Repeating his 'suit-boot' jibe at Narendra Modi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Monday alleged there is no place for the poor in the prime minister's heart, adding, "If you are not in suit-boot you are not PM's bhai".

Gandhi also accused Modi of remaining silent when Dalits, women, minorities, tribals and the poor are attacked in the country and alleged that he and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were trying to save a rape accused BJP MLA in the northern state.

On a campaign trail in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the Congress president again took on Modi over the controversial Rafale jet deal and alleged he had close proximity with businessmen like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Anil Ambani.

He also said that loans of farmers will be waived in 10 days if the Congress comes to power in the state.

Gandhi earlier began his two-day tour of the state by offering prayers at the famous Maa Peetambara Peeth temple complex in Datia in Gwalior division.

Taking a swipe at BJP's assurance on women's safety, Gandhi, without naming anyone, said there is a "need to save our daughters from BJP MLAs". Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a BJP MLA from UP, is accused of raping a minor girl in Unnao district.

Noting that the prime minister had said before the 2014 polls he wanted to be a "chowkidar" (guard), Gandhi alleged only 15-20 industrialists of the country benefitted under his government, instead of farmers.

"Prime Minister addresses Mehul Choksi as Mehul bhai (brother), Nirav Modi as Nirav bhai and Anil Ambani as Anil bhai but he never addresses a labourer, a poor and a farmer as bhai or hugs them. There is no place for them in his heart.If you are not in suit-boot you are not PM's bhai," Gandhi said addressing a public gathering in Datia.

"The prime minister let jeweller Nirav Modi escape with Rs 35,000 crore, which is equal to the entire budget of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)," Gandhi further charged.

He was referring to the PNB banking fraud allegedly involving Nirav Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others.

Taking a dig at the ruling party over the issue of women's safety, Gandhi said, "The BJP gave a good slogan 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' (save and educate daughters).

"But in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were trying to save a rape accused BJP MLA. The PM didn't speak a word," he alleged. 
"There is a need now to save our daughters from BJP MLAs."

On the multi-billion dollar Rafale jet deal with France, Gandhi alleged that Modi ensured the offset contract for Anil Ambani, "who owes Rs 45,000 crore to public sector banks".

"The prime minister does not have the courage to reply why the offset contract for the French aircraft was "snatched" from the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and instead, given to Ambani's firm," he said.

"The prime minister could not look me in the eye (during debate in Parliament). The PM gives speeches but no answers...He doesn't have the courage to reply as to why the contract was snatched from HAL and given to Anil Ambani."

The Modi government has denied allegations of irregularities in Rafale deal and Ambani, too, has dismissed the Congress's allegations that he got any undue benefit.

Gandhi accused Modi of "insulting every Indian by mocking the governance of other parties during 70 years, before the BJP-led NDA came to power.

"From the Red Fort, Modi (during his Independence Day speech) said the country was sleeping before he took over as country's prime minister. This is not an insult to Congress leaders. This is insult to the country's people.

"This is an insult to farmers, labourers, youths, small traders and people who toiled hard to build this country. This is an insult to your mother and father," he added.

Repeating his 'suit-boot' jibe at Narendra Modi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Monday alleged there is no place for the poor in the prime minister's heart, adding, "If you are not in suit-boot you are not PM's bhai".

Repeating his 'suit-boot' jibe at Narendra Modi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Monday alleged there is no place for the poor in the prime minister's heart, adding, "If you are not in suit-boot you are not PM's bhai". Gandhi also accused Modi of remaining silent when Dalits, women, minorities, tribals and the poor are attacked in the country and alleged that he and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were trying to save a rape accused BJP MLA in the northern state. On a campaign trail in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the Congress president again took on Modi over the controversial Rafale jet deal and alleged he had close proximity with businessmen like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Anil Ambani. He also said that loans of farmers will be waived in 10 days if the Congress comes to power in the state. Gandhi earlier began his two-day tour of the state by offering prayers at the famous Maa Peetambara Peeth temple complex in Datia in Gwalior division. Taking a swipe at BJP's assurance on women's safety, Gandhi, without naming anyone, said there is a "need to save our daughters from BJP MLAs". Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a BJP MLA from UP, is accused of raping a minor girl in Unnao district. Noting that the prime minister had said before the 2014 polls he wanted to be a "chowkidar" (guard), Gandhi alleged only 15-20 industrialists of the country benefitted under his government, instead of farmers. "Prime Minister addresses Mehul Choksi as Mehul bhai (brother), Nirav Modi as Nirav bhai and Anil Ambani as Anil bhai but he never addresses a labourer, a poor and a farmer as bhai or hugs them. There is no place for them in his heart.If you are not in suit-boot you are not PM's bhai," Gandhi said addressing a public gathering in Datia. "The prime minister let jeweller Nirav Modi escape with Rs 35,000 crore, which is equal to the entire budget of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)," Gandhi further charged. He was referring to the PNB banking fraud allegedly involving Nirav Modi, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others. Taking a dig at the ruling party over the issue of women's safety, Gandhi said, "The BJP gave a good slogan 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' (save and educate daughters). "But in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were trying to save a rape accused BJP MLA. The PM didn't speak a word," he alleged. "There is a need now to save our daughters from BJP MLAs." On the multi-billion dollar Rafale jet deal with France, Gandhi alleged that Modi ensured the offset contract for Anil Ambani, "who owes Rs 45,000 crore to public sector banks". "The prime minister does not have the courage to reply why the offset contract for the French aircraft was "snatched" from the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and instead, given to Ambani's firm," he said. "The prime minister could not look me in the eye (during debate in Parliament). The PM gives speeches but no answers...He doesn't have the courage to reply as to why the contract was snatched from HAL and given to Anil Ambani." The Modi government has denied allegations of irregularities in Rafale deal and Ambani, too, has dismissed the Congress's allegations that he got any undue benefit. Gandhi accused Modi of "insulting every Indian by mocking the governance of other parties during 70 years, before the BJP-led NDA came to power. "From the Red Fort, Modi (during his Independence Day speech) said the country was sleeping before he took over as country's prime minister. This is not an insult to Congress leaders. This is insult to the country's people. "This is an insult to farmers, labourers, youths, small traders and people who toiled hard to build this country. This is an insult to your mother and father," he added.

'If you are not in suit-boot you are not PM's bhai', Rahul at Madhya Pradesh poll rally

Attacking the rival Congress, BSP and SP in a rally at Madhya Pradesh on Sunday,&nbsp;BJP chief Amit Shah said that the infiltrators are vote banks for the opposition while it was an issue of national security for them (BJP).

"40 Lakh infiltrators were identified and as soon as it happened, right from 'Diggi Raja' to 'Rahul Baba', all of them started making noises in Parliament. For Congress, SP and BSP infiltrators are vote banks, for BJP they are an issue of national security", Shah said&nbsp;in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh.

He further said that it was his party's responsibility to get victory in Madhya Pradesh.

"It is our responsibility to get such a victory in Madhya Pradesh that right after 2019, for the next 50 years, BJP's flag keeps flying high from Panchayat to Parliament, " Shah said.

"It is possible only in this party that someone born in a poor household, a poor tea-seller's son with no political background becomes the Prime Minister of the largest democracy of the world, " he added.

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40 Lakh infiltrators were identified &amp; as soon as it happened, right from 'Diggi Raja' to 'Rahul Baba', all of them started making noises in Parliament. For Congress, SP &amp; BSP infiltrators are vote banks, for BJP they are an issue of national security: BJP President Amit Shah <a href="https://t.co/3wcCiYLUHz">pic.twitter.com/3wcCiYLUHz</a>
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The state is scheduled to go for assembly polls on November 28 this year.

Attacking the rival Congress, BSP and SP in a rally at Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, BJP chief Amit Shah said that the infiltrators are vote banks for the opposition while it was an issue of national security for them (BJP).

Attacking the rival Congress, BSP and SP in a rally at Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, BJP chief Amit Shah said that the infiltrators are vote banks for the opposition while it was an issue of national security for them (BJP). "40 Lakh infiltrators were identified and as soon as it happened, right from 'Diggi Raja' to 'Rahul Baba', all of them started making noises in Parliament. For Congress, SP and BSP infiltrators are vote banks, for BJP they are an issue of national security", Shah said in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh. He further said that it was his party's responsibility to get victory in Madhya Pradesh. "It is our responsibility to get such a victory in Madhya Pradesh that right after 2019, for the next 50 years, BJP's flag keeps flying high from Panchayat to Parliament, " Shah said. "It is possible only in this party that someone born in a poor household, a poor tea-seller's son with no political background becomes the Prime Minister of the largest democracy of the world, " he added. 40 Lakh infiltrators were identified & as soon as it happened, right from 'Diggi Raja' to 'Rahul Baba', all of them started making noises in Parliament. For Congress, SP & BSP infiltrators are vote banks, for BJP they are an issue of national security: BJP President Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/3wcCiYLUHz — ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2018 × The state is scheduled to go for assembly polls on November 28 this year.

Infiltrators are vote banks for opposition: Amit Shah in Madhya Pradesh

Unfazed by the BSP's decision to not align with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said Sunday the party is "still in the driver's seat" and in touch with all "possible partners" in the poll-bound state.

Scindia, who is spearheading the Congress campaign in Madhya Pradesh, also said the entire state leadership and party cadre was "working cohesively" to chart out the party's plan to dislodge the BJP government after "14 years of misrule".

Asked if the BSP could cut into the Congress' vote share, he told PTI in an interview that: "I don't think so. Obviously, the alliance would have had its own benefits, but as things stand today, support for the Congress is running deep in Madhya Pradesh. The workers are motivated and the people are looking to us for change. So, we are definitely still in the driver's seat."

Replying to a query about a possible tie-up with the Samajwadi Party and the Gondwana Gantantra Party after Bahujan Samaj Party's decision to not align with the Congress in the state, Scindia said, "We are in touch with all possible partners -- our ultimate goal is to beat the Bharatiya Janata Party. We are not currently ruling out the possibility of an alliance."

His remarks come days after BSP chief Mayawati announced her party will not forge an alliance with the Congress "at any cost" for the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

However, he said the general election next year will be a "different ball game altogether" and if state alliances don't work out, the possibilities still exist for a coalition in 2019.

Scindia said the party's "driving mantra" is 'Waqt hai badlaav ka' (It is time for change), and added that this is "not a slogan, this is a reality, a commitment to change". 
"We are not fighting this election on the Modi or Shivraj factor but the 'people factor'. The people of Madhya Pradesh have suffered from the BJP rule for 14 years. Everywhere we look, the people are exasperated and angry," the MP from Guna said.

Talking about the issues that the Congress will raise during the campaign, Scindia said the party will take the fight to the streets. "We are focusing on some key issues -- farmer distress across the state, complete breakdown of law and order, especially rising cases of crimes against women, unemployment, and massive corruption, be it Vyapam, e-tender or sand-mining."

The state will go to polls on November 28 and counting of votes will be held on December 11.

Asked what was different internally in the Congress organisation as compared to the past three elections and whether differences between senior leaders had been sorted,

Scindia said the party was united and there were regular meetings on key matters, including on overhauling the organisation, reviving and rejuvenating party cadres and strengthening the system at the district and block level.

"We understand that to fight the BJP, we will have to go down to the booth level and fight. Under Congress President Rahul Gandhi's uniting leadership, we are working as a single INC unit, coming together under the umbrella of a common vision and mission for the development of Madhya Pradesh," the 47-year-old leader said.&nbsp;

On opinion polls putting the Congress marginally ahead of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Scindia said he believes his party is "in the lead".

The people are now looking to the Congress for change and are hopeful that the party will bring a wave of development, progress and honesty, the former Union minister said.

Asked if the Congress was bargaining hard as a result of which state-level alliances were failing and damaging prospects of a grand alliance in 2019, Scindia said the party was trying to build reasonable alliances that were mutually beneficial for all involved actors, and one that will be able to give the BJP a strong fight.

"For example, in Madhya Pradesh, there was clearly a mismatch between the BSP's vote share and the seats they were demanding&nbsp;obviously, that would not be strategically-beneficial for us. So, it is not about bargaining hard for the sake of debate, it is about reaching the most effective agreement," he said.&nbsp;

Unfazed by the BSP's decision to not align with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said Sunday the party is "still in the driver's seat" and in touch with all "possible partners" in the poll-bound state.

