THE FP BULLETIN
VADRA COUNTER ON MANGALSUTRA: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments about the Congress robbing people of their wealth to give it to "infiltrators", questioning whether such a thing had ever happened in the 50-year rule of the party. As for mangalsutras, her mother's was sacrificed for the country and her grandmother's gold was donated during the war, she pointed out. Speaking in Bengaluru, Ms Gandhi Vadra questioned her audience what they feel when they turn on the television. Not plans for their welfare or development, but "crazy talk" and demands.
SPECTRUM AUCTION WILL CONTINUE: The government will continue to auction telecom spectrum and the administrative allocation route will be used sparingly, only in those cases where it is technically not feasible to conduct auctions or for areas that are strategic in nature, according to officials. The statement comes even as the Department of Telecom (DoT) is gearing up to hold the next round of spectrum auction on June 6.
KEJRIWAL JUDICIAL CUSTODY TILL MAY 7: A Delhi court on Tuesday extended by 14 days till May 7 the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BRS MLC K Kavitha in the excise policy and money laundering cases. Delhi will vote in the general election on May 25.
HEATWAVE IN 4 POLLING STATES: The India Meteorological Department has forecast a heat wave in the days ahead, which is worrisome given that six phases of polling are still left. A red alert for heat has been issued in West Bengal for the next three days; again, temperatures in Bihar will exceed 40 degrees Celsius. A heat wave is expected in eastern Uttar Pradesh after 24 hours and in western Uttar Pradesh after two days. The temperature will remain hot and humid in Kerala, too. Higher temperatures, especially over 40 degrees Celsius, have an impact on voter turnout.
ANACONDA SMUGGLER: Customs authorities at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) nabbed a passenger for attempting to smuggle as many as 10 yellow anacondas hidden in his checked-in luggage. The officials intercepted the passenger who arrived from Bangkok and arrested him for wildlife trafficking.