Electronics Corporation of India Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd have refused to disclose the names and contact details of the manufacturers and suppliers of various components of EVMs and VVPATs under the RTI Act citing "commercial confidence", according to RTI responses from the PSUs to an activist. Activist Venkatesh Nayak had filed two identical Right To Information applications with the ECIL and BEL, seeking the details of the manufacturers and suppliers of various components used in the assembling of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs). The VVPAT is an independent vote verification system which enables electors to see whether their votes have been cast correctly. The ECIL and the BEL, public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Defence, manufacture EVMs and VVPATs for the Election Commission. Nayak also sought a copy of the purchase orders for the components from both PSUs. SC reserves verdict on cross-verification The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) after taking note of answers to queries it had raised before the Election Commission. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta sought answers from an official of the poll panel to five questions related to the the functioning of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), including whether the microcontrollers fitted in them are reprogrammable. Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Nitesh Kumar Vyas, who had earlier made a presentation to the court on the functioning of EVMs, was summoned by the bench at 2 pm to answer the queries. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 April,2024 07:45 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesDelhi Cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Wednesday had a 30-minute-long meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar, saying he has asked people to not worry about him. Bharadwaj said he met Kejriwal in the 'mulakat jangla' and had a converstaion with him over the phone. "I had a half-an-hour meeting in the 'mulakat jangla'. He said that people should not worry about him. He said he is strong and he will continue his fight with the blessings of the people of Delhi," Delhi minister told reporters after the meeting. The 'mulakat jangla' is an iron mesh which separates the inmate from the visitor in a room inside the jail. A visitor and an inmate can talk to each other by sitting on different sides of the mesh. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 April,2024 07:43 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesAmid mounting opposition pressure, the Election Commission is learnt to have started examining complaints against a speech made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajasthan in which he suggested that if the Congress came to power, it would redistribute the wealth of people to Muslims. The Congress and the CPI-M had separately urged the poll panel against Modi's speech on Sunday. Modi on Sunday suggested that if the Congress came to power, it would redistribute the wealth of people to Muslims and cited former PM Manmohan Singh's remark that the minority community had the first claim on the country's resources. Sources said EC has started examining complaints against the speech made by the prime minister. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 April,2024 07:40 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit out at the Congress, saying the “vote bank-hungry” party wanted to implement reservation on the basis of religion. Addressing a poll rally in Ambikapur, the headquarters of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh, he also alleged that the Congress wanted to impose inheritance tax in the country and snatch the assets and rights of people and their children. Some forces want a “weak” government of the Congress and “INDI” alliance to be in power in the country as they thought that if India becomes ‘atmanirbhar’ (self-reliant), their shops will be shut, he said. “Today, when I have come to Surguja, I want to present the Muslim League thinking of the Congress in front of the country. When their manifesto was released, on the same day I had said, and saying today also that the Congress manifesto has the imprint of Muslim League,” Modi said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 April,2024 07:40 AM IST | Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh) | AgenciesCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying those who call themselves ‘deshbhakt’ are scared of the ‘X-ray’ of caste census but “no force” can stop it. Addressing the ‘Samajik Nyay Sammelan’ here, Gandhi said he is not interested in caste but in ‘nyay’ (justice) and asserted that it is his life’s mission to ensure justice for the 90 per cent of the population against whom injustice has been done. “As soon as our government is formed, the first thing that would be done is a caste census,” Gandhi said. He said the Congress manifesto talks about the X-ray and the income inequality created by Modi. Modi has transferred R16 lakh crore to select business people and the Congress is going to return a small amount to the 90 per cent of the population, he said. “We have calculated what we felt is justice and that help should be given, we put it down in the manifesto,” he said of the party’s guarantees mentioned. Taking a swipe at the media for dubbing him a “non-serious” politician in the past, Rahul cited his involvement