime minister said that as India is moving towards a&nbsp;digital economy, the party should embrace digital campaigns as it is faster and feedback is immediate. PM Modi&nbsp;also urged BJP members of Parliament to be active and visible on social media tools like Twitter and Whatsapp.

Prime Minister emphasised that digital platforms will gain more significance in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and BJP should be prepared for it. 
&nbsp;

(WION)

PM Modi in a meeting with BJP MPs said said mobile phones and social media have become the biggest interface with the people

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a strong pitch to party MPs to switch to digital electoral campaigns for future elections. PM Modi in a breakfast meeting with members of Parliament from Telangana, Karnataka and Chattisgarh said mobile phones and social media have become the biggest interface with the people and this change has to be absorbed by the party. The prime minister said that as India is moving towards a digital economy, the party should embrace digital campaigns as it is faster and feedback is immediate. PM Modi also urged BJP members of Parliament to be active and visible on social media tools like Twitter and Whatsapp. Prime Minister emphasised that digital platforms will gain more significance in 2019 Lok Sabha elections and BJP should be prepared for it. (WION)

Switch to digital platform for future elections: PM Modi to BJP MPs

The Indian Railways is considering ending state-owned Steel Authority of India Ltd&#39;s (SAIL) virtual monopoly on supplying steel for standard rail tracks, opening up annual purchases worth up to $700 million to the private sector, people close to the matter told news agency Reuters.

The vast state rail operator is undergoing a $130 billion, a five-year overhaul to modernise the world&#39;s fourth-largest network, which is blighted by ageing track and saturated capacity.

The government has also launched a $15 billion fund to improve rail safety. Train accidents due to track defects have risen 25 percent in the last two years, the railway ministry told parliament last week.

The rails shortfall has slowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s plans to revamp the network and highlights how his infrastructure investment drive is forcing government units to get tough on suppliers.

In the current fiscal year, SAIL is set to fall around 250,000 tonnes of rails short of its 850,000-tonne target, according to the company&#39;s data - its eighth shortfall in 10 years, and its biggest.

SAIL executives said a sudden jump in demand for steel - up 45 percent since 2015 - to replace old tracks and lay new ones meant it was struggling to meet production targets.

Losing even a small part of its sales to the railways - its top customer - would be a blow to SAIL, which has lost money in seven straight quarters.

&quot;SAIL&#39;s performance has been very poor and given that we have a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), any failure will not be appreciated,&quot; a government official said, quoting from a Jan 11 letter from the railways to the steel ministry that oversees SAIL, threatening to sever a deal to buy rails almost exclusively from the company.

Two other government officials confirmed the railways&#39; threat. All three officials declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The biggest likely winner from opening up to private suppliers is Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, which has already exported rails to Iran and has tried for years to muscle in on SAIL&#39;s business.

Jindal Steel wrote to Indian Railways on March 6, offering to step in, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters. A spokesman for Jindal Steel said the firm was keen to help the railways with steel for its modernisation.

The railways are already looking at bringing in alternative suppliers gradually by issuing new tenders for rails.

&quot;Even after giving sufficient time to SAIL if the shortfall continues, the ministry of railways may explore the possibility of outsourcing some supplies,&quot; Indian Railways spokesman Anil Kumar Saxena said.

PM Modi has made increased infrastructure spending a key part of his economic plans since coming to power in 2014. State expenditure on roads and rails is at a record high.

(Reuters)

In the current fiscal year, SAIL is set to fall around 250,000 tonnes of rails short of its 850,000 tonne target

The Indian Railways is considering ending state-owned Steel Authority of India Ltd's (SAIL) virtual monopoly on supplying steel for standard rail tracks, opening up annual purchases worth up to $700 million to the private sector, people close to the matter told news agency Reuters. The vast state rail operator is undergoing a $130 billion, a five-year overhaul to modernise the world's fourth-largest network, which is blighted by ageing track and saturated capacity. The government has also launched a $15 billion fund to improve rail safety. Train accidents due to track defects have risen 25 percent in the last two years, the railway ministry told parliament last week. The rails shortfall has slowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plans to revamp the network and highlights how his infrastructure investment drive is forcing government units to get tough on suppliers. In the current fiscal year, SAIL is set to fall around 250,000 tonnes of rails short of its 850,000-tonne target, according to the company's data - its eighth shortfall in 10 years, and its biggest. SAIL executives said a sudden jump in demand for steel - up 45 percent since 2015 - to replace old tracks and lay new ones meant it was struggling to meet production targets. Losing even a small part of its sales to the railways - its top customer - would be a blow to SAIL, which has lost money in seven straight quarters. "SAIL's performance has been very poor and given that we have a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), any failure will not be appreciated," a government official said, quoting from a Jan 11 letter from the railways to the steel ministry that oversees SAIL, threatening to sever a deal to buy rails almost exclusively from the company. Two other government officials confirmed the railways' threat. All three officials declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. The biggest likely winner from opening up to private suppliers is Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, which has already exported rails to Iran and has tried for years to muscle in on SAIL's business. Jindal Steel wrote to Indian Railways on March 6, offering to step in, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters. A spokesman for Jindal Steel said the firm was keen to help the railways with steel for its modernisation. The railways are already looking at bringing in alternative suppliers gradually by issuing new tenders for rails. "Even after giving sufficient time to SAIL if the shortfall continues, the ministry of railways may explore the possibility of outsourcing some supplies," Indian Railways spokesman Anil Kumar Saxena said. PM Modi has made increased infrastructure spending a key part of his economic plans since coming to power in 2014. State expenditure on roads and rails is at a record high. (Reuters)

Indian Railways considering ending SAIL virtual monopoly on supplying steel for railway tracks

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was &quot;deeply saddened&quot; by&nbsp;the terror attack in London&nbsp;that killed five and injured around 40 people Wednesday night.

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At this difficult moment, India stands with UK in the fight against terrorism. <a href="https://twitter.com/theresa_may">@theresa_may</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Number10gov">@Number10Gov</a>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/844733922382630912">March 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Deeply saddened by the terror attack in London. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/844733683185729537">March 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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(WION)

Modi said, 'India stands with UK in the fight against terrorism'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was "deeply saddened" by the terror attack in London that killed five and injured around 40 people Wednesday night. At this difficult moment, India stands with UK in the fight against terrorism. @theresa_may @Number10Gov — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2017 × Deeply saddened by the terror attack in London. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2017 × (WION)

India PM Modi responds to London terrorist attack via Twitter

The newly-appointed government in Uttar Pradesh will reportedly get directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s office, a news report has claimed.

PM Modi has designated a senior bureaucrat to monitor the day-to-day functioning of the state&#39;s Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government, an&nbsp;<a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/yogi-adityanath-narendra-modi-nripendra-misra/1/908092.html">India Today</a>&nbsp;report said.

<a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/yogi-adityanath-narendra-modi-nripendra-misra/1/908092.html">India Today</a> quoted unnamed sources as saying the Principal Secretary to the PMO Nripendra Misra will be the point person between PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath.&nbsp;An Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer from the UP cadre, Nripendra Mishra was especially called by Modi in 2014, when he became the Prime Minister.

Further appointments in the state government will be made through Mishra who met Yogi Adityanath for a short while yesterday, the website reported.

Ministers have also been warned against speaking to the media except through the spokespersons for the UP government, another media report claimed.&nbsp;

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The website said they discussed the implementation of government schemes so that their benefits accrued to the poor.

The Uttar Pradesh bureaucracy is likely to get a &quot;change in outlook&quot; in the next few days, the report stated. Work in that direction seems to have begun already --&nbsp;government officials were administered a cleanliness pledge by the chief minister and have been told to give 100 hours annually for the cause.&nbsp;The chief minister has also asked them to be transparent in recruitments, stand up to political pressure and improve investment in the state, reports state. 
&nbsp;

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UP CM Yogi Adityanath administered a cleanliness pledge to Govt officials. Officials pledged to give their 100 hours annually for the cause <a href="https://t.co/AzisdroczS">pic.twitter.com/AzisdroczS</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/843825569666031617">March 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Ministers have been asked to do away with red beacons on their vehicles. 
 
Firebrand leader Adityanath&#39;s elevation as chief minister of one of India&#39;s most populous states, has many political analysts and observers worried because of his Hindutva leanings and controversial statements against Muslims who form a minority in the state.&nbsp;

The five-time Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur in eastern UP was elected by the state&#39;s legislators on Saturday, a week after the BJP won a landslide victory in the state assembly elections.

He has pledged to uphold Modi&#39;s slogan of &quot;sabka saath, sabka vikas&quot;&nbsp;(&#39;all together, development for all&#39;).The new Uttar Pradesh chief minister got down to business right from day one, holding a meeting with senior officials from all government departments in state capital Lucknow. The officials were directed to bring a copy of the BJP poll manifesto (Sankalp Patra) and asked to read and implement it properly. 
 
Ministers were directed to provide details of their movable and immovable properties and income tax within 15 days.

Deputy chief ministers KP Maurya and Dinesh Sharma were also present at the meeting.&nbsp;

Maurya told reporters that in its first meeting, the state Cabinet would discuss all key issues mentioned in the party&#39;s poll manifesto including loan waiver to farmers and a ban on mechanised slaughter houses.&nbsp;Dinesh Sharma promised to work for the welfare of the people and &quot;ensure that the work is visible on the ground&quot;, PTI reported.

The ban on illegal slaughterhouses was one of the main points of the BJP&rsquo;s manifesto in the recent elections. The party has also vowed to regulate the mechanised slaughterhouses. The approximately 130 legal slaughterhouses in the state provide employment to over two lakh people. Many Muslims, who are associated with the slaughtering business, fear harassment by vigilante groups.

Two slaughter houses in Allahabad city were also sealed by the local administration last night. The government claimed they were illegal.

Yogi Adityanath also asked Director General of Police Javeed Ahmed to ensure that there was no laxity in improving the law and order situation, hours after a BSP leader was shot dead in Allahabad.

The UP top cop has been asked to hold video conference with the district magistrates and the superintendents of police of all the 75 districts of the state to take stock of law and order situation and other administrative issues, PTI quoted sources as saying.

The portfolios to the new ministers are likely to be announced soon.&nbsp;

(WION)

India Today quoted unnamed sources as saying Modi has appointed a senior bureaucrat to monitor the day-to-day functioning of the new UP govt

The newly-appointed government in Uttar Pradesh will reportedly get directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, a news report has claimed. PM Modi has designated a senior bureaucrat to monitor the day-to-day functioning of the state's Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government, an India Today report said. India Today quoted unnamed sources as saying the Principal Secretary to the PMO Nripendra Misra will be the point person between PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath. An Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer from the UP cadre, Nripendra Mishra was especially called by Modi in 2014, when he became the Prime Minister. Further appointments in the state government will be made through Mishra who met Yogi Adityanath for a short while yesterday, the website reported. Ministers have also been warned against speaking to the media except through the spokespersons for the UP government, another media report claimed. Principal secretary to the PMO Nripendra Mishra will be doing the monitoring × The website said they discussed the implementation of government schemes so that their benefits accrued to the poor. The Uttar Pradesh bureaucracy is likely to get a "change in outlook" in the next few days, the report stated. Work in that direction seems to have begun already -- government officials were administered a cleanliness pledge by the chief minister and have been told to give 100 hours annually for the cause. The chief minister has also asked them to be transparent in recruitments, stand up to political pressure and improve investment in the state, reports state. UP CM Yogi Adityanath administered a cleanliness pledge to Govt officials. Officials pledged to give their 100 hours annually for the cause pic.twitter.com/AzisdroczS — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 20, 2017 × Ministers have been asked to do away with red beacons on their vehicles. Firebrand leader Adityanath's elevation as chief minister of one of India's most populous states, has many political analysts and observers worried because of his Hindutva leanings and controversial statements against Muslims who form a minority in the state. The five-time Member of Parliament from Gorakhpur in eastern UP was elected by the state's legislators on Saturday, a week after the BJP won a landslide victory in the state assembly elections. He has pledged to uphold Modi's slogan of "sabka saath, sabka vikas" ('all together, development for all').The new Uttar Pradesh chief minister got down to business right from day one, holding a meeting with senior officials from all government departments in state capital Lucknow. The officials were directed to bring a copy of the BJP poll manifesto (Sankalp Patra) and asked to read and implement it properly. Ministers were directed to provide details of their movable and immovable properties and income tax within 15 days. Deputy chief ministers KP Maurya and Dinesh Sharma were also present at the meeting. Maurya told reporters that in its first meeting, the state Cabinet would discuss all key issues mentioned in the party's poll manifesto including loan waiver to farmers and a ban on mechanised slaughter houses. Dinesh Sharma promised to work for the welfare of the people and "ensure that the work is visible on the ground", PTI reported. The ban on illegal slaughterhouses was one of the main points of the BJP’s manifesto in the recent elections. The party has also vowed to regulate the mechanised slaughterhouses. The approximately 130 legal slaughterhouses in the state provide employment to over two lakh people. Many Muslims, who are associated with the slaughtering business, fear harassment by vigilante groups. Two slaughter houses in Allahabad city were also sealed by the local administration last night. The government claimed they were illegal. Yogi Adityanath also asked Director General of Police Javeed Ahmed to ensure that there was no laxity in improving the law and order situation, hours after a BSP leader was shot dead in Allahabad. The UP top cop has been asked to hold video conference with the district magistrates and the superintendents of police of all the 75 districts of the state to take stock of law and order situation and other administrative issues, PTI quoted sources as saying. The portfolios to the new ministers are likely to be announced soon. (WION)

Prime Minister's Office to keep watch on Yogi Adityanath's govt: Report

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the BJP Parliamentary Party meet directed all the MPs, ministers and workers to spend 72 hours in an area assigned to them by the party. BJP leaders and workers would connect with all the educational institutions around that area as part of the drive thereby connecting the party with &#39;new&#39;&nbsp;India. Sources in the BJP said that this drive will be completed before the government formation day -- May 26.

