BHUBANESWAR l monday l april 15, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l LATE CITY EDITION Knights Ride on their momentum to post comprehensive victory Kolkata Knight Riders outplay Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets while Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians on Sunday... salt peppers Super Giants at eden gardens While Sunil Narine has been taking the limelight so far, Phil Salt stepped up on Sunday with an unbeaten 89 from 47 balls as Kolkata overpowered Lucknow. Batting first, LSG had posted 161/7, thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s late blitz (45 off 32), but in the end, it was not enough. Mitchell Starc, with figures of 3/28 in four overs, was the standout bowler for KKR ■ 160.98 Gaikwad comes to the fore for chennai ■ Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad led from the front with a 69 from 40 balls to set the tone. Later, Shivam Dube (66 n.o), who along with MS Dhoni (20 n.o from 4), took CSK to 206/4 Despite Rohit Sharma’s century (105 n.o from 63 balls), Mumbai fell short by 20 runs. Matheesha Pathirana took 4/28 for CSK | P13 Kolkata has the highest batting SR in powerplay this season SO FAR CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI BJP manifesto pitches for Viksit Bharat 2047 How Israel thwarted 300 drones from Iran Designed 1 The Arrow:long-range of to intercept missiles, including the types ballistic missiles Iran launched on Saturday night David’s Sling: It is designed to intercept medium-range missiles, such as those possessed by Hezbollah in Lebanon Patriot: American-made air defence system is the oldest member of Israel’s missile-defence system. Used to shoot down aircraft Iron Dome: Specialist in shooting down shortrange rockets, the type fired by Hamas. Israel says it has a success rate of 90% Iron Beam: Israel is developing a new more efficient system to intercept incoming threats with laser technology 2 Promises UCC, one nation one poll, extended free ration scheme Cong says no warranty for Modi’s words 3 4 E x pr e s s N e w s S e r v ic e @ New Delhi PM Narendra Modi giving a copy of the BJP’s manifesto to a worker | Express R aj e s h K u mar t hak u r @ New Delhi With just a few days left before the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls to begin, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday unveiled its manifesto titled ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ focusing on One Nation One Election, Common Electoral Roll, Uniformed Civil Code and pitching for a stable and strong government as an imperative for the realisation of goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047. And to achieve that, the party will focus on youth, equality of women, farmers’ welfare and economical empowerment of poor, says the manifesto. Releasing the manifesto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for electing a strong and stable government, saying with votes for the next five years he can shape the country’s destiny for the next 1,000 years. Modi said the UCC and One Nation One Election are in the interest of the country. The BJP also mentioned its resolve to remove AFSPA from North East in a phase-wise manner. Targeting voters in Tamil Nadu, the manifesto promises to establish Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centres across the world. “As the world’s oldest language, Tamil fills us with immense pride, and the BJP is dedicated to elevating its global stature through concerted efforts,” said Modi, who has spent considerable time campaigning in Tamil Nadu, which goes to polls in the first phase. Highlighting his government’s work in the past 10 years, the PM pointed out that 25 crore people have moved out of poverty. The free ration scheme will continue for five more years to support them so that they do not slip back into poverty he added. , Among others, the manifesto promises to include all senior citizens above the age of 70 years in the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which offers free treatment of up to `5 lakh per year to eligible persons. P9 The Congress on Sunday ter med the BJP manifesto ‘rhetoric’ and Modi’s guarantee a ‘warranty of jumlas’ saying he has failed to fulfil the promises he made in the past. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said India’s youth are struggling for jobs and food prices have skyrocketed, but the BJP manifesto has no mention of these issues. “No accountability for old guarantees, just empty jugglery of words,” he wrote in a social media post. Congress leader and Telangana CM Revanth Redy said the BJP’s manifesto is a ‘post-date cheque drawn on a failing bank’ and equated Viksit Bharat to BJP’s 2004 election slogan India Shining, which failed. