Tharu community to be linked to home stay scheme

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Tharu community to be linked to home stay scheme

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is now working proactively to take the culture and traditions of the Tharu tribes to the people across the globe.

Tharu villages in Uttar Pradesh will now be part of the mainstream development and also focus on economic development.

The state government is working on a new and special scheme for the Tharu villages in Balrampur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur, and Pilibhit wherein they will be connected to the Home Stay scheme of the Forest department.

Once they are part of this scheme, the Tharu villages will not only be economically independent but would also create jobs for the people there.

These villages will be connected to the Home Stay of the UP-Forest Corporation, without disrupting their existing environment and tourists will be able to live in these natural habitats in these huts.

The forest corporation would also train the Tharu people to communicate in a better way to the tourist and to behave in a proper way with the visitors.

The villagers would also be trained to inform the visitors of the security, safety, cleanliness, and the rules and laws of the jungles.

By allowing them to avail accommodation facilities in their huts and eat home-cooked food by them, the Tharu people will also be able to charge them good amounts.

Every year hundreds of domestic and international tourists will be able to have a peek into the special culture of the Tharu tribes, stay with them, study and observe their lifestyle, food habits, culture, and their attires.

According to additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Eva Sharma, the Forest Corporation is expanding the Home Stay scheme and work was underway to link it to Thar families.

Yogi Adityanath has been making continuous efforts for the economic and social development of the Tharu community.

According to the 2011 census the number of scheduled castes in Uttar Pradesh is 11,34,273.

According to an estimate, their number has crossed the figure of 20 lakhs in the last nine years and the largest number belongs to the Tharu community.

Jagan not distributing ready houses to beneficiaries: TDP

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Jagan not distributing ready houses to beneficiaries: TDP

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and opposition leader in Andhra Pradesh, Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, slammed Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for allegedly not distributing the TIDCO homes to eligible people in the state.

“We have built 2.62 lakh houses for eligible people in gated communities. Former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu took up this project with utmost priority, but this CM (Reddy) is not distributing them,” said Atchannaidu.

He said those houses were built with the Central government help and some contribution from the beneficiaries, tying up with the banks.

The TDP president said the houses were built in many cities as gated communities, some of which may have small deficiencies such as lack of water or roads but all of them were ready.

“We selected the beneficiaries through online mode, we checked who is eligible, who doesn’t have a house, we took a little beneficiary contribution from them and tied up with the banks,” said Atchannaidu.

The opposition leader said everybody should notice this development of not distributing the ready homes, which should have happened even when a government changes.

“But this CM, despite the houses being completed is just keeping the keys with him and not distributing,” claimed Atchannaidu.

He criticized Reddy that instead of giving away the ready homes, he was trying to distribute some lands to people which are located in graveyards and those belonging to the government and SC and ST communities.

Atchannaidu said the Chief Minister was trying to show off as if nobody had ever distributed land before.

YouTube refuses to block video that claims Trump won election

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YouTube refuses to block video that claims Trump won election

Google-owned YouTube has refused to block a video that claims US President Donald Trump has won the election, saying the video does not violate its election misinformation policies.

The video, titled “Trump Won. MSM hopes you don’t believe your eyes,” was published by a pro-Trump group called One American News Network (OANN) on Wednesday.

YouTube said the video violates its advertising guidelines but not it’s content policies, reports CNBC.

Seen by over 3 lakh people, the video continues to make unsubstantiated claims of “rampant voter fraud” against Republican ballots while urging viewers to “take action” against Democrats.

YouTube, however, said it has discontinued ads on the video.

“We do not allow ads to run on content that undermines confidence in elections with demonstrably false information,” the company was quoted as saying.

“The election has not been called. Therefore, this is in the scope of our demonstrably false policy and will be demonetized on YouTube”.

In the video, an OANN anchor said Trump won another term, claiming that Trump would win a number of swing states if it weren’t for voter fraud.

A panel appeared below the OANN video stating that election results “may not be final”.

People of Bihar will vote for Mahagathbandhan: Rahul

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People of Bihar will vote for Mahagathbandhan: Rahul

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a poll campaign in Araria has come out with a spin-off of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) by dubbing it Modi Voting Machine (MVM).

