<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will visit Rae bareli on Thursday following an explosion at the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant that left 18 people dead.</p>

<p>Rahul, who was in Gujarat on Wednesday for the election campaigning, took to Twitter and said, &quot;Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Rae Bareli tomorrow morning. I will join Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in the afternoon.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Rae Bareli tomorrow morning. Will join Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in the afternoon.</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/925776585533169664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Rahul was in Gujarat as part of his three-day Navsarjan Yatra, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state.</p>

<p>Earlier on Wednesday, at least 18 people were killed and 100 others sustained injuries after an ash-pipe exploded due to pressure at the NTPC plant in Unchahar area of Raebareli.</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president also expressed his condolences over the deaths and tweeted, &quot;I am deeply saddened with the incident at the Rae Bareli&#39;s NTPC plant. My heartfelt condolences are with the family of the deceased. I request the administration to help the injured immediately.&quot;&nbsp;</p>


Rahul Gandhi will visit Raebareli on Thursday following an explosion at the NTPC plant

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will visit Rae bareli on Thursday following an explosion at the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant that left 18 people dead. Rahul, who was in Gujarat on Wednesday for the election campaigning, took to Twitter and said, "Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Rae Bareli tomorrow morning. I will join Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in the afternoon." Due to the unfortunate NTPC accident, I will visit Rae Bareli tomorrow morning. Will join Gujarat Navsarjan Yatra in the afternoon. — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 1, 2017 × Rahul was in Gujarat as part of his three-day Navsarjan Yatra, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Earlier on Wednesday, at least 18 people were killed and 100 others sustained injuries after an ash-pipe exploded due to pressure at the NTPC plant in Unchahar area of Raebareli. The Congress vice-president also expressed his condolences over the deaths and tweeted, "I am deeply saddened with the incident at the Rae Bareli's NTPC plant. My heartfelt condolences are with the family of the deceased. I request the administration to help the injured immediately."

Rahul Gandhi to visit Rae Bareli after NTPC plant explosion

<p>After taking a potshot at the Congress on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sambit-patra-says-for-congress-ease-of-doing-corruption-was-the-core-issue-23288">&#39;&#39;ease of doing business&#39;&#39;</a>, Prime Minister Narendra Modi again attacked Rahul Gandhi on Friday by saying the Congress leader lacked&nbsp;primary understanding of diplomacy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Addressing a rally in Himachal Pradesh&#39;s Kangra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, saying, &quot;Instead of asking Indian diplomats and foreign minister, you go and ask Chinese envoy.&quot;<br />
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
&#39;&#39;Instead of asking Indian diplomats and foreign ministry, you go and ask Chinese envoy. Sorry to say this shows lack of primary understanding,&#39;&#39; Modi said and added that the country was well aware of how the Doklam issue was resolved, but the Congress even questioned that.</p>

<p>&#39;&#39;The country is aware how the Doklam issue was dealt with, but the Congress even questioned that,&#39;&#39; the prime minister said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Turning the spotlight on the dynastic&nbsp;politics yet again, Modi said someone born in a family which has ruled for decades doesn&#39;t believe his own Army and agencies? Meet&nbsp;China&#39;s envoy and ask&nbsp;about Doklam, he said.</p>

<p>&quot;Congress had become a &#39;laughing club&#39; and they need to introspect why people were turning away from them across the country, &#39;&#39; Modi asserted.</p>

<p>Speaking of the problems faced by the state, Modi said that there were five monsters that Himachal needed&nbsp;to get rid off: Mining mafia, forest mafia, drug mafia, tender mafia and transfer mafia.</p>

<p>&quot;Himachal Pradesh is embroiled in corruption yet Congress&#39; manifesto says there will be zero tolerance for corruption. Even a child won&#39;t believe it,&#39;&#39; Modi said and added that he had worked extensively in Himachal Pradesh and was very familiar with every nook and corner of the state.</p>


Turning the spotlight on the dynasty politics yet again, Modi said someone born in a family which has ruled for decades doesn't believe his own Army and agencies? Meets China's envoy and asks about Doklam.

After taking a potshot at the Congress on ''ease of doing business'', Prime Minister Narendra Modi again attacked Rahul Gandhi on Friday by saying the Congress leader lacked primary understanding of diplomacy. Addressing a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, saying, "Instead of asking Indian diplomats and foreign minister, you go and ask Chinese envoy." ''Instead of asking Indian diplomats and foreign ministry, you go and ask Chinese envoy. Sorry to say this shows lack of primary understanding,'' Modi said and added that the country was well aware of how the Doklam issue was resolved, but the Congress even questioned that. ''The country is aware how the Doklam issue was dealt with, but the Congress even questioned that,'' the prime minister said. Turning the spotlight on the dynastic politics yet again, Modi said someone born in a family which has ruled for decades doesn't believe his own Army and agencies? Meet China's envoy and ask about Doklam, he said. "Congress had become a 'laughing club' and they need to introspect why people were turning away from them across the country, '' Modi asserted. Speaking of the problems faced by the state, Modi said that there were five monsters that Himachal needed to get rid off: Mining mafia, forest mafia, drug mafia, tender mafia and transfer mafia. "Himachal Pradesh is embroiled in corruption yet Congress' manifesto says there will be zero tolerance for corruption. Even a child won't believe it,'' Modi said and added that he had worked extensively in Himachal Pradesh and was very familiar with every nook and corner of the state.

Rahul Gandhi lacks primary understanding of diplomacy: Modi

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that the statement of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on India&#39;s business ranking seemed to be coming from Pakistan.</p>

<p>Rahul on Wednesday said, &#39;&#39;India does not need a certificate from a foreign institution after India became the first ever country to record the highest jump in World&#39;s Bank&#39;s ease of doing business ranking.&#39;&#39;</p>

<p>BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao said, &quot;When you hear statements of Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party about India doing well in the economy, and making it big into the world economy, the statement appears as if they are coming from Pakistan.&quot;</p>

<p>He further said that the Congress vice-president and his party feel pitiable when India is praised all over the world.</p>

<p>&quot;The whole world accepts that India is progressing but Pakistan can never accept the fact that India is doing well, more or less &nbsp;Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party are in the same position,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>During a roadshow in the poll-bound Gujarat on Wednesday, Rahul also mocked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and said that he is living in an illusion to believe in foreign certification for India&#39;s growth.</p>

<p>&quot;Arun Jaitley ji is working on the basis of some foreign institution. India does not need a certificate from a foreign institution. Jaitley ji said ease of doing business has seen improvement in India. Is he living in a real or a dream world?&quot; Rahul said.</p>

<p>Rahul further downplayed the World Bank report and said, &quot;India needs a certificate from the people of the country, and the people are saying Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley have failed.&quot;</p>

<p>In accordance with the World Bank&#39;s &#39;Ease of Doing Business index&#39;, India had risen as much as 30 positions to rank 100th amongst 190 countries on Tuesday.</p>

<p>As per the 2018 version of the Ease of Doing Business index issued by the World Bank, India has been amongst the world&#39;s top ten improvers worldwide and a leading regional reformer.</p>


BJP on Thursday said Rahul Gandhi on India's business ranking seemed to be coming from Pakistan.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that the statement of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on India's business ranking seemed to be coming from Pakistan. Rahul on Wednesday said, ''India does not need a certificate from a foreign institution after India became the first ever country to record the highest jump in World's Bank's ease of doing business ranking.'' BJP leader GVL Narsimha Rao said, "When you hear statements of Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party about India doing well in the economy, and making it big into the world economy, the statement appears as if they are coming from Pakistan." He further said that the Congress vice-president and his party feel pitiable when India is praised all over the world. "The whole world accepts that India is progressing but Pakistan can never accept the fact that India is doing well, more or less Rahul Gandhi and Congress Party are in the same position," he added. During a roadshow in the poll-bound Gujarat on Wednesday, Rahul also mocked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and said that he is living in an illusion to believe in foreign certification for India's growth. "Arun Jaitley ji is working on the basis of some foreign institution. India does not need a certificate from a foreign institution. Jaitley ji said ease of doing business has seen improvement in India. Is he living in a real or a dream world?" Rahul said. Rahul further downplayed the World Bank report and said, "India needs a certificate from the people of the country, and the people are saying Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley have failed." In accordance with the World Bank's 'Ease of Doing Business index', India had risen as much as 30 positions to rank 100th amongst 190 countries on Tuesday. As per the 2018 version of the Ease of Doing Business index issued by the World Bank, India has been amongst the world's top ten improvers worldwide and a leading regional reformer.

BJP likens Rahul Gandhi, Congress to Pakistan

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/absence-of-consensus-on-designating-masood-azhar-a-global-terrorist-china-23386" target="_blank">&#39;Absence of consensus&#39; on designating Masood Azhar a global terrorist: China</a></p>

<p>China&#39;s foreign ministry said today there was &quot;absence of consensus&quot; to declare Pak-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist, a move which is being pushed by India at the UN.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cant-say-there-is-no-hindu-terrorism-kamal-haasan-23348">Kamal Haasan is &#39;mentally unstable&#39;: BJP leader</a></p>

<p>BJP leader Vinay Katiyar said Kamal Haasan is mentally unstable after the actor said Hindu right-wing groups indulge in muscle power.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-reaches-ntpc-plant-raebareli-demands-strict-punishment-for-people-responsible-23370" target="_blank">Rahul Gandhi visits NTPC plant, demands investigation in boiler explosion</a></p>

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited the NTPC plant in Rae Bareli today after a boiler had exploded in the plant yesterday killing 26 people and leaving several injured.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ntpc-explosion-rs-20-lakh-additional-compensation-for-family-of-those-killed-23381" target="_blank">NTPC explosion: Rs 20 Lakh additional compensation for family of those killed</a></p>

<p>Power Minister R K Singh has announced additional compensation of Rs 20 Lakh ex-gratia for the families of those who were killed in NTPC&rsquo;s power plant explosion on Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh&#39;s Rae Bareli district.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/sachin-tendulkar-meets-kerala-chief-minister-pinarayi-vijayan-invites-him-for-isl-match-23378">Sachin Tendulkar meets Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, invites him for ISL match</a></p>

<p>Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar today met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to invite him for the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament. Tendulkar co-owns Kerala Blasters, a franchise in ISL.</p>


'Absence of consensus' on designating Masood Azhar a global terrorist: China China's foreign ministry said today there was "absence of consensus" to declare Pak-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist, a move which is being pushed by India at the UN. Kamal Haasan is 'mentally unstable': BJP leader BJP leader Vinay Katiyar said Kamal Haasan is mentally unstable after the actor said Hindu right-wing groups indulge in muscle power. Rahul Gandhi visits NTPC plant, demands investigation in boiler explosion Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited the NTPC plant in Rae Bareli today after a boiler had exploded in the plant yesterday killing 26 people and leaving several injured. NTPC explosion: Rs 20 Lakh additional compensation for family of those killed Power Minister R K Singh has announced additional compensation of Rs 20 Lakh ex-gratia for the families of those who were killed in NTPC’s power plant explosion on Wednesday in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district. Sachin Tendulkar meets Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, invites him for ISL match Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar today met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to invite him for the Indian Super League (ISL) football tournament. Tendulkar co-owns Kerala Blasters, a franchise in ISL.

WION Evening news brief, Nov 2, 2017

<p>The BJP on Wednesday attacked the Congress by saying that &#39;ease of doing corruption&#39; has been replaced by the ease of doing business.</p>

<p>&quot;The difference between the UPA and NDA - &#39;The ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business&#39;,&quot; tweeted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.</p>

<p>Jaitley was responding to Rahul Gandhi&#39;s charge that there was no ease of doing business in India as demonetisation and GST destroyed everything.</p>

<p>Addressing a public meeting in Gujarat&#39;s Bharuch,&nbsp; Gandhi said that BJP will &quot;get a&nbsp;shock of their life&quot; on the day of Gujarat election and added, &quot;there was no ease of doing business in India as demonetisation and GST have destroyed everything&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;The BJP has been in power for the last three years. How many Swiss account holders are in jail? Tell me,&quot; the Gandhi scion asked saying that Vijay Mallya was still enjoying in the&nbsp;UK, he further said.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&quot;Modiji gave loan worth Rs 33,000 crore for Tata Nano plant, almost free, charging the least possible rate. Using that money, they could have written off the loans of the farmers. Farmers in Gujarat are crying, they are being suppressed,&#39;&#39; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the UPA dispensation under the rule of&nbsp;Manmohan Singh of draining the country of its resources worth approximately 12-14 lakh crore through various corrupt scams.</p>

<p>&quot;Today when Rahul Gandhi is, in fact, challenging the World Bank&#39;s data saying that he knows as to how this data is produced, Rahul Gandhi should be answering whom he believes,&nbsp;his Pidi or the world bank,&quot; Patra added.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Addressing a public meeting in Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi said there was no ease of doing business in India as demonetisation and GST have destroyed everything.

The BJP on Wednesday attacked the Congress by saying that 'ease of doing corruption' has been replaced by the ease of doing business. "The difference between the UPA and NDA - 'The ease of doing corruption has been replaced by the ease of doing business'," tweeted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Jaitley was responding to Rahul Gandhi's charge that there was no ease of doing business in India as demonetisation and GST destroyed everything. Addressing a public meeting in Gujarat's Bharuch, Gandhi said that BJP will "get a shock of their life" on the day of Gujarat election and added, "there was no ease of doing business in India as demonetisation and GST have destroyed everything". "The BJP has been in power for the last three years. How many Swiss account holders are in jail? Tell me," the Gandhi scion asked saying that Vijay Mallya was still enjoying in the UK, he further said. "Modiji gave loan worth Rs 33,000 crore for Tata Nano plant, almost free, charging the least possible rate. Using that money, they could have written off the loans of the farmers. Farmers in Gujarat are crying, they are being suppressed,'' he added. Earlier BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the UPA dispensation under the rule of Manmohan Singh of draining the country of its resources worth approximately 12-14 lakh crore through various corrupt scams. "Today when Rahul Gandhi is, in fact, challenging the World Bank's data saying that he knows as to how this data is produced, Rahul Gandhi should be answering whom he believes, his Pidi or the world bank," Patra added.