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, “Have they fulfilled what they had promised earlier? Did they give `15 lakh? Did they generate 2 crore jobs? Did they double farmer’s income?” The BJP-led government has never fulfilled any promises and they will not fulfill in the future, too, he added. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in a tweet said, “The BJP is perilously intent on dismantling the Constitution. With a voracious appetite for re g ression, they plot to thrust our nation back by two centuries.” 5 Missile interceptors fired by Israel’s Iron Dome seen over central Israel on Sunday | AP Global alarm as Iran launches its first-ever direct attack on Israel A g e n ci e s IRAN launched its first direct attack on Israel on Saturday night, firing over 300 drones and ballistic missiles, ad damaging an army base and injuring 12 people. The unprecedented action by Tehran, which used to target Tel Aviv via its proxies such Hezbollah in Lebonon and Syria, and Houthis in Yemen, worsened the already precarious situation in West Asia and sparked fears of a broader conflict in the region and beyond. Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said 99% of the launches were intercepted, declaring that “the Iranian attack was INSIDE Israel Tel-Aviv Tehran iran foiled”. While 170 drones and 30 cruise missiles were shot down before reaching Israel, a few of the 110 ballistic missiles did get through, the Israeli army said. Iran’s proxies and allies also carried out coordinated attacks on Israeli positions, it added. Iran’s overnight barrage came in retaliation for a deadly strike on Tehran’s consulate in the Syrian capital by Israel. The Iranian ar my No counterattack, biden tells bibi claimed its attack was “completed successfully”, hinting that it won’t launch further attacks unless Israel retaliates. The development drew widespread condemnation and world leaders urged restraint amid fears that Israel will retaliate in kind, further escalating tensions. Israel’s top ally the US cautioned against an escalation. “We don’t want to see this escalate. We’re not looking for a wider war with Iran,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told NBC. US President Joe Biden said Washington will not support Israel in case it decides to launch a retaliatory strike against Iran. jAISHANKAR DIALS iRANIAN MINISTER New Delhi: A day after Iran seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship with 17 Indians on board near the Gulf of Oman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to ensure their safety and early release. “I spoke with Iranian FM and took up the release of 17 Indians in MSC Aires. We discussed the situation in the region and stressed on importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy,” said Dr Jaishankar, adding that he would remain in touch with FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian Iranians torn between fear & pride I P11 Ex-OPCC chiefs Niranjan, Jayadev in Cong Assly list IMD issues heatwave alert, warns against B I J AY C H A K I @ Bhubaneswar The Congress on Sunday announced its second list of 75 Assembly candidates for the upcoming elections in the state. The list includes names of veteran leaders and former presidents of Odisha Pradesh Cong ress Committee (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik and Jayadev Jena. While Patnaik will contest from Bhandaripokhari, Jena has been fielded by the party from his traditional stronghold Anandpur. Besides, former MLA Debasis Patnaik has been nominated from Banki from where he had won in 2004. Former Chief minister JB Patnaik’s son Pruthvi Ballav Patnaik will also make his express read FIR filed in firing outside Salman Khan’s house Mumbai: The police registered an FIR after two motorbike-borne unidentified persons opened fire outside actor Salman Khan’s house here on Sunday morning. The police recovered a twowheeler, a kilometre away from the actor’s house, suspected to have been used by the duo. ‘Jallianwala Bagh massacre count is 434’ Chandigarh: Researchers have found that the total number of people masssacred in Jallianwala Bagh stands at 434 versus 379 now. Researchers at Guru Nanak Dev Univesity said after two years of research they were able to reconcile three lists of the dead. Niranjan Patnaik Jayadev Jena electoral debut from the Begunia seat. The party has nominated new faces in most of the places, except a dozen seats where known names will be in fray. Senior leader and former MP Yashwant Narayan Singh Laguri will contest from Champua Assembly seat in Keonjhar. Laguri had won the Keonjhar Lok Sabha seat on a BJD Pruthvi Ballav Patnaik ticket in 2009. He had quit the regional party and joined Congress recently . However, the party has changed its candidate for Talsara ST seat. Former India hockey player Prabodh Tirkey was announced for the seat by Congress earlier. He has been replaced by Devendra Bhitaria. Sources in the party said Tirkey’s candidature was changed because of