India that every Indian envisages for

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Fate of Rahul Gandhi, Hema Malini, Shashi Tharoor, Arun Govil to be decided ::::: Phase 2: 89 seats go to polls on April 26

Lok Sabha polls Phase 2: 89 seats go to polls on April 26 --

Polling in 13 states. Outer Manipur will also have the voting in remaining areas those did not go for polling on April 19

Key leaders whose fate will be decided are Shashi Tharoor and Rahul Gandhi - both Congress in Kerala and also Hema Malini and Arun Govil - both BJP - in Uttar Pradesh.

All 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerela will go to polls on Friday, concluding voting in the state. This will also be the second and final phase of voting for Manipur, Rajasthan, Tripura, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Notably, Phase 3 to 7 of voting will be held on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, respectively. Counting of votes June 4, 2024.

In BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, Rajnandgaon will be a seat to watch wherer former chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel is trying his luck.

BJP stalwart and former three-time chief minister and current Assembly Speaker Raman Singh represented the seat earlier. Baghel's previous attempts at parliamentary elections were from Durg in 2004 and Raipur in 2009, both resulting in defeats.

In Wayanad, Kerala, all eyes will be on the voting that will decide the fate of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed that Rahul will also try to contest another constituency. Speculation is rife about Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

In Wayanad, Ms Annie Raja, wife of D Raja, is contesting on the ticket of Communist Party of India (CPI) and BJP has fielded its state President K Surendran.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor faces competition from Union Minister of State and BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar for the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram seat.

In Uttar Pradesh, actor-turned-politician Hema Malini is aiming for her third win from Mathura as a BJP candidate, while in Meerut, the BJP has nominated Ramayan actor Arun Govil as its candidate.

In Bihar's Purnia constituency, former Member of Parliament Rajesh Ranjan (also known as Pappu Yadav), who recently merged his party with Congress, aims to represent the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). Ignoring Congress' advice Yadav is contesting the elections as independent candidate.

The UT of Jammu and Kashmir, which has five seats, will hold polls for each seat gradually in the first five phases, while Ladakh's lone seat will hold polls in the fifth phase on May 20.

1) Assam: Five out of 14 LS constituencies

2) Bihar: Five out of 40 seats

3) Chhattisgarh: Three out of 11 constituencies

4) Karnataka: 14 out of 28 seats

5) Kerala: 20 out of 20 seats

6) Madhya Pradesh: Seven out of 29 seats

7) Maharashtra: Eight out of 48 seats

8) Manipur: One out of two constituencies (Outer Manipur seat will go to polls twice, with some areas in the first and some in the second.)

9) Rajasthan: 13 out of 25 seats

10) Tripura: One out of two seats

11) Uttar Pradesh: Eight out of 80 seats

12) West Bengal: Three out of 42 seats

13) Jammu and Kashmir: One out of five seats

House Boat: Kerala Tourism

Key segments:

Wayanad - Kerala: Rahul Gandhi (Congress)

Thiruvananthapuram - Kerala: Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP) vs Shashi Tharoor (Congress)

Alappuzha - Kerala: K.C Venugopal (Congress)

Balurghat - West Bengal: Sukanta Majumdar (BJP)

Udaipur - Rajasthan: Tarachand Meena (Congress)

Bhilwara - Rajasthan: C.P. Joshi (Congress)

Jalore - Rajasthan: Vaibhav Gehlot (Congress)

Kota - Rajasthan: Om Birla (BJP) vs Prahlad Gunjal (Congress)

Jodhpur - Rajasthan: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (BJP)

Purnia - Bihar: Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav (Independent)

Mathura - Uttar Pradesh: Hema Malini (BJP)

Meerut - Uttar Pradesh: Arun Govil (BJP)

Tumkur - Karnataka: V. Somanna (BJP)

Mandya - Karnataka: H.D. Kumaraswamy (JDS)

Bangalore - Karnataka: Mansoor Ali Khan (Congress)

Bangalore South - Karnataka: Tejasvi Surya (BJP)

Rajnandgaon - Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Bhagel (Congress)

Amravati - Maharashtra: Navneet Kaur Rana (BJP)

Parties currently holding the Lok Sabha seat: State-wise list

1) Assam:

Darrang-Udalguri (gen): The constituency was earlier known as Mangaldoi (held by BJP) but was renamed following the delimitation exercise last year.

