Nov 23, 2018 6:47 PM

Modi has defamed all 'chowkidars' in India, says Rahul Gandhi ## Modi has defamed all 'chowkidars' in India, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of bringing ignominy to all chowkidars (watchmen) in the country.

Addressing campaign rallies for the November 28 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi said the situation now is such that whenever the word chowkidar is uttered, people say "chor hai" (is a thief).

"Wherever you go, as you pronounce the word "chowkidar" comes a reply "chor hai". I want to apologise to the chowkidars of the country. It is not your mistake, you all are not thieves, you all are honest. Only one person has brought ignominy to you. The country's prime minister has defamed all its chowkidars," he said.

Before coming to power in 2014, Modi used to talk about combating corruption, unemployment and farmers' welfare but is now mum on these issues, Gandhi said. The sentiment across the country is that he broke their trust, Gandhi added.

When Modi gave the "acche din" (good days) slogan ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, people would respond to the catch-phrase, saying "aayenge" (will come), he said.

The promised "Acche Din" were not meant for the people but for some top industrialists, Gandhi said. Good days have come for industrialists like Nirav Modi, Anil Ambani and Vijay Mallya, he added.

Modi, in his election campaign in 2014, had said he wanted to be the country's chowkidar, not the prime minister.

"People had then reposed faith in him. The youth were assured two crore jobs, farmers were assured minimum support price for their produce, the entire India was assured that Rs 15 lakh would be deposited in the bank account of each citizen. People believed this then," Gandhi said.

"Why has this changed? In four years, people found that these (promises) were false. Narendra Modi speaks lies. This is the sentiment in the country, because he has broken the (people's) trust," Gandhi said.

A "Congress wave" would sweep Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana, he said.

The BJP-led government waived of Rs 3.5 lakh crore loans of the rich, but did not write off debts of farmers, he said.

The previous Congress-led UPA government, on the recommendation of the Indian Air Force, decided to purchase 126 Rafale fighters at a cost of Rs 526 crore per plane with the stipulation that the state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) would make them in India, Gandhi said.

"But Modi went to France and conveyed to the French government that each Rafale jet will be purchased for Rs 1600 crore. He told them to give the contract to (Anil) Ambani instead of giving it to HAL," Gandhi said.

There was no immediate reaction from the BJP on the allegations. The ruling party has dismissed the charges in the past.

The Congress president asked his party men to stand at polling booths and not back off "even an inch" to convey a message to the BJP that people of Madhya Pradesh are now with the principal opposition party.

Gandhi, who faces a defamation suit for claiming that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's son was named in the 'Panama Papers', said, "I spoke mistakenly that Shivraj ji's son was named in Panama Papers, actually it was Chhattisgarh CM's son. Shivraj ji threatened me of filing defamation suit."

"But when I talk about scams like e-tendering, Vyapam, illegal mining and mid-day meal scam, he (Shivraj) doesn't speak a word, he doesn't threaten to file defamation. What does it mean," he said.

Chouhan "stole" people's money in Vyapam, the entrance examination, admission and recruitment scam unearthed in Madhya Pradesh in 2013, he said.

Nov 23, 2018 5:43 PM

Amit Shah says, Rahul baba kisaan-kisaan karte hain. Kya rahul baba ne kabhi 2 bael (ox) bhi jote hain?

Nov 23, 2018 5:28 PM

Huge crowd greets PM Modi as he campaigns in Mizoram##Huge crowd greets PM Modi as he campaigns in Mizoram

Nov 23, 2018 5:06 PM

Here are the main highlights from BJP president Amit Shah's address in Balaghat##Here are the main highlights from BJP president Amit Shah's address in Balaghat

Here are the main highlights from BJP president Amit Shah's address during a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat:

-During the Congress rule, there was a scarcity of electricity. But Shivraj Singh government has ensured that every village, every house receives electricity. Now the people have to decide.

-Rahul Gandhi talks about farmers all the time, but during the Congress rule, farmers had to struggle to get urea and they were even beaten. The Modi government has ended urea's black marketing by neem coating. Now farmers don't stand in a queue to get urea.

Nov 23, 2018 5:03 PM

Congress president Rahul Gandhi addresses a public gathering in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh##Congress president Rahul Gandhi addresses a public gathering in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh

Nov 23, 2018 4:39 PM

No substance in what PM Modi speaks, says Rahul Gandhi##No substance in what PM Modi speaks, says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi also said that Indians have realised that 'there is no substance in what Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks, adding that the latter is mum on the issues he spoke about before the 2014 elections. Gandhi said that Modi's speeches used to be about corruption, farmers and unemployment, but "today, he doesn't say anything on these issues. People of the country have realised that there is no substance in what Modi speaks. All his assurances are false."

Nov 23, 2018 4:23 PM

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan holds election rally in Satna##Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan holds election rally in Satna

Nov 23, 2018 4:04 PM

Vyapam has become the truth of MP under Shivraj govt, says Rahul Gandhi##Vyapam has become the truth of MP under Shivraj govt, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in the state destroyed the education sector with Vyapam, the entrance examination, admission and recruitment scam unearthed in Madhya Pradesh in 2013. Vyapam has become the truth of Madhya Pradesh. Gandhi also targeted the Modi government on not giving Rafale deal to HAL.

"Mr. Modi talks about Surgical Strike, but he should know that the helicopters used during surgical strike were manufactured by HAL. Then why was Rafale deal taken away from HAL and given to Anil Ambani?"

Nov 23, 2018 3:54 PM

Where are the jobs Modiji promised before elections, asks Congress president Rahul Gandhi##Where are the jobs Modiji promised before elections, asks Congress president Rahul Gandhi

Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed an election rally in Vidhisha in Madhya Pradesh where he attacked the BJP at the state and the Centre for its failure to create adequate jobs. Gandhi said, "Today, the youth is jobless and the condition of the farmers is the same in all regions of India."

"Before Modi ji became the prime minister, in every campaign he had promised to provide jobs to 2 crore youths and provide right prices of crops to the farmers. It's been four and a half years now but where are the jobs? Whenever this question is raised, they have only one response - 450 jobs in 24 hours," Gandhi said.

Nov 23, 2018 3:49 PM

Congress targets BJP on ad spending in a tweet##Congress targets BJP on ad spending in a tweet

Nov 23, 2018 3:45 PM

India's development linked to northeast's development, says PM Modi##India's development linked to northeast's development, says PM Modi

Speaking at a rally in Mizoram's Lunglei, PM Modi said that India's development is possible when this region is developed. BJP is dedicated to development of north east. We're focussing on connectivity, highway, railway, airway & waterway. 'Transformation through Transportation' our agenda for this region's development.

Nov 23, 2018 3:38 PM

Congress leaders insulted the traditional attire of north east, says PM Modi##Congress leaders insulted the traditional attire of north east, says PM Modi

Nov 23, 2018 2:51 PM

BJP dominates TV advertising ahead of polls##BJP dominates TV advertising ahead of polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the top brand advertiser on television in the countdown to assembly elections in five states, according to the latest Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data. BJP's advertisement on TV has taken the place of Vimal pan masala in the week ended November 16. BJP was followed by Netflix and Trivago in that order. Congress, however, was not in the list of top 10 brand advertisers. Read more

Nov 23, 2018 2:35 PM

Congress policies only 'divide and rule,' says PM Modi##Congress policies only 'divide and rule,' says PM Modi

In his election rally, PM Modi called the Congress' policies as 'divide and rule.' Modi said that after decades of exploitation at the hands of the Congress, it is now that the people of the country have understood the Congress' formula. "For them, only the chair matters," he said.

Nov 23, 2018 2:32 PM

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