Patna Suffers from Alarming Air Pollution Levels

Patna Suffers from Alarming Air Pollution Levels Patna was the second most polluted city in India on Sunday, recording an air quality index (AQI) of 316, which is classified as 'very poor'. Other cities in the state that recorded 'poor' AQI are Siwan (282), Muzaffarpur (233), Hajipur (232) and Bettiah (221). Greater Noida in UP was the most polluted city in the country with an AQI of 346, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin at 4 pm. 'Very poor' air quality causes respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, according to the CPCB. AQI is an assessment of air quality that takes into account pollutants, including PM 2.5 -- particulate matter less than 2.5 microns, and PM 10. Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) chairman Devendra Kumar Shukla told PTI, ''It is true that the air quality has deteriorated in certain cities of the state. It is because of low wind speed, ongoing construction activities without following pollution control measures and recent fire incidents in Patna and surrounding areas.'' He said civic bodies will have to start sprinkling water to check the deteriorating AQI in the state capital. ''Rain will certainly bring some immediate relief. The BSPCB will soon intensify its drive to check deteriorating AQI levels in certain cities of the state,'' he added.

Amit Shah: Naxalism Rooted Out After Modi Become Third Time PM

NIZAMABAD: Union home minister Amit Shah said that after Narendra Modi become Prime Minister for the third time will root out Naxalism from India. Modi had succeeded to control the terrorism in the country, he said. Despite, few parts of Chhattisgarh, naxalism from Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha rooted out, he said. For the integrated development and welfare of the poor, people should vote for Lotus to elect Modi as PM for the third time, he urged. As part of the Parliament election campaign, Amit Shah addressed a public meeting here at Government Giriraj college ground on Sunday on behalf of BJP MP candidate Arvind Dharmapuri. The Union home minister said that Modi controlled the terrorism successfully. After the terrorist attack in Pulwama, Modi gave fitting lesson to Pakistan by conducting surgical strikes, he said. He said that Congress, BRS parties always appease the Muslims for vote bank politics. Congress leaders were afraid of MIM party and its chief Owaisi for vote bank politics, he criticised.

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Campaigning ends for crucial third phase, BJP and Congress clash on reservations and allegations

The third phase of Lok Sabha elections witnessed intense campaigning, with 92 seats across 11 states and UTs at stake. Key contests include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Karnataka. PM Modi challenged Congress on reservations, while BJP criticized them on anti-national activities. The phase also saw allegations against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna. Modi visited Ayodhya, emphasizing governance for future generations.

'Prayed For 140 Crore Indians': PM Modi Offers Prayers At Ram Temple, Holds Mega Roadshow In Ayodhya

PM Modi's campaign trail continues with events in Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. He headlines events in Etawah, Dhaurahra, and Ayodhya

Aamrapali Dubey lip-syncs to 'Balma Biharwala'; mushy fans call her 'angel'

Kanhaiya Kumar to submit nomination papers for upcoming election

Kanhaiya Kumar to submit nomination papers for upcoming election Kanhaiya Kumar, Congress candidate from the Northeast Delhi constituency, will file his nomination for the May 25 Lok Sabha elections on Monday. The former student leader will take out a procession from near Maujpur Metro Station to the election office to file his nomination. ''We will take care of peace in the area. We will follow the traffic rules. If needed, we will shower flowers to express our happiness,'' Kumar said. Kumar will face BJP's two-time MP from the same constituency and Bhojpuri singer-turned-politician Manoj Tiwari. Kumar contested the 2019 general election as a CPI candidate from the Begusarai seat in Bihar. Congress's Udit Raj filed his nomination for the Northwest Delhi seat on Friday and his party colleague Jai Prakash Agarwal filed his nomination for the Chandni Chowk seat on Saturday. The Congress is contesting the Lok Sabha elections in an alliance with the AAP in Delhi. As part of the seat-share arrangement, the Congress is contesting three seats while AAP has fielded candidates from four constituencies in the national capital. Delhi's seven Lok Sabha seats will go to the polls in the sixth phase on May 25.

Targeting minority community won't help country become strong nation: Omar Abdullah

Targeting minority community won't help country become strong nation: Omar Abdullah National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Sunday criticised the BJP for anti-Muslim rhetoric during elections and said targeting the 14 per cent of India's population won't strengthen the nation. Speaking at a rally in downtown Srinagar in support of his party candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Abdullah emphasised the need for harmony post-elections and the importance of fostering dialogue with Pakistan. Abdullah said there have been instances during the campaigning when several top BJP leaders targeted Muslims. ''My worry is that this hatred against Muslims is not limited to election-time only but continues even after that. Now you tell me, India is a house to a large number of Muslims which comprise 14 per cent of the population. ''Targeting the minority community will not help the country become a strong nation,'' Abdullah said. Citing recent attacks in regions like Poonch, he expressed concerns over the resurgence of militancy. One soldier was killed and four were injured as terrorists ambushed an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday, three weeks ahead of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency. Talking about challenging circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah criticised the BJP-led government's policies and called for improving security in the region. ''I have time and again warned but the BJP is not ready to accept the reality. In the last four years or so, the areas which had been freed from terrorism, are seeing a resurgence of militancy, especially Srinagar city, which has witnessed repeated terror attacks, and Rajouri and Poonch,'' Abdullah said. He said that during his tenure as chief minister between 2009-2014, these areas were free of militancy. ''Yesterday's attack on soldiers is a grim reminder that the situation is far away from being normal.'' Asked about his father Farooq Abdullah's demanding talks with Pakistan, he said, ''Our late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said that we can change our friends but not neighbours. Pakistan has been our neighbour yesterday and will be there tomorrow. ''Some day, we will have to talk to our neighbour. But having said that I have always made it clear that both the countries have to build an atmosphere for talks. Pakistan has a new government in place and it should work hard to build an atmosphere for talks with India where a new government will come after elections,'' he said. Asked about a statement made by the BJP of reclaiming the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), he said, ''No one has stopped them from reclaiming the PoK but for God's sake, the part of Jammu and Kashmir that has been with India needs a course correction first. The centre should work on improving the security situation here also.'' The former chief minister said the people of Jammu and Kashmir are going through a very difficult time as ''our lips are sealed, our voices are not heard and our government offices are filled with outsiders.'' Addressing his first election rally at Hawal in downtown Srinagar, Omar alleged that Muslims are being targeted and insulted by the BJP which has introduced new laws to ''weaken'' the minority community in the country. ''...the BJPs agenda is based on hatred,'' he said, criticising the party for the introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Expressing happiness over the crowds cheering for his party, Omar said, ''This is the same Shehr-e-Khas (the downtown Srinagar) which gave us freedom from (political) slavery. ''Today, we are in the same situation. Our lips are sealed, our voices are not heard and our government offices are filled with outsiders,'' he said. Demanding support for Mehdi, Omar said Srinagar is going to polls on May 13 and there are many candidates in the fray. ''It is up to you to decide who is the best candidate who can represent you in the parliament.'' Criticising the current administration for ''failing'' to deliver on various fronts, he said fearless leaders like Mehdi can play crucial role in representing the community's aspirations in parliament. ''After the abrogation of Article 370, the BJP government said there will be prosperity in Kashmir. But where is that prosperity?'' he asked. Abdullah said the NC gave ticket to Mehdi from the Srinagar seat, which has been represented by party president Farooq Abdullah in past, ''because we wanted a candidate who will fearlessly talk about the aspirations of people''. ''He (Mehdi) is one such strong voice. He does not care about what enemies say. He will say the truth come what may and our community needs such a leader,'' he said. Criticising long power cuts, Abdullah said after the installation of smart meters, people were promised round-the-clock electricity but ''today we are facing 12-hour power cuts''. As the political landscape evolves, Abdullah hinted at the upcoming Assembly elections as the final battleground for stakeholders and said ''this is the semi-final only and the final is yet to come''.

Bihar: Incarcerated Politician Anant Singh Granted Parole Ahead of Mokama Bypoll

Bihar: Incarcerated Politician Anant Singh Granted Parole Ahead of Mokama Bypoll Gangster-turned-politician Anant Kumar Singh, whose MLA wife recently crossed over from the opposition RJD to CM Nitish Kumar's JD(U), on Sunday walked out of jail on parole. Singh, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Patna court a couple of years ago in a case under the stringent UAPA, has been released for 15 days, officials said. He came out of the Beur jail, on the outskirts of Patna, in the early hours and reached his ancestral home in Mokama, about a 100 km away, in an ambulance. A swarm of supporters greeted Singh, who had been disqualified in his fourth consecutive term as the MLA from Mokama following conviction, only for the seat to be retained by his wife Neelam Devi. Slogans in praise of ''Chhote Sarkar'', the epithet he enjoys on his home turf, rent the air even as Singh declared ''a victory by more than 4 lakh votes'' for JD(U)'s former president Rajiv Ranjan Singh ''Lalan''. A key aide of the CM, Lalan seeks to retain the Munger Lok Sabha seat, under which Mokama falls. Voting will take place in the constituency on May 13. Interestingly, in 2019, Neelam Devi had contested against Lalan on a ticket of Congress, the RJD's junior ally in Bihar. Singh, once known to be close to the CM, had by then burnt his bridges and in 2020 he contested the assembly poll on an RJD ticket. Singh and his supporters had squarely blamed a ''conspiracy'' by Lalan when grenades and rocket launchers were seized from his Mokama residence, leading to the UAPA case. A couple of months ago, when Nitish Kumar pulled the plug on a short-lived alliance with RJD and returned to the BJP-led NDA, Neelam Devi switched sides. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari targeted the Nitish Kumar government over Singh's release from jail. ''Here is a government that itself seems to be on parole, what to speak of the release of one individual. All know how this government in Bihar was formed. Some favours have to be returned,'' remarked Tiwari. The release of Singh, whose influence spreads beyond Mokama, is being viewed as an attempt to galvanise upper caste Bhumihars in favour of the NDA in Munger. The RJD has fielded Kumari Anita, wife of dreaded gangster Ashok Mahto who is known to be a staunch critic of upper caste dominance in society and politics.

Released on parole, Bihars bahubali Anant Singh rushes to Munger

The gangster-turned-politician reached Sabneema village of Barh in a cavalcade of over 100 SUVs and rallied support for JD(U) candidate from Munger, Lalan Singh

Cong's Shrinate: Modi Reading From 2014 Script, Misleading Muslims on Quota

Cong's Shrinate: Modi Reading From 2014 Script, Misleading Muslims on Quota Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Sunday claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reading from his 2014 rpt 2014 script for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and also accused him of misleading people over quotas for Muslims. The BJP has been saying the Congress wanted to snatch quotas of SCs, STs and OBCs and give them to Muslims as part of its appeasement politics. Shrinate, the head of the Congress' social media and digital platforms, claimed PM Modi, in an interview in 2022, had said BJP governments in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have already given reservation to Muslims as OBCs. ''After serving as India's prime minister for 10 years, we thought he would now face the people and present his report card and seek votes on his government's achievements. Instead, he is reading the same poll script of 2014 in 2024. He is not talking about anything except Congress and its leaders. So what was our PM doing these ten years?'' she questioned. She claimed the 2024 polls will be a repeat of 2004 when BJP's 'India Shining' campaign failed and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was voted out of power. ''Modi is spreading lies about reservations being given to Muslims in Congress-ruled Karnataka. This reservation was given by H D Deve Gowda when he was chief minister based on a survey conducted in 1974. And today, Deve Gowda's party JD(S) is BJP's ally. The Congress government has not implemented it. This reservation has been there for the last three decades,'' she said. On the rape and other allegations against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, Shrinate claimed Modi sought votes for him in Mysuru despite being aware about the issue. ''Modi sought votes for Revanna, who is no less than a monster. Was he not aware of his misdeeds? Modi knew everything because local BJP leaders had already warned the top BJP leadership about Revanna,'' she alleged. Instead of speaking about Muslims, the PM should speak about the other three 'M's, namely mahila (women), mehengai (price rise) and Manipur violence, the Congress leader said. ''My leader (Rahul Gandhi) went to Manipur twice and tried to bring peace. But Modiji did not get time yet to visit Manipur, where violence is still taking place,'' she said. People are silent but they are voting against the BJP since they know it will change the Constitution and end reservations after getting 400 Lok Sabha seats, Shrinate claimed. Modi is trying to divert attention by speaking about Muslims, Pakistan and Muslim League during rallies, but the Congress will ensure the polls are fought on issues concerning people, such as unemployment, inflation, corruption, wealth inequality and partnership based on the population. Accusing Modi of spending Rs 6,500 crore for building his own image, Shrinate said the poor had become poorer while the wealthy have flourished in the last 10 years. It does not suit BJP to talk about Hindu dharma or cows because the party has taken money from beef exporters through the electoral bonds scheme, she alleged.

Tejashwi Yadav questions PM Modi over 'Shehzada' remark: 'What did he do for Bihar in 10 years...'

Tejashwi Yadav questions PM Modi over 'Shehzada' remark: 'What did he do for Bihar in 10 years...'

Bihar Politics: Begusarai Hot Seat, BJP | Lok Sabha Chunav 2024

Lok Sabha Election 2024: . . . .

Is SRK arriving in Lucknow for KRK's IPL? Cops WARN

Rumors circulated about Shah Rukh Khan attending Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL match in Lucknow. However, Lucknow police dismissed the speculation, urging against spreading false information. Kolkata Knight Riders, led by Shah Rukh Khan, are preparing to face Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Odisha: Congress changes assembly candidates in 5 assembly seats

Bhubaneswar: Seeking to put up a good fight in 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Odisha, the Indian National Congress (INC) continues its experimentation in selecting candidates. The grand old party, which had earlier made two changes one in Lok Sabha the other in assembly lists on Sunday replaced five assembly nominees. The party fielded Debasis Nayak for the Bari assembly seat. Nayak had joined the party after quitting the BJD recently. The former minister and four-time MLA Debasis Nayak had earlier joined BJP after quitting the ruling BJD. In Jaleswar, the Congress has now given ticket to Sudarshan Das in place of Debi Prasanna Chand. The party fielded Akshaya Acharya from Nilagari and roped in Himanshu Chaulia in place of Bijayananda Chaulia from Athamalik. Uma Ballav Rath has now been roped in for Puri seat in place of Sujit Mohapatra. Similarly, Sudarshan Sahoo has been named as party candidate for Athagarh assembly seat in place of Maheboob Ahemad Khan. Earlier, the Congress had replaced Keonjhar Lok Sabha candidate Mohan Hembram with Binod Bihari Nayak. Similarly, it had changed assembly candidates in Talsara, Baliguda, Kabisuryangar, Kantamal, Jayadev and Digapahandi. On Saturday, Congress candidate for Puri Lok Sabha seat, Sucharita Mohaty had returned her ticket that the party did not provide her fund for campaigning, a charge which the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader Ajaya Kumar denied as baseless. We had decided to replace the Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sucharita Mohan. In fact, we had written a letter to the AICC on May 2. Somehow, she came to know about it and made such a wrong statement. Party funds are provided once the campaigning is formally launched, said Ajaya Kumar.

Interview | Unravelling Bihar's Political Dynamics With Tej Pratap Yadav

He asserts that CM Nitish Kumar's frequent changes of stance erode his credibility as a leader.

Bihar: Anant Kumar Singh released from jail on parole

Patna: Ahead of the crucial third and fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, gangster-turned-politician Anant Kumar Singh was released on parole from Patnas Beur Jail on Sunday morning. The home ministry of the Bihar government approved his parole for 15 days. Following that, he came out from Patnas Beur jail on the direction of Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Ground Report From Bihar's Khagaria, Where JD(U) And LJP Cadres Are 'Permanent Enemies'

Modi reading from 2019 script, misleading people over quota for Muslims: Congress' Supriya Shrinate

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misleading people over quotas for Muslims in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. She claimed that Modi is reading from his 2019 script and is not discussing Congress and its leaders. Shrinate questioned Modi's actions after serving as India's prime minister for 10 years and alleged that the 2024 polls will be a repeat of 2004 when the BJP's 'India Shining' campaign failed and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was voted out of power.

