LIVE! 'We're alive because Modi ensured Covid vaccine'

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Sat, 27 April 2024

'We're alive because Modi ensured Covid vaccine'

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21:31 We're alive because Modi ensured Covid vaccine for us: Fadnavis

Indians are alive today because Prime Minister Narendra Modi facilitated the manufacture and administration of COVID vaccine during the pandemic, said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday.

The BJP leader said nearly 100 countries today credit Modi for providing vaccine doses to them and protecting their citizens from the onslaught of the coronavirus, referring to the Centre's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative.

Recalling the COVID-19 outbreak, Fadnavis said many people lost their loved ones to the virus and the future appeared bleak amid prediction that 40 to 50 crore people in the country would perish as no one would come to India's aid.

"Only a few countries had invented the vaccine. They believed that India would come seeking assistance (from them) in the form of COVID vaccines," Fadnavis said, addressing a rally in Sangli in western Maharashtra in support of BJP's Lok Sabha candidate Sanjay Kaka Patil.

Fadnavis said the world did not know then that a stalwart was at the helm of India's leadership who knew how to protect his people.

"Modiji brought scientists together, provided them with the necessary resources, and facilitated the manufacturing of a COVID vaccine in the country," he said, adding that the vaccine was administered twice to 140 crore people.

"Today, we are alive because Modi gave us the vaccine. Had we not taken the vaccine, we wouldn't be here today to witness this rally. It was Modi who protected our lives," the BJP leader said.

Fadnavis said that during a recent visit to Mauritius, the country's president requested him to convey his gratitude to Modi for providing vaccine doses during the pandemic and saving the lives of the island nation's citizens.

"Today, 100 countries acknowledge that their citizens are alive because of Modi. I would say set aside development because 'jaan hai toh jahan hai' (life is paramount). We are alive because of Modi, and for this reason alone, we can express our gratitude by blessing (voting for) him," he said. -- PTI

20:36 Kerala guv gives assent to 5 pending bills

Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Saturday said he has given his assent to five Bills passed by the state assembly which had been pending for long.

The bills include the Land Assignment Amendment Bill, Kerala Co-operative Societies (Amendment), the Paddy Wetland Amendment Bill, the Dairy Cooperation Bill and the Abkari Law Amendment Bill.

Governor Khan who met the media said the assent was given a few days ago and the details were revealed today as the General elections in the state had concluded yesterday.

"We had received many petitions (against the bills). So we had to send it to the government and seek their comments. Then other petitions also came in favour of the Bills. It takes time to evaluate everything and make a decision," Khan said.

Meanwhile, the Congress party ridiculed the assent and said when the Left government gets in trouble, the Governor comes in for the rescue.

"When the Left government gets in a defensive position, the Governor comes to its rescue. Otherwise they are fighting all the time," Satheesan said.

The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) had earlier observed a hartal in Idukki district on January 9 in protest against Khan as he had refused to give his assent to the Kerala Government Land Assignment (Amendment) Bill 2023.

The LDF had also conducted a march to the Raj Bhavan. -- PTI

Rejecting the Bharatiya Janaat Party's claims that the Congress' election manifesto resembled that of the Muslim League, party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday asserted that "Modi's factory of lies" won't work forever.

Addressing an election rally at Kayakuchi in Barpeta district of Assam, he said unemployment is a big problem in the country and that 65 per cent of educated youths have no jobs.

"The INDIA bloc will surely come to power and stop the BJP. Modi's BJP will be decimated. Once our government comes to power, we will control price rise and our focus will be on poor people. We will fill up 30 lakh vacancies in government departments," he added.

Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "sardar (leader) of liars", Kharge charged him with lying about providing two crore jobs annually, bringing back black money to the country and giving Rs 15 lakh to each citizen, and doubling farmers' income.

"Modi's 'factory of lies' won't last forever. He even called the Congress manifesto Muslim League's manifesto and spoke lies about it," he added.

Kharge also alleged that the BJP was "looting" the country's wealth and handing it over to the rich.

"PM Modi waived Rs 16 lakh crore loans of his few rich friends. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. But we will never loot and divide the country like BJP and RSS that are experts in creating fights between communities, castes and religions," he claimed.

He also criticised Modi for not visiting Manipur even once despite the state reeling under ethnic clashes since May last year.

Kharge said that while party leader Rahul Gandhi led the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' crisscrossing the country, Modi was working for 'Bharat todo' or dividing the nation.

"Prime Minister Modi is continuously attacking the Congress and the Gandhi family as he is scared and trembling in fear of losing power," he claimed.

