Sugar Industry Woes: Congress accuses BJP of Neglect in Uttar Pradesh
Sugar Industry Woes: Congress accuses BJP of Neglect in Uttar Pradesh The Congress on Sunday alleged that the BJP government has neglected Uttar Pradesh farmers' frequent calls to increase the price of sugarcane and 'ignored' the plight of once-thriving sugar industry in the state. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rallies in Etawah and Dhaurahra. ''Why has the trauma centre in Sitapur Hospital been defunct for 7 years? Was the promise to prioritise Tomato-Onion-Potato (TOP) yet another jumla? Why have sugarcane prices remained abysmally low in UP?'' Ramesh said in a post on X. Ramesh said the trauma centre at the Sitapur District Hospital has been lying unused for seven years. It was built during the tenure of the previous state government but the BJP has neglected it since coming to power, he alleged. ''As a result, patients often have to go all the way to Lucknow to avail of treatment. Why has the BJP government so callously endangered the lives of the people? Why has the trauma centre been gathering dust for the last 7 years?'' he asked. Ramesh further said the potato farmers in the state have struggled because of massive price fluctuations in the last few years. Asserting that Uttar Pradesh is India's largest potato producer, Ramesh said last year, potato growers in areas like Etawah, Farrukhabad, Kannauj and Auraiya reported selling their produce at rates below the state government's minimum price because of high produce. ''Farmers were only able to fetch Rs 500 per quintal, less than half their production cost of Rs 1200-1400 per quintal. In 2018, the PM had made the grand promise that Tomato, Onion, and Potato (TOP) were the TOP priority of his government. What happened to this TOP promise? Was it yet another jumla?'' he said. ''According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh is India's largest sugarcane producer. Yet, the BJP government has neglected farmers' frequent calls to increase the price of sugarcane,'' he alleged. He said the sugarcane prices stood at Rs 360 per quintal in UP, which is lower than Rs 386 per quintal in Punjab and Rs 391 per quintal in Haryana. ''Price hikes have also failed to keep pace with inflation and farmers are now struggling due to the rising cost of fertilisers and pesticides. The area under cultivation has also come down by almost 4,000 hectares in the last three years, which is now causing problems for UP's sugar mills,'' the Congress leader said. Amidst sugarcane shortages, mills are struggling to pay farmers on time, and many fear that the mills will shut down permanently, he alleged. ''This vicious cycle is threatening the livelihoods of sugarcane farmers and mill workers but the BJP government is nowhere to be seen. Can the PM tell us why the BJP has ignored the plight of UP's once thriving sugar industry?'' Ramesh said asking the prime minister to break his ''silence'' on these issues.
After DU, Jindal University invites volunteers to prepare for Viksit Bharat run event
NEW DELHI : Two days after Delhi University announced to hold a Run for Viksit Bharat event with 5,000 students participants on May 8, OP Jindal Global University (JGU) has also sent an email to the students announcing a Viksit Bharat programme on Sunday. The email said the event, named Democracy in Action Programme, will give selected students an opportunity to work closely with the Chancellor of JGU, Naveen Jindal, a candidate for the Lok Sabha poll from the Kurukshetra constituency in Haryana. The Viksit Bharat campaign was launched by the Prime Minister in December last year. It aims to give a platform to the youth to contribute thoughts to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the idea of a developed India by 2047, the 100th year of Independence. Earlier, Delhi University teachers groups on Friday condemned the event announced by the institution. The associations said the 2.5-km Run for Viksit Bharat event, which came following a meeting between university officials and BJP leader Kuljeet Singh Chahal on Thursday, was a violation of the Election Commissions Model Code of Conduct (MCC), enforced in view of the Lok Sabha elections. The DTF (Delhi University Teachers Front) on Friday issued a statement refuting the varsity administrations claim that the event is being organised to create awareness about and participation in the Lok Sabha polls. The teachers questioned the name of the event, Run for Viksit Bharat, saying advertising a government campaign with the MCC in place is illegal. Moreover, the DTF said, if the intention was to increase voter awareness and participation in the Lok Sabha polls, the event ought to have been organised only with prior permission and involvement of the Election Commission.
Deepender Hooda (Congress) and Ashok Tanwar (BJP) File Nomination Papers for Lok Sabha Polls
Deepender Hooda (Congress) and Ashok Tanwar (BJP) File Nomination Papers for Lok Sabha Polls Congress candidate Deepender Singh Hooda and BJP nominee Ashok Tanwar on Saturday filed their nomination papers from the Rohtak and Sirsa seats respectively for the Lok Sabha elections. Polling for 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will take place on May 25. Hooda was accompanied by his father and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan and party MLA BB Batra while filing the nomination papers at Rohtak. The Congress has fielded Hooda, a Rajya Sabha MP, from the Rohtak parliamentary constituency, which is currently represented by Bharatiya Janata Party's Arvind Sharma. He had unsuccessfully contested from the Rohtak seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Before going to file the nomination, Hooda performed 'puja' and 'havan' as per traditional rituals along with his family. After filing his nomination papers, Hooda addressed a public meeting at Ambedkar Chowk. Addressing those gathered, Hooda said targeted his BJP rival Sharma over the establishment of a Sainik School in the constituency. Saying that Sharma has demanded a Sainik School from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh before filing his nomination, Hooda, in a referrence to the Agnipath scheme, said: ''How can the BJP government, which has abolished permanent recruitment in the Army, be expected to set up Sainik Schools. Generally the candidate of the ruling party tells what work he has done in the last five years and the candidate of the opposition party tells what work he will do for the development of the area in the coming five years, Hooda said. ''The sad thing is that the current BJP MP has not done any work. But we are going among the people by speaking about our work,'' he said. ''I am telling you both about the work I did in the last tenure and what I will do in my coming term. Both my work and my conduct is before the people. The public's blessings given on the basis of my work and conduct will not go in vain,'' the Congress leader added. Hooda said this election is to save the future of Haryana, to put Rohtak Lok Sabha constituency on the development map of the country and to save the Constitution. ''The result here will lay the foundation for the next government of Haryana,'' he stated. Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, ''This is not just the Lok Sabha elections, but a fight to save the Constitution of the country.'' ''Democracy will survive only if the Constitution survives. That is why the opposition parties have united and formed the INDIA alliance. In Haryana, this alliance is contesting the elections with full strength, and people have decided to bless the India alliance against BJP,'' Bhupinder said. Earlier, a large number of party supporters accompanied Hooda on his way to the Deputy Commissioner's office to file his nomination. BJP nominee from Sirsa, Tanwar, was accompanied by Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala, BJP candidate from Hisar, Ranjit Singh Chautala, and Sirsa MLA and Haryana Lokhit Party chief Gopal Kanda when he filed his nomination papers. ''I express my gratitude to the people for their unprecedented love and support. Sirsa's faith in Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji was firm and will remain so,'' said Tanwar in a post on X. Tanwar, a former MP from Sirsa, had quit the AAP and joined the BJP earlier this year. Before that, he had quit the Congress in 2019 and joined AAP in 2022. In between, he had floated his party and even joined the Trinamool Congress for a brief period. The seat is presently represented by BJP's Sunita Duggal. From Sirsa, the Congress has fielded party general secretary and former Union minister Kumari Selja.
JJP Leaders Resign Due to Disagreements with Political Decision-Making
JJP Leaders Resign Due to Disagreements with Political Decision-Making Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) suffered a double blow in Gurugram on Saturday when Sube Singh Bohra and Naresh Sehrawat resigned from the party citing personal reasons. At a press conference here, Bohra said he stayed in the JJP following the policy of Jannayak Chaudhary Devi Lal and served as long as he could but for sometime now he was not able to be active in the party due to personal reasons. ''From today onwards, I announce my resignation from all posts in JJP and I have left the party. My social activism will continue for society, said Bohra, who was the former sarpanch of Wazirabad village. I will definitely contest elections from Gurgaon Assembly. I will not be active with any candidate and any party in this Lok sabha election, he said. Citing personal reasons to leave the party, Sehrawat said that Bohra is his close friend and he has always worked with him, so he is also resigning from JJP. Sehrawat, former sarpanch of Sukhrali village, was called the right hand of Haryanas former deputy CM Dushyant Chautala. Sehrawat was the spokesperson and district secretary.
Eldest women voters of Haryana's Jind district emerge as icon for other voters
Original Headline: HIGHLIGHTS Revised Headline: Match Highlights: Key Moments and Plays
Original Headline: HIGHLIGHTS Revised Headline: Match Highlights: Key Moments and Plays Following are the top stories at 9 pm NATION ELN92 ELECTIONS-BJP-LD LOVELY ****Former Delhi Cong leaders, including Arvinder Singh Lovely, join BJP New Delhi: Former Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely joined the BJP on Saturday along with a few other leaders, including former MLAs Raj Kumar Chauhan, Neeraj Basoya and Naseeb Singh.**** ELN91 ELECTIONS-BH-LD MODI ****At Bihar rally, Modi targets Lalu on Godhra incident, oppn parties on quotas Darbhanga (Bihar): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday charged RJD president Lalu Prasad, the BJPs principal opponent in Bihar, with having tried to ''shield'' those guilty in two-decade-old Godhra train burning incident and put blame on kar sevaks.**** ELN73 ELECTIONS-JH-MODI-LD CORRUPTION **** All those who indulged in corruption will face legal action in next five years: PM Modi Sisai (Jharkhand): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the NDA government has unmasked corrupt forces, and all those who indulged in corruption would face action under law in the next five years.**** DEL21 CBI-NUH GANGRAPE-SENTENCE ****Nuh gangrapes, double murder case: Four convicts sentenced to death by CBI court New Delhi: A special CBI court in Haryana's Panchkula awarded the death sentence to four convicts in the 2016 Nuh gangrapes and double murder case on Saturday, officials said.**** BOM7 MH-SITHARAMAN-ROHITH VEMULA ****Rahul Gandhi should apologise for `politicising' Rohith Vemula's suicide: Sitharaman Pune: Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday demanded that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should apologise for ''politicising'' the suicide of Rohith Vemula, the University of Hyderabad student who died in 2016, as police in a state ruled by his own party has now said that it was not a ''Dalit' issue''.**** DEL19 JK-LD FIRING ****Terrorists open fire on two security vehicles in J-K's Poonch, 5 soldiers injured Jammu: Five security personnel were injured after terrorists opened fire on two vehicles, including one belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF), in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday, officials said.**** MDS17 KA-LD REVANNA ****Karnataka MLA Revanna taken into custody in kidnap case Bengaluru: Karnataka JD(S) MLA H D Revanna was taken into custody on Saturday by sleuths of the Special Investigation Team, minutes after a court here rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a kidnapping case, officials said.**** ELN97 ELECTIONS-BJP-RAHUL ****Cong believes in 'beta bachao, beta badhao': BJP on Rahul Gandhi's Rae Bareli nomination New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday took a swipe at the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, saying the opposition party seems to believe in ''beta bachao, beta badhao'' (save son, promote son).**** ELN57 ELECTIONS-OD-CONG-LD CANDIDATE ****Denied party funding, Congress Puri LS candidate Sucharita Mohanty returns ticket Bhubaneswar: Congress candidate for the Puri Lok Sabha constituency Sucharita Mohanty has declined to contest the elections and returned the party ticket alleging lack of funding from the party.**** BOM5 GJ-RADICAL-ARRESTED ****Gujarat cops arrest maulvi; unearth plan to kill Hindu leader, threaten TV channel editor, MLA Surat: A man was arrested in Surat in Gujarat on Saturday for allegedly planning to murder the leader of a Hindu organisation and threatening the chief editor of Sudarshan television channel as well BJP's Telangana MLA Raja Singh and the party's former spokesperson Nupur Sharma in connivance with his handlers from Pakistan and Nepal, a senior police official said.**** CAL8 MG-LYNCHING ****Two lynched in Meghalaya after teen alleges rape attempt Shillong: Two persons were lynched in Meghalaya's Eastern West Khasi Hills district for allegedly trying to rape an 18-year-old woman, police said on Saturday.**** MDS18 KL-CUSTODIAL DEATH-CBI-LD ARRESTS ****Tanur custodial death case: CBI arrests four Kerala policemen Malappuram/Kochi: The CBI on Saturday arrested four civil police officers accused of torturing to death a man arrested for alleged possession of synthetic drugs in August last year near Tanur here, police sources said.**** LEGAL LGD5 SCBA-WOMEN'S RESERVATION ****SCBA raises concern over SC order to reserve posts for women in lawyers' body executive committee New Delhi: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has passed a resolution stating that the Supreme Court's directive to reserve posts for women in the executive committee of the lawyers' body ''impinged'' on its independence.**** LGD4 SC-NITHARI-KOLI ****Nithari killings: SC agrees to hear plea of victim's father against acquittal of Surendra Koli New Delhi: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea challenging Allahabad High Court's order acquitting Surendra Koli in the 2006 Nithari serial killings case.**** FOREIGN FGN32 LANKA-JAPAN-LD MOUS ****Japan insists Sri Lanka should sign MoUs early for debt restructuring Colombo: The restoration of stability and economic development of Sri Lanka, located strategically in the Indian Ocean, is essential for the stability and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region, the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said here on Saturday.**** FGN27 UK-MAYOR ****Sadiq Khan on course to be re-elected Mayor of London London: Sadiq Khan, the Pakistani-origin Labour Party candidate in the race to be re-elected London Mayor for a third term, looked set on Saturday to register a decisive victory, as the local election results from England and Wales continued to reflect a strong swing in favour of the Opposition party. By Aditi Khanna **** FGN23 PAK-ATC-WARRANTS ****Arrest warrants for 14 suspects in May 9 riots case, Imran Khans party leaders granted pre-arrest bail Lahore: A Pakistan court here has issued bailable arrest warrants for 14 suspects, who are on bail, for skipping trial proceedings of two cases related to the May 9 riots while granting pre-arrest bail to two former leaders of incarcerated former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khans party, a media report said on Saturday.****
Massive fire breaks out at farmhouse in Haryana`s Faridabad, none hurt
However, no causality has been reported in the incident
Nuh gangrapes, double murder case: Four convicts sentenced to death by CBI court
A special CBI court in Haryana's Panchkula awarded the death sentence to four convicts in the 2016 Nuh gangrapes and double murder case on Saturday, officials said. On April 10, the court had found Hemat Chouhan, Ayan Chauhan, Vinay and Jai Bhagwan guilty of double murder, gangrape and dacoity which took place in Haryana's Nuh on the intervening night of August 24-25, 2016.
