Haryana, J&K Assembly Elections 2024 Live Updates: Kanhaiya Kumar says BJP has 'bad intentions' for J&K

Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Sunday commented on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that while the region is quiet, true peace will only come when Congress takes charge in the Union territory, reported PTI."There's a difference between silence and peace. Right now, there's just silence. We need to bring real peace," former JNUSU president said.Kumar made these remarks while campaigning for Ghulam Ahmad Mir, the Congress candidate for the Dooru seat in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.He also spoke about the deep frustration among people after facing what he called "oppression" over the past decade.

In the Kisan Mahapanchayat held at Uchana in Haryana's Jind district on Sunday, it was decided not to support or oppose any party in the elections, a farmer leader said. A large number of farmers from Haryana, Punjab and other states attended the Mahapanchayat held under the aegis of the Bharatiya Kisan Naujawan Union. Farmer leaders like Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Shravan Singh Pandher, and Abhimanyu Kohad participated in it.

Former Union Minister and Congress leader Birender Singh stated on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) position in the Haryana elections is troubling, which is why the party has enlisted Prime Minister Modi to campaign there.

Home minister Amit Shah is set to address three rallies in Chenab valley on Monday, the last day of campaigning for the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. "The home minister will address three rallies at Ramban, Kishtwar and Padder on September 16," BJP spokesperson and media centre in-charge Arun Kumar Gupta said. On September 18, the first phase of the three-phase elections will cover twenty-four assembly segments across the Chenab Valley districts of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban, as well as the south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian.

On Sunday, Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, widely known as Engineer Rashid, declared an alliance between his Awami Ittehad Party and candidates supported by Jamaat-e-Islami for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. This announcement follows Rashid’s rebuttal of allegations that he serves as a 'proxy for the BJP.' He emphasized that his success in the general elections was a testament to public disapproval of the Modi government's 'Naya Kashmir' policy.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti stated that her party is participating in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections not just to focus on development but to prevent the BJP from sidelining the Kashmir issue and Article 370. She criticized the BJP for claiming improvements while failing to hold elections in J&K over the past decade, and expressed frustration with the current lack of governance addressing people's concerns. Mufti also responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks by pointing out the unfulfilled promises of Rs 15 lakh and two crore jobs, questioning the validity of his criticisms.

The Congress would release its manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections within two days, senior leader Bharat Singh Solanki said on Sunday while terming the BJP's poll promises "hollow". Exuding confidence that the Congress-National Conference alliance would come to power in Jammu and Kashmir, he hit out at the BJP, saying it failed to wipe out terrorism, ensure the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits and generate employment for the local youth.

On Sunday, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Anil Vij declared that he would seek the chief minister's position in Haryana based on "people's demand" and "seniority" if the party wins power. This statement comes despite the BJP having already designated Nayab Singh Saini as its chief ministerial candidate. Vij stated, "I have never asked for anything from the party until now. People from Haryana are coming to meet me, and even in Ambala, they question why, as the senior-most leader, I have not become CM. Due to the people's demand and on the basis of seniority, I will stake a claim for the chief minister's post this time."

Congress has consistently shown a preference for Jatavs, fielding 12 candidates from this group in both the 2019 and 2024 elections. In the upcoming elections, Congress has also nominated five additional Dalit candidates from other sub-groups: Balmiki (2), Dhanak, Odh, and Sansi.

In response to a recent apex court judgment, the BJP government in Haryana quickly advanced a policy of sub-categorization within the SC (Scheduled Caste) community, despite the model code of conduct being in effect. This policy reserves 50% of job quotas for "deprived SCs" and the remaining for "other SCs," based on a report by the State Commission for SCs. This report argued that "deprived SCs" are underrepresented in jobs.

Dalits make up approximately 20% of Haryana's population. While the state commission claims that Jatavs and non-Jatavs are equally represented, activists argue that Jatavs comprise about 13% of the population, compared to 7% for non-Jatavs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the two rallies he addressed in poll-bound Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana on Saturday, launched a blistering attack on Congress as he referred to recent incidents, including the alleged assault of an Indian journalist by a member of Rahul Gandhi’s team during his US visit.

