News Analysis India

Tag: Gujarat polls

  • Gujarat polls: Congress complains to NCPCR against PM for ‘misuse’ of children in campaign

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for using children for their political campaign in the run-up to the Gujarat assembly polls.

    The complaint was filed by the Congress’ social media department chairperson Supriya Shrinate to the chairman of the NCPCR Priyank Kanoongo after the prime minister shared a video in which a girl was seen speaking about BJP’s governance in Gujarati.

    “We have lodged a complaint before Priyank Kanoongo of NCPCR against the misuse of children for election and political campaigns by PM Modi in Gujarat. Have also marked a copy to the Election Commission for violation of the model code of conduct. Mr Kanoongo, you have been conspicuously quiet. Why?” she asked on Twitter while sharing her complaint.

    AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “This is an open and shut case of violation of child rights and misuse of children for electioneering by the PM himself. NCPCR and EC are on a severe test now.”

    In her complaint to the NCPCR, Shrinate accused the BJP and Narendra Modi of “misusing minor children for election and political campaign” during Gujarat assembly elections.

    Alleging that these actions are not only illegal under the law but are also in clear violation of the NCPCR and the Election Commission’s instructions, she hoped that the Chairman of the Commission would take strict action in the case at the earliest.

    “The impugned video with the minor child singing and campaigning for BJP has been endorsed (through re-tweets) and shared across various social media platforms, thereby making it amply evident that the said video and the minor child therein are being used for the election campaign of BJP by Shri Narendra Modi Ji. The election commission of India and other quasi-judicial bodies have time and again advised against the use of children as political actors/agents/mascots in any form or fashion for election campaigns,” she said in her complaint.

    The Congress leader said that a few weeks ago the NCPCR was particularly concerned about the very presence of children in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which, she said, is an exercise to bring India and Indians together.

    “We hope that the concern was not selective and that you shall take the strictest and immediate action against the offenders in question who have egregiously, and without a shred of doubt, used a minor child for express campaign purposes.”

    “This is an actionable claim since it directly violates your own directive. We hope you will act swiftly against the offenders. We look forward to your timely intervention,” Shrinate said in her complaint.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for using children for their political campaign in the run-up to the Gujarat assembly polls.

    The complaint was filed by the Congress’ social media department chairperson Supriya Shrinate to the chairman of the NCPCR Priyank Kanoongo after the prime minister shared a video in which a girl was seen speaking about BJP’s governance in Gujarati.

    “We have lodged a complaint before Priyank Kanoongo of NCPCR against the misuse of children for election and political campaigns by PM Modi in Gujarat. Have also marked a copy to the Election Commission for violation of the model code of conduct. Mr Kanoongo, you have been conspicuously quiet. Why?” she asked on Twitter while sharing her complaint.

    AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “This is an open and shut case of violation of child rights and misuse of children for electioneering by the PM himself. NCPCR and EC are on a severe test now.”

    In her complaint to the NCPCR, Shrinate accused the BJP and Narendra Modi of “misusing minor children for election and political campaign” during Gujarat assembly elections.

    Alleging that these actions are not only illegal under the law but are also in clear violation of the NCPCR and the Election Commission’s instructions, she hoped that the Chairman of the Commission would take strict action in the case at the earliest.

    “The impugned video with the minor child singing and campaigning for BJP has been endorsed (through re-tweets) and shared across various social media platforms, thereby making it amply evident that the said video and the minor child therein are being used for the election campaign of BJP by Shri Narendra Modi Ji. The election commission of India and other quasi-judicial bodies have time and again advised against the use of children as political actors/agents/mascots in any form or fashion for election campaigns,” she said in her complaint.

    The Congress leader said that a few weeks ago the NCPCR was particularly concerned about the very presence of children in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which, she said, is an exercise to bring India and Indians together.

    “We hope that the concern was not selective and that you shall take the strictest and immediate action against the offenders in question who have egregiously, and without a shred of doubt, used a minor child for express campaign purposes.”

    “This is an actionable claim since it directly violates your own directive. We hope you will act swiftly against the offenders. We look forward to your timely intervention,” Shrinate said in her complaint.

