<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{18f5a4db-162f-498a-bce6-364c19fe2403}{110}" paraid="2080425727" >In a much-anticipated return to Indian television, the beloved serial <em>Fauji</em>,&nbsp;which first brought Shahrukh Khan to the forefront in 1989, is being reimagined as <em>Fauji 2</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{18e09799-eb2d-4a3e-ba24-85e102339bc0}{231}" paraid="1358017854" >Filmmaker Sandeep Singh has teamed up with the national broadcaster Doordarshan to breathe new life into this classic show.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2476d27f-4984-4dd6-ab20-457c96a43a6e}{243}" paraid="22295015" >Sandeep Singh expressed his excitement, saying, "We are bringing back one of the greatest shows ever seen on television but in a new and exciting version. The 1989 Fauji gave us Shahrukh Khan, who captivated the entire nation with his extraordinary energy and talent. With Fauji 2, I hope to recreate history and connect with every Indian, especially the youth."</p>

<h3 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{cd0a12ac-ab64-4d74-8959-3f43763e6181}{1}" paraid="1806389314" >&nbsp;<br />
The cast</h3>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{cd0a12ac-ab64-4d74-8959-3f43763e6181}{1}" paraid="1806389314" >The new series introduces <em>Bigg Boss 17</em>&nbsp;fame Vikas Jain as Colonel Sanjay Singh and actress Gauahar Khan as Lieutenant Colonel Simarjeet Kaur, a cadet trainer specialising in weaponry.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{cd0a12ac-ab64-4d74-8959-3f43763e6181}{236}" paraid="1925746917" >&nbsp;<br />
Sandeep Singh is set to introduce 12 new actors to the audience, selected for their talent from various regions across India.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{cd0a12ac-ab64-4d74-8959-3f43763e6181}{236}" paraid="1925746917" ><br />
The cast includes Aashish Bhardwaj as Daksh Desai from Surat, Utkarsh Kohli as Rangrez Phogat from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, Rudra Soni as Harun Malik from Srinagar, Ayaan Manchanda as Aakash Chhetri from Darjeeling, Niel Satpuda as Vijay Sachan from Kanpur.&nbsp;</p>

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<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{a4b61d7f-0bc9-4846-94f0-c9a3b94e6b73}{186}" paraid="1982053223" >It also includes Suvansh Dhar as Abhimanyu Rai from Deolal in Maharashtra, Priyanshu Rajguru as Subbu Balakrishnan from Chennai, Aman Singh Deep as Vikram Singh Bagga from Chandigarh, Udit Kapur as Arjun Negi from New Delhi, Maansi as Kavya Rajadhyaksha from Deolali, Maharashtra and Sushmita Bhandari as Kinjal Joshi from Surat.&nbsp;</p>

<h3 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{a4b61d7f-0bc9-4846-94f0-c9a3b94e6b73}{196}" paraid="231294057" >&nbsp;'Tale of courage and inspiration'</h3>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{a4b61d7f-0bc9-4846-94f0-c9a3b94e6b73}{196}" paraid="231294057" >Sandeep also elaborated on the storytelling approach, mentioning, "We spent six months brainstorming to develop a story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Unlike the usual television narratives, Fauji 2 has a unique storytelling style."&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
"It's rich in emotion and offers a close look at the lives of army personnel, their bonds despite cultural and religious differences, and their dedication to safeguarding the country. Fauji 2 is a tale of courage and inspiration."&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman of Doordarshan, highlighted the enduring legacy of the original show, stating, "Fauji, one of our most prestigious shows, continues to rule hearts, and it just had to come back for today's audience."&nbsp;He expressed excitement for viewers to experience the valour of army officers once again.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{917e11ae-672e-4003-ab6e-2e91d4ab123e}{110}" paraid="343137433" >Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Doordarshan, echoed this sentiment, noting, "When we came across the concept of Fauji 2, it took us no time to begin working on this iconic project. The show will be on-air very soon, and we are ecstatic to bring the magic of 'Fauji' back to the Indian audience."&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{917e11ae-672e-4003-ab6e-2e91d4ab123e}{110}" paraid="343137433" ><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-maidaan-director-amit-sharma-on-laapataa-ladies-selection-for-oscars-2025-hope-it-wins--exclusive-767690">Maidaan director Amit Sharma on Laapataa Ladies' selection for Oscars 2025: 'Hope it wins' | EXCLUSIVE</a></strong></p>

