"Raebareli, Amethi Not Constituencies, But Our Karmabhoomi": Rahul Gandhi

As he seeks to retain the Rae Bareli seat represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi for two decades, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he has an emotional family relationship with the people and will stand by both Amethi and Rae Bareli whenever required.

He shared an emotional video with his mother on social media, where he is seen watching family pictures in Amethi and Rae Bareli and remembered their connect with the people of both Amethi and Rae Bareli.

Rahul Gandhi is contesting the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat and is pitted against BJP's Dinesh Pratap Singh, who had unsuccessfully contested the last Lok Sabha election against Sonia Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi was earlier an MP from Amethi but had lost to Smriti Irani in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"Rae Bareli and Amethi are not just constituencies for us, they are our 'karmabhoomi', every corner of which is holding the memories of generations.

रायबरेली और अमेठी हमारे लिए सिर्फ चुनाव क्षेत्र नहीं, हमारी कर्मभूमि है, जिसका कोना कोना पीढ़ियों की यादें संजोए हुए है।

मां के साथ पुरानी तस्वीरें देखकर पापा और दादी की याद भी आ गयी, जिनकी शुरू की गयी सेवा की परंपरा मैंने और मां ने आगे बढ़ाई।

प्रेम और विश्वास की बुनियाद पर… pic.twitter.com/9RKgGG8qjb

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 14, 2024

"Looking at old photographs with my mother, I also remembered my father and grandmother, whose started this tradition of service and was carried forward by me and my mother," he said in a post in Hindi on X.

"This relationship of more than 100 years old, built on the foundation of love and trust, has given us everything. Whenever Amethi and Rae Bareli calls us, we will be there," he also said while sharing the video.

In the over 6-minute video, Sonia Gandhi said she started visiting Amethi in 1982 when they used to go there for holding medical camps and several good doctors from Delhi used to always work there and offer help.

"Panditji started this political life with the area in 1921 and a farmer leader Baba Ram Chandra shared his grief with Panditji. Rahul's grandfather Feroze Gandhi was the MP from Rae Bareli in 1952," she also said, adding that after his demise, his grandmother Indira Gandhi started representing Rae Bareli.

"We used to visit village to village during weddings or deaths and even visited during floods or drought and visited people during to attend villages. They accepted me immediately and I shared a relationship like a daughter and daughter-in-law," Sonia Gandhi also said.

Mr said, "Our family has a relationship of over 100 years with Amethi and Rae Bareli".

He added that his great grandfather started his politics against the British from Rae Bareli.

He also said that during Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, people of the area had come to them when an ITI was being shut in Rae Bareli and said, "we worked hard to save it as we wanted to save that technological spirit in the area." "In 1982 when my father went there, he worked hard and initiated a lot of development work and transformed Amethi completely.

"In Rae Bareli, my grandmother had initiated a lot of development and it was ahead of Amethi. But, whn my father went to Amethi, he ushered in a lot of developmental works and then it looked as if Amethi is ahead of Rae Bareli," he also said.

Then, he said, our government was formed and my mother and I initiated a lot of works and ensured road connectivity and constructed national highways and other roads. "We also started self help groups and helped lakhs of women and opened their bank accounts that transformed their lives." Mr Gandhi said they also opened institutions there like the Petroleum institute and CRPF training camp.

"The biggest work that could have transformed Amethi and Rae areli, and was stopped by the BJP, was the food park, where 40 separate storage would have been created. I felt that that food park would have changed the face of Amethi and Rae Bareli.

"That is my plan for Rae Bareli, to connect Rae Bareli with the entire country and open up manufacturing units there. I would also want to set up a food processing unit there," Mr Gandhi said.

"I also want to hear out the hearts of people of Rae Bareli and act on it. The works done by my grandmother and mother in Rae Bareli, I want to take that forward," he noted.

