Odisha: 2,000 earthen lamps spell Swagatam on sand at Puri beach to welcome PM Modi

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Helicopter crash could reverberate across the Middle East, where Iran's influence runs wide and deep

Helicopter crash could reverberate across the Middle East, where Iran's influence runs wide and deep The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials is likely to reverberate across the Middle East. That's because Iran has spent decades supporting armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the Palestinian territories that allow it to project power and potentially deter attacks from the United States or Israel, the sworn enemies of its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tensions have never been higher than they were last month, when Iran under Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel in response to an airstrike on an Iranian Consulate in Syria that killed two Iranian generals and five officers. Israel, with the help of the United States, Britain, Jordan and others, intercepted nearly all the projectiles. In response, Israel apparently launched its own strike against an air defense radar system in the Iranian city of Isfahan, causing no casualties but sending an unmistakable message. The sides have waged a shadow war of covert operations and cyberattacks for years, but the exchange of fire in April was their first direct military confrontation. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has drawn in other Iranian allies, with each attack and counterattack threatening to set off a wider war. It's a combustible mix that could be ignited by unexpected events, like a helicopter carrying top officials disappearing into a mist. A BITTER RIVALRY WITH ISRAELIsrael has long viewed Iran as its greatest threat because of Tehran's controversial nuclear program, its ballistic missiles and its support for armed groups sworn to Israel's destruction. Iran views itself as the chief patron of Palestinian resistance to Israeli rule, and top officials for years have called for Israel to be wiped off the map. Raisi, a hard-liner viewed as a protg and possible successor of Khamenei, chastised Israel last month, saying he Zionist Israeli regime has been committing oppression against the people of Palestine for 75 years. First of all we have to expel the usurpers, secondly we should make them pay the cost for all the damages they have created, and thirdly, we have to bring to justice the oppressor and usurper,'' he said. Israel is believed to have carried out numerous attacks over the years targeting senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists. There is no evidence Israel was involved in Sunday's helicopter crash, and Israeli officials have not commented on the incident. Arab countries on the Persian Gulf have also long viewed Iran with suspicion, a key factor in the decision of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize relations with Israel in 2020, and of Saudi Arabia to consider such a move. A PROXY WAR STRETCHING FROM LEBANON TO YEMENHamas issued a statement of concern for Raisi and his companions on Sunday, saying: We express our complete solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran, its leadership, government and people.'' Iran has provided financial and other support over the years to Hamas, which led the October 7 attack into Israel that triggered the Gaza war, and the smaller but more radical Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which took part in it. But there is no evidence that Iran was directly involved in the attack. Since the start of the war, Iran's leaders have expressed solidarity with the Palestinians. Their allies in the region have gone much further. Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, Iran's most militarily advanced proxy, has waged a low-intensity conflict with Israel since the start of the Gaza war. The two sides have traded strikes on a near-daily basis along the Israel-Lebanon border, forcing tens of thousands of people on both sides to flee. So far, however, the conflict has not boiled over into a full-blown war that would be disastrous for both countries. Iran-backed militias in Syria and Iraq launched repeated attacks on US bases in the opening months of the war but pulled back after US retaliatory strikes for a drone attack that killed three American soldiers in January. Yemen's Houthi rebels, another ally of Iran, have repeatedly targeted international shipping in what they portray as a blockade of Israel. Those strikes, which often target ships with no apparent links to Israel, have also drawn U.S.-led retaliation. BEYOND THE MIDDLE EASTIran's influence extends beyond the Middle East and its rivalry with Israel. Israel and Western countries have long suspected Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons in the guise of a peaceful atomic program in what they see as a threat to non-proliferation everywhere. Then-President Donald Trump's withdrawal from a landmark nuclear pact between Iran and world powers in 2018, and his imposition of crushing sanctions, led Iran to gradually abandon all the limits placed on its program by the deal. These days, Iran is enriching uranium to up to 60 per cent purity near weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. Surveillance cameras installed by the UN nuclear agency have been disrupted, and Iran has barred some of the agency's most experienced inspectors. Iran has always insisted its nuclear program is for purely peaceful purposes, but the United States and others believe it had an active nuclear weapons program until 2003. Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed power in the Middle East but has never acknowledged having such weapons. Iran has also emerged as a key ally of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, and is widely accused of supplying exploding drones that have wreaked havoc on Ukraine's cities. Raisi himself denied the allegations last fall in an interview with The Associated Press, saying Iran had not supplied such weapons since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2022. Iranian officials have made contradictory comments about the drones, while US and European officials say the sheer number being used in the war in Ukraine shows that the flow of such weapons has intensified since the war began.

Malla Reddy in another land grabbing row

Malla Reddy Malla Reddy Hyderabad: The name of former minister and BRS Medchal MLA Ch Malla Reddy has once again cropped up in a land dispute. The dispute this time is with Congress Dharmapuri MLA Adluri Laxman Kumar against the title of a land parcel measuring two acres and 35 guntas in Survey No 82/EE in Suchitra. Speaking to media persons, the Congress leader accused BRS leaders of harassing him. He said he had purchased a portion of the land measuring 600 square yards in the same site along with former BRS MLA from Uppal, Bethi Subhas Reddy and an injunction order was also in place. MLA Laxman Kumar said there has been no counter to the injunction order and a portion of the land had been sold to a person named Srinivas Reddy in 2021, based on records of the district collectorate. Malla Reddy misused his power to harass us. We have the documents related to the land, and all statements made by Malla Reddy are bogus, said Laxman Kumar. He said attempts to settle the land issue with the former minister and his son-in-law, Marri Rajashekar Reddy, who is also the BRS MLA from Malkajgiri, were in vain. A survey of the land is underway currently and BRS MLA Malla Reddy on Sunday told media persons that he will meet Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. According to a source, Malla Reddy has already tried to meet the Chief Minister on Sunday, but failed. The BRS leader wants to meet the Chief Minister to ensure that more skeletons in the closet are not unveiled, the source said. Earlier, Malla Reddy tried to meet the Chief Minister when authorities undertook demolition at Malla Reddy Aeronautical College in Dundigal and also when an illegal road leading to Malla Reddy Engineering College was demolished in the Gundla Pochampally Municipality. However, he could not meet the Chief Minister on both the occasions. During the press conference, the Congress Dharmapuri MLA also stated that he will also meet the Chief Minister to complain against the BRS MLAs. According to the police, several cases have been booked on both the parties for altercation, trespass and violence. A survey of the land was initiated by the revenue department on Sunday, said Petbasheerabad inspector K. Vijaya Vardhan. On Saturday, Malla Reddy and his son-in-law barged into the site with their sidekicks and tried to pull down the temporary barricades.

It's fight between 'tukde-tukde' gang and those chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai': BJP's Manoj Tiwari

It's fight between 'tukde-tukde' gang and those chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai': BJP's Manoj Tiwari BJP candidate from the North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat Manoj Tiwari on Sunday said the fight in his constituency is between those who promote ''tukde-tukde'' (divisive) ideology and those who chant ''Bharat Mata Ki Jai''. The Congress has pitted Kanhaiya Kumar against the BJP's Tiwari who is seeking a hattrick of victory in North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat. Campaigning for the BJP in the constituency, Union Minister Giriraj Singh referred to his victory against Kumar in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Bihar's Begusarai. ''A person's poster has been pasted in Begusarai who is a member of the tukde-tukde gang and is missing there. He has changed the party now,'' he said. Kumar contested against Singh in 2019 as a CPI candidate. He later crossed over to the Congress. The former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) president was charged with sedition by the Delhi Police over ''anti-India slogans'' that were allegedly raised on the university campus on February 9, 2016. At a poll rally here, Tiwari said, ''This election is not between Manoj Tiwari and the candidate of the other party. This is between those who say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and those of the 'tukde-tukde' gang.'' Addressing a poll meeting Giriraj Singh referred to the violence in Jahangirpuri on Hanuman Jayanti a few years ago and said, ''When people say that we talk about Hindu-Muslim issues, I want to ask, has Manoj Tiwari ever set fire to anywhere in Jahangirpuri? No, he hasn't.'' ''If you want to criticize, then criticize me. But put your hand on your heart and ask, what is the solution to this? The solution is that we come together and use the power of voting against the terrorist mentality and ensure the victory of Sanatan culture,'' he said. North East Delhi was rocked by a communal riot in the backdrop of the anti-CAA protest in 2020 in which over 50 were killed, and hundreds injured. ''There is a force working within India to break the country. It is my duty that if anyone conspires to break the country, I will have to answer too,'' Singh said. ''No one thought that Article 370 would be abrogated but it was done. No one thought that the Ram temple would be built but it has become a reality,'' he said, adding that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes to power for the third time, India will emerge as the world's greatest power.

10 Best Swimming Costumes for Women that ensure comfort and style

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From fragile five to top five: Ex-NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant highlights India's economic growth

From fragile five to top five: Ex-NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant highlights India's economic growth Former CEO NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant emphasized the nation's transformative journey from being one of the fragile five economies to emerging as a global leader in infrastructure development. Addressing a gathering of intellectuals and public figures, Kant highlighted India's achievements over the past decade, drawing attention to key statistics that reflect the scale of transformation. A gathering of retired judges, veterans of the armed forces, former civil servants, intellectuals and public figures and Union ministers including Hardeep Singh Puri, Rajeev Chandrashekhar and other leaders held an interactive session in Delhi on India's remarkable journey towards being Viksit Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the gathering, Amitabh Kant said, I have seen this journey of India moving from fragile 5 to the top 5 in this decade. In the last decade, 40 million houses for poor people have been built, which is like making a complete Australia in India. India built 120 million toilets for its citizens, which is like providing a toilet to every citizen of Germany. Pipe water connection has been provided to 253 million Indians, which is more than the population of Brazil. That's the size and scale of what India has done in terms of infrastructure, Kant said. India has provided electricity to over 30 million households, every single Indian household today has electricity, and it has built over 80,000 km of roads which is four times the diameter of the entire India roads. The GDP of India has grown from 1 percent, close to four percent, he added. Kant attributed these remarkable achievements to structural reforms implemented by the Indian government, including the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and the Real Estate Regulation Act. Big structural reforms have been, the goods and services tax, it has brought in insolvency and bankruptcy code which never existed, the real estate regulation act, brought down the corporate tax, all this will make India technologically leapfrog in a very big way. This decade is not only India's decade. This is India's century, he said. (ANI)

Country depends on tourism; 60 pc people come from India: Sri Lankan MP V Radhakrishnan

Country depends on tourism; 60 pc people come from India: Sri Lankan MP V Radhakrishnan Hailing the ties shared by India and Sri Lanka on the occasion of Kumbhabhishekam puja at the Seetha Amman Temple, the Sri Lankan MP, V Radhakrishnan, said that the two countries have a good relationship because of tourism, and 60 per cent of the people that come to the island nation are from India. He added that Colombo and New Delhi should get together and work in future, and Sri Lanka is now booming to get an economic reshuffle. While speaking to ANI, Sri Lankan MP V Radhakrishnan said, The two countries have a good relationship because of tourism... Sri Lanka depends on tourism. 60 per cent of the people come from India. Sri Lanka is now booming to get economic reshuffle. The two countries should get together and work in future, especially in tourism. Indian tourists have consistently topped Sri Lanka's arrival charts -- 3,02,844 or 20 per cent of total arrivals in 2023. In a bid to encourage tourism and revive the island's crisis-hit economy, Sri Lanka waived visa fees in October 2023 for tourists from India and six other countries -- China, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan. On the Kumbhabhishekam taking place, the Sri Lankan MP said, After eight years, the temple should be renovated and the Kumbhabhishekam should be performed... In 2016, we did Kumbhabhishekam and now it's almost eight years in 2024. This time the Indian community has participated in Kumbhabhishekam because recently Ayodhya had an inauguration. After that, there has been a boom in Sri Lanka, he added. At the heart of the ceremony is a ritual known as Kumbaabhishekam, symbolising the renewal of divine energies within its hallowed confines. Among the distinguished guests gracing the event was the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, underscoring the cross-cultural significance of this sacred gathering. Seetha Amman Temple, nestled in the tranquil village of Seetha Eliya, holds profound mythological significance as the purported location, Goddess Sita was held captive by Ravana, according to ancient lore. Enhancing the sanctity of the ceremony, five revered Kalash filled with Saryu water from the holy city of Ayodhya have been ceremoniously brought in, infusing the proceedings with spiritual resonance and symbolic purity. Meanwhile, G Kumar Sithambaram, Managing Director of a tour company operating in Sri Lanka, said that 'Maha Kumbhabhishekam' was a historical day for the island nation. Today is a historical and holistic day as Maha Kumbhabhishekam took place in Sithavanam, Ashok Vatika, Sri Lanka. This is one of the most remarkable places in the tourism industry. 98.9 per cent of Indian travellers or people who believe in the Ramayana or Bhagavad Gita visit Sri Lanka and offer prayers at Sitaman temple, he told ANI. Many Indian travellers have visited here since November...Because of some issues with the Maldives, I think many people have diverted to Sri Lanka and the VISA is also given free of charge or on arrival to Sri Lanka until May 31st, the tour operator said. Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji also participated in the event. On Kumbhabhishekam puja at the Seetha Amman Temple, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, It is a great occasion that mother Sita's temple is reconsecrated... Ma Sita is an embodiment of compassion, motherhood, and endurance. This is a historical place where the entire continent recognizes how Sita Mata was here in the Ashok Van and met with Hanumanji. This will reconfirm our ancient connection between the civilizations. We need to bring back those values that are eroding. Ram Rajya is the value of living our lives in accordance with the laws of nature, harmony, prosperity and happiness, he said at the event. The sacred water, drawn from the revered Saryu River in Ayodhya, India, marked the auspicious beginning of a journey destined for the Seetha Amman Temple in Seetha Eliya. The event, which resonated with ancient traditions and divine reverence, symbolised the deep-rooted cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka. The Rath Yatra, a procession of spiritual significance, commenced amidst chants and hymns, evoking blessings for the success and sanctity of the endeavour. The Saryu water, revered for its sanctity in Hindu mythology, holds profound significance in religious rituals, believed to purify and sanctify the surroundings. As it embarks on its voyage to Seetha Eliya, it carries with it the hopes and prayers of devotees for the prosperity and well-being of all. (ANI)

International bodies must take cognisance of human rights violations in PoK: Rajnath

International bodies must take cognisance of human rights violations in PoK: Rajnath Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that international bodies should take cognisance of human rights violations in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Addressing an election rally in Odisha's Khurda, he said, ''Human rights are being violated in PoK... international human rights agencies should take cognisance of the happenings in PoK.'' He claimed that the people of PoK now desire to join India instead of remaining under the Pakistani administration. ''I had earlier said we need not attack anyone, they will come on their own. Two days ago, I saw a video in which people of PoK were seen uprooting a Pakistani flag-post,'' he said. ''PoK is and will remain an integral part of India,'' he asserted. He said that barring a few stray incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorism has been reduced to zero under the NDA rule, while several terror attacks took place under the previous UPA regime. ''In 2008, our IPS officers fell to bullets in Mumbai (26/11 attack)... what was the then Congress government doing? But now, nobody dares to attack India. People have understood India's capability of eliminating terrorism not only within the country but also across the border,'' he asserted. ''However, we have never attacked any country or tried to occupy an inch of any other country's land. But Pakistan has all along tried to create disturbances in our country,'' he said. Singh also addressed two other rallies in Rairakhol in Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat and Patana in Keonjhar parliamentary constituency. He alleged that Congress is misleading people by making promises of reservation on the basis of religion which is not permissible according to the Constitution. ''Earlier, the Supreme Court had rejected such reservations accorded in two universities,'' he said. Stating that the Modi government has ended 'triple talaq', he asserted that the BJP does not indulge in politics for votes but for building the nation. Singh alleged that Odisha remained backward during the 50-year-rule of Congress and 24-year-rule of BJD. ''From Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, all failed to eradicate poverty from the country. But PM Modi pulled 25 crore people out from poverty,'' he claimed. Singh said Modi provided pucca houses, piped water to households, free cooking gas, foodgrains, toilets and many other facilities to the poor people of the country. ''With Ram Lalla coming to his temple, Ram Rajya will be established in India,'' he asserted. He came down heavily on the BJD government for not implementing Ayushman Bharat health scheme in Odisha and promised that the initiative will be implemented if the BJP comes to power in the state. Singh blamed the BJD government for the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar or treasury of Lord Jagannath. ''The BJP will open Lord Jagannath's Ratna Bhandar in Puri temple after it forms government in Odisha,'' he said.

