A Whale of a Time Awaits Visitors at Vizag Zoo

The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park has initiated steps to bring 10 different species of wild animals and birds. The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park has initiated steps to bring 10 different species of wild animals and birds. Visakhapatnam: Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) has started acquiring a host of exotic animals, including Bengal fox, Himalayan black bear and scarlet macaws, making for a top-notch experience for its visitors. On top of this, IGZP has taken up several other initiatives like installing benches, recreational areas for children and a new animal adoption policy to augment the zoo's finances. IGZP recently welcomed a pair of giraffes from the Kolkata Alipore Zoological Garden. These tall herbivores - a two-year-old male and a four-year-old female - are currently in quarantine under the supervision of zoo doctors. Additionally, four Asian water monitor lizards, scarlet macaws have also been brought to the zoo. New enclosures have been constructed for Bengal fox, Himalayan black bear, hippopotamuses, Indian mar, stamp tailed musk, Asian brown parrots, and more. Spanning across 625 acres, the IGZP in the Seethakonda Reserve Forest in Visakhapatnam offers a unique experience for wildlife enthusiasts. It is surrounded by the picturesque Eastern Ghats on three sides and the Bay of Bengal on the fourth. The park is home to 77 animal species, totalling 835 individuals; this includes carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates, and birds. Rare endemic and exotic trees and shrubs with water bodies add to the natural beauty. The geography helps in hosting diverse fauna amid two hillocks. The adjoining Kambalakonda Eco Tourism Park, itself, is home to several rare animals. Domestic and foreign tourists are patrons of the Visakhapatnam Zoo. To increase footfall, new cafeterias have been set up. There are ample recreational facilities for children as well. Resting benches and platforms have been placed along all enclosures for the benefit of tourists. In an interesting development, the zoo management has laid down the rules for persons interested in adopting animals. Visitors who adopt animals in the zoo will get tax exemptions under 80G (5) of the IT Act, 1961. Donors who make a contribution of Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 can avail themselves of free entry into the zoo for five persons once a year. Donors who contribute Rs 30,000 or more will get a t-shirt, cap, and free entry to participate in all the events held at the zoo. Donors will also receive authorised adoption certificates.

Art 370 buried in 'kabristan', my 'dhakad' govt removed hurdle to J and K progress:PM Modi

Art 370 buried in 'kabristan', my 'dhakad' govt removed hurdle to J and K progress:PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Article 370 has been ''buried'' in 'kabristan' (graveyard) and it was his 'dhakad' (strong) government that removed the hurdle to the progress of Jammu and Kashmir. Modi made these remarks at back-to-back poll rallies in Haryana--Gohana(Sonipat) and Ambala--as he stepped up the attack on the Congress, saying the opposition party should forget the ''dream'' of bringing back Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to J and K. The contentious constitutional provision was scrapped in August 2019. Addressing a rally at Gohana, his second of the day in Haryana after the one at Ambala, Modi referred to the ongoing Lok Sabha polls as a 'Kurukshetra' (battle) in which ''there is development on one hand and 'vote jihad' on the other''. Striking a chord with the locals, Modi referred to Gohana's famous ''Matu Ram ki jalebi'' to target the opposition INDIA bloc, saying it has a formula of having five prime ministers in five years if they come to power. ''Ask them, is the prime minister's post our Matu Ram ki jalebi?'' he told the crowd. ''In the 2024 'Kurukshetra', there is development on one hand and 'vote jihad' on the other,'' he said. ''I want to ask the people of Haryana... who will win?'' He waited for the crowd to respond before saying, ''Your reply has decided 'Phir Ek Baar','' and the crowd went along to say, ''Modi Sarkar.'' Modi said now the Congress is not even hiding its ''desh-virodhi agenda (anti-national agenda)''. They are saying openly what Modi did in 10 years they will reverse it if they come to power, he said. But their ''dream'' of bringing Article 370 back will never be fulfilled, he added. ''They are saying that we will restore Article 370 in Kashmir... This means once again a free run for terrorism and bloodshed in the Valley.'' ''From the brave land of Haryana, I want to tell those associated with the Congress that only tricolour will fly in Kashmir now. ''Forget the dream of bringing back 370 in Kashmir. And if you try to do it 'lene ke dene pad jayenge' (you will have to pay very heavy price),'' he said. ''Dhara 370 ki deewar hamne kabristan me gaad di hai....(We have buried the wall of Article 370 in kabristan--graveyard).'' Earlier at the Ambala poll rally too, Modi attacked the Congress and said it was his 'dhakad' (strong) government that removed the Article 370 impedient and as a result, Jammu and Kashmir is now moving on the path of progress. The prime minister said a weak government could never have changed the situation in J and K. ''Modi's dhakad government brought down the wall of Article 370 and Kashmir is now moving ahead on the path of development,'' he said. Back at Gohana, Modi said the Congress is out of power for 10 years and therefore they are jittery. They are remembering their old days when the ''shahi parivar'' used to run government with a remote control, he said, alleging all government schemes used to be in the name of only one family and there was corruption too. During the Congress rule, he said, firing at the borders and ceasefire violations used to be in the headlines regularly. But under his government, he said, the situation has changed even though the enemy is the same. It is not Modi, but the power of a vote of people which changed the situation, he added. Modi said he gave the soldiers, including the brave soldiers from Haryana, guarding the borders a free hand. The Congress and INDIA alliance are not able to digest these decisions, Modi said. ''They cannot see this situation of Pakistan. Now people associated with the Congress have become Pakistan's spokespersons and are saying the neighbouring country has nuclear bomb.'' ''Tell me, should India be scared of Pakistan?'' he asked the gathering. ''Ye Modi ka daur hai, hum ghar mein ghus ke marte hai (This is Modi's period, we hit the enemy inside its territory).'' He also targeted the opposition INDIA bloc, calling it 'Jamaat of ghotalebaaz'(gang of the corrupt). ''They want power at any cost. And what is that cost? It is the country's security, stability and respect. And five prime ministers in five years. This is their formula to run the government. ''Will the country benefit, if there is new PM each year. What will they do? Will you allow the country to go back to that period of instability,'' he said. On Ram temple, Modi alleged that the Congress created as many obstacles as it could in order to make those who do 'Vote Jihad' happy. Referring to the AAP-Congress poll alliance in certain states, he said Congress leaders are holding the ''jhadoo'' (broomstick, the Aam Aadmi Party's poll symbol) in Delhi and Haryana, but claiming that ''jhadoowala chor hai'' in Punjab, where the two parties are contesting elections against each other.

Modi says democracy not in danger

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed his commitment to democracy and development while delivering a series of fiery speeches across Delhi and Haryana and launching a vigorous attack on the Opposition over its democracy in danger claim if the BJP-led NDA retains power. He said that though four generations of Congress ruled in Delhi, the Opposition party now is not capable of fighting for even four seats here. He urged voters to reject the INDI alliance, alleging that their manifesto is influenced by the Muslim League. Modi, who spoke at his first rally in Delhis Northeast, had earlier addressed two rallies in Haryanas Ambala and Sonipat. In these speeches, he accused the Opposition of wanting power at any cost, even if it means sacrificing the country's security, stability, and respect. He also praised the bravery of soldiers, noting that Haryana has one of the largest numbers of people in the armed forces. I consider it a blessing from God to be chosen to accelerate our country's development. Sixty years ago when I left my home, I was unaware that I would one day hoist the tricolour at the Red Fort. My family was left behind, but today, 140 crore Indians are my family. I am not living for myself but for your bright future and your children's. You are my heirs, and I work tirelessly day and night just for you, said the PM, recalling how Delhi has witnessed a remarkable transformation. He claimed that in their relentless pursuit of votebanks, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc neglects development and schemes. The I.N.D.I.A. bloc held Delhi captive over the CAA, inciting riots, but their falsehoods stand exposed. Refugees, including Dalit families, now receive Indian citizenship. Their communal reservation agenda defies Baba Saheb Ambedkars principles, said the PM. Representatives from 13 diplomatic missions in India attended the PMs Northeast rally as part of BJPs Know BJP initiative, including delegates from Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Japan, Mauritius, Nepal, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. In subsequent rallies in Haryana's Sonipat and Ambala, Modi reiterated his criticism of the Opposition, particularly their alleged attempts to destabilise the country and reverse his government's policies. He declared that the Opposition's dream of reinstating Article 370 in Kashmir would never be realized, asserting that his government had buried it in the kabristan (graveyard). Attacking the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, he said they have a formula of having five prime ministers in five years if they come to power. In the 2024 'kurukshetra', there is development on one hand and 'vote jihad' on the other, he said. I want to ask the people of Haryana... Who will win? He waited for people to respond before saying, Your reply has decided 'Phir Ek Baar', and the crowd responded with, Modi Sarkar. Modi said now the Congress is not even hiding its desh-virodhi agenda (anti-national agenda). They are openly saying they will reverse everything Modi has done in the last 10 years if they come to power. But their dream of bringing Article 370 back will never be fulfilled, he added. On the Opposition naming their grouping I.N.D.I.A., he said, The reality does not change by changing names. This INDI Alliance is a gang of the corrupt (jamaat of ghotalebaaz). They want power at any cost. And what is that cost? It is the country's security, stability, and respect. And five prime ministers in five years. This is their formula to run the government, he said. Will the country benefit if there is a new PM each year? What will they do? Will you allow the country to go back to that period of instability? Referring to Haryana contributing a sizable number of soldiers to the armed forces, Modi said when the Congress was in power, mothers in the state were worried about their children's safety. Have such things stopped now or not? he asked the audience, which responded with an emphatic yes. Patriotism runs in the veins of Haryana, he said, adding that the state understands anti-national forces. Therefore, each house in Haryana is saying - phir ek baar and the crowd responded, saying Modi sarkar. When there is a dhakad government in the country, the enemy thinks 100 times before doing anything, the prime minister said. He said Pakistan, which earlier had bombs in its hands, is now holding a egging bowl. Referring to the AAP-Congress poll alliance in certain states, he said Congress leaders are holding the jhadoo (broomstick, the Aam Aadmi Party's poll symbol) in Delhi and Haryana, but claiming that jhadoowala chor hai in Punjab, where the two parties are contesting the election against each other. The Prime Minister reiterated his claim that the Congress will redistribute the reservation meant for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) on the basis of religion, and alleged that the opposition party wants to snatch the quota for Dalits in jobs and education. The Congress never cared about the small needs of the country's soldiers, including their clothes, shoes, and bullet-proof jackets, he said. He accused the Congress of betraying the ex-servicemen and keeping the One Rank, One Pension issue lingering for four decades.

Modi's 'dhakad' government brought down wall of Article 370: PM in Ambala

Modi's 'dhakad' government brought down wall of Article 370: PM in Ambala Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on the Congress on Saturday and said it was his ''dhakad'' (strong) government that brought down the wall of Article 370 and as a result, Jammu and Kashmir is now moving ahead on the path of progress. Tearing into the Congress, Modi said its history has been of betraying India's forces and soldiers. ''Their first scam was in the (armed) forces,'' the prime minister said, in an apparent reference to the ''Jeep scandal'', without naming it. Modi was addressing his first Lok Sabha poll rally in Haryana. Later, he addressed another rally in Sonipat's Gohana. ''The Congress maintained its track record with new scams till it was in power at the Centre. Be it the Bofors scam, the submarine scam, the helicopter scam -- the Congress used to keep the forces weak. Do you know why? So that in the name of procuring arms from abroad, it could earn huge sums,'' he alleged. Referring to Haryana contributing a sizable number of soldiers in the armed forces, Modi said when the Congress was in power, mothers in the state were a worried lot thinking about their children's safety. ''Have such things stopped now or not?'' he asked the audience that responded with an emphatic ''yes''. On Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister said a weak government could never have changed the situation in the region. ''Modi's dhakad government brought down the wall of Article 370 and Kashmir is now moving ahead on the path of progress,'' he said. In August 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution that had bestowed special rights on Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the erstwhile state into Union territories. Modi asserted that the welfare of farmers is his priority and said the previous Congress-led government at the Centre spent Rs 7.5 lakh crore to procure foodgrains at the minimum support price (MSP) in 10 years, whereas the current regime's procurement of crops at the MSP was for Rs 20 lakh crore. He also accused the Congress of cheating sugarcane farmers. ''When we came to power, their arrears had run up to Rs 60,000 crore. This year alone, we paid Rs 1.14 lakh crore,'' Modi said. Today, the sugarcane FRP (fair and remunerative price) is around Rs 350 per quintal, whereas it was Rs 210 during the Congress-led government, he said. More than Rs 650 crore, as part of the Kisan Samman Nidhi, were transferred to the bank accounts of farmers hailing from Ambala, Karnal and Kurukshetra, he added. Referring to the AAP-Congress poll alliance in certain states, he said Congress leaders are holding the ''jhadoo'' (broomstick, the Aam Aadmi Party's poll symbol) in Delhi and Haryana, but claiming that ''jhadoowala chor hai'' in Punjab, where the two parties are contesting the election against each other. The prime minister reiterated his claim that the Congress will redistribute the reservation meant for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) on the basis of religion, and alleged that the opposition party wants to snatch the quota for Dalits in jobs and education. ''The Congress has nothing to do with women, farmers and youngsters. For the Congress, its vote bank is everything,'' he said. He also slammed the opposition party for saying it will scrap the Citizenship (Amendment) Act if it comes to power. Seeking to strike an emotional chord with Sikhs, Modi said it was his government that brought the ''saroops'' of the Guru Granth Sahib with full respect from Afghanistan. He said it was his government that started observing ''Vir Bal Diwas'' to commemorate the martyrdom of the sons of 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. Modi said the Ram temple in Ayodhya was built after a 500-year wait. ''The entire country is happy, but Congress leaders utter insulting words about the temple,'' he said. The prime minister said only 17 days are left for June 4, when the Lok Sabha poll results will be announced. The Congress and its partners in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have drawn a blank in the first four phases of polling, he claimed. ''When there is a dhakad government in the country, the enemy thinks 100 times before doing anything,'' Modi said. He said Pakistan, which earlier had bombs in its hands, is now holding on to a ''begging bowl''. The Congress never cared about the small needs of the country's soldiers, including their clothes, shoes and bullet-proof jackets, he said. ''India is now selling to other countries weapons that it used to buy from them,'' the prime minister said. He accused the Congress of betraying the ex-servicemen and keeping the ''One Rank, One Pension'' issue lingering for four decades, and said it was his government that fulfilled the promise made to them. India has a lot to offer to the world in the field of nutrition, Modi said, adding that he wants to take the ''jowar'' and ''bajra'' grown by the farmers of Haryana to the world. Voting for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase of the seven-phase election on May 25. Among those present at the Ambala rally were former Haryana chief minister and the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate from Karnal, Manohar Lal Khattar, the party's Ambala and Kurukshetra candidates, Banto Kataria and Naveen Jindal. Earlier, Modi paid tributes to former Union minister Rattan Lal Kataria. Saturday marked the death anniversary of Kataria, who represented Ambala in the Lok Sabha. His wife Banto Kataria is the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate from the seat this time.

'My Dhakad Govt': PM Modi Jibes 'Terrified' Pakistan At Ambala Poll Rally I Watch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers a scathing speech targeting Pakistan during an election rally in Ambala. He said Pakistan is now holding a 'begging bowl' and asserted that a formidable government makes enemies think 100 times before attacking. PM Modi further highlights the trouble caused by Pakistan for 70 years and emphasizes the development underway in Kashmir after the removal of Article 370. With only 17 days till the upcoming elections, he addresses the crowd, promising to fulfill their dreams and strengthen the pillars of a prosperous India.

Modi says Art 370 buried in kabristan, Congress should forget dream of restoring it

Sonipat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday kept up the attack on the Congress, saying it should forget the dream of bringing back Article 370 as it has been buried in the kabristan (graveyard). Addressing a rally at Gohana, his second of the day in Haryana after one at Ambala, Modi referred to the Lok Sabha Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

'Bombs to bheekh ka katora': PM Modi credits its 'dhakad' government with a dig at Pakistan

Addressing a rally in Haryana's Ambala, When there is a 'dhakad' government in the country, enemies also think 100 times before doing anything. Pakistan had been troubling India for 70 years, it had bombs in its hands. Today it has 'bheekh ka katora' (begging bowl) in its hands. When shiver like this when there is a 'dhakad' government. He was referring to Pakistan's bailout packages from the International Monetary Fund.