Unfazed by the BSP's decision to not align with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, senior leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said Sunday the party is "still in the driver's seat" and in touch with all "possible partners" in the poll-bound state. Scindia, who is spearheading the Congress campaign in Madhya Pradesh, also said the entire state leadership and party cadre was "working cohesively" to chart out the party's plan to dislodge the BJP government after "14 years of misrule". Asked if the BSP could cut into the Congress' vote share, he told PTI in an interview that: "I don't think so. Obviously, the alliance would have had its own benefits, but as things stand today, support for the Congress is running deep in Madhya Pradesh. The workers are motivated and the people are looking to us for change. So, we are definitely still in the driver's seat." Replying to a query about a possible tie-up with the Samajwadi Party and the Gondwana Gantantra Party after Bahujan Samaj Party's decision to not align with the Congress in the state, Scindia said, "We are in touch with all possible partners -- our ultimate goal is to beat the Bharatiya Janata Party. We are not currently ruling out the possibility of an alliance." His remarks come days after BSP chief Mayawati announced her party will not forge an alliance with the Congress "at any cost" for the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. However, he said the general election next year will be a "different ball game altogether" and if state alliances don't work out, the possibilities still exist for a coalition in 2019. Scindia said the party's "driving mantra" is 'Waqt hai badlaav ka' (It is time for change), and added that this is "not a slogan, this is a reality, a commitment to change". "We are not fighting this election on the Modi or Shivraj factor but the 'people factor'. The people of Madhya Pradesh have suffered from the BJP rule for 14 years. Everywhere we look, the people are exasperated and angry," the MP from Guna said. Talking about the issues that the Congress will raise during the campaign, Scindia said the party will take the fight to the streets. "We are focusing on some key issues -- farmer distress across the state, complete breakdown of law and order, especially rising cases of crimes against women, unemployment, and massive corruption, be it Vyapam, e-tender or sand-mining." The state will go to polls on November 28 and counting of votes will be held on December 11. Asked what was different internally in the Congress organisation as compared to the past three elections and whether differences between senior leaders had been sorted, Scindia said the party was united and there were regular meetings on key matters, including on overhauling the organisation, reviving and rejuvenating party cadres and strengthening the system at the district and block level. "We understand that to fight the BJP, we will have to go down to the booth level and fight. Under Congress President Rahul Gandhi's uniting leadership, we are working as a single INC unit, coming together under the umbrella of a common vision and mission for the development of Madhya Pradesh," the 47-year-old leader said. On opinion polls putting the Congress marginally ahead of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Scindia said he believes his party is "in the lead". The people are now looking to the Congress for change and are hopeful that the party will bring a wave of development, progress and honesty, the former Union minister said. Asked if the Congress was bargaining hard as a result of which state-level alliances were failing and damaging prospects of a grand alliance in 2019, Scindia said the party was trying to build reasonable alliances that were mutually beneficial for all involved actors, and one that will be able to give the BJP a strong fight. "For example, in Madhya Pradesh, there was clearly a mismatch between the BSP's vote share and the seats they were demanding obviously, that would not be strategically-beneficial for us. So, it is not about bargaining hard for the sake of debate, it is about reaching the most effective agreement," he said.

Congress still in driver's seat in MP; in touch with parties for 'possible alliance': Scindia

The Supreme Court Friday dismissed two separate petitions of senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot seeking directions to the Election Commission to provide the draft voters' list in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in text format, news agency PTI reported.

"We have dismissed these petitions," said a bench of justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan. &nbsp;

The apex court had reserved its verdict on October 8 on the plea of leaders alleging duplication of voters in the list and sought a proper redressal of grievances to ensure free and fair elections.

Polls in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 28 and in Rajasthan on December 7.

The plea filed by Nath said directions should be issued to publish the voters' lists in a "text format as per rules", instead of the PDF format, and expeditious decisions are taken on all complaints before their final publication, the report added.

The senior Congress leader has also said a direction should be issued to the poll panel to randomly verify the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with votes cast on electronic voting machines (EVMs) at 10 per cent randomly-selected polling stations in every constituency.

On September 18, the poll panel had, in its affidavit, justified providing the draft electoral roll in PDF format in Madhya Pradesh without the pictures of the voters and said it was done to prevent manipulation of electors' data. 
The pleas of leaders further alleged that according to a survey, there were over 60 lakh fake voters in Madhya Pradesh and similarly, in Rajasthan, there were over 41 lakh duplicate voters.

In Rajasthan, the poll panel had added 71 lakh new voters, the plea said, demanding that directions be given to remove inconsistencies and conduct free and fair elections.&nbsp;

(With PTI inputs)&nbsp;

The Supreme Court Friday dismissed two separate petitions of senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot seeking directions to the Election Commission to provide the draft voters' list in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in text format, news agency PTI reported.

The Supreme Court Friday dismissed two separate petitions of senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Sachin Pilot seeking directions to the Election Commission to provide the draft voters' list in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in text format, news agency PTI reported. "We have dismissed these petitions," said a bench of justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan. The apex court had reserved its verdict on October 8 on the plea of leaders alleging duplication of voters in the list and sought a proper redressal of grievances to ensure free and fair elections. Polls in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 28 and in Rajasthan on December 7. The plea filed by Nath said directions should be issued to publish the voters' lists in a "text format as per rules", instead of the PDF format, and expeditious decisions are taken on all complaints before their final publication, the report added. The senior Congress leader has also said a direction should be issued to the poll panel to randomly verify the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with votes cast on electronic voting machines (EVMs) at 10 per cent randomly-selected polling stations in every constituency. On September 18, the poll panel had, in its affidavit, justified providing the draft electoral roll in PDF format in Madhya Pradesh without the pictures of the voters and said it was done to prevent manipulation of electors' data. The pleas of leaders further alleged that according to a survey, there were over 60 lakh fake voters in Madhya Pradesh and similarly, in Rajasthan, there were over 41 lakh duplicate voters. In Rajasthan, the poll panel had added 71 lakh new voters, the plea said, demanding that directions be given to remove inconsistencies and conduct free and fair elections. (With PTI inputs)

Supreme Court dismisses Congress leaders' plea on voters' list of MP, Rajasthan 

As the most female ministers have avoided&nbsp;commenting on sexual allegations levelled against minister of state for external affairs, MJ Akbar,&nbsp;Bharatiya Janata Party's women wing chief for Madhya Pradesh, Lata Kelkar came out in defence of Akbar in a press conference in Bhopal as she said, "I don't consider women journalists to be so innocent that anyone can misuse them".

"I welcome this MeToo campaign but I don't consider women journalists to be so innocent that anyone can misuse them," Kelkar told reporters as she was asked about the charges against the minister.

In the media interaction, she was also asked whether Akbar should resign from his post to which she responded saying that it wasn't for her to say and can only be decided by him and the party command.

However, she also said that she would have asked for the resignations after reporters asked for her reaction&nbsp;if similar allegations were levelled against a Congress leader.

As the #MeToo campaign is gathering momentum in the country, some women journalists came out and accused MJ Akbar of sexually harassing them during his stint as editor in two newspapers.

Akbar, whose resignation from the government is being demanded by opposition political parties and various others, has however not reacted to the allegations so far.

Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi came out in support of the #MeToo movement, saying it was about time that everyone learns to treat women with respect and dignity.

He also said he is happy that the space for those who don't treat women with respect and dignity is closing. 
&nbsp;

As the most female ministers have avoided commenting on sexual allegations levelled against minister of state for external affairs, MJ Akbar, Bharatiya Janata Party's women wing chief for Madhya Pradesh, Lata Kelkar came out in defence of Akbar in a press conference in Bhopal as she said, "I don't consider women journalists to be so innocent that anyone can misuse them".

As the most female ministers have avoided commenting on sexual allegations levelled against minister of state for external affairs, MJ Akbar, Bharatiya Janata Party's women wing chief for Madhya Pradesh, Lata Kelkar came out in defence of Akbar in a press conference in Bhopal as she said, "I don't consider women journalists to be so innocent that anyone can misuse them". "I welcome this MeToo campaign but I don't consider women journalists to be so innocent that anyone can misuse them," Kelkar told reporters as she was asked about the charges against the minister. In the media interaction, she was also asked whether Akbar should resign from his post to which she responded saying that it wasn't for her to say and can only be decided by him and the party command. However, she also said that she would have asked for the resignations after reporters asked for her reaction if similar allegations were levelled against a Congress leader. As the #MeToo campaign is gathering momentum in the country, some women journalists came out and accused MJ Akbar of sexually harassing them during his stint as editor in two newspapers. Akbar, whose resignation from the government is being demanded by opposition political parties and various others, has however not reacted to the allegations so far. Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi came out in support of the #MeToo movement, saying it was about time that everyone learns to treat women with respect and dignity. He also said he is happy that the space for those who don't treat women with respect and dignity is closing.

Don't consider women journalists to be so innocent: MP BJP's women's wing chief on allegations against MoS Akbar

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/india-a-world-power-hope-for-strong-ties-marshall-islands-president-to-wion-169848">India a world power, hope for strong ties: Marshall Islands president to WION</a>

Hilda Heine, Marshall Islands first women president, spoke to WION and shared her views on India-Pacific ties, PM Modi, climate-change and her interest in Bollywood.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/election-commission-announces-poll-dates-for-madhya-pradesh-rajasthan-chhattisgarh-mizoram-and-telangana-169833">Election Commission announces dates for Assembly polls in five states, results on December 11</a>

The Election Commission on Saturday announced dates for the Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram Assembly elections.&nbsp;

While polls in Chhattisgarh are likely to be held in two phases, elections in the other states might see polling in one phase.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-20-killed-13-injured-as-minibus-falls-into-gorge-near-banihal-169825">Jammu and Kashmir: 15 killed, 19 injured as minibus falls into </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-20-killed-13-injured-as-minibus-falls-into-gorge-near-banihal-169825">gorge</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-20-killed-13-injured-as-minibus-falls-into-gorge-near-banihal-169825"> near Banihal</a>

At least 15 people were killed and 19 injured when a minibus fell into a deep gorge along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near here, a senior police officer said on Saturday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/google-ceo-secretly-met-pentagon-leaders-over-ai-project-report-169834">Google CEO secretly met Pentagon leaders over AI project: Report</a>

Google's India-born chief executive Sundar Pichai quietly paid a visit to the Pentagon to ease tensions that erupted after employee outrage prompted the tech giant to sever a controversial defence contract to analyse drone video, according to a media report.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/nana-patekar-dissmisses-allegaions-of-sexual-harassment-imposed-on-him-169847">Nana Patekar dismisses sexual harassment allegations, says, 'A lie is a lie'</a>

Nana Patekar on Saturday denied sexually harssing Tanushree Dutta on the sets of 'Horn Ok Pleassss'.&nbsp;

"I said this ten years ago... A lie is a lie (Dus saal pehle bol chuka hoon, ab jo jhoot hai woh jhoot hai')", said Patekar after returning from Jodhpur at the airport.

India a world power, hope for strong ties: Marshall Islands president to WION Hilda Heine, Marshall Islands first women president, spoke to WION and shared her views on India-Pacific ties, PM Modi, climate-change and her interest in Bollywood.

India a world power, hope for strong ties: Marshall Islands president to WION Hilda Heine, Marshall Islands first women president, spoke to WION and shared her views on India-Pacific ties, PM Modi, climate-change and her interest in Bollywood. Election Commission announces dates for Assembly polls in five states, results on December 11 The Election Commission on Saturday announced dates for the Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram Assembly elections. While polls in Chhattisgarh are likely to be held in two phases, elections in the other states might see polling in one phase. Jammu and Kashmir: 15 killed, 19 injured as minibus falls into gorge near Banihal At least 15 people were killed and 19 injured when a minibus fell into a deep gorge along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near here, a senior police officer said on Saturday. Google CEO secretly met Pentagon leaders over AI project: Report Google's India-born chief executive Sundar Pichai quietly paid a visit to the Pentagon to ease tensions that erupted after employee outrage prompted the tech giant to sever a controversial defence contract to analyse drone video, according to a media report. Nana Patekar dismisses sexual harassment allegations, says, 'A lie is a lie' Nana Patekar on Saturday denied sexually harssing Tanushree Dutta on the sets of 'Horn Ok Pleassss'. "I said this ten years ago... A lie is a lie (Dus saal pehle bol chuka hoon, ab jo jhoot hai woh jhoot hai')", said Patekar after returning from Jodhpur at the airport.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The Samajwadi Party said Saturday it will no longer wait for the Congress to decide on an alliance for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, suggesting it preferred Mayawati's BSP.

The SP's snub to the Congress comes just days after Mayawati ruled out any BSP alliance with that party for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, a move which could hit opposition efforts to form an anti-BJP front before the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

"The Congress has made us wait for too long. How much longer must we wait?" SP president Akhilesh Yadav said.

We will now consult the Gondwana Gantantra party with which we had an alliance, and also the BSP, for the coming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh," Yadav told reporters on the sidelines of a party event here.

"Time is passing by and we cannot wait any longer," he said.

Reacting to Yadav's remark, the Congress said in New Delhi that it had not been planning an alliance with the SP in Madhya Pradesh in any case.

But Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala added there had been a possibility of an alliance with the BSP in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

On Wednesday, Mayawati said her Bahujan Samaj Party will contest the Assembly polls on its own or in alliance with a regional party.

She had said Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi wanted an alliance but some "selfish&nbsp;senior leaders in their party were out to foil any understanding.

Reacting to Mayawati's statement, Akhilesh Yadav had then urged the Congress to show large-heartedness by taking along other parties.

If there is any delay, there is a possibility that other parties may declare their candidates. After this, there will be a levelling of allegations that they colluded with the BJP," he had said.

Madhya Pradesh will go to the polls on November 28, the Election Commission announced Saturday.

The Samajwadi Party said Saturday it will no longer wait for the Congress to decide on an alliance for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, suggesting it preferred Mayawati's BSP.

