Visakhapatnam: Capital issue takes a backseat as voters seek jobs, better infrastructure
VISAKHAPATNAM : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has once again declared Visakhapatnams potential elevation to the status of executive capital if his party, the YSRC, secures another term in office. With a pledge of Rs 1,05,000 crore investment over the next decade, his proposed Vision Visakha aims to fortify the citys infrastructure, industry, and sustainability. However, Opposition parties, particularly the TDP in alliance with the BJP and JSP, have taken a contrasting stance. Their emphasis lies not on the capital debate but on the pressing needs of the people: development and job opportunities. Amidst the cacophony of campaign promises and party rhetoric, one theme emerges as a focal point, the future trajectory of development, stirring both hope and scepticism among the electorate. The opinions among Vizags residents reflect this dichotomy. Uday Venkatesh, a software engineer, expressed his disillusionment with the governments track record on infrastructure development. He remarked, The government has long promised to make Visakhapatnam the executive capital, yet little tangible development has occurred beyond constructing a camp office for the CM at Rushikonda. Any infrastructure improvements have been limited to select areas, like the beach road, neglecting other parts of the city. Road-widening projects only began this year. As a software engineer, I work from home and will soon relocate for office work. If the government prioritised attracting companies to Vizag, many professionals like me wouldnt need to move elsewhere. Instead of shifting the capital, the government should focus on addressing peoples immediate needs. Similarly, physiotherapist KH Mani underscored the importance of holistic development, stating, Instead of fixating on the capital debate, the government should prioritise comprehensive development across all sectors. Each region in the State has its strengths, be it agriculture, industries or IT. What people universally desire is job security, accessible healthcare, and quality education. While schemes like Aaryogyasri have benefited the public, not all hospitals are part of them, so the government could expand its coverage. Additionally, the ongoing construction of medical colleges should be completed, and efforts should focus on filling seats and hiring staff. My vote wont be based solely on the capital issue but will consider these broader developmental factors. Stating that his focus lies on concrete plans for economic growth, GSS Satish, an IT employee aspiring for job opportunities in Visakhapatnam, said, I am seeking job opportunities in Vizag. Can designating Visakhapatnam as the executive capital attract jobs for locals? If so, we need the government to outline how it plans to do so. Personally, I will not base my vote solely on the capital issue because everyone has different needs. Instead, I will consider the promises made by political parties in their manifestos, which have a more significant impact. While having a capital is crucial, it wont solely determine the election outcome. Yet, amidst these discussions of policy and progress, it is the voice of marginalised people that resonates the loudest. Shanti, a humble vegetable vendor, reflects on her personal experiences: I have personally benefited from government schemes like Amma Vodi and Raithu Barosa. When our crops were damaged during last years cyclone, my family and I were fairly compensated. Regardless of whether the capital is Amaravati or Visakhapatnam, it will not make a difference for people like us. Our lives wont be impacted either way. I will vote for the YSRC because Ive directly benefited from the schemes theyve implemented, she expressed. As the countdown to the elections on May 13 intensifies, candidates are in a frantic race to secure the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat. Mathukumilli Sribharat of the TDP focuses his campaign on promising job opportunities for the youth, while Botcha Jhansi of the YSRC advocates for the capital shift, emphasising development, albeit with vague specifics from both camps. Amidst the flurry of campaign promises, the authentic voices of the people echo their genuine aspirations and concerns. While the capital debate simmers in the background, the electorates primary focus remains on tangible progress and inclusive development. Issues such as infrastructure, basic needs, industry, and job creation take precedence over the capital relocation discussion. Will promises of jobs or development of Vizag as capital sway the voters decisions? Only time will tell.
Gwalior is a historical city and a major city of the state located in the Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh state of India. Geographically Gwalior Madhya Pradesh. Located in the north of the state. This city and its famous fort have been the center of the ancient cities of North India. This city has been the capital of the Gurjara-Pratihar dynasty, Tomar and Kachwaha. Gwalior has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission. There is a history hidden behind the name of Gwalior city. Surajsen, who became a king in the sixth century, once was on his deathbed suffering from an unknown disease, then a saint named Gwalipa cured him and gave him life. The foundation of this city was laid in his honor and it was named Gwalior. It is said that 83 descendants of Surajsen Pal ruled the fort, but the 84th, named Tej Karan, lost it. While Gwalia remains in the news due to its history, it has a different status from a tourism point of view. Today we are going to give our readers information about some of its places which are excellent for visiting. Maharaja Man Singh's Fort (Gwalior Fort) This fort made of sandstone is visible from every direction of the city and is the most important monument of the city. To reach this fort built on a high plateau, one has to go through a narrow road with a very steep slope. The huge sculptures of Jain Tirthankaras are carved very beautifully and intricately on the big rocks around this road. The three hundred feet height of the fort is a witness to the invincibility of this fort. Amazing examples of medieval architecture are located in the inner parts of this fort. Gujri Mahal, built in the fifteenth century, is one of them which is a symbol of the intense love of Rajput king Mansingh Tomar and Gurjar queen Mriganayani. The external part of this palace has been preserved in its original form by the State Archeology Department, but the internal part has been converted into a museum where rare ancient sculptures are kept which according to carbon dating are from the first century AD. These rare sculptures have been obtained from the areas around Gwalior. Gwalior Fort is located 120 km away from Agra. It is called the 'Gibraltar of India'. Teli Temple A unique architectural specimen built in the 9th century is the Teli temple of Lord Vishnu, which is 100 feet high. It is a unique confluence of Dravidian architecture and Aryan architecture. Manmandir Mahal It was built between 1486 and 1517 by the illustrious Raja Mansingh of Gwalior. Time has taken away the grandeur of this fort decorated with beautiful colorful tiles, but in some of its internal and external parts, the remains of excellent artworks made by these blue, yellow, green, and white tiles still indicate the grand past of this fort. Apart from being a mighty warrior, Mansingh was also a lover of fine arts and knowledgeable about architectural styles. His reign is called the golden age of Gwalior. The past still vibrates in the huge chambers of this fort. Here there is a music hall made of latticed walls, behind which the women of the royal family used to enjoy musical concerts and learn music in the Zenana chambers built behind them. There is a prison in the basements of this palace, history says that Aurangzeb had imprisoned his brother Murad here and later got him executed. Jauhar Kund is also located here. Apart from this, there is a pond in the fort named after the first ruler of this city, 'Suraj Kund'. There is a temple of Lord Vishnu called 'Sahasrabahu Ka Temple', which is now also known as the Mother-in-Law's Temple. Apart from this, there is a beautiful Gurudwara which was built in the memory of Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, who was kept captive here by Jahangir for two years. Jai Vilas Palace and Museum This is not only the current residence of the Scindia royal family but also a grand museum. 35 rooms of this palace have been converted into a museum. Most parts of this palace are influenced by Italian architecture. The famous Durbar Hall of the palace is a witness to the grand past of this palace, the weight of the two chandeliers installed here is two tons each, it is said that they were hung when ten elephants were mounted on the roof and the strong of the roof was measured. Another famous thing of this museum is the silver train whose tracks run on the dining table and during special feasts this train serves drinks. Rare artifacts from Italy, France, China, and many other countries are here. Tansen Memorial Tansen was one of the best musicians in India and was a prominent singer in the court of Akbar throughout the Middle Ages. He was also one of the nine pearls of the Mughal court. According to legend, Tansen could summon magic, bring rain and even charm animals with his songs. He learned Hindustani classical music from Mohammed Ghaus, a teacher who was his teacher. He composed the musical style of Gwalior Gharana and supported the Dhrupad style. He was buried near his master in a magnificent architectural monument. Every year in November, the Tansen Music Festival is held here, in which well-known artists from across the country come to play in various classical performances. Gopachal Mountain Gopachal Mountain, in the area of Gwalior Fort, is a unique place of ancient artistic Jain sculpture group. Thousands of huge trees here. Jain Statues No. From 1398 to no. The mountain was carved in 1536. These huge statues were built during the reign of Tomarvanshi kings Veeramdev, Dungarsingh, and Kirtisingh. He gained fame in the company of the great poet of Apabhramsha, Pt. Raidhu. Jhansi Maharani Laxmibai Samadhi Sthan Rani Lakshmibai Memorial is in the Pada area of the city. It is said that here the army of Jhansi's queen Veerangana Maharani Lakshmi Bai camped while fighting the British and sought help from the then ruler of this place, Maharaja Jayajirao Shinde alias Scindia, but the rulers of this place, which were always under the dominance of the Mughals and the British, could not help them and She attained martyrdom here on June 17, 1858, at sunset in Phulbagh of Sarai in Kota. Queen Lakshmibai was cremated secretly in the monastery of Baba Gangadas Maharaj. To avoid any expense in his funeral, 745 Sadhus fought against the British and became immortal forever. There is a monument of his grand horse-drawn effigy at the same place. Saas Bahu Temple The real name of Saas Bahu Temple located in Gwalior is Sahastrabahu Temple based on Lord Vishnu. However, over time, due to wrong pronunciation, this temple has come to be called Saas Bahu Temple. The name of this temple built in the 9th century is included among the famous tourist places of Gwalior. At the same time, Sahastrabahu Temple is one of the favorite places of tourists due to its magnificent carvings. This temple was built during the reign of King Mahipala of the Kachchhapaghata Dynasty, who prayed to Lord Brahma for a prosperous and successful kingdom. Sun Temple The Sun Temple here, included among the tourist places of Gwalior, is dedicated to Lord Sun. Surya Mandir is one of the most magnificent temples of Gwalior and at the same time, this temple has magnificent architecture which is astonishing. The Sun Temple was constructed during the year 1988 by a famous industrialist GD Birla. There is a long queue of tourists coming to the Sun Temple throughout the year. (PC: Lifeberrys)
Andhra Pradesh: Educationists in poll fray
Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, YSRC The sitting YSRC MLA, who is popular as Avanthi Srinivas, is the founder of Avanthi Educational Society, which runs several educational institutions, including Avanthi Degree & PG College and Avanthi Institute of Engineering & Technology. He is contesting from Bheemili against his mentor Ganta Srinivasa Rao of TDP. Ponguru Narayana, TDP The former MLC is the founder of Narayana Group of Educational Institutions. He unsuccessfully contested from Nellore City Assembly constituency on TDP ticket in the last election against P Anil Kumar Yadav of YSRC. He is contesting again from the same constituency against Mohammad Khaleel Ahmed of YSRC. Mathukumilli Sribharat, TDP The president of GITAM (Deemed to be University) and the founder of Kautilya School of Public Policy is contesting from Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency. In the last election, the TDP nominee suffered defeat by a narrow margin. Now, Botcha Jhansi of YSRC is his rival in the election. Mathukumilli Sribharat Palle Sindhura Reddy, TDP She is the treasurer of PVKK Educational Institutions in Anantapur district, while her husband Palle Venkata Krishna Kishore Reddy is its chairman. Daughter-in-law of Palle Raghunatha Reddy, she is in the election fray from Putthaparthi against D Sreedhar Reddy of YSRC Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, TDP The sitting Narasaraopet MP is the vice-chairman of Vignan Group of Institutions. He quit the YSRC and joined the TDP after being denied ticket for the same Lok Sabha segment. For the second time, he is contesting from Narasaraopet Lok Sabha constituency on TDP ticket against P Anil Kumar Yadav of YSRC Annabathuni Siva Kumar, YSRC The sitting YSRC MLA is the chairman of ASN Educational Institutions, which runs ASN Degree & PG College, ASN Womens Engineering College and ASN Pharmacy College. For the second consecutive time, he is contesting from Tenali Assembly constituency against JSP Political Affairs Committee chairperson Nadendla Manohar Annabathuni Siva Kumar
Botsa Jhansi Attacks BJP on Muslim Reservation
Visakhapatnam : Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha YSRC candidate Botsa Jhansi on Wednesday attacked BJP saying it is the worst of parties in the NDA alliance for announcing that it will cancel reservations currently available to Muslim minorities in Andhra Pradesh. Those who do not cherish such efforts of the YSRC government to help minorities will never be forgiven by people, Jhansi declared while addressing a meeting of Imams and Maulanas who had gathered at the place from various mosques in the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency. The YSRC candidate recalled late YSR saying the late chief minister of united AP had provided the four per cent reservations to benefit the socially and economically backward among Muslim minorities. These reservations have contributed towards raising the standard of living among minorities, Jhansi underlined. She appealed to all, regardless of their caste, religion or political affiliations, to rally behind Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for the latters inclusive approach towards welfare and development. Our CM aims to benefit all deserving individuals. We must all help him secure another term as Chief Minister, the YSRC candidate emphasised.
