Gujarat election polls: Modi says Congress did not look after Junagadh

PM Modi is in Junagadh on a two-day blitzkrieg rallying session in which he will be holding 7 election campaign rallies in his two-day tour for Gujarat elections.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his second day of Gujarat election rally said that, while BJP worked hard to make Junagadh the tourism capital, the Congress did not devote attention to this region. PM Modi also accused the Congress of stalling the ropeway project for years.

PM Modi is in Junagadh on a two-day Gujarat rallying session in which he will be holding 7 election campaign rallies in his two-day tour for Gujarat polls 2017.

Here are the key highlights from Modi’s speech in Junagadh for Gujarat elections:

• For Congress, 'work' was giving a hand pump. They never envisioned something like a SAUNI (Saurashtra-Narmada Avataran Irrigation) Yojana
• Did lions come to Junagadh after I became CM? Why previous government didn’t promote them to attract tourists from all over the world?
• Rahul visited Somnath temple but does he know whose statue is there besides the one of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Does he know, it is of Hamirji Gohil?
• Jawaharlal Nehru didn’t like the idea of then president Rajendrababu inaugurating Somnath temple as Sardar Patel was associated with the temple project. But Rajendrababu ignored it and inaugurated the temple.
• Junagadh has the potential to be tourism hub of Gujarat. We wanted to install a ropeway. But since Sardar Patel’s name is associated with Junagadh, they didn’t give permission for it in the name of the environment. But now, we’ve given the permission and ropeway will be inaugurated on November 9, 2018 when Junagadh celebrates its liberation day.

CLICK HERE: Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Congress' manifesto proposes alternate model of development for Gujarat

New model to be based on Gandhian and Ambedkarite values; move from GDP to Gross National Happiness Index

 

 

The Congress party on Monday released its manifesto for the Gujarat assembly polls promising a “Gandhian model of development”, which would replace the “top-down approach” of the current ‘Gujarat model of development’. It also commits to implement a 'happiness index' to measure holistic growth, instead of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The manifesto, put together after consultations under the leadership of party leader Sam Pitroda, reaches out to the sections of Gujarat’s population which, it said, the ‘Gujarat model of development’ ignored.

“Constitutional values will be kept at the centre of (all) discussions rather than nationalism,” the manifesto states, while (gujarat polls 2017)it doesn’t mention terms like ‘secularism’ or ‘minority rights’.

The Congress manifesto promises ‘navsarjan’, rejuvenation, of Gujarat based on “Gandhian and Ambedkarite values”. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is yet to release its manifesto. Gujarat polls is slated to take place on December 9 and 14.

On the goods and services tax (GST), which is a key election issue, the Congress has promises it will “simplify” the tax and ensure that tax rate is capped at 18 per cent.

“We will strive for exemption of small traders and manufacturers, with an annual turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore, from the GST,” the manifesto states.

The 60-page manifesto, which party sources said, is likely to become the template for the party’s manifesto for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls, focuses on education, health, agriculture, jobs and small and medium enterprises (SME) sectors.

To reduce agrarian distress, Congress has promised farm loan waiver and bonus for cotton, groundnut and other ‘special crops’. Responding to exorbitant college fees and privatisation of education, it has promised 80 per cent reduction in fees for self-financed courses....

click here : Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

Modi ridicules Rahul's rise, wants Gujarat to dump Congress: 10 highlights

PM Modi pitched the Gujarat elections as a battle between 'vikaswaad' (development) and 'vanshwad' (dynasty)

 

While Rahul Gandhi is all set to take over as Congress president next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday mocked the sixth Nehru-Gandhi scion saying, "Congratulate the Congress on their 'Aurangzeb Raj."

At a rally in poll-bound Gujarat's Rajkot, PM Mofi pitched the Gujarat elections as a battle between 'vikaswaad' (development) and 'vanshwad' (dynasty).

Here's how Modi targetted Congress party:

1. Modi likens Rahul's elevation to dynastic succession in the Mughal dynasty

"I congratulate the Congress on their 'Aurangzeb Raj.' For us, the well-being of the people matters and 125 crore Indians are our high command," said PM Modi.

