Varanasi to be Modi’s political graveyard: Lalu
Patna: Taunting the decision of the BJP to field its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, RJD president Lalu Prasad on Sunday said it would prove to be a “political graveyard” for Modi. “What do you think of Varanasi. It’s a completely secular place. Narendra Modi is going to be defeated there. It will prove to be his political graveyard,” Prasad said. He also questioned why Modi was “fleeing from his own state”. Prasad claimed BJP leaders were not getting seats to fight the Lok Sabha elections. “This is hilarious. The BJP leaders are not getting places to contest the Lok Sabha elections. They are running helter skelter to find a seat. Modi is also one of them. He has fled from Gujarat in search for a safe constituency,” added Prasad. At a press conference today, the RJD chief said vested interests were spreading rumours that a couple of dissatisfied RJD candidates were thinking of returning Lok Sabha tickets. He also lambasted media in this connection. “Whatever is reported in the media is on the directions of the owner and management of the media house. Journalists do what the owner or the management wants them to do,” said Prasad. (PTI)
Militant arrested with AK-47 rifle, explosive along LoC
Poonch: A militant was arrested by security forces along the Line of Control in Poonch district while he was infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir to carry out terror attacks during elections. Muhammad Esaaq was arrested by police soon after he infiltrated into Digwar border village from across LoC in Poonch district late Saturday night, police said here on Sunday. They seized an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, over 50 rounds of ammunition and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from his possession, they said. He had crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for arms training in 2011. He was returning to the state for carrying out terror attacks ahead of elections, police claimed. Police and other intelligence agencies are interrogating the militant after registration of a case in this regard. Jammu and Kashmir with six Lok Sabha seats will witness polling on five days on April 10, 17, 24, 30 and May 7. On April 10, Jammu will go to polls. (PTI)
AI plane brushes against catering vehicle
Chennai: An Air India plane from Mumbai with 168 passengers onboard suffered slight damage when one of its wings brushed against a parked catering vehicle at the airport here. All the passengers onboard the Mumbai-Chennai AI570 flight are safe and the left wing of the aircraft sustained some scratches while it was being parked after landing, airport sources said. The aircraft was on its way to the parking bay after landing at 9 AM when its wing touched the catering vehicle parked in the adjacent bay for loading food items onto a Jet Airways flight. Air India engineers inspected the aircraft and certified it fit for return journey to Mumbai, the sources said. Security and safety officials inquired into the incident and questioned the driver of the catering vehicle, which was allegedly not parked properly, leading to the mishap at the Kamaraj Domestic Terminus, the sources said. (PTI)
Modi extends Holi wishes, appeals people to change India’s fate
Ahmedabad: BJP’s Prime Ministerial nominee Narendra Modi on Sunday extended greetings to the people on the occasion of holi festival and appealed to them to change the country’s fate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “The country has been submerged into the colour of elections. Election is the festival of Holi for the democracy. Let’s celebrate this festival of democracy to change the fate of India,” Modi said in an audio message which has been put on the his official website. Some of the excerpts from the audio clip have also been posted on his Twitter account. In the message, Modi addressed the people of the country as “Bhagya-vidhata” (makers of the fate) while them wishing on the occasion of the festival of colours. “Namaste Bharat ke Bhagyavidhata (India’s fate-makers), My brothers and sisters, Narendra Modi speaking here,” he said. “I have come here to extend my wishes on the festival of Holi, my plenty of wishes. The festival of Holi may fill cheer and enthusiasm and bring happiness in your life. Let’s take a pledge for India’s bright future,” Modi appealed. (PTI)