Sources also said that BJP all members including ministers have been advised by the Prime Minister to give suggestions to improve the functioning of the party and government before May 26.

Modi in his speech also made it clear that that next month would be dedicated to Dr BR Ambedkar. Prime Minister in his speech said that between 6th and 14th of April, BJP would organise social functions in memory of&nbsp;BR Ambedkar. April 6 is the party foundation day of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and April 14 is the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar. In order to connect with the social constituency, every BJP MP would participate in sanitation drive and it would be organised around a polling station connecting the social constituency with the electoral grid.

It is not without significance that after Vemulla controversy, BJP has been extremely careful when it comes to any policy response either on the Dalit issue or the legacy of Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

Modi also urged that party workers should campaign to popularise Diji Dhan and Bhim app which PM described as a new currency. He said that the use of Bhim app would save small enterprises from money lenders and would act as a catalyst for social transformation at the lowest level.

BJP has also decided to organise massive rallies across the country on Ambedkar&#39;s birthday with his photographs. Sources said that every part of the organisation would be exercised to make these rallies successful. 
Sources said that Prime Minister said in the meeting that the perception about the government in the country is changing. PM said, &quot; Earlier the people felt that the government is doing something but now they say that it is a performing government.&quot;

BJP President Amit Shah also addressed the BJP Parliamentary party. He said that the recent elections have released the democracy from the shackles of appeasement, nepotism and casteism. He said that the result of 2017 should not make BJP complacent and they should start preparing for 2019.

BJP also passed a resolution thanking people for giving them a good mandate. The resolution also took a dig at the Opposition as the resolution stated that Opposition should understand the real message of the verdict and will be constructive in the approach. The Parliamentary party resolution also thanked Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for the leadership.

The resolution also stated that though numbers are required to form a government but it is actually run through consensus and BJP is committed to that principle. PM was also thanked for initiatives like surgical strike and demonetisation.&nbsp;

(WION)

Indian PM Modi also hopes for Bhim app to act as a catalyst for social transformation at the lowest level

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the BJP Parliamentary Party meet directed all the MPs, ministers and workers to spend 72 hours in an area assigned to them by the party. BJP leaders and workers would connect with all the educational institutions around that area as part of the drive thereby connecting the party with 'new' India. Sources in the BJP said that this drive will be completed before the government formation day -- May 26. Sources also said that BJP all members including ministers have been advised by the Prime Minister to give suggestions to improve the functioning of the party and government before May 26. Modi in his speech also made it clear that that next month would be dedicated to Dr BR Ambedkar. Prime Minister in his speech said that between 6th and 14th of April, BJP would organise social functions in memory of BR Ambedkar. April 6 is the party foundation day of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and April 14 is the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar. In order to connect with the social constituency, every BJP MP would participate in sanitation drive and it would be organised around a polling station connecting the social constituency with the electoral grid. It is not without significance that after Vemulla controversy, BJP has been extremely careful when it comes to any policy response either on the Dalit issue or the legacy of Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Modi also urged that party workers should campaign to popularise Diji Dhan and Bhim app which PM described as a new currency. He said that the use of Bhim app would save small enterprises from money lenders and would act as a catalyst for social transformation at the lowest level. BJP has also decided to organise massive rallies across the country on Ambedkar's birthday with his photographs. Sources said that every part of the organisation would be exercised to make these rallies successful. Sources said that Prime Minister said in the meeting that the perception about the government in the country is changing. PM said, " Earlier the people felt that the government is doing something but now they say that it is a performing government." BJP President Amit Shah also addressed the BJP Parliamentary party. He said that the recent elections have released the democracy from the shackles of appeasement, nepotism and casteism. He said that the result of 2017 should not make BJP complacent and they should start preparing for 2019. BJP also passed a resolution thanking people for giving them a good mandate. The resolution also took a dig at the Opposition as the resolution stated that Opposition should understand the real message of the verdict and will be constructive in the approach. The Parliamentary party resolution also thanked Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for the leadership. The resolution also stated that though numbers are required to form a government but it is actually run through consensus and BJP is committed to that principle. PM was also thanked for initiatives like surgical strike and demonetisation. (WION)

India: BJP eyes Dalit outreach through Ambedkar birth anniversary events

An 11-year-old Pakistani girl wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating him on his party&#39;s victory in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and said he should now focus on peace.

The two-page handwritten letter, dated March 13, by Aqeedat Naveed says both countries will benefit by maintaining good relations with each other.

&quot;Once my father told me that winning of hearts is a marvellous job. Perhaps you have won the hearts of Indian people, therefore you won the election in UP. But I must tell you if you want to win more Indian and Pakistani hearts, you should take steps towards friendship and peace,&quot; the letter reads.

&quot;Both countries need good relation. Let&#39;s make a peace bridge between India and Pakistan. Let&#39;s decide that we will not buy bullets, will buy books. We will not buy the guns, will buy the medicine for the poor people.&quot;

She finishes the letter by congratulating the prime minister for BJP&#39;s UP win.

The fifth grader, who hails from Lahore, had earlier written a letter to Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj as well on the matter of peace and has also received several responses from officials in New Delhi.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from ANI)

Aqeedat Naveed also congratulated the Indian prime minister on his party's win in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections

An 11-year-old Pakistani girl wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating him on his party's victory in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and said he should now focus on peace. The two-page handwritten letter, dated March 13, by Aqeedat Naveed says both countries will benefit by maintaining good relations with each other. "Once my father told me that winning of hearts is a marvellous job. Perhaps you have won the hearts of Indian people, therefore you won the election in UP. But I must tell you if you want to win more Indian and Pakistani hearts, you should take steps towards friendship and peace," the letter reads. "Both countries need good relation. Let's make a peace bridge between India and Pakistan. Let's decide that we will not buy bullets, will buy books. We will not buy the guns, will buy the medicine for the poor people." She finishes the letter by congratulating the prime minister for BJP's UP win. The fifth grader, who hails from Lahore, had earlier written a letter to Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj as well on the matter of peace and has also received several responses from officials in New Delhi. (WION with inputs from ANI)

11-yr-old Pak girl writes to PM Modi, says focus on peace now

The BJP&#39;s Parliamentary Board has authorised party president&nbsp;Amit Shah to take the final call about who will be the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Uttarakhand.

The party&#39;s Parliamentary Board Secretary JP Nadda said Amit Shah has been authorised to take the final decision after the observers appointed by the party submitted their reports.

Venkaiah Naidu and Bhupendra Yadav will be observers for Uttar Pradesh while Narendra Tomar and Saroj Pandey will be the observers for Uttarakhand, the Parliamentary Board Secretary said.&nbsp;

Piyush Goyal and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe are observers for Manipur, the Union Minister added.

Amit Shah had said yesterday that the&nbsp;chief ministers would be chosen on the basis of merit and capability. 
 
The party has performed well in the assembly polls of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.

The BJP had not announced a chief ministerial candidate for both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

In Uttar Pradesh, there are four leaders who are in the reckoning to be the next chief minister.&nbsp;

State party chief Keshav Maurya, right-wing lawmaker Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Manoj Sinha are some of the those in fray. India&#39;s interior minister Rajnath Singh&#39;s name has been mentioned as well but people close to him say he is not keen on helming the state.

In Uttarakhand, Satpal Maharaj, Devendra Rawat and Prakash Pant are the frontrunners to become the chief minister.

While these leaders are touted to be the top contenders for the CM&rsquo;s post in UP, the suspense can be put to an end only by an announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has a penchant to spring surprises.

Earlier Sunday,&nbsp;Prime Minister Modi delivered his victory speech to party workers emphasising that the massive&nbsp;mandate is&nbsp;to serve the people and laying the foundation for a new India. He also said that the government will not discriminate and work for all irresepective of whether they voted for the BJP or not.

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Naye Hindustan ke nayi neev ke roop mein dekh raha hoon, in paanch rajyon ke chunaav ko: PM Modi at BJP HQ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionResults?src=hash">#ElectionResults</a> <a href="https://t.co/ds8aW1A5cQ">pic.twitter.com/ds8aW1A5cQ</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/840916433756348418">March 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Vote diya na diya wo chunaav nateejon tak theek hai, sarkaar sabki hoti hai, sabke liye hoti hai, sath chalne ke liye hoti hai: PM Modi <a href="https://t.co/P6uJQN4u8H">pic.twitter.com/P6uJQN4u8H</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/840922874349203456">March 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The Prime Minister said that he recognises the potential of the poor and he understands their power. He also invoked the memory of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, whose idea of Antyodaya (uplifting the weaker sections of society), the Prime Minsiter said, should be the guiding light for the new government. &nbsp;

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Gareeb mein saamarth mai dekh paata hoon, unki shakti ko pehchaan paata hoon: PM Modi at BJP HQ in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/pvwv6SHZB1">pic.twitter.com/pvwv6SHZB1</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/840918157690785796">March 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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These elections are an emotional issue for us. They come when we mark the centenary celebrations of Pandit Deen Dayal Ji: PM Modi <a href="https://t.co/GWDlVFJNOt">pic.twitter.com/GWDlVFJNOt</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/840918568699023360">March 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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He also said that the burden on the middle class should be&nbsp;reduced so that they can shine.&nbsp;

Terming the victory as historic, Modi added that with every election,&nbsp;support for the BJP is increasing .

Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday evening following a &quot;victory walk&quot; to celebrate the party&#39;s landslide win in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand polls.&nbsp;

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at BJP HQ in Delhi amid loud &#39;Modi Modi&#39; chants <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElectionResults?src=hash">#ElectionResults</a> <a href="https://t.co/PguigLCp3l">pic.twitter.com/PguigLCp3l</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/840908435927400448">March 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
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(WION with inputs from ANI)

BJP president Amit Shah will decide the names of the chief ministers in states where the party has won

The BJP's Parliamentary Board has authorised party president Amit Shah to take the final call about who will be the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Uttarakhand. The party's Parliamentary Board Secretary JP Nadda said Amit Shah has been authorised to take the final decision after the observers appointed by the party submitted their reports. Venkaiah Naidu and Bhupendra Yadav will be observers for Uttar Pradesh while Narendra Tomar and Saroj Pandey will be the observers for Uttarakhand, the Parliamentary Board Secretary said. Piyush Goyal and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe are observers for Manipur, the Union Minister added. Amit Shah had said yesterday that the chief ministers would be chosen on the basis of merit and capability. The party has performed well in the assembly polls of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. The BJP had not announced a chief ministerial candidate for both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In Uttar Pradesh, there are four leaders who are in the reckoning to be the next chief minister. State party chief Keshav Maurya, right-wing lawmaker Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Manoj Sinha are some of the those in fray. India's interior minister Rajnath Singh's name has been mentioned as well but people close to him say he is not keen on helming the state. In Uttarakhand, Satpal Maharaj, Devendra Rawat and Prakash Pant are the frontrunners to become the chief minister. While these leaders are touted to be the top contenders for the CM’s post in UP, the suspense can be put to an end only by an announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has a penchant to spring surprises. Earlier Sunday, Prime Minister Modi delivered his victory speech to party workers emphasising that the massive mandate is to serve the people and laying the foundation for a new India. He also said that the government will not discriminate and work for all irresepective of whether they voted for the BJP or not. Naye Hindustan ke nayi neev ke roop mein dekh raha hoon, in paanch rajyon ke chunaav ko: PM Modi at BJP HQ #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/ds8aW1A5cQ — ANI (@ANI_news) March 12, 2017 × Vote diya na diya wo chunaav nateejon tak theek hai, sarkaar sabki hoti hai, sabke liye hoti hai, sath chalne ke liye hoti hai: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/P6uJQN4u8H — ANI (@ANI_news) March 12, 2017 × The Prime Minister said that he recognises the potential of the poor and he understands their power. He also invoked the memory of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, whose idea of Antyodaya (uplifting the weaker sections of society), the Prime Minsiter said, should be the guiding light for the new government. Gareeb mein saamarth mai dekh paata hoon, unki shakti ko pehchaan paata hoon: PM Modi at BJP HQ in Delhi pic.twitter.com/pvwv6SHZB1 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 12, 2017 × These elections are an emotional issue for us. They come when we mark the centenary celebrations of Pandit Deen Dayal Ji: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/GWDlVFJNOt — ANI (@ANI_news) March 12, 2017 × He also said that the burden on the middle class should be reduced so that they can shine. Terming the victory as historic, Modi added that with every election, support for the BJP is increasing . Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday evening following a "victory walk" to celebrate the party's landslide win in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at BJP HQ in Delhi amid loud 'Modi Modi' chants #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/PguigLCp3l — ANI (@ANI_news) March 12, 2017 × (WION with inputs from ANI)

BJP's Parliamentary Board authorises Amit Shah to decide chief ministers of UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur

Sensing his party&#39;s drive for votes in India&#39;s most politically prized state had stalled, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared his schedule and thrust himself into the heart of the battle.

&quot;Our election campaign has hit a roadblock,&quot; Modi told campaign managers and two federal ministers in Delhi last month, a week before the sixth of seven phases of voting was to begin in Uttar Pradesh.

&quot;I don&#39;t want to feel that I could have pushed myself a little more,&quot; Modi was quoted as saying by a close aide who attended the meeting.

For three full days the leader of the world&#39;s largest democracy camped out in the holy city of Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, walking the ancient streets and stopping at Hindu temples to seek blessings, despite warnings from aides about his security and the risk to his reputation had his party come up short.

On Saturday the gamble paid off: Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scored a thumping victory in Uttar Pradesh, home to one in six Indians, winning the biggest majority in the state for any party since 1977.

The triumph vindicates Modi&#39;s decision to turn the campaign into a referendum on his own performance after his shock decision last November to abolish high-denomination banknotes, a move he framed as a fight for the poor against the corrupt rich.

&quot;We were always nervous that overexposing the prime minister in the final stages of the election could make us look desperate,&quot; said Keshav Prasad Maurya, the BJP&#39;s state leader in Uttar Pradesh.

As it turned out, Modi&#39;s victory confounded even the most bullish voter surveys. The BJP won 312 of the 403 seats in the state assembly and, with 39.7 per cent of the vote, almost matched its showing in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 general election, when it claimed the biggest parliamentary majority in three decades.

&quot;Modi&#39;s magic has destroyed the opposition and silenced sceptics in the party,&quot; Maurya told Reuters on Saturday, as the scale of the victory became clear.

Two-term Modi

The win clears a path to victory for Modi at a 2019 general election, and gives him a free hand to consolidate his grip over a state that sends the highest number of federal lawmakers to parliament.

That has raised hopes among investors that the BJP will embark on a round of new reforms to boost growth in Asia&#39;s third-largest economy, and try to tackle the corruption and red tape that has long undermined India&#39;s potential.

Economists now expect Modi to launch initiatives aimed at flushing out ill-gotten gains from real estate, gold and campaign finance.

But they caution that his biggest task remains transforming India&#39;s economy into one that creates enough jobs for an emerging generation that is desperate to give up life on the farm for a more prosperous future.

&quot;Jobs is the biggest risk,&quot; said Rajiv Kumar, an economist at the Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research. &quot;That&#39;s where he has to focus very hard and it could mean reforms as radical as demonetisation.&quot;

Modi&#39;s BJP now heads the government in states where more than half of Indians live, while the Congress party, which has ruled India for most of the 70 years since independence, leads in regions covering less than 8 percent of the population.

Success will increase the pressure on Modi to provide for an increasingly aspirational nation of 1.3 billion people, half of whom are aged 25 or under.

&quot;He has to do a very delicate tightrope walk between being reformist and populist,&quot; said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a journalist and biographer of Modi. &quot;The problem in India is that people think reforms are pro-rich.&quot;

Communal tone

Modi relied on his own charisma to clinch crucial votes in poor and agrarian Uttar Pradesh, but his campaign manager Amit Shah also takes credit for fielding the right candidates in a region where many people vote along caste and religious lines.

Critics accuse Shah and Modi of &quot;social engineering&quot; and of switching to a more communally divisive tone to fire up their Hindu base as voting, staggered over the course of a month, progressed.

Shah vowed to construct a Hindu temple on a razed mosque site and ban the slaughter of cows, worshipped by millions of Hindus.

On the campaign trail, too, Modi played up religious divisions by asking why the state government ensured there were no power cuts in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan but not during the Hindu festival of Diwali.

Still, the BJP likely collected minority votes, including Muslim women whom he courted by questioning an Islamic practice that allows men to divorce their wives with three simple words.

&quot;The results prove that Muslims and backward caste groups voted for the BJP,&quot; said RK&nbsp;Mishra, a political analyst in Lucknow, the state capital of Uttar Pradesh.

(Reuters)

The BJP won 312 of the 403 seats in the state assembly and, with 39.7% votes, almost matched its showing in UP in the 2014 general elections

Sensing his party's drive for votes in India's most politically prized state had stalled, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared his schedule and thrust himself into the heart of the battle. "Our election campaign has hit a roadblock," Modi told campaign managers and two federal ministers in Delhi last month, a week before the sixth of seven phases of voting was to begin in Uttar Pradesh. "I don't want to feel that I could have pushed myself a little more," Modi was quoted as saying by a close aide who attended the meeting. For three full days the leader of the world's largest democracy camped out in the holy city of Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, walking the ancient streets and stopping at Hindu temples to seek blessings, despite warnings from aides about his security and the risk to his reputation had his party come up short. On Saturday the gamble paid off: Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scored a thumping victory in Uttar Pradesh, home to one in six Indians, winning the biggest majority in the state for any party since 1977. The triumph vindicates Modi's decision to turn the campaign into a referendum on his own performance after his shock decision last November to abolish high-denomination banknotes, a move he framed as a fight for the poor against the corrupt rich. "We were always nervous that overexposing the prime minister in the final stages of the election could make us look desperate," said Keshav Prasad Maurya, the BJP's state leader in Uttar Pradesh. As it turned out, Modi's victory confounded even the most bullish voter surveys. The BJP won 312 of the 403 seats in the state assembly and, with 39.7 per cent of the vote, almost matched its showing in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 general election, when it claimed the biggest parliamentary majority in three decades. "Modi's magic has destroyed the opposition and silenced sceptics in the party," Maurya told Reuters on Saturday, as the scale of the victory became clear. Two-term Modi The win clears a path to victory for Modi at a 2019 general election, and gives him a free hand to consolidate his grip over a state that sends the highest number of federal lawmakers to parliament. That has raised hopes among investors that the BJP will embark on a round of new reforms to boost growth in Asia's third-largest economy, and try to tackle the corruption and red tape that has long undermined India's potential. Economists now expect Modi to launch initiatives aimed at flushing out ill-gotten gains from real estate, gold and campaign finance. But they caution that his biggest task remains transforming India's economy into one that creates enough jobs for an emerging generation that is desperate to give up life on the farm for a more prosperous future. "Jobs is the biggest risk," said Rajiv Kumar, an economist at the Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research. "That's where he has to focus very hard and it could mean reforms as radical as demonetisation." Modi's BJP now heads the government in states where more than half of Indians live, while the Congress party, which has ruled India for most of the 70 years since independence, leads in regions covering less than 8 percent of the population. Success will increase the pressure on Modi to provide for an increasingly aspirational nation of 1.3 billion people, half of whom are aged 25 or under. "He has to do a very delicate tightrope walk between being reformist and populist," said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a journalist and biographer of Modi. "The problem in India is that people think reforms are pro-rich." Communal tone Modi relied on his own charisma to clinch crucial votes in poor and agrarian Uttar Pradesh, but his campaign manager Amit Shah also takes credit for fielding the right candidates in a region where many people vote along caste and religious lines. Critics accuse Shah and Modi of "social engineering" and of switching to a more communally divisive tone to fire up their Hindu base as voting, staggered over the course of a month, progressed. Shah vowed to construct a Hindu temple on a razed mosque site and ban the slaughter of cows, worshipped by millions of Hindus. On the campaign trail, too, Modi played up religious divisions by asking why the state government ensured there were no power cuts in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan but not during the Hindu festival of Diwali. Still, the BJP likely collected minority votes, including Muslim women whom he courted by questioning an Islamic practice that allows men to divorce their wives with three simple words. "The results prove that Muslims and backward caste groups voted for the BJP," said RK Mishra, a political analyst in Lucknow, the state capital of Uttar Pradesh. (Reuters)

India Assembly Elections: Modi's one-man show triumphs again in Uttar Pradesh

Reliance Jio and Paytm have apologised for their &quot;inadvertent mistake&quot; in using Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s photograph in their advertisements without permission, the government today informed Parliament.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs had sent notices to both the companies under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act of 1950, which bars use of Prime Minister&#39;s name and picture for commercial use.

&quot;Clarifications were sought by the Department of Consumer Affairs from Paytm and Reliance Jio wherein they have apologised for their inadvertent mistake,&quot; Minister of State for Consumer Affairs C R Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The two companies used the photograph of the Prime Minister in their respective full page advertisements contravening the &#39;prior permission&#39; stipulated under the Act, he said.

Based on the department&#39;s request, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued an advisory to print medium to check-up the permission from competent authority before issuing any advertisement wherein the emblem and names specified under the Act are mentioned, he added.

Responding to a query whether there is any mechanism to approve use of Prime Minister&#39;s photo by private firms or if the government plans to introduce one, the minister said a committee is in place to examine such proposals.

The Section 3 of the Act provides that no person shall use or continue to use any name or emblem for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession without the previous permission of the central government.

The law provides that &quot;any person who contravenes the provisions of Section 3 shall be punishable with fine, which may exceed to Rs 500&quot;.

In September last year, Reliance Jio, through its advertisements, had dedicated the Reliance Jio 4G service to the Modi government&#39;s flagship Digital India project. Full-page &quot;Reliance Jio: Digital Life&quot; advertisements were published with a photograph of the Prime Minister, dressed in a blue jacket, triggering a political controversy.

After the government announced the demonetisation decision on 8 November, Paytm issued an advertisement welcoming the move as it boosted use of e-wallets.

(PTI)

Both the companies had contravened the 'prior permission' stipulated under the the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950

Reliance Jio and Paytm have apologised for their "inadvertent mistake" in using Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph in their advertisements without permission, the government today informed Parliament. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs had sent notices to both the companies under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act of 1950, which bars use of Prime Minister's name and picture for commercial use. "Clarifications were sought by the Department of Consumer Affairs from Paytm and Reliance Jio wherein they have apologised for their inadvertent mistake," Minister of State for Consumer Affairs C R Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. The two companies used the photograph of the Prime Minister in their respective full page advertisements contravening the 'prior permission' stipulated under the Act, he said. Based on the department's request, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued an advisory to print medium to check-up the permission from competent authority before issuing any advertisement wherein the emblem and names specified under the Act are mentioned, he added. Responding to a query whether there is any mechanism to approve use of Prime Minister's photo by private firms or if the government plans to introduce one, the minister said a committee is in place to examine such proposals. The Section 3 of the Act provides that no person shall use or continue to use any name or emblem for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession without the previous permission of the central government. The law provides that "any person who contravenes the provisions of Section 3 shall be punishable with fine, which may exceed to Rs 500". In September last year, Reliance Jio, through its advertisements, had dedicated the Reliance Jio 4G service to the Modi government's flagship Digital India project. Full-page "Reliance Jio: Digital Life" advertisements were published with a photograph of the Prime Minister, dressed in a blue jacket, triggering a political controversy. After the government announced the demonetisation decision on 8 November, Paytm issued an advertisement welcoming the move as it boosted use of e-wallets. (PTI)

Reliance Jio, Paytm apologise for using PM Narendra Modi's photo in ads

Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned for the BJP for the second consecutive day in his constituency Varanasi on Sunday.

