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J-K, Haryana polls highlights: Why did youth of Haryana turn to 'Dunki', asks Rahul Gandhi

J-K, Haryana Assembly polls updates: Catch all the latest news developments related to the Assembly polls here

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Rahul Gandhi, Rahul, congress leader

Srinagar: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addresses during a public meeting ahead of the second phase election of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, at Zainakote area of Srinagar, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Photo: PTI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today claimed that the BJP has done "grave injustice" to the youth of the country, including in Haryana, by snatching employment opportunities and forced them to undertake a "journey of torture" to foreign countries.

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP on Monday expelled a party leader who is fighting as an independent against the party's official candidate from Jammu north assembly segment. The decision to expel Shiv Dev Singh for anti-party activities was taken by working president Satpal Sharma and General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Kaul on the recommendation of a disciplinary committee headed by Sunil Sethi, the BJP said in a statement here.

As Jammu and Kashmir will undergo the second phase of assembly polls on September 25, the security has been tightened in the Rajouri district of the territory. Security personnel have been deployed in the several areas and vehicles are being checked. Elections in the second phase of assembly polls will be conducted on 26 assembly seats in six districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The seats on which elections will be conducted are Kangan (ST), Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Eidgah, Central Shalteng, Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-i-Sharief, Chadoora and Gulabgarh (ST). It will also be conducted on Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Kalakote - Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri (ST), Budhal (ST), Thannamandi (ST), Surankote (ST), Poonch Haveli and Mendhar (ST). Notably, the second phase of elections will decide the fate of former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and NC leader Omar Abdullah, from both Budgam and Ganderbal seats. Other prominent candidates in the fray include Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina from Nowshera assembly seat and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hamid Karra from Central-Shalteng seat.

 


10:09 PM

BJP leaders calling UP Police Commissionerate 'commission rate', actually it is 'corruptionerate': Akhilesh

In a scathing attack on the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday claimed leaders of the ruling party are calling the Police Commissionerate "commission rate" but it has actually become "corruptionerate".
 
Yadav's remark came barely a day after BJP MLA from Agra Cantonment G S Dharmesh in a written statement had alleged, "It is not the Police Commissionerate of Agra, but Commission rate ('Agra kee Police Commissionerate nahi balki Commission rate hai')."

Rajendra Chaudhary, chief spokesperson of the SP, in a statement quoted Yadav as saying, "BJP's claim of zero tolerance towards crime and corruption in Uttar Pradesh has been proven to be false. BJP leaders, officials, MLAs themselves admit that corruption has increased a lot in the state. Never has there been so much corruption." He also said that the chief minister should now "accept the misrule of his government and administration, because now the leaders and public representatives of BJP and its allies are saying that the government and administration is neck deep in corruption".
6:13 PM

State polls: BJP has spread epidemic of unemployment, ruining lives of youth in Haryana, says Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday alleged the BJP has spread such an "epidemic of unemployment" that the lives of youths are being ruined in Haryana.
 
She asserted that when her party's government is formed in the state, concrete measures will be taken to stop migration and prevent families from being destroyed.
Priyanka Gandhi said it is the Congress' resolve that it will work to remove the despair prevailing among youths and take Haryana on the path of progress.
 
"In Haryana, the BJP has spread such an epidemic of unemployment that the lives of promising youths are being ruined," she said in a post in Hindi on X.
 
"There are a total of 4.5 lakh government posts in the state, out of which 1.8 lakh posts are vacant. The BJP has done grave injustice to the youth of Haryana by snatching away all their hopes for the future," Priyanka Gandhi alleged.
5:32 PM

Jammu and Kashmir polls: Hoarding business thrives in J-K, traders say it shows wider participation in polls

There has been a "remarkable boom" in the hoarding and printing business in Kashmir during these assembly elections, local traders have said, underlining that the trend shows wider participation in the democratic exercise in Jammu and Kashmir where polls are often marred by boycott calls.
 
Local entrepreneurs say the demand for election banners, posters, pamphlets, and flags has surged to the levels never seen before in the Valley's electoral history.
Jammu and kashmir is voting in three pases to elect an assembly. The first phase was conducted on September 18. The second and the third phases are scheduled on September 25 and October 1.
 
Waseem Raja Khan, who has three-decade experience in the filed and owns a printing press in Srinagar's Batamaloo, says the scale and the visibility of campaign in these elections stand in stark contrast to previous ones when such promotional material were often used discreetly.
 
"We handle a wide array of services including banners, hoardings, pamphlets, flags, and manifesto printing. This election cycle has seen a remarkable increase in the use of these material," Khan said.
 
