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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Gujarat Elections 2017 LIVE: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘non-Hindus’ entry at Somnath temple sparks row
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Gujarat Elections 2017 LIVE: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘non-Hindus’ entry at Somnath temple sparks row

PM Narendra Modi and Congress’s Rahul Gandhi were back on the campaign trail for Gujarat elections. Here are the latest updates from their election rallies

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi at an election rally in Amreli, Gujarat, on Wednesday. Photo: ANI/TwitterPremium
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi at an election rally in Amreli, Gujarat, on Wednesday. Photo: ANI/Twitter

OTHERS :Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi were back on the campaign trail for Gujarat elections on Wednesday.However, the attention from the rallies shifted to Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Somnath temple earlier today after his name was found written on the entry register meant for non-Hindus. The Congress has called the entry “fake”, but the BJP is insisting that the leader declare his religious faith before people.The two-phase Gujarat elections will take place on 9 and 14 December, while counting of votes is scheduled for 18 December. Here are the latest developments from today’s poll campaigns:

29 Nov 2017, 09:30:00 PM IST

Congress says Rahul Gandhi didn’t sign register for non-Hindus at Somnath Temple

Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Somnath temple today got mired in a controversy after his name was found written on the entry register meant for non-Hindus, with the Congress calling it “fake”, and BJP insisting that the leader declare his religious faith before people.A purported photocopy of the page of the register for non-Hindus with names of Gandhi and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel written on it went viral on social media soon after their visit. The signature against their names was that of the Congress’s media coordinator Manoj Tyagi.“This is fake. Tyagi was made to sign on a blank paper of the register for media entry and later the names of Rahul Gandhi and others were added in the register,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. “This is a conspiracy of the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a trustee of the temple trust,” he said. (PTI)

29 Nov 2017, 08:59:00 PM IST

Rahul ardent ‘Shiv bhakt’, believes in truth: Congress

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is an ardent “Shiv bhakt” and believes in truth, the Congress said after a row erupted over his visit to the Somnath temple in Gujarat when his name appeared in the register meant for “non-Hindus”.“There is only one visitors’ book at Somnath Temple that was signed by Rahul Gandhi and any other image being circulated is fabricated. Rahul Gandhi made an entry in the right register, where he also mentioned that ‘it is a very inspiring place’,” said Congress spokesperson Deepinder Hooda. “The entire country knows that Rahul Gandhi is a staunch Shiv bhakt (devotee). Now Rahulji being an ardent Shiv bhakt believes in the path oftruth and truth is with us. So we shall prevail,” Hooda added. (PTI)

29 Nov 2017, 08:26:00 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi ends his Gujarat election campaign in Amreli

29 Nov 2017, 08:09:00 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi promises farm loan waivers if Congress wins Gujarat elections

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi says if the party comes to power in the state after Gujarat elections, it will waive farm loans within 10 days. “If government will function, it will be for farmers, small and medium businesses, and you. We will ask what you want and will run the government accordingly,” said Gandhi in Amreli. (ANI)

29 Nov 2017, 08:00:00 PM IST

Narendra Modi is a terrific actor, says Rahul Gandhi in Amreli

He is a terrific actor. You will see he will shed tears a few days before election. He will cry for everything but not for farmers. He will also not cry when students have to shell out money for taking admission in college or people have to go to hospital, says Congress VP Rahul Gandhi on PM Narendra Modi during an election rally in Amreli, Gujarat. (ANI)

29 Nov 2017, 07:35:00 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi is addressing a public meeting in Amreli

29 Nov 2017, 06:19:00 PM IST

We remember Mahatma Gandhi, they remember Gabbar Singh: PM Modi

29 Nov 2017, 06:11:00 PM IST

Only one family will win in the election for Congress president, says Modi

PM Narendra Modi continued his attack on the Congress and its first family in his election speech in Navsari.“There are three elections going on- one in UP local bodies, one in Gujarat and the third one for the Congress President. In the first two the BJP is sure to win. And in the third one, no one except one family will win,” Modi said. (ANI)

29 Nov 2017, 05:42:00 PM IST

BJP is afraid of debate in parliament, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice-president once again raised the issue of alleged Rafale scam and the role of Jay Shah, BJP president Amit Shah’s son in his campaign rally at Visavadar today.“BJP does not want a debate in Parliament, as it doesn’t want to take tough questions on the Rafale scam and Jay Shah,” Rahul said.

