Highlights: Andhra CM Jagan Reddy injured in stone pelting incident during road show in Vijayawada

From Uddhav Thackrey's jibe at PM Modi to the evolving Israel-Iran conflict in West Asia, we bring to you the latest news from around the world. Stay tuned.

Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy injured in stone pelting incident during Vijayawada road show

The Congress on Saturday announced a list of 16 more candidates for the Lok Sabha polls and fielded former Union minister Manish Tewari from the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency. The party also pitted Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh against BJP candidate and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut in the state's Mandi Lok Sabha seat.

Vikramaditya Singh is the son of the Congress' Himachal Pradesh unit chief Pratibha Singh.

BJP to release its manifesto for Lok Sabha polls on Sunday at party headquarters in Delhi, PM Modi to be present.

Officials of steel ministry, Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd have been booked for alleged corruption in Rs 315 crore NISP project, said CBI.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), a key constituent of the Mahagathbandhan in the state of Bihar released it election manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. RJD promised to deliver 10 million government jobs and Rs one lakh each to "sisters" from deprived families on the eve of Raksha Bandhan.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Supremo M K Stalin said that INDIA bloc is going to deliver a sweet victory on June 4. Stalin who was pleasantly surprised after he received Mysore Pak from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the latter's visit to the state on Friday, expressed that he was touched by his brother's sweet gesture

Shiv Sena (UBT) Supremo Uddhav Thackeray attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "fake Shiv Sena" remark. Uddhav said that his party was not like "your degree", referring to PM Modi's academic certificates. Speaking at a campaign rally at Boisar near Mumbai for his party's Palghar Lok Sabha constituency candidate Bharti Kamdi, Thackeray also claimed that the opposition INDIA grouping will cross the 300-mark and defeat the BJP.

BRS leader and former MLC from Telangana, K Kavitha had allegedly "threatened" Aurobindo Pharma Promoter Sharath Chandra Reddy to pay Rs 25 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party for five retail zones allotted to his firm under the Delhi government's excise policy, the CBI told Special Court on Friday, while seeking her custody. The CBI also said the Kavitha had threatened Reddy of harming his business interests in Delhi and Telangana if the sum was not paid.
 

10:43 PM

Asaduddin Owaisi extends support to AIADMK in Lok Sabha elections

After forming a "PDM (Pichda, Dalit Musalman)" alliance in Uttar Pradesh, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday extended his support to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in the Lok Sabha elections. In a post on X, Owaisi said that the AIADMK has refused to ally with the BJP and has committed to never allying with it in the future. "It has also assured that it will oppose CAA, NPR & NRC. Therefore, AIMIM extends its support to AIADMK in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Our alliance will also continue for the Assembly elections," Owaisi said. Earlier, clarifying on breaking ties with BJP in Tamil Nadu, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra 

10:22 PM

Rahul Gandhi's Tamil Nadu visit has trumped Modi's poll campaign: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's single day campaign in the state has "beaten all the election trips" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state to seek votes. Referring to the April 12 meet addressed at nearby Coimbatore by him and Gandhi, Stalin said the turnout and the rally was magnificent like the movie "Baahubali", and the "total BJP was trumped," by a single public meeting. Further, the chief minister said Gandhi's single day campaign in Tamil Nadu has "beaten all the election trips" of Modi to the state to seek votes. "Rahul Gandhi has proven that Tamil Nadu people can be won over (ruled) only through love."

9:10 PM

India in touch with Iran to secure release of 17 Indian crew members onboard ship seized by Iranian forces

India is in touch with Iran to secure the release of 17 Indians on board an Israeli-linked cargo ship that was seized by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday amid increasing fears of an Iranian attack on Israel. Official sources said India has taken up the matter with Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels, both in Tehran and in Delhi, to ensure the welfare and early release of the Indian crew of the cargo ship 'MSC Aries'. The Iranian action came amid heightened fears that Tehran may launch an attack on Israel in retaliation to a strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria 12 days ago. Iran blamed Israel for the strike.

8:45 PM

LS polls live updates: Model code violation case filed against BJP's Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Gonda

A case for violation of the Model Code of Conduct and prohibitory orders was on Saturday filed against BJP MP from Kaiserganj and former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a senior official said. District Magistrate (DM) Neha Sharma said the MP visited several villages in the Katra assembly segment of his constituency under the Khargupur police station area with a convoy of about 25-30 vehicles on Friday without permission. As a result, in-charge of the flying squad team of the Katra market area Dr Nazmul Islam filed a case under relevant sections against Singh, Sharma said.

8:05 PM

LS polls: Ahead of PM Modi's Mysuru visit, Siddaramaiah asks him to explain his contribution to city

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Mysuru and Mangaluru on April 14 to campaign for Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday asked the former to explain what he did for Karnataka. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Let him (Modi) come (to Mysuru). We don't have any objection if Modi comes and goes because he is a prime minister. "Let him (Modi) do it (election campaigning) but he should explain what he has done for the people of Karnataka, and to address unemployment, injustice to Karnataka in tax devolution and zero compensation given to the state to mitigate drought." Later, addressing a public gathering during a road show called ‘Janadhwani Yatra' in Mysuru, the chief minister lashed out at the prime minister and questioned about his promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad, doubling the income of farmers, creating two crore jobs per year and reducing the price of diesel, petrol, gas and fertilisers.