Diphu (ST): BJP

Karimganj (gen): BJP

Silchar (SC): BJP

Nagaon (gen): Congress

2) Bihar:

Kishanganj (gen): Congress

Katihar (gen): JD(U)

Purnia (gen): JD(U)

Bhagalpur (gen): JD(U)

Banka (gen): JD(U)

3) Chhattisgarh:

Rajnandgaon (gen): BJP

Mahasamund (gen): BJP

Kanker (ST): BJP

4) Karnataka:

Udupi Chikmagalur (gen): BJP

Hassan (gen): JD(S)

Dakshina Kannada (gen): BJP

Chitradurga (SC): BJP

Tumkur (gen): BJP

Mandya (gen): Independent

Mysore (gen): BJP

Chamrajanagar (SC): BJP

Bangalore Rural (gen): Congress

Bangalore North (gen): BJP

Bangalore Central (gen): BJP

Bangalore South (gen): BJP

Chikkaballapur (gen): BJP

Kolar (SC): BJP

5) Kerala:

Malappuram (gen): Indian Union Muslim League

Ponnani (gen): Indian Union Muslim League

Kottayam (gen): Kerela Congress

Kollam (gen): Revolutionary Socialist Party

All other 16 seats were won by the Congress party, including senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor from Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram, respectively.

6) Madhya Pradesh:

Tikamgarh (SC): BJP

Damoh (gen): BJP

Khajuraho (gen): BJP

Satna (gen): BJP

Rewa (gen): BJP

Hoshangabad (gen): BJP

Betul (ST): BJP

7) Maharashtra:

Buldhana (gen): Shiv Sena

Akola (gen): BJP

Amravati (SC): Independent

Wardha (gen): BJP

Yavatmal - Washim (gen): Shiv Sena

Hingoli (gen): Shiv Sena

Nanded (gen): BJP

Parbhani (gen): Shiv Sena

8) Manipur:

Outer Manipur (ST): Naga People's Front

9) Rajasthan:

Tonk-Sawai Madhopur (gen): BJP

Ajmer (gen): BJP

Pali (gen): BJP

Jodhpur (gen): BJP

Barmer (gen): BJP

Jalore (gen): BJP

Udaipur (ST): BJP

Banswara (ST): BJP

Chittorgarh (gen): BJP

Rajsamand (gen): BJP

Bhilwara (gen): BJP

Kota (gen): BJP

Jhalawar-Baran (gen): BJP

10) Tripura:

Tripura East (ST): BJP

11) Uttar Pradesh:

Amroha (gen): BSP

Meerut (gen): BJP

Baghpat (gen): BJP

Ghaziabad (gen): BJP

Bulandshahr (SC): BJP

Gautam Buddha Nagar (gen): BJP

Aligarh (gen): BJP

Mathura (gen): BJP

12) West Bengal:

Darjeeling (gen): BJP

Raiganj (gen): BJP

Balurghat (gen): BJP

13) Jammu and Kashmir:

Jammu (gen): BJP

Emergency redefined Indira era ..... Advani's Rath Yatra, Babri demolition and Godhra riots 'redefined' stages of Hindutva ::: Much easier to appear all-powerful when that’s rivals see you

Three different stages should define the journey of Sangh Parivar-led Hindutva politics in India. Let us not presume the days of Jan Sangh though they were equally important and were also crucial in terms of laying the foundation of the goals and keeping the ideological moorings.

In the era of 1980 -- we take into account the era of the Vajpayee-Advani duo. The events those really brought in the tectonic shifts were -- first L K Advani's Rath Yatra that transformed BJP into an outfit at the national level especially Hindi heartland.

The success of the Rath Yatra politics was immense. The BJP crossed 100 MPs mark in 1991 election and also captured power in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

The second important and mega event was demolition of Babri Majid on Dec 6, 1992.