'Ease of doing corruption' replaced by ease of doing business: Arun Jaitley taunts UPA

<p>&ldquo;I do exercise, run and swim, and I am a black belt in Aikido, but [I] don&rsquo;t speak about it publicly. Sports is very important to me and I spend at least an hour doing sports,&rdquo; said Rahul Gandhi when asked why politicians did not take part in sports.</p>

<p>This happened at the Q&amp;A session soon after Mr. Gandhi&rsquo;s valedictory address at the annual meet of the PHD Chamber of Commerce. The Gandhi scion was responding to a question from professional boxer Vijender Singh. &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfRG</a> RG with Sensei Paritos Kar during one of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aikido?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Aikido</a> sessions. <a href="https://t.co/7H9N5CuUVy">https://t.co/7H9N5CuUVy</a> <a href="https://t.co/MxCGg95IvL">pic.twitter.com/MxCGg95IvL</a></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president also agreed to a suggestion that he should put short videos of these activities on his social media platforms.</p>

<p>On Tuesday Congress leader and social media &amp; digital communications, AICC, Divya Spandana shared some pictures of the 47-year-old. In the pictures, Rahul Gandhi is seen in different Aikido positions with a Sensei, Paritos Kar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tuesday&#39;s tweet seems to address that comment if anyone ever doubted the Congress leader&#39;s prowess in the Japanese martial arts form.&nbsp;</p>


The Congress vice-president earlier agreed to a suggestion that he should put short videos of his sports activities on his social media platforms.

“I do exercise, run and swim, and I am a black belt in Aikido, but [I] don’t speak about it publicly. Sports is very important to me and I spend at least an hour doing sports,” said Rahul Gandhi when asked why politicians did not take part in sports. This happened at the Q&A session soon after Mr. Gandhi’s valedictory address at the annual meet of the PHD Chamber of Commerce. The Gandhi scion was responding to a question from professional boxer Vijender Singh. .@OfficeOfRG RG with Sensei Paritos Kar during one of the #Aikido sessions. https://t.co/7H9N5CuUVy pic.twitter.com/MxCGg95IvL — Bharad (@bharad) October 31, 2017 × The Congress vice-president also agreed to a suggestion that he should put short videos of these activities on his social media platforms. On Tuesday Congress leader and social media & digital communications, AICC, Divya Spandana shared some pictures of the 47-year-old. In the pictures, Rahul Gandhi is seen in different Aikido positions with a Sensei, Paritos Kar. Tuesday's tweet seems to address that comment if anyone ever doubted the Congress leader's prowess in the Japanese martial arts form.

Rahul Gandhi said he is Aikido black belt, Congress shares pics as proof

<p>Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi government&nbsp;saying the country was getting increasingly divided in the name of &quot;narrow nationalism&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;The liberal, tolerant Indian ethos that former prime minister late Indira Gandhi embodied is being rejected and repudiated,&quot; she said in a&nbsp;speech at a function in which the 30th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration was conferred on Carnatic musician T M Krishna.</p>

<p>She also said that the idea of India that Indira Gandhi fought for has been thrown fundamentally into question by the &quot;rising intolerance&quot; that one witnessed today. &quot;The country&#39;s heritage is now in the hands of those who are bent upon rewriting history, imposing falsehood and unscientific ideas on our people and stifling independent thinking,&quot; Gandhi said without naming any party or individual.</p>

<p>&quot;We must be undaunted, unafraid, and uncompromising against the forces of darkness that seek to engulf our land,&quot; she added.</p>

<p>Indira Gandhi, she said, led India through major transformations and in her 16-year long battle against poverty and social injustice, she gave her all to make the country self-reliant in agriculture, industry and technology.</p>

<p>Sonia Gandhi said that after Operation Bluestar, when she was advised to transfer some bodyguards out of her service, she refused, saying that she would not judge anyone on the basis of religion.</p>


Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi government saying the country was getting increasingly divided in the name of "narrow nationalism".

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday attacked the Narendra Modi government saying the country was getting increasingly divided in the name of "narrow nationalism". "The liberal, tolerant Indian ethos that former prime minister late Indira Gandhi embodied is being rejected and repudiated," she said in a speech at a function in which the 30th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration was conferred on Carnatic musician T M Krishna. She also said that the idea of India that Indira Gandhi fought for has been thrown fundamentally into question by the "rising intolerance" that one witnessed today. "The country's heritage is now in the hands of those who are bent upon rewriting history, imposing falsehood and unscientific ideas on our people and stifling independent thinking," Gandhi said without naming any party or individual. "We must be undaunted, unafraid, and uncompromising against the forces of darkness that seek to engulf our land," she added. Indira Gandhi, she said, led India through major transformations and in her 16-year long battle against poverty and social injustice, she gave her all to make the country self-reliant in agriculture, industry and technology. Sonia Gandhi said that after Operation Bluestar, when she was advised to transfer some bodyguards out of her service, she refused, saying that she would not judge anyone on the basis of religion.

Sonia Gandhi attacks Modi government, says country getting divided in the name of narrow nationalism

<p>The Prime Minister today flagged off a &#39;Run for Unity&#39; event to mark the 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.&nbsp;Patel&#39;s birth anniversary is celebrated as &quot;Rashtriya Ekta Diwas&quot; throughout the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also&nbsp;read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/runforunity-people-tried-to-ensure-that-sardar-vallabhbhais-contribution-is-ignored-pm-modi-23176" target="_blank">People tried to ensure contribution of Sardar Patel is forgotten: PM Modi</a></p>

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<p>Garland of flowers surrounding the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. (ANI)</p>
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<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Sardar Patel. (ANI)</p>
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<p>President Ram Nath Kovind extends the tribute to Sardar Patel. (ANI)</p>
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<p>Vice President Venkaiah Naidu pays floral tribute to Sardar Patel. (ANI)</p>
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<p>The event began with address of Home Minister Rajnath Singh.</p>

<p>Singh in his address at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium&nbsp;pledged to build a new India.</p>

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<p>Prime minister Modi with Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the &#39;Run for Unity&#39; event. (ANI)</p>
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<p>He said that they will fulfill the dream of a unified and great country.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Ek Bharat, shreshth Bharat ke sapne ko poora karenge: HM Rajnath Singh</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/925180370361884673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Sportspeople Dipa Karmakar, Sardara Singh, Suresh Raina, Karnam Malleswari were also present.</p>

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<p>Indian sports fraternity also paid tribute to Sardar Patel at the &#39;Run for Unity&#39; event. (ANI)</p>
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<p>Run for Unity (ANI)</p>
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<p>The 1.5 km run came to an end near the India Gate C-Hexagon-Shah Jahan Road radial.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from ANI and PTI)</em></p>


Sardar Patel's birth anniversary is celebrated as 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' throughout the country

The Prime Minister today flagged off a 'Run for Unity' event to mark the 142nd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Patel's birth anniversary is celebrated as "Rashtriya Ekta Diwas" throughout the country. Also read: People tried to ensure contribution of Sardar Patel is forgotten: PM Modi Garland of flowers surrounding the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. (ANI) × Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Sardar Patel. (ANI) × President Ram Nath Kovind extends the tribute to Sardar Patel. (ANI) × Vice President Venkaiah Naidu pays floral tribute to Sardar Patel. (ANI) × The event began with address of Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Singh in his address at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium pledged to build a new India. Prime minister Modi with Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the 'Run for Unity' event. (ANI) × He said that they will fulfill the dream of a unified and great country. Ek Bharat, shreshth Bharat ke sapne ko poora karenge: HM Rajnath Singh — ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2017 × Sportspeople Dipa Karmakar, Sardara Singh, Suresh Raina, Karnam Malleswari were also present. Indian sports fraternity also paid tribute to Sardar Patel at the 'Run for Unity' event. (ANI) × Run for Unity (ANI) × The 1.5 km run came to an end near the India Gate C-Hexagon-Shah Jahan Road radial. (With inputs from ANI and PTI)

In pics: Sardar Patel's birth anniversary celebration

<p>On former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi&#39;s death anniversary on October 31, her grandson, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government blaming it for the &quot;rising intolerance&quot; in the country.</p>

<p>&quot;The idea of India that Indira Gandhi fought for has been thrown fundamentally into question by rising intolerance that we see today,&quot; Rahul Gandhi said.</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president added that like Indira Gandhi, everyone must be &quot;unfazed and undaunted against the forces of darkness.&quot;</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi also tweeted an image of his grandmother, and wrote, &quot;Forgiveness is the virtue of the brave.&quot;</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi attended a prayer meeting at the memorial of the former Prime Minister in New Delhi on October 31.</p>

<p>Indira Gandhi was the prime minister of the country from 1966 to 1977. She was assassinated in 1984.</p>


The Congress vice-president said that like Indira Gandhi, everyone must be 'unfazed and undaunted against the forces of darkness'

On former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's death anniversary on October 31, her grandson, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government blaming it for the "rising intolerance" in the country. "The idea of India that Indira Gandhi fought for has been thrown fundamentally into question by rising intolerance that we see today," Rahul Gandhi said. The Congress vice-president added that like Indira Gandhi, everyone must be "unfazed and undaunted against the forces of darkness." Rahul Gandhi also tweeted an image of his grandmother, and wrote, "Forgiveness is the virtue of the brave." Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi attended a prayer meeting at the memorial of the former Prime Minister in New Delhi on October 31. Indira Gandhi was the prime minister of the country from 1966 to 1977. She was assassinated in 1984.

On Indira Gandhi's death anniversary, Rahul Gandhi slams 'rising intolerance' in country

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who met leaders of his party ahead of the first anniversary of demonetisation, said November 8 was a &quot;sad day&quot; for India.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi said that the very fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that November 8 will be celebrated conveyed the message that he has not understood pain and feelings of people.</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president said that PM Modi had hit&nbsp;the country&#39;s economy with &quot;two torpedoes of demonetisation and GST which have destroyed it.&quot;</p>

<p>Yesterday, while addressing a public meeting in Karnayaka, PM Modi and said that there would be no roll-back of the reforms of demonetisation and GST.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The government has said that it will celebrate November 8, the day the ban of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes was announced last year, as anti-black money day.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Rahul Gandhi said that the very fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that November 8 will be celebrated conveyed the message that he has not understood pain and feelings of people.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who met leaders of his party ahead of the first anniversary of demonetisation, said November 8 was a "sad day" for India. Rahul Gandhi said that the very fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that November 8 will be celebrated conveyed the message that he has not understood pain and feelings of people. The Congress vice-president said that PM Modi had hit the country's economy with "two torpedoes of demonetisation and GST which have destroyed it." Yesterday, while addressing a public meeting in Karnayaka, PM Modi and said that there would be no roll-back of the reforms of demonetisation and GST. The government has said that it will celebrate November 8, the day the ban of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes was announced last year, as anti-black money day.

Torpedoes of demonetisation, GST have destroyed economy: Rahul Gandhi

<p>The BJP has taken a jibe at Rahul Gandhi for his attempt to silence critics <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/whos-been-tweeting-for-rahul-gandhi-he-finally-answers-sort-of-23104">who raise questions on his tweets</a>.</p>

<p>BJP&rsquo;s IT-cell in-charge Amit Malviya has tweeted a modified poster of Akshay Kumar&rsquo;s upcoming movie &#39;Padman&#39; which shows Gandhi with his pet dog Pidi. Gandhi had hit back at his critics by tweeting a video of Pidi,&nbsp;&quot;Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I&rsquo;m coming clean..it&rsquo;s me..Pidi..I&rsquo;m way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat!&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I&#39;m coming clean..it&#39;s me..Pidi..I&#39;m way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat! <a href="https://t.co/fkQwye94a5">pic.twitter.com/fkQwye94a5</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/924531438661148673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Malviya&rsquo;s tweet says,&nbsp;&ldquo;Pidiman &ndash; the story of a dog who is smarter than his master&rdquo;. It further said, &ldquo;written &amp; directed by Congress&hellip;released today on Twitter&rdquo;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="und">Pidi ???, Congress ????.. <a href="https://t.co/A677QSIvah">pic.twitter.com/A677QSIvah</a></p>
&mdash; Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) <a href="https://twitter.com/malviyamit/status/924618205959741440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also attacked Gandhi for his tweet saying</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sir <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfRG</a>,who knows him better than me.Still remember you busy feeding biscuits 2 him while We wanted to discuss urgent Assam&#39;s issues <a href="https://t.co/Eiu7VsuvL1">https://t.co/Eiu7VsuvL1</a></p>
&mdash; Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) <a href="https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/924556587225645056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Rahul Gandhi&#39;s Twitter handle &#39;OfficeofRG&#39; has been in news recently due to a rise in retweets as evidence of a resurgence of his interaction on social media. However, a cursory glance at the Twitter handles retweeting the Congress Vice President&#39;s tweets does throw up some questions...are these <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bots-behind-rise-in-rahul-gandhis-twitter-popularity-22692">automated &#39;bots&#39; mass retweeting Rahul Gandhi&#39;s tweets</a>?</p>

<p>On October 15th, &#39;OfficeofRG&#39; retweeted US President Donald Trump&#39;s tweet praising American-Pakistani relations with a caption &#39;Modi ji quick, looks like President Trump needs another hug&#39;. The tweet quickly reached 20,000 retweets and currently has touched 30,000.</p>

<p>A close analysis of this tweet showed that these alleged &#39;bots&#39; with a Russian, Kazakh or Indonesian characteristic was routinely RT-ing the Congress VP&#39;s tweets. Further scrutiny of these Twitter accounts showed that the follower list was usually under 10 users and retweets comprised of random topics from across the world and those of Rahul Gandhi. Moreover, the content of these twitter timelines comprised merely of retweets and a lack of tweets which could be categorised as an original thought.</p>


The BJP has taken a jibe at Rahul Gandhi for his attempt to silence critics who raise questions on his tweets.

The BJP has taken a jibe at Rahul Gandhi for his attempt to silence critics who raise questions on his tweets. BJP’s IT-cell in-charge Amit Malviya has tweeted a modified poster of Akshay Kumar’s upcoming movie 'Padman' which shows Gandhi with his pet dog Pidi. Gandhi had hit back at his critics by tweeting a video of Pidi, "Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I’m coming clean..it’s me..Pidi..I’m way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat!" Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I'm coming clean..it's me..Pidi..I'm way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat! pic.twitter.com/fkQwye94a5 — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 29, 2017 × Malviya’s tweet says, “Pidiman – the story of a dog who is smarter than his master”. It further said, “written & directed by Congress…released today on Twitter”. Pidi ???, Congress ????.. pic.twitter.com/A677QSIvah — Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) October 29, 2017 × Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also attacked Gandhi for his tweet saying Sir @OfficeOfRG,who knows him better than me.Still remember you busy feeding biscuits 2 him while We wanted to discuss urgent Assam's issues https://t.co/Eiu7VsuvL1 — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 29, 2017 × Rahul Gandhi's Twitter handle 'OfficeofRG' has been in news recently due to a rise in retweets as evidence of a resurgence of his interaction on social media. However, a cursory glance at the Twitter handles retweeting the Congress Vice President's tweets does throw up some questions...are these automated 'bots' mass retweeting Rahul Gandhi's tweets? On October 15th, 'OfficeofRG' retweeted US President Donald Trump's tweet praising American-Pakistani relations with a caption 'Modi ji quick, looks like President Trump needs another hug'. The tweet quickly reached 20,000 retweets and currently has touched 30,000. A close analysis of this tweet showed that these alleged 'bots' with a Russian, Kazakh or Indonesian characteristic was routinely RT-ing the Congress VP's tweets. Further scrutiny of these Twitter accounts showed that the follower list was usually under 10 users and retweets comprised of random topics from across the world and those of Rahul Gandhi. Moreover, the content of these twitter timelines comprised merely of retweets and a lack of tweets which could be categorised as an original thought.

