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Fri, 17 May 2024

BJP will send Sharad Pawar, Uddhav to jail: Kejriwal

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23:39 BJP will send Sharad Pawar, Uddhav to jail: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday claimed that if the BJP won the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, it will put NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray behind bars.

Speaking at a campaign rally at Bhiwandi in Maharashtra, he alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had him arrested because he was working to provide high-class education to the poor and building a better healthcare system in the national capital.

"I am not seeking votes for myself, but begging you to save the country," the Aam Aadmi Party leader said.

"The BJP will not win, but if it wins on June 4, it will put Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray in jail," Kejriwal said.

The Delhi chief minister who suffers from diabetes also alleged that the BJP-led Union government tried to stop his medication for 15 days when he was in jail.

Kejriwal, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged excise policy scam, was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court.

The rally was in support of NCP (SP) candidate Suresh Mhatre who is taking on Union minister Kapil Patil in the constituency. -- PTI

Bibhav Kumar, circled

23:14 Now Kejriwal's aide files complaint against Maliwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar Friday filed a police complaint against Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal, alleging she breached the security of the chief minister's residence to gain unauthorised entry on May 13 and created a ruckus there, the party said.

It also said that when Kumar tried to stop her she hurled abuses at him.

And now she is trying to falsely implicate Kumar by alleging that he assaulted her at the chief minister's residence when she had gone to meet Kejriwal, he has said in the complaint filed via an e-mail to the Civil Lines Police Station SHO.

Kumar has also sent a copy to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North).

According to the party's statement, Kumar has said in his complaint that Maliwal breached the security of the CM's residence, gained access forcibly and unauthorisedly, and created a ruckus there.

When Kumar tried to stop her, she hurled abuses at him with intent to physically assault, the complaint said.

Kumar has also said in the complaint that Maliwal is now trying to falsely implicate him so as to create undue pressure on him.

Maliwal has already filed an FIR against Kumar alleging that he assaulted her when she had gone to meet Kejriwal at his official residence on Monday. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Friday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "khata-khat" jibe at the SP and the Congress, and said the public is now going to remove him from the top post "fata-fatt, fata-fatt, fata-fatt (quickly)".

Yadav targeted the prime minister while addressing an INDIA bloc rally here in the presence of Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi also joined the public meeting later.

Yadav said, "They (BJP and PM Modi) are saying that we will go abroad, but the people of our country are aware, they know that he (Modi) has sent his important people and friends abroad one after the other. His friends, one after the other, fled abroad 'khata-khat khata-khat (swiftly)."

Accusing the Modi government of drowning the country in debt, Yadav said, "Now, the public is telling them that they will remove you fata-fatt, fata-fatt, fata-fatt (quickly)."

He also said that those who asserted they will not indulge in corruption themselves nor allow others to indulge in corruption (na khaunga-na khane dunga), have swallowed everything and are saying "gata-gat gata-gat".

"Sab dakar gaye aur keh rahen hain gata-gat gata-gat. They have not even burped after devouring electoral bonds," he said.

Addressing a public meeting on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi had said the INDIA bloc will disintegrate post-elections and Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav will go abroad on a summer vacation 'khata-khat, khata-khat (quickly)'.

He used the 'khata-khat, khata-khat' phrase at a rally in Fatehpur on Friday also too attack the two parties.

"The dreams of 'panja' (Congress's poll symbol) and 'cycle' (SP's poll symbol) have shattered 'khata -khat, khata-khat'. Now they are planning for post-June 4 as to who should be blamed for the defeat 'khata-khat, khata-khat'. And, someone was telling me that tickets for foreign trips have also been booked 'khata-khat, khata-khat'."

Modi's jibe came in response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi often using the phrase "Khata-khat khata-khat" to claim that a fixed stipend would flow into the accounts of poor women if his party comes to power.

Hitting out at Modi without taking his name, Yadav said at his rally on Friday, "There is a very big leader of the country who feigns relationship with every place he goes (jhuta rishta)."

Pointing towards the crowd, Yadav said, "Let them also see and hear that Rahul Gandhiji's true relationship is with Rae Bareli. If 'Ra' is for Rae Bareli then 'Ra' is also for Rahul."

"Those who do not understand counting should also understand that one plus one has become 11 and the BJP has become nau do gyaraha (fled).

Those who have seen the four phases of elections know that the BJP is defeated," Yadav said. -- PTI

Congress candidate from Northeast Delhi Kanhaiya Kumar was allegedly assaulted and attacked with ink on Friday by some people in the constituency.

The incident happened outside the AAP office in the New Usmanpur area as Kahnhaiya was coming out after a party meeting with local Councillor Chhaya Sharma.

According to a complaint by Sharma, "Some persons came and put garland around Sh. Kanhaiya Kumar. After garlanding him, some persons threw ink on Sh. Kanhaiya Kumar and tried to assault him. When Smt. Chhaya Sharma tried to intervene, they misbehaved and threatened her."

Kanhaiya in a statement said the attack was ordered by rival contender from the constituency Manoj Tiwari.

He said Tiwari, the sitting MP, is frustrated with his rising popularity and that is why he sent "goons" to attack him.

He said the public will give its answer to the violence with the vote on May 25.

Polling in the national capital will take place on May 25 in the sixth phase of election. -- PTI

The Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday alleged that the Aam Aami Party was in a state of "panic and hopelessness" due to the "tightening noose" in the Swati Maliwal assault case.

Earlier in the day, AAP leader Atishi in a press conference alleged that Maliwal, party's Rajya Sabha MP, has become the face of BJP's conspiracy to frame Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that Atishi's statement in the Maliwal incident expressed "panic and hopelessness" of her party.

"The silence of Kejriwal on the whole incident hints that AAP is protecting a goon. The noose is tightening against Bibhav Kumar and Kejriwal has also come under suspicion," he claimed.

The way Maliwal was assaulted at the Chief Minister's residence, the "criminal" character of AAP has been exposed, Sachdeva alleged.

"Atishi should also have commented on the silence of Kejriwal over the incident. Three days ago, AAP MP Sanjay Singh admitted the incident with Maliwal at Chief Minister's residence saying the Chief Minister Kejriwal has taken cognizance of it. Where was Atishi then?" he asked.

