Continuous rainfall in Ramban has triggered landslides along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, leading to its closure. The heavy downpour caused cracks in the mountains at various points along the highway, including Mehad, Kishtwadi Patthar, and Gangru Ramsu areas, necessitating a complete shutdown of the highway.
The landslides have resulted in the blocking of the highway, with large rocks falling from the mountains making the situation more challenging. Authorities have been working since 5 am to clear the debris and stones to reopen the highway for traffic.
In light of the adverse weather conditions forecasted by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Srinagar Station from April 26 to April 30, residents living near the River Jhelum, its tributaries, and Nallahs have been advised to avoid these water bodies until the weather improves.
The Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) has issued an avalanche warning, prompting the closure of all schools in Srinagar on Monday as a precautionary measure. However, teaching and non-teaching staff have been instructed to report for duty to oversee the situation and safeguard the institutional assets of their respective schools.
New Delhi :A Delhi court here on Friday extended the judicial custody of AAP leader Manish Sisodia, co-accused Vijay Nair and others till May 8 in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
The accused persons were produced before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja through video conferencing on the expiry of their judicial custody granted earlier. The judge also directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submit a report on how much time it was likely to take to digitise the documents related to the chargesheet.
During the proceedings, ED’s special public prosecutors Naveen Kumar Matta and Simon Benjamin alleged that the accused persons were delaying the proceedings and that they were not willing to expedite the hearing.
Earlier, the court sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BRS leader K Kavitha to judicial custody till May 7 in the case. The ED alleged that Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is the major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged liquor scam.
Varanasi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the inauguration of SwarVed Mahamandir in Varanasi on Monday, Decmeber 18, 2023. (Photo: IANS/PIB)
New Delhi: Calling it a “historic day”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss a batch of petitions seeking mandatory cross-verification of the votes cast in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.
The SC decision came just as PM Modi was addressing a series of election rallies in Bihar and West Bengal.
Urging the opposition INDIA bloc leaders to offer an apology for doubting the integrity of the country’s electoral process, PM Modi said they committed the sin of “creating distrust” against EVMs.
“Today, the Supreme Court has delivered a massive blow to those who plan to loot the ballot boxes… Their dreams have been shattered. The Supreme Court has made it clear today that the era of ballot paper will not return now, ” said PM Modi.
“Today, when the entire world praises India’s democracy, its electoral process, and the use of technology in the poll process, these people, for their personal interests, raise questions about the EVMs with malice. They have constantly tried to undermine democracy. But, the Supreme Court has delivered a tight slap to them today. Every leader of the INDI alliance should apologise to the people of the country, ” he added.
This is not the first time that PM Modi has slammed the opposition parties for questioning the EVMs.
Soon after winning the public mandate for the second consecutive time in 2019, PM Modi highlighted the role of EVMs, saying that everyone now talks about the percentage increase in voting instead of discussing incidents of booth capturing and looting that were normal in the past.
“I want to tell the nation that for the first time in 1977, the discussion on EVMs had started. At that time, we were nowhere in politics. It was first used in 1982. We were not there even in 1988. The dignitaries at that time from this very House had approved it lawfully.
“They had framed the law. Moreover, under the leadership of the Congress in 1992, all the rules related to the EVMs were made. Like they keep saying – ‘we did this, we did that’; this too was done by you. Now you have lost. That’s why you are crying, ” Prime Minister Modi said in his reply to the motion of thanks on the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha on June 26, 2019.
PM Modi also mentioned that the opposition parties have time and again tried to derail the election process and create disbelief in the minds of the voters.
“In 2017, there was a huge uproar regarding EVMs. Then, the Election Commission stepped forward and challenged the protesters to come forward and prove the EVMs wrong. But not a single party crying over the EVMs went to the Election Commission. The NCP and the CPI went to the Election Commission but they didn’t question the EVMs. They just tried to know how the EVMs were operated. At least the NCP and the CPI went to the Election Commission. Others who doubted didn’t go to the Election Commission even after its invitation, ” he said.
While the opposition continues to make a hue and cry about the EVMs, especially after not tasting success in elections time and again, PM Modi has gone ahead and proudly told everyone about the significant role the EVMs play during elections in the world’s largest democracy.
“With time, Bharat has also integrated the election process with modern technology. Bharat has been using Electronic Voting Machines for about 25 years. With the use of EVM, both transparency in elections and efficiency in the electoral process have increased, ” PM Modi said while addressing the G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit last October.
