Supporters chanting Har Har Modi flocked to the narrow roads of Varanasi as Prime Minister Narendra Modi pulled all stops to make the second day of his roadshow a mega hit with three days to go for the final phase of Assembly election 2017 in country’s largest state of Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi will go to poll on March 8.

The road show that began behind its scheduled from Pandeypur Chauraha saw a massive turnout from his supporters who sailed with Modi’s open-top vehicle to express support. The roadshow ended at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth wherein he addresses the crowd.

Quick takes from PM Modi’s rally

“Har Har Mahadev and Bharatmata ki Jai”, PM Modi begins his address adding he is humbled by the people’s presence.

"Vanaras could have been the centre point of attraction in the world. It has a rich heritage. Writer Mark Twain once said it is older than history. Every Indian thinks Varanasi to be its own."

“Varanasi has been ignored do far. It needs development”

“The government here only works for votes. It is hindering development. It is blocking good work. Roads and infrastructure are being neglected,”

“Why is Uttar Pradesh suffering? It is hit by bad governance. This corruption should stop.” 

“We believe in Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.”

Opinion appears to be divided among legal experts on the government's approach on service charge in restaurants, with a section terming it totally "illegal and unfair" trade practice and the other favouring making the levy optional.

The debate on the issue has been raging since the January 2 notification of the government asking restaurants to put up notice making service charge optional.

Notwithstanding the directives of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, restaurants have been making it mandatory for foodies to pay service charge between 5 and 20 per cent of the total bill.

The service charge, levied on the total bill, is in addition to the compulsory taxes like Value Added Tax (VAT), service tax and Swachh Bharat cess.

This is a "forced tip", "illegal" and "unfair trade practice", said noted consumer activist Bejon Misra whose view was shared by advocate Biraja Mahapatra.

"Service charge should be completely done away with. Hotels and restaurants inflate bills in the name of this charge which is absolutely illegal," said Mahapatra.

Both of them strongly felt that the government should have brought a strict law to ban service charge instead of the notification making it optional for the consumer.

However, differing with them, senior advocate Sukumar Pattjoshi supported the government initiative saying, "Service charge should be made optional as it is like a tip which you may or may not pay." 

This, however, requires legal clarity which can only come from the judiciary and someone has to file a writ petition in this regard, he added.

Some restaurants when spoken to, confirmed that they were levying around 10-15 per cent service charge on total bills.

"Yes we are billing the service charge also," one of the restaurant owners said when his attention was drawn to the notification that the service charge cannot be made mandatory.

Opinion appears to be divided among legal experts on the government's approach on service charge in restaurants, with a section terming it totally "illegal and unfair" trade practice and the other favouring making the levy optional.

The debate on the issue has been raging since the January 2 notification of the government asking restaurants to put up notice making service charge optional.

Notwithstanding the directives of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, restaurants have been making it mandatory for foodies to pay service charge between 5 and 20 per cent of the total bill.

The service charge, levied on the total bill, is in addition to the compulsory taxes like Value Added Tax (VAT), service tax and Swachh Bharat cess.

This is a "forced tip", "illegal" and "unfair trade practice", said noted consumer activist Bejon Misra whose view was shared by advocate Biraja Mahapatra.

"Service charge should be completely done away with. Hotels and restaurants inflate bills in the name of this charge which is absolutely illegal," said Mahapatra.

Both of them strongly felt that the government should have brought a strict law to ban service charge instead of the notification making it optional for the consumer.

However, differing with them, senior advocate Sukumar Pattjoshi supported the government initiative saying, "Service charge should be made optional as it is like a tip which you may or may not pay." 

This, however, requires legal clarity which can only come from the judiciary and someone has to file a writ petition in this regard, he added.

Some restaurants when spoken to, confirmed that they were levying around 10-15 per cent service charge on total bills.

"Yes we are billing the service charge also," one of the restaurant owners said when his attention was drawn to the notification that the service charge cannot be made mandatory.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday sought to ridicule Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshows saying these are bound to fail like the earlier ones and would lead him "somewhere else." 

