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Modi Ends Gujarat Campaign With Seaplane Stunt, Rahul Woos Voters

The polling for the second phase will take place on 14 December and the results will be declared on 18 December.

The Quint
Politics
Updated:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd as he boards a seaplane on the Sabarmati river front in Ahmedabad on Tuesday
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd as he boards a seaplane on the Sabarmati river front in Ahmedabad on Tuesday
(Photo: PTI)

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Posters Showing Rahul Gandhi With Salman Nizami Spotted in Ahmedabad

As the battle between the BJP and Congress for Gujarat intensifies, posters showing Rahul Gandhi with alleged Congress member Salman Nizami have been spotted in Ahmedabad.

The poster has text reading "Whoever is a friend of Afzal (Guru) is a traitor for the nation", accompanied by a tweet purportedly by Nizami supporting Afzal Guru.

(Photo Courtesy: ANI)

The mysterious Salman Nizami was targeted by Modi in one of his speeches in Gujarat on 9 December.

The authenticity of the picture and the tweet in the poster is not verified.

Hardik Patel Holds Motorcycle Rally in Ahmedabad

(Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Speaking to ANI during a motorcycle rally in Ahmedabad, Patidar leader Hardik Patel said:

I am getting a very good response from the people and I am very confident.
Hardik Patel

Modi & Rahul Denied Permission For Roadshow

The Gujarat police have denied requests from the BJP and Congress, seeking permission to hold roadshows featuring PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi, respectively. The roadshows have been called off in lieu of law and order concerns as well as to avoid public inconvenience, Ahmedabad police commissioner Anup Kumar Singh told ANI.

Modi was scheduled to hold a roadshow in Ahmedabad on 12 December, two days before the second phase of polling in Gujarat.

(With inputs from ANI)

Watch: The Quint's Ground Report From Viramgam Where Rahul Gandhi Will Address a Rally

Watch: Congress Refutes Modi's Charges of Conspiring With Pakistan

Refuting the accusations levelled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech on Sunday that Congress has been conspiring with Pakistan, senior party leader Anand Sharma said:

The accusations are outrageous. This is just an attempt to polarise ahead of second phase of voting (in Gujarat).This also shows his (Modi’s) desperation, and that the BJP’s loss is now guaranteed. 
Anand Sharma, Congress leader

Modi on Sunday had accused a group of Congress leaders of meeting Pakistan's High Commissioner and Foreign Minister at Aiyar's residence before the latter called him "neech". Modi said the meeting at Aiyar's residence was also attended by former Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Sharma asserted that the ex-Pakistan Foreign Minister was in India to attend a wedding.

There was a dinner organised for him in which there were former diplomats and the former Army chief, among other dignitaries. Does the PM think they were all conspiring with Pakistan? This is reprehensible. The PM should apologise. 
Anand Sharma

Calling the PM's statements highly irresponsible, unwarranted and condemnable, Sharma urged Modi to "restore the dignity of the political discourse".

Watch: Rahul Gandhi Addresses a Rally in Banaskantha, Gujarat

Taking a dig at Modi at a rally in Banaskantha, Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi said:

BJP’s vikas yatra has flopped the same way a film flops. Modiji is talking about Japan, Pakistan and Afghanistan instead of Gujarat. Modiji, you should be talking about Gujarat here.
Rahul Gandhi

Watch: Rahul Gandhi Addresses a Rally in Viramgam, Gujarat

In Gujarat's Viramgam, Rahul Gandhi told the people how he doesn’t have much, while Narendra Modi has control of the government.

The Congress stands for the truth, he remarked.jk

Watch: PM Narendra Modi Addresses a Rally in Patan, Gujarat.

Watch: Congress President-Elect Rahul Gandhi Addresses a Rally in Vadodara, Gujarat

Congress Leaders Born With Golden Spoons Will Never Understand What Poverty Is: Modi

Speaking Gujarat's Patan, Prime Minister reiterated his government's pro-poor agenda and rejected the pro-industrialist accuasations levelled against him by Congress.

During peak summer, I would go to the villages of Gujarat and ask the parents to educate their children. Whose children were they? Were they Ambani’s children? No. They were children of the poor. We are working for poor.... Sadly, Congress leaders born with golden spoons will never understand what poverty is.
PM Modi

Addressing the people Modi said that the Congress was at the final stages of the “Blue Whale Game”, the conclusion of which will be seen on 18 December, that is the counting day.

Violence Reported at Hardik Patel's Rally

According to CNN-News 18, incidents of stone-pelting took place during a rally by Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel in the Bapunagar area of Ahmedabad.

Clashes between BJP and Congress workers are also said to have taken place at the rally, CNN-News18 further reported.

No details are available as of yet on whether there were any injuries. However, the clashes seem to have ended.

Modi Can’t Lamely Question My Public Service Record: Manmohan

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday that he was “pained and anguished by falsehood and canards being spread” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Gujarat elections unfold. Singh said Modi was spreading “falsehoods in a lost cause”.

The former Prime Minister's statement came after Modi, in an election rally in Gujarat on 10 December, accused a group of Congress leaders of meeting Pakistan's High Commissioner at Mani Shankar Aiyar's residence before the latter called him "neech". Modi said the meeting at Aiyar's residence was also attended by former Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

PM Modi Congratulates Rahul Gandhi on His Election as Congress President Elect

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Rahul Gandhi Addresses Rally in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi, addressing a rally in Gandhinagar, hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP government in Centre for working for the benefit of the rich.