Indias foes shiver because of Dhakad govt, says PM in Haryana

Ambala: In an oblique reference to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, May 18, said that Indias enemies now think 100 times before planning to do anything as there is a dhaakad (daring) government at the Centre. Speaking at a rally in Haryanas Ambala, PM Modi said, Haryana means himmat (courage) and haunsla (encouragement). Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Your dreams are my resolution: PM Modi in Haryanas Ambala

PM Modi said Pakistan had bombs in its hands but now it has a begging bowl

Modis Dhakad Government Brought Down Wall Of Article 370: PM Modi In Ambala

AMBALA, May 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on the Congress on Saturday and said it was his dhakad (strong) government that brought down the wall of Article 370 and as a result, Kashmir is now moving ahead on the path of development. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Modi said the history of the Congress has been of betraying Indias forces and soldiers as he referred to the Jeep scandal, the first scam during the grand [] The post Modis Dhakad Government Brought Down Wall Of Article 370: PM Modi In Ambala appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Modi's 'dhakad' government brought down wall of Article 370: PM Modi in Ambala

AMBALA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on the Congress on Saturday and said it was his dhakad (strong) government that brought down the wall of Article 370 and as a result, Kashmir is now moving ahead on the path of development. Modi said the history of the Congress has been of betraying India's forces and soldiers as he referred to the Jeep scandal, the first scam during the grand old party's rule. Could a weak government have changed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir? Modi asked the gathering, addressing his first Lok Sabha poll rally in Haryana. Referring to Haryana contributing a sizable number of soldiers in the armed forces, he said when the Congress was in power, mothers in Haryana were a worried lot thinking about their children's safety. Have such things stopped now or not? he asked the audience that responded with a loud yes. Modi's dhakad (strong and decisive) government brought down the wall of Article 370 and Kashmir is now moving ahead on the path of development, the prime minister said. In August 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution that had bestowed special rights on Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the erstwhile state into Union territories. LS polls fifth phase: Fate of 5 Modi Ministers at stake in 14 UP seats Modi said only 17 days are left for June 4, when the Lok Sabha poll results will be announced. The Congress and its partners in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have drawn a blank in the first four phases of polling, he claimed. Patriotism runs in the veins of Haryana, Modi said, adding that the state understands anti-national forces. Therefore, each house in Haryana is saying -- phir ek baar and the crowd responded, saying Modi sarkar. When there is a dhakad government in the country, the enemy thinks 100 times before doing anything, the prime minister said. He said Pakistan, which earlier had bombs in its hands, now has a heekh ka katora (begging bowl) in its hands. When there is a dhakad sarkar, the enemy is terrified, Modi said. INDIA bloc will bulldoze Ram temple if it comes to power: PM Modi Voting for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase of the seven-phase election on May 25. Among those present at the rally were former Haryana chief minister and the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate from Karnal, Manohar Lal Khattar, the party's Ambala and Kurukshetra candidates, Banto Kataria and Naveen Jindal. Earlier, Modi paid tributes to former Union minister Rattan Lal Kataria. Saturday marked the death anniversary of Kataria, who represented Ambala in the Lok Sabha. His wife Banto Kataria is the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate this time. SP, Congress will gift people's property to those who do 'vote jihad': PM Modi

PM Modi Lauds Strong Governance, Aims at Congress Over Article 370

PM Modi Lauds Strong Governance, Aims at Congress Over Article 370 Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on the Congress on Saturday and said it was his ''dhakad'' (strong) government that brought down the wall of Article 370 and as a result, Kashmir is now moving ahead on the path of development. Modi said the history of the Congress has been of betraying India's forces and soldiers as he referred to the ''Jeep scandal'', the ''first scam'' during the grand old party's rule. ''Could a weak government have changed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir?'' Modi asked the gathering, addressing his first Lok Sabha poll rally in Haryana. Referring to Haryana contributing a sizable number of soldiers in the armed forces, he said when the Congress was in power, mothers in Haryana were a worried lot thinking about their children's safety. ''Have such things stopped now or not?'' he asked the audience that responded with a loud ''yes''. ''Modi's dhakad (strong and decisive) government brought down the wall of Article 370 and Kashmir is now moving ahead on the path of development,'' the prime minister said. In August 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution that had bestowed special rights on Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the erstwhile state into Union territories. Modi said only 17 days are left for June 4, when the Lok Sabha poll results will be announced. The Congress and its partners in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have drawn a blank in the first four phases of polling, he claimed. Patriotism runs in the veins of Haryana, Modi said, adding that the ''state understands anti-national forces. Therefore, each house in Haryana is saying -- phir ek baar'' and the crowd responded, saying ''Modi sarkar''. ''When there is a dhakad government in the country, the enemy thinks 100 times before doing anything,'' the prime minister said. He said Pakistan, which earlier had bombs in its hands, now has a ''bheekh ka katora'' (begging bowl) in its hands. ''When there is a dhakad sarkar, the enemy is terrified,'' Modi said. Voting for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase of the seven-phase election on May 25. Among those present at the rally were former Haryana chief minister and the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate from Karnal, Manohar Lal Khattar, the party's Ambala and Kurukshetra candidates, Banto Kataria and Naveen Jindal. Earlier, Modi paid tributes to former Union minister Rattan Lal Kataria. Saturday marked the death anniversary of Kataria, who represented Ambala in the Lok Sabha. His wife Banto Kataria is the BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidate this time.

Congress asks why PM Modi has 'broken' promise on MSP, prioritises politics over country's daughters

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday asked why Narendra Modi has roken his promise of giving legal sanctity to a minimum support price for crops and why he prioritises his politics over the country's daughters, as the prime minister hits the campaign trail in Haryana. Referring to the protest by women wrestlers from Haryana, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the prime minister did not take action against his party's MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of molestation by the women wrestlers. Today's questions for the outgoing prime minister in Haryana: Why has the prime minister broken his promise of legal MSP for farmers? Will Prime Minister Modi always prioritise his politics over India's and Haryana's daughters? Why do atrocities on Dalits pick up in BJP-ruled states like Haryana? he asked in a post on X. Referring to the farmers' demand for legal guarantee on a minimum support price (MSP) for crops, Ramesh alleged that Haryana's farmers have completely lost trust in the duplicitous Modi sarkar. When the farmers' protests were called off in 2021, they left after being reassured by the prime minister and his government that their demands would be met, Ramesh said. Todays questions for the outgoing PM in Haryana: 1. Why has the PM broken his promise of legal MSP for farmers? 2. Will PM Modi always prioritise his politics over Indias and Haryanas daughters? 3. Why do atrocities on Dalits pick up in BJP-ruled states like Haryana? pic.twitter.com/4XuEpLseUU Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 18, 2024 However, over time, the Modi sarkar's dialogue with farmers' organisations slowed down and the BJP appointed a biased committee to deliberate on the MSP question, from which one independent member had quickly resigned. After this betrayal, farmers' organisations were forced to take the streets once again to make their voices heard, he said. Instead of listening to them, the Modi sarkar lathi-charged and tear-gassed them. Last year, Haryana's farmers struggled due to unseasonal rains and storms that caused widespread crop damage. Why has the Modi sarkar continued to ignore their plight? he asked. Modi inciting people, dividing society, alleges Kharge; Uddhav says 'acche din' coming after June 4 The Congress leader claimed that the party's Nyay Patra has promised a legal guarantee for MSP, according to recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, as well as farm loan waivers and the payment of crop insurance within 30 days. What is the BJP's vision to ensure that Haryana's farmers can make a stable, decent living? Ramesh asked. He also alleged that Modi has once again failed India's daughters. Rather than punishing party MP Singh for his heinous crimes against India's women wrestlers, the BJP rewarded him with a ticket for his son Karan Bhushan Singh from the Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat, he charged. This has come as a slap in the face to all of India's daughters who put their careers at stake and slept on the streets for days, through sun and rain, in their fight for justice, the Congress general secretary said. It has become clear that in 'Modi ka Parivar', Nari Shakti is just a slogan that is projected while the parivar (family) shelters perpetrators of sexual violence, be it Prajwal Revanna or Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Will women ever be safe in Modi's India? Will the prime minister's hunger for power always be more important than the safety of India's and Haryana's daughters? he asked. Ramesh also alleged that under BJP rule, Haryana has become notorious for violence and discrimination against the Scheduled Caste community. From being prohibited from using village hand-pumps to outright violence and sexual assault, Dalits have faced constant threats to their dignity and safety in the state, he claimed. When victims of these crimes approach the courts for justice, they are socially boycotted by dominant castes. Why is it that Scheduled Castes have to increasingly fear for their safety in BJP-ruled states? Does Prime Minister Modi feel no shame for the countless atrocities that Dalits have endured under his watch? he asked, urging Modi to break his silence on these issues. Modi will on Saturday address poll rallies in Haryana's Ambala and Sonipat as part of his poll campaign.

Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil Box Office Collection Day 2: Film To Cross 10Cr Mark Soon!

Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil: Starring Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead role, Malayalam film Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, hit theaters on May 16. Directed by Vipin Das the Malayalam film opened up to positive reviews from moviegoers and the public and took a strong start at the box office leaving behind many recently released Bollywood films. Following its strong opening [] Read on Lehren - Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil Box Office Collection Day 2: Film To Cross 10Cr Mark Soon!

Chandigarh Sizzles at a Scorching 44.5C!

Chandigarh Sizzles at a Scorching 44.5C! The maximum temperature in the city reached 44.5 degrees Celsius as hot weather conditions continued unabated in Haryana and Punjab, the weather office here said on Friday. According to the Meteorological Department, the common capital of the two states was hotter by six notches above the season's normal limits. Rohtak and Sirsa in Haryana recorded identical maximums of 45.8 degrees Celsius, while heatwave also swept Hisar, Karnal and Ambala, which recorded temperatures of 45.5, 43.4 and 43.4 degrees Celsius, respectively, it said. Bhiwani recorded a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius, the MeT department said. In Punjab, the maximum temperature in Amritsar reached 44.3 degrees Celsius, while in Faridkot it was 43 degrees Celsius, it said. According to the weather office, the mercury settled at 44.4 degrees Celsius in Patiala and Pathankot, and 43.8 degrees Celsius in Ludhiana. Gurdaspur recorded a high of 43 degrees Celsius while Mohali registered a maximum of 43.2 degrees Celsius, it said.

Ambala prepare to host PM Modis rally, workers reach out to people

The government fully supports private entrepreneurs committed to advancing modern agriculture through cutting-edge technology

The Agricultural Modernization Program will be implemented in 100 Divisional Secretariat Divisions this year. The government is prepared to provide financial support and training Says the President during an observation tour of Sri Lankas first AI technology greenhouse. President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the government plans to transform Sri Lankan agriculture using modern technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI). The government is committed to support the private sector entrepreneurs interested in this initiative. The President further mentioned that 100 Divisional Secretariat Divisions have been selected this year for the Agricultural Modernization Program. In the first phase, 25 Divisional Secretariat Divisions will receive the necessary facilities, while the second phase will extend modern agriculture practices to an additional 75 Divisional Secretariat Divisions. President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks during an observation tour of the AiGrow Companys greenhouse in Nelumdeniya, Kegalle this morning (17). The inventor of Vega Car and the Group CEO of Vega innovations Dr. Harsha Subhasinghe accompanied the President on this visit. The AiGrow greenhouse is the first in Sri Lanka to utilize artificial intelligence technology. With over seven years of experience in Sri Lankas agricultural sector, the AiGrow Company applies AI in both greenhouse and open cultivation, utilizing automated methods to enhance efficiency and productivity The company designs and constructs customized greenhouses to meet specific customer requirements, offering continuous service and maintenance support for these facilities. The companys inaugural greenhouse, located in Nelumdeniya, Kegalle, comprises three sections where tomatoes, bell peppers and lettuce are cultivated. Additionally, AiGrow operates a separate greenhouse for mushroom cultivation. AiGrow exports a significant portion of its harvest and supplies its branded products to local supermarkets. Furthermore, the green agricultural automation devices produced by this company are being promoted to both local and international markets. Additionally, AiGrow collaborates with local universities to provide educational opportunities in the field of applying AI to modern agricultural practices. President Ranil Wickremesinghe conducted a visit to the AiGrow Companys Nelumdeniya, Kegalle Greenhouse this morning, where he observed first-hand agricultural operations and production activities carried out using the modern technology. During his visit, President Wickremesinghe also observed the electric three- wheelers and motorcycles developed by Dr. Harsha Subhasinghe. Subsequently, the President participated in a discussion held at the premises, where he reiterated the governments commitment to introducing modern agriculture to the country. He emphasized the governments willingness to provide necessary financial support and training for this endeavour. Additionally, President Wickremesinghe instructed officials to propose a bank loan system to facilitate this initiative. President Ranil Wickremesinghe further remarked: The integration of modern technology, particularly AI, into agriculture signifies the progression towards a sustainable green economy. Presently, the government is actively engaged in implementing a comprehensive agricultural modernization program across the nation, leveraging AI technology in collaboration with private entrepreneurs. As part of this initiative, it has been planned to allocate 100 Divisional Secretariat Divisions for modern agriculture this year. The first phase will involve the provision of necessary facilities to 25 Divisional Secretariat divisions, followed by the inclusion of 75 additional divisions in the second phase. Private entrepreneurs are encouraged to participate in this program, with the government committed to providing essential training and financial support. Currently, one acre of land worldwide produces food for 155 people. By the year 2050, this figure needs to increase to 255 people per acre. To achieve this, countries must prepare and leverage modern technology to enhance food production. It is imperative to utilize advanced agricultural techniques to maximize yields within limited land resources, thus necessitating the adoption of modern agricultural practices. I firmly believe that by implementing the program initiated today, we can pave the way for the development of a sustainable green economy in our country. The event was attended by State Ministers Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Kanaka Herath, Member of Parliament Udayakantha Gunathilake, District Secretary Kegalle Ranjan Jayasinghe, Senior Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, the inventor of Vega car and the Group CEO of Vega innovations Dr. Harsha Subasinghe and several other dignitaries.

Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil Review: A Passable Malayalam Comedy

Vipin Das teamed up with Prithviraj Sukumaran and Basil Joseph for Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil.

Guruvayoorambala Nadayil Review

Guruvayoorambala Nadayil is a no-holds-barred, silly comedy that will keep you glued to the screen even when the going gets tough towards the end but the smile on your face will not leave, observes Arjun Menon.

Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil Box Office Collection Day 1: Film Takes A Strong Start

Prithviraj Sukumaran stars in the lead role in the Malayalam film Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, which hit theaters on May 16. Directed by Vipin Das and written by Deepu Pradeep, the comedy-drama also features Nikhila Vimal, Anaswara Rajan, Basil Joseph, and Yogi Babu. Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil Box Office Collection Day 1 With an impressive first-day box office performance, [] Read on Lehren - Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil Box Office Collection Day 1: Film Takes A Strong Start

Kanniyakumari district gets 11.93 mm rain

KANNIYAKUMARI: Kanniyakumari district received an average rainfall of 11.93 mm in the last few days. In a stray incident, a Kerala native drowned in a tank in Nagercoil. The deceased person has been identified as 35-year-old Alexraj, who was an electrician from Kerala.According to sources, he had come to Nagercoil for work. On Wednesday night, he had come to Subbaiyarkulam tank in Nagercoil, to take bath. That is when he drowned in the tank. The fire and rescue service personnel retrieved the body on Thursday morning. The Vadasery Police have sent the body to the Kanniyakumari Government Medical College Hospital for a postmortem, and an investigation is on. As rain continued to lash the catchment areas, dams received water. Inflows in Chittar-I and Chittar-II dams were reported to be 77 cusecs and 115 cusecs respectively. As Pechiparai dam received 196 cusecs of water, Perunchani received an inflow of 91 cusecs. The shower, however, also left a house partially damaged, and cattle loss was reported. Due to rain, water inflow increased in Thirparappu falls. District Collector PN Sridhar held a meeting with officials of all departments on measures to be undertaken in view of the south-west monsoon season, on Thursday. Chairing the meeting held at the district collectorate in Nagercoil, Collector Sridhar said that all tanks should have 80% of their capacity. Water should be released into these tanks from tanks which have reached their capacity. The Collector added that the water resources department has been advised to maintain 42 feet of water level in Pechiparai dam and 70 feet in Perunchani dam. Rainfall recorded (mm) in last 24 hours: Kannimar: 2.2 Nagercoil: 13.2 Aralvaimozhi: 5 Bhoothapandy: 8.2 Mukkadal Dam: 5.3 Balamore: 2.4 Thuckaly: 34 Colachel: 4 Eraniel: 4.2 Adayamadai: 27.2 Kolipurvilai: 10.2 Mambalathuraiyaru: 30 Chittar-I: 12.6 Sivalogam (Chittar-II): 34 Kalial: 22.6 Kuzhithurai: 25.5 Pechiparai: 9.2 Perunchani: 6.4 Puthen Dam: 7 Surulacode: 1.6 Aanaikedanku: 28.6 Thirparappu: 8.4 Mullankinavilai: 8.4 Water level (in feet) in dams: Chittar-I: 9.94 (18) Chittar: 10.04 (18) Pechiparai: 44.91 (48) Perunchani: 47 (77) Poigai: 15.5 (42.65) Mambalathuraiyaru: 14.35 (54.12) Mukkadal Dam: 0.2 (25)

