N A T I O N

Cong releases Ramdev’s tape to target Modi
New Delhi, April 18
A day after it showed a 2011 video showing BJP leader Uma Bharati calling party’s PM nominee Narendra Modi a destroyer, the Congress today brought out another one to target the saffron brigade on their black money eradication credentials.

SP urges EC to lift ban on Azam Khan
Lucknow, April 18
Samajwadi Party national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav today pleaded with the Election Commission to withdraw its orders against party general secretary Mohammad Azam Khan.

Modi reaches out to Mamata
Kolkata, April 18
BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has expressed the hope that if he comes to power at the Centre, he would get cooperation of the Mamata Banerjee government in creating a conducive atmosphere for industrialization in West Bengal including resolving the Singur problem.

Country’s first double-decker flyover : Vehicles ply on the 6.5-km Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road which was thrown open to public in Mumbai on Friday.

Mamata alleges attempt on life
Kolkata, April 18
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today alleged that an attempt was made to kill her at a hotel in Malda. She said this during at election rally at Nalhati in Birbhum.

Ajit Pawar threatens villagers
Pune, April 18 Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has landed in a fresh controversy after a video purportedly featuring him surfaced in which he allegedly threatened to cut off water supply to a village if people there did not vote for his cousin Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

My heart beats for Haryana: Rajkummar
NEW DELHI, APRIL 18
Life has changed for the better for actor Rajkummar Rao, also known as Raj Kumar, since Wednesday when he won the best actor award at the 61st National Film Awards. But he remains level-headed and miss his home city Gurgaon.

Cong releases Ramdev’s tape to target Modi
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 18
A day after it showed a 2011 video showing BJP leader Uma Bharati calling party’s PM nominee Narendra Modi a destroyer, the Congress today brought out another one to target the saffron brigade on their black money eradication credentials.

The latest one showing Baba Ramdev and his aide - BJP’s Alwar LS candidate Mahant Chand Nath - discussing money (read black money) for poll expenditure was played by the Congress at its official briefing today.

Law Minister Kapil Sibal, after showing the tape, said: “Modi had some time ago while addressing chartered accountancy students said an opportunity would come to punish all those behind the creation of black money in the country. He had said black money was an outcome of black minds. Now will the BJP tell us whose minds are black? And will the BJP deny candidature to Chand Nath?”

For the Congress whose Alwar candidate is MoS Defence Jitender Singh, the sitting MP and considered close to Rahul Gandhi, the video could not have been better timed. Sibal today dared the BJP to cut Mahant’s ticket.

The conversation

• Mahant: Kisi se bhi paise len den mein dikkat aa rahi hai (We're having difficulty in transacting money)
• Ramdev: Ye baat yahan mat kijiye, mike laga hua hai (Don't say all this in front of the mike)

SP urges EC to lift ban on Azam Khan
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, April 18
Samajwadi Party national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav today pleaded with the Election Commission to withdraw its orders against party general secretary Mohammad Azam Khan.

The party claimed Azam’s “absence from public platform is causing severe damage to the cause of the party and its giving lop sided advantage to its rival parties”.

In a three-page letter to EC’s principal secretary, Yadav urged the commission to apply “principles of reasonableness and fairness” and withdraw the order of censure dated April 16 as well as directions issued in the letter of April 11.

Pointing towards double standard, Yadav in his letter said: “Two Union Cabinet ministers of the ruling party - Ajit Singh and Beni Prasad Verma - charged under similar causes, were given extremely soft treatment of a warning whereas the most provocative speeches of a prime ministerial candidate regarding ‘Gulabi Kranti has gone unpunished.” — PTI

Modi reaches out to Mamata

Kolkata, April 18
BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has expressed the hope that if he comes to power at the Centre, he would get cooperation of the Mamata Banerjee government in creating a conducive atmosphere for industrialization in West Bengal including resolving the Singur problem.

"I hope I will get all cooperation from the West Bengal Chief Minister in solving the Singur tangle. Not only Singur, I hope I will get cooperation from the state government in creating a conducive atmosphere for industrialisation in the state. Hope Trinamool Congress will not indulge in vote bank politics on the question of development of the state", he told Bengali daily 'Anandabazar Patrika'.

On the Nano project, he said: "I gave land to the Tatas when they were in trouble. But I had some guilty feeling towards West Bengal because it was not my intention to deprive it (of the project). — PTI 

Mamata alleges attempt on life
Tribune News Service

Kolkata, April 18
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today alleged that an attempt was made to kill her at a hotel in Malda. She said this during at election rally at Nalhati in Birbhum.

Mamata claimed she had to be removed from a hotel room after she spotted gas leak from an AC vent in Malda. Some gelatin sticks and explosive materials were later seized from Suri, one of the venues of her election rallies. Five CPM workers and supporters were arrested.

Mamata alleged there was an attempt by the CPM and other vested interests to kill her. She has asked the police to probe the case. — IANS

Ajit Pawar threatens villagers

Pune, April 18
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has landed in a fresh controversy after a video purportedly featuring him surfaced in which he allegedly threatened to cut off water supply to a village if people there did not vote for his cousin Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Aam Aadmi Party candidate for Baramati and former IPS officer Suresh Khopade has complained against him at the Vadgaon police station. — PTI

My heart beats for Haryana: Rajkummar
Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service

Actor Rajkummar Rao

NEW DELHI, APRIL 18
Life has changed for the better for actor Rajkummar Rao, also known as Raj Kumar, since Wednesday when he won the best actor award at the 61st National Film Awards. But he remains level-headed and miss his home city Gurgaon.

The 29-year-old alumnus of Film and Televison Institute of India, Pune dedicates the award to his parents. “I have been inspired by my parents the most,” said Rajkummar while talking on telephonefrom Mumbai. He says he is flooded with congratulatory messages on winning the award. “But my heart beats for Haryana, my home state," he said. A high-voltage performance in Hansal Mehta directed film ‘Shahid’ saw Rajkummar earning the prestigious award.

He portrays the life of a slained Kashmiri lawyer-activist, Shahid Azmi, who was a defense lawyer of a 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks co-accused F Ansari. The script is based on a real life story of the lawyer. The National Film Award jury recognised his performance for “bringing to life the soul of Shahid Azmi”.

Busy with shootings in Mumbai for his new film "Doli ki Doli', which is expected to be released some time in November, Rajkummar told TNS he was aware of the celebrations back home on his achievement. " This propels me to do yet better in my profession," he said. He says the wholesome personality of Shahid Azmi acted as the fulcrum. It was challenging to visualize the lawyer's personality and get in his skin, he added.