1. Election 2024: Congress party is trying to create hurdles in nation’s path to development, says PM Modi
2. Manipur: 2 CRPF Personnel killed in militant attack, CM says ‘such actions demonstrate cowardice’
3. Indian agencies detain 14 Pak nationals, seize drugs worth $72 million off Gujarat coast
4. Germany removes restrictions, India can now buy small arms from its firms
5. Indian Air Force, Navy fighter aircraft fleets get Rampage missile boost

What Else

• Sri Lanka leases Chinese-built Mattala Int’l Airport to Indian, Russian firms amid debt woes
• Blinken tells CNN the US has seen evidence of China attempting to influence upcoming US elections
• Germany grapples with wave of spying threats from Russia and China
• Terror commander Masood Azhar resurfaces to launch celeb-style ‘ask me anything’ online
• Days after Mohamed Muizzu’s election win, Chinese ‘research’ ship back in Maldives waters
• China: Talks on Tibet only with Dalai Lama’s representatives; open to discuss his future, not autonomy

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Election 2024: Congress party is trying to create hurdles in nation’s path to development, says PM Modi

• PM Modi addressed rally in the N Karnataka region in Belagavi on Sun and will address public rallies in 3 other regions to consolidate votes in the North Karnataka region.
• Former CM Jagdish Shettar and other dignitaries welcomed the PM, who arrived at Kundanagari Belgaum for the Lok Sabha election campaign on Sa night.
• Voting was held in 14 Lok Sabha seats out of 28 in Karnataka on Fri, while for rest 14 seats will occur on May 7^th: Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bidar, Bijapur, Chikkodi, Davanagere, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Haveri, Ballari, Koppal, Raichur, Shimoga, and Uttara Kannada.
• BJP has always performed brilliantly in the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka.
• It is the only state in the south where BJP’s hold has been strong. (here)
• ‘Concept of Free & Fair Polls not Violated’: ED opposes Kejriwal’s Plea against arrest in SC: Opposing Arvind Kejriwal’s plea challenging Delhi HC validating his arrest in the money laundering case related to the scrapped Excise policy, the ED told the Supreme Court that arrest of a person, however high he may be, for the commission of offence based on material, can never violate the concept of free and fair elections.
• It further stated that Kejriwal was avoiding interrogation by not remaining present before the investigating officer despite being summoned 9 times.
• Dubbing the claim of Arvind Kejriwal that he can’t be arrested right ahead of elections, the ED says, “…the power u/s 19 of PMLA, 2002 have been exercised as per procedure”.
• Responding to the ED response before the top court, the AAP said the ED was nothing but a machine for telling lies.
• “Every time, the ED comes up with new manufactured lies at the whims of their master, the BJP,” the party said. (here)
• Women’s turnout for Lok Sabha polls saw bigger drop than men’s in both NCR seats: The number of women who came out to vote on Fri in the 2^nd phase election in the 2 populous NCR constituencies – Ghaziabad and Noida – saw a bigger drop than the men, which combined to trigger a sharp fall in the final turnout.
• In Ghaziabad, the turnout ended lower than 50%, as per figures released on Sat (here)
• Assam forest officials accused of threatening electors to vote for BJP candidate by residents: 9 senior officials of the Assam forest department, including the special chief secretary and head of forest force have been accused of threatening a section of the voters in Assam’s Karimganj parliamentary constituency. 
• According to the residents, they were threatened to cast their votes for BJP candidate Kripa Nath Mallah or get ready to face bulldozers. (here)
• “India will never bow down”: Rajnath Singh on border talks with China: India China Border Row: Singh, who is in Ahmedabad to campaign for BJP candidates, said India has become a powerful country from a military standpoint. (here)
• Sex harassment case filed against Deve Gowda’s Grandson amid video scandal: A woman has filed a police case against Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna over alleged sexual assault, the police said today amid a huge row over purported obscene videos.
• The FIR has been filed with Holenarasipur police station in Hassan district.
• Prajwal Revanna, the JD(S) MP and grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda has denied the allegations and filed a police complaint too, saying the obscene videos in circulation were morphed.
• Prajwal Revanna left for Germany yesterday morning.
• CM Siddaramaiah yesterday said the state govt will form SIT to look into the videos.
• Prajwal was the NDA candidate in the constituency, where voting was held in the 2^nd phase on Apr 26^th. (here)
• Case registered after Shah’s doctored video on Reservation goes Viral: The Delhi Police on Sun registered a case over a doctored video circulating on social media platforms showing Union Home Minister Amit Shah advocating for the abolition of reservation.
• The video, which has sparked controversy and allegations of misinformation, has prompted the Ministry of Home Affairs to file a complaint seeking action.
• The BJP has denounced the video by saying that it has been manipulated to distort Mr Shah’s original statements made during a political rally. (here)
• Supreme Court says ‘No’ to 100% VVPAT-EVM verification: ‘Need culture of trust’: The SC on Fri rejected all the petitions seeking the complete verification of votes cast using Electronic Voting Machines with VVPAT slips.
• A 2-judge bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta also rejected a demand to go back to ballot papers in elections.
• The writ petitions were filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Abhay Bhakchand Chhajed and Arun Kumar Aggarwal.
• During the hearing, the bench said that it gave the Election Commission two directions.
• One direction is after the completion of the symbol loading process, the Symbol Loading Unit should be sealed. The SLU should be stored at least for 45 days. (here)

