Name: After a successful U.S. visit, PM Modi leaves for Cairo
Uploaded: 2023-06-24T07:48:46.000+05:30
Duration: T00M27S
Channel: ANI
Description: After concluding his maiden state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for Cairo, Egypt.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav met TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and expressed solidarity after the party’s defeat in the West Bengal elections.

Akhilesh Yadav meets Mamata Banerjee after TMC rout, alleges Bengal polls held on 'UP model'

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav met TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and expressed solidarity after the party&rsquo;s defeat in the West Bengal elections.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday met TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence and expressed solidarity with the party leadership following its defeat in the West Bengal assembly polls, while alleging that the elections in the state were conducted on the "Uttar Pradesh model" through intimidation and manipulation.
Yadav was received by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, where the SP chief is understood to have discussed the post-poll political situation in West Bengal and reiterated support for opposition unity against the BJP.
The meeting assumed political significance amid efforts by opposition parties to recalibrate strategies after the recent assembly elections in several states, and as Banerjee has vowed to strengthen the INDIA bloc after the TMC's electoral debacle.
"You have not lost. The fight to save democracy will continue, and we stand beside you," Yadav was heard telling Banerjee during the meeting, sources present there said.
He also congratulated Abhishek Banerjee for "putting up a strong fight" in the elections.
Addressing reporters later, Yadav alleged that the Bengal polls witnessed "multi-layered mafia tactics" involving the BJP, the Election Commission and "underground elements."
"What happened in Uttar Pradesh was repeated in Bengal. Opposition polling agents were threatened, and votes were conducted under fear. Central forces were used to ensure the defeat of the opposition," he alleged.
"The election was looted. BJP, the Election Commission and underground elements together conducted this election," the SP chief claimed, while displaying photographs and data before mediapersons to support his allegations.
He further alleged that officials were "lured with promises of higher posts" to influence the electoral process and claimed that BJP candidates secured unusually high victory margins in several constituencies because opposition polling agents were intimidated.
Yadav also expressed concern over the safety of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, alleging that the BJP was "anti-women", and asserted that democratic forces across the country must unite.
The SP leader also questioned the post-poll violence in the state and, when asked about the killing of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah should be answerable for the incident.
"Answers should be sought from him for the lapses," Yadav said.
Rath, considered a close associate and executive assistant to Adhikari, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday, triggering sharp political reactions amid mounting post-poll tension in the state.
The BJP won 207 seats to secure more than a two-thirds majority in the 294-member West Bengal assembly, ending the TMC's uninterrupted 15-year rule in the state.
The Mamata Banerjee-led party was reduced to 80 seats.
Banerjee, however, has maintained that she and her party were defeated through "manipulation" and has so far remained unwilling to tender her resignation as chief minister ahead of the formation of the new government.

IndiGo has announced that it will begin commercial operations from Noida International Airport in Jewar on June 15, becoming the launch carrier for the greenfield airport.

Noida airport to begin ops next month with IndiGo flights to Lucknow, Bengaluru

IndiGo has announced that it will begin commercial operations from Noida International Airport in Jewar on June 15, becoming the launch carrier for the greenfield airport.

IndiGo on Thursday announced that it will start commercial flight operations from the Noida International Airport in Jewar from June 15, becoming the launch carrier for the greenfield airport in western Uttar Pradesh.
The first day flights will be to and fro Lucknow and Bengaluru, the airline said in a statement.
Noida International Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 28.
IndiGo said it will be the first carrier to start commercial services from the airport, the third in the National Capital Region (NCR).
According to the airline, inaugural flights on June 15 will operate on the Lucknow-Noida-Bengaluru-Noida-Lucknow sector.
As per the announced schedule, flight 6E 2278 will depart from Lucknow at 7.05 am and arrive in Noida at 8.05 am before departing for Bengaluru at 8.35 am and landing there at 11.05 am.
The return flight, 6E 2279, will leave Bengaluru at 3.45 pm and reach Noida at 6.20 pm before departing for Lucknow at 6.55 pm and arriving there at 8 pm.
IndiGo said it will gradually introduce direct flights connecting Noida International Airport to more than 16 destinations across the country, including metro cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad, besides tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Jaipur, Lucknow, Navi Mumbai, Pantnagar and Srinagar.
The airline said bookings for the flights are being opened in phases through its website, mobile application and authorised travel partners.
Aloke Singh, Chief Strategy Officer of IndiGo, said the airline was pleased to announce the launch of operations from Noida International Airport.
"Strategically positioned on the Yamuna Expressway, Noida International Airport will be the new gateway for western Uttar Pradesh alongside the NCR. As we continue to expand our operations, we remain committed to delivering affordable, on-time and hassle-free travel experiences," Singh said.
IndiGo said the airport is expected to emerge as a major domestic aviation hub and will strengthen connectivity between Delhi-NCR and western Uttar Pradesh through integrated road and rail infrastructure.

Police have launched a massive investigation into the murder of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead by bike-borne assailants in Madhyamgram.

Police examining CCTV footage, form teams to trace killers of Suvendu's aide

Police have launched a massive investigation into the murder of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari&rsquo;s close aide Chandranath Rath, who was shot dead by bike-borne assailants in Madhyamgram.

