Archives for March 2025

Etah (UP: An examination centre in-charge has been booked for allegedly leaving the class 10 math paper of UP board on an official WhatsApp group.

The incident occurred on the morning of the exam taking place at Chaudhary BL Inter College.

The exam was underway Saturday, when, at 9.37 AM, the centre administrator, Anju Yadav, sent the math paper to the official examination WhatsApp group, according to education department sources.

The group comprised 125 officials, including the Etah District Magistrate, District School Inspector (DIOS), Static Magistrate, Sector Magistrate, and the Center Superintendent.

Static Magistrate Brijesh Kumar said, “Upon discovering the issue, I sought a clarification from Anju Yadav and had the paper removed from the group. The matter was then reported to District School Inspector Dr Indrajit Singh.”

Kumar filed a complaint at Jaithra Police Station on Saturday evening.

“Based on the complaint, a case was registered against Anju Yadav under the relevant sections of the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. Her mobile phone has been seized, and an investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the incident,” he said.

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday backtracked on his stance regarding industrial growth in Kerala, stating that the state needs more MSME start-ups — not just on paper.

Sharing a news report from an English daily on ‘X’, Tharoor expressed disappointment over the state’s start-up ecosystem, saying it was not as promising as reported.

“Dismayed to see that the Kerala start-up entrepreneurship story is not what’s been reported,” he posted.

The news report he shared claimed that over 42,000 MSMEs had shut down in Kerala over the past nine years, resulting in the loss of employment for at least 1,03,764 workers.

“The only silver lining is that at least the GoK’s claims point to the right intentions. We need more MSME start-ups— and not just on paper. Kerala must head this way!” his post added.

However, State Industries Minister P Rajeeve dismissed the news report as “baseless.”

“I provided a detailed reply in the Assembly on February 10. Recently, Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal stated in Parliament that 1,700 MSMEs shut down in Kerala over the past four years,” he said.

Rajeeve further pointed out that while 30 per cent of MSMEs in the country shut down within their first year, the figure in Kerala was only 15 per cent.

He alleged that the report was published with ulterior motives, as it did not cite the source of its figures.

Tharoor’s recent remarks on Kerala’s industrial growth sparked controversy within the Congress state unit.

The Congress Working Committee member ruffled feathers in the party after writing an article in an English daily praising the industrial policy of the Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala.

Notably, the Thiruvananthapuram MP’s post came just two days after the Congress leadership held a brainstorming session with Kerala leaders at the party headquarters in New Delhi to strategise for next year’s Assembly polls.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday scoffed at speculations of a “cold war” between him and his deputy Eknath Shinde, and mocked Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, quipping he wants to compete with Salim-Javed, the legendary screenwriting duo.

He was addressing a press conference with deputy CMs Shinde and Ajit Pawar after a cabinet meeting and customary tea party ahead of the four-week budget session of the assembly, which begins on Monday.

“There is no war. Those who know both of us will remember what we do when we are together,” said Fadnavis, pointing to their meetings before Shinde’s rebellion split the undivided Shiv Sena and sunk the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2022.

While Fadnavis maintained that all partners of ruling Mahayuti – BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP – are working unitedly, Shinde chipped in, “Everything is thanda thanda, cool cool.”

Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, said the budget session will be the first House proceedings of the new government after Mahayuti’s stunning victory in the state polls last year.

“It is just that Fadnavis and I have swapped our chairs. Only Ajit Pawar’s chair is fixed,” said Shinde, who was the CM before the assembly elections with Fadnavis and Pawar as his deputies then.

Pawar came up with the repartee, “What can I do if you couldn’t keep your chair,” sending all three into peals of laughter.

Fadnavis dismissed the reports that claimed that he had stayed decisions taken by his predecessor. “I have not stayed any decision taken by Shinde,” he said.

The CM and his deputies also rubbished Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s claim about Shinde meeting Union Minister Amit Shaha at 4 am in Pune to complain against Fadnavis.

Shinde said Shah is a leader of the BJP-led NDA. Pawar asserted that it was a courtesy call at 10 am. Fadnavis said he too was present in the meeting.

Raut in his weekly column Rokhthok in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ on Sunday claimed the meeting took place at a hotel in Pune’s Koregaon Park on February 22. Shinde who is a “leader of 57 MLAs” had to stay awake till 4 am to meet Shah, he claimed.

Fadnavis said Raut wants to compete with Salim-Javed, the iconic screenwriting pair of Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, while Shinde claimed there was “chemical locha (imbalance)” in the head of the Sena (UBT) leader.

Amid disagreement over guardian ministers’ posts to taking separate review meetings to separate medical cells and ‘war rooms’ for monitoring projects, there were reports of unease between Fadnavis and Shinde.

When asked about his “don’t take me lightly” remark, Shinde said he had already clarified that it was directed at those who took him lightly and how he taught them a lesson, in a veiled reference to Uddhav Thackeray.

