The Chhattisgarh

Category: India

  • Rani Lakshmibai’s Statue To Be Relocated To Delhi’s Eidgah Park Amid Protest |

    A heavy police force has been deployed around the Delhi’s Eidgah Park as the work to relocate the statue of Rani Lakshmibai from the Rani Jhansi roundabout to the park commenced yesterday. The police force has been deployed following strong opposition from the local Muslim community. In light of the protests, the installation process began under heavy security, with police and paramilitary forces deployed on-site.

    Despite some ongoing protests, the police ensured that the work proceeded without disruption, with continuous monitoring by municipal officials, said reports. The High Court has not provided any relief to the protestors.

    As part of a larger initiative to make the stretch from Tis Hazari Court to Panchkuian Road signal-free, the municipal corporation built a flyover in 2018 over a 1.5 km stretch. This plan, approved by UTTIPEC in 2019 and passed by the municipal body in 2020, includes the removal of two major traffic signals at Eidgah and the Rani Jhansi roundabout.

    A boundary wall is being constructed in the DDA park, and a triangular platform is being built to house the relocated statue.

  • Shashi Tharoor Visits EY Employee’s Parents, Calls For Inquiry Into Toxic Work Culture |

    Congress leader Shashi Tharoor met with the parents of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian, an Ernst & Young employee, who reportedly died due to extreme work pressure. Tharoor highlighted that if a company requires employees to work 16-hour days consistently, they should consider hiring more staff.

    During his “emotional” visit, Tharoor shared a picture with Sebastian’s parents on social media handle X. Congress MP informed that he spoke with them about the urgent need for an inquiry and accountability, as well as a new law to address “toxic work culture”.

     

    Paid an emotional visit to the parents of EY India’s Anna Sebastian Perayil, who died of a heart attack at age 26 from overwork and intolerable stress &pressure from her managers. Discussed with her anguished parents the need for an inquiry and accountability, new laws and… pic.twitter.com/2Lebg5NSbc
    — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 25, 2024

     

    “Discussed with her anguished parents the need for an inquiry and accountability, new laws and regulations to reform the toxic work culture of bottom-line-obsessed under-staffed establishments, & better training for mid-level managers,” the post read. 

    “If a company needs 16-hour days and nights from its employees all the time, it needs to hire more people, not abuse the rights of those it recruits and exploits,” he further added.

    Earlier, the Tharoor shared that he had a deeply emotional conversation with Anna’s father, Shri Sibi Joseph. Tharoor said their agreement on the need to address this issue by proposing legislation in Parliament for a fixed calendar to regulate working hours across all workplaces.

  • Sena MP Sanjay Raut Slapped With 15-Day Jail Term For Defaming BJP Leader’s Wife |

    A Mumbai court on Thursday sentenced Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut to 15 days of simple imprisonment for defamation, following a complaint by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s wife, Medha Somaiya. The Sewree court’s metropolitan magistrate found the Rajya Sabha member guilty under Indian Penal Code Section 500 (punishment for defamation) and fined him Rs 25,000. Medha Somaiya, represented by advocate Vivekanand Gupta, claimed that Raut made baseless and defamatory allegations against her and her husband.

    She accused Raut of alleging their involvement in a Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction and maintenance of public toilets under the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction. “The accused’s statements to the media are inherently defamatory. They were made to tarnish my reputation in the public eye,” her complaint stated.

  • J&K Elections: Amit Shah To Address Back To Back Rallies Today Ahead Of Phase 3 Polls — Check Schedule |

    New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday will lead the BJP’s campaign for the third phase of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. 

    Amit Shah will address five rallies. He will begin the day with a rally in Chenani and proceed to address a meeting at Udhampur. He will then address rallies in Bani and Jasrota before ending the day with an address to a public gathering in Madh.

    The third phase of the polls in the Union Territory will be held on October 1.

    Asserting that there is no fear of cross-border firing in border areas of J&K, Amit Shah said on Sunday that if Pakistan fires a bullet, it will be responded by a mortar shell.