The police have been examining CCTV footage and have formed multiple special investigating teams to trace those involved in the killing of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari&rsquo;s close aide Chandranath Rath, a senior officer said on Thursday.
The police are also probing whether contract killers were engaged to murder Rath, who was shot dead in his car by bike-borne gunmen in the middle of a road at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday night.
A forensic team visited the spot on Thursday morning and collected samples, while officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) also joined the probe, he said.
"Going by the circumstantial evidence, it seems that the murder was pre-planned. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the crime spot and nearby areas, while multiple police teams have been formed to trace the assailants," the officer said.
"We are also examining videos taken using mobile phones by witnesses who also helped in taking Rath, his driver and the other person inside the SUV to the nearby hospital," he stated.
Since the crime took place some time after rain on Wednesday night, not many people were present on the roads leading to Rath's residential complex.
"We have spoken to those people who were seen in the CCTV footage," he said.
According to preliminary information, Rath's car was blocked by a vehicle near Doharia between Doltala and Madhyamgram Chowmatha between 10-10.15 pm on Wednesday when motorcycle-borne men arrived at the spot and fired at him from close range before fleeing.
Rath, 42, was returning to his residence in Madhyamgram from Kolkata when the incident occurred, he said. The deceased is survived by his son and wife.
The vehicle was being driven by Buddhadeb Bera, who also sustained bullet injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kolkata, another officer said.
Bera, who underwent a couple of surgeries, remained "very critical", sources in the hospital said.
"Rath&rsquo;s car was intercepted around 100 metres from the housing complex where he lived," the officer said.
The small car was waiting for Rath's vehicle to arrive near the street, he said.
"Once the occupant of the small car found Rath's vehicle approaching, he drove it to block its way. And once his vehicle got stuck there, the gunmen put the firearms against the glass and started firing, fatally hitting the deceased," the officer said.
The occupants of the small four-wheeler later abandoned the vehicle and escaped on motorcycles, police said.
Police suspected that the killers fled on two motorcycles in two directions.
"One probably took the main road towards Jessore Road, while the other took a narrow street on the left leading to Rajarhat," the officer said.
Another police officer said CCTV footage showed the car travelling towards Madhyamgram before the attack.
Investigators said they are taking help from both Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate to check CCTV footage installed under their respective jurisdictions and study the movement of the killers.
"The number plate attached to the small car left by the assailants was found to be fake. The original one belongs to a person based in Siliguri, who works in a tea estate. The chassis number and engine number of the small car have also been erased. It indicates that they had planned the murder," he said.
The person in Siliguri is being interrogated by the local police.
"He is claiming to have uploaded a photograph of his vehicle on an online platform with the intention of selling it. We are verifying his claims and rechecking them," the officer said.
Later on Thursday, police found one of the two motorcycles allegedly used in the killing of Rath from near a tea stall around 4 km from the spot where the shooting took place, the officer said.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the motorcycle also bore a fake registration number.
Investigators also found that the chassis number had been erased, making it difficult to identify the owner, he said, adding that efforts to find out the second bike is on.
Police were suspecting the use of sophisticated firearms during the attack.
On Thursday, police recovered a bullet shell on the streets, 10 metres away from Rath's residence, the sleuth said.
According to preliminary forensic inputs, the assailants might have used Glock 47X pistols, he said.
"A weapon of this nature is generally not used by ordinary criminals. We are examining whether professional shooters were involved," a senior West Bengal Police officer said on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, one of the locals claimed to have seen three people on a bike "waiting" on the streets on Wednesday night.
"We did not know much about Rath. Whether he was an aide of Suvendu Adhikari was not known to us. He used to return home in the same car with a West Bengal Assembly sticker at the same time every day," he claimed.

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar informed TVK chief Vijay that his party currently lacks the numbers to form the government.

TVK has no requisite support to form govt, TN guv tells Vijay; party reaches out to Left, VCK

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar informed TVK chief Vijay that his party currently lacks the numbers to form the government.