'Mani Shankar Aiyar, who was a minister in the Congress government, has said ‘did elections happen during Mughal rule? After Jehangir, Shah Jehan came, was any election held? After Shah Jehan it was understood that Aurangzeb would be the leader’. Does the Congress accept that it is a one-family party? We don’t want this Aurangzebi Raaj (Aurangzeb’s rule). For us, the country comes first, 125 crore (1.25 billion) people of this country are our high-command.'

2. Congress has abandoned 'public modesty'

 

Without referring to the National Herald case, in which Rahul Gandhi had got bail, Modi said, "Congress has gone bankrupt, as it is going to make a person who is out on bail in corruption case its president."

3. Congress injured ‘Gujarati asmita’

Seeking to play up emotive card, he reminded voters that Morarji Desai, who hailed from Valsad district, was arrested by the Congress regime during Emergency and put behind bars for 19 months.
For the voters of Gujarat and the Valsad district, (gujarat polls 2017)time has come to punish those who kept on hurling insults on Gujarat. “Stop insulting Gujarat,” he said the Congress always presumed that people of Gujarat should be insulted and shown in poor light.”
They did not do this with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal. What offence we did, was it our offence that we produced Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,” he said.

4. Gandhi dynasty kept Uttar Pradesh poor

Gandhi dynasty kept Uttar Pradesh, which sent its members to the prime ministerial chair, poor and backward. Modi reminded the people how Congress was wiped out in Uttar Pradesh, Assam and would soon be wiped out in Himachal Pradesh, too.

 

Click here : Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Rahul Gandhi succeeding Sonia: PM Modi calls Cong politics 'Aurangzeb Raj'

Mani Shankar Aiyar had referred to Mughals while speaking about the Gandhi scion's election as party chief

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Monday stoked a controversy when he invoked the rulers of the Mughal dynasty in the election of Rahul Gandhi as party President, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi latched on to quickly to call it "Aurangzeb Raj".

"When Shah Jahan came in the place of Jahangir did any election happen? And when Aurangzeb came in place of Shah Jahan did any election happen? It was known to everyone that the throne of the king will automatically go to the heir," Aiyar said, retorting to the "dynasty" jibes of the BJP on Rahul Gandhi's election.

"But in a democracy elections are held. I openly invite Poonawala to file the nomination and contest," Aiyar said, adding has anyone heard of Shehzad Poonawala.

He was replying to a question about BJP's criticism following Maharashtra Congress leader Poonawala calling Rahul Gandhi's election as party chief rigged.

Modi was quick to pounce on Aiyar's remarks. Addressing a public meeting in Dharampur constituency in Gujarat, Modi(Gujarat polls) said: "Mani Shankar Aiyar, who never shies away from showing loyalty to one family, proudly said -- When Shah Jahan came in the place of Jahangir did any elections happen? And when Aurangzeb came in place of Shah Jahan did any election happen? It was known to everyone that the throne of the king will automatically go the son," Modi said.

"I congratulate the Congress on their 'Aurangzeb Raj.' For us, the wellbeing of the people matters and 125 crore Indians are our high command," he said.

He also said that the Congress leaders admit that it is not a party but a kunba (family).

 Read here : Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Guj polls: Rahul takes on Modi over unemployment, contract workers' plight

Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday, raised concerns over safety, health, education and crimes against women in the state

 

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi for keeping the youth of Gujarat unemployed and not implementing the 7th Pay Commission leading to the plight of contract and fixed salary workers in the state.

Keeping up at his 22 questions in the countdown to the Gujarat Assembly polls, as promised, Gandhi said: "22 salon ka hisaab, Gujarat mange jawaab. Gujarat ke haalat par Pradhanmantri se chatha sawal (as he directed his sixth query at Modi on Gujarat's condition).

"The double whammy of BJP government -- on one side the youths of the state are unemployed, while on other hand lakhs of contract and fixed salary workers condition is miserable.

"Despite Rs 18,000 salary per month as per the 7th Pay Commission, why only Rs 5,500 and Rs 10,000 is being paid to the fix and contract workers?" he asked.

