LIVE! Sanjay Nirupam to rejoin Shiv Sena after 19 yrs

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Wed, 01 May 2024

Sanjay Nirupam to rejoin Shiv Sena after 19 yrs

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21:16 Sanjay Nirupam to rejoin Shiv Sena after 19 yrs

The political voyage of Sanjay Nirupam will come full circle as he is set to join his 'alma mater' Shiv Sena, now headed by Eknath Shinde, nearly two decades after he quit the undivided party which was his political launchpad in Mumbai.

Nirupam joined Congress in 2005 and was appointed as general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. He won the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat in the 2009 elections, defeating BJP veteran Ram Naik by a narrow margin in a keenly fought contest.

He held various positions in the Grand Old Party in the last 19 years and had also headed Mumbai unit, before falling out of grace of the party leadership.

The Congress expelled Nirupam last month for six years for "indiscipline and anti-party statements", days after he gave a "one-week ultimatum" to the party over the Mumbai North-West seat, which he was eyeing.

"Sanjay Nirupam will soon join the Shiv Sena," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told reporters on Wednesday after chairing a meeting of Shiv Sena office-bearers.

Nirupam was also present during the meeting, which Shinde described as a courtesy visit.

Meanwhile, Shinde said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold two rallies in Mumbai, which goes to polls on May 20.

Shinde expressed confidence that the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, will win all six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai.

The meeting was held with office-bearers of Mumbai South, Mumbai North West and Mumbai South Central constituencies where Shiv Sena nominees Yamini Jadhav, Ravindra Waikar, and Rahul Shewale are in the fray.

Nirupam's exit from Congress was the fallout of unfulfilled personal ambitions. It is said that he wanted to contest the Mumbai North West LS constituency on the Congress ticket in the ongoing elections, but the seat fell into the kitty of Shiv Sena-UBT as part of a seat-sharing agreement among MVA allies.

Nirupam, originally from Bihar, entered politics through journalism in the 1990s.

He became the editor of Mumbai-based Dophar Ka Saamana, the Hindi mouthpiece of undivided Shiv Sena. Impressed by his work, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray sent him to Rajya Sabha in 1996.

Nirupam emerged as the firebrand face of the Shiv Sena when it was trying to reach out to Mumbai's North Indian voters. However, he suffered a setback when he was asked to step down as a Rajya Sabha member in 2005.

Differences cropped up later, culminating in Nirupam's exit from the Sena in 2005 and subsequent joining of Congress. -- PTI

20:38 Prez pays obeisance at Ram temple in Ayodhya

President Droupadi Murmu paid obeisance and performed "aarti" at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday.

Before visiting the temple in the evening, Murmu took part in the Sarayu "aarti" and performed puja at the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya.

"President Droupadi Murmu had darshan and performed puja at Shri Hanuman Garhi temple, Ayodhya," the president's official X handle said in a post on the microblogging platform.

Earlier in the day, the president was received at the Ayodhya airport by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel.

This was Murmu's first visit to Ayodhya since the newly-built Ram temple's consecration ceremony was held on January 22. -- PTI

The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday accused Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of being the "B-team" of the Bharatiya Janata Party after a purported video, where he allegedly stated that voting for the BJP is better than voting for the TMC, went viral, prompting a denial from the Congress, claiming the video was "doctored".

An eight-second video clip of Chowdhury's speech during an election rally in West Bengal's Murshidabad was shared by the TMC, where the sitting Congress MP and candidate from West Bengal's Baharampur was seen saying "It's better to vote for the BJP than to vote for the TMC."

However, the authenticity of the clip could not be verified.

Responding to the clip, the West Bengal Congress unit termed it as doctored and officially complained to the EC, seeking intervention and appropriate penal action.

Commenting on the purported remarks, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the goal of his party is to bring down the numbers of the BJP in West Bengal and that the TMC is part of the INDIA bloc.

Earlier in the day, the TMC, upset with Chowdhury's continual criticism and holding him responsible for the breakdown of seat-sharing discussions with Congress in the state, labelled him as "anti-Bengal."

In a post on X, the TMC said after acting as the "eyes and ears of BJP in Bengal," Chowdhury has now been promoted to be the "voice of the BJP in Bengal."

"Listen to how the B-Team member is openly asking people to vote for the BJP - a party that refused to release Bengal's rightful dues and deprived our people of their rights. Only a Bangla-Birodhi can campaign for the BJP, which has repeatedly insulted Bengal's icons," the TMC said.

"On May 13, people of Baharampur will give a befitting response to this betrayal!" it added.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale also attacked the Congress leader over the remarks.

"Finally from the B-team horse's mouth! Congress Bengal chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury publicly asks people in his rally to vote for the BJP and not the TMC. While Mamata Banerjee fights against the full might of Modi+Central Agencies machinery, Bengal Congress is openly asking votes for the BJP," he said in a post on X.

"In Bengal, TMC is INDIA taking on BJP. Meanwhile, Congress and CPM have chosen to become Modi's loyal soldiers. This is disgusting and beyond shameless," he said. -- PTI

Sahil Salvi/Rediff.com

19:51 Empty local train derails near CSMT in Mumbai; 2nd incident in week

An empty local train derailed on the harbour line of the Central Railway at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

Nobody was injured in the incident that took place around 4.23 pm, said Central Railway chief PRO Swapnil Nila.

