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Addressing a public gathering in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi asserted that Congress and Samajwadi are contesting elections for their future and for the future of their children.

"'After my 10-year tenure, I seek your blessings. You have witnessed my hard work and honesty. I am not just preparing for the next 5 years; I'm paving the way for 25 years. India's strength will endure for a thousand years; I'm laying its foundation. Why? Modi rahe na rahe desh hamesha rahega' (Whether I remain or not, this country will always remain). What are Congress and SP doing? They are contesting elections for their future and for the future of their children. 'Modi kis ke liye khap raha hai? Maine toh aage piche kuch rakha hi nahin hai. Yogi bhi aise hain aur Modi bhi aise hain'. Yeh Modi-Yogi khap kyu rahe hai? Hamare toh bache hai nhi (we don't have our kids). 'Hum khap rahe hain aapke baccho ke liye' (We are doing all this for your children). Do you know what the sankalp of 'Viksit Bharat'? This Viksit is not a four-letter word. Four words are also added to this that is your children's prosperity and happy life. This is the 'Virasat' that Modi will leave for you all," PM Modi asserted.

PM Modi remembered late Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and said that Mulayam Singh Yadav's brother is calling for BJP's win.

"The former Samajwadi Party leader in the last session of the previous Lok Sabha before the general election, said that this was a kind of blessing that 'Modiji aap dobara jeet kar aane vale hai (You are going to win the elections). Netaji is not with us but see the coincidence that his real brother is calling for BJP's win in the general elections," he said.

PM Modi slammed the opposition for defaming indigenous COVID-19 vaccines. He said, "They secretly got vaccinated and incited the public on TV and social media. Why? So that uproar spreads and sins are pinned on Modi's forehead."

"Now they are spreading lies about our democracy, our Constitution. Why? Because Modi has exposed their appeasement. The framers of our Constitution said - there will be no reservation based on religion. Baba Saheb Ambedkar said it. But now, the SP-Congress want to snatch reservations from SC/ST/OBC and distribute them based on religion. Overnight in Karnataka, they declared all Muslim castes as OBCs. If this happens in UP, what will happen to Yadavs, Mauryas, Lodhs, Pals, Jatavs, Shakya, and Kushwaha communities," remarked the PM.

The Prime Minister attacked the Samajwadi Party and Congress and said that some people consider Mainpuri, Kannauj, and Amethi-Raebareli as their legacy.

"What is the legacy of these dynasts? Their legacy is cars, mansions, and political power games. Some consider Mainpuri, Kannauj, and Etawah as their heritage. Some regard Amethi-Raebareli as their estates. But Modi's legacy... a Pucca House for the poor. Modi's legacy - toilets for mothers and sisters. Modi's legacy provides Dalits and backward classes - electricity, gas, and water connections. Modi's legacy includes free grains, free healthcare, and a National Education Policy. Modi's legacy belongs to everyone, for everyone," he said.

He pointed out that even today in the entire state, SP couldn't find a single Yadav candidate outside their family. In contrast, in the BJP, any karyakarta can reach the highest positions.

The polling in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the most members to the Lower House, at 80, is being held in all seven phases of the parliamentary elections. Voting in 16 seats was completed in the first two phases. (ANI)

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While releasing the manifesto, Nadda said, “We are fighting the election to form government in Odisha and not sit as Opposition in the State assembly.” 

The BJP president promised to parocure paddy from farmers at Rs 3100 per quintal . 

"We will develop an industrial corridor connecting Rourkela, Sambalpur, Paradeep and Dhamra by June 2027," Nadda said.

The BJP will launch 'Subhadra' scheme for the women of Odisha. Each and every woman in the State will get a voucher of Rs 50,000 for the development of her family. The women can encash these vouchers within two years, he added.

Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal, MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Jual Oram, senior leaders Samir Mohanty, Sambit Patra and Prithviraj Harichandan were, among others, present on the occasion. 

Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases, starting from Phase one on May 13, Phase two on May 20, Phase three on May 25 and the final Phase on June 1.

The results will be announced on June 4.
 

He noted that people were made to forget about PoK, however, it is now back in the consciousness of the people of India.

Asked about India's plans for PoK during an interactive session in Cuttack, Jaishankar responded, "PoK has never been out of this country. It is part of this country. There is a resolution of the Indian Parliament that PoK is very much a part of India. Now, how did PoK, how did other people get control? You know, when you have someone who is not a responsible custodian of a house, someone steals from outside. Now, here you have allowed another country."

"You know, it was because we did not pursue the vacation of Pakistan from these territories in the early years of their independence that this very sorry state of affairs is continuing. So, what will happen in the future? Very difficult to tell. But, I always tell people one thing today PoK is in the consciousness once again of the people of India. We had forgotten about it. We were made to forget about it. That it is today back definitely, the fact you are asking me a question is, I think, something which is very good," he added.

He also spoke about the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed that it should have been abrogated a long time back. Jaishankar noted that a feeling of separatism and extremism existed in Jammu and Kashmir when Article 370 remained in effect.

Addressing the critiques of the abrogation of Article 370, Jaishankar said that it was a temporary provision in the constitution and it had to be removed. He stated that Article 370 continued in Jammu and Kashmir as people had a vested interest.

Jaishankar said, "The biggest problem we had was Article 370. It was a problem because so long as Article 370 continued, in Jammu and Kashmir, a feeling of separatism, of extremism, sometimes I would even say support for violence, was created. This was done because of political interests of some parties, some parties at the center and some parties in Jammu and Kashmir and this step which happened in 2019 should have happened a long time ago."

"Unfortunately, we did not have a Modi Sarkar till recently. And it was frankly an agenda that should have been done because it was a temporary provision of the constitution. You know, people debate saying, was it right? Was it wrong? In the constitution, it was written there, this is a temporary provision. What does temporary mean? That it comes to an end. This was to happen. Unfortunately, it was continued because people had vested interest," he added.

Earlier in April, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that considering the development taking place in India, the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will themselves demand to be with India.

"Don't worry. PoK was, is and will remain ours," Singh said, addressing a rally at West Bengal's Darjeeling on Sunday, where the BJP had nominated sitting MP Raju Bista.

"India's power is increasing...India's prestige is increasing around the world, and our economy is fast progressing. Now our brothers and sisters in PoK will themselves demand to come with India," Singh further said. (ANI)