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday conveyed to TVK chief Vijay that his party does not have the requisite support to form the government and the fledgling party simultaneously stepped up its efforts to convince the Left parties, VCK and the IUML to rope them in to shore up numbers, and they are expected to spell out their stand on the matter within two days.
The parties in contention wanted the governor to invite TVK to form government. They are likely to extend support, considering Vijay is open to accommodate prospective allies in his cabinet.
Vijay, based on an invite from governor Arlekar, visited the Lok Bhavan in his his second visit within 24 hours.
"During the meeting, the Hon'ble Governor explained that the requisite majority support in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, essential for forming the government, has not been established," Lok Bhavan said in a press release.
When contacted, CPI(M) State Secretary P Shanmugam told PTI that the party would take stock of the situation and consider TVK's request for support on May 8.
CPI State Secretary Veerapandian said a decision was likely on Friday and VCK top leader Thol Thirumavalavan said his party's top level body would decide on the matter after Left parties take a stand on the issue of extending support to TVK, which is five short of the required 118 MLAs to install its first government.
The Congress, Left parties and VCK chief Thirumavalavan also condemned the Governor for not inviting Vijay so far to form the government.
"Experts say that the governor cannot demand a list of 118 MLAs who will support the government and our view is that the BJP is creating confusion in Tamil Nadu politics. They may be asked to prove majority on the floor of the House and they cannot be asked to give list in advance," Thirumavalavan told reporters.
TNCC announced a state-wide protest against the Governor and BJP regime at the Centre over the issue on Friday.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in a statement said, "Governments are not decided on the lawns of Lok bhavan. They are decided on the floor of the House."
TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar called on Veerapandian and Marxist party leader Shanmugam and sought their support in forming a government and told reporters that they had also requested IUML to extend its support.
Meanwhile, DMK sources said party president and outgoing Chief Minister MK Stalin conveyed his wish --in a meeting-- to the leaders of alliance parties including the Left that they should continue to be part of the Secular Progressive Alliance.
On the AIADMK front, MLAs of the party were lodged in a resort in neighbouring Puducherry.
In a span of 24 hours, Vijay had met the Governor for the second time on Thursday over government formation. Though TVK won the April 23 polls with 108 seats, it fell short of the majority mark of 118 to form government.
The Congress, which has won five seats, has extended its support to TVK.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby called upon Arlekar to uphold democratic conventions by inviting the TVK to form the government as it was the single largest party in a fractured assembly.
Speaking on the political impasse in Tamil Nadu, the CPI (M) top leader argued that in the absence of a clear majority or a pre-poll alliance reaching the magic number, constitutional precedent dictates that the leader of the largest party be sworn in. He cited the 1996 invitation to BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a historical parallel.
"The governor's office should be beyond suspicion," Baby told PTI Videos, questioning the delay in the invitation and demanding that Vijay be given reasonable time to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy claimed that everything regarding government formation will happen in a democratic way and that the governor will stick to the rules.
"I don't think there is any confusion with Raj Bhavan or the governor. He (governor) will go by the constitution. He will go by rule book", the BJP leader told PTI videos.
"The way the people have cast their votes reflects this outcome. Consequently, the electorate has voted in such a way that no single party has secured an absolute majority", he added.
Tirupathy said, "According to our constitutional framework, the party that secures the highest number of seats, specifically, more than half of the total strength of the house and the one that gets the necessary support or backing is entitled to form the government. However, unfortunately, in this instance, no party has secured a majority".
"I believe this is precisely the reason for the current confusion and they (Lokbhavan) were taking the necessary time", he said adding "if other parties come forward to express their support for Vijay, a stable governance will be established in Tamil Nadu"
Meanwhile, TVK cadres staged a protest demonstration outside the Lok Bhavan on Thursday, demanding that the governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar should allow the party chief Vijay to form the government.

Vijay-led TVK has begun alliance talks with Left parties after emerging as the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with 108 seats.

TVK reaches out to Left parties, seeks support in govt formation

Vijay-led TVK has begun alliance talks with Left parties after emerging as the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with 108 seats.

TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar on Thursday called on CPI state secretary M Veerapandian and CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam and sought their support in forming a government, emphasising a share in power.
The TVK joint general secretary personally visited the Left party offices here and handed over the letters requesting their support on behalf of the party.
The Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam lacks a simple majority to form the government on its own.
Kumar pointed out that TVK founder Vijay had already stated that there must be a share in governance and power, as well. "Only then the parties can implement their respective ideologies and policies," he said, and added that "TVK is under no pressure at the moment."
TVK had already mailed its request to the Left parties, VCK and IUML, and had formally handed over the letters from Vijay, he said, and exuded confidence that TVK would form the government.
"The parties have sought time to respond to our request," Kumar told reporters emerging out of the meeting with Veerapandian.
Asked if TVK has reached out to the NDA, he replied, "We have not asked and don't intend to."
The TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member strong Tamil Nadu Assembly in the recently held elections. It needs 10 more seats to form a government. The Congress has already extended support to TVK.
Kumar said that as per the law, the Governor must invite the single largest party to form the government.
"The people have voted for TVK, and he must certainly invite us. We have already staked our claim to form the government, and we will wait for a day," he said.
With the people of the state providing a mandate to the TVK, Vijay should become the chief minister, he said.

Marking one year of Operation Sindoor, India’s top military officials said the multi-domain combat mission proved that no terror sanctuary in Pakistan is safe.

Operation Sindoor signalled no terror sanctuary is safe: Indian military

Marking one year of Operation Sindoor, India&rsquo;s top military officials said the multi-domain combat mission proved that no terror sanctuary in Pakistan is safe.

Operation Sindoor signalled that no terror sanctuary is safe in Pakistan and the mission was just the beginning, the Indian military said on Thursday as it commemorated the first anniversary of the multi-domain combat campaign.
The heads of military operations of the Indian Air Force, Navy and the Indian Army addressed a press conference in Jaipur detailing various aspects of the operation that was billed as India's most expansive combat mission in half a century to punish Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism.
"Operation Sindoor was not an end and it was just the beginning," Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, who played a key role in executing the operation in his capacity as the Army's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), said.
Ghai said Operation Sindoor saw India very coherently go beyond its erstwhile methods to target terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and international boundary with Pakistan.
It was a statement of resolve, responsibility and strategic restraint by our nation, he noted, adding it was executed with precision, proportionality and clarity of purpose. "India will defend its sovereignty, its security, and its people decisively, professionally and with the utmost responsibility," Ghai said.
Operation Sindoor signalled that no terror sanctuary in Pakistan is safe, he said.
We planned, executed and concluded a complex multi-domain operation in a remarkably compressed timeframe, he said.
Air Marshal A K Bharti, the then Director General of Air Operations, said Operation Sindoor reaffirmed primacy of air power.
In response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year, carrying out airstrikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The action triggered a rapid escalation in tensions with Pakistan launching retaliatory strikes, though most of them were thwarted by the Indian military.
The hostilities ended with an understanding on halting the military actions on May 10 following talks over the hotline between army officials of the two sides.

