Assembly Elections: Shah Says PM Will Amend Waqf Act, Congress Blames BJP For Delay In…

Maharashtra Election: No MNS Or Shiv Sena (UBT) Rally At Shivaji Park On November 17

Neither the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena nor the Shiv Sena (UBT) headed by his estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray would hold a rally at Shivaji Park here on November 17. Both the parties had applied for permissions to hold rallies at the famous ground on the same day ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.

Rahul Does Not Understand ‘ABC’ Of Constitution, Wants To Give Quota To Minorities, Says JP Nadda

BJP president JP Nadda on Friday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi does not understand the “ABC of the Constitution” and flaunts a copy of it at political gatherings while not knowing that Dr B R Ambedkar did not subscribe to job reservations on religious lines.

The Union minister said the Congress wants to give quotas meant for SCs, STs and OBCs to minorities in Karnataka and Telangana, where the party is in power. “Gandhi does not know that the Constitution does not allow reservations on religious lines. He does not understand the ABC of the Constitution. He sells materials of hatred in his ‘mohabbat ki dukan’ (shop of love)’,” Nadda remarked, hitting out at the Raebareli Lok Sabha MP.

Maharashtra Election: Jewellers Face Challenges In Business As Wedding Season Clashes With Poll Season

Jewellers are facing challenges in doing hassle-free business during the peak wedding season, which has coincided with the Maharashtra Assembly polls this year, as their goods and bank accounts are being seized by officials despite having relevant papers, an industry body said.

“We have received clarity from the EC office regarding movement of goods and we are thankful to them. However, jewellers are still facing challenges like seizing of their accounts despite showing all the necessary documents, which are hindering seamless business during the wedding season,” All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) chairman Saiyam Mehra told PTI.

He said the goods seized by officials working EC direction will only be returned after the elections are over.

‘Anyone Threatening Our Workers Will Be Made To Sleep On Ice Slab,’ Says Aaditya Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has said anyone who threatens the workers of his party during the ongoing election campaign will be “made to sleep on ice slab”, sparking a war of words with rival Sena leader Ramdas Kadam.

Speaking in Dapoli in coastal Maharashtra on Thursday, he dubbed as “traitors” Kadam and his son, local MLA Yogesh Kadam, who belong to the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. “It is my responsibiity to make anyone who threatens you (Sena UBT workers) sleep on ice slab because we are forming the next government,” he said.

‘Reeks Of BJP’s Intention’: KC Venugopal On Delay In Rahul Gandhi’s Chopper Takeoff In Jharkhand

Blaming the BJP for the nearly two-hour delay in Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter takeoff from Jharkhand, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal in an X post on Friday said that it “reeks of the BJP’s intention to deny the Congress a level playing field in these elections.”

“This mistreatment took place on Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda Ji’s jayanti, when Rahul Ji is in his birthplace Jharkhand to commemorate his contributions towards Adivasi rights. The Modi government is so brazen that it will resort to such petty tactics to stop Rahul Ji, who has for decades spoken for Adivasi empowerment and protecting the Constitution at all costs,” he added.

Assembly Poll Updates: ‘BJP Believes In Fair Elections’—Shah After Bags Checked In Maharashtra

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that election officials at Maharashtra’s Hingoli checked the helicopter ferrying him and his bags.

In a post on X, Shah said the BJP believes in free and fair elections and follows all laid-down rules and protocols. “In a healthy electoral system, we all should contribute and fulfil our duties to make India the strongest democracy in the world,” he said.

Mahayuti Masking Poor Performance In Maharashtra With ‘Batoge Toh Katoge’ Slogan, Says Sachin Pilot

The BJP and its allies in the ruling Mahayuti have nothing to show in their report card in Maharashtra, which is why they are using rhetoric like “batoge toh katoge”, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Friday.

Slamming the BJP’s slogan, “batoge toh katoge” (you will perish if you are divided), he said, “This rhetoric is used when you (ruling parties) have underperformed or have no report card to show. I counter this by saying, ‘padhoge to badhoge’ (study and you will grow).”

Assembly Elections: Modi Will Amend Waqf Act Despite Opposition From Uddhav & Pawar, Says Shah

Union minister Amit Shah on Friday said PM Narendra Modi will amend the Waqf Act despite opposition from leaders like Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. “Modi ji wants to change the Waqf Board law, but Uddhav ji, Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule are opposing it,” Shah said, addressing a rally at Umarkhed in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district.

“Uddhav ji, listen carefully, you all can protest as much as you want, but Modi ji will amend the Waqf Act,” he said.