"That relationship is different, it is like a family, friendship and affection. Like I have my relationship with my mother and sister, I have the same relationship with Rae Bareli. I also like the food there and the 'Arhar ki Dal' made there, you can't find anywhere else. For me, Amethi and Rae Bareli are the same and whenever Amethi and Rae Bareli require us, we will be available," Rahul Gandhi also said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Cellphones Of Indians On Ship That Hit US Bridge Seized By FBI: Report

The FBI has seized the cellphones of the mostly Indian crew on board a crippled cargo ship in Baltimore as part of the investigation into the deadly bridge accident in the US city, a non-profit organisation in touch with the personnel said.

The 2.6-km-long, four-lane Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River came crashing down on March 26 after the 984-foot ship ‘Dali' collided against it. The crew on board Dali included 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan. The crew has been on the ship since the accident and has been cooperating with the investigation.

Executive Director of the Baltimore International Seafarers' Centre The Rev. Joshua Messick told PTI that he is working with all of the relevant organisations to make sure the crew has what they need and that their rights are being upheld.

“They are well cared for with the sole exception that their cellphones were seized as part of the FBI's investigation and have not been returned,” he said.

Mr Messick said he is in “contact with the crew to purchase some SIM cards for them and to plan trips ashore when they are able to have shore leave”.

The Baltimore International Seafarers' Centre is a non-profit organisation serving seafarers that call on the Port of Baltimore from all over the world. The mission of the organisation is to “facilitate the well-being of crew members by offering transportation ashore,” according to information on its website.

Last month, US authorities opened a criminal investigation into the Baltimore bridge collapse incident that killed six construction crew workers, who were repairing potholes on the bridge when the collision occurred.

The Washington Post had said that the FBI opened the criminal investigation "focusing on the massive container ship that brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last month — a probe that will look at least in part at whether the crew left the port knowing the vessel had serious systems problems”.

The Key Bridge Response Unified Command is scheduled to use precision cuts made with small charges to remove a large section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge wreckage from on top of the Dali.

For safety reasons, the controlled demolition to remove the bridge section resting on the deck of the Dali has tentatively been scheduled for Monday. Due to weather conditions producing lightning within 10 miles of the M/V Dali, remaining daylight, and rising tide, Unified Command has moved the demolition to Monday.

The Key Bridge Response Unified Command said in a statement that the safest and swiftest method to remove the bridge piece from on top of the Dali is by “precision cuts made with small charges. This is an industry-standard tool in controlled demolition that will break the span into smaller pieces, which will allow the work of refloating the vessel and removing it from the federal channel”.

Authorities said the small charges, a standard controlled demolition tool, will split the large section of truss at specific locations to create multiple, smaller sections, which allows salvors to use cranes and barges already on scene to remove these sections of the bridge and ultimately remove the Dali from the channel.

“We remain focused on restoring the Marine Transportation System, while ensuring the protection of the public and the environment,” said Capt David O'Connell, Key Bridge Response Federal On-Scene Coordinator. “By using precision cuts, we reduce risks to our personnel and can safely and efficiently continue clearing the channel for the Port of Baltimore,” he said.

The Singapore-flagged Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and managed by Synergy Marine Group. In the days following the accident, US authorities had begun interviewing personnel, including the Indian crew members, on board Dali.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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'400 Paar' Push, BJP's Governance Model: PM Modi Exclusive On NDTV. Full Transcript

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke exclusively to NDTV during a roadshow on Sunday and predicted a clean sweep for the alliance in Bihar. He said the BJP will expand its footprint hugely in eastern India this time, which would take the NDA easily over the 400-seat mark.

Here is the full transcript of the exclusive interview:

NDTV: The tallest mass leader that India has seen in many decades, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is today in Patliputra and in this epic battle and has decided to give us time from his busy schedule.

Thank you very much for speaking to the viewers of NDTV. The viewers of our six channels are watching you right now. You have done programmes across the country. Is Patna's vibe a bit different?

PM Modi: I have visited almost all the states of India. And I can say that Bihar has added many colours to the BJP and NDA's resolution of '400 paar'. The atmosphere in Bihar is the same as that of the entire country.

NDTV: Many people are speculating that there is a BJP upswing in east India, whether you talk about Bengal or Odisha, even in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. What is your assessment?

