News

6700 selected for Haj pilgrimage from JK

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Over 6700 pilgrims have been selected for the annual Haj pilgrimage from Jammu and Kashmir this year, an official spokesman said here today.

The state Haj Committee has received 27085 applications from intending pilgrims but the state has got a quota of 6730 seats for the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, he said.

Among the applicants this year, the spokesman said 5687 were selected under the reserve category A (pilgrims aged above 70 years) and the reserve category B (those who were not selected during the previous three straight years).

Narendra Modi urges voters to elect Advani with a huge margin

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Terming veteran BJP leader L K Advani as a father figure, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi urged voters at a rally in Kalol here today, to elect him from North Gujarat’s Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency with a huge margin.

Praising the veteran party leader, BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi termed Advani as his political guru at a public rally in Kalol town of North Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district today.

T Congress confused on seats: CPI

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CPI general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy and State unit leader Chada Venkat Reddy today alleged that the Congress has created confusion on seat sharing and alliance with their party.

Suravaram predicts alternative front at centre

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CPI general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy today took serious exception to Corporate sector and business houses for creating a media hype that the nation is witnessing “Modi Wave”. Sudhakar Reddy accused these two bigwigs of pumping in thousands of crores of rupees to project Modi as future Prime Minister. He also made it clear that the BJP-TD combine would not get 270 seats needed for forming the government at the Centre. No force, including BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu can push NDA alliance to power at the Centre.

Pawan kalyan dumps JP to ride Chandrababu’s ‘Bicycle’ in support of Modi

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Film actor and founder of Jana Sena party, Pawan Kalyan, came to a tacit understanding with Telugu Desam president Chandrababu Naidu to extend support and campaign for the BJP-led NDA in the ensuing elections.

After cold-shouldering Chandrababu Naidu while sharing the platform with him along with BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at Lal Bahadur Stadium on Tuesday at the NDA Rally, Pawan Kalyan patched up with the TDP President today over a cup of tea when both agreed to cooperate in the elections for the success of the BJP-led NDA.

Venkaiah hopes BJP, Allies win 300 LS seats

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BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today said “Modi wave” was sweeping the country and BJP and its allies would win 300 seats in the election.
As part of election campaigning for the party, Venkaiah Naidu attended road shows near Vedayapalem. He appealed to the people to vote for BJP and TDP candidates of Nellore and Chittoor in Lok Sabha constituencies to become partners in the development. A large number of activists of TDP and BJP attended the road shows program.

Pak court adjourns Mumbai attacks case till April 30

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A Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of the seven accused in the Mumbai attacks, today adjourned the hearing till April 30 after the prosecution withdrew four witnesses.

The four witnesses withdrawn included two of the Federal Investigation Agency and two private individuals who were scheduled to testify today before the court, sources told PTI.

It was not known why the witnesses were withdrawn.

Following this, the anti-terrorism court issued summons for other witnesses for the next hearing to be held on April 30.

Congress confused about its campaign: BJP

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The BJP Wednesday said the Congress leadership was confused about its election campaign and is launching personal attacks against BJP leaders, but crying foul over similar attacks against Congress politicians.

Retorting to Priyanka Vadra’s attack on its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over the allegations of monitoring and snooping of a woman by the Gujarat government, the BJP said the Congress was “confused” about its election campaign and has nothing else to say.

HC stays Teesta’s arrest until June 19 in Gulbarg fund case

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Granting a big relief to social activist Teesta Setalwad, her husband Javed Anand and slain Congress MP Ehsan Jafri’s son Tanvir Jafri, the Gujarat High Court stayed their arrest here today, until June 19, in connection with the Gulbarg Society fund embezzlement case.

The High Court extended the stay after the Additional Advocate General of Gujarat sought time to file a reply and assured that Teesta and others would not be arrested until further orders.

Vote for preserving nation’s pluralism, says Priyanka Gandhi

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Wednesday said she was seeking votes not for her mother, but to preserve the nation’s pluralism.

“Today our ethos and our culture, which believes in unity among all, is under threat, and it is you who must preserve it. I am not seeking vote for Sonia Gandhi, I want you to cast a vote so that the country’s pluralism remains intact,” Priyanka said at a public meeting here.

Klopp, Guardiola not interested in Manchester United job

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Jurgen Klopp said he is not interested in taking up the job of Manchester United manager since he is committed to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

“Man Utd is a great club and I feel very familiar with their wonderful fans. But my commitment to Borussia Dortmund and the people is not breakable,” Klopp was quoted as saying in the Guardian.

Klopp’s name was doing the rounds following David Moyes’ sacking as manager of Manchester United, less than 12 months after he was appointed.

No outsider can stay in any constituency on poll day: CEO

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Punjab CEO today said that any outsider or political functionary, who was not enrolled as a voter in a Parliamentary constituency can’t stay there on polling day, but the candidates have been exempted from the decision.

The state government has decided to suspend procurement operations for one day on April 30 poll day to facilitate people especially the rural populace to use their franchise, Chief Eelectoral Officer V K Singh said.