POK Will Reunite with India Automatically, says Rajnath Singh

SAMBALPUR : The Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) belongs to India and it will soon reunite with our country. India will not use any force, but it will automatically return to us as the people in that region have started strongly pleading for returning to Indias mainstream life, said defence minister Rajnath Singh. Mr Singh, while campaigning for partys Sambalpur Lok Sabha candidate Dharmendra Pradhan and nominees of the seven assembly constituencies, said the shattered economy of Pakistan and poor governance system in Pakistan had made the life of POK residents miserable and they were looking for salvation from Pakistans regime. After the abrogation of Article 370, massive development work has been going on in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). There has been significant development in the life of residents of J&K. People in POK are keenly observing and comparing their conditions with their counterparts in J&K. They have started demanding to get reunified with India, said Singh. He added that India does not need to use force or any sort of that as the process of POK reunification with this country will happen automatically. Stating that BJP believed in honouring its promises and it had delivered on whatever commitments it had made to the people of the country, Singh said people's trust on the party has increased manifold because of its accomplishments. We believe in honouring our promises. Be it the abrogation of Article 370 or the construction of the grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya, whatever promises were made by the BJP, have been fulfilled, said Rajnath Singh. Singh took potshots at Odishas ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) dubbing it as a non-performer. The Congress ruled Odisha for 50 years and the BJD has been in power here in the state for 25 years. But Odisha has not developed much in the last 75 years as poverty is yet to be eradicated. All the important documents, manuscripts, art, and culture have been lost. I have been told that even the keys of Puri Jagannath temple's Ratna Bhandar are also missing, he said. Observing that the Modi government had been working for the poor and other backward classes, Singh said, be it pucca houses, cooking gas, toilets, and other facilities, the Centre had done a lot of work to bring a massive transformation in the lives of people. It was the BJD government that tried to stop the benefits of Central schemes from reaching the beneficiaries in Odisha. The work for providing pucca houses, toilets, and cooking gas has not progressed much under the BJD rule. Several poor are deprived of availing the benefits of Ayushman Bharat here as the Naveen Patnaik government thinks implementations of such schemes will enhance the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Singh. He added that nobody can stop BJP from coming to power in Odisha and getting 400 Lok Sabha seats as targeted by Modi.

Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi likely to kickstart electioneering in Punjab on May 23

Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi likely to kickstart electioneering in Punjab on May 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Punjab for the BJP's election campaigning on May 23 and will extensively participate in the party's electioneering for two days. Speaking to ANI, Punjab BJP Secretary Rakesh Rathour said on Sunday that the Prime Minister will address three public rallies in Punjab on May 23 and 24. PM Modi will address a public rally in the second half of the day on May 23 in Patiala, followed by another rally the next day in Gurdaspur on May 24, Rathour said, adding that the Prime Minister will also address a public rally in Jalandhar on May 24 in the second half on Friday. Voting on the 13 seats in Punjab will take place on June 1. The schedule announcement comes days after Union Minister and senior BJP leader Hardeep Singh Puri asserted to bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Punjab's Ferozepur again as he recalled the security breach incident earlier in January 2022, due to which the PM's visit was called off midway. Puri said that the BJP is contesting all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab on its own for the first time after a long time and expressed confidence in the party receiving a positive response in the elections. According to government sources, earlier in March this year, the central government sought a detailed action-taken report from the Punjab government over the Prime Minister's security breach during his visit to the state on January 5, 2022. On January 5, 2022, the Prime Minister's convoy was held up at a flyover due to a blockade by protestors in Ferozepur, after which he returned from Punjab without attending any event, including a rally. An apex court committee, which enquired into a security lapse after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy was held up on a flyover in Punjab on January 5, blamed a senior State police officer for failing to discharge his duty to maintain law and order despite the availability of sufficient personnel, the Supreme Court said. Seven Punjab cops including Bathinda SP were suspended for the security breach. (ANI)

ITCs Sanjiv Puri takes over as CII president for 2024-25

Puri is also the chairman of ITC Infotech India Ltd. and its subsidiaries in the UK and the US. A diversified conglomerate, ITC's businesses include fast-moving consumer goods, hotels, packaging, and information technology.

Academic and doctor Chris van Tulleken: Ultra-processed products are food that lies to us

The author on how his mission to improve our national diet began and where it needs to go Chris van Tulleken has suggested we meet at his local pizza place, Sweet Thursday, in Hackney, east London. If the choice seems counterintuitive for a man with a mission to improve our national diet, he puts me right when we sit down. Pizza has become emblematic of junk food, he says, but proper homemade pizza is very healthy. At Sweet Thursday, purist Italian chefs work their fresh sourdough bases in an open kitchen (rumour has it they are so purist in this vocation that they draw the line at making salad). But it is not just authenticity that counts, it is also community. Van Tulleken lives around the corner; the owner grew up nearby and this is where local families tend to come to catch up or to celebrate. Above all, a restaurant should never be just a way of extracting money in exchange for nutrition, Van Tulleken says. Or for paying dividends to offshore investors. And I think these things are actually obvious even if you dont live, like me, in a world of nutritional studies. Continue reading...

Puri Jagannadh mulls Telugu-Tamil bilingual?

Popular director Puri Jagannadh who is busy making an action adventure Double Ismart with Ram Pothineni and Sanjay Dutt, is reportedly planning to make a Telugu-Tamil bilingual movie next. He wants to expand his fan base and is scripting a big ticket multilingual film to reach out to Tamil audiences along with his favourite Telugu viewers, says a source. He claims that the Pokiri director wanted to do a Tamil film for a long time but only now he got some time to write a proper script that would lure Tamil audiences in big numbers. He is drafting a larger-than-life script that would be a mix of fiction and reality since he has to strike a balance between Telugu and Tamil audience, he informs. Actually, some of Puri's blockbusters like Pokiri, Amma Nanna Tamilammayi and Temper were remade in Tamil and they worked wonders at the box office. His stylish making and his depiction of his fearless heroism and glamour songs coupled with humorous scenes have made him a star director in Tollywood. Now, he is looking to do a Tamil film and conquer Kollywood as well, he concludes.

Jaipur couple injured in J-K terrorist attacks, Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma assures help

Jaipur couple injured in J-K terrorist attacks, Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma assures help Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Sunday instructed officials to extend all possible help to Jaipur couple injured in a firing incident in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya met the victims family members consoled them and said that it is a matter of concern for all. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Rajasthan chief minister are monitoring the developments. ''Peace and democracy have been strengthened in Jammu and Kashmir and those behind the terror attack want to disturb it. Terrorists have no religion and caste, they have only one objective of creating disturbance,'' he told reporters after meeting the family members. Tabrez and Farha, who along with their two children had gone to visit Jammu and Kashmir from Jaipur, were injured in a firing by terrorists at Pahalgam in Anantnag district on Saturday night. Their relatives and friends reached their residence in the Brahmpuri area of the city. ''They visited Pahalgam during the day and were going to a hotel for dinner. They were going inside a hotel for dinner after alighting from a Tempo traveller. Two men riding a bike came and opened fire. Farha got a bullet injury on the shoulder. Their two children were also with them,'' Tabrez's father Aslam Khan told reporters. He said that Tabrez was operated upon at around 3 am while Farha was also undergoing an operation. ''We are trying to go there but we are unable to make arrangements. I request the government to help us get there so that we can take care of them,'' he said. Tabrez's mother Majidan said it was a shocking incident and wants to see them all well. She and other family members have been in constant panic ever since they heard about the incident. Meanwhile, the chief minister has instructed officials to extend all possible help to the family. ''Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has directed the officials to provide all possible help to the Jaipur resident couple Tabrez and Farah who were shot in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister's Office spoke to the family members of the injured couple on the phone and assured them of help,'' a press release said.

CII elects office bearers for 2024-25; ITC's Sanjiv Puri assumes office as President

CII elects office bearers for 2024-25; ITC's Sanjiv Puri assumes office as President The national council of industry body, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has elected new office-bearers for the year 2024-25, at a meeting held on Saturday. Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited has assumed office as the President of CII for 2024-25. He takes over from R Dinesh, Chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions. Sanjiv is the Chairman and MD of ITC Ltd, a conglomerate with businesses in FMCG, hotels, paperboards and packaging, agri business, and IT. He is also the Chairman of ITC Infotech India Ltd, its subsidiaries in the UK and the US and Surya Nepal Private Ltd. Spearheading the ITC Next vision, Sanjiv has driven an extensive strategy reset to build a future-tech, climate positive, innovative, and inclusive enterprise. Sanjiv has won many awards including 'Best CEO Award' by Business Today in 2024, 'Transformational Leader Award 2022-23' by the Asian Centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability. He was also awarded the 'IMPACT Person of the Year, 2020' by Exchange4Media. He was conferred with the 'Distinguished Alumnus Award of the year 2018' by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and was bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate by the XIM University, Bhubaneshwar. Rajiv Memani takes over as President-Designate of CII for the year 2024-25. He is Chairman of the India region of EY (Ernst & Young), a leading global professional services organization. Memani is also a member of EY's global management body as the Chair of its Global Emerging Markets Committee. He also advises large Indian companies, private equity funds and multinational organizations, principally on building confidence, mergers and acquisitions, technology, and smart capital allocation strategies. R Mukundan takes over as Vice President of CII for the year 2024-25. R Mukundan is the managing director and CEO of Tata Chemicals Limited. He is an alumnus of IIT, Roorkee, Fellow of Indian Chemical Society and an alumnus of Harvard Business School. Mukundan, during his 33-year career with Tata Group, has held various responsibilities across the chemical, automotive and hospitality sectors of the Tata Group. (ANI)

ITC Chairman Sanjiv Puri Takes Charge As CII President

New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and Managing Director of ITC, has assumed office as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry for 2024-25, the chamber said on Sunday.

Rampant fakes of lifesaving drugs found in Delhi, Jharkhand

Indias apex drug regulator has reported findings of spurious versions of five critical drugs being sold in the market.The regulator also declared 50 other medicines as not of standard quality

BJP levelling false charges against govt over Puri temple project, says Bhrugu

BJD criticizes BJP for playing politics over Parikrama project at Jagannath Temple. Bhrugu Baxipatra reveals govt spending details, BJP denies claims. Committee formed on Ratna Bhandar issue.

Delhi: 20-year-old boy stabbed to death in Seelampur

Delhi: 20-year-old boy stabbed to death in Seelampur Four people, including two minors, have been arrested in a case related to the stabbing of a 20-year-old boy to death in the Seelampur area of the capital city of Delhi. The incident took place around 10.30 pm on May 17 in gali number 5 of Gautam Puri area in Delhi's Seelampur. The team also recovered and confiscated the weapon of offence, which included three knives and one icepick. The deceased has been identified as Iqwal (20), who was a resident of Bihar and was working as a daily wage labourer in the jeans manufacturing company at Gautam Puri, Seelampur. Iqwal had sustained 6 stab wounds on left and right thigh. Upon getting noticed by the public, he was immediately rushed to the JPC Hospital and during treatment, he lost his life. The police team received information from the JPC Hospital regarding the stabbing of the young boy. The police team of Seelampur immediately reached the spot, nabbed the accused and registered an FIR against them, under IPC section 302 and further investigation is in progress. All the accused were residents of the Seelampur area of Delhi. The prime accused in the case are Mohd. Adil Ansari (19) and Faisal (18), both of whom worked at the car washing workshop in the Gautam Puri area of Delhi's Seelampur, while the other two were minors aged 15 and 17 years. Reportedly, around a week ago, Iqwal had a spat with the accused over a petty issue. In a fit of rage, they planned for revenge and, they accosted him on the streets and stabbed him to death. (ANI)

PM Modi to arrive in Odisha today, to hold roadshow at Puri on Monday

In his earlier public meetings, the PM has launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Naveen Patnaik government on many issues, including alleged failure of governance, corruption, nepotism and lawlessness

Rains continue to lash parts of Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has asked tourists visiting places like Udhagamanadalam (Ooty), Tenkasi, Hogenakkal (Dharmapuri dt) and others in the western ghats to follow safety instructions and precautions. The Regional Meteorological Centre here issued a ed alert for Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Theni districts on Sunday and Monday.

