Political Showdown: Modi Claims INDIA Bloc Stands for Corruption and Appeasement

Prime Minister Modi criticizes the INDIA bloc, accusing them of corruption and appeasement politics. Meanwhile, V K Pandian from Odisha mocks BJP campaigners as 'political tourists.' Congress President Kharge calls for Modi to resign, accusing him of fostering Hindu-Muslim rhetoric. Key opposition figures are confident about their prospects in the upcoming polls.

Following are the top stories at 1.30 pm: NATION ELN23 ELECTIONS-BH-MODI **** Nation cannot move forward with INDIA bloc's sins: Modi Motihari (Bihar): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday alleged that the INDIA bloc stood for corruption, appeasement politics and a ''perverted anti-Sanatan mindset'', all of which would receive a ''big blow'' when the Lok Sabha poll results are announced on June 4.**** DEL20 OD-PANDIAN-INTERVIEW **** Pandian’s jibe at Modi: his campaigners are political tourists who can’t even name Odisha capital Puri (Odisha): In an unconcealed jibe at the prime minister, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s right-hand man has dismissed the BJP’s star campaigners in Odisha as “political tourists” who can’t even identify the state capital. V K Pandian is also confident Patnaik will be back in office for a sixth straight term and has even declared the time he will take oath. By Vijay Joshi**** ELN33 ELECTIONS-KHARGE-INTERVIEW-PM **** PM Modi should quit public life for indulging in Hindu-Muslim rhetoric: Kharge New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi should walk the talk and quit public life for indulging in Hindu-Muslim rhetoric everyday and ''fostering hatred'' in society, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has said. By Sanjeev Chopra**** DEL21 ED-EX IAS-LD SEARCHES **** Money laundering probe: ED raids ex-DPIIT secretary Ramesh Abhishek New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday raided the premises of retired IAS officer and former Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) secretary Ramesh Abhishek as part of a disproportionate assets linked money laundering probe against him, official sources said.**** DEL18 DL-BIBHAV-MALIWAL-PROBE **** Maliwal assault case: Kejriwal aide Bibhav being taken to Mumbai for retrieval of phone data New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, arrested for allegedly assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal, is being taken to Mumbai for the retrieval of data from his formatted iPhone, police said on Tuesday. **** DEL6 CONG-RAJIV-RAMESH **** Rajiv left numerous legacies like 1991 manifesto which talked about liberalisation: Ramesh New Delhi: Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's political life was very short but ''hugely impactful'' and he left behind numerous legacies, including the 1991 manifesto which promised liberalisation, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Tuesday.**** ELN7 ELECTIONS-KHARGE-INTERVIEW **** INDIA bloc confident of stopping BJP from getting majority in polls, people fighting for us: Kharge New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday asserted that the response of the people towards his party and INDIA bloc has changed significantly and there is a big undercurrent in favour of the alliance which will be able to stop the BJP from getting the majority numbers in Lok Sabha polls. By Sanjeev Chopra**** ELN20 ELECTIONS-DL-KEJRIWAL-INDIA **** INDIA bloc inching closer to victory with each poll phase: CM Kejriwal New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said with the completion of each phase of the Lok Sabha polls, it is becoming clearer that the Narendra Modi government is on its way out and the INDIA bloc is coming to power on June 4.**** ELN2 ELECTIONS-PM-BARAMULLA **** Compliments to people of Baramulla for unbreakable commitment to democratic values: PM New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the people of Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency as it recorded its highest-ever voter turnout, and said such active participation is a great trend.**** ELN40 ELECTIONS-OD-PATRA-LD JAGANNATH **** BJP leader Sambit Patra to fast for 3 days over his remarks on Lord Jagannath Bhubaneswar: Embroiled in a controversy over his ''slip of the tongue'' on Lord Jagannath, BJP leader and party's Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra apologised and announced he will undertake penance by observing fast for three days from Tuesday after being criticised from different quarters.**** CAL2 BH-ELECTIONS-VIOLENCE **** 1 killed, 3 injured in post-poll violence in Bihar's Saran Saran: One person was killed and three others injured in post-poll violence in Bihar's Saran district on Tuesday morning, police said.**** BOM7 MP-BUS-ACCIDENT **** Two killed, 40 injured after pvt bus falls from flyover in MP's Rajgarh Rajgarh (MP): Two persons were killed and 40 injured when a private bus fell from a flyover in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district in the wee hours of Tuesday, police said.**** BOM5 MH-HSC-RESULTS **** Maharashtra Board declares Class 12 results; 93.37 pc students pass exams, girls outshine boys Pune: The Maharashtra State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education on Tuesday declared the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), or Class 12, results with 93.37 per cent students passing the exams.**** MDS2 KL-TAX REVENUE-CENTRE-MINISTER **** Kerala's revenue soars to Rs 77,000 cr, easing financial strain from Centre, says Minister Thiruvananthapuram: The Left government in Kerala has achieved a record revenue increase from Rs 47,000 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 77,000 crore in 2023-24, helping to mitigate financial challenges posed by the BJP-ruled Centre, according to state Finance Minister K N Balagopal.**** LEGAL LGM1 KL-HC-SUDHAKARAN-CASE **** Kerala HC discharges KPCC chief Sudhakaran from case of conspiring to kill E P Jayarajan Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday discharged KPCC chief K Sudhakaran from a case accusing him of conspiring to kill some senior CPI(M) leaders, including present LDF convener E P Jayarajan back in 1995.**** FOREIGN FGN6 US-INDIA-MUSLIMS **** Engaged with India, other nations on importance of equal treatment for members of all religious communities: US Washington: The Biden administration is deeply committed to promoting and protecting universal respect for the right to freedom of religion and has engaged many countries, including India, on the importance of equal treatment for members of all religious communities, a senior US official has said. By Lalit K Jha**** FGN7 US-INDIA-TECH COOPERATION **** India, US working together to bridge digital divide between West & global South: Ex-WH official Washington: India and the US are working together to bridge the digital divide between the West and the Global South, a former senior White House official has said, underlining that the two nations were helping shape the framework for the ''responsible and safe'' use of Artificial Intelligence to benefit their societies. By Lalit K Jha****