Priyanka says wait a decade

Bareilly: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday paid obeisance at the shrine here of Sufi saint Ala Hazrat, where former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao was not allowed to offer a chadar shortly after Babri demolition. After offering a chadar, Rahul sought the blessings of the caretaker of the dargah. Sources in the Congress said Rahul being allowed to pray at the dargah reflected the “increasing acceptability” of the party among Muslims.

Amar Singh on Lalganj voter list too

Azamgarh: Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh cast his vote at Ghaziabad during the second phase of the Assembly elections but his name also figures on the voters’ list in Lalganj. The names of Singh, his father Harischandra, mother Shail Kumari and wife Pankaja (Serial No 620-623) are on the list of Sultanpur village in Lalganj constituency, according to the list made available by the district election office. The list also contains the names of Singh’s brother Arvind and his wife Renu. Sultanpur is the native village of Singh.

VHP for CD display

Ludhiana: Ashok Singhal of the VHP on Sunday supported the use of the controversial CD targetting minorities in Uttar Pradesh saying “evil should be placed on public display in order to wean people away from it”. “Any evil action displayed in public is likely to create an awareness about such acts and only this would bring about a reform in the social set-up,” he said at a function.

The VHP leader also said construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site was top priority for his organisation.

Sadhu yatra seeks votes for BJP

Varanasi: A VHP-sponsored team of sadhus on Sunday took out a yatra under the banner of ‘Hindu Matdata Jagran Manch’ seeking consolidation of the electorate of the majority community in favour of the BJP. The sadhus gathered in Sigra area and offered prayers before undertaking their tour, the VHP state organising secretary said. They would address public meetings at about 100 venues during their 15-day tour of the eastern districts. Leaders like BJP MP Yogi Adityanath, Dwarka Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand and Sadhvi Ritambhara, however, failed to keep their date with the programme.

Mother in fray, gang members held

LUCKNOW: Banda police arrested five members of the Ambika Patel alias Thokia gang and seized election campaign material, a country-made pistol, fake currency of Rs 500 denomination and a Bolero from their possession on Saturday night. Cash worth Rs 94,340, spices, pan masala and wrist watches were also seized. Thokia’s mother Piyariya Devi is contesting the Assembly elections from Naraini in Banda. Police said the seized goods were meant to be distributed among voters. Thokia is on the list of most-wanted criminals of the state.

Congress leader expelled

Amethi: The Congress on Sunday expelled a local party leader on charges of opposing the official party nominee for the Amethi seat. Munna Singh Trishundi, a spokesman of the Sultanpur District Congress Committee, had been expelled from the party for alleged anti-party activities, party sources said. They said he had been opposing Amita Singh’s candidature from Amethi. He had also created a ruckus when Priyanka Gandhi was addressing the Congress workers.

Threat to Maneka life alleged

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Maneka Gandhi’s close associate Gaurav Gupta on Sunday alleged that a caller had threatened Maneka Gandhi against going to Uttar Pradesh for campaigning in the Assembly elections. Speaking to The Indian Express over phone, Gaurav said they had lodged a complaint with Delhi Police about the threat call. The caller allegedly told Maneka that in case she or Varun Gandhi went to UP before the elections were over they would face dire consequences. “The caller used language which was terrifying and we don’t want investigators to take the matter lightly,” said Gaurav.

Police sources said the caller’s number had been identified and his name was Mumtaz. They refused to say anything more.

Huge turnout at re-poll

Lucknow: Over 75 per cent voters exercised their franchise at Muzaffarabad polling booth in Saharanpur while 43 per cent cast their votes at Kharkhaunda in Meerut on Sunday where re-polling was ordered following some minor irregularities during polling on Friday last. Joint Chief Electoral Officer Kamini Chauhan said no untoward incident was reported. Chauhan said the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy would be arriving in Barabanki on Monday to review the poll preparations for the fourth phase on April 23 next.