https://www.news18.com/news/india/news18-daybreak-pm-modi-to-file-nomination-from-varanasi-today-and-other-stories-you-need-to-watch-out-for-2117783.html

After mega roadshow, PM Narendra Modi to file nomination from Varanasi today

A day ahead of his nomination filing, PM Narendra Modi on Thursday took his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi by a storm with a mega roadshow. He was joined by UP CM Yogi Adityanath and other senior BJP leaders.

Thousands of people thronged the narrow streets to watch the Prime Minister’s convoy cover a seven-kilometre stretch from Benaras Hindu University, where the PM garlanded the statue of founder Madan Mohan Malviya, till the Dashashwamedh Ghat.

The PM will be filing his nomination papers at 11.30 am today.

A show of strength: Soaring the political temperatures, Modi was joined by BJP President Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, party's state president Mahendra Nath Pandey and other senior BJP leaders in the temple town.

Addressing a meeting after the roadshow, the PM made remarks about how his government had effectively dealt with terrorism. "We held the mega Kumbh mela this year. It is due to India's efforts that terrorists have not dared to attack any holy sites or temples in any city of the country," he said. Referring to the Balakot air strikes, Modi also said that the world now backed India in its fight against terror.

Read about the roadshow here.

Several National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, will accompany Modi during his nomination filing.

A damp squib: Meanwhile, after weeks of stoking speculation of a Priyanka Gandhi versus Prime Minister Narendra Modi poll battle, the Congress has decided to field its old guard and five-time MLA Ajay Rai from the all-important constituency of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Rai had come a distant third to the PM and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in the 2014 elections.

The party’s decision came as a disappointment to many considering the numerous insinuations by Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The hype was started by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra nearly a month ago, when she first teased the contest during an interaction with party workers. Since then, repeated statements from her that a decision would be taken by her brother Rahul Gandhi have only led to the excitement reaching a fever pitch, only to end in a hoax.

Here Rasheed Kidwai argues why the ‘tamasha’ around Varanasi was not good for the Congress’ image.

What You May Have Missed

SC appoints ex-Judge AK Patnaik to lead judiciary inquiry into claims of fixers in sexual harassment case against CJI Ranjan Gogoi

The Supreme Court on Thursday set up a judicial inquiry panel led by former judge AK Patnaik to examine the claims of lawyer Utsav Bains about ‘fixers’ trying to frame CJI Ranjan Gogoi in a sexual harassment case.

The bench made it clear that the committee will work separately from the other panel which was set up to look into the allegations of harassment.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau and Delhi Police were also asked to assist the committee in the probe.

The hearing: During the hearing the bench, comprising Justices Arun Mishra, Rohinton Nariman and Deepak Gupta, said that it not allow the “rich and powerful” to run the country country. “Every day we hear of bench fixing. Can [the] Registry be allowed to be managed by muscle and money power,” Justice Arun Mishra is said to have asked.

The apex court said that on the completion of inquiry, Justice (Retd) Patnaik will file a report in a sealed cover before the court after which the matter will be heard again.

Read about the hearing here.

The second panel: Meanwhile, Justice Indu Malhotra will replace Justice NV Ramana in the three-member panel constituted for an in-house inquiry into the sexual harassment charges levelled against the CJI a former Supreme Court staffer.

Justice Ramana recused himself from the panel after the complainant objected his presence on the grounds that he was a “close friends of the CJI and like a family member to him”.

In a letter to Justice Bobde, the complainant had also raised question over the presence of only one woman apex court judge — Indira Banerjee — in the panel to examine her allegations against the CJI which is not in accordance with Vishaka Guidelines.

Read Justice Ramana’s response here.

The reconstituted panel, which includes justices SA Bobde and Justice Indira Banerjee, is slated to meet today.

Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary resigns over Easter bombings as death toll touches 360

Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando resigned from his post on Thursday, days after a series of devastating suicide attacks that tore through three churches and three luxury hotels on Easter Sunday. Fernando is said to have handed over his resignation letter on a request made by President Sirisena, who had asked that he along with Police Pujith Jayasundara quit over their failure to prevent the blasts despite having prior intelligence. Meanwhile, the death toll in the serial blasts, which the ISIS claimed responsibility for, was scaled down by more than 100 to “about 253”. According to Dr Anil Jasinghe, Director General of the Health Services, the death toll quoted earlier had been a result of calculation error. Read about it here.

News18 Election Tracker: Veterans write to President Kovind, EC lifts suspension of officer who checked PM’s convoy and FIR filed against Giriraj Singh

Over 260 veterans write to President Kovind, EC against politicians using armed forces for votes

Over 250 veterans have once again written to President Ram Nath Kovind and the Election Commission, seeking an end to the politicisation of the armed forces in the Lok Sabha elections. The letter, which was originally signed by 156 people, states the concerns of the forces “which have caused considerable alarm and disquiet”. In the letter, the veterans objected to the practice of political leaders claiming credit for military operations like cross-border strikes, and cited the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s “Modiji ki sena” remarks. The letter comes just two weeks after 150 veterans wrote to President Kovind expressing their discontentment over the same matter.

Giriraj Singh booked for violating Model Code of conduct after controversial remark

Union minister Giriraj Singh was on Thursday booked for violating the model code of conduct by making controversial remarks against the Muslim community at a rally in Begusarai a day ago where BJP national president Amit Shah, among others, was present. A video shows the BJP candidate from Begusarai saying, "In Begusarai too, many can be seen spewing venom wearing bade bhai ka kurta and chhote bhai ka pyjama.” Singh was referring to the long shirts and short trousers that are usually associated with devout Muslims. The FIR was lodged under relevant sections of the Representation of People Act and the Indian Penal Code