THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, fear of dynastic parties is major reason for opposition to Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
- Election Commission adds 5 lakh new voters in West Bengal ahead of assembly polls.
- Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviews preparedness for Kharif season and potential El Nino impact.
- Vice President C P Radhakrishnan begins two-day official visit to Sri Lanka.
- Iran again closes Strait of Hormuz as US Naval blockade continues.
- In IPL Cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs in Hyderabad.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that one major reason for the opposition to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is the fear of dynastic parties, after the opposition defeated a bill for women’s reservation in Parliament and state assemblies. In an address to the nation last night, the Prime Minister said, these dynastic parties feel that if women become empowered, their leadership will be in jeopardy.
Prime Minister Modi warned the Congress and its allies that the women of India will severely punish them for “the sin of foeticide”. In his address, Mr Modi said, as the legislation related to the amendment of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam failed to secure the 66 per cent of votes required to pass it, but the blessings of 100 per cent of the nation’s women are with his government.
The Prime Minister further said, Congress spread the narrative that delimitation exercise would harm certain states but the NDA government made it clear from the very beginning that no state’s share would be reduced and representation would not decline as seats in states would increase proportionately.
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Ahead of the assembly elections in West Bengal, the Election Commission has released new figures on voter enrollment. Since the draft list was published up to the close of nominations, nearly five lakh new voters have joined the rolls.
Officials say around seven lakh applications were filed through Form-6, and after verification, eligible names were added. On 28th of February, when the final list was released, 1 lakh 88 thousand 207 new voters were included. In the following month, another five lakh names were added.
At present, West Bengal’s total voter count stands at 6 crore 82 lakh 51 thousand and 8. Among them, more than 3 crore 49 lakh are men, just above 3 crore 33 lakh are women, and 1 thousand 2 hundred and 57 voters registered under the third gender category. Commission sources note that once pending tribunal cases are resolved, the numbers may rise further.
Meanwhile, major political parties have intensified campaigning in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu ahead of the assembly polls.
In West Bengal, Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi will campaign for party’ candidates today. According to party sources, he will address rallies in Barjora at around 11 AM, followed by Purulia and Jhargram at noon, and later at West Midnapore in the afternoon. BJP national president Nitin Nabin, and senior party leaders and Union Ministers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Rajnath Singh will also join the campaign today.
On the other hand, Trinamool Congress supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a rally in Tarakeswar in support of party candidate from the constituency. Later, she will campaign in Kalna and Monteswar. Her schedule concludes with a march in Bardhaman South.
In our series of Constituency Profiles, today we will look into the Nandigram assembly constituency in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. A report:
“Nandigram assembly constituency in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal will go for poll on 23rd April under the first phase of General Election to the Assembly of West Bengal. The incumbent MLA Suvendu Adhikari is from BJP and he is the Leader of the Opposition in the Bidhan Sabha.
In this election, a total of 11 candidates including 4 independents are in the fray. BJP fielded Suvendu Adhikari again in this seat while Trinamool Congress candidate is Pabitra Kar. CPI candidate is Santi Gopal Giri while Congress fielded Sekh Jariatul Hossain.
Total electors in Nandigram assembly as on the last date of nomination are more than two lakh and sixty six thousand.
In Nandigram constituency the fight is expected between Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress. BJP is attacking the ruling Trinamool Congress on the issues of corruption, unemployment and mismanagement. Trinamool Congress is referring to the deletion of names under the SIR. Kalyan Laha, Kolkata.”
In Tamil Nadu, top leaders from all parties are visiting the state for a final push. Today, Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah is scheduled to campaign at Sivagiri in Erode today, in support of the NDA alliance. On the other side, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi campaigned in the northern districts. Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, also joined the trail, campaigning in Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and the Nilgiris in support of the Secular Progressive Alliance. Meanwhile, Kanimozhi campaigned in Vridhachalam for Premalatha Vijayakanth.
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Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan conducted a high-level review of the current status of the agriculture sector, preparations for the upcoming Kharif season and the potential El Niño impact. We have a report:
“During the review meeting yesterday, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized that farmers’ welfare is of utmost priority and added that the government is fully prepared to address the potential El Niño impact. He directed agriculture Secretary and concerned senior officials to ensure that all necessary arrangements are made well in advance to safeguard farmers’ interests. Mr Chouhan underlined that the government is moving forward with complete preparedness, taking India Meteorological Department’s weather-related forecasts seriously. He stated that through coordinated efforts of the central and state governments, better water management, advanced technologies, expansion of irrigation facilities, and climate-resilient agricultural measures, the impact of potential challenges can be significantly controlled. WITH PRIYA’S REPORT, JIGYASA PANDEY, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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Vice President C P Radhakrishnan begins his two-day official visit to Sri Lanka. The visit marks the first-ever bilateral trip by an Indian Vice President to the island nation. The visit comes amid renewed high-level engagement between the two neighbours. More from our Correspondent:
“India’s Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan is set to arrive in Colombo today morning as he commences a landmark visit to Sri Lanka. He is scheduled to meet Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, as well as other leaders. He will also interact with leaders of Indian-origin Tamil Community and Tamil Leaders from the Northern and Eastern regions of the island nation. In Colombo, the Vice President will address the Indian diaspora and in a virtually ceremony hand over homes built under India’s housing initiative, taking the total to 50,000, with more underway. On the second day, he travels to Nuwara Eliya to visit project sites and interact with local communities. The visit is expected to further deepen longstanding cultural and people-to-people ties between the two nations. Ahmed Muyeen Farooqi, akashvani news, Colombo.”