"Ek roadshow kiya, wo fail ho gaya. Ek aur karne ja rahe hain, wo bhi fail hoga, phir ek aur karenge. Ab roadshow karte karte kahin aur nikal jayenge.. (A roadshow was done..it failed. He is doing one more..it will also fail and then again a roadshow will be held…Now he will go somewhere else by doing his roadshow)," said Akhilehsh while addressing a poll rally in Sonebhadra in UP.

Akhilesh was referring to PM Modi's roadshow in Varanasi yesterday and which was to be held on Sunday.

The BJP has said the one held yesterday was not a roadshow and the PM had gone for a "darshan" in Kashi Vishwanath and other temples.

Attacking BJP, SP chief Akhilesh said despite his open challenge to the PM to enlist his three years' work done for UP, he is yet to divulge them.

"People of the state had given the BJP maximum MPs. Which big work have they (BJP) done for you people? They formed their government and got their PM by showing dreams to the people but the people got nothing in return." 

On demonetisation, Akhilesh said it ruined the entire country and forced the people to stand in queue.

"I want to know from the PM, how many capitalists are 'pareshan' (perturbed) with him. You do 'Man ki baat" on radio and TV but when will you do the 'kaam ki baat'," he asked.

"You (PM) have visited the entire world, but what have you got for the people here," he added.

Attacking the BSP, Akhilesh said, "Though she is my 'bua' (paternal aunt), she is adept at celebrating rakshabandan with the BJP and cautioned people to beware of her party." 

"In her (Mayawati's) over one-and-a-half-hour speech, people used to sleep in their chairs. She is saying she would not build memorials and parks and do the development work. Who will trust her. She has installed her own statues while still being alive." 

On the SP alliance with the Congress, Akhilesh said, "It is the alliance of two youths. It will change the politics of the state and the country. I have forged strong friendship (with the Congress), you all help its candidates also".

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday sought to ridicule Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshows saying these are bound to fail like the earlier ones and would lead him "somewhere else." 

"Ek roadshow kiya, wo fail ho gaya. Ek aur karne ja rahe hain, wo bhi fail hoga, phir ek aur karenge. Ab roadshow karte karte kahin aur nikal jayenge.. (A roadshow was done..it failed. He is doing one more..it will also fail and then again a roadshow will be held…Now he will go somewhere else by doing his roadshow)," said Akhilehsh while addressing a poll rally in Sonebhadra in UP.

Akhilesh was referring to PM Modi's roadshow in Varanasi yesterday and which was to be held on Sunday.

The BJP has said the one held yesterday was not a roadshow and the PM had gone for a "darshan" in Kashi Vishwanath and other temples.

Attacking BJP, SP chief Akhilesh said despite his open challenge to the PM to enlist his three years' work done for UP, he is yet to divulge them.

"People of the state had given the BJP maximum MPs. Which big work have they (BJP) done for you people? They formed their government and got their PM by showing dreams to the people but the people got nothing in return." 

On demonetisation, Akhilesh said it ruined the entire country and forced the people to stand in queue.

"I want to know from the PM, how many capitalists are 'pareshan' (perturbed) with him. You do 'Man ki baat" on radio and TV but when will you do the 'kaam ki baat'," he asked.

"You (PM) have visited the entire world, but what have you got for the people here," he added.

Attacking the BSP, Akhilesh said, "Though she is my 'bua' (paternal aunt), she is adept at celebrating rakshabandan with the BJP and cautioned people to beware of her party." 

"In her (Mayawati's) over one-and-a-half-hour speech, people used to sleep in their chairs. She is saying she would not build memorials and parks and do the development work. Who will trust her. She has installed her own statues while still being alive." 

On the SP alliance with the Congress, Akhilesh said, "It is the alliance of two youths. It will change the politics of the state and the country. I have forged strong friendship (with the Congress), you all help its candidates also".

Banarasi, a tea seller, got the surprise of his life on Sunday as Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi dropped by for a cuppa at his stall in this remote area of Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul too was in for a surprise. He met Priyanka there, not his sister but the daughter of the tea seller.

The Congress leader was on an election tour of the Sonebhadra region when he decided to stop over for a cup of tea.

It was around 1.30 pm when Rahul's cavalcade stopped in front of the tea stall in the Duddhi block headquarters, around 80 km from the district headquarters.