He also slammed remarks made by Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge that had his party won 20 more seats, BJP leaders would have been in jail.
In Jammu, Modi said, “Congress talks about Constitution and wanders holding ‘Nafrat ki Dukaan’ in the name of ‘Mohabbat ki Dukaan’. I read in the newspapers today that an Indian journalist, while in America, faced severe mistreatment... Independent media is a pillar of a vibrant democracy. Does such treatment of a journalist reflect well on India’s dignity?”

He was referring to the alleged assault of a journalist by Congress workers in Dallas when he asked Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda if Rahul Gandhi would raise the issue of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh during his meet with US lawmakers. Modi asked if locking a journalist in a room upholds democratic values. He added, “The word ‘Constitution’ doesn’t suit you.”

For the Haryana elections, Congress has allocated 12 tickets to Jatavs and aligned sub-castes within the Dalit community, and five to non-Jatavs, showing its continuing reliance on the dominant Scheduled Caste community as its support base, in line with its lukewarm response to the debate on subcategorisation.

But the in-office BJP, according to an analysis of candidates, has fielded nine non-Jatavs and eight Jatavs, a clear reflection of its aggressive approval of sub-division of SCs.
The intra-Dalit preference of parties is significant in the light of the recent Supreme Court judgment which green flagged the controversial measure of sub-categorisation, roiling the already volatile politics around the marginalised community.

Haryana holds a special place for Dalits, as it ranks second in the country in terms of the share of the community’s population, with Punjab at the top.

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charges on Saturday that three families had ruined Jammu and Kashmir, saying BJP seemed to have no problem allying with these three when they needed them.

“If BJP gets less numbers after elections, and if PDP gives it support, BJP will find no fault in PDP to form govt,” Omar said on the sidelines of a rally in Kulgam. He asked why BJP didn’t consider PDP as “bad” when BJP partnered with the party after the 2014 polls. Late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed became CM at that time.

Omar said that whenever BJP had needed the support of these three families in the past, it had seen nothing bad in any of them. “When the late Vajpayee wanted me to become a minister, wasn’t I bad then,” he asked, adding that the PM would blame NC as it was election time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the upcoming assembly elections will decide the fate of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of governance and accused major political parties in the state of 'pariwarwad'.

Addressing his first rally for the assembly elections, he also said that terrorism was taking "its last breath" in Jammu and Kashmir and the change that has come in the last 10 years is no less than a dream.

The stones that were pelted are now being used to create a new Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

The Prime Minister said "pariwarwad' did not allow the youth to come forward and he has tried to bring forward a new leadership in Jammu and Kashmir."

For the Haryana elections, Congress has allocated 12 tickets to Jatavs and aligned sub-castes within the Dalit community, and five to non-Jatavs, showing its continuing reliance on the dominant SC community as its support base, in line with its lukewarm response to the debate on sub-categorisation. But the in-power BJP, as per an analysis of candidates, has fielded nine non-Jatavs and eight Jatavs, a clear reflection of its aggressive approval of sub-division of SCs.

The intra-Dalit preference of parties is significant in the light of the recent Supreme Court judgment which green flagged the controversial measure of sub-categorisation, roiling the already volatile politics around the marginalised community. Haryana holds a special place for Dalits, as it ranks second in the country in terms of the share of the community’s population, with Punjab at the top. Sub-categorisation implies division of total reservation among “better-off SCs” and “backward SCs” for “equitable distribution” of benefits.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress' "royal" Gandhi family of intending to dismantle the reservation system as he officially launched from Kurukshetra on Saturday his campaign for the Haryana assembly elections.

PM Modi assured voters that he would safeguard the reservation system. "As long as Modi is here not even an iota of reservation will be touched," he said at a rally in Kurukshetra, also cautioning the state's people that if Congress forms govt the state might face the same financial crisis as Himachal Pradesh which is struggling to pay its employees. He said even the Himachal chief minister and ministers have had to forgo their salaries due to financial difficulties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed the leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi over his slogan "Mohabbat ki dukaan".