The trolley (set of wheels) of the motorman's coach derailed when the train was entering CSMT on platform number 2, another official told PTI.

On Sunday, a harbour-line local train had derailed at the same spot. No one was injured but the incident had affected the traffic for hours.

India on Wednesday successfully flight-tested the supersonic missile-assisted release of torpedo (SMART), an anti-submarine warfare system, from an island off the Odisha coast, a defence official said.

The system was launched around 8.30 am from the ground mobile launcher.

Several state-of-the-art mechanisms such as symmetric separation, ejection and velocity control have been validated in this test, the defence official said.

SMART is a next-generation missile-based lightweight torpedo delivery system, designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to enhance the anti-submarine warfare capability of the Indian Navy far beyond the conventional range of lightweight torpedo, he said.

This canister-based missile system consists of two-stage solid propulsion, electromechanical actuator and precision inertial navigation systems etc.

It carries an advanced lightweight torpedo as a payload along with a parachute-based release system. -- PTI

19:30 EC bans KCR from campaigning for 48 hours

The Election Commission on Wednesday barred Bharat Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours for his "objectionable" remarks against the Congress.

The EC said his remarks at a press conference Sircilla on April 5 were violative of the provisions of the model code of conduct and its advisories.

The 48-hour ban of the Telangana former chief minister comes into force at 8 pm on Wednesday.

After Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, Rao is the second politician to be banned from campaigning for 48 hours in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday defended his party leader Maria Alam, booked for her "vote jihad" remark, saying that her intention was to ask people to vote in large numbers.

Seeking votes on Monday for INDIA bloc candidate Naval Kishore Shakya from Farrukhabad seat, Alam, who is also the niece of Congress leader Salman Khurshid, had made an appeal for "vote jihad", terming it as necessary in the current situation for the minority community to drive away the BJP government.

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday booked Khurshid, who was present in the poll meeting, and Alam for her call for a "vote jihad".

Replying to a question on the controversy, SP chief Yadav said, "Sometimes powerful words are used to enthuse people to vote in elections."

"The meaning of it (Alam's call), I think, was not for which action has been initiated. The intention was that votes polled in maximum numbers, that all people cast their votes," Yadav stressed.

He was talking to reporters after addressing a poll meeting in Etawah district.

Alam, while addressing the election meeting in Kaimganj, had said, "Together do vote jihad-- with intelligence, without being sentimental and with silence. As we can only vote jihadto drive away this Sanghi government."

Stressing that it was time to join hands, Alam had said otherwise this "Sanghi government will succeed in wiping out our existence".

A video of Alam's statement has also gone viral on social media.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said seeing people showering votes on lotus (BJP's symbol), opposition leaders were making such objectionable comments out of frustration. -- PTI

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to divide people of the country on the basis of religion and said Muslims cannot snatch anyone's rights.

He said the Congress-led INDIA bloc was formed to unite people and counter the challenge posed by the present dispensation, which, he claimed, is a threat to the survival of the nation and its Constitution.

"Do not divide this country on the basis of religion, otherwise a storm will unleash making the survival of the country difficult. It is better to talk about uniting the country, instead of dividing its people," Abdullah, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, said addressing an election rally in Thanamandi area of the Rajouri district to garner support for party candidate Mian Altaf.

Rajouri is part of the Anantnag parliamentary constituency, which is going to polls in the sixth phase on May 25. Altaf faces a direct challenge from PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, though there are 18 other candidates in the fray.

Criticising PM Modi's recent speech in Agra that the Congress would "redistribute" people's property if voted to power, Abdullah said, "We are Muslims and our Allah has told us to respect other religions A Muslim cannot snatch anyone's right."

He accused the prime minister of trying to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims in the country.

"I want to tell Modi that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi stopped his vehicle in Pulwama (south Kashmir) during a visit to assure a poor Hindu woman of 'mangalsutra' as a gift since she was not able to purchase it," he said.

"Who is against this (INDIA) alliance is against the country. They are with those who want to divide us," Abdullah said, adding "those voting for them should remember to prepare for hell (after death)."

He said the people of Muslim dominated Jammu and Kashmir chose Mahatma Gandhi's India rather than Pakistan in 1947 because Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians were considered equals in India as per its Constitution. -- PTI

Security was beefed up at Raj Bhavan here following a bomb threat received by the officials via email, but it turned out to be a hoax, police said.

An email claiming that a bomb was planted at the Governor's House was received by officials of Raj Bhavan and the Bihar Police on Tuesday.

"We didn't find anything suspicious despite a comprehensive security check at Raj Bhavan. It turned out to be a hoax," Rajeev Mishra, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), told PTI on Wednesday.

The SSP said the police are trying to locate the source of the mail.

"We have already registered a case in this regard and engaged our cyber unit to probe the matter further," he said.

Security has been beefed up at the Raj Bhavan and other places in the city, Mishra added.

A number of establishments like government buildings, offices and schools in various cities of the country have received similar threat emails over the past few days.

17:57 Kunal Ghosh removed as TMC's general secy

The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday removed Kunal Ghosh from the post of West Bengal general secretary for making statements which did not align with the party.