That showed the aggressive stance of the party and the Parivar. And they did not mind losing out powers in Uttar Pradesh. The sense of hurt was more painful after the Narasimha Rao government went overboard and dismissed all three other state governments - Himachal, MP and Rajasthan.

The champions of federalism looked the other way and they rejoiced the fall of saffron power - little realising that the tiger will hurt you the most -- when it is hurt.

At the level of long term impact, the post-Godhra mayhem of 2002 in Gujarat was the third significant development.

This brought in the talent called Narendra Damodardas Modi and showed the dent the Hindutva politics can make in India.

The 'moderate' Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke out -- "Yeh aag kisne lagai ...".

Did he blame Pakistan or Muslims for the Feb 27, 2002 railway station carnage?

Today, in 2024 -- Bharat is amid one of the most challenging, exciting and tough elections of our time.

The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of more than 400 seats in the 543-strong Lok Sabha.

This mandate if materialises on June 4 (2024) will be historic and ensure a super-majority for Team Mofi and that could allow the Sangh Parivar to push the agenda further.

The RSS leadership and especially Mohan Bhagwat are extremely delighted that Modi is gradually turning India into a Bharat of their dreams -- whether official declaration of a Hindu Rashtra is essential or not need not be debated at all.

Modi has shown that he can get the works done staying within the existing system.

Notably, the Ambedkar-drafted Constitution never had Secularism in its preamble is a vital saga of Indian history. And when weighed in the context of the ideas of three powerful stalwarts Veer Savarkar, Hedgewar and Golwalkar -- this issue will be debated more intensely in the days to come.

Ironically Socialism has already under focus after Rahul Gandhi and his Congress party have pushed the communist agenda in the garb of poll manifesto. Interesting times ahead !!

Shashi Tharoor was elected to the Lok Sabha for the second term from Thiruvananthapuram in 2014 and was one of the 44 Congress MPs to have 'survived' the Modi-wave directed BJP onslaught in the general election.

In a blog written for the Huffington Post, titled "How Narendra Modi May Have Evolved into 'Modi 2.0", Mr Tharoor argued that "it would be churlish not to acknowledge Modi 2.0's inclusive outreach and to welcome his more conciliatory statements and actions."

"I am neither angry nor offended. (I am) deeply disappointed that an intelligent man like Tharoor should come to such judgements. It demonstrates immaturity that according to Tharoor, we should stop being churlish," Mani Shankar Aiyar told NDTV.

The Congress, put on the defensive by the unexpected praise for Mr Modi from one of its senior leaders, dismissed Mr Tharoor's comments as his "personal" views. "As a party, it is too early to comment on the functioning of the government," Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza had said.

2014: Tharoor and TMC MP Moon Moon Sen

This brings us to the debate around 'cult personality' of Narendra Modi and how much difference he has actually brought in the Hindutva politics and India's own prestige. Today, Indians feel proud of being Indians notwithstanding all round negativism from his detractors and BJP-bashing army.

BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta credited Modi for implementing a “transformation” over the past 10 years.

“He has brought about significant assertion of self-confidence in India, a celebration of Indianness if you will,” said Dasgupta. “Also in the past, there was always a squeamishness attached to the idea of asserting yourself to be Hindu. That squeamishness has now been replaced by pride.” (The Guardian)

ends

The RED scare !! Are you still not scared ??? Nothing can be more dangerous than Communism !! But here it is; NGO-club ran Congress is out in the town to prove you wrong

"..... when most Communist system came crashing down.... Yet Prakash Karat has nonetheless wielded outsize influence ...That's because the Congress-party led coalition has a razor-thin majority in Parliament, which has forced it to lean on Karat for support, turning him into a kingmaker and a potential spoiler". -- 'Newsweek', Dec 3, 2007 on the UPA era when the Left parties had their golden era of 60 plus MPs and did the back-seat driving.

The table has been turned. But the Congress has not only embraced the Left ideology --- a club of scamsters and 'sarva-hara netas' with jholas and Kolhapuri chappals ---the Congress is now a case of 'taken over' by the Maoists ideology !!

Indian democracy is really under threat ... the 'fresh threats' are not from the BJP...it's from Urban Naxals. They have hijacked the Congress party,,,,, Be careful Bharat...that is India !!