29 Nov 2017, 05:29:00 PM IST

Modi cares only for industrialists, says Rahul Gandhi in Visavadar

Addressing his first rally of the day in Visavadar after visiting the Somnath Temple, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP governments at the centre and the state and their commitment to the people.“Modi waived off Rs1.3 lakh crore of industrialist’s debt. But when farmers perish and beg for loan waiver, they say that it is not our policy. What is the crime committed by farmers that their debt is not waived off?” Rahul said in Visavadar.

29 Nov 2017, 05:23:00 PM IST

Modi addresses election rally in Navsari

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Navsari, and will deliver his election speech, third and final address of the day. Earlier in Palitana, Modi spoke about the transformation Gujarat has achieve under BJP governments.

29 Nov 2017, 05:11:00 PM IST

PM Modi questions Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Somnath in his tweet

29 Nov 2017, 04:52:00 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi questions BJP’s development model

29 Nov 2017, 04:36:00 PM IST

They were born with privileges, says PM Modi

Sharpening his attack on the Congress, PM Modi said, “We have the legacy of Fakir Gandhi—the great Mahatma. They have the legacy of royalty. They were born with all privileges and are disconnected with the roots,” Modi said.

29 Nov 2017, 04:08:00 PM IST

Congress hates development, Gujarat and Modi, says PM

29 Nov 2017, 03:50:00 PM IST

Modi addressing election rally in Palitana

PM Modi is addressing his third public meeting of the day in Palitana. The PM has raised the issue of water shortage in the region and his government’s efforts to improve irrigation facilities for the farmers, while at the same time questioning the Congress government’s policy in this regard.“Do you remember the water shortage in the region? This is because Congress controlled the tanker business. It suited them to have this shortage. The BJP has changed this in the last 22 years. We have made the tanker industry irrelevant,” Modi said.

29 Nov 2017, 02:26:00 PM IST

BJP govt is for the poor, says PM Modi

Furthering his government’s pro-poor stance, PM Modi declared that “my remaining in power is bad news for those who have looted the nation for 70 long years. There is a Government in Delhi that is for the poor. It is working continuously for the poor.”

29 Nov 2017, 02:17:00 PM IST

Why Congress is against our army, asks Modi

PM Modi also talked about the issue of OROP and questioned the Congress’s stand on it. He asked, “I want to ask the Congress. What is it that you have against our army? The demand for OROP was pending for forty long years. Why did successive Congress governments do nothing about that. When elections were approaching, they announced a meagre Rs500 crore for OROP when the real requirement was a lot higher. This was misleading of the highest order.”

29 Nov 2017, 01:55:00 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi offers prayers at Somnath Temple

29 Nov 2017, 01:43:00 PM IST

We want to give OBC communities their due, says PM Modi

At his Prachi rally in Somnath, PM Modi also cleared BJP’s stance on the issue of OBC reservation, especially in the backdrop of the Congress and Hardik Patel-led PAAS arriving at an agreement.“Congress is seeking votes of the OBC communities but they should answer why they did not allow OBC Commission to get Constitutional Status for all these years. We brought in the move, it was passed by the Lok Sabha but stalled in the Rajya Sabha, where Congress has majority. I want to assure you-Congress may try to throw any roadblocks, I am committed to ensure their designs fail. Parliament is meeting soon and we are going to bring that issue on the floor of the House again. We want to give our OBC Communities their due, he said.

29 Nov 2017, 01:31:00 PM IST

Modi steps up offensive against Congress at Prachi

PM Narendra Modi said in Prachi in his second rally of the day: “This is my 2nd day of campaigning for the Gujarat elections. I have travelled to Saurashtra and South Gujarat. The enthusiasm is remarkable. I can see so many women who have come to bless us.” Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi who visited the Somnath Temple today, Modi said, “When Dr. Rajendra Prasad was to come to inaugurate the Somnath Temple, Pandit Nehru expressed his displeasure on that.”