The step was taken hours after he shared a stage with the BJP's Kolkata North candidate Tapas Ray, and heaped praise on him.

"Kunal Ghosh has been expressing views that don't align with the party, Mr Ghosh was previously relieved from his role as party spokesperson. Now he has been removed from the position of general secretary of the state organization," the TMC said in a statement.

Despite his removal from the post of party spokesperson, he has been holding press conferences regularly from the party headquarters.

Ghosh on Wednesday shared dais with Ray and heaped lavish praise on the saffron leader.

Incidentally, Ghosh gave a rally by the party's candidate from the Kolkata North Lok Sabha constituency, Sudip Bandopadhyay, a miss to attend the blood donation programme where Ray was also present. -- PTI

17:40 Truth will prevail: Revanna amid sex video row

Hassan MP and Lok Sabha election candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party-Janaat Dal Secular alliance Prajwal Revanna, who is facing an inquiry over the alleged sexual abuse of several women, said the truth will prevail.

The MP, who left the country as soon as the election to his constituency ended, has also sought seven days' time to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Karnataka government to inquire into the huge cache of about 3,000 explicit videos and photos allegedly pertaining to him, which have gone viral on social media.

"As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to CID Bangalore through my advocate. Truth will prevail soon," Prajwal, grandson of former prime minister and JD-S patriarch H D Deve Gowda, said in a Facebook post.

A case has been registered against MLA and former minister H D Revanna and his son Prajwal at Holenarasipura on a complaint lodged by their former cook and relative for allegedly sexually harassing her. She also alleged that Prajwal made video calls to her daughter and spoke in an objectionable manner, which forced her to block him.

The MP who is seeking re-election from Hassan on a JD-S ticket, shared a letter by his lawyer Arun G to the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the SIT, in which he has sought seven days' time to appear before the official because he is abroad. -- PTI

17:38 24 killed in highway collapse in China

At least 24 people were killed when a section of a highway collapsed early Wednesday, the start of a five-day long Labour Day holiday, in China's rain hit Guangdong province.

The cave-in occurred at around 2 am on a section of the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in the city of Meizhou, according to the government of Meizhou.

Nearly 18 metres of the mountainous highway crumbled into the forested slope below, trapping 20 vehicles and 54 passengers in all, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported, quoting a local government statement.

The official statement said 30 victims had been sent to hospital, while around 500 public security, emergency response, firefighting, health and sanitation and other workers were taking part in the rescue work.

The condition of the hospitalised patients was "not life-threatening at the moment", the statement said, but did not specify the level of their injuries.

The reason for the collapse has yet to be declared and the matter is under investigation, the Post reported.

The accident occurred as China began a five-day break for Labour Day, one of the four major holiday and travel periods for the country when highways are toll-free and see heavy traffic.

Footage and pictures shared by local news outlets showed flames and smoke rising from the collapsed section, while charred cars were visible on the gouged-out slope. The stricken highway links Guangdong to southeastern Fujian province.

State-run Xinhua news agency reported that 31 people have been sent to hospital for treatment after a road cave-in on an expressway in south China's Guangdong Province in which 18 vehicles were trapped.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will neither remove reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs, nor will it allow the Congress to do so.

He also alleged that the Congress' formula was to speak lies loudly, publicly and repetitively, and advised party president Mallikarjun Kharge not to speak lies for a family as eventually he will be blamed for its loss in the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a rally in Katghora town of Chhattisgarh's Korba district to campaign for Saroj Pandey, BJP candidate from the Korba Lok Sabha seat, Shah accused the grand old party of nurturing terrorism and Naxalism to win elections.

"Congress party has one formula - speak lies loudly, publicly and keep repeating it. They say if (PM Narendra) Modi ji gets majority for the third term, he will scrap reservation. They circulated my fake video. We have been in power for 10 years, Modi ji didn't remove reservation, nor will he do it," Shah said.

"Modi ji used majority to scrap Article 370 and triple talaq, construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and introducing Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Neither shall we remove reservation nor allow Congress to do so. It is a guarantee of Mod ji," he said.

Targeting Congress president Kharge, Shah said, "Kharge ji, why do you lie for a family? After facing defeat on June 4, you will be blamed for it."

"Kharge ji, you don't know they do not belong to anyone...As the Congress will suffer defeat on June 4, the brother-sister duo will remain safe, but 80-year-old Kharge ji will be blamed," he added.

Shah said if Modi becomes the PM for the third straight term, then Naxalism will be uprooted in two years in Chhattisgarh.

17:24 Kanhaiya Kumar meets Arvind Kejriwal's wife

Congress's North East Delhi candidate Kanhaiya Kumar on Wednesday met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita at her residence to extend his support to the alliance's fight to "save Constitution and democracy."

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Kumar said, "We are fighting against the dictatorship that is prevailing in the country. We will together save democracy and Constitution."

Kanhaiya was asked whether there was discussion during the meeting about joint campaigning of AAP and Congress.

He responded, "We are not only fighting on seats in Delhi but the INDIA bloc parties are fighting on all 543 seats. We are united. Whatever strategy is formed, it will not be for one party or one candidate. It will be for the people of Delhi. It is not a question of making someone a prime minister, an MP or forming the government of one party."

