IPL 2024: MI skipper Hardik wins toss, opts to field first against DC

by Swati Sucharita

New Delhi, Apr 27: Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to field first in his side's Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Saturday.

DC is at the sixth spot in the points table with four wins and five losses, with eight points. They won their last match against Gujarat Titans by four runs.

On the other hand, MI is in the eighth spot with three wins and five losses, with six points. Mumbai lost their previous match to Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets.

MI skipper Pandya said at the toss, "We are going to bowl first. The ground is small. It is better to bat second on a smaller ground. Every game is a new game, we make sure we are not out. We keep fighting and keep coming hard in each game. The mood is fine, happy chats, all is well. You should not really focus on what has happened in the past. Anyone can beat anyone. Our goal is to play our brand of cricket and put our best foot forward. Only one change, Gerald Coetzee misses out due to a stomach bug, and Luke Wood comes in."

DC skipper Pant said at the toss, "We were looking to bat first. I think it will get slower in the second innings. It has been amazing, we are getting the kind of wickets we want. As a team, we have to play well and we have been. This is something we talked about - how to control the innings. Bowling with the new ball and bowling at the death is difficult, one over here or there is making all the difference. Just one change, Kumar Kushagra comes in for Prithvi Shaw."

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Piyush Chawla, Luke Wood, Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara.

Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): Jake Fraser-McGurk, Kumar Kushagra, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Lizaad Williams, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed.

(ANI)

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Offers Prayers At Puri Shrimandir

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Puri, May 9: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari offered prayers to deities- Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra- at the Shree Jagannath Temple here today.

On his arrival, the Union Minister was welcomed by BJP's Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra, MLA Jayant Sarangi, and other party leaders and workers.

He will address a public meeting in Krushnaprasad block of Puri district today.

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Give Us 10 Seats, We Will Make Telangana ‘Number One’: Amit Shah

by Hemanta Pande

Hyderabad, May 9: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to the people of Telangana to bless the BJP with 10 Lok Sabha, promising to make Telangana ‘number one’ state in the country.

Addressing a public meeting in Bhongir Lok Sabha constituency, he said that the double-digit tally from Telangana will help the BJP-led NDA cross 400 mark across the country.

“In the 2019 elections, the people of Telangana gave us four seats. We will win more than 10 seats this time,” he said

The BJP leader claimed that the party has reached close to 200 in three phases of the elections held so far.

He said that this election is between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “This election is about vote for jihad versus vote for vikas, one family’s welfare versus people’s welfare and Rahul Gandhi’s Chinese guarantee versus Modi’s Indian guarantee,” he said.

Amit Shah remarked that the Congress is in such bad shape that it is not finding candidates to contest the elections.

He mentioned that in Bhongir Congress fielded a candidate who had forged Rahul Gandhi’s signature and was suspended from the party. He said as the party did not find any candidate, it pleaded with him to contest.

He alleged that the Congress is contesting the elections by spreading lies. “They are saying if Modi Ji comes again, he will end the reservation. For 10 years he ran the government with full majority but did not scrap the reservation,” he said.

Amit Shah alleged that the Congress in Telangana robbed SCs, STs and OBCs of their reservation and gave a four per cent quota to Muslims. “Give the BJP more than 10 seats, we will scrap 4 per cent Muslim reservation and increase reservation of SCs, STs and OBCs,” he said.

The Home Minister termed Congress, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) as a triangle of Muslim appeasement.

“Congress and BRS can’t stop Owaisi. They are the ABC of appeasement. A for Asaduddin Owaisi, B for BRS and C for Congress,” he said.

He alleged that these parties do not allow the Ram Navami procession, the celebration of Hyderabad Liberation Day and also oppose CAA. “They want to run Telangana on the basis of Quran and Sharia,” he said and claimed that they want to bring back triple talaq.

Mentioning the construction of Ram temple and abrogation of Article 370, Amit Shah said PM Modi fulfilled all the promises he made.

He slammed the Congress for not implementing the promises it made in the Assembly elections in Telangana.

“We want to know what happened to Rahul Gandhi’s promises to waive off farmers’ loans up to Rs 2 lakh, Rs15,000 annual financial assistance for each farmer, Rs12,000 annually for every agriculture labourer, Rs 500 bonus on rice and wheat, loan up to Rs 5 lakh for students, scooty for college going girls and an international school in every tehsil,” he said. (IANS)

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Delhi HC Orders Family To Plant 50 Saplings As Condition To Quash FIR

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

New Delhi, May 9: The Delhi High Court has directed a family to plant 50 saplings as a condition to quash an FIR lodged against them.

The FIR, which involved allegations of physical assault and molestation in Sultanpuri, was amicably resolved between the disputing parties.

Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta mandated that the saplings, each at least three feet high, be planted within the jurisdiction of the Sultanpuri Police Station.

The court's order also stipulates that the family must provide photographic evidence of the planting, which is to be overseen by the local police or Station House Officer, within eight weeks.

The judge’s decision came after noting that the parties being neighbours intended to put quietus to the proceedings.

The court noted: “The settlement shall promote harmony between the parties. Also, the chances of conviction are bleak in view of amicable settlement between the parties.”

The prosecution took no objection to the FIR in question being quashed.

Disposing of the plea, the court said that the upkeep of the saplings/trees shall be undertaken by the authorities concerned.

“In case of non-compliance of directions for the planting of trees, the petitioners shall be liable to deposit cost of Rs 25,000/- with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority,” the court said.

The FIR was registered after the respondent had filed a complaint alleging that on February 23, 2015, her neighbours attacked her carrying bricks and iron rods in their hands and also molested her by touching her inappropriately.