Lok Sabha Elections | Unveiling Disparities Within and Across India's Regions
The Access Inequality Report 2024 paints a fascinating picture of Haryana.
Rahul Gandhi Writes To Siddaramaiah On Prajwal Revanna Sexual Abuse Case | English News | N18V
Rahul Gandhi Writes To Siddaramaiah On Prajwal Revanna Sexual Abuse Case | English News | N18VCongress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to extend all possible support to victims of the alleged sexual abuse case involving Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna and ensure that all parties responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to book. He said that from wrestlers in Haryana to the sisters in Manipur, women were bearing the brunt of Prime Minister Narendra Modis support to criminals.
Delhi CM, Sunita Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia in AAPs star campaigners list for Gujarat, Haryana
The News Mill
Arvind Kejriwal, Wife Sunita In AAP's List Of Star Campaigners For Lok Sabha Polls
Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday issued a list of 40 star campaigners for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi and Haryana, featuring party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is in judicial custody and his wife Sunita Kejriwal.
Dr. Israr Ahmed: The Life and Legacy of a Visionary Quran Commentator
Dr. Israr Ahmed, born on April 26, 1932, in the Hissar district of Haryana, is remembered for his profound contributions as a commentator and teacher of the Holy Quran. Throughout his life, he devoted himself to spreading the teachings of the Quran, aiming to share the divine wisdom with a wider audience. His passing on [] The post Dr. Israr Ahmed: The Life and Legacy of a Visionary Quran Commentator first appeared on .
Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday issued a list of 40 star campaigners for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi and Haryana, featuring party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is in judicial custody and his wife Sunita Kejriwal. AAP's star campaigners' list also included the names of jailed AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, as well as Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
AAP's Star Campaigners for Lok Sabha Elections: Kejriwal, Sisodia, Jain, and More
AAP's Star Campaigners for Lok Sabha Elections: Kejriwal, Sisodia, Jain, and More Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday issued a list of 40 star campaigners for Lok Sabha polls in Delhi and Haryana, featuring party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is in judicial custody and his wife Sunita Kejriwal. AAP's star campaigners' list also included the names of jailed AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, as well as Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Sunita Kejriwal has already taken reins of party's campaigning for the polls, attending roadshows in support of party's Lok Sabha candidates in Delhi and Gujarat. Recently she attended roadshows along with AAP candidates in East Delhi, West Delhi and Bharuch and Bhavnagar constituencies in Gujarat. She is scheduled to attend a roadshow in support of AAP candidate from South Delhi seat Sahi Ram Pehalwan on Sunday, party leaders said. She will also hold roadshows in Punjab and Haryana under the party's campaign 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se' centred around the arrest of the Delhi chief minister by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case on March 21. The CM is currently held in Tihar Jail in connection to the case. AAP's other star campaigners for the polls include Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha -- who is currently abroad for an eye treatment. Rajya Sabha MP and national general secretary organisation Sandeep Pathak as well as all Delhi government ministers, including Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot were among the star campaigners. Prominent party leaders and ministers of AAP-ruled Punjab also figured in the star campaigners list. AAP is contesting four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and its candidates have filed their nomination papers. The party is contesting Kurukshetra seat in Haryana and Bharuch and Bhavnagar in Gujarat. Despite an alliance with Congress in Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat, the AAP is independently contesting all the Lok Sabha seats in Punjab.
Lok Sabha polls: Congress' Deepender Hooda, BJP's Ashok Tanwar file nomination papers in Haryana
The Congress has fielded Hooda, a Rajya Sabha MP, from the Rohtak parliamentary constituency, which is currently represented by Bharatiya Janata Party's Arvind Sharma. He had unsuccessfully contested from the Rohtak seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Haryana LS polls: Deepender Hooda, Ashok Tanwar file nominations for Rohtak
Haryana LS polls: Deepender Hooda, Ashok Tanwar file nominations for Rohtak Congress candidate Deepender Singh Hooda and BJP nominee Ashok Tanwar on Saturday filed their nomination papers from the Rohtak and Sirsa seats respectively for the Lok Sabha elections. Polling for 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will take place on May 25. Hooda was accompanied by his father and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan and party MLA BB Batra while filing the nomination papers at Rohtak. The Congress has fielded Hooda, a Rajya Sabha MP, from the Rohtak parliamentary constituency, which is currently represented by Bharatiya Janata Party's Arvind Sharma. He had unsuccessfully contested from the Rohtak seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. BJP nominee from Sirsa, Tanwar, was accompanied by Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala, BJP candidate from Hisar, Ranjit Singh Chautala, and Sirsa MLA and Haryana Lokhit Party chief Gopal Kanda when he filed his nomination papers. ''I express my gratitude to the people for their unprecedented love and support. Sirsa's faith in Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji was firm and will remain so,'' said Tanwar in a post on X. Tanwar, a former MP from Sirsa, had quit the AAP and joined the BJP earlier this year. Before that, he had quit the Congress in 2019 and joined AAP in 2022. In between, he had floated his party and even joined the Trinamool Congress for a brief period. The seat is presently represented by BJP's Sunita Duggal. From Sirsa, the Congress has fielded party general secretary and former Union minister Kumari Selja.
SC stays Punjab and Haryana HC order on removal of protestors from Chandigarh-Mohali road
NEW DELHI, May 4: The Supreme Court has stayed an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court asking authorities to clear the Chandigarh-Mohali road blocked by a group of protesters. A bench of justices BR Gavai, Satish Chandra Sharma and Sandeep Mehta issued notice on a plea of the Punjab government and sought the response of an NGO, which has filed the plea, the Centre and the Chandigarh administration among others. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, [] The post SC stays Punjab and Haryana HC order on removal of protestors from Chandigarh-Mohali road appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Rohith Vemula's Mother Seeks Justice from Telangana CM Revanth Reddy
Rohith Vemula's Mother Seeks Justice from Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Rohith Vemula's mother Radhika Vemula met Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy here on Saturday and urged him to see that ''justice'' is done to the family. Reddy assured her that an investigation would be conducted again into the University of Hyderabad student's suicide in 2016 and that justice would be done, an official release said. The chief minister assured that a fair and transparent investigation would be conducted further, Rohith Vemula's brother Raja Vemula told PTI Videos. He expressed confidence that justice would be done to them under the present Congress government. ''We have opposed the closure report submitted by the police. We also raised concerns regarding the issues they have mentioned in the report,'' he said, adding that the competent authority to clarify on the caste status is the district Collector of Guntur in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and not the police,'' he said. Raja Vemula also said they sought cases filed against some other students to be cancelled. Police have filed a closure report before a local court in its probe into the death of Rohith Vemula, a student of the University of Hyderabad, claiming he was not a Dalit and died by suicide in 2016 as he feared that his ''real caste'' would be discovered. Telangana DGP Ravi Gupta has already announced to conduct further investigation into the case in view of the doubts expressed by Rohith Vemula's mother and others on the closure report. A petition will be filed in the court concerned requesting the Magistrate to permit further investigation into the case, he said in a statement on Friday night. The police gave a clean chit to the accused, including incumbent Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, former BJP MLC N Ramchander Rao, and cited lack of evidence in the case.
BSP fields Garhi, its Punjab unit chief, from Anandpur Sahib for Lok Sabha polls
BSP fields Garhi, its Punjab unit chief, from Anandpur Sahib for Lok Sabha polls The BSP on Saturday fielded its Punjab unit chief Jasvir Singh Garhi as its candidate from the Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituency. The announcement in this regard was made by BSP's in-charge of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Randhir Singh Beniwal. With this, the BSP has now announced its candidates for all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, said Beniwal. The Anandpur Sahib seat is currently represented by Congress MP Manish Tewari, who has now been fielded from the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat. Garhi will face AAP's Malvinder Kang, Congress' Vijay Inder Singla and Shiromani Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra. The BJP is yet to name its nominee. Polling for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held on June 1.
Extend all possible support to victims in sexual abuse case: Rahul to Siddaramaiah
Extend all possible support to victims in sexual abuse case: Rahul to Siddaramaiah Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has requested Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to extend all possible support to the victims in the alleged sexual abuse of several women involving the sitting Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna. He also asked Siddaramaiah to ensure that all those responsible for these ''heinous crimes are brought to book''. Responding to the letter written by Gandhi, the chief minister on Saturday took to 'X' and assured that his government is committed to protecting the victims of rape and injustice by Prajwal Revanna. ''An impartial investigation will be conducted and no matter how many influential people are involved in the case, they will be handed over to the hands of the law. Along with wiping tears of the aggrieved, I am giving a promise @Rahul Gandhi and to everyone in the country that our government will stand with them in their struggle for justice,'' he posted in Kannada. In his letter to Siddaramaiah dated May 3, Gandhi alleged that Prajwal sexually assaulted and filmed hundreds of women over several years. Many who looked up to him as a brother and son were ''brutalised in the most violent manner and robbed of their dignity. The rape of our mothers and sisters warrants the strictest possible punishment.'' The Congress leader expressed that he is deeply shocked to learn that as far back as December 2023, our Home Minister Amit Shah was informed by G Devaraje Gowda about Prajwal Revanna's antecedents, especially his history of sexual violence and the presence of videos filmed by the perpetrator. ''What is even more shocking is that despite these gruesome allegations being brought to the notice of the senior most BJP leadership, the prime minister campaigned and canvassed for a mass rapist. Furthermore, the Union Government willfully allowed him to flee India to derail any meaningful investigation. ''The deeply perverse nature of these crimes and the absolute impunity enjoyed by Prajwal Revanna with the blessings of the prime minister and home minister deserves the strongest condemnation,'' he stated in the letter. It also stated that how in his two decades in public life, he has never come across a senior public representative who has constantly chosen silence in the face of ''untold violence against women''. ''From our wreslters in Haryana to our sisters in Manipur, Indian women are bearing the brunt of the prime minister's tacit support for such criminals,'' the letter alleged. The letter further stated that the Congress party has a moral duty to fight for justice for our mothers and sisters. I understand that the Karnataka Government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the grave allegations, and a request has been made to the prime minister to cancel Prajwal Revannas diplomatic passport and get him extradited to India at the earliest. ''I request you to kindly extend all possible support to the victims. They deserve our compassion and solidarity as they fight their battle for justice. We have a collective duty to ensure that all parties responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to book,'' the letter added.
Delhi High Court grants 3 more months to trial court to conclude Haryana judicial paper-leak case
The high court had, in January, asked the trial court to expedite the proceedings in the case and take it up on a daily basis.
BJP will win all 10 seats with good margins in Haryana: CM Nayab Singh Saini
Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana CM, confident in BJP's ability to tackle challenges and secure public support for governance achievements. Downplays opposition impact, emphasizing unity and performance expectations.
Startup funding in India declined by 17 per cent in FY24
NEW DELHI: The startup funding in India registered a decline of 17 per cent in FY 24 as compared to the previous year. In 2021 the investment professionals were getting on average six deals daily but in 2024, it has declined to three. According to a report titled 'India Invests' by Wealth 360 One, the private equity of value USD 100-250 million range, is down by 60 per cent. While those investing USD 500 million or more too have gone down drastically by over 80 per cent. The funds investing less than USD 100 million have also registered a decline of 30 per cent. But funding under USD 5 million is still happening at a steady rate. The report highlights that the bigger deals, over USD 25 million, which usually happen when a startup is growing, have also decreased. This means there's less money going into startups overall, especially in the medium to large-sized deals. Late-stage venture capital investments have been hit hard too. Startups raised nearly USD 8 billion from investors this year, marking a 50% decrease from FY 22-23. As per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry data, India is home to 111 unicorns with a total valuation of USD 349.67 billion. Out of the total number of unicorns, 45 unicorns with a total valuation of USD 102.30 billion were born in 2021 and 22 unicorns with a total valuation of USD 29.20 billion born in 2022. In 2023 only one unicorn emerged. India houses 1.7 lakh registered Startups, collectively generating over 1.2 million jobs. Maharashtra leads with 5801 Startups, followed by Delhi NCR with 3150, Karnataka with 3032, and Tamil Nadu with 2810 Startups. This slowdown in funding isn't just in one area of investment. Both private investment and venture capital funding have taken a hit, especially after the surge seen in 2021-2022 during the pandemic. Angel investors, who usually support startups in the early stages, are putting more money in, but they're choosing fewer startups to back. On the other hand, venture capital deals have also dropped by half in FY24 from the previous year. According to the report, consumer-focused sectors and technology are facing the most caution from investors. These sectors are experiencing a big drop in the number of deals and the total amount of money. But the industrial and materials sectors are staying steady, while others like financial services and healthcare are doing better. Investors, especially in the tech sector have declined. They want to see profits and realistic values before investing. This caution has led to almost half the amount of money being invested in the tech sector compared to before. Similar decreases are seen in consumer staples and discretionary companies as investors look for safer bets. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu are the top five states to attract substantial investments by private equity funds. In terms of cities, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune are the top cities that attracted maximum PE investments. However, the investments in FY24 is up to 30 per cent less as compared to FY23 in most of the states. The experts have attributed the decline to the reduced investment in Indian Startups. Mumbai has surpassed India's silicon city Bengaluru in attracting PE funds as Startup funding has substantially lowered in FY24.