  • Gujarat polls: ‘Fake Mazars’ removed from Dwarka; BJP to continue ‘clean-up’, says Amit Shah

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: The Bharathiya Janata Party, (BJP), is leaving no stone unturned to continue its winning streak in the state.

    With the elections around the corner, the BJP – which earlier sought votes on the back of the “double engine model” in reference to the development works done by BJP’s central and state governments – is now trying to seek votes on the issue of Hinduism.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said BJP is doing work to remove specific community encroachment, which congress never did in the past due to vote bank politics.

    Amit Shah was addressing an election campaign rally in Gujarat’s Khambhat assembly constituency.

    Shah reminded the public about demolition work done by the BJP in Muslim areas saying “fake Mazars” (Muslim shrine/tomb) were removed from the residence of Lord Krishna’s Dwarka an island near Gujarat’s Okha.

    Shah said, “Be it Mazar or graves, shouldn’t encroachments be removed? Congress may not like it. But even if they don’t like it, BJP will continue the clean-up. There is no need to be afraid.”

    “Our CM Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi demolished the fake Mazars in Beyt Dwarka. They were all encroachments in the name of Mazars and they were cleared but Congress said we were polarising,” Shah added.

    Shah also reminded people about developments done by the BJP government at various pilgrimages, saying “For years, there was a Mazar in Pavagadh (pilgrimage in Central Gujarat). It is the BJP government that built a Kali temple atop the hill. Congress will never do such a thing. But we are not afraid of any vote bank. For the BJP government, the security of the country is more important than being in power.”

    “Don’t let Congress come to power or else communal riots will begin in the state again and you will face difficulties once again,” Shah Added.

    Talking about removing Article 370 in Kashmir, Shah said, “After so many years, PM Modi completed Sardar Patel’s dream of ‘Akhand Bharat’ and our Kashmir adorns the crown of Bharat Mata.”

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked about Muslim area demolition in an Assembly constituency where the Muslim population are a deciding factor.

    It is important to note that, on April 10, a clash erupted between the two communities during a Ram Navami procession in Shakarpur village of Khambhat town that resulted in the death of one person and also left six policemen injured.

    The BJP, which campaigned extensively across 83 seats in poll-bound Gujarat last week, held Sabhas on Tuesday, across 93 assembly constituencies that go into polls in the second phase of the state elections.

    The Elections for the 182-member State Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.ALSO READ | Congress left no stone unturned to insult Sardar Patel: Amit Shah

    AHMEDABAD: The Bharathiya Janata Party, (BJP), is leaving no stone unturned to continue its winning streak in the state.

    With the elections around the corner, the BJP – which earlier sought votes on the back of the “double engine model” in reference to the development works done by BJP’s central and state governments – is now trying to seek votes on the issue of Hinduism.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said BJP is doing work to remove specific community encroachment, which congress never did in the past due to vote bank politics.

    Amit Shah was addressing an election campaign rally in Gujarat’s Khambhat assembly constituency.

    Shah reminded the public about demolition work done by the BJP in Muslim areas saying “fake Mazars” (Muslim shrine/tomb) were removed from the residence of Lord Krishna’s Dwarka an island near Gujarat’s Okha.

    Shah said, “Be it Mazar or graves, shouldn’t encroachments be removed? Congress may not like it. But even if they don’t like it, BJP will continue the clean-up. There is no need to be afraid.”

    “Our CM Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi demolished the fake Mazars in Beyt Dwarka. They were all encroachments in the name of Mazars and they were cleared but Congress said we were polarising,” Shah added.

    Shah also reminded people about developments done by the BJP government at various pilgrimages, saying “For years, there was a Mazar in Pavagadh (pilgrimage in Central Gujarat). It is the BJP government that built a Kali temple atop the hill. Congress will never do such a thing. But we are not afraid of any vote bank. For the BJP government, the security of the country is more important than being in power.”

    “Don’t let Congress come to power or else communal riots will begin in the state again and you will face difficulties once again,” Shah Added.

    Talking about removing Article 370 in Kashmir, Shah said, “After so many years, PM Modi completed Sardar Patel’s dream of ‘Akhand Bharat’ and our Kashmir adorns the crown of Bharat Mata.”

