A bench of justices Surya Kant and KV Vishwanathan said it is of the view that the SCBA is a premier institution and is an integral part of the highest judicial forum of the country. 

"The norms, eligibility conditions, membership, membership fee structure etc., cannot remain static for decades and timely reforms to meet with the challenges that may confront the institution from time to time, are required to be carried out," it said. 

The bench directed that there shall be reservation for women members of the Bar. 

"Minimum of one-third seats in the executive committee, that is, three out of nine; minimum one-third out of the senior executive members, that is, two out of six; and at least one post of the office bearer shall be reserved for women candidates exclusively by turn and on rotation basis," it directed. -- PTI

In a statement, the governor said, "Truth shall triumph. I refuse to be cowed down by engineered narratives. If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal," 

 To the Raj Bhavan staff "who expressed solidarity with him following some derogatory narratives that were circulated by two disgruntled employees as agents of political parties," a communication by Raj Bhawan said. The Governor's statement came after senior TMC leaders claimed this evening in a series of social media posts that the woman, who had levelled the allegations, has been taken to a police station to complain against Bose. Senior police officials said they received a complaint and are looking into it. 

"We have received a complaint and are conducting an investigation. We are also consulting the matter with constitutional experts of the law department. As per the woman's allegation, she was molested inside Raj Bhavan," deputy commissioner of Central Division Indira Mukherjee told reporters.

Mishcon De Reya said its claim filed in the commercial court relates to actions taken by the US-headquartered ride-hailing company dating back to 2012 under the private hire vehicle licence granted by Transport for London. 

It is claimed their operating system did not comply with the requirements of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1988. Uber has denied the allegations and described the claim as "unfounded". 

"Uber has consistently failed to comply with the law that applies to private hire vehicles in London and so we are pleased to be issuing today's claim on behalf of almost 11,000 London cab drivers," said Richard Leedham, partner and head of Commercial Disputes at Mishcon de Reya. -- PTI

Tripti Singh, a resident of Kaushambi Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, had left her PG room at Gobariabawadi in Kota for a routine test at the coaching centre on April 21 and did not return while keeping her mobile switched off. 

Kota city superintendent of police Amrita Duhan formed police teams to search the woman after the caretaker of the hostel lodged a report on April 23. 

In order to misguide her parents and the police, the woman had left a suicide note in her room that stated she was going to jump into the Chambal river to end her life as she was not able to clear the exam and sought sorry from her parents while expressing love for them. 

After the recovery of the suicide note, the SDRF divers carried out the search operation in the river. 

Besides the suicide note, the names of Radha Krishna were found written in the woman's copy in her PG room and it was learnt that she had earlier visited Mathura following which a police team was sent there and the team on Wednesday came to learn that a girl resembling to the one they were looking for had moved towards Ludhiana, Duhan said in a press release. -- PTI

His son Prajwal Revanna is also an accused in the case. 

The matter is posted for hearing on Friday. 

Revanna, son of former prime minister and JD-S patriarch HD Deve Gowda, moved the court after the SIT formed by the Karnataka government to probe a sexual harassment case against Prajwal Revanna served a notice to both of them. 

Prajwal is facing allegations of sexually abusing women. 

The state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the case. 

Scores of explicit video clips allegedly involving the 33-year-old MP had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days. 

He was the NDA candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency where polling was held on April 26. -- PTI

She is the wife of BJD leader V K Pandian, a close associate of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. 

Kartikeyan was holding the post of commissioner cum secretary in the department of Mission Shakti, Odisha. 

The sources said Kartikeyan was shunted out with immediate effect following complaints of alleged misuse of public office. 

The BJP had petitioned the Election Commission to remove Karthikeyan from her post contending that she was "actively" operating as an agent of the ruling BJD in the state.

"This election is about freedom, America and democracy. That's why I badly need you. You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," Biden told his supporters at a fundraiser here on Wednesday evening. 

"We look to -- the reason -- look, think about it. Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they're xenophobic. They don't want immigrants," Biden, the presumptive candidate of the Democratic Party, said. 

"Immigrants are what makes us strong. Not a joke. That's not hyperbole, because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and want to contribute," the president said at the Democratic Party fundraiser. - PTI

The Whitley Gold Award is the highest honour given by the UK-based Whitley Fund for Nature for outstanding contribution to conservation. 

Barman, after receiving the award in London, said the recognition is not for her alone but also for Assam and the rest of the country. 

She has been working for nearly two decades to ensure the survival of the Greater Adjutant stork by creating an all-woman grassroots conservationist group called the 'Hargila Army' to save the bird from extinction in Assam's Kamrup district. 

"The award is really meant for the women in the community who have been my source of strength in the journey so far. It is a message from women from the country to the world how we through dedication and commitment can spur conservation efforts," Barman said. 

She was awarded the United Nations' highest environmental honour - 'Champions of the Earth' in 2022. -- PTI

Top wresters, including Sakshi, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, had accused Brij Bhushan of sexually harassing women wrestlers during his tenure as Wrestling Federation of India chief and sat at Jantar Mantar for months demanding his arrest. 

Brij Bhushan is the sitting Member of Parliament from Kaiserganj, and his son now getting the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket for the seat has rankled the protesting wrestlers. 

In a post on 'X' Sakshi wrote, "The daughters of the country lost, Brij Bhushan won." 

The Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi, who quit wrestling last year, added that the wrestlers' demand for justice had not been heeded to. 

