POLL-SNIPPETS: Work done in 10 years just an appetiser, main course yet to come
Highlighting the work done by his government in the last 10 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said it was just an "appetiser" and the main course is yet to come.
Addressing a rally in Churu, his second election rally in Rajasthan in three days, Modi also accused the Congress of insulting the Army and dividing people and said this represented the "identity" of the opposition party.
He further said that the country now is a "new India", which strikes within enemy territory an apparent reference to counter-strikes in Pakistan after terror attacks in India. "Naya Bharat ghar mein ghus kar maarta hai."
"Today even the enemy knows that this is Modi, this is the new India," the prime minister added. "No matter how much has happened, whatever has happened till now is a trailer. What Modi has done so far, it was just an appetiser and the main course is still to come," he said. "There is a lot to be done... there are a lot of dreams. We have to take the country far ahead."
Attacking the Congress, Modi said the country was in a bad condition when the party was in power. "The economy had collapsed due to the Congress' big scams and loot. India's reputation in the world was declining... Even after so many decades of Independence, people were struggling for basic necessities of life," he added.
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Cong manifesto 'bundle of lies: BJP
The BJP on Friday dubbed the Congress' Lok Sabha poll manifesto a "bundle of lies" and alleged that the party, which ruled the country for several decades, did not fulfil any of the promises made in its earlier manifestos for the assembly and parliamentary elections.
Hours after the Congress released its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, making a host of promises including the right to apprenticeship, a legal guarantee for MSP, and raising the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs, the BJP said the Congress has come with such a poll manifesto to create confusion and mislead voters.
"The Congress manifesto is a bundle of lies. It has been prepared to create confusion among voters," BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters.
The BJP leader said it was an irony that the Congress was seeking people's mandate with the promise that it will "do wonders" this time if voted to power again. "After remaining at helm for several decades, they are now promising that they will do wonders this time if voted to power. The Congress has titled its manifesto 'nyay patra', which means it admits that it has done 'anyay' (injustice) during its 55-60 years rule in the country, he charged.
Trivedi said the Congress, which ruled the country for several decades, is talking about 'nyay' (justice) today, but its governments did not do justice when in power. The Congress did not fulfil any of its promises made in its earlier manifestos for the assembly and Lok Sabha elections, he charged.
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PM Modi to address election rally in UP's Saharanpur on Saturday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally in Saharanpur and take part in a road show in Ghaziabad on Saturday in support of BJP candidates, a senior BJP leader said.
Later, the prime minister will participate in a road show organised from the Maliwada Chowk via Ambedkar Road to Chaudhary Road in Ghaziabad in support of the party's candidate Atul Garg.
"There is a wave in favour of the BJP and the NDA coalition parties among the people in favour of the work done by the prime minister in Uttar Pradesh. The public has made up its mind to make Modi ji the prime minister for the third time with a historic mandate," the BJP leader said.
He claimed that the opposition parties will find out on June 4, when the counting is taken up, that they have not been able to open their account in the state.
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Is EC a 'subsidiary organisation' of BJP, asks AAP
Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Atishi lashed out at the Election Commission (EC) after she was served a show-cause notice on Friday, asking if it was a "subsidiary organisation" of the BJP.
She said in a press conference that "questions were raised over neutrality of the EC" whose responsibility was to remain non-partisan, provide level-playing field to the opposition parties, and conduct free and fair elections.
The notice was issued to Atishi by the poll body over her claims that the BJP had approached her to either join the party or be prepared to be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) within a month.
Atishi said that news was flashed at 11:15 AM on Friday that she has been issued a notice by the EC whereas she got it through email at 11:45 AM.
"It means the news of EC notice was first planted to the media by the BJP and then the EC gave the notice. I want to ask the Election Commission of the country - have you become a subsidiary organisation of the BJP," she said.
The senior AAP leader said she will reply to the notice and remind the Election Commission of the neutrality and non-partisanship expected of it in conducting free and fair elections in the country.
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Mamata criticises PM's remarks on Sandeshkhali atrocities, corruption
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on atrocities against women and corruption, asserting that the TMC and her government had taken stern action against the culprits involved in alleged sexual abuse of women in Sandeshkhali.
Addressing a rally in Jalpaiguri, Banerjee said the allegations of corruption against the TMC are "politically motivated" and wondered why central funds have been stopped despite the Centre sending more than 300 teams to supervise funds usage.
"Yesterday, he [PM] said his fight was against corruption and atrocities in Sandeshkhali. I want to let him know that Sandeshkhali is not Singur or Nandigram. A few incidents took place locally and arrests have already been made. It was our police who made the arrests. We have returned the land to the people as we don't allow injustice against anyone," she said.
Banerjee said whenever there have been any allegations of corruption, we have taken action and removed that person from the party.
"Can Narendra Modi or BJP answer how many times he went to Hathras, where a Dalit rape victim was cremated in the dead of night without the consent of her parents? Was he sleeping then? They failed to deliver justice to Bilkis Bano," she said.
Referring to recent incidents in Sandeshkhali, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders surfaced, Modi, while addressing a rally in Cooch Behar on Thursday, criticised the state government for its alleged apathy towards the victims.
Earlier in the afternoon, while addressing a rally in Alipurduar, Banerjee said the BJP has turned into a washing machine which protects corrupt leaders joining the saffron camp.
Later in the day, Banerjee conducted a padayatra in the Siliguri area of Darjeeling district.