Mahindra XUV 3X0 vs rivals: Enthusiasts share their choice of car

Mahindra XUV 3XO What you'll like:A truly premium crossover. Nice build, quality & refinement levelsCabin has enough space for 5. Quality-wise, the interior is more like a HyundaiFantastic petrol & diesel engine line-up; they offer fast performance & good driveabilityFinally gets a smooth torque converter automatic with the turbo-petrol enginesWide variant spread ensures there's something for everyoneA compliant ride with sorted road manners5-star NCAP rating & kit. Level 2 ADAS, 6 airbags, ESP, ABS, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS, seatbelt reminders for all & moreLoaded to the gills with equipment (360-degree camera, big sunroof, drive modes, Harman Kardon audio system, wireless smartphone connectivity, auto headlamps & wipers etc.)What you won't:The new edgy & outlandish design may not be to everyone's liking. Some love it, some don't. It is very polarizingTop-end variants are expensive. Not overpriced, but definitely higher than expected295-liter boot is the smallest in the segment. There are cheaper hatchbacks that have a larger bootNo proper diesel automatic option, just a jerky AMT which has no place in a premium crossoverLight & disconnected steering is the biggest drawback in a competent handling packageMahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gambleSome important features missing (ventilated seats, parcel tray, full-sized spare wheel, paddle shifters etc.)First Drive Review AMT Review Tata Nexon Review Link What you'll like:A mini-Creta in almost every way! Same formula, in a smaller packagePrecise build & quality (including interiors) are easily among the segment bestCompetent engines mated to slick gearboxesFast shifting dual-clutch Automatic gearbox availableBalanced road manners. Very easy to drive as wellLoaded to the gills with equipment (paddle shifters, drive modes, sunroof, BlueLink telematics, cabin air purifier etc.)Top safety equipment includes 6 airbags, BAS, ESP, HSA, ISOFIX and moreHyundai's competent after-sales & fuss-free ownership experiencesWhat you won't:Diminutive street presence. Looks more hatchback than SUV from some angles, especially the rearStrictly a 4-seater; the rear bench has very awkward seating for the middle occupantMissing kit (auto wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, steering reach adjustment...)Long term reliability of the DCT is a concernEngine noise is very prominent, more so in Sport modeAT only on the petrol, not the diesel. Kia Sonet gets a Diesel ATReview Link Maruti Suzuki Brezza What you'll like:Good-looking Compact SUV with improved road presence & mass appealWell-rounded product. Takes a successful formula and improves upon itA competent BS6 petrol with Smart Hybrid tech and excellent fuel efficiencySmooth 6-speed torque-converter AT comes with paddle shiftersWell-mannered suspension setup riding on 16-inch wheels and 215/60 section tyresDecent cabin space for a sub-4 meter car. Lots of storage & a powerful air-con tooNow gets a sunroof, 360-degree camera, head-up display, rear A/C vents, wireless charging, ambient lighting, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, connected car features etcLong feature list includes dual projector LED auto headlamps, LED DRLs & foglamps, auto-dimming IRVM, cruise control and a 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound systemSafety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, hill-hold assist and ISOFIX. Built on the same platform as the outgoing car, which had received a 4-star GNCAP safety ratingMaruti's excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiencesWhat you won't:Feels more like a significant facelift rather than an all-new productNo diesel option like its rivals! Petrol and CNG only as of now1.5L petrol engine lacks outright grunt. Tuned for fuel efficiency and suitable for relaxed cruising onlyExpensive! AT variants are priced higher than some of the competitor turbo-petrols with more advanced transmissionsAT option commands a stiff Rs. 1.5 lakh ex-showroom premium!Interior quality and fit & finish are underwhelming for the price. The game has moved onShort gearing of the 5-speed MT and lack of 6th cog results in an unusually busy engine at 100-120 km/h328-litre boot is among the smallest in the segmentSome missing features like ventilated seats, leather upholstery, TPMS, drive modes, auto wipers and front parking sensorsReview Link Kia Sonet Facelift Review Maruti Suzuki Fronx What you'll like:Smart looking crossover with sharp & attractive stylingFeels better built than some other Maruti cars1.0L Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine is quick and has minimal turbo lag. Driveability is satisfactorySmart Hybrid system ensures excellent fuel efficiency. ARAI = 20.01 to 22.89 km/lNicely tuned suspension glides over small bumps, potholes and road imperfectionsUser-friendly cabin with loads of space! Can easily seat 5 adults (unlike many competitors)Long feature list includes LED auto headlamps, LED DRLs, cruise control, 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound system, 360-degree camera, head-up display, rear A/C vents, wireless charging, footwell lighting, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, connected car features etcSafety kit includes 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all, ESP, traction control, hill-hold assist and ISOFIXMaruti's excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiencesWhat you won't:On the inside, it's almost identical to the regular Baleno. Differentiation should've been moreQuality of some plastic parts and fabric upholstery is mediocre1.0L turbo-petrol although quick, is not exciting enough for enthusiasts308-litre boot is among the smallest in the segmentNo diesel option like some rivalsRear seat's under-thigh support is lacking for taller passengersA few missing features like sunroof, TPMS, rear armrest, drive modes, auto wipers and front parking sensorsLesser height means, despite the smart styling, it doesn't have the road presence of typical crossoversReview Link Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Launch Discussion Nissan Magnite What you'll like:The Magnite looks really goodthat handsome face is a head-turnerSheer value-for-money pricing. Turbo-petrol with a proper automatic at ~10 lakhs!Peppy performance from the Magnite's 1.0L turbo-petrol engineSmooth well-tuned CVT in a sea of jerky AMTs. Has Sport and L modes tooHealthy legroom for rear passengers. Space packaging is brilliantImpressive kit (cruise control, LED headlamps, rear air-con vents, 360-degree camera, wireless charger, wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay)205 mm of ground clearance is more than enough for any kind of bad roadsSafety kit includes ESP, TPMS, ABS, EBD & hill start assistBase variant also gets reasonable kit, including a rear wiper. It's not poverty-specWhat you won't:Stiff & basic ride quality. You feel each and everything on the roadThe Magnite is built to a cost and it does show, especially in the budget-grade cabinLower variants' 1.0L naturally-aspirated petrol is a boring, unimpressive engineClunky, firm MT gearshift & a clutch pedal that has more weight than it shouldNo diesel option available on the Nissan MagniteCabin is narrower than some competitors. Narrow width makes it best for 4 adultsMissing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM, full-size spare tyreDoesn't have the finesse or quality of premium crossovers like the XUV300, Sonet etc.Nissan's tiny dealership network & lousy after-sales qualityReview Link Magnite AMT Review Link Renault Kiger First Drive Review Ownership Review Mahindra Bolero Neo What you'll like:A 7-seater SUV at a price comparable to 5-seat crossovers & compact sedansRobust, abuse-friendly build & body-on-frame construction. A typical Mahindra UV in that senseLikeable & roomy cabin. 1st & 2nd seat rows are spacious1.5L diesel offers excellent urban driveability & fuel economyTall seating, comfy front seats with armrests, excellent visibility & good presence make city driving easierHealthy boot space with the last row of seats folded. Can drop 2nd row to haul more cargoNew additions such as the mechanical locking differential & cruise controlDual airbags, ABS + EBD, Corner Braking Control etc. are offered on every variantWhat you won't:3-cylinder diesel has no top-end. Expressway performance is mediocre, vibrating gear lever a turnoffRide quality is nowhere as cushy as its car-based rivals. Does get bouncy & bumpySteering is on the heavier side at parking / low speedsNo automatic in a market that loves its ATs. No 4x4 or petrol engine eitherDeletions from the TUV300 = reversing camera, leatherette seats, lumbar support adjustment, underseat storage, roof rails, smaller fuel tank...Side-facing 3rd row seats are very uncomfortableSome important features missing (climate control, Android Auto / Apple CarPlay, rear a/c vents, good speakers, auto-dimming IRVM etc.)Mahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gambleFirst Drive Review Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:This really needs a multiple choice poll! Compact SUV buyers are now spoilt for choice. Thumbs up to the XUV 3XO, Nexon Facelift & evergreen Sonet. All 3 are darn competent and come with some great engines & transmissions (except the AMTs). I love the Fronx 1.0L MT too (but hate the AMT variants with the other engine). The Brezza (too boring), Venue (I much prefer the Sonet) and Magnite (feels very cheap). If I were a customer in the market, I'd have a hard time deciding between the XUV 3XO, Nexon Facelift & Sonet.Here's what BHPian vattyboy had to say on the matter:I like the Kia Sonet in this segment and then the XUV 3X0. The Kia Sonet with its 1.5 L Diesel AT is a joy to drive, smooth and dependable. The XUV 3x0 also offers plenty of features and a powerful diesel engine. The Nexon also catches my eye, but I have some reservations about fully trusting Tata due to a few minor niggles.Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

ITC CMD Sanjiv Puri Takes Over as CII President

CII elects new office bearers for 2024-25; Rajiv Memani takes over as CII President-Elect for 2024-25, R Mukundan is Vice President

Fake certificate racket busted, three arrested in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The Maheshwaram Special Operations Team (SOT), along with Chaitanyapuri police, busted a fake certificate racket and arrested three persons on Saturday. The prime accused, Mohammad Abrar Hussain, 45, a consultant by profession, allegedly masterminded the fraud to make easy money. According to the police, Hussain, in collusion with Ram Singh of Uttar Pradesh, started supplying fake certificates to students aspiring to go abroad. He sold fake certificates of various universities for prices ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 each. During the operation, the police seized counterfeit certificates in the name of Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Bihar, and Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi. The other two arrested persons are Syed Isnain Mohammed (28), a cashier in a cafe, and Ram Singh, who provided contacts of clients and helped in selling fake certificates. Four of the customers of Mohammad Abrar Hussain were identified as Sachi Patel from Gujarat, Rahul Sood from Delhi, and Ashwaq and Haifa from Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad.

BJP a factory of lies, BJD retorts

BHUBANESWAR: The BJD on Saturday hit out at BJP accusing it of spreading lies about Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa in Puri. The regional party also said that Ratna Bhandar will be opened in July this year. Addressing mediapersons at Sankha Bhawan, BJD Lok Sabha candidate for Berhampur Bhrugu Buxipatra slammed the BJP leaders for playing petty politics over Parikrama project and accused them of being in the habit of lying. Buxipatra said there is no truth in the claims of BJP that Rs 4,500 crore has been spent on project. The state government has spent only Rs 325 crore for the Parikrama project and has set aside another Rs 4,200 crore for the overall development of Shrikhetra under Abhada scheme. Work on these projects is still continuing, he said. He said, the Srimandir Ratna Bhandar will open in July. A committee headed by a retired Supreme Court justice has been formed to look into the matter. The committee has already convened its first meeting in May last year, he added. Buxipatra also criticised BJP chief ministers and central ministers terming them as political tourists. These political tourists have no idea about Odisha. They are saying whatever they are being fed by their party leaders in the state, he said while claiming that there will be no sighting of these leaders once the elections are over in the next 15 days and that they will turn up again in 2029. The BJD leader also accused the saffron party leaders of insulting people of the state and causing damage to Odia culture through their rude and derogatory remarks.

PM Modi roadshow in Puri on May 20

BHUBANESWAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive on a two-day visit to the state for his third leg of campaign for BJP. The prime minister will arrive here on Sunday evening and make a night halt at Raj Bhawan. The next morning he will leave for Puri at 7 am and have darshan of Lord Jagannath at Srimandir. After paying obeisance to the Trinity, the prime minister will hold a roadshow from Singhadwar to Medical Chhak from 7.30 am. After the roadshow, Modi will leave for Angul where he will address an election rally at 9.30 am at Angul stadium. He will address another Vijay Sankalp rally at Killa Padia in Cuttack at around 11.30 am. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also arrive on a days visit to the state on Sunday. He will address three public meetings, the first at Naktideul near Rairakhol at 10 am, the second at Keonjhar Patna at 11.40 am and the last at Khurda at 1.30 pm.

Three districts in Tamil Nadu likely to get very heavy rain on May 19

CHENNAI : The heat has paved way for rains in the state, with three districts Theni, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi likely to get isolated heavy to very heavy rain to extremely heavy rain on Sunday, Regional Metereological Centre (RMC) said. The centre has issued a heavy rainfall warning for some parts of the state in the coming week as well. Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Kanniyakumari, Virudhunagar, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Nilgiris and Dindigul districts and heavy rain at isolated places over Madurai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi and Pudukkottai districts. Coonoor and Mettupalayam received heavy rainfall of around 17 cm each in the 24 hours between 8.30 am on Friday until 8.30 am on Saturday, according to the rainfall data from RMC. Usilampatti in Madurai recorded 9 cm of rainfall while Sivagiri in Tenkasi, Kil Kotagiri Estate and Burliar in the Nilgiris along with Madathukulam in Tiruppur received 8 cm rainfall each. From 8.30 am to 5.30 pm on Saturday, the Ooty observatory recorded an average of 3.8 cm of rainfall and Coimbatore recorded 3 cm. Valparai, Dharmapuri and Kodaikanal recorded 1.9 cm, 1.2 cm and 1 cm on average during the period. Vellore, Yercaud, Kanniyakumari and Madurai received light rains. On Monday, isolated heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy rain is likely over Kanniyakumari, Theni, and Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts, and heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Virudhunagar, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Nilgiris and Dindigul districts. Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Sivaganga, Thoothukudi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Perambalur and Tiruchirappalli districts and Karaikal areas are also likely to get heavy rain. For Chennai, light to moderate rain is on the cards for the next 48 hours ending Monday afternoon. Maximum temperature is likely to be 34-35C and minimum temperature is likely to be around 26C. Moderate rain on the cards for Chennai Light to moderate rain is on the cards In Chennai for the next 48 hours ending Monday afternoon. Maximum temperature is likely to be 34-35C and minimum is likely to be 26C

RPF rescues baby stolen from Ranchi, five held

CUTTACK: Railway Protection Force (RPF), Cuttack rescued a nine-month-old baby boy who was kidnapped from Ranchi in Jharkhand and arrested five persons. The accused are Amit Sanatan Pal (36), Radha Sahoo (38) and Sunil Mishra (18) of West Bengal, Nusrat Jahan (37) and Sohana Begum of Kalapancha within Charichhak police limits in Puri. Cuttack RPF IIC Anil Kumar Singh said one Pradeep Lohra of Dhagar Tola in Latehar district of Jharkhand had lodged a complaint with Chutia police station in Ranchi alleging his nine-month-old baby boy was stolen from his wife while she was taking rest near the ticket counter at Ranchi railway station on May 12 night. Pradeep and his wife had come from Agartala along with the baby in a train and decided to spend the night near Ranchi railway station as there was no communication to their native Latehar district. A little later, Pradeep left to buy some food for his wife and son. In his absence from the spot, two men and a lady offered tea to his wife which she drank only to be rendered unconscious. When Pradeep returned he found his wife in a semi-conscious state with his baby boy missing. Chutia police verified CCTV footages near Ranchi railway station basing upon which a team from the police station visited different locations including Cuttack. We investigated the case with Chutia police and found a family comprising two male and a female staying in a rented house at Jobra to have been missing from the locality for the last few days. We then arranged the contact number of the family and obtained the mobile location around Khurda railway station leading to the arrest of Pal, Sahoo and Mishra who confessed to have sold the baby to Nusrat Jahan, said Singh. During interrogation, Nusrat Jahan confessed to have sold the baby to Sohana Begum for Rs 58,500 for a commission of Rs 20,000. While the baby was handed over to his parents, Ranchi police took all the five accused on transit remand after producing them in Nimapara court for further investigation, informed Singh.

PM Modi To Arrive In Bhubaneswar Today, Road Show In Puri On Monday

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Odisha on a two-day visit on Sunday evening. Upon his arrival on Sunday evening, PM Modi will convene a meeting with state BJP leaders in Bhubaneswar and spend the night at the Raj Bhawan. On Monday, he is slated to visit Puri Jagannath Temple [] The post PM Modi To Arrive In Bhubaneswar Today, Road Show In Puri On Monday appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

BJP leaders criticise BJD government, promise development

BALASORE: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan lambasted the BJD government for its alleged neglect and demolition of religious sites in Odisha during a BJP workers meet here on Saturday. Pradhan, also the BJPs Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, claimed that monks in the state have lost faith in the BJD due to its monopolistic practices over the past 25 years, which have purportedly led to the destruction of mathas and temples in Puri and other areas. He accused the BJD of distributing benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to party workers instead of the intended beneficiaries. He urged BJP workers to inform the public about the central governments schemes, which he said have been misrepresented by the BJD. The BJD looted the state for 25 years. When the Modi Government is giving rice free of cost and house under PMAY, the BJD government distributes the house to its party workers ignoring the real beneficiaries, Pradhan asserted. Highlighting instances of mismanagement, Pradhan cited the loss of the Ratna Bhandar keys in Jagannath Temple, misuse of government funds for propaganda, and excessive travel expenses of BJD leader VK Pandian. He assured that the BJP would address these issues and enhance Odishas development if elected. Aparajita Sarangi, the incumbent MP from Bhubaneswar criticised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the states underdevelopment. She pointed out the lack of proper road connectivity, healthcare and water supply. She also claimed Naveen has lost popularity as few attend his public meetings compared to BJP events, indicating a shift in public support towards the BJP. After 25 years of ruling the state, patients are being carried on cots to hospitals due to failure of ambulance, absence of motorable roads and lack of drinking water in most places have become commonplace. These are serious issues that should have been addressed by the state government, she alleged. National vice president of the BJP and Lok Sabha candidate of the party from Kendrapara Baijayant Panda, attacked the BJD for generating unemployment and urged voters to support the BJP for industrial growth and better infrastructure. The Odisha government is the only one generating lakhs of unemployed youths in the state. People who want to see the augmentation of industries, road connectivity to inaccessible areas, job opportunities along with other development in the state, will vote for lotus symbol and pave way for a BJP government in the state and the Centre, he appealed. Balasore candidate Pratap Chandra Sarangi also emphasised the BJPs commitment to their manifesto promises. Pradhan participated in a massive roadshow along with top party leaders earlier in the day.

Wild growth engulfs popular park near Varattar in Tamil Nadu

DHARMAPURI: Residents in Harur urged the Dharmapuri district administration to take steps to renovate the park located near the Varattar (Vallmadurai Dam). The park has been shrouded with overgrowth due to poor maintenance and improving the park could improve tourism, stated residents. The Varattar Dam located in Harur taluk has a capacity of 110 million cubic feet (mcft). Its waters irrigate over 1,000 hectares of agricultural land in Harur. Located along the foothills of the Shevaroy hills, the area is often visited by local tourists. A park was constructed nearby so that tourists can enjoy the scenic beauty. However, poor maintenance has led to the wild growth of weeds and shrubs. Speaking to TNIE, R Shanmugam from Harur said, In the summer season families often come here to take a break and visit local sites. In Harur, the Varattar Dam is one such budget-friendly location. The park provides ample space for families for a picnic and many people visit here daily. People have been urging the administration to improve tourism here. Further, the beauty of the Eastern Ghats can be appreciated in the area. P Murugesan from Pappireddipatti said, The park here is ruins. The damaged statues need repair. Further, the overgrowth in the whole park is unpleasant. Usually, families would pack lunch and come here for picnics, but the overgrowth hinder such family activities. Renovation of the park would boost local tourism. The PWD-Water Resources Department officials were out of reach when TNIE tried to contact them. However, sources in the district administration said they would look into the matter.