'Pidi can save Congress': BJP's jibe at Rahul Gandhi

<p>It&#39;s a question that a lot of people have been asking of late: Who&#39;s been tweeting for Rahul Gandhi?&nbsp;</p>

<p>The question has been asked because a number of recent tweets by the Congress vice-president -- most of them taking on the government -- have hit home.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-first-gst-gabbar-singh-tax-now-gabbar-singh-tax-yeh-kamai-mujhe-de-de-22820" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;&#39;Yeh </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-first-gst-gabbar-singh-tax-now-gabbar-singh-tax-yeh-kamai-mujhe-de-de-22820" target="_blank">kamai</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-first-gst-gabbar-singh-tax-now-gabbar-singh-tax-yeh-kamai-mujhe-de-de-22820" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-first-gst-gabbar-singh-tax-now-gabbar-singh-tax-yeh-kamai-mujhe-de-de-22820" target="_blank">mujhe</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-first-gst-gabbar-singh-tax-now-gabbar-singh-tax-yeh-kamai-mujhe-de-de-22820" target="_blank"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-first-gst-gabbar-singh-tax-now-gabbar-singh-tax-yeh-kamai-mujhe-de-de-22820" target="_blank">de de</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-first-gst-gabbar-singh-tax-now-gabbar-singh-tax-yeh-kamai-mujhe-de-de-22820" target="_blank">,&#39; says Rahul after calling GST &#39;Gabbar Singh Tax&#39;</a></p>

<p>Here&#39;s a sampler.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Real wages stagnant for 3 yrs,bank lending lowest in 60yrs,Inequality highest in 100yrs.In Modiji&#39;s words,this is a MMD(Modi Made Disaster) <a href="https://t.co/X3NicY3fK1">https://t.co/X3NicY3fK1</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/923568670613299203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">?? ?????, ??????? ?? GST ?? ???????????? ICU ??? ???<br />
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?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ????,<br />
??? ???? ??? ??? ?? ????</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/923409366132256768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Dear Mr. Jaitley, May the Farce be with you. <a href="https://t.co/Dxb5jFCaEa">pic.twitter.com/Dxb5jFCaEa</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/923099871745163265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congress GST= Genuine Simple Tax<br />
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Modi ji&#39;s GST= Gabbar Singh Tax =&#39;&#39;?? ???? ???? ?? ??&quot;</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/922695603380879360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The question of who might be tweeting for Rahul was finally answered -- by Gandhi himself...&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sort of.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Let&#39;s just say the answer was tongue in cheek.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And because it would be difficult to frame Rahul&#39;s answer in words, perhaps it would just be better to have a look:&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I&#39;m coming clean..it&#39;s me..Pidi..I&#39;m way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat! <a href="https://t.co/fkQwye94a5">pic.twitter.com/fkQwye94a5</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/924531438661148673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>So while we still do not know who might be tweeting for Rahul, or whether he himself is doing so, we do know that the actress Ramya aka Divya Spandana took over (from Deepender Hooda) the Congress&#39;s social media cell in May.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>She has since then, the Indian Express reported Sunday, managed to push up the cell&#39;s budget many times over and more than doubled its strength.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bots-behind-rise-in-rahul-gandhis-twitter-popularity-22692" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Bots behind </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bots-behind-rise-in-rahul-gandhis-twitter-popularity-22692" target="_blank">rise</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bots-behind-rise-in-rahul-gandhis-twitter-popularity-22692" target="_blank"> in Rahul Gandhi&#39;s Twitter popularity?</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>(Pidi by the way is the name of Rahul&#39;s pet dog.)&nbsp;</p>


A number of recent tweets by the Congress vice-president -- most of them taking on the government -- have hit home

It's a question that a lot of people have been asking of late: Who's been tweeting for Rahul Gandhi? The question has been asked because a number of recent tweets by the Congress vice-president -- most of them taking on the government -- have hit home. Also read: 'Yeh kamai mujhe de de,' says Rahul after calling GST 'Gabbar Singh Tax' Here's a sampler. Real wages stagnant for 3 yrs,bank lending lowest in 60yrs,Inequality highest in 100yrs.In Modiji's words,this is a MMD(Modi Made Disaster) https://t.co/X3NicY3fK1 — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 26, 2017 × ?? ?????, ??????? ?? GST ?? ???????????? ICU ??? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?? ????, ??? ???? ??? ??? ?? ???? — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 26, 2017 × Dear Mr. Jaitley, May the Farce be with you. pic.twitter.com/Dxb5jFCaEa — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 25, 2017 × Congress GST= Genuine Simple Tax Modi ji's GST= Gabbar Singh Tax =''?? ???? ???? ?? ??" — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 24, 2017 × The question of who might be tweeting for Rahul was finally answered -- by Gandhi himself... Sort of. Let's just say the answer was tongue in cheek. And because it would be difficult to frame Rahul's answer in words, perhaps it would just be better to have a look: Ppl been asking who tweets for this guy..I'm coming clean..it's me..Pidi..I'm way ?? than him. Look what I can do with a tweet..oops..treat! pic.twitter.com/fkQwye94a5 — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 29, 2017 × So while we still do not know who might be tweeting for Rahul, or whether he himself is doing so, we do know that the actress Ramya aka Divya Spandana took over (from Deepender Hooda) the Congress's social media cell in May. She has since then, the Indian Express reported Sunday, managed to push up the cell's budget many times over and more than doubled its strength. Also read: Bots behind rise in Rahul Gandhi's Twitter popularity? (Pidi by the way is the name of Rahul's pet dog.)

Who's been tweeting for Rahul Gandhi? He finally answers... sort of

<p>Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is capable of leading the country and stressed that the Narendra Modi wave has faded, a statement that is not likely to go down well with the BJP.</p>

<p>The anger among people in Gujarat against the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indication that the BJP would face a stiff challenge in polls, scheduled to be held in December, he said.</p>

<p>Raut was addressing a discussion on a TV channel.</p>

<p>&quot;Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is capable of leading the country. It is wrong to call him &#39;Pappu&#39;,&quot; he said referring to the nickname used to mock the Congress vice-president by a section on social media.</p>

<p>State Education Minister and senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde was also present at the event.</p>

<p>&quot;The biggest political power in this country is people... the voters. &#39;<em>Woh </em><em>kisi</em><em> ko </em><em>bhi</em><em> Pappu </em><em>bana</em><em> </em><em>sakte</em><em> hai</em>&#39; (People can make anyone pappu),&quot; the Sena leader said in an apparent dig at the BJP which had secured a massive mandate in 2014 polls.</p>

<p>Sena, the oldest constituent of the NDA, shares a &#39;blow hot-blow cold&#39; relationship with its senior ally, the BJP, in the Centre and Maharashtra.</p>

<p>The Uddhav Thackeray-led party has been attacking Prime Minister Modi regularly and has often taken potshots at the BJP through editorials in the party mouthpiece &quot;Saamana&quot;.&nbsp;Raut&#39;s comments came a day after the schedule for Gujarat polls was announced.</p>

<p>Though Sena lacks any base in Gujarat, the home state of Modi, the party had extended its support to Patidar leader Hardik Patel who had met Uddhav Thackeray at the latter&#39;s residence in Mumbai earlier this year.</p>

<p>&quot;The Modi wave was there in 2014 general elections but now it seems to have faded away. The way people are marching on roads of Gujarat after GST was introduced, it seems they (BJP) are going to face a challenge,&quot; Raut added.</p>

<p>In 2015, Sena had said that even 100 Rahul Gandhis cannot match Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s &quot;mega wave&quot; and had mocked the Congress vice president for his &#39;suit-boot ki sarkar&#39; jibe.</p>


"Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is capable of leading the country. It is wrong to call him 'Pappu'," Sena MP said referring to the nickname used to mock the Congress vice-president by a section on social media.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is capable of leading the country and stressed that the Narendra Modi wave has faded, a statement that is not likely to go down well with the BJP. The anger among people in Gujarat against the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indication that the BJP would face a stiff challenge in polls, scheduled to be held in December, he said. Raut was addressing a discussion on a TV channel. "Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is capable of leading the country. It is wrong to call him 'Pappu'," he said referring to the nickname used to mock the Congress vice-president by a section on social media. State Education Minister and senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde was also present at the event. "The biggest political power in this country is people... the voters. 'Woh kisi ko bhi Pappu bana sakte hai' (People can make anyone pappu)," the Sena leader said in an apparent dig at the BJP which had secured a massive mandate in 2014 polls. Sena, the oldest constituent of the NDA, shares a 'blow hot-blow cold' relationship with its senior ally, the BJP, in the Centre and Maharashtra. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party has been attacking Prime Minister Modi regularly and has often taken potshots at the BJP through editorials in the party mouthpiece "Saamana". Raut's comments came a day after the schedule for Gujarat polls was announced. Though Sena lacks any base in Gujarat, the home state of Modi, the party had extended its support to Patidar leader Hardik Patel who had met Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence in Mumbai earlier this year. "The Modi wave was there in 2014 general elections but now it seems to have faded away. The way people are marching on roads of Gujarat after GST was introduced, it seems they (BJP) are going to face a challenge," Raut added. In 2015, Sena had said that even 100 Rahul Gandhis cannot match Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "mega wave" and had mocked the Congress vice president for his 'suit-boot ki sarkar' jibe.

Rahul Gandhi capable of leading the country: Shiv Sena

<p>Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was on a visit to Shimla, was today rushed back to the national capital and admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after she complained of stomach upset.<br />
<br />
Son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter she is &quot;much better&quot; and there is &quot;nothing to worry&quot;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ma was in Shimla &amp; caught a stomach bug so we got her back. Nothing to worry, she&#39;s much better. Thanks for the tremendous love and concern.</p>
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<p>DS Rana, Chairman (Board of Management) of the Ganga Ram Hospital said that Gandhi, 70, is under observation.<br />
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&quot;Sonia Gandhi was brought to the hospital at 5 pm today. She has been found to be suffering from stomach upset and has been admitted for observation,&quot; said Rana in a statement.<br />
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According to sources, the Congress president was rushed to the hospital in an air-ambulance from Shimla, where she had gone for a vacation.<br />
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A team of doctors from the hospital was deputed to bring her back from Shimla.&nbsp;</p>


Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was on a visit to Shimla, was rushed back to the national capital and admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after she complained of stomach upset

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was on a visit to Shimla, was today rushed back to the national capital and admitted to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital after she complained of stomach upset. Son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter she is "much better" and there is "nothing to worry". Ma was in Shimla & caught a stomach bug so we got her back. Nothing to worry, she's much better. Thanks for the tremendous love and concern. — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 27, 2017 × DS Rana, Chairman (Board of Management) of the Ganga Ram Hospital said that Gandhi, 70, is under observation. "Sonia Gandhi was brought to the hospital at 5 pm today. She has been found to be suffering from stomach upset and has been admitted for observation," said Rana in a statement. According to sources, the Congress president was rushed to the hospital in an air-ambulance from Shimla, where she had gone for a vacation. A team of doctors from the hospital was deputed to bring her back from Shimla.

Sonia Gandhi hospitalised, Rahul Gandhi tweets 'much better'

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to grasp a basic of the economy -- no amount of growth is enough if it is not creating jobs, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He then went on to make yet another concerted attack on the prime minister and his government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi was addressing the annual general meeting of the Punjab-Haryana-Delhi Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi added that the prime minister wiped out 86% of cash from the economy -- he was referring to demonetisation -- without consulting anybody.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
And that Modi did so with a very big chest but with a very small heart.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi said all cash is not black and all black (money) is not cash but the prime minister failed to grasp that.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Continuing in that vein, Gandhi said China outperforms us in job creation. And that it creates 50,000 jobs a day, while India creates only 4,100.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Watch video of Rahul Gandhi addressing the </em><em>PHD</em><em> Chamber of Commerce below:&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y6XkF8eJD_Q" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>He added that six crore Indian businesses are small and medium enterprises. Gandhi said they are the backbone of the country&#39;s economy but that they are getting nothing in return.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Small business also needs to be heard in the corridors of power like the big business houses, Gandhi said.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The question is, he said, why is government disrespectful to small business?&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
And that Startup India is actually &quot;Shut Up India&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi added that it is imperative that a government listen to everyone but this one does not.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
And he added: I&#39;m here to say that I will always be there to listen to you, to stand shoulder to shoulder with you at all times.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Three years ago, Gandhi said, the people had tremendous expectations from Prime Minister Modi. Today, those expectations are shattered. &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
And he took a potshot at GST or what he has dubbed the &quot;Gabbar Singh Tax&quot;, saying it was badly conceptualised and is adding to people&#39;s distress<br />
&nbsp;<br />
And he added that GST has already unleashed a tsunami of tax terrorism and that it&#39;s going to get worse.</p>


Gandhi on Thursday made yet another concerted attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to grasp a basic of the economy -- no amount of growth is enough if it is not creating jobs, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday. He then went on to make yet another concerted attack on the prime minister and his government. Gandhi was addressing the annual general meeting of the Punjab-Haryana-Delhi Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi. Gandhi added that the prime minister wiped out 86% of cash from the economy -- he was referring to demonetisation -- without consulting anybody. And that Modi did so with a very big chest but with a very small heart. Gandhi said all cash is not black and all black (money) is not cash but the prime minister failed to grasp that. Continuing in that vein, Gandhi said China outperforms us in job creation. And that it creates 50,000 jobs a day, while India creates only 4,100. Watch video of Rahul Gandhi addressing the PHD Chamber of Commerce below: He added that six crore Indian businesses are small and medium enterprises. Gandhi said they are the backbone of the country's economy but that they are getting nothing in return. Small business also needs to be heard in the corridors of power like the big business houses, Gandhi said. The question is, he said, why is government disrespectful to small business? And that Startup India is actually "Shut Up India". Gandhi added that it is imperative that a government listen to everyone but this one does not. And he added: I'm here to say that I will always be there to listen to you, to stand shoulder to shoulder with you at all times. Three years ago, Gandhi said, the people had tremendous expectations from Prime Minister Modi. Today, those expectations are shattered. And he took a potshot at GST or what he has dubbed the "Gabbar Singh Tax", saying it was badly conceptualised and is adding to people's distress And he added that GST has already unleashed a tsunami of tax terrorism and that it's going to get worse.