"One who can't feel the pain of the poor does not have the right to stay in power," Kharge added.

On the employment scenario in the country, he claimed, "Joblessness is a major issue in India, with 65 per cent of the educated youths being jobless. We will reserve 50 per cent of posts for women. We will give Rs 1 lakh as apprenticeship stipend to every unemployed youth during his or her training period till he or she gets a proper job." -- PTI

19:54 Oppn to have 5 PMs in 5 years if elected: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday targeted the Congress-led INDI alliance, saying it is mulling to have five prime ministers in five years if voted to power.

Addressing a rally at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, Modi said the opposition bloc cannot even reach a three-digit figure or "at the doorstep of forming a government, but has plans to have one prime minister every year if they get a chance".

"In Karnataka, Congress has planned to rotate the post of the chief minister by handing it to the deputy chief minister after 2.5 years. They had this arrangement in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan as well," he said.

Modi said the Congress wants to extend the "Karnataka model wherein Muslims were inducted in the 27 per cent quota for OBCs", in the entire country.

"The Congress-led alliance has vowed to murder social justice," he said and accused the Congress of stooping low for appeasement and vote bank politics.

"Congress wants to change the Constitution and rob Dalits, OBCs of quota benefits for religion-based reservation," he said.

Modi said the Congress had not only opposed the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya but also declined the invitation for its consecration.

Targeting Rahul Gandhi over wealth distribution, Modi said, "The Congress shehzade wants to search your wealth and distribute it to those who the party had said to have the first right on the country's resources".

"The Congress wanted to impose inheritance tax and rob people of their inheritance. Such people shouldn't get even a slight chance of coming to power," he added.

He said the NDA is leading 2-0 in the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections. -- PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a "sher" (lion) and nobody can break him, said his wife Sunita Kejriwal as she held her maiden Lok Sabha poll roadshow in support of the AAP's East Delhi candidate on Saturday evening.

Standing through the sunroof of a vehicle, Sunita Kejriwal greeted voters in the Kondli area of East Delhi constituency with folded hands.

She said the Delhi chief minister was jailed because he built schools, provided free electricity and opened Mohalla Clinics.

"We will vote to remove dictatorship and save democracy," Sunita Kejriwal said.

With Arvind Kejriwal behind bars in a money laundering case, his wife will spearhead the AAP's poll campaign and hold roadshows, including one in West Delhi Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday, according to party leaders. -- PTI

An IndiGo aircraft enroute to Ahmedabad returned to the national capital on Saturday afternoon due to an issue with the landing gear, according to a source.

The plane, operating flight 6E 129, landed safely at the Delhi airport at around 1440 hours. There were around 170 people on board, the source said.

An IndiGo spokesperson said the aircraft is currently undergoing necessary inspection, and an alternate aircraft is being provided to the passengers.

The source said the plane had to return due to the landing gear issue, and that an emergency was declared for the flight.

In a statement, the spokesperson said the flight returned to Delhi after take-off as the pilot noted a technical issue. -- PTI

18:18 Modi is a 'mehengai' man: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday claimed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's top leadership may be pretending to be in denial mode now, but the party will change the Constitution if it returns to power.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over inflation, she called him a "mehengai" man.

"BJP leaders and candidates are saying that they will change the Constitution. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi is denying it. This is their tactic," she said at a public rally at Dharampur village of tribal-dominated Valsad district held in support of Congress candidate for ST-reserved Valsad Lok Sabha seat, Anant Patel.

"First, they will always deny what they want to do. But after coming to power, they will implement it. They want to change the Constitution to weaken the common people and deprive them of their rights given in our Constitution," said the Congress leader.

PM Modi enters the stage during elections like "Superman", she said, asking people to remember him as a "mehengai (inflation)" man.

"BJP leaders project the prime minister as powerful and say that chutki bajake ladai rukva dete hai (he can stop the war Russia-Ukraine with the snap of fingers)'. Then why is he unable to remove poverty just like that," she asked.

The Congress leader claimed that the tribal population in Gujarat, which is Modi's home state, and in the country is suffering due to issues like rising inflation, unemployment, low remuneration, loss of land, violence against women and other atrocities.

Highlighting the Congress's manifesto, she said it addresses the issues faced by the tribal population. Their party will bring an MGNREGA-like scheme for urban areas where families will get 100 days of guaranteed work, she said.

She also said that the Congress is committed to filling about 30 lakh vacancies in government jobs, providing subsidised diesel to fishermen, taking minimum wage to Rs 400, working out "sub-plans" for Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs), a special budget for tribals and declaring tribal-dominated areas as scheduled areas.