Puri hoteliers offer 20% food discount on polling day to encourage voting

BJD, BJP Submit Memos to Odisha CEO, Complain Against Each Other

Bhubaneswar: Continuing their spree of allegations, the leaders of the ruling BJD and the opposition BJP again knocked on the doors of the Chief Electoral Officer of Odisha (CEO) seeking actions against each other. While the ruling party alleged model code of conduct violation by Puri BJP MP candidate Sambit Patra, the saffron party urged [] The post BJD, BJP Submit Memos to Odisha CEO, Complain Against Each Other appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Judicial officer who defiles his office merits no mercy: HC

Judicial officer who defiles his office merits no mercy: HC The Allahabad High Court has upheld the dismissal of a judicial officer accused of demanding dowry and attempting to influence a junior judge in the case. If there exists a temple of justice, the judicial officers must act like its high priests, a bench comprising justices Saumitra Dayal Singh and Donadi Ramesh said and stressed that a judicial officer who defiles his office merits no mercy. Dismissing a writ petition filed by Umesh Kumar Sirohi, an additional district judge who was removed from service, the court said, ''Any transgression committed by a judicial officer to extract benefit for himself or those to whom he may be closely related would always be dealt with severely''. In the present writ petition, the petitioner has challenged the penalty order passed by the state government dated April 16, 2021, whereby Sirohi - then serving as additional district and sessions judge, Lalitpur - was removed from service with immediate effect. ''Once the 'bad fish' is identified, it may not be retained in the 'tank'. No room may ever exist and no margin of error may be permitted as may allow any possibility for a judicial officer to seek to influence another judicial officer in the exercise of judicial function. ''If there exists a temple of justice, the judicial officers must act like its high priests who must not only conduct the rituals involving the discharge of their duties on the dais but they must zealously guard the purity of the temple itself,'' the court said. The two charge sheets were issued against the petition by the administrative side of the High Court in 2016 and 2017. In the first charge sheet, Sirohi was accused of demanding dowry for the marriage of his brother, also a judge, and inflicting an injury on his own hand as a conspiracy to implicate his brother's wife and her family. Sirohi's wife had registered a police complaint in this regard against the sister-in-law and her family members, leading to the registration of a case against them. Another allegation against Sirohi and his brother was that they had tried to influence the investigating officer in the matter by misusing their official position. In the second charge sheet, it was alleged that Sirohi had tried to influence an additional chief judicial magistrate in the proceedings of the case registered by his wife. He was also accused of making false allegations of bias against the then district judge, Meerut. In 2020, the High Court accepted the inquiry reports against Sirohi and recommended his dismissal from service. The state accepted the recommendation, leading to his removal from service, which is under challenge in the present writ petition. After hearing the arguments and examining the records, the court concluded that a case of most serious misconduct had been made out against Sirohi. The court noted that charges alleging efforts to influence the investigating officer and demand of dowry were found to be true.

Labourer killed, 2 injured in fresh shooting in riot-hit Manipur India Today

Labourer killed, 2 injured in fresh shooting in riot-hit ManipurIndia Today

5 Kidnap, Sell Nine-Month Old Boy For Rs 58,500 In Puri, Arrested: Cops

Five people, including three women, were arrested for allegedly kidnapping and selling a nine-month-old boy at Rs 58,500, police said on Saturday.

Experience The New Punjabi Music Video For Black Magic (Lyrical) By Aadi

Enjoy the latest Punjabi lyrical song Black Magic sung by Aadi. The music for this captivating track has been given by Diamond, with heartfelt lyrics penned by Hukam. The music video of the song is directed by Parvez Musapuria. Don't miss the opportunity to watch the latest Punjabi video song Black Magic by Aadi and immerse yourself in its mesmerizing melodies. For more Punjabi songs, be sure to visit the music videos section of Punjabi ETimes. Experience the musical prowess of Aadi, Diamond songs, Hukam songs, Parvez Musapuria video songs and New Video Songs of 2024.

Two arrested in fake certificate scam

Hyderabad: The Maheshwaram special operations team (SOT) and Chaitanyapuri police arrested Mohammed Abrar Hussain and Syed Insnain Mohammed for peddling in fake education certificates. The accused were found in possession of fake certificates of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeet, Varanasi, and Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Bihar. Police seized fake documents, degree certificates, mark-sheets, transcripts and recommendation letters. Two mobile phones and a laptop were confiscated during the operation. According to police, Hussain was into the racket for the last two years and charged between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 per certificate and Rs 30,000 to 40,000 for a package if the aspirant obtained a visa.

5 railway stations in Odisha's Sundargarh LS seat to be made world class: Vaishnaw

5 railway stations in Odisha's Sundargarh LS seat to be made world class: Vaishnaw Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said five stations falling under the Sundargarh Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha will be redeveloped as world-class ones. Bimlagarh, Rajgangpur, Panposh, Rourkela and Hemgir are going to become world-class railway stations, he said while speaking to media persons during campaigning for BJP candidate in the Bonai assembly segment. Asked about the status of the Talcher-Bimlagarh railway link, he said, It will be completed soon. This year, Rs 550 crore has been provided in the budget for the new railway line. The state government is not providing the required land for this important link. But we are working on it. Over 28 km of the new railway line on the Talcher-Bimlagarh route has been completed. ''The railway tracks have come up to Samal from Talcher and this year the link up to Khamar will be completed. From the Bimlagarh side, the work needs to be expedited but it depends on the availability of land,'' the railway minister said. Around 100 4G mobile towers have been set up in the Bonai area, he added. Odisha has got a special place in the PMs heart. Modi ji is always serious about Odishas development and how the dreams of the Odias are fulfilled, Vaishnaw said. He exuded confidence that the BJP will form the government in Odisha in this election. The second round of the simultaneous elections to five Lok Sabha seats and 35 assembly seats in Odisha will be held on May 20. BJP leader and veteran Bollywood actress Hema Malini on Saturday campaigned for Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and local MLA candidate Subash Panigrahi in Deogarh district. She also joined the campaigning trail in the Pallahara assembly segment in the Dhenkanal district. Malini said the people of Odisha have made their mindset to elect Pradhan in Deogarh, and the BJP to form double-engine governments in the state and at the Centre. The term ''double engine'' is used by BJP leaders to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma sought votes for the BJP nominees in Bhubaneswar and Puri. Odisha has 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 assembly constituencies.

What would Steve Jobs think of Apples culture-crushing advert? | John Naughton

Its latest iPad ad, portraying the destruction of artistic tools, is confirmation that company is just another unfeeling, arrogant tech giant This is a tale of two advertisements. And about the company that made them Apple Inc. The first ad ran during the Super Bowl in 1984. It was made by Ridley Scott, the celebrated movie director. The vibe is distinctly Orwellian: set in a vast, darkened auditorium dominated by a giant screen entirely filled by a sinister-looking talking head, who is clearly Big Brother (BB). The opening shot shows lines of drably uniformed, shaven-headed zombies marching in lock-step into the building. Today, intones the talking head, we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the information purification directives. Continue reading...

Odisha Assembly elections: 126 crorepati candidates in third phase polls

Bhubaneswar: One hundred and twenty-six candidates in fray for the third phase of Assembly elections in Odisha are crorepati, with BJD candidate from Champua segment Sanatan Mahakud the richest with Rs 227.67 crore assets. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Puri and Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituencies along with 42 Assembly seats under these Lok Sabha segments will []

Reconsidering Futures and Options: A Call for Financial Literacy

Reconsidering Futures and Options: A Call for Financial Literacy Cautioning against household savings getting invested in futures and options trade, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran on Saturday said there is a need to reconsider sachetisation of F&O trade because it requires different financial literacy. Speaking at the CIIs Annual Business Summit, 2024, Nageswaran said whenever financial sector development precedes national development the story hasnt ended well for other countries as well. Asian crisis 1997-98 is a very important example, he said. When we take pride in the fact that we have the worlds largest trading volume in futures and options (F&O), we need to ask ourselves is that a sign of progress or a sign of concern, the CEA said. He said the financial sector has a responsibility to ensure that capital market grows in those areas where we can actually harness Indian household savings for productive purposes. Many of the people currently engaged in the market do not understand them The sachetisation of futures and options is something that we need to reconsider because financial literacy that is required for trading stocks is very different for trading futures and options, Nageswaran said. Sachetisation refers to process of making financial products and services available in smaller, more manageable packets. As per government data, the net household savings declined sharply by Rs 9 lakh crore in three years to Rs 14.16 lakh crore at the end of 2022-23 fiscal. The data showed that the investment in mutual funds almost trebled to Rs 1.79 lakh crore in 2022-23 in three years from Rs 64,084 crore in 2020-21. The household investment in shares and debentures almost doubled to Rs 2.06 lakh crore in 2022-23 from Rs 1.07 lakh crore in three years from 2020-21. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier this week cautioned against an unchecked explosion in retail F&O trading saying it may potentially create problems in household finances. Household finances have made a generational shift. We want to safeguard them,'' she said while urging exchanges NSE, BSE and market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to work together and come out with robust compliances and regulatory standards to safeguard investors' interests, Sitharaman had said. In November, last year, Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch said she was ''confused and surprised'' at investor interest in F&O trade despite 90 per cent of individuals losing money in the segment. Buch said there is a need for investors to look at the long term and added that chances of making inflation-beating returns are much brighter through this strategy. As per research by the capital markets regulator Sebi last year, only 11 per cent of the 45.24 lakh individual traders in the F&O segment made profits. There was an exponential increase in the F&O segment participation during the pandemic, with the total number of unique individual traders increasing by over 500 per cent from 7.1 lakh in FY19.

World Water Forum: 2,500 delegates partaking in water purification ritual

Around 2,500 delegates of the 10th World Water Forum are taking part in Segara Kerthi, a Balinese traditional water ...

Watch | Hardeep Singh Puri: We should be applauded for bringing down food and fuel prices

The Union Minister said the Opposition should find issues against BJP that actually stick

EXPLAINER-How might a US-Saudi civil nuclear deal work?

EXPLAINER-How might a US-Saudi civil nuclear deal work? White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will visit Saudi Arabia this weekend for talks expected to touch on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, one piece of a wider arrangement Washington hopes will lead to normalization of Israeli-Saudi relations. Below is a description of the key issues involved in a U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear deal, what risks and benefits it may offer the United States and Saudi Arabia, and how it fits within U.S. efforts to broker Israeli-Saudi reconciliation. WHAT IS A CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT? Under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the United States may negotiate agreements to engage in significant civil nuclear cooperation with other nations. It specifies nine nonproliferation criteria those states must meet to keep them from using the technology to develop nuclear arms or transfer sensitive materials to others. The law stipulates congressional review of such pacts. WHY DOES SAUDI ARABIA WANT A US NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT? As the world's largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia at first glance is not an obvious candidate for a nuclear pact typically aimed at building power plants to generate electricity. There are two reasons Riyadh may wish to do so. The first is that under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious Vision 2030 reform plan, the kingdom aims to generate substantial renewable energy and reduce emissions. At least some of this is expected to come from nuclear energy. Critics cite a second potential reason: that Riyadh might wish to develop nuclear expertise in case it someday wished to acquire nuclear weapons despite the safeguards enshrined in any deal with Washington to prevent this. The Saudi crown prince has long said that if Iran developed a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would follow suit, a stance that has fueled deep concern among arms control advocates and some U.S. lawmakers over a possible U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear deal. The Sunni Muslim kingdom and Shi'ite revolutionary Iran have been at odds for decades. HOW WOULD THE UNITED STATES BENEFIT FROM A CIVIL NUCLEAR DEAL WITH SAUDI ARABIA? There could be strategic and commercial gains. The Biden administration has made no secret of its hope to broker a long-shot, multi-part arrangement leading Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalize relations. It believes Saudi support for normalization may hinge partly on striking a civil nuclear deal. The strategic benefits would be to shore up Israel's security, build a wider coalition against Iran and reinforce U.S. ties to one of the wealthiest Arab nations at a time when China is seeking to extend its influence in the Gulf. The commercial benefit would be to put U.S. industry in a prime spot to win contracts to build Saudi nuclear power plants, as U.S. atomic companies compete with Russia, China and other countries for global business. WHAT ARE THE HURDLES TO A US-SAUDI CIVIL NUCLEAR DEAL? To start, it is all but inconceivable while the Gaza war rages. Israel invaded the Gaza Strip after Hamas-led gunmen on Oct. 7 attacked southern Israeli communities, killing about 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages, according to Israeli figures. The Gaza death toll, health officials in the Hamas-run coastal enclave say, has risen to more than 35,000 and malnutrition is widespread. It is hard to imagine the Saudis being willing to normalize relations while Palestinians are dying in such numbers. WHAT IS THE WIDER PACT IN WHICH A NUCLEAR DEAL MIGHT FIGURE? The United States hopes to find a way to give Saudi Arabia several things it wants - a civil nuclear pact, security guarantees and a pathway toward a Palestinian state - in return for Riyadh agreeing to normalize relations with Israel. Earlier this month, seven people familiar with the matter told Reuters the Biden administration and Saudi Arabia were finalizing an agreement for U.S. security guarantees and civilian nuclear assistance to Riyadh. However, the wider Israel-Saudi normalization envisaged as part of a Middle East grand bargain remains elusive. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES TO BE WORKED OUT IN A SAUDI-US NUCLEAR DEAL A key issue is whether Washington might agree to build a uranium enrichment facility on Saudi territory, when it might do so, and whether Saudi personnel might have access to it or it would be run solely by U.S. staff in a lack box arrangement. Without safeguards built into an agreement, Saudi Arabia, which has uranium ore, could theoretically use an enrichment facility to produce highly enriched uranium, which, if purified enough, can yield fissile material for bombs. Another issue is whether Riyadh would agree to make a Saudi investment in a U.S.-based and U.S.-owned uranium enrichment plant and to hire U.S. companies to build Saudi nuclear reactors. (Sources: Atomic Energy Act of 1954; Brookings Institution; Congressional Research Service; Reuters reporting)

Standard response from non-voters in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The voter turnout was low again as usual this time in Hyderabad. Out of 100 people, only 70 voted, and here are 30 reasons the remaining 30 people gave for not voting: 1. My boyfriend was supposed to drive me to the polling booth, but we ended up fighting, so there was no other way to reach the polling station which was just 500 metres away from my house. 2. Everyone is corrupt, bro. Why should I vote? 3. If I vote, everyone will know that Im over 18. 4. Im Jadoo from Koi Mil Gaya; I dont have a voter ID. 5. Why would they ask us to vote on a holiday, that too on a long weekend? 6. There is no vote-from-home option. 7. Aree yaar!!! Its too hot. 8. Voting is basically choosing, and I chose not to vote; hence, technically, I voted. 9. I just voted out a Big Boss candidate; how many times should I vote? 10. What will happen if I vote? Nothing. Instead, let me sit at home and do nothing. 11. I just tweeted my opinion on politics; I dont need to vote. 12. My one vote wont change anything; there are so many voters already. 13. My candidate is winning already; the election is rigged. 14. My candidate will lose for sure; the election is rigged. 15. Its a tough choice to choose a leader; I need a drink before I vote. 16. I just applied new nail polish; the ink will ruin how my nails will look. 17. Im in a bad marriage; I dont trust my choice. 18. The election officers are working hard already. I dont want to burden them with counting my vote. 19. I voted last time and nothing changed. 20. They didnt give me cash this time. 21. They gave me cash, and if I dont spend it immediately, they might take it back. 22. The world is ending anyway in a couple of years because of climate change; no point thinking about voting for the next 5 years. 23. Actually, Im not interested in politics. 24. My horoscope said not to leave the house today. 25. I will stand in a queue only if someone serves me pani puri at the end of it; cant do the same for voting. 26. I dont live in India; I live in delusion. 27. I dont have anything to wear to the polling station. 28. My voter ID is registered to my hometown, but dont worry, I wont go home to vote either. Ill tell them Im stuck in Hyderabad. 29. I dont believe in democracy blah blah gibberish gibberish end of boring long speech (I couldnt continue listening to this guy). 30. Next time Ill pakka vote, I promise. I told the same thing 5 years ago too. (The writers views are his own)

Odisha: Folk artists perform at poll rallies, help candidates garner people's support

