Modi Alleges Pak Interference in Gujarat Polls, Rahul Slams DeMo
The second phase of polling in Gujarat will take place on 14 December and results will be declared on 18 December.
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Continuing with the high-octane campaigning for the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi addressed a number of rallies in the state on Sunday, 10 December.
Notably, Gandhi held a public meeting in support of Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani at Vadgam on Saturday, 9 December. Mevani, who had earlier announced his support for the Congress, is contesting the elections from the Vadgam constituency as an Independent candidate.
The first phase of polling took place on 9 December, recording a voter turnout of around 66.75 percent.
- PM Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi addressed a slew of rallies for the second phase of Gujarat elections
- Rahul Gandhi started his campaign on Sunday with a darshan at a temple in Dakor, followed by a public meeting. He then addressed rallies in Aravali, Deodar and Kalol
- At a rally in Palanpur, Modi once again slammed Mani Shankar Aiyar, asking why he had held “secret meetings with the Pakistani High Commissioner”
- Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi urged the people in one of his rallies to talk about the PM with love, but also make him go away
- The second phase of polling will take place on 14 December and the results will be declared on 18 December
Why Did Manmohan Singh Not Show Courage to Order Surgical Strikes Post 26/11: Modi
PM Modi, addressing a public rally in Vadodara on Sunday, asked his predecessor Manmohan Singh why did he not show the courage to order a surgical strike post the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, despite the readiness of the Army.
He said after the Mumbai attacks, the Air Force had approached the then Prime Minister Singh with a plan for surgical strikes, but the government did not show the courage to order it.
"Under whose advice did he (Singh) do so," Modi asked the gathering at the Navlakhi compound.
He then cited the example of his government's action in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack in September last year.
Modi also questioned Congress leaders, including its vice president Rahul Gandhi, for raising doubts over the surgical strikes.
"Are such secret matters to be discussed in public?" he asked, saying this was the difference between the NDA government and the UPA government.
The prime minister also justified demonetisation, saying it was aimed at unearthing black money and preventing the parallel economy.
"My Govt is For the Poor": PM Modi
Dismissing the allegations made by the Congress that the BJP government in Gujarat was for the “rich”, PM Narendra Modi on 10 December said:
Modi to Hold Road Show in Ahmedabad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a road show in Ahmedabad on 12 December, two days before the second phase of polling in Gujarat.
We Will Defeat Modiji Without Any Anger, But With Love: Rahul Gandhi in Kalol
At a rally in Gujarat’s Kalol, Rahul Gandhi said:
Addressing the crowd, Gandhi said:
Congress is Relying on Their Same Divide and Rule Politics: PM Modi in Kalol
Addressing a rally in Kalol, Gandhinagar, Modi asserted that the “BJP is fighting these assembly elections on the issue of development”.
He also talked about how the BJP ensured the electrification of villages in Gujarat, despite the state Congress leaders mocking his promise regarding the same.
Watch: Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala Addresses a Press Conference
Amit Shah Lashes Out at Jignesh Mevani and Salman Nizami
In his press conference in Gandhinagar, Amit Shah went on to target the Congress for its support of Jignesh Mevani, saying Rahul Gandhi is meeting a person who has relations with an anti-national outfit.
He further alleged that the Congress did not give Mevani a ticket and made him contest as an independent because they knew of his relations with PFI.
Moreover, a day after Modi lashed out at the mysterious Salman Nizami, who is purportedly a member of the Congress, Amit Shah also brought him up in his address.
Watch: BJP President Amit Shah Addresses a Press Conference in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Addressing a press conference in Gandhinagar, BJP president Amit Shah lashed out at the Congress, saying that the party “has laid the foundation of Gujarat elections on casteism”.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi, he said:
He went to assert that Modi has a “spotless” image, while talking about the 2002 riots.
Watch: Rahul Gandhi Addresses a Rally in Aravali, Gujarat
Watch: PM Modi Addresses a Rally in Sanand, Gujarat
Talk About the PM With Love and Make Him Run Away: Rahul Gandhi in Dakor
In Gujarat’s Dakor, Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Modi’s speeches in the state, saying that he only spoke about himself 90 percent of the time.
Making a remark after the Mani Shankar Aiyar ‘neech’ controversy, Gandhi said:
The Congress vice president also slammed the demonetisation move of the government, asserting how “the money of all thieves in India was turned white by Modiji”.
