Over 150 veterans have written to President Ram Nath Kovind expressing their unhappiness over the "politicisation" of the armed forces in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The letter, sent to the President on Thursday, the first day of the national election, refers to the "unusual and completely unacceptable practice of political leaders taking credit for military operations like cross-border strikes and claiming the armed forces to be 'Modi ji ki Sena'". The signatories include three former Army chiefs - General (retired) SF Rodrigues, General (retired) Shankar Roy Chowdhury and General (retired) Deepak Kapoor, four former Navy chiefs and former Air Force chief NC Suri.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has directed all political parties to provide receipts of electoral bonds and details of identity of donors in a sealer cover to the Election Commission by May 30. In an interim order, the court also directed all political parties to provide details of the amount and bank account of donors to the poll panel. " Electoral bonds scheme will continue, there is no stay. All parties must submit the details to EC in a sealed cover," said the bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna.
With the first phase of Lok Sabha elections over, political parties have deputed their star campaigners for the remaining phases of the seven-phased elections. Prime Minister Narenda Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi will today address rallies for the remaining phases of the seven-phased elections.
PM Modi addressed rallies in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, while the Congress President will address multiple rallies across Tamil Nadu.
The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections saw a mixed turnout with West Bengal witnessing an impressive turnout of 80.9 per cent and Bihar recording 50.3 per cent - the lowest turnout among the 18 states. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported in Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. A worker of Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu's party, the TDP, was killed in the poll clashes yesterday.
The Electronic Voting Machine or EVMs also came in for intense criticism with reports of glitches cropping up from several places. Mr Naidu even wrote to Election Commission demanding repolling in nearly 150 polling stations in the state.
Here are the Highlights on Lok Sabha election-related news:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: The Communists and Congress have blatant double standards when it comes to women empowerment. The so-called defenders of women rights are the ones at the forefront of defending the brutal and barbaric practice of Triple Talaq. https://t.co/Lwh2tQ8fWV
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kozhikode, Kerala: I want to ask outdated communists & fake liberals, why are you silent on political violence in Kerala, what are your compulsions? I assure my fellow BJP Karyakartas, your struggles won't go in vain. Their bullying won't weaken us pic.twitter.com/ohMiUbEzSR
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2019
Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu: Tomorrow I'm meeting Election Commission, I'm going to discuss the anomalies and technical problems EVMs are facing. Nobody knows what is happening in EVMs. #LokSabhaElections2019 #AndhraPradeshElection2019 pic.twitter.com/889JVGZQ1q
- ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2019
Happy to be in Karnataka again. Speaking in Gangavathi. Watch. https://t.co/nhBJcOnMom
- Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 12, 2019
LIVE: CP @RahulGandhi addresses public meeting in Salem, Tamil Nadu. #NammaThalaivarRahulGandhi https://t.co/BaR2k8Ylvs
- Congress (@INCIndia) April 12, 2019
Lok Sabha Elections: What BJP's Maneka Gandhi Told Muslims At A Rally In Uttar PradeshUnion Minister Maneka Gandhi is on camera telling a gathering of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur, from where she is contesting the national election, to vote for her or else she may not be inclined to be responsive to their requests. "I have already won this election, now it is for you to decide," said the BJP leader on Thursday."
- I am glad the entire nation is speaking in one tone. This faith is my strength and it is because of the confidence people have in me that I have been able to take big decisions.
- Congress is talking on removing Army in Jammu and Kashmir. They are saying they will revoke special privileges to soldiers. To those who are voting for the first time, I want to ask - are you okay if nation's security is compromised.
- Remove Congress, only then we will all be able to prosper. Once Modi government returns, all farmers will be benefited by PM Kisan Yojana. The farmers, who toil hard all day long, will get pension after they turn 60.
- The cash recovered from Tughlaq Road is a proof of what Congress is actually capable of. The nation is witness to Congress's "Tughlak Road Election Scam", our youth are watching too. The money that could be spent on welfare of children with malnutrition has been looted and spent on party's welfare.
- BJP talks begin and end with toilets. Where's the water you promised for toilets?
- SP improved power infrastructure in the state. Under BJP rule, electricity has become costlier.
- Baba CM (Yogi Adityanath) made many false promises
In Coimbatore, PM's "Chowkidar" Promise Offers Change - But Hurts ManyMaharashtra supports development agenda of NDA. Speaking in Ahmednagar. https://t.co/gZbc1mxsGo
- Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 12, 2019
In Coimbatore, PM's "Chowkidar" Promise Offers Change - But Hurts ManyOn social media, the PM's supporters and detractors clash on his trips to Tamil Nadu with hashtags like #GoBackModi feuding with #WelcomeModi. Mr Natarajan's cadres, similarly, try to talk up among voters an alleged 'emotional disconnect' between Tamil Nadu and Delhi since 2014."
Congress President @RahulGandhi will be in Tamil Nadu today to address several public meetings. Watch him live:
- Congress (@INCIndia) April 12, 2019
FB: https://t.co/NPOcx48kHN
YT: https://t.co/g2POk7bvU1 pic.twitter.com/Or7ecHcPyF
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Nizamabad Lok Sabha Seat May Enter Guinness Book With Record EVMsPM Shri @narendramodi will address three mega rallies in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala on 12 April 2019. Watch at
- BJP (@BJP4India) April 11, 2019
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