He asserted that the elections are a "fight for the self-respect" of the people of Delhi.

"Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was put in jail. The rights of people of Delhi were snatched by bringing an ordinance to overturn the Supreme Court judgement. The people of Delhi were humiliated," he said.

Asked about the impact of the resignation of Arvinder Singh Lovely from the post of Delhi Congress chief and his criticism of his candidature, Kanhaiya said such things happen during elections.

"You saw what happened in Surat and Indore. You are lucky that your candidates are standing strong and you have a chance to cast your vote. There is a need to think about it. During elections, it is not a new thing that some people from a party resign or there are issues with the candidate," he said. -- PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday issued a summons to the brother of arrested and suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh in connection with its ongoing investigation of the alleged land grabbing in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali.

Shajahan's brother, Sheikh Sirajuddin, who the central probe agency believes has played a crucial role in the scam, has been absconding, he said.

"We have summoned Shajahan's brother to appear before our officers on May 6 at our Kolkata office in connection with the land grab case. Our officers went to his residence in search of him but he was not there," the official told PTI.

CBI officers put up the 'summons' notice on Sirajuddin's residence before leaving.

Another team of CBI officers went to the 'Shajahan Market' at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday and spoke to a few shopkeepers in connection with the same case, he added.

"These businessmen were close to Shajahan and may have played a role in the scam. Our officers talked to them," he added.

The central probe agency officers have been visiting Sandeshkhali almost every day in connection with their probe into the scam.

16:56 AI cannot replace doctors, says IMA chief

Artificial intelligence cannot replace doctors though this technology can assist medical practitioners, IMA chief Dr R V Asokan has said.

During an interaction with PTI editors, he said the medical profession has always been the first to embrace technology but it cannot supersede the connection between a patient and a doctor.

"Nobody can replace a doctor. As long as the patient is vulnerable and is in a situation where he is so helpless that no science can treat him, only that touch, that hope, that eye contact, that assurance of a doctor can work," he said.

Asokan asserted that newer technologies like artificial intelligence, telemedicine and robotic surgery will greatly enhance the medical field but "I think the doctor will always be there".

"We believe that the art of medicine is bigger than the science of medicine," he said.

Commenting on the violent attack on doctors and the need for a centralised law, he said unfortunately such instances of doctors are becoming a part of the culture.

"It has become part of the culture. It is because of the high expectations and the unmet needs... There is a law protecting the airline staff. We are asking the government that if the airline staff are so special for the country, then please give us some protection also," he said.

Asokan further said around 23 states have passed laws to deal with violence against doctors but these, he said, were ineffective on the ground.

He went on to say that amendments to the Epidemic Diseases Act, were useful.

"You wanted the doctors to be protected during the corona pandemic and not on ordinary times, that also looks funny," he said.

Over punishment of doctors for medical negligence, the IMA chief said that no doctor is criminally culpable.

"We may be answerable on the law of torts or the civil law. A crime is defined as having an intent. If there is no intent then there is no crime. If it's a murder, then its a different thing. Otherwise during the process of treatment if there is a death there is no criminal intention. You cannot accuse the doctor of a criminal intention. Something might have gone wrong. Civil law is adequate to handle that situation," he said. -- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday criticised the Election Commission for the "delay" in releasing the final voter turnout figures for the initial two phases of the Lok Sabha polls.

She also expressed concern over the sudden increase in polling percentages during those phases.

The commission made public the voter turnout of the first two phases of polling, which were held on April 19 and April 26, on Tuesday evening.

According to the EC, a voter turnout of 66.14 per cent was recorded in the first and 66.71 per cent in the second phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

"The sudden jump in final voter turnout by nearly 5.75 per cent from what the Election Commission had released earlier is worrying. There are apprehensions of manipulation of results by the BJP as several EVMs were missing for a long period," she said while addressing a rally at Farakka in Murshidabad district.

The TMC supremo stated that the sudden increase in poll percentage is not just "disturbing" but also raises "serious apprehensions about the credibility of EVMs".

"The details of EVM makers should be made public by the Election Commission as the BJP can stoop to any level to win elections," she said. -- PTI

The Congress on Wednesday reiterated its 'Shramik Nyay' guarantees on International Labour Day, and said its promise of Rs 400 per day national minimum wage is the real '400 paar'.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh listed the party's guarantees for labourers and alleged that the past 10 years have been of 'anyay kaal' for them.

On the occasion of International Labour Day it is most appropriate to recall the 'Shramik Nyay' guarantees in the Congress Nyay Patra for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he said.

Elaborating on the guarantees, Ramesh said the Congress has promised 'Shram ka Samman' (Dignity for Labour)' with Rs 400 per day national minimum wage, including for MGNREGA.

"This is the real '400 paar'," Ramesh said at a press conference here, taking a jibe at the BJP's '400 paar' slogan of securing over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls for the NDA.

Ramesh alleged that the BJP's call of '400 paar' is aimed at changing the Constitution.

Holding a copy of the Constitution, Ramesh claimed this is not the first time there has been a call by the RSS for changing Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution since 1950.