The I.N.D.I alliance --- naming of this also smacked of a communist type brains working and that suspect in 2003 ... is today proved right. Rahul Gandhi's Overseas uncle -- who is 2019 almost justified 1984 anti-Sikh riots now say ... Inheritance Tax is a good idea. This comes amid Congress party's hyped push for its Manifesto where it has allegedly indicated 'wealth re-distribution' though the words are not used exactly. It's the hidden agenda .... it could be China connections and it could derail India's development journey -- something Beijing is not comfortable all these years!!

Rahul Gandhi is essentially pushing the 'murder' of private enterprise in India.

Capitalism is Chinese enemy, and so it Rahul's enemy too. The so-called threat is not about Democracy... it's the ghisa pita sazish --- anti-development.

"Let us not develop India.... Why should we have a good airport when my half educated son is still jobless," comes a refrain from a pro-Marxist former school teacher in Tripura. The state is BJP-ruled today ... and for years it was Marxists' rule. In 2003 when I landed at Agartala .... the airport looked like a bus stand ! The jhola industry was shining.

'Thin arrowroot' maida-made biscuits were the best snacks and at Agartala Airport --one was told, :"This is Agartala why you are asking for coffee" !!

That's communism; and today that is the Congress agenda !! Have you heard of anarchism and revolution .... please adjust these two terminologies --- with communism and today's 'brilliant Manifesto' of Congress ..... well one can have Chaos. You have a bad set of people to run government and worse set of people to be governed !!

Thus flashback to Bengal of 1980s and a few years before that -- IT giant IBM was hounded out !! Industrialists will be gheroed and attacked,

The 'dadas' of para/colonies will be more powerful than police. There would be load shedding and flies and mosquitoes and Kolkata's intellectuals will sing the song ....

"Dine macchi, raate mosha
ei niye achhie Kolkata'

(There are flies around during day time and there will be mosquitoes at night. And that's my Kolkata city...I adore)

The best definition of communism -- according to a former teacher of mine in north east -- was -- it's a combination of pseudo talks, inferiority complex and persecution !!

Ting tong !!

Hate 'Modi' ... that's okay .... but Congress Manifesto based on communism will blind you -- to the level --- you may hate a bright future for your kid !!

Certainly in next six rounds ...of voting ... Bharat and its people and more so the Hindus should vote with extra enthusiasm.

Muslims have always benefited by those who play these games. The Partition of 1947 and then the politics of 'minority appeasement'.

What does upper caste Hindu have ?? His hard work and talent.... The good old days would have made you a school teacher or some 'clerks (kerani) in municipal office -- where union leader will be the main boss and playing Carom Board would be wise thing to do in office hours !! Jugadus will survive yet again !!

The eco system should be destroyed.

Do not take the clock back !!

In an interview with news agency ANI, Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda said:

"In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has $100 million worth of wealth and when he dies, he can only transfer probably 45% to his children and 55% goes to the government. That’s an interesting law.

"It says you in your generation, made wealth and you are leaving now, you must leave your wealth for the public, not all of it, half of it, which to me sounds fair,” Pitroda said.

“In India, you don’t have that. If somebody is worth 10 billion and he dies, his children get 10 billion and the public gets nothing," he added.

The BJP went hammer-and-tongs after Congress in the wake of Pitroda's remarks. It warned people of "property snatchers", with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla saying that the "Congress want to grab one's hard-earned tax-paid resources".

ends

2014-24, the decade of Reclaiming 'historic Hindu civilisational' greatness... Journey to a Viksit Bharat ::::::::: Modi and Amit Shah flay Congress after Sam Pitroda refers to taxation act of the US

New tryst with destiny -- the Bharat story !!

"...there is precious little Pakistan can do about assassinations on its territory, which the Indian leadership was happy to boast about once the allegations had been publicised." - an article in Pakistani newspaper 'The Dawn'.

$$$

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 10 years in power left an indelible mark on the country. Its an optimistic story of India rising to become the world’s fastest-growing economy, courted by powerful western leaders and multinational corporations.

