Sensex, Nifty slide further on soaring crude costs

Mumbai, Apr 23 Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty finished in the negative terrain for the third session in succession on Tuesday as money related and auto stocks confronted high selling weight, while steady ascent in raw petroleum costs reignited macro worries.

In a highly volatile session, the BSE Sensex hit a high of 38,832.61 and a low of 38,518.26. In the wake of swinging more than 300 points, the 30-share list settled 80.30 points, or 0.21 percent, lower at 38,564.88.

The broader NSE Nifty also slipped 18.50 focuses, or 0.16 percent, to close at 11,575.95. It also saw an intra-day movement of 81.50 points.

In the Sensex pack, Maruti was the greatest washout, shedding 3.60 percent. Other significant slow pokes were Yes Bank, IndusInd Bank, Tata Steel, Hero MotoCorp and NTPC - ending up to 2.33 percent lower.

Then again, ONGC, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Finance, Coal India, Reliance Industries, Infosys, ITC, ICICI Bank, HCL Tech and HUL ascended as much as 3.93 percent.

Investor sentiment took a beating after US President Donald Trump on Monday chose not to grant sanctions exceptions to any oil customers of Iran, further pressing Tehran's top fare ware. This move could have suggestions on India's energy security, experts said.

Global benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.62 percent higher at USD 74.50 per barrel after

The rupee, meanwhile, weakened by 7 paise to 69.74 against the US dollar intra-day.

Meanwhile, outside institutional investors specialists (FIIs) purchased equity worth Rs 73.08 crore on Monday, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares to the tune of Rs 68.16 crore, provisional data available with stock exchanges showed.

Elsewhere in Asia, markets in China, South Korea and Japan finished on a choppy note.

After a long Easter weekend, European equites began off on Tuesday on a mixed note.

Arvind Kejriwal alleges several examples of flawed EVMs in polls in Goa

New Delhi, Apr 23 Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday claimed that there have been a few examples of flawed electronic casting a ballot machines in Goa amid surveying for the third period of Lok Sabha elections.

In a progression of tweets, Kejriwal labeled reports of supposed defective electronic casting a ballot machines.

Labeling a news report which claimed that "broken EVM in a booth at Kizhakke Nalpathu close Cherthala was replaced after it was found that all votes were getting registered to BJP", Kejriwal stated, "Absolutely shocking. All faulty EVMs deliver votes to BJP".

In another instance, he shared party's Goa convenor Elvis Gomes' tweet, "Election of shame? Mock poll with 9 votes for each of 6 candidates in booth no 31 in 34 AC in Goa. Total count BJP gets 17, Cong 9 , Aap 8. Ind 1 . Robbery."

Replying to Gomes' tweet, he said, "Faulty EVM in Goa also transfers others votes to BJP. Are these really faulty or programmed in this fashion?"

He shared another tweet of a citizen who alleged that "in Kerala, if you press 'Hand' symbol, light shows as 'Lotus'. How is that all 'defective EVMs' select just BJP?" to which Kejriwal said "another faulty EVM voting in favor of BJP".

In the third phase of elections, about 18.56 crore voters are eligible for voting , for which 2.10 lakh polling booths/stations have been set up.

Other than all seats in Gujarat (26) and Kerala (20), casting a ballot will be held in four seats in Assam, five in Bihar, seven in Chhattisgarh, 14 each in Karnataka and Maharashtra, six in Odisha, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, five in West Bengal, two in Goa, and one each in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Tripura.

Rajnath Singh: Naxalites will be rooted out by 2023

Jharkhand, Apr 23 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday said naxals will be found in the nation by 2023.

Rebels and terrorists coming in the method for the nation's security, which is a fundamental piece of advancement, will be pulverized, Singh told a survey rally here.

Naxals have been nearly disposed of in Jharkhand and their residual pockets in the state will end soon, he told a survey rally here.