Modi government exploiting quota issue for Muslims for electoral gains, claims Congress

Modi government exploiting quota issue for Muslims for electoral gains, claims Congress Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on Sunday claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reading from his 2019 script for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and also accused him of misleading people over quotas for Muslims. The BJP has been saying the Congress wanted to snatch quotas of SCs, STs and OBCs and give them to Muslims as part of its appeasement politics. Shrinate, the head of the Congress' social media and digital platforms, claimed PM Modi, in an interview in 2022, had said BJP governments in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have already given reservation to Muslims as OBCs. ''After serving as India's prime minister for 10 years, we thought he would now face the people and present his report card and seek votes on his government's achievements. Instead, he is reading the same poll script of 2014 in 2024. He is not talking about anything except Congress and its leaders. So what was our PM doing these ten years?'' she questioned. She claimed the 2024 polls will be a repeat of 2004 when BJP's 'India Shining' campaign failed and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was voted out of power. ''Modi is spreading lies about reservations being given to Muslims in Congress-ruled Karnataka. This reservation was given by H D Deve Gowda when he was chief minister based on a survey conducted in 1974. And today, Deve Gowda's party JD(S) is BJP's ally. The Congress government has not implemented it. This reservation has been there for the last three decades,'' she said. On the rape and other allegations against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, Shrinate claimed Modi sought votes for him in Mysuru despite being aware about the issue. ''Modi sought votes for Revanna, who is no less than a monster. Was he not aware of his misdeeds? Modi knew everything because local BJP leaders had already warned the top BJP leadership about Revanna,'' she alleged. Instead of speaking about Muslims, the PM should speak about the other three 'M's, namely mahila (women), mehengai (price rise) and Manipur violence, the Congress leader said. ''My leader (Rahul Gandhi) went to Manipur twice and tried to bring peace. But Modiji did not get time yet to visit Manipur, where violence is still taking place,'' she said. People are silent but they are voting against the BJP since they know it will change the Constitution and end reservations after getting 400 Lok Sabha seats, Shrinate claimed. Modi is trying to divert attention by speaking about Muslims, Pakistan and Muslim League during rallies, but the Congress will ensure the polls are fought on issues concerning people, such as unemployment, inflation, corruption, wealth inequality and partnership based on the population. Accusing Modi of spending Rs 6,500 crore for building his own image, Shrinate said the poor had become poorer while the wealthy have flourished in the last 10 years. It does not suit BJP to talk about Hindu dharma or cows because the party has taken money from beef exporters through the electoral bonds scheme, she alleged.

I remember Raj Dharma remark of Vajpayee, says Tejashwi Yadav

Darbhanga: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi charged Lalu Prasad with having tried to shield the culprits in the Godhra train burning case, the RJD presidents son Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday recounted the famous Raj dharma remark of Atal Bihari Vajpayee made in the backdrop of communal violence in Gujarat. Yadav was responding to Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Ex-RJD MLA, out on parole, rallies support for JDU candidate in Bihar

Former Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh, released on a 15-day parole, swiftly organized a grand roadshow supporting a JDU-backed candidate in Bihar. Despite his recent conviction in an arms case, Singh's arrival from Beur Central Jail in Patna sparked enthusiastic receptions. The event, aimed at boosting support for JDU's Lalan Singh in the Munger constituency, showcased Singh's enduring political influence and regional significance.

Tejashwi Yadav Recalls Vajpayee's Raj Dharma Remarks

Tejashwi Yadav Recalls Vajpayee's Raj Dharma Remarks A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi charged Lalu Prasad with having tried to shield the culprits in the Godhra train burning case, the RJD president's son Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday recounted the famous ''Raj dharma'' remark of Atal Bihari Vajpayee made in the backdrop of communal violence in Gujarat. Yadav was responding to queries on Modi's speech at a rally in Darbhanga the previous day where Modi had charged the RJD president with having tried to ''shield'' those guilty in two-decade-old Godhra train burning incident and ''put blame on kar sevaks''. ''He (PM) can say whatever he wants. But I remember what Atal Ji had said at that point of time. Atal Ji, the then PM, was addressing a press conference. Modi Ji in his capacity as the then chief minister of Gujarat was seated beside the PM who had advised the former to follow 'Raj dharma' during the 2002 communal riots in the state,'' Yadav told PTI video. Further commenting on the PM's accusation that INDIA bloc and RJD are trying to ''steal'' the reservation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other backward classes (OBCs) to hand them over to Muslims, Yadav said, ''These are baseless things and far from reality. The ruling NDA has decided to end reservation to OBCs and other classes by privatising the government's several wings and organisations.'' Modi had accused Prasad of having given quotas to Muslims in Bihar and advocating the same in 2007 while serving in the Union government as the Railway Minister. ''The PM should talk about the issues concerning people. People have decided to give a befitting reply to the BJP-led NDA and they will face a humiliating defeat in this election,'' he said. ''Why is the PM maintaining a stoic silence over the Karnataka sex scandal? The accused is involved in abuse of several women in Karnataka. They (BJP) are more into protecting rapists and helping them get away,'' Yadav said. Yadav condemned the militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch in which one Indian Air Force personnel was killed and four injured on Saturday. ''We strongly condemn this terror attack and join the nation in standing together against terrorism. Our deepest condolences to the family of the brave warrior who made the supreme sacrifice,'' he said.

Out On Parole, Convicted Ex-MLA Holds Mega Roadshow For JDU Candidate

A convicted former legislator held a massive roadshow for a candidate fielded by Nitish Kumar's party in Bihar, hours after he left jail on a 15-day parole.

Mentally unwell woman from Bihar found in Maharashtra; reunited with kin

The Bihar woman who was found in Maharashtra, after her recovery, revealed information about her hometown. An NGO then helped locate her family.

Yadav stronghold Madhepura set for interesting battle

The seat has been dominated by the Yadav community, whose candidates have consistently won Lok Sabha elections from Madhepura since 1967reports Asian Lite News Bihars Madhepura Lok Sabha seat is... The post Yadav stronghold Madhepura set for interesting battle first appeared on India Daily Digital .

Mesmerizing Moments: Unforgettable Highlights

Mesmerizing Moments: Unforgettable Highlights Following are the top stories at 1.25 pm: NATION: DEL24 RAJNATH-INTERVIEW-LD CONSTITUTION **** BJP govt will never change Preamble of Constitution, reservation will remain: Rajnath New Delhi: The BJP government will never change the Constitution or end reservation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, accusing the Congress of creating ''fear psychosis'' and resorting to spreading misinformation for ''vote bank'' politics. **** DEL14 RAJNATH-INTERVIEW-POK **** No need to capture PoK by force; its people will themselves want to join India, Rajnath feels New Delhi: India will never give up its claim on Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) but it won't have to capture it with force because its people, on their own, would want to be part of India after seeing the development in Kashmir, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said. **** DEL22 RAJNATH-INTERVIEW-CHINA **** Talks with China going on well: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on eastern Ladakh border row New Delhi: As the military standoff between India and China drags on along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the talks between the two sides are going on well and indicated hope for a resolution of the lingering row. **** DEL13 JK-FIRING-OPERATION **** Poonch attack: Operation to flush out terrorists enters second day Jammu: The operation to track down the terrorists behind the attack on an Indian Air Force (IAF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district entered its second day on Sunday. **** ELX9 ELECTIONS-MP-DIGVIJAYA-INTERVIEW **** PM Modi's political history based on 'Hindu-Muslim dispute': Digvijaya Singh Rajgarh (MP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political history is based on the ''Hindu-Muslim dispute'' and he should do some soul-searching as to who is benefiting from it, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has claimed. By Manish Shrivastava **** ELX6 ELECTIONS-GJ-MUSLIM CANDIDATES **** 35 Muslim candidates contesting LS polls in Gujarat; none fielded by Cong Ahmedabad: Thirty-five Muslim candidates are contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat but the Congress has this time broken its tradition and not fielded a single person from the community in the state. By Kumar Anand **** ELX10 ELECTIONS-MH-MUMBAI NORTH CENTRAL **** Mumbai North Central LS seat: BJP's Nikam takes on Cong's Gaikwad in 'mini Mumbai' Mumbai: If Mumbai is ''mini India'', then the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat is ''mini Mumbai'', home to film stars and celebrities living in posh areas like Bandra and Khar as well as migrants and labourers living in the bylanes of Kurla. **** ELX11 ELECTIONS-MP-VIDISHA-TOURISM **** LS polls: High-profile Vidisha has huge tourism potential, but lacks promotion, say historians Vidisha (MP): Vidisha's links with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, late BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj and Madhya Pradesh ex-chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan may have brought it under the spotlight from time to time, but the town has the potential to create its identity as a tourist destination, according to historians. By Manish Shrivastava **** ELN2 ELECTIONS-AS-CANDIDATES-CROREPATI **** 15 'crorepati' candidates in third phase of LS polls in Assam Guwahati: Altogether 15 candidates out of the 47 in the fray for the four Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam going to the polls on May 7 are 'crorepatis', with the richest being AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal contesting from the Dhubri seat. **** BOM3 MH-CHOPPER-PRECAUTIONARY LANDING **** Army chopper makes precautionary landing in Maharashtra's Sangli; no casualty Sangli (Maharashtra): An Advance Light Helicopter of the Indian Army has made a ''precautionary landing'' at a farm in Maharashtra's Sangli district due to a technical issue in its engine, police said. **** LEGAL: LGD2 DL-HC-SCHOOL-AIR CONDITIONING **** Parents should bear cost of air conditioning facility in school: HC New Delhi: The cost of air conditioning in school has to be borne by the parents as it is a facility being provided to the students, which is no different from the other charges such as laboratory fee, the Delhi High Court has said. **** FOREIGN: FGN2 CANADA-TRUDEAU-NIJJAR-ARRESTS **** PM Trudeau touts Canada as a 'rule-of-law country' after arrest of three Indians in Nijjar murder case Toronto: Canada is a ''rule-of-law country'' with a strong and independent justice system and a fundamental commitment to protect its citizens, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said, a day after three Indian nationals were charged with the murder of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. ****

All children should be enrolled in schools, should receive formal education: NCPCR to states

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has directed all states to ensure that children in the age group of six to 14 years are enrolled in neighbourhood schools and receive formal education. In a letter to state chief secretaries, NCPCR Chief Priyank Kanoongo, said the states should also ensure that in cases where it is found that money is being raised in name of children and children are illegally transported from one place to another, authorities should take action under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code. His letter came after the Uttar Pradesh authorities rescued many children who were being unlawfully transported across state borders. Citing an incident of April 26, the NCPCR chief said that 95 children were rescued while allegedly being illegally transported from Bihar to Uttar Pradesh. Investigations found that the children were attending an unregistered madrasa in the Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. He said the children informed the authorities that they were coerced into carrying brick, cleaning toilets, and endured physical and mental abuse. Instead of attending formal schools, these children were confined to the madrasa. It appears that in name of religious education, the children are deprived of their fundamental rights given under the Constitution of India and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, he said in a letter, which was also marked to Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Chairmans of Airport Authority of India and Railway Board and to all state Director Generals of Police. He asked the states to issue necessary directions to the District Collector/Magistrate to enhance vigilance in their respective districts to prevent the illegal transportation of children between locations. Additionally, he said, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), and Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU) should be instructed to conduct routine inspections and monitoring to deter such occurrences. He said the compliance of these recommendations should be sent to the Commission within 15 days of issue of the letter.

India's Response to Nepal's New Currency Note Featuring Disputed Territories

New Delhi: India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, criticized Nepal for its unilateral action in introducing a new Nepalese Rupee 100 currency note featuring three disputed Indian territories. Speaking at an event in Bhubaneswar, Jaishankar stated that Nepal's move wouldn't alter the diplomatic situation between the two countries. Jaishankar emphasized that India and Nepal were in discussions about their boundary matters through an established platform. He mentioned that Nepal's unilateral measures wouldn't change the situation or the reality on the ground.On Friday, Nepal announced the printing of a new Nepalese Rupee 100 currency note featuring a map showing the disputed territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani. India has previously termed this move as untenable and an artificial enlargement. Nepal's government spokesperson, Rekha Sharma, informed the media that the decision to redesign the currency note was made during the cabinet meetings held on April 25 and May 2.Diplomatic tensions between Nepal and India escalated in 2020 after Nepal updated its map to include the three disputed territories. The move was made by Nepal's Ministry of Land Management, with the Department of Survey claiming to have incorporated the territories with accurate scale, projection, and coordinate system. However, India had already included these territories in its November 2019 map. The situation worsened further after the inauguration of a road linking Kailash Mansarovar via Lipulekh on May 8, 2020. Nepal objected to this move and handed over a diplomatic note to India. Prior to this, Nepal had raised objections to India's unilateral decision to construct the road.In response to Nepal's objections, India's External Affairs Ministry clarified that the road passing through Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district lies entirely within Indian territory. Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Sikkim. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: India Will Not Coerce Capture of PoK NADA Suspends Wrestler Bajrang Punia for Failure to Provide Dope Test Bakshish Singh Beaten to Death Over Alleged Sacrilege at Gurdwara in Punjab

Mentally unwell woman reunited with family after being found in distant state

Mentally unwell woman reunited with family after being found in distant state A 35-year-old mentally unwell woman, who was missing for the past some years from her native place in Bihar, has been reunited with her family following efforts by a social organisation in Maharashtra, a representative of a local NGO said. Khusboo Devi, resident of Sayyadpur village in Begusarai district in Bihar, was spotted on a street at Murud in Latur district on July 1, 2023. She had several injuries on her head and other body parts, Rahul Patil Chakurkar, member of the Religion to Responsibility Foundation, told PTI on Saturday. Murud deputy sarpanch Hanumant Nagtilak, who spotted the woman on the street last year, informed about her to Chakurkar. Activists of the social organisation admitted her to a hospital in Latur for primary treatment. The woman was later sent to the Divya Seva Sankalp, a shelter home, in Buldhana district for care and further treatment, Chakurkar said. After the treatment, the woman informed the shelter home authorities about her native place. Based on her information, her family was traced with the help of an NGO in Bihar. The Buldhana-based organisation sent the woman to her native place three days back, Chakurkar said. ''She has been reunited with her family members in her native village in Bihar,'' he added.

