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AThursday came out in sup- Saying that it is high time est Bengal Chief Minister port of West Bengal Chief that the poll panel acts on com- WMamata Banerjee and Minister Mamata Banerjee plaints by the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Election Commission’s Naidu said, “Giving clean chit attacked each other on decision to cut short cam- to Narendra Modi, taking Thursday over the smashing of paigning by 20 hours in the unjustified prompt action after the bust of Ishwar Chandra State in the aftermath of clash- false complaints by BJP, wilful Vidyasagar in the violence dur- es between Trinamool inaction on genuine complaints ing BJP chief Amit Shah’s road- Congress (TMC) and BJP by Opposition parties clearly show in Kolkata on Tuesday workers during Amit Shah’s raise doubts about the neu- and traded barbs over building roadshow on Tuesday evening. trality, impartiality, and fairness a new statue of the 19th century A delegation of the of the ECI.” Bengali icon. Opposition leaders, led by Accusing the EC of going Hours before the bitter Congress leader Abhishek against all norms of democra- campaign came to an end on Manu Singhvi, took up the tic fair play, SP chief Akhilesh Thursday night, curtailed by a issue with the EC. Yadav said, “The EC’s decision day by the Election Opposition leaders in the to curtail campaigning in Commission, Modi said his delegation — Singhvi, BSP Bengal is against all norms of Government was committed chief Mayawati, Andhra democratic fair play. I fully sup- towards Vidyasagar’s vision Pradesh Chief Minister N port @MamataOfficial ji in and promised to install his Chandrababu Naidu, Aam her fight to stop the undemo- grand statue at the same spot Aadmi Party (AAP) chief cratic march of the two and a in Kolkata. Arvind Kejriwal, CPI (M) gen- half men who have used and Rejecting Modi’s offer, eral secretary Sitaram Yechury, abused every institution of our Mamata said Bengal does not DMK chief MK Stalin, and ! ! " country for their own gain.” need BJP’s money and that the AIMIM chief Asaduddin CPI(M) general secretary State has enough to Owaisi — questioned the logic Sitaram Yechury asked if the rebuild the statue. “We do not behind EC’s decision to cut in support of Mamata Banerjee. suit the PM of the country.” “It appears the Election poll body had set the seek alms from the BJP,” said short campaigning. They asked “Election Commission has The Congress too accused Commission’s action is a part- time to allow Modi to address Mamata. what prevented the poll body banned campaigning in West the EC of losing its credibility ing gift” to Modi and the BJP two rallies in Bengal in the The Prime Minister and Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar, our Addressing another rally at from stopping the election Bengal, but from 10 pm today and independence and said to ensure Modi’s two pre- afternoon. the Trinamool Congress Government will install a Mathurapur in West Bengal, campaigning immediately. just because the PM has two time has come to review the announced election rallies in “If a ban is intended for 72 (TMC) supremo also traded panchdhatu (made up of five Modi alleged that the West In first such action in rallies during the day. When process of the poll panel’s Mathurapur and Dum Dum on hours, why is it starting at 10 charges as to who was respon- metals) statue at the very spot Bengal Police, in connivance India’s electoral history, the they had to put a ban why not appointment. Asking whether Thursday are not hit, Surjewala pm tomorrow? Is it to allow the sible for the vandalisation of the and give a reply to TMC goon- with the State Government, was EC had on Wednesday ordered from morning? This is unfair. the model code of conduct had alleged. two rallies of the Prime bust. While Modi said the bust das,” Modi told a rally in Mau trying to wipe out evidence of campaigning in nine West the EC is acting under pres- become the “Modi code of Kejriwal said the people of Minister before that?” Yechury was vandalised by “TMC goon- in Uttar Pradesh. the vandalisation. Bengal constituencies to end at sure,” the BSP chief said. misconduct”, Congress’ chief the State will give a befitting tweeted. das”. Mamata claimed it was “The statue of Ishwar “Those involved in the act 10 pm on Thursday, a day Mayawati added, “It is clear spokesperson Randeep reply to the “perpetrators of DMK president MK Stalin BJP “hooligans” who had Chandra Vidyasagar was bro- of vandalising the statue should before its scheduled deadline, that PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Surjewala said the EC order violence and hooliganism”. tweeted, “Ban on campaign in destroyed the heritage of West ken by TMC goondas during be given exemplary punish- following violence between their leaders are targeting curtailing campaigning in Chandrababu Naidu too nine constituencies in Bengal. the roadshow of BJP president ment,” Modi said, adding, BJP and TMC workers in Mamata Banerjee. This is Bengal by 20 hours is a “dark threw his weight behind #WestBengal. The EC has one “We have been witnessing Amit Shah. Those involved in “Police officers are trying to Kolkata during a roadshow by planned targeting. This is a spot” on India’s democracy Mamata. “It is disturbing to see set of rules for the Opposition the attitude of Didi for long and this act should be given exem- wipe out the evidence of the BJP chief Amit Shah. very dangerous and unjust and institutions like the prompt action by the ECI on a and another for the ruling now the country is also seeing plary punishment,” the Prime incident in order to save the Earlier, Mayawati came out trend and one which doesn’t Election Commission. complaint by the BJP and Amit party. Highly condemnable.” it. Dedicated to the vision of Minister said. TMC goons.” ! R # " " #$ " $% )15612( son Randeep Surjewala said, “It is clear, the BJP people are the )15612( :4.). & 3.""7 he assassin of Mahatma descendants of Godse. BJP TGandhi, Nathuram Godse, people say Godse was a patri- he Leader of Opposition in ix terrorists, including a top is in the centre of a fresh con- ot and martyr Hemant Karkare Tthe Rajya Sabha and senior Scommander of Jaish-e- ! troversy as BJP’s Bhopal Lok was a traitor. Culture of vio- Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Mohammad (JeM), a Pakistani Sabha candidate Sadhvi Pragya lence and insulting martyrs is Azad on Wednesday hinted national, were gunned down by "! !O Thakur on Thursday described the DNA of the BJP.” that his party was ready to give the joint teams of security $ Godse a “deshbhakt”. He said, “Modi-Amit Shah up claims on the Prime forces, while an Army jawan However, she retracted her ji’s favourite BJP leader Pragya Minister’s post to prevent the attained martyrdom, three oth- statement soon and apologised Thakur once again insulted BJP-led NDA return to power. ers sustained injuries and a & '! with her party condemning the whole nation by calling Azad’s statement is being civilian lost his life in two sep- the comment, but not before Gandhi’s killer Nathuram seen as a subtle hint to allies as arate gunfights in South P the Opposition Congress went Godse ‘a true patriot’.” well as prospective partners of Kashmir’s Pulwama and to town alleging that insulting The BJP, through its lead- the Congress that the grand old Shopian districts on Thursday. !"# " ( martyrs is in the DNA of the ers, is repeatedly launching party was flexible on the choice According to police spoke- saffron party. The Congress “malicious attacks” on the of Prime Minister and would sman, “Three terrorists were also sought an apology from Father of the Nation’s thinking, not force them to accept the killed in Dalipora of Pulwama ")"*! Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Haasan’s remarks that Godse path and ideology, Surjewala leadership of Rahul Gandhi. and three others in Handew of ( L O The Election Commission was Independent India’s first alleged. Interacting with media in Shopian on Thursday.” !(M ! has (EC) sought a report from terrorist. The BJP condemned “This is a conspiracy to Patna, Azad said, “We have experience during campaign- party, Azad said the BJP has Violent protests were ! ! Madhya Pradesh chief electoral Pragya’s praise for Godse and insult Gandhian principles. already made our stand clear. ing across the country that nei- been “thoroughly exposed” reported from Pulwama soon . .! officer by Friday on Pragya’s asked her to tender an apolo- This is an unforgivable crime If a consensus is made in the ther BJP nor NDA is going to after coming to power at the after the gunbattle. Curfew statement. gy in public. which the country will not favour of Congress, then the return to power at the Centre. Centre as it has followed its ide- like restrictions have been Talking to a news channel “We completely disagree forgive,” he said. “If Modi ji has party will take the leadership “Narendra Modi is also ology of “creating hatred and clamped in Pulwama town and $ on Thursday, Pragya had said, with her statement with regard some wisdom then he should but our aim has always been not going to become the Prime divide” in society.