The Congress general secretary alleged that PM Modi reduced the price of LPG cylinders only due to the general elections, claiming he had no sympathy for the people. -- PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday announced the name of renowned lawyer Ujjwal Nikam for Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat.

Nikam, who was special public prosecutor in several high profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the trial of Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist caught after the 26/11 attacks, will take on Congress' Mumbai unit chief and Dharavi MLA Varsha Gaikwad.

Nikam has replaced two-time MP Poonam Mahajan, who is the daughter of the late BJP stalwart Pramod Mahajan. -- PTI

17:24 Granted consular access to Indian crew: Iran

Iran on Saturday said the mostly Indian crew of a Portuguese-flagged ship that was seized by Iranian forces in its maritime territory two weeks ago is being granted consular access, raising hopes for their early release and extradition.

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard on April 13 seized the Israeli-affiliated, Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, a container ship, manned by a crew of 25, including 17 Indians, near the Strait of Hormuz as a result of a series of attacks between Iran and Israel.

A statement from Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Portugal's newly-appointed Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel had a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian and exchanged views on the bilateral relations & the situation in the region, with the developments in Palestine standing out in their talks.

It was during this telephonic conversation that both sides exchanged their latest views on the Portuguese-flagged Israeli ship seized by Iranian forces.

"We (will) seriously consider the release of the ship's crew as a humanitarian issue and we have announced to their ambassadors in Tehran their access to consular services, release and extradition," Amirabdollahian said.

Ann Tessa Joseph, the sole woman cadet among the 17 Indian crew members of the MSC Aries was released on April 18 following "concerted efforts" by the Indian mission in Tehran and the Iranian government.

Earlier on Thursday, in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there are certain "technicalities involved" in the return of the remaining 16 Indian crew members. -- PTI

Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad meets Naseem Khan

17:00 Firm on my stand on not campaigning: Disgruntled Cong leader

Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad on Saturday met her disgruntled colleague Naseem Khan who a day earlier resigned from the party's poll campaign committee over lack of Muslim candidates.

Incidentally, Khan was eyeing the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat but the Congress gave ticket to Gaikwad.

Khan, a working president of the Maharashtra Congress, had lost the 2019 assembly polls by 409 votes from Chandivali, which is part of Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat.

The meeting between Gaikwad and Khan took place for 25 minutes.

Talking to PTI, Khan said he was firm on his decision about not campaigning for the party.

"Varsha Gaikwad is my younger sister and can visit me anytime. But I am firm on my stand. Not just in Maharashtra, but even in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat there are no (Congress) Muslim candidates," he claimed.

"Where will Muslims go? They (community) say the Congress wants our votes but then why no representation. Even Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar have not fielded Muslim candidates," Khan said.

The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party-SP are Congress' allies in the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

The Congress is yet to name its candidate for Mumbai North seat, while the Shiv Sena-UBT and the NCP-SP have declared names for 21 and 10 seats, respectively, in Maharashtra. -- PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday told the Supreme Court that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has acted in a "most highhanded manner" in a money-laundering case stemming from the alleged excise policy scam.

In a rejoinder to the ED's reply affidavit filed on his petition challenging his arrest in the case, Kejriwal said he has always cooperated with the investigation.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said the ED, in its reply affidavit filed in the apex court, has said that one of the reasons which necessitated his arrest was that he did not remain present before the investigating officer (IO) despite being summoned nine times.

Kejriwal said the ED has said in its reply that in such a case, the IO was justified in forming an opinion that custodial interrogation would lead to "a qualitatively more elicitation orientated" questioning of the accused.

"The aforementioned tenor, text and contents of the reply leave no manner of doubt that the ED has acted in a most highhanded manner in a gross affront to the due process of law," he said.

Kejriwal further claimed that a cumulative reading of the ED's stand in its reply would expose the "bogey and blatant falsehood" in the conduct of its proceedings.

He said the record would reveal that each and every summons issued to him was duly responded to while seeking vital details and information, which under no circumstances can be claimed to be privileged or confidential by the ED.

Kejriwal claimed that the ED has never spelt out the alleged non-cooperation by him.

"What was the requirement in not calling the petitioner (Kejriwal) either through an authorised agent or seeking information or documents from him in writing or through a virtual mode and insisting on his presence physically in person, is not forthcoming," he said.

The AAP leader said his plea deserves to be allowed and he is entitled to be released forthwith.

In its reply affidavit filed in the apex court earlier this week, the ED has claimed that Kejriwal is the "kingpin and key conspirator" of the excise policy scam and the arrest of a person for an offence based on material can never violate the "concept of free and fair elections". -- PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party's "war room" for the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi was inaugurated by senior party leader Gopal Rai on Saturday.

