Lok Sabha elections 2019 LIVE updates: GST leaves out a huge chunk of economy, Cong will reform it, says Rahul Gandhi

6:38 pm IST

GST leaves out huge chunk of economy, we will reform it: Rahul Gandhi

“The GST leaves out a huge chunk of the economy. The Congress will reform it,” said Rahul Gandhi.

2.44 pm IST

When theft is caught, he says whole country is chowkidaar: Rahul

“Modi says ‘Before I became PM, the elephant was sleeping’, meaning nothing happened before he came and he wants to run the country alone. But when the theft is caught then he says the whole country is chowkidaar. Modiji please explain to the country why you stole Rs 30,000 crore and gave it to Anil Ambani. Why did you steal from the Air Force?” asks Rahul Gandhi.

2.42 pm IST

Supreme Court judges come out and seek justice: Rahul

Supreme Court judges come before the press and the people and say they can’t function independently and seek justice. Without asking the RBI he introduced demonetisation. He pressures Election Commission. He wants to destroy all the institutions: Rahul

2.40 pm IST

They want to make two Indias: Rahul Gandhi

They want to make two Indias, one of the poor and farmers and the other for the rich like Anil Ambani. In the first India, if you fall sick you have to go to private hospitals. If somebody gets cancer, then lakhs of money go to the same people. We don’t want such an India. If industrialists’ loans are waived then farmers will also get. If they get education so will you. This is the Congress’s vision: Rahul

2.38 pm IST

When Congress was in power, every year we increased MSP: Rahul Gandhi

When Congress was in power, every year we increased MSP (minimum support price). Modi doesn’t do that. He made you pay insurance and gave whole districts to the private sector. You pay the premium and the same 15 people take away all the money: Rahul

2.36 pm IST

Modi says we haven’t waived loans, he lies in front of you: Rahul

In Karnataka both coalition partners are fighting together. We’ve delivered on loan waiver. Modi says we haven’t done it, he lies in front of you, says Rahul

2.34 pm IST

Congress will bring true GST: Rahul

Then he brought in the Gabbar Singh Tax. Lakhs of small business were affected. I am telling you that as soon as our government comes to power we will give you the true GST that doesn’t have five layers. We can’t do anything about the loss you’ve already faced but we assure you that in the future you won’t have to face this: Rahul

2.32 pm IST

Modi made poor, farmers stand in line outside banks: Rahul

India has the highest unemployment in 45 years. Nobody in our history destroyed jobs. He made the poor, farmers and agricultural labourers in lines outside the banks after demonetisation. The thieves snuck into the banks through the back door and made their black money white: Rahul Gandhi

2.30 pm IST

What we promise we deliver: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul asks people if they got Rs 15 lakh as promised by Modi. “Modi waived loans worth 3.5 lakh crore of 15 people. We said farm loans will be waived. Not just in Karnataka, but Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan also we’ve waived loans. What we promise we deliver. If something is uttered on our stage we will follow up on it. Wherever Modi goes he says he’ll provide employment but has he actually delivered,” Rahul says.

2.27 pm IST

Chowkidaar caught red handed, says Rahul

Rahul Gandhi: “Chowkidaar was caught red handed and then he said the whole country was chowkidaar. Before he was caught, the whole country wasn’t chowkidaar, only he was. The whole country knows that chowkidaar...” Audience responds: “Chor hai”

2.25 pm IST

CBI chief removed over inquiry into Rafale deal: Rahul Gandhi

CBI director wanted to launch an inquiry but chowkidaar removed him in the middle of the night. SC says he should be reinstated and then he was removed again within hours, says Rahul Gandhi.

2.20 pm IST

Modi stole employment from you, Rahul tells Karnataka youth

Karnataka’s youth ask Modi for employment but he stole employment from you. Aircraft had to be made by HAL and you’d have gotten jobs but chowkidaar wanted to give it to Anil Ambani, who hasn’t produced aircraft ever.