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked about Muslim area demolition in an Assembly constituency where the Muslim population are a deciding factor.

    It is important to note that, on April 10, a clash erupted between the two communities during a Ram Navami procession in Shakarpur village of Khambhat town that resulted in the death of one person and also left six policemen injured.

    The BJP, which campaigned extensively across 83 seats in poll-bound Gujarat last week, held Sabhas on Tuesday, across 93 assembly constituencies that go into polls in the second phase of the state elections.

    The Elections for the 182-member State Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.ALSO READ | Congress left no stone unturned to insult Sardar Patel: Amit Shah

  • Gujarat polls | Congress left no stone unturned to insult Sardar Patel: Amit Shah

    By PTI

    KHAMBHAT: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged that the Congress did everything possible to “insult” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and it has started praising him only now in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

    Even the last rites of the country’s first deputy prime minister were performed in an “unceremonious” way, the BJP leader said at an election rally at Khambhat in Gujarat’s Anand district.

    “I am surprised that the Congress now praises Sardar Patel. Since my childhood, I have never heard any Congress leader talking about Patel. Instead, they left no stone unturned to insult Patel, right from performing his last rites in an unceremonious manner to ensuring that no monument was built in his memory,” Shah said.

    Voting for Khambhat and 92 other seats will take place on December 5, in the second phase of the Assembly elections.

    Shah further said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who paid a real tribute to Patel by constructing the Statue of Unity, Patel’s statue which is the world’s tallest monument.

    He also dared Congress candidate from Khambhat, Chirag Patel to produce any photograph where he is seen paying tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity.

    “No Congress leader dares to visit the Statue of Unity at Kevadia for fear of losing ticket,” he claimed.

    He also accused the Congress of opposing the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and the Triple Talaq prohibition law for its vote-bank politics.

    “If they support such causes, they fear they will lose those votes. I hope you understand which votes I am talking about. But their time is now over and PM Modi’s time has started. Rahul Baba (Gandhi), book a ticket to Ayodhya because a grand temple is going to be inaugurated on January 1, 2024,” said Shah.ALSO READ | Bhupendra is `puppet CM’, can not even change his peon: Kejriwal

    KHAMBHAT: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged that the Congress did everything possible to “insult” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and it has started praising him only now in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

    Even the last rites of the country’s first deputy prime minister were performed in an “unceremonious” way, the BJP leader said at an election rally at Khambhat in Gujarat’s Anand district.

    “I am surprised that the Congress now praises Sardar Patel. Since my childhood, I have never heard any Congress leader talking about Patel. Instead, they left no stone unturned to insult Patel, right from performing his last rites in an unceremonious manner to ensuring that no monument was built in his memory,” Shah said.

    Voting for Khambhat and 92 other seats will take place on December 5, in the second phase of the Assembly elections.

    Shah further said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who paid a real tribute to Patel by constructing the Statue of Unity, Patel’s statue which is the world’s tallest monument.

    He also dared Congress candidate from Khambhat, Chirag Patel to produce any photograph where he is seen paying tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity.

    “No Congress leader dares to visit the Statue of Unity at Kevadia for fear of losing ticket,” he claimed.

    He also accused the Congress of opposing the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and the Triple Talaq prohibition law for its vote-bank politics.

    “If they support such causes, they fear they will lose those votes. I hope you understand which votes I am talking about. But their time is now over and PM Modi’s time has started. Rahul Baba (Gandhi), book a ticket to Ayodhya because a grand temple is going to be inaugurated on January 1, 2024,” said Shah.ALSO READ | Bhupendra is `puppet CM’, can not even change his peon: Kejriwal

  • Gujarat polls |  AAP will lose as it is `banner-based’ party: JP Nadda

    “AAP will lose because it is a banner-based party which can only paste banners during the polls while we are a cadre-based party which believes in serving people,” the BJP chief said.