Manipur: 2 CRPF Personnel killed in militant attack, CM says ‘such actions demonstrate cowardice’

• Two CRPF personnel were killed and 2 others injured as militants attacked a camp of security forces in Bishnupur district in the early hours of Sat, police said.
• The militants attacked an IRBn (India Reserve Battalion) camp at Naranseina in the Moirang Police Station area, they said.
• Police also said the deceased were identified as sub-inspector N Sarkar, a native of Assam’s Kokrajhar, and head constable Arup Saini of Bankura district in WB.
• The CRPF personnel were deployed to provide security to the IRBn camp.
• Massive search operations are underway to find the perpetrators of the attack
• Meanwhile, forces destroyed 3 bunkers and recovered 4 firearms during a series of search operations launched in Churachandpur in the aftermath of the attack. (here)

Indian agencies detain 14 Pak nationals, seize drugs worth $72 million off Gujarat coast

• India’s ATS and the Narcotics Control Bureau on Sun nabbed a group of Pakistani nationals off the Gujarat coast in possession of 86 kg of contraband drugs worth $72 mn
• All 14 Pakistani citizens were arrested as they attempted to evade the authorities.
• The suspects even tried to run their boat over the ATS officials, after which the officials had to open fire on them. Following a brief encounter, all the suspects were detained and the drug consignment was seized.
• All detainees were being brought to Porbandar port on Gujarat coast.
• Indian authorities have intensified search operations near the international sea border for 2 days now, but within Indian territorial waters following intel inputs. (here)

Germany removes restrictions, India can now buy small arms from its firms

• Under the new SDP govt led by Olaf Scholz, Germany has lifted restrictions on the sale of small arms, thereby allowing the Indian military and state police forces to buy them.
• Earlier this month, the German govt green-lit a request by the NSG to buy spare parts and accessories for its MP5 submachine guns that were procured earlier
• This, they added, was a turnaround because the German govt had strict regulations in place regarding the sale of small arms to non-NATO countries.
• It is also learned that the NSG did procure several MP5s since the restrictions came in 2008, but state police forces were not able to purchase them.
• This is because the earlier CDU govt, headed by former chancellor Angela Merkel from 2005 to 2021, had prevented the sale of small arms to police forces operating in states that they perceived had a “bad human rights record”. (here)

Indian Air Force, Navy fighter aircraft fleets get Rampage missile boost

• In a major boost to the firepower of its fighter aircraft fleet, the IAF has inducted the Rampage long-range supersonic air-to-ground missiles which can hit targets at 250 Km.
• The missile known for High-Speed Low Drag-Mark 2 missile in the IAF was reportedly used in a big way by the Israeli Air Force during its recent attacks on Iranian targets.
• The IAF has inducted the Rampage in its Russian-origin aircraft fleet including the Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 fighters along with the Jaguar fighter jets.
• The Navy has also inducted the missile in its fleet for the MiG-29K naval fighter jets.
• The stand-off weapon will give Indian fighter pilots the option of engaging and taking out targets like communication centers or radar stations.
• The procurement was part of the emergency powers given by the Ministry to the armed forces to equip themselves with critical weapons and equipment after the standoff with China started in 2020. (here)

Sri Lanka leases Chinese-built Mattala Int’l Airport to Indian, Russian firms amid debt woes

• As Sri Lanka is trying to recover from the implications of China’s ‘debt diplomacy’, the cabinet has announced the transfer of management for its $209 mn Chinese-funded airport to 2 foreign companies, including one Indian.
• This move has been taken in a bid to mitigate losses incurred by state-owned initiatives.
• Mattala Rajapaksa Int’l Airport, constructed with financing from China has faced challenges since its inauguration in 2013, including minimal flights and ecological issue
• According to a statement released on Fri, Shaurya Aeronautics, India, and Airports of Regions Management Company, Russia will oversee the airport’s operations for 30 yrs
• However, specific financial details were not disclosed in the statement
• In a bid to address its mounting debt and to bring about economic reform, Sri Lanka is also in talks with China EXIM Bank to restructure the loan associated with the airport.
• Sri Lanka’s default on foreign debt in May 2022 brought the country to its most severe financial crisis in over seven decades. (here)

 [Neighborhood]