    Addressing a campaign rally in Nowshera of Rajouri district, he said: “Concrete bunkers have been made in border areas like Nowshera by us, but I assure you that these bunkers are not needed now.”

    The Union Minister said: “Agar Woh Goli Chalayenge, To Hum Gola Chalayenge” (There will be no cross-border firing from Pakistan, and if they fire a bullet, we will respond with a mortar shell).

    Slamming the Congress and National Conference, he said: “Congress and National Conference (NC) do not want reservations for Gujjars, Bakarwals, Paharis, OBCs, Valmiki Samaj etc, they say they will review these reservations if they form the government in J&K.”

    “Rahul Gandhi said in America recently that the reservations are not needed in India as those given reservations have progressed enough and are now part of the creamy layer in the country,” he said.

    Hitting out at NC leader Farooq Abdullah, the Union Home Minister had said: “Farooq Abdullah went to Poonch and Rajouri and told Gujjars and Bakarwals that if the Paharis got the reservation, they would cut into the Gujjar Bakarwal reservations.”

    He said: “The NC and Congress governments in J&K and Delhi did not give you reservations. I promise you that after these elections, we will give Paharis reservations in promotions also so that your children do not become only collectors and district SPs in the future, but chief secretaries and DGPs as well.”

    He challenged NC leader Omar Abdullah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that “even if they hang themselves upside down, they cannot snatch your reservations as long as Narendra Modi is the PM of the country.”

    Claiming that NC wants to get their flag in place of the Tricolour and that Farooq Abdullah has been telling people in the Pir Panjal region and those in Poonch and Rajouri that terrorism will spread to these places, he said: “The government headed by Narendra Modi will bury terrorism so deep under the earth that it can never emerge again in J&K.

    Attacking the NC and Congress for wanting the Modi government to talk to Pakistan, the Union Minister said that there can be no dialogue with Pakistan till terrorism ends completely.

    He assured the people that no terrorist or stone pelter would be released from jail.

    Home Minister Shah asserted that they (NC-Congress) want to change the name of Shankaracharya Hillock to ‘Takht-e-Suleman’ and that of Hari Parbat Hillock to ‘Koh-e-Maran’, but “since generations, it has been Shankaracharya hill and Hari Parbat Hill and it will continue to be the same for all the generations to come”.

    He appealed to the voters of Nowshera to elect BJP candidate Ravinder Raina, saying, “His forceful voice is heard and taken seriously in Delhi”.

    “Gandhis & Abdullahs sell terrorism from their so-called ‘Mohabat Ki Daukan’, let the elections be over in J&K and their ‘Mohabat Ki Daukan’ will be shut forever,” Home Minister Shah said.

    “Farooq Abdullah should not worry, after the elections, we will publish a white paper on terrorism which will expose those who ate ‘Biryani’ with the terrorists,” he said.

    Highlighting the changed security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir after BJP-led NDA came to power, he said there were times when even the Home Minister of the country could not dare go to the Lal Chowk in Srinagar.

    “I assure you today, go to Lal Chowk with your grandchildren in a private vehicle and nobody will dare touch you. A cinema hall was started in Srinagar after 30 years, Muharram procession was taken out after 35 years. Janmashtami procession was taken out there after 35 years,” he said.

    “You have areas in Jammu region where you have good snowfall, but there is no tourist destination like Pahalgam there. I promise you two Pahalgam-like tourist destinations in the mountainous areas of the Jammu region.

    He also promised to increase the limit of golden card for free health treatments from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh and farmers’ assistance from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000.

    He said that PM Modi has decided that every village with a population of 50 people will now be connected through Pradhan Mantri Graming Sadak Yojana, benefitting the populace living in far-off mountainous areas.

    “We have given 40,000 government jobs in the last five years, we promise to give Rs 18,000 to every eldest lady of the family each year. We will restrict the cost of LPG cylinder to Rs 500.

    He promised two LPG cylinders free on Raksha Bandhan every year, a metro and international airport in Jammu, a water sports facility in Ranjit Sagar dam, reduced electric tariff by 50 per cent, Rs 3,000 to college students as travel allowance, laptops and tablets to children upto higher secondary level.