The whole country stands with Maliwal in her struggle for her "honour," Sachdeva said and demanded strict action against the guilty in the matter.

According to the FIR registered by the Delhi Police in the matter, Maliwal was "kicked and slapped seven to eight times" allegedly by Kumar. The FIR also stated that Kumar "did not relent" despite her asking him to stop.

Maliwal has also claimed that Kumar hit her with "full force again and again" but no one came to her rescue. She also alleged that despite telling Kumar that she was menstruating and in pain, he did not budge. -- PTI

A team of Delhi Police accompanied by forensic experts visited Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in New Delhi on Friday and collected evidence in connection with the alleged assault on party MP Swati Maliwal there, officials said.

They said a police team also went to the home of chief minister aide Bibhav Kumar, who Maliwal has accused of beating her up, but he was not present.

The police team that visited the chief minister's Civil Lines residence was led by Additional DCP (north) Anjitha Chepyala and there were three other officers. They were accompanied by five forensic experts.

They reached the chief minister's residence around 4.45 pm and stayed till late evening, an officer said.

He said Maliwal was also taken to the CM's house to recreate the crime scene and the sequence of event.

The officials said they have collected footage from eight CCTV cameras from the CM's house to corroborate the sequence of the incident.

They have also recorded the statements of a few security personnel who were present during the time of the incident.

Maliwal has alleged that she was assaulted by Kejriwal's personal Bibhav Kumar when she had gone to meet the CM at his residence on Monday.

On Maliwal's complaint, the police booked Kumar under sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint ), 345B (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to disrobe her), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (insult caused to the modesty of a woman by the use of any words, gestures, or object intending to the do the same) at the Civil Lines police station.

A Delhi Police team went to Kumar's residence Friday noon but he was unavailable. Kumar's family was present in the house, an officer said.

Police said at least half a dozen teams have been formed to trace Kumar, who is suspected to be in Punjab. One of the teams was sent to Punjab's Amritsar to locate him, an officer said, adding, they have contacted the Maharashtra Police also suspecting he might have gone there. -- PTI

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was allegedly barred from offering the congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid here on Friday as he "continued to remain under house arrest", the managing body of the mosque said.

Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid alleged that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been placed under house arrest since May 3, and was again not allowed to go to the Jamia Masjid to deliver the Friday sermon and offer prayers for the third consecutive Friday.

The alleged restrictions on the movement of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq come ahead of the death anniversaries of his father Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq and separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone, the father of People's Conference chief Sajad Lone.

Farooq and Lone were killed by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in 1990 and 2002 for opposing a growing 'gun culture' in the Kashmir valley.

They were both considered advocates of finding a lasting solution through peaceful means.

The government has been placing restrictions on the Hurriyat Conference chairman's movement on May 21 every year. The movement of people towards Eidgah --? where both are buried --? is also restricted. -- PTI

Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal has hit back at her own party after Delhi minister Atishi accused her of being the face of a 'BJP's conspiracy' against Arvind Kejriwal.

"The leaders who joined the party yesterday declared a 20-year-old worker as a BJP agent. Two days ago the party had accepted the truth in the PC and today it has taken a U-turn," Maliwal said on X.

"This goon is threatening the party, if I get arrested I will reveal all the secrets. That is why he is roaming around in Lucknow and everywhere seeking shelter. Today, under his pressure, the party gave in and to save a goon, my character was questioned by the entire party. No problem, I have been fighting alone for the women of the entire country, I will fight for myself too. Do character assassination as much as possible, the truth will come out when the time comes," Maliwal added.

Maliwal's rebuttal comes after the AAP called the former Delhi women's panel chief as the 'face and pawn' of a BJP conspiracy against the Delhi chief minister.

Swati Maliwal

20:46 Maliwal assault case: Bid to frame Kejriwal, says AAP

The AAP on Friday alleged a BJP conspiracy to frame Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Swati Maliwal assault case.

AAP MP Maliwal reached the CM's residence without appointment; her intention was to level allegations against Arvind Kejriwal, claimed AAP leader Atishi on Friday.

Maliwal had alleged she was brutally assaulted; but the video that surfaced today shows entirely different reality, says Atishi.

The video in fact shows Swati Maliwal threatening Bibhav Kumar, so the charges levelled by her baseless, Atishi said.

Further, Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, accused by Maliwal of assaulting her, has given a complaint to the police against her, Atishi said.

A Bengaluru-bound Air India aircraft returned to the national capital on Friday evening due to a suspected fire in the air conditioning unit, according to sources.

The plane, operating flight AI 807, landed safely at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital. There were 175 people on board, the sources said.

The sources said there was a suspected fire in the air conditioning unit, and an emergency was declared. The plane made a safe precautionary landing at around 6.40 pm.

An airline official said alternative arrangements are being made for the passengers to fly to Bengaluru.

As per data available on the flight tracking website flightradar24, the flight was operated with an A321 aircraft. -- PTI

19:28 CBI sets up camp in Sandeshkhali

The CBI has set up a camp in Sandeshkhali as part of its measures to build confidence among locals who were allegedly being harassed for speaking out to the central agency about sexual assault on them, officials said Friday.

The camp which will be guarded by CRPF personnel will also give opportunity to the investigation officers to work from 'ground zero' and collect information, they said.

The moves comes against the backdrop of Calcutta High Court's direction to the agency to take confidence-building measures in cases where the complainants seek adequate protection.

Petitioner-lawyer Priyanka Tibrewal had told the court that despite filing affidavits detailing the horrifying incidents, some victims of sexual assault were hesitant to speak out due to fear.

She had previously submitted several hundred complaints, encompassing allegations of sexual violence, land grabbing, assault, and property destruction to the court during an earlier hearing.

"As a premier investigating agency, they will have all the wherewithal and the expertise to record the correct statement of the victims," the court said. -- PTI

19:10 Fire breaks out at Delhi airport

A fire broke out at the Indira Gandhi International airport on Friday, official of the Delhi Fire Services said.

Three fire tenders were pressed into service, they said.

"We received a call from IGI Airport at 6.15 pm regarding a fire. We have pressed three fire tenders," the DFS official said.

Further details are awaited.

The Delhi Police Friday took Aam Aadmi Party MP Swati Maliwal to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in New Delhi to recreate the crime scene as it investigates the alleged assault on her there earlier this week, officials said.

