LS polls highlights: PM has developed strategies to distract people from 'real' issues, says Rahul

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at  a rally in Bihar's Jagdishpur, stating the prime minister has developed strategies to shift people's focus away from 'real' issues. Earlier today, Gandhi had said that  in case the Enforcement Directorate questions him on corruption after June 4, the Prime Minister would evade by saying that he does not know anything about it since he was sent by God.

 AIMIM leader and former Malegaon Mayor Abdul Malik  was shot at by two unidentified assailants in the early hours of Monday, around 1 am. The incident took place in the Malegaon city area, where Malik was outside a restaurant along the Mumbai Agra highway.

Ahead of the seventh phase of polling in Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi  will hold three rallies in Patna Sahib, Pataliputra and Arrah today. Home minister Shah will hold three public meetings in Kushinagar, Salempur and Chandauli Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh while BJP national president J P Nadda will be in Varanasi, campaigning for the saffron party.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out  at the BJP-led central government on Sunday, asking why people have not prospered if the country's economy is growing at a rapid pace. At a poll rally in Punjab, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "speaking lies and making hollow promises to the public only to capture power". At another rally in Chandigarh, she dismissed the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) charge that the Congress is anti-Hindu, saying her party's philosophy is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, which has taught people about truth, love, harmony and non-violence. 

"He (Modi) makes big claims that the economy is growing at a rapid pace. If it is growing so fast and if the country is really witnessing progress, then why is there no progress in your (people) lives? Why did your children not get employment?

"Why has inflation gone up so much? If the country is progressing, why are the steel factories shutting down here? Why is the industry being weakened by the imposition of the GST (Goods and Services Tax)?" Gandhi asked the gathering

Voting for by-election to the Telangana Legislative Council from Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates' constituency was underway today with voters standing in queues to exercise their franchise. The by-election was necessitated following the resignation of sitting BRS MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy who won the Assembly polls from the Jangaon constituency on November 30 last year.

9:34 PM

LS polls: Why do Cong repeatedly finds itself in cozy relations with Pak, asks Anurag Thakur

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday alleged the Congress has been maintaining a "cozy relationship" with Pakistan and also accused it of being involved in corruption in defence deals since Independence. Addressing election rallies in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur, the BJP leader asked, "Why do they (Congress) feel compelled to praise Pakistan while living in India? What kind of disgusting politics is it to sing praises of Pakistan during Indian elections to please a particular vote bank?" Thakur alleged that even 75 years after Partition, "the strings of Congress are still connected with Pakistan" and lashed out at the party for asking for proof of the 2016 surgical strikes across the Line of Control.

8:43 PM

INDIA bloc leaders likely to meet on June 1 to assess Lok Sabha polls performance, TMC to skip

The top leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are likely to meet in the national capital on June 1 to assess their performance in the Lok Sabha elections and chalk out their strategy ahead of the results. The proposed meeting, sources said, will be convened in the afternoon of June 1 when the last phase of polling will be underway. During the meeting, the opposition leaders will discuss their strategy ahead of the June 4 results and assess their performance in the seven-phase elections, they said.

8:21 PM

LS polls: 'Jayalalithaa was a Hindutva leader,' reiterates Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai

Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Monday said the term Hindutva is distorted in the state and reiterated that former Chief Minister and late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa was a Hindutva leader. He underscored her support for the Ram temple, Uniform Civil Code and abrogation of Article 370. Asserting that he was ready for a debate on the issue with AIADMK, Annamalai said: "Jayalalithaa was an ardent follower of Hindutva." Speaking to reporters, he said if anybody from the AIADMK had doubts about Hindutva they may refer to the 1995 Supreme Court judgement on the matter.

7:44 PM

NCW demands probe of call records of Arvind Kejriwal, others in Swati Maliwal assault case

The National Women's Commission (NCW) on Monday demanded that call records of all relevant persons, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, be investigated to determine who called accused Bibhav Kumar to the former's residence after AAP MP Swati Maliwal entered the premises. Taking to the microblogging site, the NCW shared a statement on Monday in which it said that Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar was called to the former's residence after Swati Maliwal entered the Chief Minister's residence.

7:01 PM

LS polls: BSP, BJP have joined hands covertly, 'Bahujan Samaj' should support INDIA bloc, says Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday claimed that the BJP and BSP have joined hands covertly and urged the voters from SC, ST and OBC communities that have been supporting Mayawati's party to choose the INDIA bloc this time "to save the Constitution". Addressing an election rally here, Yadav said only Uttar Pradesh "can save the country" by voting out the BJP. "This election is about saving our future. At the same time, this election is also about saving the Constitution, which gives us respect, which protects our rights.

