Kamal Haasan’s MNM demands repoll in booth in local body elections

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Kamal Haasan’s MNM demands repoll in booth in local body elections

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has demanded the cancellation of the urban local body elections at a booth in Keeranur Municipality as the poster pasted outside of it did not contain the party’s ‘torch light’ symbol.

According to MNM, the non-printing of its electoral symbol in the posters pasted outside the polling booth in Keeranur Municipality Ward No.5 is an act of denying the fundamental right of its candidate.

The State Election Commission has to ensure the existence of the electoral symbol in the posters as well as in the voting machines before the start of polling, MNM said.

If this is not done then the polling in that booth should be canceled and repoll should be held, the party demanded.

Polling has been peaceful for the urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu began at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning.

About 2.79 crote voters are expected to vote in over 30,000 booths to elect their representatives in the urban local bodies.

Except for minor glitches in the Electronic Voting Machines in some booths, polling is smooth in other centers.

While several parties are in the contest, the fight is largely between the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK.

The counting of votes will be on February 22.

PM Modi flags off 100 kisan drones

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PM Modi flags off 100 kisan drones

In a special drive aimed at helping farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off 100 kisan drones across different cities and towns for spraying pesticides or carrying agro-products to markets.

Participating in a virtual ceremony coordinated by Manesar, PM Modi enumerated the various sectors where the drones are already being used. He cited examples of 1,000 drones displayed during the Beating Retreat, SVAMITVA scheme for surveying and documenting land records and supplying medicines, vaccines in inaccessible areas.

“Spraying of fertilizers is also being done by drones. ‘Kisan drones’ is a new age revolution. Very soon, high-capacity drones will help the farmers send fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers straight to the market. Fisherfolks can send fresh catch from lakes, rivers, or from seas directly for selling,” Modi said.

“If the farmers’ or fishers get to send their products in the shortest time with minimal damage, it will lead to an increased income for them, the Prime Minister said, and added,

“A whole lot of such opportunities are knocking at our doors. I am happy that many other companies in the country are headed in this direction.”

India is witnessing a new ecosystem for drone StartUps. Soon, they will be in thousands, he said, and asserted: “I am sure, India will lead the world in this field.”

The occasion, he said, will not just be a milestone for the drone sector but also open up a multitude of possibilities as he said: “I have been told that Garud Aerospace has planned 1 lakh ‘Made in India’ drones in the next two years. This will give employment and opportunities to hundreds of youths.”

The budget announcements this year had prioritized technology and innovations and mentioned the use of kisan drones among the varied sectors wherein drones can be used.

“We have reposed our faith in the young talent and brought in new suitable policies,” PM Modi said and appreciated the youngsters taking risks in the new field even as he assured that the Centre will always back them.

KTR to address Harvard India conference

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KTR to address Harvard India conference

Telangana’s Minister for Information Technology and Industries K. T. Rama Rao will address Harvard India Conference 2022.

The minister has received an invitation to take part in the conference being held virtually from February 18 to 20.

KTR, as the minister is popularly known, will be the keynote speaker at the conference. He will deliver the address on February 20, at 6.30 p.m.IST.

The theme of this year’s Conference is India @ 2030 – A Transformational Decade.

Minister KTR will share his thoughts on Telangana’s effective policy design and implementation, IT-driven growth of Telangana, ease of doing business, women-centric business incubators, and the developmental vision for 2030.

KTR thanked the organizers for the invitation and stated that he looks forward to sharing his ideas at the conference.

Polling underway for TN Urban polls; Superstar Vijay casts vote at Neelangari

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Polling underway for TN Urban polls; Superstar Vijay casts vote at Neelangari

Voting for the Tamil Nadu Urban local body polls got underway on Saturday morning amid tight security and strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.

Tamil Super Star Vijay cast his vote at a booth at Neelangari in Chennai corporation.

After casting his vote, Vijay told media persons that everyone should exercise their voting rights in a democracy and called upon people to vote in large numbers.

