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		<img align="" alt="Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during 'Vijay Sankalp Samavesh' public meeting ahead of Lok Sabha elections, at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi, Tuesday, April 02, 2019" class="imgCont" height="464" src="https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/img/article/2019-04/02/full/1554205266-5324.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-right: 10px; padding: 1px; float: left; z-index: 0;" title="Narendra Modi, PM Modi" width="620">
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		Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during 'Vijay Sankalp Samavesh' public meeting ahead of Lok Sabha elections, at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi, Tuesday, April 02, 2019 | Photo: PTI</div></div>

Rahul Gandhi released the Congress party's Lok Sabha elections 2019 manifesto today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during 'Vijay Sankalp Samavesh' public meeting ahead of Lok Sabha elections, at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi, Tuesday, April 02, 2019

Narendra Modi, PM Modi

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	The first phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections 2019 is set to take place in less than 10 days from now. With the poll battle hotting up, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday released his party&#39;s election manifesto, with focus on jobs, farmers and women security. The Congress manifesto was released at Congress headquarters in New Delhi.</div>
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	Describing the manifesto as the &#39;voice of people&#39;, Rahul Gandhi said if his party is elected to power, its government would spend six per cent of the GDP on education. He also said if Congress is elected to power, its government would spend six per cent of the GDP on education.</div>
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	Senior party leader P Chidambaram asserted that &#39;wealth and welfare&#39; is the manifesto&#39;s central theme. Accusing the ruling BJP of trying to take narrative to hyper-nationalism, Chidambaram said real issues in this general elections are unemployment, farmer distress and women&#39;s safety among others.</div>
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	BJP dubbed the election manifesto of the Congress &quot;dangerous and unimplementable&quot;, saying it was aimed at &quot;<em>balkanisation</em>&quot; of India.</div>
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	The party alleged that though the Congress had set up a drafting committee, it appears that some important points related to Jammu and Kashmir were drafted by party chief Rahul Gandhi&#39;s friends in &#39;Tukde Tukde&#39; gang.</div>
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	<strong><a href="https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/data/general-file-upload/2019-04/English%20Manifesto_MobilePDF_1April19.pdf" target="_blank">Click here to read Congress&#39; manifesto</a></strong></div>
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	Prime Minister and BJP star-campaigner Narendra Modi spent the morning rallying in Odisha. Later in the day, Modi kickstarted BJP&#39;s campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.&nbsp;</div>
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	Addressing a rally in Bihar&#39;s Jamui, Prime Minister Modi said governance goes into reverse gear when the grand old party and its allies are in power.</div>
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	&quot;Governance goes into reverse gear when the Congress and its allies are in power. Terrorism, prices, violence, corruption, black money rise when Congress is in power; the country&#39;s prosperity, its credibility, the morale of the armed forces, respect for honesty decline,&quot; Modi said.</div>
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	The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held from April 11 until May 19.</div>
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	The result of the polls will be declared on May 23.</div>

Elections: No party neglected Ambedkar more than Congress, says PM Modi

Business Standard

Elections: No party neglected Ambedkar more than Congress, says PM Modi | Lok Sabha Polls 2019 News - Business Standard

Arun Jaitley will hold a press conference at 3 pm to counter Congress on its Lok Sabha elections 2019 manifesto

Congress Lok Sabha Elections 2019 manifesto: Key takeways

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	<strong>1. NYAY:</strong> Congress promises Rs 72,000 per annum to poorest people</div>
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	<strong>2. Jobs:</strong> 22 lakh government jobs will be filled by March 2020</div>
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	<strong>3. Farmer distress: </strong>Separate Farmer Budget; farmers not paying loan will not be &#39;criminal offence&#39;</div>
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	<strong>4. Education:</strong> 6% of Budget to be allocated for education</div>
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	<strong>5.Healthcare:</strong> High quality public health system for all</div>
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	<strong>6. MNREGA:</strong> Guarantee days will be increased to 150 from 100</div>
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	<strong>7. Start-up:</strong> For first 3 years, one does not need any permission to start a business</div>
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	<strong>8. GST 2.0: </strong>Congress promises GST regime will be based on a single, moderate, standard rate of tax on all goods and services</div>

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		We&#39;re experiencing heavy traffic on our Manifesto website right now - we&#39;ll be back up soon.</p>
	&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1112984572419952640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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	<a href="https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/data/general-file-upload/2019-04/English%20Manifesto_MobilePDF_1April19.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>Click here to read Congress&#39; manifesto</strong></a></h3>

Congress President Rahul Gandhi: PM had spoken about MGNREGA. He mocked and said it is a bogus and useless scheme. Today everyone knows how much it helped the country. So now we want to guarantee jobs for 150 days, instead of 100 days, under the scheme.

I challenge Modi to debate national, foreign security with me: Rahul Gandhi

Wanted to send a message to south India that Congress is with them: Rahul Gandhi on contesting from Wayanad

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
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		Congress President Rahul Gandhi: PM had spoken about MGNREGA. He mocked and said it is a bogus and useless scheme. Today everyone knows how much it helped the country. So now we want to guarantee jobs for 150 days, instead of 100 days, under the scheme. <a href="https://t.co/dgzAekiJ3y">pic.twitter.com/dgzAekiJ3y</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1112980790143565825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The manifesto has come to us from the people, it&#39;s citizens&#39; <em>Mann Ki Baat</em>, not ours, says Rahul Gandhi

Gabbar Singh tax will be turned into a simple tax: Rahul Gandhi

I do not want a single thing in this manifesto that is a lie: Rahul Gandhi

Will simplify GST, minimise tax burden: Rahul Gandhi

6% of GDP to be invested in education: Rahul Gandhi

Congress releases official party manifesto with the tagline Hum nibhayeinge

Congress promises to fill 22 lakh government vacancies by March 2020 and increase job guarantee under MGNREGA from 100 days to 150 days.