Her statement in the case was recorded before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court earlier in the day.

The police have registered an FIR under sections relating to culpable homicide, restraint and the use of criminal force against a woman with intent to c her.

They have booked Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar over the assault. -- PTI

Swati Maliwal

18:32 Maliwal assault case: Bid to frame Kejriwal, says AAP

The AAP on Friday alleged a BJP conspiracy to frame Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Swati Maliwal assault case.

AAP MP Maliwal reached the CM's residence without appointment; her intention was to level allegations against Arvind Kejriwal, claimed AAP leader Atishi on Friday.

Maliwal had alleged she was brutally assaulted; but the video that surfaced today shows entirely different reality, says Atishi.

The video in fact shows Swati Maliwal threatening Bibhav Kumar, so the charges levelled by her baseless, Atishi said.

Further, Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, accused by Maliwal of assaulting her, has given a complaint to the police against her, Atishi said.

A court in Mumbai on Friday remanded Bhavesh Bhinde, director of the advertising firm which had installed the hoarding that collapsed in suburban Ghatkopar and claimed 16 lives, in police custody till May 26.

He was arrested in Udaipur, Rajasthan, on Thursday and brought to Mumbai.

M/S Ego Media Pvt Ltd, his advertising firm, managed the giant hoarding that collapsed on a petrol pump during a dust storm on May 13.

As Bhinde absconded after the incident, police registered a case against him for alleged `culpable homicide not amounting to murder' under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code.

After his arrest, crime branch of Mumbai police produced Bhinde before additional chief metropolitan magistrate (Esplanade court) K S Zanwar and sought his custody for 14 days.

His agency managed three or four more hoardings, and a thorough investigation was needed in the matter, police said.

Rs 5 crore is required to manage one hoarding, and it needed to probe financial aspects of Bhinde's business, besides finding out who gave the certificate for structural stability and permissions for installation, it said.

Advocate Rizwan Merchant, appearing for the accused, claimed that police did not tell Bhinde the grounds of his arrest which made the remand plea invalid. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not an Italian like Congress leader Sonia Gandhi who does not know Hindi, he is a son of the soil who is working for the country's progress, said actor Kangana Ranaut, the BJP candidate from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh, on Friday.

Addressing a rally at Jagat Khana in Kullu district, Ranaut said Modi is a symbol of good governance and the prime minister knows several languages, including Pahari.

"Prime Minister Modi is not an Italian like Sonia Gandhi who does not know Hindi. He is a son of the soil, was born in a poor family and is working for the welfare and development of the country," she said.

On one hand, there is Modi's good governance and on the other hand, the corruption of the Congress and the people of Himachal Pradesh have made up their mind to ensure the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the June 1 polls, she added.

Attacking Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu for his remarks that Jai Ram Thakur, the leader of opposition in the state Assembly, is making a flop film, Ranaut said Thakur had a super hit tenure of five years as chief minister but Sukhu has failed in his job in 15 months.

Sukhu had earlier said "Kangana is a good actress" but her film would flop as her scriptwriters are Thakur and state BJP chief Rajiv Bindal.

Taking a dig at the Congress candidate from Mandi, Vikramaditya Singh, the son of six-time former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh and state party chief Pratibha Singh, Ranaut said his family has been sticking to power for long.

"Tikkaji (Singh) is the face of the dynastic politics of the Congress, whereas the BJP is a party of commoners where a tea seller (Modi) becomes the prime minister and the son of a mason (Thakur) becomes a chief minister, she added. -- PTI

Swati Maliwal at Tiz Hazari court

17:21 Maliwal case: Cops, forensics at Kejriwal's house

A Delhi Police team accompanied by forensic experts reached Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in New Delhi Friday evening in connection with the alleged assault on party MP Swati Maliwal, officials said.

The team is led by Additional DCP (north) Anjitha Chepyala and has three other police officers.

They are also accompanied by five forensic experts.

The officials reached there around 4.45 pm, with sources saying they may collect evidence and CCTV footage from the CM house where Maliwal was allegedly assaulted on Monday morning. PTI

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday filed a charge sheet against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam, and also named his Aam Aadmi Party as accused.

The prosecution complaint has been filed before a special court in New Delhi and the accused have been sought to be charged under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), sources said.

The federal agency had arrested 55-year-old Kejriwal, also the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, from his official residence here on March 21. He is currently out of jail on interim bail.

Overall this is the eighth charge sheet filed by the ED in this case in which it has arrested 18 people so far.

Last week, a similar complaint was filed by the agency against BRS leader and former Telangana chief minister Chandrashekar Rao's daughter K Kavitha and four others.

The CM has earlier been called the "kingpin and key conspirator" of the Delhi excise "scam" by the ED. It is alleged he acted in collusion with ministers of Delhi government, AAP leaders and other persons.

"We have direct evidence that Kejriwal stayed in a seven-star hotel, whose bills were partly paid by an accused in the case," Additional Solicitor General S V Raju told the Supreme Court on Thursday, adding that Kejriwal played a key role in the formulation of the Delhi excise policy, which has now been scrapped.

He alleged that Kejriwal, as the national convenor of the AAP, was vicariously responsible for the alleged scam. The excise case pertains to alleged corruption and money laundering in formulating and executing the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22, which was later scrapped.

Sonia Gandhi addresses crowds at a rally in Rae Bareli. "You gave me a chance to serve you as MP for 20 years, this is biggest asset of my life," she says.

Rahul and Priyanka and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is at the rally.

Earlier today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Samajwadi Party Chief attended a joint public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi to campaign for Congress and INDIA bloc candidate KL Sharma. Speaking at the rally the Congress leader alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attempting to "rewrite" the Constitution.

The Nilgiris district administration on Friday said very heavy rains have been forecast from May 18-20 here and asked people to "avoid" visiting the hilly tourist attraction during this period.

District Collector M Aruna said the India Meteorological Department has issued an "orange alert" forecast, meaning very heavy rain of 6 cm-20 cm on May 18, 19 and 20.

"Those coming here should have all the required protection. If possible you can avoid travelling here during this period, she told reporters after chairing a meeting with officials of the Revenue, Police and Fire and Rescue Services department on rain preparedness. She said all the departments concerned were on standby.

