Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE updates: EC issues notice to Sadhvi Pragya for \'proud of Babri demolition\' comment

Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE updates: EC issues notice to Sadhvi Pragya for 'proud of Babri demolition' comment

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: The Election Commission has issued a notice to Sadhvi Pragya for her comment on Babri Masjid demolition.  She said that she was proud of it.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi

Phase 3 of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 is just a day away. Ahead of the polls that will be conducted in 116 constituencies across 15 states, campaigns are also underway in full force. To begin with, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah are scheduled to hold rallies in home-turf Gujarat. PM Modi will hold a rally in Rajasthan also.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against Congress's South Mumbai candidate Milind Deora under Section 171 of IPC and Section 125 of Presentation of People's Act.

In yet another development, controversial BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya said in an interview to Aaj Tak that she is proud of demolishing Babri Masjid and that it has "awakened the self-respect of our country". She added that they will construct a grand Ram Temple.

Follow the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 LIVE updates on the BusinessToday.in blog here:

11:40am: Congress condoles the Sri Lanka blasts on Easter Sunday.

11:19am: Bhopal District Election Officer issued a notice to BJP candidate Pragya Singh Thakur and sought explanation within a day for her remarks, "I had demolished the structure (in Ayodhya). I will go there & help in the construction of Ram temple": ANI.

10:55am: BSP supremo Mayawati said, "Narendra Modi is roaming around in UP and saying that the UP has made him the PM of the country, which is true, but why did he betray 22 million people of UP? If the UP can make them PM, then they can also remove him from the post." She also added that BSP's alliance with SP and RLD has made people happy, which has shocked the BJP.

10:32am: On Saturday West Bengal's ruling party Trinamool Congress demanded from the Election Commission the removal of Special Observer Ajay Nayak following his comment that the state's present condition is same to what it was in Bihar 10-15 years ago.

10:30am: Sadhvi Pragya said, "Yes, I had gone there (Ayodhya), I had said it yesterday too, not denying it. I had demolished the structure. I will go there and help in the construction of Ram temple, nobody can stop us from doing that, Ram rashtra hain, rashtra Ram hain."

10:26am: Supporters of Senior Delhi Congress leader Raj Kumar Chauhan protest outside Rahul Gandhi's residence alleging that Chauhan is being denied a Lok Sabha ticket.

10:25am: PM Modi tweeted, "In Rajasthan, there is a sense of betrayal and despondency after Congress came to power. People will reject Congress."

10:20am: In an interview to Aaj Tak, BJP's Bhopal candidate, Sadhvi Pragya said that she is proud of the Babri Masjid demolition. "Why would we regret the demolition of the Babri Masjid? We are, in fact, proud of it. There were some waste products of the Ram temple and we removed it. This has awakened the self-respect of our country and we will construct a grand Ram temple," she said.

"The Congress has ruled for 70 years and look what it has done. Even our temples were not secure. By gathering and demolishing the structure of the Babri Masjid, the Hindus have awakened the self-respect of the country. Where will the Ram temple be constructed if not in this country?" she said.

Sadhvi Pragya further added, "The public is with me. My candidature has motivated them. Everyone is telling me that their confidence has doubled ever since my name was declared for the Lok Sabha election in Bhopal."

10:15am: FIR registered against Congress candidate from South Mumbai Milind Deora under section 171 of IPC (giving false statements for elections) and section 125 of the Presentation of People's Act (promoting enmity between classes in connection with elections): ANI.