"We all put our careers at stake, slept on the streets for many days in sun and rain. Till date, Brij Bhushan has not been arrested. We were not demanding anything, we were only demanding justice," she said. -- PTI  

The resignation comes days after Arvinder Singh Lovely stepped down from the post of the Congress' Delhi unit chief and former MLAs Neeraj Basoya and Naseeb Singh quit the party in protest against the alliance with AAP. 

Bidhuri claimed "thousands" of Congress workers were against the coalition with the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. 

"I have resigned for many reasons, but the main reason is the Congress' alliance with the AAP in Delhi. I have expressed my feelings by giving my resignation. Thousands of workers are not happy with the alliance."

"The AAP came to power by abusing the Congress. We all had expressed our feelings when Arvinder Singh Lovely was president but no one listened to us. The alliance is against the workers' feelings, so I have resigned," Bidhuri said. 

He said he has no immediate plans of joining any political party. -- PTI

"The CIK arrested one hard-core, radicalised individual Waseem Ahmed Shaikh of Beerwah village who was about to join terrorist ranks on the motivation of some Pakistan based terrorist handlers," the officials said in Srinagar.

The officials said the CIK on Monday launched an operation after getting reliable intelligence input that terrorist outfit Ansar Gazwat-Ul-Hind, an offshoot of the global terror outfit ISIS, was trying to re-establish its base and revive its cadres in Kashmir.

"In furtherance to this criminal conspiracy, one Pakistan based terror handler of AuGH identified as Hamzah @Gazi has been brainwashing/ radicalizing Kashmiri youth to join terrorist ranks. It also came to light that AuGH has brainwashed and cultivated few committed Hybrid OGWs in Kashmir valley and these hybrid OGW in connivance with Pak terrorist handlers are planning a terrorist recruitment drive in the valley," they added. -- PTI

"As these developments are concerned especially in our neighbourhood and beyond. All these developments which have an impact on our national security, on our economic security, we are watchful of them and we take whatever appropriate measures that are taken to safeguard it," MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing. 

"These are developments on which we keep our close eye and take measures that are appropriate on our side," he added. 

Earlier, Chinese marine research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 returned to Maldivian waters, marking its second visit to the archipelago nation within two months. 

The vessel was observed docked at the Thilafushi industrial island's harbour, although the specific reason for its return remains undisclosed by the government. 

However, it's worth noting that the government had previously confirmed permission for the ship to dock during its initial visit. -- ANI

Forex traders said positive sentiment in the domestic equity markets and the inflow of foreign capital capped a sharp fall in the domestic currency. 

At the interbank foreign exchange, the domestic unit opened strong at 83.41 and touched the intra-day low of 83.49 against the greenback. 

The local unit finally settled at 83.46 (provisional) against the dollar, down 3 paise from its previous close. 

The rupee had settled 2 paise higher at 83.43 against the dollar on Tuesday, a day after losing 7 paise on Monday. -- PTI

Saurabh Kumar, Raina's maternal cousin, and his friend Shubham from Kuthman died in a collision with a car near Gaggali airport on Wednesday, they said.

Superintendent of police Kangra, Shalini Agnihotri, said the incident took place around 11:30 pm on Wednesday near Himachal Timber in Gaggal.

According to the police, the driver of the car, Sher Singh, was responsible for the collision.

He had fled the scene but with the help of the CCTV footage, which captured the incident, Singh was later arrested in Mandi, they added.

A case has been registered against the accused under sections 279 (rash driving) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code, along with section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the police said. -- PTI

The members of the erstwhile royal families gathered in Rajkot. 

As many as 15-16 erstwhile royal family members were present, while the others extended their letter of support for PM Modi. 

Thakor Saheb of Rajkot Mandhata, Sinhji Jadeja, said that the members have gathered to discuss about the nation's interest. 

"It is undoubtedly a clear picture that the Rajput community and the former rulers have closely been associated with PM Narendra Modi. All the rulers are here because of PM Narendra Modi's vision. His tech-savvy approach to take all mediums to take India to next level of development," Sinhji Jadeja said. 

His statement comes amid ongoing protests by Kshatriyas or Rajputs in Gujarat against Union Minister Parshottam Rupala's controversial remarks against them. -- ANI

The police said Maruthathoor resident Somasagaram, who was hospitalised since April 19 after he consumed poison, died at a hospital in the Kerala capital on Wednesday. 

Launching an investigation into the incident, the police said inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Proceedings have been initiated. 

According to the FIR, the Perumpazhuthoor cooperative bank authorities refused to return his deposit of Rs five lakh despite multiple requests. 

The FIR states that he was depressed as he sought money for the marriage expenses of his daughter and consumed poison on April 19. 

He died on Wednesday night. His 86-year-old father told the media that his son had deposited some hard-earned money in the bank. -- PTI

The posters were spotted on the wall of an Anganwadi centre in Haidernagar, a senior officer said.

Voting in Palamu is scheduled on May 13.

"We have received information about the objectionable posters, allegedly put up by Maoists, in Haidernagar under the Palamu constituency. A police team reached the spot and removed such posters," sub-divisional police officer (Hussainabad) Mukesh Kumar said.

Such posters asking people to boycott the upcoming polls were also spotted in Baraiwa area.

An investigation is underway and no one has been arrested so far, the SDPO said. -- PTI

The party also named Dinesh Pratap Singh as its candidate from Raebareli, a Gandhi family bastion which has been won by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi for five consecutive times. 

