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Mon, 29 April 2024
Kolkata airport receives 2nd bomb threat in 3 days
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23:48 Heroin, meth worth over Rs 9 cr seized in Mizoram
Acting on a tip-off, Assam Rifles and Mizoram police seized heroin and methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 9.83 crore and arrested two persons for possessing the contraband in two operations, Assam Rifles said in a statement on Monday.
The combined team of Assam Rifles and Zokhawthar police conducted a joint operation in the general area of Melbuk road junction in Zokhawthar village in east Mizoram's Champhai district on Monday and recovered 453 grams of heroin worth Rs 3.17 crore from a peddler, the statement said.
In another operation earlier, Assam Rifles personnel and policemen, in Aizawl seized 20,000 tablets (1.9 kg) of methamphetamine from the Salem Veng locality on Saturday.
One person was arrested for possessing the Meth tablets worth Rs. 6.66 crore, the statement said. -- PTI
23:34 Kerala court gets 106-year jail term for raping mentally challenged girl
A Kerala court on Monday sentenced a 44-year-old man to a cumulative 106 years' imprisonment for raping and impregnating a 15-year-old mentally challenged girl in this mountainous district of the state.
Devikulam fast track special court (POCSO) judge Sirajuddin PA handed down varying sentences to the man, who was a friend of the victim's mother, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for a total of 106 years, special public prosecutor Smiju K Das said.
However, as the sentences will be served concurrently and the highest of the jail terms given to the man is 22 years, he will be serving 22 years in prison.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 60,000 on the man.
If the convict does not pay the fine amount, he will have to undergo an additional 22 months of rigorous imprisonment.
The court ordered that if the accused pays the fine, the amount should be paid to the girl as compensation from the victim compensation scheme of the Idukki District Legal Services Authority.
The incident took place in 2022 when the accused, a native of Thrissur, had come to Adimali for work.
He had been working together with the girl's mother in a hotel and, after becoming friendly with her, he stayed with them in her house. -- PTI
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23:04 Kolkata airport receives second bomb threat in 3 days
Authorities at the Kolkata airport on Monday received a bomb threat by email, three days after a similar communication, triggering a frantic search across the facility, officials said.
However, the mail, which threatened to blow up the airport, turned out to be a hoax, they said.
The threat mail was sent to all airports in the country on Monday, said Aishwariya Sagar, the deputy commissioner of police, airport division of Bidhannagar police commissionerate.
Security agencies at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport conducted a thorough search operation after receiving the email, she said.
The CISF conducted the search in the airport's terminal building and operational area, while police personnel carried out checks in the city side area.
Sniffer dogs were also deployed during the operation, airport sources said. -- PTI
PM Narendra Modi
22:42 K'taka groom in trouble for using Modi's name in his wedding card
A groom found himself embroiled in controversy after his wedding invitation sparked debate over his political affiliation, the police said on Monday.
Uppinangady police in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada, responded to a complaint lodged by officials overseeing election code adherence.
The focal point of contention was the tagline in the wedding invitation.
"The best present you will give the couple is electing Modi as PM once again," it said.
According to police, a complaint was lodged by one of the groom's relatives to the Election Commission regarding the tagline.
Based on the complaint, Election Commission officials visited the groom's residence in Puttur taluk on April 14.
The groom explained that the invitations were printed on March 1, before the election dates were announced.
He also clarified that the tagline expresses admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and concern for the nation.
The marriage took place on April 18.
Despite the groom's explanation, EC lodged a complaint with Uppinangady police on April 26, following which a FIR was registered.
Furthermore, the press owner responsible for printing the invitation is also under the scanner of the EC and the police. -- PTI
CPI-M Kerala secretary MV Govindan
22:25 CPM refuses to label IUML as communal amidst hate campaign charge
Communist Party of India-Marist Kerala state secretary MV Govindan on Monday refused to characterise the Indian Union Muslim League as a communal party, despite accusations that the League conducted a hate campaign on social media against party leader K K Shailaja during the Lok Sabha polls.
A section of Left leaders in Kerala had raised an issue saying activists of the IUML -- a key ally of the Congress-led UDF in Kerala -- allegedly referred to Shailaja 'Teacher', the LDF candidate in the Vadakara Lok Sabha seat, as a kafir (meaning 'non-believer' among various interpretations, some unpleasant) during campaigning for the April 26 Lok Sabha polls.
Responding to a question about this at a press conference, Govindan asked whether the Congress can be considered communal as its leader Shafi Parambil, who contested against Shailaja in the Vadakara Lok Sabha seat, also participated in the hate campaign.
"Shafi was also part of the campaign. Can we call Congress a communal party?," Govindan questioned in response to a query about whether the IUML could be labelled a communal party in light of allegations that its activists were involved in the hate campaign against Shailaja.
He alleged that the UDF camp had employed everything from "morphed porn videos" to communal hatred in its campaign against the LDF candidate in Vadakara. -- PTI
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22:10 India summons Canadian envoy over Khalistan slogans at Trudeau event
India on Monday summoned the Canadian deputy high commissioner and lodged a strong protest with him over raising of pro-'Khalistan' slogans at a public event in Toronto that was attended by Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several other leaders.
The ministry of external affairs described the shouting of the slogans at the event that was personally addressed by Trudeau as "disturbing" and said it illustrated once again the political space that has been given in Canada to "separatism, extremism and violence".
It said the actions not only impact India-Canada relations but also encourage a climate of violence and criminality in Canada to the detriment of its own citizens.
"The Canadian deputy high commissioner was today summoned to the ministry of external affairs with regard to the raising of separatist slogans on 'Khalistan' at an event which was being personally addressed by the prime minister of Canada," the MEA said.
The summoning of deputy high commissioner Stewart Wheeler came a day after the event in Toronto.
In his address at the event, Trudeau reaffirmed Canada's unwavering commitment to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the Sikh community.
"The government of India's deep concern and strong protest was conveyed at such disturbing actions being allowed to continue unchecked at the event," the MEA said. -- PTI
The new Mahindra XUV 3XO compact SUV/Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
22:01 Mahindra XUV 3XO compact SUV launched at Rs 7.49 lakh
The XUV 3XO from Mahindra becomes the 'New Disruptor' in compact SUVs with prices starting at Rs 7.49 lakh ex-showroom.