<h3 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{917e11ae-672e-4003-ab6e-2e91d4ab123e}{110}" paraid="343137433" >The new team</h3>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{917e11ae-672e-4003-ab6e-2e91d4ab123e}{110}" paraid="343137433" >Adding to the series' allure, singer Sonu Nigam has lent his voice to the title track.&nbsp;<em>Fauji 2</em>&nbsp;will feature 11 songs, with music composed by Filmfare Award-winning music director Shreyas Puranik, along with contributions from Shashi Suman and Jazim Sharma.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{29ff406a-33ad-4fcb-a4da-01af6e9f9cae}{50}" paraid="1690498432" >Produced by Sandeep Singh, with Vicky Jain and Zafar Mehdi as co-producers, <em>Fauji 2&nbsp;</em>is written by a team including Amarnath Jha, Vishal Chaturvedi, Anil Choudhary, and Chaitanya Tulsyan.&nbsp;The series also marks the directorial debut of Abhinav Pareek.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{29ff406a-33ad-4fcb-a4da-01af6e9f9cae}{50}" paraid="1690498432" ><em>Fauji 2</em>&nbsp;will air on Doordarshan in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Bengali, making it accessible to a wide audience.&nbsp;The release date of the show is yet to be announced. &nbsp;</p>


In a much-anticipated return to Indian television, the beloved serial Fauji, which first brought Shahrukh Khan to the forefront in 1989, is being reimagined as Fauji 2.

In a much-anticipated return to Indian television, the beloved serial Fauji, which first brought Shahrukh Khan to the forefront in 1989, is being reimagined as Fauji 2. Filmmaker Sandeep Singh has teamed up with the national broadcaster Doordarshan to breathe new life into this classic show. Sandeep Singh expressed his excitement, saying, "We are bringing back one of the greatest shows ever seen on television but in a new and exciting version. The 1989 Fauji gave us Shahrukh Khan, who captivated the entire nation with his extraordinary energy and talent. With Fauji 2, I hope to recreate history and connect with every Indian, especially the youth." The cast The new series introduces Bigg Boss 17 fame Vikas Jain as Colonel Sanjay Singh and actress Gauahar Khan as Lieutenant Colonel Simarjeet Kaur, a cadet trainer specialising in weaponry. Sandeep Singh is set to introduce 12 new actors to the audience, selected for their talent from various regions across India. The cast includes Aashish Bhardwaj as Daksh Desai from Surat, Utkarsh Kohli as Rangrez Phogat from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, Rudra Soni as Harun Malik from Srinagar, Ayaan Manchanda as Aakash Chhetri from Darjeeling, Niel Satpuda as Vijay Sachan from Kanpur. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SANDEEP SINGH (@officialsandipssingh) × It also includes Suvansh Dhar as Abhimanyu Rai from Deolal in Maharashtra, Priyanshu Rajguru as Subbu Balakrishnan from Chennai, Aman Singh Deep as Vikram Singh Bagga from Chandigarh, Udit Kapur as Arjun Negi from New Delhi, Maansi as Kavya Rajadhyaksha from Deolali, Maharashtra and Sushmita Bhandari as Kinjal Joshi from Surat. 'Tale of courage and inspiration' Sandeep also elaborated on the storytelling approach, mentioning, "We spent six months brainstorming to develop a story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Unlike the usual television narratives, Fauji 2 has a unique storytelling style." "It's rich in emotion and offers a close look at the lives of army personnel, their bonds despite cultural and religious differences, and their dedication to safeguarding the country. Fauji 2 is a tale of courage and inspiration." Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman of Doordarshan, highlighted the enduring legacy of the original show, stating, "Fauji, one of our most prestigious shows, continues to rule hearts, and it just had to come back for today's audience." He expressed excitement for viewers to experience the valour of army officers once again. Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Doordarshan, echoed this sentiment, noting, "When we came across the concept of Fauji 2, it took us no time to begin working on this iconic project. The show will be on-air very soon, and we are ecstatic to bring the magic of 'Fauji' back to the Indian audience." Also read: Maidaan director Amit Sharma on Laapataa Ladies' selection for Oscars 2025: 'Hope it wins' | EXCLUSIVE The new team Adding to the series' allure, singer Sonu Nigam has lent his voice to the title track. Fauji 2 will feature 11 songs, with music composed by Filmfare Award-winning music director Shreyas Puranik, along with contributions from Shashi Suman and Jazim Sharma. Produced by Sandeep Singh, with Vicky Jain and Zafar Mehdi as co-producers, Fauji 2 is written by a team including Amarnath Jha, Vishal Chaturvedi, Anil Choudhary, and Chaitanya Tulsyan. The series also marks the directorial debut of Abhinav Pareek. Fauji 2 will air on Doordarshan in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Bengali, making it accessible to a wide audience. The release date of the show is yet to be announced.