There is improved Digital-based economy and efficient governance. The technological advancements have been used to benefit the poor and common masses.

Also to some, Bharat no longer symbolizes under-developed rural India. It means a nation firm on ts roots and liberated from the politics of elites and dynasts.

There is also an escape from “chains of colonisers” and Bharat is on the path to reclaiming its historic Hindu civilisational greatness.

Modi’s status – what many refer to as a “cult of personality” – has continued to rise exponentially while space for criticism of him, be it in the media, academic research or even fictional TV shows, has continued to be in sharp decline. Notably, he has not done a single press conference in 10 years.

Opposition to Modi is painted as opposition to the country ???

Such is the power of “brand Modi” that the BJP sits firmly in the shadow of its strongman leader. Modi’s face and name are attached to almost every government welfare scheme, and are visible on every government poster and even on people’s food rations and Covid vaccination certificates.

The prime minister primarily refers to himself in the third person in speeches and will often address the people as “Modi ka parivar” [Modi’s family]. The party’s election manifesto was simply named “Modi’s guarantee”.

Modi is very full of himself. (The Guadian)

Modi and Amit Shah flay Congress after Sam Pitroda refers to taxation act of the US

The appeasement politics of the Congress stands exposed today with Sam Pitroda's statement on wealth redistribution. He reaffirmed the party's intention to seize the property of the majority and distribute it among the minority. It yet again brings to the fore that the empowerment of India's poor, Dalits, youth, tribes, and backward classes was never on Congress's agenda. - Amit Shah

PM rips into Congress over Sam Pitroda remark: ‘Loot the living and the dead’

Amid the ongoing row over Congress leader Sam Pitroda's seeming advocacy for an inheritance tax, PM Narendra Modi charged that the opposition party does not want people to pass on their hard-earned wealth to their children.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacks Congress over Sam Pitroda's inheritance tax remark.

PM accuses Congress of intending to impose higher taxes.

He alleges Congress will prevent wealth inheritance to children

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on Congress after the party’s Sam Pitroda appeared to advocate for a US-style inheritance tax amid the ongoing debate over wealth redistribution. The comments have further fuelled an already-raging controversy over Rahul Gandhi’s promise to conduct a wealth survey if the Congress won the Lok Sabha election.

Speaking at a public meeting in Chhattisgarh's Surguja, PM Modi alleged that the Congress wants to fill its own coffers by imposing ever higher taxes and not allowing people to pass on their hard-earned wealth to their children.

"The advisor [Sam Pitroda] of the 'prince' and the 'royal family' had said some time ago that more taxes should be imposed on the middle class," said PM Modi.

"Congress says that it will impose an inheritance tax, and it will also impose tax on the inheritance received from parents. Your children will not get the wealth that you accumulate through your hard work, rather the claws of the Congress will snatch it away from you."

The Prime Minister said Pitroda's remarks had exposed the dangerous intentions of the Congress.

Making a play on LIC's erstwhile slogan, Modi jibed, "Congress has one mantra -- to loot people zindagi ke sath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi (in life and even after death)."

Without taking any names, PM Modi targeted the Gandhi family and said, "Those people who considered the entire Congress party as their ancestral property and handed it over to their children, now do not want Indians to pass on their property to their children."

The Prime Minister and the BJP had criticised the Congress manifesto, saying it smacks of appeasement and that if it came to power, it would redistribute people’s wealth and also give reservations to Muslims from the quota for SC, ST, and OBC communities.

"Who said 55% will be taken away? Who said something like this should be done in India? Why is BJP and media in panic?" Pitroda said.

Meanwhile, the Congress distanced itself from the controversy, and said Pitroda's views do not always reflect the position of the party.

Ends

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

In 2018 ...an article in Urdu newspaper 'Inquilab' quoted Rahul Gandhi of describing Congress as a Muslim party

(July 2018 ---- A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his reported remark that the Congress is "a Muslim party", Gandhi on Tuesday, 17 July, tweeted that he and his party “loved all living beings”, and their religion or caste did not matter.)