Chandigarh: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday challenged the BJP to nominate its state unit chief Sunil Jakhar to contest from any constituency and he would contest against him.
“I am confident the people will not give the BJP a single seat in Punjab. I extend an invitation to the BJP to nominate its leader, Sunil Jakhar, to contest from any constituency in Punjab. Should he choose to do so, I will contest against him and secure a resounding victory, ” he told the media here.
Commenting on the INDIA bloc, Warring said, “Punjab’s distinct identity necessitated the avoidance of an alliance with AAP and this has been duly acknowledged. The unique challenges faced by Punjab preclude the possibility of any collaboration with AAP under any circumstance. Punjab Congress leaders and candidates will not share platforms with AAP counterparts. Despite AAP’s claims of a 13-0 victory, reality will unveil a starkly different narrative.”
He said the BJP and AAP in Punjab have made claims, but the time has come for a reality check. “Only the Congress party can effectively address the concerns of the people, a fact recognised by the electorates.
Amritsar: Balwinder Kaur mother of Waris Punjab De (outfit) Head, Amritpal Singh here today confirmed that her son would contest Parliament elections from the Khadoor Sahib Constituency.
Talking to the media here today, Kaur said that her son has agreed to contest election as an independent candidate from the Kahdoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat.
However, Amritpal Singh presently lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the (NSA) National Security Act, after his arrest by the Punjab police last year.
Earlier, Amritpal’s counsel Rajdev Singh Khalsa had said that he would contest as an Independent from the Khadoor Sahib seat but family members were reluctant to confirm it.
An encounter erupted between terrorists and security forces in North Kashmir’s Sopore district on Thursday, as reported by officials.
The exchange of fire occurred in the Check Mohalla Nowpora area, where two to three terrorists are believed to be holed out.
During the crossfire, a civilian sustained injuries and has been admitted to a local hospital for treatment. Security forces are currently engaged in rescuing other civilians from the area.
The encounter was a result of a joint operation launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists in the Nowpora area of the town.
The incident follows a targeted attack earlier this week in Rajouri district, where a 40-year-old man, identified as Mohammad Raziq, was shot dead outside a mosque in his village, Kunda Top, under the Thanamandi police station area. Raziq, who was immediately taken to the hospital, succumbed to his injuries. His brother serves in the Territorial Army.
The attack came less than a week after a migrant worker from Bihar was shot dead by terrorists in south Kashmir’s Anantnag. The victim also succumbed to his injuries after being taken to the hospital.
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday admitted a petition filed by CPI-M Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya seeking action against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her alleged anti-judiciary remarks made in the past two days.
However, the division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam maintained that although the plea has been admitted, whether the court will take any action in the matter will be decided by a separate bench.
As the administrative head of the high court, the Chief Justice will decide which bench will hear the matter.
The Chief Minister’s comments against a section of the judiciary came after the Calcutta High Court on Monday cancelled 25, 753 appointments in teaching and non-teaching posts made by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016.
On Thursday morning, after Bhattacharya sought the attention of the division bench, the latter asked him to file an affidavit in the matter in the second half. Accordingly, Bhattacharya filed the affidavit, arguing that the court needs to caution the Chief Minister so that she refrains from making ‘anti-judiciary’ comments.
Bhattacharya also pointed out the instances when the Chief Minister attacked a section of the judiciary and the courts.
“The Chief Minister is claiming that the courts have been sold out and the judges are having political outlooks. The judges operate according to their jurisprudence. Comments like courts have been sold out are simply unacceptable. It is an attack on the dignity of the judiciary, ” Bhattacharya argued.
To recall, addressing an election rally in Bolpur on Wednesday, Banerjee said, “The BJP controls the affairs of the high courts due to its financial strength. I am not saying anything against the Supreme Court. We are still seeking justice there. But in the high courts, the BJP always has its way. Others do not get justice.”
At another poll rally on Tuesday, she said, “I do not want to name anybody. The judges will earn their livelihood from the public exchequer. The state exchequer will bear the cost of their security. Yet they will terminate services.”
Bhopal: On the last day of campaigning for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed two back-to-back public meetings in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar and Betul and later, held a mega roadshow in the state capital.
At public meetings, Prime Minister Modi cornered the Congress over issues of reservation, corruption, and appeasement politics. He accused the Congress of promoting reservation on the basis of religion.
