Breaking News LIVE: In Kerala, PM Modi Rakes Up Sabarimala Temple Issue, Says Will Protect Culture

Welcome to the ABP News LIVE for Friday, April 2, 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will campaign for the BJP and its alliance AIADMK in Madurai and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu ahead of Polling on April 6. Security forces have eliminated the 3 terrorists and a huge amount of arms and ammunition have been recovered after a fierce encounter broke out in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Income Tax raids at premises of Sabareesan, son in law of DMK leader M K Stalin. Four places are being searched

Background

Welcome to the ABP News LIVE for Friday,April 2, 2021: India yet again saw the biggest daily surge in Covid cases with 81,466 fresh infections reported since yesterday, taking the tally to 1.23 crore. The country saw 469 daily new fatalities, the highest since December 6, the data updated at 8 am showed.

COVID-19 cases have been rising fast in Maharashtra and the state has been taking steps like enforcing safety guidelines more strictly. The Maharashtra government has brought down the rates of coronavirus RT-PCR tests to ₹ 500 from ₹ 1,000. The charges for rapid antigen tests were also brought down.

Security forces have eliminated the 3 terrorists and a huge amount of arms and ammunition have been recovered after a fierce encounter broke out in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir in the wee hours of Friday.

Income Tax raids at premises of Sabareesan, son in law of DMK leader M K Stalin. Four places are being searched now according to officials.

Sleuths were seen raiding Sabareesan's home in Chennai's Neelangarai on Friday morning.

Several other places connected to him are also being searched, news agency ANI reported.

17:27 PM (IST)  •  02 Apr 2021

PM Modi Rakes Up Sabarimala Temple, Says Will Protect Culture

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday raked up the famed Sabarimala temple issue and slammed the way the Pinarayi Vijayan government took on innocent devotees of Lord Ayyappa when they were beaten with lathis.

"Devotees are not criminals. An ideology which has been rejected internationally will not be allowed to trample our culture. Our vision is inclusive and our work is extensive. We will further Kerala's progress and protect the Sabarimala culture," PM Modi said.

11:37 AM (IST)  •  02 Apr 2021

I-T Raids premises of DMK president MK Stalin's son-in-law

Tamil Nadu: Income Tax department search underway at the premises of Sabareesan, son-in-law of DMK president MK Stalin. Apart from his residence, several other places connected to him are also being searched.

11:36 AM (IST)  •  02 Apr 2021

NCB arrested 1 Nigerian drug peddlers

2 Nigerian drug peddlers arrested in a raid in Mumbai last night. Drugs valued at Rs 1.5 cr approx in the international market seized from them. Raids were conducted in Navi Mumbai & Jogeshwari areas. It was done based on the clues found after questioning of actor Ajaz Khan: NCB