She is now a Rajya Sabha MP and the Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the seat. 

While Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh may have been denied the ticket, the fact that the seat's contest remains within the family shows how influential the Thakur leader and six-time MP is in the region and the party. -- PTI

With Friday being the last date of filing of nominations, the party is expected to announce its candidates from the two prestigious constituencies tonight. 

The sources said the party has started making preparations for the nomination filing in both the seats in Uttar Pradesh, which have been traditionally held by members of the Gandhi-Nehru family. 

They added that Rahul Gandhi is the most likely choice of the party for Amethi, a seat he lost to Smriti Irani in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. 

Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the nomination filing Friday, the sources said. 

They also said that the Congress has prepared an alternative plan in case Priyanka Gandhi Vadra does not contest from Rae Bareli, adding a grandson of former Congress leader and Indira Gandhi's aunt Sheila Kaul may be fielded from Rae Bareli. 

Confidantes of the Gandhi family who held the fort at the ground level are already in Amethi and have prepared the nominations for the both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, even though the party is yet to make any formal announcement. -- PTI

The Election Commission on Thursday said it has taken a 'serious view' of political parties and candidates seeking details of voters under the guise of various surveys for their proposed beneficiary schemes as it amounts to a corrupt practice under election law.

The poll authority noted that some political parties and candidates have been engaging in activities that blur the lines between legitimate surveys and partisan efforts to register individuals for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes.

The Election Commission issued an advisory to all national and state political parties to immediately cease and desist from any activities that involve registering people for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes through any advertisement, survey or mobile application.

It said the act of inviting or calling upon individual electors to register for post-election benefits may create an impression of the requirement of one-to-one transactional relationship between the elector and the proposed benefit, and has the potential to generate a quid pro quo arrangement for voting in a particular way, thereby leading to inducement.   -- PTI

The court's decision came on a lawsuit for trademark infringement filed by Pfizer Products Inc., which sells a well-recognised erectile dysfunction allopathic drug under the "Viagra" trademark. 

Stating that there was a "strong potential" for confusion between the two names because of their resemblances and overlap in commercial operations, Justice Sanjeev Narula directed Renovision Exports Private Limited not to use "Vigoura" or any other mark that is "deceptively similar" to Pfizer's trademark "Viagra". 

It also ruled that the plaintiff shall be entitled to nominal damages of Rs 3 lakh, recoverable jointly and severally from the defendant entity. 

"The defendants or anyone acting on their behalf are permanently restrained from manufacturing, selling or offering for sale, marketing, advertising or in any other manner using the mark 'VIGOURA' or any mark deceptively similar to the plaintiff's trademark 'VIAGRA' in relation to any of their goods as would amount to infringement or passing off of the plaintiff's registered mark 'VIAGRA'," the court said in its order passed on Wednesday. 

"Plaintiff's trademark 'VIAGRA' is highly recognised by its name in the sphere of erectile dysfunction drugs. They have invested heavily in building a brand and owing to its success, 'VIAGRA' has acquired national and global repute. Consequently, the defendants' subsequent adoption of the impugned mark with the knowledge of the plaintiff's existence warrants an award of damages in the plaintiff's favour," the court said. 

It observed that there was material that successfully proved Pfizer's status as the proprietor of the "Viagra" trademark and the company's successful registration in India further proved its exclusive ownership over the mark. 

The court said "Vigoura" and "Viagra" exhibited a high degree of phonetic similarity that could mislead consumers into believing that the former was either a variant of or endorsed by the makers of "Viagra".

Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee media in-charge Mukesh Nayak on Thursday raised doubts on the increase in final voting percentage of the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls saying there was a difference of six percentage between the provisional figures and exact figures given by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Nayak said that it never happened in the history till date that the ECI took so long to release the exact voting percentage and that the ECI should clarify.

"There is a difference of six per cent between the provisional figures and exact figures given by the ECI for the 102 seats of the first phase and 88 seats of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections. Earlier, whenever the Election Commission used to provide provisional figures, the exit figures were given within one to one and a half days. This has been the history and tradition till now. This time EC provided exact figures 10 days after the provisional figures," Nayak said.

In the provisional figures, voter turnout was observed at 60 per cent in the first phase and 61 per cent (actually 60.96 per cent) in the second phase. 

When the EC released the exact figures after 10 days, there was a difference of six per cent, 66.14 per cent in the first phase and 66.76 per cent in the second phase, the Congress leader said.

"A difference of six per cent between provisional and exact figures has never happened in Indian history. There is another important thing in the complete figures given by the Election Commission this time. They used to give the figures of total votes exercised but this time they have not provided the figures of total votes. From this, we feel that there is a lot of doubt in the difference of six per cent and it is quite natural," the congress leader said.

"The whole process and the entire operation raises a doubt and it is a matter of great concern. First, there is a difference of 10 days in releasing the provisional figures and the exact figures. Till date in history, there has never been a delay of over one or one and a half days. Also, there has never been a difference of six percent. There used to be a difference of one to one and a half percent only," he said.

The delay and difference in voting percentage raised doubts and the Election Commission should hold a press conference and clarify it, the Congress leader said.

Notably, the Election Commission of India released exact figures of the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls on April 30.

The first phase was held on April 19 for 102 seats and the polling for the second phase was held on April 26 for 88 parliamentary seats across the country.   -- ANI

He mentioned that both leaders are the Congress party's star campaigners and have been extensively campaigning across the country. 