Gandhi's question comes in the wake of the party's strategy to pose one question to Modi every day till the polling day on December 9.

Gandhi on Sunday raised concerns over safety, health, education and crimes against women in the state.

On Saturday, he questioned Modi on "extraction" of high fees from students by government educational institutes in Gujarat.

Polling for the 182-member Gujarat assembly will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14. The counting of votes will take place on December 18.

Read more about Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

Modi's Gujarat poll campaign is all about himself, his past: Chidambaram

In a series of posts on Twitter, the former finance minister also asked if Modi had forgotten he was prime minister

 

 

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday hit out at the prime minister and said the elections were not about "Mr Modi, the individual" but the promised "achhe din" that had not arrived even after 42 months.

In a series of posts on Twitter, the former finance minister also asked if Modi had forgotten he was prime minister.

"Mr Modi's campaign is about himself, his past and the alleged disdain of Gujarat and Gujaratis. Has he forgotten he is Prime Minister of India?

Continuing his attack, Chidambaram said the prime minister does not talk about issues like joblessness, lack of investment, collapse of SMEs, stagnant exports and price rise because he has no answers to the "hard reality".

According to him, Modi had forgotten that Mahatma Gandhi was an Indian and the son of Gujarat.
"Gandhiji was, and is, revered as Father of the Nation; and Gandhiji's chosen instrument to lead the freedom struggle was the Congress party," Chidambaram asserted.

The prime minister and the BJP, he added, may now "desperately embrace" Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, "but the redoubtable Sardar had rejected the BJP's parent RSS and its divisive ideology"....

Read more about Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

'Grand Stupid Thought' to 100 years for BJP, 10 things Modi said in Gujarat

The PM told one of the gatherings that the Congress had always betrayed the Gujaratis

 

From retorting to Rahul's 'Gabbar Singh Tax' jibe with 'Grand Stupid Thought' to urging that 'BJP shouldn't be voted out for 100 years', here are the highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gujarat poll campaign on Wednesday.

Here are 10 things that Modi said:

1. In a stinging rebuttal of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Goods and Services Tax, Modi said a recently emerged 'economist' was propagating a 'grand stupid thought' by suggesting a uniform GST rate of 18 per cent.

Taking a dig at the Nehru-Gandhi family, he added that those who looted the country for years can only think of dacoits

2. The PM raked up the issue of the Narmada dam, targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family for trying to scuttle the project and singing paeans to Sardar Patel. He said the Congress depended on the ‘hand-pump’ model, whereas the BJP relied on the Narmada model. 

3. Modi also trained his guns at Rahul Gandhi’s (gujarat polls) visit to the Somnath Temple, saying that Nehru had opposed the temple’s reconstruction. “The land of the brave will not forgive those who acted against the Somnath Temple”, he said.

"When Sardar Patel took up the work of the reconstruction of the Somnath temple, Nehru was unhappy. Your great-grandfather Nehru wrote a letter to President Rajendra Prasad when he was to come for the opening ceremony of the temple," the IANS quoted Modi as saying.

4. Taking a subtle dig at the Congress for its support of reservation for the Patel community, Modi called out the Congress’ double standards for blocking a Bill in Rajya Sabha that conferred constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. He said the NDA govt had allowed the Bill to be passed in the Lok Sabha but it got docked in the Rajya Sabha, where the Congress enjoyed a majority. Making a strong appeal to the Patidar community, he said that the BJP shouldn't be voted out for the next 100 years...

Read more about  Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Gujarat lost Rs 26,000 cr in power purchase scam, alleges Congress

The Congress party has alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Gujarat government "squandered Rs 26,000 crore of the public exchequer" by purchasing electricity from four private companies at "unimaginably high rates".

The companies in question, according to party(Gujarat polls)spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, are Adani, Essar, Tata and China Light & Power. None of the companies responded to the allegations, made in Ahmedabad.

The reported payments are Rs 10,896 crore to Adani, Rs 4,282 crore to Essar, Rs 8,491 crore to Tata and Rs 1,966 crore to China Light, over 2013-16. Spokespersons for the energy department of Gujarat and officials in Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam did not respond.