Blinken tells CNN the US has seen evidence of China attempting to influence upcoming US elections

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US has seen evidence of Chinese attempts to “influence and arguably interfere” with the upcoming US elections, despite an earlier commitment from leader Xi Jinping not to do so.
• Blinken made the comments on Fri at the close of a 3-day trip to China, where he spent hours meeting with top Chinese officials including Xi.
• Blinken said he repeated a message President Joe Biden gave to Xi during their summit in San Francisco last Nov not to interfere in the 2024 US presidential elections.
• Then, Xi had pledged that that China would not do so, as per CNN reporting. (here)
• Xi tells Blinken America cannot ‘say one thing and do another’: Chinese President Xi called on the US to be a partner of China and not “say one thing and do another” in a meeting with Blinken in Beijing on Fri.
• Blinken, in turn, expressed concerns about China’s supply of goods that could have military uses to Russia and its alleged manufacturing overcapacity.
• The two countries agreed to continue high-level engagement, including talks in the next few weeks on AI, but appeared to have made little progress on the most challenging issues as Blinken wrapped up his 3-day trip.
• Xi warned Washington not to form “small blocs” against China and said relations could only stabilize and move forward if the US viewed China’s development positively
• “I have said many times that the Earth is big enough for China and the United States to develop together and prosper independently,” he said. (here)

Germany grapples with wave of spying threats from Russia and China

• Six suspected spies have been arrested in Germany this month alone, in what has become a torrent of allegations of Russian and Chinese espionage.
• For the far-right Alternative for Germany party, it has proved especially embarrassing, because their top 2 candidates for the European elections in Jun have been caught in the crosshairs.
• An aide to MEP Maximilian Krah, who heads the party’s list, has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
• Jian G is accused of being an “employee of a Chinese secret service”.
• Prosecutors have also begun preliminary investigations into the politician himself over alleged payments from pro-Russian and Chinese sources.
• Mr Krah denies any wrongdoing.
• Days earlier, Petr Bystron, the second name on the AfD list, denied allegations that he received cash from the VoE website, alleged by European intelligence to have been a front for Russian intelligence. (here)

Terror commander Masood Azhar resurfaces to launch celeb-style ‘ask me anything’ online

• 10 years later, delivering a speech to thousands of frenzied, fugitive jihadist commander Masood Azhar Alvi is scheduled to begin direct Q&A from his followers each morning and afternoon, his internationally proscribed JeM terror organization announced Thu.
• This celebrity-style ‘ask-me-anything’ service was made by the JeM’s office for comm. comes 2 years after Pakistan claimed Azhar was living under Taliban protection
• Late Thu, JeM provided 2 Pakistani mobile phone numbers and said supporters of the organization could send questions that Azhar would answer every day. (here)
• (official)- the timing of the message suggests the JeM was testing to see if Pakistan, which has been weakened by months of political chaos, “will feel able to act to prevent the embarrassing public rehabilitation of a notorious terrorist”. (here)

Days after Mohamed Muizzu’s election win, Chinese ‘research’ ship back in Maldives waters

• A 4,500-tonne high-tech Chinese research ship is back in Maldivian waters, 2 months after it spent a week docked at different ports on the island.
• Xiang Yang Hong 03 was docked at the Thilafushi industrial island’s harbor.
• Maldives is, however, mum on the reason for the ship’s return.
• But the govt previously confirmed permission for the ship to dock before its first visit, it said, days after President Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China leader-led PNC won
• Muizzu rode to power last year on an India Out’ promise and with a super majority win in parliamentary polls on Apr 21, he has further consolidated his position.
• The ship has now come back after skirting the EEZ and therefore, Xiang Yang Hong 03 has been active inside or near Maldives territory since Jan, it said.
• The ship had earlier docked on Feb 23 at the same Thilafushi port, about 7.5 km to the west of Male.
• The vessel would not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters, the Male said on Jan 23.  (here)

China: Talks on Tibet only with Dalai Lama’s representatives; open to discuss his future, not autonomy

• China on Fri said it would talk only with the representatives of the Dalai Lama and not the officials of the Tibetan Govt-in-Exile but ruled out dialogue on the autonomy of Tibet.
• Also, Beijing for the 1^st time did not slam the Dalai Lama as a separatist and instead said it is ready to discuss his “personal future,” hinting that it is open for the 88-year-old monk to return to his homeland, Tibet, ending 65 of years of his exile in India.
• Chinese FM spox Wang Wenbin was reacting to reports of the back-channel talks between the Govt-in-Exile and the Chinese govt when he said China regards the Tibetan govt-in-exile based in Dharamshala as a “separatist” bloc.

“The so-called ‘Tibetan Govt-in-Exile’ is an entirely organized separatist political group with a political platform and an agenda for ‘Tibetan independence.’ It is an illegal organization that violates China’s Constitution and laws,” Wang said. (here)