Shambhavi Choudhary, NDA's Youngest Candidate, Expresses Gratitude for Prime Minister's Support

Shambhavi Choudhary, NDA's Youngest Candidate, Expresses Gratitude for Prime Minister's Support Hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the ''youngest candidate'' of the NDA, Shambhavi Choudhary is determined to live up to the high expectations from her. A third-generation politician, the 25-year-old is contesting from the Samastipur reserved constituency in Bihar, on a ticket of Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). ''I am overwhelmed by the attention I received from the PM at the Darbhanga rally on Saturday. It shows the respect he has for Dalits, especially women... It also gives me a sense of huge responsibility,'' Choudhary told PTI over the phone. ''I am really thankful to the PM for this love, blessings and affectionThe PM called me daughter, he appealed to the people of Samastipur Lok Sabha constituencyThe youngest daughter in the country is contesting elections. Please bless her and cast your votes in her favour. His daughter's bond with Samastipur Lok Sabha has become unbreakable and I am confident that on May 13, there is going to be record voting on the helicopter symbol of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas),'' she said. Choudhary said she was taking allegations of ''dynasty'' in her stride, which ''anybody whose ancestors are in the same profession, have to say''. ''I was always interested in politics right from the beginning. I was born and brought up in a political family and that has definitely impacted my personality and personal interests. But, let me make one thing very clear that coming from a political family doesn't guarantee a victoryIt's about performance. Winning peoples' hearts is not easy. It's a tough job. One has to deliverI will have to prove myself'', said the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) candidate from Samastipur. She further said, ''In majority of the cases daughters/sons take father's profession. But no father can win the mandate for the daughter. I need to work hard for this. The people of Samastipur will decide whether I get an opportunity to represent this seat in the Lok Sabha or notnot my family. I have to be part of the democratic system which is for the people, of the people and by the people.'' Choudhary's father Ashok Choudhary is in JD(U) and one of the most influential ministers in the Nitish Kumar cabinet. Her father was earlier with the Congress, having headed its state unit. Her grandfather late Mahavir Choudhary had been in the same party and a state minister when the Congress ruled Bihar. While explaining her plan for the overall development of Bihar in general and Samastipur in particular, she said, ''There is a hunger for development in Bihar and same is the case with my Lok Sabha constituency. I have been visiting my constituency for the last 20 daysthere are areas in Samastipur which were never visited by the MP in the past. Such areas need development. I plan to work in the field of education and healthcare. My priority areas will be education, health, employment generation and investment. I have an elaborate plan and vision for modern Samastipur.'' ''I am a student of sociologyI did my Master of Arts (Sociology) from Delhi School of Economics (University of Delhi)For me understanding politics and society is not a difficult job. Joining politics for me is to get practical experience of all those things which I studied only. My academic background will certainly help me in identifying difficulties being faced by the people in my areaand will try my best to resolve them at the earliest,'' Choudhary said. The Lok Janshakit Party (Ram Vilas) candidate said she has learnt a lot from her father-in-law Acharya Kishore Kunal, who had pioneered social reform by introducing Dalit priests to Bihar temples years ago. Shambhavi Choudhary is married to Saayan Kunal, son of philanthropist and scholar Acharya Kunal, who was also a former IPS officer. Elections will be held in Samastipur, Darbhanga, Ujiarpur, Begusarai, and Munger Lok Sabha seats in Bihar on May 13.

Headline Changed - Economist Surjit Bhalla lauds record job creation under Modi government

Headline Changed - Economist Surjit Bhalla lauds record job creation under Modi government Former India's executive director at IMF Surjit Bhalla on Sunday said that on an average basis, an unprecedented number of jobs are being created under the Narendra Modi government, with the number touching about 10 million over the last 7-8 years. Bhalla further said the least number of jobs were created during 2004-2013 (UPA government period), and it was then that the term 'jobless growth' came about. ''The job creation by the Modi government has been the highest on record. ''Never before in Indian history have so many jobs been created on an average basis. Something close to 10 million jobs over the last 7-8 years,'' he told PTI in a video interview. Bhalla, a former member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), asserted that the maximum number of jobs were created during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Modi. He was responding to a recent International Labour Organization (ILO) report, which showed that in 2022, the share of unemployed youths in India's total unemployed population was nearly 83 per cent. ''If you look at the data of youth after the age of 29, the unemployment rate in India, which is the most of the population, most of the workforce has been somewhere around 1 per cent, which is really not much of an unemployment rate at all,'' Bhalla explained. For the youth, he said they are looking for a better job. ''So, frictional unemployment is higher everywhere in the world, amongst the youth,'' Bhalla noted. Prime Minister Modi-led BJP government came to power in 2014 and came back with a thumping majority in the 2019 general elections. On slowing down of foreign direct investment in India, Bhalla said an important reason for the fall in FDI in India could be attributed to the government's new policy, which says if there is a dispute related to investment, then it has to be settled in India. ''Now, if I am a foreign investor, why should I take that risk? And I don't think it is the case anywhere else in the world,'' he said. According to Bhalla, foreigners are not increasing their direct investment, but they are raising their portfolio investment. ''I am hoping that whichever the new government will be, I believe it will be the BJP, that this is one policy they have to take a second look at,'' he said. Last year, gross FDI inflows slowed marginally to USD 59.9 billion in April-January 2023-24 from USD 61.7 a year ago, while net FDI inflows fell sharply to USD 14.2 billion from USD 25 billion. FDI flows to China have fallen dramatically from a share of 12.5 per cent in the first nine months of 2022 to only 1.7 per cent in the same period of 2023. Various countries like the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Poland and Germany have witnessed significant gains in the global share following the decline of FDI flows to China. Bhalla predicted that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to get between 330-350 seats on its own on the basis of statistical possibility. ''So, if the BJP gains about five percentage points increase in its vote share in this Lok Sabha polls, then I think the party is likely to get 330 to 350 seats,'' he said. The seven-phase Lok Sabha polls, the world's biggest election exercise, kicked off on April 19, with the counting of votes set to take place on June 4.

Uttarakhand Forest Fires: Video Surfaces, Culprits Boast About Setting Fires

Dehradun: The Northern state of Uttarakhand has been grappling with forest fires for the past two weeks, destroying over 1000 acres of forest area. Amid this, a video of a man surfaced on social media wherein he was seen boasting about setting fire to forests.See guys, we are finally setting the forests on fire. Our job is to set things on fire and play with it. We keep playing with fire. And today we are here to do this yet again. We will turn these mountains and leaves into ashes, a man was heard saying. We keep on doing this. This is my uncle Sukhlal who keeps setting forests on fire. Never mess with people who know how to burn down things. Never challenge Biharis, he continued. Later in the video, another man was spotted welding a stick.The date of the recording of the video remains unknown at this point. On Sunday (28th April), the Uttarakhand Forest Department arrested five labourers from Bihar for setting fire to reserved forest areas of Khirsu.They were identified as Mosar Alam, Nazifar Alam, Nurul, Salim, and Feroz Alam. Migrants from Bihar burn forest in Uttarakhand and say We will burn down entire forest, dont challenge Biharis `` , #Uttrakhand #Bihar pic.twitter.com/5LuOY6q5jR Arvind Chandra (@ArvindChandra8) May 3, 2024 The Uttarakhand police have arrested 52 people so far for setting fire to forests and destroying several acres of pristine land. As per reports, a total of 804 incidents of forest fires have been recorded, and 315 cases have been registered under the Forest Conservation Act.The forest fires have impacted human settlements, wild animals, and even water sources.The Northern state of Uttarakhand has been grappling with forest fires for the past two weeks, destroying over 1000 acres of forest area. Amid this, a video of a man surfaced on social media wherein he was seen boasting about setting fire to forests. In the video, a man is heard saying, See guys, we are finally setting the forests on fire. Our job is to set things on fire and play with it. We keep playing with fire. And today we are here to do this yet again. We will turn these mountains and leaves into ashes.Identified as Mosar Alam, Nazifar Alam, Nurul, Salim, and Feroz Alam, the five labourers from Bihar were arrested by the Uttarakhand Forest Department for setting fire to reserved forest areas of Khirsu. The Uttarakhand police have already arrested 52 people for setting fire to forests, resulting in the destruction of over 1000 acres of forest area. A total of 804 incidents of forest fires have been recorded, with 315 cases registered under the Forest Conservation Act.The forest fires have not only impacted human settlements but also posed a threat to wildlife and water sources in the region. Supreme Court Raises Concerns Over Indian Judicial Code Provisions Amid New Criminal Laws Two Laborers Die While Cleaning Septic Tank in Noida, Uttar Pradesh Archaeological Investigation to Uncover Truth about Bhojashala

Chambal Ravines: Caste Dynamics Persist Despite Diminished Banditry

Chambal Ravines: Caste Dynamics Persist Despite Diminished Banditry Madhya Pradesh's Chambal region, once the staple for Bollywood's dacoit and gunslinger dramas, is also a massive caste cauldron where change is seeping in due to modernisation, say a section of people. The Gwalior-Chambal region, which is in the northern part of the state, borders Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and has three seats, namely Gwalior, Morena and Bhind, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes. A part of the Chambal region is in Shivpuri district and falls under Guna Lok Sabha seat. Gwalior, Morena and Bhind (SC) Lok Sabha seats are dominated by Other Backward Classes with a sizable population of SCs. Of the 24 assembly constituencies falling under these three Lok Sabha seats, the Congress had won 13 and the BJP 12 in the November 2023 elections, which was otherwise swept by the ruling party. Of the eight assembly segments of Gwalior and Bhind Lok Sabha seats, the BJP and the Congress won four each, while in Morena, the score was five in favour of the Congress and four for the BJP. The three assembly seats in Shivpuri were swept by the BJP. Bhuvnesh Singh Tomar, a professor at Centre for Studies in Journalism and Mass Communication in Gwalior's Jiwaji University, told PTI that caste sentiments were rooted even when the Gwalior-Chambal region was infested with bandits, dacoits or ''baghis'' (rebels) as these outlaws loved to call themselves. ''Casteism in politics is not new. It always existed in the Chambal region, except on occasions when towering leaders, like those from the Scindia family, contested. But a lot of social changes have taken place in the past three decades due to increased road connectivity and modernisation,'' Tomar said. Over the last two decades, the Dalits and backwards have become assertive and are playing a dominant role in politics, he said. ''The last two Lok Sabha elections in this area were held around the narrative set by the BJP. The indication this time is not clear as campaigning is very low-key. BJP candidates were looking weak earlier as the party fielded leaders from Gwalior and Morena, who lost polls earlier,'' he said. However, a strong organisational set-up and the Narendra Modi effect will benefit BJP candidates, Tomar claimed, adding that several leaders from the Congress, including sitting party MLA from Vijaypur (Morena LS seat) Ramniwas Rawat have joined the ruling dispensation. Devesh Sharma, a Morena-based lawyer, claimed caste politics had managed to segregate society, government offices, markets etc in the past three to four decades. ''Caste came first and then nationalism for the people of this region, which inspired so many films due to its ravines and bandits. These bandits used to influence politics in rural areas earlier but those days are long gone,'' he said. KK Mishra, media advisor to state Congress chief Jitu Patwari, told PTI that his party will win half the Lok Sabha seats in the Gwalior-Chambal region. ''Gwalior-Chambal region has traditionally supported the Congress and we will win half the seats here. The BJP knows this fact and will try to manipulate the elections through EVMs. The BJP is ahead only in publicity,'' Mishra alleged. The Congress is on very strong ground as was evident in the assembly polls results, he pointed out. However, state BJP spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi told PTI that his party would win all the Lok Sabha seats in the region. ''The BJP has gone to the voters on the guarantees of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the developmental works done by him as well as welfare schemes for the poor. We don't contest on the basis of caste or religion like Congress,'' he claimed. Chaturvedi further claimed that the people are aware that the Congress wants to snatch the quota of OBCs and give it Muslims on the basis of religion like they did in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The ravines along the river Chambal, which runs through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and gives the region its name, was infested with dacoits, though the last major gang, led by Rambabu Gadariya, ended some 15 years ago. Among the blockbuster films that had Chambal and its bandit lore as base include ''Sholay'', ''Mera Gaon Mera Desh'', ''Gunga Jumna'', ''Mujhe Jeene Do'' and ''Bandit Queen''. According to a BJP leader, the Gwalior Lok Sabha seat has 46 per cent OBCs and 20 per cent SCs, while STs form 5 per cent of the population. The rest are from the general category. The seat was represented by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1971. Jan Sangh stalwart and BJP founder member Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia won from Gwalior seat in 1962 on a Congress ticket, while her son Madhavrao Scindia was elected five times, four times from on a Congress ticket and once on the ticket of the Madhya Pradesh Vikas Congress, a party founded by him. The population profile in Morena Lok Sabha seat is 44 per cent OBCs, 20 per cent SCs, 6 per cent STs and the remainder in the general category. Madhya Pradesh assembly speaker Narendra Singh Tomar, a former Union minister, was elected from Morena in 2009 and 2014. He was chosen as MLA in the 2023 assembly polls. In Bhind, 43 per cent voters belong to the OBC segment, 23 per cent are SCs, 21 per cent are from the general category and 1 per cent are STs. Vijaya Raje Scindia was elected from Bhind LS seat in 1971. Her daughter Vasundhara Raje Scindia, former Rajasthan chief minister, incidentally, faced defeat from this seat in 1984 at the hands of Congress' Krishna Singh Judeo, who is part of the royal family of Datia.

Updated: Revised News Schedule

Updated: Revised News Schedule National news schedule for Sunday, May 5 NATIONAL **** Lok Sabha elections related stories and other political developments NCR *** Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai to address 'Delhi Tamil Samagam' at Talkatora Stadium BJP press conference Stories related to Lok Sabha elections *** NORTH **** PM to address poll rallies in Etawah, Sitapur and hold roadshow in Ayodhya Rajnath Singh to campaign in Lucknow Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to hold roadshow in Kharar Campaigning ends for third-phase seats in UP **** SOUTH ****Election related developments Andhra Pradesh Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh to address poll rallies Telangana: Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah to address election rallies EAST **** PM Modi to reach Odisha on a 2-day tour. BJP president JP Nadda to release party manifesto for twin polls External Affairs minister S Jaishankar to attend meetings in Cuttack and Sambalpur. Bengal: Mamata Banerjee to address rallies in Bardhaman Durgapur, Birbhum, Bolpur Abhishek Banerjee to address two rallies at Krishnanagar and Malda North Third phase campaign end stories from Bengal, Bihar and Assam Poll-related stories from states *** WEST ****BJP president J P Nadda to address poll rally at Surajpur in Surguja Lok Sabha constituency of Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai to address press conference in Raipur Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij's press conference Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate to address press conference in Ahmedabad Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav to campaign in Vidisha, Guna and Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituencies. Sharad Pawar to address last campaign rally in Baramati in support of his daughter Supriya Sule Congress leader Girish Chodankar to address press conference in Panaji ***

Ayodhya decks up for PM Modi's first visit since 'Pran Pratishtha', roadshow

After winding up his scheduled public meetings in Jharkhand and Bihar, PM Modi reached UP on Saturday evening and took out an elaborate roadshow in Kanpur, flanked by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He will address a public meeting in Etawah around 2.45 pm and hold another later in the day at Dhaurahra around 4.45 pm.

IPL 2024: LSG V KKR Overall Head-to-head; When And Where To Watch

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will play host to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their final home game of the IPL 2024 on Sunday evening. LSG are currently third on the points table with 12 points from 10 matches and a net run rate of 0.094 while KKR have 14 points from as 10 games with the healthiest net run rate among all teams at 1.098. LSG have faced KKR four times and their only loss to them came in their previous encounter in Kolkata last month. LSG v KKR head-to-head 4- Lucknow Super Giants: 3 Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 LSG v KKR match time: The match starts at 7:30 PM IST (2:00 PM GMT) with the toss taking place half an hour before the match i.e., 7:00 PM (1:30 PM GMT) LSG v KKR match venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow Live broadcast of LSG v KKR match on television in India: The LSG v KKR match will be broadcast live via Star Sports Network. Live stream in India: The live streaming of LSG v KKR available on JioCinema. Squads: Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul(w/c), Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ashton Turner, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan, Arshad Khan, Arshin Kulkarni, Krishnappa Gowtham, Manimaran Siddharth, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Prerak Mankad, Mayank Yadav, Amit Mishra, Kyle Mayers, Quinton de Kock, Matt Henry, Yash Thakur, Devdutt Padikkal, Shamar Joseph Kolkata Knight Riders: Philip Salt(w), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer(c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Anukul Roy, Manish Pandey, Srikar Bharat, Sherfane Rutherford, Chetan Sakariya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Harshit Rana, Sakib Hussain, Suyash Sharma, Allah Ghazanfar

Araria Lok Sabha Elections 2024: All You Need to Know About Constituency with Highest Poverty in Bihar

Araria Lok Sabha constituency is presently represented by BJP's Pradeep Kumar Singh, who is also the party's candidate this time. He will be facing Shahnawaz Alam, who has been fielded by the RJD that is a constituent of the INDIA bloc

Heatwave Intensity Reduces In Eastern, Southern India; Orange Alert Issued For Rainfall In Northeast | Weather Updates

The are predictions of light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms in Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand from May 5 to 9

Vajpayee's Atal Legacy & Connect With Lucknow

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's relentless spirit in winning Lucknow for five terms, overcoming setbacks, and influencing Indian politics, showcases his enduring legacy and personal connections beyond the realm of politics in the city.

