Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE | 'Unfortunate, Unacceptable': Congress Distances Itself From Sam Pitroda's 'Racist' Remarks

Lok Sabha Chunav 2024 LIve News Updates: In a recent interview with The Statesman, Congress' Sam Pitroda made the 'racist' remarks while trying to describe the diversity of India.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 4 Live: With the conclusion of Phase 3, voting in half of the Lok Sabha seats (283) has concluded, covering 20 states and union territories. The fourth phase, consisting of 96 seats across ten states/UTs, will be held on May 13. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election meeting in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district and hold a roadshow in Vijayawada, NTR district. The meeting is scheduled for around 2 p.m. at Kaliri near Rajampeta, with the roadshow starting around 5 p.m.

From the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium on Bandar Road in Vijayawada. Wednesday's public meeting will be Modi's third in the southern state leading up to the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections on May 13.

It follows two recent meetings in Rajamahendravaram and Anakapalli, which were preceded by the first NDA election meeting on March 17 at Boppudi village in Palnadu district's Chilakaluripeta mandal, following the election schedule announcement on March 16.

N Kiran Kumar is the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate for Rajampeta. In the Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat, he will face P Mithun Reddy of the YSRCP, and K Sivanath of the TDP will face his brother K Srinivas of the ruling party. The election results will be declared on June 4.

Stay tuned to Zee News english for live updates on Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 campaign.

08 May 2024

16:51 IST

Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha Chunav 2024 LIVE: 'YSRCP Is Running Gunga Raaj', Says PM Modi In Rajampet Rally

PM Modi in a public rally in Rajampet in Andhra Pradesh attacked the YSRCP government accusing it of betraying the public. Modi said, "YSRCP did the development of mafia not the poor. YSRCP Minister is running 'Gunga Raaj' and everyone has seen it." He added that the Mafias should know that their countdown has started as the NDA government will do proper treatment.

15:07 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Congress Calls Sam Pitroda's Remark 'Unacceptable'

Hours after Congress leader Sam Pitroda's remark on the 'colour of citizens' of India stirred a fresh controversy, the Congress has distanced itself from the comments and called it 'unacceptable'. 

In a post on 'X', Congress General Secretary and Communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh said that the party does not support his views and described it as "unfortunate and unacceptable".

Jairam Ramesh wrote, "The analogies drawn by Sam Pitroda in a podcast to illustrate India's diversity are most unfortunate and unacceptable."

"The Indian National Congress completely dissociates itself from such analogies," he added.

14:31 IST

Lok Sabha Elections Live: Priyanka Gandhi Responds To PM Modi's Attack On Her Brother Rahul

On the fresh allegations by PM Narendra Modi against former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said, “Today Narendra Modi said Rahul Gandhi is silent on Adani's name. But Rahul Gandhi talks about Adani every day.” As per ANI, Priyanka added that Rahul exposes the truth about big industrialists’ nexus with PM Modi every day. 

13:35 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Questions Rahul Gandhi's Silence On Adani-Ambani 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched an all-out attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioning the party's sudden silence on Adani and Ambani and questioned them on having received money from the industrialists. Addressing a public meeting here today, PM Modi said that for years the Congress’ ‘Shehzada’ used to speak of ‘5 industrialists’ and then he started to speak only of “Ambani and Adani” and now they are silent on them.

13:16 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Holds Press Conference After Sam Pitroda's Remark 

On Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda's controversial "People in East look like Chinese, in South, look like Africans..." remark, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi says, "...Today, Sam Pitroda, to whom Rahul Gandhi is a disciple, has given a very objectionable statement on India, its culture, India's identity and the identity of its people. It seems that this subject isn't limited only to elections or politics but to the existence of India, as they are questioning the very identity of the country."

12:27 IST

Lok Sabha Elections Live: BJP Reacts To Sam Pitroda's Controversial Remark 

On Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda's controversial "People in East look like Chinese, in South look like Africans..." remark, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla says, "This is a shocking, despicable and disgusting comment made by Sam Pitroda. He is the mentor of Rahul Gandhi. It is the word, spirit, vocabulary and ideology of Rahul Gandhi... First, they divided on the basis of caste, religion and language. Now, they are dividing Indian vs. Indian. And to make a comment like Indians are like Chinese, isn't it a racist comment?... Isn't it an insulting and objectionable comment? It shows that 'Congress ki Mohabbat ki Dukan actually has Nafrat and Racism ka Saman'..."

