Elections LIVE: Middle class won't be burdened to fund 'Nyay', says Rahul

Prior to holding rallies, BJP's star campaigner Narendra Modi gave an interview to a news channel. Catch LIVE updates on Lok Sabha Elections 2019

The first phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections 2019 is set to take place in less than a week from now. With the poll battle hotting up, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interview with a news channel, attacked Congress party over divisive politics. Accusing the party of dynastic politics, Modi said 'even 'father of the Constitution BR Ambedkar had said that dynastic politics is dangerous for democracy'.

Later in the day, Modi addressed a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur. At the rally, Modi slammed the opposition parties alleging their only agenda was to dislodge him from power and promote dynastic politics.

"The opposition's only agenda is 'Modi Hatao' (remove Modi). Their only intention is to promote 'vansvaad' (dynastic politics)," he said.

He also accused RLD chief Ajit Singh of forgetting the atrocities against people and not "raising his voice for self-interest".

The Congress party has decided to conduct 543 press conferences to publicise its manifesto. "Senior leaders will conduct press conferences in each of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies," said a party leader. "The plan is to keep the focus on NYAY, the minimum cash guarantee scheme. The party does not want to get mired in other issues. If it gets down to the people, the peripheral issues and narrative of nationalism will fade away," said the leader.

The Lok Sabha election to 543 seats is scheduled to be held in seven phases beginning April 11 and concluding on May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally ahead of Lok Sabha polls, in Amroha | PTI

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Violence doesn't benefit anyone. It gives only false sense of confidence," Rahul said.

Asked about facing criticism on social media, Gandhi said, "Those who want to live in virtual reality, they are free to do so. But, one can't run away from reality.

"In the end you have to face it. I live in reality.

 

Violence doesn't benefit anyone. It gives only false sense of confidence," he said.

 

To a query, Gandhi said, "I love Modi. Genuinely I have no hatred or anger towards the man."

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The Congress leader said he was against politicisation of the air strike. "I feel uncomfortable that the PM does that. But it is his choice," Gandhi said.
 

Gandhi said he does not claim to have answers to all questions. "I want you to make me feel uncomfortable so that I go back and revisit the question and start looking for answers," he said.
 

When Bhave, who has acted in biopics on Lokmanya Tilak and Bal Gandharv, said he wants to do a biopic on him and asked who should be the heroine, Gandhi quipped, "Unfortunately, I am wedded to my work."

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Gandhi said the Congress, if voted to power, will focus on strengthening health care and education.

He said erstwhile Planning Commission was a strategic institution, while its successor Niti Ayaog only talks about implementation and tactics.
 

"We need institutions to strategically think what should be done at the national level. Implementation and tactics can be done by the states," he said, responding to a question on the Congress manifesto promise of scrapping Niti Ayaog, the think-tank set up by the Modi government.
 

Gandhi said the Congress, if voted to power, will focus on strengthening health care and education.
 

On being asked who should take credit for the Balakot air strike, Gandhi said, "the (Indian) Air Force should take credit. It is Important that people know they can't mess around with India."

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I stand for people who are weak, says Rahul Gandhi

Asked about Priyanka's twitter post calling him courageous, Gandhi replied, "I am persistent, I stand up for people who are weak."

 

He said the Congress was committed to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and assemblies to substantially increase their representation in the state and central legislatures.

 

Gandhi described demonetisation as a "disastrous idea", which had a terrible impact on the economy.

 

He said the exercise, announced in 2016, caused two per cent fall in GDP growth and led to loss of millions of jobs.

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The Nyay minimum income guarantee scheme is estimated to cost Rs 3.26 lakh crore to the national exchequer. The BJP, which has criticised the scheme, has sought to know how it will be funded.
 

During the free-wheeling interaction, moderated by RJ Malishka and actor Subodh Bhave, Gandhi answered a number of questions, ranging from politics, his personal life and his bond with sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

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Interacting with students, Gandhi said he did not like making sweeping statements.

"The manifesto has been prepared after consultations with all stakeholders. The middle class will not be taxed and income tax will not be increased to implement the Nyay scheme where Rs 72,000 will be deposited in bank accounts of poor people every year if the party is voted to power," he said.

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Middle class won't be burdened to fund `Nyay', says Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said his party's manifesto was an expression of the people of India and ruled out burdening the middle class to fund the anti-poverty scheme Nyunatam Aay Yojana (Nyay).

 

The opposition party has said that if voted to power, it will give Rs 72,000 per year as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, a move Gandhi has termed a 'surgical strike' on poverty.

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