According to eyewitnesses, the Gandhi scion stepped out of his vehicle and asked for a cup of tea.

Banarasi and his wife Manju were pleasantly surprised to have such a visitor. But they soon opened up and an interaction ensued.

Rahul, while taking sips of his tea, asked Banarasi's daughter what was her name. When the 14-year-old girl replied "Priyanka", he burst into laughter. "You are my sister," he told her.

Rahul also enquired about the well being of the couple.

After finishing his tea, Rahul had a brief interaction with the crowd which had gathered there and also posed for selfies with some.

Banarasi, a tea seller, got the surprise of his life on Sunday as Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi dropped by for a cuppa at his stall in this remote area of Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul too was in for a surprise. He met Priyanka there, not his sister but the daughter of the tea seller.

The Congress leader was on an election tour of the Sonebhadra region when he decided to stop over for a cup of tea.

It was around 1.30 pm when Rahul's cavalcade stopped in front of the tea stall in the Duddhi block headquarters, around 80 km from the district headquarters.

According to eyewitnesses, the Gandhi scion stepped out of his vehicle and asked for a cup of tea.

Banarasi and his wife Manju were pleasantly surprised to have such a visitor. But they soon opened up and an interaction ensued.

Rahul, while taking sips of his tea, asked Banarasi's daughter what was her name. When the 14-year-old girl replied "Priyanka", he burst into laughter. "You are my sister," he told her.

Rahul also enquired about the well being of the couple.

After finishing his tea, Rahul had a brief interaction with the crowd which had gathered there and also posed for selfies with some.

Joining the bandwagon of celebrities with surrogate kids, 44-year-old famous filmmaker, producer, costume designer and actor Karan Johar has become a single proud parent of a baby girl and boy, Roohi and Yash, respectively.  The news about his newborn twins started surfacing after news on the birth registration of his kids were confirmed by BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) health officials.

Karan, of course, chose social media to announce the news by publishing a statement saying that he feels blessed and ecstatic to welcome his twins. He even expressed his gratitude to the surrogate mother without naming her in the letter.

“I am ecstatic to share with you all the two most wonderful additions to my life, my children and lifelines – Roohi and Yash. I feel enormously blessed to be a parent to these pieces of my heart who were welcomed into this world with the help of the marvels of medical science,” reads Karan’s letter.

Karan’s heartfelt message in the same letter for the surrogate mother reads, “I am eternally grateful to the surrogate who has fulfilled my lifelong dream and provided a warm, loving and nurturing environment to my children before bringing them into this world. She will always remain in my prayers.”

The man with style and persona even expressed that the amount of responsibility will be more towards his children from now on and he is ready for that. His children are going to be his only priority and that all his work and other commitments to get a back seat for some time. Karan Johar is not the first and only one in the B-Town to embrace the method of surrogacy for becoming a parent. Earlier we had many actors, couple or single to take surrogacy method or Intro Vitro Fertilisation treatment for attaining parenthood.

Here are the some more B-Town celebrities who have taken the surrogacy route

Tusshar Kapoor: Golmaal (2006) actor Tusshar Kapoor astonished the world on July 2016 by announcing about his son Laksshya who was born through a surrogate mother. He is a single parent to his son Laksshya.

Farah Khan: Choreographer and director Farah Khan who got married to filmmaker Shirish Kunder have triplets, one son and two daughters on February 2008 via IVF treatment.

Sohail Khan: Actor Sohail Khan and his designer wife Seema Sachdev Khan had their second son Yohan born through surrogacy in 2011.

Amir Khan: The couple – actor-director Amir Khan and filmmaker wife Kiran Rao – had their first child through surrogacy using the IVF (in-vitro fertilization) technique. Their son Azad was born in December 2011 after Kiran failed to bear child through the natural way, as quoted in an interview to an online media.

Shah Rukh Khan: We have badshaah of bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan who took the help of surrogacy for his third child AbRam Khan born in May 2013. His first son Aryan Khan and daughter Suhana Khan was born through wife Gauri Khan.