The party has fielded candidates on four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital while its INDIA bloc partner Congress is contesting three. The constituencies will go to polls on May 25, the sixth round of the seven-phase elections.

The "war room", located at the AAP headquarters on DDU Marg, will have 12 teams for different purposes, Rai, who is the convener of the party's Delhi unit, said.

While the AAP is contesting from East Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi and New Delhi, the Congress from North East Delhi, North West Delhi and Chandni Chowk.

In-charges have been appointed for the four constituencies and they will ensure that the AAP's poll campaigns are run in an organised manner, he said.

Dedicated teams for logistics, campaign management, legal works, data management and analysis, and media and social media among others will ensure smooth and organised campaigning in the four seats being contested by the party, Rai said.

On incarcerated AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal's maiden roadshow in support of East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar in the evening, Rai said with the event, the party's Lok Sabha campaign "Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se" will enter its third phase.

In the first two phases of the "Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se" campaign, door-to-door outreach was done in the four constituencies and "Sankalp Sabhas" were held against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate last month in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.

There is anger against the BJP and "this election is being fought by the people of Delhi", Rai said. -- PTI

The 2024 Lok Sabha polls will decide the future of the country, said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday in Baramati, where his wife Sunetra Pawar is the ruling alliance candidate.

She is up against three time MP Supriya Sule, who is her sister-in-law and daughter of Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar.

"This election is not about a village or about (familial) relations. This election will decide the future of the country," he said at a rally organised for Sunetra Pawar in Ambegaon, where his party functionaries from Bhor and Velha assembly segments were present.

"Show me open land and I will get a sports complex constructed there. Funds will be granted for the ropeway facility at Raigad fort. The demand to rename Vekha taluka as Raigad was fulfilled. I have worked hard for the Maratha community," the Deputy CM said.

Those who won polls on the 'clock' symbol (of the undivided NCP) used to criticise Narendra Modi, whereas the ones who will win on the symbol this time will support the prime minister, Pawar said.

The NCP split in July last year after Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde government. The Election Commission later gave the party name and 'clock' symbol to his faction while the one led by Sharad Pawar is called NCP-SP and its symbol is 'man blowing turha'.

"Think calmly about what work they did in the last 15 years and then vote," Pawar said in an apparent reference to Sule who is MP from Baramati since 2009. -- PTI

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's allegation that he had opposed the ban on the Popular Front of India and instead accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of contesting polls in Karnataka in alliance with PFI's political unit.

Singh, the Congress candidate from Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh, also countered Shah's allegation concerning the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), saying he had banned the outfit when was MP's chief minister.

Addressing a rally in Khilchipur under Rajgarh Lok Sabha seat on Friday, Shah had accused Singh of opposing the ban on PFI and the capital punishment for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru besides using the term 'bhagwa aatankwad (saffron terror)'.

Singh said Shah took his name 17 times and spoke lies about him eight times.

Singh wrote on X that Shah had claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi included personal loans for Muslims in their party manifesto on his advice.

But the fact is that there is no mention of "Muslim personal loan" in Congress' manifesto, said Singh, asserting that he had never used the term bhagwa aatankwad as claimed by Shah.

The Rajya Sabha member said he never opposed the hanging of Afzal Guru. On the contrary, Singh claimed, he had favoured Guru's hanging at the earliest.

"Amit Shah lied that Digvijaya Singh had opposed the ban on PFI," Singh said, accusing the BJP of contesting the local elections in Karnataka in alliance with the Islamic extremist outfit.

Singh said he never opposed the ban on PFI and claimed he was the first to ban SIMI during his tenure as the CM of Madhya Pradesh. -- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slipped and fell on Saturday while taking her seat after boarding a helicopter in Durgapur.

The chief minister reportedly suffered a minor injury and was helped by her security personnel.

She continued with her onward travel to Asansol.

This is the second time Mamata Banerjee has suffered injury in the last six weeks.

On March 14, the 69-year-old Trinamool Congress supremo fell inside her Kalighat residence in Kolkata and suffered injuries on her forehead and nose.

She had to be admitted to hospital for a few hours.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that the names of party candidates for prestigious Amethi and Rae Bareli seats in Uttar Pradesh will be announced in a "few days".

Addressing a press conference here, he claimed that though the BJP says the corrupt must be put in jails, when leaders facing corruption charges join the saffron party, they are "put on the lap" and sent to Rajya Sabha or assembly.

