Assembly polls highlights: Modi only talks about his 'Mann ki Baat', not 'kaam ki baat,' says Rahul
J-K, Haryana Assembly polls updates: Catch all the latest news developments related to the Assembly polls here
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Srinagar: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks during the party workers' meeting, in Srinagar, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo: PTI)
Ahead of the assembly elections in Haryana, BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday urged Dalit leaders to sever ties with the Congress and other "casteist parties" and follow the path laid down by Dr BR Ambedkar.
The comments come amid attempts by the alliance of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to position itself as a pro-Dalit alternative in Haryana. In a series of posts on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister accused the Congress and other "casteist parties" of using Dalit leaders only in times of trouble and later marginalising them.
Weeks ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, the All India Congress Committee suspended rebel party leader Chitra Sarwara for a period of six years for being involved in "anti-party activities". This comes after Chitra Sarwara fielded her candidature from Ambala Cantonment as an independent candidate. The Congress has fielded Parvinder Pal Pari from the seat against six-time MLA and senior BJP leader Anil Vij. The Congress said Sarwara's participation as an independent candidate against its nominee constitutes a 'violation' of the party's policy.
"We have received multiple reports from Congress workers and candidates of the Ambala Cantt Vidhan Sabha regarding your involvement in activities contrary to the party's interests. Specifically, your participation as an independent candidate against the Congress candidate constitutes a violation of party policy," the official statement from the AICC said.
"The AICC has reviewed evidence of your actions and, as a result, we are compelled to take action. Consequently, we are suspending your membership in the Congress Party for a period of six years due to these anti-party activities," it added.
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21 govt employees suspended, 5 workers disengaged for poll campaigning in Jammu and Kashmir
As many as 21 government employees were suspended and five ad-hoc and casual labourers were disengaged from service for taking part in election campaigning in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Monday.
The action against the erring employees and workers was taken to ensure transparency in the ongoing assembly elections in the Union Territory, a spokesperson of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said.
"Acting swiftly on detailed ground inquiry reports, 21 employees found involved in political campaigning have been placed under suspension while five ad-hoc employees including casual labourers and others against whom the charges of involvement in political campaigning were proved have been disengaged", the spokesperson said.
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Will open Shambhu border if Congress wins Haryana Assembly polls: Hooda
Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday said his party will open the Shambhu border for farmers if it is voted to power in the Haryana assembly polls.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for a minimum support price for crops.
They have been staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 when their march was stopped by security forces.
Addressing an election rally on Monday, Hooda accused the BJP of having "no faith" in democracy.
"This dictatorial government first imposed three anti-farmer laws and then used batons and fired bullets on farmers, when they opposed these laws. Roads were dug up... and the Haryana government has stopped the farmers at Shambhu border. Due to this, traders are also suffering huge losses," he said.
"When a Congress government is formed (in Haryana), the Shambhu border will be opened and farmers will be given legal guarantee of MSP," the former Haryana chief minister said.
He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been fighting at the Center for the farmers' demand to implement the Swaminathan Commission report.
Haryana Congress president Chaudhary Udaibhan and Ambala MP Varun Mullana also addressed the public meeting and appealed to the people to vote for the party.
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'You can break anyone, but not Haryanawaley': Kejriwal alleges BJP tried to make him join NDA
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday sharpened his attack on the BJP government at the Centre, alleging that they wanted to "break" him in jail and make him join the NDA.
"They don't know that I am from Haryana. You can break anyone, but not Haryanawaley," said Kejriwal during a roadshow in Dabwali in Sirsa district ahead of the assembly polls in the state.
The AAP chief said the BJP was scared of his honesty and alleged that the party put him in jail in a "fake" case to "sully" his image.
"They wanted to break me and they repeatedly asked me to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, National Democratic Alliance...I did not break and after coming out of jail, I am before you today," Kejriwal said at the roadshow held in support of Kuldeep Singh, the party's candidate from the Dabwali assembly seat.