They say Congress has disappeared from Gujarat but why are 50% of PM Modi’s speeches on the Congress? The rest is on himself.
Rahul Gandhi in Gandhinagar

He said that while common people faced acing problems, the big corporates in the state were happy, adding that the GST and demonetisation sturck the trading community in Gujarat.

Modi used to speak a lot about corruption. He doesn’t do that anymore.
Rahul Gandhi in Gandhinagar

Gandhi also took a dig at Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah, questioning how his company’s profits increased by 16,000 times. He alleged that Amit Shah “remote controls” both Gujarat and its Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

Modi can say whatever he wants about me. Troll me however he wants. But I am a Congress party worker and will never disrespect the office of the Prime Minister. I will never use a bad word to talk about Modi.
Rahul Gandhi in Gandhinagar

Today's Schedule

The roadshows in Ahmedabad scheduled for the day by both parties have been cancelled after the Gujarat police denied permission citing law and order concerns and public inconvenience.

Rahul will be visiting the Jagannath temple after which he will hold a press conference at Ahmedabad at 1:00 pm. Modi will also return to Ahmedabad after his visit to Ambaji temple.

(Photo: The Quint)

Modi to Travel in Seaplane Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam in a seaplane, today. After that, he will offer prayers at Ambaji temple in Banaskantha district of Gujarat.

PM Travels in Seaplane From Sabarmati Riverfront

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently travelling from Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam via a seaplane to “promote Gujarat tourism”.

He is the first passenger to fly in the seaplane from the Sabarmati riverfront.

PM Modi waves to onlookers. (Photo: ANI Screengrab)

Modi Reaches Dharoi Dam

PM Modi reached Dharoi Dam via seaplane. He will be heading to the Ambaji temple shortly.

Commenting on Modi’s choice of transport, PAAS leader Hardik Patel said he’s happy to hear about India's first seaplane. Such technology could be used to benefit farmers as it could be used to spray fertilisers on large crop areas in a short period of time, he said.

Watch: Rahul Delivers Press Conference in Ahmedabad

Addressing his first press conference as the president-elect of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP has carried out “one-sided development”.

We created a robust vision for the state. Modiji has done one-sided development… In his last few rallies, Modiji has been talking either about himself, or only the Congress. He used to talk about corruption. But ever since the reports on the Jay Shah case and the Rafale deals came up, he stopped talking about corruption. He doesn’t talk about farmers and education.
Rahul Gandhi, Congress President

The Congress would sweep the Gujarat polls, Gandhi said.

Modiji can speak ill of me in whichever manner he desires but as Congress President I refrain from disrespecting our Prime Minister.
Rahul Gandhi

Responding to the BJP’s criticism about Rahul visiting temples in Gujarat, Rahul asked if there was anything wrong with that.

Hardik Holds Raod Show in Vadodara

Hardik Patel holds road show in Vadodara, on the last day of campaigning.

PM Arrives in Sabarmati

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to the Sabarmati riverfront in the sea-plane.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Addresses Press Conference

Addressing a press conference, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad refuted the claims made by the Congress president-elect on BJP’s agenda of ‘one-sided development’

There are figures and facts to support our claims of development. How can Rahul Gandhi say that we haven’t done enough?

Requesting Gandhi’s Congress to ‘refrain from spreading lies’, Prasad slammed the opposition that they are resorting to ‘misleading’ people in order to ‘save face’

They never do their homework; maybe if they did, they wouldn’t be wrong.

Commenting on Gandhi’s retort on his visit to temples, Prasad questioned why the former did not visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya during his campaigns for the UP elections.

If he really loves temples, why did he never visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya during his campaigns for the UP elections? He didn’t visit the Krishna temple in Mathura either. Then where is this sudden love for temples stemming from?

Taking off from the criticism, Prasad further asked the Congress what its stance was on the Ayodhya issue.

I wonder what he will have to say about ‘Ram Bhakti’. The Congress should tell us if Ayodhya should get a Ram temple or not, they need to take a stand on this issue. 

Hitting out at Gandhi’s criticism on Modi’s seaplane venture, Prasad said:

The BJP has a seaplane, the Congress has a C-Plan, which stands for Corruption plan.

"Modi is 'Fair' Because He Eats Mushrooms": Alpesh Thakor

Congress leader Alpesh Thakor claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was “dark like him,” has become “fair” as he reportedly eats imported mushrooms every day.

Addressing a rally, Thakor claimed someone told him that he would not be able to eat the food Modi eats, as it was not the food “poor people eat.”

This person said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesn’t like the mushrooms we eat, and the ones he eats are imported from Taiwan and each mushroom costs Rs. 80,000. 

Modi Ends Campaign, Thanks Gujarat

PM Narendra Modi ended his campaign spree in Gujarat, thanking the people of his home state for their affection and support.

Campaigning for Gujarat Polls Ends

The campaigning for the second phase of the Gujarat elections have officially ended, reported ANI.

Gujarat will go to polls in its second and final phase on 14 December. Tuesday, 12 December, marked the end of the high-voltage campaigning in the state, spearheaded by PM Narendra Modi and newly-minted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. The roadshows in Ahmedabad scheduled for the day by both parties were cancelled after the Gujarat police denied permission citing law and order concerns and public inconvenience.

The results for the Gujarat elections will be declared on 18 December.

  • The final leg of campaigning for the Gujarat Assembly elections was marred by vitriol, with both the BJP and the Congress tearing into each other
  • Earlier, PM Modi alleged that the Congress was conspiring with Pakistan to swing the Gujarat polls
  • On its part, the Congress has cried foul and demanded an apology
  • Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was “pained and anguished by falsehood and canards” being spread by PM Modi

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Published: 11 Dec 2017,10:26 AM IST

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