Today's Chanakya exit poll projects a strong BJP performance in West Bengal and Assam, a DMK comeback in Tamil Nadu, and a close UDF-LDF contest in Kerala ahead of May 4 counting.

Exit poll predicts big BJP win in Bengal, Assam; return of DMK in TN, dead heat in Kerala

Today's Chanakya exit poll projects a strong BJP performance in West Bengal and Assam, a DMK comeback in Tamil Nadu, and a close UDF-LDF contest in Kerala ahead of May 4 counting.

A new exit poll on Thursday predicted that the BJP would win big in West Bengal and Assam, while the DMK would return to power in Tamil Nadu.
The Today's Chanakya poll also predicted a tight race in Kerala, forecasting 69 seats for the Congress-led UDF and 64 seats for the ruling LDF with a margin of error of nine seats.
Another exit poll by News18 for West Bengal, predicted a close fight with the BJP getting 143-163 seats and the TMC 127-147 seats.
Today's Chanakya forecast 192 seats for the BJP and 100 for the TMC in West Bengal with a margin of error of 11 seats. West Bengal has a total of 294 seats with the majority mark being 148.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, asserted that her party would win more than 226 seats and alleged that the exit poll projections were aired at the "instruction of the BJP" to demoralise TMC workers.
In Assam, Today's Chanakya forecast that the BJP would get 102 seats and the Congress 23 with a margin of error of nine seats. The Assam assembly has 126 seats with the magic mark being 64.
Today's Chanakya predicted that the DMK would return to power in Tamil Nadu but actor-turned-politician Vijay's TVK would have a stunning poll debut, beating AIADMK, to the second spot.
It predicted that the DMK plus would get 125 seats, TVK 63 seats and AIADMK plus 45 seats with a margin of error of 11 seats. The Tamil Nadu has a total of 234 seats with the magic mark being 118.
In Kerala, Today's Chanakya predicted a close contest, forecasting 69 seats (plus/minus nine seats) for the UDF, 64 seats (plus/minus nine seats) for the LDF and 7 seats (plus/minus four) for the BJP. Kerala assembly has 140 seats with the magic mark being 71.
Several exit polls on Wednesday predicted a thumping victory for the BJP in Assam and a clear edge for the party over the ruling TMC in West Bengal, while projecting a return of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu and a comeback by the Congress-led UDF in Kerala after 10 years.
However, some pollsters predicted a big win for the TMC in West Bengal and a hung House in Tamil Nadu with actor-turned politician Vijay's TVK emerging as a spoiler for the DMK.
Almost all forecast a return to power for the AINRC-led NDA government in Puducherry.
Most exit polls have had a chequered history and have been off the mark on several occasions in the past. Most exit polls do not spell out the methodology they have followed in arriving at their respective conclusions.
Axis My India on Thursday decided not to release its exit poll for West Bengal, saying it did not have enough data with many people not divulging their voting preferences.
The counting of votes for five assemblies -- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Assam -- will be taken up on May 4.
Polls were conducted in a single phase in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. West Bengal saw two-phase polling on April 23 and 29.
On April 9, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry went to polls. Tamil Nadu went to polls on April 23.
While the BJP is seeking to retain power in Assam and Puducherry, where it is in an alliance government with All India N R Congress, the Congress is looking to wrest power from its rival in both these places.
In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF is seeking to replace the LDF government that is in power, while in Tamil Nadu, the DMK-led alliance is looking to retain power by thwarting the challenge from AIADMK-BJP and the debutant party -- Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
The TMC is looking to retain West Bengal and thwart the challenge from the BJP.

Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of influencing exit polls to demoralise TMC workers, asserts her party will cross 226 seats, and raises concerns over central forces and EVM security ahead of counting.

Will win 226 seats; exit polls predictions made at BJP's behest to demoralise TMC workers: Mamata