"I stand with the last person in the line. The exploited, marginalised and the persecuted. Their religion, caste or beliefs matter little to me. I seek out those in pain and embrace them. I erase hatred and fear. I love all living beings. I am the Congress," he had tweeted.

What's unsaid and perhaps more important is -- there was no denial !!

Even after the row has been triggered, PM Narendra Modi is not on back-foot.

Has Congress party - otherwise known in India as a centrist party - has tilted too much towards communist ideology ?

On Tuesday, (April 23),Modi again raked the issue in an election rally and said:

"Two-three days back I exposed Congress, their manifesto and their politics of Muslim appeasement...This has unnerved them so much".

"Modi has exposed you....your hidden agenda is now before the people. Do not shiver in fear.If you have guts face the truth," the Prime Minister said.

Closer scrutiny of things show Modi has played a trick or rather tried to connect the dots. Technically speaking the Congress manifesto doesn’t mention anything about wealth distribution among Muslims in black and white.

But it does talk about "inequality between the rich on the one hand and the poor and middle classes on the other".

"In 2006, Dr Manmohan Singh made those remarks about Muslims and national resources. Those were unwarranted. Even in 2014, the BJP used the quotes and garnered votes against Congress," says Varanasi-based Tushar Bhadra.

The Congress has actually 'walked' into its own trap in more ways than one, he says.

"The Congress manifesto mentions inequality between the rich on the one hand and the poor and middle classes on the other having increased sharply dealing a body blow to the goals of equality. This is true for a vast and multi cultural nation that followed economic liberalisation since 1991. It is true some people's income increased manifold after 1990s in some sectors and especially those working in IT firms," says Bhadra.

Commentator Ramakanto Shanyal in West Bengal says, the Congress manifesto should not have referred to an independent report “Income and Wealth Inequality in India, 1922-2023: The Rise of the Billionaire Raj" by global economists, including Thomas Piketty. Worse, Congress also says the party if voted to power will address the growing inequality of wealth and income through suitable changes in policies".

Such statements are open to interpretation and even misinterpretation certainly, says Shanyal.

Likes of Ashutosh Talukdar in Assam says, "It is anybody's guess work that in recent times the Congress party under Rahul Gandhi which was like a centrist party has started leaning more towards Left ideology.

When the Congress is fighting a battle for survival, speaking so much in details on inequality of wealth was an unwise decision. Middle class is irked and the rich corporate houses will now shoe-away Congress. Modi has sensed this and is also using it for polarization which has always helped him garner more votes in the past".

India's Modi says Congress will rob Hindus to help 'vote bank' infiltrator-Muslims

Under the hype of the latest political row, there is an undercurrent of tectonic shift in Indian politics. The latest controversy will finally decide the fate of ongoing Indian elections.

“Do you think your hard-earned money should be given to infiltrators? Would you accept this?”, thus spoke Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in reference to the principal opposition Congress party and Muslims. This has sparked off perhaps the biggest political row in this year's election season in India and it has immense polarizing power.

"The derogatory reference to intruders is untrue and part of their (BJP's) ideological code. The fact that the Prime Minister himself has come forward to take political advantage by saying communalism during the elections is an illustration of the challenges facing democratic and secular values in the country," Marxist and Kerala Chief Minister Pinyari Vijayan told journalists in Kannur.

Even from a simple administrative point of view conducting a national election is a gigantic task for the poll panel - the Election Commission of India. In the world's largest democracy, an estimated 12 percent of the world’s population is involved in the elections, sharing, arguing and also getting motivated by a wide range of issues from Hindutva to unemployment and issues related to upholding democracy.

Altogether about 969 million are eligible to cast their votes — and the number comes more than the populations of North America and the European Union combined.

Amid these the Election Commission is now examining a terse and allegedly communally sensitive statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi wherein he is said to have claimed that the principal opposition Congress believes that minority "Muslims have the first right to the nation’s assets" and also that a future Congress government will distribute the wealth of the Hindus and the rich to be given to the Muslims.

"Even ornaments of Hindu women will not be safe...," Modi said.

The opposition parties including the communists and Congress have demanded actions from the Election Commission saying the Prime Minister has deliberately targeted Muslim minority with ‘hate speech’.

