LIVE! Sunny Deol meets Shah; may get Amritsar ticket

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Sat, 20 April 2019

Sunny Deol meets Shah; may get Amritsar ticket

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21:22 Sunny Deol meets Shah; may get Amritsar ticket

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah met Bollywood actor Sunny Deol at Pune Airport lounge on Friday evening.

The meeting which lasted around five minutes sparked speculations that the BJP might field the actor from Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency.

Yogesh Gogawale, BJP district president, Pune while talking to ANI confirmed that the meeting between the two was scheduled but refused to divulge the details of the conversation.

"It was a scheduled meeting. I don't know what conversation took place between them," Yogesh told ANI.

"Amit Shah came to Baramati as per the scheduled programme. When he was at the airport, Sunny Deol was also there. He met Amit Shah for five minutes," he added.

The BJP had fielded its senior leader Arun Jaitley from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat in 2014.

However, Jaitley lost to Captain Amarinder Singh of the Congress.The seat was won by Navjot Singh Siddhu in 2004 and 2009 on a BJP ticket.

Siddhu was reportedly miffed at being denied a ticket from Amritsar in 2014.

In fact, this is said to be one of the key reasons behind his decisions to quit BJP.

The former cricketer had joined Congress just before the assembly polls in Punjab.

All 10 seats of Punjab will go to polls in the last phase on May 19.

The results will be announced on May 23. -- ANI

20:27 EC orders transfer of Malda police chief

The Election Commission on Saturday ordered the transfer of the Malda police chief in West Bengal, just days ahead of the April 23 Lok Sabha polls in the district.

The Commission asked the state government to shunt out Arnab Ghosh as SP, Malda, and replace him with Ajoy Prasad, who is heading a state armed police battalion.

The EC also made it clear to the state government that Ghosh should not be put on election duty.

Malda goes to polls on April 23 in phase three of Lok Sabha elections.

Recently, when the poll watchdog had transferred some senior police officials, state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had accused it of working as a 'tool' of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Rejecting the allegation, the EC had said it was well within its rights to transfer officials during election period. -- PTI

20:11 Nobody should insult 'martyrs': Uddhav

Nobody should make statements that insult 'martyrs', Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday, referring to Bharatiya Janata Party's Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's controversial comment on IPS officer Hemant Karkare, who was killed during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

Thakur, the BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha seat candidate and an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, is under fire for claiming that Karkare died in the attack as she had 'cursed' him for 'torturing' her.

"Nobody should make statements that insult martyrs. Sadhvi made a wrong comment, for which she later apologised," Thackeray told reporters in Mumbai.

Thakur's comments had drawn flak from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well on Friday.

"Late Mr Karkare was a very brave and upright police officer and will be revered as a martyr forever. Sadhvi Pragya's remark is her personal opinion and we don't support it," Fadnavis had said.

"She has also apologised and said that it (the statement) was made out of personal pain. However, I feel that such a statement should never be made," the chief minister had said.

Investigations in the blast case was led by Karkare, who was the then chief of the Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad.

Thakur at a rally in Bhopal on Thursday had said Karkare committed an 'anti-national' act by falsely implicating her in the Malegaon blast case and keeping her behind bars without evidence.

"It was treason. It was against religion," she said.

"He tortured me and subjected me to harsh abuse which was unbearable. I told him he will be destroyed. A little over a month later 'sutak' (ritual observed after death of a family member) was going to start... just over a month later, he was shot dead by terrorists and the inauspicious period ended," she had said.

Out on bail, Thakur has been discharged by a court on charges under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the 2008 case, but is still facing trial under other criminal provisions, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

On Friday, according to an aide of hers, she apologised for her remarks at a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh's Berasia area.

Her aide Upma Singh said, "Pragya ji said if her remarks have hurt someone, she was sorry for it."