PM failed to grasp basic of economy, growth without jobs not enough: Rahul Gandhi

<p>Rahul Gandhi had on Monday at his rally in Gandhinagar, Gujarat dubbed the GST &quot;Gabbar Singh Tax&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Tuesday he took his formulation to Twitter, and then added some.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He first wrote Congress GST = Good and Simple Tax.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Then, Modiji GST = Gabbar Singh Tax.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And then added his coup de grace: Gabbar Singh Tax = Yeh Kamai Mujhe de de.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congress GST= Genuine Simple Tax<br />
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Modi ji&#39;s GST= Gabbar Singh Tax =&#39;&#39;?? ???? ???? ?? ??&quot;</p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/922695603380879360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Twitterati quickly took up the cue:&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What&rsquo;s your full form of GST?</p>
&mdash; History of India (@RealHistoryPic) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealHistoryPic/status/922493120545284096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>And the answers poured in, including from former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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&mdash; Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmarAbdullah/status/922496966642167808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>And Shashi Tharoor:&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">GST being translated increasingly as Gayi Sarkar Tumhari! great idea ruined by wretched implementation <a href="https://t.co/ExBhNY351T">pic.twitter.com/ExBhNY351T</a></p>
&mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/922757994219167744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Go Sell Tea</p>
&mdash; Uday Menon (@Uday47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Uday47/status/922493941097709569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Gayi Sarkar Tumhari</p>
&mdash; Rachit Seth (@rachitseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/rachitseth/status/922504102336008192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Ghoom Saariduniya Tax</p>
&mdash; Razi (@raz0212) <a href="https://twitter.com/raz0212/status/922500425265401856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>GST and demonetisation are being blamed for the current state of the Indian economy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And with Gujarat and Himachal going to the polls soon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have been trying to put some distance between them and the tax.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Modi has of late been saying GST was first the Congress&#39;s idea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress of course has been trying to do the opposite -- lay the blame squarely at the BJP&#39;s door.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


After Rahul Gandhi posted his formulation on Twitter, the Twitterati quickly took his cue

Rahul Gandhi had on Monday at his rally in Gandhinagar, Gujarat dubbed the GST "Gabbar Singh Tax". On Tuesday he took his formulation to Twitter, and then added some. He first wrote Congress GST = Good and Simple Tax. Then, Modiji GST = Gabbar Singh Tax. And then added his coup de grace: Gabbar Singh Tax = Yeh Kamai Mujhe de de. Congress GST= Genuine Simple Tax Modi ji's GST= Gabbar Singh Tax =''?? ???? ???? ?? ??" — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 24, 2017 × The Twitterati quickly took up the cue: What’s your full form of GST? — History of India (@RealHistoryPic) October 23, 2017 × And the answers poured in, including from former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah: Greatly Screwed-up Tax — Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 23, 2017 × And Shashi Tharoor: GST being translated increasingly as Gayi Sarkar Tumhari! great idea ruined by wretched implementation pic.twitter.com/ExBhNY351T — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 24, 2017 × Go Sell Tea — Uday Menon (@Uday47) October 23, 2017 × Gayi Sarkar Tumhari — Rachit Seth (@rachitseth) October 23, 2017 × Ghoom Saariduniya Tax — Razi (@raz0212) October 23, 2017 × GST and demonetisation are being blamed for the current state of the Indian economy. And with Gujarat and Himachal going to the polls soon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have been trying to put some distance between them and the tax. Modi has of late been saying GST was first the Congress's idea. The Congress of course has been trying to do the opposite -- lay the blame squarely at the BJP's door.

'Yeh kamai mujhe de de,' says Rahul after calling GST 'Gabbar Singh Tax'

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi criticised the ruling BJP government for its policies of alleged industrial appeasement in the state and for failing to bring about all-round development.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi alleged that for the last 22 years, the government was not a government of the people but of &quot;5-10 industrialists&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;Every section of Gujarat&#39;s society is part of a movement&nbsp;because, since the last 22 years, the government was not of people but of 5-10 industrialists,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>&quot;Put the budget of the entire country and the money of the entire world, the people of Gujarat cannot be silenced,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>He&nbsp;said that the BJP-ruled Gujarat government gave Rs 30-35,000 crore&nbsp;to one company (Tatas) for manufacturing Nano cars in the state, and could have instead used the money for waiving off farmer loans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;For making Nanos, Rs 30-35,000 crore was given to one company (Tatas), in that amount Gujarat&#39;s farmers&#39; loans could have been waived but you did not listen to their voice,&quot; Rahul Gandhi said.</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president also took potshots at the Goods and Services Tax which was rolled out in July, stating that its full form was the &quot;Gabbar Singh Tax&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;Their GST is not GST, it is Gabbar Singh Tax,&quot; Rahul Gandhi said.</p>

<p>He was drawing a reference to the notorious silver screen bandit Gabbar Singh from the 1975 film &quot;Sholay&quot;, implying that the government was extorting money from the people in the name of high tax rates.</p>

<p>He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s &quot;Mann Ki Baat&quot; programme and said that while PM Modi conveyed his &quot;Mann Ki Baat&quot; ( heart felt talk) to the people, he would like to convey the &quot;Mann Ki Baat&quot;&nbsp;of the people of Gujarat.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi alleged that through its industrial policies, the BJP government was generating employment for Chinese youth rather for the people of the state.</p>

<p>&quot;When you click a selfie and click that button, every time a Chinese youth gets employment,&quot; the Congress vice-president said.</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president also took a dig at prime minister Narendra Modi&#39;s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.</p>

<p>&quot;The prime minister said I don&#39;t like Rs 500-1000 notes, so I&#39;m discontinuing them (laughs)&quot;.<br />
<br />
PM Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014. He has visited the poll-bound state thrice in the last one month and inaugurated several projects in the state.</p>


He was drawing a reference to the notorious silver screen bandit Gabbar Singh from the 1975 film 'Sholay', implying that the government was extorting money from the people in the name of high tax rates

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi criticised the ruling BJP government for its policies of alleged industrial appeasement in the state and for failing to bring about all-round development. Rahul Gandhi alleged that for the last 22 years, the government was not a government of the people but of "5-10 industrialists". "Every section of Gujarat's society is part of a movement because, since the last 22 years, the government was not of people but of 5-10 industrialists," he said. "Put the budget of the entire country and the money of the entire world, the people of Gujarat cannot be silenced," he added. He said that the BJP-ruled Gujarat government gave Rs 30-35,000 crore to one company (Tatas) for manufacturing Nano cars in the state, and could have instead used the money for waiving off farmer loans. "For making Nanos, Rs 30-35,000 crore was given to one company (Tatas), in that amount Gujarat's farmers' loans could have been waived but you did not listen to their voice," Rahul Gandhi said. The Congress vice-president also took potshots at the Goods and Services Tax which was rolled out in July, stating that its full form was the "Gabbar Singh Tax". "Their GST is not GST, it is Gabbar Singh Tax," Rahul Gandhi said. He was drawing a reference to the notorious silver screen bandit Gabbar Singh from the 1975 film "Sholay", implying that the government was extorting money from the people in the name of high tax rates. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Mann Ki Baat" programme and said that while PM Modi conveyed his "Mann Ki Baat" ( heart felt talk) to the people, he would like to convey the "Mann Ki Baat" of the people of Gujarat. Rahul Gandhi alleged that through its industrial policies, the BJP government was generating employment for Chinese youth rather for the people of the state. "When you click a selfie and click that button, every time a Chinese youth gets employment," the Congress vice-president said. The Congress vice-president also took a dig at prime minister Narendra Modi's decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. "The prime minister said I don't like Rs 500-1000 notes, so I'm discontinuing them (laughs)". PM Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014. He has visited the poll-bound state thrice in the last one month and inaugurated several projects in the state.

Rahul's 'Sholay' jibe at BJP in Gujarat: GST is 'Gabbar Singh Tax'

<p>Gujarat OBC leader Alpesh Thakor came out in support of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thakor said &quot;the BJP has given several slogans...&quot; but &quot;no work has taken place on the ground&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The BJP has given several slogans for the SC, ST and OBCs but in reality, no work has taken place on the ground. Irrespective of what the Congress&#39; image is, Rahul Gandhi is honest, his intention is noble. He told me that we would work together and I have not asked for any post in return for my support,&quot; Thakor told News18.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thakor is expected to join the Congress today at Rahul Gandhi&#39;s Gandhinagar rally.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News18 also reported Thakor as saying all allegations against the&nbsp;Gandhis were baseless. And asking why people were not talking about corruption in the BJP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Measures like GST and Demonetisation were done in haste. All black money, that the BJP claimed to be eliminating, has been turned to white. The traders have only now realised it,&rdquo; Thakor told News18.</p>


The OBC leader is expected to join the Congress today

Gujarat OBC leader Alpesh Thakor came out in support of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday. Thakor said "the BJP has given several slogans..." but "no work has taken place on the ground". "The BJP has given several slogans for the SC, ST and OBCs but in reality, no work has taken place on the ground. Irrespective of what the Congress' image is, Rahul Gandhi is honest, his intention is noble. He told me that we would work together and I have not asked for any post in return for my support," Thakor told News18. Thakor is expected to join the Congress today at Rahul Gandhi's Gandhinagar rally. News18 also reported Thakor as saying all allegations against the Gandhis were baseless. And asking why people were not talking about corruption in the BJP. “Measures like GST and Demonetisation were done in haste. All black money, that the BJP claimed to be eliminating, has been turned to white. The traders have only now realised it,” Thakor told News18.

BJP has given slogans, but no work on ground: Alpesh Thakor

<p>The Congress on Sunday invited Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani to meet party vice-president Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the state on Monday ahead of the assembly polls.</p>

<p>Gandhi will take part in &#39;Navsarjan Gujarat Janadesh&rsquo; rally organised by the party in Gandhinagar where OBC leader Alpesh Thakor will join the Congress.</p>

<p>Congress&#39;s invite to Hardik Patel and Mevani comes a day after its state unit president Bharatsinh Solanki extended open invitation to Patel, Mevani and Thakor to join the party to ensure the ruling BJP&#39;s defeat.</p>

<p>&quot;Rahul Gandhi will be coming to Ahmedabad tomorrow. We have invited Hardik Patel and other leaders of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti. They had given a memorandum to us and we are positive about their demands,&quot; Solanki said on Sunday.</p>

<p>&quot;Rahul-ji will hold a meeting with them before the rally and discuss all the issues and will invite them to support the Congress,&quot; Solanki said.</p>

<p>&quot;We have separately invited Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani and others after the rally; Rahul-ji will meet them and discuss their issues,&quot; Solanki said.</p>

<p>Thakor, the leader of OBC Ekta Manch, will join the Congress with his associates at the rally, Solanki said.</p>

<p>Gandhi is also likely to meet Chotu Vasava, the leader of Janata Dal (U) in Gujarat, during his one-day visit.</p>

<p>Thakor met Gandhi in Delhi yesterday and later announced that he would soon join the party.</p>

<p>The Congress, which is out of power in Gujarat for 22 years, is wooing leaders such as Hardik Patel, Mevani and Thakor who have significant support base in their respective communities.</p>


The Congress on Sunday invited Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani to meet party vice-president Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the state on Monday ahead of the assembly polls.

The Congress on Sunday invited Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani to meet party vice-president Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the state on Monday ahead of the assembly polls. Gandhi will take part in 'Navsarjan Gujarat Janadesh’ rally organised by the party in Gandhinagar where OBC leader Alpesh Thakor will join the Congress. Congress's invite to Hardik Patel and Mevani comes a day after its state unit president Bharatsinh Solanki extended open invitation to Patel, Mevani and Thakor to join the party to ensure the ruling BJP's defeat. "Rahul Gandhi will be coming to Ahmedabad tomorrow. We have invited Hardik Patel and other leaders of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti. They had given a memorandum to us and we are positive about their demands," Solanki said on Sunday. "Rahul-ji will hold a meeting with them before the rally and discuss all the issues and will invite them to support the Congress," Solanki said. "We have separately invited Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani and others after the rally; Rahul-ji will meet them and discuss their issues," Solanki said. Thakor, the leader of OBC Ekta Manch, will join the Congress with his associates at the rally, Solanki said. Gandhi is also likely to meet Chotu Vasava, the leader of Janata Dal (U) in Gujarat, during his one-day visit. Thakor met Gandhi in Delhi yesterday and later announced that he would soon join the party. The Congress, which is out of power in Gujarat for 22 years, is wooing leaders such as Hardik Patel, Mevani and Thakor who have significant support base in their respective communities.

OBC leader Alpesh Thakor to join Congress at Rahul Gandhi rally; Hardik Patel invited too

<p>Undoubtedly, by not announcing the electoral scheme for Gujarat, Election Commission of India got derailed from its conventional path. Many doubted the fairness of this constitutional body. The reasons were located in the avoidance of model code of conduct that may have come in the way of possible announcements of policy dividends by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan scheduled on 16th October 2017 in Gandhinagar.</p>

<p>But against this proposition, Narendra Modi has relied more on symbolism than substance. There were forms and styles of immediate or non-mediated politics than actual dividends. Also, there was nothing exotic about his recent address in this poll-bound state. We have merely got the sense of his anxiety over the possible waning of his aura and shifting social constituencies from the fold of BJP.</p>

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<h5>BJP was highlighted more as a regional force representing Gujarati pride and Gujarati&rsquo;s sub-nationalism.</h5>
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<p>In his address, there were allegations, appeasement, glorification and realisations. The BJP&rsquo;s anti-Congress position was unduly hyped. Pasts were invoked to demean Congress, particularly in relation to its treatment of Gujarat and Gujarat&rsquo;s leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, Madhavsinha Solanki and, finally, Narendra Modi himself. Indeed, there seems to be an emerging realisation of his party&rsquo;s failure in delivering economic comfort to the people through demonetisation and GST as the complicity of other parties were highlighted in GST&rsquo;s implementation.</p>

<p>In a more ironic ways, Narendra Modi has revived the memories of 2002 Gujarat riots in a subtle reference to the Congress&rsquo; conspiracies to victimise him. BJP was highlighted more as a regional force representing Gujarati pride and Gujarati&rsquo;s sub-nationalism. Most significantly, OBCs, Dalits, Tribals and farmers were appeased by highlighting their numerical representation in BJP.</p>

<p>Be that as it may, the speech of Narendra Modi lends support to the following emerging realities in Gujarat. First, unlike the assembly elections since the mid-1990s, the 2017 elections for 182 Assembly seats is not a cake walk for BJP. It has become competitive with the refashioning of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress to fight the Gujarat elections on all fronts, including social media.</p>

<p>Second, there is a growing realisation among BJP members about the possible disillusionment of a sizable number of voters with the party&rsquo;s two-decade-old regime.</p>