Rahul Gandhi writes to Karnataka CM for extending support to Prajwal Revanna's victims
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to extend all possible help to the victims of JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna's exploits. In a letter to Siddaramaiah, Gandhi condemned the actions of Revanna, an MP from the southern state, and accused him of enjoying immunity with the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In a veiled attack on Modi, the Congress leader said he has never come across a senior public representative who has constantly chosen silence in the face of untold violence against women. I request you to kindly extend all possible support to the victims, Gandhi said in his letter to the Karnataka chief minister. They deserve our compassion and solidarity as they fight their battle for justice. We have a collective duty to ensure that all parties responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to book, he added. Describing the incidents as horrific sexual violence unleashed by the incumbent member of Parliament from Hassan, Gandhi alleged that Revanna sexually assaulted and filmed hundreds of women over several years. Many who looked up to him as a brother and son were brutalised in the most violent manner and robbed of their dignity. The rape of our mothers and sisters warrants the strictest possible punishment. I am deeply shocked to learn that as far back as December 2023, our Home Minister Shri Amit Shah was informed by Shri G Devaraje Gowda about Prajwal Revanna's antecedents, especially his history of sexual violence and the presence of videos filmed by the perpetrator, the former Congress chief said. Revoke Prajwals passport, Karnataka CM tells PM again He said what is even more shocking is that despite these gruesome allegations being brought to the notice of the seniormost leadership of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre, Modi campaigned and canvassed for a mass rapist. Furthermore, the Union government wilfully allowed him to flee India to derail any meaningful investigation. The deeply perverse nature of these crimes and the absolute impunity enjoyed by Prajwal Revanna with the blessings of the Prime Minister and Home Minister deserves the strongest condemnation, Gandhi said. In my two decades in public life, I have never come across a senior public representative who has constantly chosen silence in the face of untold violence against women. From our wrestlers in Haryana to our sisters in Manipur, Indian women are bearing the brunt of the Prime Minister's tacit support for such criminals, he alleged. In this backdrop, Gandhi said the Congress has a moral duty to fight for justice for our mothers and sisters. I understand that the Karnataka government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the grave allegations, and a request has been made to the Prime Minister to cancel Prajwal Revanna's diplomatic passport and get him extradited to India at the earliest, he said. Revanna, the Janata Dal (Secular) MLA from Holenarasipura in Karnataka's Hassan district, is the son of former prime minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and elder brother of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. He is facing allegations of sexually abusing women. Amid Prajwal row, BJP-JDS alliance likely to continue for Council polls
Rahul Gandhi offers support to victims of alleged assault by Prajwal Revanna
Rahul Gandhi offers support to victims of alleged assault by Prajwal Revanna Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to extend all possible help to the victims of JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna's exploits. In a letter to Siddaramaiah, Gandhi condemned the actions of Revanna, an MP from the southern state, and accused him of enjoying immunity with the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In a veiled attack on Modi, the Congress leader said he has never come across a senior public representative who has constantly chosen silence in the face of untold violence against women. ''I request you to kindly extend all possible support to the victims,'' Gandhi said in his letter to the Karnataka chief minister. ''They deserve our compassion and solidarity as they fight their battle for justice. We have a collective duty to ensure that all parties responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to book,'' he added. Describing the incidents as ''horrific sexual violence'' unleashed by the incumbent member of Parliament from Hassan, Gandhi alleged that Revanna sexually assaulted and filmed hundreds of women over several years. ''Many who looked up to him as a brother and son were brutalised in the most violent manner and robbed of their dignity. The rape of our mothers and sisters warrants the strictest possible punishment. ''I am deeply shocked to learn that as far back as December 2023, our Home Minister Shri Amit Shah was informed by Shri G Devaraje Gowda about Prajwal Revanna's antecedents, especially his history of sexual violence and the presence of videos filmed by the perpetrator,'' the former Congress chief said. He said what is even more shocking is that despite these gruesome allegations being brought to the notice of the seniormost leadership of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre, Modi campaigned and canvassed for a ''mass rapist''. ''Furthermore, the Union government wilfully allowed him to flee India to derail any meaningful investigation. The deeply perverse nature of these crimes and the absolute impunity enjoyed by Prajwal Revanna with the blessings of the Prime Minister and Home Minister deserves the strongest condemnation,'' Gandhi said. ''In my two decades in public life, I have never come across a senior public representative who has constantly chosen silence in the face of untold violence against women. From our wrestlers in Haryana to our sisters in Manipur, Indian women are bearing the brunt of the Prime Minister's tacit support for such criminals,'' he alleged. In this backdrop, Gandhi said the Congress has a moral duty to fight for justice for ''our mothers and sisters''. ''I understand that the Karnataka government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the grave allegations, and a request has been made to the Prime Minister to cancel Prajwal Revanna's diplomatic passport and get him extradited to India at the earliest,'' he said. Revanna, the Janata Dal (Secular) MLA from Holenarasipura in Karnataka's Hassan district, is the son of former prime minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and elder brother of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. He is facing allegations of sexually abusing women.
Delhi HC grants 3 more months to trial court to conclude Haryana judicial paper-leak case
Justice Sharma extends the trial court's deadline by three months for the 2017 Haryana Civil Services (Judicial) preliminary exam paper leak case, accommodating the extensive case record with multiple accused and witnesses.
Delhi HC extends trial court's deadline by 3 months in Haryana judicial paper-leak case
Delhi HC extends trial court's deadline by 3 months in Haryana judicial paper-leak case The Delhi High Court has granted three more months to a trial court to conclude the proceedings in a case relating to the alleged leak of the 2017 Haryana Civil Services (Judicial) preliminary examination paper. It was earlier directed that the hearing in the matter be taken up on a daily basis. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said the court would appreciate if the principal district and sessions judge, before whom the trial is going on, posts the matter on a day-to-day basis and grants adjournments to the parties only for unavoidable reasons. The high court had, in January, asked the trial court to expedite the proceedings in the case and take it up on a daily basis. Pursuant to the last order, the trial court judge submitted a letter to the high court, stating that the case record is voluminous as seven chargesheets have been filed against the accused who are facing trial. There are 19 accused and 85 witnesses in the case, which is at the stage of defence evidence, the trial court judge said in the letter and sought at least six months for the disposal of the matter. Special Public Prosecutor Charanjit Singh Bakshi and advocate Amit Sahni, representing the Union Territory of Chandigarh, submitted that despite the high court's directions, the matter was not taken up on a daily basis and urged the court to direct the trial court to do so. The high court, in its order, said the trial court judge's communication indicates that after the last order, the case has moved ahead. ''This court considers that some more time may be granted in view of the communication of the principal district and sessions judge. However, this court would appreciate if the principal district and sessions judge posts the matter on a day-to-day basis. ''Adjournments may be granted only for some unavoidable reasons. Hence, a further three months' time is granted, excluding the summer vacations. The trial court is directed to dispose of the matter within the above said time-frame,'' the high court said and listed the matter for further hearing on September 9. The high court was hearing a plea moved by former registrar (recruitment) of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Balwinder Kumar Sharma, who has challenged the trial court's order dismissing his application for the summoning of documents for the cross-examination of a witness. The high court had said it is a serious matter and asked the parties to cooperate for an expeditious trial before the lower court. An FIR in the matter involving the paper leak was lodged on a complaint from the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2017. Sharma was suspended by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2017, after the paper leak. According to the prosecution, the question paper was in the custody of Sharma, the then registrar (recruitment), from the time it was finalised till its dispatch to the examination centre. It was alleged that a co-accused, Sunita, was known to be in acquaintance with Sharma and the latter had given a copy of the question paper to her, who passed it on to others in return for money. The high court previously upheld a January 31, 2020 order of a Chandigarh sessions court by which charges were framed against Sharma for the alleged offences of cheating, criminal breach of trust by a public servant, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. In 2021, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi at Sharma's request.
Delhi HC allows three-month extension for trial court to conclude Haryana judicial paper leak case
Delhi HC allows three-month extension for trial court to conclude Haryana judicial paper leak case The Delhi High Court has granted three more months to a trial court to conclude the proceedings in a case relating to the alleged leak of the 2017 Haryana Civil Services (Judicial) preliminary examination paper. It was earlier directed that the hearing in the matter be taken up on a daily basis. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said the court would appreciate if the principal district and sessions judge, before whom the trial is going on, posts the matter on a day-to-day basis and grants adjournments to the parties only for unavoidable reasons. The high court had, in January, asked the trial court to expedite the proceedings in the case and take it up on a daily basis. Pursuant to the last order, the trial court judge submitted a letter to the high court, stating that the case record is voluminous as seven chargesheets have been filed against the accused who are facing trial. There are 19 accused and 85 witnesses in the case, which is at the stage of defence evidence, the trial court judge said in the letter and sought at least six months for the disposal of the matter. Special Public Prosecutor Charanjit Singh Bakshi and advocate Amit Sahni, representing the Union Territory of Chandigarh, submitted that despite the high court's directions, the matter was not taken up on a daily basis and urged the court to direct the trial court to do so. The high court, in its order, said the trial court judge's communication indicates that after the last order, the case has moved ahead. ''This court considers that some more time may be granted in view of the communication of the principal district and sessions judge. However, this court would appreciate if the principal district and sessions judge posts the matter on a day-to-day basis. ''Adjournments may be granted only for some unavoidable reasons. Hence, a further three months' time is granted, excluding the summer vacations. The trial court is directed to dispose of the matter within the above said time-frame,'' the high court said and listed the matter for further hearing on September 9. The high court was hearing a plea moved by former registrar (recruitment) of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Balwinder Kumar Sharma, who has challenged the trial court's order dismissing his application for the summoning of documents for the cross-examination of a witness. The high court had said it is a serious matter and asked the parties to cooperate for an expeditious trial before the lower court. An FIR in the matter involving the paper leak was lodged on a complaint from the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2017. Sharma was suspended by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2017, after the paper leak. According to the prosecution, the question paper was in the custody of Sharma, the then registrar (recruitment), from the time it was finalised till its dispatch to the examination centre. It was alleged that a co-accused, Sunita, was known to be in acquaintance with Sharma and the latter had given a copy of the question paper to her, who passed it on to others in return for money. The high court previously upheld a January 31, 2020 order of a Chandigarh sessions court by which charges were framed against Sharma for the alleged offences of cheating, criminal breach of trust by a public servant, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. In 2021, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi at Sharma's request.
Weekend Weather (May 4-5): Isolated Rains to Prevail Over Odisha, Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh The Weather Channel
New Metro Route: On February 16, the Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of the Metro in Old Gurugram. 27 stations are to be constructed in this route of 28.50 kilometer length. This will cost around Rs 5452.72 crore. New Metro Route: Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) and Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) [] The post New Metro Route: Preparations begin to connect this route with metro train, these 5 sectors will benefit directly first appeared on informalnewz .
Chandigarh, May 3: The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to the states of Haryana and Punjab, along with UT Chandigarh, on a plea for effective implementation of the policies framed by the authorities concerned for ensuring the safety of students travelling in school buses. The notice by the Division Bench [] The post High Court issues notice to Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh on petition seeking students safety in school buses appeared first on Northlines .
Akhil Kumar: From CWG Gold to Anti-Drug Champion
Akhil Kumar: From CWG Gold to Anti-Drug Champion Former Commonwealth Games gold-winning boxer Akhil Kumar, who is now an Assistant Commissioner in Jhajjar Police, counselled budding sportspersons against the menace of drug abuse in an interaction at Jhajjar's Jawaharlal Bagh Stadium. The 43-year-old, who won the CWG gold in 2006 and is a quarterfinalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, interacted with over 100 athletes, including boxers on Friday. ''As an athlete and National Anti-Doping Agency panellist, I understand the menace. So, I offered them basic advice on how to steer clear. I told them that even during a routine medical check-up, they should inform the doctor that they are athletes so that they are not prescribed any banned drug,'' Akhil told PTI. ''The youth trapped in drugs are not only ruining their careers. Rather, they are also dashing the expectations of the parents. Drunkenness has not benefited anyone, it only leads to downfall,'' he added. ''By falling into drug addiction, youth are not only destroying themselves, they are also destroying family.'' Akhil, who was the chief guest at the event, was accompanied by Jhajjar traffic in-charge Naresh Sandhu, who counselled the gathering about traffic dos and don'ts. ''IPS Shatrujeet Kapoor, DGP Haryana, and IPS B Satheesh Balan, Commissioner of Police, Sonepat and Jhajjar, started this awareness campaign and invited me to counsel the youngsters, which was a great opportunity,'' Akhil said. Akhil is a former Arjuna awardee and a former Asian Championships bronze-medallist. At the peak of his prowess, he defeated the then world number on Sergey Vodopyanov in the pre-quarters of the 2008 Olympics.
BENGALURU: The imageof snake charmers, controlling snakes with theirbeens(awind instrumentused in snake charming), has been part of Indiasidentity forthousands of years. It was also one of the first symbols of exotic India from which people wanted to distance themselves as quicklyas possible. Although the practice of snake charming has long been banned, those who used to practice it seek alternative ways to sustain themselves. Roysten Abel, a theatre personality known for working withindigenous folkmusicians like the Manganiyars of the Thar Desert, is bringing a uniqueshow to Bengaluru. For the first time, 100 snake charmers will takethe stage, performing a symphony that includes Bollywood tunes,Scottish bagpipemelodies, and traditional snake charmer songs. The ideafor the show originated when Abel met Bahar Dutt, anenvironmental activistrunning an NGO called Friends of Snakes. She was working in Molarband, Delhi, a village where snake charmers live. She washelping themgive upSnake Charmingbut needed to find an alternativevocation forthem. Since Ive been working with indigenous folk performers fora longtime, I suggested we do something with 100 charmers, says Abel, adding that the show aims to redefinesnakecharmers identities from street performers to concert musicians. Assembling 100 snake charmers for a single musical production was achallenging proposition, given that beenis typically played solo. Abel recounts, When I proposed this, I was told it wasnt possibleand thateven playing with ten beens together is a difficult task. Itsnice totake on challenges sometimes. So then we started calling up snake charmers in UP, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Rajasthan. After holdingauditions that attracted 500 charmers from across the country,a groupof 100 was formed, each bringing theirowntunes and styles.The one-hourconcert includes traditionalsnake-charmingtunes andtunes fromthe Scottish Highlands. I find the instrument similar tothe bagpipesof Scotland. So, we have two bagpipe tunes, shares Abel, adding, The challenge in creating a musical production of this scale was to getthe hundredcharmers to synchronize and play together like a musical concert. Known for creating immersiveset designsfor his productions, Abel notes that this time the set issimple tokeep the focus on the musicians. The main visual is thatthe hundredcharmers are on stage, wearing their traditional outfits,he adds. The show hastravelledto various cities in the country andeven openedfor a festival in Naples, which was a unique experience for Abel. We performed in one of the oldest opera houses in the world, traditionally a place frequented by the elite bourgeois class andoften associatedwith nobility. To have our snake charmers perform in frontof thewhos who of Italy was remarkable, he shares. Abels projectextends beyond artistic innovation to create a new world fora dyingart form and the hundreds of people dependent on it. You justput themon a map where everybody wants to get rid of the snakecharmer becausethey think thats the old India. Also, it is such aunique instrumentto our country, you can explore them and see themin differentcontexts, he says, hopeful of creating analternative livelihoodfor the community. Abel is currently collaborating onanother projectwith traditional folk drummers of the country and therenowned percussionistRanjit Barot. Roysten Abels A 100 Charmers will be staged today,5pmand8pmat Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Malleswaram
Delhi: Absconding criminal shot during crossfire with cops, arrested
NEW DELHI: A 35-year-old desperate criminal wanted in a murder case in Ghaziabad was nabbed after a gunfire encounter in Rohini in the early hours of Friday, police said. Mohd Faizan alias Nanhe, who is also known as Kalu and Goga, received a gunshot wound in his leg in the encounter that took place near Japanese Park in Rohini at about 3 am, they said. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik, a secret tip-off was received that Faizan was coming to meet an associate of his near Japanese Park. A team led by Inspectors Man Singh and Sanjeev laid a trap. But on seeing the police team, Faizan opened fire at them. In retaliation, the team members also opened fire and one bullet hit his right leg, Kaushik said. Police confiscated his gun, a sophisticated semi-automatic pistol, and three live cartridges found in his possession. The motorcycle he rode on was also seized, he said. Faizan was rushed to nearby Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital where police formally arrested him. Kaushik said Faizan is a desperate criminal and is connected with the Gogi and Kala Gang. He was previously involved in seven cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and Arms Act in Delhi, UP, and Haryana, the officer said. He is wanted in a murder case in Loni of UPs Ghaziabad, UP and had been evading his arrest, he said.