BJP’s P.C. Sorcar faces sexual harassment case

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P.C. Sorcar, famed magician and BJP candidate from West Bengal’s Barasat, is facing a case of sexual harassment pending against him.

He has also declared assets worth over Rs.3.4 crore.

Sorcar has been accused of “physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures, and making sexually coloured remarks” under section 354 A of the Indian Penal Code.

It carries a maximum punishment of rigorous imprisonment of three years.

Rajasthan Royals captain Watson wins toss, opts to bowl

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Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Watson won the toss and opted to field in their IPL match against Chennai Super Kings here today.

The Teams:

Rajasthan Royals: Shane Watson (capt.), Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson (wk), Stuart Binny, Steven Smith, Abhishek Nayar, James Faulkner, Rajat Bhatia, Tim Southee, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pravin Tambe.

Chennai Super Kings: Mahendra Singh Dhoni

HC agrees to hear plea for CBI probe into land deals of Robert Vadra firms

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The Delhi High Court today agreed to hear a PIL seeking a court-monitored CBI probe into various land deals entered into by Robert Vadra firms and grant of licenses to change land use of agricultural plots purchased by his companies in Gurgaon.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog listed the public interest litigation (PIL), which also seeks a probe into land deals entered into by Skylight Hospitality Pvt ltd and its subsidiaries in Rajasthan, for hearing on April 30.

China developing Linux-based OS after Windows XP shutdown

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China will focus on the development of a new operating system (OS) based on Linux to cope with the shutdown of Windows XP, an official said Wednesday.

Zhang Feng, chief engineer of China’s ministry of industry and information technology, said “the ministry will beef up support for the development of such an OS”, Xinhua reported.

Microsoft ended support for the 13-year-old Windows XP April 8 and advised users to upgrade to Windows 8 or get a new PC, if necessary.

I can”t be Azam Khan and not follow EC’s order: Giriraj Singh

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh, who has been banned by the Election Commission from campaigning in Bihar and Jharkhand for his highly inflammatory speeches, said Wednesday that he will follow the poll body”s directive, as he is not like Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan, who had refused to apologise for his hate speech. “I am not Azam Khan, who has refused to abide by the law. If the EC has issued an order, then I will duly follow it,” said Singh.

Is it right to give all power to one person, asks Priyanka

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Campaigning for her mother, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday asked whether it is right to give all the power of the country in the hands of one person, and added that the ongoing Lok Sabha elections is about unity and strengthening the identity of India. “Their (BJP) campaign is centered around one man and giving all power to him. If all power is vested in one person, then, is it right or wrong?

BJP condemns AAP”s Shazia Ilmi for asking Muslim leaders to be ‘communal’

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The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday criticized Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Shazia Ilmi over her statement, where she asked Muslim leaders to be ‘communal’, and called on the Election Commission to take appropriate action against her. BJP’s vice president and party spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “It is a very condemnable. There is conspiracy to spread communal poison among the people. Shazia Ilmi must give an explanation for it. We condemn this.” “She should immediately apologise for her comments.

Will Tarique Anwar be lucky this time?

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After losing the Lok Sabha election the last three times, NCP leader Tarique Anwar is in the fray in Katihar in Bihar hoping to score a win.

Anwar faces a tough challenge from BJP’s outgoing MP Nikhil Choudhary, who is seeking re-election, banking on what he says is a “wave” in favour of the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Unlike earlier times, Anwar has the support of RJD chief Lalu Prasad and the Congress. He is also heavily banking on the overwhelming support of Muslims who constitute 44 percent of the total electorate.

Arrest warrants issued against Giriraj Singh

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Arrest warrants were today issued by a local court against former Bihar minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh for his inflammatory speech during a poll meet in the district

Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate Amit Sekhar issued the warrants against Singh for his alleged remarks that people who do not vote for Narendra Modi will have to find a place in Pakistan.

Qatar says dispute with Gulf neighbours ‘over’

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Qatar’s dispute with three fellow Gulf states, which withdrew their envoys from Doha last month, is “over”, the Qatari foreign minister said today, while insisting his country had made no concessions.

“The statement issued in Riyadh on April 17 was clear … For the brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) the dispute is over,” Khaled Al-Attiyah told a press conference in Kuwait after a meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah.

Kejriwal, wife declare assets worth over Rs 2 crore

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Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal today declared movable and immovable assets worth Rs 2.14 crore belonging to him and his wife.

In his affidavit filed along with nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election from this constituency, the AAP supremo also mentioned about six cases that are pending against him in various courts.

The AAP leader in the affidavit said he has two flats — one at Indirapuram, Ghaziabad and another at Shivani in Haryana. The value of the flat at Indirapuram has been put at Rs 55 lakh while the flat at Shivani is worth Rs 37 lakh.

Modi presiding over hate campaign: CPI-M

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BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is presiding over a hate campaign but “camouflaging it with talk of development and effective government”, the CPI-M said Wednesday.

The CPI-M journal, “People’s Democracy”, said in an editorial that beneath “Modispeak” was “an intense communal campaign which is specially concentrated in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar”.

“The duality in the BJP’s election campaign is getting exposed,” the magazine said.