<p>Third, the repeated Gujarat model of development is losing appeal among the marginalised sections of Gujarat. Fourth, there is an &lsquo;invisible discontent in making&rsquo; over the poorly designed economic policies like GST and demonetisation. In view of these developments, it should perhaps hardly be surprising if BJP loses its substantial assembly seats and vote share in the forthcoming elections.</p>

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<h5>Gujarat has always worked for BJP as a laboratory for the unique convergence of neo-liberal policies, Hindutva nationalism and regional sub-nationalism.</h5>
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<p>The 2017 Gujarat Assembly election is different in multiple senses. First, it will act as a prelude to the BJP&rsquo;s performance in 2019 Lok Sabha elections the way 2012 did for 2014 Lok Sabha. The expansive tide of Narendra Modi&rsquo;s charisma will receive a severe jolt in 2019 if BJP performs even reasonably poor in the home state of the Prime Minister. It must be noted that Gujarat has always worked for BJP as a laboratory for the unique convergence of neo-liberal policies, Hindutva nationalism and regional sub-nationalism.</p>

<p>Second, in the absence of Narendra Modi as the chief ministerial candidate, 2017 Assembly election is going to be the first election after 2001 when Gujarat will be facing the crisis of a credible chief ministerial face. It is reminding a situation of the 1990s when Gujarat experienced the rotation of chief ministerial candidates due to high factionalism within the party, such as Keshubhai Patel (March 1995 to Oct 1995), Sureshchandra Mehta (Oct 1995 to Sept 1996) and Narendra Modi (2001-14). Similar situations prevail&nbsp;now when we noticed the rotation of CMs from Anandiben Patel (May 2014-August 2016) to Vijay Rupani (August 2016 to present). Gujarat is missing the management of Modi who became chief minister of Gujarat in 2001 and led the party to election victories in 2002, 2007 and 2012.</p>

<p>Third, there are strong oppositions to BJP from non-Congress forces like Alpesh Thakor (convenor of Kshatriya Thakor Sena), Hardik Patel (convenor of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti) and Jignesh Mewani (convenor of Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch). Third, with the exit of Shankarsinh Vaghela, Congress is no more as factionalised as it was in early days. Fourth, BJP is experiencing the loss of morale with the reporting of The Wire on Amit Shah&rsquo;s son and the entry of Sukhram in the party.</p>

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<h5>Despite all odds and the changing dynamics of Gujarat, BJP is well placed in the state in the 14th Assembly elections as well.</h5>
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<p>Despite all odds and the changing dynamics of Gujarat, BJP is well placed in the state in the 14th Assembly elections as well. BJP&rsquo;s performance steadily improved from 27 per cent of the vote in 1990 to 50 per cent in 2002. However, the party registered the marginal decline in terms of vote share from 49 per cent in 2007 to 48 per cent in 2012. It has gained Assembly seats from 121 in 1995 to 117 in 1998 and gained highest ever of 127 in 2002 but again a slight decline took place from 2007 as it got 117 seats and 116 in 2012.</p>

<p>What makes Gujarat a stronghold of BJP over the last two decades? There are many reasons. First, Gujarat has never been the subject of lower caste movements and, thus, no challenge is being offered to BJP from this section of the society. Second, Muslims strategically failed to articulate their political voice. Third, there is a near absence of Adivasi movements or struggles for demanding a share in forest resources and land rights. Fourth, farmer&rsquo;s movement has already been co-opted by the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh of RSS. Fifth, there is a minimal caste and factional division within the BJP in the state. Sixth, the political mobilisations in Gujarat have always been steered by the higher and dominant castes like Mahagujrat movement for the creation of Gujarat, Nav Nirman movement against corruption, anti-reservation protests, and, finally, Ayodhya movement.</p>

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<h5>In India and particularly Gujarat, the cultural emotions rather reason played a powerful role in directing the voting behaviour of the people.</h5>
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<p>Above all, BJP in Gujarat remained highly cohesive, centralised and ideologically committed and strongly supported by the RSS. It would be difficult to challenge the party&rsquo;s strong ties to local administrators and network of civil society organisations, including industrial groups, caste associations and religious organisations. BJP is no longer an urban-centric party rather it penetrated heavily in rural areas using RSS&rsquo;s Bhartiya Kisan Sangh. BJP has made significant gains among two large OBCs, the Kshatriyas and Kolis since 2012. But it remains to be seen whether Hardik Patel&rsquo;s claim that BJP discriminated against the Patidars become popular election issue or not.</p>

<p>Will BJP be the subject or victim of tribal anger? No ways.</p>

<p>As it appears, Congress will lose significantly the tribal votes as BJP has made a successful dent in the Adivasi areas using its affiliate organisations and their programmes like VHP&rsquo;s Ekal Vidyalayas, RSS&rsquo;s Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram as well as policy dividends like Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna and Vanvasi Kalyan Yojna. The service network of RSS is unmatched as the organisation often indulged in relief camps and distribution of food grain, medicines and clothes to tribals.</p>

<p>Whatever may be, in India and particularly Gujarat, the cultural emotions rather reason played a powerful role in directing the voting behaviour of the people. It is because cultural attachments are easily generated and profoundly felt. We have always witnessed the moments when the miseries of poor economics are forgotten while making political choices. It can be seen in the caste and communal prejudices that are endemic in our society as is the narrow forms of nationalism. It is more manifest when elections are due. Certainly, Gujarat is also going to face the old forms of stereotypes and political mobilisation that can lead to seeing the pluralism as evil in a very schizophrenic fashion and polarisation as the only game plan.</p>


Gujarat has always worked for BJP as a laboratory for the unique convergence of neo-liberal policies, Hindutva nationalism and regional sub-nationalism.

Undoubtedly, by not announcing the electoral scheme for Gujarat, Election Commission of India got derailed from its conventional path. Many doubted the fairness of this constitutional body. The reasons were located in the avoidance of model code of conduct that may have come in the way of possible announcements of policy dividends by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan scheduled on 16th October 2017 in Gandhinagar. But against this proposition, Narendra Modi has relied more on symbolism than substance. There were forms and styles of immediate or non-mediated politics than actual dividends. Also, there was nothing exotic about his recent address in this poll-bound state. We have merely got the sense of his anxiety over the possible waning of his aura and shifting social constituencies from the fold of BJP. BJP was highlighted more as a regional force representing Gujarati pride and Gujarati’s sub-nationalism. × In his address, there were allegations, appeasement, glorification and realisations. The BJP’s anti-Congress position was unduly hyped. Pasts were invoked to demean Congress, particularly in relation to its treatment of Gujarat and Gujarat’s leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, Madhavsinha Solanki and, finally, Narendra Modi himself. Indeed, there seems to be an emerging realisation of his party’s failure in delivering economic comfort to the people through demonetisation and GST as the complicity of other parties were highlighted in GST’s implementation. In a more ironic ways, Narendra Modi has revived the memories of 2002 Gujarat riots in a subtle reference to the Congress’ conspiracies to victimise him. BJP was highlighted more as a regional force representing Gujarati pride and Gujarati’s sub-nationalism. Most significantly, OBCs, Dalits, Tribals and farmers were appeased by highlighting their numerical representation in BJP. Be that as it may, the speech of Narendra Modi lends support to the following emerging realities in Gujarat. First, unlike the assembly elections since the mid-1990s, the 2017 elections for 182 Assembly seats is not a cake walk for BJP. It has become competitive with the refashioning of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress to fight the Gujarat elections on all fronts, including social media. Second, there is a growing realisation among BJP members about the possible disillusionment of a sizable number of voters with the party’s two-decade-old regime. Third, the repeated Gujarat model of development is losing appeal among the marginalised sections of Gujarat. Fourth, there is an ‘invisible discontent in making’ over the poorly designed economic policies like GST and demonetisation. In view of these developments, it should perhaps hardly be surprising if BJP loses its substantial assembly seats and vote share in the forthcoming elections. Gujarat has always worked for BJP as a laboratory for the unique convergence of neo-liberal policies, Hindutva nationalism and regional sub-nationalism. × The 2017 Gujarat Assembly election is different in multiple senses. First, it will act as a prelude to the BJP’s performance in 2019 Lok Sabha elections the way 2012 did for 2014 Lok Sabha. The expansive tide of Narendra Modi’s charisma will receive a severe jolt in 2019 if BJP performs even reasonably poor in the home state of the Prime Minister. It must be noted that Gujarat has always worked for BJP as a laboratory for the unique convergence of neo-liberal policies, Hindutva nationalism and regional sub-nationalism. Second, in the absence of Narendra Modi as the chief ministerial candidate, 2017 Assembly election is going to be the first election after 2001 when Gujarat will be facing the crisis of a credible chief ministerial face. It is reminding a situation of the 1990s when Gujarat experienced the rotation of chief ministerial candidates due to high factionalism within the party, such as Keshubhai Patel (March 1995 to Oct 1995), Sureshchandra Mehta (Oct 1995 to Sept 1996) and Narendra Modi (2001-14). Similar situations prevail now when we noticed the rotation of CMs from Anandiben Patel (May 2014-August 2016) to Vijay Rupani (August 2016 to present). Gujarat is missing the management of Modi who became chief minister of Gujarat in 2001 and led the party to election victories in 2002, 2007 and 2012. Third, there are strong oppositions to BJP from non-Congress forces like Alpesh Thakor (convenor of Kshatriya Thakor Sena), Hardik Patel (convenor of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti) and Jignesh Mewani (convenor of Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch). Third, with the exit of Shankarsinh Vaghela, Congress is no more as factionalised as it was in early days. Fourth, BJP is experiencing the loss of morale with the reporting of The Wire on Amit Shah’s son and the entry of Sukhram in the party. Despite all odds and the changing dynamics of Gujarat, BJP is well placed in the state in the 14th Assembly elections as well. × Despite all odds and the changing dynamics of Gujarat, BJP is well placed in the state in the 14th Assembly elections as well. BJP’s performance steadily improved from 27 per cent of the vote in 1990 to 50 per cent in 2002. However, the party registered the marginal decline in terms of vote share from 49 per cent in 2007 to 48 per cent in 2012. It has gained Assembly seats from 121 in 1995 to 117 in 1998 and gained highest ever of 127 in 2002 but again a slight decline took place from 2007 as it got 117 seats and 116 in 2012. What makes Gujarat a stronghold of BJP over the last two decades? There are many reasons. First, Gujarat has never been the subject of lower caste movements and, thus, no challenge is being offered to BJP from this section of the society. Second, Muslims strategically failed to articulate their political voice. Third, there is a near absence of Adivasi movements or struggles for demanding a share in forest resources and land rights. Fourth, farmer’s movement has already been co-opted by the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh of RSS. Fifth, there is a minimal caste and factional division within the BJP in the state. Sixth, the political mobilisations in Gujarat have always been steered by the higher and dominant castes like Mahagujrat movement for the creation of Gujarat, Nav Nirman movement against corruption, anti-reservation protests, and, finally, Ayodhya movement. In India and particularly Gujarat, the cultural emotions rather reason played a powerful role in directing the voting behaviour of the people. × Above all, BJP in Gujarat remained highly cohesive, centralised and ideologically committed and strongly supported by the RSS. It would be difficult to challenge the party’s strong ties to local administrators and network of civil society organisations, including industrial groups, caste associations and religious organisations. BJP is no longer an urban-centric party rather it penetrated heavily in rural areas using RSS’s Bhartiya Kisan Sangh. BJP has made significant gains among two large OBCs, the Kshatriyas and Kolis since 2012. But it remains to be seen whether Hardik Patel’s claim that BJP discriminated against the Patidars become popular election issue or not. Will BJP be the subject or victim of tribal anger? No ways. As it appears, Congress will lose significantly the tribal votes as BJP has made a successful dent in the Adivasi areas using its affiliate organisations and their programmes like VHP’s Ekal Vidyalayas, RSS’s Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram as well as policy dividends like Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna and Vanvasi Kalyan Yojna. The service network of RSS is unmatched as the organisation often indulged in relief camps and distribution of food grain, medicines and clothes to tribals. Whatever may be, in India and particularly Gujarat, the cultural emotions rather reason played a powerful role in directing the voting behaviour of the people. It is because cultural attachments are easily generated and profoundly felt. We have always witnessed the moments when the miseries of poor economics are forgotten while making political choices. It can be seen in the caste and communal prejudices that are endemic in our society as is the narrow forms of nationalism. It is more manifest when elections are due. Certainly, Gujarat is also going to face the old forms of stereotypes and political mobilisation that can lead to seeing the pluralism as evil in a very schizophrenic fashion and polarisation as the only game plan.

Pluralism vs polarisation: BJP's plan to win Gujarat

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday criticised Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje for an ordinance that prohibits investigations against a judicial official or a public servant without&nbsp;approval from a sanctioning authority, the state government.</p>

<p>The Congress vice-president wrote in a sarcastic tweet: Madam Chief Minister, with all humility we are in the 21&#39;st century. It&#39;s 2017, not 1817.</p>

<p>The controversial ordinance also prohibits the press from reporting on an issue until the sanction has been granted.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi attached a news report as a reference along with his post on Twitter.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The Congress vice-president criticised the Rajasthan chief minister for an ordinance that prohibits investigations without?approval from a sanctioning authority

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday criticised Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje for an ordinance that prohibits investigations against a judicial official or a public servant without approval from a sanctioning authority, the state government. The Congress vice-president wrote in a sarcastic tweet: Madam Chief Minister, with all humility we are in the 21'st century. It's 2017, not 1817. The controversial ordinance also prohibits the press from reporting on an issue until the sanction has been granted. Rahul Gandhi attached a news report as a reference along with his post on Twitter.