Mamata Banerjee accuses BJP of influencing exit polls to demoralise TMC workers, asserts her party will cross 226 seats, and raises concerns over central forces and EVM security ahead of counting.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday dismissed exit poll projections, saying they were aired at the &ldquo;instruction of the BJP&rdquo; to demoralise her party and asserted that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) would win more than 226 seats in the assembly polls.
She also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging central forces acted as &ldquo;agents of the BJP&rdquo;, and took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks made on Wednesday that "the poll results will strengthen the resolve of a developed India", wondering how he can make such a comment when voting was on.
In a video message shared on social media ahead of counting on May 4, Banerjee claimed television channels ran projections circulated from the BJP office, alleging a coordinated attempt to shape public perception.
&ldquo;I want to reassure you that what is being shown on TV, that circular was issued from the BJP office at 1.08 pm yesterday. Money was paid to show those figures. The media was forced to air it,&rdquo; she said.
Her remarks came a day after most exit polls predicted a majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 294-member Assembly, where the halfway mark is 148, with several projections giving it over 150 seats, a narrative the TMC chief sought to counter forcefully.
Exuding confidence about her party&rsquo;s prospects, Banerjee said the TMC would comfortably cross the two-thirds mark.
&ldquo;We will cross 226. We may even get 230. I have full faith in the way people have voted,&rdquo; she said.
Thanking voters for their participation, she struck an emotional note, saying, &ldquo;Even in such scorching heat, and despite so much oppression, the way you stood in queues to vote -- we are grateful. I am also grateful to my workers. They fought with everything they had. They endured a lot of oppression. Those who tried to subdue Bengal have themselves been subdued in the ballot box.&rdquo;
Alleging widespread intimidation during polling, Banerjee said Trinamool workers faced &ldquo;joint oppression&rdquo; by central forces and sections of the police.
&ldquo;The BJP intimidates everyone through ED, CBI. The conduct of the central forces yesterday, and some of the newly appointed police personnel who were not under my control - they beat women, they beat children,&rdquo; she claimed.
The chief minister also trained her guns on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that central forces acted as &ldquo;agents of the BJP&rdquo; during the entire polling process.
&ldquo;At direct instructions of Amit Shah, central forces have been working in West Bengal as agents of the BJP in the entire polling process,&rdquo; she claimed.
He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on the last day of polling from Uttar Pradesh, where he had said voters are casting their vote in West Bengal this time in a "fearless atmosphere", which was unimaginable in the past six or seven decades." He also asserted that the assembly poll results on May 4 will further strengthen the resolve of a developed India.
&ldquo;How can he say Bengal is his during elections? Does he know Bengal? Does he know its soil? He knows no one here,&rdquo; she said.
Referring to the reported death of a voter in Udaynarayanpur in a polling booth, she said, &ldquo;I have no words to console the bereaved family of the gentleman who died while going to vote. We will stand by that family.&rdquo;
The CM alleged that her party workers were &ldquo;one-sidedly attacked&rdquo; but did not retreat, and that many were deliberately arrested to prevent them from acting as polling agents.
She cited incidents from areas such as Bhatpara, Noapara, Jagaddal and her own constituency, Bhabanipur.
&ldquo;Our workers were beaten so that they could not function as agents. Even in Bhabanipur, raids were conducted throughout the night. I have not slept for two days,&rdquo; she said.
Calling the exit poll predictions a &ldquo;BJP conspiracy&rdquo;, Banerjee further alleged that they were aired to influence economic sentiment and demoralise her cadre.
&ldquo;I have information that this was done to comfort the share market. If the truth comes out, the market will crash. So the BJP used the media for this last game, to demoralise our workers,&rdquo; she said, recalling discrepancies between exit poll projections and actual results in 2016 and 2021.
In a strong organisational directive, Banerjee asked party leaders, candidates and workers to remain on high alert during counting and guard strong rooms housing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
&ldquo;You must guard the counting centres. If needed, I will also go and guard my area. Candidates must guard themselves. Stay awake. If I can do it, so can you. There is a plan to change the machines while transporting EVMs. Do not take this lightly,&rdquo; she said.
&ldquo;Until I formally say so in a press conference, no one should leave the counting table,&rdquo; Banerjee added.
The TMC supremo cautioned workers against leaving counting tables unattended even briefly.
&ldquo;During counting, sit firmly at the centres. Even if someone needs to go to the toilet or eat, it should not be for more than two minutes. Leave someone trustworthy in your place, someone who cannot be bought with money,&rdquo; she said.
Despite the sharp allegations, Banerjee appealed for restraint.
&ldquo;Even if they attack you, do not retaliate immediately. There has been a lot of violence. Our workers were beaten and bloodied in Bhangar. They will be answered &mdash; but no one should take the law into their own hands. We will take action,&rdquo; the CM said.
Banerjee said she was &ldquo;100 per cent confident&rdquo; of a win and urged all TMC candidates to remain vigilant till the final results are declared.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya dismissed her allegations as a sign of nervousness.
&ldquo;She is very well aware that she is losing the polls and that is why she is making such a statement to keep her party workers charged up,&rdquo; he said, terming her remarks a &ldquo;panic reaction&rdquo; to an &ldquo;imminent defeat&rdquo;.
The sharp exchange underscores the high-stakes nature of the Bengal verdict, with both narrative and numbers under intense contest ahead of counting day.

A cruise boat carrying 35–40 passengers overturned in the Bargi River in Jabalpur after a sudden storm, leaving four dead, 18 rescued and several others missing as rescue operations continue.

River cruise boat overturns in Jabalpur district; 4 dead, 15 to 18 missing

A cruise boat carrying 35&ndash;40 passengers overturned in the Bargi River in Jabalpur after a sudden storm, leaving four dead, 18 rescued and several others missing as rescue operations continue.

Four people drowned when a cruise boat carrying 35 to 40 passengers overturned in the Bargi river in Jabalpur district after encountering a sudden storm on Thursday, a police official said.
Eighteen people were rescued, while 15 to 18 are still missing, said City Superintendent of Police (Bargi town) Anjul Mishra.
Mishra said 35 to 40 people were on the river cruise boat when it overturned because of a sudden storm.
Four bodies were recovered from the river, while an operation was on in full swing to trace and rescue the missing passengers, said the police officer.&nbsp;

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off first direct Vande Bharat from Jammu to Srinagar, announces plans to connect Poonch, Rajouri and Uri, boosting trade, tourism and all-weather connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.

