Indian Sub-continent

Begusarai, April 25; GANASHAKTI:  Former JNU Students' Union president and CPI candidate from Begusarai, Kanhaiya Kumar, on Thursday alleged that the rival BJP is trying to spoil his roadshows and is trying to divert the focus of people from him.

"In my rallies, the supporters of the BJP waved black flags at me. I believe that each candidate who is contesting the Lok Sabha has a constitutional right to ask for a vote and do electioneering. Disturbing someone's roadshow is a violation of the law," he added.

Thane, Apr 25(PTI) A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment by a Thane court in Maharashtra for raping a minor girl in 2015.

District and special POCSO court judge S B Bahalkar on Wednesday pronounced the punishment to the accused, Shivmani Ramdulhar Jaiswar, who worked as a carpenter, and also imposed a fine of Rs 27,000 on him.

New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI) The Supreme Court Thursday expressed anguish over the "systematic attack" on the judiciary and said time has come to tell the rich and powerful of this country that they are "playing with fire" and this must stop.

The apex court was hearing claims made by an advocate that there was a larger conspiracy to frame Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogi on allegations of sexual harassment.

The court said it will pass an order at 2 pm.

New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI) AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal Thursday said the BJP is fulfilling Pakistan's agenda of dividing India and asserted that his party would do everything to stop the Modi-Shah duo from coming back to power.

Addressing the media after releasing his party's manifesto here, the Delhi chief minister said AAP will support any "secular mahagathbandhan" after the general elections.

Muzaffarnagar, Apr 24 (PTI) As many as 97 schoolteachers were found absent from duty during surprise checks in the district, officials said Wednesday.

District Magistrate (DM) Ajay Shanker Pandey told reporters that 35 officials were asked to conduct the surprise checks.

They raided a number of schools in the district on Tuesday. Departmental action will be initiated against the erring teachers, the DM sad.

Serampore (WB), Apr 24 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of converting huge black money into white through demonitisation and spending it to purchase votes.

She alleged that the saffron party is importing guns and goons to ensure votes in its favour and said that such a situation will not be allowed to develop in Bengal.

Baripada (Odisha), Apr 24 (PTI) A local court Wednesday sentenced a man to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment (RI) for raping a girl in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha four years ago.

Additional district and sessions judge of Baripada, Dr V Sujata, passed the verdict after finding Bailochan Mohanta guilty of raping the girl.

Mohanta's two associates, Purusattam Mohanta and Bailochan Behera, were awarded three years' RI by the judge.

Kota (Raj), Apr 24 (PTI) A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her father's friend in Rajasthan's Bundi district Wednesday, police said.

The girl, a student of class 6, was allegedly raped five days ago at an isolated place in Old Grain Mandi premises under Bundi city police station limits but approached police with her uncle only Wednesday, they said.

Tirupati, Apr 24 (PTI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Wednesday stressed the need to make farming a lucrative career opportunity, especially for the youth, by making agriculture economically viable and financially rewarding.

He said one of the important prerequisites to ensure a sustainable and inclusive growth in India was to shape a healthy and robust agricultural sector.

Amethi, Apr 24 (PTI) Hardik Patel Wednesday termed Congress the biggest nationalist party in the country and said several of its leaders have sacrificed their lives for the nation.

Addressing an election meeting here, Patel, who recently joined the Congress, also accused the BJP of trying to "derive mileage" out of the bravado of the country's armed forces, while his party is contesting the elections on issues of education, health and farmers.