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Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Assam and other North Eastern states developed during the last 10 years like never before. He was addressing a public meeting at Chukuli Bhoria in Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency in Assam on Tuesday. He slammed Congress for negligence and insensitivity towards  Assam during their government. Mr. Amit Shah said that today the Northeast has emerged as India’s success story. He informed that several peace agreements have been signed in the last ten years under the leadership of the Prime Minister and more than 9,500 insurgents have surrendered and joined the mainstream of the society. Due to the improved security situation, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been withdrawn from 80 percent of the Northeast, added the Minister. Lakhimpur Parliamentary Constituency is held by the BJP, with incumbent MP Pradan Baruah seeking a third successive term.  He is pitted against Congress candidate Uday Shankar Hazarika. Mr. Shah will also take part in a road show from Chaliha Nagar to Thana Chariali in Tinsukia town in the evening.  Tinsukia town comes under the Dibrugarh Parliamentary Constituency, from where Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal is contesting as the BJP candidate.  Sonowal is locked in a triangular fight with United Opposition Forum, Assam, nominee Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Aam Aadmi Party candidate Manoj Dhanowar. Elections in Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh, along with three other constituencies of the state, are slated in the first phase on April 19.

Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India has demonstrated that nothing is impossible for it to achieve. Addressing an election rally at Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh today, Mr Modi said, ”No matter how difficult the goal is, if India is determined to achieve it, it will definitely achieve”. Prime Minister said that with that inspiration and energy, his government was working to make India a developed India. Mr. Modi said that the Congress government used to seek help from the world but during the Corona pandemic, India sent medicines and vaccines to the world. He added that when the country is strong then the world listens to that country. Prime Minister said that there is an emergence of new job opportunities for the youth. He highlighted Pilibhit’s significance in agriculture production, underlining the government’s efforts to support farmers. He highlighted the government’s initiatives for sugarcane farmers, including the opening of new sugar mills and the expansion of existing ones, along with increased financial support to farmers. Taking a jibe at the opposition, Mr Modi said that the INDI alliance had opposed the construction of the Ram Temple and rejected Pran Pratistha’s invitation as well. He claimed that those who attended the pran pratishtha had been expelled from the part Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit.

President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a two-day Homeopathic Symposium on Wednesday on World Homeopathy Day 2024 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre Dwarka, New Delhi. The symposium to be organized by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) under the aegis of Ministry of Ayush is based on the theme of ‘Empowering Research, Enhancing Proficiency.’ The event aims to promote holistic health and wellness and head towards utilization of advanced techniques for homoeopathy research. The Scientific Convention will also include sessions on Translational Research, Epidemic and Public health, Homoeopathic Drug Standardisation and Basic Research among others. Several publications will also be released during the event. Ministry of Ayush, Secretary, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Director General of CCHR, Dr. Subhash Kaushik, National Commission for Homoeopathy, Chairman, Dr. Anil Khurana and the Padma Awardees in Homoeopathy are also slated to attend the symposium.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met with Secretary General of Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Theodora Gentzis in New Delhi on Tuesday. In a social media post, Dr. Jaishankar said that they discussed strengthening economic and political cooperation between India, Belgium and the European Union. Dr. Jaishankar also took up the concerns of the diamond industry and exchanged views on semiconductors and green growth.

In Monday’s (8th April 2024) intraday trade, gold and silver prices hit new lifetime highs in the futures market. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold contracts for June delivery soared by 440 rupees, reaching an all-time high of Rs 71,080 per 10 grams. Meanwhile, silver futures for May contract scaled a new peak of 82,109 rupees per kilogram. The escalation in gold prices can be attributed to fresh positions taken by market participants. Additionally, the continued purchase of gold by global central banks has offered significant bolstering to prices, alongside sustained geopolitical tensions

In Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi has finally announced its seat-sharing deal. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and State Congress president Nana Patole announced the seat-sharing arrangement for the 48 parliamentary seats in the State. The Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest 21 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress 17 and the NCP (SP) 10 seats in Maharashtra. Shivsena(UBT) will contest from Jalgaon, Parbhani, Nashik, Palghar, Kalyan, Thane, Raigad, Mawal, Dharashiv, Ratnagiri, Buldhana, Hatkanagale, Sambhaji Nagar, Shirdi, Sangli, Hingoli, Yawatmal-Washim and four seats in Mumbai. Congress will contest in Nandurbar, Dhule, Akola, Amravati, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondia, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chandrapur, Nanded, Jalna, Mumbai North-Central, Pune, Latur, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ramtek and Mumbai North. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar-led NCP will contest in the Baramati, Shirur, Satara, Bhiwandi, Dindori, Madha, Raver, Wardha, Ahmednagar South and Beed constituencies.

Telangana state senior IPS officer and Director General of the state Vigilance and Enforcement Rajeev Ratan passed away this morning of heart attack. According to his family members, they rushed him to a private hospital complaining of chest pain this morning. The senior officer passed away while undergoing treatment. A 1991 batch IPS officer, he served as IG Operation, MD, Police Housing Corporation and held many other posts.

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has extended the judicial custody of BRS leader K Kavitha till April 23 in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy scam. She is in judicial custody after her arrest in the Delhi Excise policy money laundering case. A Delhi court had yesterday denied interim bail to Kavitha. Kavitha is allegedly a key member of the “South Group”, which has been accused of paying the ruling AAP in Delhi kickbacks of 100 crore rupees in return for a big share of liquor licences in the national capital. Kavitha was arrested from her Banjara Hills residence in Hyderabad on March 15 by the Enforcement Directorate.

India has termed the UN Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the month of Ramadan a positive step. It has asserted that the humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is unacceptable. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj told in a UN General Assembly meeting that India was deeply troubled by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. She said that the humanitarian crisis had deepened and instability had been increasing in the region and beyond. Ms Kamboj said that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas had led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children. The UNSC resolution, adopted on March 25 by the UN Security Council demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as the humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs. The 15-nation Council adopted the resolution, put forth by the 10 non-permanent elected members of the Council, with 14 nations voting in favour, none against, and an abstention by the US, a permanent member.

Benchmark equity indices continued their record-breaking rally as the BSE Sensex breached the 75,000 mark this morning for the first time and Nifty climbed to its fresh new record peak. Buying in IT stocks contributed the most to the market’s rally in early trade. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed over 381 points to reach its all-time peak of 75,124. The NSE Nifty advanced 99 points to hit its record peak of 22,765 From the Sensex basket, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Technologies, Tata Motors, Wipro, ICICI Bank and Nestle were the major gainers. The BSE benchmark jumped 494 points to settle at a new closing peak of 74,742 yesterday. The NSE Nifty climbed 152 points to 22,666.

In Assam, star campaigners have started arriving in the state to woo the voters. Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah will hold a public meeting at North Lakhimpur this afternoon. Later in the evening, he will do a roadshow at Tinsukia where polls will be held on the 19th of this month. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita are doing campaigning. Other parties are also holding meetings for their party candidates. State Congress President Bhupen Bora, MP Gaurav Gogoi and Pradyut Bordoloi are making all out efforts to garner public support. AAP leader Atishi held a roadshow at Duliajan for party candidate yesterday. 35 candidates are in the fray for five seats in the first phase of polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted people on Nav Samvatsar. In a social media post, Mr Modi wished people the new year be filled with happiness, prosperity and good health. The Prime Minister also wished everyone on the occasion of Gudhi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Navreh, Ugaadi, Sajibu Cheiraoba Wishing people on Navratri, Mr Modi hoped that the great festival of worshipping Shakti would bring everyone happiness, prosperity, good fortune and good health