Ramesh also said that the official announcement would be made by Thursday evening. 

"The CEC has given the entire responsibility to the party president, and I believe there will be an official announcement by evening today. We want Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi from Rai Bareli, but they have to hold election campaigns across the country. Both of them are our star campaigners, but the CEC, Congress organisation, and Congress workers want Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi from Rai Bareli. However, it is their personal choice. They have to decide," Jairam Ramesh said while speaking to ANI. 

Created by Rajamouli and Sharad Devarajan of The Legend of Hanuman fame, the show promises to take the audiences into an animated world of Baahubali to experience an untold story of epic adventure, brotherhood, betrayal, conflict and heroism, a press release said. 

Rajamouli started the franchise with 2015's Baahubali: The Beginning, which starred Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Sathyaraj and Tamannaah Bhatia and released in 2015. 

The movie broke many records with its box office collection, emerging as the first South Indian film to gross over Rs 650 crore worldwide. It was followed by the second part, titled Baahubali: The Conclusion and released in 2017. 

Baahubali: Crown of Blood will follow a story where Baahubali and Bhallaladeva will join hands to protect the great kingdom of Mahishmati and the throne against its greatest threat, the mysterious warlord known only as Raktadeva, according to the official plotline. 

A Graphic India and Arka Mediaworks production, the animated show is produced by Rajamouli, Devarajan and Shobu Yarlagadda. It is directed by Jeevan J Kang and Navin John.

The Fresno police on Wednesday identified the man killed in an alley at Fairmont and Holt avenues as 37-year-old Xavier Gladney in a gang-related interpersonal dispute. 

The police on Wednesday also said the incident was not connected to a case involving a reputed gang killing in India, The Fresno Bee newspaper reported. 

Speculative reports in Indian media on Wednesday claimed the victim was Brar, a suspect in the killing of Moosewala, it said. 

The Fresno police said the department was receiving several calls from international media and that officers were working to debunk any connections between the slayings, the paper said. 

Police officers at 5:30 pm on Tuesday were at the alley at Fairmont and Holt after receiving information about a shooting incident. Officers arrived and found Gladney with a gunshot wound. He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. A 13-year-old was also dropped off at the hospital with a non-life-threatening wound. 

Fresno Police Lt Paul Cervantes on Wednesday said the teen was at the location where shots were fired. 

Homicide detectives have identified the alleged shooter as 33-year-old Darren Williams. 

Cervantes said a warrant has been issued for Williams's arrest on suspicion of murder and assault with a deadly weapon The motive is a gang-related interpersonal dispute, Cervantes said. 

An activist of the banned Babbar Khalsa International, Brar has been involved in the smuggling of high-grade arms, ammunition and explosive materials through drones from across the border and supplying them for carrying out killings and also providing sharpshooters. 

He hails from Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab and is reportedly residing in Brampton, Canada. He was designated a terrorist by the Indian government under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, this year. 

In a notification, the Union home ministry said Brar, backed by a Pakistan-based agency, has been involved in multiple killings and professes radical ideology.

Earlier today, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Thursday said a lookout circular has been issued to arrest Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna who is facing allegations of sexually abusing women.  On Prajwal seeking seven more days to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case as he is abroad, he said there is no provision to grant more than 24 hours.

After reaching Tushra Airstrip, Patnaik led a procession to the sub-collector's office at Titlagarh and filed papers in the presence of BJD leader and his schoolmate AU Singhdeo and party leader V K Pandian. Patnaik chose Kantabanji as the second seat as it is strategically located and connected to three Lok Sabha seats such as Kalahandi, Bolangir, and Bargarh. These three LS seats were won by the opposition BJP in the 2019 elections. 

 BJD insiders feel that Patnaik decision to contest from Kantabanji will have a significant impact to raise BJD's stake in the region, particularly in Bolangir district.

 According to an official source, who has access to the FIR, at least 125 bomb threat calls were received from different schools from 5.47 am to 2.13 pm on Wednesday. 

 The person said that after receiving the calls, PCR vehicles were rushed to schools, and district police, BDS, MAC, Special Cell and Crime Control Room, DDMA, NDRF, Fire CATS and several other agencies were alerted. Movement of these units to the schools "resulted in massive inconvenience," read a part of the FIR, according to the source.

 The officials evacuated the schools in an "elaborate exercise" and carried out anti-sabotage checks across the city, he said. The emails were apparently sent with the "conspiratorial intention of creating mass panic and to disturb public," the source said. 

 The FIR has been registered at Special Cell Police Station under IPC sections 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes), 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication), and 120 (B) (punishment of criminal conspiracy).

 Around 200 schools in Delhi-NCR received an identical threat email Wednesday claiming that explosives had been planted in their premises, triggering massive evacuations and searches as panic-stricken parents rushed to pick up their children. Nothing was found during searches by authorities which later declared it a mass hoax. PTI

 On Prajwal seeking seven more days to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case as he is abroad, he said there is no provision to grant more than 24 hours. 

"A lookout notice has been issued soon after it was learnt that Prajwal Revanna has gone abroad. We have informed all the ports and airports about the lookout notice," the minister told reporters.

 Prajwal is the grandson of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and son of MLA and former Minister H D Revanna. 

 Some explicit video clips allegedly involving the 33-year-old MP had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days. He was the NDA candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, where polling was held on April 26. 

"Our SIT members are taking legal opinion whether to give time to the accused. The SIT will move forward to arrest him since there is no provision to give more than 24 hours," Parameshwara added. 