Speculations were rife over the entry of Vijay in politics in the near future as his fans association ‘Vijay Makkal Iyyakam’ has supported several candidates in the last rural local body elections.

The state is going for polls after a gap of eleven years. The election commenced at 7 a.m and will continue till 6 p.m. However, the last one hour of voting from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. has been reserved exclusively for Covid -19 patients.

About 57,770 candidates are in the fray for over 12,500 ward member posts in 21 corporations, 138 municipalities, and 489 town panchayats across the state.

Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner V. Palanikumar said that of the 30,735 polling booths set up across the state, 5,960 were categorized as sensitive booths.

Polling in the sensitive booths is being streamlined live and CCTV cameras are installed in 268 counting centers.

Palanikumar said voters cannot carry mobile phones in the booths. Other than electoral voter ID cards, voters can use 11 other documents as identity proof.

Meanwhile, voting was delayed for more than an hour at ward 24 in Ambur municipality due to malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting machine. Confusion prevailed in several wards of Chennai corporation as booth slips were not available for voters.

Heavy rush is seen in several districts of Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Erode, Salem, Tirunelvelli, and Kanniyakumari.

The ruling DMK-led front is in a direct fight with the opposition AIADMK-led front in the elections.

The AIADMK front is weakened following the PMK and the BJP announcing that they were contesting the polls alone but the party has its strength in several urban constituencies of the state and hence according to poll pundits, it will not be easy for the DMK.

The counting of votes will take place on February 22.

President to witness Fleet Review in Vizag

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President to witness Fleet Review in Vizag

President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Odisha on Saturday and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday when he will witness the Naval Fleet Review and Flypast at Visakhapatnam.

On February 20, he will inaugurate the three-year-long celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad, the founder of Gaudiya Math and Mission in Puri, a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Friday.

On February 21, the President will witness the Fleet Review and Flypast at Visakhapatnam. “The President of India as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces reviews the Indian NavalA Fleet once in his/her term as part of the ‘President’s Fleet Review’,” it added.

PM hosting prominent Sikhs will benefit in Punjab polls, feels BJP

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The BJP believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with prominent Sikhs from across the country might help the party in the Punjab assembly polls. Two days before the polling for the Punjab Assembly, Modi on Friday hosted them at his official residence here.

The BJP claimed the Prime Minister hosting the prominent Sikhs will help the party by sending a message to the people of Punjab that he is deeply connected with the community and understands their concerns and issues.

“First of all let me make it clear that it was an ‘apolitical’ meeting and it has nothing to do with the Punjab assembly polls. But meeting prominent citizens of any community helps the government and the party to reach out to them. A Prime Minister hosting prominent Sikhs from across the country would most probably help the BJP to win the support of the community and might help in the assembly polls. But the political benefit of the interaction will only be known after the declaration of results,” a BJP leader said.

Another party leader aware of Punjab politics said that the interaction will help the BJP to dispel the anti-Sikh misconception built around it.

“Some people with vested political interests created a perception that the BJP is anti-Sikh. We hope that meetings of prominent Sikhs from across the country will help in clearing the misconception. It might also help the party in the Punjab assembly polls,” he said.

Some in the BJP, however, doubt any major political benefits from the meeting. “We don’t really know what will be the political benefits of meeting prominent Sikh citizens just two days before the polling,” another BJP leader said.

In a series of tweets after the interaction, Prime Minister Modi said, “This morning, I met a wide range of people from the Sant Samaj and Sikh community. These are distinguished individuals who are at the forefront of popularising Sikh culture and serving society. I was humbled by the kind words from the distinguished members of the Sikh community on various efforts of the Central Government. I consider it my honor that the respected Sikh Gurus have taken Seva from me and their blessings have enabled me to work for society,” the Prime Minister said.

