Mamata Banerjee has stood as wall between Bengal's people and central welfare schemes, says PM

New Delhi: In view of the rising COVID-19 cases in the national capital, the Delhi government has imposed a weekend curfew that has come into force since Friday (April 16, 2021) 10 PM and will remain in place till 6 AM on Monday.

The weekend curfew in Delhi has started on a day when the national capital witnessed its biggest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases. Delhi on Friday recorded 19,486 new coronavirus infections alongside 141 deaths.

In West Bengal, the polling began at 7 AM for the fifth phase of the election. On Saturday, altogether 45 constituencies across six districts including Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Nadia, East Burdwan and North 24 Parganas are going for the polls. 

The state will also witness rallies by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The stage is also set for by-polls to one Lok Sabha and two Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, where over 22.68 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes. By-elections to Belgaum Lok Sabha and Maski and Basavakalyan Assembly segments have also begun at 7 AM and will go on till 7 PM, where a total of 30 candidates are in the fray. In Belgaum, there are ten candidates, whereas, Basavakalyan and Maski have 12 and 8 respectively.

17 April 2021

12:51 IST

PM Narendra Modi at Asansol rally: TMC has broken after four phases of polls, 'Didi' and 'Bhatija' will be vanquished by end of West Bengal elections.

12:51 IST

PM Modi hits out at Mamata Banerjee, says she has stood as a wall between West Bengal's people and central welfare schemes, depriving them of benefits.

12:49 IST

Mamata Banerjee has stood as a wall between West Bengal's people and central welfare schemes, depriving them of benefits: PM Modi

12:26 IST

PM Modi in West Bengal's Asansol: This region has the potential to become the industrial centre of India for a long time. From cycle to rail, from paper to steel, from aluminium to glass - people come from all across India to work in these factories.

@narendramodi #Vote4AsolPoriborton pic.twitter.com/MMf3VjsJNh

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 17, 2021

12:25 IST

PM Narendra Modi in West Bengal's Asansol: We will work for the aspirations of the people of Bengal. New investment will come in.

https://t.co/kqrDQJCvmX

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 17, 2021

09:12 IST

PM Narendra Modi speaks to Swami Avdheshanand Giri over the telephone, requests that Kumbh Mela 2021 in Haridwar should now only be symbolic in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, now that two shahi snans have concluded.

मैंने प्रार्थना की है कि दो शाही स्नान हो चुके हैं और अब कुंभ को कोरोना के संकट के चलते प्रतीकात्मक ही रखा जाए। इससे इस संकट से लड़ाई को एक ताकत मिलेगी। @AvdheshanandG

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 17, 2021

Swami Avdheshanand Giri, Acharya Mahamandleshwar, Juna Akhara: We respect Prime Minister's appeal. I request the people to not come for snan in large numbers, in view of COVID-19 situation.

माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी के आह्वान का हम सम्मान करते हैं ! स्वयं एवं अन्यों के जीवन की रक्षा महत पुण्य है।मेरा धर्म परायण जनता से आग्रह है कि कोविड की परिस्थितियों को देखते हुए #COVID के नियमों का निर्वहन करें ! @narendramodi @AmitShah @TIRATHSRAWAT #KumbhMela2021 #कुम्भमेला https://t.co/zax1JA60nT

— Swami Avdheshanand (@AvdheshanandG) April 17, 2021

07:29 IST

United States: Senators including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren write to President Joe Biden to accept India and South Africa's proposal for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver for COVID-19, to locally manufacture COVID-19 related diagnostics, treatment and vaccines.

US senators including Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren write to President Biden to accept India & South Africa's proposal for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver for COVID; to locally manufacture COVID related diagnostics, treatment & vaccines pic.twitter.com/VH0QLpV1NF

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2021

07:29 IST

Karnataka: The stage is also set for by-polls to one Lok Sabha and two Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, where over 22.68 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes. By-elections to Belgaum Lok Sabha and Maski and Basavakalyan Assembly segments have also begun at 7 AM and will go on till 7 PM, where a total of 30 candidates are in the fray. In Belgaum, there are ten candidates, whereas, Basavakalyan and Maski have 12 and 8 respectively.

07:28 IST

West Bengal: State to witness rallies by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah today.

07:27 IST

West Bengal: Polling begins for the fifth phase of the election. On Saturday, altogether 45 constituencies across six districts including Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Nadia, East Burdwan and North 24 Parganas are going for the polls. 

Voters queue up to cast their votes as 5th phase of polling begins; visuals from Kamarhati, West Bengal#WestBengalPolls pic.twitter.com/UO0ZrQWOCP

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2021

Polling underway at Booth number 263 in Darjeeling during the fifth phase of #WestBengalElections2021 pic.twitter.com/CtO0A4dJUP

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2021