Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday dubbed the BJP as the "tukde tukde gang", saying that it engineered a split in two political parties in Maharashtra, and added that people have not liked the saffron party's act. He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was creating religious polarisation through his poll speeches since the BJP does not have any issue to highlight among people in terms of the work that the party-led government at the Centre carried out in the last 10 years. Khera expressed confidence that the INDIA bloc would win 35 out of the total 48 seats in Maharashtra. "The BJP that has split two parties in Maharashtra is the 'tukde tukde gang', and people have not liked this. There is preference towards the INDIA bloc in Maharashtra and the same atmosphere is being seen across the country, including Gujarat," chairman of the media and publicity department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) said. He was referring to the split in the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) caused by the rebellion by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar respectively. 'Tukde tukde gang', which roughly means 'people who want to break India into pieces', is a term repeatedly used by the BJP to target the Congress and the Leftist forces. Targeting the prime minister, Khera said, "Every time PM Narendra Modi spoke during the Lok Sabha election campaign, he created a controversy. There is no report card of his government's work carried out in the last 10 years, so he has nothing to tell people. Since the BJP does not have any other issue, Modi has to emphasise on religious polarisation." After June 4 (Lok Sabha election results), PM Modi should go to Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur and introspect. The INDIA alliance will lead in Maharashtra and the results in Maharashtra will be replicated in the country, Khera said. "Modi is giving back-to-back interviews, but everything that he says is laughable. What kind of medicine does Modi ji take that he forgets what he said one day and speaks something completely another today. Modi's interviews seem like a comedy show," he said. "Modi has made a laughing stock of the prime minister's post. He refers to Rahul Gandhi as 'shehzade' and when he is asked a question about Rahul Gandhi, he says 'Kaun Rahul' (Who is Rahul). Rahul Gandhi is not shehzade (prince) but he is shahidzade (son of a martyr) and there is only one prince in the country and that is Amit Shah's son Jay Shah," Khera charged. Speaking on the occasion, state Congress president Nana Patole said the Lok Sabha elections have been taken up by the people and that there is a lot of anger among people against the BJP and PM Modi. It looks like the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MvA) will win with a majority. "Sixteen persons were killed and 75 others injured in the hoarding collapse accident in Ghatkopar. Prime Minister Modi did not even show the humanity of meeting the relatives of the dead and the injured and consoling them," he said. By taking out a roadshow from Ghatkopar itself, PM Modi has rubbed salt on the wounds of the relatives of the deceased, he charged. 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
17 May,2024 10:38 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIThe Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested an officer of the state excise department for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3.25 lakh, an official said on Friday, reported the PTI. He had allegedly asked a bribe from a restauranteur for a liquor licence in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, an official said on Friday, as per the PTI. Acting on a complaint, a team from the ACB caught Ravindra Laxman Kokare (49), an inspector with the state excise department, Nagpur Unit, red-handed while accepting the bribe in the Dharampeth area of the city on Thursday evening, the official said, according to the PTI. Kokare allegedly demanded Rs 4 lakh from a restaurateur to expedite his application for a liquor licence, he said. Following negotiations, the accused official settled for Rs 3.25 lakh and instructed the complainant to bring the money to Dharampeth, where the ACB laid a trap and caught him, the official said, the PTI reported. The ACB also conducted searches at Kokare's office and residential premises, he said. A case has been registered against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Sitabuldi police station, and he has been remanded to police custody till May 20, the news agency reported on Friday. Woman cop held by ACB for taking mobile phone as bribe Meanwhile, in an another incident, earlier this month, a woman cop in Mumbai was held for allegedly demanding and accepting a mobile phone as a bribe to help a man accused in a case, a Maharashtra ACB official had earlier said, reported the PTI. The woman cop, a police sub inspector (PSI) rank official, was posted at a suburban police station in Mumbai, as per the PTI. "She sought a Samsung A 55 mobile phone from a man to help him in a case registered in Jogeshwari in which he was arrested. This person has interests in the cable business in the area," the official said, as per the PTI. "After he complained to the ACB, we verified it and then held Shintre while accepting a dummy phone during a trap," the official said. (with PTI inputs)