The Samajwadi Party said Saturday it will no longer wait for the Congress to decide on an alliance for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, suggesting it preferred Mayawati's BSP. The SP's snub to the Congress comes just days after Mayawati ruled out any BSP alliance with that party for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, a move which could hit opposition efforts to form an anti-BJP front before the 2019 Lok Sabha election. "The Congress has made us wait for too long. How much longer must we wait?" SP president Akhilesh Yadav said. We will now consult the Gondwana Gantantra party with which we had an alliance, and also the BSP, for the coming Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh," Yadav told reporters on the sidelines of a party event here. "Time is passing by and we cannot wait any longer," he said. Reacting to Yadav's remark, the Congress said in New Delhi that it had not been planning an alliance with the SP in Madhya Pradesh in any case. But Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala added there had been a possibility of an alliance with the BSP in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. On Wednesday, Mayawati said her Bahujan Samaj Party will contest the Assembly polls on its own or in alliance with a regional party. She had said Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi wanted an alliance but some "selfish senior leaders in their party were out to foil any understanding. Reacting to Mayawati's statement, Akhilesh Yadav had then urged the Congress to show large-heartedness by taking along other parties. If there is any delay, there is a possibility that other parties may declare their candidates. After this, there will be a levelling of allegations that they colluded with the BJP," he had said. Madhya Pradesh will go to the polls on November 28, the Election Commission announced Saturday.

Samajwadi Party can't wait any longer for tie-up with Congress in MP: Akhilesh

BJP president Amit Shah today formally launched the party's mass contact campaign in the Malwa-Nimad region of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

Shah launched the 'Maha Jansampark Abhiyan' from the Rajwada area and sought support from the people for his party in the upcoming polls.

He garlanded a statue of Ahilyabai Holkar, a former queen of the kingdom of Malwa, in front of the historic Rajwada Palace of the erstwhile Holkar dynasty.

Shah also offered prayers at a Mahalaxmi temple located in the vicinity.

The BJP chief launched the campaign from a famous 'paan&nbsp;shop' in Rajwada and its owner offered a 'paan' to Mr Shah.

Standing on the foot-board of his vehicle, Mr Shah greeted the people gathered in the area and then travelled from Rajwada Palace to Krishnapura Chhatri, covering a distance of about half-a-kilometer.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who is the BJP MP from Indore, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other senior party leaders accompanied Mr Shah.

The mass contact programme will cover the Malwa-Nimar region of western Madhya Pradesh, an area considered a BJP bastion.

The BJP is in power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003.

BJP president Amit Shah today formally launched the party's mass contact campaign in the Malwa-Nimad region of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. Shah launched the 'Maha Jansampark Abhiyan' from the Rajwada area and sought support from the people for his party in the upcoming polls.

BJP president Amit Shah today formally launched the party's mass contact campaign in the Malwa-Nimad region of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. Shah launched the 'Maha Jansampark Abhiyan' from the Rajwada area and sought support from the people for his party in the upcoming polls. He garlanded a statue of Ahilyabai Holkar, a former queen of the kingdom of Malwa, in front of the historic Rajwada Palace of the erstwhile Holkar dynasty. Shah also offered prayers at a Mahalaxmi temple located in the vicinity. The BJP chief launched the campaign from a famous 'paan shop' in Rajwada and its owner offered a 'paan' to Mr Shah. Standing on the foot-board of his vehicle, Mr Shah greeted the people gathered in the area and then travelled from Rajwada Palace to Krishnapura Chhatri, covering a distance of about half-a-kilometer. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who is the BJP MP from Indore, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other senior party leaders accompanied Mr Shah. The mass contact programme will cover the Malwa-Nimar region of western Madhya Pradesh, an area considered a BJP bastion. The BJP is in power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003.

Amit Shah launches BJP's mass contact campaign in Madhya Pradesh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Saturday that he would speak with the BSP about a possible tie-up for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections.&nbsp;

"Congress has made us wait for long. We will hold talks with the BSP," ANI quoted Akhilesh as saying.&nbsp;

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Congress has made us wait for long. We will hold talks with BSP : Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav on possible alliance with BSP for upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh <a href="https://t.co/wFLgQoaO67">pic.twitter.com/wFLgQoaO67</a>
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Mayawati had recently announced that she would not be partnering with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh.

The state — along with Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Mizoram — is expected to go to the polls before December this year.&nbsp;

Mayawati had also snubbed the Congress in Chhattisgarh where she has tied up with Ajit Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

Mayawati's, and now Akhilesh's announcements have been a setback for opposition unity before the 2019 general elections — which is the final goal.&nbsp;The opposition seems to believe the only way to take on the BJP in 2019 is by coming together and fielding only one opposition candidate in every seat against the ruling party.&nbsp;

That would make certain that the opposition vote is not split.&nbsp;The opposition has had some success with the strategy so far like in the Kairana (UP) Lok Sabha byelection in May this year.&nbsp;

But for now, Mayawati and perhaps Akhilesh have only said no to tie-ups for the assembly elections.&nbsp;

It remains to be seen what they will decide for the 2019 general election.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Saturday that he would speak with the BSP about a possible tie-up for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections. "Congress has made us wait for long.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Saturday that he would speak with the BSP about a possible tie-up for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections. "Congress has made us wait for long. We will hold talks with the BSP," ANI quoted Akhilesh as saying. Congress has made us wait for long. We will hold talks with BSP : Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav on possible alliance with BSP for upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh pic.twitter.com/wFLgQoaO67 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 6, 2018 × Mayawati had recently announced that she would not be partnering with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. The state — along with Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Mizoram — is expected to go to the polls before December this year. Mayawati had also snubbed the Congress in Chhattisgarh where she has tied up with Ajit Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh. Mayawati's, and now Akhilesh's announcements have been a setback for opposition unity before the 2019 general elections — which is the final goal. The opposition seems to believe the only way to take on the BJP in 2019 is by coming together and fielding only one opposition candidate in every seat against the ruling party. That would make certain that the opposition vote is not split. The opposition has had some success with the strategy so far like in the Kairana (UP) Lok Sabha byelection in May this year. But for now, Mayawati and perhaps Akhilesh have only said no to tie-ups for the assembly elections. It remains to be seen what they will decide for the 2019 general election.

Cong has made us wait for long, will hold talks with BSP on alliance in MP: Akhilesh Yadav

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Wednesday announced that the BSP will contest assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on its own sans any alliance, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

At a press briefing in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati accused the BJP and the Congress of conspiring against her party and trying to finish it.&nbsp;

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Congress, like the BJP, is conspiring to finish off our (BSP) party: BSP Chief Mayawati to ANI <a href="https://t.co/gCPoSSaaG1">pic.twitter.com/gCPoSSaaG1</a>
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"Congress is getting arrogant and are under the misconception that they can defeat the BJP on their own but the ground reality is that people haven't forgiven Congress party for their mistakes and corruption... They don't seem to be ready to rectify themselves," she noted.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Delhi: BSP Chief Mayawati's reaction when asked if there is any possibility of a BSP-Congress alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha &amp; assembly elections. <a href="https://t.co/jAztvwiV7r">pic.twitter.com/jAztvwiV7r</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1047442598363848704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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She also added that she feels that "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's intentions for Congress-BSP alliance are honest, however, some Congress leaders are sabotaging this."

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They (Congress) are getting arrogant &amp; are under misconception that they can defeat BJP on their own but the ground reality is that people haven't forgiven Congress party for their mistakes&amp;corruption...They don't seem to be ready to rectify themselves: BSP chief Mayawati to ANI <a href="https://t.co/sjdOMaKN4c">pic.twitter.com/sjdOMaKN4c</a>
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"Digvijaya Singh, who is also a BJP agent, is giving statements that Mayawati ji has a lot of pressure from Centre so she doesn’t want this alliance. This is baseless," the BSP chief added.&nbsp;

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I feel that Sonia Gandhi &amp; Rahul Gandhi's intentions for Congress-BSP alliance are honest. However some Congress leaders are sabotaging this : BSP Chief Mayawati to ANI <a href="https://t.co/KNZyCgD0rX">pic.twitter.com/KNZyCgD0rX</a>
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Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are slated to go assembly polls later this year.&nbsp;

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Wednesday announced that the BSP will contest assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on its own sans any alliance, news agency ANI reported.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Wednesday announced that the BSP will contest assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on its own sans any alliance, news agency ANI reported. At a press briefing in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati accused the BJP and the Congress of conspiring against her party and trying to finish it. Congress, like the BJP, is conspiring to finish off our (BSP) party: BSP Chief Mayawati to ANI pic.twitter.com/gCPoSSaaG1 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 3, 2018 × "Congress is getting arrogant and are under the misconception that they can defeat the BJP on their own but the ground reality is that people haven't forgiven Congress party for their mistakes and corruption... They don't seem to be ready to rectify themselves," she noted. #WATCH Delhi: BSP Chief Mayawati's reaction when asked if there is any possibility of a BSP-Congress alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha & assembly elections. pic.twitter.com/jAztvwiV7r — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 3, 2018 × She also added that she feels that "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's intentions for Congress-BSP alliance are honest, however, some Congress leaders are sabotaging this." They (Congress) are getting arrogant & are under misconception that they can defeat BJP on their own but the ground reality is that people haven't forgiven Congress party for their mistakes&corruption...They don't seem to be ready to rectify themselves: BSP chief Mayawati to ANI pic.twitter.com/sjdOMaKN4c — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 3, 2018 × "Digvijaya Singh, who is also a BJP agent, is giving statements that Mayawati ji has a lot of pressure from Centre so she doesn’t want this alliance. This is baseless," the BSP chief added. I feel that Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi's intentions for Congress-BSP alliance are honest. However some Congress leaders are sabotaging this : BSP Chief Mayawati to ANI pic.twitter.com/KNZyCgD0rX — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 3, 2018 × Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are slated to go assembly polls later this year.

Watch: Mayawati says BSP will fight assembly elections alone in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

Six opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), on Sunday vowed to form an alliance with the Congress against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, but failed to float a united front following the Left parties' "aversion" to the Congress heading the prospective bloc.

The CPI(M) claimed that the Congress was pursuing the politics of "soft Hindutva" in the state.

The eight parties that met on Sunday, including the CPI and the CPI(M), would meet again on October 7 to take their coalition talks forward, a Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) leader said.

Representatives of the LJD, SP, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Sangharsh Dal (BSD), Gondwana Gantantra Party (GPP), Rashtriya Samanta Dal (RSD) and Prajatantrik Samadhan Party (PSP) discussed the prospective alliance for the Assembly polls, due later this year.

"All the parties agreed to join hands, but the CPI and the CPI(M) disagreed to align with the Congress to take on the BJP in the upcoming polls," LJD leader Govind Yadav told PTI after the meeting.

He said the Congress, by virtue of being the main opposition party, should take the lead in forming the alliance "as the time is running out".

The meeting was called to work out an alliance against the BJP, which has been in power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003.

"Six of the eight parties agreed on an alliance to be headed by the Congress, but the CPI and the CPI(M) were averse to the Congress steering the bloc," Yadav said.

State CPI(M) secretary Jaswinder Singh said the Congress was peddling "soft Hindutva".

"The Congress is pursuing a soft Hindutva agenda, while the BJP hard Hindutva. We see no difference between both the parties," he said.

Stating that the Left parties were against communalism and were keen to form an alliance to defeat the BJP, Singh said, "But we do not want the group to be steered by the Congress."

The Congress, trying hard for its political revival in Madhya Pradesh, had courted the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for a tie-up. However, the Mayawati-led party dashed the

Congress's hopes by announcing its first list of 22 candidates on September 20.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath had said his party was keen to join hands with the like-minded parties such as the BSP for taking on the BJP.

The Congress MP had also met BSP supremo Mayawati on July 15.

However, the BSP is maintaining that it will contest all the 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh on its own.

It seems that after the BSP announced its first list of candidates, the LJD has now set the ball rolling for talks on the anti-BJP alliance.

LJD mentor Sharad Yadav, who originally hails from Madhya Pradesh, has been trying hard to cobble up the Congress-led opposition.

Six opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), on Sunday vowed to form an alliance with the Congress against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, but failed to float a united front following the Left parties' "aversion" to the Congress heading the prospective bloc.

Six opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP), on Sunday vowed to form an alliance with the Congress against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, but failed to float a united front following the Left parties' "aversion" to the Congress heading the prospective bloc. The CPI(M) claimed that the Congress was pursuing the politics of "soft Hindutva" in the state. The eight parties that met on Sunday, including the CPI and the CPI(M), would meet again on October 7 to take their coalition talks forward, a Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) leader said. Representatives of the LJD, SP, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bahujan Sangharsh Dal (BSD), Gondwana Gantantra Party (GPP), Rashtriya Samanta Dal (RSD) and Prajatantrik Samadhan Party (PSP) discussed the prospective alliance for the Assembly polls, due later this year. "All the parties agreed to join hands, but the CPI and the CPI(M) disagreed to align with the Congress to take on the BJP in the upcoming polls," LJD leader Govind Yadav told PTI after the meeting. He said the Congress, by virtue of being the main opposition party, should take the lead in forming the alliance "as the time is running out". The meeting was called to work out an alliance against the BJP, which has been in power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003. "Six of the eight parties agreed on an alliance to be headed by the Congress, but the CPI and the CPI(M) were averse to the Congress steering the bloc," Yadav said. State CPI(M) secretary Jaswinder Singh said the Congress was peddling "soft Hindutva". "The Congress is pursuing a soft Hindutva agenda, while the BJP hard Hindutva. We see no difference between both the parties," he said. Stating that the Left parties were against communalism and were keen to form an alliance to defeat the BJP, Singh said, "But we do not want the group to be steered by the Congress." The Congress, trying hard for its political revival in Madhya Pradesh, had courted the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for a tie-up. However, the Mayawati-led party dashed the Congress's hopes by announcing its first list of 22 candidates on September 20. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath had said his party was keen to join hands with the like-minded parties such as the BSP for taking on the BJP. The Congress MP had also met BSP supremo Mayawati on July 15. However, the BSP is maintaining that it will contest all the 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh on its own. It seems that after the BSP announced its first list of candidates, the LJD has now set the ball rolling for talks on the anti-BJP alliance. LJD mentor Sharad Yadav, who originally hails from Madhya Pradesh, has been trying hard to cobble up the Congress-led opposition.

