New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI) These are the top stories from the northern region at 10 pm

These are the top stories from the northern region at 10 pm JAMMU ELN45 JK-SHAH Udhampur (J&K): BJP chief Amit Shah Wednesday lambasted the Congress over its stand on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, saying nobody can dilute the AFSPA as the BJP will be standing like a rock in support of security forces. DEHRADUN ELN42 UKD-LD SHAH Dehradun: Slamming NC leader Omar Abdullah for advocating a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir, BJP president Amit Shah Wednesday asked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to clarify his stand on the issue raised by his electoral ally.

LUCKNOW ELX73 UP-BJP CANDIDATES Lucknow: The BJP Wednesday fielded local strongman Dinesh Pratap Singh against Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli and also named candidates who will taken on Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Singh Yadav. CHANDIGARH ELX20 PB-NAVJOT KAUR Chandigarh: Former MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu doesnt’ hide her disappointed over the Congress decision not to field her from the Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency, where she had already started holding public meetings in anticipation of a party nomination.

VARANASI DES11 UP-STUDENT-2NDLD SHOT Varanasi: An expelled Banaras Hindu University student was shot dead outside a hostel on the campus, police said Wednesday. MUZAFFARNAGAR ELN55 UP-JAT LAND-MODI Muzaffarnagar/Saharanpur (UP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to draw crowds in the western Uttar Pradesh belt, but the same enthusiasm is missing for BJP candidates in fray from this part of the state.

NOIDA ELX17 UP-MAHESH SHARMA-INTERVIEW Noida: With Gautam Buddh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh going to polls on April 11, BJP's Mahesh Sharma is a busy man these days, addressing meetings and public outreach programmes round the clock. MUZAFFARNAGAR ELX6 UP-TRIPLE TALAQ Muzaffarnagar/Meerut (UP): The issue of triple talaq is trapped in the gender binary that divides conservative Muslim society across western Uttar Pradesh, with many women giving the government a thumb's up for its efforts to criminalise the practice but shying away from voting for the BJP because of loyalty to their husbands.

DEHRADUN ELX9 UKD-MANISH KHANDURI-INTERVIEW Dehradun: The sudden removal of veteran BJP leader B C Khanduri from the parliamentary committee on defence is "symptomatic" of the way the party's government at the Centre functions, his son Manish Khanduri, who makes his electoral debut as Congress's Pauri Lok Sabha seat candidate, said Wednesday. DEOBAND ELX41 UP-DEOBAND-STUDENTS Deoband: As soon as the bells ring at Darul Uloom — Asia's largest madrassa — students prepare to head towards mosque for evening prayers. After stepping outside the institution, some of them stop at a tea shop near the campus. MATHURA ELX19 UP-PROFILE-MATHURA Mathura: Bollywood's 'dream girl' Hema Malini had a dream run in the last Lok Sabha polls but her electoral rivals claim she neglected her constituency and wasn't approachable during her term and Brijwasis would reject her this time. SHIMLA ELX2 HP-KANGRA-CANDIDATES Shimla: Congress MLA Pawan Kajal will take on BJP minister Kishan Kapoor from Kangra constituency in Himachal Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. SRINAGAR ELX66 POLL-JK-LD NOMINATIONS Srinagar: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, JKPCC president G A Mir and National Conference candidate Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi were among 10 candidates who filed nomination papers from Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

CHANDIGARH ELX24 PB-BHAGWANT-FUNDS Chandigarh: Punjab AAP chief and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann has sought financial support from people for campaigning ahead of the general election. JAMMU ELX25 JK-CEO-CONG Jammu: A day after the Congress alleged that the accommodation and security cover of its leaders in Jammu and Kashmir were withdrawn, the state Chief Electoral Officer said he has informed the Election Commission about the issue and will also write to the state administration. SULTANPUR ELN54 UP-MANEKA-MAYAWATI Sultanpur (UP): Union minister and senior BJP leader Maneka Gandhi Wednesday described BSP chief Mayawati as a "merchant of tickets" and alleged that she does not give her party tickets to anyone without taking money.

BADAUN DES13 UP-SP-RAMGOPAL Badaun (UP): Senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav Wednesday alleged that Yogi Adityanath is an "incapable" chief minister and said he committed a "sin" by terming the Ardh Kumbh as umbh. PTI ASH ASH.