the preponderance of Bhitaria caste in Talsara. Besides, there was large-scale discontentment among members of the caste over Tirkey’s candidature. Similarly, the party has changed nominee for Kabisuryanagar seat in Ganjam district and fielded Bipin Behari Swain, a local party leader in place of Chiranjeevi Bisoyi. From Baliguda ST seat, Upendra Pradhan has been fielded in place Surada Pradhan. For the first time in years, no member from the family of senior leader and Jatni MLA Suresh Kumar Routray has been fielded. Santosh Jena, local leader, has been fielded from the conContinued on P5 stituency . poll campaigning during peak hours A s i s h M e h ta @ Bhubaneswar WHILE electioneering heats up in Odisha, the IMD on Sunday issued heatwave warning for several parts of the state over the next four days and urged the government and district administrations to monitor poll campaign, rallies and political gatherings during the peak hours. The national weather forecaster has warned against outdoor political activities and gatherings, particularly between 11 am and 3 pm, in view of the extreme heat conditions. Similarly, people attending poll rallies and gatherings have been Due to prevailing northwesterly and westerly dry air along with high solar insolation, maximum (day) temperature is likely to rise by 4 degree Celsius to 6 degree C at many places in Odisha within four to five days Umasankar Das, scientist, Bbsr Met Centre advised to take necessary precautions and avoid prolonged exposures in areas experiencing high humidity and temperature. Candidates and their party workers planning to sweat it out in the searing heat this week are advised against it as the heatwave spell is likely to be longer than the one that occurred earlier in the month. Hot and discomfort weather condition had prevailed on April 2 and 3 and heatwave on April 4 and 5. The regional Met office has issued heatwave warning for one or two places in Cuttack, Naya g arh, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts on Monday. Hot and humid weather is likely to prevail at a few places in Cuttack, Khurda and eight other districts during the period. More districts are expected to come under the grip of heatwave from Tuesday Continued on P5 onwards. Battleground of royal lineage vs commoner at Mysuru-Kodagu K A R T H I K K K @ Mysuru A high-voltage contest between royal lineage and grassroots appeal is on in the Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency While . Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has staked his reputation on his home turf, the BJP is eyeing a third consecutive win here. Eighteen candidates are vying for attention but the spotlight is on the scion of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, contesting on a BJP ticket. His main challenger is the gen- eral secretary of the state Congress unit, M Lakshmana, a first-timer in the arena. The saffron party’s surprise nomination of Yaduveer, dropping its incumbent MP Pratap Simha, was hailed as a ‘masterstroke’. But it gave the CM the opportunity to play the Vokkaliga card. Internal dissent within the BJP after Simha’s axing was swiftly resolved with the intervention of top leaders. But since Simha is a Vokkaliga, there is some disquiet with the community. So, the Congress strategically fielded Lakshmana, a fellow Vokkaliga, to mine the disenchantment. In fact, Lakshmana is the first Vokkaliga fielded from the constituency by Congress for over 40 years. The clash, therefore, transcends party lines. The Congress turned the narrative into a dynasty versus commoner duel, emblematic of Karnataka’s intricate political tapestry . The BJP hopes to harness the party’s electoral might and the JD(S) MLAs to secure a lead of at least 1 lakh votes for Yaduveer, Illustration: Mandar Pardikar while the Congress is banking on Lakshmana’s Vokkaliga roots while consolidating its traditional vote bank. However, the Congress faces the daunting task of dismantling Yaduveer’s royal aura, which is deeply ingrained in parts of Mysuru. The resurgence of the Wadiyar family in politics after two decades adds to the nostalgia factor. Yaduveer’s campaign emphasises industrial growth intertwined with heritage preservation, engaging with students and youth. In contrast, Lakshmana outlines a comprehensive vision for Mysuru and Kodagu’s development and showcases the result of the Congress’ guarantee programmes. With Vokkaligas constituting a pivotal demographic, the Congress hopes to tap into it while defending its traditional strongholds. Siddaramaiah’s personal investment in Lakshmana’s candidacy shows the battle’s prestige, framing it as a referendum on his leadership. Would the BJP’s royal gambit outshine the Congress’ grassroots appeal? Or, can the Congress nibble into the BJP’s Vokkaliga support base? Watch this space.
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