Punjab Election: Only BJP-led alliance can secure Punjab, uproot drug problem, says Amit Shah

BJP leader Manoj Tiwari on Sunday asked people to teach a lesson to the Congress in Punjab in the February 20 assembly elections for its "anti-poor" policies. Dalip Singh Rana, better known as 'The Great Khali' for his exploits in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), also asked a gathering at a rally in Onkar Nagar to vote for the BJP for making Punjab a drug-free state. Both were addressing the rally in support for the BJP's nominee from Phagwara (reserved) assembly seat, Vijay Sampla. 

Unaccounted cash, precious metals like gold and silver, illicit liquor and drugs totalling over Rs 11 crore have been seized since January in the nine districts of Uttar Pradesh where Assembly polls are scheduled for Monday, according to the police. Over 2,000 illegal firearms and 165 kg of explosives have also been recovered while preventive action taken against 4.40 lakh people who are likely to disrupt peace during the polls, the Uttar Pradesh Police said.

Goa has so far witnessed shifting of power largely between the Congress and the BJP, but poll observers feel that after the February 14 Assembly elections, smaller parties and new entrants are likely to play a crucial role in government formation. The observers said that the smaller parties may eat into the votes of major players in the fray. A total of 301 candidates are contesting the election to 40 Assembly constituencies in the state.

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Sunday accused Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu of instigating his supporters to block a road in Amritsar East constituency to cause inconvenience to people. Majithia also urged the Election Commission to take note of it. 
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Majithia is contesting from Amritsar East from where Sidhu is seeking re-election.

The Congress' youth wing on Sunday staged a protest near Shastri Bhawan here against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his "father-son" remark targeting party leader Rahul Gandhi and demanded that he tender a public apology.National president of Indian Youth Congress Srinivas BV said that the BJP is resorting to "low-level politics" as it fears that it will be defeated in the ongoing assembly polls in the country.

Accusing the BJP of polarisation during assembly polls by raking up issues such as the Hijab row and the Uniform Civil Code, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Sunday said it showed that the BJP was "jittery" as its hold over the electorate was slipping, and asserted that the people were beginning to see "through their tricks". He also termed the dubbing of the elections in Uttar Pradesh as a bipolar contest between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party by some quarters as an "exaggeration" and said "this will not be the end of the story of the Congress party's revival, this will be the beginning of that story".

Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said the former chief minister Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government had to be replaced as it was being run by the BJP from Delhi. She also attacked the Aam Aadmi Party, accusing it of doing nothing in Delhi and said its government has been a "failure". Read more

Whenever major scams are unearthed in India "people from a particular place are found involved", claimed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday while referring to the Rs 22,842 crore bank fraud by the Gujarat-based ABG Shipyard. Addressing an election meeting at Sikandararau here, he claimed a poor person has to mortgage his land to avail a bank loan while big businessmen fly abroad after getting a huge loan.

After a news channel aired a video claiming that one candidate of the TMC and three of the Congress have taken bribes to join the ruling BJP after the Goa Assembly polls, the AAP on Sunday said it is an "eye-opener" for the people of the coastal state and called upon them to vote for its candidates, saying they will not switch sides. The 40-member Goa Assembly will go to polls on Monday. Latching on to the news channel's claim, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Raghav Chadha said it has made it clear that the votes cast for the Congress will go to the BJP's kitty once again. In 2017 also, "most of the Congress MLAs" had switched sides and joined the saffron party, he pointed out.

A day before assembly election, Congress leader Harish Rawat said that nobody in Congress has objections to me as CM face. He also slammed BJP saying it is weakening 125 crore people in the name of nationalism.

Union Home Minister & BJP leader Amit Shah offers prayers at Durgiana Temple in Amritsar. 

Launching an attack on the Samajwadi Party, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said a true socialist is the one who takes every section of the society along and not those who indulge in “politics of appeasement”. Those only speaking about 'Samajwad' (socialism) are 'khote sikke' (counterfeit coins) that cannot be used in the market, he said.

Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party has an edge over the ruling BJP in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls currently underway. Goa was facing a "khichdi" situation but the Congress has an advantage over the BJP, which has been in power in the neighbouring state since 2012, he added.

On the eve of polling in Goa, the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday lodged complaints against each over a sting operation video broadcast on a television channel. The channel had broadcast a video claiming one TMC and three Congress candidates had taken bribes to change their party affiliation in case they win the Assembly polls scheduled for February 14. AAP Panaji candidate Valmiki Naik said his party filed a complaint with the chief electoral officer of the state so that authorities are made aware of the video. TMC Benaulim candidate Churchill Alemao, who is one of the persons accused of taking the bribe as per the video, lodged a complaint with the chief electoral officer demanding that the clip be removed from all platforms, and also filed an FIR against AAP and the TV channel.

The 70 assembly seats of Uttarakhand spread over 13 districts will go to the polls on Monday with over 81 lakh voters all set to decide the fate of 632 candidates, including 152 independents, in the fray. Polling will begin at 8 am and conclude at 6 pm. Electioneering which was carried out aggressively by the political parties through virtual as well as physical rallies and door-to-door campaigns in the state came to an end on Saturday evening. It will be the fifth assembly elections to be held in Uttarakhand after its creation in 2000.

Goa will vote on Monday to decide the fate of 301 candidates who are in the fray for 40 Assembly seats, for which all preparations have been made. Traditionally a state with bipolar politics, Goa is witnessing a multi-cornered contest this time, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other smaller parties vying to make a mark on the state's electoral scene.  To check the spread of COVID-19, voters will be provided hand gloves at the polling stations, an election official said, adding that more than 100 'all-women' polling booths were set up in the state for the convenience of female voters. As many as 81 flying squads were operational across the coastal state, he said.

On forming government in Punjab, we will establish Narcotics Control Bureau branch offices in 4 cities of the state. For drug prevention, we'll form a task force in every district of the state, said Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah in Ludhiana.

The polling stations in Goa are decorated in an eco-friendly manner. 105 polling stations will be managed by female officers. We appeal to people to cast their votes. 80 polling stations are added keeping in mind the Covid situation in the state, Goa Chief Electoral Officer Kunal said. 

Channi Sahib is dreaming of forming a Congress government in Punjab again. A CM who cannot provide a secure route to the prime minister of India, can he provide security to Punjab, asks Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah in Ludhiana.

I can sacrifice my life for my brother (Rahul Gandhi) and even he can do the same for me. There is conflict in BJP, not in Congress. Yogi Ji, Modi Ji and Amit Shah might have a conflict of interest, said Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and AAP CM face in Punjab Bhagwant Mann holds a roadshow in Amritsar.

Channi Sahab did an investigation on himself, when Bhagwant Mann will become CM, he will do a fair investigation on sand mining. When his relative has confessed that all the money belongs to Channi, why is ED not arresting him, asked Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

Congress party has become a circus in Punjab. Channi Sahab is going to lose from both Assembly constituencies. AAP is going to defeat him. He'll never be the CM when he can't be an MLA, Kejriwal said in Amritsar.

We are not fighting this election for the next election, but for the next generation, says Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab Congress chief during his interaction with the NRI community.

After results are announced on March 10, by March 11 all from Congress will join BJP. So I appeal to the people of Goa who want to see the BJP lose, don't vote for Congress. Their vote will go wasted, it will go to the BJP. Give all your votes to AAP, Arvind Kejriwal said.

British had come to loot India, likewise, Kejriwal and his Delhi family such as Raghav Chadha and other outsiders have come to loot Punjab. But Punjab will show them their place, like it did to Mughals, British, Punjab CM Channi said.

"Arvind Kejriwal is a liar... tried levelling several allegations against me, but none were true... They complained to the Guv (against me), he ordered an inquiry. Truth prevails," said Punjab CM Charanjit Channi on getting a clean chit from Ropar administration in Illegal mining case.