 A woman has filed a police complaint accusing Prajwal and his father of sexually harassing her. He said one more victim has come forward and lodged a complaint against Prajwal. The victim's statements have been recorded. "In the meantime, one more woman has lodged a complaint, whose details I cannot share," the minister said. PTI

 On Wednesday, the country's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) elevated the readiness and preparedness levels of the national system to deal with the situation. 

 While these rains are expected to be less severe than the unprecedented downpour that hit the country last month, the public is urged to take precautions. 

 On April 14-15, extreme rainfall battered regions of the Arabian Peninsula, with Dubai experiencing the heaviest rains on record since 1949. Dubai-based Emirates airline announced the cancellation of several flights on Thursday due to bad weather across the UAE as movements at Dubai International Airport (DXB) were reduced. 

 Customers arriving or departing from Dubai airport on 2 May can expect some delays as flights are rescheduled, Emirates said in a statement.

 Kharge urged the prime minister to seek votes on the performance of his government over the last ten years instead of indulging in "hate speeches". The Congress president made the remarks in a letter to Prime Minister Modi in which he rebutted the attack and charges levelled against his party in the PM's letter to NDA candidates after the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls. Prime Minister Modi has asked the BJP-led NDA candidates in the Lok Sabha polls to spread awareness among voters about the Congress's intention to snatch "reservation from SC, ST and OBC communities and give it away to their vote bank". 

 In a personal letter written to them, Modi also accused the Congress and its allies of having divisive and discriminatory motives, even though reservation on the basis of religion is unconstitutional. 

 Writing to Modi, Kharge said, "I saw the letter written by you to all the NDA candidates about what they need to communicate to the voters. From the tone and content of the letter it seems that there is a lot of desperation and worry in you which is leading you to use language that does not suit the office of the Prime Minister." 

 "The letter makes it look like the lies in your speeches are not having the effect you intended and now you want your candidates to amplify your lies. Repeating a lie a thousand times will not make it the truth," he said.

 The Congress chief said the voters are intelligent enough to read and understand by themselves what the Congress has written in its manifesto and what guarantees it has promised. 

 "Our guarantees are so simple and clear, that we don't have to explain it to them. For your benefit, I will reiterate them here," Kharge said in his letter and elaborated on the party's Yuva Nyay, Nari Nyay, Kisan Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay. "We have heard you and the Home Minister say that Congress is practising appeasement politics. The only appeasement policy that we have seen in the last 10 years is the appeasement of Chinese by you and your ministers. Even today, you refuse to call China as 'Ghuspaithiye', instead on June 19, 2020, you said 'Na Koi Ghusa Hai, Na Hi Koi Ghus Aaya hai', insulting the supreme sacrifice of 20 Indian soldiers in Galwan," the Congress chief said. "Your public 'Clean Chit' to China, has weakened India's case and made it more belligerent. Even as tensions escalate due to repeated Chinese transgressions and construction of military infrastructure near LAC in Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Uttarakhand, the imports of Chinese goods to India has increased by 54.76 per cent in the past 5 years alone and has crossed USD 101 billion in 2023-24," he said.

 Noting that the PM in his letter to NDA candidates had claimed that reservation will be taken away from SC, ST and OBC and given to the Congress' votebank, Kharge said, "Our votebank is every Indian -- the poor, the marginalised, the women, the aspirational youth, the labour class, the Dalits and the Adivasis. Everyone knows it is the RSS and BJP who opposed reservations at every stage since 1947." 

 "Your leaders have openly spoken about it. You need to clarify why you are opposed to reservation to SCs, STs and OBCs on the basis of their population as per Article 16 of our Constitution," Kharge said. "In your letter, you have said people's hard-earned money will be snatched and given away. I would like to take this opportunity to request you to direct your party to return the Rs 10 crore that were swindled from the poor Dalit farmers in Gujarat and given as electoral bonds to BJP," Kharge said. 

 He accused the BJP of amassing Rs 8,250 crore through the "illegal and unconstitutional" Electoral Bonds. He said Modi's letter "lies" that Congress wants to bring Inheritance Tax when it is a former BJP Finance Minister and BJP party leaders who have repeatedly mentioned they want Inheritance Tax. 

 "I see from your letter that you are worried by the low turnout of voters in the first two phases of the elections. It shows people are not enthusiastic about your policies or your campaign speeches. This is not because of the summer heat, but because the poor have been burnt by your policies," the Congress chief said.

 His comments came amid reports that Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a former minister in Imran Khan's cabinet in Pakistan, shared a video featuring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his social media handle and praised him.

 "Pakistan is crying because Congress is dying here. Pakistani leaders are praying for Congress. Pakistan is eager to make 'shehzada' (referring to Rahul Gandhi) the next prime minister. This is not surprising because we already know that Congress is Pakistan's 'mureed' (disciple). The partnership between Pakistan and Congress has been exposed. It shows the country's enemies want a weak government in India, not a strong one," Modi said. 

 Addressing a poll rally in Anand town of central Gujarat in support of BJP candidates for Anand and Kheda Lok Sabha seats, PM Modi also took a dig at Congress over opposition leader Salman Khurshid's niece Maria Alam's call for 'vote jihad'. 