"You have to wait for a few more days... when the names of candidates come from people to me and I sign the notification, it will be announced," he said when asked about candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies.

"Those questioning Congress leaders for changing constituencies must also tell me how many times have (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee and (Lal Krishna) Advani changed their seats," Kharge said, when asked about the BJP criticising Rahul Gandhi for fighting the elections from Kerala's Wayanad instead of Amethi.

In an apparent reference to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kharge claimed that Congress is not affected by people who "grew up in the party and left it later".

"Congress is like a flowing river, it is not affected by a few persons leaving it," he asserted. -- PTI

An Indian Air Froce helicopter was pressed into service on Saturday to extinguish the raging forest fires in Uttarakhand's Nainital district, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said.

The situation in the district worsened on Friday with the flames reaching the high court Colony in the Pines area.

An MI-17 helicopter collected water in a Bambi Bucket from Bhimtal lake and poured it over the burning forests of Pines, Bhumiadhar, Jyolikot, Narayan Nagar, Bhawali, Ramgarh and Mukteshwar areas of the district, officials said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said all efforts are being made to bring the fires under control and it will be done soon.

"An IAF helicopter has already started dousing the fires," he said.

Dhami said he will hold a meeting with forest officials in Haldwani later in the day to review the situation.

Three people were arrested in Rudraprayag on Friday while trying to set fire to forests.

As many as 31 fresh incidents of forest fire were reported from various parts of the state on Friday, destroying 33.34 hectares of forest land, according to officials.

The fire that broke out in the forest near Nainital took a horrific form on Friday, posing a threat to the residents of high court Colony. It also affected traffic movement in the area.

Besides forest department staff, Army personnel are involved in efforts to control the fire. -- PTI

The Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal stating that the CBI had "deliberately carried out an unscrupulous" raid at an "empty location" at Sandeshkhali during the second phase of polling in the state.

The TMC said that while elections were going on at Darjeeling, Raiganj and Balurghat Lok Sabha constituencies on Friday, the central agency carried out an "unscrupulous" raid at an empty location at Sandeshkhali.

The CBI on Friday seized arms and ammunition, including a police service revolver and foreign-made firearms, during searches at two premises of an associate of now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali.

The searches were conducted in connection with the January attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team by a mob that was allegedly instigated by Sheikh, who was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in the case.

The Trinamool Congress in a letter to the CEO on Friday said that media reports suggested that CBI had called in additional forces including the bomb squad of NSG.

"It has also been reported in the media that arms and ammunition have been recovered from a house during the such raid by the central agency", it said.

The party said while 'law and order' fell completely within the domain of the state government, the CBI did not issue any notice to it or the police authorities before carrying out such a raid.

The TMC stated that the West Bengal police has a fully functional bomb disposal squad at its command, it could have assisted in the operation if the CBI indeed felt its requirement during the raid.

"However, no such assistance was sought. But, surprisingly, the raids had become nationwide news stating that weapons had been recovered during the raids", TMC said. -- PTI

Aam Aadmi Party workers held a demonstration at Laxmi Nagar in Delhi against the arrest of party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, ahead of his wife Sunita Kejriwal's maiden Lok Sabha poll roadshow in East Delhi on Saturday.

The demonstration was organised near a foot-over bridge in the East Delhi area as part of the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) "Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se" campaign.

AAP's East Delhi Lok Sabha poll candidate Kuldeep Kumar, for whom Sunita Kejriwal will be campaigning on Saturday, told PTI Videos that the people of Delhi are ready to give a befitting reply to the "dictatorship that the BJP has shown" and the arrest of Kejriwal.

AAP workers holding placards raised the slogan 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se' at the demonstration led by Kumar.

Chief Minister Kejriwal, currently lodged at the Tihar jail, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.

Sunita Kejriwal will be spearheading the AAP's Lok Sabha campaign in the national capital and other states, and her canvassing for the party will begin with the roadshow in support for Kumar in East Delhi.

12:18 CPI-M hijacked poll machinery in Kerala: Cong

A day after polling concluded for the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the Congress on Saturday alleged that voters were harassed and the election machinery was hijacked by the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist in the state with an aim to bring down the turnout percentage.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the alleged hijacking of the election machinery by the ruling CPI-M was one of the reasons for the decrease in polling percentage this year as compared to the turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Despite heightened political fervour and anticipation about the general elections for the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the process concluded with a notable decrease in voter turnout, as the figure stood at 70.22 per cent at 8pm yesterday.