BJP finds faults in Rohini Acharyas poll affidavit

PATNA : Rohini Acharya, the RJD nominee and daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, has found herself embroiled in controversy following objections raised by BJP leaders against her nomination filed with the returning officer for Bihars Saran Lok Sabha seat. Leading the objection is SD Sanjay, the in-charge of the BJP legal cell, who formally lodged complaints with the returning officer of the Saran Lok Sabha constituency and the Election Commission of India. They have urged the relevant authorities to scrutinize the documents thoroughly. In their complaints, BJP leaders alleged that Rohini Acharya misrepresented her income and movable assets in both her income tax return and affidavit. According to her affidavit, while Acharya claims to possess movable and immovable assets worth Rs 15.82 crore, her husband purportedly holds assets valued at Rs 19.86 crore. Additionally, Rohini declares having Rs 20 lakh in cash on hand, whereas her husband states possession of Rs 10 lakh. Rent is cited as the primary source of income in the affidavit. Sanjay, who also practices as an advocate at the Patna High Court, asserts that Acharya withheld crucial information in her affidavit, including her true address, nationality (as an NRI), and the source of income used to acquire a luxury flat worth Rs. 25 crore in Mumbai. Contrary to her declaration, Acharyas actual residence is in Singapore, not Kautilya Nagar, Patna. Her nomination papers were submitted on April 29, with her father, former railway minister Lalu Prasad.

Outsider, insider slug it out for Khagaria battle

KHAGARIA : With the return of Left after nearly a three-decade hiatus in the Lok Sabha fray, the Khagaria constituency in Bihar is witnessing an exciting but challenging fight between two young debutants -- Rajesh Verma of NDA-supported LJP (RV) and Sanjay Kumar Kushwaha representing Mahagathbandhan partner CPM. Both the contestants are young, first-timers in the race for the parliamentary polls and belong to two dominant OBC castes -- Kushwaha and Sonar (goldsmith). While Kushwaha is the third dominant community in Khagaria after Muslim and Yadav communities, Sonar ranks fifth. Amid heightened electioneering, flags either red (Left) or bearing the image of a helicopter -- LJP (RV) adorn main points in the city and rural areas. Curtains on the electioneering will come down on May 5 evening for facilitating polls on May 7 in the third phase. The land of makka (maize, which is the prime crop of this district) now is flooded with the red flags virtually turning it into a Red-land, said Ravindera Sharma, a local Hindi teacher. With both the candidates being greenhorns, the senior leaders of both the political blocks - NDA and the Mahagathbandhan -- are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the victory of their candidates.While the NDAsupported LJP candidate Rajesh Verma is banking upon the vote bank for BJP and JDU as per the set social- -engineering of NDA, Sanjay Kumar Kushwaha (CPM) of the Mahagathbandhan is relying on RJDs MY(Muslim Yadav) equation with an additional back up from Kushwaha and Mallah communities. Mukesh Sahni -- who heads the VSIP (Vikashsheel Insaan party), is back with RJD in Mahagatbandhan. The CPIM, which once had a stronghold across the Khagaria, expects vast votes from the Mallah (fishermen)community. Twelve candidates are in the fray from various castes for this seat. Apart from LJP and CPM, the BSP has also fielded Dr Ravi Kumar, besides other candidates, including three independents. In the last two elections with Narendra Modi as the poll mascot of NDA, the united LJP, as part of the NDA, had fielded a Muslim candidate, Chaudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser, who won the seat in 2014 and 2019 polls. The locals say, The fight is tough between Kushwaha and Verma. Despite Verma hailing from the goldsmith community, Kushwaha appears to be giving him tough competition as the seat has a dominant population of Yadav and Muslim voters. Development issues have taken a backseat while the caste equations and their polarisation emerged as the deciding factor. Kushwaha constitutes the third most populous community here, but what has given Verma a tough time is his being an outsider in the district. Khagaria has around 18 lakh voters, with the Muslims alone accounting for around 3 lakh electorate, Yadav 2.6 lakh and Kushwaha 1.5 lakh. The fourth deciding population in Khagaria is Mallah (fishermen), about 2 lakh, and this time Viksasheel Insaan Party, led by Mukesh Sahni, is with RJD-led Mahagatbandhan. Naturally, 50 to 60% votes of this community are likely to go to the CPM candidate, claimed Roshan Paswan, who runs a private coaching centre. An issue of Outsider versus insider has gripped the landscape of Khagaria. Verma is not as much known to the people as Sanjay Kumar. But what makes the people not overlook Verma is that LJP has fielded him. Khagaria is the home district of Chirag Paswan, said social activist Surendra Yadav. Khagaria has earned the distinction of being the only Bihar seat won by NDAs Muslim face in 2019. Now, after denying the ticket, sitting MP Chaudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser has deserted LJP and joined RJD. Though he is not contesting, he leaves no stone unturned to ensure the victory of CPM candidate Sanjay Kumar. Kaiser was elected twice from this Yadav and Muslim-dominated LS seat-first in 2014 and 2019 on the ticket of the then-united Lok Janshakti Party. Of Khagarias 18 lakh voters, an estimated 2.25 lakh are Muslims, followed by 2.5 lakh Yadav voters and over one lakh each from Kushwaha and Mallah communiti es. If CPM candidate manages to cut into the votes of his casteKushwaha--, it will be easier for him to win the elections, said Bharat Kumar Kushwaha, a resident of Alouli. Key issue Flood has emerged as an issue in the region. People have complained against the failure of government in bringing a permanent solution to it. More than 5 blocks are flood prone in Khagaria. Over 5-6 lakh people are affected every year. Total villages: 36 Total voters: 18L Male : 8,83,786 Female : 7,83,100 Religious communities include Hindus (89.21%), followed by Muslims (10.53%. Among others were Christian (0.08%), Sikh (0.01%) and Jain (0.01%)

Young and old proxy players in legacy battles

Of all the 80 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh, two, Kaiserganj and Amethi, have a certain kind of invidiousness which the rest of the state detests or delights depending on the degree of a patronising attention-seeker. On the edge of some wildlife sanctuaries of repute, Kaiserganj offers a truly wild side to its political existence: No one remembers when it turned into Brij Bhushan Sharan Singhs saffron chevron from Samjawadi stalwart Beni Prasad Vermas socialist stripes. So much so that the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief has now grappled his way successfully to let his 33-year-old son rule Kaiserganj by getting him BJP nomination. Move over to redoubtable Amethi. The amazing fiefdom of Congress first family. Kishori Lal Sharma, who? The 63-year-old loyalist is originally from Punjabs Ludhiana and has been with the family for 40-odd years to challenge the aggression and vanity of the sitting BJP MP. Sharma, sources say, is excellent in his management skills, and has been representing Sonia Gandhi first in Amethi and then in Rae Bareli. Curiously, Kaiserganj and Amethi are now melded in a battle of legacies on the one hand young Karan Bhushan Sharan Singh is out to retain his fathers seat, and on the other an experienced caregiver is brought to re-assert the power of the Gandhis. Brij Bhushan, despite being snubbed by the party following his deeds as WFI chairman, has a tinge of condescension in his voice while claiming that Karans ticket was apparent, owing to the clout he enjoys; it is Gods gift to him and his clan. Karan is not the only inheritor of political legacy of Brijbhushan, who has been a six-time MP from Kaiserganj, Balrampur and Gonda. His elder son Prateek Bhushan is BJP MLA from Gonda. However, the younger scion has an added attribute inherited from father. Besides managing his fathers political affairs in Kaiserganj, he is also an amateur wrestler and is helming the UP Wrestling Federation since February this year. A law graduate, he has an Australian diploma in business management. An ace shooter of national repute, Karan is the chairman of a cooperative bank at Nawabganj in Gonda. A father of two children, he has no criminal history, with wife Neha managing the educational institutions owned by the family. In Amethi, Sharma is humbled by the party gesture. He is believed to be well aware of the political temperament of Amethi and Rae Bareli. He had his association with the twin Gandhi bastions since 1983 when late Rajiv Gandhi took him along to Amethi after the death of Sanjay Gandhi, as part of Rajivs initiative to set up a youth brigade to monitor development works in his constituency. Rajiv won from Amethi four times 1981, 1984, 1989 and posthumously in 1991. Sharma managed all his elections since 1984. Sharmas ties with the Gandhis grew stronger after Rajiv passed away. He continued to nurture Rae Bareli and Amethi on their behalf besides managing elections of the likes of Sheila Kaul and Captain Satish Sharma. Beyond Rae Bareli and Amethi, Sharma was once appointed the partys Bihar in-charge. He has been in the All India Congress Committee and Punjab Congress Committee. It is after 25 years that no Gandhi is in the fray from Amethi. The reason for Sharma replacing Rahul Gandhi in Amethi seems to be an in-house survey of the Congress indicating smooth sailing for Rahul in Rae Bareli and only 50 per cent chances of victory in Amethi. Sharma was blamed largely for the 2019 Amethi loss, but Sonia and Priyanka came to his rescue. Holding the party baton, the only task of KL Sharma is conducting poll rallies by the Gandhis he has been promised three as he believes that their presence would make all the difference for him in Amethi.

RJD chief Lalu tried to save those behind Godhra train carnage: PM Modi

PATNA : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday alleged that RJD chief Lalu Prasad tried to shield those who were responsible for burning more than 60 kar sevaks by setting up the Banerjee committee to probe the 2002 Godhra train burning incident. Addressing an election rally in Darbhanga, Modi said the opposition always pursued appeasement politics, and it was the reason the father of Bihars shehzada (referring to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav) had tried to save those who were responsible for the Godhra arson. After all, it was the rule of Sonia madam, PM said. He recalled that Lalu who was the then Railway Minister had constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the Godhra train arson, which under his influence gave a report that exonerated those guilty of the arson. He said that the court dumped the report. PM alleged that Congress was trying to give reservation to Muslims by cutting into quotas of SCs, STs and OBCs, even by going against the sentiments of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and backstabbing B R Ambedkar. Since these deprived sections are disillusioned with INDIA bloc, the alliance is now trying to give reservation to Muslims by cutting into their quotas, he added. Targeting Tejashwi for his comment on X in which he pointed out all three service chiefs of the armed forces are Hindus, PM said that now even the religion of service chiefs was counted and asked whether anybody while remembering the martyrdom of Captain Abdul Hamid looked him from the prism of religion. Without naming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi, PM said, There is a shehzada in Delhi and one in Patna, both of whom think of the country as their fiefdom. Addressing a rally at Palamu in Jharkhand, Modi said the Pakistan government is praying Congress prince to become PM, but strong India wants strong government only. He said, Leaders of JMM and Congress have collected huge assets through corruption, but I dont even have even a bicycle or house of my own.

Lalu tried to save those behind Godhra train arson: PM at rally

Modi accused Congress, RJD of Muslim appeasement, discussed Godhra train fire, Constitution distortion, reservations defense, and criticized Lalu's son Tejashwi Yadav for treating Bihar as a fiefdom and involvement in scams.

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Lalu had tried to save those behind Godhra arson: Modi

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The News Mill

NDTV Election Carnival: Will BJP Win Karnataka Or Will Congress Make A Comeback?

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Voting in two phases of the Lok Sabha elections is done. Parties are campaigning in full swing for the third phase on May 7. NDTV's Election Carnival reached Karnataka's Gulbarga on Friday after passing through several states. The 'carnival' has so far traveled 5,800 kilometers from Delhi to Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra to gauge the mood of the people and understand the atmosphere on the ground. In Karnataka, the election voltage is high over the 'sex scandal' involving former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's grandson and MP from Hassan Prajjwal Revanna.

Modi Attacks Opposition, Recalls Godhra in Bihar Rally

NEW DELHI: In one of his fiercest election speeches in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday raked up the 2002 Godhra train arson, an issue that he rarely mentions even at such events, to attack the Congress-led UPA and the then railways minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav for practicing appeasement politics at a rally in Bihars Darbhanga. Earlier in the day, the PM addressed two rallies in Jharkhands Palamu and Lohardaga and later in the evening, he held a roadshow in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur, where he continued his attack on the Opposition over corruption, votebank politics and attempts to change the Constitution for providing reservations to Muslims. Addressing his third rally of the day in Bihars Darbhanga, Modi raked up the 2002 Godhra train arson issue and accused Lalu Prasad of trying to save those responsible for burning alive more than 60 kar sevaks. It is because of this appeasement politics that the father of Bihar's shehzada (allusion to Tejashwi Yadav) had tried to save those who were responsible for the Godhra train burning incident, said Modi, adding that after all, it was the rule of Sonia madam. He (Lalu Prasad Yadav), who has himself been convicted (in fodder scam cases), was railway minister. He set up an inquiry committee and got a report, which exonerated those guilty of the horrendous crime. But the court threw the report away, said Modi. Kicking off his gruelling campaign schedule for the day from Palamu, Jharkhand, the PM took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi without naming him and said Pakistan wanted him as the Prime Minister, but India wants a strong country with a strong government. Maa Bharati's disrespect won't be tolerated anymore. New India's surgical and air strikes shook Pakistan, which was known for supporting terror attacks on India during the Congress regime The new India knows how to enter enemy territory and strike... Shaken by the surgical and air strikes, leaders in Pakistan are now praying that the Congress' shehzada' becomes PM of India... But our strong nation wants a strong government and leader, Modi said at the rally to campaign for the BJP candidate from Palamu, V.D. Ram. The Prime Minister said that earlier, after any terror attack on the country, the Congress-led governments were helpless. But that has changed under the strong BJP-led government at the Centre. Now, Pakistan is seeking help from the world to save the nation. He told the audience that their one vote had contributed to the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya after generations struggled for 500 years, as well as the scrapping of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress and the INDI alliance want to usurp your land. They want to snatch SC, ST and OBCs' quotas to provide reservations to Muslims by altering the Constitution. Till I am alive, I will not now allow any such design of the Congress to succeed, he asserted. In his address, the Prime Minister claimed that over 25-crore people came out of poverty in the last 10 years of the NDA government. He said: The Congress never bothered for the welfare of people. The party's shehzada was born with a silver spoon and poses for the camera when he visits the house of the poor. But it is my commitment to transform IndiaThere has been no blot of corruption on me in the past 25 years as Chief Minister and Prime Minister. I don't own a home or even a bicycle... The corrupt JMM and the Congress leaders have amassed huge wealth for their children. In Sisai, Lohardaga, Modi said the NDA government has unmasked corrupt forces and all those who indulged in corruption will face action under law in the next five years. Hitting out at jailed former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren without taking his name, Modi said: The former Jharkhand CM is behind bars for corruption... Modi is committed to wipe out the menace of corruption. In the next five years, all those who indulged in corruption will face legal action, he said. The INDI alliance leaders, neck-deep in corruption, hold rallies, including in Delhi and Ranchi, voicing support for corrupt people, which reveals their true character, the PM said. Modi also blamed the Congress for the backwardness of tribal districts, alleging that food grains used to rot in godowns during the UPA regime from 2004 to 2014, while tribal children died due to starvation. Modi said the NDA government ensured that the poor got access to the internet unlike the Congress, which was against it. Today's youths are the heroes of social media. The Congress had made the internet a thing for the rich, but Modi ensured it became available for the poor. We made mobile data affordable for all, he said. The PM also slammed the Congress for not taking any action against Maoists to preserve the party's votebank. He said: But, as long as Modi is alive, no one will be allowed to put tribal lives at risk. Modi also accused the Opposition parties of trying to rob SC, ST, OBC and tribals of reservations because of the disillusionment these deprived sections feel towards the INDIA bloc. The INDI alliance is trying to divert reservations to Muslims. They are going against the views of Babasaheb Ambedkar and first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, neither of whom was in favour of reservations on religious lines, Modi claimed. He also slammed Tejashwi Yadav for bringing up the Hindu Muslim narrative at rallies while talking about the Agnipath scheme and said, When we talk about the martyrdom of Captain Hameed, do we think of him as a Muslim? Without referring to Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav by their names, he said, There is a shehzada in Delhi and one in Patna, both of whom think of the country as their jaagir (fiefdom). He added: Their mindset was exposed when they raised questions about the surgical strikes and spoke ill of the armed forces. A large crowd cheered for the Prime Minister at the Kanpur roadshow in Uttar Pradesh. Mr Modi visited the Gumati Gurdwara before starting his roadshow in support of the BJP's candidates for the Kanpur and Akbarpur Lok Sabha seats.