From Jhansi to Janvi, life has come full circle for Ulka Gupta
Actor Ulka Gupta who is best known for her role as child Manikarnika in Jhansi Ki Rani (2009-2010) that aired on Zee TV, is back on the channel after 15 years as Jhanvi in Zee TVs latest offering Main Hoon Saath Tere. It follows the journey of Janvi (Ulka Gupta), a single mother in Gwalior, as she navigates the challenges of parenthood. Living with her son Kian (Nihan Jain), Janvi's world revolves around him. Despite their strong bond, Kian feels the absence of a man in their home, particularly from his mother's perspective as she handles everything alone. The storyline intensifies when Janvi crosses paths with Aryaman, a wealthy businessman, and they find themselves working together. As Aryaman begins to show interest in Janvi, the question arises: will Kian approve of the match and play a pivotal role in bringing his mother closer to the man who loves her? From portraying a young courageous freedom fighter Manikarnika when she was just 12 years old, to now playing Janvi, a single mother, Ulka has come a long way. Excited about her return, Ulka Gupta said From having played Jhansi Ki Rani to now returning to Zee TV as Janvi, life has come full circle. I am thrilled to be back on the channel after 15 long years. I received lots of love for my first lead role as young Mannu when I was just 12 years old, and now I am glad I am playing such a strong character, Janvi, a strong independent single mother on the channel I started my journey with. It genuinely feels like a homecoming. While Ulka is excited about her new role, it will be interesting for the viewers to watch her with Aryaman and Kian, showcasing an innocent take on love, life, and relationships. Tune into Main Hoon Saath Tere, every day at 07:30 pm only on Zee TV!
Visakhapatnam Steel Plant privatisation top concern in AP's Gajuwaka segment
VISAKHAPATNAM: In the upcoming general elections, the Gajuwaka constituency in Visakhapatnam stands as a significant battleground, owing to its economic importance and the array of challenges it faces. In the previous election, YSRCs Nagireddy Tippala secured victory, defeating Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan by a margin of 16,753 votes. This time, the stage is set for another intense face-off, with sitting Anakapalle MLA and State IT minister Gudivada Amarnath, representing the YSRC, squaring off against TDPs Palla Srinivas Rao, backed by the BJP and the JSP. The Gajuwaka constituency encompasses notable areas such as Aganampudi, Chinagantyada, Pedagantyada, BHPV, Auto Nagar, Duvvada, Gangavaram, Kanithi, Mindi, Kurmannapalem, Srinagar, Steel Plant Township, Vadlapudi, and Yarada, among others. At the heart of Gajuwaka lies the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), more commonly known as the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, a cornerstone of the regions industrial landscape. However, recent years have seen mounting tensions as Ukku protesters have been rallying against the governments proposal to privatise RINL. The livelihoods of over one lakh families, directly or indirectly dependent on VSP and its affiliated sectors, hang in the balance. None of the political parties have assured the people that they can stop privatisation of VSP. Despite the TDP being in an alliance with the BJP and its candidates speaking out against privatisation, including MP candidate Sribharat, the party hasnt managed to get higher-ranking BJP officials to spell out their stand on the matter. Similarly, candidates from the YSRC, like MP candidate Botcha Jhansi, have voiced opposition, but their promises dont inspire confidence among the public. People feel these parties are just using the issue to gain votes. They see it as a political stunt during elections. The second-largest constituency in the State, Gajuwaka grapples with pollution challenges attributed to the burgeoning presence of pharmaceuticals and other industries. Additionally, narrow roads, heavy traffic, inadequate street lighting, stray dog menace, insufficient drinking water facilities, and the need for improved public transport connectivity are among the pressing concerns in the region. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporations (APIIC) Industrial Area Local Authority (IALA) at Auto Nagar in Gajuwaka hosts a multitude of micro, small, and medium industries, providing sustenance to thousands of employees. Amarnath recently unveiled a distinct manifesto, Vijaya Vaaradhi, focusing on addressing various issues specific to his constituency, Gajuwaka. Emphasising priorities such as skill training for youth and employment opportunities, the manifesto pledges to tackle key issues, including infrastructure development, traffic management, pollution mitigation, and the establishment of skill development centres and business incubation facilities. The legislator announced plans to relocate Auto Nagar from Gajuwaka to Koduru in the near future. However, public sentiment on this matter differs. Srinivas, a Gajuwaka resident, highlighted the stark contrast in air quality between their locality and the city centre, noting pervasive pollution issues. He expressed frustration at politicians addressing these concerns only during elections, emphasising that pollution has long plagued the region. This pollution leaves black layers of dust on the floors inside our homes. It is concerning that politicians only seem to address this issue during elections, talking about pollution and tree planting as if it were a new problem. In reality, pollution has been a problem for years, he stated.
Ill strive to develop Visakhapatnam into a hub of growth: Mathukumilli Sribharat
Mathukumilli Sribharat, TDP candidate for Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency, is set to go head-to-head against Botcha Jhansi of YSRC. Reflecting on the last election where YSRC candidate MVV Satyanarayana secured victory against him by a slender margin of 4,414 votes, he is confident of his win this time with the support of tripartite alliance. In an interview with Usha Peri, M Sribharat, who is also the president of GITA M Deemed to be University, outlined his vision and firm commitment to the development of Visakhapatnam on all fronts On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you about winning this time? I would rate my confidence level at 10. Last time, I had minimal time for campaigning and only began electioneering after filing my nomination papers. However, this time, I had taken up my campaign even before my candidature was announced. I have been actively engaging with the public. Additionally, the margin of my previous loss was very narrow, just 4,414 votes. What is the need for creating more job opportunities in Visakhapatnam? People migrate to cities like Visakhapatnam in search of employment opportunities. Hence, there is a pressing need to generate more employment opportunities in the city to cater to the needs of its people and foster economic growth and stability. In the tripartite alliance, how might the seat sharing affect the morale of the parties involved? When one party secures a seat in a specific area, its natural for the other two to feel disheartened, as seen when our party leader Gandi Babji, aspired for Visakhapatnam South ticket, but didnt get it. Despite not being fairly compensated, he was appointed as the TDP district chief. Ensuring his well-being and that of others, who contribute significantly to our success in the Lok Sabha election, will be my responsibility What ideas do you have for the development of Visakhapatnam if you are elected? My vision for Visakhapatnam revolves around seven key aspects. Firstly, I aim to halt the privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and instead explore the benefits of merging it with SAIL. This move is intended to safeguard the interests of the plant and its employees. Additionally, I will prioritise the establishment of Visakhapatnam Railway Zone within the Waltair Division, ensuring improved connectivity and increased train services tailored to the needs of the populace. Secondly, I aspire to elevate Visakhapatnam as a thriving hub of IT, tourism and industry. This entails promoting investment and development initiatives to foster economic growth and create employment opportunities with a specific target of generating one lakh jobs solely for the people of Vizag. Thirdly, addressing the issue of drug abuse is paramount to preserving the security and welfare of both the government and the people. Through proactive measures and community engagement, I am committed to cultivating a drug-free environment in Visakhapatnam. Furthermore, combating port pollution is imperative for environmental sustainability. I pledge to deploy innovative technologies to control and mitigate port pollution while championing initiatives for a cleaner and greener Visakhapatnam. In addition, I recognise the pressing need to address the untreated water being discharged into the sea across various locations. My plan involves implementing comprehensive water treatment measures to ensure that all wastewater released into the sea undergoes proper treatment, thereby safeguarding marine ecosystems and public health. Moreover, the completion of the Polavaram project holds significant promise for Visakhapatnams water needs. Once completed, I aim to facilitate the distribution of Godavari water to Visakhapatnam for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes, thereby bolstering water security and supporting sustainable development. Lastly, to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance transportation infrastructure, I will prioritise the construction of flyovers, underpasses and foot overbridges at strategic locations between Anandapuram and Aganampudi. Additionally, I will spearhead the construction of a four-lane road connecting Pendurthi to Araku, facilitating smoother travel and fostering regional connectivity and development. What is your stance on the YSRCs proposal to set up three capitals? If it costs more to build Amaravati as capital and less for Visakhapatnam, then stop Amaravati from being the capital altogether. Let the YSRC make their evil intentions clear. We all know they want to kill Amaravati, so let them say it openly. If they dont have enough money to build one capital, how will they manage to build three? Do you intend to seek advice from experts before implementing projects on the beachfront or in ecologically sensitive areas? Yes, seeking advice from experts is essential in project planning. However, its not just about consulting experts; its also about considering various priorities, including political ones. As a leader, I believe in listening to all perspectives, weighing different possibilities, and taking peoples interests into account. While consulting experts is crucial, it doesnt mean blindly following their recommendations. Ultimately, decisions should be made with careful consideration of all the factors involved. How your party plan to address the substantial State debt while continuing to focus on development and welfare schemes? It is crucial to seek support from the Centre, which is why we allied with the BJP. Given the budget shortfall, we require the Central assistance for various projects, particularly completing the Polavaram Irrigation Project, and enhancing industrial infrastructure. Establishing stability and a positive reputation for the State is vital to attract investors, assuring them of our commitment to support their investments.
First roads, then votes: Tribals in Visakhapatnam protest by travelling on horses
First roads, then votes: Tribals in Visakhapatnam protest by travelling on horses The tribals of Madrebu village of Anantgiri Mandal in Visakhapatnam district staged a protest by travelling on horses through the forests to demand road facilities to their villages on Sunday. The protesters warned that they would boycott voting on May 13 unless the government addresses their transportation needs. It is alleged that the figures show that crores of funds have been spent for the Adivasis, but the development works are not seen in reality. Govind Raju who is the tribal association leader, said, For us, horses are cargo buses to transport agricultural produce to local markets for sale. Additionally, we use horses as ambulances to take patients or full-term pregnant women to health centres. Raju also alleged that there is no change in the lives of tribals, no matter how many governments change and added, They depend on the forest to survive and are facing many problems with lack of minimal infrastructure. There is no road to go to the hospital in an emergency. The tribal leader also complained about the medical facilities and said, There is no medical facility nearby. To go to the hospital, one has to cross streams and bends or carry a dolly. In this case, many pregnant women have given birth in the forest... At a time when the general elections are approaching in Andhra Pradesh, the tribals of Alluri district have launched an innovative protest. Earlier, Former MP Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections on the YSRCP ticket from Visakhapatnam on May 4 had asserted that Vizag (Visakhapatnam) is a well-developed city with advantageous geographical positioning and robust connectivity, drawing the attention of global investors. It is rapidly growing, and ranked as the ninth richest city in the country for contributing a significant USD 43.5 billion to the GDP, the former MP said that the city is set to emerge as a vital financial growth engine for the state. She further said that the advancement of North Andhra depends upon the development of Vizag. 'Vision Visakhapatnam' is our vision document that will redefine the history of Visakhapatnam. The city is endowed with a wealth of geographical elements poised for transformation. Vizag is the place for pristine beaches, extensive railway connectivity, and air connectivity with an international airport. Connecting with multiple states, Vizag has good road connectivity, which can help in transforming Vizag into a tier 1 city. Under the leadership of CM YS Jagan, revolutionary strides have been made in education and healthcare, she had said. She also claimed that the Andhra Government's initiatives, such as Amma vodi, Asara, Cheyuta, Pension Kanuka, Rythu Bharosa, and Vahana Mitra, have been instrumental in uplifting the underprivileged. Notably, Andhra Pradesh has 25 Lok Sabha seats and the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh will be simultaneously held on May 13. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the YSRCP won with a thumping majority of 151 seats, while the TDP was confined to 23 seats. In the Lok Sabha polls, the YSRCP won 22 seats, while the TDP could only win three seats. (ANI)
Bangalore: A man named Saddam Hussain has been arrested for raping a Dalit minor girl in Hubli Navanagar, Dharwad, Karnataka. A case is being prosecuted against him under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act) Act. On Friday (May 3, 2024), he attacked two policemen with a knife in Sutagatti area and tried to escape from police custody. Under compulsion, the police also had to open fire, which hit his leg. 19-year-old Saddam Hussain is accused of not only raping a Dalit minor girl studying in his own class, but also made her pregnant. He then injured Dharwad Vidyagiri police inspector Sangamesh Bidiginal while trying to escape from the custody of Nawanagar police. Apart from him, he also attacked another constable. As soon as he swung the knife, the police fired one shot in the air and one towards his leg. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajiv M gave this information. While Saddam Hussain is undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital, both the injured policemen have been admitted to the Civil Hospital. Saddam Hussein first gained the trust of the victim by befriending her by proxy, and then forcibly established sexual relations with her. He had also threatened the girl. He was arrested within 1 hour. A case is also being registered against him under SC/ST Act. Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar said that the police opened fire in self-defense. The condition of the injured is stable. Police had received information from the hospital that the minor girl was pregnant, after investigation an FIR was registered and the accused was identified. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu said that as soon as Dharwad Police got information about the incident, they took immediate action. He said that the police has done the right thing, in that situation what Saddam Hussein did is a crime and he will face consequences as per the law. India Highlights Global Security Challenge of Online Radicalisation at Interpol Conference Triple Talaq Incident on Moving Train Shocks Jhansi Passengers: Man Flees After Divorcing Wife You will become poor as soon as you fall prey to parcel scam, how does the money disappear?
