Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE: Nyay will refuel engine of economy emptied by Modi, says Rahul Gandhi

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking "fuel out of the engine of the country's economy," Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said if voted to power, his party will refuel it through the proposed 'Nyay' scheme.

Addressing an election rally, the Congress chief said that the experts he consulted before proposing the 'Nyay' scheme in the party manifesto had told him it was necessary for restoring the purchasing power of the people "hit by demonetisation and GST"

Rahul Gandhi in Patna, Bihar said, “Jaise tractor mein diesel dala jata hai waise hi NYAY yojana Hindustan ke arthvyavastha ke engine mein diesel ki tarah hogi, hum diesel daalenge, chaabi ghumange aur Hindustan ki arthvyavastha phir se chalu jo jaayegi, logon ko employment milega.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “They allowed Modi ji's rallies and ended campaigning after it, it makes it clear that Election Commission is totally biased. It is very dangerous for the country.”

West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee said, “We had a meeting y'day, why was it cancelled? Can only the PM hold a meeting? Don't we have any rights in democracy? Only that the Election Commission says will happen? They curtailed our campaign 24 hours ago, now we have to adjust our meetings.”

Digvijaya Singh, Congress LS candidate from Bhopal on Pragya Thakur's remarks said, “Modi ji, Amit Shah ji and the state BJP should give their statements and apologize to the nation. I condemn this statement, Nathuram Godse was a killer, glorifying him is not patriotism, it is sedition.”

Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress, said, “India's soul is under attack by successors of Godse, the BJP ruling dispensation. BJP leaders are describing the murderer of father of the nation as a true nationalist and declaring those who sacrificed their lives for nation like Hemant Karkare as anti-nationals.”

GVL Narasimha Rao, BJP on Pragya Singh Thakur's statement "Nathuram Godse was, is and will remain a 'deshbhakt", says, “BJP does not agree with this statement, we condemn it. Party will ask her for clarification, she should apologise publicly for this statement.”

BJP's Pragya Thakur added to her list of controversial statements today when she said Nathuram Godse, the man who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, "was a deshbhakt (patriot), is a deshbhakt and will remain one".

BJP's Gurdaspur candidate Sunny Deol campaigns in Amritsar; all 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab will go to polls in the last phase of Lok Sabha elections on 19th May, Sunday.

The BJP is deliberately creating an "Emergency-like situation" as it is staring at a defeat in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, the NCP alleged on Thursday, as it attacked the ruling party over the violence in West Bengal.

Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil accused the BJP of sponsoring the violence in West Bengal and said it "won't be a surprise" if the saffron party declared Emergency formally.

The former state minister alleged that as is the history, the "BJP carries out riots to win elections".

Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in Maharajganj said, “PM told you that he himself will deposit 15 lakh in your accounts and the President of the same party, after the elections said it was a 'chunaavi jumla', will you trust them again?”

The Opposition DMK in Tamil Nadu on Thursday criticised the Election Commission for curtailing campaigning in West Bengal by 20 hours, throwing its weight behind West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC.

DMK President MK Stalin alleged the EC had different set of rules for the "ruling party", apparently referring to the BJP, and the opposition.

"Ban on campaign in nine constituencies in #WestBengal. The EC has one set of rules for the Opposition and another for the ruling party. Highly condemnable," he said in a tweet.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has termed as 'disturbing' the Election Commission's action cutting short the election campaign in West Bengal by a day and has said that the poll panel's integrity is at stake.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief said it was disturbing to see prompt action by the EC on a complaint by the BJP and its President Amit Shah in West Bengal while conveniently ignoring the complaints of the Trinamool Congress.

"It is even more disturbing to see the conspicuous inaction of the EC regarding the complaint of 22 political parties of the opposition to validate EVM counting with the counting of at least 50 per cent VVPAT slips in each Assembly constituency," Naidu tweeted.

WB CM Mamata Banerjee, said “He (PM) said he'll make Vidyasagar statue. Bengal has money to make the statue. Can he give back the 200 years old heritage? We've proof and you say that TMC has done. Aren't you ashamed? He should do sit ups for lying so much. Liar. Prove allegations otherwise we'll drag you to jail.”

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Mathurapur said, “Last night we came to know that BJP had filed a complaint with EC so that we can't hold any meeting after Narendra Modi's meeting. EC is brother of BJP, earlier it was an impartial body now everyone in the country says EC has sold out to BJP.”

“I feel sad but I don't have anything to say, I am ready to go to jail for saying this. I am not scared to say the truth.”

The Haryana Police have booked state minister Manish Grover and MLA BB Batra for allegedly entering a polling booth without permission and disorderly conduct in Rohtak district of the state.

Grover, the Minister of State for Cooperation, and Batra, the ex-MLA from Rohtak, were Wednesday booked under Section 188 of the IPC (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and Section 131 of the Representation of the People's Act (disorderly conduct in or near polling stations) in Shivaji Colony police station, Rohtak, on the complaint of an Assistant Returning Officer, SP, Rohtak, J S Randhawa said Thursday.

As per the complaint, Grover and Batra had allegedly entered a polling booth inside a school without permission and created ruckus when polling was underway in the Rohtak parliamentary constituency, which went to polls on May 12 along with nine other Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Thanks and gratitude to Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Congress, Chandrababu Naidu and others for expressing solidarity and support to us and the people of Bengal. EC's biased actions under the directions of the BJP are a direct attack on democracy. People will give a befitting reply.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “‘Modilie’ is a new word that’s become popular worldwide. Now there’s even a website that catalogues the best Modilies! https://www.modilies.in.”

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said at a press conference, “Election Commission has completely abdicated its Constitutional duty under Art 324 to ensure level playing field, besides negating the due process under Art 14 & 21 of India’s Constitution.

Every citizen is questioning the independence, impartiality, objectivity and fairness of the EC.”

The Congress party addressed a press conference on Thursday, 16 May, slamming the EC’s decision to impose a campaign ban in West Bengal.

Addressing the media, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also questioned the poll body’s decision to impose the ban from 10 pm on Thursday, thereby allowing PM Modi to hold two additional rallies in the state.

Controversial IPS officer Rajeev Kumar missed his 10 am reporting time for new duty in the Home Ministry on May 16 as ordered by the Election Commission which relieved him from his post of ADG CID in West Bengal following violence in Kolkata.

FIR registered against Computer Baba for violating model code of conduct after a complaint alleging that he was campaigning for Congress Bhopal candidate Digvijaya Singh.

BSP chief Mayawati said, “Election Commission has banned campaigning in West Bengal, but from 10 pm today just because PM has two rallies in the day. If they had to ban then why not from today morning? This is unfair and EC is acting under pressure.”

BSP Mayawati said, “It is clear that PM Modi, Amit Shah and their leaders are targeting Mamata Banerjee, its planned targeting. This is a very dangerous and unjust trend and one which doesn't suit the PM of the country.”