Kolkata, Apr 25 (PTI) Following are PTI's top stories

Following are PTI's top stories from the eastern region at 9 pm. ELN55 BH-MODI-2NDLD RALLY Modi defends raking up national security during polls, says uprooting terror crucial to poverty alleviation Darbhanga: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday defended himself against opposition criticism for raking up the issue of national security during the election campaign, asserting uprooting terrorism is crucial to poverty alleviation.

ELN74 WB-MAMATA Modi govt putting up roadblocks to devp of mega projects in Bengal: Mamata Suri/Durgapur (WB): Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government at the Centre of putting up roadblocks to development of mega projects in West Bengal. ELN75 OD-LD RAJNATH India can be poverty-free if it turns "Congress-Mukt": Rajnath Bhubaneswar: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday termed Congress president Rahul Gandhi's claim of ending poverty as "misleading" for votes and said India can easily eradicate poverty if it becomes "Congress-Mukt".

ELN78 BH-GIRIRAJ-FIR Giriraj Singh booked for violating model code of conduct Begusarai (Bihar): Union minister Giriraj Singh was on Thursday booked for violating model code of conduct by making controversial remarks against the Muslim community at a rally here a day ago where BJP national president Amit Shah, among others, was present. ELX26 WB-MAMATA CANDIDATES TMC candidates for WB assembly by-poll announced Suri (WB): In a rehabilitation of Saradha scam accused Madan Mitra, a former West Bengal minister, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee Thursday named him as the party's candidate for the by-election to Bhatpara assembly seat.

ELX48 WB-BJP-DILIP TMC to draw a blank in first 3 phases: WB BJP chief Kolkata: Hopeful of winning eight of the 10 Lok Sabha constituencies where polling has already been held in West Bengal, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh Tuesday claimed that the TMC will not be able to secure any of them. CES4 WB-COURTS CEASEWORK WB Bar Council calls for ceasework to protest attack on lawyers Kolkata: Protesting against the alleged attack on lawyers at the Howrah district court, the Bar Council of West Bengal Thursday requested bar associations of all courts in the state to observe ceasework from Friday to Monday.

CES6 SK-TIBETANS RALLY Tibetans launch peace rally demanding release of Panchen Lama Gangtok: Members of the Tibetan community in Sikkim and in other states have launched a 115-km peace rally from Gangtok to Siliguri in West Bengal Thursday demanding the release of the 11th Panchen Lama..