'Guruvayoorambala Nadayil' movie review: Overcrowded, but still a lively wedding comedy

In Malayalam cinema, we are generally used to seeing stories pivoting around couples, friends, siblings or even strangers, but we dont often come across a story about two brothers-in-law. Vipin Das latest film explores one such quirky tale of bromance. The thread is woven around Anandan (Prithviraj Sukumaran) and Vinu (Basil Joseph), who are soon-to-be family. Vinu is about to marry Anandans sister, Anjaly, much to the two families delight. Strangely enough, there is a stronger, sweeter relationship between the two prospective brothers-in-law. The first half hour of the film is devoted to underlining their thick bond as we see the two constantly on the phone discussing their lives and relationships, while also lavishing praise and motivating each other. Even as Vinu adores and respects Anandan, there are constant suggestions that theres more to the latter than what meets the eye. Naturally, its just a matter of time before the sweetness turns sour. Vipin Das treats both Vinu and Anandan with an over-the-top tone, whereas the two women, Anjaly (Anaswara Rajan) and Parvathy (Nikhila Vimal), are practical and level-headed. It is a ploy he employed efficiently in his last film Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey (JJJJH) as well, where only Jayabharathi (Darshana Rajendran) made sense. Unfortunately, unlike JJJJH, the women in Guruvayoorambala Nadayil dont have a lot of agency. They are mostly sidelined and made to dance to the tunes of the two men. But to credit where its due, the film attempts to break the theppukari stereotype, and its no coincidence that the woman is seen ironing clothes before slipping into a monologue on being falsely accused of theppu (ditching). In a way, the comic treatment makes sure we dont take these men seriously. Anandan is an impulsive, ill-tempered and suspicious man, who in another film would have been a cruel, ruthless jerk. Its a challenge for an actor to maintain that balance, but Prithviraj aces it and ensures people dont despise Anandan immediately. He shares a refreshing chemistry with Basil and their combination scenes are thoroughly effective. While Basil is his usual self, just like his other films, Prithvirajs portrayal is unique and perhaps among his best in a comedy role. Before the films release, there were concerns if he would be able to handle this flavour of comedy, but the actor puts all those doubts to rest with a performance that towers over everyone else. Basil and Prithvirajs first scene together comes after a lot of buildup and Vipin justifies it by making it a hilarious stretch, thanks to a brilliant placement of the iconic song, Kannam Thumbi. Similarly, the popular 90s Tamil song Azhagiya Laila also pops up at the most defining and yet one of the funniest moments in the film. After a largely enjoyable first half, Guruvayoorambala Nadayil loses steam when it takes the slapstick route. This is also where plenty of new characters and their conflicts are introduced, which reminds us of a world inhabited by characters from Priyadarshans 80s films. The last half hour of the film is reminiscent of the confusion comedies of that era, with too many characters and chaos. It is still a commendable effort as the makers recreate the Guruvayoor temples ambience almost flawlessly. Writer Deepu Pradeep, who curiously prefers wedding-related subjects, has quirky ideas. However, it seems to be a challenge for a filmmaker to visually communicate his verbal humour. It is evident in Guruvayoorambala Nadayil, as many scenes fail to convey the intended humour, but the comical lines are still memorable. Thankfully, the jokes that land outweigh the misfired. After Varshangalkku Shesham, this is another film that has several meta references, like when Basil and Prithviraj hilariously mimic the dialogues from Drishyam or when an iconic character from one of Prithvirajs early films makes a fleeting appearance. Guruvayoorambala Nadayil benefits greatly from its actors, but one cant help but wish that a few supporting characters and their prominence were trimmed. For instance, a lot of time is spent on characters like Mayankutty, Saravanan (Yogi Babu), and George, but save for some occasional laughs, their humour isnt as effective as they should have been. But Aju Varghese manages to leave a lasting impression with his cameo appearance and the rendition of Krishna Krishna song. It is a saving grace in an otherwise musically weak film. In an attempt to dial up the humour, Ankit Menons background score is needlessly present throughout the film and yet not productive. Guruvayoorambala Nadayil is like a tempting kalyana sadhya with too many curries trying to spoil the fun. The scrumptious part is still the parippu-pappadam combo... read, Prithviraj and Basil. Film: Guruvayoorambala Nadayil Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Basil Joseph, Nikhila Vimal, Anaswara Rajan Director: Vipin Das Rating : 3/5

Nepotism, graft charges land Kerala TV awards in soup

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Raising major allegations of corruption and nepotism in the State Television Awards, former secretary of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Mahesh Panju and senior filmmaker Sasi Kumar Ambalathara have moved the High Court against the Chalachitra Academy. Complaints were made against the State Television Awards 2022, announced on March 6. The case is expected to come up before the High Court for hearing next week. The petition was filed on April 12 against the academy, academy secretary, award jury chairman, other members and the recipients of the award in dispute. The petitioners sought intervention from the High Court to reevaluate the awards given to various categories including general documentary, biographical documentary, scientific-environmental documentary and best director categories. The petitioners have urged the court to stay the awards until the case is settled. Former secretary Mahesh Panju alleged irregularities and violation of the existing regulations in the process. As per norms, the general category award for best screenplay should be given for a work that is related to Kerala. However, the documentary titled Lost in Transit about the indigenous people displaced in the 1920s from the Andaman Islands was given the award. There is no connection to Kerala, alleged Mahesh Panju. Filmmaker Sasi Kumar Ambalathara said that his documentary film -Give Me a Little Land .. A loving Shore for the Sea Turtles- was also unfairly ignored by the jury. I have been in the industry for the past 30 years and this documentary is a very special work which I submitted for the environmental category. I worked day and night for weeks to come up with such a work that focuses on the Olive Ridley turtles. I had many exclusive visuals of the turtles coming to the shore and laying eggs. But they just ignored my work and gave the award to some documentary on waste management, said Sasi Kumar. Responding to the allegations, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy secretary Ajoy Chandran said the matter is in the court and the academys standing counsel is looking into the legal matters. He refused to further comment on the issue. The case was filed around a month ago and our standing counsel is looking into the matters at the court, he said.

Heavy rain lashes Warangal and Hanamkonda

Karimnagar: Two persons died and three were injured in two separate incidents of lightning amid the heavy rains that lashed the Rajanna Sircilla district on Thursday. According to the police, farmer Ramadagu Chandraiah (45), a resident of Bharat Nagar of Thangallapally mandal, died of lightning when he was doing work in his fields. In another incident, to escape from the heavy rain, some farmers took shelter under a tree in Shatrajpalli village in Vemulawada mandal. Lightning struck them. One person died and injuries were caused to three persons. The deceased farmer was Kambala Srinivas (30). The injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, heavy rain with gusty winds caused havoc in Sircilla town and various other places in the district. Several trees were uprooted in gusty winds and these fell on the roads, disrupting the vehicular movement. The roofs of the houses were blown away. With electricity poles uprooted, the power supply was affected at several places. Meanwhile, heavy rain brought relief to the people who were facing problems of the searing summer heat for the past three days in the tri-cities of Warangal, Hanamkonda and Kazipet. Heavy downpour was experienced in the evening for nearly two hours in several colonies in Kashibugga, Khila Warangal, Karimabad, Shiva Nagar, Charbouli, Enumamula, Gudibandal, Kothur Jenda, Vidyaranya puri, diesel colony and main chowrasta in Warangal and Hanamkonda cities. Several streets and roads in these colonies looked like lakes with the heavy flow of floodwater. Gusty winds followed by lightning disrupted power supply to many colonies.

'Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil' Review: Prithiviraj's film is fun and hilarious in parts

Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil Review Prithivirajs film is fun and hilarious in parts

Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil movie review: Prithviraj and Basil Josephs humorous bromance loses steam halfway through

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey director Vipin Das gives us a mindless fun ride with hardly a pause in between, thanks to his two lead actors, but the film finally ends up as average fare

Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer Guruvayoorambala Nadayils Release Teaser Out

Guruvayoorambala Nadayil stars Prithviraj Sukumaran and Basil Joseph in the lead roles.

AAP, Congress, INDIA bloc people are Mughaliya gang, says Pushkar Dhami in Ambala

Make educated JJP candidate your MP: Dushyant Chautala in Ambala

Guruvayoorambala Nadayil | Song - K For Kalyanam

Watch the song 'K For Kalyanam' from Malayalam movie 'Guruvayoorambala Nadayil' starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Basil Joseph. 'K For Kalyanam' is sung by Ankit Menon, Milan Joy, Himna Hilary, Aruna Mary George, Indu Deepu, Sharath, Neelima P Aryan and Parvatish Pradeep and music of the song is given by Ankit Menon. Lyrics of 'Guruvayoorambala Nadayil' song 'K For Kalyanam' are written by Suhail Koya. To know more about 'K For Kalyanam' song from Prithviraj Sukumaran and Basil Joseph starrer 'Guruvayoorambala Nadayil' watch the video.

PM Modi likely to address rally in Ambala on May 18, Haryana BJP leaders visit rally ground

PM Modi to address rally for BJP's Ambala candidate Banto Kataria in Ambala constituency on May 18. Haryana agriculture minister Kanwar Pal, transport minister Aseem Goel, and MLA Ghanshyam Arora to accompany PM at the rally.

17-Year-Old Cold Case Solved: Delhi Police Apprehends Suspect for Murder, Concealment of Corpse

17-Year-Old Cold Case Solved: Delhi Police Apprehends Suspect for Murder, Concealment of Corpse The Delhi Police has arrested a 57-year-old man who had allegedly killed a woman here 17 years ago, kept her body locked in a trunk and fled, officials said on Tuesday. The man was arrested from the city's Rohini area. Police said accused Virender Singh, a resident of Bihar's Vaishali district, killed the 22-year-old woman in his rented apartment here in 2007 and kept the body locked in a trunk. The body was found the next day. ''After killing her, the accused fled the city. However, during investigation, co-accused Shankar Ghosh was arrested by the local police,'' Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amit Goel said, adding that the accused was declared a proclaimed offender by a court in 2008. The officer further said an assistant sub-inspector of the crime branch was posted at the Kalkaji police station. He was the beat officer of the area where the women was killed. ''He continued to probe the case despite being transferred. He again started gathering information about the accused through people who were directly or indirectly involved in the flesh trade. He got to know that Singh is hiding in Haryana's Panipat. Raids were conducted but the accused could not be traced as he was changing his rented accommodation frequently,'' the DCP said. In February, ASI Ramesh was transferred to the crime branch and he started investigating the case again. ''This time he was able to find the mobile number of the accused and he was identified from the database of tenants. He was apprehended from the Vijay Vihar area in Rohini,'' the DCP said. During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused came to Delhi in 1991 and started living in the Chittaranjan Park area. He was working as a taxi driver. During that period, he came in contact with different people and also got to know about the flesh trade. In 2001, he joined the flesh trade for earning easy money, the DCP said, adding that he used to bring young girls from West Bengal and use them in the flesh trade. ''The victim was purchased by him for Rs 10,000,'' the officer said. On June 4, 2007, as the victim refused to go to work due to illness, the accused allegedly killed her, kept the body locked in a trunk, hid the trunk in his rented accommodation and fled to West Bengal, the DCP said, adding that he stayed in a woman's house in Siliguri. The body was found the next day. ''In 2009, he came to Ambala and joined his friend Labhoo in the flesh trade. In 2013, he shifted to Panipat and continue to carry out the same business. He came back to Delhi in 2019 and started living in Vijay Vihar,'' the DCP said.

Cop attacked during temple festival in Thiruvananthapuram; six arrested

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A policeman suffered head injuries while a car was set on fire as violence marked the celebration on the final day of the Mahadevar temple festival at Kazhakootam on Sunday night. The cop was bludgeoned with an iron rod by a group of men when the cops were trying to disperse them at Ambalathinkara after the festival. The injured cop, Riyas, is attached to the Armed Reserve Camp in Thiruvananthapuram city. The police sources said a group of men beleaguered the cops on duty and roughed them up. It was during this act cop Riyas sustained head injuries. Six people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Kazhakootam natives Sajith S, 39. his brother Ajith, 42, Vidyadharan S, 47, Sanil Satheesan, 28, Deepu R, 27, and Ambalathinkara native Vivek Vidyadharan, 26, were arrested for attacking the cop. One more person, who is directly involved in the attack, is on the run. Meanwhile, a car belonging to a group that came to watch the festival was mysteriously gutted. The passengers earlier had an altercation with a group of men and its being probed whether the incident has any connection with the tiff.

No new Plus-I batches in Kerala this year: V Sivankutty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has ruled out sanctioning new Plus-I batches in the state amid concerns that districts in northern Kerala would face shortage of Plus one seats as the admission process begins later this week. General Education Minister V Sivankutty told reporters that there was no need to create new batches. He assured that all students who were declared eligible for higher studies in the SSLC exam will be given admission. Demands for the creation of new Plus One batches, especially in Malappuram district, were politically motivated, he said. To address shortage of seats, the government has effected 30% marginal increase of seats in govenrment schools in Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. Also, another 20% seat increase was made in all schools in these districts, with the provision of an additional 10% seat increase for aided schools that require it. In Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Ambalappuzha and Cherthala taluks in Alappuzha, the government has effected 20% marginal increase of seats in government and aided schools. A total of 61,759 seats have been created through marginal increase, the Minister said. The government had created 81 new Plus-I batches (77 new and four shifted from southern districts) in 2022-23 and 97 batches in 2023-24. All these batches will continue this year as well taking the overall seats in these batches to 11,965. The Minister said there were 4.33 lakh seats in higher secondary and 33,030 seats in vocational higher secondary sector. Taking into account 61,429 seats in ITIs and 9,990 seats in Polytechnics, the total number of Plus Two seats would add up to 4.25 lakh. Malappuram district has 79,730 students who passed the SSLC examination and the district has 70,976 higher secondary seats. If the 9,214 seats in VHSE, ITIs and Polytechnics are taken into account, the total number of seats available for higher studies is 80,190, the Minister said. Education Conclave An education conclave will be held on May 28 to discuss various proposals including implementation of minimum pass requirement of 30% marks for the written component of the SSLC exam. It will be attended by representatives of teachers associations and education experts. This was decided at a meeting between General Education Minister V Sivankutty and teachers association representatives here on Monday.

Keralas thumbs-up to NGOs novel forest conservation initiative

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a novel nature conservation initiative, a Kolkata-based NGO has purchased four acres of private land along the forest enclosure in Malappurams Kurali village, to re-wild it, before handing it over to the forest department. Nature Mates Nature Club (NMNC) purchased the land coming under the Sankarankode forest enclosure and approached the department with the request to receive and register it in the departments name. The government gave its nod for the project on May 8. In a similar initiative in Wayanads Thirunelli, another NGO Wild Life Trust of India recently purchased private land and transferred it to the forest department. NMNC approached the department as part of an initiative to shift non-tribal people living or engaged in agriculture inside forest enclosures to non-forest areas. Following this, the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden, through a letter on April 27, requested the government to accord approval for registering the four acres in the departments name. The NGO acquired land from three persons, Afsar, Assainar and Abdul Kareem. The Sankarankode enclosure has 60 acres of land in the possession of non-tribal inhabitants. The stretch is surrounded by new Amarambalam Reserve Forest and is part of the Nilambur Elephant Reserve. It is a forest area having good elephant habitat and active human-animal conflict, K Vijay Anand, CCF (Eastern Circle-Palakkad) told TNIE . Move to help bring down human-animal conflicts The Amarambalam Reserve and Nilambur Reserve are an important habitat of a variety of flora and fauna, including elephant, tiger, leopard, and sambar deer. As per the forest department, the area is situated in the corridor connecting the Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley National Park in Kerala and the Mukkurty National Park in Tamil Nadu, having high conservation value. The NGO informed us of its willingness to purchase and transfer private land inside the forest enclosure. Thats how we went ahead with the initiative. The 60 acres have no human habitation. These are agricultural land, and fences are used to prevent the entry of wild animals. This is the main reason for conflicts, Vijay said. After considering the NGOs proposal, the department observed that the move will be beneficial in ensuring the continuity of elephant habitat and reducing the impact of human-animal conflicts in the surrounding landscape.

Two girls killed, one hurt in Ambala, as part of temple building collapse on them

Kerala cop sustains injuries after mob went on rampage on final day of temple festival

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A policeman sustained head injuries while a car was set on fire as violence marked the celebration on the final day of the Mahadevar temple festival at Kazhakootam on Sunday night. The cop was bludgeoned with an iron rod by a group of men when the cops were trying to disperse them at Ambalathinkara after the festival celebrations got over. The injured cop is attached to the Armed Reserve Camp in Thiruvananthapuram city. The police sources said a group of men beleaguered the cops on duty and roughed them up. It was during this act cop Riyas sustained head injuries. As many as six people have been detained by the police in connection with this case. Meanwhile, a car belonging to a group that came to watch the festival was mysteriously gutted. The car that was parked near the temple was found gutted when the passengers came to start it. The passengers earlier had an altercation with a group of men and the arson attack could be a fallout of that incident, the cops suspect.

