New Delhi: Breaking his silence for the first time after the grand alliance faced rupture, Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) leader Sharad Yadav on Monday called the decision in Bihar ‘unfortunate’.

“I don’t agree with the decision in Bihar, its unfortunate. The mandate by the people was not for this,” Yadav said.

Nitish Kumar, on last Wednesday, ended his two-year grand alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, citing a “call of conscience” over corruption charges slapped against his former deputy and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son Tejaswi Yadav.

Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi and Tejaswi are central to a CBI inquiry into the land-for-hotels deal when Lalu was the Union railways minister.

Veteran JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav was also not present during the oath taking ceremony of Nitish Kumar last week.

The leader, however, expressed his dissatisfaction with the split in JD(U) and RJD alliance on social media. He for the first time spoke on the issue with media on Monday.

Sharad Yadav has been indirectly hitting out at BJP. The recent attack came on Sunday when Yadav told that BJP has failed to keep the promise of bringing back black money stashed abroad.

“Neither black money stashed abroad returned, one of the main slogans of the ruling party, nor anyone caught out of those named in Panama papers,” Yadav took to Twitter.

He also targeted the Centre for lack of development in the country. He said, “Although Govt collects number of cesses in d name of different services from public, yet don’t see any improvement in any area in d country.”

Sharad Yadav also termed the Union government’s Crop Insurance Scheme ‘unsuccessful’ and said, “Amongst others Fasal Bima Yojana is another unsuccessful scheme of d Govt through which only private insurance companies being benefitted.”

In his Twitter account Sharad Yadav also asked for an explanation from the government over slow growth in infrastructure sector. “Almost all sectors of d economy are showing slow growth & in d major sector infrastructure also investment declined sharply.Govt to explain,” he said.

(Agencies)

New Delhi: The Income Tax department on Monday extended the tax returns filing deadline from July 31 to August 5. The new last date will give taxpayers enough time to prepare documents and file their tax returns.

The extension in deadline has reportedly been granted as people have faced problems in filing income tax returns on last day using income tax website. Besides, taxpayers have also complained that income tax website was not working as there was huge rush on to the site.

Earlier, CBDT had said last date for filing of Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for the financial year 2016-17 will not be extended beyond today’s deadline, a top official said. “The last date for filing of ITRs remains July 31. There are no plans to extend this deadline.

The department has already received over 2 crore returns filed electronically. The department requests taxpayers to file their return in time,” the official said.

On reports of the e-filing website facing some glitches, the official said that no major glitches have been reported with the department’s e-filing website– http://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in/–barring a few times when the portal was “interrupted for maintenance”.

The department has also issued advertisements in leading national dailies in the last few days stating that taxpayers should disclose their income “correctly” and file their ITRs on or before July 31.

The linking of Aadhaar number with the PAN (Permanent Account Number) of a taxpayer has also been made mandatory for filing of an ITR, beginning July 1.

The department has also asked taxpayers to declare cash deposits made in bank accounts aggregating to Rs. 2 lakh or more, post demonetisation between November 9-December 30 last year, in the ITRs. The ITRs to be filed by July 31 pertain to 2016-17 fiscal or assessment year 2017-18.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru: After its six MLAs deserted ahead of Rajya Sabha polls, a wary Congress has lodged its 44 Gujarat legislators at a private resort on the outskirts of Bangalore, saying it is “protecting” them from the BJPs “hooliganism”.

Ashok Gehlot, the Congress general secretary in-charge for Gujarat, defended the partys action and repeated the allegations that the BJP was using money, muscle and state power to force party MLAs in Gujarat to quit.

“They (MLAs) were picked up, harassed, threatened and forced to quit. The way the state machinery, the police are being misused (in Gujarat), why cant we then bring them at one place to protect them from the hooliganism and anti-social activities there,” he said.
 
Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh, who is overseeing the arrangements, however, said that the leaders from Gujarat “have come to our state for rest and tourist purpose and we are stationed here to facilitate it”.

The MLAs wish to visit some tourist destinations and religious places, he said, adding “they want to seek the Almightys blessing to save Gujarat and democracy.”

Police personnel have been deployed around the resort for security.

The Congress is keen to fend off alleged “poaching” attempts by the BJP ahead of the August 8 Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat.

Though there is no clarity about exact number of MLAs  at the resort, Gujarat Congress General secretary Nishit Vyas, who is with the legislators here, earlier today told PTI that the party has shifted 44 of its MLAs to Bengaluru.

“It was for the safety and security of the MLAs who  are being threatened if they do not agree to switch sides… that is why we decided to bring them to Bengaluru,” he said.

Not wishing to specify the number of Gujarat legislators at the resort, Suresh, in response to a question, said “all our party legislators are there”.

Of the 57 Congress MLAs in Gujarat, from where Sonia Gandhis political secretary Ahmed Patel is contesting for Rajya Sabha, six have resigned from the party in the last two days with three of them joining the BJP yesterday.

The party has apprehensions about Patels election to the Rajya Sabha, if more MLAs defect.

The BJP has denied the Congress allegations and said it cannot be blamed if Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul are unable to hold the crumbling organisation.

The Congress sources said MLAs are likely to travel to some tourist destinations in the state and also to Tirupati.

Suresh said the legislators tour schedule would be finalised later, as they have come early today and are taking rest.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declined to comment on Gujarat MLAs being lodged at a resort outside the city, saying he has no information about it.

(PTI)

Mangaluru: The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. has advised its broadband users to change the default system password after a section of its broadband system was hit by a malware attack earlier this week.

It is reported that more than 60,000 BSNL broadband modems across Karnataka Telecom Circle have became dysfunctional after a malware attack since Wednesday night.