Mahindra, India's top SUV maker, just launched this game-changer. Starting at Rs 7.49 lakh, the XUV 3XO boasts a head-turning design, a luxurious interior, a smooth ride, and the latest tech.
It also promises exciting performance and top-notch safety features.
Conceptualised at the Mahindra India Design Studio in Mumbai, it was engineered and developed at the Mahindra Research Valley near Chennai.
The XUV 3XO was manufactured at Mahindra's state-of-the-art facility in Nashik using advanced manufacturing processes.
The XUV 3XO does seem to be a high-quality compact SUV that is robust and engineered to last.
More about the car in our First drive review soon. -- Rajesh Karkera
Eric Garcetti
21:31 US envoy Gracetti's interaction in JNU rescheduled amid students' protests
Amid protests by the students union of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, the visit of the United States ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, to the varsity was rescheduled on Monday.
Garcetti was invited by the School of International Studies for an interaction at 4 pm on the topic, "The Most Consequential Relationship of the Century: US-India Ties."
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) protested against the invitation to Garcetti expressing solidarity with Palestine against the "atrocities" in the region.
"Genociders are not welcome. Resist military-industrial of US imperialist forces," read a protest poster against the JNU adminstration's invitation to Garcetti.
Another poster used slogans like "free palestine", "no more money for Netanyahu", and "stop the genocide now" calling the students to join the protest.
Taking credit for the development, the students union said, "Due to continuous pressure of the JNUSU and all the progressive student forces...Eric Garcetti's visit has been cancelled."
However, the JNU administration said that the event was rescheduled and not cancelled. -- PTI
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21:17 Woman falls to death from running local train near Mumbai
A 26-year-old woman from Dombivli travelling in a crowded compartment of a local train fell on tracks and died on Monday morning, GRP officials said.
The deceased, identified as Riya Rajgore, boarded a CSMT-bound local train at Dombivli station in Thane district at around 8 am.
"Due to crowd in the compartment, she lost her grip of the grab handle and fell on tracks between Kopar and Diva stations, and died on the spot," a Government Railway Police official said.
Rajgore was working for a construction firm in Thane, he said.
She is survived by her parents, who live in Dombivli.
The police have registered a case of accidental death and investigating. -- PTI
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal being brought Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi/ANI Photo
21:00 Kejriwal will remain CM: AAP after HC observations
The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday asserted that Arvind Kejriwal will remain the chief minister of Delhi as it downplayed the high court's observations that no person who holds this post can be incommunicado or absent for an uncertain period.
Addressing a press conference, Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said that the decision that Kejriwal should continue to be the chief minister even after being jailed was that of the people of Delhi.
"Kejriwal was the chief minister, is the chief minister and will continue to be the chief minister" of Delhi," he said and added that the same high court has dismissed three PILs demanding the removal of Kejriwal as chief minister.
The chief minister, who was arrested on March 21, is currently lodged in the Tihar jail in Delhi under judicial custody in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy.
The high court, while dealing with a PIL highlighting the non-supply of educational material and other statutory benefits to students in MCD schools, said that a chief minister's post in any state, let alone a buzzing capital like Delhi, is not a ceremonial post and the office holder has to be virtually available 24x7 to deal with any crisis or natural disaster. -- PTI
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20:18 Classes suspended in J-K's Kupwara schools amid heavy rains
Heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Kupwara on Monday forced authorities to suspend classes in schools as a precautionary measure.
Water levels in water bodies across Kashmir have been rising due to the continuous rainfall over the past 48 hours.
A danger warning has been issued for Pohru Nallah in Kupwara, according to officials.
The water level in other water bodies, including the Jhelum river, is still below the alert mark.
"In view of inclement weather and an avalanche warning issued by the Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority, class work in all schools across the district is suspended on 29-4-2024 as a precautionary measure for the safety of students," an official said.
However, teaching and non-teaching staff shall attend their duties to monitor the situation and ensure safety of assets of their respective schools, he said.
The rain has led to waterlogging in some areas of Handwara and Kupwara towns, prompting the authorities to launch an operation to evacuate the affected residents. -- PTI
Prajwal Revanna/ Courtesy X
19:58 JD-S to suspend Prajwal facing sexual abuse probe
Janata Dal-Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy on Monday said the party has decided to suspend Prajwal Revanna, his nephew and Hassan MP who is a Lok Sabha poll candidate in the current elections, over allegations of his sexual abuse of several women.
The former chief minister also sought to distance JD-S's alliance partner BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the case, amid attacks by the ruling Congress seeking their response on the issue.
Prajwal is the BJP-JD-S alliance candidate for the Lok Sabha election from Hassan constituency, which went to the polls on Friday.
"A decision was already made. Tomorrow it is to be recommended at the core committee meeting in Hubballi. Because he (Prajwal) is a Member of Parliament, it has to be done from Delhi. So I had requested Deve Gowda (JD(S) National President and former PM). Neither he (Gowda) nor I were aware of this issue," Kumaraswamy claimed.
Speaking to reporters in Shivamogga, the JD-S state chief said, "Some issues that have come out, on the basis of that it has been decided yesterday itself to suspend (him). But many were in a hurry." -- PTI
Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran/ANI Photo
19:46 Kerala minister seeks report on misconduct towards woman mayor by bus driver
Kerala transport minister KB Ganesh Kumar on Monday sought a report from the KSRTC managing director in connection with a complaint lodged by Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran alleging that a driver of a state-run bus misbehaved with her and her family.
Meanwhile, the driver alleged that police have refused to register a case lodged by him against the mayor for blocking the bus in the middle of the road.
He also said that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation authorities have asked him not to report for duty.
The mayor and her family on Saturday night got into a heated argument with the KSRTC bus driver after blocking the vehicle at Palayam junction.
The mayor alleged that he (driver) made sexually suggestive gestures at them. She claimed that the driver was rash and negligent and they intervened after the bus was about to hit their car from behind.
When she and her sister-in-law looked at the driver through the window panes on the back, he allegedly made sexually suggestive gestures at them and overtook their vehicle, the mayor alleged.