Viral hepatitis claims one more life in Malappuram

MALAPPURAM: The health department confirmed that one more person from Malappuram died due to viral hepatitis . Ithikkal Sakeer, a native of Kodalipoyil in Pothukkal, died while undergoing treatment for the disease at a private hospital in Kozhikode three days ago. So, the total number of deaths due to viral hepatitis in the district has risen to seven. The district recorded one death due to the disease in March, four deaths in April, and two deaths in May. However, District Medical Officer (DMO) R Renuka on Sunday denied reports that the eighth viral hepatitis death was recorded in the district. Malappuram has reported 3,184 suspected cases of viral hepatitis and 1,032 confirmed cases since January this year. The highest number of cases were reported in Pothukal, Kuzhimanna, Omanur, Pookkottoor, Morayur, Peruvallur panchayats, and Malappuram municipality. Meanwhile, the health department has urged people to remain vigilant against the disease and seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms. Common symptoms of viral hepatitis include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the eyes, and yellow urine. It is essential to seek scientific treatment methods without ignoring these symptoms, as severe cases can lead to liver dysfunction and death. The department also urged people to avoid unscientific treatment methods, as they can pose a threat to the patients life. 3-yr-old girl collapses and dies in Palakkad Kochi: A three-year-old girl collapsed and died in Palakkad. Chinnu, the daughter of Kumaran and Sindu of Kottapadam Ambalapara TribalColony, had been suffering from fever for the past two days. She collapsed on Saturday. Thoughshe was takento Taluk Hospital in Mannarkkad, she was declared dead by the doctors.

At 79.1, pass percentage of corporation schools in Chennai marks slight dip from 2023

CHENNAI: The class 10 pass percentage in corporation schools in the city has again fallen short of the overall state average. While the state average stood at 91.55%, the corporation schools managed only 79.1%, which is slightly lower than last years figure of 79.60%. Official sources said that while many corporation schools in the core city area fared better than last year, the schools that were handed over to the corporation from extended areas performed poorly, bringing down the overall pass percentage. The schools, in extended areas, that were functioning under the school education department were handed over to the city corporation in 2023. The teachers in these schools were given the option to shift to other government schools to continue working under the school education department, or to remain with their existing schools and work under the city corporation. A large number of teachers chose the former. When the schools in extended areas were handed over to us, some had very few teachers. In one school in Athipattu, 21 teachers had chosen to leave. By the time we filled most vacancies through the temporary SMCs (School Management Committee) and by bringing in teachers from other districts, it was already September, said a senior official. This transition, said school staff in extended areas, could have led to them performing poorly. Canal Bank High School and Rangarajapuram High School registered a 100% pass. Apart from these, West Mambalam Higher Secondary School, Girls Higher Secondary School in Nungambakkam, and the high schools in Kannammapet, Strahans Road, Padi Kuppam and Kamaraj Avenue performed well in terms of pass percentage. A total of 33 students scored centums of which 24 were in Mathematics. Meeting called to analyse score In 2019, the corporation schools scored a pass percentage of 92.3 in class 10. However, it was still lower than the states 95.17% that year. We are meeting with representatives of the schools which have not done well and we will be coming up with a detailed analysis this week, said a corporation official.

Reckless ambulances set alarm bells ringing in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sujith Radhakrishnan, a resident of Ambalamukku in Thiruvananthapuram, vividly recalls his first experience with an ambulance. There was no emergency, and the ambulance was not for him. Instead, Sujith had hired one to take his elderly father home after a spine surgery. Little did he expect how harrowing the ensuing journey would be. The driver was a young lad. He put on the siren and whizzed past vehicles, jumping signals casually. There was no emergency, but the drivers action made it seem like one. When I protested, he assured me there wont be any issue. We reached home within 10 minutes, shaken to the core, recounted Sujith. In Kerala, where the frequency of road accidents, drownings, and snake bites is alarmingly high, ambulances are considered frontline responders, racing against time to save lives. However, in the absence of stringent regulations to govern them, this noble mission of theirs sometimes spirals into perilous situations, like on May 7, when a speeding ambulance carrying a patient rammed into a car at Talapady in Kasaragod. A man and his two sons who were in the car died. One of the most pressing issues stemming from unregulated ambulance driving is the proliferation of reckless driving. Lack of clear guidelines and oversight means theres a risk of drivers succumbing to the temptation of speeding, disregarding traffic rules, and engaging in other hazardous manoeuvres in a bid to reach their destinations swiftly. Such actions not only jeopardise the safety of patients and emergency responders but also pose a significant threat to other commuters. Anybody with a light motor vehicle licence can become an ambulance driver, said an ambulance driver who did not wish to be named. Most of the drivers are youngsters. The remuneration is low, but it is the thrill (of driving at high speeds) that gives them a high. The recent fad is to make reels for social media while driving at crazy speeds. These ambulance reels are getting immense reach, he said. While others on the road largely accommodate the emergency nature of ambulance service and the latters right of way privilege, there have been plenty of instances where the privilege has been misused. There is also the issue of fare. While an array of ambulances parked in front of hospitals is a common sight and provides an assurance about the service, lack of regulation or standardisation in fare can give nightmares to the needy. In fact, even Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar had voiced his frustration over how he was overcharged by ambulance drivers sought measures to regulate the service, standardise the fares and take action against erring drivers. The transport department had then formed a five-member committee to fix tariffs for ambulance services in Kerala. There have been attempts in the past to regulate the services of nearly 9,000 ambulances registered in the state. However, almost always, there were differences over controlling the speed and the fare. There are ambulances that operate like tourist taxis with high-decibel sound systems and flashy lights, said T Elangovan, former executive director of the Kerala Road Safety Authority (KRSA). He also said ambulances should follow the same speed limit as others. A fleet of Maruti Omnis that were converted into ambulances, in front of Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram The drivers are not exempted from the speed limit as they would like to believe. It is okay if their speed is 10% above the permissible limit. However, most ambulances hardly operate below 100 kmph. The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) and the police overlook these violations, he said. In its training, KRSA tries to educate drivers about the impact potential at high speeds. When AI cameras, to check for traffic violations, went live in the state, emergency services, including ambulances, got an exemption. This meant no challan would be issued even if ambulances jump signals or exceeded speed limit. It is felt this can foster a culture of impunity where the drivers may not be held accountable, even in cases where their negligence or recklessness leads to harm. Enforcement officers in the MVD said they have limitations on restricting ambulances. We can of course issue them challans for violating body code, having extra fittings, etc, but it is difficult to stop an ambulance to ascertain the purpose of its trip; whether it is an emergency or not. For, if anything happens to the patient everyone will blame the officer who effected the stop, said an officer at the Transport Commissionerate. He said 5,247 ambulances have been fitted with Vehicle Location Tracking & Emergency Alert System (VLTDS), which helps the control room track them. However, they are part of a large fleet, which includes school vehicles and stage carriers, making tracking difficult under the existing capacity of the servers. While minister Ganesh Kumar is following up on his directives to standardise the fee, it has proven difficult. It begins with the classification of ambulances. There are several types; cars and tempo travellers have been modified as ambulances. The trip is not assured every day. So when they get trips they try to make maximum money. The Omni ambulance and traveller ambulance cannot operate on the same fare, said Elangovan. Dr Althaf A, a public health expert and professor at Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, stressed on the importance of bringing in technology to regulate ambulance services in the state. Across the world, ambulances are part of a registered network having trained staff. There is a need to regulate the services by bringing in standards, and they need to be enforced using technology. Even a dash camera mandate will help enforcement agencies verify the trips without hindering emergency service. Omni ambulances should not be part of emergency services as they offer little safety, he said. Althaf also stressed on the importance of decentralised trauma care centres and government funding for emergency care for the first 48 hours. The government can mobilise CSR funds, especially from life insurance companies, and pay for both ambulance and hospital expenses, he said. KANIV-108 Introduced in 2019, KANIV-108 (Kerala Ambulance Network for Injured Victims) has revolutionised trauma care across the state. The initiative boasts of 315 basic life support (BLS) ambulances strategically stationed near accident-prone areas. An ambulance plying in front of the Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram Catering not only to road accidents but also to emergencies like pregnancy complications, strokes, and heart conditions, the service has become a lifeline for those in distress. It operates free of charge, with the government reimbursing the private entity managing the network. Equipped with essential medical apparatus, including oxygen cylinders, suction pumps, and pulse oximeters, the ambulances are manned by trained emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Each vehicle is outfitted with a GPS, facilitating tracking from the Technopark control room in Thiruvananthapuram. Here, skilled technicians assess incoming calls, dispatch the nearest available ambulance, and guide it to the location. Upon arrival, the EMT evaluates the patients condition and transports them to the nearest hospital, prioritising urgency. The success of the 108 service has curtailed the reliance on private ambulances, reducing instances of patient diversion to profit-driven medical facilities. Moreover, a hospital pre-arrival notification system is in the works, ensuring swift treatment upon the ambulances arrival. To enhance accessibility, a mobile app for KANIV-108 ambulance requests is slated for launch in June, ensuring further streamlining of emergency response efforts. Types of ambulances Type A: Medical first responder Type B: Patient transport vehicle Type C: Basic life-support ambulance Type D: Advanced life-support ambulance Type E: Vehicle to carry a body (hearse) Who owns ambulances? Hospitals, community service organisations, NGOs, trusts, societies, political parties/fronts Aggregated ambulance service providers include the Active Network Group of Emergency Life Savers (ANGELS) in the Malabar region, the Indian Institute of Emergency Medical Services (IIEMS) and Indian Medical Association (IMA) Suggested solutions Bring norms for vehicles, services Standardise fares Use tech to track, and verify the trips Recruit experienced, trained staff Take strong action against violations Mandate certification by biomedical engineer for fitness clearance Pitfalls Issues stemming from unregulated ambulance services Tendency to speed Misuse of sirens and flashlights Overcharging Victims family Crew driving/working while intoxicated Poorly trained staff Poor fitness of vehicles Oxygen used in most ambulances not certified for medical purposes Golden hour The first 60 minutes following an accident, referred to as the golden hour, are crucial. Chances of victims survival are highest when they are brought to the hospital and treated within this time The average response time - 25 minutes Less than 20 minutes is the response time that the state targets to achieve 9,491 - Ambulances registered in Kerala 138 - Hearses registered in Kerala 5,247 - Ambulances equipped with Vehicle Location Tracking System

Train cancelled due to repair work

HT Bureau GUWAHATI, May 10: In view of the ongoing track repairing work at KM 110/7 between Jatinga Lampur and New Harangajao under Lumding division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), few trains have been cancelled. On the other hand, the ongoing Kisan agitation at the Sambhu Station under Ambala division of Northern Railway []

GCC-run schools record pass percentage of 79.11% in Class X board exam

The high schools in Rangarajapuram and Canal Bank recorded a pass percentage of 100%, and the Corporation Higher Secondary School in West Mambalam recorded the second-highest pass percentage of 98.44%

Guruvayoorambala Nadayil - Official Trailer

Watch the Official Trailer from Malayalam movie 'Guruvayoorambala Nadayil' starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Basil Joseph, Nikhila Vimal, Anaswara Rajan, Yogi Babu, Siju Sunny, Joemon Jyothir and Saafboi. 'Guruvayoorambala Nadayil' movie is directed by Vipin Das and produced by Supriya Menon, Mukesh R Mehta and C V Sarathi. To know more about 'Guruvayoorambala Nadayil' trailer watch the video. Check out the latest Malayalam trailers, new movie trailers, trending Malayalam movie trailers, and more at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.

LPG movement from Ambalamugal resumes as truck drivers call off strike

Canine Imagery in Indian Art: A Journey from Ancient Symbolism to Modern Interpretations

Canine Imagery in Indian Art: A Journey from Ancient Symbolism to Modern Interpretations India International Centre in New Delhi, the Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (T.R.I.S.) recently presented a captivating exhibition titled Self-Discovery via Rediscovering India, showcasing the vibrant tapestry of Indian art, cinema & cultural heritage with a focus on the intricate relationship between humans, nature and animals, particularly canine children, or dogs in common parlance. The striking oleograph by the Ravi Varma Press of Lord Dattatreya, the god of Pasupati, accompanied by four stray dogs is one example. The four dogs have been over the ages variously interpretated as symbolizing the four Vedas, or the four yugas, among other spiritual facets of the living consciousness. This ancient bond between human and canine reflects the deep respect accorded to dogs in Indian culture and Hinduism, recognizing them as eternal and compassionate companions. In modern fine art, the dog has also been depicted with a blend of pain and joy, capturing the complexity of its relationship with humanity. Master artists such as Somnath Hore, Amit Ambalal, Debiprasad Roy Choudhury, Jyoti Bhatt, among others, have portrayed the dog with profound depth, reflecting the myriad emotions associated with this beloved creature. However, amidst this celebration of the bond between humans and dogs, the exhibition tours sheds light on a sobering reality the cruel treatment of stray street canine children by certain sections of society. This gap between the reverence for dogs in Indian culture and religion and their treatment in contemporary society serves as a poignant reminder of the need for greater understanding and compassion. As Neville Tuli, the visionary behind the institution aptly observes, ''The canine child, has always been the most respected companion of the human being, a true friend to the common man. However, recently, with certain sections of society, who cannot understand or have not had the opportunity to love or be loved by the stray dog, their fears and paranoias dominate their thinking and actions, for few can speak effectively on behalf of the dog. Thus, any minor menace, however rare, is easily blown up and distorted into a hyped media frenzy, and the poor street dog is being driven into corners to quietly die. Additionally, with harshly enforced sterilisation programmes, the sly and slow genocide of the street dog is happening before our very eyes. This crass model is copying the emotionally nave and foolish behaviour of western societies fifty years ago, where the obedient pet is now the only role available to the dog. Their freedom and the right to live on the street, so bringing joy and decency to harsh realities, is being stolen away from them. The idea of this exercise is to let viewers reflect on their own relationship with animals and nature and contemplate the profound lessons that can be gleaned from Indian art, culture, and heritage. In doing so, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, rekindling a sense of reverence for all living beings and reaffirming the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world. (Disclaimer : The above Press Release is provided by HT Syndication and PTI will not take any editorial responsibility of this content.).

Supply of LPG cylinders hit as BPCL truck drivers in Kochi go on strike

KOCHI: Truck drivers at BPCL LPG Bottling Plant at Ambalamugal, Kochi, launched a lightning strike on Thursday morning protesting an attack on a truck driver by loading and unloading workers at a distribution agency at Kodakara in Thrissur district. According to sources, both truck driver Sreekumar and the loading workers who thrashed him belong to the CITU union. The drivers union said the police have refused to book a case against the assailants. All 156 truck drivers affiliated to CITU, INTUC and BMS have joined the protest. We will not withdraw the strike until the assailants are arrested, said CITU Drivers Union Ambalamugal area president K S Sajeevan. Sources said a meeting will be held at the BPCL at 6 am on Friday to resolve the issue. Representatives of the transporting agencies, drivers unions and distribution agencies will attend the meeting. It was a dispute over a difference of Rs 17.50 in loading charges that led to the assault. Sreekumar, the driver, was thrashed brutally. He is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kochi. He is a cancer patient and has been working despite his health issues to support his family. If the workers have any grievance they have to discuss it with the transporting agency. There is no justification for the attack and we will continue the strike until the assailants are arrested, said Sajeev. BPCL authorities said it is a dispute between loading workers and drivers and the company has no role in it. Earlier, the trucks used to carry 306 LPG cylinders and the loading charges were fixed based on this figure. Now the trucks are bigger and can carry more cylinders. Some trucks can carry 360 and 450 cylinders. But the loading charge has not been revised, which leads to disputes. The transporting agency should revise the charge according to the capacity of the truck, said a union leader.