Six parties vow to join hands with Congress in MP; CPI, CPI(M) reluctant

Andhra Pradesh has been named the best state in the country in the 'Ease of Living Index' rankings under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

Odisha comes second on the list whereas the third spot is taken by Madhya Pradesh, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs ministry said on Monday.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the index will encourage all cities to move towards an "outcome-based" approach to urban planning and management, and promote healthy competition among cities.

"The Ease of Living Index seeks to assist cities in undertaking a 360-degree assessment of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats," Puri spoke at a National Dissemination Workshop on 'Ease of Living Index'.&nbsp;

AMRUT was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015 with an aim to ensure robust sewage networks, water supply and other infrastructure to improve the quality of life in urban areas.

Puri shared that the index marked a "major milestone" in India's goal to promote evidence-based planning and action towards sustainable urbanisation.

The minister hoped that the National Dissemination Workshop would provide an opportunity for states and cities to offer their valuable suggestions and also use lessons learnt from the previous index rankings to ensure a more robust methodology in the future. 
&nbsp;

Andhra Pradesh has been named the best state in the country in the 'Ease of Living Index' rankings under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), news agency PTI reported.

Andhra Pradesh has been named the best state in the country in the 'Ease of Living Index' rankings under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), news agency PTI reported. Odisha comes second on the list whereas the third spot is taken by Madhya Pradesh, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs ministry said on Monday. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the index will encourage all cities to move towards an "outcome-based" approach to urban planning and management, and promote healthy competition among cities. "The Ease of Living Index seeks to assist cities in undertaking a 360-degree assessment of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats," Puri spoke at a National Dissemination Workshop on 'Ease of Living Index'. AMRUT was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015 with an aim to ensure robust sewage networks, water supply and other infrastructure to improve the quality of life in urban areas. Puri shared that the index marked a "major milestone" in India's goal to promote evidence-based planning and action towards sustainable urbanisation. The minister hoped that the National Dissemination Workshop would provide an opportunity for states and cities to offer their valuable suggestions and also use lessons learnt from the previous index rankings to ensure a more robust methodology in the future.

Andhra Pradesh gets 1st rank for quality of life in government's 'Ease of Living Index' 

In a disappointment&nbsp;for the Bhartiya Janata Party, Padma&nbsp;Shukla a former BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh resigned from the party and joined the rival Congress on Monday.

Shukla who had been the member of the BJP since 1980 said she was leaving the party as the&nbsp;Madhya Pradesh Minister Sanjay Pathak used to humiliate and hurt her.

She said, "I tried to work with Madhya Pradesh Minister Sanjay Pathak for two years, but that seemed impossible. He used to humiliate BJP workers. It was hurting me and damaging self-respect of my workers".

Her resignation has come days before Madhya Pradesh goes for the assembly polls.

Shukla was serving as the chief of the Social Welfare Board. She had also held a state cabinet rank.&nbsp;

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I tried to work with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> Minister Sanjay Pathak for 2 yrs,but that seemed impossible.He used to humiliate BJP workers. It was hurting me&amp;damaging self-respect of my workers: Padma Shukla on joining Congress after resigning from primary membership of BJP earlier today. <a href="https://t.co/GNzfvKCFy0">pic.twitter.com/GNzfvKCFy0</a>
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&nbsp;

In a disappointment for the Bhartiya Janata Party, Padma Shukla a former BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh resigned from the party and joined the rival Congress on Monday.

In a disappointment for the Bhartiya Janata Party, Padma Shukla a former BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh resigned from the party and joined the rival Congress on Monday. Shukla who had been the member of the BJP since 1980 said she was leaving the party as the Madhya Pradesh Minister Sanjay Pathak used to humiliate and hurt her. She said, "I tried to work with Madhya Pradesh Minister Sanjay Pathak for two years, but that seemed impossible. He used to humiliate BJP workers. It was hurting me and damaging self-respect of my workers". Her resignation has come days before Madhya Pradesh goes for the assembly polls. Shukla was serving as the chief of the Social Welfare Board. She had also held a state cabinet rank. I tried to work with #MadhyaPradesh Minister Sanjay Pathak for 2 yrs,but that seemed impossible.He used to humiliate BJP workers. It was hurting me&damaging self-respect of my workers: Padma Shukla on joining Congress after resigning from primary membership of BJP earlier today. pic.twitter.com/GNzfvKCFy0 — ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2018 ×

Madhya Pradesh: Chief of Social Welfare Board Padma Shukla resigns from BJP, joins Congress

According to reports, self-styled guru and Hindu spiritual leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj allegedly shot himself today. He was rushed to Indore's Bombay Hospital where he was declared dead.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, as per reports, a revolver has been found at Maharaj's Indore residence along with a suicide note that mentions that he was leading a "stressful" life. Investigations are underway, more details are awaited.&nbsp;

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Visuals from Bhayyuji Maharaj's residence in Indore. DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra says, 'we have seized the suicide note. In the suicide note, he has mentioned mental tension but the reason for the tension is not known as yet. We are investigating the case.' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/f6gyHeKDVz">pic.twitter.com/f6gyHeKDVz</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1006491893423747072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Maharaj, along with four other religious leaders, was accorded the 'Minister of State' (MoS) status in April by the BJP-led government in Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;

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Suicide note & pistol have been seized. All aspects of the case are being investigated. Family members will also be questioned: Inspector General of Police Makrand Deoskar on Bhayyuji Maharaj's alleged suicide <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1006489190064742400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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On March 31, these five religious leaders were appointed to a committee set up for the conservation of the Narmada river.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a>: Spiritual leader Bhayyuji Maharaj allegedly shoots himself, admitted to Bombay hospital in Indore. (File pic) <a href="https://t.co/G0LoNaNfih">pic.twitter.com/G0LoNaNfih</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1006462411191152640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Assembly elections are due in the state this year, and main opposition Congress dubbed the decision as an attempt by the BJP to exploit the respect these religious leaders enjoy in the society.

Born in 1968 in a family of agriculturists at Shujalpur in Madhya Pradesh, Bhaiyyu Maharaj was invited by Modi when he undertook 'sadbhavna fast' as Chief Minister of Gujarat.

In 2011, the then UPA government had deputed him as a mediator to persuade social activist Anna Hazare to call off his fast at the Ramlila ground in Delhi over the Lokpal issue.

Last year, the self-proclaimed spiritual guru courted controversy on his wedding day after a woman, who claimed to be an actress, accused him of "cheating" on her and termed him a "trickster".

Bhaiyyu Maharaj married Dr Ayushi Sharma, a native of Shivpuri, in Indore last year, a year after announcing his intention to take 'sanyas' from public life.

Maharaj, along with four other religious leaders, was accorded the 'Minister of State' (MoS) status in April by the BJP-led government in Madhya Pradesh

According to reports, self-styled guru and Hindu spiritual leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj allegedly shot himself today. He was rushed to Indore's Bombay Hospital where he was declared dead. Meanwhile, as per reports, a revolver has been found at Maharaj's Indore residence along with a suicide note that mentions that he was leading a "stressful" life. Investigations are underway, more details are awaited. Visuals from Bhayyuji Maharaj's residence in Indore. DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra says, 'we have seized the suicide note. In the suicide note, he has mentioned mental tension but the reason for the tension is not known as yet. We are investigating the case.' #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/f6gyHeKDVz — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2018 × Maharaj, along with four other religious leaders, was accorded the 'Minister of State' (MoS) status in April by the BJP-led government in Madhya Pradesh. Suicide note & pistol have been seized. All aspects of the case are being investigated. Family members will also be questioned: Inspector General of Police Makrand Deoskar on Bhayyuji Maharaj's alleged suicide #MadhyaPradesh — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2018 × On March 31, these five religious leaders were appointed to a committee set up for the conservation of the Narmada river. #MadhyaPradesh: Spiritual leader Bhayyuji Maharaj allegedly shoots himself, admitted to Bombay hospital in Indore. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/G0LoNaNfih — ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2018 × Assembly elections are due in the state this year, and main opposition Congress dubbed the decision as an attempt by the BJP to exploit the respect these religious leaders enjoy in the society. Born in 1968 in a family of agriculturists at Shujalpur in Madhya Pradesh, Bhaiyyu Maharaj was invited by Modi when he undertook 'sadbhavna fast' as Chief Minister of Gujarat. In 2011, the then UPA government had deputed him as a mediator to persuade social activist Anna Hazare to call off his fast at the Ramlila ground in Delhi over the Lokpal issue. Last year, the self-proclaimed spiritual guru courted controversy on his wedding day after a woman, who claimed to be an actress, accused him of "cheating" on her and termed him a "trickster". Bhaiyyu Maharaj married Dr Ayushi Sharma, a native of Shivpuri, in Indore last year, a year after announcing his intention to take 'sanyas' from public life.

Spiritual leader turned minister Bhaiyyuji Maharaj shoots self

Police personnel are known for being tough. But policemen in Madhya Pradesh are showing their humane side and donning a new role -they are saving newborns abandoned by their parents. 
 
Besides the routine task of maintaining law and order and checking crime, they are also rescuing abandoned children and giving them a new lease of life. 
 
As many as 402 newborns, mostly girls, were found abandoned at various places in the state in since the past two years. They were taken to hospitals in time by personnel of 'Dial-100', an emergency service of the Madhya Pradesh Police introduced to help people in distress, an official said. 
 
The abandoned infants are shifted to hospitals for immediate medical care in first response vehicles (FRVs) which are part of the emergency service. 
 
While sharing the data of rescued children, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Dial-100 Service, Hemant Sharma told PTI, "In one such incident, a FRV rescued a newborn on Friday from Guhiadol village in Sidhi district." He said 
 
"The control room got a phone call at 8 pm and a FRV swung into action to take the infant to the district hospital."

"The cops posted in Dial-100 service of the Madhya Pradesh Police have rescued 402 abandoned infants and taken them to hospitals between December 2016 and May 2018," he 
said. He added that baby girls were rescued more often but there was record this data gender-wise. 
 
Additional Director General (ADG), Police Telecom, Upendra Jain, who heads the service, said people have come to trust the initiative. 
 
"Dial-100 is an emergency service that helps people facing harassment, eve-teasing in 
public places, which need prompt police intervention. People are also approaching this service in case they find an abandoned infant," he said. 
Madhya Pradesh is among the states with a skewed child sex ratio, though situation has been improved in the past three decades. Child sex ratio is defined as the number of 
females per thousand males in the age group 0-6 years. 
 
Child rights activist Rakesh Malviya said, "According to available records, barely 50 cases of foeticide were registered in the country in 2014. In Madhya Pradesh, this number stood at 15."

Besides the routine task of maintaining law and order and checking crime, they are also rescuing abandoned children and giving them a new lease of life

Police personnel are known for being tough. But policemen in Madhya Pradesh are showing their humane side and donning a new role -they are saving newborns abandoned by their parents. Besides the routine task of maintaining law and order and checking crime, they are also rescuing abandoned children and giving them a new lease of life. As many as 402 newborns, mostly girls, were found abandoned at various places in the state in since the past two years. They were taken to hospitals in time by personnel of 'Dial-100', an emergency service of the Madhya Pradesh Police introduced to help people in distress, an official said. The abandoned infants are shifted to hospitals for immediate medical care in first response vehicles (FRVs) which are part of the emergency service. While sharing the data of rescued children, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Dial-100 Service, Hemant Sharma told PTI, "In one such incident, a FRV rescued a newborn on Friday from Guhiadol village in Sidhi district." He said "The control room got a phone call at 8 pm and a FRV swung into action to take the infant to the district hospital." "The cops posted in Dial-100 service of the Madhya Pradesh Police have rescued 402 abandoned infants and taken them to hospitals between December 2016 and May 2018," he said. He added that baby girls were rescued more often but there was record this data gender-wise. Additional Director General (ADG), Police Telecom, Upendra Jain, who heads the service, said people have come to trust the initiative. "Dial-100 is an emergency service that helps people facing harassment, eve-teasing in public places, which need prompt police intervention. People are also approaching this service in case they find an abandoned infant," he said. Madhya Pradesh is among the states with a skewed child sex ratio, though situation has been improved in the past three decades. Child sex ratio is defined as the number of females per thousand males in the age group 0-6 years. Child rights activist Rakesh Malviya said, "According to available records, barely 50 cases of foeticide were registered in the country in 2014. In Madhya Pradesh, this number stood at 15."