  • Gujarat polls | Bhupendra is `puppet CM’, can not even change his peon: Kejriwal

    By PTI

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

  • Gujarat polls | Bhupendra Patel is ‘puppet CM’, can’t even change his peon: Kejriwal

    By PTI

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

  • Congress gave you MGNREGA, scholarships; BJP took away your land: Rahul to tribals in Gujarat

    By PTI

    MAHUVA (Gujarat): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he felt the pain of farmers, youth and tribals after meeting them during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and accused the BJP of drawing up plans to displace adivasis by handing over forests to industrialists as he hit the campaign trail in Gujarat 10 days ahead of the first phase of Assembly polls.

    Addressing his first rally in Gujarat after the announcement of the Assembly poll schedule, Gandhi asserted tribals are the first owners of the country, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was working to take away their jungles and keep their children away from modern education.

    The Congress MP took a break from his Bharat Jodo Yatra, currently passing through Maharashtra, and travelled to Gujarat, where he addressed a gathering of tribals at Mahuva in Surat district in support of his party, which is seeking to end its nearly three-decade stint in the opposition in the BJP-ruled state in the next month’s Assembly polls.

    Gandhi said his 3,570-km yatra, which started from Tamil Nadu on September 7, was for the unity of the country and during the cross-country foot-march he felt the pain of farmers, youth and people from the tribal community after listening to their problems.

    Sharing his experience of the yatra so far, the Congress leader said he felt sad while talking to farmers, youth, and tribals.

    Farmers shared their experience of not getting proper rate of their produce, crop insurance money or their loans not getting waived, while youth talked about remaining unemployed and failing to realize their dreams.

    “They (BJP) call you ‘vanvasi’ (forest dwellers). They do not say you are the first owners of India, but that you live in the jungles. Do you see the difference? It means they do not want you to live in cities, see your children becoming engineers, doctors, learn to fly planes, speak English,” he said at the rally at tribal-dominated Mahuva.

    ALSO READ | Modi govt weakening laws framed by UPA to empower tribals: Rahul Gandhi

    Further attacking the ruling party, the Lok Sabha member from Kerala alleged it wants to keep tribals away from modern health and education facilities.

    “They want you to live in the jungles, but do not stop there. After that, they start taking away the jungles from you. If it continues like this, then in another 5 to 10 years, all the jungles will be in the hands of 2 to 3 industrialists, and you will have no place to live, get no education, health and job,” Gandhi said.

    Recalling a children’s book about a tribal kid that his grandmother, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, gave him when he was a child, the Congress leader said she introduced the book as the one about tribals, the real owners of India.

    Gandhi said she told him if you want to understand India, you must understand tribals, their lives, their relations with water, jungle and land (jal, jungle, jameen).

    “She used the word, “adivasi,” for tribals, meaning those who have stayed here for the first time. I am telling you that you are the first owners of the country. The country has been taken away from you,” he said.

    The word “Adivasi” means the country belongs to tribals and they should get their rights in this country — like employment and health to them and their children, Gandhi said.

    “‘Vanvasi,’ on the other hand, means all that belong to you should be given to 2 to 3 industrialists, and you get no education, heath and any other rights,” the former Congress president said.

    Further targeting the BJP, he said laws introduced by the Congress when in power in the past at the Centre for the benefit of the tribal community were never implemented in states ruled by the saffron outfit.

    In fact, they worked to weaken important legislations like the PESA Act (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, the Land Acquisition Act and Forest Rights Act, among others, he claimed.

    “These were revolutionary laws to return water, land and jungle to you. We gave you MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ), jobs, scholarships, rights on land. They (BJP) did not do so. In fact they only took away your land from you,” the Congress MP said.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat Assembly polls: ‘Son’ rise in 20 seats as BJP, Cong field dynasts

    He said at a time when people talk about the environment and big conferences are held where delegates from all over the world meet to discuss green issues, tribals know about the subject more than any of these leaders.

    “You can teach them about water, land and jungles, and the work of a leader or a government is to listen to you,” he said, wooing tribals, a key bloc of voters for the opposition party.

    Gandhi said lakhs of people, including farmers, unemployed youths, women, tribals, Dalits, backward community members and minorities walked with him during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    “If someone is left behind, everyone comes forward to help him. It is a yatra of love and everyone is included. Nobody asks what is your caste, religion, which language you speak, your age, whether you are old, young, woman or man — nobody asks these questions,” he said.

