EC: REPLACED MACHINES AT 8-9 BOOTHS

As the first phase of polling took place across Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at Congress leaders for questioning his lineage and loyalties while addressing a rally in Lunawada on Saturday.

Referring to a Congress leader named Salman Nizami, Mr Modi as quoted by agencies, said, “There is a youth Congress leader Salman Nizami who is even campaigning for Congress in Gujarat. He wrote on Twitter about Rahulji’s father and grandmother. That is alright but he also asks, ‘Modi tell me who is your Mother, who is your father?’ Such language can’t even be used for enemies.”

Incidentally Mr Nizami’s tweets cannot be accessed as his account is a protected one and only confirmed followers can have access to them.

Agencies reported that Mr Modi was reportedly referring Nizami’s tweet where he apparently questioned who the Mr Modi’s parents are.

Lashing out at the Congress leader, the he accused the party of abusing and mocking him, “I want to tell all Congress leaders who are abusing me, mocking my poor family, asking who my parents are: This nation is my everything. Every moment of my time is devoted to India and 125 crore Indians.”

The Prime Minister also claimed that Mr Nizami supports the idea of Azad Kashmir and that he referred to the Indian army as rapists. Modi further said that Nizami had said “There will (be) an Afzal (Guru) from every home,” reported agencies.

Responding to these comments, Congress leader Rajiv Shukla dismissed the claims and said that he didn’t know any individual in the party by Mr Nizami’s name and that he held no position in the party.

Meanwhile, questioning Congress’ assurance of reservation to Patidar community in Gujarat, Mr Modi on Saturday said it will either have to “snatch” the share of SCs, STs and OBCs or is making a “false promise” like it did on Muslim quota issue in several states. Several cases of faulty EVMs were reported and allegations of their tampering emerged in Gujarat where voting took place in 89 seats.

The BJP hit out at the Congress for alleging tampering of EVMs. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Congress is searching for an excuse even before the results are out, as it stares at a loss in the elections.”

An EC official said that there were reports of technical glitches in EVMs in Surat and some other centres, the polling resumed after they were replaced at eight-nine booths.