Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today telephoned BJP President Rajnath Singh and said the state government would investigate the serial bomb blasts ahead of Narendra Modi's rally in Patna.

"Nitish Kumar telephoned Rajnath Singh and assured him that the state government will take the investigations to a logical conclusion," sources close to the chief minister said.

Singh was present at the 'hunkar rally' which was addressed by the party's prime ministerial candidate. BJP patriarch L K Advani also spoke to Kumar over phone.

Amid high tension triggered by heavy firing and shelling along Indo-Pak border in Jammu frontier during past fortnight, Indian and Pakistani troops are likely to hold a flag meeting tomorrow to de-escalate tension.

"The flag meeting is likely to be held tomorrow (with Pakistan Rangers) to defuse the tension and end ceasefire violations along International Border," a senior BSF officer said.

"We are making all efforts to hold the flag meeting to defuse the tension and response from other side has already been received," he said.

Amid high tension triggered by heavy firing and shelling along Indo-Pak border in Jammu frontier during past fortnight, Indian and Pakistani troops are likely to hold a flag meeting tomorrow to de-escalate tension.

"The flag meeting is likely to be held tomorrow (with Pakistan Rangers) to defuse the tension and end ceasefire violations along International Border," a senior BSF officer said.

"We are making all efforts to hold the flag meeting to defuse the tension and response from other side has already been received," he said.

Making a strong attack against Narendra Modi, whom he termed a "megalomaniac psychopathliar", Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh today stoked a fresh controversy saying why can BJP not field a "better leader" like Sushma Swaraj as its prime ministerial candidate.   

Swaraj, however, was quick to dismiss Singh's comments with the retort, "Even I think Digvijay Singhji is a better candidate than Rahul Gandhi" on twitter.com.  

The BJP leader's response was to a tweet by Singh in which he, while slamming Modi over his remarks that Jawaharlal Nehrudid not attend the funeral of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, said"And BJP wants Indian Voters to vote for this Megalomaniac Psychopath Lier (sic)! Couldn't BJP find a better leader?What's wrong with Sushma?"

Incessant rains lashing Andhra Pradesh for the last five days have claimed 42 lives so far in various rain-related incidents like wall collapse and inundated crops in about eight lakh hectares, official sources said here today.   

Five persons were also missing in the wake of heavy rains, triggered by a low pressure area and north eastmonsoon, and floods, the sources said. They said 84,769 people have been evacuated to safer places and 225 relief camps set up so far to provide shelterand offer help.   

Nineteen teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in various districts for rescue operations.   

The state government has deployed 580 medical teams toprovide aid to the victims of heavy rains.

"The serial blasts in Patna seem to be a pre-planned attack. There was no intelligence input either from the Centre or the state," said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Security was tightened keeping in mind the BJP rally, he said.

Those injured in the blast will get a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each.  

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today condemned the serial blasts in Patna. He said that there were eight explosions that rocked the city and five people have been killed in the incident.

Blasts took place at various places including Gandhi maidan, where Narendra Modi held his rally. The police have defused several bombs and a few police personnel have been injured while defusing them.

"The NIA has been involved in the investigation," said the Bihar CM. "The blasts are an attempt to disrupt law and order situation in Bihar."   

Two suspects have been held in the serial blasts that rocked Patna today. One of them has confessed to his involvement.

Raids are being conducted to nab others involved in the blasts.  

 A day after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla today alleged that she had been "mentally tortured" by the party in Chhattisgarh.

"I feel that the BJP in Chhattisgarh was mentally torturing me because of which I felt that my usefulness to the party had come to an end," Ms Shukla, an ex-MP from Janjgir and former member of the undivided Madhya Pradesh Assembly, told PTI today.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel wins Indian Grad Prix. He was crowned world champion for the fourth straight time.   

As part of preparations to meet challenges from China and Pakistan, India is planning to lay 14 strategic railway lines close to borders with these two countries to help in easier and faster movement of troops. The railway lines are besides 73 roads being constructed along the Line of Actual Control with China, sources said here today.

Out of the 14 planned railway lines, survey has been completed for 12, they said. The railway lines have been planned in Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. Of the 73 roads with a total length of 3812 km, laying of 61 roads covering 3,404 km have been assigned to Border Roads Organisation, the sources said.

The home ministry today sought a report from the Bihar government after a series of low-intensity blasts in and around Patna's Gandhi Maidan, the venue for BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's rally.

The Centre is sending a team of National Investigation Agency to assist in further investigations.Concerned over the blast at the Patna railway station and recovery of two more crude bombs, the ministry told the state government to send a report about the nature of the bomb, suspected persons or organisations which could be behind it and steps taken to maintain law and order, official sources said.

Sachin Tendulkar out for five runs in Ranji trophy game in the Mumbai-Haryana match. Mohit Sharma claimed Sachin's wicket on the first day of the game.