17 May,2024 10:25 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentA 21-year-old cab driver was allegedly stabbed to death by two persons over a personal dispute in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, police said on Friday, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, the victim, Yash Vishnu Gonekar, a resident of the MHADA colony in Kapil Nagar, worked for a cab company, an official said. The suspects were identified as Sheikh Arbaz Shaikh Iqbal and Aslam alias Guddu Maksood Ansari. They were intercepted Gonekar's cab around 12.30 am and assaulted him with sharp weapons following an altercation, he said, as per the PTI. Gonekar was rushed to the Government Medical College & Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, the official said. A case under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the accused, and a manhunt has been launched for them, he said. Elderly woman found dead in Mumbai's Malad The Malad police in Mumbai on Friday morning four a dead body of an elderly woman, suspected to have been killed by an unknown assailant who repeatedly struck her head against the wall of her home, a police official said. Woman is believed to be aged 65 or older, an official said. During the investigation, the police found that the deceased woman was a beggar residing in a rented hut in Vitthal Nagar, behind “Bansi Vada Pav” in the Chincholi Bunder locality, where her body was found, the police sources said. Locals noticed the woman's body on the floor and blood seeping from her head. They promptly alerted the Malad police. Upon arriving at the crime scene, the police officials found that the woman had been fatally struck in the head with a hammer or against the house wall, evident from blood stains on the wall, sources said. The Zone DCP of Mumbai Police and other senior staff from the Malad police station also visited the crime scene. "A panchanama was conducted, and the body was sent for autopsy," an officer from the Malad police station said. He said that the woman is yet to be identified. She is suspected to be a beggar, sustaining herself with food obtained from a nearby temple. She was last seen eating outside the temple the night before. The hut where her body was discovered was rented, and she had been residing there for a few months. A murder case has been registered against an unknown assailant, and investigations are underway, said the officer. (with PTI inputs)
17 May,2024 10:17 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentAn Air India aircraft enroute Bangalore returned to Delhi airport on Friday evening after receiving a fire warning from its auxiliary power unit and made a safe landing at the airport, reported news agency PTI. There were around 175 people onboard the aircraft, which was operating the flight AI 807, sources said. In a statement, an Air India spokesperson said the aircraft returned to Delhi this evening after a fire warning from its auxiliary power unit. "After the pilots exercised necessary protocols, the aircraft made an uneventful landing, and all passengers and crew deplaned at the aerobridge safely," it said.The spokesperson said alternative arrangements have been made for the passengers to proceed back to their destination at the earliest. According to sources, earlier there was a suspected fire in the air conditioning unit of the plane and an emergency was declared. The plane made a safe precautionary landing at around 6.40 pm, they added. As per data available on the flight tracking website flightradar24, the flight was operated with an A321 aircraft. In connection with the suspected fire in the aircraft, Delhi Fire Services (DFS) pressed three fire tenders into service. "We received a call from IGI Airport at 6.15 pm regarding a fire," a DFS official said. (With inputs from PTI) Technical snag forces AI Mumbai-Jeddah flight to return Air India Flight AI931 that took off from Mumbai to Jeddah on the evening of April 28, was forced to return to Mumbai due to a technical difficulty, leading to a cascade effect of delays. The flight from Mumbai was delayed by approximately five hours and the subsequent leg of the journey, Flight AI932 from Jeddah back to Mumbai scheduled to depart at 10.40 p.m also experienced a similar delay. Passengers on board Flight AI931 experienced an unexpected turn of events when the aircraft had to reverse its course and return to Mumbai. Following the unplanned return, passengers of flight AI932 faced further inconvenience as they were stranded at Jeddah airport for an extended period before the rescheduled departure. During the delay at Jeddah airport, passengers expressed discomfort and frustration due to a lack of official communication between the airline and the stranded passengers.