Listing the other 'Shramik Nyay' guarantees, Ramesh said the party has promised, "Sabko Swaasthya Adhikaar (Universal Right to Health), Rs 25 lakh universal health coverage, with free diagnostics, medicines, treatment, and surgery." -- PTI

An accused arrested in connection with firing at the residence of Bollywood actor Salman Khan attempted suicide in the lock-up of Mumbai Police's crime branch on Wednesday and died in a hospital where he was rushed to, an official said.

The deceased Anuj Thapan, 23, hanged himself inside the toilet of the lock-up using a bedsheet. He was rushed to the state-run GT Hospital, where he was declared dead during treatment, the official said.

An accidental death report will be registered at Azad Maidan police station in south Mumbai.

Thapan was arrested from Punjab along with Sonu Kumar Bishnoi for allegedly supplying weapons to shooters Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, who were already arrested, according to police. -- PTI

Amid the mounting suspense over the Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seats, the Congress on Wednesday asserted that "nobody is scared" and a decision on the matter would be announced in the next 24-30 hours.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that party's central election committee (CEC) has empowered Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to finalise the candidates for Amethi and Rarbareli.

"My expectation is that in the next 24-30 hours, the Congress president will finalise and a decision taken by him will be announced," Ramesh said in response to a question at a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi.

"Till that is done all the information, all so-called office orders are fake," he said.

Asked why there is delay in taking a decision and if the Congress was "scared" in fielding Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Ramesh said, "There is no delay. Has the BJP not announced its candidates in Raebareli? Smriti Irani is a sitting MP. Nobody is scared, discussions are ongoing, the Congress president has been authorized."

"There is no delay, there is time till May 3," he said.

The state leadership in Uttar Pradesh has already urged the central election committee and the party leadership to field Rahul Gandhi from Amethi and Priyanka from Rae Bareli.

Speculation had been rife that Rahul Gandhi might contest the Lok Sabha polls from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Raebareli, a seat that was previously held by her mother Sonia Gandhi.-- PTI

Alleging that a "mafia raj" was going on in Assam, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday claimed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was involved in multiple scams.

Addressing an election rally in Dhubri, she claimed Sarma has a "secret understanding" with Badruddin Ajmal of the AIUDF just like BJP has with Assaduddin Owaisi in Telangana, both of which were aimed at defeating the Congress.

She also hit out at the BJP on the sexual abuse allegations against Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna and said that PM Narendra Modi sought votes for him and then did not stop him from leaving the country.

The Congress leader also attacked the BJP on the electoral bonds issue.

"BJP became the world's richest party in just 10 years, but the Congress didn't earn so much in 70 years," she said.

She claimed that PM Modi was far away from the reality of the common people and had no understanding of their miseries as he had become egoistic.

"Rising unemployment is a major issue in Assam, and the CM and his ministers are concerned only about their own interests," she alleged. -- PTI

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's lawyer appeared before the Delhi Police on Wednesday in connection with a case involving a doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's speech.

The Delhi Police had served Reddy a notice under section 160/91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure after the video was allegedly shared by his X handle.

Reddy's lawyer Saumya Gupta told the media that the handle through which the video was shared did not belong to Reddy.

"That account is not owned by Telangana CM," Gupta said after meeting the Delhi Police's investigating officer at IFSO office in Dwarka.

According to a police source, if a person is served notice under section 160/91 of the CrPC, the person can either make a physical appearance before the IO or can send a legal representative. -- PTI

14:20 Why did Modi campaign for Revanna, asks Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the sexual abuse allegations against Janata Dal-Secular leader Prajwal Revanna, asking whether being part of "Modi's political family" a "guarantee of protection for criminals".

Police on Sunday booked Prajwal Revanna and his father H D Revanna on charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation based on a complaint from a woman, who worked in their household.

Prajwal is the grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and nephew of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Faced with the unrelenting attack from the Congress and other political parties, the JD-S, an ally of the BJP, suspended Prajwal.

In a post in Hindi, Gandhi said, "As always, Narendra Modi has maintained shameful silence on the gruesome crimes committed against women in Karnataka."

"The Prime Minister will have to answer: Despite knowing everything, why did he campaign for the devil who exploited hundreds of daughters, just for votes? After all, how did such a big criminal escape from the country with such ease?" the former Congress chief said.

From Kaiserganj to Karnataka and from Unnao to Uttarakhand, the prime minister's "silent support" to the criminals of daughters is emboldening the criminals across the country, Gandhi said.

"Is being part of Modi's 'political family' a 'guarantee of protection' for criminals?" he said. -- PTI

The Delhi high court has sought the stand of the CBI and ED on pleas by alleged middleman Christian Michel James seeking regular bail in the alleged Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper scam cases relating to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters.

Justice Jyoti Singh issued notices to the probe agencies on the bail applications by the British national, who was extradited from Dubai in December 2018 and was subsequently arrested for his role in the alleged scam.

The judge, in two separate orders passed on April 22, asked the counsel for the CBI and ED to file their status reports in three weeks and listed the matter for hearing on May 16.

On February 7 last year, the top court had denied bail to James, currently in judicial custody, while rejecting his submission that he be released on the grounds that he has completed half of the maximum sentence in the cases.

Before that, the high court had dismissed his bail applications in both CBI and ED cases in March 2022.