We have just come back from Goa & will visit UP along with Aaditya Thackeray soon. Akhilesh Yadav is going to form his govt there. Under the leadership of Aaditya Thackeray, we will fight Lok Sabha polls across the country; preparations are on for it, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.

"Everyone should cast their votes tomorrow. We have to choose a government that will work for the development of Uttarakhand. I have learnt from PM, how to convert challenges into opportunities. People in Khatima have always blessed us," says Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

As Uttarakhand poll campaigning ended on Saturday evening, security forces have been deployed at all the 11,697 polling booths to maintain the law and order situation in the state, informed Sojanya, Chief Electoral Officer, Uttarakhand. The Chief Electoral Officer also stated that all the preparations have been done at polling booths in Uttarakhand and the polling parties have been sent to Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh.

"Air ambulance will be available at Bareilly airport. Barricading have been done in the bordering areas of Uttarakhand to curtail inter-state criminal activities during the polls. Yellow cards issued to notorious people who can disturb peaceful voting," says Rajkumar, Bareilly ADG

With campaigning for the 40 Assembly seats Goa concluding on Saturday, the state will go to polls in a single phase on Monday. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is being challenged by Congress, Trinamool Congress and Aam Admi Party (AAP) in a multi-cornered electoral contest in Goa.

Goa Assembly has a strength of 40 members out of which the BJP currently has 17 legislators and enjoys the support of legislators from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party (GFP), and three independents. The GFP and MGP each have three MLAs, and Congress, on the other hand, has 15 MLAs in the house.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that the double engine government of BJP is committed to the prosperity and economic upliftment of the farmers. In a series of tweets, the Chief Minister said that the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana has paved the way for the self-reliance and prosperity of 2,87,000 Annadata farmers of the Etah district and the BJP government is continuously working for the prosperity of the farmers.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee on Saturday complained to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state against a news channel alleging that it is spreading "fake news" attempting to misguide voters ahead of Assembly elections and demanded an FIR against the channel.

State Congress General Secretary Sunil Kawthankar in a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer said that the news channel "has broadcasted fake news on YouTube which includes manipulated/fabricated/fake video claiming Congress MLA candidates have been sold off."

Terming it as "completely fake", he said that the content is "meant to influence voters on the eve of elections with a malafide intention."

Congress MP Preneet Kaur on Saturday attending a meeting of the BJP here and sought votes for her husband Amarinder Singh in the Punjab assembly polls.

Amarinder Singh had floated his own party Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) after he was unceremoniously removed as the chief minister by the Congress high command last year following a bitter tussle with party’s state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Kaur, the MP from Patiala, attended the BJP’s meeting, which had been organised for the saffron party’s ally Amarinder Singh.
Amarinder Singh-led PLC, the BJP and the SAD (Sanyukt) are fighting the state polls in alliance.

The former chief minister is contesting the elections as Punjab Lok Congress nominee from his traditional seat Patiala (Urban).

Even as the campaign for the second phase of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh ended on Saturday, party leader Rahul Gandhi, who has campaigned in three other poll-bound states, has not held any rally or door-to-door campaign in the politically crucial state. The Congress campaign in the state has been led by party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

It is for the first time in nearly 30 years that Congress is fighting almost all seats in Uttar Pradesh. Priyanka Gandhi is the face of the party in the polls and has been campaigning extensively along with other Congress leaders including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Party leaders Sachin Pilot and Deepender Hooda have also campaigned in the first two phases of the Uttar Pradesh polls.

Rahul Gandhi has campaigned in Goa, Uttrakhand and Punjab. He was present in Delhi with Priyanka Gandhi to launch the party's 'youth manifesto" for the Uttar Pradesh elections. He had visited Amethi, the constituency he lost from in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, in December when the polls had not been announced the state.

Rahul Gandhi was in the star campaigners list for the first two phases of the Uttar Pradesh polls.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to the people of Goa and Uttarakhand to vote for his 'new' party, a day ahead of Assembly elections, promising to deliver welfare and development-related work.