This figure, while significant, was quite a drop from the polling percentage of 77.84 per cent registered in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Venugopal claimed that there were glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs) in three to five per cent of the polling booths in the state that lead to long delays in the election process which in turn caused discomfort to the voters who had to stand in long queues for hours in the intense heat.

The senior Congress leader alleged that 90 per cent of such EVM glitches occurred in booths where the UDF was strong.

"It was a polling process that harassed voters as no drinking water, sitting or lighting facilities were available in the booths where people waited for hours to vote due to the EVM glitches.

"The election machinery was completely hijacked by the CPI-M with the aim of bringing down the polling percentage," he alleged.

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11:25 LS elections: Assam records 77.35% voter turnout in second phase of polls

Assam recorded 77.35 percent voter turnout in the second phase of polls, which was held in five parliamentary constituencies in the state on April 26.

According to the Election Commission, 77.35 percent of voters in five parliamentary constituencies -- Silchar, Karimganj, Diphu, Nagaon and Darrang-Udalguri, came out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of polls.

Nearly 80.56 percent voter turnout was recorded in Nagaon parliamentary constituency, while 78.41 percent voter turnout was recorded in Darrang-Udalguri, 75.97 percent in Silchar, 75.63 percent in Karimganj and 73.11 per cent in Diphu seat.

Assam recorded a 78.25 percent polling percentage in the first phase of polls in five parliamentary constituencies - Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Kaziranga and Sonitpur on April 19.

The third phase of polls in four Lok Sabha seats in Assam - Guwahati, Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Dhubri will be held on May 7.

Forty-seven candidates are in the fray in the third phase of polls and more than 81 lakh voters will exercise their franchise. -- ANI

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11:09 Fire breaks out at residential building in Delhi, firefighter among 3 injured

Three people, including a firefighter, received minor burn injuries in a fire that broke out at a residential building in Rohini area here on Saturday, officials said.

Six fire tenders were rushed to Sector 14 area after a call regarding the incident was received at 6.02 am, an official of the Delhi Fire Services said.

"Two people received 10 per cent injuries and a firefighter also got injured during the rescue operation, which continued for three hours," the official said.

All the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, the official said, adding that the fire was in a residential building.

"We are trying to know the cause of the fire. Further investigation is underway," the official said. -- PTI

A cleric was killed inside a mosque in the Daurai area of Ajmer on Saturday morning, an officer said.

The victim was determined to be a resident of Rampur in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the officer added.

Ravindra Singh, the officer-in-charge of Ramganj police station, said the incident took place around 3 am on Saturday in the Kanchan Nagar area of Daurai.

The victim, a maulana (an Islamic cleric), was killed in a mosque located in Kanchan Nagar, Daurai, in the Ajmer area, the officer informed.

Upon receiving word of the incident, a police team arrived at the scene, the officer said, adding that six minor children were believed to be present inside the mosque complex at the time of the incident. -- ANI

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10:27 Gunfight between two groups in Manipur, 1 killed

A gunfight broke out between two groups in Manipur, following which a 33-year-old man was found dead, the police said on Saturday.

The gunfight happened at Sinam Kom on the border of the Kangpkopi and Imphal East districts on Friday night, they said.

A 'village volunteer' who went missing following the gunfight was found dead on Saturday morning, they added.

He was identified as Laishram Prem, police said. Security forces were deployed in the area to prevent a flare-up, they said. -- PTI

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10:09 JNU to accept NET instead of entrance exams for PhD programmes

Jawaharlal Nehru University has announced that it will accept the National Eligibility Test score instead of the entrance test conducted by the National Testing Agency as the selection parameter for admission to its Doctor of Philosophy programmes from the current academic year.

UGC to help the students with one national entrance test as part of the implementation of National Education Policy 2020, has decided vide its Public Notice dated March 27, 2024, that score of National Eligibility Test conducted by UGC and CSIR can be used by the Universities/HEIs for PhD admission in place of entrance test, read the notice released by JNU on Saturday.

Following this directive, JNU has opted to use the NET scores for PhD admissions, effectively replacing the entrance test previously conducted by the National Testing Agency.

"Accordingly, JNU has decided to use NET score in place of the entrance test conducted by National Testing Agency for admission to Ph.D Programmes in the University from the academic session 2024-25," the notice added. -- ANI

LDF legislator PV Anwar/ANI Photo

09:46 LDF MLA Anwar booked for remarks against Rahul Gandhi

Ruling Left Democratic Front legislator PV Anwar has been booked for the penal offence of promoting enmity between different groups due to his remarks that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was a "fourth-grade citizen" and that his DNA should be examined.

Anwar, while addressing an election meeting in Palakkad district of Kerala on April 22, had also said that the Congress leader does not deserve to be called by the surname of Gandhi.