The prime minister embarked on a roadshow through the Muslim-dominated interiors of the city before ending his tour at the Kashi Vidyapeeth (University) where he addressed an election rally. 
 
PM Modi said development of Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh) was high on the priority of the central government, and criticised successive state governments for not doing anything to develop the region.

&quot;There is fertile land and hard working people but there is no good government,&quot; he said&nbsp;while addressing&nbsp;a huge gathering at the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth.

The prime minister said that the central government was ready to provide the required funds for development of the region but the state government must be able to properly account for the expenses. 
 
PM Modi also blamed&nbsp;previous governments for the lack of development of the the historical city of Banaras (Varanasi). He said the city needed a modern makeover and &quot;it is my dream to achieve this&quot;.

&quot;Earlier governments did only tidbits (of development work) for Banaras with an eye on short-term electoral gains. But these tidbits won&#39;t help Banaras. The city needs a complete, modern makeover and it is my dream to turn this city into a modern world-class city,&quot; said Modi.

He said that if earlier governments had given proper attention, Kashi (another older name for Varanasi) could have become a tourist hot spot.

&quot;People would have yearned to visit Banaras at least once,&quot; he said.

Invoking Mark Twain, the PM said the city of Varanasi was older than history itself.

&quot;Banaras is not a city, it is a living heritage. Every Indian considers Banaras as his own,&quot; he said.

He accused the BSP, Congress and the SP of rallying against the BJP after demonetisation of high value currency notes in November last year. He&nbsp;also assured the people that the honest would not be harrassed by tax authorities during his governance.

The prime minister also reached out to small traders who are in significant numbers in Varanasi. He said they would not be touched by his government&#39;s drive against corruption as the politicians and &#39;babus&#39; have looted the country all these years.&nbsp; 
 
PM Modi&nbsp;hit out at the Congress for emptying the exchequer through a series of scams including the 2G, coal scam, and AgustaWestland chopper scam.

Accusing the Congress of &quot;robbing&quot; the country for 70 years, PM Modi&nbsp;said it was time the party &quot;gave back&quot; to the people of the country.

&quot;I have been elected not to maintain status quo but to weed out corruption from the system and punish the guilty,&quot; he said.

&quot;Our motto is inclusive development but the Congress, SP and the BSP have a different culture of politics that relies on development for a few,&quot; the PM&nbsp;said.

He targeted the Opposition once more for politicising the surgical strikes against Pakistani militants across the Line of Control by asking for proof.

&quot;It is sad that those driven by politics wanted proof of surgical strikes, they asked so many died but did any of our men die,&quot; PM Modi said.

He also attacked the Samajwadi Party for the poor condition of the roads in the state.

&quot;Tourism is important for Varanasi. But see what the government has done to the roads of this place. What will the tourists feel. We wanted to build roads on different stretches. But the work is slow, the state government has no intention to build roads,&quot; PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister attacked the Congress on the distribution of gas cylinders and said his government had&nbsp;taken the&nbsp;initiative to provide clean fuel to millions of poor households. Under the scheme, 55 lakh connections had&nbsp;already been given in the state.

He also ignored the ruling Samajwadi Party government of ignoring the development-related initiatives of the central government.

&quot;30 lakh families in UP need houses, Centre asked the state for their list but they&#39;re sleeping; they couldn&#39;t make a list how will &nbsp;they make&nbsp;houses,&quot; Modi said.

Narendra Modi also took potshots at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as &quot;delicate&quot; people incapable of taking hard decisions while pitching himself as a grassroots leader who can develop the state.

&quot;They are such delicate people who cannot take hard decisions. They think what if they lose what they got. I have not got anything in inheritance.

&quot;Whatever I have got is due to the blessing of the people of Kashi. I can take hard decisions to rid the country of its problems. I have the courage to do so,&quot; the Prime Minister said. 
 
The second day of the roadshow commenced late afternoon from the city&#39;s Pandeypur Chauraha (crossroad) with the PM&#39;s supporters chanting &quot;Modi Modi&quot; and &quot;Vande Mataram&quot; before concluding at the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth university.

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&nbsp;

In the 2012 Assembly elections, the BJP had won three of the five assembly seats from Varanasi. The Samajwadi Party had won the remaining two.

Yesterday, at an election rally in neighbouring Jaunpur district, PM Modi said he had made Varanasi his &quot;Karya Kshetra&quot; (area of development), claiming that the area had lost its shine under the Samajwadi Party government.

The prime minister had also slammed Opposition parties for politicising the Indian Army&#39;s surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Pakistan last year. The prime minister claimed that the Congress government had ignored the Army&#39;s demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP) for 40 years.

He had also offered at the city&#39;s famous Kashi Vishwanath and Kaal Bhairav temples.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will address three rallies in Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Jaunpur.

The seventh-phase of Assembly polls will be held&nbsp;on March 8, in which as many as 46 constituencies covering seven districts of Uttar Pradesh will cast their vote.

&nbsp;(WION with inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The prime minister blamed the previous governments for the lack of development of the region

Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned for the BJP for the second consecutive day in his constituency Varanasi on Sunday. The prime minister embarked on a roadshow through the Muslim-dominated interiors of the city before ending his tour at the Kashi Vidyapeeth (University) where he addressed an election rally. PM Modi said development of Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh) was high on the priority of the central government, and criticised successive state governments for not doing anything to develop the region. "There is fertile land and hard working people but there is no good government," he said while addressing a huge gathering at the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth. The prime minister said that the central government was ready to provide the required funds for development of the region but the state government must be able to properly account for the expenses. PM Modi also blamed previous governments for the lack of development of the the historical city of Banaras (Varanasi). He said the city needed a modern makeover and "it is my dream to achieve this". "Earlier governments did only tidbits (of development work) for Banaras with an eye on short-term electoral gains. But these tidbits won't help Banaras. The city needs a complete, modern makeover and it is my dream to turn this city into a modern world-class city," said Modi. He said that if earlier governments had given proper attention, Kashi (another older name for Varanasi) could have become a tourist hot spot. "People would have yearned to visit Banaras at least once," he said. Invoking Mark Twain, the PM said the city of Varanasi was older than history itself. "Banaras is not a city, it is a living heritage. Every Indian considers Banaras as his own," he said. He accused the BSP, Congress and the SP of rallying against the BJP after demonetisation of high value currency notes in November last year. He also assured the people that the honest would not be harrassed by tax authorities during his governance. The prime minister also reached out to small traders who are in significant numbers in Varanasi. He said they would not be touched by his government's drive against corruption as the politicians and 'babus' have looted the country all these years. PM Modi hit out at the Congress for emptying the exchequer through a series of scams including the 2G, coal scam, and AgustaWestland chopper scam. Accusing the Congress of "robbing" the country for 70 years, PM Modi said it was time the party "gave back" to the people of the country. "I have been elected not to maintain status quo but to weed out corruption from the system and punish the guilty," he said. "Our motto is inclusive development but the Congress, SP and the BSP have a different culture of politics that relies on development for a few," the PM said. He targeted the Opposition once more for politicising the surgical strikes against Pakistani militants across the Line of Control by asking for proof. "It is sad that those driven by politics wanted proof of surgical strikes, they asked so many died but did any of our men die," PM Modi said. He also attacked the Samajwadi Party for the poor condition of the roads in the state. "Tourism is important for Varanasi. But see what the government has done to the roads of this place. What will the tourists feel. We wanted to build roads on different stretches. But the work is slow, the state government has no intention to build roads," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister attacked the Congress on the distribution of gas cylinders and said his government had taken the initiative to provide clean fuel to millions of poor households. Under the scheme, 55 lakh connections had already been given in the state. He also ignored the ruling Samajwadi Party government of ignoring the development-related initiatives of the central government. "30 lakh families in UP need houses, Centre asked the state for their list but they're sleeping; they couldn't make a list how will they make houses," Modi said. Narendra Modi also took potshots at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as "delicate" people incapable of taking hard decisions while pitching himself as a grassroots leader who can develop the state. "They are such delicate people who cannot take hard decisions. They think what if they lose what they got. I have not got anything in inheritance. "Whatever I have got is due to the blessing of the people of Kashi. I can take hard decisions to rid the country of its problems. I have the courage to do so," the Prime Minister said. The second day of the roadshow commenced late afternoon from the city's Pandeypur Chauraha (crossroad) with the PM's supporters chanting "Modi Modi" and "Vande Mataram" before concluding at the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth university. × × × × × × × In the 2012 Assembly elections, the BJP had won three of the five assembly seats from Varanasi. The Samajwadi Party had won the remaining two. Yesterday, at an election rally in neighbouring Jaunpur district, PM Modi said he had made Varanasi his "Karya Kshetra" (area of development), claiming that the area had lost its shine under the Samajwadi Party government. The prime minister had also slammed Opposition parties for politicising the Indian Army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Pakistan last year. The prime minister claimed that the Congress government had ignored the Army's demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP) for 40 years. He had also offered at the city's famous Kashi Vishwanath and Kaal Bhairav temples. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will address three rallies in Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Jaunpur. The seventh-phase of Assembly polls will be held on March 8, in which as many as 46 constituencies covering seven districts of Uttar Pradesh will cast their vote. (WION with inputs from ANI)

Indian PM Modi pitches for development of 'Purvanchal' on Day 2 of Varanasi campaign

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned for the BJP in a mega-rally held in Uttar Pradesh&#39;s Jaunpur district near his&nbsp;home constituency of Varanasi.&nbsp;

The prime minister slammed Opposition parties for politicising the Indian Army&#39;s surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Pakistan in September last year.&nbsp;

&quot;It is unfortunate that some political parties are questioning the Army out of political motives. For them even national security is a political tool,&quot; Modi said at the election rally in Jaunpur.

&quot;It is unfortunate that some parties, in their greed for power, are just focusing on politics of opposing. But the people of the nation will not forgive this...&quot; he said.

PM Modi also claimed that the Congress government had ignored the Army&#39;s demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP) for 40 years.

&quot;For 40 years our forces demanded OROP but nothing happened. I had promised a BJP government will deliver on OROP and we did,&quot; PM Modi said.

He also added that the Congress &quot;made fun&quot; of soldiers by sanctioning just Rs 500 crore for the OROP scheme before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

&quot;They announced Rs 500 crore for OROP, and tried to cash in on it during the Lok Sabha polls. When we calculated, we found that Rs 12,000 crore is needed for OROP,&quot; Modi said. &quot;Announcing just Rs 500 crore was cheating the Army.&quot;

Earlier, thousands of people lined-up for PM Modi&#39;s roadshow in Varanasi which goes to polls on March 8.

Eastern Uttar Pradesh witnessing the sixth phase of polling today.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s roadshow proceeds in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi <a href="https://t.co/nBirbVemSr">pic.twitter.com/nBirbVemSr</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/837944065882742784">March 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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PM Modi&#39;s roadshow was met with huge crowds including BJP workers who lined the streets as the prime minister&#39;s cavalcade moved through the city.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash">#Visuals</a> PM Modi&#39;s roadshow in Varanasi. BJP is contesting on 4, it&#39;s ally AD on 1, out of 5 assembly constituencies under Varanasi Loksabha <a href="https://t.co/Ou2oWF5998">pic.twitter.com/Ou2oWF5998</a>
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&nbsp;

It concluded with the prime minister offering prayers at the famous Kaal Bhairav Temple. The roadshow began from &nbsp;the main gate of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus main gate along with BJP chief Amit Shah.

Before beginning the roadshow, PM Modi put a garland on the statue of freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, who was also the founder of BHU.&nbsp;

There were reports of Samajwadi Pary workers erecting a stage in the middle of the prime minister&#39;s route which was removed by the police. Seven SP workers were detained by police.