Asserting that the youth of Bihar are angry, the Congress leader said: “EVM or MVM will not matter anymore. People of Bihar will vote for Mahagathbandhan (Congress-RJD-Left combine).”

“We have a life-time relationship with the people of Bihar. He (PM Narendra Modi) used to spread hatred in society. Hatred cannot be defeated through hatred but by love,” he said.

“If his (PM’s) fight was against black money, why did he put our farmers, laborers, traders in the queue of banks during demonetization. Were they in the possession of black money?” he wondered.

“During lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic, the PM did not think once and imposed it. Did the PM not know that crores of people in our country are daily wages labourers,” the Congress leader said.

“I want to ensure you if Mahagathbandhan forms the government in Bihar, it will be a government for every religion, caste, poor and labourers. We will change the state together,” Gandhi said.

ECI to tell world how Bihar polls are held amid pandemic

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ECI to tell world how Bihar polls are held amid pandemic

The Election Commission of India is organizing an International Virtual Election Visitors Programme for foreign election management bodies (EMBs) from November 5-7 in the context of the ongoing Bihar Legislative Assembly Elections.

In the past, ECI had organized International Election Visitors Programmes (IEVPs) for foreign EMBs during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, elections for a few state Assemblies in 2017, and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“Bihar has an electorate of over 72 million, one of the largest in the world to vote so far amid the Covid-19 pandemic. This provides us with an opportunity to share our best practices and experience of the conduct of our poll process during the pandemic period,” said the ECI in a statement.

Delegates from over 40 countries across the world including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malawi, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Mauritius, Nepal, the Philippines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Zambia, besides three international organizations — International IDEA, International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES) and Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).

The programme for IEVP 2020 comprises an online briefing session on November 5 which would provide the participants an overview of the large canvas of the Indian electoral process, the new initiatives taken by the ECI on voter facilitation, transparency, and accessibility of electoral system; and ECI’s response to the changing needs of training and capacity building.

The keynote address at the inaugural session will be delivered by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. The session will also be addressed by Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Sushil Chandra.

On the second day, the programme will provide an overview of the commission’s flagship programme for voter awareness – SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation). The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar will share the state’s experiences with the global audience.

The participants are also being invited to a virtual tour of polling stations in Bihar. The visit will be amplified by exclusive footage, a walkthrough of the electoral process, and various arrangements at the polling station for a free, fair, participative, and safe election.

If voted to power, will fulfill aspirations of Bihar: Modi

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If voted to power, will fulfill aspirations of Bihar: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed the opposition parties saying they only learned to “divide” society and win irrespective of anything else. He said while the NDA government ensured the fulfillment of all basic facilities in Bihar during its last tenure, it will now fulfill all “aspirations” of the people if elected to power.

The Prime Minister once again took a jibe at former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Tejashwi Yadav. Without naming them, Modi said the people of Bihar have “rejected jungle raj and double Yuvraj” over the double engine government of the BJP and the JD-U.

Addressing a public rally here, Modi said, “Today the condition of Congress is such that it does not have even 100 MPs in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.”

Slamming the opposition parties, Modi said, “Opposition has learned only to divide society and win irrespective of anything else. They are looting people. But the people of the nation have understood what the truth is.”

He said the return of the “double-engine” government will help the state progress at a faster pace and the people of Bihar have rejected the “jungle raj” and double “Yuvraj”, without naming Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav.

He said that those who are in opposition to the NDA are again looking at Bihar with “greed”. “But people of Bihar know, who is serious for the development and who is serious for the development of their family,” Modi said.

He said today the rule of the family is being defeated and democracy is winning, “rangbaazi and rangdari” are being defeated and development is winning.

“Today arrogance is being defeated and the hard work is winning, scams are being defeated and the rights of people are winning, ‘gundagardi’ is being defeated and the rule of law is winning,” Modi said.

Highlighting the works of the NDA in the state, Modi said, “In the last decade, every house in the state got electricity and gas connections. Now, from 2021 to 2030, it is time to fulfill more aspirations of the people of Bihar. And, now after the electricity grid and water grid, the stress is on developing the gas grid connectivity.”

Modi claimed that each and every woman of Bihar was determined to vote for the NDA because he cares about India’s mothers and daughters.