with MGNREGA, Land Acquisition Bill, Bhatta Parsaul movement and Niyamgiri Hills matter. ‘Don’t sensationalise Pitroda comment’ The Congress on Wednesday distanced itself from Sam Pitroda’s “inheritance tax” remarks, saying sensationalising them are attempts at diverting attention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “malicious” poll campaign. Pitroda, the president of the Indian Overseas Congress, had talked about the inheritance tax law in the United States and referred to the “redistribution of wealth” issue. Sam Pitroda has exposed Cong: BJP The BJP on Wednesday launched an all-out attack on the Congress over Sam Pitroda’s “inheritance tax” remarks, alleging he has exposed the party’s “nefarious design” of taking away common people’s wealth and property. The BJP’s accusation came after Pitroda, the president of the Indian Overseas Congress, talked about “inheritance tax in the United States” on the Congress’ “redistribution of wealth” issue. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 April,2024 07:38 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesUnion Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said if people vote for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, their votes will go to the patriots, who want to establish a ‘Ram Rajya’ in the country and not to the anti-nationals, who want dynastic politics to thrive. Shah was addressing a public meeting at Amravati to campaign for BJP’s Amravati Lok Sabha seat candidate Navneet Rana and Wardha candidate Ramdas Tadas. Urging people to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shah said, “Your vote will go in favour of patriots and not anti-nationals. It will be in favour of those who want to establish a Ram Rajya and against those who indulge in dynastic politics. Every vote in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go towards exterminating terrorism and Naxalism in the country and making India the third largest economy in the world.” “Congress kept the Ram temple issue pending for 70 years. But within five years (of coming to power), PM Modi solved the issue and performed the temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya,” he said. Shah attacked Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “insulting” Lord Ram by skipping the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony despite being invited. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 April,2024 07:33 AM IST | Amravati | AgenciesOver 3,761 elderly (above 85 years old) and disabled people living in the district of Wayanad, availed of the first of its pathbreaking initiative by the Election Commission of India, wherein they provided the home voting facility for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Kullathi casts her vote for Kaippa, a voter in the 85 plus category at Thirunelli panchayat polling station in the Mananthavady Loksabha Assembly Constituency. Similarly, other elderly voters too cast their votes, from home, where the poll officials, along with police personnel, visited them and the entire process was videographed, to maintain secrecy, as the elders voted” During the four-day special home voting from April 19 to 22,3,542 elderly and disabled members cast their votes out of the 3,761 registered. Among senior citizens aged 85 and above, 3,367 are male and 6,748 are female. In total, 15,140 disabled people are registered, with 8,445 males and 6,695 females. “We had to deploy a total of 258 election staff, to different households in the district, along with police personnel and video recording of the entire proceedings had been taken, to maintain secrecy of the vote,” the official said. A senior-aged tribal woman and her husband cast their vote at their house; (right) An election officer works using a mobile flashlight As per the data available with ECI, there are 81 lakh 85 plus aged and 90 lakh persons with disabilities across the country. In the past few days, various strategies were implemented, including quiz competitions and the use of posters and PPT presentations, to boost voter turnout. The district has a total of 6,27,002 electors, comprising 3,06,936 males, 3,20,061 females, and 5 transgender individuals. Additionally, there are 32,644 first-time voters in the district. Electoral Staff working under a flashlight As the world’s largest democracy enters elections, there are hundreds of people behind it, who have worked hard for months, to ensure that the April 26, election can attract a large public turnout and the election is conducted peacefully. A woman on election duty, worked under the mobile flashlight when the power supply was disrupted due to unexpected rains in Mananthavady, in Wayanad district. Voter Knowledge Quiz With an intent to check the understanding of the common man about elections and to encourage the voters to cast their votes on April 26, the district administration has organized an online quiz competition and the winners will be given an online certificate of appreciation signed by the district collector. Folk dance “Wayanad’s district social media cell is broadcasting folk songs/instrumental music from April 23 to April 25 at 7 am in connection with the Lok Sabha elections through the district collector’s social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp and YouTube) for online audiences. This will also be a way to give a platform to bring the folk songs / instrumental music, a platform to showcase the rich culture of Wayanad,” said an official from the district administration. Webcasting control room The webcasting control room is set up to enhance surveillance during Lok Sabha elections with 22 cameras at check posts, and a total of 116 cameras across flying squad vehicles, static surveillance vehicles, training centres, and strong rooms. A five-member team will manage inspections. Training for staff The second phase of training for Lok Sabha election staff has begun. 1040 Polling Officers in Sultan Bathery LAC were trained on April 18, 2024. Officers who applied for postal ballots could vote at the Voters Facilitation Centre during training. 6,27,002Total no. of voters in the district