    READ | Some people are doing foot march to get back to power: PM Modi’s dig at Rahul Gandhi

    He said the yatra was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat.

    Gandhi said he felt emotions of happiness as well as sadness during the unity march.

    “Sadness is experienced while talking to farmers, youths, tribals. Farmers do not get proper rate (of agri products), insurance money, their loan is not waived. Youths are unemployed, their dream is breaking. Someone wants to become an engineer, his parents spend money on his education, but he is working as a labourer (after getting degree),” he said.

    LIVE: Public Meeting | Surat | Gujarat#CongressAaveChe https://t.co/ysE6hyPCq6— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 21, 2022 The Congress MP maintained how a youth named Ram joined the yatra on Sunday evening and hugged him and started crying.

    “He said he lost his entire family due to the coronavirus and he was left alone. He said he was unemployed and didn’t see a way out,” Gandhi said.

    “He is not alone, there are lakhs of such youths in the country. When you talk to tribals, they say their land is being snatched away. They are being displaced without being told anything and some industrialists are given our land without any compensation,” the Congress leader said.

    Voting to elect a new 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases — December 1 and 5 — and ballots will be counted on December 8.

    MAHUVA (Gujarat): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he felt the pain of farmers, youth and tribals after meeting them during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and accused the BJP of drawing up plans to displace adivasis by handing over forests to industrialists as he hit the campaign trail in Gujarat 10 days ahead of the first phase of Assembly polls.

    Addressing his first rally in Gujarat after the announcement of the Assembly poll schedule, Gandhi asserted tribals are the first owners of the country, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was working to take away their jungles and keep their children away from modern education.

    The Congress MP took a break from his Bharat Jodo Yatra, currently passing through Maharashtra, and travelled to Gujarat, where he addressed a gathering of tribals at Mahuva in Surat district in support of his party, which is seeking to end its nearly three-decade stint in the opposition in the BJP-ruled state in the next month’s Assembly polls.

    Gandhi said his 3,570-km yatra, which started from Tamil Nadu on September 7, was for the unity of the country and during the cross-country foot-march he felt the pain of farmers, youth and people from the tribal community after listening to their problems.

    Sharing his experience of the yatra so far, the Congress leader said he felt sad while talking to farmers, youth, and tribals.

    Farmers shared their experience of not getting proper rate of their produce, crop insurance money or their loans not getting waived, while youth talked about remaining unemployed and failing to realize their dreams.

    “They (BJP) call you ‘vanvasi’ (forest dwellers). They do not say you are the first owners of India, but that you live in the jungles. Do you see the difference? It means they do not want you to live in cities, see your children becoming engineers, doctors, learn to fly planes, speak English,” he said at the rally at tribal-dominated Mahuva.

    ALSO READ | Modi govt weakening laws framed by UPA to empower tribals: Rahul Gandhi

    Further attacking the ruling party, the Lok Sabha member from Kerala alleged it wants to keep tribals away from modern health and education facilities.

    “They want you to live in the jungles, but do not stop there. After that, they start taking away the jungles from you. If it continues like this, then in another 5 to 10 years, all the jungles will be in the hands of 2 to 3 industrialists, and you will have no place to live, get no education, health and job,” Gandhi said.

    Recalling a children’s book about a tribal kid that his grandmother, former prime minister Indira Gandhi, gave him when he was a child, the Congress leader said she introduced the book as the one about tribals, the real owners of India.

    Gandhi said she told him if you want to understand India, you must understand tribals, their lives, their relations with water, jungle and land (jal, jungle, jameen).

    “She used the word, “adivasi,” for tribals, meaning those who have stayed here for the first time. I am telling you that you are the first owners of the country. The country has been taken away from you,” he said.

    The word “Adivasi” means the country belongs to tribals and they should get their rights in this country — like employment and health to them and their children, Gandhi said.

    “‘Vanvasi,’ on the other hand, means all that belong to you should be given to 2 to 3 industrialists, and you get no education, heath and any other rights,” the former Congress president said.