Joining the bandwagon of celebrities with surrogate kids, 44-year-old famous filmmaker, producer, costume designer and actor Karan Johar has become a single proud parent of a baby girl and boy, Roohi and Yash, respectively.  The news about his newborn twins started surfacing after news on the birth registration of his kids were confirmed by BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) health officials.

Karan, of course, chose social media to announce the news by publishing a statement saying that he feels blessed and ecstatic to welcome his twins. He even expressed his gratitude to the surrogate mother without naming her in the letter.

“I am ecstatic to share with you all the two most wonderful additions to my life, my children and lifelines – Roohi and Yash. I feel enormously blessed to be a parent to these pieces of my heart who were welcomed into this world with the help of the marvels of medical science,” reads Karan’s letter.

Karan’s heartfelt message in the same letter for the surrogate mother reads, “I am eternally grateful to the surrogate who has fulfilled my lifelong dream and provided a warm, loving and nurturing environment to my children before bringing them into this world. She will always remain in my prayers.”

The man with style and persona even expressed that the amount of responsibility will be more towards his children from now on and he is ready for that. His children are going to be his only priority and that all his work and other commitments to get a back seat for some time. Karan Johar is not the first and only one in the B-Town to embrace the method of surrogacy for becoming a parent. Earlier we had many actors, couple or single to take surrogacy method or Intro Vitro Fertilisation treatment for attaining parenthood.

Here are the some more B-Town celebrities who have taken the surrogacy route

Tusshar Kapoor: Golmaal (2006) actor Tusshar Kapoor astonished the world on July 2016 by announcing about his son Laksshya who was born through a surrogate mother. He is a single parent to his son Laksshya.

Farah Khan: Choreographer and director Farah Khan who got married to filmmaker Shirish Kunder have triplets, one son and two daughters on February 2008 via IVF treatment.

Sohail Khan: Actor Sohail Khan and his designer wife Seema Sachdev Khan had their second son Yohan born through surrogacy in 2011.

Amir Khan: The couple – actor-director Amir Khan and filmmaker wife Kiran Rao – had their first child through surrogacy using the IVF (in-vitro fertilization) technique. Their son Azad was born in December 2011 after Kiran failed to bear child through the natural way, as quoted in an interview to an online media.

Shah Rukh Khan: We have badshaah of bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan who took the help of surrogacy for his third child AbRam Khan born in May 2013. His first son Aryan Khan and daughter Suhana Khan was born through wife Gauri Khan.

Joining the bandwagon of celebrities with surrogate kids, 44-year-old famous filmmaker, producer, costume designer and actor Karan Johar has become a single proud parent of a baby girl and boy, Roohi and Yash, respectively.  The news about his newborn twins started surfacing after news on the birth registration of his kids were confirmed by BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) health officials.

Karan, of course, chose social media to announce the news by publishing a statement saying that he feels blessed and ecstatic to welcome his twins. He even expressed his gratitude to the surrogate mother without naming her in the letter.

“I am ecstatic to share with you all the two most wonderful additions to my life, my children and lifelines – Roohi and Yash. I feel enormously blessed to be a parent to these pieces of my heart who were welcomed into this world with the help of the marvels of medical science,” reads Karan’s letter.

Karan’s heartfelt message in the same letter for the surrogate mother reads, “I am eternally grateful to the surrogate who has fulfilled my lifelong dream and provided a warm, loving and nurturing environment to my children before bringing them into this world. She will always remain in my prayers.”

The man with style and persona even expressed that the amount of responsibility will be more towards his children from now on and he is ready for that. His children are going to be his only priority and that all his work and other commitments to get a back seat for some time. Karan Johar is not the first and only one in the B-Town to embrace the method of surrogacy for becoming a parent. Earlier we had many actors, couple or single to take surrogacy method or Intro Vitro Fertilisation treatment for attaining parenthood.

Here are the some more B-Town celebrities who have taken the surrogacy route

Tusshar Kapoor: Golmaal (2006) actor Tusshar Kapoor astonished the world on July 2016 by announcing about his son Laksshya who was born through a surrogate mother. He is a single parent to his son Laksshya.

Farah Khan: Choreographer and director Farah Khan who got married to filmmaker Shirish Kunder have triplets, one son and two daughters on February 2008 via IVF treatment.