“Now I am seeing on social media in Bihar that the women are backing me. They are saying whatever the gents do, but we will support Modi because he works for them,” he said.

“The NDA has given poor their right to vote in the real sense. All social categories of Bihar have the right to choose a leader of their choice.”

“If the poor would have not got the right to vote, then I would not have become the ‘Pradhan Sewak’ to serve the people,” Modi said.

He reminded the RJD of its 15 year-rule and said, “Bihar cannot forget those days when elections were made a joke. For them the election meant violence, murder, booth capturing and the right of vote snatched from the poor and the marginalized,” he said.

“The people of the ‘jungle raj’ used to snatch the rights of the poor by locking them inside their house. And the NDA gave the right to vote to all the poor. Now people have the right to elect their representative and government,” Modi said.

“The kind of indication we are getting after the polling in the first phase, it is clear that the NDA is going to form the government in the state,” said Modi.

He said the people have decided to take Bihar to new heights. Modi also hailed the people of the state for coming out to vote during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Voting for Phase 2 of Bihar Assembly elections is underway in 94 constituencies in 17 districts. In phase 1, held on October 28, 71 constituencies went to vote. The third and final phase of voting is scheduled for November 7 and the results will be declared on November 10.

19.26% polling in Bihar, expected to pick up speed: Poll official

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19.26% polling in Bihar, expected to pick up speed: Poll official

Around 19.26 percent polling was recorded before noon on Tuesday in 94 Bihar Assembly segments in 17 districts, though it was expected to pick up speed as the day progressed, an official said.

Muzaffarpur district with 26.09 percent polling led the table, followed by Gopalganj at 24.12 percent. West Champaran district registered 21.99 percent polling by 11 am.

Polling percentage in Sheohar was 19.25, Sitamarhi 20.22, Madhubani 18.13, Vaishali 20.33, Samastipur 21.76, Begusarai 19.01, East Champaran 15.76, Darbhanga 15.65, Siwan 15.96, Saran 16.69, Khagaria 19.57, Bhagalpur 20.08, Nalanda 20.20, and Patna 18.16.

Officials received a few complaints about non-functioning EVMs and VVPATs in six districts. A group of women in Gopalgang refused to vote at a polling booth after alleging that the EVM had been tampered with.

An official at the election control room in Patna said booth number 89 in Darbhanga, 121 in Gopalgang, and 136 in Muzaffarpur reported technical glitches and errors in EVMs during mock polling in a polling booth in Ugiyarpur constituency.

During the second phase of polling, first-time voter Priyanka, 19, came on a bicycle to cast her vote along with her grandmother in the Raj Bhavan polling booth on Tuesday morning.

“I am very happy to cast my vote for the first time. I pressed the EVM button while keeping the jobs issue in mind,” she said.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi cast his vote at Kumhrar’s St Joseph High School in Patna district. “I appeal to the people of Bihar to come out and cast their votes by following Covid norms,” he said.

During the polling, some voters raised objections over the VIP treatment to Sushil Modi. Many voters claimed that they had been standing in queues for half an hour but he just arrived and cast his vote without standing in a queue.

Chandrika Rai, Janata Dal-United candidate, also cast his vote in Vaishali. He lashed out at Lok Janshakti Party President Chirag Paswan and said that he did not know the ground realities in Bihar. “He lives in Delhi, wears branded clothes, and follows 5-star culture. He doesn’t know the ground situation in Bihar,” he said.

As per the Election Commission, Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district is the largest Assembly segment going to polls in the second phase, with 3.34 lakh voters, including 1.78 lakh males, 1.56 lakh females, and 12 transgenders.

Cherie Bariyarpur is the smallest segment with 2.48 lakh voters, including 1.30 lakh males, 1.17 females, and 12 transgenders.

Polling in 94 Assembly segments in 17 districts will be held from 7 am till 6 pm. The polling in some sensitive constituencies will end at 4 pm as per the Election Commission (EC) directions.

Average voter turnout in UP bypolls

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Average voter turnout in UP bypolls

With leaders across all parties appealing to voters in the seven Assembly constituencies where polling is being held for by-elections on Tuesday, to vote in large numbers, the polling percentage hovered around an average of 18.4 percent at noon.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, state BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati urged voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers.