Sachin was accorded a guard of honour today before the game began. Sachin, who had announced his retirement from international cricket after the Test series against the West Indies next month, is here to play in what could be his last Ranji Trophy match for his state side, the opponents being hosts Haryana.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel put himself on pole position for a fourth successive Formula One seen at the Buddh International Circuit ahead of the race.

Spotted ahead of Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit: Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor and wife Sunanda Pushkar.   

"This is not only a historic rally, but a rally that will set a new history," Narendra Modi said at the Hunkar rally in Patna.

Talking about special status for Bihar he said, "The Bihar BJP has asked a package of Rs 50,000 crore. Should this not be fulfilled? Delhi may or may not give the status. It is a matter of 200 days and I will return the affection I have received in Bihar," he said.    

"Pakistan beheaded jawans from Bihar. They were martyred. But here, there is a government whose minister says -- they go to the borders to die only," Narendra Modi said. "Such ministers should drown in shame."

The nation wants change. From all four sides dirt is being thrown at us. But I tell them, the more dirt you fling the more the lotus will bloom," he said.

Continuing his tirade against the Congress, Narendra Modi said, "The Congress promised to clean the Ganga. What happened? Did they fulfil their promise?"

"Poverty is a very big issue and due to price rises poor have nothing to eat. Children are crying. Who committed this sin?. They are neither bothered about the farmers nor about the poor. Do they know what poverty is? Do they know what hunger is. We are born in poverty we have experienced it," he said.

"Bihar gave so many rail ministers. Forget the post of the rail minister, I used to sell tea in trains," he said.

Further slamming Nitish Kumar, Narendra Modi said, "He did not betray the BJP but he betrayed the people of Bihar. He betrayed you all."

Modi then went on to criticising the Congress. "Gandhi ji said in Champaran that we want an India free of British. Today from Gandhi Maidan lets dream of Congress mukt India." 

"I was seeing TV last night, our Congress friends seem very troubled. The Congressmen are saying why is Modi calling Rahul the shehzaada. But why did we have to start calling him that? If you feel bad on being called shehzaada then the nation also feels bad on this dynasty politics."

"Dynasty is biggest enemy of democracy. Other enemy is casteism, communal politics and other is opportunism. Sadly, in the politics of Bihar all four evils are present and same in the rule of the UPA," Modi said.

"When the Congress came during last elections, they promised to bring prices down in 100 days, but did prices come down," he asked. "The UPA made the government in 2004 and 2009 and you gave some points in the CMP. But 80 per cent work is not done. Can we forgive such people," he asked.

"I want to tell the descendants of Shri Krishna, I have come from Dwarka and take responsibility of your well being," Modi said.

He continued bashing Nitsh, "We do have meeting of CMs and once I was with my Bihar friend on the same table. But he was looking left and right. I told him there is no camera man, please eat. There is a limit to hypocrisy: There was time BJP was two times of the JD-U, but bigger than the party was the nation and still to end Jungle Raj we made our friend the CM."

"In a week the government fell. It was our effort to free Bihar of jungle raj. That is why we accepted his leadership. Till the time JDU and BJP worked together, if there was someone who did good work it was BJP ministers," Modi said. 

"There were 2 elections then. There was issue should Narendra Modi come to Bihar or not That time I said the main aim is never let jungle raj return. If Modi has to get insulted let it be, Bihar is more important. Bigger than party is nation and that is why we also took insult also. But his intentions were not good. His friends told him join Congress and become PM."

Narendra Modi then went on to talk about jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. "You saw our Lalu ji never leaves a chance to abuse me, but 3 months ago he met with an accident and I called Lalu ji. I did not tell media but Lalu ji called the media and said this man who I abuse called me and asked about me."

And while Rahul continues his speech in Delhi, here's what Modi is saying in Patna:

"When the nation was immersed in corruption then it was this Bihar that gave the nation Jai Prakash Narayan."

Slamming Nitsh, Modi said, "The CM is my friend. People ask me why did your friend leave the BJP, I said, 'he who leaves JP the what is BJP."

"Those who consider them disciples of Lohia, they have stabbed him in the back and are with the Congress. JP and Lohia ji will never forgive their actions," said.

"It was in 2006-07 your CM and my friend came to Gujarat for a wedding, I was also there and were on same table.We fed him so much, he was our guest. We filled his stomach," he said. 

As Narendra Modi addressed his rally in Patna, Congress Vice President spoke in Delhi.

"Sheilaji has changed Delhi. I want to give you a few examples. Take transport. You take the Metro? In Jakarta, Indonesia, people are giving examples of this metro. It used to be a small airport."

"The youth have gained in Delhi .And the most important thing: we move forward with migrants in Delhi. We helped the poor in 1,500 unauthorised colonies. Who is a Congressi? Whenever we meet a victim of any kind, a Congressman says I will fight for him or her? When a Congressman fights, he doesn't fight with anger, he fights with love and heart."

"When you see a weak and a poor, you feel like helping them. You talk of rights. We have given the right to food, work and education. Every Indian should have the right to ask any question to the government."