12:15 IST

Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Minister Piyush Goyal Campaigns On Scooter

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North, Piyush Goyal participates in an election campaign on a scooter in Mumbai. Congress has fielded Bhushan Patil from the Mumbai North seat. Mumbai North goes to polls on May 20.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North, Piyush Goyal participates in an election campaign on a scooter in Mumbai.

Congress has fielded Bhushan Patil from the Mumbai North seat. Mumbai North goes to polls on May 20.#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/rNT5WHfgjz

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2024

11:30 IST

Lok Sabha Chunav 2024: PM Modi Addresses Rally In Telangana 

In his address to a public meeting in Telangana's Karimnagar, PM Narendra Modi says, "...For all these years, both these parties (Congress & BRS) have given Hyderabad to AIMIM on lease. If someone has challenged the AIMIM for the first time, it's BJP. More than AIMIM, it's Congress & BRS who are rattled by the challenge from the BJP. Both are helping AIMIM to win in Hyderabad."

11:09 IST

Lok Sabha Polls: PM Modi Compares 'RR Tax' With 'RRR' Film 

In his address to a public meeting in Telangana's Karimnagar, PM Narendra Modi says, "From Telangana to Delhi, there is a lot of discussion about 'double R' (RR) tax. A film named 'RRR' was released a few days back in the Telugu language, someone told me that 'RR' has left behind 'RRR' in the collection. It is reported that 'RRR' has a lifetime collection of over Rs 1000 cr, but this much money is just a few days collection of 'RR' tax."

10:45 IST

"Lotus Will Bloom In Haryana," Says Former CM Manohar Lal Khattar

Manohar Lal Khattar, former Haryana Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Karnal on Wednesday said that the party will win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state and the lotus will bloom. Speaking with ANI, Manohar Lal Khattar said, "Hundreds of people have come here in support... In this area, the BJP has been winning from the past three elections. This time, we will register a win with more votes than last time. We will win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana..."

10:24 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Kapil Sibbal Slams PM Modi Over 'Expiry Date' Remark 

"Unki expiry date na kahin aa jaaye," says Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on PM Modi's "expiry date of INDI alliance has been fixed for 4th June" remark. 

#WATCH | Delhi: "Unki expiry date na kahin aa jaaye," says Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on PM Modi's "expiry date of INDI alliance has been fixed for 4th June" remark pic.twitter.com/Ugf99gFiY3

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2024

09:40 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live Updates: Priyanka To Campaign For Rahul Gandhi In Rae Bareli

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will attend several campaign events for her brother Rahul Gandhi in Raebareli on Wednesday.

09:23 IST

LS Polls Live Updates: Gadkari In Bihar Today

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will address a public meeting in Bihar's Matihani at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

09:10 IST

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE Updates:

BJP President J.P. Nadda will attend the party's 'Panna Pramukh Conference' in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. From Bilaspur, the BJP chief will travel to Mandi to address a public meeting at 2:30 p.m.

08:45 IST

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 Latest Updates: Shah To Campaign In UP, Maharashtra Today

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, will campaign in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra on Wednesday. In Uttar Pradesh, he will speak at public meetings in Lakhimpur Kheri at 12 noon, Hardoi at 1:30 p.m., and Kannauj at 2:45 p.m. Following that, the Home Minister will travel to Maharashtra to hold a rally in Jalna at 6 p.m.

08:30 IST

Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 LIVE: PM Modi To Offer Prayers At Temple In Karimnagar 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer prayers at the Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple in Telagana's Karimnagar on Wednesday before launching the state's Lok Sabha election campaign. After praying, the Prime Minister will address a public meeting in Karimnagar at 10 a.m., followed by one in Warangal at 12 p.m. He will then travel to Andhra Pradesh to address a public meeting in Rajampet at 3:45 p.m., followed by a roadshow in Vijayawada at around 7 p.m.

08:02 IST

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE Updates: Priyanka Likens Modi Govt To British Raj  

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Central government, claiming that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, "British Raj-like conditions prevail throughout the country. The Modi government's policies benefit billionaires rather than the poor."

"International reports show that today's inequality in India is worse than it was during British rule," Priyanka Gandhi said on Tuesday while addressing Congress workers in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli constituency, where her brother and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is running.

08:00 IST

Lok Sabha Chunav 2024 Live News: PM To Hold Roadshow In Varanasi On 13th May

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will file his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on May 14, and before that, he will hold a road show in his constituency on May 13. Before beginning the roadshow, PM Modi will pay tribute to the Madan Mohan Malviya statue at the main gate of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Lanka. The roadshow will continue until Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.