Odisha: Folk artists perform at poll rallies, help candidates garner people's support By Sandeep Pradhan Amid the high-octane election campaign across the country, the folk artists from Odisha's western part are busy participating in public gatherings helping the candidates in garnering people's support. Even with the emergence of social media platforms and modern musical instruments (like DJs), artists performing folk art still keep audience spellbound during election campaigns in the coastal state of Odisha. Extensive election campaigns across the state extended the opportunity for folk artists too to better their financial status. Apart from opting for new methods, political parties still prefer the performance of folk artists as the most effective tool to attract people to gatherings and rallies. A local artist Shankar Prasad Behra said that during the time of elections, the demand for folk artists from Odisha's western part is on the rise and these local artists attract people towards political rallies and public meetings held by candidates. Speaking to ANI, the artist said that the world-famous Sambalpuria folk art is very popular in the western part of Odisha and through this artwork, they attract people to the venue of election campaigns and appeal to them to vote in support of a candidate. We have performed across the state and made appeals to the voters during the poll campaigns to register their active participation in the festival of democracy, Behra said. As invited by different political parties, we wrote songs for them and performed as well, the artists said, adding that be it any party, we prepare songs for them and perform. As compared to the previous time, the trend of engaging folk artists into the poll campaign has witnessed a slight decline due to the emergence of social media platforms and other modes of communication, pointed Behra, adding that currently, our team comprising of singers, dancers and musicians are getting good opportunities to make money. Still, political parties engage with folk artists in the campaign because of their calibre to connect with people through their performances in local language and dance, the artist said. The assembly elections and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha are taking place simultaneously. The elections are being held across four phases--from May 13 to June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. In the last assembly elections in 2019, the BJD won 112 out of 146 seats. BJP won 23 seats and Congress got nine seats. In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJD mopped up the lion's share of the electoral spoils, with the BJP and the Congress bringing up the rear. The BJD won 12 seats, the BJP finished a close second at 8, and the Congress bagged just a lone seat. (ANI)

'Dream Girl' seeks double-engine government in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK: A double-engine government by BJP is crucial for acceleration of development in Odisha, said Bollywood's dream girl and BJP leader Hema Malini on Friday. The star campaigner of BJP in her first election campaign in the state targeted the BJD government accusing it of failing to secure Odisha's progress on many fronts. Hema, who attended BJP's Ashirvad Samabesh at Salia Sahi, the state capital's biggest slum, to canvass for party's Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha candidate Aparajita Sarangi and Bhubaneswar-North Assembly candidate Priyadarshi Mishra said Congress ruled Odisha for 50 years and BJD for another 25 years. However, corruption and unemployment increased in the state during the period and people have become helpless, she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come up with a number of schemes for women, dalits, adivasis, poor as well as those belonging to backward sections. Unfortunately, people of Odisha have been deprived of all the schemes and programmes, said Hema. She said the prime minister has given Rs 18 lakh crore for development of the state. However, nothing much has been done by the BJD government. Development can only be secured if BJP forms its government in Odisha, she said. Hema also spoke on the Subhadra scheme as per which BJP has promised Rs 50,000 cash voucher to women and urged everyone to vote for the saffron party candidates to accelerate Odisha's growth and development under prime minister's New India vision. While residents of Salia Sahi saw and listened to the dream girl, the latter's much-hyped election meeting in Cuttack Sadar Assembly constituency turned to be a damp squib, as she failed to reach the venue leaving the crowd disappointed. The saffron party had organised an election meeting at Kishan Nagar High School play ground. As announced earlier, Hema along with Rajasthan government's cabinet minister Avinash Gehlot and party candidate for Cuttack Sadar Assembly constituency Prakash Chandra Sethi were scheduled to hold a roadshow and reach the meeting venue at 1.15 pm. The promise of dream girl at the venue saw around 5,000 people from different gram panchayats gathered at the venue notwithstanding the scorching heat. But the excitement turned into disappointment as while Sethi reached the venue with Gehlot at 2.45 pm and announced that the actress-turned-politician returned midway due to ill-health. Hema Malini suddenly fell ill due to which she returned midway, said Gehlot. However, it had little effect as people left the venue in hordes. I had come to the meeting and waited for around four hours to see and hear Bollywood's dream girl Hema Malini. When I learnt she was not coming, I left the meeting spot and returned home, said a disgruntled Subas Mahali of Sudukhanda. After campaigning in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the veteran Bollywood actor held a roadshow in Pipili to canvass for the party candidates. BJP Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra and Pipili assembly candidate Ashrit Pattanayak accompanied her in the roadshow.

Political tourists of BJP resorting to derogatory, abusive language: Naveen Patnaik

BHUBANESWAR: As campaign has reached a peak ahead of the second phase elections in Odisha on May 20, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday came down heavily on the Union ministers, CMs from other states and others leaders for resorting to what he termed derogatory and abusive language in their campaign meetings and rallies. With the Opposition, particularly the BJP pressing all its might in the state to win the polls by bringing in top ministers, its CMs and top leaders, the chief minister said they were political tourists and their visits would not have any impact on the people of Odisha. Some chief ministers and Union ministers come as political tourists only at the time of elections and then they disappear. Their speeches have no effect on the people of Odisha, Naveen told the media. It is most unfortunate that many of them use derogatory and abusive language. I never believe in doing that and the people here in our state dont appreciate such language, he added. The BJP has launched a campaign blitzkrieg by top leadership of the party who are holding roadshows, addressing public meeting and rallies in constituencies where elections are scheduled to be held in the second phase on May 20. The saffron party campaign has made Odia Asmita or Odia pride its main poll plank, targeting Tamil Nadu-born bureaucrat-turned-politician and Naveens close aide VK Pandian for his hold over the regional party and the BJD government. The party has also vociferously raised questions on Naveens health condition and alleged that he has been held captive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already campaigned for party candidates twice in May after visiting the state twice earlier in March. The prime minister conducted a roadshow at Bhubaneswar on May 10 and is scheduled hold another one at Puri on Monday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma have been frequenting the state and covered almost all the constituencies that are going to polls in phases. On Friday, apart from the chief ministers and Shah, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and his cabinet colleague Bhupender Yadav, and BJP MP Hema Malini held meetings at different places of the state.

Opposition is telling lies, says Naveen Patnaik

SAMBALPUR/ANGUL: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday visited Sambalpur, Angul and Dhenkanal districts urging people to exercise their franchise in favour of BJD candidates from the areas during the polls. In Sambalpur, the chief minister, bolstering his support for BJD organisational secretary and MP candidate from Sambalpur seat Pranab Prakash Das along with MLA candidates from Sambalpur and Rengali, Rohit Pujari and Sudarshan Haripal, appealed to the people to vote for Jodi Sankha. Addressing a gathering at PHED colony in the city, Naveen highlighted the government welfare schemes like Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY), Mission Shakti, LAccMI bus service, 5T school transformation, Kalia, Mamata, Madhu Babu pension scheme, and sought feedback from the people who responded in the affirmative. The chief minister was accompanied by his close aide and BJD leader VK Pandian. Addressing the gathering, Pandian launched a scathing attack on Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan by putting forth a set of questions for the latter. As the Union minister is contesting from here, I have a few questions to ask him. Sambalpuri/Koshali language is the identity of this area. Even though our CM has written letters to include the language in the 8th schedule of the Constitution, at least five times, what have you done for the Sambalpuri Asmita in the last 10 years as a Union minister? Pandian asked. Cabinet approves fund outlay for EKAMRA, SAMALEI projects Accusing Pradhan of attempting to hinder the SAMALEI Project, Pandian said the Union minister had even moved the Supreme Court in this connection. Later, the CM campaigned at Rairakhol for their candidate and former minister Prasanna Acharya. In Angul and Dhenkanal, Naveen addressed two election meetings where he accused the Opposition of telling lies and shedding crocodile tears. There will be no electricity bill from July, he told the gathering. Among others, Dhenkanal Lok Sabha candidate Abinash Samal also spoke at the meetings.

Hardeep Singh Puri interacts with eminent Sikhs, discusses Modi govt`s achieveme

Puri said Sikhs are spread all over India and the world and they have always had a deep, abiding faith and love for the prime minister -- not only since he assumed the responsibility at the Centre in May 2014 but from his days as a pracharak

Odisha: Amit Shah tags BJD government Jhola Sarkar in Rourkela rally

ROURKELA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah once again launched a scathing attack on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, dubbing it the Jhola Sarkar over issues related to the Public Distribution System (PDS) rice scheme. Addressing a massive election rally in Rourkela, Shah sought votes for BJPs Sundargarh Lok Sabha candidate Jual Oram and the partys Assembly candidates for Rourkela, RN Pali, and Birmitrapur. Shah questioned the competence of the BJD government, raising concerns about the administration of Odisha being led by non-Odias. Naveen Babu, people of Odisha want to know where are the original keys of the Ratna Bhandar of Puri Jagannath temple, who made the duplicate keys and if the Bhandar was opened? he asked and promised to reveal the suppressed inquiry report within a month if BJP forms the government in Odisha. It is a Jhola Sarkar. Modiji sends five kg grain per person and Naveen Babu delivers it in a bag, he said referring to the alleged hijacking of central schemes. Shah accused the BJD government of repackaging the central grain allocation of five kg per person. He challenged the state government to contribute an additional 2.5 kg of rice to benefit the poor, emphasising the need for a double-engine government for Odishas development. Odisha lost 25 yrs under Naveen Patnaik government: Amit Shah Shah criticised the BJD for Odishas lack of progress over the past 25 years, claiming the state has regressed by 50 years. He cited deficiencies in basic amenities, with 27 lakh families still lacking pucca houses, over 26 lakh households without piped water, and 6,412 villages without roads. The income of farmers in Odisha is lowest in the country and if BJP government comes to power, we would enhance paddy MSP to Rs 3,100 per quintal and implement Ayushman Bharat universally, Shah roared. He pointed to unfulfilled promises, including a government medical college, hospital, and the Koel Barrage project. Highlighting the importance of Odia culture and governance, Shah lamented that government officers, rather than elected representatives, run the administration under Naveens rule. Under Modi government, tribal welfare budget was increased from Rs 24,000 crore to Rs 1.24 lakh crore, 740 Eklavya Residential Model Schools were constructed and a mission launched to end sickle cell disease, Shah said urging voters to support Modi for a third term as prime minister, aiming to make India the third-largest economy.

Kangana vs Vikramaditya: The Ultimate Battle for Mandi's Throne

Kangana vs Vikramaditya: The Ultimate Battle for Mandi's Throne Clash of the two richest titans, a celebrity and a 'royal', is on the cards in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, known for electing erstwhile ''royals'' maximum number of times. The BJP has for the first time fielded a woman and a Bollywood celebrity in Kangana Ranaut who will take on Vikramaditya Singh, scion of the erstwhile Rampur ''royal family'' and son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh. Both the rivals have launched a high-pitched campaign, even with offensive outbursts. Vikramaditya fired a salvo at Kangana asking about her vision about the development of the constituency. Taking a dig at his rival, he said she is on a month-long political tourism and would pack up and return to Bollywood after June 4. Returning the salvo, Kangana dubbed Vikramaditya as ''Chhota Pappu''. It was a mocking reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is often dubbed as ''Pappu'' or a novice by his political opponents. Kangana called Vikramaditya a ''junior Pappu''. She asked him why he stood mum when Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu took ''anti-Mandi decisions'' like stalling the Rs 250-crore Shiv Dhan project, curtailing the jurisdiction of Mandi University and pushing the Sundernagar airfield project under the carpet. Kangana's main agendas include restarting all the stalled projects besides improving connectivity to remote tribal areas, and popularising local cuisines and traditional attires, and promoting women-centric rural tourism in Seraj and Karsog. ''Mandi will be made a smart city,'' this is my promise, said Vikramaditya, adding that Jalori Jot tunnel will be constructed on the line of Rohtang tunnel and remote Pangi area of Chamba will be connected with Tissa, besides the construction of Beas river front. The alleged insulting remarks by Kangana on farmers during the farmer agitation are recoiling and the Samyukt Kisan Manch has rendered their support to Vikramaditya. On the other hand, Kangana got support from unexpected quarters. The scion of Kullu Maheshwar Singh, who was an aspirant of a BJP ticket from Mandi; former Union minister Sukh Ram's grandson Ashray Sharma, who was defeated by BJP candidate Ram Swaroop Sharma in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls; and Kargil hero Brig Khushal Singh, who was defeated by Pratibha Singh in the 2021 parliamentary byelection with a narrow margin have extended their support to the Bollywood actor. Kangana dubbed Vikramaditya also as a ''bigda hua shezada'' (spolit prince) and a 'paltu' (one who makes U-turns) and said he used to criticise his own government but now is praising it. Singh retaliated by saying she will return ''purified'' from the 'Dev bhoomi'. Both Bollywood reel 'Queen' Kangana and 'Raja' Vikramaditya Singh have declared their assets over of Rs 90 crore. Kangana is banking on her celebrity image, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ram temple factors. Vikramaditya is hoping to sail through riding on the legacy of his father Virbhadra Singh and state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, the sitting MP from Mandi. Vikramaditya, who was active during the monsoon disaster in 2023, has been asking where Kangana was when it had hit the state and caused havoc in the Mandi-Kullu region. The BJP candidate is accused of being unfamiliar with her constituency while the Congress candidate has extensively campaigned for his mother in the last byelections. Out of 19 parliamentary elections, including two byelections held in Mandi since 1952, the Congress has won 13 times, with both Virbhadra Singh and Pratibha Singh winning thrice. Further, the scions of erstwhile princely states won from Mandi 13 times while the ''non-royals'' were elected six times. Raj Kumai Amrit Kaur of the Kapurthala dynasty and Raja Joginder Sen Bahadur of the princely state of Mandi were elected once, Raja Lalit Sen of Suket represented Mandi twice, Virbhadra Singh and Pratibha Singh three times each and Raja Maheshwar Singh of Kullu won thrice. Sukh Ram who won from Mandi three times, Ram Swaroop who won two times and Ganga Singh who won once, when he defeated Virbhadra Singh in 1977, were the exceptions who hailed from non-royal families. The sprawling constituency spreads over six districts and comprises 17 assembly segments. In the 2022 assembly polls, the BJP had won 12 assembly seats falling under Mandi parliamentary constituency. The seat has become prestigious for former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, who has to establish that the BJP still holds sway in Mandi. Vikramaditya Singh has to prove that the impact of the Rampur 'ruling' family is deep-rooted in this constituency. There are 13,77,173 voters in the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, including 6,98,666 males, 6,78,504 females and three third gender.

Union Minister Hardeep Puri blasts Kejriwal, AAP over Maliwal 'assault'

AAP MP Swati Maliwal accuses CM Arvind Kejriwal's ex-aide Bibhav Kumar of assault. Union Minister Hardeep Puri questions incident's timing post-Kejriwal's jail release. Maliwal alleges tampered CCTV at Kejriwal's residence, amid AAP's flip-flop over assault claim. Vigilance Department terminates Kumar's service; AAP attacks Maliwal over video amid Lok Sabha elections; Delhi Police files FIR based on Maliwal's complaint.

How could they do it?: Union Minister Hardeep Puri blasts Kejriwal, AAP over Maliwal assault

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Turncoat vs BJP councillor, North West Delhi to witness a two-cornered contest

NEW DELHI: North West Delhi, the reserved constituency of the national capital, is all set to witness a two-cornered fight between BJP and INDIA bloc with the former replacing its sitting MP Hans Raj Hans with councellor Yogendra Chandolia while latter fielding Udit Raj, a former MP and BJP turncoat on Congress ticket. The constituencycomprising ten assembly seatsNarela, Badli, Rithala, Bawana, Mundka, Kirari, Sultanpur Majra, Nangloi Jat, Mangolpuri, and Rohinicame into existence in 2008 after the delimitation and was categorised as reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). As of January 2024 data, the total number of electors in North West Delhi is 2472910, out of which 1339266 are male electors, 1133406 are female electors, and the remaining 238 are transgender voters. A total of 55 candidates filed their nominations for this seat, of which 26 are contesting the election. The seat was represented by Congress in 2009 when Krishna Tirath defeated BJPs Meera Kanwaria by a margin of nearly 1,85,000 votes. In 2014, BJPs Udit Raj defeated AAPs Rakhi Birla by a margin of almost 1,06,000 votes. In 2019, BJPs Hans Raj Hans defeated AAPs Guggan Singh Ranga by a margin of more than 5.50 lakh votes. As far as assembly-wise status is concerned, the AAP currently holds nine assembly seats, and the BJP legislature represents one seat. The Lok Sabha constituency mainly comprises rural and semi-urban villages, where several types of problems have been prevailing. Residents have complained about garbage dumping in their locality, sewerage issues, illegal encroachment, and construction. Residents complained of frequent waterlogging and a general lack of cleanliness in the village areas. When you look at the conditions, it is hard to believe that we are living in the national capital, said Sunil Yadav, one of the residents in Badli constituency. Pollution is another major problem faced by residents in this constituency. The area is also frequently in the news as crime is rampant. The police have always neglected our area. As a result, murders and other serious crimes have always been common here, said Naveen Kumar, a resident living in the area. Residents living here are also unhappy with the public transport facility available in this constituency and want more public transport facilities. We want improved transport facilities. Metro connectivity is good, but it requires more expansion. The need of the hour is to ensure last-mile connectivity in every nook and corner, he said. Problems unresolved Lajpat Nagar is one such locality with two members of parliament (MPs) since its divided into two constituencies: East and New Delhi. The residents complain that due to dual constituency, their grievances keep shuffling between the MPs and, most of the time, remain unresolved.