However, the driver told the media that it was the mayor and her family who created the problems.
"She blocked the bus and caused issues. I will pursue the matter legally," he said. -- PTI
19:24 K'taka ex-CM SM Krishna hospitalised, undergoing treatment for 'minor ailment'
Veteran politician and former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna is undergoing treatment for a "minor ailment", the private hospital where he has been admitted said on Monday.
The 91-year-old is "medically stable" and is recovering well, it said. Manipal Hospital said the former union minister is being treated under Dr Satyanarayana Mysore and a team of medical experts.
"Krishna is medically stable. He is recovering well and there is no need for worry," the hospital said in a statement.
The veteran politician was reportedly admitted to another super-speciality hospital in the city earlier this month, as he suffered an acute respiratory infection, and was discharged after treatment.
Krishna was chief minister from October 11, 1999 to May 28, 2004.
He also served as External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2009 to 2012, and as Maharashtra Governor. -- PTI
Alok Shukla/Courtesy X
19:07 Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan's Alok Shukla to receive Goldman Environmental Prize
Forest and tribal rights activist Alok Shukla will on Friday receive the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize-2024 for successfully leading a community campaign that saved 4,45,000 (4.45 lakh) acres of biodiversity-rich forests from 21 planned coal mines in Chhattisgarh.
Also known as the Green Nobel, the prize recognises grassroots environmental heroes from roughly the world's six inhabited continental regions -- Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America.
A statement from the Goldman Environmental Foundation mentioned that the government cancelled the auction of 21 proposed coal mines in Hasdeo Aranya, whose pristine forests -- popularly known as the lungs of Chhattisgarh -- are one of the largest intact forest areas in India.
Spread across 657 square miles, the dense and biodiverse Hasdeo Aranya forests form one of India's most extensive contiguous forest tracts.
They are also home to 25 endangered species, 92 bird species, and 167 rare and medicinal plant species.
Nearly 15,000 tribals depend on the Hasdeo Aranya forests for their livelihood, cultural identity and sustenance. Meanwhile, the region contains one of India's largest coal reserves -- an estimated five billion tons of coal sit under the Hasdeo forests.
In 2010, the Union environment ministry declared the Hasdeo forests a "no-go" zone for mining in recognition of their rich biodiversity but the declaration was never formalised into law and successive governments have attempted to jumpstart mining operations. -- PTI
18:47 NEET aspirant hangs self in Kota; kin allege murder
A 20-year-old NEET aspirant was found hanging from the ceiling fan of his hostel room in Kunhari area in Kota, with his parents suspecting he was murdered, the police said on Monday.
This is the eighth case of suspected suicide by a coaching student in Kota since January.
The number of student suicides in Kota stood at 26 in 2023.
Sumit Panchal, who hailed from Haryana's Rohtak, had been preparing for NEET at a coaching institute here for over a year, the police said.
His parents have demanded the registration of a murder case against unidentified persons and an impartial investigation into the matter.
On demand of the student's parents, a medical board was constituted to perform the autopsy, said assistant sub-inspector Kaptan, who is investigating the case.
The body was handed over to the family after the post-mortem, they said.
The student had allegedly hanged himself around 9 hours before his body was spotted by the hostel staff, the ASI said. -- PTI
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18:29 BJP workers protest at Congress HQs over OBC quota issue
The Delhi BJP leaders and workers on Monday staged a protest near the Congress headquarters at Akbar Road in New Delhi, alleging the grand old party wanted to snatch OBC reservation and give it to the minorities in the country.
Addressing the protest organised by Delhi BJP's Other Backward Classes Morcha, state party president Virendra Sachdeva said Modi will respond to those trying to snatch reservation from the Hindu OBCs once the party comes to power after the Lok Sabha polls.
The protesters, raising slogans against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc, removed the barricade and moved towards the All India Congress Committee headquarters even as police tried to stop them.
The large number of policemen deployed there finally managed to stop the BJP protesters and detained a few of them. Addressing an election rally in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day accused the Congress of planning religion-based reservation in the country for the sake of vote bank politics. -- PTI
Coast Guard personnel with arrested boat crew members and drugs/Courtesy ICG on X
18:06 ICG seizes boat with 173 kg of drugs off Guj coast; 2 detained
The Indian Coast Guard has seized 173 kg of narcotics from an Indian fishing boat and detained two crew members on board the vessel off the Gujarat coast, an official said on Monday.
The ICG and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad apprehended the fishing boat in a joint operation in the high seas on Sunday afternoon, the coast guard said in a release in Ahmedabad.
The seizure comes a day after the ICG, ATS and Narcotics Control Bureau, in a joint operation, recovered heroin worth Rs 600 crore from a Pakistani boat with 14 crew members.
According to official sources, a total of 173 kgs of Hashish (extracted from cannabis) along with two Indians have been caught as part of a joint operation.
"Based on specific and credible intelligence inputs from the ATS, the ICG strategically deployed its ships and aircraft, ensuring that the boat does not evade the sea-air coordinated surveillance," the release said. -- PTI
17:55 3 held for knife attack on BJP leader and anti-drug crusader in MP
A Jabalpur-based Bharatiya Janata Party leader, who is also an anti-drug crusader, sustained grievous wound after he was stabbed by three men here apparently over an old enmity, the police said on Monday.
The condition of BJP leader Mangal Siddique |(42) was out of danger and all three assailants were arrested on Monday, Adhartal Police Station in-charge Vijay Kumar Vishwakarma said.
The incident took place around midnight on Sunday under the Adhartal police station area of Jabalpur city, the police said.
The three alleged assailants, identified as Wasim Ali, Wasim Bangar and Monu Ansari, aged between 30 to 35 years, were arrested hours after the attack, in which Siddique suffered injury near his throat, Vishwakarma said.
The victim was rushed to a local hospital from where he was moved to Jabalpur-based Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment, he said.
The police officer said it appears the attack was the result of an old enmity, but a probe is being held from all angles. -- PTI
17:39 Rivals making fake videos with my voice: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said political rivals who are unable to take on the BJP-led government are now misusing technology to spread fake videos on social media.