Rahul Gandhi's jibe at Vasundhara Raje: It's 2017, not 1817

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to &quot;interfere&quot;&nbsp;in the Tamil film &quot;Mersal&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan had on Friday asked for a scene to be removed from the film.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scene mentioned what Radhakrishnan called &quot;untruths&quot; about the Goods and Services Tax rolled out by the BJP-led NDA government on July 1.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;The film producer should remove the untruths regarding the GST from the film,&quot; PTI quoted Radhakrishnan as having said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The scene soon went viral on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Watch the&nbsp;</em><em>scene</em><em> below:&nbsp;</em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Scene that North Korean President Kim Jong-Un wants to delete from the Movie &quot;Mersal&quot;. (2017) <a href="https://t.co/suBoE1s0ea">pic.twitter.com/suBoE1s0ea</a></p>
&mdash; History of India (@RealHistoryPic) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealHistoryPic/status/921581172085334017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Mr Modi, Cinema is a deep expression of Tamil culture and language. Don&#39;t try to demon-etise Tamil pride by interfering in Mersal,&quot; Gandhi said in a tweet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The jibe was taken up by former fianance minister P Chidambaram.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;BJP demands deletion of dialogues in &#39;Mersal&#39;. Imagine the consequences if &#39;Parasakthi&#39; was released today,&quot; Chidambaram tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP demands deletion of dialogues in &#39;Mersal&#39;. Imagine the consequences if &#39;Parasakthi&#39; was released today.</p>
&mdash; P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) <a href="https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/921568357874393088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Parasakthi was a 1952 Tamil film critical of Brahmanism.</p>

<p>The movie was written by M Karunanidhi, who later went on to become chief minister of Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government&#39;s policies.</p>
&mdash; P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) <a href="https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/921568445526888448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government&#39;s policies,&#39; Chidambaram further tweeted.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The movie Mersal, starring the popular Tamil actor Vijay, contains a scene which says unflattering things about the Goods and Services Tax

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to "interfere" in the Tamil film "Mersal". Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan had on Friday asked for a scene to be removed from the film. The scene mentioned what Radhakrishnan called "untruths" about the Goods and Services Tax rolled out by the BJP-led NDA government on July 1. "The film producer should remove the untruths regarding the GST from the film," PTI quoted Radhakrishnan as having said. The scene soon went viral on social media. Watch the scene below: Scene that North Korean President Kim Jong-Un wants to delete from the Movie "Mersal". (2017) pic.twitter.com/suBoE1s0ea — History of India (@RealHistoryPic) October 21, 2017 × "Mr Modi, Cinema is a deep expression of Tamil culture and language. Don't try to demon-etise Tamil pride by interfering in Mersal," Gandhi said in a tweet. The jibe was taken up by former fianance minister P Chidambaram. "BJP demands deletion of dialogues in 'Mersal'. Imagine the consequences if 'Parasakthi' was released today," Chidambaram tweeted. BJP demands deletion of dialogues in 'Mersal'. Imagine the consequences if 'Parasakthi' was released today. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 21, 2017 × Parasakthi was a 1952 Tamil film critical of Brahmanism. The movie was written by M Karunanidhi, who later went on to become chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government's policies. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 21, 2017 × "Notice to film makers: Law is coming, you can only make documentaries praising government's policies,' Chidambaram further tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi: Mr Modi, don't try to 'demon-etise' Tamil pride by interfering in movie Mersal

<p>Union minister Smriti Irani took another potshot at Rahul Gandhi after a media report saying bots may be the reason for his increased following on Twitter.</p>

<p>Smriti Irani tweeted &quot;Perhaps @OfiiceofRG planning to sweep polls in Russia, Indonesia &amp; Kazakhstan?? #RahulWaveInKazakh.&quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Perhaps <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfRG</a> planning to sweep polls in Russia, Indonesia &amp; Kazakhstan ?? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahulWaveInKazakh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RahulWaveInKazakh</a> <a href="https://t.co/xVanl2mKGh">https://t.co/xVanl2mKGh</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yhl1oAGqOg">https://t.co/Yhl1oAGqOg</a></p>
&mdash; Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) <a href="https://twitter.com/smritiirani/status/921653143796056064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The media report had said the alleged &#39;bots&#39; had Russian, Kazakh, or Indonesian characteristics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News reports say Gandhi has gained some one million Twitter followers over the past two months.&nbsp;Information and Broadcasting minister Rajyavardhan Rathore was quick to follow Irani&#39;s cue.</p>

<p>&quot;In sports, this would come under &#39;Doping&#39;...hey wait! does &lsquo;dope&rsquo; remind you of someone,&quot; he tweeted</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In sports, this would come under &lsquo;Doping&rsquo;.... hey wait!??does &lsquo;dope&rsquo; remind you of someone ?? <a href="https://t.co/xulfk1ENtI">https://t.co/xulfk1ENtI</a></p>
&mdash; Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ra_THORe/status/921672962389950464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Information and Broadcasting minister Rajyavardhan Rathore was quick to follow Irani's cue

Union minister Smriti Irani took another potshot at Rahul Gandhi after a media report saying bots may be the reason for his increased following on Twitter. Smriti Irani tweeted "Perhaps @OfiiceofRG planning to sweep polls in Russia, Indonesia & Kazakhstan?? #RahulWaveInKazakh." Perhaps @OfficeOfRG planning to sweep polls in Russia, Indonesia & Kazakhstan ?? #RahulWaveInKazakh https://t.co/xVanl2mKGh https://t.co/Yhl1oAGqOg — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) October 21, 2017 × The media report had said the alleged 'bots' had Russian, Kazakh, or Indonesian characteristics. News reports say Gandhi has gained some one million Twitter followers over the past two months. Information and Broadcasting minister Rajyavardhan Rathore was quick to follow Irani's cue. "In sports, this would come under 'Doping'...hey wait! does ‘dope’ remind you of someone," he tweeted In sports, this would come under ‘Doping’.... hey wait!??does ‘dope’ remind you of someone ?? https://t.co/xulfk1ENtI — Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) October 21, 2017 ×

After Twitter bots story, Smriti Irani takes another potshot at Rahul

<p>Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took another dig Sunday at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This time it was over the growing US-Pakistan relationship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump had tweeted early Saturday morning that he was &quot;Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was after Pakistani security forces rescued a Canadian-American couple on Wednesday from the Haqqani network.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/freed-canadian-hostage-says-haqqani-network-raped-american-wife-murdered-baby-22456" target="_blank">Also read: Freed Canadian hostage says Haqqani network raped American wife, murdered baby</a></p>

<p>The couple had been kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Sunday, referencing Trump&#39;s tweet, Gandhi tweeted: &quot;Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug <a href="https://t.co/B4001yw5rg">pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg</a></p>
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/919479635909341184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Trump, who has been known to change track suddenly and without warning, had earlier accused Pakistan of &quot;housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump&#39;s latest tweet, ANI said, was likely to be discussed by Indian leaders and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when he visits India in the last week of October.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The &quot;Trump-needs-another-hug&quot; comment from Rahul was of course a reference to the many hugs Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives his counterparts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So much so that he has acquired the reputation of being a &quot;serial hugger&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-takes-battle-to-bjp-again-calls-it-anti-women-21214" target="_blank">Also read: Rahul Gandhi takes battle to BJP again; Amit Shah, Yogi, Smriti Irani hit back</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-happened-to-tolerance-harmony-in-india-rahul-gandhi-in-us-20457" target="_blank">Also read: What happened to tolerance, harmony in India? Rahul Gandhi in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-happened-to-tolerance-harmony-in-india-rahul-gandhi-in-us-20457" target="_blank">US</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


'Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders,' Trump had tweeted on Saturday

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took another dig Sunday at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This time it was over the growing US-Pakistan relationship. Trump had tweeted early Saturday morning that he was "Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders". This was after Pakistani security forces rescued a Canadian-American couple on Wednesday from the Haqqani network. Also read: Freed Canadian hostage says Haqqani network raped American wife, murdered baby The couple had been kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012. On Sunday, referencing Trump's tweet, Gandhi tweeted: "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug." Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017 × Trump, who has been known to change track suddenly and without warning, had earlier accused Pakistan of "housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately." Trump's latest tweet, ANI said, was likely to be discussed by Indian leaders and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when he visits India in the last week of October. The "Trump-needs-another-hug" comment from Rahul was of course a reference to the many hugs Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives his counterparts. So much so that he has acquired the reputation of being a "serial hugger". Also read: Rahul Gandhi takes battle to BJP again; Amit Shah, Yogi, Smriti Irani hit back Also read: What happened to tolerance, harmony in India? Rahul Gandhi in US

Rahul takes another dig at PM Modi, this time over growing US-Pak relationship

<p>Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;cornered Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, saying when he takes the onus of campaigning for his candidates, his party loses.</p>

<p>&quot;If Rahul Gandhi is campaigning, it seals a loss for the Congress,&quot; Adityanath said, while addressing a rally in Gujarat`s Valsad.</p>

<p>Adityanath`s comment has come in the wake of preparations for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, for which senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have been holding rallies in the state.</p>

<p>Adityanath further said, &quot;Amit Shah visits Gujarat, and Rahul Gandhi runs to Italy. Doesn`t he feel the need to remember or visit Gujarat then?&quot;</p>

<p>The chief minister then targetted Rahul`s recent Amethi visit and said the Congress failed to bring any development in the state.</p>

<p>&quot;Even after ruling there for 14 years, Rahul Gandhi did not facilitate the building of a collectorate in Amethi,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>In the run-up to the assembly elections in Gujarat later this year, or early next year and the general elections in 2019, the war of words between the two parties has been on a rise.</p>

<p>Rahul Gandhi, who alleged that he was recently denied entry into his own constituency, Amethi, chose Gujarat for a four-phase tour to cover all regions of the state prior to the assembly elections.</p>

<p>The Congress MLAs in Gujarat had alleged the state BJP of horse-trading ahead of the assembly elections, which the saffron party outrightly denied.</p>

<p>When Rahul commented on the development in Gujarat, saying that `Vikas` (development in Hindi) had gone berserk due to listening to constant lies, likening development to a person, Union Minister Smriti Irani, in one of her addresses in Amethi, said `Vikas` was not something that should be ridiculed; rather, it should be accepted and appreciated.</p>

<p>Rahul also said that the Gujarat Government had majorly failed to provide basic facilities of education and sanitation to the people of the state. He also lashed out at the Modi government for making &quot;profit - the focus of educational institutions.&quot;</p>


Adityanath`s comment has come in the wake of preparations for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, for which senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have been holding rallies in the state

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday cornered Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, saying when he takes the onus of campaigning for his candidates, his party loses. "If Rahul Gandhi is campaigning, it seals a loss for the Congress," Adityanath said, while addressing a rally in Gujarat`s Valsad. Adityanath`s comment has come in the wake of preparations for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, for which senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have been holding rallies in the state. Adityanath further said, "Amit Shah visits Gujarat, and Rahul Gandhi runs to Italy. Doesn`t he feel the need to remember or visit Gujarat then?" The chief minister then targetted Rahul`s recent Amethi visit and said the Congress failed to bring any development in the state. "Even after ruling there for 14 years, Rahul Gandhi did not facilitate the building of a collectorate in Amethi," he said. In the run-up to the assembly elections in Gujarat later this year, or early next year and the general elections in 2019, the war of words between the two parties has been on a rise. Rahul Gandhi, who alleged that he was recently denied entry into his own constituency, Amethi, chose Gujarat for a four-phase tour to cover all regions of the state prior to the assembly elections. The Congress MLAs in Gujarat had alleged the state BJP of horse-trading ahead of the assembly elections, which the saffron party outrightly denied. When Rahul commented on the development in Gujarat, saying that `Vikas` (development in Hindi) had gone berserk due to listening to constant lies, likening development to a person, Union Minister Smriti Irani, in one of her addresses in Amethi, said `Vikas` was not something that should be ridiculed; rather, it should be accepted and appreciated. Rahul also said that the Gujarat Government had majorly failed to provide basic facilities of education and sanitation to the people of the state. He also lashed out at the Modi government for making "profit - the focus of educational institutions."

When Rahul Gandhi campaigns, Congress loses: Adityanath

<p>Congress president Sonia Gandhi told a private TV channel today that vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be taking over as party chief shortly.</p>

<p>The development comes as Punjab Congress Committee today passed a resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the All India Congress Committee(AICC) president.</p>

<p>Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Congress had passed a similar resolution.</p>

<p>However, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hasn&#39;t commented on his impending&nbsp;elevation as the party chief.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Congress Working Committee(CWC) - the party&#39;s highest decision-making body -&nbsp; is expected to decide on the dates of election for the new president soon.</p>

<p>Sonia Gandhi,&nbsp;the present&nbsp;Congress president, was elected in 1998.</p>


Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hasn't commented on his impending?elevation as the party chief

Congress president Sonia Gandhi told a private TV channel today that vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be taking over as party chief shortly. The development comes as Punjab Congress Committee today passed a resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the All India Congress Committee(AICC) president. Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Congress had passed a similar resolution. However, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hasn't commented on his impending elevation as the party chief. The Congress Working Committee(CWC) - the party's highest decision-making body - is expected to decide on the dates of election for the new president soon. Sonia Gandhi, the present Congress president, was elected in 1998.

Rahul Gandhi to be Congress chief, hints Sonia

<p>The joke in the Congress party in Madhya Pradesh is that Jyotiraditya Scindhia has got traction, Digvijay Singh has got sangathan (organisation) and Kamalnath has got the money muscle. Reasonably speaking all three elements are required to win assembly elections. Congress has not been able to retain Madhya Pradesh since 2003.</p>

<p>This will be the fourth assembly election where Congress will be pitched directly against Shivraj Singh Chauhan, a strong OBC leader who has been able to dodge controversies by playing the affable &#39;mama-ji&#39; image in Madhya Pradesh&rsquo;s politics.</p>

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<h5>Despite a fertile ground and 15 years of anti-incumbency, Congress has not been able to set its house in order.</h5>
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<p>For the first time, it is also not sure whether Shivraj Chauhan will be projected as the chief minister under the new dispensation as at one point of time he was a compatriot of Narendra Modi. Also, for the first time, Shivraj Singh Chauhan is under fire from people on the issue of sadak and bijali which were associated with former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh. It wouldn&rsquo;t be far-fetched to say that even the BJP leadership within Madhya Pradesh is upset with Shivraj Singh Chauhan.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Despite a fertile ground and 15 years of anti-incumbency, Congress has not been able to set its house in order. As of now Kamalnath and Digvijay Singh are on the same side and Jyotiraditya Scindhia on the other. Then there are leaders, such as Kantilal Bhuria, Suresh Pachouri, Rahul Singh and Arun Yadav. The assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh are a year away, and despite the massive farmer stir rocking the state, the Congress has not been able to project any leader nor succeeded in getting all of them on the&nbsp;same page. So, MP Congress is full of leaders bereft of unity. That&#39;s&nbsp;the bane. It is not the organisation but fight at the top in Madhya Pradesh which&nbsp;has led to its defeat from 2003 onwards.</p>

<p>Congress should remember that when even former CM Andhra Pradesh YSR Reddy got ample time to organise his padyatra in Andhra Pradesh, which was being run by TDP for the last 10 years, he kept it limited to a 3-months time span. Instead, Digvijay has gone for a 6-month padyatra (though he insists its non-political nature) who will neither be made PCC President nor projected as the chief ministerial candidate of the state.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
What is of great significance is that over the last 10 years, the proportion of votes going to third parties have reduced significantly, with the Congress and the BJP votes swelling every time. In 2007, third parties got 29.97 per cent votes. In 2013, they got 18.74 and during the Lok Sabha elections, the numbers got reduced to 9.89 per cent of votes. On the other hand, even during its worst performance in 2014, Congress retained 35 per cent votes, whereas, BJP&rsquo;s vote swelled to 55 per cent.</p>