Fauji 2: Shah Rukh Khan’s 1989 series to return on screen with Gauahar Khan and 12 new actors

Indian gangster Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter a day after he was arrested. Dubey was in his 50s, allegedly enjoyed political patronage, and was accused in at least 62 criminal cases. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why Vikas Dubey's encounter is a commentary on the Indian justice system.

Gravitas: Vikas Dubey encounter | A commentary on India's justice system

<p>Here is a person who is addressing political rallies, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/gujarat-elections-2017-live-results-27014" target="_blank">taking on the Prime Minister as well as incumbent BJP in Gujarat </a>and is seen by many as the face and focal point of the Patidar agitation. But surprisingly he isn&rsquo;t contesting the elections. So why sue adroit campaigning, such heavy lifting &mdash; merely for the gains of some other political entity or to embarrass a party that&rsquo;s held power in Gujarat for over two decades?</p>

<p>Even a scandalous sex CD a month ago has had little or no impact on this &lsquo;overnight&rsquo; leader who has used the demand for reservations for the influential Patidar community to catapult him to national fame. 24-year-old Hardik Patel, it seems, is using these state polls to address his constituency - the influential Patidar (Patel) community - and test waters for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.</p>

<p>Today, he did not miss a beat when he took on Prime Minister on his seaplane ride from the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, suggesting that the plane perhaps may be put to better use if it helps spray pesticides for farmers.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">sea plane ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ????????? ??? ???? ???? ?? Plane ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????</p>
&mdash; Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) <a href="https://twitter.com/HardikPatel_/status/940457143190335488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">12 December 2017</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#">&times;</a></div>

<p>A day earlier the gracious Mr Patel had taken on the BJP&rsquo;s claims of development by likening the state of Gujarat to the Lanka of Ramayana-fame - Ravana&#39;s city that was said to be made of gold. (Not sure who Hardik sees as Raavana but here I leave it to the discerning readers to hazard a guess).</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??,????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?? !!! <a href="https://t.co/lVnhrEEUjJ">pic.twitter.com/lVnhrEEUjJ</a></p>
&mdash; Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) <a href="https://twitter.com/HardikPatel_/status/940443684067250177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">12 December 2017</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#">&times;</a></div>

<p>On the campaign trail in Patan, in north Gujarat, a crowd of over 40,000 chanted his name as Hardik took the stage. In 2012, BJP won 3 of the 4 assembly seats from Patan but insiders are sceptical this time. North Gujarat, on the whole, isn&rsquo;t a BJP stronghold and the party could see itself lose the foothold that it had created in 2012 come December 14 - blame it on the Hardik factor.</p>

<p>The Congress seems to have conveniently hitched a ride on the Hardik-wagon - here is a Patel who keeps harping on the BJP&rsquo;s arrogance and how the party has taken Gujarat for granted. Behind the scenes Congress leaders will concede that this has been one &lsquo;helluva&rsquo; Patel to deal with &mdash; no one would have expected that someone who can&rsquo;t hold elected office would show such political acumen.</p>