Nearly 3,500 disaster response personnel and required equipment including earthmovers were on standby. About 450 temporary shelters have also been kept ready and people have also been asked to stay indoors. PTI

In a fresh twist in the Swati Maliwal assault case, Aam Aadmi Party has attacked its own Rajya Sabha MP over a purported video clip from the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the day of the alleged assault.

The Aam Aadmi Party retweets the video of the CCTV images allegedly inside Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence, where AAP MP Swati Maliwal allegedly calls someone names and threatens to get him sacked if she's touched. The AAP said, "This is the truth of Swati Mahiwal. (Swati Maliwal ka sach)."

The 'political hitman' has started making efforts to save himself, Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal said on Friday as purported CCTV footage from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence surfaced online.

In the 52-second video, Maliwal is seen arguing with the security staff at the chief minister's residence.

Maliwal was allegedly assaulted by Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar at the chief minister's official residence on Monday.

"Like every time, this time also this political hitman has started making efforts to save himself," Maliwal said in a post on X without naming anyone.

"By getting his people to tweet and share videos without any context, he thinks he can save himself by committing this crime. Who makes a video of someone being thrashed? The truth will be revealed to everyone as soon as the CCTV footage of the house and the room is examined," she said.

The Election Commission on Friday issued a show-cause notice to former high court judge and BJP Lok Sabha candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his "improper, injudicious and undignified" remarks against Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The poll panel acted on a complaint by the Trinamool Congress against Gangopadhyay for his remarks against Banerjee while addressing a public meeting held on May 15 in Haldia.

The BJP has fielded Gangopadhyay from Tamluk seat in West Bengal where voting will be held on May 25. The EC in its notice noted that Gangopadhyay's comment has been found to be "improper, injudicious, beyond dignity in every sense of term, in bad taste" and prima facie violative of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and its advisory to political parties.

The EC has sought a response by 5 pm of May 20. PTI

15:40 Will treat Amethi, Rae Bareli equally: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he would treat Amethi and Rae Bareli equally when it comes to development if his party comes to power at the Centre. Rahul is contesting the Lok Sabha poll from Rae Bareli, replacing his mother Sonia Gandhi.

He has been an MP thrice from Amethi and was defeated in 2019 by sitting MP Smriti Irani.

"If Rs 10 is spent for development work in Rae Bareli it would be the same for Amethi too...this is my promise," he said addressing a joint rally with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in support of Congress candidate K L Sharma, a longstanding party confidante.

He thanked Sharma for "selflessly" serving the people of the constituency for 40 years. He reiterated the party promise of giving Rs 8,500 to each youth per month Rs 1 lakh in a year -- if the party forms government at the Centre.

Rahul said his party would do away with the Agniveer scheme for recruitment in the armed forces and bring back the permanent appointment system with the provision of pension.

Rahul and Akhilesh are set to address another rally in Rae Bareli ahead in the day. Sonia Gandhi is expected to be present. PTI

NCW officers outside Bibhav Kumar's residence

15:10 Kejriwal aide's family refuses to accept NCW notice

National Commission for Women (NCW) tweets, "Officers of the NCW, along with the ACP of Civil Lines, New Delhi, attempted to serve a Notice of Hearing to Bibhav Kumar at his residence. When the occupants of the house refused to accept the notice, the officers affixed it on the gate of his residence. The hearing is scheduled for 18th May at the NCW Office."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar did not appear before the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Friday in connection with the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. The NCW had summoned Kumar to appear before it at 11 am.

NCW chief Rekha Sharma said a team of the commission had gone to Kumar's residence on Thursday to serve him a notice, but he was not home. "Kumar's wife refused to receive the notice. My team has gone to his residence again today with police and if he does not appear (before NCW) by tomorrow, then we will go personally to inquire," Sharma told reporters. She also said that she would meet Maliwal.

While addressing party workers in Punjab's Amritsar Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal launched a scathing attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party saying that they got him arrested thinking that his party would break but the opposite happened.

Kejriwal said, "They arrested me thinking that our party would break but nothing happened and we got even more united."

The Delhi CM further said that he was deprived of his sugar medicines. "I was not provided with insulin dose despite request. I don't know about their intentions but it has happened in the past that the opposition leaders have been physically harmed across the world in similar ways."

He highlighted that there is a provision that allows two people to meet inside the jail, adding to that, he said, "Even despite of letter by Punjab CM Mann, they did not allow it. He used to talk to me from outside the jail cell." He said that there were two CCTV cameras in his jail cell and 13 officers had access to the footage. "I was told that the CCTV footage was also sent to PMO," the CM added.

He further expressed his desire for AAP to win all 13 seats in Punjab.

"10-12 days are left for polls, you have to make us win all the 13 seats in Punjab. I have to surrender again on 2nd June. On 4th June when I will see the results of Lok Sabha elections, I will be really happy to see AAP winning all 13 seats in Punjab..."

Slamming BJP further he said, "I don't accept BJP's dictatorship in the country. BJP has put everyone in jail and frozen the bank accounts of the Congress leaders. We have to struggle against this." -- ANI

The alleged video grab purportedly showing Swati Maliwal at the Delhi CM's office

14:35 Maliwal reacts to CCTV grab: God is watching

Screengrabs from the video purportedly showing AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on 13th May seems to be available with news agency ANI. However, ANI says it cannot confirm the authenticity of the video.

Delhi Police say that the video has come to their knowledge but it is yet to be verified. An FIR, which names Delhi CM's aide Bibhav Kumar, has been registered in connection with the assault on Swati Maliwal. Her statement u/s 164 of CrPC has been recorded today.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal reacts to the video: "Like every time, this time also this political hitman has started efforts to save himself. By getting his people to tweet and by playing videos without any context, he thinks he can save himself by committing this crime. Who makes a video of someone being beaten up? The truth will be revealed to everyone as soon as the CCTV footage of the house and the room is checked. Fall to whatever level you can, God is watching everything. One day everyone's truth will come out in front of the world."

Prajwal Revanna

14:19 Efforts on to bring Prajwal back to India: K'taka

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said efforts are on to bring Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse against women, back to India.

He also asserted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case was functioning efficiently. The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former PM H D Deve Gowda, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women.

The scandal has raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest. Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27 and is still at large.