Meanwhile, Naugawan Sadat in Amroha — the constituency that fell vacant following the death of state minister Chetan Chauhan — recorded a voter turnout of 23 percent at 11.a.m, while Deoria recorded an 18 percent turnout.

Ghatampur and Tundla witnessed a 14 and 17 percent turnout respectively, and Bangarmau was at 20 percent. Makhani ranked lower at 15 percent and Bulandshahr recorded 19 percent voter turnout.

Some villages in Tundla and Bangarmau announced that they were boycotting the by-elections due to lack of development, but local officials convinced them and later the villagers agreed to vote.

Meanwhile, polling officials have ensured that safety protocols are strictly following at polling stations.

K’taka bypolls: Voting for 2 seats underway

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K’taka bypolls: Voting for 2 seats underway

Voting for by-polls to two seats in Karnataka commenced on Tuesday morning amid tight security following Covid pandemic norms. Voting began at 7 a.m. and will continue till 6 p.m.

The electoral fortune of 31 candidates including four women, will be decided by around 6.76-lakh electorate, including 7,000 first-time voters.

Of the four women candidates, Congress has fielded political novice, H. Kusuma, widow of former IAS officer, D.K. Ravi and Janata Dal (S) has fielded Ammajamma, widow of B. Sathyanarayana in Sira, about 120 km northwest of Bengaluru. The Sira by-poll was necessitated after the death of B. Satyanarayana on August 5 after a prolonged illness.

While the RR Nagar polls were forced after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate N. Muniratna resigned in July 2019 as a Congress legislator. The Congress has nominated its former minister T.B. Jayachandra, who lost to Satyanarayana in the May 2018 assembly elections, while Rajesh Gowda is the BJP contestant.

A two-time lawmaker, Muniratna defected to the ruling party in November 2019 after the Supreme Court allowed him to recontest from RR Nagar though he was disqualified for defying the party whip.

The JD-S has nominated V. Krishna Murthy as its candidate for a triangular contest though there are a dozen Independents at the hustings.

As both constituencies are having a large number of Vokkaligas, a politically dominant community in the state, the Congress, BJP, and JD-S fielded Vokkaliga candidates in Sira constituency, while in the case of RR Nagar, the BJP has chosen to field Muniratna who belongs to Kamma Naidu community, a listed backward class community in the state. But the Congress and JD(S) here to have fielded candidates from the Vokkaliga community.

The voters will exercise their franchise at the 1,008 polling stations, 678 are in RR Nagar, and 330 in Sira.

Of the two seats, Congress had won RR Nagar and Janata Dal (S) had won Sira, in Tumkuru in 2018 assembly polls.

K’taka confers Ekalavya award on sportspersons after three-year gap

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K’taka confers Ekalavya award on sportspersons after three-year gap

After a gap of three years, Karnataka conferred the state’s highest sporting awards – the Ekalavya, Karnataka Kreeda Ratna, Lifetime Achievement, Sports Sponsor, and NSS awards – at a function in the Banquet Hall of Vidhana Soudha on Monday.

Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa got the honor of choosing the recipients and winners of the state’s highest sports awards on the very next day of Karnataka’s 65th Rajyotsava Day celebrations.

In all, 31 persons, including Indian cricketers K.L. Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, were been selected for the Ekalavya Awards. The awards carry a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh each.

Besides them, Indian women’s cricket team member Veda Krishnamurthy too was conferred this award.

Among all the awardees, it was the day of Khushi Dinesh, a swimmer, as while conferring the award to her, after noticing that she was wearing a very thick bangle, Yediyurappa casually asked her whether she was wearing a gold bangle.

To this, Khushi replied sheepishly that it was an artificial gold plated bangle.

Yediyurappa advised her, “You should have worn gold ornaments on such an occasion.”

Then he also asked her which sport she plays, to which she replied that she is a swimmer. Yesddiyurappa then asked if she swam like a mermaid.

M. Frederick (hockey), Mohammed Ilias Patel (volleyball), R Manjunath (kabaddi), C.A. Karumbayya (hockey), Shantha Rangaswamy (cricket), and Sanjiva R. Kanaka (kho kho) were chosen for the Lifetime Achievement awards. The awards carry a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh each.

