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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Analysts warn of further weakness if Nifty fails to hold 24,500 level
Nifty has declined for five straight weeks and may remain under pressure this week as well. The index faces immediate resistance in 24,800–25,000 zone, with support at 24,500. A break below this level could trigger a deeper sell-off. Healthcare, cement, and FMCG sectors may exhibit relative strength, while caution is advised in IT and metal stocks. RAJESH PALVIYA Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Others Data Science Degree Technology MBA Digital Marketing Public Policy others CXO Design Thinking Cybersecurity Finance Project Management Management Product Management Data Science healthcare MCA Data Analytics Healthcare Operations Management Artificial Intelligence PGDM Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML SLP India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Accounting & Analysis Financial Instruments & Markets Corporate Finance & Valuation Investment Management & Banking Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Financial Management Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK-Women Leadership Programme INDIA Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills Power of Emerging Technologies Innovation and Drive Organizational Change Fostering a Culture of Innovation Duration: 9 Months MIT xPRO MIT Technology Leadership and Innovation Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks Indian School of Business SEPO - ISB Venture Capital & Private Equity India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK CEO Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details HEAD OF TECHNICAL & DERIVATIVES RESEARCH, AXIS SECURITIES Where is Nifty headed this week? On weekly chart, Nifty has formed a bearish candle with a long upper shadow, indicating selling pressure near 25,000 level. The index is currently trading below 50-day moving average, reflecting a bearish bias. It continues to face resistance at the upper band of the falling channel, near 25,000. A decisive breakout above this level could shift the bias to bullish, while a drop below 24,500 may lead to further profit booking. A sustained move above 24,800 could trigger buying interest, potentially taking the index to 25,000–25,300 range. On the downside, a break below 24,500 may drag the index toward 24,350–24,000. Expect Nifty to trade within a broad range of 25,300–24,000 this week, with a negative bias. The weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains below its reference line and is trending downward, reinforcing the bearish momentum. Trading Strategy: For traders with a moderately bearish view for week ending Aug 7, a Put Spread strategy could offer controlled exposure to the downside. Buy one lot of Nifty 24,600 strike Put (premium: Rs 155–165) and sell one lot of 24,300 strike Put (premium: Rs 60–65). The breakeven point is 24,495, with profits below this level. The maximum loss is Rs 7,875, and the maximum potential reward is Rs 14,625. Live Events Sectors to watch: Healthcare, cement, and FMCG may continue to show strength. Bullish On: Asian Paints, Hindustan Unilever, Fortis Healthcare, TVS Motor, Ambuja Cements, and JSL. Bearish On: Adani Enterprises, Tata Motors, and Indigo. Agencies ROHAN SHAH TECHNICAL ANALYST, ASIT C. MEHTA INVESTMENT Where is Nifty headed this week? Nifty has posted a fiveweek losing streak after facing resistance at a bearish gap and now fallen below the 10-week EMA, which had acted as intermediate support since April 2025. A decisive break below 24,500 — aligning with a key demand zone and the 20-week EMA — could accelerate profit booking and take the index toward 24,000– 23,800. Resistance lies at 25,400–25,600. Trading Strategy: The broader market remains under pressure. It is prudent to focus on sectors and stocks showing stronger relative strength with bullish structures. FMCG has shown resilience, rebounding from a longterm support zone. HUL, Colgate-Palmolive, and Dabur appear attractive for accumulation. In the two-wheeler space, Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj Auto have held firm at support levels. Sectors like pharma, defence, and oil & gas have breached key support levels and warrant caution. AJIT MISHRA SVP – RESEARCH, RELIGARE BROKING Where is Nifty headed this week? Nifty extended its losing streak into the fifth week, driven by persistent selling, global headwinds, and cautious sentiment. The index's close below the 24,600 mark confirms a bearish outlook , unless a strong rebound emerges. Immediate support is at 24,450; a breach may extend the decline toward 24,180 — a level that coincides with the long-term 200-day exponential moving average (DEMA). On recovery, resistance is at 24,800, followed by a significant hurdle around 25,000–25,250. What should investors do? Defensive positioning is prudent in the short term, while selective accumulation on dips in fundamentally strong stocks may offer longterm opportunities. Bullish Bias: Britannia, Dixon Technologies, Fortis, Godrej Consumer, Hero MotoCorp, Jio Financial, Jindal Stainless, Kaynes Tech and TVS Motor. Bearish Bias: ABB, Astral, Bandhan Bank, Bharat Forge, Coal India, IndusInd Bank, ONGC, Sona BLW, Tata Motors, Tata Tech and Wipro.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Exporters urged to build brandsas a way around Trump tariffs