He was BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls in the first phase on April 26.

"Procedures are on, until we secure him, bring him back here and take action in accordance with law, they will continue. We will neither slow it nor stop it," Parameshwara told reporters on questions about the Interpol's Blue Corner Notice that was issued against Prajwal.

On BJP alleging that the government was "responsible" for Prajwal's "escape" from the country, the Minister said, "They will say it, they have to say such things. They cannot say the government is doing a good job. But we have a responsibility as a government. Such incidents cannot be taken lightly. We will do our job."

Accusing the Congress government of trying to tarnish the reputation of Deve Gowda's family instead of ensuring justice to victims of alleged sex videos scandal case involving Prajwal, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy had recently alleged that every bit of information on the investigation is being sent to a Congress MLA of Mandya district, but not the Home Minister.

Reacting to this, Parameshwara said: "Kumaraswamy is also well aware, several things we cannot bring to the public domain, because the investigation is on. Who will brief the Mandya MLA? Making such allegations is easy. We all have responsibility and we are functioning with responsibility, and we are not under any compulsions."

"I want to tell him (Kumaraswamy) that SIT is working efficiently, and whatever they have to brief me or the Chief Minister, they will brief. Let there be no doubts about it," he said. PTI

Mediapersons outside Swati Maliwal's home

13:54 'Brutally dragged, kicked in chest': Maliwal FIR

Details of the first information report (FIR) filed by Delhi Police following the complaint filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal against the aide of Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has revealed shocking details.

Maliwal has alleged that Kejriwal's Personal Secretary Bibhav Kumar 'slapped' her 'at least seven to eight times' while she 'continued screaming' and 'brutally dragged' her while 'kicking' her in her 'chest, stomach and pelvis area'.

Maliwal also recorded her statement before the magistrate in the national capital's Tis Hazari court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

According to the Delhi Police FIR, Maliwal describes the events of May 13 when she had gone to the Civil Lines residence of Chief Minister Kejriwal.

"I went inside the camp office and called CM's PS Bibhav Kumar but I could not go in. I then sent a message on his mobile number (through WhatsApp). However, there was no response. I then went inside the residential area through the main door as I have always done in the past year since Bibhav Kumar was not present I entered the residence area and informed the staff present there to tell the CM here to meet him," the FIR read.

"I was informed that he was present in the house and I was told to wait in the drawing room. I went in the drawing room and sat on the sofa and was waiting for him to meet me," Maliwal said.

"One of the staff members came and told me that CM was coming to meet me and suddenly, the PS of CM, Bibhav Kumar barged into the room. He started screaming without any provocation and even started abusing me. I was stunned by this....and I reacted by telling him to stop talking to me like this and to call the CM."

"He then abused me and asked who are you to not listen to what I say. While saying these words, he came and stood right in front of me. Without any provocation whatsoever on my side, he started slapping me with full force. He slapped me seven to eight times at least while I continued screaming. I felt absolutely shocked and was screaming for help over and over again. In order to protect myself I pushed him away with my legs," she said.

"At that time, he pounced on me, brutally dragged me and deliberately pulled my shirt up. My shirt buttons opened and my shirt flew up. I landed on the floor while hitting my head on the centre table. I was constantly screaming for help but no one came. After that, Bibhav Kumar did not relent and attacked me by kicking me in my chest, stomach and pelvis area with his legs. I was in extreme pain and kept telling him to stop. My shirt was coming up but he still continued to assault me," the AAP MP said.

"I repeatedly told him that I was on my period and that he should please let go of me as I was in unbearable pain. However, he attacked me with full force again and again. I somehow managed to get free. I then sat on the sofa of the drawing room and gathered my spectacles that had fallen on the ground during the assault. I was in a terrible state of shock at this attack. I was deeply traumatised and called the 112 number and reported the crime against me," Maliwal detailed.

"Bibhav threatened me and said "Do what you want, you can't do anything. We will break all your bones and bury you in a place that noone will get to know." Then when he realised that I had called the 112 number he went out of the room."

"Bibhav returned with the security personnel working at the main gate of the CM camp offices. They came and asked me to leave at the behest of Bibhav. I kept telling them that I was brutally beaten up and they should look at my condition and wait until the PCR police comes. However, they asked me to leave the premises. I was taken outside the CM residence and I sat briefly on the floor outside as I was in deep pain. The PCR police came but I was completely dazed and left by walking towards my previous residence in Civil Lines," Maliwal said.

"I was crying and somehow reached my earlier residence. I sat on the ground there for sometime and some police personnel who had accompanied me from the CM house called me an auto on my request. I sat in it and started going towards my house as I was in terrible pain and was traumatised and shattered. Somehow I mustered the strength and asked the auto to head back and went to Police Station at Civil Lines to report the matter," she said.

"I reached and sat in the SHO room and I was crying and informed the SHO about the incident. I was in terrible pain and having severe cramps. I also started receiving a lot of calls from media on my mobile. Due to extreme trauma, pain and not wanting to politicize the incident, I left the Police Station without filing a written complaint. My head was splitting in pain and my arms legs and were aching terribly due to the assault," Maliwal said.

"The past few days since the incident have been extremely painful for me. It is one of the most difficult times of my life. The pain, trauma and harassment has been mind-numbing. My head and neck has been hurting constantly since the attack. My arms are very sore and my abdomen is also paining. I am also having difficulty in walking. My situation is exacerbated by the fact that having worked all my life for women's issues and having helped lakhs of women get justice, I ended up being brutally beaten by a person whom I had known for long. I am deeply disturbed by this incident and am distraught that someone could display such goonda behavior. I feel totally shattered," she said.

"It has taken me three days to gather myself and report the matter through a written complaint. I request you to kindly take strongest possible action in the matter. I am shocked that this brutal attack happened to me completely unprovoked at CM residence," Maliwal said.

The FIR was filed under IPC Sections 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide) /341(Punishment for wrongful restraint)/354B Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe /(506 Punishment for criminal intimidation/509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman). -- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Congress is aiming to win 50 seats in the Lok Sabha elections to save its honour. Addressing an election rally Fatehpur, UP, Modi took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for not contesting from Amethi, the seat which he lost to BJP leader Smriti Irani in the 2019 elections.