"I felt that the enemies of the country were being benefited from it (my remarks), so I take back my statement and apologise for it. It was my personal pain," the aide quoted Thakur as saying. -- PTI

19:48 Missing EC nodal officer yet to be traced

The Election Commission's nodal officer who has gone missing from his office in Krishnagar in West Bengal since Thursday afternoon is yet be traced, Nadia District Magistrate Sumit Gupta said on Saturday.

The 30-year-old officer, Arnab Roy, was in-charge of EVMs and VVPATs for the Ranaghat parliamentary constituency.

The Nadia administration has lodged a missing complaint with the Kotwali police station at Krishnagar.

Roy's wife, Anisha Jash, also lodged a missing diary with the police on Thursday night.

"We are yet to spot our officer. The search is on for him," Gupta told PTI.

Gupta rubbished rumours that Roy was spotted in Asansol, his hometown, in Paschim Bardhaman district.

"We have shared his photographs on social networking sites, with the police of other districts, with the media and with adjoining states. There is no news of him," he said.

Asked whether the officer was suffering from any psychological problem due to work-related stress, Gupta said, "I do not have any idea about that."

"But we have come to know about an earlier incident when Roy had gone missing for two days. He was a joint block development officer (BDO) then," the district magistrate said.

Rumours were rife that Roy had an altercation with the district magistrate a few days ago. Gupta, however, denied it.

On Thursday, Roy had left for work from his official residence and went to Bipradas Choudhury Polytechnic College, his current place of work.

He went missing from there. His vehicle was found parked outside the college.

Both of his mobile phones are switched off and the police traced their last location near Shantipur, around 18 km from Krishnagar.

Roy's wife dismissed that her husband was 'depressed'.

"I want to clarify that my husband was not depressed at all. He was absolutely normal and was not tensed with anything and I will like to stress that we have been in a healthy relationship," she told reporters after meeting police officers in Krishnagar on Saturday morning.

The Ranaghat parliamentary constituency, considered to be a stronghold of the Trinamool Congress, will go to polls on April 29, during the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. -- PTI

19:14 Minister files police complaint against Pragya

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Tarun Bhanot on Saturday lodged a police complaint seeking action against Bharatiya Janata Party's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur for her remarks against former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare.

Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, had earlier claimed Karkare died in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as she had 'cursed' him for 'torturing' her.

Bhanot said he had filed the case with the city's Gorakhpur police station as a private citizen and not in the capacity of a state minister.

"I as a citizen filed a complaint with the city police demanding action against BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh for making derogatory remarks against Hemant Karkare," Bhanot told PTI in Jabalpur.

"I am hurt with her remarks against a martyr and filed the complaint as a citizen and not a minister. I am seeking action as per law against her," he added. -- PTI

18:48 Ex-Union minister from Kerala joins BJP

Former Union minister and Kerala leader S Krishna Kumar, who was in the Congress, on Saturday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying that he wanted to work to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

The 80-year-old leader was inducted into the party by BJP leader Anil Baluni and Shahnawaz Hussain at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

Kumar said Modi has been working to develop India and he should continue to lead the country.

He has been elected to the Lok Sabha three times during 80s and 90s, and was also a minister in the then Congress governments at the Centre. -- PTI

Citing a complaint filed against Rahul Gandhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday raised questions on the Congress president's citizenship and educational qualification, and asked him to come clean on the matter.

The BJP's reaction comes in the wake of the complaint filed with returning officer in Amethi seat against Gandhi's candidature in which allegations and objections have been made about his citizenship and qualification.

The returning officer (RO) has fixed on Monday as the next date of hearing on the matter.

BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao told reporters it was 'stunning' that Gandhi's lawyer sought time to reply to the objections.

"These are serious allegations. Is Rahul Gandhi an Indian citizen or not? Did he ever become a British citizen? He should come out with the real story," he said.

There was no immediate reaction from the Congress.

Election Commission sources said the returning officer is the final authority on such a matter, but he cannot check the veracity of whatever is written on an election affidavit.