Sohail Khan: Actor Sohail Khan and his designer wife Seema Sachdev Khan have their second son Yohan born through surrogacy in 2011.

Amir Khan: The couple, actor-director Amir Khan and filmmaker wife Kiran Rao have their first child born through surrogacy using the IVF (in-vitro fertilization) technique. Their son Azad was born in December 2011 after Kiran failed to bear child through natural way, as quoted in an interview to an online media.

Shah Rukh Khan: We have badshaah of bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan who has his third child AbRam Khan born in May 2013. His first son Aryan Khan and daughter Suhana Khan was born through wife Gauri Khan.

Documents submitted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the application for getting a passport and its renewal cannot be disclosed as these are "personal information", the CIC has held.

The case relates to an RTI application filed by G M Chauhan, a member of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, seeking copies of the material submitted by Modi for obtaining his first passport and subsequent renewal or fresh application for obtaining a diplomatic passport.

The passport office had earlier refused to share the documents, saying it is "personal information" which cannot be provided under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) R K Mathur has said in his order that Chauhan could not substantiate the larger public interest for the disclosure of "personal information".

Chauhan had argued that since the information sought by him relates to the public life of the erstwhile chief minister of Gujarat and the prime minister of India, its disclosure is in public interest and outweighs any "possible harm or injury" caused to the interest of a third party (Modi).

The information was very much in public domain as part of the forms for candidature for assembly and parliamentary elections, he said.

Chauhan also said that the procedure of Section 11 of the RTI Act, which calls for consulting the person about whom the information has been sought, has not been followed by the Central Public Information Officer of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the passport office.

The MEA said that the section can only be invoked if the CPIO "intends" to disclose personal information.

Once the CPIO is satisfied that the information sought is to be denied, third party consultation is not required, it said.

"The appellant has stated that the information is in public interest. Section 8(1)(j) permits release of personal information if larger public interest justifies it.

"In this regard the appellant has stated that 'Modi is a public figure, hence the information should be released'.

However, this argument in no way establishes a larger public interest," CIC Mathur has said.

Earlier, Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu had directed the inspection of Delhi University records for the year in which Modi is said to have passed out.

After the order, the Chief Information Commissioner had divested Acharyulu from hearing matters related to Delhi University and the Ministry of Human Resources Development.

Every third candidate in the ongoing UP assembly elections is facing a criminal charge, including some for serious crimes like rape, murder and kidnapping, while crorepatis account for a similar percentage of those in the fray, an analysis of their self-declared affidavits showed today.

The seven-phase elections will end on March 8 while the campaign for the final phase has already entered its last lap.

According to an analysis of self-sworn affidavits of total 4,823 candidates in this election (out of 4853 overall in the fray) by the Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 859 have disclosed criminal cases against them (18 per cent) and further 704 have serious criminal cases (15 per cent).

ADR said 31 candidates were not analysed due to unclear affidavit available on the ECI website.

It found as many as 1,457 crorepati candidates across the seven phases (30 per cent), while the overall average asset of those in the fray stood at Rs 1.91 crore.

The share of those with criminal cases stood at 19 per cent in the UP assembly polls in 2012, while the number of candidates with serious criminal cases, including cases related to rape, murder, kidnapping, communal disharmony and crime against women, has gone up from 8 per cent in the last elections.

ADR said 62 candidates have declared cases related to murder, while 148 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder in the ongoing elections.

A total of 38 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women, including ten related to rape.

The number of candidates with cases related to kidnapping is 34, while 22 have declared cases related to communal disharmony and 63 about electoral violations.

On party-wise analysis, ADR said 150 out of 400 candidates from the BSP (40 per cent)) have declared criminal cases, while the same for the BJP is 36 per cent and for the SP it is 37 per cent and 32 per cent in case for the Congress.

In terms of serious criminal cases, the BSP has 31 per cent such candidates, followed by 29 per cent for the SP, 26 per cent for the BJP and 22 per cent for the Congress.

As many as 152 constituencies (38 per cent) in the UP assembly polls have three or more candidates with declared criminal cases.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik has written to Akhilesh Yadav asking why has the Chief Minister retained rape-accused minister Gayatri Prajapati in his cabinet, according to Raj Bhavan sources.