2.15 pm IST

‘Chowkidaari for whom?’ asks Rahul Gandhi

“When Modi became PM, he said he will be chowkidaar, but for whom did he do chowkidaar?” asks Rahul Gandhi, and answers “Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya.” Rahul attacks Modi over Rafale fighter jet deal, raises price hike issue, giving contract to Anil Ambani.

2 pm IST

Govt focussing on industrialists, says Priyanka Gandhi at Dumduma ghat

Priyanka Gandhi reaches Dumduma ghat in trans-Yamuna area of Prayagraj as part of ‘Ganga Yatra’ on a boat.

Attacking BJP government, she said, “The government is just focussing on industrialists and the chowkidar has become a part of them. The government has turned deaf to the sufferings of the people and anyone who dares to raise their voice is being threatened. During the last 45 years, the past five years have witnessed minimum employment and the workers have failed to even get their dues during the past six months.”

Following this, she leaves for Sirsa, another half hour boat ride from Dumduma ghat.

1.30 pm IST

Rahul Gandhi urged to contest from Karnataka in Lok Sabha polls

State Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao urges Rahul Gandhi to contest from Karnataka in the Lok Sabha elections.

1.20 pm IST

Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders observe silence to pay respects to Parrikar

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party leaders observe two-minute silence at party’s public rally in Kalaburagi, to pay last respects to Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar

12.30 pm IST

Priyanka, Savitribai Phule during Ganga yatra

Priyanka with former BJP MP Savitribai Phule during her Ganga yatra.

12.20 pm IST

Priyanka Gandhi interacts with people during Ganga Yatra

Priyanka Gandhi interacts with people during Ganga Yatra

11.40 am IST

Priyanka Gandhi begins Lok Sabha campaign with Ganga yatra

Priyanka Gandhi begins Lok Sabha campaign with Ganga yatra, interacts with people during boat ride.

11.30 am IST

Priyanka Gandhi begins 3-day long Ganga yatra

Priyanka Gandhi reaches Ganga ghat at Manaiya located in Karchana tehsil of trans-Yamuna area of Prayagraj, around 30 km from the Sangam city. Proceeds to Dumduma Ghat in steamer.  

Prayagraj: Congress General Secretary UP-East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra begins 3-day long 'Ganga-yatra' from Manaiya ghat to Assi Ghat in Varanasi. pic.twitter.com/IY5Dkek6Jc

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 18, 2019

10.40 am IST

Priyanka Gandhi offers prayers at Sangam

Priyanka Gandhi offers prayers at Sangam in Prayagraj before Ganga yatra.

10.30 am IST

Priyanka Gandhi offers prayers at Sangam, set to take out Ganga yatra

Priyanka Gandhi offers prayers at Sangam in Prayagraj, set to take out Ganga yatra.  

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Triveni Sangam, to start 3-day long 'Ganga-yatra' from Chhatnag in Prayagraj to Assi Ghat in Varanasi, today. pic.twitter.com/A6gjtbod33

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 18, 2019

10.10 am IST

Priyanka Gandhi offers prayers at Hanuman temple in Prayagraj

Priyanka Gandhi offers prayers at Bade Hanuman temple in Prayagraj

9.40 am IST

Priyanka Gandhi leaves from Swaraj Bhawan for Sangam

Priyanka Gandhi leaves from Swaraj Bhawan for Sangam

9.15 am IST

Savitri Bai Phule arrives Manaiya ghat for Priyanka Gandhi’s Ganga yatra

Former BJP leader Savitri Bai Phule arrives at Manaiya ghat for Priyanka Gandhi’s Ganga yatra.

8.20 am IST

Preparations underway for Priyanka Gandhi’s Ganga yatra

Preparations underway at Manaiya ghat for Priyanka Gandhi’s Ganga yatra.

8 am IST

Congress supporters wait for Priyanka Gandhi to arrive in Prayagraj