As many as five institutions were selected for the sports sponsors awards with cash prizes of Rs 5 lakh each, while 27 sports achievers got cash prizes of Rs 1 lakh each.

The Mangalore University (2019-20), V. R. Deshpande Memorial Trust, Haliyal (2018-19), Sri Siddaganga Education Trust, Tumakuru, and Maniprabhu Sports Academy, Bidar for 2020-21 are the winners of the sports sponsors awards.

Voters keep parties on edge in MP by-polls

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Voters keep parties on edge in MP by-polls

The by-elections for 28 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh have seen many issues coming to the fore during the campaigning yet the silence of the voter has kept all parties and their candidates on tenterhooks before the last vote is cast on November 3. At the same time, all parties are confident of their victory in the by-polls.

The revolt by 25 Congress MLAs who left the party in the state brought down the Kamal Nath-led Congress government, hence the by-elections.

The Congress has called the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ‘traitors’ and ‘scam-tainted’ while the BJP has targeted former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath for ‘misrule’ during the 15-month tenure of his government.

The BJP’s poll campaign revolved around the work done during the current Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s 15-year reign and the transformation of the state since the last seven months after toppling the Kamal Nath government earlier this year.

The BJP’s poll plank has been development and welfare schemes for the poor and deprived sections of society.

Both the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress are confident that the people will vote based on their respective poll candidates and their party’s performance.

Congress MLA from Chhatarpur, Alok Chaturvedi, said this election is primarily about the voters ‘deceived by the BJP’.

BJP’s chief spokesperson Deepak Vijayvargiya said, “This by-election is being held on the failed promises made by the Congress because it came to power making several promises, including farm loan waiver, employment to youth but never fulfilled those promises. That is why former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and his supporters left the party. The voter will teach a lesson to the Congress on November 3.”

Analysts say the voters for all the 28 seats in the state are not expressing their views directly but say that political horse-trading is taking place. In this situation, people are in a dilemma whom to vote for? The voter is asking what will happen to the development of a specific region if the candidate from a particular party wins the seat from the region but fails to form a government in the state. That is why it is yet not able to decide whom to vote for.

Political analyst Ravindra Vyas said in the ongoing by-elections, the Congress accused the BJP of ‘sell-outs’ and called them ‘traitors’ which made headlines but how much impact such political slogans will have on turning votes in favour of the Congress is yet a matter of conjecture.

Voters rooting for Grand Alliance, Tejashwi will be CM: Cong MLA

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Voters rooting for Grand Alliance, Tejashwi will be CM: Cong MLA

Congress MLA and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad’s son-in-law Chiranjeev Rao claimed on Monday that the wind was blowing in favor of the Grand Alliance in the Bihar Assembly elections and Tejashwi Yadav was sure to form the new government in the state.

Rao, who is an MLA from the Rewari Assembly constituency in Haryana, has been campaigning for the RJD ahead of the elections.

“The manner in which Tejashwi has been raising the issue of joblessness during his public rallies in Bihar, he is attracting the youths in the state,” Rao told IANS.

Rao campaigned for his brother-in-law Tej Pratap in the Hassanpur Assembly segment for three days.

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “two crown princes” jibe at the Congress and the RJD, he maintained that the National Democratic Alliance was bereft of any poll issue and its leaders trying to win the elections while harping on the past but not telling the voters what they intend to do in the future.

He pointed out that when Tejashwi was a part of the Nitish Kumar government, there was a lesser crime in the eastern state.

The Congress leader said that the NDA wanted to take away the focus from main poll issues but the Bihar voters had now made up their mind to vote the Nitish Kumar government out.

“Nitish Kumar wants to remain in power by hook or crook. An alliance or a party holds no meaning for him,” Rao alleged.

I dedicate myself to preserve unity, integrity of India: Amit Shah

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I dedicate myself to preserve unity, integrity of India: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday pledged to dedicate himself to preserve the unity, integrity, and security of India and spread the message among countrymen.

The Union Minister took the pledge on the occasion of the 145th birth anniversary of the first Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. His birth anniversary is being celebrated as ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ (National Unity Day) since 2014.