In addition to routine duties, Madhya Pradesh policemen save abandoned infants

The Congress today hit back at Union minister Arun Jaitley over his jibe at Rahul Gandhi, alleging that arrogance of the BJP has touched its zenith as it turned "blind" to farm distress.

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala accused the Modi government of writing off loans worth Rs 2.41 lakh crore of a handful of crony friends citing a reply given in Parliament by the finance ministry on April 3.

"Loot and scoot had become a norm with scamsters fleeing the country after decamping with public money, he claimed in statement.

"How much does Arun Jaitley know? Has arrogance of power reached such a zenith where the BJP is blind to farmers' distress'? How are empty-worded blogs an answer to betrayal of farmers by the Modi government?" he asked.

Attacking Gandhi for his speech in Madhya Pradesh today, Jaitley wondered 'how much does he know? When will he know?'

On the Congress chief's accusation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi waived the loans of 15 top industrialists, Jaitley said this was factually and completely false.&nbsp;

The banking fraud started in 2011 when the UPA II was in power and it was only detected during the NDA period, he said in a Facebook post in response to Gandhi's speech in Mandsaur.

In his statement, Surjewala reminded the Union minister of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's words that "facts are facts, and will not disappear on account of your likes".

He said contrary to Jaitley's "lies", the government was actually the 'NPA sarkar' and alleged that the gross non-performing assets have gone up from over Rs 2.51 lakh crore in March 2014 to more than Rs 8.31 lakh crore in December 2017, a whopping rise of 230 per cent as per an April 6 reply in Parliament.

"Fleece the banks and fly away to foreign lands are the facility for fraudsters under the Modi Government's watch. Perhaps, Arun Jaitley forgets the recent bank loot scams worth over Rs 61,036 crore," he alleged.

The Congress leader said over 130 farmers organisations were protesting across India through an unprecedented rural bandh and rural distress, agricultural indebtedness, farmer suicides and distress sale of crops much below MSP was the new order.

"Arun Jaitley, Union minister without portfolio, with zero knowledge of agriculture is giving ?gyan' (wisdom) to the nation again today, with his usual travesty of facts and trivialization of farmers' issues," he alleged.

Surjewala also alleged that ?Make in India' has become an empty slogan of the government and the BJP and its 'minister without portfolio' forgot that industrial growth has declined from 7.4 per cent in 2016 to 4.45 per cent in 2018.&nbsp;

He alleged that between 2014 and 2018, India's revenue from exports was zero.

"Arun Jaitley waxes eloquent about jobs. The BJP promised two crore jobs per year, but the stark reality that it has only betrayed our youth. The Modi government created only 4.16 lakh jobs in 2016-17 and 77 per cent of Indian workers will have vulnerable employment by 2019 as per ILO.

"Let us not forget that there is 'lowest-ever' agriculture growth under the Modi government - 1.9 per cent (2014-18) as compared to 4.2 per cent under Congress (2004-14)

"The prime minister's promise of MSP equal to cost plus 50 per cent profit for farmers is a white lie. Rural wage growth has dipped from 38 per cent in 2014 to zero per cent in 2018 (RBI report). Tragically, 35 farmers are driven to suicide every 24 hours (NCRB data)," he said.

He said sugarcane arrears surge to over Rs 20,000 crore as an "insensitive" government "floundered".

The PM Fasal Bima Yojana benefited insurance companies, not farmers and companies earned a profit of Rs 14,828 crore but farmers got paid only Rs 5,650 crore, he claimed.

The Congress leader alleged that there was 'double jeopardy' for farmers as agriculture exports declined by USD 9.4 billion and agriculture imports rose by USD 10.06 billion.&nbsp;

Attacking Gandhi for his speech in Madhya Pradesh today, Jaitley wondered 'how much does he know? When will he know?'

The Congress today hit back at Union minister Arun Jaitley over his jibe at Rahul Gandhi, alleging that arrogance of the BJP has touched its zenith as it turned "blind" to farm distress. Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala accused the Modi government of writing off loans worth Rs 2.41 lakh crore of a handful of crony friends citing a reply given in Parliament by the finance ministry on April 3. "Loot and scoot had become a norm with scamsters fleeing the country after decamping with public money, he claimed in statement. "How much does Arun Jaitley know? Has arrogance of power reached such a zenith where the BJP is blind to farmers' distress'? How are empty-worded blogs an answer to betrayal of farmers by the Modi government?" he asked. Attacking Gandhi for his speech in Madhya Pradesh today, Jaitley wondered 'how much does he know? When will he know?' On the Congress chief's accusation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi waived the loans of 15 top industrialists, Jaitley said this was factually and completely false. The banking fraud started in 2011 when the UPA II was in power and it was only detected during the NDA period, he said in a Facebook post in response to Gandhi's speech in Mandsaur. In his statement, Surjewala reminded the Union minister of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's words that "facts are facts, and will not disappear on account of your likes". He said contrary to Jaitley's "lies", the government was actually the 'NPA sarkar' and alleged that the gross non-performing assets have gone up from over Rs 2.51 lakh crore in March 2014 to more than Rs 8.31 lakh crore in December 2017, a whopping rise of 230 per cent as per an April 6 reply in Parliament. "Fleece the banks and fly away to foreign lands are the facility for fraudsters under the Modi Government's watch. Perhaps, Arun Jaitley forgets the recent bank loot scams worth over Rs 61,036 crore," he alleged. The Congress leader said over 130 farmers organisations were protesting across India through an unprecedented rural bandh and rural distress, agricultural indebtedness, farmer suicides and distress sale of crops much below MSP was the new order. "Arun Jaitley, Union minister without portfolio, with zero knowledge of agriculture is giving ?gyan' (wisdom) to the nation again today, with his usual travesty of facts and trivialization of farmers' issues," he alleged. Surjewala also alleged that ?Make in India' has become an empty slogan of the government and the BJP and its 'minister without portfolio' forgot that industrial growth has declined from 7.4 per cent in 2016 to 4.45 per cent in 2018. He alleged that between 2014 and 2018, India's revenue from exports was zero. "Arun Jaitley waxes eloquent about jobs. The BJP promised two crore jobs per year, but the stark reality that it has only betrayed our youth. The Modi government created only 4.16 lakh jobs in 2016-17 and 77 per cent of Indian workers will have vulnerable employment by 2019 as per ILO. "Let us not forget that there is 'lowest-ever' agriculture growth under the Modi government - 1.9 per cent (2014-18) as compared to 4.2 per cent under Congress (2004-14) "The prime minister's promise of MSP equal to cost plus 50 per cent profit for farmers is a white lie. Rural wage growth has dipped from 38 per cent in 2014 to zero per cent in 2018 (RBI report). Tragically, 35 farmers are driven to suicide every 24 hours (NCRB data)," he said. He said sugarcane arrears surge to over Rs 20,000 crore as an "insensitive" government "floundered". The PM Fasal Bima Yojana benefited insurance companies, not farmers and companies earned a profit of Rs 14,828 crore but farmers got paid only Rs 5,650 crore, he claimed. The Congress leader alleged that there was 'double jeopardy' for farmers as agriculture exports declined by USD 9.4 billion and agriculture imports rose by USD 10.06 billion.

Congress attacks Arun Jaitley over jibe at Rahul Gandhi

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday promised to waive farmers` loans in 10 days if voted to power in Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing a rally in Mandsaur, Gandhi questioned the government on the delay in filing a probe report into the death of seven farmers in police firing a year ago, alleging that the BJP government in the state had failed to provide security to farmers and address their concerns.

"I assure you when the Congress forms the government in Madhya Pradesh, farmers` loans will be written off within 10 days. The families of the farmers (killed in Mandsaur last year) will get justice in 10 days and we will take action against those responsible for the firing," the Congress President said.

The Gandhi scion also lashed out at the state and Central governments for ignoring the farm distress across the country.

"The governments are of no use if they cannot provide security to farmers and their families. A total of 1,200 farmers committed suicide in Madhya Pradesh. Did any rich person or their family member commit suicide who have lakhs of crores as debt," he said, addressing the Kisan Samriddhi Sankalp Rally.

Earlier, Gandhi paid tributes to the dead farmers in Piplia Mandi town of Mandsaur district.

He also met the families of the slain farmers.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mandsaur?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mandsaur</a>: Congress President Rahul Gandhi meets family members of farmers who died in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mandsaur?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mandsaur</a> farmers protest last year. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/ODlMsyZXfd">pic.twitter.com/ODlMsyZXfd</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1004316107522490369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Seven famers were killed in police firing last year on June 6. Rahul Gandhi promised a farm loan waiver within 10 days if the Congress is voted to power in the state in the upcoming assembly elections

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday promised to waive farmers` loans in 10 days if voted to power in Madhya Pradesh. Addressing a rally in Mandsaur, Gandhi questioned the government on the delay in filing a probe report into the death of seven farmers in police firing a year ago, alleging that the BJP government in the state had failed to provide security to farmers and address their concerns. "I assure you when the Congress forms the government in Madhya Pradesh, farmers` loans will be written off within 10 days. The families of the farmers (killed in Mandsaur last year) will get justice in 10 days and we will take action against those responsible for the firing," the Congress President said. The Gandhi scion also lashed out at the state and Central governments for ignoring the farm distress across the country. "The governments are of no use if they cannot provide security to farmers and their families. A total of 1,200 farmers committed suicide in Madhya Pradesh. Did any rich person or their family member commit suicide who have lakhs of crores as debt," he said, addressing the Kisan Samriddhi Sankalp Rally. Earlier, Gandhi paid tributes to the dead farmers in Piplia Mandi town of Mandsaur district. He also met the families of the slain farmers. #Mandsaur: Congress President Rahul Gandhi meets family members of farmers who died in #Mandsaur farmers protest last year. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/ODlMsyZXfd — ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2018 ×

Mandsaur killings anniversary: Rahul promises farm loans waiver

The Congress party on Sunday submitted evidence to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the alleged irregularities in the voter roll in Madhya Pradesh.

Congress chief for Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath said they have provided evidence for approximately 60 lakh fake voters registered in the voting list.

"We have provided evidence to the Election Commission that there are approximately 60 Lakh fake voters registered in the voting list. These names have been deliberately registered in the list. This is not administrative negligence, but administrative misuse," Kamal Nath.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) behind it and said, "This has been done by the BJP. How is it possible that population increased by 24 per cent in 10 years but the number of voters increased by 40 per cent? We scrutinized list in all constituencies, one voter is registered in 26 lists, there are similar cases in other places too."

Earlier in February also, the Congress party had complained to the Election Commission about discrepancies in the Madhya Pradesh voter's list and asking it take steps for ensuring free and fair elections.

In April, State`s chief electoral officer Salina Singh said that six lakh names were removed from Madhya Pradesh voter list.

Talking to ANI, Singh said that the commission is getting the update from the district collectors and the list is being updated. Madhya Pradesh will go to polls this year.

Earlier in February also, the Congress party had complained to the Election Commission about discrepancies in the Madhya Pradesh voter's list and asking it take steps for ensuring free and fair elections

The Congress party on Sunday submitted evidence to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the alleged irregularities in the voter roll in Madhya Pradesh. Congress chief for Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath said they have provided evidence for approximately 60 lakh fake voters registered in the voting list. "We have provided evidence to the Election Commission that there are approximately 60 Lakh fake voters registered in the voting list. These names have been deliberately registered in the list. This is not administrative negligence, but administrative misuse," Kamal Nath. Meanwhile, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) behind it and said, "This has been done by the BJP. How is it possible that population increased by 24 per cent in 10 years but the number of voters increased by 40 per cent? We scrutinized list in all constituencies, one voter is registered in 26 lists, there are similar cases in other places too." Earlier in February also, the Congress party had complained to the Election Commission about discrepancies in the Madhya Pradesh voter's list and asking it take steps for ensuring free and fair elections. In April, State`s chief electoral officer Salina Singh said that six lakh names were removed from Madhya Pradesh voter list. Talking to ANI, Singh said that the commission is getting the update from the district collectors and the list is being updated. Madhya Pradesh will go to polls this year.

MP election: Congress submits 'evidence' of 60 lakh fake voters to EC

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A day after farmers in the country went on&nbsp<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/farmers-begin-10-day-nationwide-strike-say-will-not-sell-produce-in-cities-141609">strike</a>, the prices of fruits and vegetables have reportedly shot up.&nbspANI reported vendors at Delhi's Okhla mandi as saying prices had risen.

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-to-address-farmers-protest-on-june-6-in-mandsaur-mp-141801">Rahul Gandhi to address farmers' protest on June 6 in Mandsaur, MP</a>

A day after farmers across the country initiated a 10-day nationwide protest,&nbspCongress president Rahul Gandhi has decided to join the protest on June 6.

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/trump-says-summit-back-on-but-who-will-pay-for-kims-hotel-room-141802">Trump says summit back on but who will pay for Kim's hotel room?&nbsp</a>

Trump announced early Saturday morning that his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was back on.&nbsp He made his announcement after meeting at the White House with Kim's right-hand man Kim Yong Chol.&nbsp

<a href="http://wionews.com/world/palestinian-tries-to-hit-israeli-soldiers-with-car-shot-dead-army-141790">Palestinian tries to hit Israeli soldiers with </a><a href="http://wionews.com/world/palestinian-tries-to-hit-israeli-soldiers-with-car-shot-dead-army-141790">car</a><a href="http://wionews.com/world/palestinian-tries-to-hit-israeli-soldiers-with-car-shot-dead-army-141790">,</a><a href="http://wionews.com/world/palestinian-tries-to-hit-israeli-soldiers-with-car-shot-dead-army-141790"> shot dead: Army</a>

A Palestinian man who tried today to hit Israeli soldiers with his car in the southern occupied West Bank city Hebron was shot dead, the army said.