"If someone approaches an RO raising objections, he must hear the affected party. If anyone has any objection to whatever is recorded in an affidavit, the person should approach court. The EC has no role in any objection made to election affidavit," they said.

Rao claimed that a British company, in which Gandhi had said in 2004 that he made investment, in its submission to the authorities there stated that Gandhi was a British citizen.

Referring to the complaint, the BJP spokesperson said there are 'discrepancies and attempts to suppress facts' in Gandhi's affidavits filed during different elections from 2004 to 2014.

The Congress chief had said that he did M Phil in development economics from Cambridge University, but later claimed it was in development studies, Rao alleged.

The BJP spokesman said inquiries show that one Rahul Vincy and not Rahul Gandhi got the degree in that particular year.

"We will like to know if Rahul Gandhi goes by multiple names in different countries," Rao said.

He also wondered if the Gandhi scion's qualification was like Congress manifestos that change every five years. -- PTI

17:45 Priyanka: Modi 'betrayed' his voters

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre, saying it had 'betrayed' the faith of the people who had voted it to power.

The All India Congress Committee in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh also alleged all that the NDA government had done in last five years was to divide the country.

"This is my country, these hills are my country, the wheat fields in Uttar Pradesh are my country. Tamil Nadu is mycountry, Gujarat is my country, north east is my country. But all that BJP has done in last five years, is just to divide the nation," Priyanka said.

"Five years ago, a government came to power that was voted with majority. The people of our country, with all their wisdom, rested their faith upon them.

"But from the moment it came to power, it began to betray the faith of the people," she alleged.

"They promised farmers that they will double their income. They promised youngsters that two crore jobs will be created. But once they came to power, they forgot who gave them the power," she added.

Alleging that they (the Bharatiya Janata Party) began to believe that power belonged to them and not with the people, the Congress leader said the first indication to that belief was when its President said the promise of Rs 15 lakh was for the sake of election.

"He said it was a Jumla (gimmick)," Priyanka claimed.

Priyanka Gandhi, who is in the constituency to campaign for her brother Rahul Gandhi, said he believes 'with all his heart' in democracy and freedom of expression in language and culture.

She also gave an emotional speech about her brother,their life, the death of their grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, their father Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul's education, nature and many more. -- PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party's Badaun candidate Sanghmitra Maurya was caught on camera encouraging her supporters to indulge in 'fake' voting.

In a video which has gone viral on social media, Maurya is seen addressing party workers at an election meeting and asking them to cast votes of those not present on the polling day.

"Not a single vote should go in vain and if some are absent, then it is common everywhere that fake vote is cast... if you get a chance, do take advantage of it... do not do it, but if you get a chance... try to take the real voters to cast their votes but in case... then something can be done in a hidden manner," she says amidst peals of laughter.

District Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Singh, when contacted, said he was not aware of the matter but would look into the claims.

Maurya, daughter of Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya, had earlier hit the headlines by saying that she would become a goon if anyone tried to bully the people of Badaun.

The Badaun Lok Sabha constituency will vote in the third phase of the general election on April 23. -- PTI

16:15 EC bans web series on PM Modi

JUST IN: Election Commission asks Eros Now to stop online streaming of web series "Modi-Journey of a Common Man'.

'It was brought to our notice that a web series "Modi-Journey of a Common Man, having five episodes is available on your platform.

'You're directed to stop forthwith the online streaming and remove all connected content of the series till further orders,' the EC told Eros Now.

More details awaited.

ALSO READ: Now, a web series to spread the legend of Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday charged the Congress with having placed vote bank politics above national interest while it was in power at the Centre.

Addressing an election rally in Araria, Modi also said that the opposition party and its allies were rattled by the trends that have emerged from the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls.

"... The trends of the first two phases of elections have left them rattled. They no more have the temerity to demand proofs of the valiant cross-border operations conducted by our armed forces," the prime minister said.