“I solemnly pledge that I dedicate myself to preserve the unity, integrity, and security of the nation and also strive hard to spread this message among my fellow countrymen,” Shah tweeted.

“I take this pledge in the spirit of unification of my country which was made possible by the vision and actions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. I also solemnly resolve to make my own contribution to ensure the internal security of my country.”

The Home Minister, while paying tributes to Patel on behalf of a grateful nation, said: “Salutation to the Iron Man, Sardar Patel Ji, who is an epitome of national unity and lives in the heart of every Indian.”

“Sardar Patel united the nation post-Independence which was scattered in hundreds of princely states and laid the foundation of today’s strong India. Country can never forget his great contribution, decisive leadership, and unparalleled commitment towards the motherland.”

The Minister said, “iron-willed leadership, devotion, and patriotism of Sardar Patel Ji will continue to guide us.”

The Home Minister said “from uniting India to the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple’, Sardar Patel devoted each and every moment of his life for the unity and integration of the country. On behalf of a grateful nation, I pay my respects to Sardar Patel, a great patriot and Iron Man of India.”

Born on October 31, 1875, in Nadiad in Gujarat, Patel passes away on December 15, 1950, in Mumbai.

Yogi to woo community by celebrating Valmiki Jayanti

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In an apparent damage control exercise, the Yogi Adityanath government has decided to placate the Valmiki community by celebrating the Valmiki Jayanti in a big way.

The Valmiki Jayanti will be celebrated on October 31.

The state government will be holding recitations of ‘Valmiki Ramayana’ in all districts, except the ones where the Assembly by-elections are being held.

In a circular issued by Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary R.K. Tiwari, all-district magistrates have been asked to identify temples or places related to Valmiki and hold the recitation of ‘Ramayana’ there. The recitation will be followed by “deep daan”. The event will be held on a grand scale.

The state government has asked district officials to coordinate with the state information department and the culture department for the event which will be held on Sunday. A nodal officer will be appointed in every district where the program is to be held.

The chief secretary has asked the officials to involve and encourage local artists in this program and ensure that the Covid safety protocols are followed.

It may be recalled that the Valmiki community has expressed its displeasure with the state government over the increasing number of incidents of attacks on Dalits.

A major controversy was created when more than 200 Valmiki families allegedly converted to Buddhism in Ghaziabad recently. The state government lodged an FIR in the matter on the complaint of one Monu Valmiki who alleged that there was no truth in the conversion claims.

CPI-M rules out Kerala CM Vijayan’s resignation as Sivasankar sent to ED custody

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CPI-M rules out Kerala CM Vijayan’s resignation as Sivasankar sent to ED custody

The CPI-M has ruled out the resignation of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after his former secretary and senior IAS official M. Sivasankar was arrested and presented before a court here which sent him to a week’s custody of the Enforcement Directorate in the gold smuggling case.

The ED has named Sivasankar as the fifth accused in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, while the others in the list of accused include the prime accused in the gold smuggling case – Swapna Suresh, P.S. Sarith, Sandip Nair, and Faizal Fareed.

The ED had taken Sivasankar into custody from an Ayurveda institution on Wednesday in the state capital, moments after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected.

Later in the night, his arrest was recorded and on Thursday morning the ED took him to the Ernakulam Principal Session Court.

In the court, Sivasankar said he is being harassed by the ED and he was questioned till 1 a.m. and it started again at 5.30 a.m.

He said that he was picked up by the ED while he was on a two-week Ayurveda treatment and he had completed only 9 days’ treatment.

The ED pointed out that Sivasankar is not cooperating with the probe. The court after hearing both the sides handed the top IAS official to the ED for a week’s questioning.

The court also asked ED to give him rest for an hour after three hours of questioning besides allowed him to meet his counsel.

Sivasankar was also given permission if the need arises to consult an Ayurvedic doctor.

Across the state on Thursday, various feeder organizations of both the Congress and the BJP are protesting in the streets demanding the resignation of Vijayan.

“Where is Vijayan, he is not to be seen for a few days now. He just cannot wash his hands off. He never ever said a word of ever meeting Swapna and first, he said there was lightning and destroyed the CCTV in his official residence. Much later he was forced to say that he has met Swapna at his official residence. Vijayan knows everything and he cannot remain in hiding,” said Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala.