<a href="http://wionews.com/south-asia/un-and-myanmar-agree-outline-of-rohingya-return-deal-no-details-141556">UN and Myanmar agree outline of Rohingya return deal, no details</a>

The United Nations said&nbspon Thursday&nbspit had struck an outline deal with Myanmar aimed at eventually allowing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh to return safely and by choice.

&nbsp

Day after country's farmers go on strike, fruit & vegetable prices shoot up A day after farmers in the country went on strike, the prices of fruits and vegetables have reportedly shot up.&nbspANI reported vendors at Delhi's Okhla mandi as saying prices had risen. Rahul Gandhi to address farmers' protest on June 6 in Mandsaur, MP A day after farmers across the country initiated a 10-day nationwide protest,&nbspCongress president Rahul Gandhi has decided to join the protest on June 6. Trump says summit back on but who will pay for Kim's hotel room? Trump announced early Saturday morning that his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was back on. He made his announcement after meeting at the White House with Kim's right-hand man Kim Yong Chol. Palestinian tries to hit Israeli soldiers with car, shot dead: Army A Palestinian man who tried today to hit Israeli soldiers with his car in the southern occupied West Bank city Hebron was shot dead, the army said. UN and Myanmar agree outline of Rohingya return deal, no details The United Nations said&nbspon Thursday&nbspit had struck an outline deal with Myanmar aimed at eventually allowing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh to return safely and by choice.

A day after farmers across the country initiated a 10-day nationwide protest,&nbsp;Congress president Rahul Gandhi has decided to join the protest on June 6.

He took to Twitter and announced on Saturday, " About thirty-five farmers commit suicide in our country every day. The farmers are forced to stage a protest for 10 days to bring the issue of agricultural crisis to the centre's notice. I will address the farmers rally in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh on June 6 to participate in the&nbsp;farmers' fight".

Gandhi&nbsp;will address the farmers&nbsp;in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh on the anniversary of the death of seven farmers in police firing in the state.

Farmers across the country said Friday that they had begun a 10-day nationwide strike and they would not sell their produce in cities.&nbsp;

The strike was organised by farmers from Punjab and Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala&nbsp;demanding a waiver of their loans, the right price for their produce and the implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission,

The farmers'&nbsp;body will also&nbsp;orgainse a "Bharat Bandh" on June 10.

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हमारे देश में हर रोज़ 35 किसान आत्महत्या करते हैं। कृषि क्षेत्र पर छाए संकट की तरफ़ केंद्र सरकार का ध्यान ले जाने के लिए किसान भाई 10 दिनों का आंदोलन करने पर मजबूर हैं। हमारे अन्नदाताओं की हक की लड़ाई में उनके साथ खड़े होने के लिए 6 जून को मंदसौर में किसान रैली को संबोधित करूंगा। <a href="https://t.co/Bv4Hv72jE8">pic.twitter.com/Bv4Hv72jE8</a>
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1002843619382841344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Seven farmers had been shot dead by police in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur on June 6 last year. The farmers had been agitating for better prices for their crops

A day after farmers across the country initiated a 10-day nationwide protest, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has decided to join the protest on June 6. He took to Twitter and announced on Saturday, " About thirty-five farmers commit suicide in our country every day. The farmers are forced to stage a protest for 10 days to bring the issue of agricultural crisis to the centre's notice. I will address the farmers rally in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh on June 6 to participate in the farmers' fight". Gandhi will address the farmers in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh on the anniversary of the death of seven farmers in police firing in the state. Farmers across the country said Friday that they had begun a 10-day nationwide strike and they would not sell their produce in cities. The strike was organised by farmers from Punjab and Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala demanding a waiver of their loans, the right price for their produce and the implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, The farmers' body will also orgainse a "Bharat Bandh" on June 10. हमारे देश में हर रोज़ 35 किसान आत्महत्या करते हैं। कृषि क्षेत्र पर छाए संकट की तरफ़ केंद्र सरकार का ध्यान ले जाने के लिए किसान भाई 10 दिनों का आंदोलन करने पर मजबूर हैं। हमारे अन्नदाताओं की हक की लड़ाई में उनके साथ खड़े होने के लिए 6 जून को मंदसौर में किसान रैली को संबोधित करूंगा। pic.twitter.com/Bv4Hv72jE8 — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 2, 2018 ×

Rahul Gandhi to address farmers' protest on June 6 in Mandsaur, MP

A day after farmers in the country went on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/farmers-begin-10-day-nationwide-strike-say-will-not-sell-produce-in-cities-141609">strike</a>, the prices of fruits and vegetables have reportedly shot up.&nbsp;

ANI reported vendors at Delhi's Okhla mandi as saying prices had risen.

PTI added that the arrival of vegetables at various market committees and the collection of milk in Maharashtra's Nashik district had also been affected.

"All milk dairies in the (Nashik) district are closed and collection centres for milk has been affected. Agitating farmers poured milk on the roads at Visapur in Yeola taluka in the morning today. Arrival of vegetables at APMC is also low," PTI quoted Raju Desale, working president of the All India Kisan Sabha, as saying.

The farmers began their 10-day strike — called Gaon Bandh — on Friday, saying they would not transport their produce to the cities. The farmers have also threatened a Bharat Bandh on the last day of their strike, June 10.&nbsp;

The farmers are demanding a waiver of their loans, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, and a minimum income guarantee scheme.&nbsp;

Farmers were seen in Punjab and Maharashtra dumping fruit, vegetables, and milk on the streets.&nbsp;

PTI reported that farmer organisations have called for a boycott of mandis&nbsp;in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mahrashtra, but that Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh convenor Shivkumar Sharma claimed in Bhopal that the farmer strike is being observed across 22 states.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>: Vendors at Okhla vegetable market say prices have shot up due to country-wide farmers' protest. <a href="https://t.co/beS3IxBN9L">pic.twitter.com/beS3IxBN9L</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1002759175087067136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, despite photographic evidence to the contrary, a number of politicians on Saturday continued to say there was no farmer strike taking place in the country.&nbsp;

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Madhya Pradesh: Farmers in Mandsaur on 10-day 'Kisan Avkash' strike prepared 'Kheer' and distributed it among villagers. The farmers during the ten-day strike are not supplying vegetables, fruits, grains and milk to cities. (01.06.2018) <a href="https://t.co/c9aCnb4zKf">pic.twitter.com/c9aCnb4zKf</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1002833759014551553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Its 2nd June today,where is the strike happening? No farmers are participating in the strike. Farmers are happy with the schemes CM has launched for them.They have faith that state¢ral govt will solve their problems: Balkrishna Patidar, Madhya Pradesh minister for Agriculture <a href="https://t.co/EKmKVowGAJ">pic.twitter.com/EKmKVowGAJ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1002783290024067073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar speaks on farmers' strike, says, 'they don't have any issues, they are just focusing on unnecessary things, not selling produce will bring losses to farmers.' (01.06.2018) <a href="https://t.co/CFY7dzgj2g">pic.twitter.com/CFY7dzgj2g</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1002773802013503488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Wholesalers at Delhi's Okhla mandi said prices had risen. PTI reported that the arrival of vegetables at various market committees and the collection of milk in Maharashtra's Nashik district had also been affected

A day after farmers in the country went on strike, the prices of fruits and vegetables have reportedly shot up. ANI reported vendors at Delhi's Okhla mandi as saying prices had risen. PTI added that the arrival of vegetables at various market committees and the collection of milk in Maharashtra's Nashik district had also been affected. "All milk dairies in the (Nashik) district are closed and collection centres for milk has been affected. Agitating farmers poured milk on the roads at Visapur in Yeola taluka in the morning today. Arrival of vegetables at APMC is also low," PTI quoted Raju Desale, working president of the All India Kisan Sabha, as saying. The farmers began their 10-day strike — called Gaon Bandh — on Friday, saying they would not transport their produce to the cities. The farmers have also threatened a Bharat Bandh on the last day of their strike, June 10. The farmers are demanding a waiver of their loans, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, and a minimum income guarantee scheme. Farmers were seen in Punjab and Maharashtra dumping fruit, vegetables, and milk on the streets. PTI reported that farmer organisations have called for a boycott of mandis in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mahrashtra, but that Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh convenor Shivkumar Sharma claimed in Bhopal that the farmer strike is being observed across 22 states. #Delhi: Vendors at Okhla vegetable market say prices have shot up due to country-wide farmers' protest. pic.twitter.com/beS3IxBN9L — ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2018 × Meanwhile, despite photographic evidence to the contrary, a number of politicians on Saturday continued to say there was no farmer strike taking place in the country. Madhya Pradesh: Farmers in Mandsaur on 10-day 'Kisan Avkash' strike prepared 'Kheer' and distributed it among villagers. The farmers during the ten-day strike are not supplying vegetables, fruits, grains and milk to cities. (01.06.2018) pic.twitter.com/c9aCnb4zKf — ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2018 × Its 2nd June today,where is the strike happening? No farmers are participating in the strike. Farmers are happy with the schemes CM has launched for them.They have faith that state¢ral govt will solve their problems: Balkrishna Patidar, Madhya Pradesh minister for Agriculture pic.twitter.com/EKmKVowGAJ — ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2018 × #WATCH: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar speaks on farmers' strike, says, 'they don't have any issues, they are just focusing on unnecessary things, not selling produce will bring losses to farmers.' (01.06.2018) pic.twitter.com/CFY7dzgj2g — ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2018 ×

Day after country's farmers go on strike, fruit & vegetable prices shoot up

Ahead of the assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, chief minister Raman Singh has clarified that his party was not going to enter into polls with any other party.

Answering the media on the same he said, "Dashanan ke bhale dus sir ho jayein, unke liye Ek Ram kaafi rehta hai (Ravan can have ten heads but one Ram in enough for all of them)".

The elections in the state are scheduled for later this year.&nbsp;

The BJP recently lost the elections in Karnataka due to the opposition's unity against it.&nbsp;

The party lost its stake over the state despite winning the majority&nbsp;of seats.

The elections in the state are scheduled for later this year

Ahead of the assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, chief minister Raman Singh has clarified that his party was not going to enter into polls with any other party. Answering the media on the same he said, "Dashanan ke bhale dus sir ho jayein, unke liye Ek Ram kaafi rehta hai (Ravan can have ten heads but one Ram in enough for all of them)". The elections in the state are scheduled for later this year. The BJP recently lost the elections in Karnataka due to the opposition's unity against it. The party lost its stake over the state despite winning the majority of seats.

Chhattisgarh CM denies alliance for assembly polls, says 'One Ram enough for Ravan with ten heads'

Amid rising criticism over steep hike in fuel prices, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today claimed it was possible to cut up to Rs 25 per litre in petrol prices but the government will not do so.

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In a series of tweets, the former finance minister said the bonanza to central government is Rs 25 on every litre of petrol and this money rightfully belongs to the average consumer. "Central government saves Rs 15 on every litre of petrol due to fall in crude oil prices. Central government puts an additional tax of Rs 10 on every litre of petrol.

"It is possible to cut up to Rs 25 per litre, but the government will not. They will cheat the people by cutting price by Rs 1 or 2 per litre of petrol," he said on Twitter.

More than a week after state-owned oil firms ended a 19-day pre-Karnataka poll hiatus on revising fuel prices, petrol and diesel rates have touched record highs.

Petrol costs Rs 76.87 per litre in Delhi and diesel costs Rs 68.08 a litre. In the last nine days, petrol price has risen by Rs 2.24 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.15.

Rates vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT.

The prices in Delhi are the cheapest among all metros and most state capitals.

The central government levies Rs 19.48 a litre of excise duty on petrol and Rs 15.33 per litre on diesel.

State sales tax or VAT varies from state to state.

Unlike excise duty, VAT is ad valorem and results in higher revenues for the state when rates move up.

In Delhi, VAT on petrol was Rs 15.84 a litre and Rs 9.68 on diesel in April.

Now, it is Rs 16.34 on petrol and Rs 10.02 a litre on diesel.

Every rupee cut in excise duty on petrol and diesel will result in a revenue loss of Rs 13,000 crore.

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कच्चे तेल की कीमतों में गिरावट से केंद्र सरकार को पेट्रोल पर 15 रु/लीटर की बचत होती है| इसके अलावा केंद्र सरकार पेट्रोल पर 10 रु/लीटर का अतिरिक्त कर लगाती है।
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) <a href="https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/999178344792051712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Bonanza to central government is Rs 25 on every litre of petrol. This money rightfully belongs to the average consumer.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) <a href="https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/999113389388464133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Central government saves Rs 15 on every litre of petrol due to fall in crude oil prices. Central government puts additional tax of Rs 10 on every litre of petrol.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) <a href="https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/999113260703145984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The government had raised excise duty nine times between November 2014 and January 2016 to shore up finances as global oil prices fell, but then cut the tax just once in October last year by Rs 2 a litre.

