Maharashtra

Scrapping of Art 370 is final nail in terrorism coffin: UP CM

Campaigning for the BJP for the October 21 Maharashtra assembly elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for removing special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, a move he described as the “final nail in the coffin of terrorism“.

Addressing a public rally in Lonavla in Pune district in support of BJP candidate Sanjay Bhegde, Mr. Adityanath said that by nullifying Article 370 Modi turned the idea of “One nation, great nation” into reality.

“Kashmir, which is called as paradise on the Earth, turned into hell under Article 370. Terrorists used to kill innocent civilians and Indian soldiers,” he said, adding that the withdrawn provision was a major impediment in development of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister also said that it was Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of the BJP’s forerunner Jana Sangha, who had staunchly opposed the idea of “two prime ministers, two signs, and two Constitutions” under Article 370.

“The idea of ‘one nation, great nation’ became a reality thanks to Narendra Modiji and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah. With this decision, the final nail was put in the coffin of terrorism. The move has sent the message that terrorism has no place on the Indian soil,” he said.

Mr. Adityanath also praised Modi government for working for the cause of the empowerment of women, which he said was previously restricted only to “slogans”. He listed schemes like ‘Beti Bachav, Beti Padhao’, ‘Ujjwala Yojana’, and the law to criminalise triple talaq to make his point.

He said his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis, who is seeking a second term, has “transformed” the lives of people by implementing several welfare projects.

“Gone are the days when thousands of farmers used to commit suicide. The Fadnavis government has not only stopped suicides by launching pro-farmer schemes, but also generated employment opportunities for people,” he added.

Mr. Adityanath said Fadnavis government broke the back of crime in the state.

“There was time when goons of the ‘D’ (Dawood Ibrahim) gang used to extort money; bomb blasts occurred, but in the last five years all these elements have disappeared and a secure atmosphere prevailed in Maharashtra,” he said.

Haryana

Modi is the loudspeaker for Ambani, Adani, says Rahul Gandhi

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi at an election rally in Haryana's Nuh district said that “Narendra Modi is the loudspeaker for Ambani and Adani. His job is to distract the attention of the masses from the real issues”.

“Youth are losing jobs due to economic slowdown. The situation is going to deteriorate in next six months. People will then rise against Modi,” he said.

“Modi is seen with Trump, Adani and Ambani, but never with the farmers. If the BJP is a nationalist party, they must tell why they are selling Public Sector Undertakings. Modi works for only 15 people and you all know who they are,” he added.

The former Congress president claimed that his party “unites all, but BJP and RSS create divide”.

New Delhi

India is heaven for minorities; Pakistan a hell for them: Naqvi

India is a “heaven” for minorities while Pakistan has proved to be a “hell” for them, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Monday.

He also asserted that the government was working on a war-footing to provide quality education and employment oriented skills to the needy including minorities.

Speaking at the 25th Silver Jubilee function and annual conference of State Channelising Agencies of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) in New Delhi, Mr. Naqvi credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making India a “role model” for “inclusive growth and positive progress” globally.

“India is a heaven for minorities while Pakistan has proved to be a hell for minorities. The Modi Government has been working on a war-footing to provide quality and affordable education, employment oriented skill development and basic infrastructure to every needy in society.

“Priority of the government is to provide affordable and quality education to all the needy sections of society including minorities and their economic empowerment through employment oriented skill development,” he said.

New Delhi

Govt’s ‘crony capitalism’ causing economic crisis: Yechury

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has alleged the country is facing an “unprecedented economic crisis” because of demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and crony capitalism of the BJP-led NDA government.

Addressing an election rally in Dahanu segment of Maharashtra’s Palghar district in support of CPI(M) candidate Vinod Nikole on Sunday, he said the BJP and Shiv Sena need to be defeated to save the country and its citizens.

“There is an unprecedented economic crisis in the country today, because of demonetisation, GST, NPAs (non- performing assets) and crony capitalism of the BJP government,” Mr. Yechury said.

He alleged that there was a move to shut the state-owned BSNL and MTNL to help industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio.

“Instead of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s slogan of Jai Hind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new slogan has become ’Jio Hind’,” Mr. Yechury said.

New Delhi

Congress demands apology from Khattar for his remarks against Sonia Gandhi

The Congress on Monday demanded an unconditional apology from Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for making a derogatory remark against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and asserted that the comments showed “BJP’s disrespectful attitude towards women”.

The Delhi unit of the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) will also protest outside the BJP office here on Monday against Mr. Khattar’s remarks.

On Sunday, Mr. Khattar made some strong remarks against the Gandhi family while commenting on the turmoil within the Congress after Rahul Gandhi’s resignation as party president following the Lok Sabha defeat.

“Pappu announced it and resigned…They started searching with a torch…looking for a non-Gandhi family… After three months, they made Sonia Gandhi the president….They dug up a mountain and what came out was a dead rat…Because they can see nothing beyond Sonia, Rahul and the Gandhi family,” Mr. Khattar said at a rally in Kaithal.

Hitting back at the Haryana Chief Minister, the Congress said the statement showed the ‘anti-women character’ of the BJP.

Maharashtra

Pressing lotus button will mean dropping bomb on Pak: UP Deputy Chief Minister

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has said voting in favour of the BJP will mean “dropping of a nuclear bomb on Pakistan“.

He said the upcoming Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections are crucial as these will be the first polls in the country after the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

He was addressing a public gathering in support of BJP candidate Narendra Mehta from Mira Bhayander Assembly segment in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Sunday night.