New Delhi, Jun 24 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 5 pm: NATION DEL47 PM-LD TERROR

Operation Sindoor made clear India's stringent policy against terrorism to world: PM Modi New Delhi: Asserting that Operation Sindoor has made clear to the world India's stringent policy against terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that his government takes whatever steps are appropriate in national interest.

DEL58 RAHUL-MH-POLLS-LD EC

'Vote theft in 2024 Maharashtra polls': Rahul demands machine-readable digital voter rolls New Delhi: Flagging alleged irregularities in the Maharashtra assembly polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that there weren't isolated glitches but "vote theft" and demanded the immediate release of machine-readable digital voter rolls as well as CCTV footage.

DEL45 EC-LD RAHUL

Presume Cong candidates moved court over issues on conduct of Maharashtra polls: EC to Rahul New Delhi: The Election Commission has formally responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations of rigging in the 2024 Maharashtra polls, saying all elections are held strictly as per laws and candidates have presumably already moved court with issues about poll conduct.

DEL50 CONG-US-ADVISORY

Cong slams US advisory for citizens travelling to India, says govt must register protest New Delhi: With the US issuing an advisory for its citizens travelling to India, the Congress on Tuesday claimed that it "maligns" the country and demanded that the government should register its protest as well as take a stern view of this at the highest level.

DEL56 DEF-HAL-JET - ENGINES

India-US deal to produce F-414 jet engines to be sealed by March: HAL Chief Sunil New Delhi: The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will seal a deal with US defence major GE Aerospace by March to jointly produce a jet engine to power the next generation of India's combat aircraft, the aviation behemoth's chief DK Sunil has said.

DEL25 IRAN-INDIA-LD-EVACUATION

India evacuates more Indians from Iran, Israel New Delhi: India on Tuesday evacuated 292 citizens from Iran and 366 nationals from Israel amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the US bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites.

DEL22 DEF-RAJNATH-LD-CHINA

At SCO meet in China, Rajnath to pitch for greater cooperation to counter terrorism New Delhi: In line with India's diplomatic offensive against Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to press the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to ramp up efforts to contain terrorism at a two-day conclave of the bloc in China's Qingdao that begins on Wednesday.

DES30 DL-DEMOLITION-WAZIRPUR

Demolition drive underway in Delhi's Wazirpur area New Delhi: A demolition drive is underway in northwest Delhi's Wazirpur area on Tuesday amid heavy police deployment, an official said.

CAL16 OD-DALIT-ASSAULT-LD CONG

Odisha Cong forms panel to probe assault of Dalit men, Priyanka says incident insult to Constitution Bhubaneswar: The Congress on Tuesday expressed anguish over the alleged torture of two Dalit men on suspicion of cattle smuggling in Odisha's Ganjam district and constituted a fact-finding committee to investigate the incident.

CAL18 WB-ASSEMBLY-MAMATA-BENGALI

Mamata alleges Bengali-speaking workers being targeted in BJP-ruled states Kolkata: Claiming that Bengali-speaking people from the state were being branded as Bangladeshis in some BJP-ruled states, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said this cannot be allowed.

DES36 EMERGENCY-PRAKASH KARAT

Emergency: When Prakash Karat went underground, took refuge in AIIMS New Delhi: The imposition of the Emergency in 1975 led to the arrests of several opposition leaders, with new cases being filed or existing ones revived, forcing many into hiding. CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat, who was the president of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) at the time, was among those who went underground, taking refuge in the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) hostel.

DEL42 EMERGENCY-TEXTBOOKS

Emergency made part of school syllabus during UPA rule, 3 decades after imposition New Delhi: It took three decades for the Emergency imposed by then-prime minister Indira Gandhi, a 21-month period marked by censorship and mass arrests of opposition leaders, to make an entry into NCERT political science textbooks. By Gunjan Sharma

BUSINESS DEL60 BIZ-FM-LD TRADE

Trade agreements with US, EU to be concluded soon: Sitharaman New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said negotiations for the proposed free trade agreements with the US and European Union (EU) are progressing at a fast pace and would be concluded soon.

DEL27 BIZ-ADANI-AGM

Adani Group to invest USD 15-20 bn across businesses over next 5 yrs: Gautam Adani New Delhi: The Adani Group plans to invest a record USD 15-20 billion across businesses over the next five years to chart out the next phase of growth, Chairman Gautam Adani said on Tuesday as he touted the conglomerate's strong balance sheet and robust business to shrug off relentless scrutiny it faces.

LEGAL LGD2 SC-OPERATION SINDOOR

Participating in Operation Sindoor doesn't give you immunity: SC in dowry death case New Delhi: Participating in Operation Sindoor doesn't give you immunity from committing atrocity at home, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said while refusing to exempt a convict from surrendering in a dowry death case of his wife.

FOREIGN FGN73 CANADA-KANISHKA ANNIVERSARY

Canadian PM says Kanishka bombing anniversary reminder of commitment to fight violent extremism Ottawa: Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the Air India Flight 182 Kanishka bombing 40 years ago is a “sombre reminder of our commitment to fight violent extremism and keep Canadians safe.”

FGN44 CHINA-DOVAL-RUSSIA

NSA Doval, Russia's Security Council Dy Secretary discuss advancing bilateral cooperation Beijing: National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval discussed with Russia's Security Council Deputy Secretary Aleksandr Venediktov on Tuesday the importance of advancing bilateral cooperation based on the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

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