25 April,2024 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonWith less than 48 hours left for Kerala to go for elections, all public campaigns and road shows concluded on Wednesday evening, as per the model code of conduct. Both BJP and Congress conducted a road show and addressed large crowd gatherings in Wayanad. On Wednesday, K Annamalai, Tamil Nadu BJP chief, crossed the state border and came in support of BJP candidate K Surendran contesting from Wayanad constituency, and could garnish a crowd of over a thousand supporters to participate in the roadshow. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited three constituencies in Wayanad, from where her brother Rahul, is contesting the elections. Rahul could not attend the last league of the election campaign, as he is recuperating from a throat infection. Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamali held a roadshow in support of K Surendra of BJP Huge crowd in attendance Sandeep G Varier, a BJP party worker and supporter of Surendran, said, “We received overwhelming support from the public, who turned out in large numbers to cast their support to both Annamalai and K Surendran, during the roadshow. Over a thousand plus supporters including men, women, and musical bands, wearing saffron, holding the BJP candidate and Modi’s placards, shouted slogans in support of BJP.” Priyanka in Wayanad A massive crowd gathered in support of Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi’s elder sister, Priyanka. Samshad Marakkar, former youth congress president, said, “We received an overwhelming response from the public, who gathered in large numbers, and Priyankaji could address the crowd, from her vehicle, itself, which was translated in Malayalam by our member, Jyothi Vijaykumar.” Large public turnout for Anamalai road show in support of BJP candidate K Surendran When asked about his reaction to BJP’s Annamalai road show in Wayanad, on the same day, Samshad said, “There are some Tamil communities in the Mananthavady constituency and as Tamil Nadu is a border state to Wayanad, surely his presence would lure the Tamil speaking communities, residing here in Wayanad.” Jyothi, a freelancer started translating for Rahul Gandhi in 2011, and today for Priyanka, she has done three translations. When asked if today’s speeches were scripted, she replied in the negative, stating today’s speeches were impromptu, and given in English, and I translated the same in Malayalam to the crowd. The initial two speeches lasted for over 30 minutes, including the translation, and the third one was shorter.” Wayanad locals are confident that Rahul Gandhi may win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, for the second consecutive time, however, his margin from last year may come down. Locals say that while they can connect to Rahul Gandhi, they have never heard of Annie Raja before. Rahul needs to walk his talk AK Prasad, a local resident, pointed out that they never heard about Annie Raja, a CPI candidate. They also have a word of caution to Rahul Gandhi, who looks upon Wayanad as his easy entry point to Lok Sabha, which the people of Wayanad won’t accept if he doesn’t walk his talk. “It is unfortunate, that Rahul Gandhi has not delivered his promises made to Wayanad during the 2019 elections. He first stated that he was a prime minister candidate, and people turned out in large numbers and voted for him. Later, he turned out to be a visiting professor to Wayanad, who would seldom visit the constituency and address raised concerning issues. These issues include the night travel ban from Karnataka. This issue affected the economic health of the Wayanad constituency. It affects traders, and small-scale industries as they are unable to bring materials, and much-needed products here. Votes are unpredictable “Everyone joining a particular political party road show or gathering, need not convert the crowd into votes, this is basic, which unfortunately, comes to light only once the election results are declared,” said Jose, a local resident. “Many a time, locals are compelled to be with a particular political party, as they are obliged to do so, but their physical presence for a party event or function doesn’t mean that they would cast their vote, for that party. And there is no way that the party or their cadre can make out who voted or against them, in the election,” Jose added. When asked about the reference to context, Jose said, “We can still connect to Rahul Gandhi, as we have been learning and hearing about the Gandhi family since our childhood, but Annie Raja was never seen in our constituency. And BJP ideology, may not be agreeable to the minority communities, leaving no scope, but to go with Congress. However, the people of Wayanad cannot be fooled every time, they have issues, which need to be sorted out.”