This violated election rules. Now the poll panel is examining the issue and it may consider serving any notice to the Prime Minister for his response to the allegations and can even otherwise issue him some caution.

“Do you think your hard-earned money should be given to infiltrators? Would you accept this?” Modi asked the crowd at a place called Banswara in the rural part of the desert state Rajasthan.

The Prime Minister went on to add that if Congress won the ongoing election that will end in June, Hindu people’s wealth “will be distributed among those who have more children. It will be distributed to the infiltrators”. The words and phrases like infiltrators and 'more children' apply to Muslims -- at least from the past experience of Modi's public speeches.

In 2002 during the peak of riots in Gujarat, Modi - then Gujarat Chief Minister - had used the phrase "Hum Panch Hamare pachis (we five our 25)" and it was generally interpreted that Modi was referring to the system under which a Muslim man could marry four wives.

As per the Prime Minister, “The Congress manifesto says that it would seize jewellery from women and redistribute them.” He reiterated the same charges while speaking at an election rally in UP’s Aligarh where there are a substantial Muslim population.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president, has reacted strongly accusing Modi of “hate speech” and violating the election model code of rules that ban canvassing based on communal lines.

The Congress party in their complaint maintained that the remarks from Modi were “far worse than any ever made by a sitting Prime Minister in the history of India”.

But BJP leaders find nothing wrong in Modi's statement. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "The Congress party's manifesto is prepared in a way that they win elections in Pakistan. The manifesto is more for the people of Pakistan and less for the people of India".

"The Congress has made a manifesto which will snatch resources from the common people and Congress will destroy the economy of the country. We have interpreted the Congress manifesto in the most right way. I will challenge them to come for a public debate to show that this manifesto is nothing but appeasement," Himanta Biswa Sarma said at Ernakulum in Kerala.

Another BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, "What kind of thought is it that only one community (Muslims as alleged) has the right over resources meant for everyone?"

"The Congress should apologise to the country...," Yadav went a step further.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made yet another round of attack on Congress and said. "The truth is that when the Congress was in power, they wanted to give separate reservation to their special vote bank (Muslims)....Whereas the Constitution is completely against this...".

This is in reference to Congress party's alleged attempts to introduce 'reservation (special privileges) to Muslims in the state of Andhra Pradesh -- when it was in power in the state.

BJP spokesman Gaurav Bhatia told journalists in Delhi the PM Modi has only called “a spade a spade” and his remarks resonated with what people thought about the politics of Congress party.

In fact, a Christian Naga politician on the condition of anonymity told UCA News:

"In 2018, Urdu Daily 'Inquilab' had said that Congress minority unit chief Nadeem Javed had quoted Rahul Gandhi of stating in an internal meeting that "Congress is a Muslim party".

PM Modi said if the Congress party adhered to remarks in 2006 of then Congress Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that minority Muslims should have the “first claim on resources” to share in the fruits of development and national resources, then wealth would be distributed to “infiltrators” and those who have “more children”.

Congress leaders are somewhat on back-foot on Manmohan Singh's remarks--"We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources".

To add to this is the Congress manifesto of 2024 that says: The time has come to reset and reprioritize our roadmap for economic development in the context of the twin challenges to our economy, namely, unemployment and inflation".

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Modi’s “deeply objectionable” statement violated sections of the law that prohibit candidates from asking people to vote on the grounds of religion, community or religious symbols.

ends

'Global politics' ..... feels they must intrude into India... they think they are part of our electorate ::: - says Dr Jaishankar on foreign press

"I get a lot of noises from the Western press. If they criticize our democracy, it's not because they lack information, it is because they think they are also political players in our election...," External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said at the forum for Nationalist Thinkers- Hyderabad.

He said, "I read an article today where some Western media said, it is so hot in India, why are they holding elections at this time? I read that article and I wanted to say, in that heat my lowest turnout is higher than your highest turnout in the best record... These are the games that are being played with us...".

Jaishankar with Russian counterpart

"These are politics. These are our domestic politics which is going global, global politics which feels they must now intrude in India... So they actually think they are part of our electorate," he said adding, "It's time today that we disabuse them. And the best way that we do that is by confidence...".

