Assembly Elections Updates: PM Modi addresses a rally in Pathankot.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at an election rally in Punjab's Pathankot, and termed it a photocopy of the Congress.
Addressing the rally ahead of the February 20 Punjab Assembly elections, he said farming, trade and industry will be made profitable in five years if the BJP-led alliance is voted to power in the state.
"Give me five years to serve you. I assure you farming, trade, industry will be made profitable," PM Modi said at a poll rally in Pathankot.
The BJP is fighting the Punjab assembly polls in alliance with former chief minister Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress and the Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).
Here are the Highlights on Assembly Elections 2022:
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"Don't trust Arvind Kejriwal", Sukhbir Badal to peopleShiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday urged people to not "trust" the AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal, who only wants to "deceive" them with big promises in the same manner former chief minister Amarinder Singh earlier did.
The SAD president made the comments while addressing public gatherings at Dharamkot for Tota Singh and at Nihalsinghwala for Baldev Singh Manuke.
"The truth is that Punjabis gave a chance to the Aam Aadmi Party in 2017 by electing 20 of its legislators and even made it the principal opposition party in the state.
'Aam Aadmi' only in name: Rahul Gandhi's dig at AAP govt over Anganwadi workers' protestCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi over protests by Anganwadi workers, saying it does not understand the pain of the people.
His attack came over a group of anganwadi workers staging a protest here to press their demands, including recognition as government employees and a hike in honorarium.
"Delhi government does not understand the pain of the people. The fight for the rights of Anganwadi workers is absolutely right," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
70% voter turnout in first phase of Odisha panchayat polls amid sporadic violence
Odisha recorded 70 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of the panchayat elections on Wednesday amid sporadic incidents of violence, officials said.
Polling was held in the first phase for 200 Zilla Parishad constituencies, 22,379 ward member seats, 1,669 Sarpanch posts and as many number of Panchayat Samiti member posts from 7 am till 1 pm, they said.
Polling was held in 71 blocks across all 30 districts of the state.
Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from Jajpur, Puri and Dhenkanal, even as 225 platoons of police were deployed for the elections, an official said. Each platoon consists of 30 personnel, meaning 6,750 police personnel were deployed.
"Nearly 70 per cent of 67.51 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the first phase," State Election Commissioner (SEC) AP Padhi said.
"The percentage of polling may increase as some people were in queues even after 1 pm. The commission was waiting for the report from the district collectors where sporadic violence took place during the polling," he added.
Four journalists were allegedly attacked at a polling booth in Badala panchayat in Kanas block in Puri district.
In Chapamanik panchayat in Brahmagiri block of Puri, ballot boxes were snatched from booth-9 in Kashijharia village.
Polling was disrupted at booth-1 in Sujanpur panchayat as a clash broke out between two groups over stealing ballot paper stamps, as per a report that reached the SEC office.
In Mayurbhanj, nearly 500 voters of Sarajamdihi in Badapheni ward-1 alleged that their names were missing from the new voters' list, and names of only 64 people were in it.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleged that members of the ruling BJD in the state perpetrated violence in Dharmasala, Jajpur, Brahmagiri, Angul, Hndol, Bhadrak, Kanas, Jaleswar, Bangirposi, Bhatli and Patnagarh.
"The SEC should take more precautions against violence as four more phases of polling are yet to be held," he said.
Union Minister Bishweswar Tudu claimed that a picture of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was put up in the polling booth in Paramananda Khuntapal Primary School in Moroda Block in Mayurbhanj district where he went to cast his vote.
Valuables worth Rs 449.55 crores seized in Punjab after Model Code of Conduct came into forceValuables worth Rs 449.55 crores in violation of the Model Code of Conduct have been seized by various enforcement teams in Punjab till February 15, after the code came into force in the state ahead of the election.
Giving more details in this regard, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab, Dr S Karuna Raju on Wednesday said that the surveillance teams have seized 50.19 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 30.37 crore.