"They talk about the Constitution. Ye nafrat ki dukaan pe mohabbat ki dukaan ka board laga kar ke ghumte hai. But a journalist of our country was subjected to cruelty in the USA by Congress. A son of India was insulted in the USA," said PM Modi while addressing a rally in Jammu & Kashmir's Doda.

Launching a sharp attack on Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said "those who gave Congress a chance in their states are regretting it" and sought a third term for BJP government in Haryana.

Addressing an election rally here, PM Modi referred to Congress governments in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh besides Karnataka and Telangana and alleged that people were suffering due to inflation, corruption and promises not fulfilled.

He alleged that there is no other party in the country "more dishonest and deceitful than Congress".

"Those who gave Congress a chance in their states are regretting it. Congress' lies have not spared even Karnataka and Telangana. There is a lot of chaos in Karnataka. Inflation and corruption are at their peak there. Development work has come to a standstill. After the Congress government came to power, both investment and jobs have been reduced. Congress is showing how good states can be ruined," he said.

"This (Gandhi) family has always insulted OBCs, Dalits and Tribals. When Nehru ji was the Prime Minister, he opposed reservation. He wrote a letter to the CMs of the states, proof of which is available. Not only this, Nehru ji had also said that if people with reservations get jobs, the quality of government services will deteriorate. When Indira Gandhi came, she also put a stay on the OBC reservation... Rajiv Gandhi also opposed reservation. In an interview, he even called those who got reservation as 'Buddhu'..."

"Appeasement is the biggest goal for Congress. Today the situation has become such that even Ganpati is being put behind bars in the Congress-ruled state of Karnataka. The whole country is celebrating Ganesh Utsav today and Congress is obstructing it... Today it is not the same old Congress, today's Congress has become the new form of urban Naxal. Congress is no longer ashamed of lying.

"Today, government employees are forced to go on strike there for their salary. Even the Chief Minister and Ministers have to pretend to give up their salary. There, Congress had promised to give Rs 1500 to women and thousands of women are still waiting for this money. In Himachal, Congress has made electricity, water, petrol, diesel, milk, everything expensive...There is no other party in the country more dishonest and deceitful than Congress."

"Congress created a ruckus over the Old Pension Scheme, but when their lies were caught by people, they stopped even talking about the OPS. The BJP, on the other hand, brought the Unified Pension Scheme, which provides an assured pension amount to government employees. Government employees have whole-heartedly welcomed this scheme."

Those who gave Congress a chance in their states are regretting it. Congress' lies have not spared even Karnataka and Telangana. There is a lot of chaos in Karnataka. Inflation and corruption are at their peak there. Development work has come to a standstill. After the Congress govt came to power, both investment and jobs have been reduced. Congress is showing how good states can be ruined... There is a 'Kattar Beimaan Party', this party also has only one policy - to win elections and empty the treasury. You see the condition of Punjab, what they have done. The people of Haryana should not let such parties come near them... I want to challenge that if Congress has the courage, then why doesn't it implement its farmer schemes in Karnataka and Telangana? Show it by doing it somewhere..."

Did any farmer receive money in their accounts during Cong rule, PM Modi asks at poll rally in Haryana, attacking Cong over farmers' issues. "Cong made hue and cry over MSP, I ask them how many crops they buy at MSP in Karnataka and Telangana," Modi said.

Haryana's neighbour is Himachal Pradesh where Congress formed the government couple of years ago. However, no one is happy in Himachal Pradesh now, and Congress made fake promises for every section of the society there. Congress didn't fulfil even one of its promises and government employees are forced to go on strikes for their salaries."

"BJP does what it says. During the campaigning for Lok Sabha elections, I promised to take big decisions for farmers, poor, youth and women in the first 100 days of the BJP government. It's not even 100 days but our government has started projects worth Rs 15 lakh crore."

New govt yet to complete 100 days, but already it has started works worth nearly Rs 15 lakh-crore: PM Modi at Haryana rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be a fight between "three dynasties" and the youth of the union territory.
He named Congress, National Conference (NC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) as the three dynasties whose corrupt practices "hollowed out" and "destroyed" Jammu and Kashmir.

