Post-poll violence continued in Bengal  with a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporter being killed in a village in East Burdwan district.

Sushil Mondal, 52, was hacked to death in Pandugram village in Ketugram area, about 159 km from Kolkata, allegedly by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters as he was raising Jai Shri Ram slogans. Though the area is a part of East Burdwan district, it is under Bolpur parliamentary constituency won by the Trinamool. Abu Salim, the inspector in charge of Ketugram police station, said, “We have received a complaint that named two persons. The accused are on the run. We are investigating the matter, including whether it was a political murder,” he said.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said, “It’s nothing new in Bengal. Chanting the name of Ram is treated as a crime here. Those who are committing these crimes will get appropriate answers in due time.”

Senior BJP leader Shri Arun Jaitley, who opted out of the new government at the Centre, congratulated PM Shri Narendra Modi for taking oath as Prime Minister for a second consecutive term.

In a post on Twitter, Shri Jaitley, who was the Finance Minister in the first PM regime, stated that India is moving steadfast on the path of progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Modi.

“Congratulations to Narendra Modi ji on taking oath for the second time as the Prime Minister of India. I wish the very best to all the members inducted in the Union Council of Ministers. India is moving steadfast on the path of progress under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi ji,” he tweeted.

Shri Jaitley had previously written to the Prime Minister saying that he would like to keep out of the new cabinet, citing his health condition.

“I am writing to you to formally request you that I should be allowed a reasonable time for myself, my treatment and my health and, therefore, not be a part of any responsibility, for the present, in the new government,” Shri Jaitley wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Leaders of all BIMSTEC countries have confirmed their participation in Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on Thursday for a second term.

Mauritius Prime Minister Shri Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Kyrgyz President Shri Sooronbay Jeenbekov also confirmed their participation at the event, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said President of Bangladesh Shri Abdul Hamid, Sri Lankan President Shri Maithripala Sirisena, and Prime Minister of Nepal Shri K P Sharma Oli have confirmed their participation at Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.

He said President of Myanmar Shri Win Myint and Bhutanese Prime Minister Shri Lotay Tshering also confirmed their attendance at the event.

From Thailand, Kumar said, its Special Envoy Shri Grisada Boonrach will represent the country at the ceremony.

“We look forward to receiving the dignitaries in New Delhi for the ceremony,” said the MEA spokesperson.

India invited leaders of the BIMSTEC countries as well as Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov, the current chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and Mauritius Shri PM Jugnauth for the Modi’s swearing-in.

Besides India, BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.

Indian Navy chief Admiral Shri Sunil Lanba has claimed the Indian Air Force’s strikes in Balakot will change Pakistan’s behaviour towards India. “The Balakot airstrike, followed by the proactive forward deployment by the three services have changed the discourse and the dialogue [vis-à-vis Pakistan],” Lanba told. “In my view, that is the biggest change. It will bring a change in Pakistan’s behaviour.”

The airstrikes – described by the Indian government as a “non-military preemptive action” – were conducted on February 26, 12 days after a terror attack in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir killed 40 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force. The Jaish-e-Mohammed group, whose leaders are based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. Relations between India and Pakistan nosedived after the terror attack.

Counting of votes for the 542 parliamentary seats of Lok Sabha saw several surprise wins. The BJP-led NDA won the general elections with a thumping majority and the party alone won 303 seats. Here’s the list of the winners and losers in the 542 Lok Sabha seats in the general elections:

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has expressed anguish over fire tragedy in Surat. He has also asked Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected.

“Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected”, the Prime Minister said.

The Central Government vide notification dated 23^rd May, 2019 has banned the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan and all its manifestations under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 with immediate effect.

The notification states that the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and its formations like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India or Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Hindustan and their manifestations have committed acts of terrorism, promoted acts of terrorism and have been engaged in radicalisation and recruitment of youth(s) for terrorist activities in India.