THE HEADLINES :
- Home Ministry terms bomb threat to several schools of Delhi and adjoining areas a hoax; Urges parents not to panic as investigation is underway.
- Hectic campaign for third phase of Lok Sabha elections continues across the country; Top leaders of various parties filling nominations today.
- Election Commission changes polling date of Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency from 7th May to 25th May.
- GST collections hit record high of 2.10 lakh crore rupees in April this year.
- India successfully tests SMART anti-submarine missile system.
- And in Badminton, Indian Mens’ team to play aganist Indonesia in quarter-finals of Thomas Cup today.
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Union Home Ministry has termed emails regarding bomb threats to different schools in the National Capital and adjoining areas as a hoax and appealed parents and students not to panic. The Ministry said, Delhi Police and Security agencies are taking necessary steps in the matter. The Delhi Police has informed that so far nothing suspicious has been found in the search and further investigation is underway.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena spoke to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and sought a detailed report into the issue. Mr Saxena directed Delhi Police to identify the culprits and ensure there are no lapses. He said, the miscreants and culprits will not be spared. Mr Saxena also visited several schools which received bomb threats. He told the media that Delhi police acted swiftly in the matter.
Talking to reportes Special CP of Delhi police Ravinder Yadav said that event if it is a hoax call we cannot take chance.
Earlier, Delhi Education Minister Atishi said, the Delhi government is in constant touch with the Police and the schools. Several schools in Delhi NCR had received email of bomb threat this morning.
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As the third phase for the Lok Sabha elections comes close, various political parties will be staging election rallies today across the nation. Prime Minister and BJP leader Narendra Modi will hold election rallies in Banaskantha and Sabarkantha districts of Gujarat. Gujarat will go for polls in a single phase on the 7th of May. Rajasthan Chief Minister and BJP leader Bhajan Lal will hold public meeting in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh, in support of Lok Sabha candidate Manish Jaiswal and will also participate in the nomination programme.
In Karnataka, the Congress National President Mallikarjuna Kharge addressed public meetings in Raichur and Kalaburgi. The Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be addressing public meetings in Shivamogga and Raichur tomorrow.
Addressing a rally at Dhubri in Assam, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi claimed that in the last 10 years, unemployment was at its highest in 45 years and 70 crore people were without jobs, despite 20 lakh posts lying vacant in the central government have not been filled:
In Uttar Pradesh, many high profile candidates are filing their nominations today and star campaigners will accompany them.
Senior BJP leader, former Union Minister and Party candidate from Sultanpur Menka Gandhi, BJP candidate from Basti constituency Harish Dwivedi, Jagdambika Pal from Dumariaganj, BJP candidate and film star Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua from Azamgarh, filed their nominations today.
Senior BJP leader and I&B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami took part in the nominations in Basti, Dumariaganj and Ayodhya respectively. On the other hand many senior leaders are also campaigning for their party candidates today.
Samajwadi Party Chief, Akhilesh Yadav addressed political gathering in Jaswant Nagar area of Etawah district. He attacked BJP alleging that if the saffron party comes to power they will change the constitution. Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address a political rally in Aonla and Fatehpur Sikri constituencies this afternoon.
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BJP Candidate from the North-East Delhi Lok Sabha Constituency Manoj Tiwari today filed his nomination papers. Before filing his nomination, Mr Tiwari held a road show in the National Capital which was joined by senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, and others. Talking to the media, Mr Singh claimed that BJP will win all seven Lok Sabha seats in the National Capital.
Mr Tiwari is contesting against Congress candidate Kanhaiya Kumar from the North-East Delhi Constituency.
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In the third phase of Lok Sabha Elections, 93 seats spread over 10 states and a Union Territory will go to polls on 7th of this month. Originally, voting was scheduled to be held on 94 Parliamentary Constituencies, however, after elections in Betul Lok Sabha seat of Madhya Pradesh rescheduled from second to third phase, BJP Candidate in Surat Constituency of Gujarat being elected unopposed and revised polling schedule in Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, the total seats now going to poll are 93.
In this phase, 25 seats in Gujarat, 14 in Karnataka, 11 in Maharashtra and ten seats in Uttar Pradesh will go to polls. Besides, voting will also be held on nine seats in Madhya Pradesh, seven in Chhattisgarh, five in Bihar, Four seats each in Assam and West Bengal, two seats each in Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
With this phase, voting will be completed in 16 States including all Northeastern states and four Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
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The Election Commission of India, ECI has revised the polling schedule of Lok Sabha elections in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency of Jammu and Kashmir from the third to the sixth phase. The voting in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat will now be held on 25th of May instead of 7th May, as scheduled earlier. The ECI said, the decision has been taken after representations from different political parties of the Union Territory regarding various logistic, communication and natural barriers turning out as hindrance during campaigning leading to lack of fair opportunities for the contesting candidates.