What Tips PM Modi Gave To Jharkhand BJP Workers For The Polling Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a campaign trail to three states, namely, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, took time out to engage in an interesting conversation with party workers in Jharkhand and offered them 'jadibooti' (tips) for

Modi's Seventh Bihar Rally Ignites Voter Connection

Modi's Seventh Bihar Rally Ignites Voter Connection Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday seemed to be enjoying himself at a rally he addressed in the north Bihar town of Darbhanga. In a state where the total number of Lok Sabha seats is 40, Modi, the BJP-led NDA's biggest crowd puller, has already addressed seven rallies, with four more phases of voting to go. At the election meeting in Darbhanga, the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Mithila, the PM was presented with a garland made of fox nuts (makhana), which grow in abundance in the area. Donning the ''Mithila paag'', a traditional headgear on which the lotus, the BJP's poll symbol, was boldly printed, Modi spoke for nearly 30 minutes, starting with a few sentences in Maithili, sending the crowd into rapture. A few minutes into his address, the PM set his eyes upon an enthusiastic bystander, who was carrying a mannequin modelled after the leader, waving it furiously to grab attention. ''Aapne Modi ko bahut nacha liya (You have made Modi dance a lot),'' said the prime minister, evoking peals of laughter, before asking the spectator to hand over the figure to the SPG, in an indication that the piece may find itself preserved as a gift. Mithila is known, across Bihar, for its gregarious culture and the prime minister had to repeatedly urge the crowds to be less boisterous so that his voice could be heard. At one point, he noticed a fan of the ''Vishwakarma yojana'' frantically waving a poster of the craftsman deity. ''My dear 'bhakt' (devotee) of Lord Vishwakarma, you have caught my attention with your enthusiasm. Now please take your seat. You may be blocking the view for those sitting behind,'' said Modi with characteristic chattiness. At the rally, those present included local BJP MP Gopal Jee Thakur, and other NDA candidates, from adjoining constituencies. Modi urged the people to vote for all of them, pointing out that the victory of every NDA candidate was important to him. He made a special mention of Shambhavi Choudhary, who is making her debut from Samastipur on a ticket from Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). ''Please do vote for her. She is making a beginning at such a tender age. She is our youngest candidate,'' said Modi, pointing towards the 25-year-old, whose father Ashok Choudhary is in the JD(U), and is one of the most trusted cabinet colleagues of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

New Vande Bharat: This state will get new Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains, check route and other details

New Vande Bharat trains will be run from Muzaffarpur, Patna, Jaynagar to Delhi, in which there will also be a sleeper version on one route. New Amrit Bharat will also run from Raxaul to Delhi and Vande Bharat will run from Saharsa to Howrah route. New Vande Bharat: Bihar is soon going to get Vande [] The post New Vande Bharat: This state will get new Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains, check route and other details first appeared on informalnewz .

Bihar Board Matric and Intermediate Compartment Exams Commence Today

The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has initiated compartmental exams and special exams for matriculation students who didn't pass their exams. Scheduled from May 4 to May 11, these exams aim to provide students with a second chance to clear their subjects. Here are the essential details and updates regarding these exams:

Travel tips: Darbhanga is a historical city of Bihar, know the top 5 tourist places here.

Darbhanga is the 5th largest city of Bihar, its literal meaning is 'Dwar Bang' or 'Dari Bang' i.e. 'Door of Bengal'. This is a perfect place for tourism. Trains run from here to every corner of India including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Apart from this, there is also an airport here which makes it an easy gateway for tourists. Let us know which are the top tourist destinations of Darbhanga. Darbhanga Fort is also called Ram Bagh Fort because it is located in the area of Rambagh Palace which is spread over 85 acres. This huge fort was constructed between 1934 and 1947. Kusheshwarsthan Bird Sanctuary is made up of approximately 14 submerged villages, whose area is 7019.75 acres, many species of birds can be seen here. Also, many Siberian migratory birds come here during the winter season because the temperature in their native country becomes very low. Whenever you come to Darbhanga, you must visit Chandradhari Museum, it was constructed in the year 1957, then it was called Mithila Museum. Many things of history have been preserved here. Ahalya Sthan of Darbhanga district is an important religious place. It was constructed during the rule of Maharaj Chhatra Singh and Maharaj Rudra Singh. Devotees come here from far and wide to have darshan. Lakshmeshwar Vilas Palace was built in the year 1882 by Maharaja Lakshmeshwar Singh of Darbhanga. Today this magnificent building is used as the administrative building of Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University. (PC: Zee news)

PM Modis indirect jibe at Tejashwi Yadav Shehzaada has considered whole Bihar as his property

IPL 2024: LSG Might Have To Play The Rest Of The Event Without Mayank Yadav, Says Coach Justin Langer

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Lucknow Super Giants are reconciled to probably playing the rest of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 without young tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav. Even if there is a possibility of getting him back, it would be a huge test for the pacer, said LSG head coach Justin Langer ahead of their upcoming clash with Kolkata Knight Riders at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. Yadav had returned for the match against Mumbai Indians at the same venue on April 30 but pulled after bowling 3.1 overs, returning to the dugout as his injury flared up again. Langer said there were no updates on Mayank Yadav on Saturday but felt his injury was the usual one that young fast bowlers have to suffer early in their careers. No updates. He had a scan. He has got a small tear in a similar area where the last one was. So, it is very unfortunate. We saw the impact he had made, said Langer in the pre-match press conference on Saturday. He came back into the game, but we can also see there's been a lot of discussion about fast bowlers, and he spoke to (Jasprit) Bumrah after the game and he reassured him that he's going to be a fast bowler, said the former Australia coach. Part of his journey as a young fast bowler, he's going to get injuries, and in my experience every young fast bowler, probably until they get to 24-26, are going to experience different injuries and also most unfortunate is he's got huge potential, he added. Langer dispelled the notion that Yadav had made a pre-mature return against Mumbai Indians, which led to his injury aggravating. He did his rehabilitation, (it) was excellent. He went into the game, had a couple of balls before the game, he was completely pain-free, so I was very sad for him and it's disappointing for LSG as well, said the LSG coach. He said even if there are chances of Mayank Yadav returning to the squad, it would be a big test for him. Already might have to play the rest of the tournament without him. You can fly him, hopefully for the playoffs but it will be a real test as well. It would probably be difficult for him to get up for the backend of the tournament, said Langer. LSG are currently placed third in the third position with 12 points from 10 matches and is in a tight contest with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals in the race for the playoff spots behind the top two -- Rajasthan Royals (16) and Kolkata Knight Riders (14).

At Bihar rally, Modi targets Lalu on Godhra incident, oppn parties on quotas

During an election rally at Darbhanga, PM Modi accuses Lalu Prasad of shielding Godhra culprits, criticizes UPA, RJD's appeasement, and warns against the return of the lantern symbol while praising Nitish Kumar's governance.

Lalu Yadav Tried To Shield Godhra Train Burning Accused: PM In Bihar

Raking up the 2002 Godhra train arson, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday charged RJD president Lalu Yadav with having tried to save those responsible for burning alive more than 60 kar sevaks during the rule of Sonia madam.

At Bihar rally, Modi slams Lalu over Godhra, blasts oppn parties for quotas

At Bihar rally, Modi slams Lalu over Godhra, blasts oppn parties for quotas Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday charged RJD president Lalu Prasad, the BJPs principal opponent in Bihar, with having tried to ''shield'' those guilty in two-decade-old Godhra train burning incident and put blame on kar sevaks. Addressing an election rally at Darbhanga, Modi, who was then the chief minister of Gujarat where riots had erupted after the incident, also alleged that the RJD supremo had acted in connivance with the Congress, which headed the UPA, in power at the Centre. This is probably the first time Modi raised the Godhra issue during the ongoing elections. Without mentioning Prasad by name, Modi described the RJD supremo, who was the Railway minister in the first UPA government, as one serving sentences, out on bail (in fodder scam cases)''. He had tried to shield those who were responsible for the Godhra train burning incident in which more than 60 kar sevaks were burnt alive. Was it not the reign of Sonia (Gandhi) madam, remarked PM, referring to the former Congress president and UPA chairperson. Modi recalled that the Banerjee Commission, although headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court, was often called ben raazi (the sister is willing), and ''under pressure'' from Prasad it submitted a ''bogus'' report that ''tried to exonerate those who were guilty and put the blame on kar sevaks themselves''. ''But the court consigned the report to the dustbin. Those who were guilty got punished, some of them even getting death sentences,'' said the prime minister. Modi alleged that all constituents of the opposition bloc INDIA had a propensity towards appeasement and lambasted the RJD for ''counting Muslims among armed forces''. The remark seemed an oblique reference to Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD presidents son and heir apparent who has spoken of all the three armed forces being headed by Hindus while slamming the ruling BJP at the Centre for repeatedly claiming that the faith of the majority community was in danger. In his speech which lasted for more than 30 minutes, Modi also took potshots at Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, mentioning neither by name but observing ''there is a 'shehzada' (crown prince) in Delhi. Likewise there is a 'shehzada' in Patna. Both have had a dismal track record''. ''Their tendency for appeasement makes them behave in this fashion. Earlier, they had insulted the armed forces by raising questions on surgical strikes. We never think in terms of Hindus and Muslims while talking about our armed forces and our martyrs,'' the prime minister said. Modi also alleged that in 2007, when Prasad was the railway minister, ''he had advocated reservations for Muslims'' and that the RJD supremo and Congress ''want to divert quotas for SCs, STs and OBCs, who feel disillusionment towards them''. ''These parties are going against Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar and even Jawaharlal Nehru, both of whom were opposed to reservations along religious lines but let me assure you, as long as Modi is alive, nobody can snatch away reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs,'' said the PM at the rally here. Slamming the INDIA bloc for ''spreading lies that I want to change the Constitution, which I worship'', Modi said, ''I have been challenging them for 12 days to give in writing that they will not snatch away quotas meant for deprived people and provide these along religious lines. They are yet to do so''. The prime minister also noted that the Mithila region, named after an ancient kingdom of which Darbhanga was the capital, was the land of Goddess Sita, and therefore, had special sentiments for Ram temple at Ayodhya. ''India was first attacked on its western boundary about 1,000 years ago. It led to a millennium of enslavement. When we freed Ayodhya after a nearly-500-year-long fight, I had said that for the next 1,000 years, India will script a new history,'' said Modi who also asserted that the country had begun to get its rightful place in the comity of nations. ''When bad days fell on the nation, Bihar was among the worst sufferers. We must not allow the state to return to the era of the lantern'', said Modi, referring to the RJDs poll symbol. He also made an indirect reference to the land-for-jobs scam under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate in which Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav have been named, saying the people of Bihar have been made to do away with their land to get jobs. The people of Bihar must also not forgive constituents of the INDIA bloc, which ruled Delhi and Maharashtra when mass exodus of labourers took place during the COVID pandemic, asserted the prime minister. He also lauded ally Nitish Kumar, the Bihar chief minister who heads the JD(U), for his governance track record. Modi added, We had been occupying the 11th spot among economies of the world. Now we are the fifth largest economy. Referring to the inheritance tax controversy, the prime minister alleged that the Congress wants to bring in a law by which one will be deprived of 55 per cent of whatever one's parents have earned and saved. They wish to place a fatwa on one's inheritance. In keeping with his penchant for connecting with locals wherever he goes, the prime minister addressed the rally wearing the traditional headgear Mithila paag, on which the lotus, the BJPs poll symbol, was printed. He also took note of an enthusiastic supporter who brought a cut-out of the PM to the venue. ''I appreciate that you have made Modi dance. Now you please hand it over to the SPG people'', said the PM.

Relief from Scorching Heat Expected as Rainfall Forecasted for UP and Bihar

Lucknow: Th e Meteorological Department has announced that relief from the scorching heat is on its way with the prediction of rainfall in many states, including UP and Bihar. The forecast indicates that the heat wave conditions in Eastern India will persist until May 5. However, there is good news for North-East India, with heavy to very heavy rain expected on May 5 and 6, along with a possibility of storms. Eastern UP may also experience rainfall between May 6 and 9. In the last 24 hours, heatwave conditions were observed in Gangetic West Bengal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The highest temperature recorded was 46.2 degrees Celsius in the Nandyal area of Rayalaseema. Conversely, heavy rain was reported in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Tripura. The Meteorological Department has forecasted light to moderate rain in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura over the next five days. Additionally, warnings for rain, thunderstorms, and lightning have been issued for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh between May 3 and 5. In North-West India, light rain is expected in Western Rajasthan on May 3 and in Haryana, Chandigarh, and Punjab on May 4. Strong winds are also likely in Uttar Pradesh, Southern Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi on May 3 and 4. Furthermore, light to moderate rain is predicted in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand between May 6 and 9, with an alert for thunderstorms and lightning. In Delhi, the minimum temperature on Friday was recorded at 18.3 degrees Celsius, six degrees below normal. The relative humidity in the national capital was 34 percent at 8:30 am. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted strong winds during the day, with the maximum temperature expected to be around 38 degrees Celsius. Nepal Decides to Print New Rs 100 Currency Note with Controversial Map Yogi Adityanath Accuses Congress of Planning to Implement Jizya Tax Mansukh Mandaviya, BJP Candidate from Porbandar, Equates Party Workers to God

Loco Pilot Killed After Being Hit by Rajdhani Express in Bihar's Gaya District

Patna: P ankaj Kumar Singh, a loco pilot, tragically lost his life after being hit by the Rajdhani Express in Bihar's Gaya district. The accident occurred as Singh was crossing the tracks after parking the light engine in the loco buffer of Ghazhandi. The impact of the collision caused his immediate death. The incident took place between Gurpa and Gajandi stations. RPF Inspector Jawaharlal reached the spot upon receiving information and reported the incident to the GRP. The body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem examination. The accident occurred around 3:30 in the morning when Pankaj Singh was struck by the New Delhi-Ranchi Rajdhani Express. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined. Whether the loco pilot failed to notice the approaching Rajdhani Express or if there were other factors involved remains uncertain and will only be revealed through a police investigation. Nepal Decides to Print New Rs 100 Currency Note with Controversial Map Yogi Adityanath Accuses Congress of Planning to Implement Jizya Tax Crorepati Candidates Dominate Odisha Lok Sabha Polls: A Detailed Analysis of Wealth Distribution