Odisha CPET 2024 scheduled from July 3 to 14

Common PG Entrance Test (CPET)-2024 for PG admission in Odisha's degree colleges and universities will be conducted from July 3 to July 14. Applications available on Student Academic Management System (SAMS) by May 27. Includes MA programme at Odia University, Satyabadi, and PG courses of Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri. Admission process includes three phases.

Orange alert issued in five TN districts for May 18,19

CHENNAI: Several places across Tamil Nadu received widespread rains on Thursday and Friday. Mylaudy in Kanniyakumari district registered the highest rainfall of 7 cm in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Friday. Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi, Valparai in Coimbatore, and Nannilam in Tiruvarur received 6 cm each; Cuddalore and Kottaram in Kanniyakumari received 5 cm each; and Kayalpattinam in Thoothukudi received 4 cm during the same period. Karur Paramathi received 4.5 cm of rain from 8.30 am to 7.30 on Friday. Coimbatore, Tiruchy, and Dharmapuri received 3.5 cm, 3.3 cm and 3.2 cm, respectively in the same period. The regional meteorological centre said that the Southwest monsoon is very likely to advance into the South Andaman Sea, some parts of the Southeast Bay of Bengal and Nicobar Islands around May 19. However, the monsoon will set in the mainland around May 31. TN usually receives 35-37% of annual total rainfall during this period. The moisture level in the interior districts will increase during this period. The rain the state is getting now is due to cyclonic circulation, said an official from the RMC. RMCs forecast said light to moderate rain at many places with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds with speed of 30-40 kmph at one or two places is likely to continue till May 21. It also added that moderate rainfall is likely in Chennai city. It also gave orange alerts to several districts over the next few days including Theni, Dindigul and Tenkasi for Saturday and Sunday. The alert also extends to Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli on Sunday. Meanwhile, heavy rain is likely over The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tiruppur, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi and Madurai districts on Saturday. On Friday, the maximum temperature of various districts was below normal. Meenambakkam in Chennai registered a maximum temperature of 31.6C, which was 6.8C below normal; Madurai 30.8C (6.7C below normal); and Palayamkottai 31C (6.3C below normal). On Thursday, Meenambakkam registered 10.3C below normal temperature.

Bigg Boss OTT 3: Internet Sensation Ankit Baiyanpuria To Participate In The Show?

Bigg Boss is one of the most notable shows in Hindi television, providing a chance for many influencers and actors to restart their careers. The shows setup allows contestants to reveal their genuine personalities, helping the audience pick the most deserving winner. Throughout the years, Bigg Boss has introduced several outstanding stars to the entertainment [] Read on Lehren - Bigg Boss OTT 3: Internet Sensation Ankit Baiyanpuria To Participate In The Show?

Non-functional water vending machines fail to quench thirst of people

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 17: To provide potable water to people and make it affordable for everyone, Jammu Municipal Corporation, under the Jammu Smart City Project, installed water vending machines at many locations in Jammu city, previous year. Click here to watch video But, it failed to fulfil its motive as these machines are still non-functional and failed to quench the thirst of people amid the scorching heat. These machines dispense potable water that is purified by Reverse Osmosis, UV [] The post Non-functional water vending machines fail to quench thirst of people appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Justice BP Saraf remembered through commemorative initiatives

HT Bureau GUWAHATI, May 17:On the occasion of the 12th death anniversary of Justice Dr BP Saraf, the International Human Rights Council, Guwahati Chapter, and Marwari Yuwa Manch, Abhayapuri, Balipara, Goreswar, Guwahti Amrit, Guwahati Uday Amrit, Hailakandi, Lakhipur, Makum, Nagaon, Roha, Silapathar, and Silchar Titans branches took out various programs to mark the occasion and []

Govt sanctions RO for dialysis treatment

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: The state government on Friday said a new reverse osmosis (RO) system for dialysis treatment has been sanctioned for Shillong Civil Hospital. A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the primary method for purifying water for dialysis treatment as it ensures that patients receive safe and clean water. The government [] The post Govt sanctions RO for dialysis treatment appeared first on The Shillong Times .

PM Modi desires to give Sikh community its rightful place in terms of nations contribution: Hardeep Singh Puri

The News Mill

Eminent Sikhs Engage with Puri on Modi Govt's Milestones

Eminent Sikhs Engage with Puri on Modi Govt's Milestones Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday interacted with eminent members of the Sikh community to discuss the Modi government's achievements during its 10-year tenure and the prime minister's vision of ''Viksit Bharat - 2047''. Eminent Sikhs from all walks of life attended the programme, initiated by Puri, at his residence during which the minister highlighted how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked for the welfare of the community and his love for them. The interactive session -- ''Vishesh Sampark Abhiyan'' -- was attended by eminent lawyers, industrialists, academics, members of armed forces and politicians, among others. Puri said the Sikh community is small but very accomplished and second to none. He listed out several members of the community -- from fashion designers to those in the culinary world, the principals of Shriram College of Commerce and Mata Sundri College for Women, singer Daler Mehndi, the president of the governing body of Miranda House, civil servants, National Commission for Minorities Chairperson Iqbal Singh Lalpura, senior advocate and former Punjab MLA HS Phoolka, former PNB chief SS Kohli and Rajya Sabha ex-MP Tarlochan Singh. The minister said the prime minister has a special place in his mind and heart for the Sikh community. ''It is his desire to give this community its rightful place in the country,'' he noted, listing several initiatives taken by Modi for the community. Puri said Sikhs are spread all over India and the world and they have always had a deep, abiding faith and love for the prime minister -- not only since he assumed the responsibility at the Centre in May 2014 but from his days as a ''pracharak''. ''All his actions during the past 10 years speak for that love for the Sikh community, starting from (operationalising the) Kartarpur Sahib corridor to ropeways at gurdwara sahibs. The prime minister has always had this long-standing faith for the Sikh community. Today, I thought it would be appropriate to invite members of the Sikh community, cutting across segments,'' Puri said. Speaking on ''Sikhs with NaMo'', he said it is part of a series and expressed happiness that it got off to a flying start. ''We are holding another function on Sunday with members of the armed forces, police and civil services (personnel) and eminent intellectuals. We are holding another function with members of the tech community on May 20,'' the minister noted. Popular Punjabi singer Mehndi said Modi's love for Sikhs is sincere and added that he wished him well so that he can do more for the community's welfare. BJP leaders Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Arvinder Singh Lovely said the prime minister has done a lot for the community and will continue his sincere efforts for the cause of the Sikhs. Sirsa also accused the Congress of being responsible for the attack on the Golden Temple and the killings of thousands of Sikhs in the riots following the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984.

IPL: Incredibly Popular League

The IPL has become a global phenomenon since its inception in 2008, growing in stature and popularity with each passing season. Its success lies in its ability to deliver high-octane entertainment within a cricketing framework that appeals to both purists and casual fans alike. The T20 format ensures fast-paced action, while the inclusion of international stars creates a sense of spectacle and rivalry in every match.

Assam CM Himant Biswa Sarma give BJD govt to find Lord Jagannaths Ratna Bhandar keys by June 10

Bhubaneswar: Assam chief minister and BJPs star campaigner Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday tore apart the ruling BJD over the missing of Ratna Bhandar keys of Puri Srimandir while addressing a public gathering at Kabisuryanagar in Ganjam district on Friday. Biswa Sarma gave an ultimatum to Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaiks close aide VK Pandian to find the missing keys of Ratna Bhandar by June 10. He also said that if the BJD government fails to find the missing key, BJP will find the key after the party forms government in Odisha on June 10. I feel sad because the keys of Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath temple have gone missing and the Naveen Patnaik government is clueless about it. Even the judicial inquiry report in this regard has not been made public. If Lord Jagannaths key is missing in Odisha, it means people of the State have lost everything on their home soil, said Biswa Sarma. I want to ask Pandian, where has he kept the keys? You have time till June 10. BJP will form government in Odisha on June 10. Find the keys till that date or else BJP will find the keys at any cost. It is our promise. Pandian knows where the key is placed. However, he is not revealing the truth. I ask Pandian not to play with the emotions of Odia people. If you dont find the keys by June 10, you have to spend the rest of your life with the curse of Lord Jagannath, he alleged. Biswa Sarma assured about the opening of all the four dwaras (doors) of Puri Srimandir if the BJP is voted to power. Devotees across the globe face a lot of difficulties while having darshan of Lord Jagannath at Puri Srimandir due to the opening of only one dwara. We assure you that all the gates of Srimandir will be opened to facilitate smooth darshan of the devotees if BJP is voted to power, said Biswa Sarma. He also reiterated that the BJP government will provide Rs 3,100 to farmers per quintal paddy. Farmers, women, elderly persons and youths are getting many facilities in BJP ruled states across the country. We assure you to provide Rs 3,100 per quintal paddy instead of Rs 2,100 with Pandians katni-Chhatni. Our farmers will be greatly benefitted by it. Everything has its expiry date and BJDs expiry date has come, said Biswa Sarma. Centre gives rice to the people of Odisha. However, Pandian only gives empty packets. If PM Modi is providing rice, the state government should have provided dal or at least salt with it. But they are giving only empty packets in the name of Naveen Patnaik government. I have read from newspapers that those empty packets have been made in Tamil Nadu. We will not provide empty packets to our mothers. BJP will provide Rs 50,000 under Subhadra Yojana to every mother in the State, he added.

How well has the NDA's live-within-your-means economic philosophy served India?

India's fiscal policy seems to have the virtues of both a Swabian housewife and the Japanese Mrs Watanabe. If the government's fiscal prudence, even in the face of a once-in-a-century pandemic, is symptomatic of Southern Germany's Swabian housewives known for their pragmatic ways of handling money, the decisive increase in capital expenditure over the past five years illustrates the financial acuity of Mrs Watanabe -- an archetypal housewife, who raked in substantial profits from currency trading when the Japanese economy was in a crisis. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the fiscal policy's chief architect, ensured that our financial housekeeping has all the necessary elements of thrift and spendthrift. Even as critics pounce on her as the big villain of government spending for putting the State on lean rations squeezing education and healthcare budgets, she stuck sincerely to Rudyard Kipling's live-within-your-means philosophy to guard the nation's finances. Five years into the job, not everyone is willing to concede that economies may be ruined due to austerity, but never due to prudence. So, early this week, she wrote a detailed post on X comparing the debt profiles of both the UPA and the NDA regimes, besides justifying that India's debt, including that of states, was safe and prudent, and that the country was in a better position than others. Taking a dig at the opposition's fiscally flamboyant poll promises, she thundered, The truth is that our government's fiscal management is much better than that of the UPA despite facing the Covid-19 pandemic, in which substantial resources were used for relief efforts. The nub of the matter is that, should there be a second term, it's highly unlikely that Sitharaman will indulge in any hyper-Keynesianism spending. The lady's not for turning, she'd perhaps say, channeling her inner Margret Thatcher. 'Still a poor country': Behind India's quest to be the world's third largest economy If central government debt (including external debt), under the UPA rule between 2004 and 2014, grew 3.2 times from Rs 18.74 lakh crore to Rs 58.59 lakh crore, in contrast, it increased by 2.9 times to Rs 172.37 lakh crore in FY24 (RE) under the NDA regime. If the Centre's net market borrowings (G-Secs) shot up 4.5 times during the UPA regime, they rose by 2.6 times under the NDA government, notwithstanding the pandemic year excesses. Likewise, if capex as a percentage of total expenditure (net of interest payments) fell to 16% in FY14 from 31% in FY04, under NDA government, it was back to 28% in FY24, increasing by 5 times from FY14 to FY24. Sitharaman's defence of debt management comes amid a heated political debate over economic performance and the track record of the ruling and opposition parties. Both the BJP and the Congress have been digging in for ideological purity, defending their respective economic and fiscal policies and criticizing the other's mismanagement. Going one step further, the BJP even tabled a 'black paper,' in Parliament, accusing the UPA regime of undermining the country's macroeconomic fundamentals, while the Congress hit back citing price rise and unemployment. Another trigger for Sitharaman's debt rant One of the other triggers for Sitharaman's debt rant includes the promises made by the Congress. Last month, addressing a rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made a poll promise to transfer Rs 1 lakh in the account of one woman from every poor household in the country if they win the elections. How many welfare schemes would @RahulGandhi shut down to accommodate the fiscal cost of the ' Khata Khat ' schemes?, she questioned, adding, Will they borrow substantially for them, or will they raise taxes to fund them? Often, politicians propose welfare schemes increasing the size of the State, but rarely explain the source of the expense and if it'll increase the tax burden. Since no welfare scheme is self-funded, such measures may pile forcing the governments to cut a cheque they cannot cash. Precisely to avoid this, policymakers operate within set frameworks, in our case, the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) act. It tracks sovereign debt using two metrics -- debt-to-GDP ratio and fiscal deficit. The former is the total government debt including central and states' borrowings and is expressed as a fraction of GDP, while the latter is the difference between the central government's total expenditure and revenue. Sitharaman's post gives a detailed snapshot of how India fared on these two metrics under both the UPA and the NDA regime. Of the fastest growing economy, Amitabh Bachchans and what India truly can deliver Passed in 2003, the FRBM Act was to reduce annual deficits in a phased manner with a goal of bringing it down to 3% of GDP by March, 2009. It did decline to 2.5% in FY09, while the debt-to-GDP ratio fell from 83% in FY02 to 71% by FY08. But then, the global financial crisis struck in 2008 forcing the government to put fiscal targets on hold, while embarking on a stimulus festival to counter the crisis. But even after the crisis passed, fiscal consolidation was nowhere to be seen and the FRBM Act was amended subsequently. In its 2016 report, the FRBM Committee suggested a debt-to-GDP ratio of 60% by 2023, with central government debt coming down to roughly 40% and states' by 20%. For six consecutive years between FY09 and FY14 under the UPA reign, the ratio of Gross Fiscal Deficit (GFD) to GDP stood at 4.5%. According to Sitharaman, it was between 4.5%-5% of GDP in three out of the six years, between 5%-6% in one, and more than 6% in two years. And there was no Covid-19-like crisis that needed such a quantum of fiscal expansion, she reasoned. Fiscal deficit was sanded down to 3.5% of GDP by FY17, and stayed pat for three years. In 2019, it increased from 3.4% to 4.6%, as the crazy macro cocktail of slow growth and falling tax revenue hit the economy. Then Covid-19 struck in 2020 and as GDP and tax revenues crashed even as spending surged, deficit peaked to 9.4% of GDP. As for NDA-I, the central government's debt stood at 52.2% of GDP in FY14, which was reduced to 48.9% in FY19 through gradual fiscal consolidation. Consequently, fiscal deficit reduced from 4.5% in FY14 to 3.4% in FY19. But following the pandemic, it surged to 9.2% in FY21, or 61.4% of GDP, but fell to 57.1% in FY24. The government went on to pursue a balanced approach to fiscal consolidation, while sustaining growth. The interim budget projected a further reduction to 5.1% of GDP in FY25. As for the debt-to-GDP ratio, total government debt was steady at about 70% of GDP from FY12 to FY19, but jumped to 90% in FY21 and reduced to 81% in FY22. This, the finance minister, claimed was relatively lower than that of Japan's at 260.1%, the US' 121.3%, France's 111.8% and and the UK's 101.9%. Similarly, a comparative analysis with other low- and middle-income countries too shows that India's external debt remains robust, while short-term debt at 18.7% stands way lower than that of China, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, South Africa and Bangladesh. As for the ratio of total external debt to Gross National Income (GNI), India emerges as the third least indebted country among all such economies, she reasoned. India's total external debt to its exports is 91.9%, positioning India as the fifth-least indebted nation among low and middle-income countries. According to Sitharaman, government debt is overwhelmingly rupee-denominated, with external borrowings from bilateral and multilateral sources comprising less than 5% of total debt. So exposure to volatility in exchange rates tend to be on the lower end, she added. The window dressing charge Sitharaman also accused the UPA government of 'window dressing' national accounts and compromising the integrity of the fiscal numbers. FY09 deficit would have been 7.9% instead of 6.1% as officially stated, she reasoned, adding that about Rs 1.9 lakh crore was kept off the books during the five years from FY06 to FY10, mostly in the form of special bonds to oil marketing companies, fertilizer companies, and Food Corporation of India. Including these off-budget borrowings would have severely increased the fiscal and revenue deficit numbers, she said. In fact, the NDA government too indulged in such off-budget borrowings, raising as much as Rs 1.62 lakh crore in FY19, Rs 1.48 lakh crore in FY20 and Rs 1.21 lakh crore in FY21. respectively. However, Sitharaman took a bold step and ended such borrowings once and for all in FY22. As some concede, the government's aggregate fiscal management has been sound, our debt-to-GDP ratio under control, besides an exemplary external account management. However, fiscal and economic outcomes are not, as economist Rathin Roy observed. Revenue GDP numbers have stagnated, disinvestments failed, expenditure-GDP ratio has shrunk, interest on debt, subsidies are rising, defence spending did not increase, government capital expenditure on budget has gone up, but rise in overall central government capex (budget plus public sector) is modest...subsidies like PLI (Production Linked Incentive schemes) and free ration to 800 million appears to have become permanent freebies with no strategy to reduce the fiscal drag, he concluded. Should we fear inheritance tax? Hard truths and the Chidambaram-Jaitley dalliance with it