<p><strong>Also read</strong><strong>:</strong><strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/opinion-gujarat-assembly-elections-2017-bjp-remains-buoyant-congress-rides-a-wave-hardik-patel-does-some-heavy-lifting-26524">Opinion: BJP remains buoyant in Gujarat, Congress rides a wave, Hardik Patel does some heavy lifting</a></strong><br />
<br />
In a recent interview with a TV channel, Hardik indicated that he was looking to play a larger role &lsquo;<i>dedh saal baad</i>&rsquo; (one-and-a-half years later). Parliamentary elections are due in April-May 2019. The arithmetic seems spot on. Patel has been canoodling with the Congress but has so far stopped short of joining the party. He says&nbsp;he will if the entire Patidar community asked him to &mdash; and I&rsquo;m not sure entirely how all the Patels in the state are supposed to do that considering that they form about 14 per cent of the 6 crore people of Gujarat.</p>

<p>Hardik may not have been seen visiting temples (Rahul Gandhi seems to have called dibs on that one) but hasn&rsquo;t shied away from bringing up the Ram Mandir issue is Ayodhya. At a recent gathering near Ahmedabad, he said: &ldquo;Ram is in our hearts. The people go Gujarat have even given bricks for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. But have they given any account of what they did with the bricks?&rdquo;</p>

<p>So here is the curious case of Hardik Patel: A man who is too young to contest the elections, a man with no political party, a man with no specific vision outlined for the movement (<em>Patidaar Andolan</em>) that he claims to represent, a man who is full of rhetoric and a man, who might galvanise the Patel&rsquo;s enough to give the BJP sleepless nights.</p>

<p>In the final analysis, even if the BJP&rsquo;s vote percentage shrinks, their margins of victories fall, some of their heavyweights miss out, the number of seats notwithstanding, Hardik Patel would have announced his candidature for 2019.</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).</em></p>


Hardik Patel, a man with no political party, a man with no specific vision outlined for the movement might give the BJP sleepless nights

Here is a person who is addressing political rallies, taking on the Prime Minister as well as incumbent BJP in Gujarat and is seen by many as the face and focal point of the Patidar agitation. But surprisingly he isn’t contesting the elections. So why sue adroit campaigning, such heavy lifting — merely for the gains of some other political entity or to embarrass a party that’s held power in Gujarat for over two decades? Even a scandalous sex CD a month ago has had little or no impact on this ‘overnight’ leader who has used the demand for reservations for the influential Patidar community to catapult him to national fame. 24-year-old Hardik Patel, it seems, is using these state polls to address his constituency - the influential Patidar (Patel) community - and test waters for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Today, he did not miss a beat when he took on Prime Minister on his seaplane ride from the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, suggesting that the plane perhaps may be put to better use if it helps spray pesticides for farmers. sea plane ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ????????? ??? ???? ???? ?? Plane ?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ????? — Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) 12 December 2017 × A day earlier the gracious Mr Patel had taken on the BJP’s claims of development by likening the state of Gujarat to the Lanka of Ramayana-fame - Ravana's city that was said to be made of gold. (Not sure who Hardik sees as Raavana but here I leave it to the discerning readers to hazard a guess). ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??,????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?? !!! pic.twitter.com/lVnhrEEUjJ — Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) 12 December 2017 × On the campaign trail in Patan, in north Gujarat, a crowd of over 40,000 chanted his name as Hardik took the stage. In 2012, BJP won 3 of the 4 assembly seats from Patan but insiders are sceptical this time. North Gujarat, on the whole, isn’t a BJP stronghold and the party could see itself lose the foothold that it had created in 2012 come December 14 - blame it on the Hardik factor. The Congress seems to have conveniently hitched a ride on the Hardik-wagon - here is a Patel who keeps harping on the BJP’s arrogance and how the party has taken Gujarat for granted. Behind the scenes Congress leaders will concede that this has been one ‘helluva’ Patel to deal with — no one would have expected that someone who can’t hold elected office would show such political acumen. Also read: Opinion: BJP remains buoyant in Gujarat, Congress rides a wave, Hardik Patel does some heavy lifting In a recent interview with a TV channel, Hardik indicated that he was looking to play a larger role ‘dedh saal baad’ (one-and-a-half years later). Parliamentary elections are due in April-May 2019. The arithmetic seems spot on. Patel has been canoodling with the Congress but has so far stopped short of joining the party. He says he will if the entire Patidar community asked him to — and I’m not sure entirely how all the Patels in the state are supposed to do that considering that they form about 14 per cent of the 6 crore people of Gujarat. Hardik may not have been seen visiting temples (Rahul Gandhi seems to have called dibs on that one) but hasn’t shied away from bringing up the Ram Mandir issue is Ayodhya. At a recent gathering near Ahmedabad, he said: “Ram is in our hearts. The people go Gujarat have even given bricks for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. But have they given any account of what they did with the bricks?” So here is the curious case of Hardik Patel: A man who is too young to contest the elections, a man with no political party, a man with no specific vision outlined for the movement (Patidaar Andolan) that he claims to represent, a man who is full of rhetoric and a man, who might galvanise the Patel’s enough to give the BJP sleepless nights. In the final analysis, even if the BJP’s vote percentage shrinks, their margins of victories fall, some of their heavyweights miss out, the number of seats notwithstanding, Hardik Patel would have announced his candidature for 2019. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: How Hardik Patel is benefitting the Congress

