1. Centre Bans Sale of Cattle for Slaughter at Livestock Markets
In a move amounting to a virtual ban on slaughter of cattle, the Centre on Friday announced strict rules to prohibit sale of animals for slaughter or religious sacrifice at livestock markets and animal fairs that are a common occurrence in rural areas. The animals under purview are cows, bulls, bullocks, buffaloes, steers, heifers, calves and camels.
The official reasoning is the order is intended to end uncontrolled and unregulated animal trade. The rules won't apply to goats and sheep, often sacrificed during Eid. Apart from the stated objective of curbing unregulated trade, mixing of milch animals with older, less healthy beasts meant for slaughter, the move has political overtones in tune with BJP's pledge to "protect" the cow and its progeny.
(Source: The Times of India)
2. Terror Alert Issued in Delhi, Mumbai
Intelligence agencies have issued an alert about a possible terror strike by Lashkar-e-Taiba in metros, including Delhi and Mumbai, or in border areas of Punjab and Rajasthan.
The agencies said a group of 20-21 LeT operatives may have entered India from Pakistan and subsequently divided themselves into smaller groups.
These men have been trained by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, the input said.
Police have issued an advisory to ensure tight monitoring and strengthened anti-terror measures at Metro and railway stations, airports, hotels popular among tourists, crowded markets, religious places and stadiums in Delhi, said the advisory.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Grand Alliance Main Item at Sonia's President Nominee Lunch
The fledgling idea of a "grand opposition alliance" got a robust push on Friday when members of an anti-BJP axis, who gathered at a lunch hosted by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, unanimously approved the idea of a "mahagatbandhan", especially in UP, to take on the saffron camp.
The meeting called to discuss the presidential poll saw a more animated discussion on the need to join forces as arch-rivals like SP and BSP and Trinamool and Left appeared in step over a grand alliance.
The lunch was attended by BSP chief Mayawati, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and RJD leader Lalu Prasad. Mayawati, Mamata and Lalu cited the urgency for opposition unity.
(Source: The Times of India)
4. On 3-Year Anniversary, PM Modi Gifts Northeast the 'Bhupen Hazarika Bridge'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced a gift for the Northeast on the third anniversary of the NDA government – the naming of India's longest bridge after the region's beloved singer Bhupen Hazarika.
"This bridge's name will be Bhupen Hazarika Bridge," PM Modi declared in a public address, after he inaugurated what was provisionally called the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge in Assam.
The PM began his first public address on the third anniversary of his NDA government by slamming the previous Congress-led UPA government for "long delays" in infrastructure projects, including on this bridge project.
"You have been waiting for this bridge for the last five decades, today you have got it. And if (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee had been re-elected in 2004, this bridge would have been ready 10 years ago," the PM said.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. CBSE Class XII Results 2017 to Be Declared on Sunday 28 May
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will release the Class XII results 2017 on 28 May 2017 before noon. A total of 19,85,397 students from Classes X and XII have registered for the exam out of which 10,98,891 are from Class XII.
“As per previous years, this year also the CBSE is hosting its results on net with the technical support of National Informatics Centre (NIC), Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Govt. of India,” the CBSE said in an official notice, adding that there will be no official press conference for result declaration.
(Source: Indian Express)
6. Yeddyurappa to be BJP’s Karnataka CM Face
Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa will be the BJP’s chief ministerial face in the Assembly polls scheduled early next year, party president Amit Shah said during an interaction with news wire Press Trust of India.
“It [Karnataka election] will be fought under Yeddyurappa,” Mr. Shah said, according to PTI.
Asked if it meant that Mr Yeddyurappa, who is the BJP’s Karnataka unit chief, will be the chief ministerial face, he said, “he will be.”
In an interview to The Hindu on Friday, Mr. Shah had also said that he was aware of the tussle within the Karnataka unit of the BJP and that the matter would be resolved before the elections in May 2018.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. This 24-Year-Old MBA Student Risked His Life to Bust Kidney Racket in Delhi
A 24-year-old MBA student risked his safety and played along with illegal kidney donation agents for several weeks to expose a well-organised racket operating in Delhi, top police officials said.
The racket was busted on Thursday when a Delhi Police team conducted multiple raids at the city’s Batra Hospital.
Four alleged middlemen were arrested in raids at other places and sent to six-day police custody.
Praveer Ranjan, joint commissioner of police (crime branch), said the arrests were a result of 40 days of trailing the racketeers.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
8. PM Narendra Modi Dispatches Relief to Colombo After Sri Lankan Floods Kill Over 90
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India stood with Sri Lanka in the hour of need as torrential rainfall caused floods and mudslides in the island country killing over 90 people.
In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister also expressed his condolence over the loss of life and property in Sri Lanka, adding that India had already dispatched relief material to Colombo. “India condoles the loss of lives and property in Sri Lanka due to flooding and landslides,” he tweeted.
Modi also added that relief material from India had been dispatched and would reach Sri Lanka on Saturday and Sunday. “Our ships are being dispatched with relief material. The first ship will reach Colombo tomorrow morning. The second will reach on Sunday. Further assistance on its way, ” he said.
(Source: Indian Express)
9. Only CPM, NCP Accept Election Commission’s EVM Challenge, AAP and Cong Stay Away
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the CPM are the only parties to accept the Election Commission’s challenge to prove that electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be tampered with, officials said after the deadline for registration ended on Friday.
The most notable absentee, when the challenge opens on 3 June, will be the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that led a campaign over the vulnerability of EVMs.
While eight parties responded, only two agreed to participate in the challenge, EC officials said.
Other parties such as the BJP, RLD, CPI and CPI(M) have “expressed their intent to observe”, they added. Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)’s application was rejected as it was received after the deadline.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
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