"We brought RTI. That empowered people. The decisions in closed rooms reached the people.There used to be ration cards earlier. The needy never got it. We said food should reach everyone. The opposition said where's the money for the food? We said we will find money and we showed it. We want to empower the poor. The NDA government was there, and they talk of infrastructure. I took out the statistics. We made three times more roads than the NDA.We want to open the system. The Opposition says no, let it remain closed," he said.

"Go to any hospital and the government guarantees free treatment. Why? Because if you look at the reasons behind poverty, the biggest reason is health. A worker spends all his savings on health. We asked you what you want, and accordingly made our policies. No one can ever say that 'there's been no development in Delhi', not even the Opposition," he said.

"Today is the Hunkaar (battle cry) rally. This Hunkaar is for what? This is Hunkaar of the poor of India," Narendra Modi said in Patna."Desh hunkaar karna chahata hai...and the inspiration is coming from Bihar," he said.

"When the nation needed Lord Buddha, Bihar gave Lord Buddha, it gave the nation Lord Mahavira and when nation needed it gave Guru Gobind Singh."

Speaking at his first ever rally in Patna, Narendra Modi said, "Yeh maha rally nahi hai, yeh Bharat ki mahashakti ka anusthan hai."

He said that no change was possible in the country without Bihar's role in it.

Taking a dig at rival Nitish Kumar he said, "Barring some exceptions people of Bihar are not opportunistic."     

BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi addresses the crowds gathered for his rally in Patna. He starts with chants of Bharat mata ki jay. 

More updates for the rally in Patna: BJP chief Rajnath Singh said, "I assure you the day the BJP will form the government we will try to improve the condition of our farmers,"

Taking a dig at the PM he said, "Whatever the PM puts his hands on it  disappears -- potato, onions, coal files," he said.

NDTV reports: Rahul Gandhi arrives to address rally in Delhi, which goes to polls on December 4. He is seen sharing the stage with Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit.

Over 50,000 people have gathered at the venue.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh speaks at the rally in Hunkar, Patna. "Narendra Modi jana jana ke asha hai, jana jana ke bharosa hai, (Modi is every person's hope, every person's confidence)," he said.

"You have seen a government led by the BJP. In six years, prices were not allowed to rise..this was the BJP government," he said,

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley addresses the crowds gathered at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

"On September 13, BJP declared  Modi as the PM candidate and the political landscape of the nation has changed. Ek sinhasan badlega Delhi ka aur doosra badlega Patna ka," said Jaitley.

"The government at the Centre has been the most corrupt government in history and the leadership is disappointing," he added. "As Mangal Pandey ji said, bring 40 on 40 seats and show the way for change."

Vicky Nanjappa reports: The Bihar police have detained one person in connection with the series of low-intensity blasts that took place at Patna this morning. According to sources, the person was picked from close to Gandhi Maidan, where the Narendra Modi rally is being held.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi arrives at the venue of the rally in New Delhi. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party has said that they are going ahead with Narendra Modi's rally despite the blasts. Modi is heading to the venue at Hunkar, Patna.  

Three bombs explode near Patna's Gandhi Maidan as Narendra Modi lands for rally at Hunkar. 

A second explosive device has gone off at a movie theatre in Patna this morning, reports CNN-IBN. Earlier, a person was killed in a crude bomb blast at the railway station. Five other people have been injured in the low-intensity blast.

Details of the third blast are awaited.

BJP's PM-in-waiting Narendra Modi has arrived in Patna for the Hunkar rally. 14 trains and 3,000 buses are reportedly bringing BJP supporters to Patna.

This is the first rally in Patna since BJP's split with the Janata Dal-United. 
 

One person has been killed in a crude bomb explosion at the Patna railway station today ahead of Narendra Modi's rally. 

Sources in the home ministry said that terror angle cannot be ruled out. "We are in touch with the state government seeking detailed reports," sources in the ministry said.

NDTV reports: Over 25,000 thousand people have already gathered at Patna's Gandhi Maidan, waiting to hear Narendra Modi, who is expected to arrive at 1 pm.

This is Modi's first-ever public rally in Bihar, a state he was kept out of by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar when they were partners.

Gold prices may cross the Rs 33,000 level on 'Dhanteras', a day considered auspicious for buying the precious metal, on account of rising demand amid tight supplies, experts and bullion traders say.

Despite the expected price rise, the festive demand for jewellery on 'Dhanteras' on November 1 is expected to remain stable, but sale of coins and bars would see a decline by almost 50 per cent from the year-ago period, they estimated.

The all-time record for gold prices is Rs 34,500 per 10 grams in the New Delhi market. The precious metal hit this level on August 28 this year. Currently, gold prices are ruling at Rs 32,570 in the national capital and around Rs 31,700 in Mumbai, trade data showed.

A crude bomb has exploded at the Patna railway station this morning leaving one person injured. The victim has been rushed to the Patna Medical College.

The explosion has taken place inside the station premises.

The bomb disposal and FSL have reached the spot. No arrests have been made yet.

The blast occurs ahead of Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Narendra Modi's rally in Hunkar, Patna.

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