    The Union Minister said: “Udhampur will become a pharmaceutical hub, we will form a hill development board for speedy development of hilly areas in Jammu division.

  • 7 Killed As Car Collided Into Trailer Truck In Gujarat’s Sabarkantha- Watch Video |

    Gujarat: Seven people lost their lives, and one was critically injured when a speeding car collided with a trailer truck near Himatnagar in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district early Wednesday morning, according to police reports. Superintendent of Police Vijay Patel confirmed that seven occupants of the car were killed in the accident. Himmatnagar Deputy SP, AK Patel, stated, “This morning, a car collided with a heavy vehicle on the Himmatnagar highway. Seven individuals traveling in the car have died, and one person is injured. All were residents of Ahmedabad.”

    VIDEO | Gujarat: At least seven people were killed in a car-trailer collision in Himmatnagar earlier today. More details are awaited.

    (Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/AHFD24fJl2


    — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 25, 2024

     

    #WATCH | Sabarkantha, Gujarat | A car collided with a heavy vehicle in Himmatnagar. The police and fire department present at the spot. Injuries and casualties feared. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/kHGz5tkl30
    — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2024

    The car, en route from Shamlaji to Ahmedabad, struck the trailer from behind on a national highway, Himatnagar police confirmed. Superintendent of Police Vijay Patel stated that all seven car passengers were killed in the crash. Reports indicate that the tragic incident occurred on the Himmatnagar highway around 6 a.m. Police have taken custody of the bodies and sent them for post-mortem. Initial investigations suggest that the accident was caused by driver negligence. Authorities are actively continuing their investigation into the matter.

  • Indore-Malwa Express Brake Malfunction Causes Smoke; No Casualty |

    The breaks of the Indore-Malwa Express got stuck on Wednesday and caused a spark and smoke to emerge from beneath one of the AC coaches. The Railway officials stated that the train was travelling from Ambedkar Nagar to Vaishnodevi.

     

    #WATCH इंदौर, मध्य प्रदेश: अंबेडकर नगर से वैष्णों देवी जाने वाली मालवा एक्सप्रेस ट्रेन में घर्षण के कारण पहिए कोच में चिपक गए जिस कारण ट्रेन से धुंआ निकलने लगा: PRO रेलवे खेमराज मीणा

    (सोर्स: PRO रेलवे रतलाम मंडल) pic.twitter.com/hQjmhy9Uxg
    — ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) September 25, 2024

     

    As the smoke billowed, those inside the coach became alarmed, leading to a chaotic scene. Fortunately, the train was moving at a very slow speed, preventing any loss of life. Railway officials have stated that the smoke was a result of the train’s brakes sticking on the wheels.

     

    राजपथ: इंदौर में हादसे से बची मालवा एक्सप्रेस, ट्रेन के पहियों के ब्रेक चिपके#Rajpath #Indore #MalwaExpress | @pratyushkkhare pic.twitter.com/2eViuC8PqB
    — Zee News (@ZeeNews) September 25, 2024

     

  • Weather Update: Delhi Braces For Rain, IMD Predicts Showers In THESE States- Check Full Forecast |

    Weather Update: Delhi residents experienced a warm morning on Wednesday, with the minimum temperature recorded at 26.8 degrees Celsius, nearly three degrees higher than usual for this time of year. The weather office has forecasted light rain throughout the day, which is expected to lower the temperature. The India Meteorological Department indicated that the city will have a generally cloudy sky with potential light rain or drizzle. As of 8:30 AM, the humidity level was reported at 84 percent, according to the IMD website. Later in the day, the maximum temperature is expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Tuesday that heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated in isolated areas of North Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam on September 24, as well as in Coastal Karnataka on September 24 and 25, and in South Interior Karnataka on September 25.

    Additionally, fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall is forecasted for Konkan & Goa, the Gujarat region, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada over the next three days. Following this period, scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall is expected for the next four days across the region, with similar rainfall predicted for Saurashtra & Kutch throughout the week. There is also a likelihood of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds on September 25.