"Now, the INDI alliance calls for 'vote jihad'. We have so far heard about 'love jihad' and 'land Jihad'. This (vote jihad) is said by a person who belonged to an educated Muslim family, not by someone who studied in a madrasa. I hope you all know what the meaning of jihad is. This is an insult to democracy and not a single Congress leader has condemned it," he said.

He alleged that the Congress wants to change the country's Constitution to give reservation of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities to Muslims. The prime minister also challenged the Congress to give in writing that it will not change the Constitution to provide reservation on the basis of religion and that it will not give backdoor quota to Muslims in states where it and its allies are in power. India is being seen as a peacemaker in the world today," he said, adding that it was his guarantee that he would work 24x7 to make India a developed country by 2047. 

 Modi said in the last 10 years, his government provided tap water connections to 14 crore houses, while the Congress-led dispensations gave it to just 3 crore houses in 60 years of its rule. PTI

"The letter makes it look as if the 'lies' in speeches are not having the effect you intended, and now you want NDA candidates to amplify your lies. Indian voters intelligent enough to read, understand what the Congress has written in its manifesto, and the guarantees it has promised. 

"In the letter you claim reservation will be taken away from SC, ST, OBC and given to 'our vote bank'. Our vote bank is every Indian. I see from your letter that you are worried by low voter turnout; shows people not enthusiastic about your policies," Kharge said. 

Sibal questioned the reliability of institutions in the eyes of the public, emphasizing the importance of transparency and timely information.

"The Supreme Court has given a decision regarding the EVM and they have said that every citizen should have faith in the Election Commission. But, is the EC or any other agencies trustworthy? After the first phase, the data on the EC website, about the vote percentage, was uploaded after 11 days. It only shows the percentage of the votes, not the number. I don't know what the reason is," Sibal said.

He emphasised that the Commission should address concerns regarding the delay by holding a press conference to explain the reasons behind the 11-day lag in releasing the data.

"The Election Commission should clarify via a press conference why it took 11 days. I have spoken to previous election commissioners, and they have said that when they were in the election commission, then on the same day, or next morning, the results of the turn out would be released. Then why 11 days. When this doubt arises, then the faith of the people decreases," he said. -- PTI

 The West Bengal government has filed an original suit in the apex court against the Centre under Article 131 of the Constitution, alleging that the CBI has been filing FIRs and proceeding with its investigation, despite the state having withdrawn the general consent to the federal agency to probe cases within its territorial jurisdiction. 

Article 131 deals with the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction in a dispute between the Centre and one or more states. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta that Article 131 of the Constitution is "one of the most sacred" jurisdiction conferred upon the apex court and this provision can't be allowed to be misused and abused. He said the cases referred to in the state's suit have not been filed by the Union of India. 

"The Union of India has not registered any case. CBI has registered it," Mehta said, adding, "CBI is not under the control of the Union of India".

 The hearing in the matter is underway. On November 16, 2018, the West Bengal government withdrew the "general consent" accorded to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe or carry out raids in the state. -- PTI 

"The incident occurred around 9.30 pm on April 28 when Pawar was going for duty on board a suburban train in plain clothes," the official said. Pawar was standing near the door and was talking on his phone. As the train slowed down between Sion and Matunga stations in Mumbai, an unidentified man standing near the tracks hit Pawar's hand, due to which his mobile phone fell down, he said.

 The accused picked up the phone and started running between the tracks. As the train was slow, Pawar got down and started chasing the thief. After some distance, he was surrounded by a group of drug addicts and soon a scuffle broke out between them. They started pushing and manhandling Pawar, the police official said. 

"During the scuffle, one of the accused persons injected Pawar with a poisonous substance on his back while others held him," he said, adding that they also poured a red colour liquid in his mouth.

 Pawar fell unconscious. He regained his consciousness the next morning and managed to return home, the official added. But as his condition worsened, his family members shifted him to a hospital in Thane city. Officials of the Kopri police station recorded his statement and registered a case against unidentified persons. The case was then transferred to the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Dadar. 

"During the treatment, Pawar's health deteriorated and he died on Wednesday," the official said. The GRP officials have launched a probe in the case and they have formed several teams to nab the accused, he said. PTI

Speaking with ANI, Yogi Adityanath said, "They (Congress) are taking out their losing frustration by playing with the beliefs of India's sanatan. By picking such sensitive issues during the elections, Congress is trying to insult India's faith."

"Ram and Shiva are not different... Lord Ram himself worshipped Lord Shiva. Both complement each other... The reality of Congress is coming to the fore. It is the tendency of the Congress to insult the Sanatan tradition of India, to defame it, to play with the faith of India and the Congress President is saying the same thing in his speeches. This statement of his is extremely condemnable," the UP CM further said.

The UP Chief Minister said the statements from the Congress signalled the downfall of the party.

"The truth of Congress is coming out. To insult the sanatan tradition of India... To play with the faith of India. This is the way of Congress. The UP CM also said that the downfall of Congress has begun. "This is the start of Congress' downfall ... And I hope Lord Ram and Lord Shiv give them some sense," Yogi Adityanath said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge while addressing a public rally in Chhattisgarh and seeking votes in support of Congress candidate Shivkumar Dahariya, had said, "This candidate is Shivkumar Dahariya. His name is Shivkumar - 'barabar ye Ram ka muqabla kar sakta hai kyunki ye Shiv hai' (He can compete with Ram because he is Shiva). I am also Mallikarjun. (Main bhi Shiv hoon)."