On March 18, the top court had refused to entertain plea of James seeking bail under Article 32 of the Constitution on the grounds that he cannot be charged under any other offences apart from those mentioned in the extradition decree and he be granted the benefit of the "doctrine of speciality".

The alleged scam relates to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland.

The CBI, in its charge sheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.262 million euros. -- PTI

Lt Governor VK Saxena said that Delhi Police has traced the origin of the bomb threat emails that were sent to multiple schools in Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, and assured that the culprits will be given strict punishment.

Officials said the bomb threat appeared to be hoax and said there was no reason to panic.

Saxena visited DAV school in Model Town area that also received the bomb threat.

The LG said that Delhi Police responded quickly to the bomb scare and began action after cordoning off and searching the premises with bomb disposal teams and dog squads.

Delhi was fully alert to prevent any untoward incident, he said at the school.

"Delhi Police has found out from where these emails are coming. Investigation is going on. I would just say that the culprits will not be spared and strict punishment will be given for disrupting peace and harmony," he said.

Panic gripped school students and parents early morning on Wednesday after at least 100 schools in the Delhi-NCR received bomb threats via email.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said the bomb threat appears to be a hoax call and that there was no need to panic.

Police in Delhi and Noida said it has found nothing after searches at the school. -- PTI

Actor Rupali Ganguly on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the party headquarters in Delhi.

Addressing the media the actor said, "When I see this 'Mahayagya' of development, I feel that I should also take part in this."

"I need your blessings and support so that whatever I do, I do it right and good," she said.

Delighted by Sanju Samson's inclusion in India's T20 World Cup squad, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said the wicketkeeper-batter, who hails from his constituency Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, has got a much-deserved break.

India on Wednesday announced their provisional squad of 15 for the marquee tournament to held in the Americas in June.

Samson has taken the second wicketkeeper's slot behind comeback-man Rishabh Pant in the side to be led by Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as his deputy.

"Congratulations to the @BCCI selectors on picking an excellent team for the #T20WorldCup2024. Delighted that my constituency will finally be represented at a cricket World Cup with @IamSanjuSamson finally getting a much-deserved break! This team will bring back the trophy!!," Tharoor tweeted.

The 68-year-old former diplomat has been a vocal advocate of Samson's inclusion in the national set-up and had criticised his omission from the ODI World Cup squad last year.

Samson is enjoying a stellar run in the ongoing IPL and has led Rajasthan Royals to the top of the points table, scoring 385 runs in nine games.

The 29-year-old has appeared in 25 T20 Internationals for India since making his debut in 2015. -- PTI

TMC leader Kirti Azad

11:26 If Hindus in danger after 10-yr BJP rule....: Kirti Azad

Trinamool Congress candidate and former India cricketer Kirti Azad sought to poke holes in the BJP's Hindu nationalism plank, saying if the saffron party persists in using the "Hindu Khatre mein" (Hindus in danger) narrative despite being in power for ten years, it raises doubts about the party's necessity to return to power.

The former BJP MP-turned-TMC nominee from West Bengal's Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat, also said the issue of the Uniform Civil Code was a ploy to communalise the polls since the saffron camp lacks an impressive report card to present before the masses.

In an interview with PTI, Azad highlighted India's diversity and argued against the feasibility of implementing UCC in such a varied cultural landscape while stressing that history belies BJP's claims of Hindu insecurity under previous regimes.

"During the Mughal rule, Hindus were not under threat; they were not in peril during British rule; even under multiple governments post-Independence, Hindus never faced any perceived danger. So how come Hindus are suddenly in danger when a Hindu nationalist party is in power for the last 10 years?" he argued.

If a Hindu party cannot save Hindus, they should be thrown out of power, Azad added.

"The fact is that the BJP has nothing to show on its 10-year report card. That's why they resorted to the rhetoric of Hindu Khatre mein hain' and created fear psychosis about other communities, he said. -- PTI

Master filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola/ANI Photo

11:10 Francis Ford Coppola releases first still of Cannes-bound 'Megalopolis'

Master filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has shared the first official image of his highly anticipated film Megalopolis, set to premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

Megalopolis is set in a futuristic city much like the Roman Empire and follows an architect named Caesar, played by Adam Driver, who wants to rebuild New York City as a utopia following a devastating disaster.

In the first still from the sci-fi epic film, Driver's Caesar can be seen studying plans to rebuild the City of New Rome, while Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the socialite daughter of Mayor Cicero, looks on. Coppola, known for The Godfather franchise, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now, shared the image on his official Instagram page on Tuesday.

"This is the first official image of @megalopolisfilm to be released publicly. It brings me joy to share a glimpse of what is to come..." he captioned the post. -- PTI

10:41 Govt cuts windfall tax on crude petroleum

The government has cut windfall tax on domestically produced crude oil to Rs 8,400 per tonne from Rs 9,600 per tonne with effect from Wednesday.

The tax is levied in the form of Special Additional Excise Duty.

The SAED on the export of diesel, petrol and jet fuel or ATF, has been retained at nil.

The new rates are effective from May 1, an official notification said. India first imposed windfall profit taxes on July 1, 2022, joining a host of nations that tax supernormal profits of energy companies.