Vaishnaw flags off Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, promises rail link to Uri

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flags off first direct Vande Bharat from Jammu to Srinagar, announces plans to connect Poonch, Rajouri and Uri, boosting trade, tourism and all-weather connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.

As the first direct Vande Bharat Express from Jammu chugged into the Kashmir valley on Thursday, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw promised to focus on connecting remote areas like Poonch, Rajouri and Uri to the country&rsquo;s rail network.
Following the completion of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), Vaishnaw said detailed project reports (DPRs) have been prepared on projects to connect the Poonch-Rajouri region to the national rail network and to extend the railway line to Uri, a border town in Baramulla district.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister of State in the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, Jitendra Singh, were among the dignitaries present at the flagging off ceremony.
The direct train services between Srinagar and Jammu will reduce travel time between the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir, and boost tourism, besides providing an all-weather surface transport link.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first direct train service between Katra and Srinagar on June 6, 2025. This service has now been extended up to the Jammu Tawi Railway Station.
The work on the Rs 43,780-crore rail project, linking Kashmir to the rest of the country, began in the late 1990s, with the first train operating in the Kashmir Valley in October 2008.
Talking to reporters after the flagging off ceremony, Vaishnaw said the government will focus on connecting the Poonch-Rajouri region with the rail network of the country, besides working on a rail link to Uri.
 &ldquo;We will now focus on connecting Poonch and Rajouri with rail connectivity. We will also take up a project to connect Uri with the train,&rdquo; the minister said after the flagging off ceremony.
&ldquo;The DPRs for these projects have been made, and we will try to get work started soon,&rdquo; he added.
On the Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, the railway minister called it a major landmark achievement, which has become the lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir.
 &ldquo;This train service is a major landmark for people of Jammu and Kashmir. The prime minister inaugurated this train service between Katra and Kashmir last year. This train is very popular with 100 per cent occupancy and has become a lifeline for Jammu and Kashmir,&rdquo; Vaishnaw said.
He said there was a huge demand for increasing the passenger-carrying capacity of the train.
&ldquo;The eight coaches ran at 100 per cent occupancy, and there was demand to increase the capacity. Now, it has been made into a 20-coach train,&rdquo; he said, and noted that the train service benefited the people of Kashmir as it has been used for ferrying goods like cement, cars and bikes.
&ldquo;I have been told that the prices of cement have dropped by Rs 50 (per bag). Around 2 crore kg (20,000 tons) of apples and other fruits have been transported through train to other parts of the country,&rdquo; he said.
Vaishnaw said the Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar can operate in all weather conditions.
&ldquo;We can run this train in minus 10 degrees Celsius. You saw there was one foot of snow last winter, but the trains still operated. The design of this train incorporates all facilities and advanced features for passenger comfort, making it an all-weather train,&rdquo; he said.
The minister said this is the first time that a train is being operated at such a high altitude. &ldquo;This train will facilitate the easy movement of fruits, goods and all other items.&rdquo; CM Abdullah, while thanking the Railways Minister and the Centre for extending Vande Bharat train services between Jammu and Srinagar.
&ldquo;I want to congratulate and thank Vaishnaw and, through him, the central government, on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, for connecting Jammu with Kashmir through rail,&rdquo; Abdullah said, addressing a gathering during the flagging-off ceremony from the Jammu railway station.
Highlighting the railway connectivity&rsquo;s trade benefits, he said goods like cement and cars can be transported, giving a huge boost to business and trade.
&ldquo;The speciality of this train is that it has not only enabled people like us to travel but has also facilitated the transport of goods such as cement. I was surprised to see Maruti cars being transported to Srinagar and fruits from Kashmir by rail,&rdquo; he said.
Abdullah also appealed to the railways minister to set up an inland port in Jammu and Kashmir to ease customs clearance for exporting goods from the union territory.
&ldquo;I have a request for the railways minister, even as it does not pertain to his ministry, but since he has the goodwill, he can use that. I request that an inland port be set up in J&amp;K.
&ldquo;There is an urgent need for a dry port here so that we do not require customs clearance in other cities for our goods, which we want to export from here. The customs clearance should take place here in J&amp;K, it will benefit our trade and business,&rdquo; the CM added.
Abdullah said that while he would raise the issue with the Centre, he appealed to the union ministers and the MPs present there to take up the matter with the government.
Talking about the significance of the railway connectivity between Srinagar and Jammu, the CM said the people of J&amp;K had been waiting for it for many years.
&ldquo;For so many years, we had been waiting to travel by train from Jammu to Srinagar. Now, there is no need for us to travel to Katra from Jammu and the other way around via road,&rdquo; he said.
Abdullah said he had never expected the railway line to become so popular that he would have to seek favours to reserve seats on the train.
&ldquo;Thankfully, now it (train) has been changed from eight bogeys to 20 and while 500 passengers used to travel earlier, now 1,400 people can travel (at once). This is a huge thing for us,&rdquo; he added.
Jitendra Singh said the direct train service between the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir will propel economic growth in the union territory, besides making travel easy for tourists and pilgrims.
&ldquo;We express our gratitude to the PM. It was due to his efforts that the train between Jammu and Katra became a reality after 42 years, and the direct train between Jammu and Srinagar has now been started,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;

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After concluding his maiden state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for Cairo, Egypt.