“The situation has been addressed to a great extent. We are advising customers that they should immediately change their passwords, and they should not be worried about using broadband once they have done that,” BSNL Chairman Anupam Shrivastava said.

Shrivastava said that during the attack, malware was changing the passwords of users (those who were using admin as password) and so the affected modems were unable to login.

This attack occurred earlier this week, he said, adding BSNL call centres were proactively reaching out to users to alert them, and advise them about precautionary measures. He said that the malware has not impacted BSNL’s core network, billing or any other system.

R. Mani, chief general manager, BSNL, Karnataka Telecom Circle, said that modems supplied by three particular vendors have been affected by the malware attack that came through the wide area network.

He said instructions have already been issued to all officials on procedure to rectify and reboot the modems. Some BSNL personnel were visiting homes of subscribers to address the problem, he said.

BSNL broadband subscribers can also reset the modem by following these procedures: open modem page (http://192.168.1.1); enter modem user/password; click on access management tab; click on activate acl radio button; save and reboot the modem.

(Agencies)

Representational image.

Ahmedabad: At least 25 persons, including 14 of a family, were found dead on Wednesday in two villages of Banaskantha district due to floods following torrential rains in Gujarat, the police said.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, the death toll due to heavy rains and floods across the state in the current monsoon season stood at 94 till Tuesday.

Of the 25 found dead in Banaskantha, 17 persons, including 14 of a family, drowned in the flood waters in Kharia village under the Kankrej taluka, said an official.

Twenty five bodies were fished out on Wednesday by the police and locals after the flood water receded in the district.

“Seventeen bodies were recovered from Kharia village of Banaskantha and seven more were fished out at the neighbouring Sihori village. Another body was found in the interiors, taking the total number of bodies recovered from the district today to 25,” said Assistant Superintendent of Police Akshayrajsinh Makwana.

AD Parmar, Inspector, Thara Police Station, under which the Kharia village falls, said they feared that more bodies might be found after the water receded at over a dozen villages located along the banks of the Banas river.

Kharia and Sihori, situated along the banks of the Banas, were among the worst-hit villages in the district after water was released from the Dantiwada dam two days back.

Around 1.5 lakh cusecs of water was released from the dam following heavy rains in neighbouring Rajasthan, which resulted in inundation of several villages along the banks of the river in Banaskantha.

“Kharia is one of around 14 villages in the taluka which are badly affected due to the flood. As the water level of the Banas river rose suddenly, those living in these villages did not get a chance to relocate to a safe place in time,” said Parmar.

State Emergency Operation Centre officials said as per the latest figures available with them — excluding the 25 deaths reported on Wednesday — eight people had died in Banaskantha and Patan districts in the last two days due to the floods.

The toll due to heavy rains and floods across the state in the current monsoon season stood at 94 (barring the 25 deaths reported from Banaskantha on Wednesday), they added.

Banaskantha and Patan are among the worst-hit districts due to heavy rains and flooding of the Banas and Sipu rivers.

The huge quantum of water released from the Dantiwada and Sipu dams due to heavy rains in Rajasthan compounded the situation, said officials.

(PTI)

The idea of doing something with food is a dream Vishal Gupta has been harboring since childhood. A born foodie, he really missed the lavish spread of food from home & restaurants at his boarding school. Caught in the rat race of a rigorous IT job, Vishal Gupta often needed to step out for a hearty meal. The dearth of healthy eateries gave birth to Pop’l Food Truck.

A home science graduate, Rashmi is a die – hard foodie & a passionate cook herself. She loves to feed people. This passion for food led her & Vishal to join hands and their culinary expertise to create a marvelous product like Pop’l Food Truck.

So now let’s explore the world of healthy food, through Pop’l Food Truck Pop’I now opens doors in Bengaluru. Stay Junk – Free with natural delicious food. Yes now, experience food that is tasty & healthy. Pop’I- Bengaluru’s most happening food truck- is now near to you in Whitefield, Inorbit Mall.

In the hustle bustle of Bengaluru when our 9 – 5 jobs almost consume us and there is no time to even to breathe, live or let alone eat, comes Pop’l Food Truck, a healthy option to save the day!!! Every occasion is a time to celebrate, and where there is celebration there is food.

The portions are generous, the flavors reflect love, hospitality is a way of life & food is a culture. Founded by Vishal Gupta & Rashmi Upadhyaya, Pop’l is a specialty concept of fast food bringing together the finesse of a quick, friendly & casual dining experience. Bengaluru has not only been long known as the Silicon Valley of India, but is also immensely popular for its entertainment, music & food culture. The launch of Pop ‘l is going to give the city, many reasons to cheer!!!

Pop’l offers customers a chance to experience a variety of food options from Thai Curry, Stir Fried Asian Greens, Whole wheat pasta (Penne), Mexican Vegetables with Lemony couscous, Vegetable Lemongrass Sauce, POP’I Khichdi, Sprouts Khichdi, Masala Dal Khichdi, Healthy Sweet Tooth, Aloe Vera Halwa, Granola Bars, Healthy Coolers, Pine apple – Ginger- Aloe Vera, Coconut Mojito, Kiwi – Plum -Coconut, Spinach – Apple – Carrot – Lemon & Roasted Beetroot – Coriander –Lemon – Ginger amongst others.

“Pop’l Food Truck is a labor of love & passion for food. Due to hectic work schedules, it becomes immensely difficult to pay attention to one’s own diet (leave alone others) & fitness regime. Hence was borne the idea of a Food Truck with healthy food options. This is one of our firsts and we hope to impress patrons with these delectable healthy treats!” stated the founders of Pop’l Food Truck, Vishal Gupta & Ms. Rashmi Upadhyaya.