Haryana student gets first rank in VITEEE
HBSE 10th Result 2024: BSEH has directed all the examination centers to complete the evaluation of copies by May 8. In such a situation, Haryana Board 10th result is likely to be declared on this day. New Delhi: HBSE Haryana Board Class 10th Result 2024: After the announcement of Haryana Board 12th exam results, now [] The post Haryana Board 10th Result 2024: Haryana Board 10th marking starts, results will be declared by this day first appeared on informalnewz .
Supreme Court stays opening of a road outside residence of Punjab CM
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the opening of the 500-metre road, connecting Sukhna Lake to Nayagaon in Chandigarh, on a trial basis from May 1
Tata Steel SEZ, Hygenco Sign MoU To Bolster Indias Green Fuel Sector
Tata Steel Special Economic Zone Limited (TSSEZL) and HHP Five Private Limited (Hygenco) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a green hydrogen and green ammonia project at TSSEZLs Gopalpur Industrial Park (GIP) in Odishas Ganjam district. Under this definitive agreement, Hygenco will acquire land in GIP, located in Odishas Ganjam district, to set up its green hydrogen, green ammonia, and derivatives unit. Hygenco, a pioneer in producing low-cost green hydrogen, aims to produce 1 million tonnes per annum (1 Mn TPA) from this plant in phases. The company aims to commission the initial phase of the project by December 2026. Manikanta Naik, managing director (MD), TSSEZL, said, We are very happy to have Hygenco on board with us. With this, the total committed capacity of green hydrogen and green ammonia manufacturing at the Industrial Park is now around 2.6 Mn TPA. This solidifies our Industrial Park as a green hydrogen and ammonia hub in India. Our endeavor has been to create a conducive environment where our customers find the necessary infrastructure to conduct their business, as we continue to work on further strengthening the offerings at GIP. The augmentation of the power and water infrastructure, which is critical to the green hydrogen and ammonia industries, will further facilitate the green fuel sector. On the occasion, Amit Bansal, founder and CEO, Hygenco, said, Having already demonstrated our mettle by commissioning India's first green hydrogen project earlier this year, we will extend the application of our superior technology to this project, thereby producing the lowest-cost green ammonia for our clients. In line with our strategic vision of being a dominant player in this sector worldwide, the produce from this plant in the initial phase will be exported, for which advanced discussions with various clients are already taking place. The green ammonia produced at this facility will be exported through the existing Gopalpur Port facility located close to GIP. The Utility Corridor, which is under development, between GIP and Gopalpur Port will provide a boost to the logistics and pipeline connectivity for the project. Hygenco has signed several binding long-term offtakes of green hydrogen in India, including our countrys recently commissioned first megawatt scale plant in Hisar, Haryana. Previously, TSSEZL had signed similar agreements with other manufacturers for setting up green hydrogen and ammonia projects of 1.6 Mn TPA at Gopalpur Industrial Park.
Bihar coop caught storing wheat for private player, Centre seeks action
Bihar faces food procurement challenges with low wheat procurement, urging govt action. Farmers sell below MSP, PACS involved in unofficial procurement. FCI transports grains from Punjab, Haryana. Low land holdings limit surplus for farmers.
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.
Heatwave to Persist for Two More Days in Eastern and Southern Peninsular India
Heatwave to Persist for Two More Days in Eastern and Southern Peninsular India The record-breaking heatwave spell affecting east India and parts of the southern peninsular region continued unabated on Friday, with temperatures settling above 44 degrees Celsius in at least 13 places. Intensely hot conditions prevailed in parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Maximum temperatures settled in the range of 43-46 degrees Celsius in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra and 40-43 degrees in parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Marathwada and north interior Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh sizzled at 46.3 degrees Celsius, the highest maximum temperature in the country on Friday. The mercury settled at 44.6 degrees Celsius in Odisha's Boudh, 45 degrees in Khammam (Telangana), 46.2 degrees in Cuddapah (Andhra Pradesh), 43.4 degrees in Erode (Tamil Nadu), and 44.6 degrees in West Bengal's Kalaikunda. The IMD said the ongoing heatwave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue until May 5-6 and abate thereafter. The Met office on Wednesday said above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heatwave days expected over the northern plains, central region and adjoining areas of peninsular India. April witnessed record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast and southern peninsular India, prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools. A number of stations recorded their highest-ever April day temperatures. Five active western disturbances led to rainfall, thunderstorms and hail storms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves. IMD data shows that heat waves this April were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far. This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heatwave days predicted over the south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and the Gujarat regions. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka and Telangana may record five to seven heatwave days during the month. Normally, the northern plains, central India and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat waves in May. India witnessed two spells of heat waves in April -- from April 5 to 7 and April 15 to 30. The IMD attributed the prolonged heatwave spell over east, northeast and south peninsular India in April to the absence of thunderstorms and an anticyclone at lower levels over the west central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining eastern coasts of India. This caused the sea breeze to cut off over Odisha and West Bengal on most days. The weather office said south peninsular India recorded an average maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius in April, the second-highest since 1901. The mean temperature (28.12 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901, it said. The IMD said above-normal maximum temperatures have become frequent over south peninsular India since the 1980s. The region recorded 12.6 mm rainfall in April -- the fifth lowest since 1901 and the second-lowest since 2001. According to IMD data, the number of heatwave days this April was the highest in 15 years in Gangetic West Bengal and nine years in Odisha. Odisha also experienced the longest heatwave spell (16 days) in April since 2016. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of thousands of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the elections on April 26. Polling for 94 constituencies across 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office had earlier expected four to eight heatwave days in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heatwave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period.
Congress commits to eliminate crime from Haryana: Raj Babbar after filing nomination from Gurugram
Congress commits to eliminate crime from Haryana: Raj Babbar after filing nomination from Gurugram Film actor Raj Babbar, Congress candidate from the Gurugram Lok Sabha seat, on Friday said if his party comes to power at the Centre, it will ensure all criminals in Haryana are eliminated and the peace is established in the state. Addressing a public meeting before he filed his nomination, Babbar said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is completely distraught as it has sensed its defeat in the general assemble elections. Babbar filed his nomination in the presence of former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, officials said. Swayam Shashan Party's nominee Dharmendra Thakran and Independent candidate Singh Ram also filed their nomination for the Gurugram seat in the office of District Election Officer Nishant Kumar Yadav, they said. Before Babbar went to submit his nomination paper, a public meeting was held near the Mor Chowk here. On BJP calling him an ''outsider candidate'', the actor said, ''My childhood was spent in Gurugram and I remained associated with this area throughout my life.'' ''Outsiders are those leaders who do not come out of their houses even when they are at home, who never take care of the people of Gurugram. The time has come for such leaders to depart from Gurugram. This time, the public will vote for the Congress,'' he added. Addressing the gathering, former chief minister Hooda said due to the poor law and order situation under the BJP government, miscreants are today committing crimes without any fear, while the ''common man is living under the shadow of fear''. He assured that if a Congress government is formed at the Centre, it will eliminate criminals in entire Haryana, including Gurugram, and establish peace here. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Mahender Pratap Singh contesting from the Faridabad Lok Sabha seat, also filed his nomination on Friday in the presence of the party's state chief Uday Bhan and other senior leaders in the office of District Election Officer Vikram Singh. Six more candidates Harishankar Rajvansh of Adim Bhartiya Dal, Shyam Sunder of Bhartiya Shakti Chetna Party, Independent candidate Surender Kumar Saini, Mahesh Pratap Sharma of Rashtriya Vikas Party, Lekhram of Bahujan Mukhi Morcha also filed their nominations from the Faridabad seat. Jannayak Janta Party (JJP)'s Tanya Hooda filed nomination as the covering candidate of Nalin Hooda, who had filed his nomination earlier. Polling in Gurugram and Faridabad will be held on May 25 in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections.
SC Stays Punjab and Haryana High Court order which ordered opening of road leading to CMs House
New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Punjab and Haryana High Court order in which it had directed to open the road to the Chief Ministers residence which was blocked for security purposes during the Khalistani terrorism period of the 1980s. The High Court had directed to open the road... The post SC Stays Punjab and Haryana High Court order which ordered opening of road leading to CMs House first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .
Foreign job scam: Two held in Noida, 104 passports seized
Foreign job scam: Two held in Noida, 104 passports seized With the arrest of two men, the Noida Police on Friday claimed to have busted a gang of thugs that duped money from people on the pretext of helping them get employment in foreign countries. The gang has been operational for about six years now and cheated gullible people by assuring them jobs in countries like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, police said. The police said they have seized 104 passports and 31 forged visa documents, 36 fake work contracts, among other items, from the possession of the duo, one of whom is a qualified software engineer. ''A team led by ACP 3 (Shavya Goyal) has arrested two accused. During inquiry it has come to light that the gang was making money from people on the pretext of sending them to foreign countries and getting them employment there,'' Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Vidya Sagar Mishra said. ''They were using forged visa documents, Aadhaar cards, work contracts. 104 passports have been seized from them. These passports belonged to people whom they were duping. An FIR was lodged against them in Delhi in the past and we are gathering more details about it,'' Mishra told reporters. Ishaq Yunus alias Robin alias Jitendra (30), and Rohit Oberoi (27) were nabbed near Hoshiarpur on Friday by officials of Sector 49 police station team on the basis of a tip-off, police said. During interrogation, it was revealed that Jitendra is the leader of the gang and this work was being carried out by him for the last six years, a police spokesperson said. ''This gang misleads youth with job offers in foreign countries like Jordan, Saudi Arabia etc. For this work, the accused takes Rs 80,000- Rs 90,000 from a candidate, and if they find any shortcoming in official papers, they would increase the rate and demand more money from them to fix the issue,'' the official said. The gang promoted its fake consultancy firm using various social media platforms and when a victim contacts them after seeing this advertisement, they are told that if they bring more candidates, their charge would be reduced, the official said. ''After this, in the name of getting jobs abroad, they extort money from the unemployed persons by showing them fake visas and company contracts, they are not given jobs anywhere. As soon as the money was collected, they closed the office and would run away,'' the spokesperson said. The gang has carried out such incidents in the past in Delhi, Haryana and other parts of Uttar Pradesh also, the police said. An FIR has been lodged against the accused, who were produced in a local court which has sent them to jail, the police added.
Police Investigation Report Falsely Concludes Rohith Vemula Not a Dalit
Police Investigation Report Falsely Concludes Rohith Vemula Not a Dalit Police have filed a closure report before a local court following a probe into the death of Rohith Vemula, a student of University of Hyderabad, claiming he was not a Dalit and died by suicide as he feared that his ''real identity'' would be discovered. The Cyberabad police, who investigated the case informed the court that Rohith Vemula did not belong to Scheduled Caste and that he was aware of it. Vemula died by suicide in 2016. ''In addition to this, the deceased himself was aware that he did not belong to Scheduled Caste and that his mother got him a SC certificate. This could be one of the constant fears as the exposure of the same would result in a loss of his academic degrees that he earned over the years and be compelled to face prosecution,'' the report said. ''The deceased had multiple issues worrying him which could have driven him to commit suicide,'' it said. ''Despite best efforts, no evidence could be found to establish that the actions of the accused have driven the deceased to commit suicide,'' it said. The then UoH vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile and incumbent Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya were among the accused.
National Women's Hockey League: Haryana, Maharashtra register wins on day two
Heat wave conditions are likely to continue over East India till May 5 and over south Peninsular India till May 6 and abate thereafter. Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rainfall spell accompanied with thunderstorms and gusty winds very likely over Northeast India on May 5 and 6, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. On Thursday, the highest maximum temperature of 46.2C was reported at Nandyal (Rayalaseema) over the country. On the same day, maximum temperatures were in the range of 43-46C in some parts of Odisha and Rayalaseema, in isolated pockets of Telangana, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; in the range of 40-43C over many parts of Gangetic West Bengal; in some parts of Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Gujarat; in isolated pockets of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Madhya Pradesh and North Interior Karnataka. These are above normal by 4-7C in some parts of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu; in isolated pockets of Assam & Meghalaya, north Odisha, east Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema and South Interior Karnataka. According to the IMD, maximum temperatures in the range of 44-47C likely to continue over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Telangana and Rayalaseema till May 3 and decrease thereafter. Heat wave conditions very likely in some pockets over Gangetic West Bengal; at isolated pockets over Telangana, Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu during next 3 days; over Kerala, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim on May 3; Odisha, Bihar on May 3 and 4; Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada on May 4 and 5 and over West Rajasthan on May 7. Hot and humid weather very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Coastal Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and Kerala and Mahe during next 4-5 days; Assam & Meghalaya, Tripura, Saurashtra and Kutch on May 3 and 4 and Konkan during May 3 to 5, 2024. According to Skymet, the first pre-monsoon spell of May is expected between May 9 and 11. The intensity and spread of activity will be large to cover parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan. The southern parts, the private weather forecaster added, will have a large spread of pre-monsoon thunderstorms, simultaneously covering different pockets. Heat-struck regions of Rayalaseema, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu will be relieved of oppressive conditions. Severe thunderstorm activity is likely over South Interior Karnataka, Southern parts of Andhra Pradesh and farther parts of Kerala bordering Tamil Nadu.