Chittoor a blend of Telugu, Tamil cultures
CHITTOOR: Bordering Tamil Nadu, Chittoor Assembly constituency is a hub for diverse cultures and traditions, shaping the lifestyles of residents, who reflect a blend of Telugu and Tamil heritages. Apart from dairy and poultry industries, a significant portion of the population relies on mango cultivation for their livelihood. While the ruling YSRC is trying to retain the seat for the second consecutive time, with a new contender this time, the TDP is attempting to make a comeback in the Chittoor Assembly segment. The YSRC has fielded MC Vijayananda Reddy, the current APSRTC vice-chairman, as its candidate, while the TDP has chosen Gurajala Jagan as its candidate for this election. Interestingly, in the past, candidates representing the DMK and AIADMK parties have contested in this constituency, highlighting its strong Tamil influence. Chittoor, the administrative centre of the district, has also been home to leaders who made significant contributions to various political parties, including the Justice Party, Swatantra Party, and Krishikar Lok Party, both before and after Independence. Among them is Madabhusi Ananthsainam Ayyangar, a prominent figure who led the freedom movement in Chittoor district, served as a Member of Parliament for Chittoor Congress, and later became the Lok Sabha Speaker. The region has a rich history of producing numerous influential leaders who actively participated in the freedom movement and held esteemed positions such as chief ministers. The presence of Tamil film actor MG Ramachandran campaigning in Chittoor further underscores this influence. Despite being the district headquarters, Chittoor has not yet seen the appointment of a minister from this area. The political landscape of Chittoor constituency has witnessed several shifts over the years. The Congress, which held sway for nearly 25 years, ceded ground to the TDP in 1989. Notably, Chittoor Krishnaswamy Jayachandra Reddy, known as CK Babu, emerged as a formidable figure in politics. He initially won as an independent MLA in 1989, later joining the Congress and securing victory for three consecutive terms (1994, 1999, and 2009). The constituencys political history saw a mix of party victories. The first MLA from Chittoor constituency, Chinnama Reddy of the Congress, clinched victory in the 1952 election. However, in a 1953 by-election, Srungaram of the Krishikar Lok Party was elected. Chinnama Reddy reclaimed victory in 1955. In subsequent years, the political landscape witnessed victories from various parties. With the emergence of the TDP in 1983, NP Jhansi Lakshmi became the MLA, but in 1985, R Gopinathan of the Congress Party emerged victorious. After a two-decade hiatus, TDP candidate AS Manohar was elected as MLA in 2004, despite the Congress coming to power, defeating TDP. Following the states bifurcation in 2014, TDP candidate DA Satyaprabha secured victory. However, in 2019, she was defeated by YSRC candidate Jangalapalli Srinivasulu. This time, the YSRC nominated MC Vijayananda Reddy, the current APSRTC vice-chairman, as the constituency in-charge, subsequently granting him a ticket for the elections. Despite speculation that the Chittoor Assembly constituency, predominantly led by the Balija community, might sway towards the Jana Sena, the Telugu Desam Party surprised many by nominating developer and film producer Gurajala Jagan as its candidate in the initial list. Hailing from Chittoor, Gurajala Jagan made a name for himself as a realtor and developer in Bengaluru before venturing into establishing educational institutions. Transitioning into film production, he also initiated a charitable trust and organised various public outreach programmes in Chittoor in recent years. Following a setback in the 2019 polls and a leadership vacuum after former MLA AS Manohar retired from active politics, the TDP chose Gurajala Jagan as its candidate for the 2024 elections. Both Gurajala Jagan and YSRCs MC Vijayananda Reddy are political novices competing against each other after the ruling party replaced sitting MLA Arani Sreenivasulu. While the YSRC employs its trademark approach to secure its hold on Chittoor, Gurajala Jagan presents his own manifesto along with the TDPs six guarantees. Despite being the constituency headquarters, Chittoor lacks adequate education and healthcare facilities. Residents still rely on CMC-Vellore and SVIMS-Tirupati for specialised medical treatment and travel to Bengaluru or Chennai for higher education. I have plans to establish a multi-disciplinary super-specialty hospital and world-class educational institutions in Chittoor, said TDP nominee G Jagan Mohan. Farmers in Chittoor are advocating for establishing Chittoor as a poultry hub, driven by the surge in demand for traditional chicken meat in the market. Many small and medium farmers have embraced backyard poultry farming, particularly in rural areas like Chittoor rural and Gudipala mandals, opting to rear local breed chicks due to lower feed costs. With the increasing demand, farmers have also begun exporting local breed chicks to neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka from Chittoor district. Narrow roads with potholes and other civic issues have been haunting the residents of the Chittoor town. Traffic congestion in PCR junction, MSR junction and old bus stand areas is regularly seen in the town. Narrow roads in church road and also in other main areas of the town have witnessed traffic congestion. Potholed roads on rail over bridges have remained a permanent issue in the town. Number of vehicles and population has increased in the town when compared to previous years. But, the roads remain the same leading to traffic congestion in main circles of the town. Even residents of the outskirts colonies have been facing troubles getting drinking water during summer season, said M Siva Kumar, a private employee in Chittoor town.
Three capitals concept to ensure equal development in all regions: YSRCs Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi
Vizag is rapidly growing, and ranked as the ninth richest city in the country for contributing a significant $43.5 billion to the GDP, the former MP said
Station Master Falls Asleep on Duty; Patna-Kota Express Delayed
New Delhi: The, waited for a green signal for about half an hour at Udi Mor Road station near Etawah in Uttar Pradesh on May 3 as the station master fell asleep on duty.Taking serious note of the incident, the Agra Division, under which the station falls, has asked the station master to explain the reason for negligence which could have resulted in an untoward incident. We have issued a charge sheet to the station master and disciplinary action is being taken, Agra Railway Division PRO Prashasti Srivastava told PTI. Railway officials said the Udi Mor Road station is a small but important station before Etawah as trains going towards Prayagraj from Agra as well as Jhansi pass from this station. According to sources, the loco pilot of the train had to blow the horn multiple times to wake up the station master and make him turn on the green signal for the train to pass. The station master has admitted his mistake and apologised for the lapse. He said that he was alone at the station as the pointsman who was on duty with him had gone for track inspection, a source said. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Tej Prakash Agrawal has taken serious note of the incident as his focus is on improving punctuality. He has been insisting on and encouraging employees to improve punctuality which has resulted in achieving 90 per cent punctuality recently. However, dereliction of duty on the part of the station master has not only ruined others' hard work and dedication but also posed grave risk to train operations, the source said.
Its Jhansi vs Sribharat in high-profile Visakhapatnam
Its Jhansi vs Sribharat in high-profile Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam: A direct close fight is on the cards between two highly-educated leaders from prominent political families in the high-profile Visakhapatnam constituency. Botcha Jhansi Lakshmi of the ruling YSR Congress Party (YRSCP) will take on Sribharat Mathukumilli of the TDP who finished runner-up with the loss by [] The post Its Jhansi vs Sribharat in high-profile Visakhapatnam appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
LS polls: Jhansi vs Sribharat in high-profile Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam: A direct close fight is on the cards between two highly-educated leaders from prominent political families in the high-profile Visakhapatnam constituency. Botcha Jhansi Lakshmi of the ruling YSR Congress Party (YRSCP) will take on Sribharat Mathukumilli of the TDP who finished runner-up with the loss by a narrow margin in 2019. Jhansi is the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Triple Talaq Incident on Moving Train Shocks Jhansi Passengers: Man Flees After Divorcing Wife
Jhansi: A shocking incident occurred on April 29 when Mohammad Arshad, 28, gave triple talaq to his wife, Afsana, 26, on a moving train near Jhansi Junction and then fled the scene.As the train reached Jhansi station, Arshad pronounced triple talaq to his wife, beat her, and then got off the train. Stunned by the sudden turn of events, Afsana contacted the Government Railway Police, who sent her back to Pukhrayan in Kanpur Dehat, her initial boarding point for Bhopal that day. Following the incident, an FIR was lodged, and a search was initiated for the accused.Arshad, a computer engineer working with a private firm in Bhopal, had married Afsana, a graduate from Kota, Rajasthan, on January 12 this year. Their marriage was arranged through a matrimonial advertisement. During a visit to Arshad's ancestral home in Pukhrayan last week, Afsana was shocked to discover that Arshad was already married. When she confronted him, he and his mother began harassing her for dowry, as per the complaint.This harassment continued until Arshad abruptly pronounced triple talaq and then abandoned Afsana on the train.Afsana has since appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for help and urged action against those who divorce women and abandon them. Based on Afsana's complaint, a case has been registered against her husband Arshad, his maternal uncle Aqeel, father Nafeesul Hasan, and mother Parveen. Circle Officer (CO) Priya Singh assured that the matter will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken. PM Modi Vows Justice for Victims of the West Bengal Teacher Recruitment Scam New Rape and Kidnapping Cases Filed Against JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna and HD Revanna in Sex Tapes Scandal Tragic Accident: Student Run Over by Train While Filming Instagram Reel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mega Campaigning in Ayodhya: All You Need to Know
Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on May 5 (Sunday) as part of his campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, party sources revealed on Friday.During his visit, PM Modi is expected to offer prayers at Ayodhya's Ram Temple and conduct a roadshow in support of BJP candidate Lallu Singh in the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency. According to party sources, PM Modi will arrive in Etawah around 3 p.m. on May 5, and then proceed to the Dhaurahra Lok Sabha constituency at approximately 5 p.m. The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya at around 7 p.m.During his visit, PM Modi will lead a nearly 2-kilometer-long roadshow in Ayodhya, added the sources.Ayodhya is scheduled to vote in the fifth phase on May 20. The Lok Sabha elections are being conducted in seven phases until June 1, with the counting of votes set for June 4. The holy city is preparing to give a grand reception to the Prime Minister. This will be PM Modi's second roadshow in Ayodhya in the last five months.Earlier, PM Modi held a grand roadshow during the inauguration of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport on December 30, 2023.Polling in Uttar Pradesh, with the most number of seats in the Lok Sabha, is being held in all seven phases of the parliamentary elections. Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats, and voting in 16 seats has already been completed in the first two phases. In the 2019 general elections, the BJP emerged triumphant, securing 62 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, supplemented by two seats clinched by its ally Apna Dal (S). Mayawati's BSP managed to secure 10 seats, while Akhilesh Yadav's SP garnered five. Conversely, the Congress party secured only one seat. Triple Talaq Incident on Moving Train Shocks Jhansi Passengers: Man Flees After Divorcing Wife West Bengal Police Neutralises 22 Crude Bombs During Lok Sabha Elections PM Modi Vows Justice for Victims of the West Bengal Teacher Recruitment Scam
BJP's Post-Election Strategy: Focus Shifts to West Bengal
Agartala: Th e elections in Tripura have concluded, and the ruling BJP is optimistic about winning both seats. The recent alliance with 'Tripra Motha', led by royal scion Pradyot Manikya Deb Barman, has strengthened BJP's prospects, particularly in the Tripura East constituency, where another royal scion, Kriti Singh, is the BJP candidate. Now, the focus shifts to West Bengal, where the BJP aims to replicate its success in Tripura. With cultural and linguistic similarities between Tripura and West Bengal, the BJP sees an opportunity to present its governance and development model as a blueprint for West Bengal. The party is confident that the leaders from Tripura can have a significant impact on the remaining phases of elections in West Bengal. In contrast, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which contested in the Tripura assembly elections in 2023, faced rejection by the people of the northeastern state. Around 30 leaders, including Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, are gearing up to lead the BJP's campaign in West Bengal for the Lok Sabha elections. Joining them are other MLAs and ministers from Tripura, all set to rally support for the BJP in the neighboring state. BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharya highlighted the historic voter turnout witnessed in Tripura during the recent Lok Sabha elections, setting a significant precedent nationwide. Expressing confidence in a resounding victory for the BJP in Tripura, Bhattacharya outlined the partys strategic deployment of 30 Vistaraks, comprising state leaders, ministers, and MLAs, to West Bengal. He affirmed their collective mission to reinforce the partys presence and secure victory in the region. Bhattacharya emphasized the similarities between the prolonged rule of the CPIM in West Bengal and the current Trinamool Congress administration, noting a prevailing sense of fear among the populace. He lamented the decline of the industrial sector and the hindrance of centrally sponsored schemes under the current regime, citing distress among the people. Conversely, he praised Prime Minister Modis proactive efforts in implementing welfare schemes, which the BJP aims to showcase in West Bengal. We will shed light on PM Modis unwavering commitment to the peoples welfare through various schemes, Bhattacharya affirmed, echoing the partys optimism for victory in West Bengal. He identified violence as a primary concern in the state, signaling the BJPs intent to address and mitigate such issues. As the BJP mobilizes its leadership from Tripura to bolster its campaign efforts in West Bengal, all eyes are set on the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, poised to shape the political landscape of the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mega Campaigning in Ayodhya: All You Need to Know Triple Talaq Incident on Moving Train Shocks Jhansi Passengers: Man Flees After Divorcing Wife PM Modi Vows Justice for Victims of the West Bengal Teacher Recruitment Scam
Modi Government's Stance on SC/ST Reservations Praised by Dalit Leader
Kochi: Advocate K A Balan, a prominent Dalit leader and Union Government Counsel at the Kerala High Court, praised the Modi Government's role in protecting the interests of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stance, which he believes accurately addresses the issue. Balan highlighted the Modi Government's opposition to the Congress Party's policy of appeasing minorities, particularly in extending SC/ST reservations to individuals who converted to Christianity and Islam. He pointed out that successive governments, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi, resisted extending SC/ST reservations to converted Christians and Muslims. However, during Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao's tenure, a bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha to address this issue. Unfortunately, it was not presented due to technical reasons. Despite this, the issue persisted until the Modi Government came into power in 2014. The Modi Government rejected the recommendations of the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission, which suggested extending reservations to individuals from minority religions. Instead, it established a new three-member judicial commission led by Justice K G Balakrishnan to reevaluate the matter. Balan highlighted ongoing legal proceedings, with various religious organizations moving the Supreme Court to implement the Ranganath Mishra Commission report. Expressing his concern, Balan warned that if the Modi Government did not return to power in 2024, SC/ST reservations might be extended to Christians and Muslims. He called on SC/ST communities to support the BJP and NDA to prevent this outcome. He also emphasized the need for Hindu unity, transcending political affiliations, to safeguard the future of SC/ST reservations. BJP's Post-Election Strategy: Focus Shifts to West Bengal Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mega Campaigning in Ayodhya: All You Need to Know Triple Talaq Incident on Moving Train Shocks Jhansi Passengers: Man Flees After Divorcing Wife
Man Gives Triple Talaq To Wife In Moving Train, Flees After Beating Her
The incident occurred just before the Jhansi Junction on April 29 when the man was travelling with his wife in the train
Bhopal Man Gives Triple Talaq To Wife On Moving Train, Flees: Cops
The incident occurred just before the Jhansi Junction on April 29 when Mohammad Arshad, 28, was travelling with his wife Afsana, 26.