Subsequent to that excise duty reduction, the Centre had asked states to also lower VAT. Just four of them -- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh -- reduced rates while others including BJP-ruled ones ignored the call.

In all, duty on petrol rate was hiked by Rs 11.77 per litre and that on diesel by 13.47 a litre in those 15 months that helped governments excise mop up more than double to Rs 2,42,000 crore in 2016-17 from Rs 99,000 crore in 2014-15.&nbsp;

'It is possible to cut up to Rs 25 per litre, but the government will not. They will cheat the people by cutting price by Rs 1 or 2 per litre of petrol,' the former finance minister said on Twitter. Every rupee cut in excise duty on petrol and diesel will result in a revenue loss of Rs 13,000 crore

Amid rising criticism over steep hike in fuel prices, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today claimed it was possible to cut up to Rs 25 per litre in petrol prices but the government will not do so. × In a series of tweets, the former finance minister said the bonanza to central government is Rs 25 on every litre of petrol and this money rightfully belongs to the average consumer. "Central government saves Rs 15 on every litre of petrol due to fall in crude oil prices. Central government puts an additional tax of Rs 10 on every litre of petrol. "It is possible to cut up to Rs 25 per litre, but the government will not. They will cheat the people by cutting price by Rs 1 or 2 per litre of petrol," he said on Twitter. More than a week after state-owned oil firms ended a 19-day pre-Karnataka poll hiatus on revising fuel prices, petrol and diesel rates have touched record highs. Petrol costs Rs 76.87 per litre in Delhi and diesel costs Rs 68.08 a litre. In the last nine days, petrol price has risen by Rs 2.24 a litre and diesel by Rs 2.15. Rates vary from state to state depending on the incidence of local sales tax or VAT. The prices in Delhi are the cheapest among all metros and most state capitals. The central government levies Rs 19.48 a litre of excise duty on petrol and Rs 15.33 per litre on diesel. State sales tax or VAT varies from state to state. Unlike excise duty, VAT is ad valorem and results in higher revenues for the state when rates move up. In Delhi, VAT on petrol was Rs 15.84 a litre and Rs 9.68 on diesel in April. Now, it is Rs 16.34 on petrol and Rs 10.02 a litre on diesel. Every rupee cut in excise duty on petrol and diesel will result in a revenue loss of Rs 13,000 crore. कच्चे तेल की कीमतों में गिरावट से केंद्र सरकार को पेट्रोल पर 15 रु/लीटर की बचत होती है| इसके अलावा केंद्र सरकार पेट्रोल पर 10 रु/लीटर का अतिरिक्त कर लगाती है। — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 23, 2018 × Bonanza to central government is Rs 25 on every litre of petrol. This money rightfully belongs to the average consumer. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 23, 2018 × Central government saves Rs 15 on every litre of petrol due to fall in crude oil prices. Central government puts additional tax of Rs 10 on every litre of petrol. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) May 23, 2018 × The government had raised excise duty nine times between November 2014 and January 2016 to shore up finances as global oil prices fell, but then cut the tax just once in October last year by Rs 2 a litre. Subsequent to that excise duty reduction, the Centre had asked states to also lower VAT. Just four of them -- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh -- reduced rates while others including BJP-ruled ones ignored the call. In all, duty on petrol rate was hiked by Rs 11.77 per litre and that on diesel by 13.47 a litre in those 15 months that helped governments excise mop up more than double to Rs 2,42,000 crore in 2016-17 from Rs 99,000 crore in 2014-15.

Government can reduce petrol price by Rs 25 but won't do it: Chidambaram

A man in Madhya Pradesh was allegedly beaten to death by villagers for killing cattle on Friday.

The incident happened in Satna district when people from Amar village beat the man to death and also injured a driver. They were allegedly beaten up by the attackers armed with sticks.

The man died at the district hospital in Satna a few hours after the alleged assault.

The police said that they had found a slaughtered bull and meat of two other bulls packed in sacks from the spot.

The police have taken into custody at least 4 suspects in the case and a probe is underway.

Early morning on Friday, two people from Amgar village saw a group of people with the cattle. However, when they reached the spot, four of the group members had fled while two from the same group — Riaz and Shakeel — who were with the cattle, were severely beaten up by the villagers.

Later, when the police reached the spot in the early hours of Friday, they found a man dead and the driver, lying in a critical state.

Madhya Pradesh amended its rules against cow slaughter in 2012 and raised the maximum punishment from three years’ imprisonment to seven years.

The police have taken into custody at least 5 suspects in the case and a probe is underway

A man in Madhya Pradesh was allegedly beaten to death by villagers for killing cattle on Friday. The incident happened in Satna district when people from Amar village beat the man to death and also injured a driver. They were allegedly beaten up by the attackers armed with sticks. The man died at the district hospital in Satna a few hours after the alleged assault. The police said that they had found a slaughtered bull and meat of two other bulls packed in sacks from the spot. The police have taken into custody at least 4 suspects in the case and a probe is underway. Early morning on Friday, two people from Amgar village saw a group of people with the cattle. However, when they reached the spot, four of the group members had fled while two from the same group — Riaz and Shakeel — who were with the cattle, were severely beaten up by the villagers. Later, when the police reached the spot in the early hours of Friday, they found a man dead and the driver, lying in a critical state. Madhya Pradesh amended its rules against cow slaughter in 2012 and raised the maximum punishment from three years’ imprisonment to seven years.

Man beaten to death in Madhya Pradesh over suspicion of cow slaughter

The counting of votes is underway in Karnataka and the BJP has taken the lead. The party is currently leading in&nbsp;106&nbsp;seats, while the Congress is leading in 76.&nbsp;

Karnataka has a total of 224 assembly seats, but only 222 seats went to the polls this time. (Voting was postponed in Bengaluru's RR Nagar seat where close to 10,000 voter IDs were recovered from a flat. Voting was also postponed in another seat where a candidate died.)&nbsp;&nbsp;

The halfway mark then is 112 seats.&nbsp;

Should the Congress lose Karnataka, it will be left in power in only two Indian states and one union territory.

The two states are Punjab and Mizoram. The UT is Puducherry.&nbsp;

The BJP on the other will end up ruling 21 states (including Karnataka) out of 29.&nbsp;

Watch: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-bjp-leaders-hail-victory-congress-disappointed-in-karnataka-election-136924#">BJP leaders hail victory, Congress disappointed in Karnataka election</a>

The Congress recently lost Himachal Pradesh, while the BJP retained Gujarat, the latest in a string of defeats since 2014 when Prime Minister Modi came to power at the Centre.&nbsp;

While campaigning for the 2014 general elections, Modi had promised a "Congress-mukt Bharat".&nbsp;

In 2017, the Congress lost Goa and Manipur — despite emerging as the single-largest party in both states.&nbsp;

In the 2014 general elections, the Congress won only 44 Lok Sabha — marking a new low.

The next state elections coming up in 2018 are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The BJP is in power in all three and will therefore have to fight the anti-incumbency factor there.

Also see: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-election-results-what-didnt-work-for-congress-136929">Karnataka election results: What didn't work for Congress</a>

In Karnataka, Modi's last-minute blitzkrieg seems to have paid off. The BJP is currently leading in 11 of the 19 constituencies that Modi campaigned in.

Of the 16 constituencies that Rahul Gandhi campaigned in, the Congress is leading in 6.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-karnataka-election-results-counting-underway-as-bjp-congress-wait-for-results-136866">Watch the live updates of the Karnataka elections here.</a>

The BJP is currently leading in 106 seats in Karnataka. The two states the Congress still rules in are Punjab and Mizoram. The union territory is Puducherry

The counting of votes is underway in Karnataka and the BJP has taken the lead. The party is currently leading in 106 seats, while the Congress is leading in 76. Karnataka has a total of 224 assembly seats, but only 222 seats went to the polls this time. (Voting was postponed in Bengaluru's RR Nagar seat where close to 10,000 voter IDs were recovered from a flat. Voting was also postponed in another seat where a candidate died.) The halfway mark then is 112 seats. Should the Congress lose Karnataka, it will be left in power in only two Indian states and one union territory. The two states are Punjab and Mizoram. The UT is Puducherry. The BJP on the other will end up ruling 21 states (including Karnataka) out of 29. Watch: BJP leaders hail victory, Congress disappointed in Karnataka election The Congress recently lost Himachal Pradesh, while the BJP retained Gujarat, the latest in a string of defeats since 2014 when Prime Minister Modi came to power at the Centre. While campaigning for the 2014 general elections, Modi had promised a "Congress-mukt Bharat". In 2017, the Congress lost Goa and Manipur — despite emerging as the single-largest party in both states. In the 2014 general elections, the Congress won only 44 Lok Sabha — marking a new low. The next state elections coming up in 2018 are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The BJP is in power in all three and will therefore have to fight the anti-incumbency factor there. Also see: Karnataka election results: What didn't work for Congress In Karnataka, Modi's last-minute blitzkrieg seems to have paid off. The BJP is currently leading in 11 of the 19 constituencies that Modi campaigned in. Of the 16 constituencies that Rahul Gandhi campaigned in, the Congress is leading in 6. Watch the live updates of the Karnataka elections here.

Should Congress lose Karnataka, it will be left in power in only two states, 1 UT

Madhya Pradesh is staring at an acute water shortage as 65 dams, out of 164 important reservoirs in the state, have almost dried up.

Besides the 65 dams which have almost dried up, 39 tanks have 10 per cent or less water stock of their capacity, a top official the Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Department (MPWRD) said. The Indira Sagar Dam, built over the Narmada river in MP’s Khandwa district, has around 2,104 million cubic metres (MCM) of water as against a total capacity of 9,750 MCM, Adil Khan, Public Relations Officer, the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA), told PTI.

“We are maintaining 2,104 MCM level in the Indira Sagar Dam,” he said. MPWRD Engineer-in-Chief Rajeev Kumar Sukalikar said some of the dams have almost run out of water due to last year’s scanty rainfall. “Eleven Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), out of the total 378 in the state, were getting water every four days,” said Prabhakant Katare, Engineer-in-Chief (ENC) with the MP Urban Administration Development Commissioners office. He said 50 ULBs were getting water on third, while 117 on alternate days.

Katare said right now the situation in the urban areas, which mainly depend on rivers and reservoirs for their water needs, was manageable. There are also reports of water shortage in rural MP. According to the reports, more than 30 per cent of the hand pumps and tube wells are not functioning due to mechanical glitch or a steep dip in underground water level, a claim denied by the Public Health Engineer (PHE) department.

PHE Department Engineering-in-Chief K K Songaria said 5.5 lakh hand pumps and 15,000 tube wells were catering to the needs of people in rural parts of the state. Songaria said around 4 per cent hand pumps and tube wells were out of order and denied claims that around 30 per cent of them were non-functional. “PHE Principal Secretary Pramod Agrawal and me are touring the state to ensure rural MP gets water,” he said.

Madhya Pradesh PHE Minister Kusum Mehdele also denied reports that 30 per cent of the hand pumps and tube wells were out of order in rural parts of the state. “More than 80 per cent of the hand pumps and tube wells were in perfect order,” she added. NVDA PRO Khan said prudent use of water of the Narmada river considered MP’s lifeline – has kept a water crisis at bay so far in the state.

“For the last couple of days, we are releasing 7 MCM of water daily from the Bargi Dam built on the Narmada,” he said adding the dam has adequate water. “We are supplying the Narmada water down to Barwani district bordering Gujarat,” Khan added. Another NVDA official said the state government’s decision not to supply 500 MCM of water to Gujarat has helped them avert a water crisis in Madhya Pradesh so far.

He said, “According to the Narmada Control Authoritys (NCA) decision, we were to supply 5,500 MCM of water to Gujarat in this water year (July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018).” Of this, 5,000 MCM of water was supplied by January and the rest could not be supplied “as we did not have enough water for our state”, he added. Veteran water conservationist K G Vyas said it is high time the MP government revived the Narmada to overcome the water shortage.

“If the government really wants to revitalise the Narmada, it must work for the revival of its 41 tributaries,” said the septuagenarian activist. The Narmada river traverses a total distance of 1,312 km before flowing into the Arabian Sea in Gujarat. It covers 1,077 km in MP and the rest in Gujarat.

The Narmada river traverses a total distance of 1,312 km before flowing into the Arabian Sea in Gujarat. It covers 1,077 km in Madhya Pradesh and the rest in Gujarat.