"A non-bailable warrant has been issued against Prajapati after an FIR was registered against him in rape case. Serious question of constitutional morality and dignity arise on his remaining in the cabinet", the Governor said in a letter to the CM seeking his "justification on retaining the minister".

The Governor said, it has also come to his notice that the CM himself has asked the minister to surrender but he has not done so till now and is absconding. There are apprehensions that he might have fled to some foreign country, he said.

On March 4, the passport of the rape-accused UP minister was impounded, a look-out notice issued and airports alerted. The UP Police had claimed that it was conducting raids across the state to trace the absconding minister.

The UP Police has registered an FIR against Prajapati for allegedly gang-raping a woman and molesting her minor daughter with his aides. The FIR was filed recently following a directive of the Supreme Court.

Taking a dig at the Samjawadi Party government for shielding Prajapati, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an election meeting in Jaunpur on Saturday said, "In this country, when we do something good, we chant the Gayatri Mantra. But, the SP-Congress alliance is chanting the 'Gayatri Prajapati Mantra'.

"A case has been lodged against him (but) the chief minister went to campaign for him while he (Gayatri) was present there…Now, the police cannot trace him," Modi said.

"A daughter is seeking justice and the chief minister is shielding the gunehgaar (guilty)… What bigger blot can there be than this that in Uttar Pradesh when a buffalo goes missing, the government runs to find it.

Meanwhile, BJP UP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya attacked Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, saying that if he cannot get his "favourite" minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati arrested in the rape case, he should at least sack him.

"If Chief Minister Akhilesh ji cannot ensure the arrest of his favourite minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, then he can sack him (Prajapati)," Maurya said in a tweet.

Referring to March 11, the date when the UP assembly election results would be declared, Maurya said the BJP would put Prajapati behind bars after that.

"We would arrest him (Prajapati) after March 11," Maurya said

Hit your daily meal with a nutritional punch. Add some fresh wholesome foods that are truly more powerful than others, in the sense they share more than the fair share of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Having less calories and fats, they contain essential phyto-chemicals which may protect you against many diseases.

Blood pressure is one of the most common sedentary lifestyle diseases today. However, this is not necessarily a cause for alarm, yet can cause health problems if it is not treated for a long time. It is the leading cause of stroke and a major cause of heart attack. Control it with natural food rather. With so many varieties available, you can have a diet full of mixed nutritious food.

Soy – Soy boosts enzymes in the body that widen the arteries. It leads to lower blood pressure. Tofu and soy milk are the best choices to incorporate in daily diet.

Quinoa – Packed with all the amino-acids, protein and magnesium, this “mother of all grains” relaxes blood vessels. This whole grain product reduces the risk of high blood pressure and the frequency of migraines. You may substitute quinoa for rice or pasta in your daily meal. It tastes great with beans.

Fat-free or low-fat yogurt – Eat one serving every day without adding salt or sugar to lower the risk of high blood pressure. Moreover, the blood pressure of yogurt eaters rise less than that of non-yogurt eaters.

Pumpkin – It is a hearty fibre-rich vegtable packed with beta-carotene. The antioxidant activity in the vegetable may help prevent high blood pressure. Make your sugar free desserts or squash with it. Its natural sweetness and moist texture makes them ideal to eat.

Eggs – The high protein content in eggs help reduce blood pressure. Prefer to eat them in boiled form without adding salt.

Raw honey – In addition to antioxidant properties, honey also has vitamins, probiotics, minerals, amino-acids and enzymes to reduce hypertension.

Sunflower seeds – These super seeds are a great source of magnesium. Have a quarter cup daily as an evening snack and keep blood pressure at bay.

White potatoes – Rich in potassium and magnesium, it absorbs excess sodium and promotes healthy blood flow in the body. Bake them and eat in a tasty and healthy way.

Bananas – Loaded with potassium, they are a good snack to have in the morning or evening. Relish them with oatmeal, puddings or desserts.

Walnuts – A rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, they aid in improving high blood pressure. One-fourth cup of walnuts fulfil 90 per cent of daily requirement of omega-3 fatty acids. Roast them and try as a topping on your favourite salads and other dishes.