<p>As Prime Minister Narendra Modi soared into the clear Ahmedabad sky on a seaplane from the Sabarmati river marking a dramatic end to a gruelling election campaign, the flight created huge waves in Gujarat&#39;s politically turbulent waters.</p>

<p>The BJP was quick to hail it as a reflection of &quot;vikas&quot; ushered in by the party&#39;s governments in the state, while the Congress debunked its development claim.</p>

<p>&quot;This is a demonstration of &#39;vikas&#39;. The whole world is watching how development has taken a leap from the Sabarmati river,&quot; BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said.</p>

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<h5>If he wants to fly on a seaplane, there is nothing wrong about it. But the issue is not the seaplane...It is the distraction (from the real issues). The question is what has been done for Gujarat in the last 22 years?&#39; said Rahul Gandhi</h5>
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<p>Congress&#39;s president designate Rahul Gandhi was, however, not impressed.</p>

<p>&quot;If he wants to fly on a seaplane, there is nothing wrong about it. But the issue is not the seaplane...It is the distraction (from the real issues). The question is what has been done for Gujarat in the last 22 years,&quot; he told a press conference in Ahmedabad.</p>

<p>Modi ended the campaign for the second phase of Gujarat Assembly polls in style as he took a seaplane ride from the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam in north Gujarat, and returned after offering prayers at the famous Ambaji Temple and holding a road show.</p>

<p>He boarded the single-engine seaplane from near the Sardar Bridge connecting the old city with Ahmedabad west and flew to Dharoi Dam in Mehsana district.</p>

<p>Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani claimed it was the first time a seaplane landed on a water body in the country.</p>

<p>Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala mocked Modi&#39;s ride and the BJP&#39;s claim of it being a reflection of development.</p>

<p>&quot;Vikas ki baatein unko na bhai, kehte hain unko hawa hawai. (They don&#39;t like the talk of development. These are people who engage in empty talk),&quot; he tweeted in Hindi, in a parody of the &#39;Hawa Hawai&#39; song from hit Bollywood flick &#39;Mr India&#39;.</p>

<p>Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed the Congress for criticising Modi&#39;s seaplane ride, and said the previous Congress rule was marked by &quot;choppers scam&quot;.</p>

<p>BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said,&quot;The very talk of development hassles them. The people of Gujarat are happy about the bullet train project, but they (the Congress) are &#39;pareshan&#39; about it.&quot;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-claims-pakistan-trying-to-influence-gujarat-elections-26391" target="_blank">Also read: Modi claims Pakistan trying to influence Gujarat elections</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-one-can-lamely-question-my-public-service-manmohan-to-modi-on-pak-meddling-allegations-26463" target="_blank">No one can lamely question my public service: Manmohan to Modi on Pak meddling allegations</a></p>

<p>The ride, however, was a hit among the locals who chanted &quot;Modi! Modi!&quot; as the craft took off from the Sardar Bridge-end on the Sabarmati riverfront, which the BJP dispensation has been flaunting as a manifestation of development under Modi when he was the state&#39;s chief minister.</p>

