India

New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a PIL filed by a BJP leader seeking directions to the Election Commission to "restrict" misuse of religion for poll gains.

The high court also asked the EC to decide BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay's representation against the remarks of actor-cum-politician Kamal Haasan that "free India's first extremist was a Hindu", referring to Nathuram Godse who killed Mahatma Gandhi.

Bengaluru, May 15 (PTI) India's second Moon mission that is planned for a July launch will have 13 payloads and one passive experiment from American space agency NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Wednesday.

"Thirteen Indian payloads (8 on orbiter, 3 on lander and 2 on rover) and one passive experiment from NASA," ISRO said in a mission update, but did not specify them or their objective.

The spacecraft with a mass of 3.8 tonnes has three modules--Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan).

Lucknow, May 15 (PTI) BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's legacy as the Gujarat chief minister is a black spot for himself and the BJP, as well as a burden on the communal history of the country.

Mayawati alleged that the prime minister had crossed all limits of decency in terming the Bahujan Samaj Party her personal property.

Bargari (Pb), May 15 (PTI) Congress President Rahul Gandhi Wednesday lashed out at Narendra Modi, saying the Prime Minister thinks "only one person can run the country while actually it is the people who run the nation.

Gandhi noted that Modi used to make "fun" of former PM Manmohan Singh "but after five years now Modi ji does not make fun of Manmohan ji.Today the country is making fun of him (Modi)".

Srinagar, May 15 (PTI) Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani Wednesday hailed the goodwill gesture by India and Pakistan to release prisoners from their respective jails and called for use of such measures as permanent feature of relations between the two countries.

Thirteen Pakistani nationals, including four fishermen, were repatriated to Pakistan on Tuesday through the Attari-Wagah border.

Last month, Pakistan released 55 Indian fishermen and five civilians as a "goodwill gesture".

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) India's exports rose marginally by 0.64 per cent in April to USD 26 billion while imports increased by 4.5 per cent to 41.4 billion compared to the year-ago month, according to official data released Wednesday.

Trade deficit, the difference between exports and imports, widened to USD 15.33 billion in April 2019 from USD 13.72 billion in April 2018.

Oil imports grew by 9.26 per cent to USD 11.38 billion and non-oil imports expanded by 2.78 per cent.

Gold imports rose by 54 per cent to USD 3.97 billion in April.

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) The Congress on Wednesday condemned the attack on its Rae Bareli legislator Aditi Singh, blaming it on what it called the "hired goons" of BJP in Uttar Pradesh.

It sought a judicial probe to nail the criminal conspiracy behind the incident.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said the incident shows the true Modi-Shah model of governance in force in UP.

Jaipur, May 15 (PTI) The Rajasthan government will construct 174 flats with modern facilities in Vidhayak Nagar (west) at a cost of Rs 250 crore for the members of legislative assembly, an official spokesperson said Wednesday.

Besides, a parliamentary museum will also be set up in the assembly building at a cost of Rs 10 crore, he said.

The decisions were taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Assembly Speaker C P Joshi.

Mumbai, May 15 (PTI) Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil Wednesday said grant for animals in the cattle camps has been increased for the purpose of their fodder and water.

At present, there are 1,417 cattle camps functioning in the state housing 9.39 lakh animals. So far, big animal got a grant of Rs 90 and the small one Rs 45 for water and fodder, he said.

"Now, each big animal will get Rs 100 and small one will get Rs 50. The decision was taken in the cabinet sub committee meeting held today," Patil said.

Kolkata, May 15 (PTI) West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi Wednesday condemned the vandalising of a bust of 19th century Bengali icon Iswarchandra Vidyasagar at a college here, and said the culprits should be traced and punished.

Kolkata witnessed wide-spread violence during BJP president Amit Shah's road show on Tuesday. During the violence, a bust of Vidyasagar was vandalised at the college named after the social reformer.

Tripathi is also the chancellor of the Calcutta University to which the Vidyasagar College is affiliated.