17 May,2024 10:00 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Press Council of India on Friday sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government on the killing of a journalist in Jaunpur district, taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, reported news agency PTI. As per the PTI report, Ashutosh Srivastava, a journalist with the Sudarshan News television channel, was shot dead in Jaunpur on Monday. The 43-year-old journalist was shot dead in the Shahganj area of this Uttar Pradesh district on Monday, police said. Ashutosh Srivastava of Sabarhad village was on his way to Imranganj market around 9.30 am when unidentified assailants shot him at the intersection near Jaunpur-Shahganj Road, Circle Officer Local journalists said Srivastava was writing against cow slaughter in the area. He had received several threats from smugglers and informed the police about these in writing. Family sources said Srivastava had written to officers at the Shahganj police station a month ago and requested protection but the cops did not pay heed to his request. Following the murder, locals held a protest by blocking the road. The protest was lifted following assurances by officials that the matter will be looked into. In another case of assault on two journalists in Kandhamal district, the council, a quasi-judicial body, has also sought a report from the Odisha government. In Odisha's Kandhamal district, Uttam Khamari and Subrat Kumar Mohanty, working with Odia dailies Prameya and Pragativadi, respectively, were allegedly assaulted by a sub-divisional police officer. According to a complaint received by the Press Council of India, the police also refused to register a complaint submitted by the journalists. (With inputs from PTI)
17 May,2024 09:36 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAAP MP Swati Maliwal on Friday took a jibe at her party for dismissing her assault allegations against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal assistant Bibhav Kumar as baseless, reported news agency PTI. She also said the AAP has given in under a "goon's pressure" and is now questioning her character. Commenting on the AAP's changed reaction to her allegation, the Rajyasabha MP said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has taken a "U-turn" two days after it accepted that Kumar had "misbehaved" with her. Her reaction came after AAP leader Atishi at a press conference said that the assault case is a BJP conspiracy to frame Kejriwal. Maliwal is the "face" of this "conspiracy" and the allegations levelled by her against Kumar are "baseless", Atishi said. Taking to X, Maliwal in a post in Hindi, said, "The leaders who joined the party (AAP) yesterday declared a worker who has been with it for 20 years an agent of the BJP. Two days ago, the party had accepted the truth in a press conference and, today, it has taken a U-turn." On Tuesday, senior AAP leader and MP Sanjay Singh had said that the incident with Maliwal was "highly condemnable" and had claimed that Kumar had "misbehaved" with her. Without naming Kumar, she said, "This goon is threatening the party (AAP) saying that 'if I get arrested, I will reveal all the secrets'. That is why he is roaming around in Lucknow and everywhere seeking shelter." "Today, under his pressure, the party gave in and to save a goon, my character was questioned by the entire party. No problem, I have been fighting alone for women of the entire country, I will fight for myself too. Do character assassination as much as possible, the truth will come out when the time comes," Maliwal said on X. हर बार की तरह इस बार भी इस राजनीतिक हिटमैन ने ख़ुद को बचाने की कोशिशें शुरू कर दी हैं। अपने लोगों से ट्वीट्स करवाके, आधि बिना संदर्भ की वीडियो चलाके इसे लगता है ये इस अपराध को अंजाम देके ख़ुद को बचा लेगा। कोई किसी को पीटते हुए वीडियो बनाता है भला? घर के अंदर की और कमरे की CCTV… — Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) May 17, 2024 The Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Kumar for allegedly assaulting Maliwal at the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence. The FIR was registered after Maliwal's statement was recorded by a two-member team, led by Additional Commissioner of Police P S Kushwaha. It was at the Rajya Sabha member's residence in Central Delhi for nearly four and a half hours. Officials said the FIR has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to violence against a woman. The development came two days after Maliwal went to the Civil Lines police station and alleged that a member of Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Kejriwal's personal staff "assaulted" her at the CM's official residence. Atishi said that Kumar has also filed a police complaint against Maliwal.
