Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has condemned the alleged sex scandal involving Hassan MP and JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, accusing him of ‘mass rape’ and blaming the BJP for supporting him. Gandhi claimed that BJP leaders were aware of the allegations against Revanna but supported him and formed an alliance with the JD(S). He also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek forgiveness from women and demanded that the accused be arrested promptly.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has requested a report from the Karnataka Police regarding allegations of sexual abuse involving Lok Sabha MP Prajwal Revanna within three days. The NCW, in a letter to the Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP), condemned the incident and emphasized the need for prompt action to apprehend Revanna, who has fled the country. Revanna was suspended from his party, JD(S), following the allegations, which include the circulation of explicit video clips allegedly involving him and multiple women. Separately, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi asserted that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins the current Lok Sabha elections, it will “tear apart” and “throw away” the Indian Constitution. Gandhi highlighted the importance of the Constitution in protecting the rights of marginalized communities. In other news, a Delhi-based doctor expressed her concerns about Uber’s safety measures after experiencing an accident while traveling with the service. She raised concerns about inexperienced drivers and has decided to boycott the company. Additionally, students from the University of Utah joined pro-Palestinian demonstrations, demanding the institution divest from its Israeli connections. The protests have led to the establishment of nearly 20 tent encampments on campus grounds.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting great Indian kings and queens like Shivaji Maharaj and Kittur Chennamma. Speaking at a campaign rally for BJP candidates in Belagavi on Sunday, April 28, Modi said that Gandhi’s remarks were a reflection of the Congress’s appeasement politics, which is driven by vote bank considerations. Modi also criticized the Congress for aligning with parties that praise Aurangzeb, a Mughal emperor who committed atrocities against Hindus. The Prime Minister said that the NDA government, on the other hand, is inspired by Kittur Rani Chennamma and has taken steps to empower women in the armed forces.
Polling has been completed in 14 states and union territories in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections, with voters in 46 Naxal-affected villages in Chhattisgarh casting their ballots for the first time in a Lok Sabha election. Among the notable candidates whose fate was sealed in the second phase include Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. Polling has now been completed in 189 of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats.
Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is underway, with 88 parliamentary constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories (UTs) going to the polls today, April 26. The polling will commence at 7 am and conclude at 5 pm. This phase includes all 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, seven in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, and Tripura.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the Rahul Gandhi-Akhilesh Yadav alliance in Uttar Pradesh of indulging in politics of appeasement. Addressing an election rally in Agra, Modi claimed that the Congress stole OBC quota and provided reservation based on religion. He also said that the policy of appeasement divided the country and that the Congress party’s manifesto had the imprints of the Muslim League. Modi emphasized that his government is committed to development for all and not just vote banks, while the SP-Congress alliance prioritizes appeasement at the expense of the deserving.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued notices to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress chief Mallikaarjun Kharge, and Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi seeking responses by Monday morning for alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The notices stem from complaints regarding campaign speeches made by the three leaders. The ECI has emphasized that star campaigners should maintain higher standards of compliance in their discourse. The opposition has criticized Modi’s comments about Muslim voters, while the ruling party has accused Gandhi of making derogatory remarks against the Prime Minister. The ECI’s notices do not explicitly mention specific sections of the MCC or Indian Penal Code (IPC) that have been violated, but they have requested responses from the relevant parties.
The Election Commission of India has sought clarifications from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party regarding complaints filed against statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Opposition parties have alleged that PM Modi’s remarks during an election rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara district were divisive in nature.
The Election Commission has initiated an investigation into allegations of model code of conduct violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The commission has requested responses from both parties by April 29th. Stay tuned for further updates.
The Congress party’s delay in announcing candidates for the Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies in Uttar Pradesh has sparked confusion and speculation. In Amethi, where Rahul Gandhi lost to the BJP’s Smriti Irani in 2019, local Congress workers expect his candidature to be announced soon. However, Gandhi is also contesting from Wayanad in Kerala, and analysts believe that the party may not want to affect his prospects there by announcing his candidacy from Amethi. In Rae Bareli, which was represented by Sonia Gandhi for 20 years, the expectation is that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest. This has led to speculation that the BJP may field Varun Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s cousin, against her.