25 April,2024 07:28 AM IST | Wayanad | Vinod Kumar MenonA powerful IED blast damaged a key bridge along the NH 2 in Manipur, leaving over 150 trucks taking essential commodities to the state capital Imphal stranded in the Senapati district on Wednesday.Unidentified miscreants triggered the powerful IED explosion which damaged the bridge between Koubru Leikha and Saparmeina in Kangpokpi district at around 12.45 am, an officer said.No casualties were reported in the blast which formed three craters in the middle portion of the bridge in the ethnic violence-affected state.The Manipur government suspended the movement of heavy vehicles between Saparmeina and Koubru Leikha along NH 2 "with immediate effect to avoid any untoward incidents".According to the order issued by the Kangpokpi District Magistrate, "Light unloaded and light passenger vehicles may pass through strict regulation for the moment."The superintendent of police of Kangpokpi shall regulate the traffic until an alternate route is found, it said."Over 150 trucks were stranded because of the blast. The trucks were carrying essential items on NH-2," an official said.The highway connects landlocked Manipur and its capital Imphal with Nagaland's Dimapur and is the major lifeline of the state.Security personnel have cordoned off the bridge, he said, adding that an investigation into the IED blast has been initiated.The IED explosion occurred hours after gunfights broke out between village volunteers of the two warring communities in Imphal West district.Over 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjacent hills-based Kukis since May last year. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 April,2024 11:18 PM IST | Imphal | ANIAs many as 18 Naxalites, including a militia platoon section commander and three women, surrendered on Wednesday in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada, a senior police officer said. Hidma Oyam (34) was working as the Hurrepal Panchayat Militia Platoon (HPMP) section commander, said Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai. The three women are identified as Sambati Oyam (23) who was working as a deputy commander of HPMP, Gangi Madkam (28), the vice president of Kakadi Panchayat Krantikari Mahila Adivasi Sangthan (KAMS) of the banned CPI (Maoist), and Hungi Oyam (20), a member of Chetna Natya Mandli, the cultural wing of CPI (Maoists). "The 18 Naxals laid down arms in front of police and CRPF officials. They were part of Bhairamgarh, and Malanger area committees of the Maoists in south Bastar," Rai said. He said the Naxals surrendered themselves as they were impressed by the police's rehabilitation drive 'Lon Varratu' and disappointed with the hollow Maoist ideology. "These cadres were tasked with digging roads, felling trees to block roads and putting up posters and banners during shutdowns called by Naxalites. They will be provided facilities as per the government's surrender and rehabilitation policy," the SP added. With this, 738 Naxalites, including 177 of them carrying rewards on their heads, have so far joined the mainstream in Dantewada district, officials said. Security forces have launched a crackdown on Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-hit districts. Naxalites suffered the highest number of fatalities in a single encounter in the history of the state's fight against LWE on April 16 when security forces gunned down 29 Naxals in Kanker district. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 April,2024 10:18 PM IST | Dantewada | PTIUnion minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday fainted while speaking at an election rally in eastern Maharashtra's Yavatmal district. The BJP leader was campaigning at Pusad which comes under the Yavatmal-Washim Lok Sabha constituency. VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari fainted during an election rally in Maharashtra's Yavatmal earlier today.Gadkari later shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he was fine and was leaving for Warud, Maharashtra to address another rally.… pic.twitter.com/FwaW3uL3DM — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 24, 2024 As he suffered a fainting fit, the security personnel accompanying him carried him off-stage. The minister, however, recovered after a few minutes and completed his speech. पुसद, महाराष्ट्र में रैली के दौरान गर्मी की वजह से असहज महसूस किया। लेकिन अब पूरी तरह से स्वस्थ हूँ और अगली सभा में सम्मिलित होने के लिए वरूड के लिए निकल रहा हूँ। आपके स्नेह और शुभकामनाओं के लिए धन्यवाद। — Nitin Gadkari (मोदी का परिवार) (@nitin_gadkari) April 24, 2024 "Felt uneasy due to heat at a rally at Pusad, Maharashtra. But now I am completely alright and on my way to Warud to take part in the next rally," the 66-year-old leader said in a post on X. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
24 April,2024 09:25 PM IST | Yavatmal | PTIADVERTISEMENT