Speaking to ANI, Kejriwal said, "In Uttarakhand, Congress and BJP ruled for 10 years each. In Goa, Congress was in power for 27 years while BJP for 15 years. Both Congress and BJP have only looted the people of Goa and Uttarakhand. If you vote for them again, they will continue looting you. This time a new party-AAP is there. We will deliver on welfare, development-related works. Give AAP a chance."

Citing development works done in Delhi in various sectors including education, health and power, Kejriwal promised to deliver the same in both the states, if voted to power.

In Uttarakhand, Kejriwal promised to establish healthcare services and schools in all villages of the hilly state. He also assured that if his party forms the government in the state, they would increase employment opportunities to halt migration of youth from the state in search of jobs.

Ahead of the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that it is a party of liars.

"Small leaders of BJP are telling small lies, big leaders are telling big lies, and their top leader is telling the biggest lies. BJP is a party of liars," Yadav said while addressing a rally in Badaun.

The seven phased Assembly elections in the state commenced on February 10.

As Deoband is set to vote on February 14 in the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, locals in the constituency seek communal harmony and better job opportunities for youth.

Speaking about issues concerning Deoband, a local Maulana Ata ur Rehman said, "Most important issue is that of communal peace in the area and we don't want any riots and just want peace in the city."

Similarly, Mohd Ehasaan who resides near Darul Uloom said whosoever forms the government should ensure no discrimination is done against people while giving jobs.

"Whoever comes should not discriminate. Hindu-Muslim differences destroyed job opportunities and developed hatred. We want peace and brotherhood. Whosoever comes whether Akhilesh, Yogi or Mayawati should never discriminate and promote brotherhood," Ehsaan said.

Ahead of Assembly elections in Punjab, Union Minister and State BJP Incharge Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) should ensure free and fair elections and election campaigning in the poll-bound state.
He was reacting to reports of farmers planning to boycott Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming rallies ahead of assembly polls in the state.

"Election Commission should ensure free and fair elections and election campaigns in Punjab. I believe that EC will definitely take action on this. If PM Modi's security is not ensured then how will people get the confidence to invest here?," said Shekhawat while talking to the media.

With only a few days left for the Punjab Assembly election, the political parties are leaving no stone unturned in making promises to the Punjab people for a better future. And in the midst of all the promises, the farmers, who are sweating it out in their fields, said that they would not vote as the disappointment from all the governments so far has made them hopeless about the future.
The farmers said, "What is the use of voting when no government thinks for us?"

Farmers in Punjab's Kapurthala district, popular for sugarcane cultivation, are in great despair as the government has increased the price of sugarcane per quintal while the payment is also not made on time.

Speaking to ANI, Santokh Singh, a sugarcane farmer in Lakhpur village, said, "I cultivate sugarcane in about 10 acres of land. The sugarcane business is not doing well now. The government is also not taking it seriously."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Saturday welcomed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's decision to implement the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand if voted to power in the state. 

In a message from Vijayvargiya's office, it conveyed, "Kailash Vijayvargiya has welcomed the announcement of the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, to implement the Uniform Civil Code after the elections in the state. Dhami has promised that the Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in the state immediately after taking the oath. Dhami has also announced the formation of a committee of jurists and all concerned on the issue before the implementation of the civil code."

"Vijayvargiya has said that this will be the first step in relation to the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in any state. The scope of the Uniform Civil Code will be applicable to matters such as marriage, divorce, real estate and succession," the message informed.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda will soon visit Manipur and release the party's manifesto for upcoming Assembly elections in the state, said Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday. Speaking to ANI, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to visit the state ahead of polls.

"BJP president JP Nadda will soon visit the state and release the party manifesto for the State Assembly election. PM Modi will also visit the state however the schedule is not confirmed yet," N Biren Singh said.

The Chief Minister on Saturday launched of BJP Creative Campaign at Imphal hotel. The event was attended by state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, state in-charge Sambit Patra, and state minister Th Biswajit Singh and Vungzagin Valte.