State BJP president K. Surendran dropped another bombshell when he told the media in the state capital that he has solid information that it’s just not Sivasankar alone.

“Apart from Sivasankar, two officials in Vijayan’s office also has a role in the case. The smuggling gang has visited Vijayan’s office and two state ministers also have links with the accused. I say this with full responsibility and this is not just a political allegation,” said Surendran and added that Swapna was in UAE when Vijayan was there.

But batting for Vijayan was his close party leader M.V. Govindan who said there is no question of Vijayan resigning.

“That’s ruled out and if anyone says about moral responsibility, then it should be PM Modi who has that because Sivasankar is a central service official. Let the present probe go forward, the CPI-M has nothing to fear and the question of resignation is ruled out,” said Govindan.

With the arrest of Sivasankar, he has entered the record books by becoming the first serving IAS official in the state to be arrested.

Meanwhile, the Customs is also likely to seek the custody of Sivasankar, even as he is expected to move for bail.

Shraddha on being cast in ‘Nagin’ film: It is an absolute delight

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Shraddha on being cast in ‘Nagin’ film: It is an absolute delight

Shraddha Kapoor says it is her absolute delight to star as the shape-shifting serpent protagonist in the film version of Nagin.

The actress has been signed for a three-film franchise based on the popular tale-series Nagin, to be directed by Vishal Furia and produced by Nikhil Dwivedi.

“It’s an absolute delight for me to play a Nagin on screen. I have grown up watching, admiring, and idolizing Sridevi ma’am’s ‘Nagina’ and ‘Nigahen’, and always wanted to play a similar role rooted in Indian traditional folklore. It’s like playing an iconic character, which has always been so fascinating for the audience,” said Shraddha.

Essentially a love story, the makers plan to have spectacular Visual FX. The date of the release is yet to be finalized.

33.1 % voting in Bihar till 1 pm

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33.1 % voting in Bihar till 1 pm

After a sluggish start, people are coming out to vote in 16 districts of Bihar for the first phase of Assembly elections.

As per trends till 1 pm, the Election Commission has registered 33.1 percent votes in these districts with the maximum 40.16 percent reported from Lakhisarai followed by 38.08 percent in Nawada, and 34.76 percent in Buxar.

The voting percentage in other districts such as Bhagalpur was 34.34, Banka 33.11, Munger 31.84, Shekhpura 29.49, Patna 34.74, Bhojpur 32.15, Kaimur 34.75, Rohtas 30.26, Arwal 30.55, Jahanabad 32.32, Aurangabad 33.32, Gaya 32.90 and Jamui is 31.37 percent.

Voting for 71 seats is underway and 1066 candidates of different political parties are contesting in the first phase.

Baroda bypoll: BJP-JJP alliance will win, says Haryana minister

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Baroda bypoll: BJP-JJP alliance will win, says Haryana minister

Haryana Electricity Minister Chaudhary Ranjit Singh said on Tuesday that the BJP-JJP alliance will win the Baroda bye-election because the people are very cynical and they need an MLA who works for the common man.

“The Baroda bypoll campaign is in the last phase and people of the Baroda constituency are eager to vote in favor of the BJP-JJP candidate. People are with the government and they have prepared their minds on whom to elect,” Singh said.

The minister was the chief guest at a function in Gurugram on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the second term of the current state government.

Responding to questions of media after the event, the minister claimed the victory of the BJP-JJP alliance candidate in the Baroda bypoll on November 3, saying that he is going to visit Baroda on Wednesday and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will be there on October 29.

“The opposition has made their perception that whatever the government does, the opposition has to criticize it,” the minister said.

Singh said that criticism should also be constructive and that “we are doing our work”.

Chaudhary who also hold jail minister portfolio said that the prisons across the state are safe and no incident of a jailbreak came to the fore and no encounter took place inside the jail premises.

To a question about electricity supply in Gurugram, Singh said that on average 23.51 hours of electricity is being provided here.

“The electricity corporation that was earlier running in loss is now earning a profit, which is a big achievement of the present government,” Singh added.