After a successful U.S. visit, PM Modi leaves for Cairo

After concluding his maiden state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Cairo, Egypt.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday left for Egypt after concluding his US State Visit during which he held talks with President Joe Biden and addressed the Joint Session of Congress. The two-day State Visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is also the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister since 1997.
&nbsp;

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his austerity appeal, asking him to explain the state of the economy and why the burden should fall on the middle class.

PM's austerity measures most stringent; people need to know economy's condition: Kejriwal

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his austerity appeal, asking him to explain the state of the economy and why the burden should fall on the middle class.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over austerity measures he has asked people to follow and said he needs to tell people about the condition of the country's economy.
Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said the country has passed through crises, including wars, in the past, but no prime minister before Modi announced seven most stringent steps, requesting people to follow them.
He also said the obvious reason behind the austerity measures suggested by Modi was the ongoing war between America and Iran, but "there could be some other reason behind the slipping economy of the country".
The former Delhi chief minister also questioned why all the austerity measures were targeted at the middle class and why the prime minister himself, ministers, officers and ultra rich of the country should not have to make the sacrifices.
The prime minister recently appealed to people to limit their purchase of gold, foreign travel and use of petroleum consumption among several other suggestions. The opposition has attacked the ruling party over the remarks and termed them "evidence of failure".

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam schedule will be announced within seven to 10 days after the exam was cancelled over paper leak allegations.

We take responsibility; process to hold NEET-UG re-exam to begin in 7-10 days: NTA DG Abhishek Singh

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam schedule will be announced within seven to 10 days after the exam was cancelled over paper leak allegations.

Taking responsibility for the cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 over allegations of paper leak, the Director General of the National Testing Agency, Abhishek Singh, on Tuesday said the schedule for the re-examination would be announced within the &ldquo;next seven to 10 days&rdquo;.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET, held on May 3 for medical admissions amid allegations of paper leak, with the government asking the CBI to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the &ldquo;irregularities&rdquo;.
&ldquo;For the re-examination date, I will sit with my team and, in the next few days, announce the complete exam schedule and dates. Our effort will be to conduct the exam in the shortest possible time so that the academic calendar and admission schedule of medical colleges are not disrupted. The process will begin within the next seven to 10 days,&rdquo; Singh said.
No additional fee will be charged from the candidates for the re-examination, and the fees paid earlier will be refunded, he said.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, meanwhile, refused to respond to questions from the media on the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026.
Calling the incident &ldquo;distressing&rdquo;, Singh said, &ldquo;Paper leaks must end with immediate effect. It is unfortunate that we are at this stage. This is a matter of concern for the children of our country, for their parents, and for the entire ecosystem. I understand that more than two lakh people were involved in the examination process,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;This is distressing for everyone involved. We take responsibility for what has happened; it was wrong. We are cancelling it (NEET UG 2026) and preparing to conduct it again with the assurance that such incidents will not be repeated,&rdquo; Singh added.
Some questions circulating in PDF format among students before the examination matched the actual question paper, prompting the agency to recommend cancellation of the medical entrance test, he said.
&ldquo;The entire paper was not leaked. The CBI will probe the number of questions leaked. We will appeal to the agency to nab the culprits and take strong action (in the matter),&rdquo; Singh said.
&ldquo;The test conducted on May 3 had four code versions. None of the papers was found in the market, and no leak has been established. There were many questions in the PDF that circulated, and some of them looked similar to questions from the exam paper,&rdquo; the NTA DG said.
&ldquo;So, I would not say that the entire paper was leaked. But I will definitely say that even if a single question matches our question paper, our commitment to zero tolerance and zero error is violated, and our entire process is compromised. We will take responsibility for it and take action accordingly,&rdquo; he added.
Singh also said that strict action would be taken against those attempting to mislead students or exploit the examination process.
&ldquo;I want to assure all that we will take strict action against anyone attempting such mischief. Wherever we receive reports that someone is selling question papers or misleading students, we will act against them,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;There were many cases, even before the exam, where people were asking for OTPs in the name of providing papers and emptying bank accounts.
&ldquo;We have taken action against all such people, and our policy is clear that we will not allow any irregularities in the examination process,&rdquo; Singh stressed.
The NEET-UG 2026 was held on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.
The NTA organised the examination for nearly 23 lakh registered candidates at centres across the country.

The CBI has lodged an FIR over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak after the NTA cancelled the medical entrance exam. Multiple teams have been deployed to investigate the irregularities.

CBI registers FIR in NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case after exam cancellation

The CBI has lodged an FIR over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak after the NTA cancelled the medical entrance exam. Multiple teams have been deployed to investigate the irregularities.