"Indians were constantly deceived and cheated through many lies. Would you mind voting for someone who cheated you for 10 years," the chief minister asked the crowd. Highlighting the contributions made by the Congress for the development of Mysuru city, he said every intelligent person in the town knows who built the Jayadeva Hospital, women and children's hospital, schools and hostels.

 

6:39 PM

Live updates: Delhi airport sees 22 flight diversions due to bad weather today

As many as 22 flights were diverted at the Delhi airport on Saturday evening due to bad weather, an official said. The diversions happened after 5 pm.

The official said that as of now, 22 flights have been diverted due to bad weather. The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in the national capital handles around 1,300 flight movements daily.

6:25 PM

A local official says at least 10 people have died in shelling in Russian-occupied Ukraine

At least 10 people, including children, died after shelling late on Friday struck a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region, a local Kremlin-installed official said, blaming Ukraine for the attack, AP reported.  Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported at least three civilian deaths elsewhere in the country that they said resulted from Russian attacks. Russian emergency services on Saturday were working in the rubble in hopes of saving civilians trapped underneath the debris of their homes in Tokmak, in a part of southern Ukraine that Moscow has illegally annexed from Kyiv, according to the Kremlin-installed regional head Yevhen Balitsky.

5:33 PM

We will waive off loans of farmers after coming to power, says Rahul Gandhi at rally in Maharashtra

We will waive off loans of farmers after coming to power: Rahul Gandhi at rally in Maharashtra's Bhandara district.

5:25 PM

PM Modi says he belongs to OBC category; he should tell us what has he done for them: Rahul Gandhi

PM Modi says he belongs to Other Backward Classes but he should tell us what has he done for OBCs, says Rahul Gandhi at rally in Maharashtra.

5:01 PM

LS polls: SAD announces first list of 7 candidates for Punjab, fields Chandumajra from Anandpur Sahib

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday announced its first list of seven candidates, fielding senior party leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra from Anandpur Sahib and Daljit Singh Cheema from Gurdaspur. Besides, the SAD also named former MLA N K Sharma from Patiala, former minister Anil Joshi from Amritsar, Bikramjit Singh Khalsa from Fatehgarh Sahib, Rajwinder Singh from Faridkot and Iqbal Singh Jhoonda from Sangrur seat. The list of candidates was announced by party leader Daljit Singh Cheema in a post on X. Polling for 13 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the last phase on June 1.

4:21 PM

‘Remove Bournvita from health drinks category’: Govt tells e-commerce sites

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has asked all e-commerce websites to remove drinks and beverages, including Bournvita, from the health drinks category on their portals.

 

"National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)…after its inquiry under Section 14 of CRPC Act 2005 concluded that there is no 'health drink' defined under FSS Act 2006, rules and regulations submitted by FSSAI and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd," the Ministry said in an order dated April 10, 2024.

 

“All e-commerce companies/portals are hereby advised to remove drinks, beverages, including Bournvita from the category of health drinks from their platforms,” the order further said.

 

The order comes days after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had also advised e-commerce platforms to ensure that dairy-based beverage mixes, cereal-based beverage mixes, or malt-based beverage mixes like Bournvita are not available under the ‘health drinks’ or ‘energy drinks’ category.

4:01 PM

LS polls: Do not fall for words used by PM in his speeches, vote for change, says Priyanka Gandhi in U'khand

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asked people on Saturday not to get carried away by the words used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speeches and to vote for change in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a poll rally in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar, she said elections should be fought on real issues and not on the basis of empty rhetoric. "Don't get carried away by the words used by Modiji in his election speeches. Before casting your vote, you should honestly ask yourself whether 10 years of the Modi government have really brought about a positive change in your lives," the Congress general secretary said.

4:00 PM

200 people booked for allegedly causing traffic congestion by offering namaz on road on Eid in Meerut

Two hundred people were booked for allegedly causing traffic congestion by offering Namaz on a road here, police said on Saturday. The crowd moved to the road to offer Eid Namaz as the space inside the nearby mosque was filled. They allegedly had an altercation with the police when they prevented them from offering Namaz on the road, police said.The  sub-inspector of the Railway Road police station filed a complaint on Friday alleging that over 100 to 200 people offered Eid Namaz on Thursday on the road which led to severe traffic congestion, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rohit Singh Sajwan said.

3:07 PM

Had Modi not been there, Ayodhya Ram temple would not have been built: Raj Thackeray

MNS president Raj Thackeray on Saturday claimed that had Prime Minister Narendra Modi not been there, the Ayodhya Ram temple would not have been built despite the Supreme Court's order.

 

2:44 PM

BJP will not even win 200 Lok Sabha seats, says Mamata Banerje

Notably, the BJP-led NDA is aiming at crossing the 400 Lok Sabha seat mark in the upcoming elections.