Strike by drivers hits LPG movement from Ambalamugal in Kochi

Interview | Filmmaker Vipin Das: Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil is an entertainer for the family

Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil, Vipins fourth movie, centres on a marriage and a comedy of errors that follow

Ambala seatgen observerchairs key meet in Pkl

Heavy rains, gales lash several parts of Andhra Pradesh

VIJAYAWADA: Heavy rains lashed the Godavari delta region and other parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh, bringing much-needed relief from the scorching summer. The temperature had been soaring above 45 degrees Celsius at a few places over the past couple of weeks, and Tuesdays rains brought down the heat levels. The highest rainfall of 12.45 cm was recorded at Vemagiri in East Godavari district, followed by 12.05 cm in Mandapeta of Konaseema district, 9.2 cm in Rajamahendravaram city, and 7.3 cm in Nuzvid of Eluru district. There were unconfirmed reports of two deaths across the State due to lightning strikes. In Rajamahendravaram, low-lying areas were waterlogged due to rainwater overflowing on the roads, causing traffic jams in different parts of the city. Vehicular traffic was affected at Kambala tank, railway station road, Ademma Dibba, Innispet, Kotagummam, Tummalava, Syamala Center, Sitammapet, and Aryapram areas. In Kakinada and Amalapuram districts, the heavy downpour, which lasted for around 30 minutes, brought much-needed relief from the sweltering heat. But at the same time, it brought agony to orchard farmers, particularly mango and cashew nut growers, as heavy gale winds resulted in fruit drops at several places. The same was the case in Nuzvid of Eluru district, where mango farmers suffered due to unseasonal heavy rains. In Kakinada, when a bolt of lightning struck an apartment, people had a narrow escape. However, several household utensils were rendered useless. A similar situation prevailed across the NTR and Krishna districts. In Vijayawada, it was overcast sky conditions most of the day, and in the evening, there were brief bouts of drizzle in the city and a brief spell of heavy rains on the city outskirts. Rainfall brought much-needed relief from the scorching heat in the north coastal districts on Tuesday. Thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning, affected several parts of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Alluri Sitarama Raju districts since Monday night. Rainfall and gusty winds were observed in many areas of Visakhapatnam and its outskirts on Tuesday morning, providing respite from the heat. The mild climate persisted throughout the day, while trees were uprooted in some areas in Butchayyapeta of Anakapalli district. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted heavy rainfall at isolated places across the State and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 Kmph likely at isolated places across the State on Wednesday. Thunderstorm activity in isolated places across the state is also likely for the subsequent three days. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), in its daily report, stated that 12 mandals reported heatwave conditions on Tuesday, and one mandal is likely to experience a heatwave on Wednesday. Laddagiri of Kurnool district recorded the highest daytime temperature of 43.4 degrees Celsius, followed by Yendrapalle in Prakasam district with 43.2 degrees Celsius. Thunderstorm activity in parts of State in next 3 days The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted heavy rainfall at isolated places across the State and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 Kmph likely at isolated places across the State on Wednesday. Thunderstorm activity in isolated places across the state is also likely for the subsequent three days

Scoops of summer cheers

Sree Balaji Ice Cream Brothers Manoharan and Chandrasekaran set up the shop in 1980. People who visit the shop tell me that the taste is still the same as it was 30-40 years back, says Sasi Kumar, one of the partners. Offering one flavour a day, the store provides eight flavours. We have a timetable. On Sundays we alternate between pineapple and pistachio, he adds. Earlier priced at 75 paise a cone, now it is `25. The other products available here are cup ice cream at `15 and 250 g in a bowl, served for family, at `80. They also sell takeaway ice creams at an additional cost of `5. Time: Daily, 10 am-10 pm. Visit: 3, Paper Mills Road, Jagannathan Colony, Perambur, Chennai:600011 Vinus Igloo A few years ago, ice cream was seen as a luxury. I intended to make it easily available to commoners, says Vinoth V of Vinus Igloo, an ice cream parlour started in 1995 in West Mambalam. The USP of the store is their pricing. Initially sold for `1, their smaller cones are now being sold at `2. They offer eight different flavours but chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, strawberry and butterscotch are in demand. If customers like the flavour, they can buy a larger one for `50. Vinoth is all set to launch eight more branches and introduce stick ice cream by the end of the month. Time: Daily, 10 am to 12 am. Visit: 35, Thambiah Road, AGS Colony, West Mambalam, Chennai:600033 SV Bakery Started as a small business in 2000 by Rajan Kumar, SV Sweets Bakers and Icecreams in Chromepet is popular for its signature soft-serve. Every day we change the flavours. This is done randomly and we dont have a fixed day for a flavour. Currently, we serve six to seven flavours like mango, strawberry, blackcurrant, pistachio, chocolate and butterscotch, says Rajan. Serving the third generation of customers, he says, We use 100% pure milk to make our soft serve. Since we dont add water our ice creams are rich and creamy. With pure offerings, the soft serve costs `20 for all flavours and the choco-dip from `30. Time: Daily, 7 am to 9 pm Visit: 47, Radha Nagar Main Road, Chromepet, Chennai:600044 Snofield SET up in 1982, Snofield in Gopalapuram offers sundaes, faloodas and cakes. Their summer specials include fruit salads with ice cream, pistachio and fruit ice cream faloodas, and their prime ingredient mango. Every dessert on the menu can be customised with mango. The customers make their combinations of sundaes, faloodas, and fruit salads with mangoes during this season, shares Ashok from Snofield. Their sundaes, especially Tall Beauty which comprises vanilla and chocolate ice cream, choco sponge cake, chocolate sauce and nuts have been popular since its establishment. Its been 40 years and generations of families have been our customers. We have people bringing their grandchildren here saying, I used to have ice cream here in the old days, shares Ashok. Their summer plan is to add more flavours to the menu. Time: Daily, 11 am to 11 pm. Visit: Amaravathi Complex, 1, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram, Chennai:600086 Inputs by: Meghana Sree R, PS Niranjana, Sonu M Kothari

SC raps Kochi corporation for sanitary waste collection fee, mayor defends move

KOCHI: After the Supreme Court pulled up the Kochi corporation for having charged an additional fee, besides the regular cost, from the residents for the collection of sanitary waste including adult diapers and sanitary napkins, Kochi Mayor M Anilkumar said there is no provision to collect and treat sanitary waste for free. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Indu Varma on Monday, the apex court observed that the additional fees charged by the local body was shocking and amounted to gender discrimination. Responding to the Supreme Court observation, the Kochi mayor told TNIE that after the Brahmapuram fire, a private agency has been entrusted with collecting sanitary napkins from houses. The agency takes them to the facility run by the Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Ltd (KEIL) at Ambalamedu. There is no provision to treat the waste for free. Moreover, compared to other local bodies in the state, Kochi corporation is doing it at a minimal cost, Anilkumar said. Citing a report published by the legal news portal Verdictum, Indu Varma pointed out that the separate charge for the disposal of sanitary waste is prevalent only in Kerala. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the case. Sanitary waste needs scientific treatment, hence the high cost, the mayor said. KEIL doesnt provide any subsidy to treat biomedical waste. Yet we are bearing a major part of the cost, including the GST, and collecting only transportation fees from the residents, Anilkumar said, adding that no local body in the state is treating the sanitary waste for free. Other local bodies in Ernakulam district including Maradu, Tripunithura and Thrikkakara municipalities charge Rs 45, Rs 52 and Rs 56 per kg, respectively, as user fees for collecting sanitary napkin waste from residents. Last June, the Kochi corporation chalked out a plan for segregated waste collection from households. The agency fixed the rate at Rs 54 per kg, which was later brought down to Rs 12 per kg after public protest. The residents were asked to pay an additional Rs 12 per kg, and the remaining amount, including the GST, is paid by the corporation, said T K Ashraf, chairman of the health standing committee. The mayor pointed out that the corporation is making a loss while dealing with the sanitary napkin waste. We can treat sanitary waste for free if the government forms an agency. KEIL is not giving any subsidy, nor is it doing it for free, he said. Meanwhile, Ashraf said the corporations biomedical waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram is expected to be completed within two months. But the mayor said that additional fees will be collected even if the incinerators come up. This waste will not be collected by the Haritha Karma Sena (HKS). Instead, a private agency will be entrusted, and hence, a user fee will be collected, Anilkumar said. Opposition party leader Antony Kureethara said, according to the Kerala Municipality Act, such additional fees should not be levied on the public. The PIL in the Supreme Court contends that Kerala has imposed a disposal fee for sanitary waste in addition to a user fee for household waste collection as mandated by the Solid Waste Management Rule of 2016. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan has given the Union of India six weeks to submit a status report on the matter. Corporations stand Compared to other local bodies in the state, Kochi corporation is doing it at a minimal cost Sanitary waste needs scientific treatment, hence the high cost Corporation is making a loss while dealing with the sanitary napkin waste Can treat sanitary waste for free if the government forms an agency

Ambala gurdwara row: Sikh groups demand inquiry

Bird flu confirmed at one more place in Alappuzha

Presence of H5N1 subtype of Influenza A virus detected in quails at Kanjippadam South in Ambalappuzha North grama panchayat

High court imposes Rs 1L cost on Haryana for Ambala Cantt land survey delay

Haryana govt fined by High Court for delays in Ambala survey identifying GLR/old grant violations. Concerns over financial drain and new encroachments. Estate officer hires consultancy for the survey.

In memory of policeman, martyred during militancy, Sardar Patel library inaugurated in Ambala

Khajani Devi inaugurated Sardar Patel Police Library in memory of HC Tara Chand, martyr by Ministry of Home Affairs. DGP Shatrujeet Kapur, IGP Sibas Kabiraj, SP Jashandeep Singh Randhawa attended. Sacrificed on April 12, 1989.

Chennai nurse who self-delivered her baby at home arrested for murder

CHENNAI: A nurse who self-delivered her child at a house on Tuesday in T Nagar was arrested on charges of murder on Saturday. The woman allegedly chopped off the childs legs during delivery and claimed that the child was stillborn. Initially, Mambalam police registered a case under sections 315 (act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender). Following the postmortem of the childs body, the case was altered to murder. Police identified the woman as W Vinisha of Kanniyakumari. She was employed as a nurse at a private hospital in Kodambakkam and residing at the quarters for hospital employees in T Nagar. The woman was in a relationship with a 29-year-old software company employee until a few months ago. Vinisha found out that she was pregnant late, and by then abortion was not advisable, a police officer said. Early Tuesday morning, she delivered the child in the washroom of her house. During the delivery, she chopped off one of the childs limbs and tried in vain to dispose it in the commode. Her roommate later found the corpse on the bathroom floor. Vinisha and the infants body were subsequently taken to a hospital. She had not even informed her colleagues that she was pregnant, he added. After the case was altered to murder on Saturday, Vinisha was remanded to judicial custody.

Two drown, one missing in sea off Kanniyakumari coast

KANNIYAKUMARI: Two persons drowned in the sea at Kodimunai near Colachel here on Sunday after they were washed away by strong waves off the Kanniyakumari coast. According to marine police sources, the deceased have been identified as T Vesis (55) of Choolaimedu and J Manojkumar (25) of Villivakkam, who had arrived in Kodimunai as part of a spiritual tour. Soon after the duo, who were standing on a rock, was swept away by giant waves, fishermen of the region dived into the sea to rescue them. Though the individuals were rushed to a nearby hospital, they were declared brought dead, and the bodies were sent to Kanniyakumari Government Medical College Hospital for postmortem, sources said. In a similar incident at Thengapattinam, a man and his daughter, who were playing in the seashore, were swept away by freak waves on Sunday. While the father, identified as Premadhas of Vilunthayamambalam, was rescued later, the girl went missing and a search is under way by the marine police to trace her, sources added. It may be noted that District Collector PN Sridhar, in a press release on Saturday, had warned of winds gusting up to 65 km and waves rising to 1.5 m height in the coastal areas of Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu on Sunday. He had further instructed people not to take baths in sea, cautioned fishermen against venturing into the sea, and asked residents of low-lying coastal regions to stay alert.

Rajput community holds gathering in Ambala, resolve not to vote BJP

The Rajput community of Haryana has distanced themselves from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after a gathering, following the footsteps of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh by announcing not to vote for BJP. The Kshatriya Swabhiman Mahapanchayat was organized in Shahzadpur town of Ambala district on Sunday to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap Singh.

Nurse held for self-delivering and killing her baby

The Mambalam police registered a case against the nurse under two Sections of the Indian Penal Code

Voters Seeking Transport to Villages Ride Horses

Visakhapatnam: As a mark of unique protest, voters of several hilltop villages, including Madrebu, Tuniseebu, Jeenapadu and Dayethi of Anantagiri mandal in Alluri Seetharama Raju district, rode horses for four kilometres on Sunday seeking transport facilities to their hamlets. PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) Adivasi Girijana Sangham organised the protest, wherein the riders wore headgear decorated with bi-lobed Bauhinia vahlii leaves while riding their horses. The protesters warned that they would boycott voting on May 13 unless the government addresses their transportation needs. There are 45 PVTG Kundu tribal families residing in Peddakota and Madrebu hilltop villages with 70 votes. As the villages have no roads, voters travel 30 kilometres on horseback to the polling booth in Peddakota panchayat to cast their votes. Likewise, PVTG voters of road-less Dayerthi village ride horses for about 30 kilometres to the Jeenabadu panchayat polling booth. Same is the case with tribal voters who travel 18 kilometres on horses to Velamamidi polling booth. For us, horses are cargo buses to transport agricultural produce to local markets for sale. Additionally, we use horses as ambulances to take patients or full-term pregnant women to health centres, said Kondambala Narsing Rao, secretary of girijana sangham. We have organised this protest as the government seems to have turned a blind eye to our demand for roads and transport facilities to our villages, said Kondatamri Dasu, a resident of one of the hilltop villages.

Gurgaon Lok Sabha Seat Witnessing Intense Battle Between Local and Outsider Candidates

Gurgaon Lok Sabha Seat Witnessing Intense Battle Between Local and Outsider Candidates The Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency in Haryana is witnessing a local versus outsider contest after the Congress nominated actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar from the seat against sitting MP Rao Inderjit Singh of the ruling BJP. In his campaign, Babbar highlights his Haryana connect to beat the 'outsider' jibe while Singh appeals to voters to again go for the ''tried and tested''. According to the Congress leader, his family had arrived in Ambala after the country's Partition. ''Mein bahari nahin hoon (I am not an outsider),'' the 71-year-old former MP says, adding that he has relatives in Gurugram and Faridabad too. Singh has been targeting Babbar, saying he is an 'outsider'. Babbar's candidature was announced by the Congress on April 30. Congress leader and former Haryana minister Ajay Singh Yadav was also a strong probable from the seat. Making a stop at Badshahpur under Gurgaon constituency while campaigning recently, Babbar appeals to people to vote for a change and elect him this time. ''Gurugram mein iss baar badlaav ki bari hai.'' ''Raj Babbar will create his place in the hearts of people,'' says the actor-politician, who began his campaign after a visit to the Sheetla Mata temple in Gurgaon last week. Targeting the BJP, Babbar says that despite generating a major chunk of revenue for Haryana, Gurugram city does not have proper civic infrastructure and the situation turns bad during the monsoon season. On the other hand, BJP's Rao Inderjit Singh (74), a five-time parliamentarian, of which he has served as Gurgaon MP on three occasions (2009-till present), pitches himself as a leader who is local and understands people's needs and aspirations. He is banking on the development works carried out in Gurugram during his tenure as MP as well as his local connect. During his campaign, Singh tells the people, ''Mein Gurgaon vasiyo ka parkha hua hoon (I am your tried and tested leader). I have always raised the voice of my constituents. The strength which you give me I use that for raising your voice.'' ''Gurgaon and India are progressing. We want to bring Narendra Modi as Prime Minister again and take our country on a path of progress,'' he says. Seeking reelection, Singh, son of former Haryana chief minister late Rao Birender Singh, highlights the works done during the past 10 years in Gurugram, saying these will be further accelerated. Two decades ago Gurgaon used to be a small town, but today it is contributing 70-75 per cent revenue to the state, Singh says. After Gurgaon parliamentary constituency was carved out in 2008 and first elections for the seat were held in 2009, it was for the first time that the Congress went with a candidate who does not belong to the Yadav community, which has a sizable presence in south Haryana. Singh, a prominent Ahir leader, who joined the BJP after switching over from the Congress in 2014, had represented Gurgaon in 2009 as Congress MP. Prior to this, Singh has also served as MP twice from Mahendragarh, which is Bhiwani-Mahendragarh constituency from 2009. Among the development works, Singh highlights the inauguration (by Prime Minister Narendra Modi) of the 19km-long Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway that will cut travel time between Delhi and Gurgaon, inauguration of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Rewari, and connecting old Gurgaon with metro, among others.