    Further targeting the BJP, he said laws introduced by the Congress when in power in the past at the Centre for the benefit of the tribal community were never implemented in states ruled by the saffron outfit.

    In fact, they worked to weaken important legislations like the PESA Act (Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, the Land Acquisition Act and Forest Rights Act, among others, he claimed.

    “These were revolutionary laws to return water, land and jungle to you. We gave you MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ), jobs, scholarships, rights on land. They (BJP) did not do so. In fact they only took away your land from you,” the Congress MP said.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat Assembly polls: ‘Son’ rise in 20 seats as BJP, Cong field dynasts

    He said at a time when people talk about the environment and big conferences are held where delegates from all over the world meet to discuss green issues, tribals know about the subject more than any of these leaders.

    “You can teach them about water, land and jungles, and the work of a leader or a government is to listen to you,” he said, wooing tribals, a key bloc of voters for the opposition party.

    Gandhi said lakhs of people, including farmers, unemployed youths, women, tribals, Dalits, backward community members and minorities walked with him during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    “If someone is left behind, everyone comes forward to help him. It is a yatra of love and everyone is included. Nobody asks what is your caste, religion, which language you speak, your age, whether you are old, young, woman or man — nobody asks these questions,” he said.

    READ | Some people are doing foot march to get back to power: PM Modi’s dig at Rahul Gandhi

    He said the yatra was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat.

    Gandhi said he felt emotions of happiness as well as sadness during the unity march.

    “Sadness is experienced while talking to farmers, youths, tribals. Farmers do not get proper rate (of agri products), insurance money, their loan is not waived. Youths are unemployed, their dream is breaking. Someone wants to become an engineer, his parents spend money on his education, but he is working as a labourer (after getting degree),” he said.

    LIVE: Public Meeting | Surat | Gujarat#CongressAaveChe https://t.co/ysE6hyPCq6— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 21, 2022 The Congress MP maintained how a youth named Ram joined the yatra on Sunday evening and hugged him and started crying.

    “He said he lost his entire family due to the coronavirus and he was left alone. He said he was unemployed and didn’t see a way out,” Gandhi said.

    “He is not alone, there are lakhs of such youths in the country. When you talk to tribals, they say their land is being snatched away. They are being displaced without being told anything and some industrialists are given our land without any compensation,” the Congress leader said.

    Voting to elect a new 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases — December 1 and 5 — and ballots will be counted on December 8.

  • Gujarat polls: Congress president Kharge to campaign from Nov 26

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will campaign in Gujarat from November 26 to 28, sources close to him said here.

    Kharge will address a public meeting in Ahmedabad on November 26 and is likely to address a press conference the next day, they said.

    He will address a public meeting in Indore after participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra with Rahul Gandhi on November 27. The yatra enters Madhya Pradesh on November 23.

    Kharge will address another public meeting near Gandhinagar on November 28.

    The Gujarat assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. Results will be declared on December 8.

    Other details of Kharge’s poll meetings are being worked out, the sources said.

    The new Congress president, who took over from Sonia Gandhi recently, had earlier addressed public meetings in Himachal Pradesh, where assembly elections were held on November 12.ALSO READ | Bharuch: Congress’ Ahmed Patel’s name still holds sway despite AAP factor

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will campaign in Gujarat from November 26 to 28, sources close to him said here.

    Kharge will address a public meeting in Ahmedabad on November 26 and is likely to address a press conference the next day, they said.

    He will address a public meeting in Indore after participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra with Rahul Gandhi on November 27. The yatra enters Madhya Pradesh on November 23.

    Kharge will address another public meeting near Gandhinagar on November 28.

    The Gujarat assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. Results will be declared on December 8.

    Other details of Kharge’s poll meetings are being worked out, the sources said.

    The new Congress president, who took over from Sonia Gandhi recently, had earlier addressed public meetings in Himachal Pradesh, where assembly elections were held on November 12.ALSO READ | Bharuch: Congress’ Ahmed Patel’s name still holds sway despite AAP factor

  • Gujarat polls: BJP suspends 7 leaders for filing nominations as independents after ticket denial

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat on Sunday suspended seven party leaders, including two former MLAs, for filing nominations as independent candidates for the upcoming state Assembly elections after they were denied tickets.

