Midday News

THE HEADLINES:

Canvassing for remaining phases of Lok Sabha elections reaches feverish pitch; Key leaders of all political parties actively campaigning in various parts of country.
External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar says, India to develop all requisite national strengths to make it a leading power.
UAE announces 10 year Blue Residency Visa to environment contributors.
Meteorological Department forecasts heat wave to severe heat wave conditions in parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi till Tuesday.
In Table Tennis, India’s Poymantee Baisya to play Mixed Doubles and women’s doubles finals of Cappadocia Feeder, in Turkey this evening.
And in Thailand Open Badminton, Indian players to appear in quarter finals of men’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles today.

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Canvassing for remaining phases of Lok Sabha elections has reached the feverish pitch as key leaders of all political parties are actively campaigning in various parts of country.

In Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister and Senior BJP leader Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Barabanki today. He again attacked on TMC and Samajwadi party alliance saying that Samajwadi party’s political alliance is only for vote bank and appeasement and they have taken refuge in Bengal now. Yesterday also Mr Modi took a dig on the alliance in Bhadohi rally and said that Samajwadi party Chief Akhilesh Yadav’s alliance with her new Bua Mamta didi only because of appeasement and vote bank politics. Today in the rally in Barabanki PM said that if Congress and Samajwadi party comes to power they will run bulldozer on Ram temple in Ayodhya. Mr Modi said, only a strong government can give a fast pace development.

In another political rally in Fatehpur district Mr Modi said, during earlier regimes UP was infamous for crime and corruption but now the state is leading in development. PM is scheduled to address another rally in Hamirpur constituency.

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi are jointly campaigning in favour of Kishori Lal Sharma the congress candidate from Amethi who is contesting against Smriti Irani.

In Raebareli where Union Home minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah will address a political rally. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi along with Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav will jointly address a rally.

In Maharashtra, ahead of last day of campaigning, Both NDA and I.N.D.I.A. Bloc are organising Mega rallies in Mumbai today. Senior BJP Leader, Narendra Modi will address a grand election rally at the iconic Shivaji Park today. Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar along with MNS Chief Raj Thackeray and other senior leaders are expected to attend the rally.

I.N.D.I.A. Bloc is also organising a rally on Bandra- Kurla Complex Ground in Mumbai. Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge, Aam Aadmi Party Leader and Delhi’s Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, Senior Leaders Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders of INDI alliance are expected to address the rally.

Along with Nashik and Dhule Parliamentary constituencies, All 11 seats in Mumbai Metropolitan Region will go for voting on Monday. These are the last 13 seats where voting take place in Maharashtra.

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In Jharkhand, Senior BJP leader and Union Minister, Amit Shah will hold a roadshow in Ranchi this evening for party candidates contesting the Lok Sabha polls. Polling for the Ranchi Lok Sabha seat will be held on 25th of this month.

Prime Minister and Senior BJP leader, Narendra Modi is likely to visit Ranchi on 19th of this month. He is also likely to address an election rally for party candidate from Jamshedpur, Bidyut Varan Mahto.

The Prime Minister has so far addressed five election rallies in the state and had also held one roadshow in Ranchi.

Besides, Chief Minister Champai Soren will also address election rally for INDIA bloc candidate Yashasvini Sahay, who is contesting from Ranchi.

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Dindori Lok Sabha constituency in the Nashik district of Maharashtra is reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates. There are a total 10 candidates in fray from the seat. The key issues for this seat are onion exports and water crisis. More from our correspondent…….

“The tribal dominated Dindori Lok Sabha constituency came into existence in 2008 has been a (BJP) bastion since its inception. The main contest is between BJP’s Union Minister Bharati Pawar and NCP(SP)’s Bhaskar Bhagare, and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s Malati Dhomse. Currently all the assembly segments under the Dindori constituency are controlled by the ruling MahaYuti alliance. BJP leader Harishchandra Chavan represented the constituency twice in 2009 and 2014. In 2019, Union Minister Dr. Bharati Pawar, former NCP leader won the seat as a BJP candidate. Dr. Pawar is the daughter-in-law of the late NCP strongman Arjun Pawar who is former tribal welfare minister of Maharashtra. It could have been an easy win for the sitting MP Pawar but the elections have come amid unrest among the onion farmers and Dindori is a hub of onion cultivation. Prarthna, Akashvani News, Mumbai.”

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In our series of key constituencies for Lok Sabha polls, today we bring you a report on Hajipur parliamentary constituency, which is one of the oldest parliamentary constituencies in Bihar. The constituency segment will go to the polls in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections on 20th May along with Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani and Saran Lok Sabha constituencies.

Out of the six assembly segments of Hajipur Lok Sabha seat four are held by RJD and Congress, while two seats are represented by BJP. More from our correspondent……….