The tax rates are reviewed every fortnight based on average oil prices in the previous two weeks. -- PTI

The priest of a temple in a village here was beaten to death with sticks after he got into an altercation with some people over the playing of loud music, the police said on Wednesday.

The incident happened on Tuesday night in Tenuba Chaubey village and three persons have been detained over it, they said.

Ashok Chaubey (60) was beaten with sticks by some persons with whom he had an altercation over the playing of DJ (music), superintendent of police Sankalp Sharma said.

The SP said Chaubey was rushed to a medical college where he was declared dead.

Three persons, including one Hausla Paswan, have been detained, he added.

Police force has been deployed in the village and at the temple to avoid any untoward incident, he said.

A detailed probe is underway in the matter, the officer said. -- PTI

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10:01 Political parties from 10 countries visiting India to experience polls

Representatives of 18 political parties from 10 countries will interact with a host of BJP leaders, including party president J P Nadda and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during their visit to India on the ruling party's invitation to get a first-hand experience of the Lok Sabha polls.

The BJP said the foreign leaders will also be given insights into the party's election campaign and will be briefed about its strategies and the overall electoral process.

They will meet Nadda on Wednesday and also interact with Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Australia's Liberal Party, Vietnam's Communist Party of Vietnam, Bangladesh's Awami League, Israel's Likud Party, Uganda's National Resistance Movement, Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi, and Russia's United Russia Party are among the political parties whose representatives are visiting India.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and United National Party from Sri Lanka, Militant Socialist Movement, Mauritius Labour Party, Mauritian Militant Movement and Parti Mauricien Social Democrate from Mauritius, and Nepali Congress, Janamat Party, Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist and Rashtriya Swatantra Party from Nepal are among other parties visiting on the BJP's invitation. -- PTI

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday greeted citizens on the formation day of Gujarat and Maharashtra, and hoped that the people of the two states will continue to make effective contributions to the development of the country.

"My heartiest greetings to all the countrymen and especially to the Gujarati brothers and sisters on Gujarat Day. The hardworking, talented and enterprising people of Gujarat have brought glory to the state and the country across the world."

"Gujarat is one of the leading states of the country on many parameters of development. I am confident that the people of Gujarat will continue to make effective contributions to the development of the country. My heartiest wishes for a bright future for all of them," she said in a post in Hindi and Gujarati on X.

In another message, Murmu conveyed heartiest congratulations to all the countrymen, especially the people of Maharashtra, on the state's formation day.

This land, which was the birthplace and work place of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has given the country great personalities like Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Tarabai Shinde and Babasaheb Ambedkar, the president said. -- PTI

The death toll in the accident involving a private bus, which fell into a gorge at Yercaud in Tamil Nadu's Salem on Tuesday evening, rose to 5, officials informed on Wednesday.

According to the police, the private bus was heading to Salem from Yercaud with 56 passengers on board when it lost control and rolled into the gorge.

While the bus was negotiating the 13th hairpin bend, the driver lost control of the vehicle as it hit the sidewall.

The bus fell into a gorge before crash-landing on the 11th hairpin bend, the officials added. Rescue operations were still underway at the scene of the accident.

Nearly 20 injured passengers were rescued and shifted to the Yercaud government hospital where they are currently under treatment.

"Yercaud police filed a complaint in connection with the accident and an investigation is underway," a police officer said. -- ANI

Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej/File image

09:18 127-year-old Godrej family splits group assets

The founding family of the 127-year-old Godrej Group, which deals in locks to soaps to aerospace to real estate, has reached an agreement to split the conglomerate, as per a joint announcement.

On Tuesday, the Godrej family announced an ownership realignment of their shareholdings in the Godrej Companies.

The realignment in the conglomerate, incorporated back 1987, has been arrived at in a "respectful and mindful" way to maintain harmony and to better align ownership in acknowledgement of the differing visions of the Godrej family members, both sides of the family said in a statement.

This is expected to help maximize strategic direction, focus, agility, and will accelerate the process of creating long-term value for shareholders and all other stakeholders.

The realignment will be implemented after the relevant regulatory approvals have been obtained.

Godrej Enterprises Group comprises of Godrej & Boyce and its affiliates, which have presence across multiple industries spanning aerospace, aviation, defence, engines and motors, energy, security, building materials, construction, green building consulting, EPC services, intralogistics, healthcare equipment, durables, furniture, interior design, architectural fittings, IT, software as well as infrastructure solutions.

This group will now be controlled by Jamshyd Godrej, chairperson and managing director, Nyrika Holkar, executive director, and their immediate families.

Godrej Industries Group, which includes the listed companies, Godrej Industries, Godrej Consumer Products, Godrej Properties, Godrej Agrovet and Astec Lifesciences will have Nadir Godrej as chairperson and will be controlled by Adi Godrej, Nadir Godrej, and their immediate families. --ANI

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09:13 Russian attack claims 5 lives in Ukraine's Odesa, 'Harry Potter castle' engulfed

A Russian missile assault on the Black Sea port city of Odesa has left at least five individuals dead and more than 30 wounded, as confirmed by Ukrainian authorities, CNN reported.

A video footage, released by Ukraine's Prosecutor General, captures the harrowing moment when numerous bomblets erupted in quick succession near the seafront, unleashing chaos and devastation.