5000 km road trip in my Tata Altroz iTurbo: Mumbai to Kolkata and back
BHPian Mgdoodler recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Blue Rocket had plans for 2023, which 2023 decided were not to come to fruition. On charts was to travel to Khar Dung La and Kanyakumari sometime between June and Sept 2023 but due to some personal circumstances all long-distance plans were abandoned. Or so we thought. Thanks to my cousin, who was marrying the love of his life in her city in Dec 2023. Invitations were issued and the plan initially was to make a quick visit to Kolkata for a couple of days for the event itself which then turned into a week's solo drive to Kolkata and back and in the end, turned into a 15-day holiday with Blue Rocket travelling through 6 states and the rest of my family flew to Kolkata for wedding festivities. As per my usual practise Blue Rocket was serviced and a checkup done 15 days before my travel and I drove it for a couple of short excursions around Mumbai. Plan was to take the Mumbai - Nagpur - Sambhalpur - Keonjhar - Kolkata route through central India while going and return via Konark - Vishakhapatnam - Chhattisgarh - Hyderabad - Mumbai. This was my first time driving any of these routes and my first time meeting the Bay of Bengal. As with most of my long-distance drives, this was just Blue and me all the way. FYI Blue Rocket is a petrol, manual i-turbo Altroz.Day 1- 1/12/2023 FridayThis was a day I was looking forward to the most, the opportunity to drive on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. I have already driven on the Trans Haryana and enjoyed it and was looking forward to a similar experience. Left home at 6:45 am - much later than the planned 5:30 am, but I was ok with it as there was a mild fog and starting later allowed better visibility. Travelled across Mumbai via the SCLR and eastern express highway leaving the city behind at Thane, but not the traffic, roads were jammed due to diversions and the first couple of hours were tedious. First stop was to fill fuel at Padgha. Tank filled and the drive started towards Kasara ghat which I would be driving on for the first time and it was a good drive. Stopped for a quick breakfast at 10:30 at a restaurant after Ghoti Bhudruk at 150 kms from Mumbai and 7 kms before Bharvir entry into the Mahamarg. The mahamarg is wide, well planned and mostly a comfortable drive. Speed Limit for cars is 120 Kmph and it is possible to maintain the same comfortably. Heavy vehicles are few and keep to the middle and left lane. It was a pleasure to drive on this route. I stopped at approximately halfway at around 3 pm for a fuel refill and bio break. I also stopped at about 1.5hrs of driving on the mahamarg for a quick photo session with Blue being the model. As you can see the weather was lovely with blue skies and fluffy white clouds - a perfect winter day for a drive and the road is practically empty. Road surface could be better and more functional rest stops are required. Hopefully, these requirements will be fulfilled soon. It was later in the day after 4:30 pm and as we neared Nagpur, I encountered some truck traffic in the fast/overtake lane and middle lane at the same time blocking the road. But it was not for long. Crossed Waifal toll naka at 5:30 PM, having covered 600 kms in approx. 6 hours with a 20 min break. Winter and travel towards the east meant that the sun set earlier and it was already dark as we exited the Expressway and made our way to the night stay - Hotel Pride near the airport metro. Reached and checked in at 6:30 pm. Covering 814 kms in little less than 12 hours. The day had not ended though. After a quick catch-up with work, I headed towards the nearest Haldirams at Ajni Square. Travelled by metro for 4 stops and exited just outside Haldirams. My last meal had been a protein bar along with a yoghurt smoothie at 3 pm and now I feasted on Dahi Puri and hot Rajma Chawal. Dinner done I took the metro back to my hotel and turned in for an early night. Continue reading about Mgdoodler's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.
Swiss Military's Rs 56.5 Crore Investment in New Haryana Manufacturing Facility
Swiss Military's Rs 56.5 Crore Investment in New Haryana Manufacturing Facility Global lifestyle brand Swiss Military on Friday said it will set up its first fully owned manufacturing unit in India in Haryana with an initial investment of Rs 56.5 crore. The company plans to set up its first fully owned manufacturing unit for luggage and travel gear in Faridabad, Haryana, Swiss Military Consumer Goods Ltd said in a statement. Spread over 1.21 acres and a built-up area of about 85,000 sq ft, the proposed plant will have a production capacity of 10 lakh pieces per year, it added. The targeted completion for the manufacturing unit will be within 8 months by Dec 31, 2024 at an initial investment of Rs 56.50 crore, the company said. ''Our own manufacturing capabilities will help establish Swiss Military's commitment to modernisation within the travel gear sector in the Indian market and to shorten go-to-market timelines with new products,'' Swiss Military Consumer Goods Ltd Managing Director Anuj Sawhney said. He further said, ''It will also significantly bolster our position in the competitive global travel gear market. We trust that this new facility will be a cornerstone in our journey towards sustained growth and leadership in the industry.'' Sawhney said with domestic and international leisure and business travel bouncing back aggressively, the company has seen very robust growth in the luggage and travel gear segment. ''This new venture by Swiss Military is aligned to our future vision of expansion in India and abroad while being part of their 'Make in India' movement,'' he added. A global lifestyle brand with a 30-year legacy, Swiss Military, offers premium and innovative products across 26 countries and has over 3,000 products across various verticals.
Booked in Mahinderpal Bittu Case, Sikh Youth Granted Bail by High Court
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to Sikh youth Gursewak Singh Bhoot. Gursewak Singh was booked by Punjab police in a case related to the killing of Mahinderpal Bittu, one of the prime accused in the Bargari beadbi case. This News/Article Booked in Mahinderpal Bittu Case, Sikh Youth Granted Bail by High Court appeared first on Sikh Siyasat News .
Swiss Military to invest Rs 56.5 crore on new manufacturing unit in Haryana
A global lifestyle brand with a 30-year legacy, Swiss Military, offers premium and innovative products across 26 countries and has over 3,000 products across various verticals.
HTET 2023 Result Update: Revised Result Announced, Check Your Scores Now
The Board of School Education (BSE), Haryana, has released the notification for the Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET) 2023. This examination is for candidates aspiring to become teachers for Class I-V (Primary Teacher), Class VI-VIII (TGT), and PGT positions. Here are the details you need to know to apply for HTET 2023.
SC stays Punjab & Haryana HC order on reopening of road outside CM Manns house
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to open the road outside the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to public, after taking into record the Advocate General (AG) of Punjab's submission thatin recent years unfortunately, there was resurgence of terrorism and grenades being thrown at the intelligence building. A two-judge Bench of the top court, led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta, issued notice to the Union Territory of Chandigarh and stayed the High Court's direction to open the road on trial basis. It is to be noted that recently, on April 27, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had in its order directed the Chandigarh administration to formulate a plan to ease the traffic congestion by opening the 500-metre road in front of the Chief Ministers residence on an experimental basis from May 1. The High Court had ordered the opening of the said a 500-metre stretch outside the Chief Minister residence, on a trial basis from May 1 from 7 am and 7 pm on all working days. The Punjab and Chandigarh administration had opposed the HC order and moved the SC seeking a stay on it. While staying the HC order, the Apex court, observed,nobody wants anything untoward to happen. Issue notice. Direction on opening road on trial basis is stayed till further orders but the writ petition proceedings before the High Court can continue. The AG, seeking immediate stay of the HC order, took the example of the alleged killing of popular Punjabi singer, Sidhu Moosewala, and said that he was allegedly killed right soon after his security was withdrawn. The Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Chandigarh administration, told the apex court that he move (HC order) could have grave implications on someone's life. This is playing with somebody's life. It is significant to note that in 1980s, due to the insurgency and the number of increased terrorism cases and attack, the said road in front of Chief Ministers residence was closed.
New Delhi, May 3: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order for reopening of the road in front of the Punjab Chief Minister's residence in Chandigarh to the public from May 1. A Bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta also issued notice on the Punjab Government's [] The post Supreme Court stays Punjab and Haryana High Court order to reopen road in front of Punjab CMs residence to public appeared first on Northlines .
Here's What 2024 Lok Sabha Elections Schedule: Seven Phases from April 19 to June 1
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are set to unfold in seven phases, spanning from April 19 to June 1, with results expected on June 4. The Election Commission has revealed the schedule, highlighting that April 19 will witness the highest number of constituencies, totaling 102, while the fifth phase, on May 20, will see the lowest number at just 49. Here's a breakdown of the election phases across different states: Single Poll Date (22 states): Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu. Two-phase Voting (4 states): Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tripura, Manipur Three-phase Voting (2 states): Chhattisgarh, Assam Four-phase Voting (3 states): Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand Five-phase Voting (2 states): Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir Seven-phase Voting (3 states): Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal The Lok Sabha Election 2024 schedule is as follows: Phase 1 (April 19): 101 Seats Phase 2 (April 26): 89 Seats Phase 3 (May 7): 94 Seats Phase 4 (May 13): 96 Seats Phase 5 (May 20): 49 Seats Phase 6 (May 25): 57 Seats Phase 7 (June 1): 57 Seats Each phase covers various states and Union Territories, ensuring a comprehensive electoral process across the nation. In the first phase on April 19, a total of 102 seats will be contested across several states and Union Territories: Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal West, Arunachal East Assam: Sonitpur, Kaziranga, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur Bihar: Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui Jammu & Kashmir: Udhampur Madhya Pradesh: Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, Balaghat, Chhindwara Maharashtra: Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondiya, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chandrapur Manipur: Inner Manipur Meghalaya: Shillong, Tura Mizoram: Mizoram Nagaland: Nagaland Rajasthan: Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa, Nagaur Sikkim: Sikkim Tamil Nadu: Thiruvallur, Chennai North, Chennai South, Chennai Central, Sriperumbudur, Kancheepuram, Arakkonam, Vellore, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Arani, Viluppuram, Kallakurichi, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Tiruppur, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Pollachi, Dindigul, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Sivaganga, Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukkudi, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari Tripura: Tripura West Uttar Pradesh: Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, Pilibhit West Bengal: Cooch Behar, Alipurduars, Jalpaiguri Chhattisgarh: Bastar Uttarakhand: Tehri Garhwal, Garhwal, Almora, Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Hardwar Andaman & Nicobar: Andaman Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep: Lakshadweep Puducherry: Puducherry These elections aim to engage citizens in the democratic process, allowing them to exercise their right to vote and shape the future of their nation. Congress Announces Candidates for Lok Sabha 2024, Rahul Gandhi to Contest from Rae Bareli Congress KL Sharma to Contest against BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi Trinamool Congress Accuses Congress Leader of Promoting BJP Agenda
USCIRF attempted to portray Islamists as the victims of the pre-planned anti-Hindu carnage during theJalabhishek Shobha yatra in the Nuh district in Mewat region of Haryana on 31st July 2023.
Demand for Air conditioners soar as temperatures continue to rise, some companies raise prices by 3-5 per cent The demand for air conditioners (ACs) have surged during the April month due to the increase in temperature, especially in North and Central India. It has prompted a strong outlook for AC demand until mid-June 2024. According to a report by Anand Rathi Financial Services Limited, after the surge in demand for AC's the manufacturing companies have increased prices. The AC manufacturing company Blue Star has increased prices by 3-5 per cent across various models. The report highlights that in South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, AC volumes soared by 40-50 per cent year-on-year (y/y). While Karnataka and Telangana witnessed a 15-20 per cent y/y growth in AC volumes. In Central India, including Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Madhya Pradesh (MP), AC volumes grew by 15-20 per cent y/y. However, the local dealers have reported shortages of the ACs across brands, leading to increased delivery times. In North India, particularly in Rajasthan and Haryana, AC demand has surged post-Holi, with volumes growing by 20-25 per cent in April 2024. The report highlights that some dealers anticipated further growth in AC demand by 25-30 per cent in May. In the Eastern region, Odisha saw a 25-30 per cent increase in AC volumes, while Jharkhand experienced a 10-15 per cent y/y growth. Despite rising demand, no pricing action was observed by any brand in the region, and dealers are facing a shortage in giving timely supply. The demand for AC in the Western region including Gujarat and Maharashtra have surged in the latter half of April, with volumes growing by 15-20 per cent y/y. According to the report several brands in Gujarat increased prices by 3-5 per cent across various models. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday that most parts of the country are likely to record above-normal maximum temperatures in May. The IMD, however, stated that some parts of northwest and central India and adjoining areas of northeast peninsular India are likely to record normal to below-normal maximum temperatures. According to IMD, the average minimum temperature (22 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901. (ANI)
Supreme Court stays High Court order to open road in front of Punjab CM Bhagwant Manns house
The Supreme Court today stayed a Punjab and Haryana High Court order for the opening of the road to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns house on experimental basis from May 1. Notably, the road in front of the Chief Ministers residence was blocked for security purposes during the Khalistani terrorism of the 1980s. Staying the []
Hardships Fueled My Determination for Greater Success: Sumit
Hardships Fueled My Determination for Greater Success: Sumit Sumit already has Olympic and Asian Games hockey medals in his cabinet, but more torrid memories are fuelling his dreams of adding another piece of metal into his glittering collection. The 27-year-old is hoping to be a part of India's Paris Olympics-bound squad, but he is unfazed by the intense competition for a spot in the final 16. ''There were bigger struggles in my life. As someone who went through tougher challenges in life, I keep remembering myself about my past. ''I have kept those memories with me and I get strong vibes from my tough past to move forward. It gives me an energy to strive for bigger achievements,'' Sumit told PTI on the sidelines of the Indian team's preparatory camp at the SAI centre here. The Haryana player termed him getting dropped by then coach Graham Reid in 2021 as the biggest challenge he faced on the field. After the Asian Champions Trophy that year, Sumit fell out of favour and was not picked for the subsequent Commonwealth Games and the World Cup at home. The nearly two-year omission was tough for him, but Sumit said he never let the hope fade. ''I don't often allow disappointments to creep into my mind. But it's very tough for a player to get dropped from the team. ''In fact, I have to go through those ups and downs in the last couple of years. But I love that challenge of making a comeback to the team.'' However, Sumit admitted that going down the pecking order did have some adverse impact on his mind. ''The biggest challenge (when he's out of the team) is that you tend to feel that the coach does not trust you and your game too starts getting affected by such thoughts. ''I too felt the same way then, but the only thing I could do was to work hard on my game and push my case further,'' he added. He indeed upgraded his game, and now figures prominently in new coach Craig Fulton's plans. ''Fulton has created a cordial atmosphere within the team. He values every player in the team, not just the seniors. ''He has established a nice connection with each player and he knows how to take the team along with him,'' Sumit gushed. Sumit said his focus is on the upcoming FIH Pro-League matches at Antwerp, where India will begin their campaign from May 22. ''I am focusing on the Pro-League matches. Those matches will be very tough against some top teams, and I am preparing accordingly.'' The midfielder said the opportunity to face top-flight opponents like Germany, Argentina and Belgium ahead of the Olympics will stand the team in good stead. ''Sometimes, we don't get enough matches to prepare ahead of a big event. But here we have some good matches for preparation ahead of the Olympics. ''We will meet those teams (which are in the Pro-League) in Paris too. So, it's an ideal preparation for the team.'' India had recently suffered a 0-5 series defeat against Australia, but Sumit found positives in that setback. ''We have learned so many things from the tour to Australia despite losing 0-5. We now have better awareness about the changes that we need to make in our defence and attack. We are focusing on them in this camp,'' he noted. Sumit underscored the need to put better work on the team's defence. ''We lost the first match very badly but from there we showed some improvements and other matches had close margins like 2-1, 3-2 etc. It told us how crucial it is to keep defence tight for the whole duration of the match. We are working on it,'' he said. With his preparations on track, Sumit hoped to make the cut for the Olympics. ''I am mentally ready for the Olympics. Hopefully, I can make the cut and I feel this time too we can end up on the podium. ''The team has not been announced yet for the Olympics, but I feel if we do well in the Pro-League it will boost our confidence in Paris.''