PM Modi: If I talk beyond politics, there is a 2013 speech by me. I was not even the PM candidate then. So, if we want to develop India, we will have to develop east India. Eastern India should be made a growth engine. In the last ten years, I have laid emphasis on infrastructure, education, health and many such projects in eastern India. As far as this election is concerned, there is a huge storm that will sweep north, south, east and west. In the east, this time the results will be better than before and I believe that these will be surprising for the people of the country. One example for that would be Telangana. In Telangana, you won't be able to imagine the results. You will get the same results in Andhra, you will get the same results in Odisha, Bengal. You will get the same results in eastern India, be it Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam. So, in a way, I can see that the the Bharatiya Janata Party will be adding more areas to its tally.

NDTV: You are talking about these catchment areas. Please assess Bihar. What do you think will happen in Bihar?

PM Modi: In Bihar, I spoke to our colleagues that we had lost one seat earlier, perhaps this time we will not lose any.

NDTV: We are near Charkha samiti right now. Tell me what comes to your mind when you come to Bihar.

PM Modi: Well, I have come here a lot for organisational work and I have been to many areas. I am connected with many old things here.

NDTV: Do you see this election as a referendum or as a governance model fight?

PM Modi: The Bharatiya Janata Party has given a model of governance to the country. The country has seen the model of Congress, the country has seen the model of the Left, the country has seen the model of coalition governments and the country has seen the model of BJP and NDA full majority and it has seen a dynamic government and a decisive government, a risk-taking government. And on the basis of that we have been moving ahead.

NDTV: The number of women is very high here. You have created a constituency for yourself because whatever you have done, Ujjwala scheme, many states also have women-centric schemes, so do you think that women voters are with you?

PM Modi: Empowerment of women is my commitment and I have taken lead in G-20 summit on women-led development and for this we should give opportunities to women. Women should rise above the traditional things that we have. Like we initiated drone didi (scheme) in the villages, like we opened the doors of the Army, when we made them pilots in the Air Force, we sent our daughters to the border, our daughters are going to Siachen and protecting the country. So I have succeeded in bringing in a psychological change. And the power of women will become an additional force in the country's development journey and will accelerate the results.

NDTV: Thank you very much for talking to us.

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लोकसभा चुनाव के तीसरे चरण में 65.68 प्रतिशत मतदान : चुनाव आयोग

Lok Sabha elections 2024: लोकसभा चुनाव के अद्यतन आंकड़े के अनुसार, तीसरे चरण में 65.68 प्रतिशत मतदान हुआ. निर्वाचन आयोग ने शनिवार को यह जानकारी दी. निर्वाचन आयोग (Election Commission) ने तीसरे चरण के मतदान के एक दिन बाद आठ मई को भी मतदान प्रतिशत का यही आंकड़ा बताया था.

आयोग ने शनिवार को जारी एक बयान में बताया कि 66.89 प्रतिशत पुरुषों, 64.4 प्रतिशत महिलाओं और 25.2 प्रतिशत पंजीकृत ट्रासजेंडर ने मतदान किया. तीसरे चरण में 8.85 करोड़ पुरुषों और 8.39 करोड़ महिलाओं सहित 17.24 करोड़ नागरिक मतदान करने के योग्य थे.

लोकसभा चुनाव के तीसरे चरण के लिए 11 राज्यों और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों के 93 निर्वाचन क्षेत्र में मंगलवार को मतदान हुआ था. इस दौरान हिंसा की छिटपुट घटनाएं हुई थीं.

इससे पहले, 2019 के संसदीय चुनावों के तीसरे चरण में मतदान प्रतिशत 68.4 था.

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NDA Needs To Win 400 Seats To Complete "Unfinished Tasks": Himanta Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the BJP-led NDA needs to win at least 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls to complete a number of "unfinished tasks".

Speaking at an election rally at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, Mr Sarma also said that the Mamata Banerjee-headed TMC government will not be able to prevent the implementation of the CAA in the state.

The BJP leader said there are reasons why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been talking about 400 Lok Sabha seats.