Archaeological Investigation to Uncover Truth about Bhojashala

Dhar: The Paramara dynasty holds a significant position in Indian history, not only for their political achievements but also for their contributions to art and architecture. Between the 10th and 13th centuries, this dynasty ruled over a substantial part of Central India, with their capital in Dhar, present-day Madhya Pradesh. King Bhoja, the most celebrated ruler of this dynasty, was a great patron of art and architecture. During his reign in the early to mid-11th century, a temple dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, was constructed in Dhar. The temple became an important center of education, attracting pilgrims from distant places. However, like many Hindu temples of the medieval period, it also faced destruction at the hands of Islamic invaders. In recent times, there has been a renewed interest among the Hindu community to revive their glorious past, which was obscured by dynastic politics. Recent archaeological excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India at Kashi Vishvanath have revealed that a structure adjacent to it was built by destroying a Hindu temple. In a similar context, the High Court of Madhya Pradesh has ordered the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a scientific investigation at Bhojashala. According to archaeological records, Bhojashala, situated in Dhar, was originally a temple of Saraswati built by King Bhoja in the 11th century. Various historical documents, including the Indian Archaeology Review of 1984-85 and the Corpus Inscription Indicarum Volume-7, provide evidence supporting this claim. The discovery of Hindu sculptures and remnants of a temple during archaeological excavations in 1987 further substantiates this claim. Contrary to claims that Bhojashala is a mosque, the presence of Paramara-style pillars bearing Hindu sculptures inside the complex, along with architectural ruins of temples used for constructing graves, suggests otherwise. These remains have been colored green to hide their identity as temple remnants. Under the guidance of Prof. Alok Tripathi, a team of archaeologists will examine the inscriptions present on the ruins inside Bhojashala and the nearby Dargah. The information gleaned from these inscriptions will help in dating the structure at Bhojashala. Archaeologist KK Lele has pointed out that two pillars at Bhojashala contain inscriptions meant for teaching grammar. Additionally, archaeological excavations will be conducted inside the Bhojashala complex using scientific methods. The presence of an adhisthana (platform) indicates that the original temple was destroyed and a new structure was built using its ruins. Carbon dating, although limited to organic substances, may provide valuable insights if charcoal or ash is recovered during excavation. Once the archaeological investigations are complete, a detailed report will be submitted to the High Court. This report will provide valuable evidence supporting the claim that King Bhoja constructed a temple of Vagdevi in Dhar, which was later destroyed by Islamic invaders. Similar to the restoration work at Ayodhya, Bhojashala is expected to regain its old glory with the help of archaeological excavations. Relief from Scorching Heat Expected as Rainfall Forecasted for UP and Bihar Afghan Consul General Zakia Wardak Resigns Amid Rs 18 Crore Gold Smuggling Allegations Nepal Decides to Print New Rs 100 Currency Note with Controversial Map

Supreme Court Raises Concerns Over Indian Judicial Code Provisions Amid New Criminal Laws

New Delhi: Th e Supreme Court has raised serious questions about certain provisions of the Indian Judicial Code, just two months before its implementation. The court has urged the Central Government and the legislature to reconsider and make appropriate changes to Sections 85 and 86 of the Indian Judicial Code to prevent false allegations of harassment against women. In its decision, the bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra highlighted that Sections 85 and 86 of the Indian Judicial Code are similar to Section 498 (A) of the IPC. However, the court emphasized that the explanation provided in Section 86 needs reconsideration to curb the rising trend of false complaints. The court has requested the legislature to make necessary changes to these sections before the implementation of the Indian Judicial Code, 2023, which is scheduled to come into effect from July 1. Sections 85 and 86 of the Indian Judicial Code pertain to the punishment for subjecting a woman to cruelty and provide a detailed explanation of cruelty, including both mental and physical harm inflicted on the victim woman. The bench directed the registry to send copies of its decision to the Union Law Secretary and Home Secretary, who will present it to the Law and Justice Minister and the Home Minister along with their recommendations and comments. The court's concerns stem from the need to prevent misuse of the law, similar to the issues faced with Section 498A of the IPC, which deals with dowry harassment complaints. The bench mentioned that it had raised concerns about Section 498A of the IPC 14 years ago due to the exaggeration of incidents in dowry harassment complaints. The court's decision came while canceling a dowry harassment case filed by a woman against her husband. The court noted that the woman's allegations were vague and lacked specific examples of criminal conduct. The three new criminal laws, which are set to be implemented from July 1, were approved by the Parliament on December 21 last year and received President Draupadi Murmu's consent and signature on December 25. Archaeological Investigation to Uncover Truth about Bhojashala Loco Pilot Killed After Being Hit by Rajdhani Express in Bihar's Gaya District Relief from Scorching Heat Expected as Rainfall Forecasted for UP and Bihar

Two Laborers Die While Cleaning Septic Tank in Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Noida: I n a tragic incident in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, two laborers lost their lives while cleaning a septic tank of a house on Saturday morning. The incident occurred in Sector 26 of Police Station Sector 20 area. Upon receiving information, the police team reached the spot to investigate. The bodies were sent for post-mortem, and further actions are being taken by the police. The deceased, identified as Nooni Mandal and Tapan Mandal, originally from West Bengal, were residents of Sector 6 in Noida and worked as laborers. They were relatives, akin to brothers-in-law. Both had gone to work at a house identified as A-94 in Sector 26. While cleaning the septic tank, they suddenly stopped moving. They were found unconscious and immediately rushed to Kailash Hospital. Unfortunately, both laborers succumbed during treatment at the hospital. The local police were informed about the incident, and the police from Sector 20 station reached the spot. The family members were informed, and the bodies were sent for post-mortem. Noida's Deputy Commissioner of Police, Vidya Sagar Mishra, stated that the two laborers were called to clean the safety tank of a house in Sector 26. However, they became unconscious during the cleaning process. Despite being rushed to the hospital for treatment, they could not be saved. Legal action is being taken by the police in this matter. Archaeological Investigation to Uncover Truth about Bhojashala Loco Pilot Killed After Being Hit by Rajdhani Express in Bihar's Gaya District Relief from Scorching Heat Expected as Rainfall Forecasted for UP and Bihar

Nepal Decides to Print New Rs 100 Currency Note with Controversial Map

Kathmandu: N epal has announced the printing of a new Rs 100 currency note featuring a map that includes the disputed territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani, a move criticized by India as an artificial enlargement of Nepal's territorial claims. The decision to print the new map on the Rs 100 currency note was taken during a meeting of the council of ministers chaired by Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal 'Prachanda', according to government spokesperson Rekha Sharma.The cabinet approved the redesigning of the Rs 100 banknote to include the new map, replacing the old map printed in the background of the banknote, said Sharma, who is also the Minister for Information and Communication. In June 2020, Nepal updated its political map to include the strategically important areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura by amending its Constitution, a move that India strongly opposed, calling it a unilateral act and rejecting the artificial enlargement of Nepal's territorial claims.India maintains that Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura belong to it. Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.During Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal 'Prachanda's visit to India in June 2023, both India and Nepal pledged to resolve the boundary dispute in a spirit of friendship.Currently, India and Nepal have border disputes over the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh trijunction between India, Nepal, and China, as well as the Susta area in the West Champaran district of Bihar. Kalapani, administered by India as part of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, lies along the Kailash Mansarovar route. The Kali River in the Kalapani region marks the border between India and Nepal, with discrepancies over the source of the river leading to boundary disputes.The Susta area, located on the banks of the Gandak River, is another area of contention. The Gandak River, known as the Narayani River in Nepal, merges with the Ganges near Patna in Bihar. Changes in the course of the Gandak River have fueled disputes over the Susta area. Mansukh Mandaviya, BJP Candidate from Porbandar, Equates Party Workers to God Crorepati Candidates Dominate Odisha Lok Sabha Polls: A Detailed Analysis of Wealth Distribution Malaysia Teams Up with MWL to Host Big Religious Conference in Asia

Key Highlights: Unveiling the Notable Aspects

Key Highlights: Unveiling the Notable Aspects Following are the top stories from the Eastern Region at 5.10 pm. ELN 59 ELECTIONS-BH-MODI ****At Bihar rally, Modi rakes up Godhra train arson to accuse oppn of appeasement Darbhanga: Raking up the 2002 Godhra train arson, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday charged RJD president Lalu Prasad with having tried to save those responsible for burning alive more than 60 kar sevaks during the rule of Sonia madam.**** ELN 58 ELECTIONS-JH-LD MODI ****Shaken by surgical strikes, Pak leaders praying Cong shehzada becomes India's PM Palamu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted his governments surgical and air strikes had shaken Pakistan, and the neighbouring countrys leaders are now praying that the Congress shehzada becomes Indias PM.**** ELN 57 ELECTIONS-OD-CONG-LD CANDIDATE ****Denied party funding, Congress Puri LS candidate Sucharita Mohanty returns ticket Bhubaneswar: Congress candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency Sucharita Mohanty has declined to contest the elections and returned the party ticket alleging lack of funding from the party.**** ELN 44 ELECTIONS-SANDESHKHALI-TMC-VIDEO ****Sandeshkhali incidents conspiracy by BJP to defame Bengal: TMC Kolkata: Amid the row over incidents in Sandeshkhali where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have surfaced, the party on Saturday released a video on social media, claiming that the episode was a ''conspiracy'' by the BJP to defame West Bengal ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.**** ELN 35 ELECTIONS-JH-MODI-CORRUPTION ****All those who indulged in corruption will face legal action in next five years: PM Modi Sisai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the NDA government has unmasked corrupt forces, and all those who indulged in corruption would face action under law in the next five years.**** CAL 3 WB-GOVERNOR-POLICE-LD-PROBE ****Police constitute team to probe woman's complaint against Guv; to speak to witnesses Kolkata: Kolkata Police have constituted an inquiry team to probe a woman employee's allegation of sexual molestation by Governor C V Ananda Bose, a senior officer said on Saturday.****

At Bihar rally, PM Modi rakes up Godhra train arson to accuse Opposition of appeasement

Modi accused the opposition parties of trying to rob SCs, STs and tribals of reservations because of the disillusionment these deprived sections felt towards the INDIA bloc

3 held for duping people on pretext of providing confirmed railway tickets

According to the police officials, the accused were identified as Santosh (27), Ashutosh (26), and Afroz Ansari (37), all residents of Bihar

Nagpur GRP busts Odisha-based inter-state ganja smuggling network

Nagpur: In a major breakthrough, the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Nagpur have tracked down and dismantled an entire inter-state ganja smuggling network operating from a Naxal-affected area of Odisha to Delhi. The police have arrested the ganja supplier, trafficker, and sellers during the operation, spanning across Odisha, Bihar, and Delhi. According to police, the [] The post Nagpur GRP busts Odisha-based inter-state ganja smuggling network appeared first on Nagpur Today : Nagpur News .