At an election rally in Karad of western Maharashtra's Satara district, Modi raised concerns about the misuse of social media and technology. Modi spoke of the emergence of fake videos in created using artificial intelligence, and asked people to remain vigilant and report any instances of fake videos to the authorities.
"Opponents are using AI to distort quotes of leaders like me, Amit Shah and J P Nadda to create social discord," Modi said. "By using technology, these people are making fake videos in my voice, which is creating danger. If you see any fake video, inform the police," he said. "There is a plan to create a big incident in next one month," Modi claimed. "It is our responsibility to save the society from such fake videos. I want to request EC to take stern action against those behind such fake videos," he said.
Modi said the Congress kept families of soldiers deprived of one rank one pension scheme for 40 years. While Dalits all over India got reservation, Dalits in Kashmir were deprived of quota by Congress for vote bank politics, he said. "Till I am alive, I won't allow any change of Constitution and religion-based reservation," Modi said. -- PTI
17:21 A CM should be available 24x7: HC on Kejriwal
The Delhi High Court on Monday said the decision of Arvind Kejriwal to continue as the Chief Minister after his arrest is "personal" but it does not mean that the fundamental rights of school-going children would be trampled upon.
The high court also said that Kejriwal's absence cannot allow students to go through the first term without free text books, writing material and uniform in MCD schools.
The high court said that a chief minister's post in any state, leave alone a buzzing capital city like Delhi, is not a ceremonial post and it is a post where the office holder has to be virtually available 24*7 to deal with any crisis or natural disaster like flooding, fire and disease.
"National interest and public interest demands that no person who holds this post is incommunicado or absent for a long stretch of time or for an uncertain period of time. To say that no important decision can be taken during a model code of conduct is a misnomer," a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora said.
The court was dealing with a PIL by NGO Social Jurist, represented by advocate Ashok Agarwal, highlighting the non-supply of educational material and other statutory benefits to students in the MCD schools even after the commencement of the new academic session.
The high court said as the students of MCD schools are entitled for free text books, writing material and uniform in accordance with their constitutional and statutory rights, and the schools are going to close for summer vacations shortly, the MCD Commissioner is directed to incur the expenditure required for fulfilling the obligations forthwith without being constrained by the expenditure limit of Rs 5 crore. PTI
16:49 SC stays order on CBI probe in WB teachers' scam
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Calcutta High Court order directing the CBI to probe into the role of West Bengal government officials in a teacher recruitment scam.
The top court was hearing a plea by the West Bengal government against a high court order invalidating the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff made by the School Service Commission (SSC) in state-run and state-aided schools.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said it will hear the matter on May 6.
"We will stay the direction which says the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) will undertake further investigation against officials in the state government," the bench said.
Calcutta High Court had said the CBI would undertake further investigations with regard to the persons involved in the state government approving the creation of supernumerary post to accommodate illegal appointments. If necessary, the CBI will undertake custodial interrogation of such persons involved, it had said. Challenging the order, the state government, in its appeal filed before the top court, said the high court cancelled the appointments "arbitrarily".
"The high court failed to appreciate the ramification of cancelling the entire selection process, leading to straightaway termination of teaching and non-teaching staff from service with immediate effect, without giving sufficient time to the petitioner state to deal with such an exigency, rendering the education system at a standstill," the plea said. PTI
16:15 Talk about Hindu rulers, not Mughals: Yogi to Rahul
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took potshots at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday, saying the leader who had called himself an "accidental Hindu" should talk about great Hindu kings and the destruction of temples in Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura by Mughal emperors.
On the Congress's objection over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Adityanath said it is an issue of humanity and alleged that the opposition party's protest is due to "pressure" from "radical elements". Gandhi makes "baseless" comments because he does not have proper knowledge of India's history and geography, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader told reporters in Lucknow.
"Rahul Gandhi remains in discussion because of his baseless comments," he said.
"The one who had called himself an accidental Hindu will sound funny if he talks about India's history and culture," Adityanath added, taking a dig at the former Congress chief.
"While delivering speeches, Gandhi should have mentioned great Hindu rulers, such as Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, Maharaja Bhoj, Prithviraj Chauhan, Chhatrapati Shivaji and Jhansi ki Rani, among others, who contributed in the making of India," he said.
Adityanath further claimed that Gandhi has forgotten about the "atrocities" committed by Mughal emperors in the medieval period.
"He should have said who was responsible for destroying temples in Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura," the chief minister said, adding that the Congress leader should also make references to those responsible for causing destruction in the Nalanda and Takshila universities in the past. PTI
15:59 Kharge: Modi talks so much!
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi abuses the Gandhi family because he does not have any achievements to his credit. Congress is leading in the two phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, which has worried Modi, Kharge said during a public meeting in this town in Yadgir district.
Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Kalaburagi, which is going to polls on May seven. Gurmitkal is part of this constituency.
"Everyone knows what was there before and after Modi's birth in this country but he still abuses Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lalbahadur Shastri, Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and me because he has nothing to his credit," he said.
"Modi says out of frustration that Congress is taking away everyone's property and distributing it among Muslims. This is neither written in the Constitution nor mentioned in our manifesto anywhere," the 81-year-old said.
He explained that Congress has only said that it will give to the poor whatever is due for them but "never spoke about Hindu-Muslim."
Kharge further said that his party had done it during former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi's tenure through land reforms, nationalisation of banks and Life Insurance Corporation. These were done for the poor, he added.
"Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi brought MNREGS (during UPA rule). Did Modi do anything like that?" he asked. He told the crowd that Congress brought the Food Security Act giving 35 kg food grains every month to poor people. However, Modi started giving five kg extra during COVID-19 pandemic and started boasting that he is giving to 80 crore people of this country," Kharge said.
"You (Modi) gave it because we brought the law, which no one can snatch. This is the work we had done."
"Modi says he is going to strengthen the country. Are we going to weaken it? It was we who broke Pakistan into two. What did you do?