Chandigarh SC stays opening of road outside Punjab CM's residence
Chandigarh SC stays opening of road outside Punjab CM's residence The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the opening of a road outside Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns residence in Chandigarh on an experimental basis. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta noted that both the Centre and Punjab government have opposed the opening of the road, which has been closed since the 1980s, owing to a threat perception. The bench issued notice on a plea filed by the Punjab government and sought response of administration of Union Territory of Chandigarh by September 2. The top court noted that the road was closed in the 1980s during the height of terrorism in Punjab. On April 22, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered opening of the 500-metre road, connecting Sukhna Lake to Nayagaon in Chandigarh, on a trial basis from May 1. The high court had also directed the Chandigarh Police to engage traffic experts for preparing a traffic management plan for the road that was to be opened from 7 am to 7 pm on working days. Since the closure of the road, people moving between Nayagaon and Sukhna Lake were forced to take long detours via adjacent sectors of the city.
GST collection in Odisha hits record high in April
BHUBANESWAR: Gross GST collection in Odisha hit a record high in April with an overall tax revenue of Rs 5,902.25 crore registering a growth rate of 17.21 per cent against the national average of 13 per cent. The gross GST collection including CGST, SGST, IGST and Cess, was Rs 5,035.74 crore in Odisha in April last year. Odisha has also breached all previous records in state GST revenue registering a phenomenal growth rate of 32.94 per cent last month. From the overall collection, the state share and IGST settlement was Rs 2,996.05 crore in April this year against Rs 2,253.71 crore collected during the corresponding period in 2023. The collection of state GST exclusively in April was Rs 2,081.83 crore, which is also the highest ever state GST collection since the introduction of GST regime. The collection under all acts monitored by the Commissionerate of CT and GST, including state GST, IGST settlement, VAT and profession tax in April was Rs 3,330.48 crore as compared to Rs 2,544.45 crore during the corresponding month last year. The collection under all acts posted a growth rate of 30.89 per cent. Odisha is among top-six states that have recorded the highest growth rate in collection of gross GST last month. Assam topped with a growth rate of 25 per cent, followed by Bihar (23 per cent), Punjab and Haryana (21 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (19 per cent). GST officials attributed the highest ever collection of tax to the growth in compliances and both domestic and interstate transactions besides the mining revenue. The GST collection now shows the buoyancy that was expected at the time of its roll out, they said. As many as 23.15 lakh of waybills were generated last month as against 20.9 lakh in April 2023. Of this, 12.38 lakh were intra-state waybills and 8.51 lakh were inter-state waybills. The highest 24.4 lakh waybills were generated in March this year. Impressive figures Rs 5,902.25 crore overall tax revenue collected in April Rs 5,035.74 crore gross GST collection in April last year Rs 2,996.05 crore state share and IGST settlement in April this year Rs 2,081.83 crore state GST collected in April
What is a forest, really? On Haryana govt's table for the first time, criteria to define it
Haryana defines 'forest' criteria under SC's 1996 ruling, awaiting state approval to recognize Aravalis. Expert committee reports needed to increase the 3.6% forest cover, impacted by Aravali lands ownership for FCA protection.
Kerala: Climate change reality gets heatwave check
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Valerian Isaac, a traditional fisherman from Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram, is deeply concerned about the impact of climate change on his livelihood and the overall quality of life. He used to enjoy his summer with the sea cooling down when folks in the town sweltered in the heat. The situation however has changed dramatically. The sea has warmed up significantly. Consequently, the fish have migrated to cooler waters away from the coast. Previously, we relied on good winds and occasional rains to alleviate the heat. But this summer has proven to be the toughest yet, Isaac said. With the dwindling catch, only a handful of fishermen dare to venture out into the sea in his area. And they are not the only ones suffering. Adverse weather has also affected autorickshaw drivers, tour operators, vegetable vendors and those in the construction sector. As the government considers imposing further restrictions on operations between 11am and 3pm, the livelihoods of even more sectors hang in the balance. Isaac, like many others, had not heard of the term El Nino, a climate phenomenon responsible for warming the sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean and often cited as a primary cause of harsh summers. However, he, along with the rest of the populace, has become acquainted with the term heatwave in recent times. Its sudden appearance in the vocabulary coincided with its confirmation in Palakkad on April 26, the day of the general elections. Such weather was once considered unusual, mostly associated with the traditional hot regions of the country. The India Meteorological Department first issued a heatwave alert in Kerala in 2016, the warmest year on record for the state, primarily focused on Palakkad. This year, the focus has again been on Palakkad which experienced scorching temperatures throughout April, with Thrissur following suit. Subsequently, heatwave alerts were issued for Kollam, Kozhikode and Alappuzha, as temperatures in these districts deviated from the norm significantly. A majority of those belonging to the fishing community in Perumathura in Thiruvananthapuram are spending their time under the shade of coconut palms. The reason being the roofs of their homes are made of asbestos and tin sheets, which increase the heat Weather experts assert the situation is similar across south and east India. An Asia-wide heatwave map published by international weather agencies depicts most countries in the region coloured in red. The temperature rise is attributed to global warming induced by climate change. The impact of El Nino exacerbates the situation, said D Sivananda Pai, senior scientist and ADGM of India Meteorological Department. According to him, the dry weather in Kerala has increased the temperature. In Palakkad, the relative humidity is now in the 30-40% range in comparison to the normal 60-80%. Thats why the temperature remains high. The condition is worse for people living in more humid areas as high moisture content does not help reduce body temperature, he said. Like this year, 2016 too was an El Nino year. While it was the warmest year in recent history, the damage, technically, was limited to a heatwave alert in Palakkad. What makes the conditions worse than 2016 is the absence of summer rain, especially in the northern districts, and the land use and land cover changes because of urbanisation, said Rajeevan Erikkulam, a meteorologist with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. Weather experts pointed out the situation is likely to improve by the second week of May when summer rains are expected to be more regular. The El Nino effect is expected to be neutral during the time of monsoon, but the experts have a warning the next El Nino year could be much worse than 2024. What is heatwave? Qualitatively, heatwave is a condition of air temperature that becomes fatal to human body when exposed. Quantitatively, it is defined based on the temperature thresholds over a region in terms of actual temperature or its departure from normal. Criterion for declaring heatwave Heatwave is considered to be in effect if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40Celsius or more in the plains, at least 30Celsius or more in hilly regions, and 37 Celsius or more in coastal regions. The departure from normal is 4.5 to 6.4Celsius. If the above criteria is met in at least two stations in a meteorological sub-division for at least two consecutive days, a heatwave is declared on the second day. A woman carrying a pedestal fan on a two-wheeler in Kochi. With mercury level going up, residents are opting for various methods to beat the scorching heat Heatwave prone states Heatwave generally occurs over the plains of northwest India and central, east and north peninsular India from March to June. It covers Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Sometimes, it occurs over Tamil Nadu and Kerala too. Impact of heatwave Water stress Health problems Livelihood problems Heatwave in Kerala First alert - Palakkad, in 2016 First alert - Kozhikode - 2020 First confirmation this year - Palakkad, on April 26 First alert in Alappuzha - April 30 Reasons for heatwave Global warming El Nino Absence of summer rain Urbanisation Number of days above 40 degrees Celsius in April in Kerala 2024 - 16 (15 in Palakkad) 2023 - 3 2016 - 14 1989 - 8
Modi set to lead final round of BJPs poll campaign in Haryana
Haryana Cong MLA directed by SC to join probe: ED
New Delhi: Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chokker has been directed by the Supreme Court to join the probe in a money laundering case in which one of his sons has been arrested and the other is absconding, the Enforcement Directorate said on Thursday. Sikandar Singh Chokker was arrested by the federal probe agency from []
ED takes custody of Haryana Congress MLAs son
The Central probe agency produced him before a special court that sent him to agency custody till May 6
Soaring temperatures scorch Eastern and Southern India: Nandyal records sweltering 46.2 degrees Celsius Intense heat swept through east India and parts of the southern peninsular region on Thursday, testing power grids and prompting the Kerala government to order closure of educational institutions till May 6. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions scorched parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and coastal Andhra Pradesh. At least 17 places in these states recorded temperatures above the 44-degree Celsius mark. The mercury settled at 46.2 degrees Celsius at Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, 45.3 degrees at Palwancha in Telangana, 44.3 degrees at Karur Paramathi in Tamil Nadu, 45 degrees at Bolangir in Odisha, and 44.3 degrees at Kalaikunda in West Bengal. As Kerala continued to reel under punishing heat, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the closure of educational institutions in the state until May 6. The IMD said the ongoing heat wave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue till May 3 and abate thereafter. The Met office on Wednesday said above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heat wave days expected over the northern plains, central region, and adjoining areas of peninsular India. April saw record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast, and southern peninsular India prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools. A number of stations recorded their highest ever April day temperature. Five active Western Disturbances led to rain, thunderstorm, and hail storms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves. IMD data shows that heat waves in April this year were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far. This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heat wave days predicted over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Gujarat regions. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka, and Telangana may record five to seven heat wave days in the month. Normally, the northern plains, central India, and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat waves in May. India saw two spells of heat waves in April from April 5 to 7 and April 15 to 30. The IMD attributes the prolonged heat wave spell over east, northeast, and south peninsular India in April to the absence of thunderstorms and an anticyclone at lower levels over the west central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining eastern coasts of India. This caused the sea breeze to cut off over Odisha and West Bengal on most days. The weather office said south peninsular India recorded an average maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius in April, which was the second-highest since 1901. The mean temperature (28.12 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901, it said. The IMD said above normal maximum temperatures have become frequent over south peninsular India since 1980s. The region recorded 12.6 mm of rainfall in April, which was the fifth lowest since 1901 and the second lowest since 2001. According to IMD data, the number of heat wave days this April was the highest in 15 years in Gangetic West Bengal and nine years in Odisha. Odisha also experienced the longest heat wave spell (16 days) in April since 2016. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of thousands of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Polling for 94 constituencies across 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office had earlier expected four to eight heat wave days in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heat wave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period.
Haryana: Naveen Jindal, wife declare assets worth nearly Rs 1,000 crore
Naveen Jindal filed nomination for Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat, declaring Rs 1,000 crore assets. No vehicle ownership. Wife Shallu, Jindal Steel and Power Limited chairman, MBA from University of Texas at Dallas. Gold, jewellery, agriculture land in Dadri. Non-agriculture land, income for 2022-23.
GST meet to discuss fake registrations
Central and state GST officers will meet on Friday under the chairmanship of Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra and are likely to discuss various issues like stricter registration norms to deter fake companies set up to evade taxes, sources said. The meeting comes within days of GST collections scaling a record high of Rs 2.10 lakh crore in April on the back of strong economic momentum, increased domestic transactions and tighter audit and scrutiny. The third National Co-ordination Meeting of senior officers of Central and State Tax administrations would, among other things, discuss further tightening of registration under Goods and Services Tax (GST) to curb fake companies, set up only to claim an input tax credit (ITC). The meeting is also scheduled to discuss ways to reach out to the mastermind of GST fraud by following the money trail, sources added. To identify risky taxpayers suspected of passing or availing fake ITC, tax officers are using data analytics and artificial intelligence tools. Besides, robust checks in the form of physical verification of premises and Aadhar authentication are in place for GST registration. This has enabled early detection of fraudulent registrations and curbed them to a great extent. In Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, a pilot on risk-based biometric-based Aadhaar authentication is being carried out for registration of applications. As per the government data, between April and December 2023, about 14,600 cases of GST evasion have been registered by central tax officers. Maximum number of such frauds was registered in Maharashtra (2,716), followed by Gujarat (2,589), Haryana (1,123) and West Bengal (1,098). Besides, GST intelligence officers have detected fake ITC cases worth Rs 18,000 crore in April-December 2023 and arrested 98 fraudsters/ masterminds. The first National Coordination Meeting of State and Central GST officers was held on April 24, 2023. The issue of fake/ bogus registration under GST was discussed, and it was decided to launch a special pan-India drive to identify fake GSTINs. The second meeting was held on December 14, 2023, in which best practices adopted by various states to curb evasion were shared, besides deliberation on other issues.
Lok Sabha Polls 2024: BJP's Naveen Jindal, Wife Declare Assets Worth Nearly Rs 1,000 Crore
BJP nominee and industrialist Naveen Jindal, who is contesting from Haryana's Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat, on Thursday filed his nomination papers and declared his and his wife Shallu's movable and immovable assets at about Rs 1,000 crore.