    The seven candidates are contesting from the seats that will go to polls in the first phase of the elections scheduled to be held on December 1.

    The party suspended former MLAs Arvind Ladani, who had won from Keshod constituency in 2012, and Harshad Vasava from the Scheduled Tribe-reserved seat of Nandod, after they filed their nominations as independents from these seats.

    The BJP has fielded Dr Darshana Deshmukh from Nandod and Devabhai Malam from Keshod.

    The saffron party also suspended Chhatarsinh Gunjariya, a district panchayat member from Surendranagar, after he filed his nomination as an independent from Dhrangadhra seat.

    Other suspended leaders include Ketan Patel, Bharat Chavda, Uday Shah and Karan Baraiya, who have filed their nominations as independents from Pardi, Rajkot, Veraval and Rajula seats respectively.

    The BJP, in a release, said, “These leaders have filed their nominations as independent candidates against the candidates declared by the party. They are being suspended on the direction of the state BJP president C R Paatil.”

    Paatil had earlier told reporters that it is a norm to suspend leaders who seek to contest as independents against party candidates after they fail to withdraw their nominations on the last day of withdrawal.

    Several BJP leaders have come out in the open to express their unhappiness for being denied tickets and have declared to contest as independents.

    Six-time MLA Madhu Shrivastav from Vaghodia, who was denied a ticket, has also filed his nominations as an independent.

    The BJP has fielded Ashwin Patel from the seat.

    Another former BJP MLA Dinesh Patel aka Dinu Mama of Padra seat in Vadodara district has also filed his nominations as an independent.

    The BJP has given the ticket to Chaitanyasinh Zala on the seat.

    Both Vaghodia and Padra will go to polls in the second phase of elections on December 5.

    The BJP has not yet suspended the two former MLAs Shrivastav and Patel.

    At least 788 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of the elections to 89 seats, which will be held on December 1.

    The second phase of the polls for 93 constituencies will be held on December 5 and the counting of votes for all 182 Assembly seats will take place on December 8.

    AHMEDABAD: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat on Sunday suspended seven party leaders, including two former MLAs, for filing nominations as independent candidates for the upcoming state Assembly elections after they were denied tickets.

    The seven candidates are contesting from the seats that will go to polls in the first phase of the elections scheduled to be held on December 1.

    The party suspended former MLAs Arvind Ladani, who had won from Keshod constituency in 2012, and Harshad Vasava from the Scheduled Tribe-reserved seat of Nandod, after they filed their nominations as independents from these seats.

    The BJP has fielded Dr Darshana Deshmukh from Nandod and Devabhai Malam from Keshod.

    The saffron party also suspended Chhatarsinh Gunjariya, a district panchayat member from Surendranagar, after he filed his nomination as an independent from Dhrangadhra seat.

    Other suspended leaders include Ketan Patel, Bharat Chavda, Uday Shah and Karan Baraiya, who have filed their nominations as independents from Pardi, Rajkot, Veraval and Rajula seats respectively.

    The BJP, in a release, said, “These leaders have filed their nominations as independent candidates against the candidates declared by the party. They are being suspended on the direction of the state BJP president C R Paatil.”

    Paatil had earlier told reporters that it is a norm to suspend leaders who seek to contest as independents against party candidates after they fail to withdraw their nominations on the last day of withdrawal.

    Several BJP leaders have come out in the open to express their unhappiness for being denied tickets and have declared to contest as independents.

    Six-time MLA Madhu Shrivastav from Vaghodia, who was denied a ticket, has also filed his nominations as an independent.

    The BJP has fielded Ashwin Patel from the seat.

    Another former BJP MLA Dinesh Patel aka Dinu Mama of Padra seat in Vadodara district has also filed his nominations as an independent.

    The BJP has given the ticket to Chaitanyasinh Zala on the seat.

    Both Vaghodia and Padra will go to polls in the second phase of elections on December 5.

    The BJP has not yet suspended the two former MLAs Shrivastav and Patel.

    At least 788 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of the elections to 89 seats, which will be held on December 1.