The prime minister said he had predicted that Gandhi would not dare to contest from Amethi and this has turned out to be true.

"The further news is that to save its honour, the Congress has now launched Mission 50. The target of the Congress is to get 50 seats in the entire country by any means," he said.

The BJP has fielded Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti from Fatehpur. She is pitted against the Samajwadi Party's Naresh Uttam Patel. Fatehpur goes to polls in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20. PTI

13:10 Kejriwal should apologise on Maliwal issue: FM

Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not speaking on the issue of alleged attack on his party MP Swati Maliwal, and said he is instead "shamelessly" moving around with accused Bibhav Kumar.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Sitharaman demanded that the AAP convener speak on the issue and apologise.

The senior BJP leader cited charges of attack on women against several AAP leaders, including its New Delhi Lok Sabha candidate Somnath Bharti, to claim that it is an anti-women party.

Taking a swipe at the Congress, the Finance Minister said the Gandhi family members will be voting for Bharti, who was accused of assaulting his pregnant wife. A day after AAP MP Sanjay Singh promised action in the Maliwal case, accused Bibhav Kumar was seen with Kejriwal on Lucknow, she noted.

"It is unbelievable and unacceptable that Kejriwal has not spoken a word on attack on his party woman MP," she said. Maliwal has alleged that a member of Kejriwal's personal staff "assaulted" her at the chief minister's official residence. The Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR in the matter and named Kumar as an accused in the case. -- PTI

Police leave Swati Maliwal's residence

12:43 Maliwal case: Kejriwal's aide skips NCW summons

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar did not appear before the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Friday in connection with alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.

The NCW had summoned Kumar to appear before it at 11 am.

NCW chief Rekha Sharma said a team of the commission had gone to Kumar's residence on Thursday to serve him a notice but he was not home.

"Kumar's wife refused to receive the notice. My team has gone to his residence again today with police and if he does not appear (before NCW) by tomorrow, then we will go personally to inquire," Sharma told reporters.

On Monday morning, Maliwal went to the Civil Lines police station in New Delhi and alleged that a member of Kejriwal's personal staff "assaulted" her at the chief minister's official residence, police officials said.

The NCW took suo moto cognizance of a media post titled "Ex-DCW chief Swati Maliwal accuses Arvind Kejriwal's personal secretary of assaulting her" where she claimed that she was brutally assaulted at the chief minister's residence by Kumar.

The Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR in connection with the alleged assault on Maliwal. Kumar has been named as an accused in the case, officials said. PTI

The fifth phase of the LS polls will be held on Monday

12:17 Module planning to kill politicians busted in Guj

The Gujarat Police claimed to have busted a module that was planning to kill prominent political leaders across the country.

Briefing media persons on the breakthrough, on Friday, Commissioner, Gujarat Police, Anupam Singh Gehlot said a maulvi (cleric), identified only by his first name Sohail, was arrested in connection with the matter and disgorged more leads on the terror module on being interrogated.

The commissioner added that the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the central elite anti-terror agency, was also involved in the ongoing probe into the module.

"In the first week of May, we arrested a maulvi by the name of Sohail from the Surat district. On being interrogated, he shared more leads on this terror module that he was associated with. We recovered two voter identity cards from the cleric," Commissioner Gehlot told ANI on Friday.

He revealed further that the police also seized two birth certificates--one of Surat and the other of Nawapura in Maharashtra--from him.

Speaking on another accused person, Mohammad Ali alias Shehnaz, who was also arrested, the commissioner said, "She used a mobile phone SIM from Nepal. Using his mobile tower location, we tracked him down at Muzaffarpur. He earlier used to stay in Nepal. He used a single mobile handset but operated 17 numbers."

The police commissioner revealed that Shehnaz also had 42 email IDs against his name, adding that he used his multiple SIMs and email IDs to threaten his targets.

"He had Nepalese citizenship in addition to an Aadhar card," the commissioner added.

On the third accused, identified as Raza, the commissioner said, "He destroyed his mobile handset but we managed to retrieve some information with the help of FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory). We are in the process of gathering further details and data on him and the module. He used a Pakistani SIM card provided by his handler Dagar."

Further investigation is underway, the police said.

An angry crowd set a school on fire on Friday morning after the body of a student was found inside a tank inside the school premises in Bihar's capital city Patna, police said.

According to the sources, the incident took place in the Ramjichak area under Digha police. Angry locals blocked roads and set the school on fire.

The deceased child aged around three had gone to school where he used to take tuition after school hours and when he failed to return home by evening, family members started looking for him. His body was retrieved from inside a tank in the school premises at 3 am today, police added.

Following this, locals blocked the road and set fire to the school. Fire tenders that rushed to the site managed to douse the blaze.Senior police officials who arrived at the site initiated an investigation.

Patna Superintendent of Police Chandra Prakash detailing the incident said, "We were informed late at night by the parents after which our team reached the spot and started collecting evidence. In the CCTV we saw that the child was entering the school but at no point, he can be seen leaving the school premises... We will investigate it as a murder case as they were hiding the body and it shows criminal intent. We have detained three persons; inquiry is on." -- ANI

A judgement of a Constitution bench would be "binding" on benches of lesser strength, the Supreme Court has said while recalling an April 2022 verdict delivered by it.

In its order dated April 7, 2022, the apex court had held that a panchayat cannot claim ownership of the land which has been taken from the real owners from their permissible ceiling limits under the land law in Haryana.

The apex court had consequently said panchayats can only manage and control the land which has been taken from the owners and cannot claim title.

"It is pertinent to note here that for the land taken from the proprietors by applying pro-rata cut from the permissible ceiling limits of the proprietors, management and control alone vests with the panchayat but such vesting of management and control is irreversible and the land would not revert to the proprietors for redistribution as the common purposes for which land has been carved out not only include the present requirements but the future requirements as well," it had said.

The top court had delivered the verdict on a batch of appeals against a full bench verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which had examined the legality of sub-section 6 of Section 2(g) of the Haryana Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961. -- PTI

An Air India flight bound for Delhi experienced a collision with a tug tractor while taxiing towards the runway at Pune Airport yesterday. The incident occurred when around 180 passengers were on-board. "The aircraft, carrying around 180 passengers, suffered damage to its nose and a tyre near the landing gear. Despite the collision, all passengers and crew on board are reported to be safe," an airport official told ANI.