    In Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh, fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall is expected over the next three days, with scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall anticipated over the subsequent four days. Similar rainfall is also predicted for Madhya Pradesh throughout the week. Over the next seven days, fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall is expected across Northeast India and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.

  • After ‘Successful’ US Trip, PM Modi To Address Rally In Haryana’s Gohana Ahead Of Assembly Polls |

    Chandigarh: After wrapping up his three-day ‘successful’ visit to the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to return to the election arena of Haryana, where Assembly polls are scheduled for October 5. The Prime Minister will hold his second public meeting in the state on Wednesday to woo electorates of 22 Assembly constituencies and the BJP aims to make this rally a grand success with a record attendance of crowds. The public meeting will be held in Gohana in Sonipat district.

    Organisers said on Tuesday that the preparations for the rally are in full swing and a special aluminium ‘pandal’ has been erected at the site. Three helipads have been prepared near the rally site, where helicopter takeoff and landing rehearsals were conducted on Monday.

    Several senior BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, will share the dais with the Prime Minister. BJP candidates from this region will also attend the rally, which is expected to see tens of thousands of crowds. Party leaders and workers have been asked to make the Prime Minister’s rally a grand success. The rally is being considered crucial as it will be covering voters of 22 Assembly constituencies — 18 falling under the Sonipat and Rohtak Lok Sabha constituencies and four under the Panipat district.

    In view of the rally, several traffic routes have been diverted by the district administration to avoid any inconvenience to the public. Buildings in the surrounding area have been vacated and kept under police supervision. BJP district president Jasbir Dodwa has said that the rally will be historic.

    Prime Minister Modi held his first rally in Kurukshetra on September 15 and launched the BJP’s campaign, aiming to retain the helm in the state for the third straight term. In that rally Prime Minister Modi sought votes for 23 candidates whose seats fall in districts along the GT Road belt, comprising Panchkula, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal and Panipat districts and parts of Yamunanagar, Sonipat and Kaithal. Polling for Haryana’s 90-member Legislative Assembly is scheduled to take place on October 5 while the votes will be counted on October 8.

  • Supreme Court Stops Punjab’s NRI Quota Expansion, Says ‘Fraud Must End’ |

    New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a high court order that quashed the Punjab government’s decision to widen the ambit of ‘NRI quota’ in undergraduate medical admissions to include distant relatives, observing this quota expansion was a “complete fraud” which must be put to an end. 

    “This is nothing but a money spinning machine,” observed a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra while dismissing the state government’s appeal against the verdict of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. 

    On September 10, the high court had set aside the AAP-led government’s August 20 notification that expanded the NRI seat category to include distant relatives of candidates “such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins” for admissions under the 15 per cent NRI quota to medical and dental courses in state government colleges. 

    “We will dismiss all the petitions. This NRI business is nothing but a fraud. We will put an end to all this…. now the so called precedents must give way to primacy of law,” the bench said. 

    The top court said distant relatives of a ‘mama, tai, taya,’ who are settled abroad, will get admissions ahead of meritorious candidates and this cannot be allowed. 

    “This is completely a fraud. And this is what we are doing with our education system!…We will affirm the high court judgement. We must stop this NRI quota business now. The judges know what they are dealing with. The high court has dealt with the case threadbare,” the CJI said. 

    “Let us put a lid on this…what is this ward? You just have to say that I am looking after X … We cannot lend our authority to something which is blatantly illegal.” 

    Terming the high court verdict “absolutely right,” the top court said, “Look at the deleterious consequences… the candidates who have three times higher marks will lose admission (in NEET-UG courses).” 

    Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the Punjab government, said other states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh also followed the broader interpretation of the term ‘NRI quota.’ 

    Moreover, the states have the power to decide as to how 15 per cent NRI quota within the 85 per cent quota for the states has to be granted. 

    A total of 85 per cent NEET-UG seats in medical colleges are filled up by the states in medical colleges under their jurisdiction, the counsel, who was in favour of the NRI quota, told the bench. 