17 May,2024 08:51 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA private bus enroute Uttarakhand for the Char Dham Yatra suddenly caught fire in Madhya Pradesh on Friday and was completely gutted, reported PTI. The bus had left from Maharashtra's Buldhana town carrying pilgrims for the yatra. No one was injured in the incident which took place in the afternoon as passengers quickly came out of the bus, a police official said. As per the PTI report, a total of 30 passengers, including eight children, were on-board the ill-fated bus when it caught fire near Kolaras town in Shivpuri district, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Vijay Yadav said. As soon as the travellers noticed smoke emanating in the bus, they immediately came out, a woman passenger said. Later, the bus was engulfed in flames which were doused by a fire tender, Yadav said. He further added that an electrical short-circuit appears to have been the cause of the blaze. The luggage of the passengers bound for Uttarakhand was damaged in the fire, the official added. A total of 60 passengers in two private buses had left from Buldhana town on May 15 for the popular pilgrimage to four sacred Hindu sites located in the Himalayas, he said. The Char Dham Yatra is a pilgrimage circuit in India that covers four holy sites: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. These sites are located in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand state. The pilgrimage is significant in Hinduism, with each site holding its own religious and spiritual importance. Devotees from all across the country travel to the state to embark on the pilgrimage usually around April or May. (With inputs from PTI) Char Dham Yatra 2024: Badrinath Temple opens for devotees amid chants and melodious tunes The Shri Badrinath Dham in Uttarakhand opened its doors for devotees at 6 am on Sunday morning after a break of six months. Amid melodious tunes by the Army Band and complete rituals, vedic chants and slogans of 'Badri Vishal Lal Ki Jai', the temple welcomed devotees, as per an ANI report. The shrine of Shri Badrinath Dham is located in Garhwal hill tracks in Chamoli district along the banks of Alaknanda River in the Uttarakhand state. Thousands of devotees thronged the entry of Badrinath Dham. The Char Dham Yatra commenced in Uttarakhand on May 10. For the last two days, all three Dhams including Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri have been bustling. On the first day, a record number of more than 29,000 pilgrims from India and abroad visited Kedarnath Dham. Welcoming the pilgrims, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami presided over the inaugural puja at Shri Kedarnath Dham temple, invoking prayers for the safe journey and spiritual fulfilment of all embarking on the Char Dham pilgrimage.
17 May,2024 08:02 PM IST | Shivpuri | mid-day online correspondentThe Swati Maliwal assault case is a BJP conspiracy to frame Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and she is the "face" of this, the AAP alleged on Friday, terming allegations levelled by her against Kejriwal's aide "baseless". The remarks of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) come a day after the Delhi Police registered an FIR against Bibhav Kumar, the personal assistant of Kejriwal, for allegedly assaulting Maliwal, the party's member in Rajya Sabha, at the chief minister's official residence. She had reached the CM's residence without an appointment and her intention was to level allegations against Kejriwal, senior AAP leader Atishi alleged at a press conference. "Today a video has surfaced that has exposed the lie of Maliwal. In her FIR, she has said she was brutally assaulted and she was in pain, and buttons of her shirt were torn. A video that has surfaced shows an entirely different reality," Atishi said. According to the FIR, Maliwal was "kicked and slapped seven to eight times" allegedly by Kumar. The FIR also stated that Kumar "did not relent" despite her asking him to stop. Maliwal has also claimed that Kumar hit her with "full force again and again" but no one came to her rescue. She also alleged that despite telling Kumar that she was menstruating and in pain, he did not budge. Atishi said the video shows Maliwal "comfortably sitting in the drawing room" and "threatening the security staff", and that "her clothes were not torn". "The video shows her threatening Kumar. The charges levelled by Maliwal are baseless. Maliwal insisted on meeting Kejriwal. She is Rajya Sabha MP and she should know that the CM has a busy schedule. Kumar told her that the chief minister is busy and unable to meet her. She shouted at him, pushed him and tried to enter the residential portion of the CM House," she claimed. "The whole incident proves that it was a BJP conspiracy and Swati Maliwal was made its face to frame Kejriwal," she alleged. Atishi said Kumar has also given a complaint to police against Maliwal. On Tuesday, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh had said that the incident with Maliwal was "highly condemnable" and had claimed that Kumar had "misbehaved" with her. When Atishi was asked about Singh accepting misbehaviour with Maliwal, Atishi said, "AAP MP Sanjay Singh met Maliwal and he had only her version. But now this video has brought out the truth." 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
