Indian Sub-continent

Lucknow, May 15 (PTI) BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's legacy as the Gujarat chief minister is a black spot for himself and the BJP, as well as a burden on the communal history of the country.

Mayawati alleged that the prime minister had crossed all limits of decency in terming the Bahujan Samaj Party her personal property.

Bargari (Pb), May 15 (PTI) Congress President Rahul Gandhi Wednesday lashed out at Narendra Modi, saying the Prime Minister thinks "only one person can run the country while actually it is the people who run the nation.

Gandhi noted that Modi used to make "fun" of former PM Manmohan Singh "but after five years now Modi ji does not make fun of Manmohan ji.Today the country is making fun of him (Modi)".

Srinagar, May 15 (PTI) Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani Wednesday hailed the goodwill gesture by India and Pakistan to release prisoners from their respective jails and called for use of such measures as permanent feature of relations between the two countries.

Thirteen Pakistani nationals, including four fishermen, were repatriated to Pakistan on Tuesday through the Attari-Wagah border.

Last month, Pakistan released 55 Indian fishermen and five civilians as a "goodwill gesture".

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) India's exports rose marginally by 0.64 per cent in April to USD 26 billion while imports increased by 4.5 per cent to 41.4 billion compared to the year-ago month, according to official data released Wednesday.

Trade deficit, the difference between exports and imports, widened to USD 15.33 billion in April 2019 from USD 13.72 billion in April 2018.

Oil imports grew by 9.26 per cent to USD 11.38 billion and non-oil imports expanded by 2.78 per cent.

Gold imports rose by 54 per cent to USD 3.97 billion in April.

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) The Congress on Wednesday condemned the attack on its Rae Bareli legislator Aditi Singh, blaming it on what it called the "hired goons" of BJP in Uttar Pradesh.

It sought a judicial probe to nail the criminal conspiracy behind the incident.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said the incident shows the true Modi-Shah model of governance in force in UP.

Jaipur, May 15 (PTI) The Rajasthan government will construct 174 flats with modern facilities in Vidhayak Nagar (west) at a cost of Rs 250 crore for the members of legislative assembly, an official spokesperson said Wednesday.

Besides, a parliamentary museum will also be set up in the assembly building at a cost of Rs 10 crore, he said.

The decisions were taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Assembly Speaker C P Joshi.

Mumbai, May 15 (PTI) Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil Wednesday said grant for animals in the cattle camps has been increased for the purpose of their fodder and water.

At present, there are 1,417 cattle camps functioning in the state housing 9.39 lakh animals. So far, big animal got a grant of Rs 90 and the small one Rs 45 for water and fodder, he said.

"Now, each big animal will get Rs 100 and small one will get Rs 50. The decision was taken in the cabinet sub committee meeting held today," Patil said.

Kolkata, May 15 (PTI) West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi Wednesday condemned the vandalising of a bust of 19th century Bengali icon Iswarchandra Vidyasagar at a college here, and said the culprits should be traced and punished.

Kolkata witnessed wide-spread violence during BJP president Amit Shah's road show on Tuesday. During the violence, a bust of Vidyasagar was vandalised at the college named after the social reformer.

Tripathi is also the chancellor of the Calcutta University to which the Vidyasagar College is affiliated.

Varanasi (UP), May 15 (PTI) In a big show of strength in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held a roadshow here Wednesday evening.

Priyanka Gandhi began the roadshow, which had a route similar to Modi's jamboree last month, by garlanding the statue of Madan Mohan Malviya at the gates of the Banaras Hindu University.

Modi had held a roadshow here on April 25, a day before he filed his nomination papers.

Kanpur: As many as 225 tanneries in Jajmau are now going to face the pang of disconnection of the power supply in the midst of order received from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board Headquarters. 

On inspection of the tanneries a number of complaints were received regarding running of the tanneries. This prompted the UPPCB for initiating swift action.