Celebration of diversity on canvas
HYDERABAD : A rare portrayal of Brihannala, embodying Arjuna, the third Pandava, in the form of a eunuch during the incognito exile period in the Mahabharata, was captured in acrylic paints with intricate detailing. This distinctive artwork took centre stage at the 4th Womens Art Exhibition hosted by M Eshwaraiah Art Gallery. The exhibition aimed to champion women artists from diverse professional backgrounds, fostering their artistic excellence. The showcase featured a rich tapestry of artworks, ranging from poignant portraits of Mother Teresa and Rabindranath Tagore to vibrant depictions of Maa Durga and various landscapes, including tranquil forest scenes and chilling mountain vistas. Each artwork conveyed profound meanings and experiences, shaped by the artists surroundings or personal journeys. The exhibiting artists, aged between 18 to 60 years old, hailed from various professional domains such as IT, education, and healthcare. While not all possessed formal art education, their passion and unique perspectives transcended mere technical skills. Among the standout pieces was Save Rocks, a mixed-media creation by Kavita Kulkarni, highlighting the imperative to conserve natural rock formations. Dr Ina Jains pencil sketches and charcoal renditions of Mother Teresa and Rabindranath Tagore exemplified meticulous craftsmanship, reflecting the artists keen attention to detail. Another remarkable artwork by Laboni Chatterjee depicted Maa Durga, celebrating female empowerment and challenging societal norms. Inspired by Chinese wall art plates, Jhansi Ranis Lithos Pillar and Shivoham on porcelain captivated viewers with their intricate designs. Lakshmi Samavedams painting portrayed Khajuraho sculptures, while artists like C Jagadamba, Chaitanya Latha S, and Jhansi Narsingam explored diverse perspectives of nature in their creations. Puli Vijaya Kishores artwork delved into the culture and lifestyle of Banjara tribes near Warangal, offering insights into his personal heritage. Contemporary pieces by Chaitali Maji offered a fresh take on freedom with her painting Captivity, while Lalitha Kalipatnapus Sundari series seamlessly intertwined nature and women with a vibrant colour palette. Praveenas works, Beyond the Binding and Lullaby for a Dream Deferred, stood out for their exceptional storytelling. Expressing their gratitude, the artists remarked, This has been a wonderful experience for all of us present here because, for any artist, encouragement and the opportunity to exhibit their art are of utmost importance. We are truly thankful to Sanjay Kumar for providing us with this platform and for nurturing upcoming talent. Artwork by Dr Ina Jain Curated by M Sanjay Kumar, the director of M Eshwaraiah Art Gallery, the exhibition served as a wellspring of inspiration for budding artists, offering invaluable guidance within the art community.
Uma Bharti Comes Out Of Hiatus, Campaigns For Scindia In Guna
Senior BJP leader and former chief minister Uma Bharti on Wednesday joined her partys campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh after a four-month break from politics by canvassing for Union minister Jyotiradiya Scindia in Guna LS constituency in the state. Ms Bharti addressed two public meetings along with Mr Scindia in Pichhore and Shivpuri, falling under Guna LS seat, and joined him at a road show held in Shivpuri later in the evening. This is the first time; Ms Bharti took part in the campaign of BJP for the ongoing LS elections. She had taken a break from politics and was on a spiritual tour to the Himalayas for the last three months, Raviraj Singh, a close aide of Ms Bharti told this newspaper. She had not campaigned for the party in the first and second phase of LS elections in the state. Ms Bharti had maintained low profile in the November, 2023 Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh by virtually keeping herself aloof from partys electioneering. The party leadership had evinced little interest when Ms Bharti had offered to campaign for the BJP in the last Assembly elections in the state. The firebrand saffron leader had appealed to the BJP national president J P Nadda ahead of the general elections not to consider her candidature for the LS polls before going on her spiritual tour to Himalayas. Ms Bharti had also not contested in the 2019 LS polls citing her health condition. She had won the polls from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 LS polls. Sources said that Ms Bharti was roped in by Mr Scindia to campaign in Shivpuri and Pichhore because the two Assembly constituencies have sizeable population of Lodhi community to which Ms Bharti belonged to. Ms Bharti also enjoys good relations with the Gwalior royal family of Scindia. She had heartily welcomed Mr Scindia when the latter crossed over to BJP after snapping two-decade-old ties with Congress in March 2020. Mr Scindia is seeking election from Guna LS constituency, considered the family bastion of the erstwhile Gwalior royal family. He had suffered a shock defeat at the hand of K P Yadav of BJP in the 2019 LS polls. Mr Scindia had then contested from the seat as a Congress candidate. BJP dropped the sitting MP in Guna Mr Yadav and replaced him with Mr Scindia in the seat in this poll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has earlier released a letter describing him as witness to the developments undertaken by Mr Scindia.
Vizag Muslims want representation in Assembly
Visakhapatnam: Ruling YSRC leaders are holding meetings with leaders of the Muslim community in Visakhapatnam as the polling date is fast approaching. Those who are organising the meetings include north Andhra regional coordinator and Rajya Sabha member Y.V. Subba Reddy, Visakha Lok Sabha candidate Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi, Vizag North ruling party candidate K.K. Raju. During their meetings, YSRC leaders are stressing on Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's commitment to development of Muslims. They point out that the party has given tickets to seven Muslim candidates MD. Khaleel Ahmad in Nellore City, Nisar Ahmad in Madanapalle, Amzath Basha Shah Shaik Bepari in Kadapa, A.M. Imtiaz in Kurnool, Kadiris Maqbool Ahmad, Shaik Asif in Vijayawada West, and Shaik Noori Fatima in Guntur East. However, Muslim community leaders in Visakhapatnam have been forthright in pointing out that after Rahman, no other Muslim candidate has been given an MLA ticket from Vizag. They point out that the political contribution of Muslim community in Visakhapatnam-I have been significant. Authorities constituted the assembly constituency in 1967. But it ceased to exist in 2008. The constituency saw two Muslim candidates emerging victorious. In 1972, M. R. Deen won as MLA member in the Indian National Congress ticket. In 1994, TD candidate Abdul Rehman Sheku emerged victorious with 35,344 votes. He defeated INC candidate Gudivada Gurunandha Rao, who received 32,180 votes.
BSP announces Jhansi, Pgarh picks in 10th list
Women train drivers raise safety concern as Jhansi division asks them to do night shift
NEW DELHI, April 23: More than 100 women train drivers have raised concern for their safety and highlighted lack of facilities after the Jhansi Rail Division recently issued an order directing them to do all work shifts on a par with male drivers. Before this direction, female drivers were assigned train duty in such a []
The News Mill
Crorepati candidates galore in Telugu states
Hyderabad: The Telugu states are seeing a surge in crorepati candidates vying to contest as MPs in both states and MLAs in the AP state polls. The richest candidate among them, so far, is Chevella BJP Lok Sabha candidate Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, who declared worth Rs 4,566 crore approximately. According to his election affidavit, Vishweshwar Reddy's wife K. Sangita Reddy is richer than him. Incidentally, some candidates who filed their affidavits on Monday declared assets of less than Rs 3 crore. Vishweshwar Reddy did bachelor's in electrical engineering from University of Madras, at Guindy in Chennai and MS Electrical Engineering from NJIT, New Jersey, US. According to an affidavit submitted to the returning officer (RO) on Monday, Vishweshwar Reddy listed Rs 1,178.72 crore properties, and those of Sangita Reddy at Rs 3,203.90 crore. Their son K. Viraj Madhav Reddy has assets worth Rs 107 crore, the affidavit said. Vishweshwar Reddy also has liabilities worth Rs 12.06 crore. In Andhra Pradesh, Narayana Ponguru, a Telugu Desam candidate from Nellore, declared properties worth Rs 806 crore. While Narayana listed assets worth Rs 214 crore, he said his wife Ramadevi Ponguru had assets worth Rs 592 crore. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy filed nominations from Pulivendula of Kadapa district and listed properties of Rs 700 crore. While his properties are worth Rs 535 crore, his wife Bharathi Reddy possesses assets worth Rs 165 crore according to the affidavit. YSRC Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha candidate Botsa Jhansi Laksmi said she owned assets of Rs 22 crore, Rs 11 crore for herself and her husband Botsa Satyanarayana. Malkajgiri Congress Lok Sabha candidate Patnam Suneetha Reddy declared properties worth Rs 2 crore in her election affidavit. She has liabilities a Rs 2.50 crore. Suneetha Reddy said she had passed Class 10 in 1990. Warangal Congress party Lok Sabha candidate Dr Kadiam Kavya, completed her MD (Pathology) from Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, in 2013. Dr Kavya declared assets worth Rs 2.47 crore.
All eyes on high-profile Vizag Lok Sabha seat as heavyweights enter election fray
The constituency is considered prestigious, as Vizag, the States biggest city, has all the trappings to become a mega-metropolis in the near future; YSRCP fields Botcha Jhansi Lakshmi, wife of Minister Botcha Satyanarayana, and the three-party alliance rallies behind TDPs Sribharat
Son of Jhansi government school teacher bags Rank 12 in UPSC exams
Son of Jhansi government school teacher bags Rank in UPSC exams
UP BEd JEE 2024 Registration Deadline Pushed to April 30, Apply Now
The Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, has extended the registration deadline for the Uttar Pradesh Bachelor of Education Joint Entrance Examination (UP BEd JEE) 2024 until April 30. This extension provides eligible candidates with another opportunity to apply for this prestigious examination. Read on to learn more about the eligibility criteria, application process, and important dates for UP BEd JEE 2024.
Extended Deadline for Uttar Pradesh B.Ed Admissions 2024-2026: Apply Online Now!
Bundelkhand University Jhansi has announced the Uttar Pradesh Joint Entrance Examination for B.Ed 2024, inviting aspiring educators to apply for admission to B.Ed courses across state universities in Uttar Pradesh. Here's all you need to know to seize this opportunity and embark on your journey towards becoming a certified teacher.
UP BEd Joint Entrance Exam 2024 registration deadline extended till April 30: Direct link to apply
Bundelkhand University Jhansi extends UP BEd Joint Entrance Exam 2024 deadline to April 30, 2024. Important dates include form submission, correction window, admit card, exam, score card release. Application process includes filling details, uploading documents, and making payment.
