Sonia Gandhi and Her Family Have Used ‘Neech’ Too: Modi in Gujarat
Both parties ended their campaigning for the first phase of elections on Thursday, 7 December.
Friday, 8 December, saw heavy-duty campaigning for phase 2 of the Gujarat assembly elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding rallies in Banaskantha's Bhabhar, Kalol, Vatva in Ahmedabad, and Himatnagar in Sabarkantha. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed election rallies in Pavi Jetpur, Ramesar and Loteshwar Bhagol.
Gujarat will vote in the first phase of the Assembly elections on 9 December. The second phase of elections will be held on 14 December.
- Narendra Modi addressed rallies in Banaskantha’s Bhabhar, Kalol, Vatva in Ahmedabad, and Himatnagar in Sabarkantha today
- Rahul Gandhi addressed election rallies in Jetpur Pavi, Ramesar and Loteshwar Bhagol today
- PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi simultaneously raked up the suspension of Mani Shankar Aiyar at their respective rallies in Gujarat
- “They did not call me ‘neech’ for the first time yesterday. Sonia Gandhi and her family members have used it too,” Modi said at a rally in Nikol, Ahmedabad
- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released BJP’s manifesto - titled ‘Sankalp Patra’ - on Friday, 8 December, a day before the first phase of polling in Gujarat
- Both parties concluded campaigning for the first phase of elections on 7 December
'They've Called me a Mad Dog, Virus': Modi Accuses Cong Leaders of Using Offensive Language
At the rally in Nikol, Modi tore into the Congress, accusing its leaders of using offensive language against him.
Modi went on to narrate how he was called "monkey", a "mad dog", a "virus", and compared to bhasmasur by leaders such as Jairam Ramesh, Beni Prasad Verma and Renuka Chowdhury.
Not Called Neech For The First Time, Sonia Gandhi & Family Members Have Used it Too: Modi
Addressing a rally in Ahmedabad’s Nikol constituency, PM Modi once again brought up the “neech aadmi” remark made by Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, saying that the term has been used against him by Sonia Gandhi and her family members too.
Kickstarting his rally, Modi had said:
He also asserted that the strength of the middle class is rising along with its population. "This section of society aspires to progress at a quick pace."
Further stressing on BJP's economic growth agenda, Modi said:
The Quint's Ground Coverage From Modi's Rally in Ahmedabad
PM Modi's rally in Nikol, Ahmedabad for the second phase of Gujarat polls saw a massive turnout.
Watch these people belonging to the Patidar community below criticising Hardik Patel, as well as praising the BJP for its work.
Watch: Rahul Gandhi Visits a local Pav Bhaaji Stall in Tarapur, Gujarat
Rahul Gandhi visited a local pav bhaaji stall in Anand’s Tarapur on Friday in between addressing rallies in Gujarat for phase 2 of the assembly elections.
Rahul Gandhi Slams the BJP For its 'Hastily Prepared' Manifesto
Addressing a rally in Anand, Gujarat, Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP for its "arrogance", saying:
He also talked about how the Congress had started a "noble initiative" in Karnataka wherein canteens provide food to everyone at minimal prices, and asserted that the party will start a similar scheme in Gujarat.
The Congress vice-president further said:
Watch: PM Modi Brings up Ayodhya Case in Kalol, Gandhinagar
Addressing a rally in Gujarat’s Kalol, PM Modi brought up the Ayodhya case, attacking Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal.
Modi also targeted the previous UPA government over the various scams during its tenure, narrating how an elderly man named Mansukh Kaka presented a book containing the scams under the UPA regime to former PM Manmohan Singh in Rajkot .
"I congratulate Mansukh Kaka who spoke up for the truth and for honest governance," Modi asserted.
BJP Releases Manifesto For Gujarat
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released the BJP's manifesto - titled ‘Sankalp Patra’ - for the assembly elections in Ahmedabad on Friday, 8 December. At the release event, he claimed that Gujarat's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth is the highest in India.