"This year, the elections to Jammu Kashmir assembly are going to be held between th dynasties and the youth of Jammu and Kashmir," PM Modi said in his first rally in the election bound erstwhile State.

"These three families are responsible for the dire state that J-K was in for decades. They indulged in corruption and made you struggle for your basic needs. These families laid the foundation for terrorism and extremism in the valley. They provided a safe haven for the propagation of terrorism for personal gains," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi said, "BJP’s resolution and your support can bring peace, prosperity and security to Jammu and Kashmir."

"Make our candidates win with huge mandate and ensure a brighter future for everyone in the valley!" he added

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I want every child in Jammu and Kashmir to have access to good education. Over the past few years, the BJP govt has inaugurated various schools and colleges in J&K for the betterment of the youth. The long-standing demand for a medical college in Doda was also fulfilled recently by the BJP govt."

PM Modi said, "The BJP government will also be the one to grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir."

"However, you need to be cautious of those who have been depriving you of your rights for their own selfish interests," he added.

While addressing the gathering in Doda, PM Modi said, "Remember the time when an unofficial curfew would be imposed here as soon as the sun set?"

"The situation was such that even the Home Minister of the Congress-led central government was afraid to go to Lal Chowk," he added.

Prime minister Narendra Modi targeted Congress , National Conference and PDP from Doda and said that 3 political families of Jammu and Kashmir destroyed the state. He said that the families turned a blind eye on terrorism for self interest.

PM Modi said, "Till now 'Pariwarwad' did not allow the youth to come forward and that is why after coming to power in 2014, I have tried to bring forward the new leadership of the youth in Jammu and Kashmir. Then in 2018, Panchayat elections were held here. In 2019, BDC elections were held and in 2020, DDC elections were held for the first time. Why were these elections held? So that democracy reaches the grassroots level in Jammu and Kashmir."

"This time's assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir is between three families and the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. One family belongs to Congress, one family belongs to the National Conference and one family belongs to PDP...What these three families have done to you people in Jammu and Kashmir is no less than a sin," he added.

PM Modi said, "I will repay this love and blessings of yours by working twice and thrice as hard for you and the country. Together we will build a safe and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir and this is Modi's guarantee.

Security forces intensified their anti-terror operations in parts of Kishtwar, Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri districts on Saturday, following recent encounters in which two soldiers led down their lives and two terrorists were killed, officials said. A joint operation in the forests of Pingnal Dugadda in the Chhatroo belt of Kishtwar district entered the second day, with reinforcements joining the search parties to hunt down the terrorists responsible for killing two Army personnel, including a JCO, and injuring two others in a gunfight the previous day, they said.

The officials said a vast area was kept under cordon with security forces utilising drones and other modern equipment to locate the terrorists, who fled the scene after the encounter taking advantage of darkness and the dense foliage.

This will be PM Narendra Modi's first rally in election-bound J&K. Elections are going to be held on 8 Assembly seats in three districts Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban in the first phase, voting for which will be held on 18 September.

Nominations of 37 candidates were rejected during Friday's scrutiny of papers of hopefuls from 40 constituencies that will go to the polls in the last phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, officials said. The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is September 16. These seats will go to the polls on October 1.

The nomination papers of candidates from 40 assembly constituencies going to the polls in the third and final phase were scrutinised in the offices of the respective returning officers of the seven districts.

A vibrant Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign was recently organised at the Jhelum Riverfront in Srinagar with the aim to raise awareness among voters ahead of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
The event, led by the District Election Officer, saw participation from students of various schools and colleges, contributing creatively to the initiative to educate voters about the electoral process.

The campaign featured a range of activities, including setting up a demo polling station where students demonstrated the voting process to the public. This hands-on approach helped people familiarise themselves with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and understand voter rights and responsibilities. Students used art, posters, and other engaging activities to capture public interest and spread the message about the importance of voting.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole said on Friday that they are conducting green elections under which around 10-12 plants will be planted at every polling station during the upcoming assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
PK Pole said that the initiative has been taken in view of the rising temperatures and global warming.

"The security has been put in place. We are conducting green elections. Environment is becoming a concern for the world. Temperatures are increasing. Global warming is there. 10-12 plants will be planted at every polling station," Pole told ANI.