    The second phase of the polls for 93 constituencies will be held on December 5 and the counting of votes for all 182 Assembly seats will take place on December 8.

  • PM Modi slams Congress over Medha Patkar joining Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra

    By PTI

    DHORAJI (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked on what moral ground is the Congress seeking votes in Gujarat when its leader was joined in his Bharat Jodo Yatra by a woman who stalled the Narmada dam project for three decades.

    Modi was referring to Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar joining the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra on Saturday.

    Addressing a poll rally in Dhoraji town of Gujarat’s Rajkot district, Modi said the ambitious project of building Sardar Sarovar Dam over Narmada river was delayed because many people had tried hard to stall it.

    “The Narmada project was the only solution to quench the thirst of the arid region of Kutch and Kathiyawad (Saurashtra region). You must have seen yesterday how a Congress leader was doing padyatra with a woman, who was an anti-Narmada activist. She and others had stalled the project for three decades by creating legal hurdles” he said.

    “These activists held protests just to make sure that water does not reach here,” Modi said, and accused the activists of defaming Gujarat to such an extent that even the World Bank stopped funds for the project.

    Rahul Gandhi with Medha Patkar during Bharat Jodo Yatra (Photo | INC Twitter)

    “When Congress leaders approach you to seek votes, I want you to ask them to explain on what moral ground the opposition party is seeking votes when their leader was doing padyatra with a woman who was against the Narmada project. I urge you to ask this question to Congress,” he said.

    The BJP government in Gujarat had worked hard for 20 years to resolve the water shortage issue through various schemes, such as building check dams, digging new wells and lakes and providing water through pipelines, Modi said.

    “Today, the entire Kutch-Kathiyawad region is receiving water through this pipeline network. We believe in bringing permanent solutions to problems. We understand that water and electricity are crucial for development. Congress governments were only interested in installing hand pumps,” he said.

    Gujarat will go to polls in two phases on December 1 and 5 with the counting of votes on December 8 along with that of Himachal Pradesh.

    Of the total 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat, voting for 89 seats will be held on December 1 and the balance 93 seats on December 5.

    Polling in Dhoraji area, held by Congress, will take place on December 1.

    DHORAJI (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked on what moral ground is the Congress seeking votes in Gujarat when its leader was joined in his Bharat Jodo Yatra by a woman who stalled the Narmada dam project for three decades.

    Modi was referring to Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar joining the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra on Saturday.

    Addressing a poll rally in Dhoraji town of Gujarat’s Rajkot district, Modi said the ambitious project of building Sardar Sarovar Dam over Narmada river was delayed because many people had tried hard to stall it.

    “The Narmada project was the only solution to quench the thirst of the arid region of Kutch and Kathiyawad (Saurashtra region). You must have seen yesterday how a Congress leader was doing padyatra with a woman, who was an anti-Narmada activist. She and others had stalled the project for three decades by creating legal hurdles” he said.

    “These activists held protests just to make sure that water does not reach here,” Modi said, and accused the activists of defaming Gujarat to such an extent that even the World Bank stopped funds for the project.

    Rahul Gandhi with Medha Patkar during Bharat Jodo Yatra (Photo | INC Twitter)

    “When Congress leaders approach you to seek votes, I want you to ask them to explain on what moral ground the opposition party is seeking votes when their leader was doing padyatra with a woman who was against the Narmada project. I urge you to ask this question to Congress,” he said.

    The BJP government in Gujarat had worked hard for 20 years to resolve the water shortage issue through various schemes, such as building check dams, digging new wells and lakes and providing water through pipelines, Modi said.

    “Today, the entire Kutch-Kathiyawad region is receiving water through this pipeline network. We believe in bringing permanent solutions to problems. We understand that water and electricity are crucial for development. Congress governments were only interested in installing hand pumps,” he said.

    Gujarat will go to polls in two phases on December 1 and 5 with the counting of votes on December 8 along with that of Himachal Pradesh.

    Of the total 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat, voting for 89 seats will be held on December 1 and the balance 93 seats on December 5.

    Polling in Dhoraji area, held by Congress, will take place on December 1.