New Delhi: The government is pushing exporters to build and promote homegrown brands to cope with the 25% tariff imposed by the US. It has also sought industry inputs on an employment-linked scheme for certain exports such as marine goods which now faces threat from Ecuador due to the higher tariffs. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Technology MCA Cybersecurity Degree PGDM Data Science Public Policy Others Project Management healthcare Finance Product Management Data Analytics Management others Digital Marketing Healthcare Data Science Operations Management CXO Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence MBA Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK-Women Leadership Programme INDIA Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK CEO Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks Indian School of Business SEPO - ISB Venture Capital & Private Equity India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML SLP India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Accounting & Analysis Financial Instruments & Markets Corporate Finance & Valuation Investment Management & Banking Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Financial Management Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills Power of Emerging Technologies Innovation and Drive Organizational Change Fostering a Culture of Innovation Duration: 9 Months MIT xPRO MIT Technology Leadership and Innovation Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Officials said reducing testing charges for smaller exporters levied by the Export Inspection Council could also be looked at to ease exporters' concerns on the adverse impact of the tariffs on India's exports. "It is important for Indian exporters to do brand building and promotion to come out of the clutches of any subsidies amid the US tariffs," said an official, adding that the brand promotion exercise can be jointly done by export promotion councils and the India Brand Equity Foundation. Washington has imposed an across-the-board 25% tariff on all Indian-origin goods, effective August 7, along with an unspecified penalty. India's competitors including Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Turkey are in the 15-20% range. Live Events The steep duty could hurt nearly half of India's exports of more than $85 billion to the US. Textiles could be one of the worst-hit with $4 billion of business such as t-shirts and home textiles bearing the brunt, especially due to lower tariffs imposed on India's rivals. The commerce and industry ministry has also asked sectors such as marine food products to suggest if any scheme based on incremental hiring can be worked out as Ecuador, a major shrimp producer, would face a comparatively lower 15% tariff. "While India has a 25% tariff and a penalty, there is a feeling that many countries may not be able to create capacities soon. Even clients will not shift to Ecuador overnight," said a representative of an export promotion body, adding that the tariffs have lowered the possibility of the India-US bilateral trade pact negotiations ending any time soon. The government is also considering a proposal to reintroduce interest subsidy on credit to MSME exporters under the proposed Export Promotion Mission. "If some exporter wants wheat or rice as an intermediate product, the ministry has proposed that the Food Corporation of India can offer these at a fixed price," said an exporter of food products.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Pakistan, Iran decide to increase bilateral trade to USD 8 billion annually
Pakistan and Iran agreed on Sunday to increase bilateral trade to USD 8 billion annually, taking advantage of their geography and the "discount of distance," as trade ministers from the two countries held discussions to deepen economic and political ties. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Iranian Minister for Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Atabak on the sidelines of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's two-day state visit to Pakistan. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Healthcare Public Policy Project Management Others Management others healthcare Cybersecurity Product Management Operations Management Artificial Intelligence Data Science Technology Degree CXO Data Analytics Digital Marketing Data Science MCA MBA Finance Design Thinking PGDM Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK-Women Leadership Programme INDIA Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML SLP India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK CEO Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills Power of Emerging Technologies Innovation and Drive Organizational Change Fostering a Culture of Innovation Duration: 9 Months MIT xPRO MIT Technology Leadership and Innovation Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks Indian School of Business SEPO - ISB Venture Capital & Private Equity India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Accounting & Analysis Financial Instruments & Markets Corporate Finance & Valuation Investment Management & Banking Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Financial Management Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Pezeshkian landed in Lahore on Saturday afternoon and then flew to the capital in the evening. