Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) The Congress Monday welcomed the Election Commission's decision to bar Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati from campaigning for 72 and 48 hours, respectively, and said the poll panel has put a pause on those trying to spread hatred through their provocative remarks.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said he hopes that the Election Commission will continue its "even handed application unabated" howsoever high be the position the person concerned, who violates the law, occupies.

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) The Lok Sabha polls in Vellore constituency in Tamil Nadu is likely to be cancelled over excess use of money power, sources aware of the development said Monday.

The Election Commission is learnt to have prepared a recommendation in this regard to be sent to the president.

"It would be sent today itself," an official said on Monday.

New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI) The Supreme Court Tuesday refused to consider BSP supremo Mayawati's plea challenging the EC's 48-hr campaign ban on her and expressed satisfaction over the poll body's action against leaders making hate speeches.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked Mayawati's counsel to file a separate appeal against the poll panel's order.

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) The Supreme Court Monday directed the Election Commission to watch the full biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and take an informed decision by April 19 on banning its pan India release.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also directed the poll panel to submit its decision to the court in a sealed cover and said it will consider the matter on April 22.

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) The Election Commission on Monday "strongly condemned" Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP supremo Mayawati for their communal remarks and barred them from campaigning for different periods.

While Adityanath was barred for 72 hours, Mayawati has been barred for 48 hours, separate EC orders said.

The two have also been "censured".

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI) The Supreme Court Monday made it clear that remarks made by Rahul Gandhi in the media on the Rafale case verdict were "incorrectly attributed" to the apex court and directed the Congress President to give his explanation by April 22.

The apex court said it will consider the petition filed by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi seeking contempt action against Gandhi for attributing some observations to the apex court which was not in the Rafale judgement.

New Delhi, Apr 14; GANASHAKTI: The Congress Sunday demanded a thorough probe into the alleged transportation of a "suspicious black trunk" in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter during his visit to Chitradurg in Karnataka.

Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma asked the prime minister to come clean on the issue and said the EC should inquire into the contents of the trunk.

He said the Congress' Karnataka unit has already filed a complaint with the EC in this regard.

New Delhi, Apr 13; GANASHAKTI: France waived taxes worth 143.7 million euros to a French-registered telecom subsidiary of Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications in 2015, months after India's announcement of buying 36 Rafale jets, a leading French newspaper Le Monde reported Saturday.

In its reaction, Reliance Communications rejected any wrongdoing and said the tax dispute was settled under legal framework which is available for all companies operating in France.

New Delhi, Apr 14; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Opposition parties Sunday held a meeting to discuss the issue of EVM malfunctioning and said they will approach the Supreme Court again to demand that at least 50 per cent of paper trails be verified with EVMs.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who Saturday met Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora to raise the issue of EVM malfunctioning, said 21 political parties have demanded verification of VVPAT paper trails of 50 per cent of the EVMs.

New Delhi, Apr 14 (PTI) Six of the 10 most valued Indian firms suffered a combined erosion of Rs 42,827.39 crore in market valuation last week, with IT major TCS taking the biggest hit.

Among the top 10 firms, ITC, HUL, Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank made gains in their market capitalisation (m-cap) for the week ended Friday, while Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), TCS, HDFC Bank, HDFC, Infosys and SBI finished with losses.

The m-cap of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) slumped Rs 14,146.5 crore to Rs 7,55,636.47 crore.