"Modi talks so much. He says he has a 56-inch chest. What will we do with a 56-inch chest ? Tell us what you did for stomach? What are you giving us for meals?" he questioned. "Today, price rise is an issue worrying poor people." PTI
Modi in Bagalkot
15:41 Cong is planning religion-based quota, warns Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress of planning religion-based reservation in the country for the sake of vote bank politics, but asserted that he will not let it happen.
He said this Congress proposal is to appease minorities as the SC/ST and OBC community is now with the BJP.
"In Karnataka, Congress has started a campaign to change the Constitution and to snatch away the rights of SC/ST and OBCs. Our Constitution does not accept religion-based reservation. But the Karnataka government has given part of OBC reservation to Muslims," Modi said.
Addressing a mega election rally in Bagalkote, he said, "they (Congress) will not settle with this. They had earlier too in their manifesto said about coming out with a law to provide religion-based reservation. There is a similar signal in their manifesto this time."
"I want to make my Dalit, SC/ST and OBC brothers and sisters aware about Congress' intentions. These people on the basis of religion, to keep their vote bank safe, are planning to loot your right which was given by Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Constitution," he added.
Veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, BJP candidates and MPs from Bagalkote (Bagalkot) and Vijayapura (Bijapur) -- P C Gaddigoudar and Ramesh Jigajinagi, respectively -- were among those present at the rally.
Noting that most of SC, ST and OBC MPs in the Parliament are from BJP, Modi said, "So they feel that as SC, ST and OBC are with BJP. To gain the trust of minorities, they want to loot from SC, ST and OBC and give it to minorities. Will you let this happen?"
"I want to guarantee today to my Dalit, Adivasi and OBC brothers and sisters. I will not let such intentions of Congress be successful. To protect your rights, your reservation, Modi will go to any extent. I'm assuring you this," he added.
15:12 SC dismisses plea tallying VVPAT slips with EVMs
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea raising the issue of tallying of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with the votes cast using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
A bench of justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta told the petitioner's counsel that a coordinate bench of the apex court had last week delivered its verdict on the issue.
"A coordinate bench has already taken a view," the bench said, while refusing to entertain the plea.
When the petitioner's counsel said the issue was of transparency and the apex court had already suggested some safeguards, the bench observed, "Another bench has already passed an order two days back."
On April 26, an apex court bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta had rejected the pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with VVPAT, an independent vote verification system which enables electors to see whether their votes have been recorded correctly.
Terming the suspicion of manipulation of the EVMs "unfounded", the bench had rejected the demand for reverting to the old paper ballot system, saying the polling devices were "secure" and eliminate booth capturing and bogus voting.
14:55 What Kejriwal said after meeting wife, Aatishi...
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita and cabinet minister Atishi met him in Tihar jail on Monday. Sunita Kejriwal, whose application to meet her husband was earlier denied by the Tihar jail administration, was granted permission for the meeting on Monday, according to the AAP.
After the meeting, Atishi told reporters that upon being asked about his well-being, Kejriwal instead asked if schoolchildren were getting books and whether medicines were being supplied to mohalla clinics.
On Sunday, the AAP had said that the jail authorities had denied her permission to meet the chief minister, a charge refuted by the prison authorities. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet Kejriwal on Tuesday. PTI
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14:25 Kota NEET student found dead; murder, says parents
A 20-year-old NEET aspirant was found hanging from the ceiling fan of his hostel room in Kota's Kunhari area, with his parents suspecting he was murdered, police said on Monday.
This is the seventh case of suspected suicide by a NEET or JEE aspirant in this coaching hub so far this year, according to the police.
The deceased, Sumit Panchal, hailed from Haryana's Rohtak and had been preparing for NEET at a coaching institute here for over a year, the police said.
His parents have demanded the registration of a murder case against unidentified persons and an impartial investigation into the matter.
On demand of the deceased's parents, a medical board is being constituted to perform the autopsy, said Assistant Sub-Inspector Kaptan who is investigating the case.
The boy had allegedly hanged himself around 9 hours earlier before his body was spotted by the hostel staff, the ASI said. Panchal's body was found hanging from the ceiling fan of his room at the hostel in Landmark City under the Kunhari police station limits on Sunday night, they said.
However, his parents suspected Panchal was murdered, citing that the injury on his neck from the rope was too deep to be caused by hanging, the police said.
A case of unnatural death under section174 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been lodged for initial investigation in the matter, they said. No suicide note was recovered from the youth's hostel room and the reason behind his extreme step is yet to be ascertained, Arvind Bhardwaj, Circle Inspector (CI) at Kunhari police station, said on Monday.
Panchal was supposed to take the NEET-UG exam next month, the police said. He allegedly hanged himself sometime on Sunday noon but the matter came to light only around 9.30 pm when the warden spotted the body and informed the police, the CI said.
A police team rushed to the spot and recovered the body and shifted it to the mortuary of MBS Hospital for postmortem, he added. In gross violation of safety norms, the hostel room did not have an anti-suicide device installed with the ceiling fan, which could have averted the tragedy, he added.
Meanwhile, the deceased's father, uncle and grandfather who reached Kota on Monday morning to claim the body suspected foul play and claimed his nephew did not commit suicide but was murdered.
"Sumit was good at studies and would always assure us of securing a rank among the top ten. He cannot commit suicide," Sumit's uncle Surendra Panchal said while speaking to PTI outside the mortuary.
The wound in his neck is so deep that it couldn't have been caused by hanging, he claimed and demanded autopsy by medical board. Panchal's death is the seventh case of suspected suicide by coaching students in Kota since January this year. -- PTI
Smriti Irani at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya
14:08 Smriti Irani files nomination from Amethi LS seat
Union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani on Monday filed nomination papers from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency. Accompanied by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and other leaders, Irani held a road show from the BJP office in Gauriganj before filing her papers.
The road show was stopped about 200 metres before the collectorate as per the orders of the district magistrate.
Uttar Pradesh minister Mayankashwar Sharan Singh and Irani's husband Zubin Irani also participated in the road show. Irani had won the seat, regarded as the stronghold of the Gandhi family, by defeating Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 2019.