The Indian Embassy in Israel pays its respect to Col Kale's mortal remains

11:22 Waibhav Kale's mortal remains head to India

The officials from the Indian Embassy in Israel paid their last respects to Colonel Waibhav Anil Kale (Retd) who was killed in Gaza as his mortal remains were repatriated to India.

The Embassy officials were joined by the senior officials from Israel's Ministry of External Affairs, Israel Defence Forces and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS).

The Indian Embassy in Israel took to X, and stated, "Embassy officials joined by senior officials from @IsraelMFA, @IDF, @UNDSS and other UN organizations paid their last respects to the mortal remains of Col. Waibhav Anil Kale (Retd.), who lost his life in Gaza. The mortal remains are on their final journey to India." -- ANI

The Delhi Police has written to the company that has installed CCTVs at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's place to take footage of the incident in which party MP Swati Maliwal was allegedly assaulted at the Chief Minister's house, sources said.

All CCTV footage related to the incident will be scrutinized by the police, sources added. There are eight CCTV cameras installed outside Kejriwal's house. Around 10 police teams are investigating the entire matter, out of which four teams are trying to find out the accused, Kejriwal's personal secretary, Bibhav Kumar's location.

As per available information, Bibhav Kumar is in Punjab.

Police teams from the North District and other teams have started investigating the case, sources said.

At first, the police will make a timeline of the incident, following which the police will establish the complete sequence of the day when Maliwal was assaulted. The police will check the time at which Maliwal reached the Chief Minister's House on May 13 and will also be recording the statements of everyone they met at the gate of the CM House. According to the information, Swati Maliwal took a cab to the CM House on May 13.

The police will also be recording the statement of the cab driver. The Delhi Police will be recording everyone's statements who met Swati Maliwal at the CM House will be recorded. Delhi Police filed an FIR at the Civil Lines police station on Thursday in connection with the alleged assault on the AAP's Rajya Sabha MP a few days ago.

She claimed that she was assaulted by Chief Minister Arvind Kejirwal's personal secretary, Bibhav Kumar. The police will now have her statement recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Under Section 164, a magistrate can record a person's statement or confession during a police investigation before the trial.

Maliwal had made a PCR call from the Chief Minister's House at 9.34 pm on May 13. The Delhi Police may give notice to Bibhav Kumar and ask him to join the investigation, sources added.

According to the police FIR, Maliwal in her complaint said that she was slapped, hit on the stomach, attacked and kicked by Bibhav Kumar at the Chief Minister's residence.

The Delhi police filed an FIR in connection with the alleged assault naming Bibhav Kumar. The FIR has been registered under sections 354, 506, 509, and 323 of the IPC, among other sections, for offences including assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, criminal intimidation, word gesture or acts of intent to insult and assault. -- ANI

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for repeatedly targeting him and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and claimed that he is eager to reclaim the PM's post instead of paving the way for the next generation.

Addressing an election rally in Thane to canvass for incumbent MP and his party candidate Rajan Vichare on Thursday, Thackeray called the contest a clash between loyalty and betrayal.

The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has nominated Naresh Mhaske for the Thane Lok Sabha constituency, which along with 12 other seats, including six in Mumbai, will vote in the fifth phase on May 20. The contest in Thane is a prestige battle for Shinde, an influential leader from the region who split the original Shiv Sena in 2022 and aligned with the BJP. However, Thackeray mainly focussed on Modi and his policies.

He accused Modi of stirring controversies through his rhetoric and claimed that the BJP is shifting its narratives, from pledges of securing a majority to allegations of dynasty politics. The Sena (UBT) hit out at Modi for repeatedly targeting him and Sharad Pawar. In his recent speeches, Modi had called Thackeray's party nakli Sena and described Pawar as a bhatakti aatma (wandering soul). Modi is eager to get back the PM's post instead of paving the way for the next generation, he claimed.

Thackeray defended the coalition model, citing its past successes and contrasting them with the perceived stagnation under single-party rule. Thackeray said Shiv Sena and Thane share a unique bond as the city gave the party a foothold in its early days, he added. PTI

10:21 Shah's 4 reasons why BJP wants 400-seat win

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has dismissed the Opposition's claims that the BJP wants to win more than 400 Lok Sabha seats to amend the Constitution.

He said that the BJP had the mandate to make changes in the Constitution for the past decade but never did so.

In an interview with ANI, Shah said that the party's aim to secure more than 400 seats is to bring stability to the country's political landscape.

"We have had the mandate to change the Constitution for the last 10 years, but we never did that. What do you think Rahul Baba and company would say, and the country will believe it? This country has given us a clear mandate, and the people of this country already know that Modi ji already had sufficient majority to change the Constitution, but we never did that," Shah said.

"Yes, we want to win 400 seats in the LS polls to bring stability to politics in the country. We want 400 seats to protect our borders, to make India the third-largest economy in the world, and to ensure that a few poor people who are yet to get the benefits, and we have to fulfil it. We want 400 seats because clean water is yet to reach every household, and there is a lot of work to be done in the field of natural farming in this country. We want 400 seats because we want to provide free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh to every senior citizen aged above 70 years of age," he further said.

Shah's remarks came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement in which he referred to BJP and said that a political party has allegedly promised in its poll campaign that if they win the elections, they will be uprooting the Constitution.

"For the first time, a political party has said that if they come to power, they will be destroying the Constitution. This Constitution gave rights to the poor, backward, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, farmers, and labourers of India. And today, big leaders of the BJP say that if they win the elections, they will uproot this book," Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a public rally in Odisha's Balangir on Wednesday (May 15).

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the rise in voter turnout from 14 per cent in the past to nearly 40 per cent now in the Srinagar constituency of Jammu and Kashmir is the greatest testament to the success of abrogation of Article 370.

"I would like to tell those who raise questions on the abrogation of Article 370 that the rise in the voter turnout from 14 per cent in the past to 40 per cent (in Srinagar) is the greatest testament to the success of the decision," Amit Shah said in an exclusive conversation with ANI. Shah said that while people in the Kashmir Valley used to shout slogans for boycotting elections, all voters of extremist groups exercised their franchise in the elections this year.