Fadnavis added, “I don’t take Shinde lightly so the remark was directed at those who underestimated him.” He also lashed out at the opposition for boycotting the customary tea party on the eve of the assembly session.

Referring to a letter by the opposition, Fadnavis said, “It runs into nine pages. It has the names of nine opposition leaders of which seven have signed. All issues mentioned are based on newspaper reports and if they had read the government’s response to these articles, the opposition couldn’t have written even a half-page letter.

“They said the government should have a dialogue with the opposition. When we call them for dialogue, they boycott. None of the senior opposition leaders were present at the meeting. Instead of ‘hum saath saath hai’, it’s ‘hum aapke hai kaun’ being played out in the opposition camp.”

The chief minister said five bills would be introduced during the session, which will continue till March 26, and two debates on women’s empowerment and the Constitution will be held.

He said soybean and tur procurement has been done in record numbers. “We have to acquire additional godowns,” he added.

The CM said the government will table a balanced budget (on March 10) and ensure fiscal discipline. Flagship schemes will continue and only ineligible beneficiaries will be dropped, he said, referring to the Ladki Bahin’ programme.

Fadnavis described the harassment of Union minister Raksha Khadse’s daughter as unfortunate, stressing those involved won’t be spared.

Asked about the opposition’s demand for the resignation of NCP ministers Manikrao Kokate and Dhananjay Munde, he said a decision on Kokate would be taken after court order. “We have already clarified about the demand for Munde’s resignation,” he said.

Agriculture minister Kokate was recently convicted by a magistrate’s court in a forgery case and sentenced to two years in jail. A sessions court in Nashik that has suspended his sentencing will give its decision on Kokate’s plea seeking a stay on the magistrate’s order on March 5.

Munde has been facing opposition heat after the arrest of his close aide Walmik Karad in an extortion case related to the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

When told that Congress leader Sunil Kedar’s legislature membership was being terminated, Fadnavis said the decision was taken after the court refused to stay his conviction. In Kokate’s case, the sentence had been suspended, said the CM.

About French consultant Systra’s allegations against MMRDA, Shinde said it had written on February 27 saying there was no financial irregularity concerning the planning body.

Fadnavis said his government won’t compromise on transparency.

Veteran Congress leader Veerappa Moily

Udupi (Karnataka): Veteran Congress leader Veerappa Moily on Sunday stated that no one can prevent Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar from becoming the CM of the state, as it is a “settled matter”.

The former chief minister also asserted that it is only a matter of time before Shivakumar assumes the CM’s post, as it is something bound to happen.

“I was the one who ensured that Shivakumar got his first ticket to contest as an MLA. Today, he has emerged as a successful leader in Karnataka. Let’s all wish for him to become the chief minister at the earliest,” Moily said.

Addressing a Congress event at Karkala, he noted that despite being the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President, Shivakumar has worked tirelessly, even in challenging times for the party at the national level, and has contributed to the party’s rise to power in other states as well.

Praising Shivakumar’s leadership and organisational efforts, the former union minister addressed him—who was seated on the dais—saying, “Several statements may come and go, but no one can stop you from becoming the chief minister.”

“There is no need to worry about this. If someone criticises it, they may do so for their satisfaction, but no one can prevent Shivakumar from becoming CM. The post is not a gift granted by someone; it is something he has earned for himself,” Moily added.

Political circles in the state, especially within the ruling Congress party, have been rife with speculation about a leadership change later this year, reportedly under a “rotational Chief Minister” or “power-sharing” agreement.

Shivakumar, who also serves as the state Congress President, has been a strong aspirant for the Chief Ministerial position and has been vocal about his ambition to take on the role.

Moily reiterated that Shivakumar becoming CM is “100 per cent certain” and advised him not to react to the ongoing discussions.

“It is a settled matter. It has already been decided—by the people, by history. No one can stop it; it is just a matter of time,” he said.

“There is no need for anyone, including his supporters, to claim credit for making him the CM. Despite countless efforts, no one will be able to prevent this from happening. Shivakumar becoming CM is inevitable,” he added.

Following the Karnataka Assembly election results in May 2023, there was intense competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister’s post.The

Congress leadership eventually convinced Shivakumar to accept the role of Deputy Chief Minister.

At the time, reports suggested that a compromise had been reached under a “rotational Chief Minister” formula, under which Shivakumar would take over as CM after two and a half years. However, the party has never officially confirmed this arrangement.

Earlier in the day, Congress MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga stated that Shivakumar would become the Chief Minister by December.

These remarks come amid assertions from several ministers and leaders considered close to Siddaramaiah, who have ruled out any leadership change and insisted that the incumbent CM will serve a full five-year term.

These statements also defy Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent warning, urging party members to “shut up” and focus on governance instead of making public remarks about the leadership transition.