Top 5 Stories of the Hour: Mayawati slams Athawale, Sushma on a mission, BJP alleges conspiracy over Harak and many more

BSP president Mayawati accused Union Minister Ramdas Athawale of playing into the hands of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "harming" the interests of Dalits. Sushma Swaraj has ignited a new mission to provide food to nearly 800 jobless Indians starving in Saudi city of Jeddah. A Delhi court on Saturday convicted 'Peepli Live' co-director Mahmood Farooqui for allegedly raping a 30-year-old US researcher in 2015. Sniffing a conspiracy behind the rape case against Harak Singh Rawat, BJP today said his vocal style of politics may have prompted his adversaries to lodge a case against the former minister. Here are top five stories of the hour.

1: Mayawati hits out at Athawale, accuses him of harming interests of Dalits

BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday accused Union Minister Ramdas Athawale of playing into the hands of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and "harming" the interests of Dalits. "With a view to divide Dalit votes and make them work as subordinates to other parties, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have recently inducted some ministers with a slave mentality into the cabinet. RPI's Ramdas Athawale is one of them," she said in a party release.

2: 800 Indians starving in Jeddah, Sushma Swaraj on a mission

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has ignited a new mission to provide food to nearly 800 jobless Indians starving in Saudi city of Jeddah. Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is traveling to the Gulf nation to sort out the issue. Sushma Swaraj said the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has been directed to serve food to them and that she was monitoring the situation on an hourly basis.

3: Delhi Court convicts 'Peepli Live' co-director Farooqui for raping US scholar

A Delhi court on Saturday convicted 'Peepli Live' co-director Mahmood Farooqui for allegedly raping a 30-year-old US researcher in 2015. Farooqui, who was out on bail, was taken into custody immediately after the pronouncement of the judgement.

4:  Harak Singh rape case: BJP alleges conspiracy behind conspiracy

Sniffing a conspiracy behind the rape case against Harak Singh Rawat, BJP today said his vocal style of politics may have prompted his adversaries to lodge a case against the former minister who was disqualified as an MLA along with eight Congress legislators after revolting against the Harish Rawat government.

5: Home Minister Rajnath Singh goes for aerial survey in Assam
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday did an aerial survey to take stock of flood situation in Assam where death toll has gone up to 25. Accompanied by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Singh reviewed flood-affected areas in Nagaon, Morigaon and Kaziranga.