Speaking on 'Foreign Policy - The India Way: From Diffidence To Confidence', Dr Jaishankar says, "If you ask me, what is the single test with which I view a situation, a problem, a decision. For me, it begins with national interest and it ends with national interest. It can be a very difficult situation. Sometimes, it can put you into an argumentative position with other countries. But for me, if I have to make a decision, what is the basis?

"I think today our country is very clear about it, the welfare of our people, and the interest of our society come first. The security of our country comes first and foremost...".

Jaishankar says, "Now, there are other examples I can give you of confidence. One is how to defend your borders more strongly. Because we have challenges on our border. And the key to defending our borders is not to just posture in public.

"It requires a lot of homework. It requires building the infrastructure. It requires supporting the military, requires creating systems which will respond whenever the border is under threat. Another example is of countering terrorism... In the defensive era, we accepted terrorism...

"The National Security Advisor of the previous UPA government wrote we sat, we debated, we considered all the options. Then we decided to do nothing...

And the justification was we felt the cost of attacking Pakistan was more than the cost of not attacking Pakistan...".

Jaishankar says, "...This is also a globalized world. We have so many Indians (outside India)... We have to prepare for those challenges as well. The fact is, today there are almost two crore Indians, Indian nationals, and Indian passport holders who live and work outside India."

"About a crore and a half are citizens of other countries with whom we have linkages. Look at the responsibility that it gives to us... We have seen it in conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, Israel...

'Modi Ki guarantee' doesn't stop at the borders of India. 'Modi ki guarantee' is global...""

He also says, "How much interest there is in being connected to India that there is. During our G-20 presidency, many countries, but particularly this was an initiative called IMEC through Saudi Arabia. They wanted to connect India to Europe.

"Russia and Iran also want a connectivity passage to Europe. In the east, countries like Vietnam, and Cambodia, wanted a passage through Myanmar to India. There is a lot of interest today in somehow accessing India, to work with India... The stature which the prime minister personally commands...

When people speak about what happened with the G20, when we got our G20 chair presidency, it was on the 1 December 2022. Most of the world said we were going to have a really difficult time managing this."

When the G 20 summit met, within the first day, we were able to forge a consensus... When the G 20 met, there was a lot of respect in the rest of the world for the prime minister personally and for Modi's Bharat...".

"Congress ko itni mirchi lagi ....." - PM Modi's jibe at Congress over his remarks on Congress Manifesto and a hidden agenda to implement Maoists' idea of 'wealth redistribution'

"Do tin pahele meiney Congress Manifesto, Vote ki rajniti aur tushtikaran ka parda faas kya tha. Is sey Congress aur eco system mein itni mirchi lagi "

(Two-three days back I exposed Congress, their manifesto and their politics of Muslim appeasement...This has unnerved them so much)," - PM Narendra Modi said in Rajasthan.

(Big Picture message or otherwise --- the word “Hindu” does not appear in Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) 76-page election manifesto)

Senior BJP figures such as Yogi Adityanath, a hardline Hindu monk who is the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, have been accused of making derogatory comments towards Muslims in speeches.

However, as prime minister, Modi has tended to steer clear of explicit mentions of Muslims, and instead been accused of “dog whistle” politics and indirect references to single out Muslims.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president, has reacted strongly accusing Modi of “hate speech” and violating the election model code of rules that ban canvassing based on communal lines.

The Congress party in their complaint maintained that the remarks from Modi were “far worse than any ever made by a sitting Prime Minister in the history of India”.

But BJP leaders find nothing wrong in Modi's statement.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "The Congress party's manifesto is prepared in a way that they win elections in Pakistan. The manifesto is more for the people of Pakistan and less for the people of India"

"The Congress has made a manifesto which will snatch resources from the common people and Congress will destroy the economy of the country. We have interpreted the Congress manifesto in the most right way. I will challenge them to come for a public debate to show that this manifesto is nothing but appeasement," Himanta Biswa Sarma said at Ernakulum in Kerala.

Another BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, "What kind of thought is it that only one community (Muslims as alleged) has the right over resources meant for everyone?"