Similarly, the enforcement wings have also recovered psychotropic substances amounting to Rs 325.87 crores besides confiscating unaccounted cash of Rs 30.77 crore, he added.
Amit Shah meets Radha Soami sect chief in Punjab
Ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday met the chief of Radha Soami Satsang Beas Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon at Beas, around 45 km from Amritsar.
Shah, who was in Punjab on Wednesday for a poll rally, took to Twitter to share the information about the meeting.
"Today met Radha Soami Satsang chief Baba Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon.
"The work being done by Radha Soami Satsang Beas for humanity and social service by continuously awakening spiritual consciousness in the society for d
PM Modi Attacks Congress Amid Surgical Strikes Row: "They Want Proof"Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused the Congress of belittling and insulting the sacrifices of the soldiers who died during the 2016 Pathankot attack. He said that the country was together in the response to the attack except for the Congress party. "They questioned the government, the people of Punjab and even our army. They belittled the sacrifices of the soldiers," he said.
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PM Modi addresses rally in Punjab's Pathankot. Here are the highlights of his address:
- Greetings on Ravidas Jayanti.
- Blessed to be here. Lucky that followers of Kabir parampara are also here.
- Quoting Sant Ravidas as BJP follows what he said, "Aisa chaho raaj mein mile sadan ko ann, chot bado ko sab sambh se ravidas rahe prasann"
- He said that he wants a king who makes sure that everyone in his kingdom has food and is treated equal.
- We have the same "Sabka saath, sabhka saath" principle.
- For our government, betterment of the poor, is the most pertinent.
- The world has been affected by the Covid pandemic but the BJP government followed in the footsteps of Sant Ravidas and ensured everyone has food.
- Even in big countries, people have no food but we have given food to people and ensured that.
- This is "pavitra" seva for me.
- Vaccine has become a boon for the country as we made sure free vaccines for all.
- The economy has also improved because of the vaccines and our prioritising it.
- As a normal citizen, I came to Pathankot on scooter and train.
- People from Pathankot were so kind that they brought food for me in lunchboxes.
- Majha's soil has given me love like that of Ma (mother).
- If I tell you something bitter, you won't feel bad, right?
- I lived here for so long. Your food gave me nourishment. But the way, other places gave me opportunity to serve them, Punjab has not.
- First also, we were junior partners, on the margins, for Punjab's peace and security.
- We sacrificed our party's betterment for Punjab through alliances. (referring to Akali alliance)
- Give me 5 years to serve you and I promise you, industries will be better and farmers will prosper. (Says this in Punjabi)
- Punjab will become charddi kala (prosper to new heights)
- The work BJP begins, people support it so much that progress happens for sure.
- Wherever BJP settles, in whichever state, Delhi's remote control, family-driven party gets jittery.
UP Elections: BJP announces 3 more candidates for UP elections
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday announced three more candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
BJP has fielded Neelratan Singh Patel from Sevapuri Assembly constituency, Bhupesh Choubey from Robertsganj constituency and Ramdular Gaur from Duddhi.
All three assembly constituencies will go for polling in the seventh phase on March 7.
Two phases of the seven-phased polls in Uttar Pradesh have concluded, while the state will have another five phases of polling. Polling for the remaining five phases will take place on February 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
Punjab Elections| Amritsar Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu joins Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in presence of party convener Arvind Kejriwal
There is no doubt that Pakistan has been trying to destabilize Punjab since 1975 by sending arms and drugs but saying that security agencies are involved in it is a very serious allegation. Arvind Kejriwal should show proof, if he has any: Congress leader Manish Tewari in Ludhiana
Congress leader Manish Tewari addresses media
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Shri Guru Ravidas Vishram Dham Mandir in Delhi's Karol Bagh on the occasion of Ravidas Jayanti.
Update| PM Narendra Modi to address rallies in Punjab's Pathankot, Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur today
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi offers prayers at Ravidas Temple in Varanasi on the occasion of Ravidas Jayanti