Rahul attacks Modi saying he 'divided' country; PM says 'Cong chief maligning entire community by calling me thief'

Background

Lok Sabha Elections 2019 LIVE UPDATES: With political parties leaving no stone upturned to unleash heavy arsenal at their opponents and lure voters onto their side amid the ongoing general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address an election rally in Solapur district of Maharashtra on Tuesday.

Modi arrived at the Lohegaon airport were BJP leaders, including the party's Lok Sabha candidate from the city Girish Bapat, sitting MP Anil Shirole and Pune city BJP president Yogesh Gogawale received him.

According to BJP leaders, the PM will stay overnight at Raj Bhavan and leave for Akluj to address an election rally in the Madha Lok Sabha constituency of Solapur district Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also slated to address three rallies in his home state, while Congress president Rahul Gandhi shall also be campaigning in BJP's bastion Gujarat over the next two days.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address public meetings in Sabarkantha, Surendranagar, and Anand on April 17, and in Amreli on April 18," the state BJP said in a release.

13:28 PM (IST)  •  17 Apr 2019

Kashmir is an integral part of India and it would continue to remain so as long as the BJP exists, party president Amit Shah said here Wednesday. Shah's remarks came at a poll rally, in response to National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's recent suggestion of having a separate prime minister for Kashmir.

13:27 PM (IST)  •  17 Apr 2019

Against the backdrop of Income Tax raids on close aides of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, the opposition BJP says it would make corruption as the main plank of its campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. The ruling Congress in the state also says it will probe all scams that came to light during the previous BJP-led government.
The Income-Tax Department last week said it detected a 'widespread and well-organised' racket of collection of unaccounted cash of about Rs 281 crore during raids against close aides of Nath and others. The Congress dubbed the searches as 'pre-meditated and politically motivated'.

12:45 PM (IST)  •  17 Apr 2019

Meanwhile, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in Bhopal said she has formally joined BJP, and will contest elections.

12:43 PM (IST)  •  17 Apr 2019

Rahul attack on Modi:Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that Narendra Modihas 'divided' the country and made it fight within itself.
Speaking to reporters here after the Parliamentary coordination committee meeting, Gandhiheld Modi responsible for the rising unemployment among the youth, farmers' suicides and allegedly giving Anil Ambani Rs 30,000 croreas part of the Rafale deal.

12:42 PM (IST)  •  17 Apr 2019

Modi on Rahul: Putting a new spin on Rahul Gandhi's 'why are all Modis thieves' remark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said the Congress president, by making the jibe, had maligned the backward community he hails from.
Addressing a poll rally here, Modi also slammed the 'dynastic politics' of Sharad Pawar and claimed the NCP chief had 'fled' the poll arena from Madha Lok Sabha constituency as he sensed defeat.