    A division bench of the high court had come out with an elaborate judgement setting aside the state government decision to broaden the ambit of NRI quota for admissions in medical colleges in Punjab. 

    The high court took note of the submissions that the decision to widen the ambit of NRI quota was taken to divert the seats which would have otherwise come to the general category applicants. 

    “Imparting education is not an economic activity but a welfare-oriented endeavour as the ultimate aim is to achieve an egalitarian and prosperous society in order to bring about social transformation and upliftment of the nation. 

    “Doctrine of merit and fairness cannot be sacrificed only because the students falling in the expanded definition of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) possess financial muscle,” the high court had said. 

    “Capitation fee has totally been prohibited. If the admissions in the expanded NRI category to include non-genuine NRIs are permitted; the prohibition made on charge of capitation fee would serve no higher purpose, as the State/private colleges would be at liberty to reap the benefits by amending the provisions according to their whims, which means accepting it by disguising the process,” according to the high court. 

    The expansion of ‘NRI’ definition through the state government corrigendum is “unjustified for several reasons,” the high court said. 

    “Initially, the ‘NRI Quota’ was intended to benefit genuine NRIs and their children, allowing them to access education opportunities in India. By broadening the definition to include distant relatives such as uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins, the core objective of NRI quota is undermined. 

    “This widening opens the door for potential misuse, allowing individuals who do not fall within the original intent of the policy to take advantage of these seats, potentially bypassing more deserving candidates,” it said.

  • J&K Assembly Elections 2024: Jammu And Kashmir Gears Up For Phase 2 Polling; 25.78 Lakh Voters To Decide Fate Of 239 Candidates |

    Amid tight security, all arrangements have been finalized across six districts of Jammu & Kashmir for the second phase of polling, set to be held on 25th September. A total of 25.78 lakh voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates contesting for 26 assembly constituencies. This phase will cover 26 assembly constituencies across six districts of Jammu & Kashmir, including Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Budgam in the Kashmir Division, and Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch in the Jammu Division. All polling materials, including EVMs, have been distributed to polling staff.

    Khalid Hussain Malik, the Returning Officer, stated, “Our polling staff is ready and set to move to their respective polling stations. Every facility is in place at the polling booths. In terms of security, live webcasting will be conducted and monitored in control rooms. All polling vehicles have GPS chips and are being closely tracked. Everything is prepared. Polling will begin at 7:00 AM and end at 6:00 PM. We urge all voters to come out and cast their votes.”

    This phase of the assembly elections will feature several prominent candidates, including former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah, Apni Party Chief Altaf Bukhari, Congress State President Tariq Hameed Karra, Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi of the PDP, and BJP State President Ravindra Raina.

    In the Kashmir Division, 15 assembly constituencies are up for election: Kangan, Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Eidgah, 26-Central Shalteng, Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-I-Sharief, and Chadoora. In the Jammu Division, 11 assembly constituencies are set to go to the polls: Gulabgarh, Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Kalakote-Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri, Budhal, Thannamandi, Surankote, Poonch Haveli, and Mendhar.

    According to the latest electoral rolls, 25,78,099 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this phase, comprising 13,12,730 male voters, 12,65,316 female voters, and 53 third-gender voters. Highlighting the crucial role played by the youth of Jammu & Kashmir in strengthening democracy, 1,20,612 voters aged 18 to 19 are eligible to vote in the second phase of the assembly elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 3,502 polling stations with 100% webcasting across the 26 assembly constituencies. Adequate security measures have been implemented, with 300 additional SSB and CRPF battalions deployed alongside security forces already stationed in these six districts.

    Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, stated, “We have made all necessary preparations, and security arrangements are in place according to ECI guidelines. All polling stations are fully equipped, and we expect a good voter turnout.”

    Out of the total, 1,056 are urban polling stations and 2,446 are rural polling stations. To enhance voter participation, 157 special polling stations have been set up for this phase, including 26 polling booths managed by women, known as Pink Polling Stations, 26 polling stations managed by specially-abled persons, 26 polling stations manned by youths, 31 border polling stations, 26 green polling stations, and 22 unique polling stations. Voting will take place from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.