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trinidad And Tobago: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo A statement by the Commerce Ministry here said the high-level discussion between Khan and Atabak marked a renewed commitment from both sides to accelerate trade, remove border bottlenecks, and build trust-based partnerships across priority sectors. "[During the meeting], Kamal envisioned that, if fully leveraged, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran could easily exceed USD 5-8 billion annually in the coming years," the ministry said. Live Events Before departing from Tehran, Pezeshkian had said Iran and Pakistan have always maintained "good, sincere, and deep relations" and plan to increase bilateral trade volume to USD 10 billion annually. During Sunday's meeting, emphasis was placed on maximising the potential of neighbourhood trade, with Khan highlighting how ASEAN countries have benefited enormously by trading within their region. "Geography is an advantage. Pakistan and Iran must utilise this discount of distance. If we don't, we lose both time and cost benefits," he stated. The Pakistani minister suggested organising targeted trade delegations that include representatives from federal and provincial chambers of commerce, enabling focused discussions on market access and regulatory facilitation, according to the statement. "We've done this model successfully in Belarus and elsewhere," he was quoted in the statement as saying. "Let's do the same for Iran, starting with sectors that show the greatest potential for mutual benefit." The ministers also expressed a shared commitment to increasing the use of existing trade corridors and border facilities. Atabak also highlighted ongoing discussions about increasing Pakistani exports to Iran and encouraged swift follow-up on newly signed agreements. "Traders and industrialists in both countries are ready. They trust each other. What they need now is a clear and consistent facilitation mechanism from our side," he noted. Khan said that beyond bilateral gains, such connectivity could expand to Turkey, Central Asia, Russia, and even parts of West Asia, creating an economic bloc of substantial power and resilience. Atabak supported the idea of holding a dedicated B2B day during every high-level visit and offered to bring Iranian business groups to Pakistan for in-depth meetings, the statement said. Both ministers agreed on the importance of identifying specific sectors such as agriculture, livestock, services, energy, and cross-border logistics for future collaboration, the statement said. "With high-level political alignment and mutual trust, Pakistan and Iran appear poised to enter a new phase of strategic economic partnership that could reshape regional trade dynamics," it added.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Saudi Arabia executes eight individuals for smuggling and murder
Saudi Arabia has executed eight people in a single day, state media said, amid a surge in the use of the death penalty in the Gulf monarchy particularly over drug-related convictions. The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that four Somalis and three Ethiopians were executed on Saturday in the southern region of Najran "for smuggling hashish into the kingdom". Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Healthcare MCA CXO Degree Management Others Public Policy Operations Management Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Digital Marketing Finance MBA others Product Management Project Management Data Analytics Data Science Design Thinking Technology Data Science PGDM healthcare Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK-Women Leadership Programme INDIA Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK CEO Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks Indian School of Business SEPO - ISB Venture Capital & Private Equity India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML SLP India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Accounting & Analysis Financial Instruments & Markets Corporate Finance & Valuation Investment Management & Banking Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Financial Management Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills Power of Emerging Technologies Innovation and Drive Organizational Change Fostering a Culture of Innovation Duration: 9 Months MIT xPRO MIT Technology Leadership and Innovation Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details One Saudi man was executed for the murder of his mother, SPA said. Since the beginning of 2025, Saudi Arabia has executed 230 people, according to an AFP tally of official reports. Most of those executions -- 154 people -- were on drug-related charges. Live Events The pace of executions puts the kingdom on track to surpass last year's record of 338 instances of capital punishment . Analysts link the spike to the kingdom's "war on drugs" launched in 2023, with many of those first arrested only now being executed following their legal proceedings and convictions. Saudi Arabia resumed executions for drug offences at the end of 2022, after suspending the use of the death penalty in narcotics cases for around three years. It executed 19 people in 2022, two in 2023, and 117 in 2024 for narcotics-related crimes, according to the AFP tally. Activists say the kingdom's continued embrace of capital punishment undermines the image of a more open, tolerant society that is central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 's Vision 2030 reform agenda . Saudi authorities say the death penalty is necessary to maintain public order and is only used after all avenues for appeal have been exhausted.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tejashwi Yadav committed crime by keeping two voter IDs: BJP