He said that 'lies' were being spread about his government that its introduction of five per cent quota for the unreserved categories was a step in the direction of doing away with reservations.

"Beware of such lies," he said.

"The country has witnessed two types of politics of' vote bhakti' and of 'desh bhakti'. The former was on display after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, when the then government did not go after Pakistan for abetting terror, and chose to derail the investigations in many terror cases by coming up with the theory of Hindu terror.

"The latter was demonstrated by us when the Uri terror attack was replied with surgical strikes and Pulwama was followed by air strikes," Modi said. -- PTI

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally at Araria lok sabha constituency, in Forbesganj, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said on Friday that he formed a fresh alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party because his party wanted a prime minister who has the courage to attack Pakistan.

The Sena, which frequently attacked its alliance partner BJP in the last four and a half years, nevertheless chose to form alliance with the saffron party again ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Addressing a campaign rally here for Sena candidate Chandrakant Khaire, Thackeray referred to the criticism he faced for doing a U-turn on not going with the BJP, and said, "We wanted a prime minister who could attack Pakistan by entering its home. That is why we formed this alliance.

"I have formed alliance with the BJP (also) for the welfare of Marathwada and Maharashtra," he added.

The Congress does not want abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution which gives a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Thackeray said, and added that his party wants that every law applicable to rest of India should also apply in Jammu and Kashmir.

While lambasting the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen,Thackeray said he did not consider Muslims as enemies, and mentioned that Naveed Antulay, son of former Maharashtra chief minister Abdul Rahman Antulay, shared the dais with him only two days ago.

Notably, Nationalist Congress Party leader from Beed and former minister Jaydatt Kshirsagar was also present on the stage on Friday.

Though there was no formal announcement, Thackeray indicated that Kshirsagar had joined the Sena.

Without naming Harshawardhan Jadhav, the rebel Sena MLA from Kannad who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Aurangabad as Independent, Thackeray said he expels such people, and he was declaring it here.

On NCP chief Sharad Pawar criticising him for forming alliance with the BJP despite criticising the saffron party earlier, Thackeray pointed out that Pawar left the Congress twice, and formed alliance with the (then) Sonia Gandhi-led party even after criticising Gandhi's leadership earlier. -- PTI

Amethi Returning Officer Ram Manohar Mishra has ordered the postponement of scrutiny of Congress president Rahul Gandhis nomination papers to April 22.

An Independent candidate, Dhruv Lal, has filed a complaint alleging discrepancies in Rahul's candidature.

"There are three basic issues we have raised," Ravi Prakash, who is Lal's lawyer, told ANI on Saturday.

One of the issues he has raised is on the 'basis of a certificate of incorporation of a company registered in the UK wherein he has declared himself a UK citizen', Prakash alleged.

He said that under the Representation of People Act, a non-Indian citizen is barred from contesting elections in the country.

"On what basis has he become a British citizen? And, how did he obtain Indian citizenship now? Unless there is clarity over the matter, we have requested the Returning Officer not to accept Rahul Gandhi's nomination papers," Prakash said.

The lawyer alleged that there are no details mentioned in Rahul's election affidavit about the assets and properties of the UK company for the period between 2003 to 2009.

While alleging that there are a lot of issues in Rahul's educational qualifications, Prakash said: "His education qualifications dont match in the documents. He has used the name 'Raul Vinci' in his college and there are no certificates available in the name of Rahul Gandhi."

He added, "So, we are asking is Rahul Gandhi and Raul Vinci the same person? If it is not the case then we demand that he gives his original educational certificates, so that these can be verified."

Amethi, a traditional bastion of the Gandhi family, will go to polls on May 6. Counting of votes will take place on May 23. -- ANI

The Election Commission is going to issue a notice to Malegaon blast accused and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur over her remarks against police officer Hemant Karkare, who was killed in the 26/11 terror attack, an officer said on Saturday.