BSP chief Mayawati also campaigned in Varanasi the same day, accusing the BJP of failing up to clean the Ganga river which remains one of the world&#39;s most polluted rivers. In 2014, Modi had famously promised to clean up the river as a part of his poll promise.

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They haven&#39;t yet cleaned mother Ganga. Along with you people, this time mother Ganga will punish them too: Mayawati in Varanasi. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPPolls?src=hash">#UPPolls</a> <a href="https://t.co/bknAGtbKRf">pic.twitter.com/bknAGtbKRf</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/837960100002177025">March 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav also held a roadshow in the city.

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Congress VP Rahul Gandhi and UP CM Akhilesh Yadav hold joint roadshow in Varanasi <a href="https://t.co/JbH3u69SZ3">pic.twitter.com/JbH3u69SZ3</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/837958758403821568">March 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh and his wife Dimple Yadav also offered prayers at the city&#39;s Kashi Vishwanath Temple. 
 
&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Watch?src=hash">#Watch</a> UP CM Akhilesh Yadav,Dimple Yadav&amp; Congress VP Rahul Gandhi offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple,Varanasi.Raj Babbar also present <a href="https://t.co/fqunSsNmld">pic.twitter.com/fqunSsNmld</a>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/838034010693636100">March 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party is contesting two out of five Assembly seats which fall under the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, currently held by the BJP.

The Congress has fielded candidates on three of the seats which cover almost the entire city. The SP is fighting the predominantly rural Rohaniya and Sevapuri.

In the 2012 Assembly elections, the Congress finished as the runner-up in Varanasi South and Varanasi Cantt.

In Varanasi North, the SP had finished third, behind BJP and BSP, and was followed closely by the Congress.

(WION with agency inputs)

At an election rally in neighbouring Jaunpur, PM Modi accused the Opposition of ignoring the Army's demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned for the BJP in a mega-rally held in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district near his home constituency of Varanasi. The prime minister slammed Opposition parties for politicising the Indian Army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control in Pakistan in September last year. "It is unfortunate that some political parties are questioning the Army out of political motives. For them even national security is a political tool," Modi said at the election rally in Jaunpur. "It is unfortunate that some parties, in their greed for power, are just focusing on politics of opposing. But the people of the nation will not forgive this..." he said. PM Modi also claimed that the Congress government had ignored the Army's demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP) for 40 years. "For 40 years our forces demanded OROP but nothing happened. I had promised a BJP government will deliver on OROP and we did," PM Modi said. He also added that the Congress "made fun" of soldiers by sanctioning just Rs 500 crore for the OROP scheme before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. "They announced Rs 500 crore for OROP, and tried to cash in on it during the Lok Sabha polls. When we calculated, we found that Rs 12,000 crore is needed for OROP," Modi said. "Announcing just Rs 500 crore was cheating the Army." Earlier, thousands of people lined-up for PM Modi's roadshow in Varanasi which goes to polls on March 8. Eastern Uttar Pradesh witnessing the sixth phase of polling today. #WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow proceeds in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi pic.twitter.com/nBirbVemSr — ANI (@ANI_news) March 4, 2017 × PM Modi's roadshow was met with huge crowds including BJP workers who lined the streets as the prime minister's cavalcade moved through the city. #Visuals PM Modi's roadshow in Varanasi. BJP is contesting on 4, it's ally AD on 1, out of 5 assembly constituencies under Varanasi Loksabha pic.twitter.com/Ou2oWF5998 — ANI (@ANI_news) March 4, 2017 × It concluded with the prime minister offering prayers at the famous Kaal Bhairav Temple. The roadshow began from the main gate of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus main gate along with BJP chief Amit Shah. Before beginning the roadshow, PM Modi put a garland on the statue of freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, who was also the founder of BHU. There were reports of Samajwadi Pary workers erecting a stage in the middle of the prime minister's route which was removed by the police. Seven SP workers were detained by police. BSP chief Mayawati also campaigned in Varanasi the same day, accusing the BJP of failing up to clean the Ganga river which remains one of the world's most polluted rivers. In 2014, Modi had famously promised to clean up the river as a part of his poll promise. They haven't yet cleaned mother Ganga. Along with you people, this time mother Ganga will punish them too: Mayawati in Varanasi. #UPPolls pic.twitter.com/bknAGtbKRf — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 4, 2017 × Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav also held a roadshow in the city. Congress VP Rahul Gandhi and UP CM Akhilesh Yadav hold joint roadshow in Varanasi pic.twitter.com/JbH3u69SZ3 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 4, 2017 × Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh and his wife Dimple Yadav also offered prayers at the city's Kashi Vishwanath Temple. #Watch UP CM Akhilesh Yadav,Dimple Yadav& Congress VP Rahul Gandhi offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple,Varanasi.Raj Babbar also present pic.twitter.com/fqunSsNmld — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 4, 2017 × Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party is contesting two out of five Assembly seats which fall under the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, currently held by the BJP. The Congress has fielded candidates on three of the seats which cover almost the entire city. The SP is fighting the predominantly rural Rohaniya and Sevapuri. In the 2012 Assembly elections, the Congress finished as the runner-up in Varanasi South and Varanasi Cantt. In Varanasi North, the SP had finished third, behind BJP and BSP, and was followed closely by the Congress. (WION with agency inputs)

Uttar Pradesh elections: PM Modi, Rahul-Akhilesh, Mayawati converge at battleground Varanasi

India&#39;s Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress for corruption and lack of development in Manipur and said the party was spreading misinforming people that the central government was compromising with the territorial sovereignity of the state.

The prime minister also said that if the BJP comes to power in the state, he would ensure economic blockades were put to an end in the state.&nbsp;

&quot;There will never be an economic blockade when BJP comes to power in Manipur, I assure you this,&quot; PM Modi said at an election rally in Manipur capital Imphal.

Accusing the Congress of &quot;ruining&quot; Manipur in the last 15 years, Modi assured that the BJP would do in 15 months what the Congress could not do all this while. He also said he was the only prime minister after Morarji Desai who attended the North East Council (NEC) meetings for the overall development of the North Eastern states.

&quot;It has been 15 years, Manipur has been ruined. Who is responsible? Congress did no development, do they deserve to be here now?. What they (Congress) did not do in last 15 years, I assure we will do it in 15 months,&quot; PM Modi said.

&quot;When Atalji (former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee) formed government, he made policies for overall development of Northeast. But Congress did not carry the good work forward.

&quot;Since last 40 years, no PM of the country came to North-East for NEC Meeting. After Morarji Desai I am the only one who visited,&quot; he added.

Modi also alleged that the Congress party was dividing people by saying that the Centre was compromising the territorial integrity of Manipur by signing an accord with the Naga insurgent group -- the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM). &nbsp;

&quot;People have been talking about the accord with the Nagas. I want to ask the CM, were you sleeping for 1.5 years? You never wrote a letter to Centre seeking details. I alone revealed everything about the accord to the Congress. They are dividing the people of Manipur by spreading lies,&quot; Prime Minister Modi said.

&quot;Naga accord was signed one and half years ago. Was Congress asleep that time? And, now they are spreading lies,&quot; he said.

He also accused the state government of pitting communities against one another for their personal gain.

&quot;In order to win elections and they are making people fight against each other. They pitted one brother against another. They don&#39;t care about the people of Manipur, all they care about is grabbing power. They don&#39;t deserve to be in the government,&quot; Prime Minister Modi said.&nbsp;

Targeting chief minister Ibobi Singh, the PM said, &quot;&quot;They (Congress) want votes for their 10 per cent commission... Have you ever heard about 10 per cent chief minister? Anywhere? Manipur now needs a zero per cent chief minister... We want vote for 100 per cent development...&quot;

Manipur goes to polls in two phases on March 4 and March 8. The results will be declared on March 11 along with that of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa.

The BJP is hoping to gain some ground in the state where the Congress is the largest party followed by the All India Trinamool Congress and Manipur State Congress Party.&nbsp;

Human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who has floated a new party after breaking her 16-year-long fast demanding repeal of the controversial AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act), is also in the fray. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

At an election rally in Imphal, Modi said the Congress was spreading lies about the Naga accord signed with the Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress for corruption and lack of development in Manipur and said the party was spreading misinforming people that the central government was compromising with the territorial sovereignity of the state. The prime minister also said that if the BJP comes to power in the state, he would ensure economic blockades were put to an end in the state. "There will never be an economic blockade when BJP comes to power in Manipur, I assure you this," PM Modi said at an election rally in Manipur capital Imphal. Accusing the Congress of "ruining" Manipur in the last 15 years, Modi assured that the BJP would do in 15 months what the Congress could not do all this while. He also said he was the only prime minister after Morarji Desai who attended the North East Council (NEC) meetings for the overall development of the North Eastern states. "It has been 15 years, Manipur has been ruined. Who is responsible? Congress did no development, do they deserve to be here now?. What they (Congress) did not do in last 15 years, I assure we will do it in 15 months," PM Modi said. "When Atalji (former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee) formed government, he made policies for overall development of Northeast. But Congress did not carry the good work forward. "Since last 40 years, no PM of the country came to North-East for NEC Meeting. After Morarji Desai I am the only one who visited," he added. Modi also alleged that the Congress party was dividing people by saying that the Centre was compromising the territorial integrity of Manipur by signing an accord with the Naga insurgent group -- the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM). "People have been talking about the accord with the Nagas. I want to ask the CM, were you sleeping for 1.5 years? You never wrote a letter to Centre seeking details. I alone revealed everything about the accord to the Congress. They are dividing the people of Manipur by spreading lies," Prime Minister Modi said. "Naga accord was signed one and half years ago. Was Congress asleep that time? And, now they are spreading lies," he said. He also accused the state government of pitting communities against one another for their personal gain. "In order to win elections and they are making people fight against each other. They pitted one brother against another. They don't care about the people of Manipur, all they care about is grabbing power. They don't deserve to be in the government," Prime Minister Modi said. Targeting chief minister Ibobi Singh, the PM said, ""They (Congress) want votes for their 10 per cent commission... Have you ever heard about 10 per cent chief minister? Anywhere? Manipur now needs a zero per cent chief minister... We want vote for 100 per cent development..." Manipur goes to polls in two phases on March 4 and March 8. The results will be declared on March 11 along with that of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa. The BJP is hoping to gain some ground in the state where the Congress is the largest party followed by the All India Trinamool Congress and Manipur State Congress Party. Human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who has floated a new party after breaking her 16-year-long fast demanding repeal of the controversial AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act), is also in the fray. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Government not compromising Manipur's territorial integrity, Congress lying: PM Modi

Invoking the Kanpur train accident as an example of the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the incident, in which 150 people were killed, was carried out by perpetrators &quot;sitting across the border&quot; in Nepal.

The prime minister was addressing an election rally in the state&#39;s Gonda district, which goes to polls on February 27.

&ldquo;The Kanpur rail accident in which hundreds of people were killed was a conspiracy and conspirators carried it out sitting across the border&hellip; Gonda is adjoining Nepal,&rdquo; he said referring to the arrest of alleged ISI agent and the prime suspect in the Kanpur train tragedy, Shamshul Hoda, by the Nepal Police on February 7.

&quot;If the cross-border foes want to carry out their work, is it not necessary that more vigil is maintained in Gonda,&quot; Modi asked people as he exhorted them to vote for the BJP. &quot;Gonda needs to elect only those who are full of patriotism, only then we can do anything good for Gonda,&quot; he said.

Hitting out at the SP over the poor law and order situation, Modi said police stations in the state had turned into offices of the ruling party. &quot;No justice can be expected from these police stations as they are helpless as they await nod for action from SP bosses,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

The PM also asked people not to make a mistake in the election by voting for the BSP or the SP and instead vote for the BJP.

&ldquo;There should not be any mistake in this election&hellip; be it the SP or the BSP, not a single seat should go to them&hellip;100 per cent seats should be won by the BJP,&rdquo; the prime minister said.

Modi also criticised the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP for the poor education system, saying the &quot;copying mafia&quot; in the state was harming the youth with their &quot;contracts&quot; of colleges and schools during exams.

Calling the education system in Uttar Pradesh &#39;corrupt&#39; and &#39;poor&#39;, Modi asked him &quot;You went to Australia for higher studies. What about the students studying here?&quot;.

&quot;When I was thinking about speaking on the issue, I must honestly admit I was slightly scared as this topic heard on television by people in other parts of the country could give ideas to anti social elements to replicate the &#39;Sapa (Samajwadi Party) ka karobaar,&quot; he said to applause.

