Political Showdown: Accusations and Counteraccusations Heat Up Pre-Election Atmosphere

In the run-up to elections, political tensions in India have skyrocketed with leaders from various parties, including PM Modi and Congress president Kharge, exchanging sharp criticisms. Modi labeled the INDIA bloc as scamsters while Kharge accused Modi of spreading communal rhetoric. The intense political climate continues to escalate.

Following are the top stories at 5.30 pm: NATION: ELN90 ELECTIONS-BH-2NDLD MODI **** INDIA bloc communal, casteist and dynastic: Modi in Bihar Maharajganj/Motihari: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday dubbed the INDIA bloc as a ''congregation of scamsters'' that was communal, casteist and dynastic to a ''severe'' degree, ''cent per cent''. **** ELN95 ELECTIONS-HR-LD KHARGE **** Modi 'Jhoothon Ka Sardar': Congress chief Kharge at Haryana rally Jagadhari (Haryana): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'Jhoothon Ka Sardar' and accused him of lying about Congress's manifesto to mislead the public. **** ELN64 ELECTIONS-CONG-PM-INTERVIEW **** PM Modi was preparing 'communal pitch' but we refused to play on it: Cong New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been indulging in polarisation throughout the election and preparing a ''communal pitch'', but it refused to play on that and pursued its 'paach nyay' agenda. **** ELN89 ELECTIONS-JK-OMAR **** Anger against Art 370 abrogation also a reason behind high voter turnout in Baramulla: Omar Abdullah Srinagar: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that the high voter turnout in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir was due to the courage shown by the people to express themselves through their votes. **** ELN33 ELECTIONS-KHARGE-INTERVIEW-PM **** PM Modi should quit public life for indulging in Hindu-Muslim rhetoric: Kharge New Delhi, May 21 (PTI) 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 **** DEL33 DL-LG-MALIWAL **** Maliwal assault case: CM's silence speaks volumes about his stance on women's safety, says Delhi LG New Delhi: Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena on Tuesday said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's ''deafening silence'' on the alleged assault of AAP Rajya Sabha MP ''speaks volumes of his stance on safety of women'' and asked him to come clean on the matter. **** 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 **** ELN71 ELECTIONS-OD-2NDLD-SHAH **** NDA has bagged 310 seats after five phases of LS polls: Amit Shah Sambalpur/Keonjhar (Odisha): Claiming that the NDA has already bagged 310 seats after the completion of five phases of the Lok Sabha polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday urged the people of Odisha to free the state from ''babu-raj'' and allow the BJP to form government at the Centre and also in the state. **** ELN69 ELECTIONS-WB-MAMATA-SANDESHKHALI **** Mamata says heartbroken over plight of Sandeshkhali women, pans BJP for 'conspiracy' Basirhat (WB): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was heartbroken over the plight of women in Sandeshkhali but asserted that the BJP should not have played with the dignity of women in the trouble-torn area as the ''saffron camp's conspiracy now stands exposed''. **** ELN67 ELECTIONS-JH-RAJNATH **** 'Should a leader hailed by enemy allowed to form govt?' Rajnath on Pak leader's praise for Rahul Bokaro: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said former Pakistan minister Fawad Hussain, who stated that terrorists of his country were behind the Pulwama and Uri attacks, was praising Rahul Gandhi, and sought to know whether such a leader, who was being hailed by an ''enemy'', should be ''allowed'' to form a government. **** ELN65 ELECTIONS-WB-EC-GANGOPADHYAY **** EC debars BJP's Abhijit Gangopadhyay from campaigning for 24 hours for comments on Mamata Kolkata: The Election Commission on Tuesday censured former Calcutta High Court judge and BJP candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his comment against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and debarred him from campaigning for 24 hours. **** ELX1 ELECTIONS-PB-AMRITSAR-TRADE **** Amritsar traders say trade revival with Pakistan key poll issue; will benefit farmers, transporters Chandigarh/Amritsar: For the traders and industry in Amritsar, resumption of trade with Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah land route is a key poll issue. They say reviving cross-border trade will also benefit farmers, transporters and labourers. By Charanjit Singh **** DEL31 NIA-CANADA-KHALISTANI **** NIA charge sheet against Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh, his 3 aides New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed charge sheet against Canada-based pro-Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh and three of his aides for being part of a conspiracy to unleash terror attacks in various parts of Punjab and Delhi, the agency Tuesday said. **** BOM8 MH-ACCIDENT-JUVENILE-POLICE **** Car accident involving juvenile: Maharashtra CM has directed for strict action, says Pune top cop Pune: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis have instructed for stringent action in the case of a car accident allegedly involving a 17-year-old boy that killed two persons, Pune police chief said on Tuesday. **** MDS5 KA-SCANDAL-PRAJWAL-PASSPORT **** K'taka govt has written to MEA to cancel diplomatic passport of Prajwal: Home Minister Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the state government has written to the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel the diplomatic passport of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse, on the basis of an arrest warrant issued against him by a court. **** LEGAL: LGD7 DL-COURT-WRESTLERS **** Delhi court frames charges against ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh in sexual harassment case New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the modesty of women against ex-Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a criminal case filed by female wrestlers. **** FOREIGN: FGN27 US-IRAN-RAISI-HELICOPTER-PROBE **** US unable to assist in probing Iranian President Raisi's chopper crash due to 'logistical reasons': State Dept Washington: The Iranian government has requested the US to assist in probing the deadly helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi, his foreign minister, and six others but Washington won't assist Tehran largely due to ''logistical reasons'', according to a senior American diplomat. **** FGN28 UK-STUDENTS-VISA **** Universities, student groups lobby PM Sunak to protect UK's post-study visa offer London: Universities and student groups on Tuesday urgently lobbied British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to safeguard the country’s post-study visa offer, which has been dominated by Indians to gain work experience for around two years at the end of their university degree. By Aditi Khanna ****