Addressing BJP workers in Bhopal on Thursday night, Thakur had claimed that Karkare died during the attacks as she 'cursed' him for torturing her.

However, after her remarks kicked up a row, she tendered an apology on Friday.

"We took suo motu cognisance of the statement and sought a report from the assistant returning officer on the matter. We got the report this morning and we are going to issue notices, which are returnable within 24 hours, to the organiser of the programme and the person who made the statement," District Election Officer and Bhopal Collector Sudam Khade told PTI.

"We are going to send the ARO report to the EC," he said.

Khade said that the organiser of the event had been given permission on certain conditions as the model code of conduct was in force.

According to another EC official, as per the conditions set before giving permission to the event, use of objectionable language to defame a particular person had been prohibited.

Out on bail, Thakur, 48, has been discharged by a court on charges under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the 2008 case, but is still facing trial under other criminal provisions, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The BJP on Wednesday fielded her from the Bhopal seat, where she is set to have a direct contest with Congress heavyweight and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh.

Her statement against Karkare raised a political storm on Friday with opposition parties attacking the BJP and the Congress demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, the saffron party distanced itself from her comments, saying it was her 'personal view' which she might have made 'due to years of physical and mental torture'. -- PTI

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police is questioning Apoorva, the wife of Rohit Shekhar Tiwari, who was found dead on April 16 under mysterious circumstances.

The questioning is taking place at Rohit's residence in Defence Colony in south Delhi.

Women security guards are also present inside the house.

"There was tension between Rohit and his wife since the first day of marriage. It was a love marriage; Currently, Delhi crime branch is questioning the wife of Rohit Shekhar Tiwari," Rohit's mother Ujjwala Tiwari told reporters.

On Friday, the Delhi Police had registered a murder case in connection with the death of Rohit, who was the son of late Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Chief Minister N D Tiwari.

The case was registered under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

Rohit was declared brought dead to the Max Hospital in Saket on April 16.

The case of murder against unknown persons was registered after a post mortem examination report suggested that Rohits death occurred due to unnatural causes.

According to the medical report, he was smothered to death.

The testimony of his servants and visuals from the CCTV footage revealed that Rohit came to his house on April 15 in an inebriated condition.

He slept till the evening of the following day as no one tried to wake him up, police said.

Rohit was found dead with blood oozing out of his nose at 4 pm on Tuesday evening following which he was taken to the hospital.

The case was transferred to the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Friday.

The Forensic and Crime Branch teams had searched his house in Defence Colony to ascertain the cause of his death.

Shortly after Rohit's death, his mother Ujjala Tiwari had told media persons: "His death is natural. I have no suspicion but I will reveal later what circumstances led to his death."

Rohit had fought and won a long court battle with his late father to prove that he was his biological son. -- ANI

The National Investigation Agency conducted searches at two locations in Hyderabad on Saturday in connection with an Islamic state module case, police said.

The raids which began in the morning were still underway, they said.

In August 2018, the NIA had arrested two alleged ISIS sympathisers -- Mohammed Abdullah Basith and Mohd Abdul Qhadeer -- from the city as part of its larger probe into Indian youngsters being radicalised to carry out terror strikes on behalf of the banned international outfit.

"The fresh raids were being carried out in connection with this module after a supplementary charge sheet was filed against them in February this year and based on fresh inputs," police added.

"NIA teams are conducting searches at two places here in connection with an ISIS module case," a senior police official of the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate told PTI.

However, he refused to divulge further details. -- PTI

Image only for representation.

The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday said an alliance just in Delhi is not possible after the Congress refused to have a tie-up anywhere else with it.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that giving three seats to the Congress in the national capital would mean 'giving three seats to the Bharatiya Janata Party', when asked his opinion on the 4:3 seat sharing formula proposed by the Congress.

He said the Congress first proposed 6:3:1 seat sharing formula to the AAP in Haryana where six seats would be for Congress, three for Janayak Janata Party and one seat for the AAP.