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<h5>Congress is within the striking distance of victory, its leaders remain unorganised and the party seems to be dithering in taking a call to project one person as the face of the state.</h5>
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<p>Unlike Gujarat, which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s domain, Madhya Pradesh revolves more around Shivraj Singh Chauhan&#39;s gentle persona. For the first time, Congress is within the striking distance of victory but its leaders remain unorganised and the party seems to be dithering in taking a call to project one person as the face of the state.</p>

<p>Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi must call off the bluff of the vested leadership in the state and decide the candidate who would front the state.</p>

<p>If Congress leadership cannot pick up a ripe state like Madhya Pradesh then it should rethink whether it has the right to continue in the present avatar. Rahul Gandhi must solve the problem of plenty.</p>


Congress can win Madhya Pradesh: Rahul Gandhi must call of the bluff and declare the leader for Madhya Pradesh

The joke in the Congress party in Madhya Pradesh is that Jyotiraditya Scindhia has got traction, Digvijay Singh has got sangathan (organisation) and Kamalnath has got the money muscle. Reasonably speaking all three elements are required to win assembly elections. Congress has not been able to retain Madhya Pradesh since 2003. This will be the fourth assembly election where Congress will be pitched directly against Shivraj Singh Chauhan, a strong OBC leader who has been able to dodge controversies by playing the affable 'mama-ji' image in Madhya Pradesh’s politics. Despite a fertile ground and 15 years of anti-incumbency, Congress has not been able to set its house in order. × For the first time, it is also not sure whether Shivraj Chauhan will be projected as the chief minister under the new dispensation as at one point of time he was a compatriot of Narendra Modi. Also, for the first time, Shivraj Singh Chauhan is under fire from people on the issue of sadak and bijali which were associated with former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that even the BJP leadership within Madhya Pradesh is upset with Shivraj Singh Chauhan. Despite a fertile ground and 15 years of anti-incumbency, Congress has not been able to set its house in order. As of now Kamalnath and Digvijay Singh are on the same side and Jyotiraditya Scindhia on the other. Then there are leaders, such as Kantilal Bhuria, Suresh Pachouri, Rahul Singh and Arun Yadav. The assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh are a year away, and despite the massive farmer stir rocking the state, the Congress has not been able to project any leader nor succeeded in getting all of them on the same page. So, MP Congress is full of leaders bereft of unity. That's the bane. It is not the organisation but fight at the top in Madhya Pradesh which has led to its defeat from 2003 onwards. Congress should remember that when even former CM Andhra Pradesh YSR Reddy got ample time to organise his padyatra in Andhra Pradesh, which was being run by TDP for the last 10 years, he kept it limited to a 3-months time span. Instead, Digvijay has gone for a 6-month padyatra (though he insists its non-political nature) who will neither be made PCC President nor projected as the chief ministerial candidate of the state. What is of great significance is that over the last 10 years, the proportion of votes going to third parties have reduced significantly, with the Congress and the BJP votes swelling every time. In 2007, third parties got 29.97 per cent votes. In 2013, they got 18.74 and during the Lok Sabha elections, the numbers got reduced to 9.89 per cent of votes. On the other hand, even during its worst performance in 2014, Congress retained 35 per cent votes, whereas, BJP’s vote swelled to 55 per cent. Congress is within the striking distance of victory, its leaders remain unorganised and the party seems to be dithering in taking a call to project one person as the face of the state. × Unlike Gujarat, which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s domain, Madhya Pradesh revolves more around Shivraj Singh Chauhan's gentle persona. For the first time, Congress is within the striking distance of victory but its leaders remain unorganised and the party seems to be dithering in taking a call to project one person as the face of the state. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi must call off the bluff of the vested leadership in the state and decide the candidate who would front the state. If Congress leadership cannot pick up a ripe state like Madhya Pradesh then it should rethink whether it has the right to continue in the present avatar. Rahul Gandhi must solve the problem of plenty.

Cong leadership squabble must end in Madhya Pradesh

<p>Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel has hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that RSS and BJP do not give importance to women in their rank and file.</p>

<p>&quot;Their organisation is the RSS. How many women are there in the RSS... Have you ever seen any woman in shakhas wearing shorts?&quot; Gandhi said at a gathering of students in Vadodara on the second day of his election campaign in Gujarat.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I want to ask Rahul and Congress: Is this why you look at a woman? To see what she is wearing?&rdquo; Anandiben Patel lashed out. &ldquo;All the women in Gujarat have been insulted by Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s comments. He should apologise, otherwise all the women together will ensure that Congress loses whatever handful of seats they have in the state.&rdquo;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel demands Congress&#39; apology for Rahul Gandhi&#39;s statement &quot;Ever saw women in shorts at RSS shakhas&quot;? <a href="https://t.co/HDMXJoJBIy">pic.twitter.com/HDMXJoJBIy</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/917699820252364800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Saying that Congress party has demeaned and insulted the women of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel asked, &ldquo;Do Rahul&rsquo;s mother and his sister find his comments acceptable?&rdquo;</p>

<p>Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said at the gathering in Vadodara, &quot;The BJP&#39;s thinking is that till women are silent they are good, when they start speaking up they try to shut them (women) up.&quot;</p>

<p>He said in contrast, women work at every level in the Congress.</p>

<p>Gandhi also said that if his party&#39;s government comes to power in Gujarat, it will give importance to women and try to resolve their issues.</p>

<p>The Congress leader began his second day of &#39;Navsarjan Yatra&#39; in central Gujarat region from Vadodara by addressing the students.</p>

<p>He addressed 10 meetings on Monday and offered prayers at the famous Santram Temple in Nadiad.</p>

<p>In the first leg of the Navsarjan Yatra last month, Gandhi had travelled in the Saurashtra.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from news agency PTI)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel has hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that RSS and BJP do not give importance to women in their rank and file.

Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel has hit back at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that RSS and BJP do not give importance to women in their rank and file. "Their organisation is the RSS. How many women are there in the RSS... Have you ever seen any woman in shakhas wearing shorts?" Gandhi said at a gathering of students in Vadodara on the second day of his election campaign in Gujarat. “I want to ask Rahul and Congress: Is this why you look at a woman? To see what she is wearing?” Anandiben Patel lashed out. “All the women in Gujarat have been insulted by Rahul Gandhi’s comments. He should apologise, otherwise all the women together will ensure that Congress loses whatever handful of seats they have in the state.” #WATCH: Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel demands Congress' apology for Rahul Gandhi's statement "Ever saw women in shorts at RSS shakhas"? pic.twitter.com/HDMXJoJBIy — ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2017 × Saying that Congress party has demeaned and insulted the women of Gujarat, Anandiben Patel asked, “Do Rahul’s mother and his sister find his comments acceptable?” Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said at the gathering in Vadodara, "The BJP's thinking is that till women are silent they are good, when they start speaking up they try to shut them (women) up." He said in contrast, women work at every level in the Congress. Gandhi also said that if his party's government comes to power in Gujarat, it will give importance to women and try to resolve their issues. The Congress leader began his second day of 'Navsarjan Yatra' in central Gujarat region from Vadodara by addressing the students. He addressed 10 meetings on Monday and offered prayers at the famous Santram Temple in Nadiad. In the first leg of the Navsarjan Yatra last month, Gandhi had travelled in the Saurashtra. (With inputs from news agency PTI)

Anandiben Patel attacks Rahul for 'ever seen women in shorts at RSS?' remark

<p>Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took the battle to the BJP again on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He called the BJP anti-women, and said Prime MInister Narendra Modi&#39;s focus was not on creating jobs.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Vadodara, Gujarat: Rahul Gandhi says, &#39;Modi Ji&#39;s focus is not on (providing) jobs.&#39; <a href="https://t.co/P0KcvjZNSP">pic.twitter.com/P0KcvjZNSP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/917633366341468160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You enjoy taking selfies but this phone gave employment to Chinese youth, it is made in China because Modi Ji&#39;s focus is not on jobs: RG <a href="https://t.co/YpR0yAWi9v">pic.twitter.com/YpR0yAWi9v</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/917626354362834944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>BJP President Amit Shah,&nbsp;UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and union minister Smriti Irani were quick to reply.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gandhi is currently on a tour of Amit Shah&#39;s home state of Gujarat which will go to the polls later this year.</p>

<p>The BJP trio, interestingly, is in the Gandhi bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Gujarat ki janta vikas janti hai, Rahul baba aap Amethi ko dekhiye aapne kya banta dhaar kiya hai: Amit Shah in Amethi <a href="https://t.co/XfzWevKOOw">pic.twitter.com/XfzWevKOOw</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/917660999854862336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The people of Gujarat know development, Shah said. &quot;Look Rahul baba at what you have done to Amethi,&quot; he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shah added that the &quot;Congress prince&quot; wanted an accounting of three years of Modi rule, but that three generations of Amethi wanted an answer from him.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Gujarat ki janta vikas janti hai, Rahul baba aap Amethi ko dekhiye aapne kya banta dhaar kiya hai: Amit Shah in Amethi <a href="https://t.co/XfzWevKOOw">pic.twitter.com/XfzWevKOOw</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/917660999854862336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Congress ke shehzaade ko puchna chahta hu, Modi Ji ke 3 saal ka hisab mangte ho, Amethi apki 3 peedhiyon ka jawab mangti hai: Amit Shah <a href="https://t.co/zsgQqI11gx">pic.twitter.com/zsgQqI11gx</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/917660684686471170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath said his state&#39;s farmers would either have land or development, or that their land would be returned to them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And that along with Amethi, he would bring development to all of Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Kisano ki zameen hogi ya toh udyog lagega ya unko wapas hogi, isko hum kisi foundation ya parivar ki jaagir nahi banne denge: UP CM <a href="https://t.co/ICIhT18aN3">pic.twitter.com/ICIhT18aN3</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/917657323165802498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Kahin par damaad zameen hadape aur kahin putr hi zameen hadapne ka kaam kare yeh ab UP mein nahi chal payega: UP CM Yogi Adityanath <a href="https://t.co/sGf4U73CGS">pic.twitter.com/sGf4U73CGS</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/917656463639584769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Smriti Irani made perhaps the most pointed dig of all, asking what would the man who does not know the difference between &quot;relay transmission&nbsp;and FM station&quot; say about development.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And that that should worry the Congress.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Jo relay transmission aur FM station ke beech ka farak nahi janta woh sansad vikas ke upar gyan de yeh kitna shobha deta hai: Smriti Irani <a href="https://t.co/HZXaBHo9io">pic.twitter.com/HZXaBHo9io</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/917652803635470336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;How many women have you seen in shorts in RSS shakhas?&quot;&nbsp;Gandhi had earlier asked.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He had added that the BJP&#39;s thinking was that a woman is okay so long as she remains silent.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Inka (BJP) main sangathan RSS hai. Kitni mahila hain usme, kabhi shaakha mein mahilaon ko dekha hai shorts mein? Maine to nahi dekha: RG <a href="https://t.co/cAxxmDqdw8">pic.twitter.com/cAxxmDqdw8</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/917627066421411840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">Inki (BJP) thinking ha jab tak mahila chup rahe, kuch bole na tab tak mahila theek hai jaise hi mahila ne muh khola usko chup karvao: RG <a href="https://t.co/9io8Nf3vQP">pic.twitter.com/9io8Nf3vQP</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/917626801421115393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Gandhi had also taken a crack at BJP President Amit Shah&#39;s son Jay Shah, calling him the icon of Startup India. A story about Jay Shah on the portal The Wire had set off a political firestorm on Sunday. The story had reported that the revenue of a Jay Shah-owned company (Temple Enterprise Pvt Ltd) had jumped from Rs 50,000 (2014-15) to Rs 80.5 crore (2015-16) in one year after Narendra Modi became prime minister.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jay Shah has since filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against The Wire.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP President Amit Shah arrives in Lucknow. He will be addressing a public rally in Amethi; UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also present. <a href="https://t.co/RrMlYncFkM">pic.twitter.com/RrMlYncFkM</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/917632379602141186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Gandhi also added that the &quot;chowkidar&quot; of India does not like to comment on these things (Jay Shah).&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">But the chowkidaar of India is quiet, he does not like to comment on these things (Jay Shah): Rahul Gandhi in Vadodara <a href="https://t.co/Tn1JPCRpzR">pic.twitter.com/Tn1JPCRpzR</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/917628470666027008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Rahul Gandhi is currently on a tour of Gujarat. The BJP trio is in the Gandhi bastion of Amethi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took the battle to the BJP again on Tuesday. He called the BJP anti-women, and said Prime MInister Narendra Modi's focus was not on creating jobs. #WATCH Vadodara, Gujarat: Rahul Gandhi says, 'Modi Ji's focus is not on (providing) jobs.' pic.twitter.com/P0KcvjZNSP — ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2017 × You enjoy taking selfies but this phone gave employment to Chinese youth, it is made in China because Modi Ji's focus is not on jobs: RG pic.twitter.com/YpR0yAWi9v — ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2017 × BJP President Amit Shah, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and union minister Smriti Irani were quick to reply. Gandhi is currently on a tour of Amit Shah's home state of Gujarat which will go to the polls later this year. The BJP trio, interestingly, is in the Gandhi bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Gujarat ki janta vikas janti hai, Rahul baba aap Amethi ko dekhiye aapne kya banta dhaar kiya hai: Amit Shah in Amethi pic.twitter.com/XfzWevKOOw — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017 × The people of Gujarat know development, Shah said. "Look Rahul baba at what you have done to Amethi," he added. Shah added that the "Congress prince" wanted an accounting of three years of Modi rule, but that three generations of Amethi wanted an answer from him. Gujarat ki janta vikas janti hai, Rahul baba aap Amethi ko dekhiye aapne kya banta dhaar kiya hai: Amit Shah in Amethi pic.twitter.com/XfzWevKOOw — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017 × Congress ke shehzaade ko puchna chahta hu, Modi Ji ke 3 saal ka hisab mangte ho, Amethi apki 3 peedhiyon ka jawab mangti hai: Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/zsgQqI11gx — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017 × UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath said his state's farmers would either have land or development, or that their land would be returned to them. And that along with Amethi, he would bring development to all of Uttar Pradesh. Kisano ki zameen hogi ya toh udyog lagega ya unko wapas hogi, isko hum kisi foundation ya parivar ki jaagir nahi banne denge: UP CM pic.twitter.com/ICIhT18aN3 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017 × Kahin par damaad zameen hadape aur kahin putr hi zameen hadapne ka kaam kare yeh ab UP mein nahi chal payega: UP CM Yogi Adityanath pic.twitter.com/sGf4U73CGS — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017 × Smriti Irani made perhaps the most pointed dig of all, asking what would the man who does not know the difference between "relay transmission and FM station" say about development. And that that should worry the Congress. Jo relay transmission aur FM station ke beech ka farak nahi janta woh sansad vikas ke upar gyan de yeh kitna shobha deta hai: Smriti Irani pic.twitter.com/HZXaBHo9io — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017 × "How many women have you seen in shorts in RSS shakhas?" Gandhi had earlier asked. He had added that the BJP's thinking was that a woman is okay so long as she remains silent. Inka (BJP) main sangathan RSS hai. Kitni mahila hain usme, kabhi shaakha mein mahilaon ko dekha hai shorts mein? Maine to nahi dekha: RG pic.twitter.com/cAxxmDqdw8 — ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2017 × Inki (BJP) thinking ha jab tak mahila chup rahe, kuch bole na tab tak mahila theek hai jaise hi mahila ne muh khola usko chup karvao: RG pic.twitter.com/9io8Nf3vQP — ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2017 × Gandhi had also taken a crack at BJP President Amit Shah's son Jay Shah, calling him the icon of Startup India. A story about Jay Shah on the portal The Wire had set off a political firestorm on Sunday. The story had reported that the revenue of a Jay Shah-owned company (Temple Enterprise Pvt Ltd) had jumped from Rs 50,000 (2014-15) to Rs 80.5 crore (2015-16) in one year after Narendra Modi became prime minister. Jay Shah has since filed a Rs 100 crore defamation suit against The Wire. BJP President Amit Shah arrives in Lucknow. He will be addressing a public rally in Amethi; UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also present. pic.twitter.com/RrMlYncFkM — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 10, 2017 × Gandhi also added that the "chowkidar" of India does not like to comment on these things (Jay Shah). But the chowkidaar of India is quiet, he does not like to comment on these things (Jay Shah): Rahul Gandhi in Vadodara pic.twitter.com/Tn1JPCRpzR — ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2017 ×