The Congress has not yet announced its candidate from the seat, though partymen here believe that Rahul Gandhi will contest from the seat again. Amethi is scheduled to go to polls in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls on May 20.PTI
Mrs Kalpana Soren
13:20 Mrs Kalpana Soren (MTech, MBA) files nomination
Jailed Jharkhand ex-CM Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana on Monday filed her nomination as the JMM candidate from Gandey assembly seat in the state. Bypoll to the seat is scheduled on May 20 along with the parliamentary elections in the state.
The seat in Giridih district fell vacant following the resignation of JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad. Kalpana, 48, was accompanied by Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren and brother-in-law Basant Soren, among others, when she filed her papers.
Kalpana, a homemaker with MTech and MBA qualifications, completed her school education from Baripada in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district and obtained her engineering and MBA degrees from separate institutions in Bhubaneswar.
Her political journey began at the 51st foundation day celebration of the JMM in Giridih district on March 4, when she claimed that a conspiracy had been orchestrated by opponents ever since the Hemant Soren-led coalition government came to power in 2019 and that Jharkhand will give a befitting reply to the forces who put her husband behind the bars.
Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam on January 31. PTI
13:08 Delhi CM's wife Sunita gets permission to meet him in Tihar: AAP
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita has been granted permission by the Tihar jail administration to meet him and will visit him later today, the AAP said on Monday.
"Sunita Kejriwal will be meeting the chief minister at 12.30 pm. She will be accompanied by Delhi cabinet minister Atishi during the meeting," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said.
On Sunday, the AAP had said that the jail authorities had denied her permission to meet the chief minister, a charge refuted by the prison authorities. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet Kejriwal on Tuesday. PTI
Kailash Vijayvargiya posted this pic with the former Congress candidate
12:57 Cong's LS candidate from Indore joins BJP
Congress nominee from Madhya Pradesh's Indore Lok Sabha seat, Akshay Kanti Bam, has withdrawn his candidature, an official said on Monday.
The Congress had fielded Bam against sitting BJP MP Shankar Lalwani from the Indore Lok Sabha seat, where polling will be held on May 13.
An official confirmed that Bam has withdrawn his candidature.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and state cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya in a post on X said Bam was welcome to join the BJP.
"Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Indore, Akshay Kanti Bam is welcomed to BJP, " tweets Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya.
12:36 SC seeks ED's reply on Hemant Soren's interim bail plea
The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on an interim bail plea of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren in a money laundering case.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta issued notice to the ED and sought its response by May 6. The bench said the Jharkhand High Court may pronounce its verdict on Soren's plea challenging his arrest in the case. The order was reserved on February 28.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Arunabh Chowdhury, appearing for Soren, said they want interim bail in the matter. Soren moved the top court on April 24, saying the high court was not pronouncing the verdict on his plea challenging his arrest in the case.
Soren was arrested on January 31 shortly after he resigned as the chief minister, and state transport minister Champai Soren was named his successor. -- PTI
MK Stalin with Rahul Gandhi in Coimbatore
12:27 Shah slams INDIA's alleged '1 year-1 PM' formula
Amid the reports of INDIA's bloc formula to pick Prime Ministers on a "one year each" basis, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that this is not the way a country should be run adding that nation has already paid the price due to the unstable governments being in power for more than three decades.
"This country paid the price of instability for three decades, unstable governments ran for three decades but in the last 10 years the country has got a strong leadership, it has got stability. Not only political stability, there has also been stability regarding policies and development programs. Now if the INDI alliance says that Sharad Pawar will be elected (PM) for one year, Mamata ji will be elected for one year, Stalin will be elected for one year, and if anything is left then Rahul ji will be elected. This is not how the country is run," Amit Shah told ANI.
Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc has not projected its PM face for the 2024 general elections.
Sources said that the top rung involved in seat negotiations are also discussing possible arithmetic for power sharing for the top post in the country if the INDIA alliance were to emerge victorious in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
According to sources privy to the negotiations, who requested anonymity, a formula for "one year each" as Prime Minister for the top leaders of the political parties, according to the number of Lok Sabha seats their respective parties win, is being worked out.
INDIA alliance seat share talks have been unsuccessful in some states including West Bengal. Friction has also been seen in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat where two coalition members are contesting against each other - Rahul Gandhi from Congress and Annie Raja from the Communist Party of India.However, sources said these pre-poll frictions would be ironed out in the event the INDIA alliance gets victorious in Lok Sabha polls.
Hitting out at the INDIA bloc in this regard, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week said that the "opposition is busy auctioning the PM post".
"Discussion going on in the INDI alliance that they are making a 'one year one PM' formula" That means one PM in one year, second PM in the second year, third PM in the third year, fourth PM in the fourth year, fifth PM in the fifth year. They are also busy auctioning the Prime Minister's chair," he said.
He said the world will ridicule India for any such arrangement and the country's esteem will be affected.
Congress supporters demand the arrest of Prajwal Revanna
12:14 BJP ensured Prajwal Revanna fled India: Cong
Amid reports about Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna leaving the country, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday claimed that it is Bharatiya Janata Party that has helped Hassan MP escape authorities in the alleged obscene video case.
Prajwal Revanna was booked in a sexual harassment case on Sunday following complaints by his former house help.
Speaking to ANI, Priyank Kharge said, "They (BJP) ensured that he fled the country. Today, if he's left the country as the rumours are being floated, then how did he leave the country? Who facilitated it? I'm directly blaming the BJP on this front."
Kharge further slammed the BJP-JDS alliance for fielding Revanna again in the Lok Sabha elections and questioned their silence over the matter.
"Despite knowing the fact that the Hassan MP (Prajwal Revanna) was known for such antecedents, despite letters being received by them from BJP functionaries, from BJP office bearers, that there are thousands of victims who have been abused by the Hassan MP. Still, they went in and gave the ticket. They were so quick to capitalize on the Hubballi murder case. Why are they so silent now? Why aren't they protesting in every town? Why aren't they protesting in every village like they did during the Hubballi murder?" he asked.
Earlier today, Janata Dal (Secular) MLA Sharana Gowda Kandakur wrote to party president HD Deve Gowda demanding the expulsion of Prajwal Revanna from the party over the alleged obscene video case.
Kandakur said that the expulsion of HD Deve Gowda's grandson will save the party from further embarrassment.