The former Delhi chief minister claimed that the BJP used "various tactics" to "break him".
"They stopped my medicines. I am a diabetic but they stopped my insulin. My kidney would have been damaged. We had to get directions from court to allow insulin to me," Kejriwal claimed.
Kejriwal resigned as Delhi chief minister after being released from Tihar jail last week in the excise policy case. AAP leader Atishi later took oath as chief minister.
This is the AAP national convener's second visit to the state for assembly poll campaigning -- he had on Friday held a roadshow in Jagadhri constituency in Yamunanagar district for party candidate Adarsh Pal.
Haryana will go to polls on October 5 and results of the election will be declared on October 8.
Addressing the gathering during his roadshow in Dabwali on Monday, Kejriwal, referring to the excise policy case, said, "They put me in jail for five months. What was my fault? For ten years, I have been serving the people of Delhi and ran government with full honesty. I ask you, there are two states where electricity is free and available round-the-clock. And the costliest power is in Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP rules." "Is the one who gives cheap power a (thief) or the other way round. For ten years, we built good schools, ended the education mafia, gave water and power free, built good roads and hospitals and they say Kejriwal is a thief, he said.
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J&K polls: Rich candidates galore across political spectrum; NC fields max crorepati candidates
In its analysis of the affidavits of the 873 candidates contesting the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) has noted that the “role of money power in our elections is evident from the fact that all major political parties give tickets to wealthy candidates”.
The average of assets per candidate is Rs 3.65 crore. In the 2014 Assembly polls, the average asset per candidate (a total of 831 candidates) was Rs 1.93 crore.
Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 62 BJP candidates is Rs 9.13 crore, 56 J&K National Conference (JKNC) candidates is Rs 8.26 crore, 39 Congress candidates have average assets of Rs 8.08 crore, and 80 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidates have average assets of Rs 5.27 crore.
Top three candidates with highest declared assets are J&K Apni Party's Channapora candidate Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari (Rs 165 crore), Congress’ Central Shalteng candidate Tariq Hameed Karra (Rs 148 crore), and BJP’s Nagrota candidate Devender Singh Rana (Rs 126 crore).
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Elections 2024: Congress is winning Haryana assembly polls, says ex-Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday exuded confidence about the Congress winning the Haryana assembly elections claiming that the party will have a one-sided victory.
While talking to reporters at the Jaipur airport, he condemned the comments made by some opponents about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said an atmosphere of violence is being created in the country.
Referring to the comment of Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, he said, "For the first time in my life I am hearing such a language. Leaders associated with the BJP are speaking but the BJP or RSS is not making any comment." "The sad thing is that even if someone does something stupid, the leaders of their party -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Amit Shah ji and (JP) Nadda ji -- said this is wrong and we do not agree with it," he said.
Gehlot said this is the first time in his life that he was seeing an attempt to create such an environment. An environment of violence is being created in the country, he added.
"This is not right in any way. Why are the people ruling today silent? They should answer the people of the country," he said.
Talking about the Haryana assembly elections, he said, "The Congress is winning the Haryana elections. There will be a one-sided victory there. The atmosphere is good." On the question of the current BJP government in Rajasthan reviewing new districts formed by the previous Congress government, the Congress leader said, "The new districts were formed after a thorough examination. Small districts were created as an experiment.
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Congress 'anti-Dalit' party, it 'insulted' Kumari Selja: Amit Shah at rally in Haryana
Union Minister Amit Shah on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, calling it an "anti-Dalit" party and said it "insulted" Dalit leaders like Kumari Selja and Ashok Tanwar.
Shah also lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on reservation and asserted that if there is anybody who can protect the quota, it is only Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Union Minister further took on Rahul for his remarks made in the USA concerning the Sikh community and asked him to apologise.
Shah was addressing a poll rally at Tohana in Fatehabad district for the October 5 Haryana Assembly elections.