The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of reducing the quota for the OBCs in Karnataka by putting Muslim castes in the same category and claimed that it plans to replicate this across the country.
He dubbed the main opposition party the “biggest enemy of the OBCs”.
“Once again, the Congress has given reservation on the basis of religion in Karnataka through the backdoor by putting all Muslim castes along with the OBCs. By doing so, it has snatched a big chunk of reservation from the OBC community. Congress indulged in this dangerous game which will destroy your (future) generations. It is the biggest enemy of the OBCs, ” Prime Minister Modi said.
He said that the Constitution clearly mentions that no one will be given reservation on the basis of religion. “Babasaheb Ambedkar himself was against reservation on the basis of religion. But Congress made a dangerous resolution of (providing) reservation on the basis of religion years ago. It is adopting various tactics to fulfil the resolution, ” the Prime Minister added.
He highlighted various projects of the BJP-led Central government for Madhya Pradesh in the last 10 years and said that he has high expectations from the people of the state.
In the evening, Prime Minister Modi held a mega roadshow in Bhopal. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, state BJP chief V.D. Sharma and party’s Bhopal seat candidate Alok Sharma.
The Prime Minister received a rousing welcome during the roadshow.
Madhya Pradesh’s six Lok Sabha seats – Tikamgarh, Damoh, Khajuraho (all three from Bundelkhand region), Satna, Rewa (from Vindhya region) and Hoshangabad will go to polls in the second phase on April 26.
The election in Bhopal and Betul will be held in the third phase along with five other constituencies on May 7.
In the 2014 and 2019 parliamentary elections, the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi won 27 and 28 seats respectively in Madhya Pradesh. The state has a total of 29 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Bengaluru: Criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the ‘distribution of wealth’ issue, former Karnataka chief minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday told the Wayanad MP to first distribute his ‘benami’ wealth.
“Rahul Gandhi has spoken about the distribution of the nation’s property. Mr Rahul Gandhi, first you distribute your benami assets, ” Bommai said while speaking at a campaign in Haveri from where he is contesting the Lok Sabha polls on BJP ticket.
Bommai said the the BJP has declared Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its PM candidate but the Congress has not named the Wayanad MP as “Rahul Gandhi is an inefficient leader”.
“There is ‘Modi Tsunami’ in the country as he has been an able leader. The Congress party was born out of lies. The party would be finished if Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister for the third time, ” he said.
The BJP leader also said the Constitution has ruled out religion-based reservation, but the Congress party was supporting this as part of its appeasement politics.
“None should create confusion in society during elections, ” he added.
NOIDA : “ I am very relaxed, feeling immensely relieved” says IAS, Harshita Sharma who cracked the UPSC 2023 and secured 214 rank. My dream has come true, I have fulfilled the dream of my parents, adds harshita who has been preparing for UPSC since five years. Her optional subject was Zoology. She hails from the Economically weaker background and it was her third attempt for the UPSC. She is from Rajpura ,district Patiala in Punjab. After completing her schooling in Rajpura, Harshita moved to Delhi for further studies and completed her graduation and post graduation from Delhi University. She got selected in Jamia Milia’s Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) also but opted for self study to save time. She feels Civil services is one of the prestigious post and her passion to work for the society led her to prepare for this exam.
It is often said for a girl from a middle class family it is very difficult to convince her parents to support her in fulfilling her dreams, but harshita is lucky that her parents supported her in it. She is an example of hardwork and determination. Civil Services Examination is considered as one of the toughest and challenging Exam of India.Every year thousands aspire to become IAS officers , but only a few succeed. Numerous students opt for various types of coaching for prepration but many of them do self study, Harshita started preparing for the exam by herself , after post-graduation and had to face various financial as well as societal challenges. Her motto is to believe in yourself and not get influenced by others.
In an Exclusive Interview with Tehelka,Harshita shared her experiences. She feels that Civil Services is not a difficult Exam but it needs ones determination and focus. It is lengthy process indeed so the student should have enough patience to deal with it. Giving credit to her parents she said “ My parents have sacrificed for me and my brother, but I am happy that they believed in me and because of them, I am able to achieve my goal, fulfil my Dream” She is happy that being a women she has fulfilled the dream of her father, made him proud. Recollecting the memories, how her father was worried about her marriage, harshita got emotional but she never lost hope. Self belief is crucial ,she says.
Her hobbies are Painting, watching movies and reading books. She is a motivation for many civil service aspirants. Her message to young girls is Be Financially Independent. Hard work always pays.