Madhya Pradesh is staring at an acute water shortage as 65 dams, out of 164 important reservoirs in the state, have almost dried up. Besides the 65 dams which have almost dried up, 39 tanks have 10 per cent or less water stock of their capacity, a top official the Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Department (MPWRD) said. The Indira Sagar Dam, built over the Narmada river in MP’s Khandwa district, has around 2,104 million cubic metres (MCM) of water as against a total capacity of 9,750 MCM, Adil Khan, Public Relations Officer, the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA), told PTI. “We are maintaining 2,104 MCM level in the Indira Sagar Dam,” he said. MPWRD Engineer-in-Chief Rajeev Kumar Sukalikar said some of the dams have almost run out of water due to last year’s scanty rainfall. “Eleven Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), out of the total 378 in the state, were getting water every four days,” said Prabhakant Katare, Engineer-in-Chief (ENC) with the MP Urban Administration Development Commissioners office. He said 50 ULBs were getting water on third, while 117 on alternate days. Katare said right now the situation in the urban areas, which mainly depend on rivers and reservoirs for their water needs, was manageable. There are also reports of water shortage in rural MP. According to the reports, more than 30 per cent of the hand pumps and tube wells are not functioning due to mechanical glitch or a steep dip in underground water level, a claim denied by the Public Health Engineer (PHE) department. PHE Department Engineering-in-Chief K K Songaria said 5.5 lakh hand pumps and 15,000 tube wells were catering to the needs of people in rural parts of the state. Songaria said around 4 per cent hand pumps and tube wells were out of order and denied claims that around 30 per cent of them were non-functional. “PHE Principal Secretary Pramod Agrawal and me are touring the state to ensure rural MP gets water,” he said. Madhya Pradesh PHE Minister Kusum Mehdele also denied reports that 30 per cent of the hand pumps and tube wells were out of order in rural parts of the state. “More than 80 per cent of the hand pumps and tube wells were in perfect order,” she added. NVDA PRO Khan said prudent use of water of the Narmada river considered MP’s lifeline – has kept a water crisis at bay so far in the state. “For the last couple of days, we are releasing 7 MCM of water daily from the Bargi Dam built on the Narmada,” he said adding the dam has adequate water. “We are supplying the Narmada water down to Barwani district bordering Gujarat,” Khan added. Another NVDA official said the state government’s decision not to supply 500 MCM of water to Gujarat has helped them avert a water crisis in Madhya Pradesh so far. He said, “According to the Narmada Control Authoritys (NCA) decision, we were to supply 5,500 MCM of water to Gujarat in this water year (July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018).” Of this, 5,000 MCM of water was supplied by January and the rest could not be supplied “as we did not have enough water for our state”, he added. Veteran water conservationist K G Vyas said it is high time the MP government revived the Narmada to overcome the water shortage. “If the government really wants to revitalise the Narmada, it must work for the revival of its 41 tributaries,” said the septuagenarian activist. The Narmada river traverses a total distance of 1,312 km before flowing into the Arabian Sea in Gujarat. It covers 1,077 km in MP and the rest in Gujarat.

Madhya Pradesh stares at acute water shortage

&nbsp;In an astonishing incident, a woman chopped off her tongue in Tarsama village of Madhya Pradesh`s Morena district to offer it in a temple.

The family member said that they came to know about the incident when she saw blood oozing out from her mouth.

The woman sacrificed her tongue in front of the deity at Bijasan Mata temple, where she offers prayer every day.

She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where she was given initial medication.

"A women was admitted, whose tongue was chopped off the tongue. We later came to know that she offered the same to a temple where she used to pray regularly," said the doctor.&nbsp;

The family member said that they came to know about the incident when she saw blood oozing out from her mouth.

In an astonishing incident, a woman chopped off her tongue in Tarsama village of Madhya Pradesh`s Morena district to offer it in a temple. The family member said that they came to know about the incident when she saw blood oozing out from her mouth. The woman sacrificed her tongue in front of the deity at Bijasan Mata temple, where she offers prayer every day. She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where she was given initial medication. "A women was admitted, whose tongue was chopped off the tongue. We later came to know that she offered the same to a temple where she used to pray regularly," said the doctor.

Madhya Pradesh: Woman chops off tongue to offer it to deity

The 16-year-old girl who had been raped and then set on fire in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh has died.&nbsp

The victim had been admitted to hospital with 80 per cent burns. Police have arrested two people.&nbsp

The 16 year old had been attacked in December.&nbsp

The 16 year old had been raped and set on fire by two persons at Deval village, about 100 km from Sagar district headquarters.&nbsp

Police had said then that the two men — one of whom was thought to be a minor — had entered the girl's house, and raped her.&nbsp

When she cried for help, they poured kerosene on her and set her on fire. The kerosene had been lying in the house.&nbsp

The girl's father had died a few years earlier. The girl's mother was at the time visiting her mother.&nbsp

The girl's grandfather, who is hearing-imparied, was sleeping outside the house when the incident took place, police said.&nbsp

(With inputs from PTI)

The victim had been attacked in December. She was admitted to hospital with 80 per cent burns

The 16-year-old girl who had been raped and then set on fire in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh has died. The victim had been admitted to hospital with 80 per cent burns. Police have arrested two people. The 16 year old had been attacked in December. The 16 year old had been raped and set on fire by two persons at Deval village, about 100 km from Sagar district headquarters. Police had said then that the two men — one of whom was thought to be a minor — had entered the girl's house, and raped her. When she cried for help, they poured kerosene on her and set her on fire. The kerosene had been lying in the house. The girl's father had died a few years earlier. The girl's mother was at the time visiting her mother. The girl's grandfather, who is hearing-imparied, was sleeping outside the house when the incident took place, police said. (With inputs from PTI)

Madhya Pradesh: 16-year-old girl who was gang-raped and set on fire dies

The Congress leaders would be seeking divine blessings at various temples in MP in a bid to wrest power from the BJP in the state where the Assembly polls are due later this year.

The Congress state election campaign committee chairman, Jyotiraditya Scindia, will kick off the party's campaign for the polls from Ujjain district after offering prayers at the famous Mahakal temple on May 11, state party spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said.

"Scindia is a deeply religious person, he is going to visit many temples to seek blessings of the Almighty to overthrow the BJP government, which has been in power for over 14 years in MP," he said.

The newly appointed MP Congress president, Kamal Nath, who formally took charge of the party in the state on May 1, visited the Gufa Mandir in Bhopal on May 2.

The same day, he also went to the Mahakal temple in Ujjain and offered prayers at the Pitambara Peeth in Datia district.

A Congress leader said their party chief Rahul Gandhi was likely to start his election campaign in MP after visiting either the Mahakal temple or the Pitambara Peeth.

Gandhi would visit some prominent Hindu temples in MP, replicating his Gujarat electioneering model, the leader said on condition of anonymity. 
 
Notably, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh last month completed his 3,300-km 'Narmada Parikarma' (circumambulation) along the river banks on foot.

A BJP leader dubbed such tactics of the Congress leaders as "hypocrisy" to woo the voters, saying that the strategy won't work in the polls.

"The Congress leaders' visits to temples, especially Digvijayji's Narmada yatra, is just a hypocrisy. Everyone knows that Digvijayji believes in minority appeasement," state BJP general secretary V D Sharma said.

"The people know that the Congress leaders in MP have turned religious only to get votes. Their temple-going tactics to woo voters won't work in the forthcoming elections. They are anti-Hindu and believe in minority appeasement for votes," Sharma said.&nbsp

The Congress state election campaign committee chairman, Jyotiraditya Scindia, will kick off the party's campaign for the polls from Ujjain district after offering prayers at the famous Mahakal temple on May 11, state party spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said

The Congress leaders would be seeking divine blessings at various temples in MP in a bid to wrest power from the BJP in the state where the Assembly polls are due later this year. The Congress state election campaign committee chairman, Jyotiraditya Scindia, will kick off the party's campaign for the polls from Ujjain district after offering prayers at the famous Mahakal temple on May 11, state party spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said. "Scindia is a deeply religious person, he is going to visit many temples to seek blessings of the Almighty to overthrow the BJP government, which has been in power for over 14 years in MP," he said. The newly appointed MP Congress president, Kamal Nath, who formally took charge of the party in the state on May 1, visited the Gufa Mandir in Bhopal on May 2. The same day, he also went to the Mahakal temple in Ujjain and offered prayers at the Pitambara Peeth in Datia district. A Congress leader said their party chief Rahul Gandhi was likely to start his election campaign in MP after visiting either the Mahakal temple or the Pitambara Peeth. Gandhi would visit some prominent Hindu temples in MP, replicating his Gujarat electioneering model, the leader said on condition of anonymity. Notably, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh last month completed his 3,300-km 'Narmada Parikarma' (circumambulation) along the river banks on foot. A BJP leader dubbed such tactics of the Congress leaders as "hypocrisy" to woo the voters, saying that the strategy won't work in the polls. "The Congress leaders' visits to temples, especially Digvijayji's Narmada yatra, is just a hypocrisy. Everyone knows that Digvijayji believes in minority appeasement," state BJP general secretary V D Sharma said. "The people know that the Congress leaders in MP have turned religious only to get votes. Their temple-going tactics to woo voters won't work in the forthcoming elections. They are anti-Hindu and believe in minority appeasement for votes," Sharma said.

Congress leaders to go temple-hopping in MP; BJP says it won't work

Under acute drinking water crisis, a village in Madhya Pradesh's Tikamgarh town has been deprived of water for the past three long years.

Villagers travel for almost five km every day to fetch water for their daily needs. With a population of 3,000, most people in this village are either farm labourers or petty traders.

The schemes launched by both the Central and the State governments have failed to reach the villagers despite many attempts and complaints.

"We have to walk till Uttar Pradesh border to get water. Our children can't go to school as all their time goes in fetching water. Due to non-availability of drinking water, womenfolk of the village walk five km every day through forest road to collect water," locals told ANI.

"The district administration too has ignored our problems for the last three years," locals added.

The village in Tikamgarh town also continues to be deprived of basic facilities such as school, all-weather road and electricity.

The village in Tikamgarh town also continues to be deprived of basic facilities such as school, all-weather road and electricity

Under acute drinking water crisis, a village in Madhya Pradesh's Tikamgarh town has been deprived of water for the past three long years. Villagers travel for almost five km every day to fetch water for their daily needs. With a population of 3,000, most people in this village are either farm labourers or petty traders. The schemes launched by both the Central and the State governments have failed to reach the villagers despite many attempts and complaints. "We have to walk till Uttar Pradesh border to get water. Our children can't go to school as all their time goes in fetching water. Due to non-availability of drinking water, womenfolk of the village walk five km every day through forest road to collect water," locals told ANI. "The district administration too has ignored our problems for the last three years," locals added. The village in Tikamgarh town also continues to be deprived of basic facilities such as school, all-weather road and electricity.

Madhya Pradesh: This village has been battling a water crisis for the past three years

After much procrastination, Congress appointed senior Congress MP and former Union Minister Kamal Nath as the PCC chief of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. Congress has been out of power in the state from 2003 onwards. Its biggest problem in the state is a plethora of leaders and dwindling cadre. The seniormost leader today is Kamal Nath who joined politics in the 1970's and was a close aide of Sanjay Gandhi.

Kamal Nath told WION, "The challenge is to build the party. The challenge lies in giving a new dimension to the state and tell a new growth story and for this Congress must form the government.”

When asked as to what he intends to do with the multiple leaders, Kamal Nath said, "I’m friends with everyone. My relationship with most of the leaders is good and I get along with everyone.”

The fact of the matter is that Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindhia was also very keen to become the PCC chief of Madhya Pradesh. There is no doubt that he is a popular young leader but within Congress, no one can match Kamal Nath's organisational muscle. Congress also faces a fund crunch and understands that Kamal Nath can help organise the elections better.

Even former chief minister Digvijay Singh was more disposed towards Kamal Nath. There is also the fact that the Congress did not make Kamal Nath leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha, because of caste considerations, despite his seniority.

There is a very popular saying about Kamal Nath in the Congress, told to me by a very senior leader. The senior leader told me, "If Kamal Nath is your friend, then he might save you from God once. But if he is your enemy, then even God may not be able to save you.”

For now Jyotiraditya Scindhia will have to be content with the position of head of the Congress Campaign Committee for Madhya Pradesh. Former union minister Arun Yadav, who was MP PCC chief so far, meanwhile will have to wait to be rehabilitated in Delhi.&nbsp;

Jyotiraditya Scindia has been made Congress campaign chief for the upcoming elections

After much procrastination, Congress appointed senior Congress MP and former Union Minister Kamal Nath as the PCC chief of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. Congress has been out of power in the state from 2003 onwards. Its biggest problem in the state is a plethora of leaders and dwindling cadre. The seniormost leader today is Kamal Nath who joined politics in the 1970's and was a close aide of Sanjay Gandhi. Kamal Nath told WION, "The challenge is to build the party. The challenge lies in giving a new dimension to the state and tell a new growth story and for this Congress must form the government.” When asked as to what he intends to do with the multiple leaders, Kamal Nath said, "I’m friends with everyone. My relationship with most of the leaders is good and I get along with everyone.” The fact of the matter is that Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindhia was also very keen to become the PCC chief of Madhya Pradesh. There is no doubt that he is a popular young leader but within Congress, no one can match Kamal Nath's organisational muscle. Congress also faces a fund crunch and understands that Kamal Nath can help organise the elections better. Even former chief minister Digvijay Singh was more disposed towards Kamal Nath. There is also the fact that the Congress did not make Kamal Nath leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha, because of caste considerations, despite his seniority. There is a very popular saying about Kamal Nath in the Congress, told to me by a very senior leader. The senior leader told me, "If Kamal Nath is your friend, then he might save you from God once. But if he is your enemy, then even God may not be able to save you.” For now Jyotiraditya Scindhia will have to be content with the position of head of the Congress Campaign Committee for Madhya Pradesh. Former union minister Arun Yadav, who was MP PCC chief so far, meanwhile will have to wait to be rehabilitated in Delhi.

With MP going to polls this year, Kamal Nath takes over as state Congress chief

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