In the morning the Prime Minister hosted the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee Harmeet Singh Kalka, Padma Shri Baba Balbir Singh Ji Sichewal, Mahant Karamjit Singh, President Sewapanthi from Yamuna Nagar, Baba Joga Singh from Dera Baba Jang Singh (Nanaksar) Karnal, Sant Baba Major Singh Waa from Mukhi Dera Baba Tara Singh Waa, Amritsar.

The other prominent Sikhs were Jathedar Baba Sahib Singh (Kar Sewa Anandpur Sahib), Surinder Singh Namdhari Darbar (Bheni Sahib), Baba Jassa Singh Shiromani Akali Budha Dal, Panjwa Takht, Dr. Harbhajan Singh, Damdami Taksal, Chowk Mehta, and Singh Sahib Giani Ranjit Singh, Jathedar Takht Sri Patna Sahib.

Congress promises Rs 1,100 per month to women, eight LPG cylinders in Punjab

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Congress promises Rs 1,100 per month to women, eight LPG cylinders in Punjab

With less than two days to go for the polling in Punjab, the state’s ruling Congress on Friday released its manifesto, promising one lakh government jobs and Rs 1,100 per month to women with eight free cooking gas cylinders per year.

The party also promised to end the mafia raj by creating corporations for the sale of liquor and sand mining.

State party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said the party’s government would procure oilseed, pulses, and corn from farmers. Sidhu said the party’s 13-point agenda reflects Rahul Gandhi’s vision.

“Anybody can be the pilot when the sea is calm, but when there’s a storm, we should be able to convert adversity into opportunity. That’s the aim of this manifesto,” Sidhu told the media here.

The manifesto also talks about free education for all needy students and bringing 170 services online for the people of the state.

The manifesto has many promises which Sidhu had listed under his Punjab model with a focus on the youth, skilling, and entrepreneurship.

“The youth, skilling, and rntrepreneurship program can change the face of the state. It’s time to be a part of this change and create the future we want the next generation to live in,” he added.

The campaign for the Assembly election ended Friday evening and will go to the polls for 117-member Assembly on February 20 and the counting of ballots on March 10.

Amarinder effect, infighting could cost Cong dear in Punjab

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Amarinder effect, infighting could cost Cong dear in Punjab

The Congress is fighting a high-pitched battle in Punjab and the Aam Aadmi Party has surprised everyone with the tough challenge it has mounted against the incumbent government led by chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Congress leaders privately admit that former CM Amarinder Singh is harming the party and the interference from Delhi in the affairs of the state has made matters worse.

Sources in the Punjab Congress and various MPs say that the infighting has intensified since the elevation of former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu as party state president. Amarinder floating his own political outfit has affected the party’s prospects in the state, the state.

The Congress leaders who are opposed to Sidhu have also objected to the party’s decision to expel many leaders including Kewal Singh Dhillon. “Shocked to read @KewalDhillonINC summarily expelled from @INCIndia without even as much as a notice. When no one was prepared to invest a penny in Punjab during days of terror he brought @PepsiCo to Punjab in the 1980s. He was a Congressman when it was an invitation to assassination” Congress MP Manish Tewari said.

The party is facing an onslaught from Amarinder Singh who is contesting in alliance with the BJP. Congress leaders have been saying privately that Amarinder is damaging the party and can defeat the party candidates in two dozen seats. However, Congress has rubbished the claims, saying that Amarinder is a spent force in the state and that Congress will emerge victoriously.

The state is going to the polls on Sunday and two days before it the Congress has tried to corner the AAP over the statements made by former AAP leader and founder Kumar Vishwas. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal has termed it as a comedy and compared himself with Bhagat Singh which the Congress is terming as an insult to freedom fighters.

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said: “While Shaheed Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for the nation, Arvind Kejriwal is not willing to give up even one of his posts. He is both CM and National Convenor of AAP due to his lust for power. Kejriwal comparing himself to Bhagat Singh is an insult to our freedom fighters & reflects his desperation for votes.”

The Punjab Congress is witnessing turmoil since the party’s central leadership gave prominence to Navjot Singh Sidhu as many in the party are opposed to him.