Himachal’s Solan, Mandi, Palampur to be Municipal Corporations

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Himachal’s Solan, Mandi, Palampur to be Municipal Corporations

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday decided to upgrade the Municipal Councils of Mandi, Solan, and Palampur towns to Municipal Corporations by the inclusion of adjoining areas, and hold elections to urban local bodies in January next.

It also decided to create six new Nagar panchayats. They are Kandaghat in Solan district; Amb in Una district; Ani and Normand in Kullu district; and Chirgoan and Nerwa in Shimla district.

The Cabinet presided by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, also decided to exempt land and buildings in the newly-included areas of these urban local bodies from payment of general tax for three years and to retain the customary rights as provided under Wazib-Ul-Urz in the record of rights.

It was decided that the election to the urban local bodies, including the newly created Nagar panchayats and the Municipal Corporations, would be conducted in January 2021 after consultation with the State Election Commission.

However, the election to the Shimla Municipal Corporation will be conducted in 2022.

The Cabinet decided to restore the ‘Janmanch’ Programme from November 8 to ensure speedy redressal of public grievances near their homes.

It also gave nod to fill 1,334 posts of constable, including 976 men and 267 women and 91 drivers, on a regular basis through direct recruitment and decided to raise the honorarium of 1,345 information technology teachers engaged on an outsource basis in the Education Department by 10 percent from April 1.

It decided to provide a government job to Tanzin Dolkar, sister of Tanzin Chhultim, who laid down his life while fighting militants in Srinagar on August 3, 2017.

She would be appointed as a junior office assistant (information technology) on contract in Lahaul-Spiti district.

LJP may play spoilsport for JD-U in Bihar polls

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LJP may play spoilsport for JD-U in Bihar polls

The entry of Lok Janshakti Party as an independent contestant in the Bihar Assembly elections may spoil the party for the ruling Janata Dal-United, an ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

The JD-U, which was the ‘big brother’ for the NDA in the past, is now faced with the embarrassing situation wherein its leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s pictures are not even there on BJP advertisements in newspapers ahead of elections, giving rise to a lot of speculations.

Even surveys done by various agencies in Bihar have allegedly revealed that Nitish’s popularity among the voters has gone down.

However, BJP state President Sanjay Jaiswal maintains that the BJP-led NDA is fighting the elections under the leadership of Nitish Kumar only, who is the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance.

On the other hand, JD-U leader Ajay Alok maintains that many ‘yuvraj’ or political heirs were in the fray to save their political careers and the situation will be clear on November 10 when the results are declared.

Irrespective of what NDA allies may say, the situation for the JD-U began to worsen after LJP leader Chirag Paswan moved away from the NDA in Bihar to show his independence by voicing a difference of opinions on the implementation of various schemes in Bihar or the working of the state bureaucracy.

The LJP’s independent stance was showcased in the very beginning when the JD-U wrote to the Election Commission of India to hold the Bihar Assembly elections as scheduled while the LJP wanted the same to be postponed in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

The LJP fielded candidates in 136 of the 243 constituencies, though the nominations of its nominees in Makhdoompur and Phulwari were rejected. Most of these 134 nominees are now pitted against the JD-U even as others are facing BJP rivals in Gobindganj, Lalganj, Bhagalpur, Raghopur, Rosara, and Narkatiyaganj.

LJP spokesperson Ashraf Ansari said that while Gobindganj and Lalganj have sitting MLAs from his party, there is a ‘friendly match’ with the BJP in other seats. He claimed that the LJP will form the next government in Bihar along with the BJP.

Chirag Paswan too has been appealing to the voters to vote for the BJP in Assembly segments in which his party is not in the fray.

It is being said that the LJP wishes to bag at least 10-15 seats by taking advantage of the Narendra Modi factor in the Assembly elections and will play an important role in the formation of any future government if the JD-U and BJP failed to bag a simple majority of 122 seats on their own.

In the NDA, the JD-U is fighting 115 seats, BJP 110 seats, Vikassheel Insaan Party 11 and Hindustani Awam Morcha seven seats.

The elections for 243 Assembly seats will be held in three phases – for 71 seats on October 28, for 94 seats on November 3, and the remaining 78 on November 7. The results will be announced on November 10.

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