An embodiment of cultural harmony in Mattancherry Dharmanath Jain Temple

KOCHI: Everyday, a little past noon, hundreds of pigeons are seen descending on the roof of Dharmanath Jain Temple in Mattancherry to await the calls of Prafulbhai V Shah. As with other customs of this over-a-century-old temple, feeding pigeons is also a cherished ritual here. The tradition started about 19 years ago. Today, it attracts a lot of visitors to the temple. Anyone is welcome to feed the birds. You just need to call them with affection, says Prafulbhai, a member of the Jain community. Built in 1904, the temple is dedicated to the 15th Tirthankara. According to the locals, the birds are often seen since noon waiting patiently on the roof or on the temple premises for Prafulbhai to finish chanting prayers and feed them. Even during a time when the entire country was torn by communal strives and rebellions, the Mattancherry community was welcoming of everyone Gujaratis, Marathis, Kashmiris, Jews and Parsis. This is as true today as it was in the olden days, thus shaping the locality into a renowned cultural hub. Nowhere is this warmth more profound than at Dharmanath Jain Temple. After the port town of Muziris on the Malabar coast was destroyed by a Periyar in spate during the 14th century, Kochi evolved into a bustling trading centre. Traders from Kutch and Saurashtra started settling here in numbers, says Prakash P, local historian and president of Changampuzha Samskarika Kendram. According to him, the Jain temple was set up in memory of a wealthy trader by his wife Hirubhai Jivraj Dhanji. Prafulbhai V Shah feeds pigeons in the temple compound The Mulnayak or the main deity of the temple is Dharmananda, Prakash adds. Its architecture is similar to the Jain temples of Gujarat. The whole marble interior of the temple is decorated with works of art, sculptured pillars and idols of Jain gods and Tirthankaras. The idols worshipped here are from 1,000 years ago. There are 24 Tirthankaras in Jainism and their idols adorn the temples wall, says Karishma Parekh, a Jain believer and member of the temples governing body. There are two temples in this compound. While one has Dharmananda as its deity, the other has Chandraprabha. When we were young, the temple was known as Velakku Kathikaatha Ambalam (temple without lights), as none of the lanterns were lit, even at night, says V K Hamza, who runs a shop on Gujarati Road. The temple is governed by Murtipujak Jain Sangh, which mainly includes Gujarati believers. There are about 350 Jain families in West Kochi, all of whom take an ardent part in the temples activities. The Paryushana or eight days of self-purification is an important annual holy event for Jain believers. Days like Mahavir Jayanti are not just auspicious for our community, but for entire Mattancherry. The cultural harmony that is so engrained here is treasured by all. Love and non-violence are the tenets of Jainism. They are also the foundations of Mattancherry, says Karishma. There & Then Weekly column on historic, iconic places in the city. Send suggestions to xpresskochi@gmail.com

JJP MLA Sihag's Support for BJP's Chautala Reflects National Priority

JJP MLA Sihag's Support for BJP's Chautala Reflects National Priority JJP MLA Jogi Ram Sihag on Friday announced his support for Ranjit Singh Chautala, the BJP candidate from the Hisar seat in Haryana in the Lok Sabha elections, saying national interest is above party. Sihag also said he has been impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of taking the country on a path of development. Extending his support to Ranjit Singh Chautala, Sihag -- the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) MLA from Barwala in Hisar district, said it was a ''collective decision'' taken with his supporters. ''It was not my decision alone. All present in the gathering decided that national interest is above all and party comes later,'' Sihag later told PTI over phone. ''Therefore, me and my supporters have decided to extend support to Chaudhary Ranjit Singh (Chautala),'' he said. Asked about defying his party, which has fielded Naina Chautala from the seat, Sihag said, ''As I said, the decision has been made keeping the country's interest in mind party comes later.'' He added that he and his supporters will campaign for Ranjit Singh Chautala. Speaking on Modi's ''vision'', Sihag said, ''The country is making rapid progress under Modi ji's leadership. Today, our country is looked at with great respect by other nations. This was not the scenario 10 years ago.'' Sihag's decision to support the BJP candidate, however, has not gone down well with the JJP leadership. Former deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala said strict action will be taken if any JJP member is seen under the symbol of a rival outfit. ''If anyone wishes, he can resign from the assembly and from the party. But this trick that they absolve themselves of responsibilities of their own party to support another party will not work,'' the JJP senior leader said in Ambala. ''He (Sihag) had won (the assembly polls) on a JJP symbol. If anyone indulges in such activities, then legal action permitted under election rules will be initiated,'' Dushyant Chautala added. Sihag had last month written to the JJP leadership and sought relief from all party posts, citing personal reasons. The JJP has faced several setbacks since its alliance with the saffron party in Haryana came to an end, with many leaders joining the BJP and the Congress. The JJP's Haryana unit chief Nishan Singh quit last month and joined the Congress. The BJP-JJP alliance in Haryana came to an end in March after the saffron party replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as chief minister with Nayab Singh Saini. Polling for Haryana's 10 Lok Sabha seats will be held on May 25.

Amit Shah Doctored Video: X Reveals Origin Of Fake Video To Police

Four Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) membersShiva Kumar Ambala, Asma Tasleem, Satish Manne, and Naveen Pettemwere being targeted by a Delhi Police squad stationed in Telangana.

Shah deepfake probe: Political leaders skip police summons

NEW DELHI: Not even a single member of any political party on Thursday appeared before Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police special cell in connection with the sharing of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs fake video, officials said. We have asked some of the leaders from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and one person from the Northeast. But no one turned-up for questioning on Thursday, a senior police officer said. The Delhi Police is likely to serve a second notice to the members of the Telangana Congress in connection with the uploading and sharing of the fake video of Shah. The four members of the Telangana Congress, who were supposed to appear before the office of the IFSO, did not come on Wednesday. We will again ask them to appear before the IO (investigating officer), as they did not come on Wednesday, an officer said. The summonses were issued to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and four Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) members, Shiva Kumar Ambala, Asma Tasleem, Satish Manne and Naveen Pettem, under sections 91 and 160 of the CrPC. According to the police sources, if a person is served notice under section 160/91 of the CrPC, the person can either make a physical appearance before the IO or send a legal representative. According to police, about 22 people from various parties in Jharkhand, UP, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have been served notices in connection with the case On Wednesday, Reddys lawyer appeared before Delhi Police and asserted that his client had nothing to do with creating or posting the doctored video. Noida man held for sharing Yogi deepfake A man was arrested on Thursday by the Special Task Force of UP Police for allegedly posting an AI-generated deepfake video of CM Yogi Adityanath, officials said. The purported video was used to spread misleading information and anti-national narrative, the police said.

Kerala government to increase Plus-I seats

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cabinet has decided to allow more batches in government and aided schools in different districts to address the shortage of Plus-I seats. As per the decision, seats will be increased by 30% at government schools in seven districts -- Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod. The cabinet has also decided to bring in a 20% increase in Plus-I seats in aided schools in these districts. In addition, a 10% increase in seats will be allowed at aided schools that demand more batches. The marginal increase in new batches will be made without creating an additional financial burden for the government. It is learned that sanction would also be given for a 20% increase in seats at all government and aided schools in Kollam, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts, in addition to Ambalappuzha and Cherhala taluks in Alappuzha district. There will be no increase in Plus-I seats in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts. The 77 higher secondary batches sanctioned on a temporary basis in 2022-23 and the 97 temporary batches in 2023-24 will continue, subject to clearance from the finance department. Sanctioning 178 additional batches would give the government a financial burden to the tune of about Rs 19 crore.

No Political Affiliation in Amit Shah's Alleged Fake Video Case as No Witnesses Appear

No Political Affiliation in Amit Shah's Alleged Fake Video Case as No Witnesses Appear Not even a single member of any political party on Thursday appeared before Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the special cell of the Delhi Police in connection with the sharing of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's fake video, the officials said. ''We have asked some of the leaders from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and one person from the Northeast. But no one turned-up for questioning on Thursday,'' a senior police officer said. The Delhi Police is likely to serve a second notice to the members of the Telangana Congress in connection with the uploading and sharing of the fake video of Shah. The four members of the Telangana Congress, who were supposed to appear before the office of the (IFSO), did not come on Wednesday. ''We will again ask them to appear before the IO (investigating officer), as they did not come on Wednesday,'' an officer, privy to the investigation said. The summonses were issued to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and four Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) members -- Shiva Kumar Ambala, Asma Tasleem, Satish Manne and Naveen Pettem -- under sections 91 and 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). According to the police sources, if a person is served notice under section 160/91 of the CrPC, the person can either make a physical appearance before the IO or send a legal representative. On Wednesday, Reddy's lawyer appeared before the IO and asserted that the Congress leader had nothing to do with creating or posting the doctored video of Shah's speech. According to police, about 22 people from various political parties in the states of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have been served notices in connection with the case and they have been asked to appear before the police on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The special cell of the Delhi Police had on Sunday registered an FIR after the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which is under the ministry of home affairs (MHA), filed a complaint about the doctored video of Shah where his statements indicating a commitment to abolish quota for Muslims on religious ground in Telangana were changed to make it seem that he was advocating scrapping of all reservations.

Telangana Congress Members to be Re-summoned by Delhi Police in Amit Shah's Fake Video Case

Telangana Congress Members to be Re-summoned by Delhi Police in Amit Shah's Fake Video Case The Delhi Police is likely to serve a second notice to the members of the Telangana Congress in connection with the uploading and sharing a fake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the officials said on Thursday. The four members of the Telangana Congress, who were supposed to appear before the office of the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO), did not come on Wednesday. ''We will again ask them to appear before the IO (investigating officer), as they did not come on Wednesday,'' an officer, privy to the investigation said. The summonses were issued to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and four Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) members -- Shiva Kumar Ambala, Asma Tasleem, Satish Manne and Naveen Pettem -- under sections 91 and 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). According to the police sources, if a person is served notice under section 160/91 of the CrPC, the person can either make a physical appearance before the IO or send a legal representative. On Wednesday, Reddy's lawyer appeared before the IO and asserted that the Congress leader had nothing to do with creating or posting the doctored video of Shah's speech. According to police, about 22 people from various political parties in the states of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have been served notices in connection with the case and they have been asked to appear before the police on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police had on Sunday registered an FIR after the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which is under the ministry of home affairs (MHA), filed a complaint about the doctored video of Shah where his statements indicating a commitment to abolish quota for Muslims on religious ground in Telangana were changed to make it seem that he was advocating scrapping of all reservations.

Fire Quelled at Ambala Ethanol Factory Without Casualties

Fire Quelled at Ambala Ethanol Factory Without Casualties A major fire broke out on Thursday in the boilers of an ethanol factory here and no one was injured in the incident, officials said. Fire Officer of Ambala Cantt Fire station, Pramod Kumar, said more than 10 fire tenders from Ambala Cantt, Ambala City, Naraingarh and Barwala in Panchkula were called to combat the blaze at the factory, which is located in Jatbar village near Naraingarh in this district. The fire was reported in the morning, Kumar said. The ethanol boilers had 2.5 lakh litres of oil, the officials said, adding that thick smoke blanketed the area following the incident. They said the cause of the fire is not known yet. The matter will be investigated and the fire extinguishing arrangements of the factory will also be examined, the officials said.

Telangana CM Revanth's Lawyer Denies Involvement in Doctored Video of Amit Shah

New Delhi: Telangana chief minister A. Revanth Reddy's lawyer on Wednesday appeared before the Delhi police and asserted that the Congress leader had nothing to do with creating or posting the doctored video of Union home minister Amit Shah's speech. Meanwhile, at a rally in Telangana, Mr Reddy accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Shah of adopting a vengeful attitude against him for questioning the BJP over its stand on reservations. The Delhi police had issued summons against Mr Reddy and four members of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, namely Shiva Kumar Ambala, Asma Tasleem, Satish Manne and Naveen Pettem, under Sections 91 and 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for allegedly posting the deepfake video of Mr Shah on X. Mr Reddy's lawyer, in reply to the Delhi police, said his client does not operate the X handle @INCTelangana and as such is unable to provide the information sought by you. He also said that the Delhi police notice appears to be misdirected and requested that they withdraw it immediately. Your attribution that 'video tweeted or retweeted by you on your X handle' is preconceived and incorrect. It is categorically stated that my client has nothing to do with the creation, uploading, tweeting or retweeting of the alleged video, reads the lawyer's reply. The lawyer further said that Mr Reddy's X handle is @revanth_anumula and o tweet or retweet of the alleged video has been made from his handle. Further, the official handle of the chief minister of Telangana on X is @TelanganaCMO. It is stated that, in view of the above facts, your notice appears to be misdirected and based on incorrect information. You are thus requested to withdraw the captioned notice immediately, it said. Meanwhile, according to sources, the Delhi police is close to identifying the creator of the deepfake video. However, before reaching out to the suspect, they have to verify with others who uploaded or forwarded it. The police are still awaiting the response from those who were summoned on Wednesday. A dozen more people are expected to appear in the coming days. Some people from Uttar Pradesh are expected to be questioned on Thursday, another police source said. The Delhi police has not received any reply from the social media platform X regarding reports on those IDs that shared the doctored video of Mr Shah. Notices have also been served to five more people from different Opposition parties for allegedly sharing the video. The Delhi police has also summoned Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur on May 2 in connection with the probe. I received the notice from the Delhi police on Tuesday. But, it is beyond my understanding why the notice was served to me. This is nothing but anarchy, Mr Thakur said. Addressing an election rally in Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency of Hyderabad, Mr Reddy said a case has been registered against him in Delhi based on the complaint of the Union home ministry. I questioned the BJP. When I did that, Mr Modi and Mr Shah resorted to a vengeful attitude and registered a case against me in Delhi, he said. Reacting to the case registered against him, the Telangana CM said, You (Mr Modi) come to my state and threaten the CM, but people of Telangana are not too innocent... They won't be scared... Khabardar (be mindful) PM Ji! You may think that you can threaten me by coming to Telangana. This is my place. This is my territory. You threaten me on my soil? The special cell of the Delhi police had on Sunday registered an FIR after the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Union home ministry, filed a complaint about the doctored video of Mr Shah, in which his statements indicating a commitment to abolish quotas for Muslims on religious grounds in Telangana were changed to make it seem that he was advocating the scrapping of all reservations.

Haryana: BJP, Congress, and INLD Candidates File Nominations for Lok Sabha Elections

Haryana: BJP, Congress, and INLD Candidates File Nominations for Lok Sabha Elections BJP candidate Ranjit Singh Chautala, Congress' Kumari Selja and INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala were among the prominent candidates who filed their nomination papers on Wednesday for the May 25 Lok Sabha polls for the ten seats in Haryana. Haryana Minister Ranjit Chautala, who resigned as an Independent MLA and joined the BJP last month, is contesting from Hisar. Congress general secretary and former Union minister Selja is contesting from the Sirsa (reserve) seat while Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala has entered the fray from the Kurukshetra seat. Among other candidates who filed their nominations on Wednesday include BJP's Banto Kataria from Ambala (reserve) and Congress' Satpal Brahmachari from Sonipat seats. Haryana Youth Congress president Divyanshu Budhiraja, who is contesting against former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, filed his nomination from Karnal. Ranjit Chautala was accompanied by former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, while Selja was accompanied by senior Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, Birender Singh and Kiran Choudhary. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat accompanied Banto Kataria, wife of former Union minister late Rattan Lal Kataria. Rattan Lal Kataria, who passed away last year, was the BJP MP from Ambala (reserve) constituency. Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Congress chief Udai Bhan accompanied Brahmachari in Sonipat and Budhiraja in Karnal. In Kurukshetra, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal was present when Abhay Chautala filed his nomination papers while Jannayak Janta Party's (JJP) Rahul Yadav Fazilpuriya filed his nomination papers from the Gurugram seat. Addressing a gathering in Ambala before Banto Kataria filed her nomination, Chief Minister Saini said the BJP will win all the 10 seats in Haryana with a big mandate. He said the ''double-engine'' government has carried out development in all spheres. He appealed to voters of Ambala to send Banto Kataria to the Lok Sabha with a victory margin of more than five lakh votes. In Hisar, Khattar said that the BJP-led government will return to power at the Centre, saying people have seen six decades of the Congress rule versus the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi dispensation during the past ten years. Addressing a gathering in Kurukshetra, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal appealed to voters to make Abhay Chautala victorious. ''INLD and SAD are like two brothers. Both are parties of farmers, labourers and the poor. The relations between the two parties are not political, but heart-to-heart,'' he said. In his address, Abhay said that falsehood is being spread on social media that if he wins from Kurukshetra, he will shake hands with the BJP. ''I want to make it clear that such a question does not arise. I will neither go with the BJP nor the Congress,'' he said. He also alleged that the national parties want to finish regional parties like SAD and INLD. In Sirsa, Congress' Selja said these polls are to save democracy in the country. She also said the country cannot be divided on lines of caste and religion. In Sonipat, Hooda claimed the people of Haryana have decided to bring the Congress to power in the Assembly polls later this year. The nomination process for the 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in Haryana, for which polling will be held on May 25, began on Monday. The deadline for filing nominations is May 6. The scrutiny of nominations will be done on May 7, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until May 9.