The BJP alleged on Sunday that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has committed a crime by keeping two voter IDs, noting that his Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number he cited at a presser was different from the one he officially carries. A day after the Elections Commission refuted his claim that his name was missing from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar, the BJP sharpened its attack on the opposition leader. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Data Science MBA Operations Management Cybersecurity Product Management Public Policy Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence Technology Data Science Degree CXO healthcare MCA PGDM Healthcare Digital Marketing others Design Thinking Finance Project Management Others Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Accounting & Analysis Financial Instruments & Markets Corporate Finance & Valuation Investment Management & Banking Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Financial Management Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK CEO Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills Power of Emerging Technologies Innovation and Drive Organizational Change Fostering a Culture of Innovation Duration: 9 Months MIT xPRO MIT Technology Leadership and Innovation Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK-Women Leadership Programme INDIA Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks Indian School of Business SEPO - ISB Venture Capital & Private Equity India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML SLP India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details "The Congress and RJD have been thoroughly exposed... Did you (Yadav) lie under oath? Did you present wrong facts to the Election Commission ," BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra asked at a press conference. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want to Become a Really Profitable Trader ! Know the Secret thefutureuniversity Learn More Undo Patra noted that the voter ID the RJD leader had submitted in his 2020 poll affidavit was different from the one he had mentioned on Saturday to claim that his name was missing from the electoral rolls prepared after the contentious Special Intensive Revision exercise. He accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his ally Yadav of resorting to lies to weaken and insult constitutional institutions like the Election Commission and to dent India's stature. Live Events If a party leader like Yadav carries two voter IDs, then what will its workers be doing, the BJP spokesperson asked, claiming that it showed RJD members cast votes at two places to inflate support for their party. Mocking Gandhi, he said his claim of having an atom bomb to expose rigging of polls by the BJP with alleged connivance by the EC was a "damp squib" like Pakistan's nuclear threat to India. The desperation of Gandhi and Yadav, he claimed, was not to save constitutional bodies or the country but to save their families. All the likes of Sonia Gandhi and Lalu Prasad Yadav want is for their children to settle down in politics, he said. Patra claimed that not a single complaint has come from booth agents of political parties about any name being deleted from electoral rolls in Bihar. Yadav's "lies" about EPIC are a harbinger of his party's epic defeat in the assembly polls, expected to be held in October-November, he added. Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday claimed that his name was missing in the draft electoral rolls published in Bihar and, when met with a rebuttal, insisted that there was a "change" in EPIC number allotted to him. At the press conference, Patra also cited NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Jitendra Ahwad's reported comment that Sanatan Dharma has ruined India to hit out at opposition parties for insulting Hindus. Sanatan is truth and what he has said is like insulting truth and Shiva, Patra claimed. He asked Sharad Pawar and his daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule to explain if Ahwad spoke for the party or offered his personal opinion. Ahwad had sought to draw a distinction between Sanatan Dharma and Hinduism, alleging that the former targeted Maratha empire founder Shivaji and iconic Dalit leader B R Ambedkar. Asked about Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's claim about India not being able to present evidence to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack, Patra cited media reports that funeral in absentia was held across the border for a terrorist recently killed by security forces. Various Congress leaders keep making remarks favouring Pakistan, he said.
