Elections: No party neglected Ambedkar more than Congress, says PM Modi
Rahul Gandhi released the Congress party's Lok Sabha elections 2019 manifesto today
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's election manifesto, with focus on jobs, farmers and women security. The Congress manifesto was released at Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
Describing the manifesto as the 'voice of people', 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.
Senior party leader P Chidambaram asserted that 'wealth and welfare' is the manifesto'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's safety among others.
BJP dubbed the election manifesto of the Congress "dangerous and unimplementable", saying it was aimed at "balkanisation" of India.
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's friends in 'Tukde Tukde' gang.
Prime Minister and BJP star-campaigner Narendra Modi spent the morning rallying in Odisha. Later in the day, Modi kickstarted BJP's campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.
Addressing a rally in Bihar's Jamui, Prime Minister Modi said governance goes into reverse gear when the grand old party and its allies are in power.
"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's prosperity, its credibility, the morale of the armed forces, respect for honesty decline," Modi said.
The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held from April 11 until May 19.
The result of the polls will be declared on May 23.
11:49 PM
Rahul challenges PM to debate him on security, corruption and foreign policy
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to debate with him on national security, corruption and foreign policy. Gandhi, while addressing a gathering at its manifesto release event at the party headquarters here, claimed that the prime minister was "scared" and did not want to have a "real debate". Asked about BJP's pitch on issues pertaining to "Hindus" and nationalism, the Congress chief said: "We all are Hindus, but the country needs employment, there is a need to help the farmers in the country, the country needs NYAY, there is a need to take care of women, give reservation to women."
Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Photo: @INCIndia
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares a light moment with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, during an election rally, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, in Gaya | Photo credit: PTI
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BJP supporters hold cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah as they gather for a roadshow Amit Shah for the Bengaluru South Constituency candidate Tejaswi Surya, in Bengaluru | Photo credit: PTI
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BJD fields women candidates on 33% seats; Tathagat Satpathy steps aside
The ruling BJD has kept its promise of fielding women candidates in 33 per cent seats for the coming Lok Sabha elections in Odisha.
"The BJD has fielded 33 per cent women candidates for the state's 21 Lok Sabha seats. We stand by our promise made in this regard," BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters after announcing the candidature of Chandrani Murmu as the party's nominee for Keonjhar (ST) seat.
File photo of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik
10:34 PM
AAP may discuss pre-poll alliance prospects with Congress
Amid Congress president Rahul Gandhi's remarks that his party was flexible and open to alliances, the AAP on Tuesday said it will discuss the prospects of a pre-poll tie-up with the grand old party with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and party leaders.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
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BJP releases candidates list for constituencies of Gujarat, Kerala
9:37 PM
Congress manifesto pack of lies, says Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday dubbed the Congress's election manifesto a "pack of lies" and said it was an insult to the country's people and its brave soldiers. In a statement, he hit out at the opposition party over its promise to repeal Section 124A (sedition law) and review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, saying it is bringing a smile to terrorists and separatists while lowering the morale of the armed forces.
National president of BJP Amit Shah
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Will reverse illegal interference by BJP in RBI functioning: Congress
The Congress said the party will "reverse the unwarranted and illegal interference by the BJP government into the functioning of the RBI" if voted to power. It also promised to review and replace the current Goods and Services Tax laws with "the GST 2.0 regime", which will be based on a "single, moderate, standard rate of tax" on all goods and services.
"The Congress will respect the autonomy of the RBI in matters reserved to the RBI under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1939, including the formulation of monetary policy," the party said in its election manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls.
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Will review AFSPA Act in J&K if voted to power: Congress
The Congress said if voted to power it will review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu and Kashmir, and made it clear that nothing will be done to change the constitutional position on the state, a clear reference to Article 370 which the BJP has been long promising to scrap.
Releasing its manifesto for Lok Sabha polls with a dedicated section on J-K, the Congress articulated positions on key issues of the AFSPA, Article 370 and dialogue with stakeholders in Kashmir very divergent from the BJP, which accused the opposition party of making "dangerous promises" and compromising on national security.
FILE PHOTO: Congress President Rahul Gandhi
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PM Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Bihar
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Cong manifesto bundle of lies: Adityanath
UP CM Yogi Adityanath Tuesday dismissed the Congress manifesto as a bundle of lies and also targeted the opposition over its handling of national security. Read more
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First Published: Apr 02 2019 | 10:16 AM IST