He further said that the home voting facility introduced for the first time during the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections will continue in the Assembly elections.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah termed the Baramullah MP Engineer Rashid as an "agent" of the BJP a day after he walked out of Tihar Jail on interim bail.
The bail was granted by Delhi's special NIA court on Tuesday to allow Rashid to campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. He has to surrender on October 3.

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to be held on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting will take place on October 8.

On whether the Jammu and Kashmir Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid's release will have any bearing on the pre-poll alliance of the National Conference and Congress, he said, "I have put my trust on God and the people. He is their agent. Everyone knows it."

A gunfight started overnight between the security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, officials said.

Officials added that an encounter has started during the night intervening September 13-14 in Chak Tappar Kreeri area of Baramulla district.

"Two to three terrorists are believed to be hiding in the area. Operation is going on to neutralise the terrorists," officials said.

Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts of the Valley go to vote in the third and final phase of polling in the Union Territory (UT) on October 1.

Meanwhile, anti-terrorist operation is still underway in Chatroo village of Kishtwar district in Jammu division where two army soldiers were martyred and two others injured in an encounter with a group of terrorists on Friday.

Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer, Pankaj Agarwal, announced on Friday that 1,561 candidates from various political parties and independents have submitted their nomination papers for the October 5 Assembly elections. Among the state's 90 assembly constituencies, Bhiwani has the highest number of candidates at 31, while Nangal Chaudhary has the fewest with 9, he said in an official statement.

The deadline for filing nominations was Thursday, with scrutiny set for Friday. Candidates have until September 16 to withdraw their nominations.

In the Ladwa constituency in Kurukshetra, where Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is contesting, 24 candidates have filed their nominations.

Well aware that even a small margin of votes could tilt the results to their disadvantage, both BJP and Congress have formed teams to win back the rebels contesting as independent candidates in Haryana.

“Those close to the rebels have been asked to pursue them. We are hopeful that a majority of them will withdraw their nominations. Still, we are on a strong footing,” said former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

CM Nayab Singh Saini of BJP is also hopeful of convincing the dissidents to withdraw. “Our teams are already out in the field. Most of them have agreed, while the rest will also join the official candidates,” he said.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is Sept 16.According to sources, Congress is facing rebellion in around 35 seats. Among those who have declared to contest as independents include former chief parliamentary secretary Ram Kishan Fauji, Sharda Rathore, Lalit Nagar and Chitra Sarwara.

Evening campaigns and door-to-door canvassing have returned to Kashmir Valley for the first time since 1987 J&K assembly polls, a cataclysmic riggingriddled exercise on Farooq Abdullah-led NC govt’s watch blamed for alienating people and igniting terrorism in the next few years.

This time, the vignettes of peace and receding terror are hard to miss ahead of the Sept 18-Oct 1 polls. Once having to address voters from a distance, heavily shielded by troops, candidates now shake hands, hug supporters and share tea during door-to-door campaigns, even in downtown Valley constituencies, once the gun’s shadow.

Khurshid Alam, former MLC and PDP candidate from Srinagar’s Eidgah seat, attested to the shift. “Earlier, we returned home before sunset. There was danger then. These days, campaigning goes on till 12 midnight,” Alam said.

Voters echoed the mood. “People, once hesitant and fearful, now openly welcome politicians into their homes, offering tea and blessings. This level of engagement is unprecedented in the past 40 years,” said Gulzar Ahmad of Pulwama’s Rajpora.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir's Doda to address a public rally for the BJP for the upcoming assembly elections, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday. Jitendra Singh visited the venue on Friday evening to review preparations for the public meeting on September 14.

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled for September 18, September 25, and October 1, with counting set for October 8.

Singh noted that this will be the first visit by a Prime Minister to Doda in nearly 50 years.

"There is a lot of excitement among the public as PM Modi has given priority to remote areas...In the past 10 years, a lot of development has taken place in Doda...No Prime Minister has visited Doda in the past 50 years. But after the visit of PM Modi, a message will go that PM Modi has worked a lot, bringing remote areas on par with developed areas," he said while speaking to ANI.