Among the structures ravaged by the assault was an educational institution colloquially referred to as the "Harry Potter castle" due to its striking resemblance to the iconic Scottish architectural style.

Images disseminated by officials depict the once-majestic cone-shaped towers and roof engulfed in flames, painting a sombre picture of the aftermath, as reported by CNN. -- ANI

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09:04 Two Delhi schools receive bomb threat via email

Two Delhi schools have received a bomb threat via email in New Delhi on Wednesday morning, police officials said.

Mother Mary School at Mayur Vihar in east Delhi and Delhi Public School at Dwarka received the bomb threats, they said.

The school premises was evacuated after local police was informed, they added.

Bomb detection team, bomb disposal squad and officials of Delhi Fire Service have been rushed to the school and a search operation is underway, a police officer said. -- PTI

Bringing a measure of respite to the people amid the polling for the 18th Lok Sabha, oil marketing companies have slashed the prices of commercial LPG gas cylinders by Rs 19 per unit with immediate effect.

The retail sales price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder would be now Rs 1745.50 in Delhi, sources said.

Last month, the price was cut by Rs 30.50 for a 19-kg commercial cylinder at Rs 1764.50.

The Opposition, led by the Congress, has often taken potshots at the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre for failing to rein in fuel prices and its ripple effect on the prices of essential food items and other commodities. -- ANI

08:31 Stock market shut for Maharashtra Day

Stock exchanges will remain shut Wednesday on account of Maharashtra Day, and normal trading will resume Thursday.

The next market holiday is on May 20 for general elections.

On Tuesday, the stock indices settled marginally lower, snapping morning supported by strong US markets coupled with improved investor sentiment with the relative easing of tensions in West Asia.

Volatility also returned in Indian stock markets after a smooth rally at the start of April, primarily driven by Foreign Portfolio Investor selling activity. -- ANI

The secretary of a community club in Tripura's Agartala was shot dead in on Tuesday evening, officials said.

According to the officials, the incident took place on Tuesday evening when a group of criminals fired from a close-range, killing Durga Prasanna Deb in the Shalbagan area.

Deb was the secretary of the Bharat Ratna Club, located near the MBB Airport, known for organising the largest Durga Puja festival in the state.

The assailants fled the scene after the incident, the officials added.

"Police teams comprising personnel from Airport Police station and New Capital Complex police station have launched a joint manhunt to catch the assailants. Repeated raids were being conducted in the potential hideouts of the accused person," superintendent of police of West Tripura district, Kiran Kumar said.

Kumar also informed that he had been personally leading the raids in the potential hideouts of perpetrators. -- ANI

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08:10 AstraZeneca reaffirms vaccine safety amid concerns

In light of recent concerns surrounding potential rare side effects of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, the pharmaceutical giant has reiterated its commitment to patient safety while emphasising the vaccine's overall safety profile.

An AstraZeneca spokesperson stated, "Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems. Patient safety is our highest priority, and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines."

This comes in the wake of a recent admission by AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company, that its Covid vaccine Covishield and Vaxzevria "can, in very rare cases, cause Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome."

Despite these rare occurrences, the pharmaceutical company maintains that extensive clinical trial data and real-world evidence consistently support the vaccine's safety and efficacy.

Regulatory agencies worldwide continue to assert that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of such extremely rare side effects.

According to several UK media reports, AstraZeneca has made the admission in court documents in connection with a case that alleges that the vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, caused death and serious injury in dozens of cases. -- ANI

The Tripura police apprehended three individuals suspected of illegal entry into India in Dharmanagar, North Tripura.

The event unfolded on Monday during a routine mobile patrol conducted by the Dharmanagar Police Station.

Upon noticing three individuals behaving suspiciously in Dharmanagar Bazar, one of the police personnel initiated a preliminary investigation.

It was soon discovered that all three individuals were Bangladeshi nationals who had entered India without proper documentation, including passports.

Niladri Sarkar, OC, Dharmanagar PS, North Tripura said, "Yesterday while mobile patrolling, one of the inspectors of Dharmanagar PS suspected three persons in Dharmanagar Bazar. After primary investigation, he came to know that all three boys were Bangladeshi and had entered India without any passport. All were arrested at that time. The names of the accused are Manju Ali, Rashel Ahmed, and Md Fahim. All were produced to court and the case is under investigation." -- ANI

Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party chief Ravinder Raina on Tuesday expelled a senior party leader for hate speech and using unparliamentary language during an election meeting in Poonch district.

Poonch district is part of the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency where the elections were rescheduled for May 25 by the Election Commission.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Mian Altaf are in a direct contest from the constituency.

Prominent among 19 other candidates in the fray include Mohammad Saleem Parray of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party and J&K Apni Party leader Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas.

Raina ordered expulsion of Poonch district spokesperson Satish Bhargav from the party's primary membership for a period of six years for gross indiscipline and using unparliamentary language and hate speech.

The J&K BJP chief passed the order on the basis of the recommendation by Sunil Sethi, the chairman of the party's disciplinary committee.

Sethi referred to a video of Bhargav making hate speech threatening and using unparliamentary language in a meeting at Mendhar area of Poonch district. -- PTI

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