GST Council to Consider Crackdown on Fake Registrations at National Coordination Meeting
GST Council to Consider Crackdown on Fake Registrations at National Coordination Meeting Central and state GST officers will meet on Friday under the chairmanship of Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra and are likely to discuss various issues like stricter registration norms to deter fake companies set up to evade taxes, sources said. The meeting comes within days of GST collections scaling a record high of Rs 2.10 lakh crore in April on the back of strong economic momentum, increased domestic transactions and tighter audit and scrutiny. The third National Co-ordination Meeting of senior officers of Central and State Tax administrations would, among other things, discuss further tightening of registration under Goods and Services Tax (GST) to curb fake companies, set up only to claim an input tax credit (ITC). The meeting is also scheduled to discuss ways to reach out to the mastermind of GST fraud by following the money trail, sources added. To identify risky taxpayers suspected of passing or availing fake ITC, tax officers are using data analytics and artificial intelligence tools. Besides, robust checks in the form of physical verification of premises and Aadhar authentication are in place for GST registration. This has enabled early detection of fraudulent registrations and curbed them to a great extent. In Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, a pilot on risk-based biometric-based Aadhaar authentication is being carried out for registration of applications. As per the government data, between April and December 2023, about 14,600 cases of GST evasion have been registered by central tax officers. Maximum number of such frauds was registered in Maharashtra (2,716), followed by Gujarat (2,589), Haryana (1,123) and West Bengal (1,098). Besides, GST intelligence officers have detected fake ITC cases worth Rs 18,000 crore in April-December 2023 and arrested 98 fraudsters/ masterminds. The first National Coordination Meeting of State and Central GST officers was held on April 24, 2023. The issue of fake/ bogus registration under GST was discussed, and it was decided to launch a special pan-India drive to identify fake GSTINs. The second meeting was held on December 14, 2023, in which best practices adopted by various states to curb evasion were shared, besides deliberation on other issues.
Jindal Power and Steel Chairman Naveen Jindal, Wife Declare Assets Worth Nearly Rs 1,000 Crore
Jindal Power and Steel Chairman Naveen Jindal, Wife Declare Assets Worth Nearly Rs 1,000 Crore BJP nominee and industrialist Naveen Jindal, who is contesting from Haryana's Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat, on Thursday filed his nomination papers and declared his and his wife Shallu's movable and immovable assets at about Rs 1,000 crore. Jindal (54), who filed his nomination before the returning officer in Kurukshetra, also declared that neither he nor his wife owned any vehicle. Jindal, who is the chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, was accompanied by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini when he went to file his nomination papers. An MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas in the US, Jindal declared that he and his wife own gold and other jewellery valued at over Rs 40 crore. In his poll affidavit, Jindal declared his movable assets at Rs 88,673.68 lakh (nearly Rs 886 crore) and that of his wife at Rs 11,461.75 lakh (nearly Rs 114 crore). The BJP candidate also holds agriculture land in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh measuring 1.628 hectares and non-agriculture land in Dadri measuring 5,058 square feet. He has declared his movable assets at nearly Rs 11 crore and total liabilities to the tune of Rs 6.94 crore. He declared his total income amounting to Rs 74.83 crore for the financial year 2022-23. Jindal, who switched over from Congress to the BJP in March, was the MP from Kurukshetra between 2004 and 2014. Jindal declared that he had not been convicted of any criminal offence. The opposition has targeted him on charges related to the alleged coal scam. Reacting to accusations, Jindal had told reporters in Kurukshetra, ''...I think the truth is before you all. It has been more than 10 years. One can level allegations against anyone, but I know people have trust in me and I have faith in the judiciary. And in the end, it will become clear to all that I have done nothing wrong''. From Kurukshetra, Jindal faces INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala and Aam Aadmi Party's Sushil Gupta, among others. AAP, a constituent of the opposition's INDIA bloc, is contesting the Kurukshetra seat while the remaining nine are being contested by the Congress. 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 Congress MLA directed by SC to join probe: ED
NEW DELHI: Haryana Congress MLA Dharam Singh Chokker has been directed by the Supreme Court to join the probe in a money laundering case in which one of his sons has been arrested and the other is absconding, the Enforcement Directorate said on Thursday.Sikandar Singh Chokker was arrested by the federal probe agency from Haridwar in Uttarakhand on April 30. His brother Vikas Chokker is absconding. Following his arrest, Sikandar Singh was brought to Haryana's Gurugram where a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court sent him to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till May 6. He was absconding for the last four months and a court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him, the agency said in a statement. The money laundering case against the Chokkers and entities linked to them stems from multiple FIRs of the Gurugram Police that had booked Dharam Singh, 60, who represents Samalkha in the Haryana assembly, Sikandar Singh, and a company named Sai Aaina Farms Pvt. Ltd. and its associate concerns on charges of cheating and forgery. Under an affordable housing scheme, the company had collected Rs 363 crore from 1,497 buyers on the promise of providing them houses at Sector 68 in Gurugram but it failed to deliver and missed multiple deadlines, the ED said. The agency said that Sai Aaina Farms Pvt. Ltd's promoters diverted the home buyers' money to associate concerns of the Mahira Group. Sikandar Singh is promoter, director and shareholder of various companies of the group, it said. The ED said the Supreme Court recently directed Dharam Singh to join the investigation in the case. Vikas Chokker is still absconding, it added. The agency said its probe found that Sai Aaina Farms Pvt. Ltd's promoters siphoned off home buyers' money by booking fake construction expenditure in group entities. The cash generated from the fake purchases was used for personal gains, it said. The directors/promoters also diverted home buyers money to other group entities as loans (outstanding for years) which was used for buying expensive luxury cars, benami properties, expensive wedding of daughter, purchasing personal jewellery and withdrawing cash, the ED said. The agency had conducted searches against the MLA and other accused in the case in July last year, and has attached assets worth Rs 36.5 crore till now.
India Rejects USCIRF Report as Politically Biased
India has dismissed a report released by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) as biased and politically motivated. The report alleged that India, along with 16 other countries, is guilty of severe violations of religious freedom. India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, criticized the report, calling it anti-India propaganda that failed to understand the nation's diverse and pluralistic democratic ethos. Jaiswal stated that the USCIRF's report is part of the organization's ongoing efforts to interfere in India's internal affairs and electoral processes. He emphasized that the USCIRF's attempts to influence the world's largest democratic exercise would not succeed. India's response underlined its position on religious freedom and reiterated its lack of expectations from the USCIRF to objectively assess the country's religious landscape. The USCIRF report accused the Indian government of implementing discriminatory nationalist policies, perpetuating hateful rhetoric, and failing to address communal violence. The report highlighted incidents such as the Manipur and Haryana violence, as well as the detention of Kashmiri leaders following the abrogation of Article 370. However, India maintains its stance on the report's biased portrayal of the country. Pakistan's Fawad Chaudhary Shares Video of Rahul Gandhi Criticizing 'Ram Mandir India's SMART System Test Marks Advancement in Defense Capabilities Indian Airlines Expand Fleets Amid Rising Air Travel Demand
If we talk about the beautiful cities of the country, the name of Chandigarh, the capital of Punjab and Haryana, definitely comes in it. This city has made a place in the hearts of tourists due to its cleanliness and beauty. This city is known all over the world for its urban glamor and beauty. There are many famous places to visit here. But along with sightseeing, some places are considered haunted. People are very afraid to visit these places not only at night but also during the day. Today we are going to introduce you to those selected places in Chandigarh where signs of negative energy have been found. Let us know about these places... Haunted House, Sector 16 The haunted house situated in the middle of Chandigarh city is a very scary place. Let us tell you, people passing through here have experienced many such activities, due to which people's heart stops. It is said that this place is haunted by a student who committed suicide here a few years ago. Many people have felt the unusual activity of this place in many ways. This place is one of the most haunted places in the country. Kasauli Graveyard Kasauli graveyard, situated on the way from Chandigarh to Shimla, is counted among the selected haunted places. Paranormal activity can be easily felt here. Many horror stories are associated with this cemetery. PGI Chandigarh Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) is a prestigious medical college in the city. Many people are still unaware that this medical college is also counted among the selected haunted places. A large number of aborted fetuses are kept collected in jars in many rooms of the medical college. Which makes this place quite scary at night. Experts believe that this place is full of negative energy. Where strange incidents keep happening now and then. Savitri Bai Phule Hostel This place also comes in the list of big hostels of the city. The students of this hostel have claimed that a beheaded ghost lives here, which can often be seen in the windows and gallery of the rooms. Students have also informed the hostel administration about such incidents, but the mystery of where the decapitated ghost is and what it looks like remains a mystery. Because of this, many students have even left the hostel out of fear. Sukhna Lake Sukhna Lake is a beautiful lake that looks even more beautiful during sunrise. This is a very famous place of this place. Recently it is also counted among the most haunted places of Chandigarh. Let us tell you, there were many deaths in this lake many years ago, due to which this place has become haunted. At night this place looks completely marshy and barren. Local people believe that this place is haunted by many evil spirits. Chandigarh Railway Guest House No one can imagine that even a heavily populated area can be haunted. Chandigarh Railway Guest House has included one room in the haunted list. It is said that this room is haunted by some evil spirit. Whenever someone comes to stay in this room, he encounters this spirit. When someone goes to the bathroom to take a bath, that soul is seen peeping in. Therefore this room remains closed most of the time. Haunted Bridge, Sector 16 On the way to General Hospital in Sector 16, you will see a bridge, which is counted among the haunted places. People coming here believe that the spirit of a girl in white clothes keeps roaming here. For this reason, also no one comes here at night. This is the reason why this bridge is called Hountage Bridge. Temple hunting sati It is situated in Sector 39 a temple known as Hunting Sati. According to the local people, this temple was built in memory of a woman who committed sati. It is believed that whenever someone bows down and prays in front of the statue standing here, the spirit of Sati takes over that person. Nothing can be said exactly about how much truth is there in this matter. (PC: Lifeberrys)
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Candidate Naveen Jindal Files Nomination From Kurukshetra
The 54-year-old was accompanied by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini when he went to file his nomination papers.
Lok Sabha polls: BJP candidate Naveen Jindal files nomination from Haryana's Kurukshetra
Appealing to the voters of the Kurukshetra parliamentary constituency to make Jindal victorious, Chief Minister Saini said the country has been moving ahead on the path of progress during the past ten years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP's Naveen Jindal Files Nomination for Haryana's Kurukshetra Constituency in LS Polls
BJP's Naveen Jindal Files Nomination for Haryana's Kurukshetra Constituency in LS Polls BJP candidate from the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat Naveen Jindal on Thursday filed his nomination papers. The 54-year-old was accompanied by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini when he went to file his nomination papers. Later, he also addressed a public gathering in which his family members and BJP leaders, including the chief minister, were present. Appealing to the voters of the Kurukshetra parliamentary constituency to make Jindal victorious, Chief Minister Saini said the country has been moving ahead on the path of progress during the past ten years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jindal, who joined the BJP in March after leaving the Congress, was an MP from Kurukshetra between 2004-2014. He faces Indian National Lok Dal's (INLD) senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Sushil Gupta, among others. AAP, a constituent of opposition's INDIA bloc, is contesting the Kurukshetra seat in Haryana while the remaining nine seats in the state are being contested by the Congress. 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.
Shashi Tharoor: 400 paar a joke, 300 paar impossible, 200 paar challenge for BJP
New Delhi: The BJP's claim of '400 paar' is a joke, '300 paar' impossible and even '200 paar' may be a challenge in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said, terming the ruling party's loss a 'foregone conclusion'.In an interaction with PTI editors at the agency's headquarters here, Tharoor also claimed the BJP will draw a blank in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and will do worse than its 2019 performance in the South. Tharoor, who was locked in a three-way contest with Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the BJP and P Raveendran of the CPI in Thiruvananthapuram where polling took place on April 26, said he is looking at a very comfortable win. If he emerges victorious, it will be a fourth consecutive win for the author-politician from Thiruvananthapuram, who is the longest-serving MP from the constituency. Back in Delhi after a nearly two month high voltage campaign in Thiruvananthapuram, the Congress Working Committee member will now canvass in other parts of the country, being a sought after campaigner due to his oratory skills and celebrity status. Asked how it was looking for the Congress and the INDIA bloc after two phases of the polls, the former Union minister said, 190 seats have voted so far and what I am picking up from my sources, it is tremendously positive for our side. We are not suggesting that there is an overwhelming wave but there certainly isn't one for the government. In fact, many who have been following elections for some time say that the difference between this election and the ones in 2014 and 2019 is that the predominant emotion of the BJP voters appears to be indifference and lack of enthusiasm, Tharoor said during the freewheeling interaction. In his view, Congress members are feeling cautiously optimistic about many places in Hindi-speaking states that have voted so far. So, I would say that on balance, we are far more ahead than we would have expected at this time. Of course, there are five more phases to go in this unnecessarily protracted election, Tharoor said. Asked how many seats the Congress and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) would get in the polls, Tharoor said in a lighter vein that he does not predict scores even as a cricket fan but only predicts victories. I would say that right now it looks increasingly likely that the BJP-NDA government will lose its majority. The BJP losing its majority seems to be a foregone conclusion, Tharoor said. In six states, he pointed out, the BJP won every seat, while in three states, it won all but one seat, and in two states, it won all but two seats. This, he said, is simply not replicable. In Haryana, the Congress won no seats and the (opinion) polls are indicating five-seven seats for us this time. In Karnataka, we won one seat and this time polls are ranging from 10-17, some are even saying 20, he said. In all the states that the BJP did so well, they are losing some seats even in a conservative analysis, he said. This 400 paar is a joke, 300 paar is impossible and (even) 200 paar may be a challenge for them (BJP) to get the way things are going. In Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the BJP will get zero seats, he claimed. In Telangana, they got a handful of seats and would struggle to hold on to those, Tharoor said and added that the BJP would not be able to replicate its good show in Karnataka. In 2019, the BJP won 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka. In Telangana, it bagged four of 17 seats. According to Tharoor, there is absolutely no doubt that the BJP is going to do worse than last time in the South. In the North, as I said, they did so well last time and it is impossible to replicate that. Both in the North and South they are coming down from where they were. How well we do and how well the INDIA bloc parties do is yet to be seen because after all 353 seats are yet to vote so there is still a big majority of the election yet to happen, he said. But all indications are that this is really an uphill struggle for the BJP and things are not going the government's way, he added. I ask objectively, as an Indian citizen, why should a young man who voted for the BJP in 2014 because he was promised a job, still vote for the BJP 10 years later when he still does not have a job, Tharoor said. When all the economists are saying 80 per cent of India's population have seen a decline in its income in the last 10 years, why should these 80 per cent want to vote for the BJP that has put them in that predicament, Tharoor argued. He said that in 2014, the BJP ran on economics, but it was a disastrous government economically, and in 2019 it ran on national security with Pulwama and Balakot being the predominant theme across northern India. They (BJP) can't run on economy this time because they mishandled the economy and people don't have jobs and can't buy in the market what they could a few years ago. They can't run on national security because everyone knows that China has been nibbling away at our frontier and there are 26 out of 65 patrolling points that both armies used to patrol, which the Indian army no longer has access to now, and that is on Mr (Narendra) Modi's watch so how is he going to beat his chest about national security, he said. That leaves what... the 'Hindu Hriday Samrat' message, Ram mandir, the kind of inflammatory language we have been seeing and hearing from the PM and others, fear mongering about one community and attempting to polarise the election on religion. That tactic has really been overused in the country and those voting along those lines are already voting for the BJP... it no longer appeals to neutral voters, Tharoor said. He questioned the Election Commission for having the electoral process extend from March 16, when the schedule was announced, to counting day on June 4 and said it is frankly preposterous. It does not make any sense. I think somebody must explain. It is not as if there has been an increase in violence in the country. It is very surprising that the Election Commission should organise itself in this way, Tharoor said, adding that many states could have had a single-phase election. We could have done and dusted this election much quicker, especially at a time when our PM is speaking about 'one nation, one election'. Does it make sense to show that it takes us so long to conduct an election for one Sabha and that too after we have had so much experience conducting elections, the 68-year-old leader said.