"There are many unfinished tasks that need to be done. We want to bring in the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country," he said.

The UCC means having a common law for all citizens of the country that is not based on religion. Personal laws and laws related to inheritance, adoption and succession are likely to be covered by a common code.

Taking a dig at the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, Mr Sarma alleged that the state's economic and social progress has been stopped by the ruling party here.

"The Trinamool Congress has made such a political system in West Bengal that it is not possible for the state to move forward. It also believes in dynastic politics like the Congress does in Delhi," he said.

There have been instances when people get government jobs in lieu of money in West Bengal, Mr Sarma alleged.

"Women in Sandeshkhali were being tortured. But Mamata Banerjee is criticizing Modiji," the Assam chief minister said.

The state should be brought back to its past pre-eminent glory, he said.

"The West Bengal chief minister also cannot prevent CAA from being implemented in the state," he said.

Calling the Lok Sabha elections the semi-final, he said, "We see a double-engine government in the state in the final." He was alluding to the assembly polls in the state due in 2026.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Sex Scandal: HD Kumaraswamy Appeals To Governor To Hand Over Probe To CBI

A JD-S delegation led by former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy met Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot on Thursday and sought his intervention for a CBI probe into the sex video scandal involving JD-S MP Prajwal Revanna that is currently being investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Police.

Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, and son of JD-S MLA HD Revanna, who has been arrested for his alleged role in the kidnapping of a victim of the sex scandal involving his son.

JD-S state unit chief Kumaraswamy is the younger brother of HD Revanna.

After meeting the Governor, Mr Kumaraswamy said, “It is impossible to expect a free, fair, and impartial inquiry from the SIT, as it is influenced and misguided by the state government. Therefore, the intervention of the Governor has been sought to recommend the case for a thorough inquiry by the CBI.”

Mr Kumaraswamy also claimed that a conversation between BJP leader Devaraje Gowda and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has exposed the collusion, conspiracy, and involvement of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Deputy CM in the SIT probe.

"There is a vested interest in tarnishing the image of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and the JD-S," he said.

Mr Kumaraswamy also claimed that it is a well-known fact that Shivakumar was behind the distribution of more than 25,000 pen drives (containing alleged videos of sexual abuse involving his nephew Prajwal Revanna) in bus stands, parks, and other public places throughout the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency.

"The SIT investigation is biased, partial, and not transparent. It is also not as per the established procedures as they are threatening the alleged victims to file complaints," Mr Kumaraswamy alleged.

The state government has failed to stop the circulation of the alleged videos, causing a lot of agony, sorrow, and humiliation to the families of the victims, he claimed.

The activities of the SIT are controlled and monitored by the state government on a day-to-day basis, Kumaraswamy alleged, adding the SIT is working at the behest of the Chief Minister and the Deputy CM.

The former Chief Minister also appealed to the Governor to advise CM Siddaramaiah to drop Shivakumar from the Cabinet as he is the "mastermind in the circulation of the obscene videos".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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NDTV इलेक्शन कार्निवल : उज्जैन में क्षिप्रा नदी, शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य प्रमुख मुद्दा; जनता ने कहा- कांग्रेस और BJP ने नहीं उठाया कोई कदम

देश में 7 चरणों में हो रहे लोकसभा चुनाव के तीन चरण हो चुके हैं. आधी से अधिक सीटों पर वोट डाले जा चुके हैं. एनडीटीवी देश की जनता की राय और मूड को जानने के लिए देश के कई शहरों में पहुंचा है. कई राज्यों के बाद बुधवार को हमारा 'NDTV इलेक्शन कार्निवल' (NDTV Election Carnival) मध्यप्रदेश का उज्जैन पहुंचा. उज्जैन कई राजनीति के साथ-साथ सांस्कृतिक तौर पर भी बेहद महत्वपूर्ण शहर है.  उज्जैन लोकसभा सीट पर मुख्य मुकाबला बीजेपी और कांग्रेस के बीच है. लंबे समय से उज्जैन में बीजेपी और कांग्रेस के बीच आमने-सामने का मुकाबला देखने को मिलता रहा है. उज्जैन आलोट सीट से कांग्रेस की तरफ से महेश परमार को उम्मीदवार बनाया गया है. वहीं बीजेपी से अनिल फिरोजिया उम्मीदवार बनाए गए हैं. 13 ंमई को यहां वोट डाले जाएंगे. 