"All leaders of extremist groups voted. It does not matter to whom they vote. That is their right. But at least, they were part of the democratic process. Earlier slogans were shouted to boycott elections. Today elections were held peacefully," the Union Minister said.

Noting that there was no instance of violence in Srinagar during the polls, Shah said, "Not even a baton was wielded. There was no instance of rigging. And voting was held patiently, with no instance of violence from any political party. This shows that change is visible." -- ANI

Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com accompanies 26/11 prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam as he canvasses for votes in his first Lok Sabha election. Read the report here.

Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the country, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar at a news conference held in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow said that the INDIA alliance will register victory on around 300 parliamentary seats and that the NDA will manage about 200 seats. '

"'INDIA alliance is winning almost 300 seats and NDA will get around 200. We believe in collective leadership... We will win the elections and will come together to discuss and form the government and have a leadership," said DK Shivakumar.

He further stated, "Earlier also when UPA came in power, all the parliamentary members wanted Sonia Gandhi to be Prime Minister of the country. We also gave a letter to the APJ Abdul Kalam, then president of the country. But Sonia Gandhi decided that a Sikh man, an economist (Dr Manmohan Singh) must become the PM to save the country."

DK Shivakumar launched a scathing attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that they need to be accountable for black money, farmers' income, and unemployment.

"BJP needs to first answer the people of India on this: Where is the black money it was supposed to bring back? Why hasn't the income of farmers doubled as BJP promised? Where are the 2 crore/year jobs promised to our youth?" DK Shivakumar pointed out.

Hailing the efforts of the Congress party he stated, "Congress Party on the other hand; introduced the 5 guarantees on the first day itself in Karnataka. Instructed its officials to implement the 5 guarantees in the first month only. The difference is clear. People see and vote for the one who delivers on promises, and that's why throughout India, people are supporting the Congress Party to lead them towards a brighter future."

The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has said that it would withdraw the new uniform of its anti-encroachment squad after opposition Congress alleged that it resembled military fatigues and amounted to insulting the Army.

The uniform has a camouflage pattern, generally associated with the armed forces.

Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said in a statement on Thursday that the civic body decided to give a uniform to its anti-encroachment squad staff to promote discipline besides bringing uniformity in their attire.

"If this uniform is hurting the sentiments of any person, necessary changes will be made," he said.

Earlier, Congress' Chintu Choukse, leader of opposition in the IMC, had claimed that the civic body insulted the Army by selecting 'the uniform of soldiers' for the anti-encroachment squad personnel.

"These employees are infamous for extortion from carts and street vendors," he had said. -- PTI

09:02 Hoarding collapse accused brought to Mumbai

The owner of Ego Media, the company responsible for installing the massive billboard in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area which collapsed earlier this week in the face of strong winds and rainfall, leaving 16 dead and 75 injured; was brought to Mumbai in the early hours of Friday for further legal proceedings, police said.

Bhavesh Bhide, the owner of the company that put up the giant billboard, was arrested by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch from Udaipur in neighbouring Rajasthan on Thursday.

"Owner (of the company that put up the billboard) Bhavesh Bhinde, who was arrested by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch from Udaipur, has been brought to Mumbai," a police officer confirmed on Friday.

"As many as 16 people are confirmed dead and another 75 injured in the billboard collapse in Ghatkopar," an officer said earlier. -- ANI

More than 70 vehicles, including cars, were retrieved from the wreckage at the site of a hoarding crash in Mumbai as mangled metal debris at a petrol pump exhibited signs of a tragedy that has claimed 16 lives.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Bhushan Gagrani announced end of the 66-hour-long search and rescue operation at the crash site on Thursday morning, but men and machinery were working overtime to clear the debris four days on.

The 120 feet x 120 feet billboard collapsed onto a nearby petrol pump in suburban Ghatkopar during gusty winds and heavy unseasonal rains on Monday evening, trapping people and vehicles under its giant wreckage.

As many as 16 people were killed and 75 others were injured in the tragedy.

The civic chief called off the rescue operation at 10.30 am after reviewing the situation at the petrol pump, but the the work of clearing the debris was on till late evening with the help of JCB, dumpers, cranes and other equipment.

The rescue team had retrieved the last two bodies trapped in a car below a girder shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

A BMC official said as many as 73 vehicles, including 30 two-wheelers, 31 four-wheelers, eight autorickshaws and two heavy vehicles -- all damaged in the crash -- were retrieved from the site, and handed over to the police as their owners came forward to claim them.

Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed for the search and rescue operation since Monday evening.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade had deployed 12 fire engines and several other vehicles for the exercise.

All these were withdrawn after the operation was over. Another civic official said the Fire Brigade has still kept three fire tenders and some senior officials posted there as a precautionary measure considering the fuel stock in the tanks of the petrol pump. -- PTI

Actor Kangana Ranaut Thursday slammed the opposition leaders over their "pro-Pakistan" remarks and said if the neighbouring country is not wearing bangles, India will make it wear them.

Speaking at a public meeting in Kullu, the BJP's candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha constituency said, "We know that Pakistan needs atta (flour) and electricity. But we were not aware that it does not even have bangles."

Recently, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah had said "Pakistan ne churian nahi pahni hain" and it possesses atom bomb. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar released a video saying talks with Pakistan are necessary to put an end to terrorism otherwise it would think that India was trying to belittle Pakistan and in such a situation any "insane" can use atom bomb.

Reacting to the statement, Kangana said, "Vo kehte hain, Pakistan ne churian nahi pahni hain... arrey bhai, nahin pehni hai to hum pehna denge (They say Pakistan is not wearing bangles... if Pakistan is not wearing bangles, we will make them wear it)."

She said India does not want an unstable and weak Congress government headed by a frightened prime minister.

The actor-politician said the Congress wants to snatch the reservation for the Dalits, Mahadalits and the tribal people and give it to Muslims. But the prime minister (Narendra Modi) will never allow it to happen.

She said Modi will neither allow the Constitution to be tinkered with nor give the reservation on the basis of religion.

Urging the people to give every vote to the BJP in order to strengthen the hands of Modi, Kangna said pressing any other button would mean that their vote has gone waste. -- PTI

BJP will send Sharad Pawar, Uddhav to jail: Kejriwal

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