Former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, while releasing the RJD's election manifesto 'Parivartan Patra', said the party is making 24 "jan vachan" (public promises) for the 2024 polls, and it will fulfill these commitments. "If the INDIA bloc comes to power at the Centre, the RJD will ensure that unemployed youth across the country get 1 crore government jobs... the process will start on Independence Day this year... it will be like 'berozgaari se azadi' (freedom from unemployment)," he told reporters.
"Unemployment is our biggest enemy but the BJP leaders never talk about it. They had promised 2 crore jobs... but we deliver on our promises," he said, adding, "On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan this year, we will start providing Rs 1 lakh annually to our sisters belonging to poor families."
The manifesto promised implementation of the Old Pension Scheme for government employees and LPG cylinders at Rs 500.
DMK has hurt people's sentiments by insulting Sanatan Dharma: Amit Shah
Senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Saturday accused the DMK of 'hurting' the sentiments of the people by insulting 'Sanatan Dharma' and called upon the people to reject the Dravidian party in the April 19 Lok Sabha election. He said the DMK passed unsavoury remarks on the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The DMK party has hurt the sentiments of people by making insulting remarks on Sanatan Dharma. But on the other hand, the BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi respected everyone and believed in unity, Shah said at the roadshow in Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituency in support of the party candidate Pon Radhakrishnan.
Shah, who addressed the cadres from his campaign vehicle, invoked the name of Lord Ram, before targetting the ruling dispensation. Hundreds of party cadres, invigorated by his visit, joined the BJP veteran in the road show from Mettukadai Junction, Thuckalay, to the Old Bus Stand in Kanyakumari.
In his address, Shah said Modi was taking the country on the path of progress. People in Tamil Nadu were chanting the "chaar sau par" (over 400 seats), he said, alluding to the BJP's target of achieving the said number of constituencies.
Corruption increases when Congress comes to power: Rajnath Singh
Union minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said corruption increases every time the Congress comes to power whereas there was not a single allegation of irregularity against the Narendra Modi government in its 10-year rule.
Addressing a rally in Geedam in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, the Defence minister said the Congress would be finished in the state after the Lok Sabha polls and the party would be extinct like dinosaurs in the next few years.
"Corruption increases whenever the Congress comes to power. Since Independence, the party has faced charges of corruption. However, no one can point a finger or level a single corruption charge at the Narendra Modi government," Singh said.
The Congress is like a piece of rusted iron and it has started resembling the "house" of reality show 'Bigg Boss' since all the leaders are busy tearing each other's clothes, he said. Hailing the Modi government for development works, Singh pointed out that 46 per cent of all digital transactions in the world take place in India.
BJP will not even win 200 Lok Sabha seats: Mamata
Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantees are "false", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the BJP will not even win 200 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking at an election rally in Jalpaiguri (WB), the Trinamool Congress supremo accused the BJP of destroying the country's Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar.
"The BJP will not even win 200 seats. What have they done for north Bengal? Do not fall prey to PM Narendra Modi's 'guarantees'. These are nothing but electoral jumla (false)," Banerjee said at the TMC's programme.
The BJP-led NDA is aiming at crossing the 400 Lok Sabha seat mark in the upcoming elections. "You (BJP) have destroyed the country's Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar," she alleged.