Singh, who was campaigning in help of Palamau (SC) body electorate sitting BJP MP V D Ram, said that Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress have held submits the state because of their desire for power however they won't be successful in achieving their aim.

There is no leader in the opposition to coordinate the stature of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the other leaders are "dwarfs" compared to him.

Detailing developmental schemes like Ujjwala, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Jan Dhan Yojana, Singh said BJP is resolved to usher in development of the country by 2022 and its manifesto reflected it.

Ridiculing opposition parties seeking proof of bodies in the aftermath of Balakot air strikes, Singh said the air force's job was to hit the terror camps and not count the bodies and the objective was completed.

After Pulwama attack all the countries stood with India, whose "approach isn't to discharge the first bullet but respond strongly to any bullet fired at it".

Palamau goes to the polls along with Chatra and Lohardaga(ST) seats in the fourth phase of polling on April 29, which will be the first stage for Jharkhand.

Sharad Pawar: Manipulation of EVMs the only worry

Mumbai, Apr 23 People are in a temperament to change the Modi-drove government yet manipulation of EVMs is the "only worrying factor", NCP chief Sharad Pawar said here Tuesday.

He was talking at a joint media cooperation addressed by leaders of the Congress, NCP, TDP, Trinamool Congress, AAP CPI(M), CPI and DMK.

"EVMs are vulnerable to programming mistakes," TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu said. The BJP can get cast a ballot just through manipulation, he included.

EVMs can be manipulated, hacked and even glitch, he said. Only 18 nations have so far adopted EVMs, he included.

Naidu said the economy, business and agriculture are in a bad shape under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the Election Commission is acting like Dhritrashtra. "You press any button, the vote goes to the BJP," he said.

Counting of 50 percent VVPAT machines isn't an unreasonable demand, senior Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde said.

SSDF requests sedition case against Mehbooba Mufti

Jammu, Apr 23 Activists of Shiv Sena Dogra Front (SSDF) Tuesday staged a protest here, demanding registration of a rebellion body of evidence against previous chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti for "speaking the language of Pakistan".

The protesters were angry over comments made by Mehbooba on Monday in which she hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing nuclear bombs in the political discourse.

Led by their leader Ashok Gupta, many SSDF activists took out the rally from Rani Park here, raising trademarks against the PDP chief and burning her effigy before dispersing off peacefully.

During a rally in Rajasthan's Barmer on Sunday, Modi had said India is not any more terrified of nuclear threats of Pakistan.

"Otherwise every other day they (Pakistan) used to give nuclear threats. What do we have? Have we kept it for Diwali?" he had said.

Responding to Modi's statement, Mehbooba had tweeted, "If India hasn't kept nuclear bomb for Diwali, it's obvious Pakistan's not kept theirs for Eid either. Don't know why PM Modi must stoop so low & reduce political discourse to this."

She was trolled by Twitter users for her comments.

Gupta said Mehbooba ought to be "sent to Pakistan to fight elections".

"A edition case should be filed against her for talking the language of Pakistan," Gupta told journalists.

"The Election Commission is taking action against politicians for abusing the model code of conduct in other states, yet has failed to act against the politicians here," he said.

Mufti is challenging the Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag parliamentary electorate of south Kashmir. Surveying started in Anantnag area before on Tuesday.

The constituency will go to polls in three phases. The second phases is on April 29 and the last on May 6.

Supreme Court issues contempt notice to Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi, Apr 23 The Supreme Court Tuesday issued criminal contempt notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his "chowkidar chor" comments on the Rafale judgment, which the apex court had said were "incorrectly attributed" to it.

The top court said it will hear on April 30 the criminal contempt petition filed by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi against Gandhi alongside the pending audit request against the December 14, 2018 verdict in the Rafale jet deal.

The top court rejected the plea of Gandhi to close the criminal contempt petition filed by Lekhi.

On hearing senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi on behalf of Gandhi in the contempt petition "we deem it fit to issue notice to the respondent (Rahul) Gandhi," a bench headed by Chief Justcie Ranjan Gogoi said.

