'Will Always Protect Reservation For SC, ST and OBC', Assures PM Modi

by Hemanta Pande

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Assuring that the rights of SC, ST, and OBC communities would be protected under his leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, slammed Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for trying to "divide and manipulate" reservation policies for its political gains.

Nandurbar, May 10: Assuring that the rights of SC, ST, and OBC communities would be protected under his leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, slammed Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for trying to "divide and manipulate" reservation policies for its political gains.

"No matter how much effort they make, no matter how many lies they spread with anti-national forces, you have Modi's trust and Modi's guarantee. As long as Modi is alive, no one can touch the reservations for SC, ST, OBC. 'Vanchiton Ka Jo Adhikaar Hai, Modi Unka Chaukidaar Hai'," said PM Modi during his address at a campaign rally for BJP nominee Dr Heena Gavit in tribal-dominated Nandurbar.

Targeting Congress over the recent remarks made by its senior leader Sam Pitroda, PM Modi said: "One of Shehzada's gurus living in America has made an extremely unfortunate and racist remark on Indians... Those having complexion like that of Lord Krishna are considered 'African' by the Congress party. That's why they didn't want to accept Droupadi Murmu as the President of the country."

"I am not from a royal family like the Congress. I have grown up in poverty. I know how much you have suffered here," added PM Modi.

Without naming Sharad Pawar, Prime Minister Modi said: "A veteran leader of Maharashtra, who has been in politics for 40-50 years, has given a statement after the Baramati elections. They have become so frustrated and disappointed that they feel that if they want to survive in politics after June 4, then small political parties should merge with the Congress. This means that fake NCP and fake Shiv Sena have decided to merge with Congress.

"I would say that supporting us and winning is better than supporting Congress and losing after June 4. Your vote on May 13 will answer Congress and INDIA. Support us, and help Maharashtra embrace development," he appealed to the voters. (IANS)

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Incidents Of Violence Mar Second Phase Polls In Odisha

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, May 20: Incidents of violence marred the second phase polls in Odisha, even as the state recorded 60.72 per cent voter turnout by 7 pm.

The voter turnout figure is most likely to cross the 70 per cent mark after the final computation following receipt of details about polling statistics from all the booths.

Reports from Bargarh said an auto-rickshaw driver was killed by two persons at Sarsara village while he was carrying some voters on his vehicle to the polling booth. The deceased was identified as Biswanath Mirdha.

Family members of the deceased alleged that it was a political murder executed by the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Inspector General of Police, Himanshu Lal said the murder took place because of “personal enmity” between the deceased and the accused.

Local BJD assembly candidate Debesh Acharya said the reason behind the murder will be ascertained after the police investigation.

The broad daylight killing sparked tension in the area for quite some time. The family members of the deceased and others created ruckus and demanded an immediate halt of voting in the village. The police, however, handled the situation quite well by whisking away the family members and other agitated people from the crime spot.

Reports said tension prevailed at Turum village in Ganjam district as a clash erupted between BJD and BJP after alleged booth rigging attempts by BJD workers. The incident occurred at booth no 47 of Beruanbadi village under Turum police limits.

The voting was initially peaceful since morning. However, some BJD workers allegedly entered the booth for rigging. A clash erupted inside the booth when the BJP agents opposed the BJD workers. Irate over this, the BJD workers allegedly attacked the BJP workers. The entire act has been captured on a mobile camera.

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Odisha CM's Office, Residence Under Grip Of Corrupt Coterie: PM Modi

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, May 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office and residence were taken over by "a corrupt coterie" and the backbone of this mechanism would be broken when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power on June 10.

Addressing public meetings in Dhenkanal and Cuttack Lok Sabha seats after holding a roadshow in Puri this morning, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his close aide VK Pandian.

“A handful of corrupt persons have captured the CM's residence and office. Small workers of the BJD have now become crorepatis," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said a mafia in Odisha is controlling everything and not allowing anyone to compete. “Once BJP comes to power on June 10, its backbone will be broken,” he said.

PM Modi said though the state is rich in mineral resources, its people are distressed. He alleged that the BJD government is not allowing the people of Odisha to benefit from the state's mineral wealth.

Stating that Odisha received Rs 26,000 crore from the district mineral fund (DMF), PM Modi said the money should have been spent on roads, schools and drinking water, but the BJD government has misused it.

Raising the issue of Ratna Bhandar, the treasure trove of Shree Jagannath temple in Puri, PM Modi said people are discussing how the keys of Ratna Bhandar have gone to Tamil Nadu.

“When our keys of houses are lost, we pray to Lord Jagannath and find them within one or two hours with the Lord’s blessing. But the keys of Lord Jagannath Ratna Bhandar are missing, and it has been six years now. The report of the commission of inquiry into the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar has been suppressed for six years as the keys have gone to Tamil Nadu," he said.

“The BJD government and those who have captured the Chief Minister are directly responsible for this,” he alleged.

"I assure the people that once the BJP government comes to power, the entire truth will come out and we will make the report public. Our service to Lord Jagannath will begin from this work,” he added.

On raising of paddy MSP, PM Modi said, "Once BJP forms government in Odisha, paddy MSP per quintal will be increased to Rs 3,100 and within 48 hours, farmers will get the money credited to their bank account,"

PM Modi reiterated that a double-engine government will be formed in the state after the elections.

“Vote for BJP, and Modi guarantees that any son or daughter of Odisha will be made the chief minister of Odisha. The dual engine government will be sworn in on June 10 in Odisha," PM Modi said.