11:27 Cong flags Modi's step-motherly treatment to K'taka
Attacking the Modi government over key issues in Karnataka, the Congress on Monday questioned the "delay" in the vital Bagalkote-Kudachi Railway line project and also asked when it is going to pay the state's MGNREGS workers their wages.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rally in Bagalkote in Karnataka.
"Why has the Modi Government failed to deliver the Bagalkote-Kudachi Railway line? Why is the Modi Government holding up the Upper Bhadra and Mahadayi projects? When will the PM pay Karnataka's MGNREGA workers?" Ramesh said in a post on X.
Elaborating on what he said were "jumla details", Ramesh said the Bagalkote-Kudachi line of the South-Western Railway has now been delayed by more than eight years. "As of today, only 33 per cent, or 46 km of the 142 km line has been completed," he said.
"Originally sanctioned in 2010-11 at an outlay of Rs 986 crore, the project has now seen its cost balloon to Rs 1,649 crore. Originally supposed to be completed in March 2016, the project is now slated for completion in 2027," Ramesh claimed.
Despite the Karnataka government providing the land for the project free of cost, and contributing 50 per cent of the construction cost, the Modi government has "failed" to deliver on this project, he said.
"Why is this vital rail project facing an 11 year delay? Is it attributable to the Modi Sarkar's incompetence or to its anti-Karnataka tendencies?" Ramesh said. He further said that in the last year's Union Budget, the Modi government had proudly announced a 5,300 crore grant for the Upper Bhadra Project but more than a year later, state Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has revealed that not a "single paisa" of this grant has been released.
"During his assembly election campaign, PM Modi had also claimed to resolve long-standing issues with the Mahadayi-Kalasa Banduri Nala Project. Yet, earlier this year, clearance for the project has been deferred by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change," Ramesh said.
These projects are crucial to expanding drinking water and irrigation access in a state that has been reeling under a severe drought, he noted. Why has the Modi Government neglected these essential infrastructure projects, Ramesh asked.
"What vendetta does the PM have against the people of Karnataka?" the Congress leader said. He said that in order to help alleviate the drought-related stress on the rural economy, the Karnataka government has sought to increase the number of working-days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from 100 to 150.
"There is a provision in the scheme to do so during periods of drought. However, the Modi Sarkar has not only failed to approve the extension of the scheme, it has also failed to release Rs. 1600 crore towards the payment of wages to those working under MGNREGS," Ramesh said. When is the Modi government going to pay Karnataka's MGNREGS workers their wages, Ramesh asked.
10:54 Trudeau addresses Sikhs amid Khalistani chants
Even as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walked up to address the Sikh Community in Toronto loud pro-Khalistan slogans were raised from the crowd.
Trudeau in a staunch assurance to the Sikh Community in the country has said that the government is always there to protect their rights and freedoms at all costs.
He said that diversity is one of Canada's greatest strengths, and the country is strong not in spite of the differences, but because of those differences.
"One of Canada's greatest strengths is its diversity. We are strong not in spite of our differences, but because of our differences; but even as we look at these differences, we have to remember, and get reminded on days such as this, and every day, that Sikh values are Canadian values..." Trudeau said during the Khalsa Day Celebrations on Sunday in Toronto.
"To the nearly, 800,000 Canadians of Sikh heritage across this country, we will always be there to protect your rights and your freedoms, and we will always defend your community against hatred and discrimination," he asserted.
The Canadian PM also noted that the country is enhancing the security and infrastructure programmes by "adding more security at community centres and places of worship, including Gurdwaras."
"Your right to practice your religion freely, and without intimidation is exactly that. A fundamental right guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of rights and Freedoms that we will always stand up and defend you for," Trudeau assured the Sikh community in his Khalsa Day address.
However, as Trudeau spoke, there were many pro-Khalistan chants also heard in the background.
Trudeau, as he continued his address, said "I know many of you have loved ones that you want to see more often, that is why our government has negotiated a new agreement with India to add more flights, and more routes between our countries, and we will keep working with our counterparts to add even more flights, including to Amritsar."
Thousands of people flocked to downtown Toronto on Sunday for one of the biggest yearly gatherings in the city.
The Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwaras Council (OSGC) states that Vaisakhi, also called Khalsa Day, commemorates the founding of the Sikh community in 1699 as well as the Sikh New Year.
Arvinder Singh Lovely
10:33 No direction or vision left in Congress: Shivraj
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Vidisha Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized the Congress party over Arvinder Singh Lovely's resignation, saying that the party has lost both direction and vision.
"There is neither direction nor vision left in Congress. They are making wrong decisions that will eventually lead them to destruction. That's why all good people have left the Congress...," Chouhan told reporters on Sunday after a public meeting in Gwalior.
"I was in Gwalior and I will visit again on May 2. Today, I visited Gwalior and Morena, there is a Modi wave everywhere. The support for the BJP is not just a wave, it's a storm. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP will win all 29 seats," Chouhan said.
Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned from his post on April 28.
"The Delhi Congress Unit was against an alliance with a party which was formed on the sole basis of leveling false, fabricated, and malafide corruption charges against the Congress party. Despite that, the party made a decision to ally with the AAP in Delhi...," Arvinder Singh Lovely wrote in his resignation letter.
Lovely was appointed to the post in August 2023.
In his letter to the Congress National President, Mallikarjun Kharge, Lovely said that all unanimous decisions taken by the Senior Delhi Congress leaders have been unilaterally vetoed by the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge).
"Since my appointment as DPCC President, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed me to make any senior appointments in the DPCC. My request for the appointment of a veteran leader as Media head of DPCC was blatantly rejected. To date, the AICC General Secretary (Delhi In-charge) has not allowed the DPCC to appoint all Block presidents in the city. Resultantly more than 150 blocks in Delhi do not presently have a Block President," he said.
Morena and Gwalior will vote on May 7 in the Phase 3.
09:59 Fact-checking five days of Narendra Modis speeches: A catalogue of lies
In speech after speech, the prime minister has spread divisive falsehoods, pitting India's Muslims against other disadvantaged communities. Read more here.