17 May,2024 06:56 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Delhi Police Friday took AAP MP Swati Maliwal to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence to recreate the crime scene as it investigates the alleged assault on her there earlier this week, officials said. Her statement in the case was recorded before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court earlier in the day. The police have registered an FIR under sections relating to culpable homicide, restraint and the use of criminal force against a woman with intent to c her. They have booked Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar over the assault. 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
17 May,2024 06:51 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe High Court Bar Association of Uttarakhand has filed a petition in the Supreme Court on the proposed shifting of the high court out of Nainital, reported PTI. The plea is in the form of a Special Leave Petition (SLP). On May 8, the Uttarakhand High Court had asked the state government to identify the most suitable land for the relocation of the high court. The decision had sparked a protest by the bar association which had approached the bench and opposed the order of shifting the high court out of Nainital. While the Bar was assured that the order had not been signed, the order was passed by the high court later on asking the state government to look for a suitable place for relocation of the high court. The high court has also created a portal to facilitate online public voting on the issue. The Dehradun Bar Association is in favour of the shifting of the high court. It has also decided to approach the Supreme Court seeking inclusion as a party in the SLP. All lawyers of the Dehradun Bar Association agree to the view that the high court should be shifted out of Nainital in the larger interest of the people of the state and the convenience of litigants, its president Rajeev Sharma said. The order had specified that the new location should be able to accommodate residence for judges, judicial officers and staff apart from court rooms, conference hall, chambers for at least 7,000 lawyers, canteen and parking space. It had also asked the state government to see if the sprawling campus of Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (IDPL), Rishikesh, which is closed for several years, could serve as a relocation site for the high court. The high court directed the chief secretary to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of the registrar general comprising the principal secretary, legislative and parliamentary affairs; principal secretary, home; two senior advocates, a member nominated by the Uttarakhand State Bar Council, chairman of the Bar Council of India and one other. After taking the opinion of the concerned parties, this committee will submit a sealed report to the high court by June 7. Thereafter, the government's recommendation regarding suitable land for the establishment of the high court and the outcome of its options will be placed before the chief justice. The next hearing of this case has been fixed for June 25. (With inputs from PTI)
17 May,2024 06:21 PM IST | Nainital | mid-day online correspondentOdisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led a roadshow in state capital Bhubaneswar on Thursday, seeking votes for his party Biju Janata Dal, reported PTI. Accompanied by his close aide VK Pandian, Patnaik also addressed people in between the roadshow, urging them to vote for 'conch' -- the election symbol of his party. The roadshow began at Ganganagar Chhak amid tight security with a large number of people lined up on both sides of the road to have a glimpse of the chief minister. "Though we have seen him on TV, this is an opportunity to see him physically," said Susama Behera, a housewife. Patnaik waved and greeted people as his vehicle proceeded through Gopabandhu Chhak, DAV School Unit-8, HDFC Bank Square, Mamtaj Ali School, Srikrishna Club, Behera Sahi, Bayababa Mutt Chhak and Master Canteen Square. The roadshow culminated at Sisu Bhawan Square. Before the roadshow, Patnaik said he was always elated to meet the people. Tight security arrangements were made, and traffic restrictions were imposed on certain areas in the city for the road show. Polling in Bhubaneswar is scheduled to be held on May 25. The BJD has fielded Manmath Routray against BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi in the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency. For the assembly elections, the party has re-nominated MLA Ananta Narayan Jena in Bhubaneswar Central, minister Ashok Panda in Bhubaneswar-Ekamra and MLA Susant Rout in Bhubaneswar North. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to contest from two assembly seats BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will also contest from Kantabanji assembly constituency in Bolangir district of Western Odisha along with his traditional Hinjili seat in Ganjam district. This was announced by Patnaik himself on April 17 while releasing the 5th list of nine candidates for the Assembly elections in the state. Patnaik in 2019 assembly elections had also contested from two seats. He won from both Hinjili and Bijepur assembly segment in Bargarh district of western Odisha. However, Patnaik later resigned from Bijepur and retained the Hinjili seat
17 May,2024 05:59 PM IST | Bhubaneswar | PTIADVERTISEMENT