The prime minister said the inclusive policies of the BJP such as the Jan Dhan Yojna and the Rupay card were empowering the poor by bringing them into the banking system. He also cited the example of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) on gas connections and said millions of women had benefited under the central government scheme.

&quot;Till now 1.75 crore people have been given free gas connection and they have been saved from the hazardous smoke that choked their lungs,&quot; PM Modi said. 
 
He also promised small farmers that he would waive off their loans and also give them cash under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in case their crops were damaged within 15 days of reaping.

Modi also took a dig at the Congress&nbsp;for their poor show in Maharashtra&#39;s civic body elections.

&quot;The results in BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) polls are heartening for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Where on the other hand , the Congress party has been completely wiped out from Maharashtra,&quot; said Modi.

&quot;People of our country have &#39;third eye&#39; like Lord Shiva and can differentiate between good and bad,&quot; Modi said in context of the festival of Maha Shivaratri which is being celebrated across the country today. 
Elections to the state are being held in seven phases. The results will be declared on March 11. 
 
This is the second time that the BJP has brought in the issue of terrorism in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah had asked the people of Uttar Pradesh to get rid of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist who was hanged after being convicted for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

&quot;People of Uttar Pradesh get rid of &lsquo;Kasab&rsquo; in this year&rsquo;s election. I say this again, People of Uttar Pradesh get rid of &lsquo;Kasab&rsquo; in this year&rsquo;s election. Don&rsquo;t take any other meaning of &lsquo;Kasab&rsquo;. By Kasab I mean, K for Congress party, S for Samajwadi Party and B for Bahujan Samaj Party. Unless you end Kasab, Uttar Pradesh will not develop,&rdquo; Amit Shah said at an election rally on February 22. 
 
(WION with inputs from &nbsp;PTI, ANI)

Narendra Modi blamed the Samajwadi Party government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state

Invoking the Kanpur train accident as an example of the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the incident, in which 150 people were killed, was carried out by perpetrators "sitting across the border" in Nepal. The prime minister was addressing an election rally in the state's Gonda district, which goes to polls on February 27. “The Kanpur rail accident in which hundreds of people were killed was a conspiracy and conspirators carried it out sitting across the border… Gonda is adjoining Nepal,” he said referring to the arrest of alleged ISI agent and the prime suspect in the Kanpur train tragedy, Shamshul Hoda, by the Nepal Police on February 7. "If the cross-border foes want to carry out their work, is it not necessary that more vigil is maintained in Gonda," Modi asked people as he exhorted them to vote for the BJP. "Gonda needs to elect only those who are full of patriotism, only then we can do anything good for Gonda," he said. Hitting out at the SP over the poor law and order situation, Modi said police stations in the state had turned into offices of the ruling party. "No justice can be expected from these police stations as they are helpless as they await nod for action from SP bosses," he said. The PM also asked people not to make a mistake in the election by voting for the BSP or the SP and instead vote for the BJP. “There should not be any mistake in this election… be it the SP or the BSP, not a single seat should go to them…100 per cent seats should be won by the BJP,” the prime minister said. Modi also criticised the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP for the poor education system, saying the "copying mafia" in the state was harming the youth with their "contracts" of colleges and schools during exams. Calling the education system in Uttar Pradesh 'corrupt' and 'poor', Modi asked him "You went to Australia for higher studies. What about the students studying here?". "When I was thinking about speaking on the issue, I must honestly admit I was slightly scared as this topic heard on television by people in other parts of the country could give ideas to anti social elements to replicate the 'Sapa (Samajwadi Party) ka karobaar," he said to applause. The prime minister said the inclusive policies of the BJP such as the Jan Dhan Yojna and the Rupay card were empowering the poor by bringing them into the banking system. He also cited the example of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) on gas connections and said millions of women had benefited under the central government scheme. "Till now 1.75 crore people have been given free gas connection and they have been saved from the hazardous smoke that choked their lungs," PM Modi said. He also promised small farmers that he would waive off their loans and also give them cash under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in case their crops were damaged within 15 days of reaping. Modi also took a dig at the Congress for their poor show in Maharashtra's civic body elections. "The results in BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) polls are heartening for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).Where on the other hand , the Congress party has been completely wiped out from Maharashtra," said Modi. "People of our country have 'third eye' like Lord Shiva and can differentiate between good and bad," Modi said in context of the festival of Maha Shivaratri which is being celebrated across the country today. Elections to the state are being held in seven phases. The results will be declared on March 11. This is the second time that the BJP has brought in the issue of terrorism in Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, BJP president Amit Shah had asked the people of Uttar Pradesh to get rid of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Ajmal Kasab, the Pakistani terrorist who was hanged after being convicted for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. "People of Uttar Pradesh get rid of ‘Kasab’ in this year’s election. I say this again, People of Uttar Pradesh get rid of ‘Kasab’ in this year’s election. Don’t take any other meaning of ‘Kasab’. By Kasab I mean, K for Congress party, S for Samajwadi Party and B for Bahujan Samaj Party. Unless you end Kasab, Uttar Pradesh will not develop,” Amit Shah said at an election rally on February 22. (WION with inputs from PTI, ANI)

Kanpur train accident was a conspiracy from across the border: PM Modi at election rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the United States on Tuesday to keep an open mind on admitting skilled Indian workers, in comments that pushed back against Republican President Donald Trump&#39;s &quot;America First&quot; rhetoric on jobs.

Modi&#39;s comments reflected concern that India&#39;s $150 billion IT services industry would suffer if the United States curbs the visas, known as H-1B, it relies on to send its software experts to the United States on project work.

&quot;The prime minister referred to the role of skilled Indian talent in enriching the American economy and society,&quot; Modi&#39;s office said in a statement after he met a bipartisan delegation of 26 members of the US&nbsp;Congress.

&quot;He urged developing a reflective, balanced and far-sighted perspective on movement of skilled professionals.&quot;

Indian nationals are by far the largest group of recipients of the 65,000 H-1B visas issued each year to new applicants under a cap mandated by Congress. Exemptions on the H-1B cap are available to up to 20,000 further applicants who have obtained a US&nbsp;master&#39;s degree.

The actual number of Indian nationals working in the United States under the H-1B programme is significantly higher, however, because many visas are rolled over.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who was born in India, also met Modi on Tuesday. He told the Economic Times earlier that his own career had been made possible by &quot;an enlightened immigration policy&quot;.

&nbsp;

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Microsoft&#39;s Chief Executive, Satya Nadella, calls on Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi. (WION)
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Initial confidence that Asia&#39;s third-largest economy would benefit from Trump&#39;s election victory has given way to concern that his isolationist rhetoric and hostility to free trade would hurt India&#39;s hi-tech and outsourcing industry.

The sector, led by Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd, employs 3.5 million people and is lobbying against proposed US&nbsp;visa curbs - including increases on salaries that H-1B visa holders must earn.

Part of the delegation led by Congressman Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, met Ravi Shankar Prasad, India&#39;s minister in charge of electronics and IT.

Goodlatte, speaking at the meeting with Prasad, declined to answer a question on visa restrictions, saying it was up to the president to reassess his policies on immigration.

A senior Indian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said India hoped to resolve the visa issue with the United States but declined to be drawn on the details.

The government supported a move by NASSCOM, India&#39;s high-tech industry association, to lobby US&nbsp;lawmakers and companies to urge the administration not to crack down on allowing its skilled workers into the United States, the source said.

(Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the United States to keep an open mind on admitting skilled Indian workers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the United States on Tuesday to keep an open mind on admitting skilled Indian workers, in comments that pushed back against Republican President Donald Trump's "America First" rhetoric on jobs. Modi's comments reflected concern that India's $150 billion IT services industry would suffer if the United States curbs the visas, known as H-1B, it relies on to send its software experts to the United States on project work. "The prime minister referred to the role of skilled Indian talent in enriching the American economy and society," Modi's office said in a statement after he met a bipartisan delegation of 26 members of the US Congress. "He urged developing a reflective, balanced and far-sighted perspective on movement of skilled professionals." Indian nationals are by far the largest group of recipients of the 65,000 H-1B visas issued each year to new applicants under a cap mandated by Congress. Exemptions on the H-1B cap are available to up to 20,000 further applicants who have obtained a US master's degree. The actual number of Indian nationals working in the United States under the H-1B programme is significantly higher, however, because many visas are rolled over. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who was born in India, also met Modi on Tuesday. He told the Economic Times earlier that his own career had been made possible by "an enlightened immigration policy". Microsoft's Chief Executive, Satya Nadella, calls on Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi. (WION) × Initial confidence that Asia's third-largest economy would benefit from Trump's election victory has given way to concern that his isolationist rhetoric and hostility to free trade would hurt India's hi-tech and outsourcing industry. The sector, led by Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd, employs 3.5 million people and is lobbying against proposed US visa curbs - including increases on salaries that H-1B visa holders must earn. Part of the delegation led by Congressman Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, met Ravi Shankar Prasad, India's minister in charge of electronics and IT. Goodlatte, speaking at the meeting with Prasad, declined to answer a question on visa restrictions, saying it was up to the president to reassess his policies on immigration. A senior Indian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said India hoped to resolve the visa issue with the United States but declined to be drawn on the details. The government supported a move by NASSCOM, India's high-tech industry association, to lobby US lawmakers and companies to urge the administration not to crack down on allowing its skilled workers into the United States, the source said. (Reuters)

H1-B visa: US should adopt balanced approach, says PM Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may land in trouble for making&nbsp;seemingly divisive statements at an election rally in India&#39;s northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

The Congress is set to file a complaint with the Election Commission -- the authority that oversees election process in the country -- for making discriminatory statements at Fatehabad, a town in Uttar Pradesh, where he was addressing a public gathering as part of the state election campaign.

Modi had taunted the Samajwadi Party -- the party in power in Uttar Pradesh -- of being prejudicial towards the Muslims.

&quot;Ramzan me bijli athi hai tho Diwali me bhi ani chahiye; Bhedbhav nhi hona chahiye (If there is electricity during Ramadan then it must be available during Diwali too; there shouldn&#39;t be any discrimination),&quot; he had said.

Another statement that has not gone down well with the Congress is when Modi said: &quot;Gaon me kabristan banta hai to shamshaan bhi banna chahiye&quot; (If land is given for cemetery in a village, it should be given for cremation ground also).&quot;

It is important to mention that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, also known as SP, are fighting the Uttar Pradesh elections together. So a broadside against the SP is an indirect jibe at the Congress.

Secretary of the Legal and Human Rights Department of the Congress party, KC Mittal, confirmed that the Congress would file a complaint against Modi for making &quot;deplorable&quot; statements during his campaign speech.

Last week, the Congress has asked the Election Commission to take action against Prime Minister Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for hosting a public rally in Uttarakhand without permission.

Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyay had dispatched a letter to the Election Commission, terming the Prime Minister&#39;s 10 February public rally as unauthorised and an open case of model code of conduct violation.

In January, the BJP had demanded that the Election Commission freeze the election symbol of Congress alleging that its vice-president Rahul Gandhi violated the model code of conduct by linking his party symbol &#39;hand&#39;&nbsp;with various religious figures.

Uttar Pradesh, India&#39;s largest state,&nbsp;is the middle of a hard-fought, and often bitter, election campaign. There are seven different phases of polling and the result would be declared on March 11.

(WION with inputs from ANI)

The Indian Prime Minister had allegedly accused the Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party of being prejudiced towards Muslims

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may land in trouble for making seemingly divisive statements at an election rally in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. The Congress is set to file a complaint with the Election Commission -- the authority that oversees election process in the country -- for making discriminatory statements at Fatehabad, a town in Uttar Pradesh, where he was addressing a public gathering as part of the state election campaign. Modi had taunted the Samajwadi Party -- the party in power in Uttar Pradesh -- of being prejudicial towards the Muslims. "Ramzan me bijli athi hai tho Diwali me bhi ani chahiye; Bhedbhav nhi hona chahiye (If there is electricity during Ramadan then it must be available during Diwali too; there shouldn't be any discrimination)," he had said. Another statement that has not gone down well with the Congress is when Modi said: "Gaon me kabristan banta hai to shamshaan bhi banna chahiye" (If land is given for cemetery in a village, it should be given for cremation ground also)." It is important to mention that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, also known as SP, are fighting the Uttar Pradesh elections together. So a broadside against the SP is an indirect jibe at the Congress. Secretary of the Legal and Human Rights Department of the Congress party, KC Mittal, confirmed that the Congress would file a complaint against Modi for making "deplorable" statements during his campaign speech. Last week, the Congress has asked the Election Commission to take action against Prime Minister Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for hosting a public rally in Uttarakhand without permission. Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyay had dispatched a letter to the Election Commission, terming the Prime Minister's 10 February public rally as unauthorised and an open case of model code of conduct violation. In January, the BJP had demanded that the Election Commission freeze the election symbol of Congress alleging that its vice-president Rahul Gandhi violated the model code of conduct by linking his party symbol 'hand' with various religious figures. Uttar Pradesh, India's largest state, is the middle of a hard-fought, and often bitter, election campaign. There are seven different phases of polling and the result would be declared on March 11. (WION with inputs from ANI)

Congress to file complaint against PM Modi over 'deplorable' campaign speech

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Uttar Pradesh&#39;s ruling Samajwadi Party and the Opposition parties -- the Congress and the BSP -- for the lack of development in the state.