Further slamming the Congress, Yogi Adityanath also accused the party for its policy of divide and rule. "It has been Congress' policy of divide and rule. And the Congress is taking forward the legacy of Britishers... Congress, in the name of caste, religion, language has divided the country. They have done it before also and will do it in the future as well."

Read the interview here. 

Kohli alleged that the Congress party does not have a "positive agenda" to counter the works done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Sarma.

"It is strange that Priyanka Vadra ji is going to Assam and then making these kind of allegations which Himanta Biswa Sarma on various occasions has refuted. Sarma said when he went to meet Rahul Gandhi ji, he seemed to be more interested in feeding biscuits to his pet dog rather than focusing on his colleague and leader from Assam who has come to meet him," Nalin Kohli told ANI.

"With regard to the allegation about a case on him, Sarma has said that he was summoned as a witness and only after that was over did he join the BJP. And he has also clearly filed a defamation case against those who said these things. Why is Priyanka Vadra Gandhi and the Congress party doing this politics, that seems that they don't have any positive agenda to take on the work being done in the country by Prime Minister Modi's government and the work being done by Himanta Biswa Sarma ji's government in Assam," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, while addressing a public meeting in Assam's Dhubri, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party has "developed" a washing machine of which CM Sarma was the first "to put through" and questioned his transformation from a tainted leader to escaping scrutiny after joining BJP.

"There is 'mafia raj' in Assam. There were serious charges against your CM when he was in the Congress party. As soon as he switched to BJP, all charges against him were washed off. BJP has developed a washing machine where corrupt people are put. Your CM was the first one in this regard," Priyanka Gandhi said earlier. -- ANI

Thapan was found dead in a Mumbai police lock-up, with preliminary reports suggesting suicide.

Anand Dubey expressed skepticism over the circumstances of Thapan's death, questioning how an accused involved in a high-profile case could end up dead in a secure lock-up.

"This is a big conspiracy. We appeal to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to take this matter seriously, otherwise, no one will trust law and order anymore. If those threatening Salman Khan are roaming freely and dying without any investigation, what will you do with the common man? This needs to be investigated immediately," Dubey said on Wednesday.

Dubey suggested that powerful figures, possibly from criminal gangs or high-ranking police officials, could be involved in the incident.

"One (Anuj Thapan) of the two accused who fired a bullet at Salman Khan's house died in the Mumbai police and crime branch lock-up today. It's being said that he committed suicide. Now you tell me, how did a criminal involved in such a serious matter, who was caught with much effort, end up dead? No one is willing to answer. Could it be that a gang or group, trying to threaten and extort Salman Khan, was behind this? And when they learned that the accused had been caught and would reveal everything, they killed him?," Dubey said.

"Is it possible that a politician or a high-ranking police officer is involved? How could someone die in the secure lock-up of Mumbai police? If the accused had remained alive, much could have come to light. Many secrets could have been exposed. But everything ended with his death," he added.

Earlier on May 1, Mumbai Police informed that Anuj Thapan, allegedly attempted suicide and hung himself inside the lock-up. He was taken to the nearest hospital, where he was declared dead. He was allegedly one of the arms suppliers in the firing case outside actor Salman Khan's house. -- ANI

 "I have never seen a prime minister earlier whose speeches were not based on facts and reality. He is satisfied with targeting me and Uddhav Thackeray," Pawar said. 

Wondering why Maharashtra was voting in five phases in the current Lok Sabha elections, he said, "It is because Modi can campaign here as much as possible...Those in power are worried." 

He alleged that PM Modi's frequent remark that if voted to power, the INDIA bloc would bring reservation based on religion, was an attempt to create social tension. 

 "We have never said this. This is Modi's creation," Pawar said. 

Modi has also been speaking about redistribution of wealth and inheritance tax, which does not have any mention in the Congress manifesto, the veteran politician added. While campaigning in the state, PM Modi targeted Sharad Pawar, saying, "There is a 'bhatakti atma' (wandering soul) in Maharashtra. If it does not manage success it spoils others' good work. Maharashtra has been a victim of it." Pawar's NCP (SP) is contesting 10 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT), which is fighting on 21 seats and Congress 17 seats. PTI

The damaging statement from Ghosh, considered close to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, came amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, as the SSC scam has escalated into a significant issue in the polls. Ghosh was removed from the post hours after he shared a stage with a BJP Lok Sabha candidate and praised him on Wednesday. 

"The party was well aware of the fact that large-scale corruption and extortion in lieu of jobs was taking place in the school education department. The party was aware of it even before the 2021 assembly polls," he said in an interview with Bengali news channel ABP Ananda.

Ghosh, who has been seeking more prominence for next-generation leaders and has been at loggerheads with the old guards in the TMC, said it was due to this "information about large-scale corruption that Partha Chatterjee was shifted to the industry department from the education ministry after the party returned to power for the third consecutive term in 2021. 

Ghosh's remarks came a week after the Calcutta High Court declared the recruitment process of the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools as "null and void," ordering the cancellation of all appointments made through it. Around 26,000 people have lost jobs following the court order. 

The TMC leadership had maintained that the party was not aware of the scam until the arrest of Chatterjee took place in 2022.

 It is the only crossing located on Gaza's northern border. Before the war, it served as the only crossing point for pedestrian traffic. Before the attacks of October 7, it was primarily used by international personnel such as diplomats, aid workers, and journalists and also Palestinians with work or medical permits, while trucks used the Kerem Shalom crossing at the southern end of the Strip. 