उज्जैन की जनता के लिए सबसे अहम मुद्दों की अगर बात करें तो क्षेत्र की जनता क्षिप्रा नदी में हुए प्रदूषण के परेशान है. साथ ही ट्रैफिक की समस्या, शिक्षा, बढ़ती जनसंख्या जैसे मुद्दों को लेकर भी जनता और विपक्षी दल ने आवाजा उठाया.

बीजेपी से सुल्तान सिंह शेखावत
बीजेपी नेता सुल्तान सिंह शेखावत ने कहा कि क्षिप्रा नदी की साफ सफाई को लेकर बीजेपी की सरकार की तरफ से समय-समय पर कदम उठाए गए हैं. गंगा नदी के प्रॉजेक्ट के साथ क्षिप्रा नदी को जोड़ने का काम हमने किया है. बीजेपी नेता ने कहा कि ट्रैफिक समस्या को सुधारने के लिए नई भर्तियां की ग यी है. बहुत जल्द उनकी नियुक्ति हो जाएगी. 

कांग्रेस से दिनेश जैन
कांग्रेस नेता दिनेश जैन ने क्षिप्रा नदी का मुद्दा उठाते हुए कहा कि हमारे उम्मीदवार ने लोगों के बीच इस मुद्दे को उठाते हुए इस नदी में स्नान किया है. जिससे की लोग देख सके कि यह कितनी प्रदूषित है. 10 साल में इसकी सफाई के नाम पर करोड़ों रुपये खर्च हुए हैं लेकिन परिणाम कुछ भी नहीं निकला. कांग्रेस नेता ने कहा कि शिक्षा का स्तर उज्जैन में बेहद खराब है. यहां तक कि कोचिंग करने के लिए भी हमारे युवाओं को बाहर जाना पड़ता है. वही हालत स्वस्थ्य व्यवस्था की भी है. पूरे उज्जैन में छोटे-छोटे अस्पताल तो हैं लेकिन डॉक्टर उपलब्ध नहीं हैं. स्कूल हैं लेकिन शिक्षक नहीं है. 

वरिष्ठ पत्रकार अर्जुन सिंह चंदेल
वरिष्ठ पत्रकार अर्जुन सिंह चंदेल ने कहा कि क्षिप्रा नदी की सफाई को लेकर कांग्रेस और बीजेपी दोनों ही सरकारों में कदम उठाए गए लेकिन दोनों में से कोई भी सफल नहीं हुए. पिछले 25 साल में किसी भी दल की सरकार रही हो सही दिशा में शायद कदम नहीं उठाया गया. यही कारण है कि नदी अब भी साफ नहीं हो पाया है. उन्होंने कहा कि उज्जैन में लंबे समय तक उद्योग धंधे को लेकर हालात अच्छी नहीं थी हालांकि पिछले कुछ समय में सुधार देखने को मिला है. 

जनता ने क्या सवाल उठाया
युवाओं की तरफ से बेरोजगारी और शिक्षा को सबसे अहम मुद्दा उज्जैन का बताया गया. वहीं महिला सुरक्षा के मुद्दे को भी जनता ने उठाया. महिलाओं के खिलाफ होने वाले अपराध और रोजगार के मुद्दे भी उठाए गए. किसानों के मुद्दे और एमएसपी जैसे मांग और खाद की मंहगाई के मुद्दे को भी जनता ने उठाया. 

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• कौन हैं सैम पित्रोदा? जानें राहुल गांधी से कनेक्शन; सियासी भूचाल ला देने वाले उनके 6 बड़े बयान
• उत्तराखंड में धधक रहे थे जंगल, तड़प रहे थे पशु परिंदे, मां बनकर बरस गई बारिश

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