Following the incident, a case was registered at Nattukal police station against the LDF MLA on Friday, April 26, on the directions of a magisterial court, according to the FIR.

Anwar has been booked for the offences under section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the IPC and section 125 (promoting enmity between classes in connection with election) of the Representation of People Act.

The magisterial court's direction came on a complaint moved by advocate Baiju Noel Rosario. -- PTI

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09:31 26 officials suspended, 1,700 voters boycott polling in East Tripura

The final turnout in the East Tripura parliamentary constituency reached its fag end on Friday night with a total voter turnout of 79.66 per cent till the last report.

The elections were conducted in as many as 1,664 polling stations across the East Tripura parliamentary constituency till 8 pm.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer Puneet Agarwal, the scrutiny of the EVMs will be conducted on Saturday which will eventually help the poll authorities to ascertain the final turnout which is expected to rise.

On being asked about the call for a poll boycott, Agarwal said, "In two polling stations, people boycotted the elections in display of their grievances. They were concerned about the decrepit condition of roads and the lack of development in their areas which is why they had boycotted the elections. As soon as the election commission came to know about the grievances of the locals, officials of the local areas tried to convince them but we also have to respect their decision."

He said that the polling happened peacefully in East Tripura and thanked voters who came to vote at the polling stations.

"The polling happened peacefully...The final turnout till 8 pm stood at 80.32 percent in the East Tripura parliamentary constituency...I want to thank all the voters who came to vote at the polling stations...The elections were conducted in as many as 1,664 polling stations across the East Tripura parliamentary constituency," said the Tripura chief electoral officer. -- ANI

Landslide in Ramban district of J-K/ANI Photo

09:01 Land sinks for about 1 km in J-K's Ramban, 30 houses damaged

Due to the sinking of land for about 1 km at the Ramban-Gool road since Thursday evening, about 30 houses have been damaged in Pernote village, 6 km from Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir, said authorities.

"Since yesterday evening, small cracks have been developing in the roads. A road of length 1000-1200 meters is impacted. The slide is going on continuously. The road has subsided 10-12 meters in some places. The restoration has not yet started because the movement is still going on," SK Gautam, officer commanding in General Reserve Engineer Force, said.

The officials said that affected people have been evacuated.

"The landslide began yesterday evening some 5 km away from Ramban. The roads have been damaged. Around 30-40 houses in the nearby areas are also affected. We have deployed teams and they are conducting surveys. We have evacuated those who have lost their homes," Ramban ADDC Roshan Lal said.

Villagers said that crops have also been damaged due to the land sinks. -- ANI

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

08:52 95 UP children illegally being taken to Bihar rescued in Ayodhya

The UP Child Commission on Friday rescued 95 children who were allegedly being transported from Bihar to Uttar Pradesh illegally, the incident sheds light on concerns surrounding child trafficking. Ayodhya Child Welfare Committee, chairperson Sarvesh Awasthi said that on Friday morning after receiving the information from UP Child Commission member Suchitra Chaturvedi, the CWC members rescued the children.

"At around 9 am, UP Child Commission member Suchitra Chaturvedi called and said that from Bihar, minor children are being transported to Saharanpur illegally and that they're were in Gorakhpur and will go via Ayodhya. We rescued the children and they were given food and medical assistance," Awasthi said.

He said that the children who were rescued were between the age of 4-12.

"Those people who brought the children had no consent letters from parents. Children are between the age of 4-12 and most of them said they didn't know where they were being taken. Parents are being contacted and children will be handed over once they arrive. There were a total of 95 children", the CWC Chairperson said.

Earlier, a group of children from Bihar, being sent to madrasas across states, were rescued by the Uttar Pradesh State Child Commission in Gorakhpur. -- ANI

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08:27 Rajasthan Cong suspends ex-MLA, ex-state unit secretary for anti-party activities

The All India Congress Committee on Friday suspended Ameen Khan, former MLA of Sheo assembly constituency in Rajasthan, and Balendu Singh Shekhawat, former secretary of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee from the party for 6 years with immediate effect after complaints of indiscipline and anti-party activities.

"Taking note of the complaints from Barmer Lok Sabha candidate, Ummedaram Beniwal of indiscipline and anti-party activities. Ameen Khan, former MLA, Sheo Assembly has been suspended from the party for 6 years with immediate effect," said a press release issued by the AICC.

"Taking note of the complaints from Jalore Lok Sabha candidate, Vaibhav Gehlot and District Congress Committee, Jalore President of indiscipline and anti-party activities. Balendu Singh Shekhawat, former secretary, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee has been suspended from the party for 6 years with immediate effect," said the AICC press note informing the action against Balendu Singh Shekhawat.