Assembly Elections Updates: Watch Amit Shah’s Public Address From Maharashtra’s Yavatmal

‘Your Sena Is Just Uddhav Sena, The Real Shiv Sena Is With BJP’: Shah To Thackeray

Taking a jibe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a rally in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal, said, “On one side, Uddhav ji says that – my Shiv Sena (Shiv Sena -UBT) is the real Shiv Sena. I want to ask him, can the real Shiv Sena ever oppose renaming Aurangabad as Shambhaji Nagar?… Uddhav Babu, your Sena is just Uddhav Sena and the real Shiv Sena is with the BJP.”

PM Modi’s Aircraft Faces Technical Snag At Deoghar Airport

PM Narendra Modi’s aircraft faced a technical snag at Deoghar airport on Friday, delaying his return to New Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi’s Chopper Stopped From Takeoff In Jharkhand

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s chopper was stopped from taking off due to non-clearance from the ATC after his rally in poll-bound Jharkhand on Friday. He had to go by special flight to Deoghar and then Bokaro, but because of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Jamui in Bihar, his chopper did not get landing permission.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Bags Checked At Hingoli

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s bags were checked at Maharashtra’s Hingoli. He was there as part of the assembly election campaign to address a public gathering.

Amit Shah Dares Rahul Gandhi to Laud Savarkar, Bal Thackeray

Union minister Amit Shah on Friday dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to speak “nicely” about Veer Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. “Uddhav ji, if you have the courage, get Rahul Baba to speak two good words about Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb,” he said, addressing a rally at Hingoli in Maharashtra. “Rahul Baba’s Congress party has passed a resolution in Kashmir to bring back Article 370. Rahul Baba, listen carefully, not only you but even your fourth generation cannot bring back Article 370,” Shah said. PTI

Rahul Gandhi Should Answer How Many Castes Reside In India: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said in the name of a caste census, the Congress was trying to lure innocent masses for vote bank politics. At a poll rally in Jharkhand, he said the Congress must come out with a blueprint of reservation, reveal its distribution plan among castes and sub-castes. “Rahul Gandhi should answer how many castes reside in India,” he added.

No BJP CM In Jharkhand Ever Faced Corruption Charges: Rajnath Singh

The Congress ruins those with whom it shakes hands – like the RJD in Bihar and the JKNC in J-K, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday. Taking a swipe at Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, he said no BJP CM in the state has ever faced corruption charges or gone to jail. Singh further said the BJP was confident of winning two-thirds of the 43 seats that went to polls in Jharkhand in first phase of the assembly elections. “3% more polling in 43 seats indicates that a stable NDA government will be formed in the state,” he added. PTI

BJP-RSS Trying To Destroy Ambedkar Ji’s Constitution: Rahul Gandhi In Jharkhand

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the BJP at a rally in poll-bound Jharkhand, saying the saffron party was trying to “destroy” the Constitution. He said India is facing a battle of ideologies. “We are protecting the Constitution, the BJP is trying to dump it in the trash,” he said. “We are facing a battle of ideology. The people of the Congress and the INDIA bloc are working to save the Constitution. Whereas the BJP-RSS are trying to destroy Ambedkar ji’s Constitution.”

Top Priority ‘Padhai, Kamai, Dawai’ For Tribals: PM Modi

PM Narendra Modi said the central government’s top priority for tribals is “padhai, kamai and dawai”. “We created separate ministry for tribal welfare, increased its budget from Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 1.25 lakh crore,” he said ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections on November 20.

Previous Govts Did Nothing For Tribals: PM Modi

PM Narendra Modi on Friday said India’s tribal community had been neglected by previous governments, and it was the BJP that gave the country its first tribal President in Droupadi Murmu. “Previous governments never worked for betterment of tribal people. Decades after independence, efforts were made to erase this invaluable contribution of tribal history. There was selfish politics behind this too. Politics is that only one party should be given credit for India’s independence. But if only one party, only one family brought independence, then why did Birsa Munda’s Ulgulan Movement happen? What was the Santhal revolution? What was the Kol revolution?” he asked, adding that many tribal leaders played a crucial role in the freedom struggle.

PM Modi In Bihar For Tribal Icon Birsa Munda’s Birth Anniversary

PM Narendra Modi unveiled development projects worth Rs 6,640 crore from Bihar’s Jamui on tribal icon Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary on Friday. “Today is a very holy day… I congratulate all the countrymen on these festivals. If only one party and family got us independence then why did Birsa Munda carry out an ‘andolan’?”