Extreme poverty in rural areas largely conquered: Dr Arvind Panagariya at CII Summit

Extreme poverty in rural areas largely conquered: Dr Arvind Panagariya at CII Summit Dr Arvind Panagariya, chairman of the 16th Finance Commission of India, delivered an address at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit 2024 on Friday, highlighting significant strides in overcoming extreme poverty concentrated in rural areas. Extreme poverty concentrated in the rural areas has been largely conquered and the growth prospects are excellent, said Panagariya, during the plenary session on Future of Economic Transformation: Integrating Rural and Urban Economies at the CII Summit. The summit, themed 'Co-creating the Future Responsibly: Role of Business,' brought together leaders and experts to discuss the future of India's economic landscape. Panagariya emphasized the importance of creating pathways to integrate the rural workforce into larger enterprises and urban economies. It is important to create pathways for the movement of rural workforce into larger enterprises and connect them to the urban space. To transform rural economies, it is important to enhance the productivity of rural workforce by reallocation of rural labour into other sectors, urbanise rural habitats and create enterprises which are employment intensive in rural India, he stated. The summit also featured insights from Dr Manoj Nardeosingh, Secretary General of the African Asian Rural Development Organization. Dr Nardeosingh highlighted the increasing interest of African nations in India's development model, particularly following the successful G20 summit. He expressed a keen desire for Indian industries to invest in technology transfer to bolster rural economies across Africa. Nardeosingh, All countries in the African continent are looking towards India especially after the success of G20 summit. African nations are keen to invite the Indian industry to investment in technology transfer in rural areas which comprise a large part of their economies. Dr Nandini Rangaswamy, Chairperson and Founder Trustee of GRG Institutions, Coimbatore, and Managing Director of Chandra Group of Companies, Coimbatore, underscored the critical role of education in rural transformation. She stressed the need for robust infrastructure and policy frameworks, alongside essential services such as healthcare, clean water, and technology, to improve the overall quality of life in rural areas. Surabhi Yadav, Co-Founder of Sajhe Sapne, advocated for the ruralization of businesses. She emphasized fostering a sense of partnership between rural and urban economies to create sustainable growth. The session focused on how India can stimulate its rural economy, making it a vibrant and dynamic contributor to national growth through innovative strategies, collaborative models, and supportive policy frameworks. Setting the context for the summit, Sanjiv Puri, President Designate of CII, highlighted the significance of the rural economy. He pointed out that rural areas are crucial as sources of raw materials for food production and provide a young, dynamic workforce. The rural and urban economies need to grow synergistically for people to actualize their potential within the rural economy, he stated, emphasizing the potential for growth across agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors. (ANI)

India advances iron-ore beneficiation policy

Use of ore with less iron content needs beneficiation process by which impurities are removed

Fake Branded Mineral Water Being Sold in Railway and Metro Stations

Hyderabad: Be wary of the mineral water you consume while travelling on trains in the city. Local manufacturers have been distributing counterfeit mineral water bottles that bear striking resemblance to popular branded products to metro station vendors. The illegal practice is prevalent across railway and metro stations, where unsuspecting travellers in their rush buy fake products, which use brand names and designs similar to popular brands. The street-smart operatives use names that closely resemble those of established brands. Meanwhile, many commuters have voiced concern over water bottles of fake brands that are in the market. Mahender, who travels from the RTC crossroads Metro Rail station, said, This could lead to several health issues because one is not sure of the quality and genuineness of the water inside the bottles. He is not wrong as bereft of quality control checks, the duplicate bottles contain contaminated water coming through unscientific purification processes. Mineral water companies have condemned this unethical business practice. E. Raghu, a distributor of Bisleri water, said This obnoxious trend reflects poorly on our company. While we have strict and precise mechanisms as regards quality, the local bottlers give a damn to such health considerations. As they use name and logos that appear similar to ours, we face problems in the end. Authorities, on the other hand, are stepping up efforts to stop fake mineral water bottles from entering stall premises. A staffer at a Metro Rail station said We regularly check food products that are sold in stalls. If any fake brands or expired products are found, we immediately clear the products and penalize the stall managers.

Empowering Communities Under Universal Health Coverage - A Kenyan Government Initiative

Empowering Communities Under Universal Health Coverage - A Kenyan Government Initiative SMPL Nairobi [Kenya], May 17: In Kenya, a remarkable healthcare initiative is unfolding, driven by the tireless commitment of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) who serve as the backbone of the Universal Healthcare program. These dedicated individuals are at the forefront, delivering crucial healthcare services directly to households nationwide, free of charge. Equipped with comprehensive kits, each CHP is empowered to provide basic medical care, conduct screenings, and offer health education within their communities. With the Ministry of Health enrolling 100,000 community health promoters for this initiative, and each being assigned 100 households, the aim is to reach every corner of the nation, covering a staggering 10 million households. The kits provided to CHPs are carefully designed to equip them with essential tools for vital screenings and basic care. Produced and assembled by Harmony Vibrant Limited, these kits include a range of equipment such as backpacks, First Aid Boxes, Digital Thermometers, Glucometers, Blood Pressure Machines, and other consumables. The kits enable CHPs to capture crucial health indicators including blood sugar levels, hypertension, body mass index, chronic ailments, mother and child health among others and in turn helps in identifying first stage of diagnosis, facilitating a robust preventive care mechanism. Regular check-ups of blood pressure and blood sugar levels play a crucial role in the early detection and management of diabetes and hypertension. Community Health Promoters (CHPs) not only conduct screenings but also provide education on lifestyle modifications, medication compliance, and disease management. By fostering regular communication and follow-up visits, CHPs help to ensure that individuals adhere to their treatment plans, maintain regular check-ups, and prioritize their overall health and well-being. This proactive approach not only improves health outcomes but also enhances patient safety by identifying and addressing potential health concerns in a timely manner. The CHPs are able to reach even the most remote and underserved areas, ensuring every household has access to essential healthcare services. The success of this initiative was made possible through the generous support of stakeholders including Government of Kenya, Ministry of Health together with CIFF Foundation, providing crucial funding. While strengthening Universal Healthcare, the government of Kenya has also resolved to support and encourage local manufacturing. As a result, Dinlas Pharma Limited, a local pharmaceutical company has been contracted to provide among many a few of the medicines such as Paracetamol Syrup and tablets for relieving mild to moderate pain and reducing fever in children and adults, Zinc Sulphate for zinc deficiency, Antacid Tablets to alleviate indigestion, heartburn, and acid reflux, Sanitizer (Liquid) to combat the spread of infections, deworming tablets to treat parasitic infections, and Chlorine tablets to purify water and prevent waterborne diseases. The Medicines are provided to each household delivered to their door steps. By decentralizing healthcare services, Kenyans no longer face the challenge of traveling long distances to access basic medical care. CHPs provide immediate relief for minor ailments and early detection of serious health issues, thereby alleviating the burden on formal healthcare facilities. To further augment their capabilities, CHPs are equipped with smart tablets for efficient data capture of patient information, which will then be utilized to generate insights and enhance healthcare delivery. AI-driven technology will be built to analyzing this data, identifying trends, and optimizing resource allocation to better meet community needs. Under the leadership of Dr William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, the Community Health Strategy represents a significant stride towards achieving Universal Health Coverage. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

Check Out Latest Kids Malayalam Nursery Story 'Bhelpuri of Railway Station' for Kids - Check Out Children's Nursery Stories, Baby Songs, Fairy Tales In Malayalam

Watch the popular children's moral story 'Bhelpuri of Railway Station' in Malayalam. For popular children story, kids songs, children songs, children's poems, baby songs, baby rhymes, kids nursery rhymes, nursery poems in Malayalam visit ETimes Malayalam kids sections. Check out ETimes Kids videos section for more Kids Nursery rhymes, Baby songs, Kids poems, and Moral stories.

Shah Predicts Saffron Wave in Odisha: BJP Eyes 75 Assembly and 15 LS Seats

Shah Predicts Saffron Wave in Odisha: BJP Eyes 75 Assembly and 15 LS Seats Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that Odisha would turn saffron after the elections, since the BJP would win over 75 assembly and 15 Lok Sabha seats. He asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already won 270 Lok Sabha seats in the first four phases of elections and is now moving towards 400. Lok Sabha and assembly elections are held simultaneously in Odisha. ''With more than 15 MPs and 75 MLAs, Odisha is about to be coloured saffron. This election is the election to make Narendra Modi the PM for the third time,'' Shah said while addressing a rally at Rourkela. The state has 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats. Referring to the missing keys of the Puri Jagannath Temple 'Ratna Bhandar' (treasure chest), the BJP leader alleged that Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik is misleading people and playing with their faith. The missing keys of the Ratna Bhandar have been a major political issue in Odisha for the past few years. Shah said this election is to restore Odishas pride, language, culture and tradition. He also claimed that the Odisha government is run by officers.

Watch Latest Bhojpuri Devotional Song 'Teri Jai Ho Anjani Lala' Sung By Anu Dubey

Check out the latest Bhojpuri Devotional Song 'Teri Jai Ho Anjani Lala' sung by Anu Dubey. To know more about Anu Dubey's Devotional Bhojpuri song 'Teri Jai Ho Anjani Lala' enjoy the video. Check out Bhojpuri ETimes music videos section for more Bhojpuri songs, Anu Dubey, New Video Songs 2024 and Bhojpuri Gana Video Song.

PM Modi To Visit Odisha On May 19

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha on May 19, informed State BJP chief Manmohan Samal. Modi will hold a review meeting with party workers at the State BJP office. The next day, on May 20, he will visit Puri to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath before holding a roadshow there. He also [] The post PM Modi To Visit Odisha On May 19 appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Acer has launched the Acerpure brand in India. Introducing air purifiers, robot vacuum cleaners and

Acer unveiled its Acerpure sub-brand on Thursday, May 16, at an event in Bengaluru, India. Present in several Asian and European countries, this lifestyle brand is entering the Indian market with a range of new products including air purifiers, electric fans, rechargeable vacuum cleaners, robot vacuum cleaners, water purifiers and more. The newly launched Acerpure ... Read more

Watch The Latest Haryanvi Music Video For Lucky By Harjeet Deewana

Get ready to groove to the latest Haryanvi song Lucky, a sensational track by the talented Harjeet Deewana. The heartfelt lyrics of the song Lucky are penned by Amit Faridpuriya. Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience the magic of Harjeet Deewana in Lucky song. Visit the music videos section of Haryanvi ETimes for more exciting Haryanvi songs. Explore the musical brilliance of Harjeet Deewana, discover the latest Haryanvi video songs of 2024. Delight in the melodious compositions by Harjeet Deewana, indulge in the charm of Haryanvi Gana Video Songs.

Char Dham Yatra: Police warn pilgrims against registering for pilgrimage through fraudulent means

Char Dham Yatra: Police warn pilgrims against registering for pilgrimage through fraudulent means Warning pilgirms not to register for the Char Dham Yatra through fraudulent means, the Uttarkashi Police on Friday said necessary action will follow against those who do so. The police informed further that the ongoing pilgrimage to the Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham was going on smoothly without any disruption. The pilgrimage to Shri Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham is going on smoothly. All the pilgrimage routes are open. However, it has come to our notice that some people have embarked on the pilgrimage after registering for Char Dham through fraudulent means. Action will be taken against such people as per the law. Please plan on travel in accordance with the date of registration, read a post on the official X handle of Uttarkashi Police. Earlier, Rudraprayag Police launched 'Operation Maryada' to ensure that the civilised conduct of the pilgrims and the purity of the pilgrimage are maintained. As part of this drive, police are taking strict action against those found misbehaving with others and consuming alcohol or intoxicants in the Dham area and Yatra halts. The police have urged the crowd to behave in a civilised manner to maintain the sanctity of the pilgrimage. Rudraprayag Police is committed to ensuring a smooth and safe journey for the pilgrims embarking on the Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra, the post read. 'Operation Maryada' was launched by the district police for effective action against those who behave indecently and consume intoxicants in the Dham area and the Yatra halts, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Guptkashi, Harshvardhini Suman said. On May 15, Uttarakhand DGP Abhinav Kumar wrote to the director generals of police of all the states due to the unexpected crowd at the 'Char Dham Yatra'. Due to the unexpected crowding at the Char Dhams, I have written to the director generals of police of all the states, requesting them not to send any VIP from their respective states for the Char Dham Darshan till May 31, the Uttarakhand DGP told ANI. The Char Dham Yatra, which commenced on May 10, holds profound spiritual significance for millions in the country. This pilgrimage typically takes place between April-May and October-November every year. The Char Dham Yatra is a deeply spiritual tour of four of the country's holiest sites--Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. In Hindi, 'char' means four and 'dham' refers to religious destinations, according to the official portal of Uttarakhand Tourism. (ANI)

BJD Leader Kartik Pandian Hits Back At Opposition Leaders For Spreading False Narratives On Puri Mathas

Bhubaneswar: Senior Biju Janata Dal leader and 5T Chairman Kartik Pandian has hit back on the opposition leaders for spreading false narratives on the Mathas of Puri. In a video released on Instagram, Kartik Pandian has said that For ages, Mathas have had an organic connection with Jagannath culture. Over the years, a lot commercial [] The post BJD Leader Kartik Pandian Hits Back At Opposition Leaders For Spreading False Narratives On Puri Mathas appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Acer Launches Acerpure Brand in India; Brings Air Purifiers, Robotic Vacuum Cleaners, More

Acer unveiled its sub-brand Acerpure in India on Thursday (May 16) at an event in Bengaluru. The lifestyle brand available in several Asian and European countries makes its entry into the Indian market with a slew of new products including air purifiers, air circulator fans, cordless vacuum cleaners, robotic vacuum cleaners and water purifiers.