Jaitley also attacked Congress at the launch event, saying that the party's "vision for Gujarat is based on constitutional impossibility and financial improbability".
Massive Crowds Turn up For Rahul, Modi Rallies
Both Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi’s rallies saw huge crowds teeming with support.
Will Mani Shankar Aiyar's Comment Impact Gujarat Voters? The Quint Finds Out
Aiyar Gave 'Supari' in Pakistan to Get me 'Removed': Modi
PM Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi simultaneously raked up the suspension of Mani Shankar Aiyar at their respective rallies in Gujarat.
While Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress party had no tolerance for usage of unparliamentary language, Modi said that Gujarat’s people would respond to Aiyar’s “neech” comment.
Modi also accused Aiyar of giving 'supari' (contract) while on a visit to Pakistan to get him "removed" from the way to ensure peace between India and the neighbouring country. He alleged that the Congress tried to suppress this episode and did not take any action against Aiyar.
Attacking the Congress over its work culture, Modi alleged that the party believes in--'atkana' (to stall) 'latkana' (to keep the issue hanging) and 'bhatkana' (to divert an issue).
Meanwhile, Aiyar said on Friday that he would accept any punishment if the Congress suffers damage in the Gujarat polls due to his “neech aadmi” remark against Modi, a day after being suspended from the party.
The senior party leader also asserted that the Congress party was doing well in Gujarat under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.
BJP Has No Manifesto: Rahul Gandhi in Pavi Jetpur
Opening his address at the Congress' rally in Pavi Jetpur with a "Kem Cho", Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi questioned the BJP’s failure to release a manifesto for Gujarat.
Promising a loan waiver, Gandhi said that if voted to power in Gujarat, the Congress will announce waivers within 10 days.
No one can stop the Congress wave in Gujarat, Gandhi said.
Where was Congress During the Floods?: PM Modi
Slamming Congress, PM Narendra Modi said that while the BJP was providing relief measures in the flood-hit districts of the state, Congress was enjoying in a resort. In a dig at the Congress’ anti-poaching measures during the Rajya Sabha elections in July, Modi said:
“We have to punish the Congress to improve them because they went to Bangalore when you were suffering during the floods,” said Modi, according to Times of India.
Modi also congratulated the Vijay Rupani government for introducing farm loans at 0 percent interest rate. The Indian Express quoted him as saying:
Rahul Gandhi Reaches Chhota Udaipur
Congress Confronts PM on "Rs 20,000 crore GSPC Scam"
The Congress, on 7 December, accused the Gujarat BJP government of providing benefits to crony capitalists while causing losses to public sector entities under then-CM Narendra Modi. Kumar said investigative journalists were raising questions on the role, responsibility and accountability of Prime Minister Modi through a big revelation about the Rs 20,000 crore GSPC scam.
"The country is seeking an answer and accountability of the prime minister. Should there not be an independent probe into the entire GSPC scam? Will the prime minister answer the people of Gujarat and the entire country on the losses caused to the state," he asked.
Campaigning for First Phase of Gujarat Polls Ends
A vituperative campaign for the first phase of the crucial Gujarat Assembly polls that saw emotive issues of religion and caste competing with that of development as the main rivals, BJP and Congress, launched no-holds-barred attacks on each other ended late on 7 December.
The sparring between the two parties while canvassing for the polls, dubbed as a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a litmus test for the leadership of soon-to-be Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, continued till the very end with Mani Shankar Aiyar's "neech aadmi" jibe at Modi triggering a controversy.
A total of 89 seats, out of 18, spanning the Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions, are up for grabs in the first phase with 977 candidates in the fray, including Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Polling will be held on Saturday, 9 December. Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) BB Swain said around 2.12 crore of the 4.35 crore voters of the state were expected to exercise their franchise on Saturday.
The Election Commission (EC) had earlier announced that Gujarat would be the second state after Goa where the voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) system would be used, along with electronic voting machines (EVMs), at all the 50,128 polling booths.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
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