The CBI lodged an FIR on Tuesday over the alleged leak of the NEET (UG) 2026 paper, officials said.
The high-stakes entrance examination, held on May 3 for admission to undergraduate medical courses, was cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday after allegations of malpractice surfaced.
The CBI swung into action following a written complaint from the Department of Higher Education of the Union Ministry of Education, the officials said.
After receiving a reference from the Centre, the CBI moved with alacrity, registering a case of criminal conspiracy, cheating, criminal breach of trust, theft and destruction of evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Public Examination Prevention of Unfair Means Act 2024, they added.
The agency has dispatched multiple special teams to various locations and will also collect material from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Rajasthan Police that was investigating the case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier solved the NEET paper-leak cases of 2024.
"It has further been alleged that the NTA received a complaint and inputs regarding the reported circulation of some documents pertaining to the NEET (UG) 2026 prior to the conduct of the examination," an official in the know of the developments said.
The allegations indicate a possible compromise of the sanctity and integrity of the examination process, he said.
"The CBI has taken up the matter for a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the nature and extent of the alleged irregularities, as well as the involvement of individuals and entities connected therewith," the official said.
The NEET-UG 2026 was conducted in 551 Indian cities and at 14 overseas centres.
Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the test, which was administered by the NTA at centres across the country.
According to the NTA, information relating to alleged malpractice was received on the evening of May 7, four days after the examination was held.
The NTA said the inputs were escalated to central agencies the following morning for "independent verification and necessary action".
The Rajasthan Police's SOG had claimed that a "guess paper" for chemistry that was allegedly circulated among students ahead of the examination had approximately 410 questions, including roughly 120 questions that appeared in the test.
While the chemistry paper in the exam carries 45 questions, the test used four sets of question papers.
"It is reported that this guess paper had been circulating among the students well in advance. It began reaching them as early as 15 days to a month prior to the actual examination. We are investigating on the basis of the guess paper and it is also available in open domain," ADG, SOG, Vishal Bansal had said.

NEET-UG 2026 has been cancelled following paper leak allegations. Students across India have questioned NTA's credibility and demanded that AIIMS-Delhi conduct the fresh medical entrance exam.

'Simply disheartening': NEET cancellation triggers outrage among aspirants across country

NEET-UG 2026 has been cancelled following paper leak allegations. Students across India have questioned NTA's credibility and demanded that AIIMS-Delhi conduct the fresh medical entrance exam.

The cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 has triggered nationwide outrage among aspirants, with students raising questions regarding competence of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and demanding that the medical entrance exam be conducted by AIIMS-Delhi.
The NTA on Tuesday cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026 held on May 3 amid allegations of paper leak, with the government asking the CBI to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the "irregularities".
The examination for students seeking admission to undergraduate courses in medical colleges will now be held afresh on dates to be notified separately.
The cancellation of the annual test has left aspirants grappling with frustration and anxiety.
For 17-year-old Nikhil Kumar from Delhi's Chirag Dilli, the NTA's decision meant losing what he believed would have been a good score.
"My expected score was around 540, which would have given me a good chance. Now, we will have to reappear for the exam while trying to keep our preparation at its best," Kumar told PTI.
Another aspirant, Moumita Das from Kolkata, said the development was "simply disheartening" for both her and her parents.
"A lot of sacrifices go into preparing for an exam like NEET-UG. It takes years of discipline, not just for me but also for my parents. It is quite difficult to get back into the mindset to keep preparing when everything feels like it is falling apart," Das added.
Lamenting the cancellation of exam, a student from Dehradun said the NEET preparation involves "so many sleepless nights".
"It feels really bad. We worked so hard," the student told PTI.
In Shimla, Sonakshi Pandit, sister of a NEET aspirant, questioned the credibility of the NTA.
"Why should students suffer for incompetence of the NTA which failed to ensure secrecy of examination paper," Pandit, who is also preparing for NEET, said and demanded that the medical entrance exam be conducted by the AIIMS-Delhi.
"I have seen my brother working very hard for the past three years. He was expected to get 686 marks in NEET 2026 which implies that he could have been among the top three in Himachal Pradesh," she said.
Talking to the PTI Videos, she said that "we are disheartened after the examination was cancelled. Some students appeared for the third or fourth time, just imagine their plight and mental stress," she said.
In 2024 too, the NEET paper was leaked but it seems the NTA did not learn any lesson from that incident, Pandit said.
Another Shimla student Medayansh, who appeared in NEET 2026, said, "The students are stressed. The examination should be re-conducted only in areas where the paper was leaked.
Meanwhile, a massive protest organised by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) broke out outside the Shastri Bhawan in the national capital on Tuesday against the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG.
Several members of the Congress party's student wing were seen participating in the protest, while holding placards that read 'PM compromised, paper compromised', 'paper leak, Modi sarkar weak', and 'doctor ki degree bikau hain' (doctor's degree is for sale).
In a statement on X, the NTA said the decision was taken in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system.
"On the basis of inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with central agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies, the National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026, and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified separately," the agency said.
The NEET-UG 2026 was held on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.
The examination was organised by the NTA for nearly 23 lakh registered candidates at centres across the country.

Governor R N Ravi has officially dissolved the West Bengal Legislative Assembly with effect from May 7 following the completion of its five-year term.

Governor dissolves West Bengal assembly after completion of term

Governor R N Ravi has officially dissolved the West Bengal Legislative Assembly with effect from May 7 following the completion of its five-year term.

Governor R N Ravi has dissolved the West Bengal State Legislative Assembly with effect from May 7 after completion of its term, according to an official notification.
The current assembly was constituted in May 2021 after the Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, returned to power for the third consecutive term in the state.
The dissolution marks the formal completion of the tenure of the outgoing assembly, following the recently concluded two-phase elections.
The notification was issued by the Department of Parliamentary Affairs.

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