09:56 Modi's motto is 'Asatyameva Jayate': Congress
The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking inspiration from Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels while speaking about the party's Nyay Patra for the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "For his MA in Entire Political Science, Mr. Narendra Modi must definitely have read Joseph Goebbels on the value of propaganda and taken inspiration from him."
He noted that Goebbels had stated that "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." Ramesh said he also wrote in 1941 that "The English follow the principle that when one lies, one should lie big and stick to it."
Goebbels was the propaganda minister of German ruler Adolf Hitler.
"In his latest interview to a TV channel, which is being headlined, the outgoing PM has yet again blatantly, brazenly and shamelessly lied about the Congress's Nyay Patra. It once again proves that Mr.Modi's motto has always been 'Asatyameva Jayate.' Truth is slaughtered every time he speaks," the Congress leader alleged. -- PTI
09:31 Vote for Modi is vote for 'destruction': Uddhav
Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said a vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a "vote for destruction" and asserted the INDIA alliance, of which his party is a constituent, will not allow Barsu and Jaitapur projects to come up in Maharashtra's Konkan region.
He was addressing a rally in Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency in the state's coastal belt for party candidate and sitting MP Vinayak Raut, who is pitted against Union minister Narayan Rane.
The proposed Barsu (refinery complex) and Jaitapur (nuclear power plant) projects are destructive for environment, the former chief minister asserted.
"A vote for Modi is vote for destruction. I am sorry I had come here last time appealing to you to make Modi the PM and you listened to me. Now I am telling you, just like you listened to me during the Covid pandemic, that you must keep BJP's dictatorship at bay," Thackeray said.
Alleging the BJP had hatred for Maharashtra, Thackeray claimed it wanted to change the Constitution, which was drafted by "son of the soil" Babasaheb Ambedkar.
"Babasaheb Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were born in Maharashtra. What can we do if Aurangazeb was born in Gujarat," he asked, linking the Mughal emperor, widely perceived as bigot, to the PM's home state.
Thackeray said Modi keeps blaming the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was on the post for 16 years, while the combined tenure of Modi and Vajpayee was longer.
"They should tell the country about their work and achievements," he said, adding PM Modi lacks the self-confidence of 2014 and 2019 (general elections).
Attacking the BJP, he said former PM and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee's soul must be shedding tears on the party's state now.
Without naming Narayan Rane, Thackeray said the former went wherever he saw power, got important posts but did nothing for the Konkan region.
He asked if Rane, who is Union MSME minister, had brought a single medium or micro business to the Konkan.
"If you all were not around, Konkan would have seen goondaraj (rule of goons)," Thackeray told his supporters." -- PTI
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09:17 12 hospitalised after eating chicken shawarma in Mumbai
At least 12 people were admitted to a hospital for suspected food poisoning in the last two days after they ate a non-vegetarian street food item in Goregaon area of Mumbai, a civic official said on Sunday.
He said nine of the 12 people have been discharged from the hospital while three others are recuperating.
The incident occurred at Satellite Tower in Santosh Nagar area of Goregaon (East) on Friday after eating chicken shawarma, he said.
"Twelve people complained of food poisoning on Friday and Saturday. They were admitted to a hospital. While nine people were discharged, three others are undergoing treatment," the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said without elaborating on whether the food was consumed by the 12 people at a hotel or shop. -- PTI
08:59 Mayawati's nephew booked for poll code violation
A case of Model Code of Conduct violation was registered against BSP chief Mayawati's nephew Akash Anand and four others on Sunday for allegedly using objectionable language at a poll rally here, police said.
The action came after the district administration took suo motu cognisance of Anand's speech at the rally earlier in the day, they said.
"This government is a bulldozer government and a government of traitors. The party that leaves its youth hungry and enslaves its elderly is a terrorist government. Taliban runs such a government in Afghanistan," the BSP leader said.
In his address, Anand also cited a National Crime Records Bureau report of 16,000 kidnapping incidents in the state and accused the government of failing to provide safety to women and children.
The BJP is a party of thieves who took Rs 16,000 crores through electoral bonds, he further alleged.
The case was registered against Anand, the BSP's national coordinator, party candidates Mahendra Yadav, Shyam Awasthi and Akshay Kalra and rally organiser Vikas Rajvanshi, Superintendent of Police (Sitapur) Chakresh Mishra said.
He added that the case was registered under sections IPC 171C (undue influence at elections), 153B (imputation, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and section 125 of the RP Act (promoting enmity between classes in connection with election).
The speech was given to incite violence and with the use of unparliamentary language, violating the Model Code of Conduct, Mishra said.
Sitapur will vote in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls on May 13. -- PTI
08:46 Delhi Police files FIR over Shah's 'doctored' video
The Delhi Police registered a case on Sunday after a complaint by the Ministry of Home Affairs in connection with the doctored videos of Union Home Minister Amit Shah being circulated on social media platforms, officials said.
The Special Cell has registered an FIR under various sections of the IPC and relevant provision of the IT Act, they said.
Sources in the Special Cell said that now arrests are likely to follow across the country.
According to the complaint filed by Sinku Sharan Singh, DC, Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), some doctored videos are being circulated on social media with "the intent of creating disharmony among communities which is likely to affect public tranquility and public order."
According to the complainant, links from which the videos were shared were also attached for further action.
A copy of the FIR was also sent to the IFSO unit of the Delhi Cyber Police. -- PTI
08:33 8 killed in goods vehicle-truck crash in Chh'garh
Five women and three children were killed and 23 persons injured when a goods vehicle they were travelling in collided with a truck in Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district, police said on Monday.
The accident took place late Sunday night near Kathia village when the victims were returning after attending a family function, a senior police official said.
The victims, natives of Patharra village, were returning after attending a family function in Tiraiyya village, the official said.
The goods vehicle collided with the mini truck that was parked by the roadside, the official said.
Those killed were identified as Bhuri Nishad (50), Neera Sahu (55), Geeta Sahu (60), Agniya Sahu (60), Khushbu Sahu (39), Madhu Sahu (5), Rikesh Nishad (6) and Twinkle Nishad (6), he said.
The injured persons were admitted to two hospitals. Later, four critically injured persons were shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences Raipur, he said. -- PTI
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