Enjoy the freshness and crunch of these foods. Over cooking may decrease their nutritional value, so eat them raw or follow the healthiest way to cook if needed. Consider boosting potassium rich food and reducing high sodium food to lessen the bad effect of blood pressure. Substituting the supplements with fruits and vegetables is the correct approach to treat hypertension naturally.

Consult your doctor and know about your potassium and sodium levels. Make a wise change in your diet accordingly.

One of leading couples in Bollywood, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, are apparently not going through their best phase.If  rumours are to be believed, the duo are having a disagreement over their daughter, Aaradhya. 

It is believed that Abhishek wants his daughter to start working as a child artist so that she can sharpen her skills because he wants her to become a Bollywood heroine. However, Aishwarya apparently doesn’t feel the same way. She wants Aaradhaya to stay away from the limelight as she is too young for that..

However, nobody from the Bachchan household has spoken about this issue. 

Earlier, Abhishek and Aishwarya reportedly had an argument due to Aishwarya’s steamy scenes with Ranbir Kapoor in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil as per the sources.
 

Australian batsmen showed commendable application to claim the upper-hand against India with a vital 48-run first innings lead after reaching 237 for six on an engaging second day of the second cricket Test here.

Young opener Matt Renshaw (60) and experienced Shaun Marsh (66) battled hard against the Indian spinners. Their fighting half-centuries consolidated Australia's position in the match but Virat Kohli's captaincy left a lot to be desired.

On a pitch aiding spinners, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3/49), the home team's top wicket-taker, got to bowl only 17 overs compared to Ravichandran Ashwin (1/75 in 41 overs).

While Ashwin bowled a tight line and beat the bat on occasions, it was Jadeja, who looked like the most lethal among Indian bowlers. To their credit, the Australians gave a better account of themselves on a two-paced pitch.

Jadeja was using the rough created on both sides of the stumps more effectively but Kohli's decision was baffling as he even gave Karun Nair an over in the end.

It was perhaps one of the most intense and intriguing days of Test cricket in the current home season where the batting team managed a total of 197 runs off 90 overs in a single day's play.

A first innings lead of even 100 runs would be as good as a 175-run lead on this track, which would make it even more difficult for the Indian batsmen, already under pressure after three poor innings of under 200 runs.

Unlike India, Australia had some good partnerships including a 52-run opening stand between David Warner (33) and Renshaw after which the former was bowled by a classical off-break from Ashwin.

Skipper Steve Smith (8), for a change, was dismissed cheaply with Wriddhiman Saha taking a fantastic catch off Jadeja's bowling.

But the partnership that turned out to be crucial was the one between Renshaw and Marsh senior which yielded 52 runs.

The duo came together at 82 for 2 and they consumed more than 25 overs. It was the manner in which they handled Umesh Yadav's reverse swing and the two spinners which made it difficult for the home team.

Renshaw, in particular, was a revelation during his 196-ball stay. He showed solid defensive technique and hit five fours and a six off Jadeja before being stumped.

Marsh, however, got an able ally in Matthew Wade (25 batting). The duo added 57 runs for the sixth wicket during which they got past India's first innings total.

BJP UP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya on March 5 attacked Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, saying that if he cannot get his "favourite" minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati arrested in the rape case, he should at least sack him.

Maurya, whose comments come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the SP-Congress combine of chanting "Gayatri Prajapati Mantra", also said that BJP would get the tainted Prajapati arrested after results of the polls are declared.

"If Chief Minister Akhilesh ji cannot ensure the arrest of his favourite minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, then he can sack him (Prajapati)," Maurya said in a tweet.

Referring to March 11, the date when the UP assembly election 2017 results would be declared, Maurya said the BJP would put Prajapati behind bars after that.

"We would arrest him (Prajapati) after March 11," Maurya said.

On March 5, the passport of Prajapati, who is a senior UP government minister was impounded and a look-out notice was issued against him, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused SP-Congress of chanting "Gayatri Prajapati Mantra". 

On the directives of the Supreme Court, UP Police has filed an FIR against Prajapati, a senior SP leader, in connection with separate cases of gangrape and attempt to rape another woman and her minor daughter.