Both the Lok Sabha constituencies were among the 13 seats that went to polls on Friday.

Rajasthan has 25 Lok Sabha constituencies. Polling in the first 12 seats was held in the first phase on April 19.

Results are expected to be declared on June 4. -- ANI

Actor Gurucharan Singh/ANI on X

08:20 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' actor Gurucharan Singh missing

Actor Gurucharan Singh of TV serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame has reportedly gone missing, sources in the Delhi police have said.

The 50-year-old actor's father has filed a missing complaint with the police, they said.

According to them, Gurucharan Singh had left home at 8:30 am on April 22 for the airport to go to Mumbai.

But he did not reach Mumbai and his phone was also unreachable, the complaint stated.

The police sources said they have formed different teams and an investigation into the matter has been initiated.

"We are scanning CCTV footage to know what exactly has happened," a source said. -- PTI

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08:13 2 CRPF jawans killed in militant attack in Manipur

Two Central Reserve Police Force personnel lost their lives in an attack by Kuki militants starting from Friday midnight at the Naransena area in Manipur, the police said.

According to the police, the CRPF personnel were attacked by Kuki militants starting from midnight till 2:15 am.

The personnel who lost their lives are from the CRPF 128 Battalion deployed at the Naransena area in Bishnupur district in the state.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Pradeep Kumar Jha on Friday highlighted higher turnout and minimal incidents of violence in Outer Manipur in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls.

"Till the last report that we received about an hour back, the voting percentage was in the range of 75 per cent and no major hiccups were reported," said the Manipur chief electoral officer. -- ANI

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01:00 Police recover Rs 1 crore of two investors duped by cyber criminals

The cyber cell of Mumbai Police has succeeded in recovering more than Rs 1 crore of two city residents who fell victim to online investment frauds, an official said on Friday.

The police acted swiftly in the two separate cases after complaints were registered on Thursday, and stopped a total of Rs 1.02 crore from being transferred into the accounts of unidentified criminals by contacting bank officials, he said.

In both cases, the complainants were contacted by fraudsters who offered them high returns on investment in the stock market.

While one of the complainants deposited Rs 1.80 crore through online transactions as instructed by the fraudsters, the other ended up transferring Rs 2.29 crore.

After realising that they had been cheated, they immediately contacted cyber cell helpline '1930' which helped police recover their money at least partially, the official said, adding that probe was underway to identify and nab the culprits. -- PTI

King Charles III/Jonathan Brady/Pool via Reuters

00:45 King Charles to resume public duties amid cancer treatment progress

King Charles III will begin resuming some of his public-facing duties as medical experts were sufficiently pleased and very encouraged with his progress following a cancer diagnosis earlier this year, Buckingham Palace said in a statement released here on Friday.

The 75-year-old monarch will mark his recuperation milestone with a joint visit with his wife, Queen Camilla, to a cancer treatment centre in London next Tuesday.

The schedule for further public-facing duties will be managed to minimise any health risks, with the State Visit of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in June expected to be among the King's next major events.

His Majesty the King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis, reads the palace statement.

To help mark this milestone, the King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients.

This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead, it said.

The palace added that the King's medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about his continued recovery. -- PTI

A forest fire in Srinagar, Uttarakhand, April 19, 2024/ANI Photo

00:40 Army called in as Uttarakhand forest fire worsens

Forest fires in Uttarakhand became more severe on Friday with the flames reaching the High Court Colony in Nainital.

Three persons were arrested in Rudraprayag on Friday while trying to set fire to the forests.

In the last 24 hours, 31 new incidents of forest fire were reported from various parts of the state, destroying 33.34 hectares of forest land. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has asked the officials to remain on alert and take measures to prevent the fires by coordinating with all departments.

The fire that broke out in the forest near Nainital district headquarters took a horrific form, posing a threat to the residents of High Court Colony located in the Pines area.

It also affected the traffic movement in the area. Along with the forest department employees, army personnel are also trying to control the fire.

Authorities may deploy helicopters to put it out.

Anil Joshi, a resident of the area and assistant registrar of the high court said, "The fire has engulfed an old and vacant house located near The Pines. It has not caused any damage to High Court Colony but it has reached dangerously close to the buildings. Efforts are being made to control the fire since evening."

In view of the possibility of the fire reaching the sensitive areas of the Indian Army located near the Pines, efforts are being made to extinguish the fire as soon as possible. -- PTI

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