At an election rally in the state&#39;s Barabanki district, PM Modi claimed that in spite of the central government providing funds for farmers, the state government had not done any work in their favour. He said that Uttar Pradesh (UP) can develop only when the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress would be removed from the state.

&quot;Uttar Pradesh will progress only when the SP, BSP and Congress are removed. I urge people in UP to elect a BJP government devoted to development,&quot; he said while addressing a rally.

Till the time you will not punish SP, BSP and Congress, Uttar Pradesh will not change,&quot; he added.

Asserting confidence of achieving favourable mandate, Prime Minister Modi said an environment of contempt against the SP, BSP and Congress can be seen in Uttar Pradesh.

&quot;Our government is for the poor, the underprivileged, the marginalised, the farmers. You can change the situation by placing your finger on the right symbol,&quot; he said.

The PM also took pot shots at chief minister Akhilesh Yadav&#39;s government at another election rally in Hardoi district, alleging that police stations in the state had become the SP&#39;s office. He also vowed to eradicate the rule of goons (gunda-raj) in the state if the BJP came to power.&nbsp;

&quot;Can any political party&#39;s office be at police stations? The police take permission from the Samajwadi Party (SP) workers to lodge a case. Police stations have become the Samajwadi Party&#39;s offices. The highest number of political murders are perpetrated in UP.&nbsp;

Law and order has completely collapsed in the state. There should be no discrimination in the deliverance of justice,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

The PM, who was campaigning for the third and fourth phase elections in the state, vowed not to ditch the people in the state.

He drew a parallel with Lord Krishna who was born in UP but made Gujarat his &#39;karma bhoomi&#39; (place of work).

&quot;Krishna was born in Uttar Pradesh but made Gujarat his karma bhoomi. I was born in Gujarat but Uttar Pradesh has adopted me. It is a privilege for me. Uttar Pradesh is like &#39;mai-baap&#39;. I am not a son who would ditch his &#39;mai-baap&#39;. I will always care about Uttar Pradesh,&quot; he said.

The third phase of the UP assembly polls will take place on February 19. The results of the seven-phase elections will be announced on March 11.

Akhilesh Yadav hits back at Modi&#39;s inexperience barb, defends father Mulayam Singh

A day after PM Modi questioned him for forming a coalition with &quot;those who tried to murder&quot; his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav said Modi&#39;s advisors should have cited better examples like Firozabad where his party was defeated by the Congress in a by-poll.

The de facto chief of the SP said that his party had entered into an alliance with the Congress to keep communal forces at bay.

&quot;Why did he travel so far to 1984 to create anger in me against Congress. He could have mentioned Firozabad where Congress&#39; state unit chief (Raj Babbar) defeated us (in bypoll),&quot; he said, adding they were revisiting such an old incident only because they have already &quot;lost&quot; the elections.

Akhilesh Yadav also hit back at PM Modi for calling him &quot;inexperienced&quot; saying, he had learnt to cycle fast so that neither the BSP&#39;s elephant nor BJP&#39;s lotus could come anywhere near the SP. The elephant and the lotus are the elections symbols of the two parties.

&quot;They termed me as inexperienced but one can ride the bicycle (SP symbol) only after falling down at least once...I have learnt to ride bicycle and that too with great speed so that neither the elephant nor the lotus can come anywhere near,&quot; Akhilesh said at an election meeting in Karhal.

&quot;Modiji said in Kannauj that by entering into an alliance with Congress, I have shown inexperience...We have done this so as to remove all doubts among people about government formation...We have done this to form government and remove communal forces,&quot; he said.

On the BJP&#39;s &quot;achchey din&quot; (good days) slogan, he said, &quot;BJP people say SP could not bring achchey din...This was the slogan of BJP it was never given by the Samajwadis.&quot;

On the BJP&#39;s promise of loan waiver for farmers, he said, &quot;I want to ask what has their government done in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra (where farmers are committing suicide...first you help farmers of Maharashtra&quot;.

Both Gujarat and Maharashtra are ruled by the BJP.

Akhilesh also dismissed claims of tensions with Mulayam Singh claiming &quot;SP is not my party but that of Netaji (Mulayam)&quot;.

At a rally in Etawah, Akhilesh alleged that some people had deliberately tried to create a rift between Mulayam Singh and himself.

&quot;Those who have tried to create distance between Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) and me, the people of Etawah should teach them a lesson,&quot; Akhilesh said. Jinhone Netaji aur mere beech khaayi paida ki hai, Etawah ke log usay sabak sikhaane ka kaam karna: Akhilesh Yadav in Etawah

&quot;The very people we trusted were the ones who made me and Netaji fight,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

PM Modi should stop &quot;Mann ki Baat&quot;: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi asked PM Modi to stop his radio programme &quot;Mann ki Baat&quot; and instead understand their sufferings in the wake of demonetisation.

Addressing an election rally in Sitapur, Rahul Gandhi also slammed Modi for not waiving off the loans of farmers.&nbsp;

&quot;There was a meeting yesterday (Wednesday). Some people raised their voice against demonetisation. Modiji asked, what is their problem?&quot;

&quot;Modiji, you should stop &quot;Mann Ki Baat&quot; and should listen to the people. You&#39;ll understand the problems people are facing due to demonetisation,&quot; he said.

Hitting out at Modi, Gandhi said that the Prime Minister does not need to be in power in Uttar Pradesh to waive off the loans of farmers.

&quot;To waive off loans, you (Modi) don&#39;t need to be in power in Uttar Pradesh for that. Your government is at the Centre, so you should waive off the loans. Why are you waiting for elections?&quot; Gandhi said. 
 
People won&#39;t be influenced by PM&#39;s &#39;adopted son&#39; drama: Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati took a dig at PM Modi, saying that the People of UP will not be influenced by his drama of calling himself the adopted son of the state.

She also asked Modi not to spread false information about her party&#39;s work when they were in power in the state.

&quot;He can ask me if his people are unable to tell him,&quot; she said.

Mayawati also expressed confidence that the BSP would win with a majority in the upcoming elections.

&quot;I am glad to inform that in the two phases conducted in UP, majority of the seats have been won by the BSP candidates. I can assert that in the coming phases as well, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will lead. Our party will form the government in the state with full majority. Keeping in view the wrong policies and functioning of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), there is urgent need of BSP in Uttar Pradesh,&quot; she said. 
&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

PM Modi once again hit out at the Akhilesh Yadav government at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party and the Opposition parties -- the Congress and the BSP -- for the lack of development in the state. At an election rally in the state's Barabanki district, PM Modi claimed that in spite of the central government providing funds for farmers, the state government had not done any work in their favour. He said that Uttar Pradesh (UP) can develop only when the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress would be removed from the state. "Uttar Pradesh will progress only when the SP, BSP and Congress are removed. I urge people in UP to elect a BJP government devoted to development," he said while addressing a rally. Till the time you will not punish SP, BSP and Congress, Uttar Pradesh will not change," he added. Asserting confidence of achieving favourable mandate, Prime Minister Modi said an environment of contempt against the SP, BSP and Congress can be seen in Uttar Pradesh. "Our government is for the poor, the underprivileged, the marginalised, the farmers. You can change the situation by placing your finger on the right symbol," he said. The PM also took pot shots at chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's government at another election rally in Hardoi district, alleging that police stations in the state had become the SP's office. He also vowed to eradicate the rule of goons (gunda-raj) in the state if the BJP came to power. "Can any political party's office be at police stations? The police take permission from the Samajwadi Party (SP) workers to lodge a case. Police stations have become the Samajwadi Party's offices. The highest number of political murders are perpetrated in UP. Law and order has completely collapsed in the state. There should be no discrimination in the deliverance of justice," he said. The PM, who was campaigning for the third and fourth phase elections in the state, vowed not to ditch the people in the state. He drew a parallel with Lord Krishna who was born in UP but made Gujarat his 'karma bhoomi' (place of work). "Krishna was born in Uttar Pradesh but made Gujarat his karma bhoomi. I was born in Gujarat but Uttar Pradesh has adopted me. It is a privilege for me. Uttar Pradesh is like 'mai-baap'. I am not a son who would ditch his 'mai-baap'. I will always care about Uttar Pradesh," he said. The third phase of the UP assembly polls will take place on February 19. The results of the seven-phase elections will be announced on March 11. Akhilesh Yadav hits back at Modi's inexperience barb, defends father Mulayam Singh A day after PM Modi questioned him for forming a coalition with "those who tried to murder" his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav said Modi's advisors should have cited better examples like Firozabad where his party was defeated by the Congress in a by-poll. The de facto chief of the SP said that his party had entered into an alliance with the Congress to keep communal forces at bay. "Why did he travel so far to 1984 to create anger in me against Congress. He could have mentioned Firozabad where Congress' state unit chief (Raj Babbar) defeated us (in bypoll)," he said, adding they were revisiting such an old incident only because they have already "lost" the elections. Akhilesh Yadav also hit back at PM Modi for calling him "inexperienced" saying, he had learnt to cycle fast so that neither the BSP's elephant nor BJP's lotus could come anywhere near the SP. The elephant and the lotus are the elections symbols of the two parties. "They termed me as inexperienced but one can ride the bicycle (SP symbol) only after falling down at least once...I have learnt to ride bicycle and that too with great speed so that neither the elephant nor the lotus can come anywhere near," Akhilesh said at an election meeting in Karhal. "Modiji said in Kannauj that by entering into an alliance with Congress, I have shown inexperience...We have done this so as to remove all doubts among people about government formation...We have done this to form government and remove communal forces," he said. On the BJP's "achchey din" (good days) slogan, he said, "BJP people say SP could not bring achchey din...This was the slogan of BJP it was never given by the Samajwadis." On the BJP's promise of loan waiver for farmers, he said, "I want to ask what has their government done in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra (where farmers are committing suicide...first you help farmers of Maharashtra". Both Gujarat and Maharashtra are ruled by the BJP. Akhilesh also dismissed claims of tensions with Mulayam Singh claiming "SP is not my party but that of Netaji (Mulayam)". At a rally in Etawah, Akhilesh alleged that some people had deliberately tried to create a rift between Mulayam Singh and himself. "Those who have tried to create distance between Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) and me, the people of Etawah should teach them a lesson," Akhilesh said. Jinhone Netaji aur mere beech khaayi paida ki hai, Etawah ke log usay sabak sikhaane ka kaam karna: Akhilesh Yadav in Etawah "The very people we trusted were the ones who made me and Netaji fight," he added. PM Modi should stop "Mann ki Baat": Rahul Gandhi Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi asked PM Modi to stop his radio programme "Mann ki Baat" and instead understand their sufferings in the wake of demonetisation. Addressing an election rally in Sitapur, Rahul Gandhi also slammed Modi for not waiving off the loans of farmers. "There was a meeting yesterday (Wednesday). Some people raised their voice against demonetisation. Modiji asked, what is their problem?" "Modiji, you should stop "Mann Ki Baat" and should listen to the people. You'll understand the problems people are facing due to demonetisation," he said. Hitting out at Modi, Gandhi said that the Prime Minister does not need to be in power in Uttar Pradesh to waive off the loans of farmers. "To waive off loans, you (Modi) don't need to be in power in Uttar Pradesh for that. Your government is at the Centre, so you should waive off the loans. Why are you waiting for elections?" Gandhi said. People won't be influenced by PM's 'adopted son' drama: Mayawati BSP chief Mayawati took a dig at PM Modi, saying that the People of UP will not be influenced by his drama of calling himself the adopted son of the state. She also asked Modi not to spread false information about her party's work when they were in power in the state. "He can ask me if his people are unable to tell him," she said. Mayawati also expressed confidence that the BSP would win with a majority in the upcoming elections. "I am glad to inform that in the two phases conducted in UP, majority of the seats have been won by the BSP candidates. I can assert that in the coming phases as well, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will lead. Our party will form the government in the state with full majority. Keeping in view the wrong policies and functioning of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), there is urgent need of BSP in Uttar Pradesh," she said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Now, PM Modi compares himself to Lord Krishna

Pandemonium erupted in Parliament&#39;s Upper House, Rajya Sabha today with the Congress staging a walkout after Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s jibe at former PM Manmohan Singh over 
corruption.