Rahul Gandhi takes battle to BJP again; Amit Shah, Yogi, Smriti Irani hit back

<p>It will be a tough election for BJP in Gujarat. The state is feeling Narendra Modi&rsquo;s absence acutely as it has failed to manage agitations launched by Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor.</p>

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<h5>Congress has taken a big risk by churning out a campaign which will eventually end up pitting Rahul Gandhi against Narendra Modi.</h5>
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<p>The situation gets further complicated for BJP because of dwindling economy as Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi continues to pillory the PM on the issue of jobs in Gujarat.</p>

<p>The question is that despite everything in place, is Congress walking the right path?</p>

<p>In my opinion, Congress has taken a big risk by churning out a campaign which will eventually end up pitting Rahul Gandhi against the Indian Prime Minister in his home state Gujarat. The believers can dismiss it as Goliath vs David adventure but assembly elections in the past have shown that investing Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s political equity in state elections is an exercise in futility. Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated it twice. Once Rahul Gandhi went alone and the second time, he went into a tie-up with the Samajwadi Party.</p>

<p>Even in 2004, when the Congress campaign was lethargic, it ended getting 12 seats out of 26 seats. The campaign was not focused on Modi and it attended to local issues. Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat has symbolically reaffirmed that neither he is an atheist not averse to participation in the religious ceremony but he has chosen to attack Narendra Modi directly.</p>

<p>After Ahmed Patel&rsquo;s re-election to Rajya Sabha, the confidence of the Congress Party has gone up but it neither has big faces nor a viable leadership in Gujarat which atrophied in the last 15 years. It is in this context, Congress must revaluate whether high pitched anti-Modi campaigns serves well in Gujarat or a more low-key campaign, using the faces of state faces which avoids polarisation on the basis of personality.</p>

<p>Many in the Congress would believe that time has come to turn the tide as GST has caused a massive economic problem to the traders and in&nbsp;organised sectors. However, it would be foolhardy to believe that it has impacted Narendra Modi&rsquo;s credibility.</p>

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<h5>The electorate will reach an equilibrium and it can only reach if it doesn&rsquo;t become Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi.</h5>
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<p>It is not a 1987 moment where Rajiv Gandhi was accused of taking a bribe and led to a split in the&nbsp;Congress. Amit Shah is not Narendra Modi nor Rajiv&#39;s son-in-law Robert Vadra whose public profile added fuel to the fire when reports on him started coming out. Gujarat is a golden opportunity for the Congress to beef up its support base. Even during 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress got 33.5 per cent of the vote, a down from 38.9 that it got in the Assembly election of 2012.</p>

<p>BJP&rsquo;s vote share has increased to 60 per cent in 2014 but it will not get this vote in the assembly. The electorate will reach an equilibrium. The only chance BJP has of reaching the numbers is if the electoral show can only reach if it doesn&rsquo;t become Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi. Congress can make gains if it avoids polarisation around Narendra Modi&rsquo;s personality.</p>

<p>Even if the issue is economic, it is impinging on the prime minister. Many would argue that politics cannot be done without taking a risk. In my opinion, it is not a calculated political risk. It seems party wants to go out for a kill. It is hubris. If Congress continues to make elections a fight between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi, it might end up in the same space where it found itself in 2012</p>


Rahul Gandhi's strategy of going against Modi won't work out for coming elections

It will be a tough election for BJP in Gujarat. The state is feeling Narendra Modi’s absence acutely as it has failed to manage agitations launched by Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor. Congress has taken a big risk by churning out a campaign which will eventually end up pitting Rahul Gandhi against Narendra Modi. × The situation gets further complicated for BJP because of dwindling economy as Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi continues to pillory the PM on the issue of jobs in Gujarat. The question is that despite everything in place, is Congress walking the right path? In my opinion, Congress has taken a big risk by churning out a campaign which will eventually end up pitting Rahul Gandhi against the Indian Prime Minister in his home state Gujarat. The believers can dismiss it as Goliath vs David adventure but assembly elections in the past have shown that investing Rahul Gandhi’s political equity in state elections is an exercise in futility. Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated it twice. Once Rahul Gandhi went alone and the second time, he went into a tie-up with the Samajwadi Party. Even in 2004, when the Congress campaign was lethargic, it ended getting 12 seats out of 26 seats. The campaign was not focused on Modi and it attended to local issues. Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat has symbolically reaffirmed that neither he is an atheist not averse to participation in the religious ceremony but he has chosen to attack Narendra Modi directly. After Ahmed Patel’s re-election to Rajya Sabha, the confidence of the Congress Party has gone up but it neither has big faces nor a viable leadership in Gujarat which atrophied in the last 15 years. It is in this context, Congress must revaluate whether high pitched anti-Modi campaigns serves well in Gujarat or a more low-key campaign, using the faces of state faces which avoids polarisation on the basis of personality. Many in the Congress would believe that time has come to turn the tide as GST has caused a massive economic problem to the traders and in organised sectors. However, it would be foolhardy to believe that it has impacted Narendra Modi’s credibility. The electorate will reach an equilibrium and it can only reach if it doesn’t become Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi. × It is not a 1987 moment where Rajiv Gandhi was accused of taking a bribe and led to a split in the Congress. Amit Shah is not Narendra Modi nor Rajiv's son-in-law Robert Vadra whose public profile added fuel to the fire when reports on him started coming out. Gujarat is a golden opportunity for the Congress to beef up its support base. Even during 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress got 33.5 per cent of the vote, a down from 38.9 that it got in the Assembly election of 2012. BJP’s vote share has increased to 60 per cent in 2014 but it will not get this vote in the assembly. The electorate will reach an equilibrium. The only chance BJP has of reaching the numbers is if the electoral show can only reach if it doesn’t become Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi. Congress can make gains if it avoids polarisation around Narendra Modi’s personality. Even if the issue is economic, it is impinging on the prime minister. Many would argue that politics cannot be done without taking a risk. In my opinion, it is not a calculated political risk. It seems party wants to go out for a kill. It is hubris. If Congress continues to make elections a fight between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi, it might end up in the same space where it found itself in 2012

Modi vs Rahul Gandhi: Political harakiri for Congress in Gujarat election

<p>The Congress today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tell the country what was happening at Doklam and about his policy on the issue with Rahul Gandhi taking a swipe at him demanding an explanation on road construction by China if he was done with &quot;chest thumping&quot;.</p>

<p>Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal asked Modi to explain his policy to deal with the issue and whether he intended to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to Sabarmati again.</p>

<p>The comments came a day after sources said China maintained a sizeable presence of troops near the site of the Dokalam standoff with India and had started widening a road, around 12 km from the area of conflict.</p>

<p>&quot;Modiji, once you&#39;re done thumping your chest, could you please explain this?&quot; Gandhi tweeted, tagging a news report headlined, &quot;With 500 Soldiers On Guard, China Expands Road In Doklam&quot;.</p>

<p>At the AICC briefing, Sibal said, &quot;Your (Modi&#39;s) meeting was good, but what was the result of it and what is happening about it. Please tell the country as to what is happening at the border, especially along the Dokalam plateau.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;What is going to be your policy in this regard and whether you will again invite President Xi to Sabarmati for a swing with him and have a good sleep,&quot; the former minister asked.</p>

<p>Sibal asked what was happening in Dokalam today and said it is &quot;very disappointing&quot; that Modi met Xi at the BRICS Summit and there was a lot of talk about the meeting that would help ease the border tension with China as Chinese troops had withdrawn and so had India, removed their equipment and this matter will not be escalated further.</p>

<p>&quot;But what we are hearing now is that in the Dokalam plateau near the trijunction and 10 km within the chicken neck, a new road is being constructed and the same equipment is being used there. Reports also say that some 500 to 1,000 Chinese soldiers are also deployed there,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>The Congress leader also referrd to the statement of Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat who said that the Chinese will be doing excursions and &quot;we should be ready for that&quot;.</p>

<p>Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day standoff in Dokalam that began from June 16 over road construction activity at the India-Bhutan-China trijunction.</p>

<p>The tension eased after talks between top officials of both the countries.</p>

<p>The Congress, in an article put out on its website, also said that the fresh Dokalam development underscores that deft diplomacy was not practiced and requires an explanation from the government.</p>

<p>The article said the news that China has stationed over 1,500 troops in close proximity to the standoff zone makes warnings given out by Congres leaders earlier sound prophetic.</p>

<p>&quot;In the absence of the NDA government not clarifying particulars as to the de-escalation, this fresh development looks alarming and underscores that deft diplomacy was not practiced,&quot; the article said.</p>

<p>It said that Indian surveillance has reportedly detected new bunkers, and some road re-laying has also been done in the vicinity. China is reportedly using the road construction materials it brought to Doklam, to strengthen infrastructure in the environs of the standoff zone.</p>

<p>The Congress said it is widely evident that a build-up of roads and bunkers is a step towards China&#39;s stated goal to &quot;exercise its sovereign rights&quot; in the region.</p>

<p>It said Army Chief Rawat has termed these as &#39;salami slicing tactics&#39; and warned that continued tensions may snowball into a larger conflict.</p>

<p>In military parlance, &#39;salami slicing&#39; is a series of many minor actions, often performed by covert means, that as an accumulated whole produce a much larger result that would otherwise be difficult to execute all at once.</p>

<p>The Congress article said in September, China also opened a strategic highway to Nepal via Tibet and China&#39;s state-run Global Times alarmingly stated that this highway is just a &quot;forerunner&quot; to a railway link.</p>

<p>It said as per a recent report, China is reinforcing its claim on the Doklam territory by upgrading the road around 10- km north and east of the earlier face-off site.</p>

<p>&quot;One cannot be sure whether these events had been discussed on the table during the standoff. If it is so, then a legitimate question arises, what all concessions have the government made to the Chinese to solve the crisis?&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Is this just the tip of the iceberg? If instead, the government is getting cold feet, then China&#39;s salami tactics are working,&quot; the article said.</p>


His comments came a day after sources said China maintained a sizeable presence of troops near the site of the Dokalam standoff with India and had started widening a road, around 12 km from the area of conflict

The Congress today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tell the country what was happening at Doklam and about his policy on the issue with Rahul Gandhi taking a swipe at him demanding an explanation on road construction by China if he was done with "chest thumping". Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal asked Modi to explain his policy to deal with the issue and whether he intended to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to Sabarmati again. The comments came a day after sources said China maintained a sizeable presence of troops near the site of the Dokalam standoff with India and had started widening a road, around 12 km from the area of conflict. "Modiji, once you're done thumping your chest, could you please explain this?" Gandhi tweeted, tagging a news report headlined, "With 500 Soldiers On Guard, China Expands Road In Doklam". At the AICC briefing, Sibal said, "Your (Modi's) meeting was good, but what was the result of it and what is happening about it. Please tell the country as to what is happening at the border, especially along the Dokalam plateau." "What is going to be your policy in this regard and whether you will again invite President Xi to Sabarmati for a swing with him and have a good sleep," the former minister asked. Sibal asked what was happening in Dokalam today and said it is "very disappointing" that Modi met Xi at the BRICS Summit and there was a lot of talk about the meeting that would help ease the border tension with China as Chinese troops had withdrawn and so had India, removed their equipment and this matter will not be escalated further. "But what we are hearing now is that in the Dokalam plateau near the trijunction and 10 km within the chicken neck, a new road is being constructed and the same equipment is being used there. Reports also say that some 500 to 1,000 Chinese soldiers are also deployed there," he said. The Congress leader also referrd to the statement of Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat who said that the Chinese will be doing excursions and "we should be ready for that". Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day standoff in Dokalam that began from June 16 over road construction activity at the India-Bhutan-China trijunction. The tension eased after talks between top officials of both the countries. The Congress, in an article put out on its website, also said that the fresh Dokalam development underscores that deft diplomacy was not practiced and requires an explanation from the government. The article said the news that China has stationed over 1,500 troops in close proximity to the standoff zone makes warnings given out by Congres leaders earlier sound prophetic. "In the absence of the NDA government not clarifying particulars as to the de-escalation, this fresh development looks alarming and underscores that deft diplomacy was not practiced," the article said. It said that Indian surveillance has reportedly detected new bunkers, and some road re-laying has also been done in the vicinity. China is reportedly using the road construction materials it brought to Doklam, to strengthen infrastructure in the environs of the standoff zone. The Congress said it is widely evident that a build-up of roads and bunkers is a step towards China's stated goal to "exercise its sovereign rights" in the region. It said Army Chief Rawat has termed these as 'salami slicing tactics' and warned that continued tensions may snowball into a larger conflict. In military parlance, 'salami slicing' is a series of many minor actions, often performed by covert means, that as an accumulated whole produce a much larger result that would otherwise be difficult to execute all at once. The Congress article said in September, China also opened a strategic highway to Nepal via Tibet and China's state-run Global Times alarmingly stated that this highway is just a "forerunner" to a railway link. It said as per a recent report, China is reinforcing its claim on the Doklam territory by upgrading the road around 10- km north and east of the earlier face-off site. "One cannot be sure whether these events had been discussed on the table during the standoff. If it is so, then a legitimate question arises, what all concessions have the government made to the Chinese to solve the crisis? "Is this just the tip of the iceberg? If instead, the government is getting cold feet, then China's salami tactics are working," the article said.

Rahul demands explanation from PM on road construction by China

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