Haryana: Key Candidates File Nominations for Lok Sabha Elections

Haryana: Key Candidates File Nominations for Lok Sabha Elections BJP candidate Ranjit Singh Chautala, Congress' Kumari Selja and INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala were among the prominent candidates who filed their nomination papers on Wednesday for the May 25 Lok Sabha polls. Ranjit Chautala, who joined the BJP last month, is contesting from Hisar. Congress general secretary and former Union minister Selja is contesting from the Sirsa (reserve) seat while Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala has entered the fray from the Kurukshetra seat. Among other candidates who filed their nominations on Wednesday include BJP's Banto Kataria from Ambala (reserve) and Congress' Satpal Brahmachari from Sonipat seats. Ranjit Chautala was accompanied by former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, while Selja was accompanied by senior Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, Birender Singh and Kiran Choudhary. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat accompanied Banto Kataria, wife of former Union minister late Rattan Lal Kataria. Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Congress chief Udai Bhan accompanied Brahmachari in Sonipat. In Kurukshetra, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was present when Abhay Chautala filed his nomination papers. Jannayak Janta Party's (JJP) Rahul Yadav Fazilpuriya filed his nomination papers from the Gurugram seat. The nomination process for the ten Lok Sabha constituencies in Haryana, for which polling will be held on May 25, began on Monday. The deadline for filing nominations is May 6. The scrutiny of nominations will be done on May 7, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until May 9.

BJPs Ambala candidate faces farmers protest

Farmers have been holding protests against the BJP candidates during their Lok Sabha polls campaign to seek answers about their demands not being met

BJP's Ambala candidate faces farmers' protest

Farmers protest in Naggal village against Banto Kataria, questioning barricades at Shambhu border. Gurmeet Singh Majri leads protesters demanding legal guarantee on minimum support price. Aseem Goyal, Ambala City MLA, tries to pacify them.

Kerala sees delayed polls, low voter turnout amid scorching heat, 8 people die

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a Lok Sabha election marred by an uncharacteristic delay of more than five hours, with polling extending well beyond the scheduled time, Kerala on Friday recorded a turnout of 70.35% over 7 percentage points lower than the 2019 polls. The delay led to many voters returning without exercising their franchise. The comparatively low turnout has ignited hopes for the Left while the UDF has approached the Election Commission alleging the absence of free and fair elections. Meanwhile, eight persons collapsed and died due to extreme heat and exhaustion in Palakkad, Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. Lok Sabha polls 2024 | Phase 2: Brisk voter turnout in Kerala Braving the blistering heat, voters turned out in large numbers in the initial hours, thus recording brisk polling in almost all places, except in constituencies like Ponnani and Malappuram. The initial enthusiasm wore off by afternoon as voting slowly declined in southern and central districts. However, the northern districts witnessed huge voter turnout in the evening hours with serpentine queues in many polling booths. Widespread incidents of malfunctioning EVMs reported in several places in Pathanamthitta, where authorities had to replace 40 machines. Polling was held peacefully across the state, with no major incidents of violence. As the polling continued in about 200 booths in northern Kerala even after 10pm, the final poll percentage is likely to go up. Polling was delayed in many booths in Kannur, Vadakara, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Alathur. At 10pm, 2,091 out of 2,248 booths in Kannur had completed the voting process while polling was still on at 157 booths. In Vadakara polling was completed in 1,191 of the 1,206 booths by 10pm. Vadakara, which is witnessing one of the biggest political fights, began with slow polling in the initial hours and picked up by afternoon. Turnout 70.35% - (2024) 77.84% - 2019 73.94% - 2014 Polling remained mostly peaceful despite fierce contests in several constituencies Malfunctioning of EVMs reported in several booths, causing delay in the voting process 75.74% - Highest voter turnout in Kannur 63.35% - Lowest turnout in Pathanamthitta Northern districts witnessed huge voter turnout in the evening hours with serpentine queues at many polling booths As polling continued in about 200 booths in northern Kerala even after 10 pm, the final poll percentage is likely to go up Counting on June 4 At 8pm the Vadakara constituency recorded 73.36% polling. The delay in voting in many booths in Vadakara has led to apprehensions in UDF camps as they suspect an attempt to sabotage. Meanwhile, in Attingal poll percentage remained high right from the beginning. The constituency recorded 69.40% turnout by 8pm. Pathanamthitta recorded the lowest voter turnout of 63.35% in the state. While Ponnani recorded 67.93% polling, another Muslim League stronghold Malappuram recorded 71.68% by 8pm. The state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, which usually marks low voter turnout, recorded 66.43% polling. The Congress strongholds of Idukki (66.39%) and Ernakulam (68.10%) too recorded low turnout. Amid concerns of sweltering heat bringing down the turnout, eight persons collapsed and died on the day. An elderly voter died after exercising his franchise at Ambalappuzha in Alappuzha, while three men died in similar circumstances in Palakkad. As the district recorded a temperature of 41.4 degrees Celsius on Friday, the district administration arranged basic amenities, including drinking water and waiting shelters, for the voters at the polling stations. In Kozhikode, a polling agent and two voters collapsed and died in the intense heat. In Malappuram, a voter died after reaching home. Elections 2024: 21 states, UTs set for polling in phase one; 102 LS seats in fray

After phase one, PM is panicking: KC Venugopal after casting vote in Alappuzha

Alappuzha: Congress candidate KC Venugopal cast his vote today at a polling booth in the Alappuzha constituency in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Venugopal is in the electoral fray against Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate AM Ariff and Bharatiya Janata Party's Sobha Surendran from the Alappuzha seat in Kerala After casting his vote, Venugopal told ANI, I am confident that the people of Alleppey will stand with me. After phase one of the Lok Sabha elections, the PM is panicking. I thank the PM for bringing the Congress manifesto into the public domain in a big way. Our manifesto is for the people whereas BJP's is for Adani and Ambani. In Kerala, UDF will sweep all 20 seats. The way BJP and CPM attacked Rahul Gandhi, the people of Wayanad will show that they are with him. The land of backwaters, with its history of swinging in favour of both the majors, Congress and the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), comprises seven assembly segments spread across Alappuzha and Kollam districts, namely, Aroor, Cherthala, Alappuzha, Ambalappuzha, Haripad, Kayamkulam and Karunagappally. Alappuzha is a stronghold of Congress, though this constituency has a communist legacy. Venugopal has a successful electoral history in Alappuzha, where he won the seat in the 2009 and 2014 general elections. Voting in all the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala is underway in the second phase. The results will be announced on June 4. Earlier, BJP-led NDA candidate from Thrissur Suresh Gopi cast his vote in Thrissur, Kerala in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election 2024 on Friday. After casting his vote, Gopi spoke about the significance of this election and the participation of the people in Kerala. You will see the people's hearts. The nation will see the participation of Kerala in the national development movement, sai Suresh Gopi, NDA candidate from Thrissur, after casting his vote. So the heart will bloom and Thrissur and such other constituencies in the states, Gopi said.

In Wayanad, questions & answers emerge on Rahuls absence

Rahul Gandhi has a tummy ache. After Amethi 2019, there is no way he wants a headache in Wayanad, the constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha, where even his fanboys admit he is not visible often enough. In this green undulating expanse of coffee plantations and tea estates scalloping the mountainsides and the homes of wealthy landowners looking down upon verdant valleys, the population is predominantly Muslim and Christian. Rahul has sent sister Priyanka to campaign in his place, the day before the loudspeakers fall silent and the drums are put away. Kambalakkadu, a small marketplace with an even smaller public maidan is where Priyanka Gandhi will make her first stump speech on the last leg of her poll tour, a half hour or so helicopter hop from Karnataka. The vast majority of the crowd that has gathered to see and hear Priyanka comprises women, mostly with hijab or burqa to protect them either from sun or the BJPs glare. They crowd shop verandahs, a shaded long gallery of a street side building upon which Congress tricolor flags and buntings flutter in the wind. The lady is late, though. The sun is hot. The campaign platform is a purplish mobile van with an awning under which stands a tall lectern. In the background is dynasty art: brother and sister joyfully beaming at people. Is he going to win? With a larger majority, than before, says a young man. He will lose, declares BJPs formidable state president K Surendran who is contesting against Rahul. How did his majority happen? Its not the Congress vote bank that is responsible for his victory last time. This is a Muslim League stronghold. Congress minus the League is a big zero. The third candidate is Annie Raja, wife of the veteran communist D Raja. Many people in Wayanad are perplexed why she should be put up by the LDF against two formidable opponents. She is a gentle person, and it will be humiliating when she loses, observes a passerby, who had paused to watch. The crowd is being entertained by a local black-shirted IUML leader whose target seems to be the hapless Pinarayi Vijayan who is in hot water because of the corruption scandals raining on him and the ED expressing a keen interest in his Bangalore based daughter Veenas business against which a money laundering case has been registered. The IUML speechmaker is tenacious; he has to keep the waiting crowd interested until the star of the show arrives. Where is he hiding? Did he visit Wayanad when a young college boy was forced to commit suicide by RSS? Did he visit Wayanad when an elephant chased a man and trampled him to death, it was Rahul ji who helped the family. The human-animal conflict is a major crisis in the thickly forested district where 41 people were killed by elephants and seven in tiger attacks over the last decade. In 2022-23, 8,873 people were injured and 98 died, according to the Economic Review 2022-23. A few kilometers away, BJPs southern star K Annamalai is holding his road show in Wayanad. Annamalai, who quit the IPS to join the BJP, is trusted by Modi and the RSS to deliver Tamil Nadu to the saffron monolith. The Tamil Nadu BJP party president is in his customary white shirt, as punctual as any punctilious police officer who never keeps anyone waiting. Though Surendran plays the local card by calling Rahul an ally of the banned terror outfit PFI, Annamalai sticks to the national strategy adopted by all parties contesting for Kerala: a war for, or against Modi; Vocal for Local is on hold for now. Were not here to defeat Rahul Gandhi, but to save and serve this constituency, Annamalai, who is contesting from Coimbatore on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, declares. Rahuls nemesis Smriti Irani who had visited Wayanad in early April had questioned his loyalty to the people of any constituency he represents. Rahul Gandhi declared Wayanad as his family. What about his loyalty to Amethi? She had trounced him in Amethi, considered a Gandhi family pocket borough until 2019, by about 55,000 votes while Rahul won in Wayanad by 4.3 lakh votes: the current UDF target is to take that number to 5 lakh. The region has not been short of heavy hitters of all hues this election. On April 23, Mallikarjun Kharge held a road show. A senior Congressman looked uneasy when questioned why Rahul stood from Wayanad. He admitted that the Congress wasnt sure he would have won from Amethi last time, and even this time. You say Rahul will win by a bigger margin. What has he done for Wayanad? a local businessman is asked. What has he not done? He has done everything. How do you expect such an important man to come here all the time? He has people here who do what he instructs them. Drinking water connectivity is a boiling crisis across Kerala, particularly in hill areas like Wayanad. Surendran has scored points by getting bore wells dug and pumps installed at his own cost in some tribal areas. There is a feeling here that Rahul has neglected Wayanad by being absent, says Surendran. Wayanad has a strong minority vote bank. Wont that work for Rahul? The minority is not a single bloc. The Christians oppose whatever Muslims think or say. Youre underestimating Muslim women, they dont reveal their true intentions. Is the Ram Temple a factor in Wayanad? Of course, it is. There are a few temples here that are closely associated with Sri Ram. People here believe he passed through Wayanads forests during his exile, Surendran says. But this time, the veneration seems reserved more for Rahul. The dramatic arrival of Priyanka is heralded by drum beats and clouds of saffron, white, green and green confetti. Big sister is here with her brothers message. The lady herself is in a green salwar kameez and dupatta; cynics would gripe that she is playing to the Muslim gallery. She beams at the audience and waves. Priyanka has a presence, an undeniable aura as she mingles easily with the leaders and workers gathered on the stage. Her body language isnt arrogant, her face wears an unfaltering smile. She is the perfect political figure until she starts to speak. Her tone is monotonous, voice androgynous and words cliches. The BJP realises that despite all the infirmities in Congress, the Gandhi family is still a name to reckon with. Nazi propaganda genius Joseph Goebbels had a working maxim: Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth. The BJPs repetitive rhetoric that Rahul has done little for Wayanad may not be the total truth but the party certainly hopes reiteration will work in its favour. The general wisdom is that Rahul will win a second term comfortably, though the margin may be considerably narrow.

Kerala: Adoor Prakash accuses collector for failing to tackle issue of voter-duplication

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: UDFs Attingal candidate Adoor Prakash on Thursday reiterated his allegation of rampant duplication in the voters list, saying the district collector had failed to address the issue. Addressing a press conference on the eve of the vote in the state, Prakash said the High Court had directed electoral officials and the district collector to hand over all the details about duplication in the voters list to candidates. But officials have only provided partial details, he claimed. Prakash said numerous people were found to be having multiple votes and government officials were responsible for providing them with different voter ID cards. Action should be taken against such government officials, he said. He said the UDF has prepared the list of duplicate voters in each booth and it will be passed on to party workers and polling officials. Engaged in a tough triangular contest, Prakash on Thursday devoted time to attend marriages and took stock of preparations visiting election committee offices in the assembly segments. He also inaugurated a dental clinic in Kallambalam. Continuing with his one-on-one interactions, the UDF candidate visited the houses of some newlyweds, whose ceremonies he could not attend owing to the campaign. He also visited the houses of some people who had died recently and offered his condolences. UDF workers, meanwhile, engaged in door-to-door campaigning. Social media activity also picked up over the day. Prakash will cast his vote in Adoor in the morning before returning to his constituency.

Congress Announces Candidates for 8 Lok Sabha Seats in Haryana, Including Kumari Selja and Deepender Hooda

Congress Announces Candidates for 8 Lok Sabha Seats in Haryana, Including Kumari Selja and Deepender Hooda The Congress on Thursday night announced its candidates for eight of the nine Lok Sabha seats it is contesting in Haryana, fielding former Union minister Kumari Selja from Sirsa and Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda from Rohtak. Selja will take on her former colleague and BJP candidate Ashok Tanwar in the Sirsa-SC Lok Sabha constituency. Both Selja and Tanwar are former Haryana Congress chiefs, and a keen contest is on the cards for the seat. Selja has represented the Sirsa-SC constituency earlier as well. She is currently the Congress' general secretary and in-charge of the party's Uttarakhand affairs. Party sources said that 400 aspirants had applied for Congress tickets in the state. The party's Haryana youth wing president Divanshu Budhiraja has been fielded from the Karnal seat and will take on former state chief minister and BJP candidate Manohar Lal Khattar from the prestigious constituency. The Congress has fielded former MP Jai Prakash from the Hisar constituency, denying the ticket to Brijendra Singh, who represented the seat as a BJP MP and switched sides a few days ago. Brijendra Singh is the son of former Union minister Birender Singh, who also rejoined the Congress after being in the BJP for a decade. Deepender Hooda, son of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, will take on Arvind Sharma of the BJP from the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat. Deepender Hooda has represented the Rohtak parliamentary constituency three times in the past. The Congress fielded Satpal Brahmachari from the Sonipat parliamentary constituency and Mahendra Pratap from Faridabad. Two sitting MLAs have also found place in the party's list -- Varun Choudhary from the Ambala-SC seat and former Haryana minister Rao Dan Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh. Varun Choudhary is the son of former state Congress chief Phool Chand Mullana. Former MP from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh Shruti Choudhary, daughter of senior Congress leader and MLA Kiran Choudhary, did not feature in this list. The party nominated B S Hooda-loyalist Rao Dan Singh instead from the seat. The Congress is contesting nine of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. The Aam Aadmi Party, a constituent of the opposition INDIA bloc, will contest the Kurukshetra seat. The Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the Gurugram constituency. Several loyalists of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh have found mention in the list. The Congress had come under attack from rival parties, including the ruling BJP, over the alleged delay in announcing the names of candidates for Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and some other rival outfit leaders had accused the Congress of running away from the contest for fear of defeat. Some rival leaders had also alleged that the Congress was not being able to come out with names of candidates due to infighting in its Haryana unit. The ruling BJP named its candidates for six Lok Sabha seats in Haryana on March 13, three days before general elections were announced. The party named its remaining four candidates for the state on March 24. Voting in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 25 and notification for the polls will be issued on April 29.