Modi, who was replying to the Motion of Thanks for the President&#39;s budget address said, &quot;For almost 35 years, Manmohan Singhji had a lot of influence on country&#39;s economic policies. Is there not a single taint on him. Only Manmohan Singh understands the art of taking bath in a bathroom wearing a raincoat.&quot;

He was alluding to the fact that the former PM&#39;s name was not singled out for corruption despite the fact that his UPA-led government was implicated in a series of corruption scandals including the allocation of coal blocks, spectrum and telecom licenses.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said it was &quot;unbecoming of a prime minister to malign a former prime minister in such a manner&quot;.

&quot;Walked out as protest, such harsh and ugly comments not acceptable. No PM in past made such comments about a former PM,&quot; the former finance minister said.

It is unbecoming of a prime minister to use such language for a former PM, unbecoming for anyone to say such harsh ugly statement,&quot; Chidambaram said.

Senior Congress leader Ahmad Patel said he was &quot;speechless&quot; after the PM&#39;s remarks. Congress politician Kapil Sibal described the allegations as &quot;unsustainable&quot; and said Modi was being &quot;arrogant&quot;.

&quot;Look at his arrogance, he chooses to speak when everyone else is done and then makes unsubstantiated allegations,&quot; Kapil Sibal said.
<centre><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GCZrkqGT-LM" width="560"></iframe><centre>
PM Modi also defended demonetisation, stating that no other country in the world had taken such a big decision and that it would be a case study across world universities. He said banks had received a lot of cash and interest rates had fallen down after demonetisation.

&quot;There wasn&#39;t a decision as big taken anywhere in the world.This can become a big case study for the world universities. The massive decision that India took,&quot; Modi said. Worlds&#39; economists don&#39;t know parameters to assess it. What India did will be a case study for economists worldwide,&quot; Modi added. &quot;You quote foreign economists, I can quote 10 of them on the fact that such an action hasn&#39;t been taken in the world ever.&quot;

Modi also said the fight against corruption was not political and that only political parties were opposing demonetisation. &quot;The government and the people were together during the period of demonetisation. For the first time, a horizontal divide was visible. Mood of the people completely different from mood of politicians,&quot; Modi said.

The Lower House of Parliament, Lok Sabha, yesterday, passed by a voice vote the Motion of Thanks to President&#39;s address amid protests by the Opposition led by the Congress party after the PM attacked them for &quot;dynastic politics.&quot; 
 
The President makes a special address to a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament at the beginning of the first session of the year, usually the Budget Session, outlining the legislative and policy achievements during the preceding year and the roadmap for the year ahead.

After being approved by the Cabinet, the address is followed by a motion of thanks moved in each House by ruling party MPs, followed by discussions that last up to three or four days and conclude with the PM replying to the points raised during the discussion.

After the PM&#39;s reply, MPs vote on the motion of thanks and some may move amendments to the address.

 
(WION)
</centre></centre>

The Congress staged a walkout from Parliament after Modi's remark that Manmohan Singh had been shielded from corruption allegations

Pandemonium erupted in Parliament's Upper House, Rajya Sabha today with the Congress staging a walkout after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe at former PM Manmohan Singh over corruption. Modi, who was replying to the Motion of Thanks for the President's budget address said, "For almost 35 years, Manmohan Singhji had a lot of influence on country's economic policies. Is there not a single taint on him. Only Manmohan Singh understands the art of taking bath in a bathroom wearing a raincoat." He was alluding to the fact that the former PM's name was not singled out for corruption despite the fact that his UPA-led government was implicated in a series of corruption scandals including the allocation of coal blocks, spectrum and telecom licenses. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said it was "unbecoming of a prime minister to malign a former prime minister in such a manner". "Walked out as protest, such harsh and ugly comments not acceptable. No PM in past made such comments about a former PM," the former finance minister said. It is unbecoming of a prime minister to use such language for a former PM, unbecoming for anyone to say such harsh ugly statement," Chidambaram said. Senior Congress leader Ahmad Patel said he was "speechless" after the PM's remarks. Congress politician Kapil Sibal described the allegations as "unsustainable" and said Modi was being "arrogant". "Look at his arrogance, he chooses to speak when everyone else is done and then makes unsubstantiated allegations," Kapil Sibal said. PM Modi also defended demonetisation, stating that no other country in the world had taken such a big decision and that it would be a case study across world universities. He said banks had received a lot of cash and interest rates had fallen down after demonetisation. "There wasn't a decision as big taken anywhere in the world.This can become a big case study for the world universities. The massive decision that India took," Modi said. Worlds' economists don't know parameters to assess it. What India did will be a case study for economists worldwide," Modi added. "You quote foreign economists, I can quote 10 of them on the fact that such an action hasn't been taken in the world ever." Modi also said the fight against corruption was not political and that only political parties were opposing demonetisation. "The government and the people were together during the period of demonetisation. For the first time, a horizontal divide was visible. Mood of the people completely different from mood of politicians," Modi said. The Lower House of Parliament, Lok Sabha, yesterday, passed by a voice vote the Motion of Thanks to President's address amid protests by the Opposition led by the Congress party after the PM attacked them for "dynastic politics." The President makes a special address to a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament at the beginning of the first session of the year, usually the Budget Session, outlining the legislative and policy achievements during the preceding year and the roadmap for the year ahead. After being approved by the Cabinet, the address is followed by a motion of thanks moved in each House by ruling party MPs, followed by discussions that last up to three or four days and conclude with the PM replying to the points raised during the discussion. After the PM's reply, MPs vote on the motion of thanks and some may move amendments to the address. (WION)

PM Modi's 'raincoat' jibe against ex-PM Manmohan Singh angers Congress

India&#39;s Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Uttar Pradesh&#39;s ruling Samajwadi Party(SP) during an election rally in Uttar Pradesh&#39;s Ghaziabad district.

The Indian prime minister attacked the Akhilesh Yadav government over the law and order situation in the state and the constant infighting within the ruling party.

&quot;Girls are afraid of going to school. Your Samajwadi Party (SP) is harbouring goons and they are responsible for this condition of Uttar Pradesh (UP),&quot; PM Modi said while addressing an election rally in UP&#39;s Ghaziabad.

Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls on February 11 in the first phase of polls, in a long drawn seven-phase polling schedule set to culminate with results set to be announced on 11th March. Political pundits&nbsp;believe BJP will win a&nbsp;majority of seats in the assembly but the recent Congress-Samajwadi Party coalition may unsettle their plans to come to power.

PM Modi said rapes and murders were unaccounted for in the state and the Samajwadi Party was neither &quot;worried, nor did it consider it their responsibility to tackle the situation&quot;.

&quot;Today, in Uttar Pradesh, after the sun sets a woman cannot step outside confidently on the streets as they are not safe in the state,&quot; PM Modi asserted.

He also blamed the SP and the Mayawati-led BSP for the lack of development in the state.&nbsp;&quot;Development has gone to &#39;exile&#39; for the last 14 years in the state, this election is about bringing development back,&quot; he said.

&quot;After Bharatiya Janata Party comes to power, we will form a special task force against land mafia. Then we will give back land to the poor and middle class people,&quot; said Modi.

The PM said the politically-crucial state could become the country&#39;s &quot;best state&quot; (Uttam Pradesh) &nbsp;if people chose the right government, alluding to his party, the BJP.

&quot;Nowadays, I am listening to speeches. They abuse the federal government for five minutes. Can you give me an account of your achievements as well,&quot; the prime minister said pointing to the opposition.

&quot;If Bharatiya Janata Party assumes power in Uttar Pradesh we will scrutinise the scams in employment sector and will give jobs to unemployed people,&quot; he said.

Blaming the Samajwadi Party for the lack of development in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said Akhilesh Yadav had &quot;destroyed the state in the last five years&quot;.

&quot;The Samajwadi Party, which has been in power for last five years, it is their duty to answer the people of Uttar Pradesh about the work they have done,&quot; India&#39;s prime minister said.

&quot;When Akhilesh Yadav became Chief Minister, we thought there would be development in the state since he is young and highly educated, but he destroyed the state in five years,&quot; Modi said.

&quot;Due to selfish politics, poor are not getting food even twice a day. Even that does not seem to have had any impact on the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government,&quot; Modi added.

The PM said the objective in the upcoming state assembly election was to bring development in the state.&nbsp;

He also said he would give an account of my achievements in the 2019 general elections.

&quot;Akhilesh is so scared, he has embraced whoever he came across. Who steps in a sinking boat,&quot; Modi sarcastically remarked referring to SP&#39;s alliance with the Congress for the assembly elections in the state.

Modi also took pot-shots at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, son of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, blaming him for the split in the party.&nbsp;

&quot;What have you done to your father (Mulayam Singh Yadav), uncle (Shivpal Yadav) and the daughter-in-laws, nephews and brothers in your family, the people know everything,&quot; he said.

(WION with agency inputs) 
&nbsp;

PM Modi attacked the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party at an election rally in Ghaziabad

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party(SP) during an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad district. The Indian prime minister attacked the Akhilesh Yadav government over the law and order situation in the state and the constant infighting within the ruling party. "Girls are afraid of going to school. Your Samajwadi Party (SP) is harbouring goons and they are responsible for this condition of Uttar Pradesh (UP)," PM Modi said while addressing an election rally in UP's Ghaziabad. Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls on February 11 in the first phase of polls, in a long drawn seven-phase polling schedule set to culminate with results set to be announced on 11th March. Political pundits believe BJP will win a majority of seats in the assembly but the recent Congress-Samajwadi Party coalition may unsettle their plans to come to power. PM Modi said rapes and murders were unaccounted for in the state and the Samajwadi Party was neither "worried, nor did it consider it their responsibility to tackle the situation". "Today, in Uttar Pradesh, after the sun sets a woman cannot step outside confidently on the streets as they are not safe in the state," PM Modi asserted. He also blamed the SP and the Mayawati-led BSP for the lack of development in the state. "Development has gone to 'exile' for the last 14 years in the state, this election is about bringing development back," he said. "After Bharatiya Janata Party comes to power, we will form a special task force against land mafia. Then we will give back land to the poor and middle class people," said Modi. The PM said the politically-crucial state could become the country's "best state" (Uttam Pradesh) if people chose the right government, alluding to his party, the BJP. "Nowadays, I am listening to speeches. They abuse the federal government for five minutes. Can you give me an account of your achievements as well," the prime minister said pointing to the opposition. "If Bharatiya Janata Party assumes power in Uttar Pradesh we will scrutinise the scams in employment sector and will give jobs to unemployed people," he said. Blaming the Samajwadi Party for the lack of development in Uttar Pradesh, Modi said Akhilesh Yadav had "destroyed the state in the last five years". "The Samajwadi Party, which has been in power for last five years, it is their duty to answer the people of Uttar Pradesh about the work they have done," India's prime minister said. "When Akhilesh Yadav became Chief Minister, we thought there would be development in the state since he is young and highly educated, but he destroyed the state in five years," Modi said. "Due to selfish politics, poor are not getting food even twice a day. Even that does not seem to have had any impact on the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government," Modi added. The PM said the objective in the upcoming state assembly election was to bring development in the state. He also said he would give an account of my achievements in the 2019 general elections. "Akhilesh is so scared, he has embraced whoever he came across. Who steps in a sinking boat," Modi sarcastically remarked referring to SP's alliance with the Congress for the assembly elections in the state. Modi also took pot-shots at Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, son of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, blaming him for the split in the party. "What have you done to your father (Mulayam Singh Yadav), uncle (Shivpal Yadav) and the daughter-in-laws, nephews and brothers in your family, the people know everything," he said. (WION with agency inputs)

Development on 'exile' in UP for 14 years: Modi

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