"We also direct the registry to list the review request alongside the disdain appeal next Tuesday," the bench also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said.

At the start the seat approached senior promoter Mukul Rohatgi showing up for Lekhi to inform it about the substance of the sworn statement documented by Gandhi in which he had communicated lament over his comments, which he guaranteed, were made in the "warmth of political battling".

The seat looked to know from Rohatgi about substance of the affirmation.

Right now the CJI stated, "We have not perused the testimony. Reveal to us what Rahul Gandhi has said."

Rohatgi said the Congress President has "conceded" that he owned a "wrong statement" identifying with the April 10 decision of the peak court which only had rejected the starter complaints of the Center on suitability of specific records to settle the audit request in the Rafale case.

"Rahul Gandhi said he made the statement in an euphoric manner," Rohatgi said and included that Gandhi had owned the wrong statement without perusing or seeing the April 10 request.

Referring to the affidavit filed by Gandhi on Monday, the senior promoter said "The statement of regret is in a section."

"According to me it is not an apology. Actually a least service of apology," Rohatgi said.

He said the top leader of a primary ideological group is creating an impression that "chowkidar Narendra Modi chor hain" without reading even the request of the apex court.

Questioning the tone and tenor of the affidavit filed by Gandhi, Rohtagi asked how can he make a petty comment on the judgment when he has "so many lawyers at his command".

"There must be some farthest point to cavalier statements," Rohatgi said.

While Rohatgi was making the submission, the bench stated, "We have seen what is there inside the section. In the oath, Gandhi had used the word regret by putting bracket within it while giving explanation to the apex court."

The senior supporter stated, "However Gandhi isn't stating since Supreme Court had said chowkidar chor hai he is as yet proceeding with the articulation in his decision battling."

"Penitence must be communicated at first occasion and unequivocally," he said.

After Rohtagi finished his submission, senior advocate and Congress leader A M Singhvi looked to safeguard Gandhi by telling the court that the BJP leader's counsel should not be allowed to use the apex court's forum as a political pulpit.

Singhvi said the pinnacle court needed a clarification from Gandhi and he has complied with the April 15 direction.

While Singhvi was making submission, the bench stated, "Perhaps notice was not issued on the criminal contempt petition filed by Lekhi."

Though the senior advocate said the court was kind enough not to issue the notice, the bench said it can still issue notice.

"We have neglected to issue notice. We will issue notice," the bench said.

Singhvi proceeded with the argument and said the Prime Minister and the ruling part has been interpreting the apex court December 14, 2018 verdict on Rafale deal as a clean chit given to the government.

Further Singhvi said how can political flogging be allowed to go on.

While Singhvi was making the argument, the bench interrupted and dictated the order.

Actor Sunny Deol joins BJP

New Delhi, Apr 23 Actor Sunny Deol joined BJP on Tuesday in presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, days after he met BJP president Amit Shah at Pune airport.

"The way my dad (film star Dharmendra) was attached with Atalji, today I have come to join Modiji. Whatever I can accomplish for this family (BJP), I will do it... I won't talk, I will indicate you through my work," Deol said while tending to the media at the Bharatiya Janata Party office here.

The party is likely to field Deol, who has acted in movies, for example, "Ghayal" and "Damini", from either Gurdaspur or Chandigarh in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, according to sources.

Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat in Punjab was represented by the late Vinod Khanna from BJP.

Sitharaman said,"The moment we got to know with that he is going to the party, I can just identify with the film Border he had made, post which the impact on the Indian audience of such a theme was really proven... The feeling of nationalism and patriotism, when so beautifully evoked through a film, can really touch the core of Indian citizen."

Deol understands the pulse of people and was motivated by the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is serving the cause of the people, and keeping India's glory high, she said.

He is an artiste of such greatness who make films beyond commercial considerations on the themes that are important for the country, Sitharaman said.

Hema Malini, the BJP candidate from Mathura, is Deol's stepmother.