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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will pay a state visit to India today. He will be accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung and a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials, and business leaders. This will be President Lee’s first visit to India.
The Ministry of External Affairs said that during the visit, President Lee will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas. President Lee will also meet President Droupadi Murmu. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will call on the visiting dignitary.
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Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US blockade on Iranian ports is lifted. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the continuing blockade by the United States as a breach of ceasefire conditions and warned that any vessel approaching the Strait would be considered hostile and could be targeted. The development follows a brief reopening of the Strait on Friday. However, US President Donald Trump said the naval blockade would remain in force until all issues with Iran are fully resolved.
Meanwhile, India has expressed deep concern at the shooting incident involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz, yesterday. The Ministry of External Affairs called in the Ambassador of Iran to India, Dr. Mohammad Fathali for a meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in New Delhi last evening. During the meeting, Mr Misri noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India. The Ministry said, the Ambassador of Iran undertook to convey these views to the Iranian authorities.
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In Uttarakhand, the portals of Shri Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines, located in Uttarkashi district, will be opened today for devotees on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. Our correspondent reports that the portals of Gangotri shrine will open at 12:15 PM, while those of Yamunotri shrine will open at 12:35 PM. With this, the Char Dham Yatra in the state will formally commence. A report:
“Both shrines have been beautifully decorated with several quintals of flowers. Meanwhile, the ceremonial palanquin of Goddess Ganga departed yesterday afternoon for Gangotri shrine, accompanied by an army band and local musical instruments.
Similarly, the ceremonial palanquin of Goddess Yamuna will depart this morning from Kharsali for Yamunotri shrine. After the palanquins reaches the shrine, the portals of both temples will be opened this afternoon for the summer season.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will be present at Gangotri shrine on the occasion of the opening of the portals.
The kapat of Kedarnath shrine will open on April 22nd, and those of Badrinath shrine on April 23rd.
Live coverages of the opening of the portals of Shri Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines can be heard today at 11:50 AM on Akashvani Dehradun. Sakshi Singh, Akashvani News, Dehradun.
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In IPL cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad last night. Put in to bat first, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 194 for 9 in stipulated 20 overs, with 59-run innings each from Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen. For Chennai, Anshul Kamboj and Jamie Overton picked up three wickets each. In reply, Chennai Super Kings could only manage to score 184 for 8 in their 20 overs. For Hyderabad, Eshan Malinga picked up three wickets, while Nitish Kumar Reddy took two.
Today, Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata at 3:30 PM.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS,
- All dailies lead with the top headline quoting the Prime Minister after the Women’s reservation bill couldn’t be passed.
- Sunday Pioneer headlines, ‘Opposition shattered women’s dreams, says PM’, The Sunday Tribune writes, ‘INDIA bloc guilty of foeticide for defeating women quota Bill, says PM’ while in a counter attack the same newspaper quotes Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in its headline, ‘Government tried to use women bill as decoy for delimitation conspiracy’.
- Tensions once again escalate in West Asia after Iran closes Strait of Hormuz. The Sunday Statesman writes, ‘Strait of Hormuz Indian vessels turn back after Iranian gunfire’.
- The Hindu writes, ‘U.S issues a month-long sanctions waiver on purchase of Russian oil.’
- In the Op-ed page, Financial Express Sunday carries an interesting piece by Tushar Bhaduri titled, ‘Does India remain a one-sport country?’. It says that at a time when the whole country- or those obsessed with cricket- is engrossed in the Indian Premier League, it may be pertinent to have a look at the plight of other sports.
- Finally, Sunday Times carries a moving story titled, ‘Teen skips board exams to donate liver to grandma.’ The paper adds, 19 year old Aditya Raj from Bihar, put his board exams and even his first shot at NEET on hold to save his grandmother’s life when he donated a part of his liver to her when she was critical.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, fear of dynastic parties is major reason for opposition to Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
- Election Commission adds 5 lakh new voters in West Bengal ahead of assembly polls.
- Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviews preparedness for Kharif season and potential El Nino impact.
- Vice President C P Radhakrishnan begins two-day official visit to Sri Lanka.
- Iran again closes Strait of Hormuz as US Naval blockade continues.
- In IPL Cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs in Hyderabad.
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For details of these stories and more, log on to our website www.newsonair.gov.in and News On Air App.
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