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Haryana elections: Everyone knows I am a 'Congressi', says Kumari Selja amid 'BJP switch' talk
Senior Congress leader Kumari Selja on Monday avowed her dedication to her party and said everyone knows she is a "Congressi", as she dismissed suggestions that she could switch over to the BJP.
Amid reports that she was disgruntled over ticket distribution for the Haryana Assembly polls, Selja also dismissed talk of discord within the party ranks and said, "We will together to form the government".
Asked about the BJP's recent overtures to her to join its ranks amid reports that she was discontented over ticket distribution for the Haryana Assembly polls, the Congress general secretary said, "The BJP is probably more concerned. There are many things that go around within the party.
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Will put pressure on govt for restoring J-K statehood; want locals to run govt, not Delhi: Rahul
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Congress wants Jammu and Kashmir to be run by locals rather than from Delhi, and promised the party would put pressure on the Centre to restore J-K's statehood after the ongoing assembly polls.
Addressing a rally in the Surankote assembly segment of Poonch district, Gandhi also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming the INDIA bloc "broke his psychology" after the Lok Sabha elections. "He used to boast about a 56-inch chest but he is not the same person anymore".
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PM Modi only talks about his 'Mann ki Baat', not 'kaam ki baat,' says Rahul Gandhi
"PM Modi only talks about his 'Mann ki Baat', not 'kaam ki baat' which is to give jobs and control price rise," Rahul Gandhi at Srinagar rally. I will raise your issues in Parliament, you just have to order me and I will take it up, Gandhi said. in Srinagar.
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Democratic rights of people snatched by downgrading J-K to union territory: Rahul Gandhi in Srinagar
Unemployment rising across country as educated people are not finding jobs; this is Narendra Modi's gift, says Rahul Gandhi at Srinagar rally.
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JMM-led alliance patronising infiltrators in Jharkhand for votes: Nadda
BJP president J P Nadda on Monday lashed out at the ruling JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand, accusing it of “patronising” infiltrators in the state for votes.
Nadda, who launched the BJP's ‘Parivartan Yatra' here, also alleged that infiltrators were grabbing land and expanding their base in the state, reducing the tribal population. "Tribal population has declined in the state... it has reduced to 28 per cent from 44 per cent earlier. Infiltrators and Rohingyas are grabbing land here and marrying tribals, while the JMM is patronising them for votes," he asserted.
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Congress is anti-Dalit, alleges Home Minister Amit Shah at Haryana rally
Congress always insulted Dalit leaders be it Ashok Tanwar or Kumari Selja, Amit Shah alleged at a rally in Tohana.
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Cong will put pressure on Centre to restore statehood to J-K, says Rahul in Poonch
"Hate cannot be defeated by hate, it can be won by love. We have broken 'psychology' of PM Modi through love," Rahul Gandhi said in a rally at Jammu and Kashmir.
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Congress chief Kharge advised rest, to skip Monday's campaign in Haryana
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will miss the party's campaign in Haryana on Monday after being advised rest. Kharge was scheduled to address two election rallies in Ambala city and in Gharaunda of Karnal district on Monday. "The Congress president is unable to travel today because he has been advised rest. Both rallies in Haryana (which Kharge was to address) will be addressed by state leaders," a party leader said.
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Amid murmurs of infighting, Surjewala says Selja to join Haryana Congress campaign
Sirsa MP Kumari Selja will campaign for the Congress and address a public meeting in Narwana this week, party general secretary Randeep Surjewala said on Monday after the BJP targeted the grand old party over alleged infighting amid reports that she was sulking. The 61-year-old Selja is a Congress general secretary and prominent Dalit face of the party. With Haryana going to polls on October 5, the ruling BJP has been targeting the Congress over the Dalit leader staying away from the poll campaign. Recently, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar had invited Selja to join the saffron party.
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First Published: Sep 23 2024 | 12:52 PM IST