"Our decision to form an alliance with the Congress was to stop the Modi-Shah duo," he said.

Senior party leader Sanjay Singh said they have agreed to all the seat sharing arrangements that the Congress proposed but even then the grand old party backtracked.

"After discussions with our alliance partner in Haryana JJP we agreed to it but the Congress refused and said they can't give more than two seats to the JJP and proposed 7:2:1 formula," said Singh, who was negotiating with the Congress.

JJP chief Dushyant Chautala even agreed to that but then the Congress backtracked again on Friday night, saying there is no possibility of formation of any alliance anywhere except Delhi, he said.

However, sources say that even though the possibility of formation of an alliance has been completely closed in Haryana, the AAP is still open to alliance in the national capital in 5:2 formula with five seats for the ruling party. -- PTI

Lashing out at Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said 'speedbreaker didi' has lost her sleep after the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal.

Addressing an election rally in Buniadpur in South Dinajpur district, Modi accused the chief minister of fooling people in the name of 'ma, mati and manush' (mother, land and people).

"Speedbreaker didi has lost her sleep after the reports that came in post the first and second phase of polling in the state," the prime minister told a well-attended rally.

He also flayed Banerjee for allowing people from the 'neighbouring country' to campaign for the Trinamool Congress in the state.

"It is shameful that people from neighbouring country are campaigning for the TMC. This was done by the party to appease the minority community," Modi said.

The prime minister criticised Banerjee for seeking proof of the Balakot air strikes in Pakistan, and asked her to, instead, collect evidence against those behind chit fund scams. -- PTI

The Supreme Court concludes hearing, leaves it to wisdom of media to act responsibly on allegations of sexual harassment against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

The SC said independence of judiciary is under 'very, very severe' threat.

CJI Gogoi said, "This is unbelievable. I dont think I should stoop low even to deny these allegations."

"After 20 years of selfless service as judge, I have bank balance of Rs 6.80 lakh. Nobody can catch me on money, people have to find something and they have found this," the CJI said.

"There has to be bigger force behind this, they want to deactivate office of CJI. This is the reward CJI gets after 20 years of service," Justice Gogoi said. -- PTI

11:21 CJI Gogoi faces sexual harassment charges

A special bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi was constituted on Saturday to hear a "matter of great public importance" touching upon the independence of judiciary.

The bench was constituted after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who mentioned before the Supreme Court official concerned the allegations of sexual harassment that have cropped up against Gogoi.

Supreme Court Secretary General Sanjeev Sudhakar Kalgaonkar said all the allegations made by the woman concerned are malafide and have no basis.

"No doubt, it is a malafide allegation and he said a hearing on it is going to take place right now," he said, confirming that a letter by the woman has been received by several sitting judges.

The registry came out with the notice that the special bench has been constituted to deal with the "matter of great public importance" touching upon the independence of judiciary.

The special bench comprising Gogoi and justices Arun Mishra and Sanjeev Khanna. -- PTI

An officer of a polling booth here could land in trouble for applying indelible ink on top actor Rajinikanth's right index finger instead of the left during polling for the Lok Sabha elections on Thursday.

Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said the EC instructions make it clear that the index finger on the left hand should be the first choice but said it could be a "genuine mistake," when asked about reports of the indelible ink being applied on the actor's right index finger when he voted.

"Election Commission's instructions is first it should be the left hand index finger or the the next finger or the next. If not, one can go for the right hand," he told reporters.

"Let's see. It appears to be a genuine mistake," Sahoo said on what kind of action could be taken in the matter. -- PTI

09:30 EC likely to continue ban on Modi biopic

The Election Commission is learnt to have finalised its stand on whether the ban imposed by it on the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi should continue.

Officials, drawn from the poll panel's model code and legal divisions, had on Wednesday watched the biopic on the directions of the Supreme Court.

On Thursday, the producers had put forth their views before the Commission.

The EC was to inform the top court of its stand on Friday.But the court's registry was closed on account of Good Friday.