In Rajsathan, Election Commission has issued instructions for re-polling at a polling booth in Nandsi village in Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency. Voting was held in this Lok Sabha constituency on April 26 during the second phase. Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Praveen Gupta informed that re-polling will be held tomorrow from 7 am to 5 pm at the booth located in room number 1 of polling station number 195.
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In our series, covering profiles of key constituencies across States and Union Territories during the Lok Sabha elections, today we bring a report on Banaskantha Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat.
“Banaskantha Loksabha constituency is one of the significant Loksabha seats of North Gujarat. It comprises seven assembly constituencies of Banaskantha district which shares its border with Rajasthan and Pakistan. The constituency has seen a mix of representatives from different political parties over the years. The seat was once used to be the stronghold of Congress party, however from the last two terms, BJP candidates had won from the seat. It is the only constituency in Gujarat in this election where the Congress and BJP have fielded two women candidates against each other in this election. Rekha Ben Chaudhari from BJP will face Geni Ben Thakor of Congress in these polls. There are a total of 19 lakh 61 thousand voters in this Loksabha constituency who will decide the political fate of the 12 candidates in the fray which include six independent candidates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address his first election rally in Gujarat for the upcoming polls at Vav in Banaskantha district today. Aparna Khunt, Akashvani News, Ahmedabad.”
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Actress Rupali Ganguly today joined BJP. She was inducted into the party in the presence of party General Secretary, Vinod Tawde and party leader Anil baluni at BJP headquarter in New Delhi. Astrologer Ameya Joshi also joined the BJP.
Meanwhile, former Delhi Congress MLAs Neeraj Basoya and Naseeb Singh have resigned from the party over its alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party for Lok Sabha Polls.
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The Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue collections for April this year has recorded highest ever collection of two lakh ten thousand crore rupees. The Finance Ministry said, this represents a significant 12.4 per cent year-on-year growth, driven by a strong increase in domestic transactions and imports. Out of the total collection in April this year, CGST is over 43 thousand crore rupees, SGST 53 thousand crore rupees, IGST over 99 thousand crore and cess is over 13 thousand crore rupees.
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Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system was successfully flight-tested this morning from Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. Defence Ministry said, this will enhance the anti-submarine warfare capability of the Indian Navy far beyond the conventional range of lightweight torpedo.
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has complimented the DRDO and the industry partners on the successful flight-test of SMART.
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Senior Indian Information Service officer, Maushumi Chakravarty assumed the charge of Director General of Akashvani News today. A 1991 batch IIS officer, Ms Chakravarty has a vast experience of working in several media organisations of the I&B Ministry, including Press Information Bureau and Central Bureau of Communication.
In her career spanning over three decades, she has also worked on deputation basis in the National Human Right Commission and as P.S. to Cabinet Minister. Ms. Chakravarty assumed the charge after superannuation of Ms. Vasudha Gupta as Principal DG yesterday.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for severe heat wave conditions in Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha and Bihar and Jharkhand till tomorrow. In South India, heat wave along with hot and humid weather will prevail over parts of Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the next 4 days. Hyderabad Met Centre also issued Red alert to several places in the state. A report from our Correspondent:
“The maximum temperatures are soaring in Telangana with the heatwave conditions are becoming worse day by day. The state Public Health and Family Welfare department has issued a public alert asking them not to venture out especially after 11AM and before 5PM. The alert also highlighted the need to take special care for especially aged, children and pets as the sweltering heat crossed the 46 degrees Celsius mark at several places across the state. Six locations including Jaina and Allipur in Jagtial district, Madugulapally and Kolvai in Nalgonda District, and Kothagattu and Veenavanka in Karimnagar district recorded over 46 degrees Celsius during the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, several places in Hyderabad recorded the maximum temperature at 43.5 Degrees Celsius posing severe hardship to people. Lakshmi, Akashvani News, Hyderabad.”
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In Badminton, Indian team will take on Indonesia in quarter-finals of the Thomas Cup in Chengdu, China today. The match will start at 5:00 PM Indian time. Today’s match will decide the group toppers. The Indian men’s team are the defending champions and are paired against the likes of Indonesia, Thailand and England.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN::
- Home Ministry terms bomb threat to several schools of Delhi and adjoining areas a hoax; Urges parents not to panic as investigation is underway.
- Hectic campaign for third phase of Lok Sabha elections continues across the country; Top leaders of various parties filling nominations today.
- Election Commission changes polling date of Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency from 7th May to 25th May.
- GST collections hit record high of 2.10 lakh crore rupees in April this year.
- India successfully tests SMART anti-submarine missile system.
- And in Badminton, Indian Mens’ team to play aganist Indonesia in quarter-finals of Thomas Cup today.
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