29 Nov 2017, 12:59:00 PM IST

PM Modi addresses public meeting at Prachi, Rahul Gandhi reaches Somnath

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing his second campaign rally in Prachi, while Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has reached the Somnath temple.

29 Nov 2017, 12:36:00 PM IST

Modi hits out at Congress for criticising GST

Attacking Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for calling GST ‘Gabbar Singh Tax’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that those who looted the country could only think of dacoits. “Those who have looted the country can only think of dacoits,” he said addressing a rally at Morbi in Saurashtra, which votes in the first phase of state Assembly elections on 9 December. Gandhi had earlier dubbed the goods and services tax ‘Gabbar Singh Tax’, recalling the iconic villain in the Bollywood blockbuster Sholay. (PTI)

29 Nov 2017, 12:19:00 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi to PM Modi: ‘Will it take another 45 years to provide new houses to Gujaratis?’

Seeking to pin the government down on the issue of housing, Gandhi asked the Prime Minister whether it would take 45 more years to provide new houses to Gujaratis. Giving numbers to buttress his argument, he said, “First question to the prime minister on the state of affairs in Gujarat—in 2012, he promised to provide 50 lakh new houses, but provided 4.72 lakh in five years. Will the prime minister tell whether it will take another 45 years to fulfil the promise?” (PTI)

29 Nov 2017, 12:03:00 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi steps up offensive against PM Modi

29 Nov 2017, 11:59:00 AM IST

Gujarat seeking answers for 22-year BJP rule, Rahul tells PM

Stepping up his offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Gujarat elections, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today sought to make the state’s ruling BJP accountable for its promises in the last polls.Gandhi also brought up the BJP’s 22-year rule in Gujarat and said people were demanding answers. “22 salon ka hisaab, Gujarat mange jawaab (Gujarat demands answers for 22 years of BJP rule),” he tweeted. (PTI)

29 Nov 2017, 11:44:00 AM IST

Gujarat model has worked in Morbi, says PM Modi

At Morbi election rally, PM Modi further said, “For us, what matters is the well-being of people. Even when we were not in power we were with the people of Morbi and serving society.”Modi further added, “Gujarat model has worked in Morbi, we have turned adversity to opportunity. In Gujarat we initiated a mass movement to conserve every drop of water. This is because we understand the adverse impact of lack of water. Development for us is not about winning polls, it is about serving every citizen.”

29 Nov 2017, 11:43:00 AM IST

Congress’s development model is hand pump, BJP’s is Narmada project, says PM Modi in Morbi

“For Congress development’ was giving hand pumps. For BJP, it is SAUNI Yojana. Through the SAUNI Yojana, we built huge pipelines. Dams in Saurashtra are being filled due to SAUNI Yojana. But, I do not think the Congress can see all this. We worked to improve the water situation but we did not stop there. BJP Government brought in soil health card which has proven extremely beneficial for the farmers. Through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, there is an effort to help farmers in value addition and earn more,” Modi said in Morbi.

29 Nov 2017, 11:39:00 AM IST

PM Modi addresses election rally in Morbi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a public meeting in Morbi, Gujarat. The Prime Minister targeted the Congress saying that “in good and bad times, the Jan Sangh and the BJP have stood with the people of Morbi. One cannot say the same about the Congress and their leader”.

29 Nov 2017, 11:17:00 AM IST

Rahul Gandhi to visit Somnath temple today

29 Nov 2017, 11:14:00 AM IST

Court issues non-bailable warrant against Dalit leader Mevani

A court in Ahmedabad has issued a non- bailable warrant against Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani for failing to appear for the hearing in a case against him for stopping Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express during a protest in January. Additional chief metropolitan magistrate R. S. Langa issued non-bailable warrants against Mevani and 12 other people on Tuesday after they failed to appear before the court. (PTI)

29 Nov 2017, 11:13:00 AM IST

PM Modi to hold election rallies in Morbi, Prachi, Palitana and Navsari

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