He said nearly every political party has approached him for his services.
4:56 PM

Assembly polls LIVE: Rahul Gandhi raises concern on unemployment in Haryana, hits out at BJP

Congress Leader and Lok Sabha Lop Rahul Gandhi expressed concern about the increasing unemployment rate in Haryana. He posted a video on his X handle highlighting the issue. He said, "During my visit to America, I met the youth from Haryana who are spending their time in a foreign country, away from their families and home. When I met his family on returning to India, their eyes were filled with pain." "Lack of opportunities has taken away the children from their families from the support of their old age," Rahul Gandhi added.
4:55 PM

Why did youth of Haryana turn to 'Dunki', asks Rahul

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the BJP has done "grave injustice" to the youth of the country, including in Haryana, by snatching employment opportunities and forced them to undertake a "journey of torture" to foreign countries. He made the remarks as he shared on social media a video of his recent interaction in the US with some immigrants from Haryana who talked about the unemployment back home forcing them to move to the US and face struggles in a foreign country. In his post in Hindi accompanying the video, Gandhi said, "Why did the youth of Haryana turn to Dunki?" "Dunki" is a term given to the illegal immigration technique of taking 'donkey flights' and came into popular usage with a Rajkumar Hirani movie starring Shahrukh Khan releasing last year.
4:53 PM

JMM urges EC to complete Jharkhand poll process by first week of December

The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Monday urged the EC to conclude the poll procedure for the assembly elections by the first week of December so that the current government could complete its full term. An EC team headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar came to Ranchi earlier in the day to review the preparedness for the assembly polls due this year.
2:25 PM

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections: Tight security in Rajouri ahead of Phase 2 on Sept 25. Details

Ahead of the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on September 25, security has been tightened in the Rajouri district.To enhance safety, security personnel have been deployed across various regions, and vehicles are undergoing inspections. The second phase of assembly elections will take place on 26 seats across six districts in Jammu and Kashmir. Read here for more details.
2:13 PM

Jammu and Kashmir polls: Polling parties leave for their respective stations in Srinagar

Ahead of the second phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on September 25, the polling parties of Srinagar collected their electronic voting machines (EVMs) and dispatched for their respective polling stations on Tuesday. Khalid Hussain Malik, returning officer of Zadibal Constituency said that the Election Commission of India has stressed on the welfare of the polling parties and several facilities have been provided to them. Speaking to ANI,  Khalid Hussain Malik said, "EVMs and materials are being distributed. All poll parties have reached here. I think all poll parties will leave from here within the next 2 hours. There are 143 polling stations are there in Zadibal Constituency, it's the largest constituency in Srinagar district. I think we will leave sector-wise after 12 pm. Our formation will be sector-wise, which will consist of sector magistrates, sector police officials, zonal magistrates, zonal officers, etc. EC has stressed on the welfare of the polling parties. Their bedding, lunch and dinner will also reach before them. Additionally, refreshments will be given."
 
1:39 PM

Jammu and Kashmir polls: Omar Abdullah, Tariq Karra among 239 candidates in fray in 2nd phase

Over 2.5 million voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the fray for 26 Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats in the second phase of the election to be held in the Union territory on Wednesday. These assembly constituencies are spread over six districts three in the Valley and as many in the Jammu division. "To facilitate smooth and hassle-free electoral participation, the Election Commission of India has established 3,502 polling stations in these segments. There are 1,056 urban polling stations and 2,446 rural polling stations," an official said. All polling stations will have webcasting facilities as part of the Election Commission's efforts to ensure transparency, according to officials.
 
1:37 PM

EC delegation meets govt officials to review poll preparedness in Jharkhand

A delegation of the Election Commission of India, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar conducted a meeting with senior police officials of Jharkhand to review the poll preparedness for assembly elections in the state, expected to be held later this year. A team of ECI met with IGs, DIGs, DEOs, and SPs of the state police. Election Commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar and Dr SS Sandhu were also present in the meeting.

11:53 AM

J-K Parties leave no stone unturned for tribal votes in Poonch, Rajouri

Full-scale campaigning is on in the seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Poonch and Rajouri districts. “I’ve never seen this buzz and festivity during elections ever before,’’ Habib Bilal, 33-year-old research scholar in Poonch, said. Read here for more details.
10:46 AM

Jammu and Kashmir polls: BJP expels leader for contesting Jammu polls as independent candidate

On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Jammu and Kashmir unit expelled a party member who is contesting as an independent against the party's official candidate in the Jammu north assembly constituency. Working president Satpal Sharma and General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Kaul made the decision to remove Shiv Dev Singh for actions detrimental to the party.

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First Published: Sep 24 2024 | 10:58 AM IST

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