 The entry of humanitarian aid through the Erez Crossing was made possible after engineering work was carried out in the area by the Engineering Units and additional IDF forces.

 Using engineering tools, the renewed crossing was built, having previously been used only as a civilian crossing. The forces constructed inspection and protection infrastructure in the area and paved roads on both the Israeli and Gaza sides of the border, enabling the entry of substantial amounts of aid to the northern part of the Gaza Strip. 

 In March, Israeli soldiers completed the demolition of the largest tunnel found in Gaza, which led up to the Erez border crossing and was adjacent to Moshav Netiv HaAsara. -- ANI

 She went to the house of one of the accused at a remote village of the district on April 27 when she was allegedly raped by them again, said Sheuli Das, the officer-in-charge of the Bishalgarh women's police station. She returned home the next morning, the officer said. 

 Sensing something was amiss with the girl, her parents asked her. "On this, she told her mother about the sequence of events," Das said. A police complaint was filed on Tuesday and one of the two accused was arrested, police said. 

 "We have arrested the prime accused. He was sent to judicial custody for two weeks by a court on Wednesday. We are trying to arrest the other accused," Das said. PTI

 According to sources, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is already on the Congress ticket from Wayanad in Kerala, which polled in the second phase on April 26, is likely to put himself in the fray from Amethi as well. Rahul's candidature from the seat he lost to Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani in 2019 will be formally announced on Thursday, and he will file his nomination from the constituency on Friday, sources said. The sources added that along with Congress leaders, its partners in the INDIA bloc also suggested that Rahul contest Amethi. 

 "They also proposed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the candidate from Raebareli," a source said. 

 The Samajwadi Party (SP), which earlier announced a seat-sharing pact with the grand old party in Uttar Pradesh, told Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge that after its supremo Akhilesh Yadav's decision to contest Kannauj, Rahul's entry into the fray along with his sister Priyanka may bring unexpected electoral dividend to the Opposition bloc, sources said. "Kharge told Sonia Gandhi that the party and he, himself, was in favour of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka contesting the elections (from Amethi and Raebareli)," the source added. 

 However, adding to the intrigue around the Congress' choice of candidates for these two constituencies, sources claimed that even as Rahul and Priyanka appear reluctant to contest Amethi and Raebareli, Kharge insisted that at least one of them enter the fray. 

 At the party's committee meeting recently, the Congress' UP unit formally moved a proposal that members of the Gandhi family should contest the Amethi and Raibareli seats and a final decision in the matter was left to Kharge. -- ANI

India has voiced hope that Palestine's bid to become a full member of the United Nations, which was blocked by the United States last month, will be reconsidered and its endeavour to become a member of the world organisation will get endorsed.

The US vetoed a resolution in the UN Security Council on a Palestinian bid to be granted full membership of the United Nations last month.

The 15-nation Council had voted on a draft resolution that would have recommended to the 193-member UN General Assembly 'that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership in the United Nations'.

The resolution got 12 votes in its favour, with Switzerland and the United Kingdom abstaining and the US casting its veto.

To be adopted, the draft resolution required at least nine Council members voting in its favour, with no vetoes by any of its five permanent members -- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

'While we have noted that Palestine's application for membership at the United Nations was not approved by the Security Council because of the aforesaid veto, I would like to state here at the very outset that in keeping with India's long-standing position, we hope that this would be reconsidered in due course and that Palestine's endeavour to become a member of the United Nations will get endorsed,' India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said.

India was the first non-Arab State to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in 1974. India was also one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine in 1988 and in 1996, Delhi opened its Representative Office to the Palestine Authority in Gaza, which later was shifted to Ramallah in 2003.

Currently, Palestine is a 'non-member observer state' at the UN, a status granted to it by the General Assembly in 2012.

This status allows Palestine to participate in proceedings of the world body but it cannot vote on resolutions. The only other non-member Observer State at the UN is the Holy See, representing the Vatican.

Addressing a General Assembly meeting on Wednesday, Kamboj underlined that India's leadership has repeatedly emphasised that only a two-state solution achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between Israel and Palestine on final status issues will deliver an enduring peace.

"India is committed to supporting a two-state solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent country within secure borders with due regard to the security needs of Israel," she said.

Kamboj stressed that to arrive at a lasting solution, India would urge all parties to foster conditions conducive to resuming direct peace negotiations at an early date.

On April 2, Palestine sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requesting that its application for full UN membership be considered again. For a State to be granted full UN membership, its application must be approved both by the Security Council and the General Assembly, where a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting is required for the State to be admitted as a full member.

Kamboj noted that the latest conflict in Gaza has been ongoing for over six months and the humanitarian crisis that it has triggered has been increasing.

"There is also the potential for growing instability in the region and beyond," she added.

Underlining India's position on the conflict, Kamboj said the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children, and a humanitarian crisis, which is simply unacceptable. India has strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict.

Kamboj said the terror attacks in Israel on October 7 were shocking and deserve 'unequivocal condemnation'.

"There can be no justification for terrorism and hostage-taking. India has a long-standing and uncompromising position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. And we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages," Kamboj said.

India stressed that it is imperative that humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza be scaled up immediately in order to avert a further deterioration in the situation.

"We urge all parties to come together in this endeavour," Kamboj said, adding that India has provided humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine and that it will continue to do so.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing Gaza's Ministry of Health data, said that from October 7, 2023, till now, at least 34,568 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 77,765 Palestinians injured.