Epic Bhutan road trip on my BMW R 1200 GS: Covered 5500 km in 16 days

BHPian cjt2012 recently shared this with other enthusiasts. This trip was on my mind for a couple of years, after having planned the trip last year, we dropped the plan a few days before the trip due to the extreme heat in May. This year, however, we decided to venture on the trip towards the end of March. A road trip is always about the adventure and thrill of the journey and not just about the destination. As a group of four (Parvez Patel Age 70 - 2022 BMW R1250GSA, Khodaram Zandbaf Age 62 - 2017 BMW R1200GS, Darayus Dastoor Age 61 - 2022 Kawasaki Versys 1000 and myself Clement Thomas Age 48 - 2017 BMW R1200GS); we started planning for the trip at the beginning of January 2024, a WhatsApp group was made and that was about it. It was not until 14 days before the trip that we really sat down and did some groundwork on the possible routes and arrangements in Bhutan. One of the group members had his sister undertake the journey by air last year, so we decided to employ the services of the same travel company, to arrange our Hotel bookings, bike clearances and meet us at the Indo-Bhutan border. Odometer Reading the day before the trip Loading the Base attachment of the Moskomoto Reckless 80 setup Initially, inside Bhutan we were contemplating renting Bhutan-registered RE Himalayan, however, thankfully better sense prevailed once we reached Bhutan. Some arrangements inside Bhutan are mandatory a brief list of requirements as listed below:A Bhutanese tourism department-approved guide is mandatory to accompany tourists along with a Taxi and driver for the guide.Passports or Voter ID is required to enter Bhutan. We used our Passports which were duly stamped upon entry. Tourist must pay a sustainability fee at Immigration of Rs1200/- head/ night of stay in Bhutan (For Indians, Srilankans and Maldivians). For all other nationalities, USD 250/- night must be paid as sustainability fees.The tour operator has to present Proof of hotel reservations. All hotels for tourists have to be three-star and above. Travel insurance is also required which is set at Rs700/- per person for the duration of the stay.Original RC of the bike, Valid insurance, PUC, Original Valid Indian Driving license card, are the necessary documents for any Motor vehicle including Motorcycles.It is preferable to have the motorcycle in your name otherwise you may need an authorization letter from the owner permitting you to ride in Bhutan.Rs 4500/- per Night of Stay in Bhutan for Motorcycle/Motorcar is to be paid in cash at the Regional Transport office in Phuentsholing.These documents have to be submitted to the RTO in Bhutan who will then issue the Route Permit.Indian Currency is accepted, and the exchange rate is 1:1One very important point - Make sure you have your bank cards cleared for transactions in Bhutan (generally on most Indian bank-issued cards - it's written in the small print that the cards cannot be used in Nepal and Bhutan). You will be required to call your Bank helpline number and ask them to allow usage of the cards in Bhutan.Please also ensure that you have sufficient INR currency at hand, as everything has to be managed by cash inside Bhutan.My bike is generally well-kitted for long trips, but I did a small service at home only wherein I, changed the Oil, cleaned the K&N air filter, Cardan shaft removed and greased, Cardan Oil changed, Checked torque values on all crucial nuts and bolts and Tyre pressure checked. I have both Aluminium Panniers and Soft Luggage and for this trip, I decided to go with the soft luggage basically to manage the weight (Panniers tend to be heavier) Some very essential generic requirements on the motorcycle are as below:USB Charging port 12V (My bike has 3 USB ports)Aux LightsHeadlight guards / protectorsThe Connected cradle to accommodate the phone is a very essential requirement when using a Phone for Google map Navigation.In hindsight, I should have probably used a Tail bag instead of the dry bag in my Moskomoto Reckless 80 set up along with the two dry bags on the side. Pack one bag with all necessary travel essentials (preferably the tail bag) which should contain everything that you may require for the night stay at the hotel and your next day's morning routine, The other bags can be left secure on the Motorcycle itself, this saves you time and effort to get back on the road the next morning.Ensure you have a good set of riding gear, this is non-negotiable - I was using Klim Adventure Rally Pro Jacket, Klim Badland Pants, Rynox Gloves, Scorpion AT950 modular helmet, Rynox Dry Innerwear (Not a big fan of this product- I found it to be a little uncomfortable as it sticks to your body after sweating, I rather prefer a cotton t-shirt inside in this heat).All four of us were using the Parani intercom, but the pairing was not as seamless as they claimed and the four of us could never get connected with each other. Only two of us could always remain paired. I am not entirely sure if we were pairing it the correct way, but it was very frustrating after having invested in a new intercom only to see it unable to connect all four of us.Other equipment carried were: Sony Action cam with loop recording charged by the bikes 12v USB port, essential tools, a Puncture repair kit, a compact air compressor (12V supply from the bike), a jump starter, Cable ties (very important), straps, bungee chords, Essential first aid and medicines, Spare Brake pads front and rear, Spark Plug set, key fob spare battery, Emergency key. Throughout the trip, only regular fuel was used on my bike, however, my friends used 95 octane wherever possible, but as we realized on the highways it was not easily available. The only thing unanimously decided was that we would not be riding late into the night, and that, we should find a decent hotel with safe parking by sunset.Day 1: 24.03.24 Mumbai (MH)- Akola (MH) (583Km)As usual, group members were not exactly on time. By the time we congregated and started the trip, it was 6:15, getting out of Mumbai in the early hours of the morning was easy, however, roads after Thane for about 30-35 km are under repairs and have a lot of diversions. Lack of route planning meant that we were just following Google and it did take us through some villages. Not a very smart idea, and we decided that the route needed to be better thought out, We all decided that, we would stick to National Highways only, and if they were not available, only then take a State Highway. For the most part, the roads were good. We stayed at the Grand Jalsa resort off the highway at Akola.Day 2: 25.03.24 Akola (MH) - Rewa (MP) (780km)After the previous day's experience, we decided to only stick to NH, and the route took us via Nagpur, Seoni, Jabalpur, Katni to Rewa. By far, the best National Highway in the entire trip, first NH53 until Nagpur (absolutely brilliant roads ) then NH 44 and NH 30 towards Rewa, The roads were so good that I could engage Cruise control at 100kmph and leave it for up to 15min on some stretches. The motorcycle being absolutely planted and stable, it just gobbles up distances effortlessly. We stayed at Hotel Chandralok, the hotel is owned by a Sikh gentleman and he is a bike enthusiast. Nice hotel and good food. The festival of Holi was around and this meant that traffic on the road was not as bad, but this would impact us the next day. Near Pench Tiger Reserve - Hydration stop At Hotel Chandralok Rewa - Brilliant Hospitality specially for Bikers Day 3: 26.03.24 Rewa (MP) - Muzaffarpur (BR) (530km)Started late from Rewa due to the good hospitality, Again sticking to NH as planned we made rapid progress, However, soon we realized a serious problem, It was Holi and it was a very big festival in Bihar. So big in fact, that everything, and I mean every damn thing is closed in the entire state of Bihar. This meant that Petrol would become an issue, and sure enough, three of the bikes were down to one line on the fuel gauges (The GSA with 31ltr fuel tank was very comfortable / not concerned) and no petrol pumps were open, we had already started riding very conservatively but we were very concerned with our fuel situation. Towards late afternoon, we found a petrol pump which was closed, however, there was a pushcart next to the pump and they were selling petrol in Black, Selling 750ml whiskey bottles filled with petrol (say about 700ml per bottle) at Rs150/-. We bargained and were able to strike a deal for one bottle of petrol at Rs110/- . We bought 6ltrs each, enough to propel us until Patna. This entire fuel fiasco meant that we wasted a lot of time trying to find a petrol station. Contrary to popular belief, Roads were very good initially via Hanumana, Mirzapur, Mughalsarai, Mohania, Arrah, Patna towards Muzaffarpur, NH30, NH135, NH35, AH1, NH319, NH922, NH22. We got some traffic on the outskirts of Patna. As dusk set in we stopped for the night at Hotel The Premier in Muzaffarpur (BR). Don't even ask how rubbish that hotel was, but nonetheless a place to stay the night. Near Mirzapur - road side eatery Highway services after a Toll plaza Day 4 27.03.24 Muzaffarpur (BR) - Bagdogra (WB) (438km)Started later than planned, got very heavy traffic to exit the town, following NH only as planned, The roads were, for the most part, good. Towards evening, we were tired and decided to stop for the night at Bagdogra. Route taken was Darbhanga, Phulparas, Forbesganj, Araria, Purnia, Dalkhola, Kishanganj, Islampur, to Bagdogra. That is NH27 all the way. The section of road after Dalkhola until Kishanganj was no so good with some potholes. The night was spent at Orbit Hotel, which had decent facilities with food. Near Purunia - The best and simple Dhaba food experience during the trip Day 5 :28.03.24 Bagdogra (WB) - Jaigaon (WB) (158km)We had a leisurely breakfast and left the hotel late since this was the last leg to Bhutan, we took the most scenic and stunning northern route, surprisingly the roads were excellent and through some densely forested areas with tall trees on both sides, after which started the tea gardens, we crossed the famous Coronation Bridge on the Teesta river, which is a sight to behold, towards evening we reached Jaigaon. At Jaigaon, as we were approaching the border the roads were very bad with chaotic traffic. We have a friend who is a businessman and an avid motorcycle rider at Jaigaon, so we had a good evening tea and snacks while we waited for our Guide to take us into Bhutan. After the immigration process, we proceeded to Hotel Gardhen, Since Parvez was tired and exhausted, he decided that he would not be riding the motorcycle inside Bhutan and instead sit in the car with the Guide and Driver, and to give him company, Khodaram also decided that he will also not ride inside Bhutan. Both the bikes were left at Jaigaon with our friend and only Darayus and I got our bikes into Bhutan. As mentioned in the beginning, we were contemplating renting Bhutan-registered RE Himalayan, but when we saw the bikes on offer, we quickly changed our mind and decided to use our own bikes. The difference between Jaigaon and Phuentsholing is stark and you will be amazed at how clean and quiet Bhutan is. Tea Gardens in West Bengal Jaigaon/Phuentsholing Border Entry gate to Bhutan Day 6 : 29.03.24 Phuentsholing - Thimpu (150km)We checked out of the hotel at 9:00 am and went to clear immigration which was a time-consuming process, Indians make up the bulk of the tourists who visit Bhutan, and Immigration clearance took about 1.5hrs. Then we went to file the route plan and clear the paperwork for the two motorcycles which we intended to ride, it was also a slightly lengthy procedure which took about an Hour to complete, we paid Rs22500/- per bike for the 5 nights route plan inside Bhutan. Formalities completed, and we started our trip to Thimpu. The quality of the roads is excellent and they are completely built and maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, the roads are totally winding in nature and are a real pleasure and fun experience. On the way we stopped at Takthikoti canteen operated by BRO on the invitation by Chief Engineer of Project Dantak, towards evening we reached Thimpu and checked into Hotel Nordenma. One of the fellow riders knew Kelly Dorji (Actor and Model), he invited us to his Restobar in Thimpu called Grey Area, we had some great food with impeccable hospitality from Kelly. A huge thanks to him for inviting us. Enroute to Thimpu - Kawasaki Versys 1000 and the BMW R1200GS Day 7: 30.03.24 Thimpu Local SightseeingStarted the day visiting the Buddha Dordenma, Simply Bhutan, Royal Takin Pzeserve (Takin is the national animal of Bhutan), Bhutanese Cuisine at an authentic restaurant, and some local shopping. Buddha Dordenma at Thimpu- Angels look mesmerizing Day 8: 31.03.24 Thimpu - Punakha (73km)Again a day on the motorcycle, with excellent roads and breathtaking scenery, The two of us on the motorcycles would take off using Google maps and reach the pre-determined meeting point. as discussed with the guide, driver and our two other friends. We stopped at Dochula Pass which is a monument with 108 stupas in memory of the fallen soldiers. The bikes always generate a lot of interest among the public wherever we stop, At Dochula, we saw a lot of tourists, specially a group of Ladies only tourists group from various parts of India, we ended up meeting the same group a few times more along the trip in the next couple of days. We also met a group of three German riders who rented RE bikes locally and were exploring Bhutan. Onwards we rode to Chime Lhakhang The Divine Madman temple, whilst there, we witnessed a freak accident, burning down and gutting the Monastery which was being newly constructed for the Monks, we chipped in to help in any way we could to remove combustible material from the immediate vicinity. This put us behind schedule to visit a few more places in Punakha, We later went to our Hotel and called it a day. We stayed at Hotel Lobesa, it had a beautiful view outside the windows, a good balcony and big rooms, by far the best hotel we stayed at in Bhutan. Punakha Fort Entry - Note the large honeybee comb Day 9: 01.04.24 Punakha - Paro (115km)Started after breakfast, since we missed a few sightseeing locations the previous day due to the fire at the Monastery, we went to the Punakha Fort. This is an impressive structure with unmistakable Bhutanese architecture, a sight not to miss is the school of Trout fish which you can see from the bridge leading to the fort, after spending some time at the fort we were on the road again back along the same road for most of the way. Stopping again at Dochula Pass, the cafe is very good and since the sky was a bit more clear than the previous visit, we were able to see a few of the tall Himalayan mountain peaks at a distance. The highlight of the day was our invitation from the Chief Engineer of Project Dantak to visit the headquarters. We were deeply honored and thrilled to have received his Invitation, we had a very good interactive dialogue with the Chief Engineer, who was kind enough to explain the various aspects of the BRO's mandate in Bhutan, the history behind the entire project and the Museum. We were presented with a coffee table book consisting of the entire history of Project Dantak. Deeply honored and Salute to our soldiers who work in such extreme terrains. We then took to the road leading to Paro, as usual, the roads were brilliant with swooping curves at every turn. Paro is a beautiful town located in the Valley, this is also the town with the International Airport. Towards evening we reached our Hotel. We stayed at Hotel Ratna Vara, a decent hotel, However, the food could have been better. We retired early as the next day was the big trek to Tiger's Nest.Day 10: 02.04.24 Paro Local sight seeingWe left the Hotel early to the Tiger's Nest base, but before that, we stopped and had a refreshing breakfast at a local diner. Tiger's nest by far symbolizes Bhutan, it's a must-do trek for tourists arriving in Bhutan. It's by no means easy, and definitely not for the faint-hearted, and you need to be relatively fit to attempt such a Trek. The base camp is at 7300ft and the Nest is at 10500ft, the trek itself is about 5.5km, Parvez, the oldest among us chose to sit this one out, We started climbing at about 8:40 am and finally reached the summit at about 12:00, spent about an hour in the temples on top, the view of tiger's nest from any direction is breathtaking and beautiful. The trek consists of trails and steps both paved and stone steps. The cafe midway is a good place to rest your legs and re-energise. The trek down was also quite daunting, by the time we reached the base it was about 2:30pm, and we were all tired and decided to head back to the hotel. In the evening, we went out for a bit of souvenir shopping. Tiger's Nest - A Bhutan trip - must do trek Day 11: 03.04.24 Paro - PhuentsholingWe had a leisurely breakfast and then headed back on the road to the border town of Phuentsholing. We again had the same invitation to refresh and recharge at the Takthikoti GREF canteen which we accepted. Reached Phuentsholing towards evening, and headed to the same Hotel (Hotel Gardhen). Parked the bikes and came out to Jaigaon to have tea at our friend's place. After that, we headed back to the Hotel in Phuentsholing and retired early since we planned an early start for the return road trip.Day 12: 04.04.24 Phuentsholing - Darbhanga (BR) (530km)The previous night's food did not seem to go down well with my gut. I felt sick in the stomach and threw up a few times in the night. My friends did not think I was fit enough to ride, but, that was not a choice. The friend in Jaigaon was also riding with us for a few hundred kms on his Triumph Tiger 800, he offered to take me to a hospital on the way. By 10:00am my condition had worsened, I had thrown up about 5 times and was feeling severely dehydrated, I spoke to a doctor's friend, and she prescribed Tab Ondem and an Antibiotic to fight the food poisoning. The tab immediately helped and I was feeling a lot better, thus decided to continue as much as possible, and took the same roads back so we knew that the roads were good. By nightfall we were in the town of Darbhanga and decided to stop for the day at Hotel Garcia International, It was a very nice hotel and we had a nice peaceful night.Day 13: 05.04.24 Darbhanga (BR) - Hanumana (MP) (500km)I felt a lot better in the morning, starting at about 8:30 am roads were good as we were taking the same road back, the afternoon heat was too much and we were stopping often to hydrate and stretch our legs as we were having cramps. Passed UP in the evening, it was very sad to see the lack of any hotels after Mirzapur, by nightfall we had passed Mirzapur but could not find any hotels, so we kept pressing ahead, it was only after entering MP we saw a newly built hotel, we took the rooms even though it did not have any AC, it was about 9:30 pm by the time we reached the hotel, had dinner and retired for the day. We stayed at the Highway Treat Hotel.Day 14: 06.04.24 Hanumana (MP) - Nagpur (MH) (598km)Road were as good as they could be, made rapid progress. These bikes on such wonderful roads are really a treat and a dream ride. The skies were overcast and that also meant that the heat was a little lesser than usual. Reached Nagpur by sunset and called it for the day.Day 15: 07.04.24 Nagpur (MH) - Wadner (MH) (370km)Since we were not in a tearing hurry to reach, we took it easy with the riding, the day time heat had again started to rise, the roads were excellent and by early evening we decided to stop for tea at a roadside hotel which had just newly launched, since rooms were available with AC we decided to stay put there. Stayed at Hotel Gurukripa.Day 16: 08.04.24 Wadner (MH) - Mumbai (MH) (520km)Started around 7:30am and took a slightly different route than when we had left from Mumbai, using NH53 passing through Bhusawal, Jalgaon, Dhule then onto NH60 towards Malegaon, Nashik, Igatpuri, Thane and Mumbai. NH60 was good but every intersection has multiple speed breakers and as such has to slow down. The real agony was the poor condition of roads leading to Thane which starts about 30km before Thane and the afternoon traffic with the scorching heat was really unbearable. Finally reaching home by 6:00 pm. The epic round trip was about 5500km, In hindsight, we could have accomplished this trip in 2 weeks, but with a group of riders, we have to cater to the pace at which everyone is comfortable. The bikes which accomplished this trip were the real gems, each of the motorcycles did not miss a beat or give us any kind of mechanical trouble. The benefit of shaft drive was amply apparent as the Versys chain needed to be lubed before the return trip. The superior comfort of the GS/GSA is also something I wish to highlight, the suspension is truly an engineering marvel. Without a doubt, the BMW GS/GSA is one of the best motorcycles ever made. I wish here to thank my fellow riders for such a great trip, a memory etched forever in my mind. Before I conclude, I have to say that our Highway systems have seen a remarkable improvement, they were simply fantastic. One takeaway for anyone planning a road trip - stick to the National highways for as long as you can before you consider altering to SH or any other roads. Few more photos for your viewing pleasure Enroute to Thimpu - On Arguably the best purpose-built motorcycle At Takthikoti GREF Canteen Enroute to Thimpu One of the Few waterfalls on the route to Thimpu With Mr Anil, Road trip back to Mumbai somewhere in the forest of Jalpaiguri All the bikes in formation, a nice photo opportunity William Tell is aiming for the Apple on the head of Mr Parvez Finally After an Epic trip - Odometer on arrival back home A small Bhutan sticker to highlight the achievement Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Rahul Gandhi is wanted to become Prime Minister by Pakistani leaders: PM Modi in Palamu

In a fervent address at an election rally in Palamu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized past Congress administrations, branding them as feeble in addressing terrorism issues with Pakistan. Modi asserted that previous governments resorted to sending love letters to Pakistan in pursuit of peace, only to receive a surge of terrorists in return. Modi emphasized a decisive shift in India's stance towards Pakistan following the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, attributing it to the power of individual votes. He highlighted Pakistani leaders' aspirations for Rahul Gandhi to assume the role of Prime Minister after the recent parliamentary elections. Gone are the days, Modi proclaimed, when terrorists roamed freely and governments penned conciliatory missives to Pakistan. Instead, he emphasized a resolute New India ethos, symbolized by the refrain, Ghar mein ghus ke maarta hai (We enter their homes and strike). Modi commended the valor of those from Jharkhand and Bihar who safeguard the nation's borders, contrasting it with what he described as the timidity of previous Congress administrations. Highlighting the impact of surgical and Balakot strikes, Modi asserted that they had rattled Pakistan, prompting cries for help. He derided Pakistan's plea for assistance, stating that the country is now beseeching aid while harboring hopes for a Congress-led government under Rahul Gandhi. Modi underscored the need for a robust government to lead India, dismissing Pakistan's desires for a leadership change in India. The Prime Minister reiterated that Naxalism, terrorism, and Article 370 have been uprooted from the nation since 2014. In Jammu and Kashmir, the wall of Article 370 was brought down by the power of your vote. Naxalism and terrorism once plagued states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh, spreading fear and bloodshed. But your vote has brought hope to countless mothers and freed these lands from the grip of Naxalite terrorism, he declared. Former Pakistani Minister Fawad Chaudhry praised Rahul Gandhi, highlighting his socialist ideology reminiscent of his great grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru. Rahul Gandhi, like his ancestor, carries the torch of socialism. The problems faced by India and Pakistan remain starkly similar even after 75 years of partition. Rahul ji rightly pointed out that a small fraction of families own a majority of wealth in both India and Pakistan. This inequality underscores the challenges of capitalism, Chaudhry expressed on social media. In Jharkhand, elections will be held across four phases: May 13, 20, 25, and June 1. In the 2019 elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured victory in 12 seats, with BJP alone clinching 11. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress each won one seat. The ongoing general elections span seven phases over six weeks, from April 19 to June 1. The first and second phases already took place on April 19 Arrival of Delegates from 23 Countries to Observe Lok Sabha Elections in India Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Big Names Face Critical Tests BJP's Post-Election Strategy: Focus Shifts to West Bengal

Bihar DyCM Vijay Sinha: PM Modi Prioritizes Contentment ('Santushtikaran'), Not Appeasement ('Tushtikaran') in Politics

Bihar DyCM Vijay Sinha: PM Modi Prioritizes Contentment ('Santushtikaran'), Not Appeasement ('Tushtikaran') in Politics Senior BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Saturday accused the RJD and its alliance partner Congress of indulging in the politics of vote bank and appeasement and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in the politics of 'santushtikaran' (satisfaction) not 'tushtikaran' (appeasement). Talking to reporters here, Sinha said, ''The NDA under the leadership of Modi Ji chose the path of satisfaction for the people of the nation rather than indulging in appeasement. Our PM believes in the politics of 'santushtikaran' (satisfaction) not 'tushtikaran' (appeasement). He has turned the politics into politics of performance. They (RJD and its alliance partners) target 'Sanatana Dharma' as part of their vote-bank politics.'' The RJD and its alliance partners can't discuss issues like development, good governance and removing corruption, he alleged. The DyCM made the remark in reply to questions from journalists who sought his views on RJD leader, Tejashwi Yadav's, latest comments at a rally in which he accused the saffron party of playing communal card by raising the issue of Sanatana Dharma. ''The RJD and its alliance partners want power. When the country talks about Modi Ki Guarantee, they (opposition) talk about reservation in the name of religion. Those who are symbols of corruption and 'jungle raj' can't talk about good governance. When our PM talks about removing corruption, they try to divert the attention of the electorate by raising issues like caste and religion,'' said the DyCM.