Surjewala said state-owned power plants had a capacity to generate 8,641 Mw but were operated at a mere 33-38 per cent capacity in those three years. He said power was bought from these private companies at Rs 24.67 a unit, many times more than what was charged by the government-owned NTPC.

Click here Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

Gujarat polls: Rahul promises farm loan waiver, free college education

Unfazed by the Somnath temple controversy, he visited Gadhdha Swaminarayan temple where he offered prayers

 

Gujarat polls: Rahul Gandhi on Thursday signed off his two-day tour of poll-bound Gujarat with a promise to waive loans of farmers and provide free education in government-aided colleges if the Congress party comes to power in the state.

Unfazed by the Somnath temple controversy, he visited Gadhdha Swaminarayan temple where he offered prayers.

A row erupted on Wednesday after Gandhi's name was found written in the entry register meant for non-Hindus at the famous shrine.

Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leader claimed, "Modiji waived loans worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore of his five-ten industrialists' friends, but Modiji and (Finance Minister Arun) Jaitleyji say that it is not their policy to waive loans of farmers when they ask for it."

He was campaigning in Lathi in the Patidar-dominated Amreli district on the last day of his two-day tour.

ALSO READ : Gujarat Polls Not A Referendum On Implementation Of GST: Derek O'Brien

"Modiji talked for 22 years about farmers, but you have not got anything, your land has been taken away, your water is diverted to industrialists, and you do not get crop insurance," he told a poll meeting.

"We make this promise to you that we will frame a policy within 10 days of forming a government in Gujarat to waive your loans," he said.

Gandhi promised free college education in government- aided colleges and said that fees in other colleges will be reduced by 80 per cent if the Congress is voted to power in Gujarat.

He said the middle class and poor people have to pay Rs 10-15 lakh to realise their dream of making their children engineers or doctors.

"We will offer free education in government-aided colleges which are given money and aid by the government. (We will) reduce by 80 per cent fees (in other colleges)," he said.

Accusing Modi of proximity with select corporates, Gandhi said for the first time he has seen that all sections of the society in the state were "protesting", whether it was the Patidars, Dalits, Anganwadi workers or farmers.

"Only five-ten persons are not protesting. They fly in chartered planes and are Modiji's friends," he said, alleging that "some of them get Rs 33,000 crore (loan) to make Nano car".

Read more about Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017

 

Gurdaspur, Vengara LS bypolls: Congress proves it can still hold its own

Congress has had to grapple with serious infighting within the Punjab unit over the past few years

 

October 15 turned out to be a good day for the Congress party and its allies. With a thumping win in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab and a significant victory for its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League, in the Kerala assembly constituency Vengara, the grand old party has reiterated the signs of resurgence it has shown in the past few months.

At the same time, the results are the product of political dynamics in the two states rather than a harbinger of change at the national level.

The Congress may take heart from the fact that it wrested Gurdaspur from the BJP after being defeated in 2014. The seat had fallen vacant after the death in April this year of actor Vinod Khanna, who had won on a BJP ticket in 2014. While ruling parties at the state level usually win by-elections, the margin with which the Congress won this time – 1,93,219 votes more than the nearest opponent, the BJP candidate – suggests a stronger grip across Punjab after Amarinder Singh steered the party to a comfortable victory in the assembly elections earlier this year.

The win also means that Singh has emerged as the undisputed leader of the state. The party has had to grapple with serious infighting within the Punjab unit over the past few years. The two poles of this internal conflict – which was often fought in the open – were represented by Singh and Pratap Singh Bajwa, who has represented Gurdaspur both as an MP and MLA many times before.

However, the central leadership of the party decided to hand over the reins to Singh and he proved his mettle in the 2017 assembly poll. The by-poll in Gurdaspur assumes significance in this context as Sunil Jakhar, an old hand in Punjab politics, current state unit party president and a trusted aid of Singh, was fielded as the Congress candidate.

The choice of Jakhar, who belongs to Fazilka district and has been representing the Abohar assembly seat for years, was met with great hostility from the Bajwa camp. But the party’s unprecedented victory means that Bajwa will have to settle for a secondary role for the moment....READ MORE