More Women Candidates Entering Poll Fray
Visakhapatnam: Women have been making faster strides in the states political landscape by occupying several prominent positions. The ruling YSRC, which took the lead in promoting and encouraging women in politics, offered women as many as 24 seats for contest this time. The 3-party alliance of TD, BJP and Jana Sena offered women 18 constituencies. Minister RK Roja, an actress-turned politician, leads the YSRC pack. Some 19 YSRC women are contesting for the assembly and five for the Lok Sabha. Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi, Cheti Tanuja Rani, Guduri Uma Bala, Joladarasi Santha are named for the LS fray. Reddy Shaanti, Piriya Vijaya, Nagulapalli Dhanalakshmi, Pamula Pushpasreevani, Viswasarayi Kalavathi, Vanga Geetha, Taneti Vanita, Tellam Rajyalakshmi, Mekathoti Sucharitha, Vidala Rajini, Murugudu Lavanya, Shaik Noori Fatima, Kalathur Krupalakshmi, RK Roja, Dasari Sudha, Butta Renuka, Kanagati Sreedevi, and KV Ushashri Charan are being fielded for the assembly seats. The TD-Jana Sena-BJP alliance has fielded 18 women candidates. They are Kothapalli Geeta, Dagupati Purandeswari, Joyakka Jagadeshwari, Gummadi Sandhya Rani, Vangalapudi Anita, Yanamala Divya, Tangirala Sowmya, Nelavela Vijaysree, Akhila Priya Reddy, Bandaru Sravani Sree, and Sunitha, Lokam Madhavi Reddy, Bhuma Akhila Priya Reddy, Gouru Chartiha Reddy, Savitha, Kurugondala Lakshmi Priya, Geetha Jayasuriya, Sindhura Reddy and Yashoda Devi. In the 2019 elections, 15 women from the TD, 12 from the YSRC and 8 from Jana Sena were in the fray. Out of these, YSRC's Nagulapalli Dhanalakshmi, Taneti Vanita, Vidala Rajini, Vundavall Sridevi, R K Roja, Pamula Pushpa Sreevani, Jonnalagadda Padmavathy, Sucharitha Mekathoti, K Sreedevi and Otaggulli Bhagya Lakshmi from the YSRC won the polls. From the TD, M Suguna and Adireddy Bhavani won their seats. However, the number of women MLAs has decreased in recent years. The rate of victory for women in the 2019 elections was 6 per cent, down from 10 per cent in 2014. Notably, the ruling YSRC has not fielded a single woman candidate in Nellore district for the assembly elections this time. The Telugu Desam gave tickets to three women in the district. TD candidates Vemireddy Prashanthi Reddy (Kovur), Kurukondla Lakshmi Priya (Venkatagiri) and Nelavala Vijayasree (Sullurupeta) are new to electoral politics, but are hailing from families with a political legacy. Prashanthi Reddy is a homemaker, Lakshmi Priya an entrepreneur and Vijayasree a medical professional. Despite the increased representation, the fall in ratio of women winning elections remains a concern. The 2024 elections will be a test of whether this trend will change or not.
Mastermind in UP police recruitment paper leak case arrested from Jewar
LUCKNOW: In a major breakthrough, the Special Task Force (STF) of UP Police nabbed Ravi Atri, 38, the mastermind of the police constable recruitment paper leak, on Wednesday. He was arrested from Jewar in Gautam Budhh Nagar. A native of Gautam Budh Nagar and based in Delhi before going underground following a probe into the police recruitment paper leak, Atri happens to be the 401st accused arrested so far in connection with the paper leak racket. UP Police Recruitment Board had held an examination to recruit 60,000 constables on February 17 and 18 where over 48 lakh candidates had appeared. Later, the government cancelled the tests and ordered re-examination following the paper leak. While the re-examination will be done in next 6 months, a manhunt was launched for those behind the fiasco. Atri was on the run ever since. An intensive investigation unfolded across various states including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana and districts of UP including Varanasi, Jhansi, Agra, Kanpur, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Hathras, Noida, and Ballia. A total of 12 cases have been registered in connection with the scandal. Additional DG, law and order, Amitabh Yash, said that efforts of STF Field Unit Meerut tracked Atri and arrested him. During interrogation, Atri said that after passing the Intermediate examination from Shriram Inter College, Thora, Gautam Budh Nagar, in 2006, the accused went to Allen Coaching Centre, Kota, Rajasthan for medical preparation where he came in contact with the examination mafia in 2007. He then started appearing as a solver in various competitive examinations. After passing the HPMT examination in the year 2012, he got admission in PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana and passed the third year in 2018 but did not appear in the fourth-year examination. Prior to it, he was nabbed by Daryaganj Crime Branch, Delhi in the paper leak case of NEET PG exam in the year 2012 and went to jail. He was also incarcerated the same year after Shahbad Dairy police station, Delhi arrested him for getting the paper of SBI exam out. In 2015, the AIPMT paper was out. The STF said that now Delhi police constable Vikram Pahal, Goldy, Guniya, Dawood, Neetu, Monu Dhakla, Anurag and Ankit Mishra were wanted in connection with the case. Held for getting paper of SBI exam out Prior to it, he was nabbed by Daryaganj Crime Branch, Delhi in the paper leak case of NEET PG exam in the year 2012 and went to jail. He was also incarcerated the same year after Shahbad Dairy police station, Delhi arrested him for getting the paper of SBI exam out.
UP BEd JEE 2024: Revised Dates Announced; Check the Updated Schedule Here
The Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, has made significant revisions to the schedule for the UP BEd Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) 2024. This decision, communicated through the official website of UP BEd JEE 2024 - bujhansi.ac.in, aims to accommodate the upcoming Indian General Elections 2024,
YSRC will oppose steel plant privatization: YV
Visakhapatnam: Regional coordinator for YSRC, YV Subba Reddy, has said his government would stand by its word and continue to oppose privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Addressing an election meeting held in Gajuwaka on Sunday, YV Subba Reddy noted that the chief minister told Narendra Modi during his visit to Visakhapatnam and in the presence of thousands of people that AP would not compromise on the privatization of the steel plant. The chief minister promised the PM that the state government would cooperate in procurement of raw material to reduce the steel plants capital costs, Subba Reddy said. He said the state government would protect not only the steel plant but all the public sector units in Visakhapatnam. Subba Reddy asked the people to question the Jana Sena and TD leaders on their stands on privatisation. The BJP is already committed to privatizing the steel plant. These two parties joined the BJP. These two parties have no public interest. They allied to protect their self interests, Subba Reddy said. Appealing to the people to support Gajuwaka assembly candidate Gudivada Amarnath, Subba Reddy said an amount of `1,800 crore was spent on social welfare schemes in the constituency during the last five years. Visakhapatnam MP candidate Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi said the YSRC government and the people would not give up the sentiment of Visakha Ukku Andhrula Hakku. She pointed out that the AP assembly passed a resolution against privatization of VSP. She said the TD-Jana Sena-BJP alliance would do more harm to Visakhapatnam than good. Minister and Gajuwaka assembly candidate Gudivada Amarnath said the YSRC government gave 25,000 house site pattas to the residents of Gajuwaka. District president of YSRC Kola Guruvulu, sitting MLA Tippala Nagi Reddy and a large number of local leaders were present. Later YV Subba Reddy, MP candidate Botsa Jhansi Lakshmi and other leaders attended the Iftaar party hosted by Visakhapatnam North assembly candidate KK Raju.
Will leave no stone unturned to protect VSP, assures YSRCP MP candidate Botcha Jhansi
Jhansi Lakshmi said that it was the YSRCP which responded immediately following the VSP privatisation proposal and asked the centre not to privatise it.
Nomination of SP's Khajuraho candidate rejected; Akhilesh calls it murder of democracy
Nomination of SP's Khajuraho candidate rejected; Akhilesh calls it murder of democracy In a jolt to the opposition's INDIA bloc in Madhya Pradesh, nomination of the Samajwadi Party's (SP) candidate from Khajuraho Lok Sabha constituency, Meera Yadav, was on Friday rejected by the returning officer. The development left the SP fuming with its chief Akhilesh Yadav terming it a ''blatant murder'' of democracy and demanding judicial probe. Meera Yadav would challenge the rejection in the High Court, her husband Deep Narayan Yadav said. Congress, the main opposition party in the BJP-ruled state, had left the Khajuraho seat for SP as per the seat-sharing arrangement within the INDIA bloc. Polling will be held for the seat in the second phase, on April 26. The Panna district collector, who is also the election returning officer, rejected Meera Yadav's nomination as she had not signed the `B form' and also failed to attach a certified copy of the 2023 Assembly elections voters' list, a senior official said. The BJP has fielded its state unit president and sitting MP Vishnu Dutt Sharma who is seeking a second term from Khajuraho. Yadav's husband Deep Narayan told reporters that they would move the high court against the returning officer's order. ''The form was verified yesterday after scrutiny. There is a rule that if there is any discrepancy, it is the duty of the returning officer to get it rectified even if the candidate is illiterate,'' he said. ''Yesterday, the form was found to be alright. Today, two shortcomings were pointed out. First, the voters' list attached with the form is not certified or it is old. Signature was supposed to be made at two places, but it was made only in one place,'' he added. Yadav also claimed that they did not get a certified copy of voters' list till April 3, and hence attached a copy that was available. ''We requested him (collector) that we still had time as we had come before (the deadline of) 3 pm, and it could be rectified. He should have told us yesterday about it and we could have done it by now,'' Yadav added. To a question, he said there were 15 other candidates in the fray, and ''we will support one of them after consulting our senior leaders.'' The election will be contested under any circumstances, he added. Taking to X , SP chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted,|'' The rejection of INDIA bloc's SP candidate from Khajuraho seat was a blatant murder of democracy. ''It is being said that it (nomination form) was not signed. Why the officer looking after |(such things) accepted the form. This is all just excuses and frustration of the defeated BJP,'' he stated. There should be a judicial probe as the rejection of a candidate's nomination is a crime in democracy, Yadav wrote. Notably, the SP had announced on March 30 that Manoj Yadav, who belongs to Shikohabad in Uttar Pradesh, would be given ticket from Khajuraho. But two days later, it replaced him with Meera Yadav, a local face, to take on V D Sharma who had won Khajuraho seat by more than 4.5 lakh votes in 2019. Meera Yadav had won from Niwari assembly seat, part of Khajuraho Lok Sabha constituency, as SP candidate in 2008. Her husband Deep Narayan was the SP MLA in 2007 and 2012 from Garautha in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, which shares a border with MP's Niwari district. He has also been the SP's Madhya Pradesh unit chief. The BJP has been winning the Khajuraho seat since 2004.
Five dead, 3 critical in road accident in Madhya Pradesh's Chitrakoot
Tragic accidents in Madhya Pradesh: 5 dead, 3 critical in dumper-auto collision on Jhansi Mirzapur National Highway. Another incident injures 30 in bus overturn near Morena on National Highway 44.
NDA Alliance Is a 1,000 Lies Marriage: Botsa
Visakhapatnam: Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana has termed the NDA alliance as a marriage of thousand lies. Addressing election meetings along with his wife Botsa Jhansi, who is YSRCPs Lok Sabha candidate from the Visakhapatnam seat, Satyanarayana maintained that TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu wants to benefit his son Lokesh through the NDA alliance. The alliance is not going to serve the people of the state, he remarked. The minister said a study of the seats allotted by the NDA alliance shows that the rich have been crowned. Further, the tickets have gone to non-locals. He pointed out that Pawan Kalyan's party Jana Sena gas announced two MP candidates. There is no BC candidate. Satyanarayana felt that giving Anakapalli's ticket to C.M. Ramesh sets a wrong example, though in a democracy anyone can contest from anywhere. However, the candidates of NDA coalition parties have only one qualification they are wealthy. North Andhra people must understand this fact, as it sets a very dangerous trend in politics, he remarked. The minister appreciated Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for giving top priority in allotment of seats to SCs, STs, BCs and minorities. YSRC Vizag MP candidate Botsa Jhansi, in her address, echoed the sentiments of her husband Satyanarayana. She expressed confidence in the leadership of Jagan Mohan Reddy and pledged to work for development of Visakhapatnam city.
