POLITICS

The Opposition also asked the Chief Minister to address the pressing concerns of farmers, who are seeking compensation on account of low wheat yields. Joining the issue, newly-appointed state Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring targeted Mann over the Centre's interfering in the state's law and order matters in the context of the Punjab Governor's visits to the border areas.

"Inflation and unemployment choked the people in the country and government should drive bulldozer on these problems but BJPs bulldozer is driven by hate to create fear," Gandhi tweeted on Tuesday. The Congress has been critical on the violence which has taken place in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and actions taken after that incident.

Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member from Krishnanagar in Nadia district, Mahua Moitra, said that consensual sex with a minor, i.e., someone below 18 years of age, is rape as per the law and a crime. She said this after visiting the residence of the minor victim and interacting with the members of her family.

The FIR against Singh was registered at a Bhopal police station on the basis of a complaint lodged by the BJP district (Bhopal) president Sumit Pachauri on Tuesday. Singh, who is also the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, was booked under Section 153 (a), 295 (a), 465 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code, sources told IANS.

The major controversy was in Asansol, where on Tuesday afternoon, local police restricted movement of media persons within the constituency and kept them stranded at a crossing at Barabani for around 40 minutes. However, soon after the intervention by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, police lifted the restrictions.

The issue came to the fore after a Belagavi-based contractor, Santosh Patil, who was said to be a BJP worker, accused Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister K S Eshwarappa of corruption, and allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday. After the allegation surfaced in March the Congress has been demanding the sacking of Eshwarappa over the bribery allegation by the contractor who had written a letter to the Prime Minister.

Dhankhar also hinted that such "judgemental stance" can influence the investigation process in the case. "Criminal Investigation in shameful rape #Hanskhali leading to victim death is tainted & compromised when people in authority & constitutional position indicate judgmental stand. This against the law approach scuttles fair & independent probe as police is forced to toe such line," Dhankhar tweeted.

The Samajwadi Party suffered a humiliating defeat and could not win even a single seat. Three seats were won by independent candidates. The Jansatta Dal, floated by Raghuraj Pratap Singh a.k.a. Raja Bhaiyya, retained the Pratapgarh seat where Akshay Pratap Singh Gopalji was the candidate.

The Special Sessions Court for Trial of Criminal Cases relating to MPs and MLAs, which was expected to deliver its verdict on Tuesday, postponed the hearing. Akbaruddin Owaisi, who is leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Telangana Legislative Assembly, had also reached Nampally court complex. He is the younger brother of AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Modi virtually inaugurated the hostel and education complex of Shri Annapurnadham Trust at Adalaj, Gujarat. He also performed the Bhumipujan of Hiramani ArogyaDham of Jansahayak Trust during the event. Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel was among those present on the occasion.