BJP is in depression, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav says India bloc will form government on June 4

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bihar visit, claiming BJP leaders are despondent and predicting an INDIA alliance government formation on June 4. Yadav remarked that Modi inviting Trump and Putin would be beneficial. He accused the PM of neglecting Bihar's development and job losses for youth. Campaigning in Bihar and Jharkhand, Modi faces scrutiny over NDA's past performance in the region amid ongoing polls. In 2019, NDA dominated Bihar with RJD failing to secure any seats.

LSG vs KKR: 54th Match, Dream11 Team, Indian Premier League 2024

Sunday will host two big games in the TATA IPL 2024. The evening game will be played between two teams that are sitting within the top three positions on the point table. Lucknow Super Giants will host Kolkata Knight Riders at Ekana Stadium in match no. 54. KKR has 14 points, and they are second on the table at the moment. If they win this game, they will jump to the top position on the points table. Meanwhile, LSG, who is third on the table, needs this win to strengthen their position on the points table. LSG vs KKR: Match Details Match Date : May 04, 2023 (Saturday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow LSG vs KKR: Live Streaming Details The live telecast of match no. 54 will be available in India on Star Sports channels that also give the option to watch the live action in regional languages. Fans can also enjoy the live stream on Jio Cinema with its app or website for free. LSG vs KKR:Head-to-Head The head-to-head record is in favour of Lucknow Super Giants. They have three wins out of four games played between these teams while Kolkata Knight Riders have won win. LSG vs KKR: Pitch Report The pitch at Ekana Stadium is slow, and slow bowlers can exploit these conditions pretty well. The teams that bat first will face more challenges as it is hard to adjust to the conditions. Hence, the toss will be a big factor as well. LSG vs KKR: Predicted Teams LSG: KL Rahul (c & wk), Ashton Turner, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran,Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav KKR : Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi,Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh , Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy LSG vs KKR: Dream11 Team Wicket-keepers : KL Rahul (Vice captain), Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt Batters : Shreyas Iyer All-rounders : Sunil Narine (Captain), Andre Russell, Marcus Stoinis Bowlers : Varun Chakravarthy, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Naveen-ul-Haq Also Read: Join Our WhatsApp Channel For IPL 2024 Updates Dream11 Prediction: KKR is in good form, as they are coming off a few consecutive wins. But beating LSG in Lucknow will be tough, and we predict LSG to win this game on Sunday against KKR.

Starry nights: Entertainers light up Bengal poll campaign

Starry nights: Entertainers light up Bengal poll campaign The not-so-old trend among major political parties in West Bengal to throw their weight behind silver screen personalities continues unabated in the current edition of Lok Sabha polls where stars of yesteryears are contesting the elections shoulder to shoulder with contemporary celluloid icons of the industry. In terms of numbers the state's ruling Trinamool Congress, like in the past, is way ahead of its completion this time around as well by fielding six of the nine filmstars in the poll fray. While the opposition BJP has nominated two film personalities, the CPI (M) has settled for one well-known tinsel town figure from the Tollygunge film and TV industry to try and dent the opposition vote bank. TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has reposed her faith in Bollywood superstar of the 70s and 80s, Shatrughan Sinha, a repeat candidate from Asansol, and on reigning Tollygunge superstar Dipak Adhikari aka Dev from the Ghatal seat for a third consecutive term in Lok Sabha. She also nominated tried and tested contemporary actors-cum-politicians Saayoni Ghosh and June Maliah from the Jadavpur and Medinipur constituencies respectively. Satabdi Roy, another popular star of the 80s, is TMC's candidate from Birbhum who is eyeing her fourth term in the lower house of the Parliament. Successful Bengali film heroine of the 90s, former Miss Calcutta and immensely popular TV show host, Rachana Banerjee, is the party's candidate of choice from the Hooghly seat. Banerjee, of course, makes her debut in politics with her role as a prospective parliamentarian. TMCs inclination for film stars also comes with Mamata Banerjee's decision to drop from the fray Mimi Chakraborty and Nusrat Jahan, leading ladies of the Bengali film fraternity who won the polls in 2019 from Jadavpur and Basirhat seats respectively. ''I am happy to be working under the country's strongest and most popular political figure Mamata Banerjee and want to continue serving the people of Asansol,'' Sinha, fondly called 'Bihari babu' by his fans, said. The veteran actor has already spent over two decades in politics and switched camps from the BJP to the Trinamool following his fallout with the Narendra Modi-led BJP regime. A distant follower of the TMC with respect to the number of showbiz figures it has managed to field, the BJPs candidate list includes actor-turned-politician Locket Chatterjee from the Hooghly seat and Tolly star Hiran Chatterjee from Ghatal. While Hiran, a sitting BJP MLA from Kharagpur, takes on fellow star Dev, debutant Rachana finds herself pitted against Locket, the incumbent MP from Hooghly. An initially reluctant Dev, who publicly expressed his desire to stay away from electoral politics during the current polls, later relented under the insistence of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and the party's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. ''My dream is to implement the Ghatal masterplan which will put an end to people's distress arising out of recurrent floods in the area. I have been trying to implement the project since 2014 and felt I should continue in politics a while longer and finish what I started,'' Dev told PTI. Dev's rival Hiran had debuted in politics ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls. ''Its easy to fight injustices on reels, but you have to be part of the system to change it,'' said Hiran who is a bitter critic of alleged corruption under the current TMC regime. Rachana, so far, seems to be enjoying the different kind of limelight she has been put under. ''I don't believe politics is a pastime for people like us. Village women are mobbing me. They want to touch me. Men are asking me to bless their children during road shows,'' said Banerjee, host of the high TRP-grosser 'Didi Number One' reality show. Rachana, though, drew a flak from her rival Locket who is seeking re-election for the third time. ''If she thinks hitting campaign trails coming straight from a studio and waving hands at people will fetch her votes, she is grossly mistaken. Elections are a different ball game,'' Chatterjee said. Another familiar face from the industry, June Maliah, a Trinamool MLA of the Medinipur assembly segment, is locking horns with BJP's Agnimitra Paul, a known fashion designer and MLA of Asansol South, at the Medinipur Lok Sabha seat. TMCs youth wing president and a popular actor in her own right, Saayoni Ghosh, has been pitchforked by the party to lead the party's challenge in Jadavpur. Ghosh had unsuccessfully contested against Paul in the 2021 assembly elections. ''My experiences over the past three years have been rewarding and helped me mature as a politician. That is allowing me to reach out to my electorate in a better manner this time,'' Ghosh said. CPI(M) nominee Devdut Ghosh, a familiar face in TV soaps, OTT platforms and films, is trying his luck from the Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat after biting the dust in the 2021 state polls from Tollygunj. ''As an actor, I have a certain sensitivity. I cannot remain confined to my profession and fraternity when the state is burning. I need to respond and drive home my message to the people I can connect with,'' he said, justifying his foray into electoral politics. TMC spokesperson Trinankur Bhattacharya said, ''Dev, June and Saayoni have already proved their political acumen. While Dev and June have regularly been in touch with the voters of their constituencies, Saayoni gave a good fight to the BJP in 2021. She has emerged as an important leader with street fighter instincts. SFI state committee member Subhajit Sarkar called TMCs nomination of candidates like Rachana Banerjee ''nothing but a stunt''. ''Remember they did not renominate Nusrat Jahan or Mimi Chakraborty. People have seen through their gimmicks,'' he said. BJPs actor-leader Rudranil Ghosh said he was all in favour of people joining politics from various walks of life. ''But we don't need star personalities with little or no idea of what they are getting into,'' he added.

Tum to dhokebaaz ho...: All about Tejashwi Yadav's song-driven campaign against PM Modi

Bihar Lok Sabha Elections: Tejashwi's method appears to be striking a chord with voters. Clad in his usual white kurta-pyjama featuring the RJD lantern symbol, he enthusiastically sings a well-known song from the movie 'Saajan Chale Sasural' starring Govinda and Karisma Kapoor at nearly every rally. However, it's not only about the catchy melodies; Tejashwi complements this with audio snippets of PM Modi's previous commitments, emphasising concerns such as employment generation, controlling inflation, and addressing migration.

Tharoor: United Opposition Will Back INDIA Bloc Candidate, No Single Leader

Tharoor: United Opposition Will Back INDIA Bloc Candidate, No Single Leader Opposition parties, campaigning together or against each other, will join hands after the Lok Sabha polls, says Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, asserting that the people will get a prime minister who is first among equals and listens to others with an INDIA bloc coalition government. Including the Trinamool Congress in his argument on opposition parties getting together after the day of reckoning on June 4, Tharoor said in an interaction with PTI editors at the news agency's headquarters that a coalition government is nothing to be afraid of. The growth performance of the Indian economy has been better under such dispensations than under single party governments, he said. In his view, this is an election for ''change'' and as of now the BJP has ''lost its grip'' on the narrative. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) member also defended the party's decision to not attend the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was right to turn down the invitation as it was ''essentially a political platform for the greater glorification of Prime Minister Narendra Modi''. ''It would have been a mistake in my view had we done it. As a purely political decision, it was the right one,'' he said during the freewheeling interaction. Tharoor said it is true a coalition government functions very differently from a monolithic one-party government. ''Given Mr Modi's style, the personality cult built around him, and the way the BJP has been ruling, I think it is fair to say that it (an INDIA bloc government) would be very unlike what we have seen in the last 10 years,'' he said, confident that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will form the next government. The record and experience of the Indian public with coalition governments has been rather good, the former Union minister said. ''So, in many ways the advantage of a coalition is that there won't be any sort of autocratic tendencies whoever becomes prime minister... they will have to take into account the others. Frankly, it is the classic political theory of parliamentary systems of governance. Right now we are seeing a parliamentary system being run presidentially which is the worst of both the worlds,'' Tharoor argued. ''If you have a coalition government of the INDIA bloc, you are going to see, for the first time in a long while, a PM who is first among equals, who has to listen to others, take their point of view into account and who would have to be a good manager,'' he said. ''Mr (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee is considered in many ways an excellent example of that kind of consensus builder. He did not have a majority, far from it he had 26 parties in his coalition but his government was able to deliver effective results and at the same time reassure Indians that they had a functioning government,'' Tharoor said. The author-politician also hailed former prime minister Manmohan Singh's style of governance, saying he was able to pursue ''very relentlessly'' his economic goal and preside over the best growth period India has ever seen. Noting that the coalition of UPA-1 broke and the Left quit the government and was not part of UPA-2, Tharoor said there is always the issue on which a prime minister may have to draw the line for one or more of his coalition partners. ''So my own view is let us be reassured that our history in operating the system in the Constitution we have has by and large safeguarded the interest of the people. There have been many periods when people have been absolutely doomsaying about our country and we have come through all those periods,'' he said. ''I would say... coalition government is nothing to be afraid of and certainly when I speak to most voters they are thinking in terms of who is the candidate 'I am voting for', what values does he or she represent, who do they bring to power in Delhi and how is that power going to be exercised,'' Tharoor said. Asked about contradictions in the INDIA bloc as seen in bitter exchanges between the Congress and the Left in Kerala and whether that would be an impediment in the formation of a cohesive government, Tharoor pointed out that the UPA and the Vajpayee-led NDA before that came together after the elections. ''So the truth is that in our country coalitions come after the polling...This is an unusual case where a serious attempt was made to bring people together before voting even took place. It was very clear to all of us that the coalition will work on a state by state basis,'' he said. Citing the example of Kerala, Tharoor said it was unthinkable that the Congress which leads the UDF and the Communists who lead the LDF would ever be partners in the state. ''We have been fighting each other and at loggerheads for the last 55 years and alternating in power until the last election, so there was no question of that even being feasible. Having said that, right next door in Tamil Nadu, the same party, CPI(M), CPI, the Congress, our ally Muslim League and the DMK are all partners, have been partners and continue to be partners, there is no issue,'' he said. ''Finally when it comes to the day of reckoning on June 4 (when results are declared), I have no doubt that all these parties whether or not they are campaigning together or against each other, including the Trinamool Congress, when we have the numbers to prevent the BJP coming to power, we will come together,'' Tharoor asserted. Tharoor said he has friends in parties that are not allied with the Congress who have been telling him that after June 4 ''we will work together''. According to him, the hubristic narrative before the first phase is over. I don't think we are going to hear people say 'abki baar 400 paar' again for some time to come,'' the Congress leader said.

Anticipated above-normal Southwest monsoon brings hope for India's agricultural sector: Geojit report

Anticipated above-normal Southwest monsoon brings hope for India's agricultural sector: Geojit report Multiple meteorological organizations are anticipating abundant rainfall during this year's southwest monsoon season in the Indian subcontinent. According to Geojit insights, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects above-normal rainfall, with the total from June to September anticipated to be 106 per cent of the long-period average. Private forecaster Skymet Weather Services and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Climate Centre have echoed similar forecasts. Last year, the southwest monsoon ended with a 6 per cent deficit of the long-period average, mainly due to El Nino, resulting in wide spatial and temporal variations in rainfall distribution. However, regions that generally receive good rainfall experienced shortages, while dry regions like West Rajasthan and Saurashtra-Kutch received bountiful rainfall. Out of the total 36 meteorological subdivisions, 7 subdivisions, including Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, experienced deficient rainfall. The forecast of normal monsoon rains this year comes as a relief at a time when agricultural output is declining, and food inflation remains high, exacerbated by dwindling water levels in reservoirs. Slow growth in agriculture is mainly attributed to declining farm output, with food grain production expected to decline by six percent in 2023-24. The deficient monsoons last year and warmer, drier weather due to El Nino have left considerable impact on water levels in reservoirs across the country. Currently, reservoir storage stands at 31 per cent of the total live storage capacity, significantly lower than the 10-year average. With the summer approaching its peak, the situation in southern India, where reservoir levels are critically low, has worsened, increasing the threat of drought. Apart from affecting standing crops and agricultural productivity, dwindling water levels could impact other sectors as well. The prediction of normal monsoons this year brings hope for boosting the production of kharif crops such as rice, soybean, sugarcane, and pulses, cooling down food inflationary pressures, and replenishing water resources. However, the arrival, distribution, intensity, and departure of the monsoon remain crucial factors that will impact agricultural production and productivity. Skymet expects good rainfall in southern, western, and northwestern parts of the country, with Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh expected to receive adequate rainfall. However, eastern states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal may face the risk of deficit rainfall during peak monsoon months, impacting kharif crops heavily dependent on early rainfall. Additionally, heavy showers during the latter half of the monsoon season may pose a threat to standing crops across the country. (ANI)

Video: Tejashwi Yadav injured during poll campaign in Bihar

Video Tejashwi Yadav injured during poll campaign in Bihar