ANALYSIS-Low turnout, apathy in India election a worry for Modi's campaign
ANALYSIS-Low turnout, apathy in India election a worry for Modi's campaign A lower turnout so far in Indias long general election has rattled Prime Minister Narendra Modis campaign managers, raising into question whether his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies can achieve the landslide victory predicted by opinion polls just one month ago. The lack of momentum has been partly blamed on apathy among party workers believing victory is assured and seems to have prompted Modi to change tack in his campaign speeches to try to fire up the Hindu majority, the partys support base, and get them out to voting stations, political analysts said. The last major opinion poll had predicted that the BJP and its allies could win three-fourths of parliament's 543 seats at stake on the back of Modi's popularity, strong economic growth, handouts and the inauguration of a Hindu temple on a contested site in the Hindu majority country. At the last election in 2019, the BJP won 303 seats and its allies won around 50 seats. Its slogan before this year's election began was Ab ki baar, 400 paar or This time, above 400. More than half a dozen BJP leaders and political analysts that Reuters spoke to said a lack of momentum in the two initial phases of the seven-phase election have dampened hopes of a huge majority for the party, although they said it was still likely to retain power in the world's most populous nation. What could be affected is the BJP's aim to get a two-thirds majority in the chamber, or 362 seats, which would let the party usher in far-reaching constitutional changes. The fall in polling turnout is mainly due to apathy among party workers and voters, said Sanjay Sharma, one of the members of the BJP's campaign committee in the northern state of Haryana. Some candidates were being affected by an anti-incumbency wave, he said, adding the party was facing a ough fight in the state where it won all ten parliamentary seats in 2019. Modi himself has shifted in his campaign speeches from a focus on the administration's successes in his 10-year tenure to targeting minority Muslims and the opposition Congress party. After the first phase, we saw a definite change of strategy by the PM...delivering Islamophobic kind of speeches, said Arati Jerath, a Delhi-based political commentator. Obviously, he has now decided to polarise the campaign. A total of 190 seats went to the polls on April 19 and 27 with approximate voter turnout at about 66%, the Election Commission has said. The number was only slightly lower than the last election in 2019, although there was a drop of 5-8 percentage points in voting in the BJP and allied-ruled states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. The BJP had been hoping for a high turnout, believing that would signal that its supporters had voted in force. Polling ends on June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. The government bans the publication of exit polls until all voting is concluded. 'BELOW EXPECTATIONS' Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP's national spokesman, said the voting numbers were elow expectations but would not have much impact on the final results. Many voters have become lethargic as they are convinced about the victory of the party, he said. The BJP's shift in tack may have backfired with some voters. We have lost interest because the BJP is seeking votes by communalising the campaign, and not on its performance, said Vikash Kumar, a voter in Rajnandgaon in the state of Chhattisgarh. Kamal Abbas, a Muslim shopkeeper in the city of Lucknow, the capital of politically vital Uttar Pradesh state, reflected the sense of apathy. He said he would not waste time and money to travel to his hometown Prayagraj to vote as Modi's party was set to win the election. Minority votes do not stand anywhere in the majoritarian government... there is no point in wasting time, he said. Anirudh Singh, one of the district campaign managers of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, said the party would have reaped rich electoral dividends if the election was held during February-March, when fervour over the construction of the Ram Temple was at its peak. The party has failed to encash public support for Modi after the inauguration of the temple, said Singh, noting that the religious feel-good mood had by and large been replaced by issues like jobs and inflation. So far there's neither a communal wave, nor a Ram wave, nor a Modi wave in the election, said Jerath, the political commentator, noting Modi would have to re-invigorate his party workers and supporters if he hoped for a sweep. After being battered by Modi in the two last general elections, opposition parties are hopeful of a better performance. The shift in the language and style of Modi's campaign reflected a sense of nervousness, said Jairam Ramesh, a Congress party general secretary. The initial voting trends show there is no Modi wave. In states where we were wiped out in 2019, this time the trends are encouraging, he said. Gilles Verniers, a political analyst who teaches at Amherst College in Massachusetts, said the BJP appeared to have revised its expectations and was feeling a bit rattled at the moment. But it's still a very long campaign. There's still room for events and surprises that may alter the course of the election, he said. The balance of probability continues to tilt in favour of the BJP, but not maybe as strongly as they would have hoped. (Additional reporting by Jatindra Dash in BHUBANESWAR, Saurabh Sharma in LUCKNOW; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Haryana MLAs son arrested for cheating home buyers of Rs 300 crore
Sikandar Singh and Vikas Mahira face ED probe for defrauding homebuyers of Rs 300 crore. The duo's alleged siphoning of funds from investors' Rera account is under investigation, with Supreme Court relief influencing the case.
INTERVIEW | '400 paar' a joke, '300 paar' impossible, '200 paar' challenge for BJP: Tharoor
NEW DELHI: The BJP's claim of '400 paar' is a joke, '300 paar' impossible and even '200 paar' may be a challenge in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said, terming the ruling party's loss a foregone conclusion. In an interaction with PTI editors at the agency's headquarters here, Tharoor also claimed the BJP will draw a blank in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and will do worse than its 2019 performance in the South. Tharoor, who was locked in a three-way contest with Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the BJP and P Raveendran of the CPI in Thiruvananthapuram where polling took place on April 26, said he is looking at a very comfortable win. If he emerges victorious, it will be a fourth consecutive win for the author-politician from Thiruvananthapuram, who is the longest-serving MP from the constituency. Back in Delhi after a nearly two month high voltage campaign in Thiruvananthapuram, the Congress Working Committee member will now canvass in other parts of the country, being a sought after campaigner due to his oratory skills and celebrity status. Asked how it was looking for the Congress and the INDIA bloc after two phases of the polls, the former Union minister said, 190 seats have voted so far and what I am picking up from my sources, it is tremendously positive for our side. We are not suggesting that there is an overwhelming wave but there certainly isn't one for the government. INTERVIEW| Claim of BJP's 'exemplary' performance in South in LS polls product of its propaganda mill: Tharoor In fact, many who have been following elections for some time say that the difference between this election and the ones in 2014 and 2019 is that the predominant emotion of the BJP voters appears to be indifference and lack of enthusiasm, Tharoor said during the freewheeling interaction. In his view, Congress members are feeling cautiously optimistic about many places in Hindi-speaking states that have voted so far. So, I would say that on balance, we are far more ahead than we would have expected at this time. Of course, there are five more phases to go in this unnecessarily protracted election, Tharoor said. Asked how many seats the Congress and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) would get in the polls, Tharoor said in a lighter vein that he does not predict scores even as a cricket fan but only predicts victories. I would say that right now it looks increasingly likely that the BJP-NDA government will lose its majority. The BJP losing its majority seems to be a foregone conclusion, Tharoor said. In six states, he pointed out, the BJP won every seat, while in three states, it won all but one seat, and in two states, it won all but two seats. This, he said, is simply not replicable. In Haryana, the Congress won no seats and the (opinion) polls are indicating five-seven seats for us this time. In Karnataka, we won one seat and this time polls are ranging from 10-17, some are even saying 20, he said. In all the states that the BJP did so well, they are losing some seats even in a conservative analysis, he said. This 400 paar is a joke, 300 paar is impossible and (even) 200 paar may be a challenge for them (BJP) to get the way things are going. In Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the BJP will get zero seats, he claimed. In Telangana, they got a handful of seats and would struggle to hold on to those, Tharoor said and added that the BJP would not be able to replicate its good show in Karnataka. In 2019, the BJP won 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka. In Telangana, it bagged four of 17 seats. According to Tharoor, there is absolutely no doubt that the BJP is going to do worse than last time in the South. In the North, as I said, they did so well last time and it is impossible to replicate that. Both in the North and South they are coming down from where they were. How well we do and how well the INDIA bloc parties do is yet to be seen because after all 353 seats are yet to vote so there is still a big majority of the election yet to happen, he said. But all indications are that this is really an uphill struggle for the BJP and things are not going the government's way, he added. I ask objectively, as an Indian citizen, why should a young man who voted for the BJP in 2014 because he was promised a job, still vote for the BJP 10 years later when he still does not have a job, Tharoor said. When all the economists are saying 80 per cent of India's population have seen a decline in its income in the last 10 years, why should these 80 per cent want to vote for the BJP that has put them in that predicament, Tharoor argued. He said that in 2014, the BJP ran on economics, but it was a disastrous government economically, and in 2019 it ran on national security with Pulwama and Balakot being the predominant theme across northern India. They (BJP) can't run on economy this time because they mishandled the economy and people don't have jobs and can't buy in the market what they could a few years ago. They can't run on national security because everyone knows that China has been nibbling away at our frontier and there are 26 out of 65 patrolling points that both armies used to patrol, which the Indian army no longer has access to now, and that is on Mr (Narendra) Modi's watch so how is he going to beat his chest about national security, he said. That leaves what the 'Hindu Hriday Samrat' message, Ram mandir, the kind of inflammatory language we have been seeing and hearing from the PM and others, fear mongering about one community and attempting to polarise the election on religion. That tactic has really been overused in the country and those voting along those lines are already voting for the BJP it no longer appeals to neutral voters, Tharoor said. He questioned the Election Commission for having the electoral process extend from March 16, when the schedule was announced, to counting day on June 4 and said it is frankly preposterous. It does not make any sense. I think somebody must explain. It is not as if there has been an increase in violence in the country. It is very surprising that the Election Commission should organise itself in this way, Tharoor said, adding that many states could have had a single-phase election. We could have done and dusted this election much quicker, especially at a time when our PM is speaking about 'one nation, one election'. Does it make sense to show that it takes us so long to conduct an election for one Sabha and that too after we have had so much experience conducting elections, the 68-year-old leader said.
Above normal heatwave days in May, predict IMD
NEW DELHI: The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a forecast indicating that India is likely to experience an above-normal number of heatwave days in May, with both maximum and minimum temperatures expected to rise. The trend of warmer weather has already been observed, with April recording 40% more heatwave days than the historical average. Normally heat waves prevail over northern plains, central India and adjoining areas of peninsular India for about 3 days in different meteorological stations in May.However, this month, different parts of the country will have an additional 2-8 days of heatwave. The number of heatwave days is likely to be above normal by about 5-8 days over central India i.e. south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and Gujarat region.Additionally, the Northwest, Eastern, and Southern regions, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, northern interior Karnataka, Telangana, and isolated pockets of northern Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, may experience 2-4 days of above-normal temperatures. Furthermore, most parts of the country are expected to see above-normal maximum temperatures, except for certain regions in the northeast, northwest, central India, and parts of the northeast peninsula. Similarly, above-normal minimum temperatures are anticipated across the nation, except for specific areas in northwest India, the Indo-Gangetic plains, central India, and much of northeast India. Despite rainfall averaged over the country in May 2024 is most likely to be normal (91-109% of the long-period average). Earlier in April, the Southern Peninsula was one of the driest regions since 1901. This region experienced only 12.6 mm rainfall in April which is the fifth lowest since 1901. In addition, the Peninsular region was the second hottest month since 1901, the average mean temperature is 31.39Celsius which is more than the normal mean temperature of 30.16Celsius. Furthermore, April reportedly 118 days of heatwave days against average of 71 days. Most heatwave days were reported from Odisha (18 days) highest in the pastnine years, West Bengal (16 days) which was the highest in past 15 years, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Interior Karnataka (10 days), Southern Karnataka (8 days), Tamil Nadu and Sikkim (7days). Moreover, Odisha got the longest spell of heatwave in April 2024 during 15-30 April(16 days), after April 2016 when it prevailed during 9- 30 April 2016(21 days). A Larger number of heatwave days than average is due to scanty rainfall and the persistence of anti-cyclones over Bay of Bengal and adjoining eastern coasts of India. However, no heat waves were reported over north & central India during April 2024 due to back-to-back five Western Disturbances.
Some People Have Made Me A Stranger In My Own Party: BJP's Anil Vij
Former Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij and BJP leader who was excluded from the cabinet after its recent reshuffle, said on Wednesday that some people have made him a stranger in his own party.
Senior secondary schools in Haryana see 85.31 p.c. pass percentage
PM Modi, Shah among 40 BJP star campaigners for Haryana
HC notice to Haryana on plea against grabbing of land marked for ponds
Some People Made Me Stranger In My Party: Ex Haryana Minister Anil Vij
Former Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said some people have made him a stranger in his party.