Will spare no effort in developing Visakhapatnam, says the YSRCP leader who had served as a Lok Sabha MP twice in the past, representing Bobbili and Vizianagaram
Ganesh, Jhansi urge voters to re-elect YSRC
As part of their election campaign, they promised to allocate 10 acres of land for an alternative wholesale market, addressing the demands of the Convent Junction Wholesale Market traders
The Return of controversys child in Mandi
The girl from Bhambla in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh was always ambitious, and a little outspoken. She wanted to be in medical profession, but failed to clear the pre-medical test. The teenager was restless and reached Delhi to become a model, and then Mumbai to become an actor. And thus Kangana Ranaut was reborn, being increasingly seen as a rebellious rabble-rouser by her critics. Controversies have followed her on and off-screen as an element of devilment replenished her persona, year after year. It was director Anurag Basu who spotted Kangana and signed her for her first movie Gangster when she was 18 years old. She gave many hits such as Tanu Weds Manu, Manikarnika The Queen of Jhansi and Tejas. Finally, Kanganas full-throated Jai Shri Ram at the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya gave away that part of her life thats unfolding in Mandi. The BJP candidate has arrived back home, fully loaded and unforgiving. Her actions have followed the roles that she has played of two most powerful women politicians in the country: Thalaivii in 2021 showed her as J Jayalalithaa, and the yet-to-release Emergency where she is portraying the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Like all other times, controversy again followed her: the latest was when Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate allegedly posted an offensive comment against her on social media which she later deleted. Kangana responded saying she was considering legal action. She said the remarks made against her were insulting for Mandi, its public and the lands hugely revered saints and seers. If a young man gets a party ticket, his ideology is attacked, and if a young woman gets a nomination, her sexuality is attacked. Any derogatory word about a woman, be it a teacher, actress, journalist, politician or a sex worker, is condemnable. The dignity of a woman should always be maintained, especially when Mandi is also known as Mini Kashi, she asserted. Kangana admires Swami Vivekananda who has instilled nationalism in her and Sadhguru who has inspired her to become a karmayogi. She supported CAA before joining the BJP. She calls herself a common party karyakarta and is an ardent Narendra Modi fan. Dont think Kangana is a heroine, that she is a star. Consider Kangana your sister, your daughter. Everyone is my family, she said as she hailed PM Modi with Jai Shri Ram and asserted that the BJPs main agenda is development. Her name had figured among the probable party candidates in the 2021 bypolls for Mandi parliamentary seat after BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma died. Kangana, 37, is known for taking on bigwigs of Bollywood. Lyricist Javed Akhtar filed a defamation case against her in the court of the metropolitan magistrate in Mumbai in November 2020. He said that Kangana dragged his name while referring to an existing coterie in Bollywood during a TV interview after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Actor Aditya Pancholi and his wife Zarina Wahab filed separate criminal defamation complaints against Kangana in an Andheri court in October 2017. Her strong views on farmers agitation landed her in the soup as Mahinder Kaur of Bathinda filed a defamation case against her in January 2021. Kaur alleged in an X post that Kangana compared her, when she was participating in the farmers protests on the Delhi-Haryana borders, with the Dadi at Delhis Shaheen Bagh. A case was registered against Kangana on November 23, 2021 at the Khar police station in Mumbai for allegedly portraying the Kisan Morcha as a Khalistani movement and calling the Sikh community Khalistani terrorists on the complaint of Amarjeet Singh Sandhu, a Mumbai-based businessman. The Himachal Pradesh BJP has posted the details of these cases on its X handle, @BJP4Himachal, in compliance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India.
Mukhtar Ansari lived in constant fear in jail
Mukhtar Ansari lived in constant fear in jail At least four of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari's close aides were killed in custody since 2018, making him fear for his own life. The five-time Mau MLA's son Umar Ansari had even filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court apprehending the ''assassination'' of his father in jail. The 63-year-old Mukhtar Ansari was brought to the Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda from the district jail in ''an unconscious state'' on Thursday evening and died at the hospital following a cardiac arrest. The noose around Mukhtar Ansari, who had over 60 cases lodged against him, began tightening after the BJP government came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. A year after the change of government Ansari, the five-time MLA from Mau, got a blow when his close aide Prem Prakash Singh alias Munna Bajrangi was killed in Baghpat jail. Bajrangi was killed by another gangster Sunil Rathi on July 9, 2018, a day after he was brought to Baghpat jail from Jhansi jail. According to senior police officials, Mukhtar Ansari was jittery after the sensational murder and his lawyers began making efforts to get him shifted outside Uttar Pradesh. In January 2019, he was taken to Ropar Jail in Punjab in connection with an extortion case. Despite 23 reminders to the Punjab government, Mukhtar Ansari stayed in Ropar Jail for almost two years. The then Congress government in Punjab led by Capt Amarinder Singh kept avoiding his transfer from Ropar Jail citing his medical condition. Ansari was eventually brought back and sent to Banda Jail in April 2021 following the Supreme Court orders. Just weeks after Mukhtar Ansari returned, his two aides Merajuddin and Mukeem Kala were shot dead by another gangster inside Chitrakoot jail. Anshu Dixit, the gangster who killed the duo, was also gunned down by the police. In June last year, gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari alias Jeeva, another aide of Mukhtar Ansari, was shot dead by an assailant inside the court premises in Lucknow in broad daylight. Maheshwari had 26 cases lodged against him, including the murder of BJP lawmaker Brahm Dutt Dwivedi. Along with Munna Bajrangi, Jeeva was also a co-accused with Mukhtar Ansari in the murder of sitting BJP MLA Krishnanad Rai. The murders of Jeeva and Munna Bajrangi were also mentioned in the writ petition filed by Umar Ansari in the Supreme Court in December last year. Apprehending that the state government was planning to ''assassinate'' his father in Banda jail, Umar Ansari had appealed to transfer Mukhtar Ansari to a jail outside the state. In response to the writ petition, the Uttar Pradesh government on December 15 assured the apex court that ''necessary augmentation of security as needed will be made'' to ensure that no harm is done to Mukhtar Ansari while in custody. While his aides were being killed the state government kept the heat on Mukhtar Ansari. According to information provided by the police headquarters, the police took action against 292 people linked to Mukhtar Ansari. Several of these associates were booked under the Gangsters Act while 186 were arrested, till December 2023. The state government also attached properties worth crores linked to Mukhtar Ansari or his aides across the state and broke the financial backing that supported his criminal empire, senior officials said.
One-Day Trip: Explore these wonderful places located around Gwalior in a one-day trip
One-day trip near Gwalior: Almost everyone likes to travel. Whenever someone gets 3-4 days, he goes out to visit some place or the other. Travelling for 3-4 days is a different kind of fun, but for those who do not have much time, their dream of travelling remains only a dream. In such a situation, if you live in Gwalior and around Gwalior, then your dream of travelling can be fulfilled. In this article, we are going to tell you about some wonderful places around Gwalior, that you can visit one day to turn your dream of travelling into reality. Shivpuri Shivpuri is one of the few places in Madhya Pradesh where not only Indians but also foreign tourists come to visit. Yes, Shivpuri is a beautiful hill station in Madhya Pradesh. If you like to visit a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of Gwalior, then you should reach Shivpuri. This is no less than a beautiful paradise for nature lovers. Here you can come to spend quality time with family, friends or partner. Distance-The distance from Gwalior to Shivpuri is about 115 km. Orchha If you want to explore any historical place on a day trip from Gwalior, then you should reach Orchha. Situated on the banks of Betwa River, this city is also called the royal city of Madhya Pradesh. In Orchha, you can explore many famous sites like Orchha Fort, Jahangir Mahal, Ram Raja Temple, Raj Mahal and Chaturbhuj Temple. You can also enjoy river rafting in Betwa River. Apart from this, you can see many animals including tigers, jackals, monkeys, and peacocks in Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary. Distance-The distance from Gwalior to Shivpuri is about 120 km. Madhav National Park If you are planning to visit around Gwalior, then you should reach Madhav National Park to explore. It is a world-famous park. It is said that this park was once a hunting ground for Mughal emperors and Maharajas. Madhav National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Madhya Pradesh. Here you can see many animals closely. Many extinct trees and plants can also be seen in the park. Here you can also enjoy a jeep safari. Distance- The distance of Madhav National Park from Gwalior city is about 123 km. Jhansi If the name of any historical city located around Gwalior city is taken, then the name of Jhansi city is definitely included. Although Jhansi is a city in Uttar Pradesh, due to its proximity to Gwalior, it can be easily explored on a day trip. Jhansi city is today known as the place where the Queen of Jhansi lived. The stories of the bravery of Rani of Jhansi still resonate in the streets of the city. In Jhansi, you can explore the best places like Jhansi Fort, Rani Mahal, Jhansi Museum, Raja Gangadhar Rao Ki Chhatri, St. Jude Church, Karguwan Jain Temple and BaruaSagar. Distance- The distance from Gwalior city to Jhansi is about 101 km.
Lights, camera, politics and, for some, cut
Ramayans Ram, Arun Govil, and Jhansi ki Rani Kangana Ranaut are BJP LS candidates. How do actors fare in politics? A short history As Kangana prepares to play the real-life role shes long eyed ...
Kos Minar In Delhi, Gunner Burkill`s Tomb In Jhansi: Why ASI Is `Delisting` Some Old Monuments?
In a notable move marking a significant shift in policy, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has decided to delist 18 centrally protected monuments from its registry, citing their diminished national significance. This decision stems from a compilation of 24 untraceable monuments identified by the Union Ministry of Culture, which was presented to a parliamentary committee in the preceding year.
Kangana Ranaut: What 'Queen of Jhansi' brings to poll battlefield
Known for rarely backing out of a controversy, Ranaut has hit the ground running by challenging derogatory remarks made by some opposition leaders against her after her candidature from Mandi was announced. It's not unusual for a Bollywood artist to join politics, but the energy Ranaut brings to her politics, ever ready to remark on controversial issues and openly endorsing the BJP's Hindutva ideology, marks her out as not your usual actress-turned-politician.
Honoured, gratitude: Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil on being fielded for LS polls by BJP
Honoured, gratitude: Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil on being fielded for LS polls by BJP Actors Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil, who were named as part of the list of 111 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls by the BJP on Sunday, expressed happiness and gratitude to the political party for nominating them for the upcoming elections. While Ranaut will contest on a ticket for the Bharatiya Janata Party from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi constituency, her birthplace, Govil has been fielded by the party from the Meerut Lok Sabha seat. The news of Ranaut taking the political plunge comes months after she hinted at entering electoral politics when she offered prayers at Gujarat's Dwarkadhish temple in November 2023. Ranaut, a four-time National Award winner known for films such as ''Fashion'', ''Queen'', and ''Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi'', said she is elated to officially join the BJP and is looking forward to being a reliable public servant. ''My beloved Bharat and Bhartiya Janta's own party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have always had my unconditional support, today the national leadership of BJP has announced me as their Lok Sabha candidate from my birthplace Himachal Pradesh, Mandi (constituency),'' said Ranaut, who has been a vocal supporter of the ruling party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ''I abide by the high command's decision on contesting Lok Sabha polls. I feel honoured and elated to officially join the party. I look forward to being a worthy 'karyakarta' and a reliable public servant. Thanks,'' the 37-year-old actor wrote on her Instagram Stories. In 2022, Ranaut said she has a keen interest in politics but has no plans to enter it professionally. Govil, best known for playing the role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's classic TV serial ''Ramayan'', thanked PM Modi for entrusting him with such a big responsibility. ''Heartfelt gratitude to Shri Narendra Modi ji and the selection committee who have given me such a big responsibility by making me the MP candidate of Meerut. I will make every effort to fully live up to the trust of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the expectations of the public Jai Shri Ram @narendramodi @BJP4India @BJP4UP,'' the 66-year-old actor, who essayed PM Modi in the recently released film ''Article 370'', wrote in an X post. Govil along with singer Anuradha Paudwal recently joined the BJP. Ranaut, Govil and Paudwal were some of the several film personalities who attended the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January.