Traditional parties conspiring against me: Kejriwal

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Traditional parties conspiring against me: Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said all the three traditional parties — the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Congress, and the BJP — are conspiring against him and have come together to defeat his party.

“Under a well-thought-out strategy, all the corrupt people are assembling and calling me a terrorist,” he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal said the British had called freedom fighter Bhagat Singh a terrorist because they were afraid of him.

“These corrupt people are afraid of ending their business of loot and corruption, that’s why everyone is calling me a terrorist,” he claimed.

Addressing the media here, he said all the parties were opposing the AAP because it is talking about building good schools and hospitals for the people of Punjab. The AAP is talking about providing good education and medical facilities to the people. It is talking about arranging free electricity, water, and free treatment for the common people.

“There is talk of setting up ‘mohalla’ clinics and village clinics. We are talking about giving employment to the youth by taking them out of the clutches of drugs, talking about improving the condition of the farmers, and paying them on time. We are talking about giving Rs 1,000 every month to empower women and we are talking about ending corruption and mafia from Punjab.

“On the other hand, the Akali Dal, the Congress, and the BJP only talk about defeating us. In fact, these parties have no issues left to seek votes. All they care about is forming their government at any cost and looting the tax money of the public. Now the loot of these people is about to end. That is why these people have gathered in anger against us.”

Kejriwal said in the last 70 years, these corrupt parties together looted and indebted Punjab to the tune of Rs 3 lakh crore.

Punjab is scheduled to go to the polls on February 20.

CBI probe exposes YSRCP leaders in Vivekananda Reddy murder case: TDP chief

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CBI probe exposes YSRCP leaders in Vivekananda Reddy murder case: TDP chief

TDP National President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu have alleged that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government was badly exposed following what he called shocking revelations in the CBI probe in the Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case.

Naidu claimed that it was clearly established that YSRCP MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy was the first person to visit the murder spot and to tamper with the evidence. Though facts were revealed about the YSRCP leaders’ involvement, CM’s Advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy was wrongly saying that the CBI was targetting the victims.

The TDP chief said the ruling YSRCP leaders were expecting all sections of the people to blindly believe like sheep in whatever they would say and do. “How could Sajjala say that the YSRCP leaders were the victims in the Viveka murder? It was because of his daughter’s court petition that the CBI probed and cracked the Viveka murder mystery,” he said.

Naidu blamed the present YSRCP leaders for the brutal killing of Paritala Ravindra and the subsequent elimination of witnesses in that murder case. They also tried to kill their party MP Raghu Rama Raju but the courts saved him. The YSRCP rule was more horrifying than that of terrorists and demons. Jagan Reddy was aiming to perpetuate his misrule forever through a reign of terror.

Chandrababu Naidu recalled how DGP Gautham Sawang was unceremoniously removed after misusing his services for harassing political opponents. The DGP said, in the beginning, there was no ganja trade in the city but he himself ordered the burning of Rs 1,500 crore of ganja. It was after the TDP exposed the CM’s ‘use and throw’ mindset that the transferred DGP was now reportedly given posting in the APPSC.

The TDP chief said that their party strongly protested against the appointment of tainted jailor Varuna Reddy at Kadapa Central Prison. Just like the witnesses in the Paritala Ravi murder, they hatched conspiracies to kill witnesses in the Viveka murder. Following the TDP’s objections, Varuna Reddy was transferred out of Kadapa.

Naidu said in the murder case of his own uncle, Jagan Reddy first petitioned the court for a CBI probe but later withdrew his petition saying there was no need for that. The YSRCP leaders first reported the Viveka death as a natural death due to a heart attack but were forced to change their story.

Chandrababu Naidu deplored that the Jagan regime targetted and tried to suppress the employees just like he was suppressing political opponents. When the NGOs and teachers’ Chalo Vijayawada became a success, the CM became angry and sent Sawang home. The TDP would not support what Sawang did in the past but his humiliation was yet another testimony to the absence of rule of law in Andhra Pradesh, he added.

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