Though there was no official word on the issue, sources in the know said the view, to be submitted to the Supreme Court in a sealed envelope, "may not digress" from its earlier order.

The sealed envelope could be submitted on Saturday

The Supreme Court had on Monday directed the commission to watch the full biopic on Modi and take an informed decision on banning its pan India release by April 19.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also directed the poll panel to submit its decision to the court in a sealed cover and said it will consider the matter on April 22.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the film's producers, who challenged the EC's ban on its release, said the poll panel banned it just by watching the promo and did not watch the full movie.

The EC had on Wednesday last banned the screening of the biopic during the current poll period, saying any such film that subserves the purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in electronic media.

Acting on complaints by political parties, including the Congress, the poll panel had asserted that any biopic material with the potential to disturb the level playing field should not be displayed in areas where Model Code of Conduct was in force.

The Modi biopic, starring Vivek Oberoi and directed by Omung Kumar, tells the story of PM Modi's rise to power from his humble beginnings. -- PTI

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu Friday said the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was like a "leech" that was sucking the common man's blood.

Speaking to reporters at Rajiv Bhavan, the Congress' state headquarters in New Delhi, Sidhu also said public sector firms and banks had suffered massive losses in the past five years due to the wrong policies of the Centre.

"It is written in the Vedas that a government should be like a bhawra (beetle) which sucks nectar from flowers but still it blooms. The Modi government has become a leech that is sucking the blood of the common man. The common man can't even stand," the cricketer-turned-politician said.

"Public sector companies and banks have suffered massive losses under NDA rule in the last five years due to its wrong policies. The profits of a few capitalists had increased under the Modi government while public sector firms and banks are sinking," he alleged.

He said the Centre had increased excise duty on petrol and diesel 16 times in the last five years, adding that fuel prices were low during the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government despite high international rates of crude.

However, under PM Modi's rule, domestic fuel prices are touching the sky despite low international rates, he alleged. -- PTI

An Indian-origin neurologist has been charged with conspiracy to unlawfully dispense controlled substances and commit healthcare fraud in the United States.

Anil Prasad, 62, of Louisiana was charged with one count of prescribing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and for no legitimate purpose and one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, US Attorney Peter Strasser said.

According to court documents, between November 2016 and July 2018, Prasad worked at a pain management clinic in Slidell and, during the course of his employment, he pre-signed prescriptions for controlled substances, including oxycodone and hydrocodone, without performing patient examinations to determine medical necessity.

Additionally, Prasad knew that certain of those patients used their federal insurance program Medicare and Medicaid benefits to fill those prescriptions. In total, Medicare and Medicaid paid approximately USD 1.65 million dollars for those prescriptions.

Prasad faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment and a USD 1.25 million dollar fine on both counts he is charged with. -- PTI

08:40 Poorva Express derails near Kanpur, 14 injured

Twelve coaches of the Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express derailed near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh early on Saturday, injuring at least 14 people, railway officials said.

The train was going to New Delhi when the incident occurred near Rooma railway station -- about 20 km from Kanpur -- in Kanpur Nagar district around 12.50 am. Four out of the 12 derailed Linke Hofmann Busch coaches have overturned, North Central Railway public relations officer Amit Malviya said.

Fourteen people were injured and three of them were admitted to a hospital. The coaches that derailed are: S8, S9, B1-B5, A1, A2, HA1, pantry car and an SLR (seating cum luggage rake), according to a railway statement.

The district magistrate, senior superintendent of police and other senior officials reached the spot and supervised the rescue operation, the officials said.

The railways have issued helpline numbers: 1072, 9454403738, 9454401463, 9454401075, 9454400384 and 0512-23333111/112/113.

It has diverted and cancelled a number of trains. Efforts are on to resume the operations in the line, the statement said.

The passengers were brought to the Kanpur Central railway station, from where they left for New Delhi in a special train at 5.45 am, it added.

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