6:36 PM

PM Modi made all-out efforts to topple Himachal's Congress govt: Priyanka Gandhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made all-out efforts to topple Himachal Pradesh's democratically-elected government by using money power, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged on Monday. The only purpose of BJP leaders, starting from Prime Minister Modi, is to grab power at any cost and they indulge in corrupt practices, bribe legislators and mislead people in the name of God to achieve their purpose, she claimed. "Modi made all-out efforts to topple the democratically-elected Congress government in the state by indulging in corrupt practices and using money power," the Congress general secretary said while addressing a poll rally in Chamba for party's Kangra Lok Sabha seat candidate Anand Sharma.

6:20 PM

Electricity bills you get in thousands are because Adani buys coal from foreign, says Rahul Gandhi

"The electricity bills you get in thousands are because Adani buys coal from foreign, and till the time that coal arrives here, Adani increases its price, and the government buys that coal at higher prices to help him. Who gives the money? You," said Rahul Gandhi.

5:14 PM

PM has developed strategies to distract people from 'real' issues, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a poll rally in Bihar, stating the prime minister has developed strategies to shift people's focus away from 'real' issues. 

4:55 PM

SP used to function on funds given by Sahara. You (SP) let Sahara loot people, alleges Ami Shah

At a public rally in Kushinagar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: "Akhilesh Yadav recently raised the issue of Sahara Refund Portal. I want to know, under whose government did this Rs 85000 crore Sahara scam occur?... Akhilesh Yadav's party used to function on the funds given by Sahara. You let Sahara loot people. Narendra Modi began giving refunds. The refunds of all three cooperatives have begun, and the cases of all three private limited companies are being fought in the Supreme Court. We will return every penny of the Rs 85000 crore of the 3.5 crore people. It is our guarantee."

 

4:14 PM

'We have to convert Congress into cadre-based party', says Karnataka Cong chief DK Shivakumar

 Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Monday stressed on the need to convert his party into a "cadre-based party", and said that a programme will be launched in the state to achieve this.

Shivakumar, who is also the state's Deputy Chief Minister, said preparations are on to dissolve all the block units of the Karnataka Congress, aimed at giving opportunity to new faces.

4:05 PM

Home minister threatened to topple AAP govt in Punjab, this is dictatorship: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

At a gathering of traders in Amritsar, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said: "Have you heard Amit Shah's statement? He gave a threat. Initially, he abused Punjabis a lot. He issued a threat that after June 4, the Punjab government will be toppled. Bhagwant Mann will no longer remain the chief minister after June 4." "We have 92 seats (MLAs). How can you topple (government)? There is a dictatorship (in the country)." 

3:38 PM

Adani and Ambani are the new 'Rajas', PM Modi works for their betterment 24X7: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday,  saying that the prime minister has created 22-25 Rajas and Maharajas and  he works for the betterment of their fortunes 24/7. "Their new names are Adani and Ambani, but they are Raja and Narendra Modi works 24 hours for them," he said while addressing a rally in Bakhtiyarpur, Bihar.

3:31 PM

Congress will definitely clean sweep the elections in Punjab, says Charanjit Singh Channi

The former chief minister of Punjab has expressed his confidence about Congress dominantly winning the elections in Punjab. Channi is the Congress candidate from Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat. Speaking with ANI, Charanjit Singh Channi said, "Congress will definitely clean sweep the elections in Punjab, as the central government of BJP has always tried to downgrade the public of Punjab. The economy of Punjab is mostly agrarian and the people of Punjab are distressed from their anti-farmer policies and this is the reason why they will choose Congress."

2:56 PM

PM has already achieved majority in five-phases; party aims to surpass 400 seats: BJP leader Jairam Thakur

"This election is about choosing the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already achieved a majority in the five-phase elections. Now, with your support, we aim to surpass the target of 400 seats," Leader of the Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Jairam Thakur said. 

2:49 PM

Kharge going to lose his job after LS polls; Rahul, Priyanka will not be blamed for defeat: Amit Shah

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will lose his job after the Lok Sabha poll results are announced on June 4 but Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will not be blamed for the defeat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday. Shah said Rahul Gandhi's people will also do a press conference post polls, saying they lost due to EVMs."I have the details of the first five phases. In five phases of the Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi has crossed 310 seats. Rahul will not cross 40 and Akhilesh Yadav will not get even 4 seats on June 4," he said.