HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories at 5pm:

NATION

ELN25 UP-CONG-LD VARANASI Congress fields Ajay Rai from Varanasi, ends speculation on Priyanka

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday fielded Ajay Rai from Varanasi to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ending speculation on a possible blockbuster electoral duel between Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the PM in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh.

ELN42 BH-MODI-LALU Days of lantern are over in Bihar, says Modi in veiled dig at Lalu

Darbhanga (Bihar): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a veiled attack on the opposition RJD in Bihar remarking that with electricity having reached all corners of the state, the days of lantern poll symbol of Lalu Prasads party were over.

ELN33 BH-MODI-LD RALLY Modi backs use of national security in poll; says rooting out terror crucial for poverty alleviation

Darbhanga (Bihar): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed the opposition for criticising ruling NDA for raking national security issue in election and asserted that rooting out terror is crucial to alleviation of poverty.

ELN11 PM-ROADSHOW PM to hold mega roadshow in Varanasi in presence of top BJP leaders

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a mega roadshow in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on Thursday, a show of strength that will include union ministers, state chief minister and other senior leaders of the BJP.

ELN29 RJ-LD RAHUL PM Modi did 'injustice' with people in last 5 years: Rahul

Jalore: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing "injustice" to the people of the country in the last five years, saying the 'acche din ayenge' slogan has now been replaced by 'chowkidar chor hai'.

ELN43 AAP-MANIFESTO-LD KEJRIWAL BJP fulfilling Pakistan's agenda of dividing India: Kejriwal

New Delhi: AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal Thursday said the BJP is fulfilling Pakistan's agenda of dividing India and asserted that his party would do everything to stop the Modi-Shah duo from coming back to power.

ELN46 AAP-LD MANIFESTO Full statehood main theme of AAP manifesto, promises 85 pc reservation in colleges, jobs

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party came out with its manifesto for the Lok Sabha election based on the central theme of full statehood, promising 85 per cent reservation in colleges and jobs for the people of the national capital.

ELN39 UP-MAYAWATI LS polls will see end of "Namo, Namo" chant: Mayawati

Kannauj (UP): Lashing out at the BJP, BSP supremo Mayawati Thursday said this Lok Sabha election will see the end of those who chant "Namo, Namo".

ELN41 AS-HIMANTA INTERVIEW There shouldn't be censor board to keep tab on politicians' speeches: Himanta

Guwahati: Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma feels there should not be any "activism" on what politicians speak during election time or a "censor board" to keep a tab on their speeches and it should left for the voters to judge. By Trideep Lahkar

DEL13 NIRBHAYA-PARENTS-VOTE Promises of justice just 'political gimmick', don't feel like voting this time: Nirbhaya's parents

New Delhi: As campaigning picks up steam in Delhi with leaders motivating people to exercise their franchise, Asha Devi and Badri Nath Singh, the parents of the woman who was gangraped and killed and came to be known as Nirbhaya, say they might not vote this time at all. By Payal Banerjee

JK-LD ENCOUNTER Two Hizbul militants killed in encounter

Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including one pursuing Bachelor of Physiotherapy, were killed Thursday in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

LEGAL LGD27 SC-4THLD CJI

SC appoints Justice (Retd) A K Patnaik to hold inquiry into claims of conspiracy against CJI New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday constituted a one-man panel of former apex court judge Justice A K Patnaik to hold inquiry into the allegations of larger conspiracy to frame Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogi and fixing of benches in the top court.

LGD14 SC-MOITRA

SC directs EC to act on complaint of TMC candidate Mahua Moitra New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday directed the Election Commission to take action on a complaint by TMC candidate Mahua Moitra against BJP leader Mahadev Sarkar for allegedly making sexually coloured remarks.

FOREIGN

FGN7 LANKA-BLASTS-LD SUSPECTS Lanka intensifies crackdown on terror suspects; 16 more held

Colombo: The Sri Lankan authorities Thursday intensified their raids with the help of the army and arrested 16 more suspects in connection with the country's worst terror attack on Easter Sunday that killed nearly 360 people and left over 500 injured.

FGN14 LANKA-BLASTS-FATHER Father of 2 Lanka suicide bombers arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting sons

Colombo, Apr 25 (PTI) A Sri Lankan spice tycoon, the father of two of the suspected Easter suicide bombers, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of aiding and abetting his sons carry out the deadly terror attacks that left nearly 360 people dead.

SPORTS

SPF12 SPO-BAD-ASIA-LD IND Saina, Sindhu sail into Asia Badminton C'ship quarters

Wuhan (China): Ace Indian women shuttlers Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu registered straight-game wins to sail into the quarterfinals of the Asia Badminton Championship here Thursday.