Digvijaya Singh, Karti Chidambaram In Congress' 4th List of Candidates
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday released its fourth list of 45 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, fielding its Uttar Pradesh unit chief Ajay Rai from Varanasi to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.While the Congress fielded veteran leader Digvijaya Singh from Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh, it nominated newly-inducted leader Lal Singh from Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur to take on Union minister Jitendra Singh. MLA Vikas Thakare will take on Union minister Nitin Gadkari in Maharashtra's Nagpur, according to the list. In its fourth list, the party announced candidates for 12 seats of Madhya Pradesh, nine of Uttar Pradesh, seven of Tamil Nadu, four of Maharashtra, two each of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir, and one each of West Bengal, Assam, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh. The Congress has left the Nagaur parliamentary constituency in Rajasthan for the Hanuman Beniwal-led Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP). The tie-up with the RLP is significant as the Congress looks to boost its position in the desert state, where it lost the Assembly polls recently and had not won a single seat in 2019 Lok Sabha election. The party is looking to expand its support base among the jats with the tie-up with Beniwal, who has a significant following among the community. For Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress is in an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and contesting 17 seats, it has announced candidates for nine seats. These include Rai from Varanasi, Danish Ali from Amroha, Imran Masood from Saharanpur and Alok Mishra from Kanpur. The suspense over whether Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest the polls from Amethi and Raebareli respectively continued. There is speculation that Rahul Gandhi may also contest the polls from Amethi, besides his declared seat of Wayanad in Kerala, and Priyanka Gandhi from Raebareli, a seat which was previously held by her mother, Sonia Gandhi. This will be Rai's third direct contest against Modi in the general election after 2014 and 2019. He had lost both times to the prime minister by big margins. Amethi and Raebareli are considered bastions of the Gandhi family and the local units of the Congress have demanded that the two scions of the family contest the polls from there. In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has also fielded Ram Nath Sikarwar from Fatehpur Sikri, Pradeep Jain Aditya from Jhansi, Tanuj Punia from Barabanki (SC), Akhilesh Pratap Singh from Deoria and Sadan Prasad from Bansgaon (SC). In Tamil Nadu, the party has renominated Karti Chidambaram from Sivaganga, Manickam Tagore from Virudhunagar, S Jothimani from Karur and Vijay Vasanth from Kanniyakumari, among others. In Madhya Pradesh, the party has fielded Digvijaya Singh from Rajgarh, Kantilal Bhuria from Ratlam (ST), Akshay Bam from Indore and Arun Shrivastav from Bhopal, among others. Singh had last contested the polls from Bhopal but lost to the BJP's Pragya Thakur in 2019. Among other significant nominations by the party, it has fielded Kawasi Lakhma from Bastar (ST), Raman Bhalla from Jammu, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam from Inner Manipur, Alfred Kanngam S Arthur from Outer Manipur (ST), Anil Chopra from Jaipur Rural, Bhajanlal Jatav from Karauli Dholpur, former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat's son Virender Rawat from Haridwar and Piya Roy Chowdhury from Coochbehar (SC). With this, the Congress has declared a total of 183 candidates for the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls starting April 19.
In UP, 'cradle' of Holi decks up for festival of colours
Erach, 70km from present-day Jhansi, is believed to have been King Hiranyakashipu's capital where Holika sat in a fire with Prahlad and was reduced to ashes, while Prahlad came out unscathed. Erach, revered as a major Buddhist site, is mentioned in Buddhist scripture Petavatthu as Erikachha or Erakachha and was a prominent city in the Dasanna janapada.
Women Benefited Most Under YSRC: Jhansi
Visakhapatnam: Ruling YSRCs Lok Sabha candidate from Visakhapatnam Botsa Jhansi has declared that women have benefited the most during the rule of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy during the last five years. Addressing an election meeting in Tallavalasa under Bheemili assembly constituency on Saturday, she said all social welfare schemes have been targeted at women. This has resulted in women regaining their self-respect within their families. Jhansi slammed the opposition parties for neglecting women when their parties had been in power. She underlined that Jagan Mohan Reddy must be re-elected if the social welfare schemes targeting women and others are to continue. Speaking on the occasion, former minister and Bheemili MLA Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao asked people to chase away opposition parties, which are desperately trying to come back to power by making false promises to the people. He pointed out that the government has recently spent 25 crore on laying internal roads and construction of the Rythu Bharosa Kendram. District YSRC president Kola Guruvulu said YSRC has protected the interests of backward classes. Hence, BCs should ensure that YSRC wins with a huge majority in the ensuing elections. All the three leaders interacted with the people of Tallavalasa and surrounding areas. They inquired about their well-being and the welfare schemes they have been receiving. Response from women in these areas has been good, Jhansi told reporters.
LS polls: Cong releases 4th list of candidates, fields Ajay Rai to take on Modi in Varanasi
LS polls: Cong releases 4th list of candidates, fields Ajay Rai to take on Modi in Varanasi The Congress on Saturday released its fourth list of 45 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, fielding its Uttar Pradesh unit chief Ajay Rai from Varanasi to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the Congress fielded its veteran leader Digvijaya Singh from Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh, it nominated newly-inducted leader Lal Singh from Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur to take on Union minister Jitendra Singh. Vikas Thakare will take on Union minister Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur, according to the list. In its fourth list, the party announced candidates for 12 seats of Madhya Pradesh, nine of Uttar Pradesh, seven of Tamil Nadu, four of Maharashtra, two each of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir, and one each of West Bengal, Assam, Andaman and Nicobar, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh. The Congress has left the Nagaur parliamentary constituency in Rajasthan for the Hanuman Beniwal-led Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. For Uttar Pradesh, where the party is in alliance with the Samajwadi Party and is contesting on 17 seats, the Congress announced candidates for nine seats. These include Rai from Varanasi, Danish Ali from Amroha, Imran Masood from Saharanpur and Alok Mishra from Kanpur. Suspense over whether Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest from Amethi and Raebareli continued. There is speculation that Rahul Gandhi may also contest from Amethi, besides his declared seat of Wayanad in Kerala, and Priyanka Gandhi from Raebareli, a seat which was previously held by Sonia Gandhi. Both the seats in Uttar Pradesh are considered bastions of the Gandhi family and the local units of the Congress have demanded that the two scions of the Gandhi family should contest from there. In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress has also fielded Ram Nath Sikarwar from Fatehpur Sikri, Pradeep Jain Aditya from Jhansi, Tanuj Punia from Barabanki (SC), Akhilesh Pratap Singh from Deoria and Sadan Prasad from Basgaon (SC). In Tamil Nadu, the party has renominated Karti Chidambaram from Sivaganga, Manickam Tagore from Virudhunagar, S Jothimani from Karur and Vijay Vasanth from Kanniyakumari, among others. In Madhya Pradesh, the party fielded Digvijaya Singh from Rajgarh, Kantilal Bhuria from Ratlam (ST), Akshay Bam from Indore and Arun Shrivastav from Bhopal among others. With this, the Congress has now declared a total of 183 candidates for the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls beginning on April 19.
Campaign Yet to Pick Up Momentum
Chennai : Campaign for the April 19 elections to the Lok Sabha is yet to pick up momentum though most of the candidates have been finalized for all the 39 constituencies in the State, barring the nine seats that have been allotted to the Congress by the DMK-led alliance, as the candidates and the local party units were involved in preliminary work. Almost all the candidates were meeting up with local office-bearers of the alliance partners and their own party seniors in the constituency to formally invite them for the campaign that will start with full gusto once the nominations are filed in the next few days. Political parties, too, were making the last minute changes in the candidate list and the AIADMK replaced its nominee for the Thoothukudi constituency, Shimla Muthuchozhan, with a local leader, M Jhansi Rani, who is the town panchayat president of Tisaiyanvilai. Shimla Muthuchozhan, who hails from a traditional DMK family, had joined the AIADMK just about three weeks ahead of his nomination for the Thoothukudi seat. Whether she was changed because the party felt the need to field a local candidate against DMKs Kanimozhi Karunanidhi or did not want to nominate her because she has the reputation of being J Jayalalithaas opponent in Kolathur Assembly seat once. The TMC, which is an ally of the BJP, announced the Thoothukudi South district president S D R Vijayseelan as its candidate for Thoothukudi constituency to face the two women opponents of the DMK and AIADMK. AMMK founder T T V Dhinakaran is now contesting from Theni constituency as announced by AIADMK splinter group leader O Panneerselvam, who is fighting the election from Ramanathapuram in an independent symbol. He does not want to contest in the BJPs Lotus or the AMMKs Pressure Cooker because he is still making a claim to the leadership of the AIADMK in the court. The chosen candidates have also started the process of setting up the election offices within the constituency by renting premises and appointing office staff. Once the nominations are filed, probably on Monday, the campaign work will start. Star campaigners of the party have already announced their tour plans. DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin had already started his tour and was in Thanjavur, meeting several groups of people, besides addressing meetings. The DMK also announced the whirlwind tour programme of its star campaigner and State Minister Udhaynidhi Stalin from Saturday. Udhaynidhi Stalin will be delivering back-to-back campaign speeches till Wednesday covering several places like Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Kanchipuram, Aarani, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore and Arakkonam.
Ankita Lokhanda's candid chat on Swatantra Veer Savarkar: Researched a lot for Yamuna Bai
Ankita Lokhande is set to return to the silver screen after her successful stint on the reality show Bigg Boss 17, with the upcoming film 'Swatantra Veer Savarkar'. Her last outing was also a periodic film, 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi' alongside Kangana Ranaut, where Ankita played Jhalkarli Bai. In an exclusive chat with ETimes, Ankita expresses her gratitude for the positive response received for her character 'Yamunabai Savarkar' and her experience working with Randeep Hooda and more.
After failed BSP experiment in 2019, SP pins hope on Congress tie-up to stop BJP juggernaut in UP
After failed BSP experiment in 2019, SP pins hope on Congress tie-up to stop BJP juggernaut in UP The coming general election may throw some surprising results in Uttar Pradesh with the SP-BSP alliance now replaced by the SP-Congress pact under the INDIA bloc. The Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance in 2019 had offered some resistance to the BJP on a handful of seats in the western and eastern parts of UP, but failed to make a big impact. With BSP supremo Mayawati deciding to duke it out alone this time, it will be up to the SP and Congress to stop the marauding juggernaut of the NDA, which has now has RLD on its side, as well as a number of caste-based regional parties in the Poorvanchal region. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and allies won 73 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The party ceded some ground in the 2019 general election, when the opposition parties scraped their combined tally to 16. Even with the conventional anti-incumbency apprehensions at work, the saffron party laid its claim on the state winning 62 seats, bolstered further by two more won by its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal). In 2019, the maximum seats -- 23 -- for the BJP came from the state's western part, where the SP-BSP alliance could manage to win only four seats each. The BSP won Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha and Nagina (SC seat) in the western UP, while the Samajwadi Party emerged victorious in Sambhal, Moradabad, Mainpuri (first held by Mulayam Singh Yadav then by Dimple Yadav in a bypoll) and Rampur that year. The central region of the state has prominent parliamentary constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli -- both long considered bastions of the Congress. In 2019, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi retained her Rae Bareli seat, while her son Rahul Gandhi lost the long held Amethi constituency to Union minister Smriti Irani. Defence minister Rajnath Singh won from Lucknow. The BSP won only one seat from this region in Ritesh Pandey, who bagged Ambedkarnagar Lok Sabha constituency. The SP scored a zilch. The BJP won 13 seats from the region, which includes the coveted Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, the epicentre of a Hindu reverie that drowned parts of the nation in a collective religious fervour after the Ram Temple consecration. Varanasi, represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha, is one of the 30 seats in the eastern part of the state. From this region, the BSP won five seats, while the SP won one, Azamgarh. Apna Dal (Sonelal) won two seats from here. The Bundelkhand region was swept in 2019 by the BJP, which won all four Lok Sabha seats of Jhansi, Banda, Hamirpur, and Jalaun-SC. The parched Bundelkhand region has been seeing the start of some irrigation projects and its residents getting safe drinking water. Expressways, new airports in different parts of the UP have narrowed the regional disparity the state has witnessed for a long time.
35-year-old killed in road accident in Gurugram
35-year-old killed in road accident in Gurugram An employee of a private company was killed after a car hit his motorcycle near the Shankar Chowk on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, police said. The accident happened around 7 pm on Friday. Police said after hitting the motorcycle, the car collided with a divider. Dharmender (35) was killed in the accident, they said. An FIR has been registered against the car's driver, who is at large, police said. Dharmender was a native of Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi district and was working with the company here, they said. He was rushed to a hospital after the accident but was declared brought dead, according to the police complaint from a colleague of the victim.
15.34 crore eligible to vote in UP's seven-phase election; Polling in Varanasi, Gorakhpur in final phase Around 15.34 crore people are eligible to vote in Uttar Pradesh - a politically crucial state with 80 Lok Sabha seats where elections will be held in seven phases from April 19. According to the poll schedule announced by the Election Commission on Saturday, single-phase polling will be held in 15 states and seven Union Territories, while staggered elections will be held in the rest of the 13 states and Jammu and Kashmir. Elections will be held in seven phases in the three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. ''At present, there are around 15.34 crore voters in Uttar Pradesh, of which 8.17 crore are males and 7.17 crore are females. ''There are 6,638 third gender voters, while there are more than 12.51 lakh divyaang voters,'' State Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa told reporters. He said there are 92,587 polling stations in the state, while there are over 1.62 lakh polling booths. According to the election schedule, eight parliamentary constituencies in UP will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit. The seventh and final phase of polling will be held on June 1, and among the seats it will cover are Varanasi -- represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- and Gorakhpur, the pocket borough of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Voting in the second phase will take place on April 26 and it will cover eight parliamentary constituencies of Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautambuddh Nagar, Bulandshahr (SC), Aligarh and Mathura. Ten parliamentary constituencies of Sambhal, Hathras (SC), Agra (SC), Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Aonla and Bareilly will go to polls in the third phase on May 7. The fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls in UP will witness voting on May 13 and will cover the 13 constituencies of Shahjahanpur (SC), Khiri, Dhaurahra, Sitapur, Hardoi (SC), Misrikh (SC), Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah (SC), Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur and Bahraich (SC). State capital Lucknow will go to polls on May 20, in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The other (13) seats going to polls in the fifth phase in the state are --- Mohanlalganj (SC), Rae Bareli, Amethi, Jalaun (SC), Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi (SC), Barabanki (SC), Faizabad, Kaisarganj and Gonda. The sixth phase of the general elections will cover 14 seats of Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phoolpur, Allahabad, Ambedkarnagar, Shravasti, Domariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lalganj (SC), Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Machhlishahr and Bhadohi. Voting in the sixth phase will be held on May 25. Apart from Varanasi and Gorakhpur, the other parliamentary constituencies that will go to polls in the seventh phase are Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Mirzapur and Robertsganj (SC). The counting of votes will be held on June 4. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 62 seats and its ally Apna Dal (S) two seats, brushing aside the challenge of the SP-BSP alliance. The Congress won the lone Rae Bareli seat of Sonia Gandhi. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was the biggest gainer in the alliance with 10 seats. Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party won five seats and the smallest partner Rashtriya Lok Dal couldn't open its account in the polls.