Why Did Mani Shankar Aiyar Hold Secret Meetings With Pakistani High Commissioner?: Modi
Speaking at a rally in Banaskantha’s Palanpur, Modi said:
The PM once again slammed suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, asserting that he had “insulted Gujarat”, and asking why he had held “secret meetings with the Pakistani High Commissioner”.
Claiming that the ex-Pakistan Army Directorate General (DG) had said that Ahmed Patel should be made Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi questioned:
Rahul Gandhi Visits Ranchhodji Temple in Gujarat
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi kicked off his poll campaign on Sunday, 10 December in Gujarat's Dakor by seeking blessings at the Ranchhodji Temple.
The crowd apparently shouted ‘Modi Modi’ as Rahul Gandhi exited the temple.
A Busy Campaign Day for Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat
Rahul Gandhi is gearing up for an intense day of campaigning starting from a darshan at Shri Rannchodrai temple in Dakor in Kheda followed by a public meeting.
He will then move on to Shamlaji in Aravali where he will again address a public meeting at a Sarvodaya Ashram. He will also address a public meeting in Deodar in Banaskantha district and Kalol.
PM Modi to Speak at a Rally in Palanpur in Gujarat
Watch: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addresses a rally in Vijapur, Gujarat
The PM Has Only Spoken About Himself in His Speeches: Rahul Gandhi in Modi's Hometown Vadnagar
At a rally in Modi’s hometown Vadnagar, Rahul Gandhi slammed Narendra Modi’s speeches in Gujarat, saying:
Watch: PM Modi Addresses a Rally in Mehsana, Gujarat
Speaking at Mehsana, Modi underlined the importance of development, saying that without it, “there is no solution to the problems India faces”.
Supporters Wear Masks of Jignesh Mevani at His Rally in Vadgam
Rahul Gandhi is set to address a rally in support of Jignesh Mevani at Vadgam, the constituency from where the latter is contesting as an Independent candidate.
Watch: PM Modi Addresses a Rally in Anand, Gujarat
Watch: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi Addresses a Rally in Patan, Gujarat
Addressing a gathering in Patan's Harij, Rahul Gandhi countered Modi's rhetoric, saying how the BJP government has only worked for the benefit of 5-10 industrialists/businessmen.
Watch: PM Modi Addresses a Rally in Bodeli, Gujarat
Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Bodeli, Modi said:
BJP Will Score a Landslide Victory, Congress' Tactics Have Failed': Jaitley
On the day of the first phase of polling, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley expressed confidence that the BJP will score a decisive victory in Gujarat.
Congress Leaders Slam Modi's Speech in Gujarat
Reacting to Modi's speech in Gujarat, in which he accused a youth Congress leader named Salman Nizami of using offensive language against him, Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said:
Congress Has Been Rejected Comprehensively Across the Nation, Gujarat Will Punish it Too: Modi
Addressing a rally in Lunawada, Gujarat, PM Narendra Modi slammed the Congress, saying it has been "rejected comprehensively across the nation".
"Gujarat too will reject and punish them for their politics," he asserted.
He once again accused the Congress leaders of using offensive language against him, narrating a youth Congress leader named Salman Nizami has used unacceptable language against him.
Modi also alleged that the "Congress has misled the Muslim community", having made "fake promises of reservation for the Muslims".
Modi's Rally Schedule
On Saturday, 9 December, Narendra Modi will visit Lunawada and address a public meeting in the morning. After that, he will go to Bodeli. He will visit the milk capital, Anand, and address a gathering at noon. His last public meeting of the day will be at Mehsana, the Patidar bastion, at 3 pm.
Rahul Gandhi's Rally Schedule
On Saturday, Gandhi will be in Patan, Banaskantha and Mehsana districts, the region said to be the Patidar bastion.
He will arrive in Patan district's Chanasma by chopper from Vadodara and hold a public a meeting at Harij around noon. He will reach Banaskantha district's Vadgam and address a public meeting in Chappi in the afternoon.
Mevani is contesting as an independent from Vadgam constituency.
From Vadgam, Gandhi will fly to Vadnagar, the home town of Modi, and address a public meeting around 4 pm. The place falls in the Unjha Assembly seat of Mehsana district. From Modi's hometown, Gandhi will take a yatra bus to Vijapur – the region believed to be a Patidar fortress – where he will address a public meeting at 6 pm.
The Mehsana Assembly constituency seat is held by Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Nitin Patel.
(With inputs from IANS)
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Published: 09 Dec 2017,11:09 AM IST