“Hajipur Lok Sabha seat of North Bihar is witnessing direct contest between NDA and Grand Alliance supported candidates. From NDA side President of Lok Jan Shakti Party Ram Vilas and son of former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag Paswan is contesting this prestigious seat, on the other hand the RJD has fielded former state minister and MLA Shiv Chandra Ram.

Once treated as a bastion of Ram Vilas Paswan the seat has been represented by him and his family record 9th times. During 1977 to 2014 the seat was represented by Ram Vilas Paswan record eight times. This time Ram Vilas Paswan son Chirag Paswan is holding the political baton pipping his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras in the fight of political legacy.

The agri based parliamentary segment is famous for its different varieties of bananas, is facing problems of unemployment, migration and flood. Dharmendra Kumar Rai, Akashvani News, Patna.”

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External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar today said that India will develop all the requisite national strengths that will make it a leading power in the times to come. Speaking at a function organised by traders organisation in New Delhi, Dr. Jaishankar said, India’s endeavour should be to enhance capability and competitiveness along with a business friendly environment. He said, India has witnessed robust growth, sweeping reforms, radically improved governance, fiscal discipline, infrastructure progress, rapid digitisation and a focus on developing skills in India. He said that there is the larger branding endeavour of today’s India that will make the case to the world.

Participating in the event Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Private sector will play a major role in making India a developed country by 2047. Ms. Sitharaman called the country’s development a compelling growth story.

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The United Arab Emirates, home to a large Indian population of over 3.8 million, has announced a new visa program offering long-term residency to individuals, who significantly contribute to environmental protection and sustainability efforts. The 10-year Blue Residency Visa aims to attract and retain global leaders in environmental research, activism, and technological solutions. This visa category extends beyond the UAE’s borders, welcoming those who champion sustainability initiatives worldwide. Successful applicants can include members of international environmental organizations, award-winning researchers, and distinguished activists. The Blue Residency Visa stands in contrast to the UAE’s standard two-year residency permits.

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The 12th Joint Working Group meeting between the Defence Ministries of India and Mongolia concluded today in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The meeting was co-chaired by Ministry of Defence, Joint Secretary, Amitabh Prasad and his Mongolian counterpart Brigadier General Gankhuyag Davagdorj.

During the two day meet, both sides reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and identified means to further enhance cooperation in the areas.

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National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma today condemned the alleged misconduct of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s PA with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. Briefing media in New Delhi, Mrs. Sharma said that it is a matter of grave concern that the former Delhi Commission for Women chief and a prominent advocate of women’s rights has to face such a situation. She further appreciated Ms. Maliwal’s strength to come out and lodge a complaint against the accused.

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Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today slammed AAP Chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his silence on the issue of alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal.

Briefing media in New Delhi, Ms. Sitharaman demanded Mr. Kejriwal to apologise on the issue.

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Nagaland’s Cabinet has appealed to the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) to reconsider its decision to abstain from participating in the Urban Local Bodies Elections, scheduled on June 26.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister and State Spokesperson K.G. Kenye said ULB election is for empowering local self governance and facilitate development and uplift of the citizens at the grassroots.

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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heat wave to severe heat wave conditions over parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi till tuesday. The IMD said, heatwave conditions are also very likely to commence over Eastern and Central parts of the country from tomorrow. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to continue over southern parts of India till 23rd of this month.

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In Table Tennis, India’s Poymantee Baisya will play the Mixed Doubles and Women’s doubles finals of the WTT Cappadocia Feeder, in Turkey this evening. In Mixed Doubles, Poymantee and Akash Pal will face compatriots Anirban Ghosh and Swastika Ghosh in an all Indian final.

While in, Women’s Doubles final, Poymantee, along with Krittwika Roy will take on Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato of Japan.

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In Badminton, Ace Indian shuttlers will compete in the quarter-finals of the prestigious Thailand Open Badminton, in Bangkok, this afternoon. In the men’s doubles quarterfinal, India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will lock horns with R. K. Yap and J. Arif of Malaysia.

In the women’s doubles, top shuttlers, Tanisha Crasto and Ashwini Ponnappa will take on the South Korean pair of Y. Lee and S. C. Shin today.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN::

Canvassing for remaining phases of Lok Sabha elections reaches feverish pitch; Key leaders of all political parties actively campaigning in various parts of country.
External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar says, India to develop all requisite national strengths to make it a leading power.
UAE announces 10 year Blue Residency Visa to environment contributors.
Meteorological Department forecasts heat wave to severe heat wave conditions in parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi till Tuesday.
In Table Tennis, India’s Poymantee Baisya to play Mixed Doubles and women’s doubles finals of Cappadocia Feeder, in Turkey this evening.
And in Thailand Open Badminton, Indian players to appear in quarter finals of men’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles today.