YSRCP announces candidates for LS, assembly in Andhra
YSRCP unveils candidates for Andhra Pradesh elections at Y S Rajasekhar Reddy's 'samadhi' in Kadapa district. Bapatla MP Nandigam Suresh reveals Lok Sabha candidates, while Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao discloses Assembly candidates. Notable names include B Jhansi Laxmi, G Uma Bala, and V Vijayasai Reddy. Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy present at announcement event.
Bapatla MP Nandigam Suresh read out the names of the candidates for the Lok Sabha elections while Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao did so for the Assembly polls. As per the list, B Jhansi Laxmi will contest from the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency while G Uma Bala be the candidate in Narasapuram and V Vijayasai Reddy will try his luck from Nellore.
UP paper scam main accused surrenders
LUCKNOW : In connection with UP Police Constable Recruitment paper leak case, the roots of which are being traced to Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi and Bihar besides UP, one of the prime suspects Arun Kumar Singh surrendered before the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Kaushambi on Friday. The UP STF immediately shifted Singh into the custody of the Manjhanpur Kotwali Police where the case has been registered in connection with the paper leak. Three other accused of the case have already been arrested. The top cops DGP Prashant Kumar and ADG UP STF Amitabh Yash, said that the other three prime suspects Abhishek Kumar Shukla of Prayagraj, Shivam Giri of Mirzapur and Rohit Kumar Pandey of Bhadohi were arrested from Lalkua flyover in Vijaynagar of Ghaziabad on Thursday. The STF also seized three mobile phones along with a question paper pertaining to the second shift of UP Police Recruitment Examination conducted on February 18, 2024. According to UP DGP, the STF conducted a swift operation across Varanasi, Jhansi, Agra, Kanpur, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Hathras, Noida, and Ballia in UP lodging 178 cases pertaining to the offence and arrested 396 individuals so far in connection with the paper leak of UP Police Constable Recruitment, RO and ARO paper leak case. As per the sources, the investigators are camping in Delhi, Bihar and Haryana to trace other conspirators. All the three accused arrested from Ghaziabad are former employees of TCI Express Company of Ahmedabad which was engaged in storage, transportation and distribution of question papers. As per the top cops, all the three accused along with the masterminds Rajeev Nayan Mishra took the photo of the leaked paper in the warehouse and sold it for lakhs. How it all started Feb1, 2024: Shivam Giri tells Abhishek Shukla about cop recruitment exam papers to TCI Exp Co. in Ahmedabad Feb 4: Shukla and Ravi Atri send photo of the trunks lying in TCI Exp Co. facility to Bhopal-based Rajiv Nayan Mishra, who transfers `3 lakh to Giris account Feb 5: The gang calls Dr Shubham Mandal, an expert in opening sealed trunks, to reach Ahmedabad Feb 5: Mandal, along with Mishra and Rohit Kumar Pandey, opens the trunk, takes pictures of the Code 2 exam paper Feb 9: Mishra and Atri leave Ahmedabad and sell papers to aspiring candidates for Rs 5 lakh each Feb 17-18: 48 lakh students appear for the exam in centres across 75 districts of UP for over 60,000 vacancies Feb 24: Following protests, Yogi Adiyanath cancels exam, orders probe March 14: Shukla, Giri and Pandey arrested from Ghaziabad; Atri, the main accused, elusive
Delhi Borewell rescue: Personnel says trapped person not a child but a...
Sharing details of the ongoing borewell rescue operation in Delhi's Keshopur area on Sunday, station officer, Rani Jhansi Road, said the person who fell into the borewell wasn't a minor as was assumed earlier but an adult of between 15 to 20 years of age.
UP govt allocates Rs 23 crore for compensation to farmers for damaged crops
UP govt allocates Rs 23 crore for compensation to farmers for damaged crops The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday released an amount of Rs 23 crore for compensating the affected farmers in nine districts of the state that were impacted by hailstorms and rains in the last three days in terms of damaged crops. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the relief department to immediately transfer the compensation amount to the accounts of the affected farmers on the basis of the survey report, an official statement issued here said. Principal Secretary (Revenue) P. Guru Prasad informed that on the instructions of the chief minister, all the district magistrates of the state were sent to the agricultural farms to conduct an on-site assessment of the damages caused to the crops by the inclement weather. Subsequently, the district magistrates of the nine most affected districts presented their reports on the damages caused to the crops by untimely rainfall and hailstorms to the chief minister on Tuesday, on the basis of which, the latter released a compensation of Rs 23 crore for the farmers in the nine districts, the statement said. Relief Commissioner GS Naveen said that the highest compensation of Rs 5 crore was sanctioned for Jalaun whereas Lalitpur, Mahoba and Saharanpur have been given Rs 3 crore each. Likewise, an amount of Rs 2 crore each has been sanctioned for Banda, Basti, Jhansi and Shamli and Rs 1 crore for Chitrakoot. The process of compensating the affected farmers in these districts is ongoing. The compensation is primarily given to the farmers whose crops are damaged by more than 33 per cent due to floods, hailstorms and untimely rainfall.
Four killed in separate lightning strike incidents in UP
LUCKNOW: Four people died in separate lightning strike incidents in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday as rain and hailstorms lashed parts of the state, a senior official said. Relief Commissioner Naveen Kumar said that the deaths were reported from Lakhimpur Kheri, Hardoi, Sitapur and Shahjahanpur. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, according to a government release, expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to lightning in various districts of the state and has given instructions to immediately provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased. Adityanath has directed the concerned district magistrates to immediately provide permissible financial assistance to the affected people in cases of loss of animals, damage to houses due to disasters like lightning, hailstorm, heavy rain, storm etc, the release said. The relief commissioner said that Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Muzaffarnagar, Jalaun, Jhansi, Kanpur Dehat, Shahjahanpur, Lalitpur and Saharanpur were hit by hailstorms between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm. Rain was also reported in Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Badaun, Baghpat, Bahraich, Balrampur, Bareilly, Deoria, Etah, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Kanpur Nagar, Rampur, Sambhal, Sant Kabir Nagar, Bhadohi, Shravasti, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Sultanpur, Unnao, Varanasi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lucknow, Mainpuri, Mathura, Mau and Rae Bareli districts, Kumar said. He said there is a report of collapse of a house due to excessive rain in Mathura, where the tehsildar has been sent for investigation. Information has been received about partial damage to houses due to lightning in Saharanpur district, Kumar added.
UP CM orders survey of damages to crops by inclement weather, compensation to farmers
UP CM orders survey of damages to crops by inclement weather, compensation to farmers Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered survey of damages caused to crops by strong winds and hailstorm in the state since late Friday night and submission of report to the concerned department for transferring compensation amount to the accounts of the affected farmers within 24 hours. The chief minister has also warned the officers of strict action in case of any of kind of negligence in helping the affected farmers out. According to a press statement issued by the state government, on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Principal Secretary Revenue P Guru Prasad has directed all the district magistrates, SDMs and tehsildars of the state to conduct an on-the-spot survey. Also, instructions have been given to upload the survey report on the concerned department's portal as soon as possible. A total of 7020 farmers from 50 districts had applied for compensation for the damaged crops till March 2. Following completion of the survey, compensation for crop losses will be provided by both the insurance companies and the revenue department. According to provisions, the compensation is to be paid within 24 hours after survey has been completed. In light of the adverse weather conditions, the relief department has issued a warning and urged individuals to venture out of their homes only for essential works. Significantly, on-the-spot survey has been concluded for 2681 applications, while efforts are underway at an urgent pace for acting on 4339 applications. Additionally, with the adverse weather persisting, it is anticipated that further applications for compensation for crop damage will be submitted. The highest number of applications for crop damage compensation, totalling 1256, have been submitted by the farmers from Hamirpur. This is followed by 997 applications from Jalaun, 969 from Mirzapur, 812 from Lalitpur, 650 from Jhansi and 580 from Banda, in addition to more than 100 farmers from half a dozen districts. Compensation is paid only to those farmers whose crops are damaged by more than 33 per cent due to floods, hailstorms and non-seasonal rains.
BJP banking on its sitting MPs as it targets to win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP
BJP banking on its sitting MPs as it targets to win all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP After the declaration of candidates on 51 seats by the ruling BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the political picture of the contest in Uttar Pradesh is becoming clear. INDIA bloc partner Samajwadi Party (SP) has so far declared tickets on 31 seats, including Varanasi, which it later withdrew due to the seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress. Amidst party workers' demand of fielding Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Amethi and Raebareli seats, the Congress is yet to come up with its list. As per the arrangement, the Congress will field candidates on 17 seats while the SP will contest on 63 seats. Apart from Raebareli, Amethi and Varanasi, the other seats on which the Congress will contest include Kanpur City, Fatehpur Sekri, Basgaon, Saharanpur, Prayagraj, Maharajganj, Amroha, Jhansi, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Mathura, Sitapur, Barabanki and Deoria. Sonia Gandhi is currently the MP from Raebareli, while Rahul Gandhi lost his Amethi seat to BJP leader Smriti Irani in 2019 polls. Aiming to retain power at the Centre for the third time in a row, the BJP banked heavily on its sitting MPs and the party is working on a target to win all the 80 seats in the state. The notable names in the BJP's first list include Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow, Hema Malini from Mathura, Ajay Mishra Teni from Kheri, Smriti Irani from Amethi, Lallu Singh from Faizabad (Ayodhya) and Mahendra Nath Pandey from Chandauli among others. The new faces in the BJP list included Saket Mishra from Shrawasti and Kripa Shankar Singh from Jaunpur. Sitting MP from Ambedkar Nagar Ritesh Pandey, who recently resigned from the BSP and joined the BJP, has also been given a ticket. Saket Mishra, who is a sitting MLC, is the son of Nripendra Mishra, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee's chairman and former principal secretary to Prime Minister Modi. Kripa Shankar had quit the Congress to join the BJP. The candidates for Pilibhit and Sultanpur, which are held by Varun Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi respectively, are yet to be announced. Prime Minister Modi will be seeking re-election from Varanasi for the third time, winning the earlier two elections in 2014 and 2019 from the same seat with a handsome margin of more than 3.71 lakh and 4.79 lakh votes, respectively. Rajnath Singh will also be seeking re-election from Lucknow for the third time after winning it in two previous elections in 2014 and 2019 comfortably by a margin of 2.72 lakh and 3.47 votes, respectively. The BJP has again reposed faith in Ajay Mishra Teni from Kheri. Mishra had been in the thick of storm in connection with October 3, 2021, violence in which his son Ashish Mishra allegedly ran his car over the farmers protesting in Lakhimpur Kheri. Mishra won the Lok Sabha elections from the Kheri constituency in 2014 and 2019. The BJP has also reposed faith in Smriti Irani for the Amethi seat, regarded as a Gandhi stronghold. Irani had rendered a major blow to the Congress, defeating its then sitting MP Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 elections by a margin of more than 55,000 votes. From Raebareli, though the BJP has not declared any name yet but speculations are rife that it may field SP MLA Manoj Kumar Pandey, who recently resigned as the party's chief whip in the state assembly and cross voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls. The SP has so far released three lists of its candidates and has fielded Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri while Shivpal Yadav has been given a ticket from the Budaun seat. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is an MLA from the Karhal seat, might also contest from Kannauj or Azamgarh. The party has given a chance to Ikra Hasan, daughter of former MP Tabassum Hasan, from the Kairana seat while Praveen Singh Aron has been given a ticket from the Bareilly seat and Afzal Ansari from the Ghazipur seat. The SP's first list also included the name of sitting Sambhal MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq, who died recently. The BSP has so far officially not declared its list of candidates. In 2019 polls, SP and BSP contested in an alliance in which they won five and 10 seats, respectively. The BJP and allies got 65 seats.