Raisin Water: The Rising Star in Health - What Is It, When to Drink, and Its Benefits

In the realm of wellness and health, new trends are constantly emerging, offering natural alternatives to enhance our well-being. One such trend gaining attention is raisin water, praised for its simplicity and potential health benefits. Lets delve into what raisin water is, when to drink it, and its numerous advantages. What is Raisin Water? Raisin water is exactly what its name suggests: water that has been infused with raisins. This straightforward concoction involves soaking raisins in water overnight, which allows the fruit to release its nutrients and flavor into the water. The resulting drink is a refreshing beverage that retains the nutritional benefits of raisins. When to Drink Raisin Water? The best time to drink raisin water is in the morning on an empty stomach. This allows your body to absorb the nutrients more effectively. Simply soak a handful of raisins in a glass of water the night before, and consume the infused water first thing in the morning. Benefits of Raisin Water: Rich in Nutrients: Raisins are packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They contain iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, among others, which are crucial for maintaining overall health. Improves Digestion: Raisin water acts as a natural laxative, aiding digestion and relieving constipation. The fiber content in raisins helps to regulate bowel movements and promote a healthy gut. Boosts Energy: Raisins are a concentrated source of natural sugars like glucose and fructose, which can provide a quick energy boost. This makes raisin water a beneficial drink for those needing a natural pick-me-up. Supports Bone Health: The calcium and boron in raisins contribute to better bone health and may help prevent conditions like osteoporosis. Fights Acidity: Raisin water has alkaline properties that help neutralize excess acidity in the stomach, reducing symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. Anti-inflammatory Properties: Raisins contain polyphenols and antioxidants, which have anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce inflammation in the body. Supports Heart Health: Potassium in raisins helps regulate blood pressure, reducing strain on the cardiovascular system and supporting heart health. Aids in Weight Management: Raisins are low in fat and rich in fiber, making raisin water a satisfying and low-calorie drink that may aid in weight management when consumed as part of a balanced diet. How to Make Raisin Water: Making raisin water is simple and requires minimal preparation: Ingredients: 1 cup of raisins and 4 cups of water. Instructions: Rinse the raisins thoroughly to remove any impurities. Place the rinsed raisins in a glass container or pitcher. Add 4 cups of water to the container. Cover the container and let the raisins soak overnight, or for at least 8 hours. In the morning, strain the raisins from the water and drink the infused water. Raisin water is a natural and nutritious beverage that offers a multitude of health benefits. From improving digestion to supporting heart health and providing an energy boost, this simple drink is a great addition to your daily routine. Incorporate raisin water into your mornings and experience the potential benefits it can offer your overall well-being. Why Hiccups? Quick Fixes and Genius Methods to Stop Them in Seconds Combatting the Silent Killer: The Significance of World Hypertension Day Why What You Eat in the Morning Matters More Than You Think

Indian Entrepreneurs Shine on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List , Who Are They?

Forbes recently unveiled its 30 Under 30 Asia list, celebrating 300 young entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators across the Asia-Pacific in various fields. Among them are several Indian entrepreneurs making waves in consumer technology. Raghav Arora and Akshit Bansal, founders of the EV charging startup Statiq, were recognized for their nationwide network of charging stations for electric vehicles. The duo, part of the 'Industry, Manufacturing and Energy' category, have secured $27.5 million in funding and are set to achieve profitability next year. Bhagya Shree Jain, founder of The Disposal Company (TDC), was featured in the 'Social Impact' category. TDC advises consumer goods firms on reducing plastic usage and brokers plastic credits to fund plastic waste collection. Aayush Anand, CEO of Ship Global Express, focuses on affordable international shipping for SMEs. His New Delhi-based firm raised $2.5 million in seed funding. Ankit Jain and Narayan Lal Gurjar, cofounders of EF Polymer, developed a biodegradable water-retention product for agriculture, raising over $4 million. Rahil Gupta, CTO of Hop Electric Mobility, designs electric motorbikes. His startup raised $6 million, including $2.6 million from a publicly listed Indian firm. Ankit Jaipuria, founder of ZYOD, supports small fashion brands in India with design and logistics services, raising $3.5 million in seed funding. Abhi Gawri and Alok Bagaria, creators of Loopworm, convert insects into animal feed, receiving $3.4 million in seed funding. Pranav Manpuria, cofounder of Flux Auto, develops autonomous driving software for forklifts, receiving nearly $6 million in funding. Arun Sreyas and Gautham Maheshwaran, cofounders of RACE Energy, offer swappable battery packs for auto-rickshaws, raising $4 million. Dinesh Venkatasami, Karthikeyan Adhikesavan, Keerthivasan Ravi, and Phunith Kumar V, founders of Raptee Energy, designed an electric motorbike with $5 million in funding, including $3 million from Bluehill Capital.

Chinese social media companies remove posts showing off wealth and worshipping money

Targeting posts boasting of personal wealth appears to be part of campaign to purify the internet cultural environment Chinese social media companies have launched a new crackdown on user content, targeting posts that show off personal wealth and financial extravagance. In a statement posted online on Wednesday, Weibo said it had spent this month carrying out special management work on undesirable value-orientated content, including content showing off wealth and worshipping money . Continue reading...

DMs asked to look after leprosy patients

BHUBANESWAR: The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday directed collectors of nine districts to strictly implement Orissa High Courts orders in connection with treatment, rehabilitation and other aspects of leprosy-affected persons. In a directive to collectors of Bargarh, Balasore, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Puri and Sundargarh, the department asked them to ensure regular visits of district welfare officers and medical teams to rehabilitation colonies of leprosy patients, cleaning and sanitation of the colonies, skill development of the patients and their families, and follow up on concerning issues relating to surgery, implants, distribution of micro-cellular rubber footwear, wheelchairs and other ancillary items to them. The high court had last year appointed three amicus curiaeadvocates Bibhu Prasad Tripathy, Gautam Mishra and Pami Rathto learn about the various problems faced by leprosy patients. A PIL was filed by Bipin Bihari Pradhan, general secretary of state leprosy welfare federation, in 2015, seeking direction to the government for effective implementation of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme.

Focus shifts to appointment of new Telangana Congress chief, Cabinet expansion

HYDERABAD: Now that the Telangana phase of the Lok Sabha elections is past, the talk in Congress corridors has shifted to the possibility of a new PCC president and expansion of the Cabinet. In all likelihood, the Congress high command will ask Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to step down as TPCC president by the end of June or the first week of July so that a leader from the BC community can succeed him in the post. If one goes by the animated discussions in Congress circles, senior leaders like Campaign Committee chairman Madhu Yaskhi Goud, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, MLC and working president Mahesh Kumar Goud are the front-runners for the TPCC chief post. On other hand, AICC secretary SA Sampath Kumar and TPCC working president T Jayaprakash Reddy alias Jagga Reddy are also expecting the post. According to sources in the Congress, the high command is contemplating appointing a leader from the BC community for the TPCC president post since the chief minister is from the Reddy community. A BC leader being appointed as the TPCC chief would balance the social equations. This was the setup in the Congress during the tenure of the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy as chief minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh when Dharmapuri Srinivas was the PCC chief. Meanwhile, speculation regarding the expansion of the state Cabinet continues to echo in Congress corridors, with party leaders talking about who would be the fortunate ones to fill the six vacant positions. According to sources in the Gandhi Bhavan, the high command is expected to give the green light to the chief minister to expand his Cabinet in the third or last week of June, after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are announced. Currently, there is no representation from Rangareddy, Adilabad, Nizamabad and Hyderabad districts in the Cabinet and MLAs from these regions remain optimistic about their chances. Former minister and Bodhan MLA P Sudharshan Reddy, Ibrahimpatnam MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy and Devarakonda MLA Balu Naik, along with first-time Makthal MLA V Srihari, are among those hoping for a Cabinet berth. From Adilabad, the contenders include Mancherial MLA Prem Sagar, former minister and Bellampalli MLA G Vinod, and first-time Khanapur MLA Edma Bojju. Interestingly, Congress leaders are discussing, albeit in private, about the chances of newly joined and soon-to-join MLAs from the BRS. From the BRS migrants, former deputy chief minister Kadiyam Srihari and former minister Danam Nagender could make it to the Cabinet. Additionally, there is talk that BRS MLAs might be accommodated in key positions such as corporation or board chairmanships if they join the Congress with certain assurances. This possibility has already sparked heated debates regarding the priority to migrants over leaders who have served the Congress for a long time. The coming two months are expected to witness a flurry of political activity in the state in the form of the expected Cabinet expansion and migrations of MLAs from the BRS. Contenders for Cabinet berths Former minister and Bodhan MLA P Sudharshan Reddy, Ibrahimpatnam MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy and Devarakonda MLA Balu Naik, along with first-time MLA V Srihari from Makthal, are among those hoping for a Cabinet berth.

Orissa HC stays NBW against ex-MP Anubhav

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Thursday stayed the execution of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against Kendrapara MP Anubhav Mohanty in a case of cruelty and insulting the modesty of woman brought by his wife Varsha Priyadarshini in December 2020, prior to their divorce. Anubhav had moved the high court for the cancellation of the NBW against him in the case. Senior advocate Pitambar Acharya argued on behalf of Anubhav, who joined the BJP on April 1. While issuing the interim order, the single judge bench of Justice BP Routray directed that the execution of the NBW ordered on May 13 for the production of Anubhav shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing on July 8, 2024. The court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Cuttack, dealing with cases against MPs and MLAs, had directed the inspector-in-charge of Purighat police station to execute the non-bailable arrest warrant by May 23. Initially, Anubhav was summoned by the trial court to appear before it on May 10 for framing of charges in the criminal proceedings arising out of the complaint lodged by Varsha. The framing of charges was deferred to May 13 as Anubhav moved a time petition on that day. But when a time-petition was again moved by his counsel on Monday the trial court issued the NBW. On December 19, 2020, the Purighat police station had registered the case on the complaint in which Varsha had alleged that Anubhav and his two aides Sujit Dalei and Khagendra Prasad Sahoo had locked her up in a room in his house at Nandi Sahi in Cuttack.

People will not tolerate insult to CM: Pandian

BHUBANESWAR: Star campaigner of BJD VK Pandian on Thursday said people of Odisha will not tolerate ministers from Chhattisgarh disrespecting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during their poll campaign and give a befitting reply to them. Launching a marathon campaign in Balangir Lok Sabha constituency during which he addressed election meetings at Titlagarh, Kantabanji, Patnagarh and Loisingha, Pandian said BJP leaders are talking about Odia Asmita but abusing the most popular leader of the state with most disrespectful words. You should give a befitting reply to this, he added. Pandian said an attempt was made to throw footwear at the chief minister during by-poll to Bijepur Assembly constituency, but the BJP candidate lost by over 45,000 votes as people did not accept such behaviour. Similarly, eggs were hurled at the chief minister while he was returning after laying foundation of Srimandir Parikrama project at Puri and the BJP lost the zilla parishad elections, he said. Stating people of Odisha will give a befitting reply to the verbal assault on the chief minister, the star campaigner said BJD will return to power. The BJP leaders do not know to what extent people love the chief minister, he said. Pandian urged the people to respond decisively in the ongoing elections to counter such behaviour. The 5T chairman said the victory margin of the chief minister from Kantabanji will break all records. There were offers from several places for the chief minister to contest and he selected Kantabanji, he said adding this will lead to further development of the region. If any person other than the chief minister wins, it will take the region 25 years back, he said.

Niladri Mahodaya observed in Srimandir

PURI: Niladri Mahodaya, the foundation day of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri was observed with traditional fervour and according to the prescribed guidelines of the shrine on Wednesday. As per the Madala panji, (almanac) Srimandir was consecrated on this day which falls on Astami Tithi, and idols of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra installed on the Ratnasimhasan. The occasion holds significance as it is one of the 12 important festivals observed in the temple. The day began with performance of Mangala Arati by the temple servitors followed by Tadap Lagi, Abakash and Rosa Homa. Thereafter, Sakal Dhupa was offered to the Trinity following which they were smeared with sandalwood paste and bathed in 108 pitchers of aromatic water by the Puspalak servitors. The deities were then offered Ghantachhata bhog, Jaata bhog and Madhyahna dhupa (lunch). This was followed by a complex set of rituals like offering sacrifices to Dasa digapal (lords of direction) and other deities, which continued till late in the night till the representative idol of Lord Jagannath (Madan Mohan), his consort Goddess Lakshmi and Panch Mahadevas returned after participating in the Chandan Yatra.

Rs 1 crore cash, kilo of gold seized from absconding cops house in Maharashtras Beed district

Rs 1 crore cash, kilo of gold seized from absconding cops house in Maharashtras Beed district The police in Maharashtras Beed district have seized Rs 1.08 crore cash and gold and jewellery worth Rs 72 lakh from the house of a cop named in a corruption case, an official said on Friday. Police inspector Haribhau Khade (52) has been on the run since he was named in the graft case on May 15. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has booked Khade and two others for allegedly demanding Rs 1 crore, which they later brought down to Rs 30 lakh, for not making a complainant an accused in a case, the official said. The ACB first trapped one of the accused, Kushak Jain (29), after he collected the initial instalment of Rs 5 lakh. After getting a warrant, the police on Thursday searched Khades house in the Chanakyapuri area of Beed. They seized Rs 1.08 crore cash, 970 grams of gold biscuits and jewellery worth Rs 72 lakh and 5.5 kg of silver, he said. The police have also seized property documents concerning four flats and a commercial shop owned by Khade, the official added.

Lalu's daughter seeks to wrest back her father's stronghold Saran

Lalu's daughter seeks to wrest back her father's stronghold Saran Sitting BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy's remark that ''my name could enter record books for winning against the maximum number of members of one family'' has set the political mood in Bihar's Saran where RJD president Lalu Prasad's daughter Rohini Acharya has entered the fray to wrest back her father's erstwhile pocket borough. Rudy, a former Union minister, who lost to Prasad whenever the RJD supremo was himself in the fray, has been successful against the latter's wife Rabri Devi in 2014. Five years later, Rudy defeated Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav's father-in-law Chandrika Roy. Acharya, 47, happens to be the sixth member of her family, and fourth among her siblings to enter politics, yet, in more than one respect, she stands out as an atypical politician. Rudy, 62, had made his debut in parliamentary elections in 1996 from Chhapra, as Saran was known before the 2008 delimitation. In 2004, Prasad wrested the seat in a contest marred by large-scale electoral violence that had necessitated a repoll in the entire constituency. Five years later, Prasad retained Saran, which made up for an embarrassing defeat in Pataliputra, and he held the seat till 2013, when conviction in a fodder scam case caused disqualification and debarment from contesting polls. A qualified doctor, Acharya got married at an early age and chose not to pursue a career but settle abroad with her computer engineer husband and raise their two kids. For quite some time, though, Acharya had been demonstrating that she was no run-of-the-mill homemaker. Be it her stunning decision to donate a kidney to her father or her doughty social media combatant avatar, whenever her family faced a political crisis back home, Acharya grabbed eyeballs. No wonder that the air was thick with anticipation when she arrived in Saran to win back for her father's party the seat from where he had begun his political journey as a young MP in 1977, riding high on the Janata Party wave. The crowds roared in response to her salutation, in chaste Bhojpuri ''raua sab ke gor laagatani (I prostrate before you all)'' and as she launched into her speech, invoking the memory of legendary poet Bhikhari Thakur, it became clear that she had spark. Speaking in the presence of the RJD's two biggest crowd pullers, her father and younger brother Tejashwi Yadav, Acharya demonstrated that she could hold her own as she weighed the track record of Prasad against that of Rudy. ''My father got a rail wheel plant set up in Saran while he was the Railway minister. The current MP had been the Union minister for skill development. He should tell us what he did for the youth here during his tenure'', Acharya said, evoking cheers from the crowds and making it clear that she was new, but not a novice. The BJP seems to have realised that its challenger here is no pushover, a reason why the party has run a high-profile campaign in the constituency. The filing of nomination papers was followed, immediately, by a rally of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in an obvious bid to galvanize Rajput voters. The Defence minister also referred to Rudy being a trained pilot and remarked ''he will send his opponents flying''. On paper, both parties look equally well-placed. In 2019, Rudy won by a comfortable margin of just under 95,000 votes. A year later, in the Vidhan Sabha polls, RJD clawed back, grabbing four of the six assembly segments falling in the Lok Sabha constituency. As such, Saran is likely to be one of the most keenly watched seats, in Bihar and beyond, when polling takes place on May 20 and votes are counted on June 4.