DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024, AHMEDABAD, LATE CITY, 20 PAGES BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY HIT BY SEX ABUSE ROW, KARNATAKA AMONG STATES VOTING TOMORROW Constitution, quota at centre stage, Phase 3 campaign for 93 seats ends ModitargetsSP,Cong‘dynasticpolitics’; PMwantstotakeawayquota:Rahul VIKAS PATHAK NEW DELHI, MAY 5 ‘The West’s time in the sun is over... this is India’s moment’ KIRIL SOKOLOFF CHAIRMAN & FOUNDER, 13D RESEARCH & STRATEGY PAGE 16 `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 CAMPAIGNING ENDED on Sundayforthethirdphaseof the Lok Sabha elections, the run-up to which saw the Constitution and reservation issue dominating the poll discourse. With the first two phases registering a dip in voter turnout as compared to 2019,thequestioniswhetherthe third phase will buck the trend. While 94 constituencies across 12 states and Union Territories were scheduled to vote on Tuesday, the BJP has already won Surat in Gujarat unopposed, and the poll for Anantnag-RajouriseatinJammu and Kashmir has been deferred to May 25. However, polling in Betul in Madhya Pradesh, which was to be held in the second phase on April 26, was postponed to May 7 after the death of the BSP candidate. In the final hours of campaigning on Sunday, Prime DECISION 2024 ● Victory margins thin, Jharkhand wants migrants back in time for voting ● Behind BJP’s attempt to target Pandian’s wife ●InGujarattribal belts,wateraccess,jobs toppriorityforvoters KEYSEATS Shakeel Badayuni’s verses enliven poll campaigns as his house lies in ruins PAGES 12-15 Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP stepped up the attack on the Congress and its INDIA bloc al- lies, while the Opposition leaders hit back in equal measure. Modi, who offered prayers at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and held a roadshow, addressed rallies in Uttar Pradesh where he lashed out at the “dynastic politics” of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, saying that while these parties work to benefit only their own families, he was building a better future for the coming generations. Referring to himself and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said: “We don't have children. We are working for your children.” Modi also reiterated his chargethattheCongresswanted to carve out a quota for its CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Poonch terror attack ‘poll stunt’ I-T clause to ensure MSMEs to help BJP, says ex-CM Channi are paid on time creates hurdle ANJU AGNIHOTRI CHABA JALANDHAR, MAY 5 CONGRESS LEADER and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi Sunday said the Poonch militant attack, in which an IAF corporal was killed and fourpersonnelwereinjured,was an “election stunt” to benefit the BJP. His remarks drew fire from the BJP, which accused the Congress of being disrespectful to soldiers and demanded an apology to the nation. ReferringtoSaturday'sattack in Poonch, Channi, who is the Channi is Cong’s LS candidate from Jalandhar Congress candidate from Jalandhar, told reporters, “Yeh stuntbaazihorahihai,hamlenahin ho rahen. Pichhli baar bhi jab election aate hain to aise stunt khele jatehainaurBJPkojitanekasavindhantaiyarkiyajatahai(Theseare stunts,notattacks.Inthelastelections, such stunts were carried CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ‘He was planning Large companies shift to unregistered son’s birthday MSMEs as tax liability piles up party, now we tions have approached the AANCHAL MAGAZINE Supreme Court against the new plan his funeral’ NEW DELHI, MAY 5 norm, the Union MSME ANAND MOHAN J BHOPAL, MAY 5 CORPORAL VIKKY Pahade wantedtothrowabirthdayparty for his 5-year-old son next monthandwasintouchwithacousin backhomeinChhindwaradistrict of Madhya Pradesh to work out the details. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 A NEW PROVISION in the Income-Tax Act in Budget 202324 that aimed to secure payments to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within45daysof supplyof goods or services has resulted in a peculiar problem — that of large companies canceling orders to registered MSMEs and placing thesewithunregisteredMSMEs. While some MSME associa- Ministry is learnt to have reached out to industry players for solutions. It has asked stakeholders to suggest ways to resolve the issues arising from the I-T Act and to recommend possible alternate mechanisms for timely clearance of MSME bills. This is the second time the Ministry is reaching out to MSMEs. A fortnight after CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 E E X P L A I NE D Ghastly, Cong should apologise: BJP Hiccups in shift to new ● credit cycle THE NEW clause aimed to secure MSME bills are paid by business houses within 45 days against the prevailing business cycle of 90-120 days. This is ironically hurting some MSMEs with firms shifting business to unregistered micro and small units. The Ministry has now sought suggestions to resolve this. Identities out after Prajwal clips, many women leave home amid fear, stigma ‘Men questioning wives... shattering the lives of many women in Hassan’ A farmhouse of the Deve Gowda family in Hassan where some of the videos were allegedly recorded. Express KIRAN PARASHAR HASSAN, MAY 5 WITH VIDEO clips being circulated of multiple women who were allegedly sexually assaulted by JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, several women who were purportedly among the victims have left their homes in Karnataka’s Hassan district over the last 10 days. Hassan is the bastion of JD(S) chief and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda. Prajwal, Deve Gowda's grandson, is the sitting MP from Hassan, and is seeking re-election.WhilePrajwalleftthe country soon after polling in HassanonApril26,hisfather,HD Revanna, MLA from Holenarasipur,wasarrestedonSaturday inconnectionwiththeabduction of a woman, allegedly to prevent herfromapproachingtheSpecial Investigation Team (SIT). “The entire district is in H D INSIDE REVANNA: ARREST PART OF CONSPIRACY AGAINST ME WE CAN'T GO BACK TO OUR VILLAGE: VICTIM’S KIN PAGE 6 Revanna’s control. You speak ill about them and chances are high that it will reach them, because the family and the party have a large following,” said a shopkeeper in Hagare, a village 20 km from Hassan city. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Ahmedabad
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