<p>From Dharoi dam site, the prime minister reached the temple by road after covering a distance of around 50 km. He was greeted by the people of Ambaji town during a roadshow that stretched from the outskirts of the temple town to near the shrine.</p>

<p>The prime minister apparently chose to fly by the seaplane to end his campaign in style after the Ahmedabad district administration yesterday cancelled the roadshows by both Modi and Rahul Gandhi for logistical reasons.</p>

<p>Modi told an election rally yesterday that for the first time in the history of the country a seaplane would land on the Sabarmati river.</p>

<p>Rupani had said it was for the first time in the country&#39;s history that a seaplane would land on a water body and that would be the Sabarmati river.</p>

<p>However, Priyanka Chaturvedi, another Congress spokesperson, claimed seaplanes had been flown in the country in the past too. &quot;2010 in Andaman 2015 in Kerala. However let facts never come in the way of BJP and Modi&#39;s narrative,&quot; she tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi soared, in a seaplane, into a clear Ahmedabad sky from the Sabarmati river marking a dramatic end to a gruelling (and bitter) election campaign

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi soared into the clear Ahmedabad sky on a seaplane from the Sabarmati river marking a dramatic end to a gruelling election campaign, the flight created huge waves in Gujarat's politically turbulent waters. The BJP was quick to hail it as a reflection of "vikas" ushered in by the party's governments in the state, while the Congress debunked its development claim. "This is a demonstration of 'vikas'. The whole world is watching how development has taken a leap from the Sabarmati river," BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said. If he wants to fly on a seaplane, there is nothing wrong about it. But the issue is not the seaplane...It is the distraction (from the real issues). The question is what has been done for Gujarat in the last 22 years?' said Rahul Gandhi × Congress's president designate Rahul Gandhi was, however, not impressed. "If he wants to fly on a seaplane, there is nothing wrong about it. But the issue is not the seaplane...It is the distraction (from the real issues). The question is what has been done for Gujarat in the last 22 years," he told a press conference in Ahmedabad. Modi ended the campaign for the second phase of Gujarat Assembly polls in style as he took a seaplane ride from the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam in north Gujarat, and returned after offering prayers at the famous Ambaji Temple and holding a road show. He boarded the single-engine seaplane from near the Sardar Bridge connecting the old city with Ahmedabad west and flew to Dharoi Dam in Mehsana district. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani claimed it was the first time a seaplane landed on a water body in the country. Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala mocked Modi's ride and the BJP's claim of it being a reflection of development. "Vikas ki baatein unko na bhai, kehte hain unko hawa hawai. (They don't like the talk of development. These are people who engage in empty talk)," he tweeted in Hindi, in a parody of the 'Hawa Hawai' song from hit Bollywood flick 'Mr India'. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed the Congress for criticising Modi's seaplane ride, and said the previous Congress rule was marked by "choppers scam". BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said,"The very talk of development hassles them. The people of Gujarat are happy about the bullet train project, but they (the Congress) are 'pareshan' about it." Also read: Modi claims Pakistan trying to influence Gujarat elections No one can lamely question my public service: Manmohan to Modi on Pak meddling allegations The ride, however, was a hit among the locals who chanted "Modi! Modi!" as the craft took off from the Sardar Bridge-end on the Sabarmati riverfront, which the BJP dispensation has been flaunting as a manifestation of development under Modi when he was the state's chief minister. From Dharoi dam site, the prime minister reached the temple by road after covering a distance of around 50 km. He was greeted by the people of Ambaji town during a roadshow that stretched from the outskirts of the temple town to near the shrine. The prime minister apparently chose to fly by the seaplane to end his campaign in style after the Ahmedabad district administration yesterday cancelled the roadshows by both Modi and Rahul Gandhi for logistical reasons. Modi told an election rally yesterday that for the first time in the history of the country a seaplane would land on the Sabarmati river. Rupani had said it was for the first time in the country's history that a seaplane would land on a water body and that would be the Sabarmati river. However, Priyanka Chaturvedi, another Congress spokesperson, claimed seaplanes had been flown in the country in the past too. "2010 in Andaman 2015 in Kerala. However let facts never come in the way of BJP and Modi's narrative," she tweeted.

Gujarat elections: PM makes splash with seaplane ride to mark end of campaign

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