The Rolling Stones to Headline New Orleans Jazz Fest 2024, Opening the Festivities on Thursday

The Rolling Stones to Headline New Orleans Jazz Fest 2024, Opening the Festivities on Thursday It looks like the third time is the charm as the 2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival prepares, again, for The Rolling Stones to perform. The festival, which spans two weekends, opened on Thursday with dozens of acts playing daily on 14 stages spread throughout the historic Fair Grounds race course. The Stones play next Thursday, May 2, tickets for which have long been sold out. In 2019, festival organisers thought they had landed the legendary rock band, but the appearance was cancelled because lead singer Mick Jagger had heart surgery. They tried again in 2021, but a surge in COVID-19 cases ultimately forced the fest to cancel. Now, says festival producer Quint Davis, It's gonna be special. This will be the first time the Stones play Jazz Fest. Opening day acts include rock bands Widespread Panic and The Beach Boys, reggae artist Stephen Marley and jazz vocalist John Boutte. The talent is great, the weather is projected to be good and people's expectations are going to be met, Davis said. Blue skies, sunshine and temperatures in the 80s were forecast for opening day Thursday. Long lines of people were seen patiently waiting to buy big cups of iced tea, lemonade and coffee. Umbrellas, big hats and sunglasses were the accessories of the day. Similar weather was expected for the rest of the first weekend, which runs through Sunday and showcases performances by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jon Batiste, country megastar Chris Stapleton, R and B singer Fantasia, rock band Heart, Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw and The Cute Guys, jazz pianist Patrice Rushen, and blues and folk artist Ruthie Foster. Walter Agnew of Round Lake, New York, said attending the festival had been on his bucket list since he retired from working at a chemical plant in 2020. COVID canceled my trip then but I finally made it here for the 2022 festival and I came last year. This will be my third in a row, he said. Agnew said he's looking forward to Stapleton's performance on Saturday and Heart's on Sunday and of course The Rolling Stones next week but you really can't go wrong by any of the acts. I'm just amazed at how they're able to put all this entertainment together in one spot, he said. Of course it's going to be good. Ginger Schell, of New Orleans, is a regular Jazz Fest attendee. Asked why she continues to return, Schell said laughing, It's everything. It's the music. It's the food. It's the music! She said she and her family won't be able to see next week's performance by The Stones, noting the tickets were out of her budget. But we generally don't come for any one act in particular, she said. We just park our gear in a spot in front of the festival stage and wander throughout the grounds and look forward to being surprised.'' Anticipation for the Stones' performance is palpable, Davis said. All I'm hearing is How can I get a ticket?' he said of fans trying to see the marquee performance. Unfortunately for some, that day sold out in like a day-and-a-half after tickets went on sale. I think people have just waited so long for this. The Rolling Stones in October released Hackney Diamonds, their first album of original material since 2005 and their first without drummer Charlie Watts, who died in 2021. Though he hasn't seen a set list, Davis said fans can expect to hear a mix of greatest hits and new releases. No special guests are expected to perform with the Rolling Stones, but Davis said never say never. Just expect euphoria,'' he said laughing. ''I think maybe we're going to need some ambulances on site because people are going to spontaneously combust from the excitement. And, they're playing in a daylight event. They're gonna be able to make eye contact with the audience. That's going to create a really special bond. Acts on the festival's 14 stages usually play simultaneously beginning when gates open at 11 a.m. and continuing until the music ends at 7 p.m. But the other stages will shut down next week when the Stones take the stage. We didn't want to have 13 empty stages and no people in front of them when the Stones start singing favourites like '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' and Jumpin' Jack Flash,''' Davis said. Everyone who bought a ticket for that day primarily bought one to see The Stones. Davis said tickets for the festival's other days remain available and can be purchased online through their website. Much of Jazz Fest celebrates the Indigenous music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana but the music encompasses nearly every style imaginable: blues, R and B, gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, folk, Latin, rock, rap, contemporary and traditional jazz, country, bluegrass and everything in between. Colombia's rhythms, from music to dance and food, also will be highlighted this year as part of the festival's cultural exchange. Close to 200 Colombian artists are scheduled to participate, including headliners Bomba Estreo on Saturday, ChocQuibTown's lead singer Goyo in a guest appearance with local band F on Sunday, and salsa legends Grupo Niche closing the celebration on May 5. And don't forget the food. During the festival, food available on site includes crawfish bread, pecan catfish meuniere and catfish almondine, cochon de lait and turducken po-boys, boudin, crawfish touffe, jambalaya, crawfish Monica and shrimp and grits.

National leaders campaign aggressively in Kerala on last day of electioneering

Thiruvananthapuram: With just hours left for the culmination of public campaigning, top leaders of political parties including union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi addressed a series of public meetings across Kerala on Thursday seeking support for their respective candidates. Amit Shah unleashed a frontal attack on the ruling LDF claiming that the communists were finished across the world and India. Congress is also facing a similar fate here. Modi will become the prime minister for the third time and free Kerala from the politics of violence, he said. BJP candidate Shobha Surendran is contesting from Alappuzha constituency against AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and sitting MP A M Arif of the CPM. Congress president Malikarjun Kharge campaigned for Shashi Tharoor, the UDF candidate in Thiruvananthapuram. Tharoor is caught in a triangular contest against Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar of the BJP and former MP Pannyan Raveendran of the LDF. Kharge lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for spreading falsehoods about the party manifesto. We have spoken about caste census and economic survey to find out the socio-economic status of various communities. There is no mention of redistribution of wealth yet the BJP is spreading fake stories, he said. The Congress president accused Modi of inducting all corrupt leaders into the BJP fold. On the one hand, Modi talks about fighting corruption but takes in all the corrupt people. They have a washing machine which cleans all the corrupt once they join the BJP, he said. Priyanka campaigns in Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi led a massive roadshow in Wayanad in support of Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi. She addressed public meetings in Kambalakkad and Wandoor. The Congress leader assured the people that her party and the India Alliance would implement the promises made in their manifesto. Priyanka The state goes to polls in a single phase on April 26. Voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm on Friday in all 20 constituencies in the state. The Congress-led UDF received a massive mandate in 2019 winning 19 of the 20 seats. Later one of the MPs of the Kerala Congress became part of the LDF after his party Kerala Congress Mani decided to join the ruling front.

Four arrested for bid to hurl Molotov cocktail on Ambedkar statue in Cuddalore district

The petrol bomb however, landed on a dilapidated building next to the statue; police say a caste dispute in Ambalavananpettai, where the statue is located, led to the incident

Discover Indian culture, nature, animals at Tuli: Exploring interplay

At the India International Centre in New Delhi, the Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (T.R.I.S.) presents a captivating exhibition titled Self-Discovery via Rediscovering India, showcasing the vibrant tapestry of Indian art, cinema & cultural heritage with a focus on the intricate relationship between humans, nature and animals, particularly canine children, or dogs in common parlance. The striking oleograph by the Ravi Varma Press of Lord Dattatreya, the god of Pasupati, accompanied by four stray dogs is one example. The four dogs have been over the ages variously interpretated as symbolizing the four Vedas, or the four yugas, among other spiritual facets of the living consciousness. This ancient bond between human and canine reflects the deep respect accorded to dogs in Indian culture and Hinduism, recognizing them as eternal and compassionate companions. In modern fine art, the dog has also been depicted with a blend of pain and joy, capturing the complexity of its relationship with humanity. Master artists such as Somnath Hore, Amit Ambalal, Debiprasad Roy Choudhury, Jyoti Bhatt, among others, have portrayed the dog with profound depth, reflecting the myriad emotions associated with this beloved creature. However, amidst this celebration of the bond between humans and dogs, the exhibition tours sheds light on a sobering reality the cruel treatment of stray street canine children by certain sections of society. This gap between the reverence for dogs in Indian culture and religion and their treatment in contemporary society serves as a poignant reminder of the need for greater understanding and compassion. As Neville Tuli, the visionary behind the institution aptly observes, The canine child, has always been the most respected companion of the human being, a true friend to the common man. However, recently, with certain sections of society, who cannot understand or have not had the opportunity to love or be loved by the stray dog, their fears and paranoias dominate their thinking and actions, for few can speak effectively on behalf of the dog. Thus, any minor menace, however rare, is easily blown up and distorted into a hyped media frenzy, and the poor street dog is being driven into corners to quietly die. Additionally, with harshly enforced sterilisation programmes, the sly and slow genocide of the street dog is happening before our very eyes. This crass model is copying the emotionally nave and foolish behaviour of western societies fifty years ago, where the obedient pet is now the only role available to the dog. Their freedom and the right to live on the street, so bringing joy and decency to harsh realities, is being stolen away from them. As visitors navigate through the exhibition, they are invited to reflect on their own relationship with animals and nature and contemplate the profound lessons that can be gleaned from Indian art, culture, and heritage. In doing so, they embark on a journey of self-discovery, rekindling a sense of reverence for all living beings and reaffirming the interconnectedness of humanity and the natural world. Disclaimer: No Deccan Chronicle journalist was involved in creating this content. The group also takes no responsibility for this content.

Jammu Mail among 2 trains to remain cancelled today

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 22: Due to farmers protest, Jammu Mail from New Delhi to Katra was cancelled today while train number 14661 from Barmer to Jammu was short-terminated at Delhi. Besides, several other trains were diverted due to farmers protest on Ambala -Amritsar route. Official sources told the Excelsior that besides Jammu Mail from Katra to New Delhi, Kalka to Katra train shall also remain cancelled on April 23. Depending upon the situation, a few other Jammu bound trains [] The post Jammu Mail among 2 trains to remain cancelled today appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Bird flu detected in Kuttanad; situation under control, says Kerala

According to officials, there wereare reports of mass bird deaths from Muttar and Ambalapuzha North in Alappuzha district on Sunday

Travel tips: How do couples reach Manali? Know about places and activities that enhance romance

If you have recently got married and are planning to go on honeymoon, then visiting some places in India in this season is the best option. However, while planning your honeymoon, choose the place as per your time and budget. The couple has taken long holidays for the wedding, in such a situation, if you are not getting more days off from the office to go on honeymoon or are troubled by the burden of wedding expenses and the budget is also not high, then choose such places. Where you can enjoy more in less days, that too in budget. Hill stations of Himachal Pradesh will be perfect for going on honeymoon. Shimla and Manali are among the most popular hill stations of Himachal. You can go to Manali to spend loving time with your spouse in a peaceful environment away from too many crowds. Before going to Manali, couples should collect complete information about how they can travel to Manali from their city. How much will it cost to go to Manali, what and where can you go in Manali, and how couples can enjoy it, complete information will be available in this article. How much time is needed to visit Manali? Couples get many honeymoon offers in Manali for romance in the mountains. If you are going to Manali on honeymoon then leave at least 2 to 3 days. This time is best suited for romantic activities and admiring the beauty of Manali. Places to visit in Manali on honeymoon Many beautiful Manali honeymoon places provide a better experience to couples like the famous Rohtang Pass, Gulaba, Kothi, and Rafala Falls. Hidimba Devi Temple There is Hidimba Devi temple in Old Manali which is open for tourists from 8 am to 6 pm. It may take 1 to 2 hours to travel around. This pagoda-style temple has been made of wood. The view around it is worth seeing. Manu Temple, Maa Sharwari Temple, and Tibet Monastery are also located nearby. Jogini Falls Jogini Falls, located on Vashishtha Road, is at a distance of 2.8 km from Manali. This famous place of Devi Jogini village and Shaktipeeth gives a lovely experience to couples. Solang Valley Solang Valley is 14 km away from Manali, which takes 3 to 4 hours to reach. You can enjoy adventure sports from 9 am to 5 pm. One can do paragliding, skiing, parachuting, and horse riding here. This valley is one of the best places in India for paragliding. Bhrigu Lake It takes 2-3 hours to reach Bhrigu Lake, located in Kullu, 22 km from Manali. Maharishi Bhrigu had meditated here. From here couples can also go camping and see strawberry plantations on the way. Romantic activities for couples in Kullu Manali Apart from visiting the famous places of Manali, couples can also enjoy many romantic activities. Treehouse Kullu Manali Valley is surrounded by greenery, where couples can stay in tree houses during their honeymoon and spend time with each other in a serene and lush green area away from the crowd. You will find tree houses in Caten. Holding your partner's hand or falling into their arms while watching the sunrise or sunset from the mountains can be a very romantic experience. Manali also offers this kind of experience. How to reach Manali Air- If you are going to Manali by flight then Bhuntar is the nearest airport which is 50 km from Manali. From here you can take a taxi to Manali. Rail route- If you are going to Manali through railway transport then reach Joginder Nagar railway station from many major cities of the country. If there is no direct train from your city to Jogindernagar then reach Chandigarh and Ambala railway station. By Road- If you want to go to Manali by road, then the distance from Delhi to Manali is 532 km. One can reach Manali by taking a 16-hour night journey by bus. Apart from state transport buses, many private buses also leave for Manali from Delhi. You can also travel to Manali in your car. (PC: ISTOCK)

BJP will retain all 10 LS seats in Haryana: Party's Ambala candidate Banto Kataria

BJP will retain all 10 LS seats in Haryana: Party's Ambala candidate Banto Kataria It is her first Lok Sabha election but Banto Kataria, BJP candidate from Ambala and former Union minister Rattan Lal Kataria's wife, is confident that the work done by the party's ''double-engine'' government and her husband's legacy would ensure her victory. ''It will be '400 paar' this time. People have made up their mind to bring back (Narendra) Modi ji as the prime minister for the third time,'' Banto Kataria told PTI, referring to the BJP's target of winning over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. She said she tells voters in her constituency that in these 400-plus seats, one should be from Ambala. Haryana has benefitted a lot from the ''double-engine'' government. The speed of development projects and implementation of schemes has gained momentum in the state, the BJP candidate said. During the last 10 years, the country has made rapid progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, including in agriculture and infrastructure sectors, she added. ''The Modi government also took many steps towards women empowerment, which has remained a pivotal focus of the Centre,'' said Banto Kataria, citing the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament and various government schemes. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam provides for reserving one-third seats in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies for women. Over 10 crore LPG connections have been provided under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the BJP candidate said. The 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme, which was launched by Prime Minister Modi nine years ago from Panipat, has also yielded positive results in the state, she said. The 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme aims to prevent gender-based elimination of foetus and ensure the survival and protection of the girl child as well as her education. Banto Kataria said a lot of development took place in Ambala under former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Now, the Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini-led government will take Haryana to new heights, she said. ''It is also a matter of happiness for the people of the Ambala region that for the first time after Haryana was carved out as a separate state, we have a chief minister from Ambala district,'' she said. ''Only in the BJP can an ordinary worker rise to the top,'' she said. Like the 2019 general elections, Banto Kataria claimed, the BJP will win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, which goes to polls on May 25. She said she has been campaigning in different parts of Ambala parliamentary constituency, including Panchkula and Yamunanagar, and has been getting a lot of support from the people. Banto Kataria acknowledges that the support she is getting is in part due to the legacy left behind by her husband. ''People loved Kataria ji a lot. He always used to tell people that the doors of his home are always open for everyone... he used to raise people's voice and issues connected to them in Parliament and was always concerned about the region's development,'' she said. She said her husband's dream was to make Ambala the number one city in north India. A lot of work has already been done in this direction. Ambala has good road and rail connectivity and industry can flourish here. The tourism sector also has a lot of potential, she added. Rattan Lal Kataria, who was the BJP's Dalit face in Haryana, represented Ambala in the Lok Sabha three times. After he passed away last year, the BJP fielded his wife as its candidate from the Ambala (reserved) constituency. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rattan Lal Kataria defeated Congress veteran Kumari Selja by a margin of 3.42 lakh votes. Banto Kataria also targeted the Congress, dubbing it a ''divided house''. The party has not even announced its Ambala candidate yet, she said. Haryana Agriculture Minister and BJP MLA from Jagadhri in Yamunanagar Kanwar Pal, Transport Minister and Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel, and Ambala Cantt MLA Anil Vij have campaigned for Banto Kataria. Banto Kataria is pitted against INLD's Gurpreet Singh, a Sikh face.

JJP MLAs have spoken against Dushyant Chautala, he should look inwards: Haryana CM

JJP MLAs have spoken against Dushyant Chautala, he should look inwards: Haryana CM Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Sunday targeted former deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, saying that JJP leader's own party MLAs have pointed fingers at him and he should look inwards. Saini made the remarks while talking to reporters after addressing a public gathering in Panchkula district in support of BJP candidate Banto Kataria from Ambala Lok Sabha seat. ''Dushyant Chautala should look inwards and see what they have done and have not done. The kind of things said by his own MLAs...who have spoken against him and not us. He should understand his MLAs who have said some things pertaining to corruption,'' he said. The chief minister was asked that top JJP leaders have been targeting the BJP government on various fronts in recent weeks. ''Our government works on the basis of transparency, be it (previous) Manohar Lal Khattar's government or now the one headed by me, there is no compromise on corruption. If any person is found involved in corruption, strict action will be taken,'' he asserted. When asked if the government will get JJP MLAs' allegations against Chautala probed, Saini said, ''If we get an application, we will definitely get things probed.'' In 2019, the JJP extended support to the BJP after the saffron party fell short of the majority mark in the assembly elections. The BJP-JJP alliance ended last month after which the JJP leadership said it would field its candidates on all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. The JJP on Tuesday announced names of five Lok Sabha poll candidates for Haryana. Former MP Ajay Singh Chautala and Dushyant Chautala had formed the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in December 2018 after a split in the INLD earlier that year following a feud in the Chautala family.

Farmer protest at Shambhu: 73 trains cancelled on Ambala-Amritsar route

Farmer protest at Shambhu trains cancelled on AmbalaAmritsar route