Archives for August 2023

Gurugram: A ‘mahapanchayat’ held here in Tigra village on Sunday demanded the release of youths arrested in connection with the killing of a Muslim cleric on August 1, giving a seven-day ultimatum to police.

The panchayat also demanded the removal of the Anjuman mosque in Sector 57 since the area is Hindu-dominated.

Naib Imam Mohammed Saad, 26, was killed during an attack on the Anjuman mosque by a mob in early hours of Tuesday last week. The attack came hours after a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession was pelted with stones at Khadli Chowk in Nuh, adjoining Gurugram.

The panchayat formed a 101 people-committee to track the matter. It was adjourned with the ultimatum if the youths are not released, a “big decision” will be taken.

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram’s outgoing councillor Mahesh Dayma said that the committee will submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Monday demanding the release of the four youths arrested from the village in the mosque murder case and also an impartial inquiry into the matter.

A memorandum will be given to all MLAs and ministers too with the same set of demands, he said.

One of the panchayat’s demands was to ban the police from entering the village and continuously raiding the village.

The mahapanchayat was held at Tigra village under the chairmanship of Sarpanch Attar Singh of Mohammadpur village.

Despite the implementation of Section 144, about 700 people from more than 100 nearby villages participated in it.

Among its members were current and former MLAs from Sohna, Sanjay Singh and Tejpal Tanwar, both from BJP, and several councillors and sarpanchas.

Sube Singh Bohra, a former sarpanch of Wazirabad village, said villagers will court arrest en masse if the arrested youths, who he claimed were innocent, are not released.

Former district bar association president Kulbhushan Bhardwaj demanded the resignation of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar alleging he was not aware of the flare-up in Nuh till evening.

“We do not want such a Chief Minister. He should resign. We need a Chief Minister like Yogi Adityanath for such times, or else take Nuh into Uttar Pradesh. Such violence will not be tolerated anymore,” he said.

The panchayat was held amid the deployment of heavy security in Tigra and nearby villages.

Several companies of para-military forces, along with police, patrolled the areas from 9 am to 4 pm.

Ratlam,: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has courted controversy by stating that “we” will treat all those who hail India as brothers but would not step back from taking the lives of those who speak against the nation.

He was speaking on Saturday at an event of party workers in Bangrot here.

“We are not opponents of anybody. All those who say Bharat Mata ki Jai are our brothers and we can lay down our lives for them. But those will speak against Bharat Mata, we will not step back from even taking their lives,” the BJP general secretary said.

Slamming the Congress, he said the party used to taunt with questions about when the Ram Temple would come up in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

All those who contend that Lord Ram is an imaginary figure must go to Ayodhya in January, when the grand temple is set to be consecrated, in order to cleanse themselves of their sins.

Hailing the Union government for bringing peace in Kashmir, Vijayvargiya said everyone was aware of the situation that prevailed in the restive region earlier.

“Now, the Tricolour is being hoisted atop every home there,” he said.

MUMBAI:  Sharing the dais with Ajit Pawar at an event in Pune on Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Maharashtra Deputy CM is now at the “right place after a long time”, but “came very late.”

Ajit Pawar also praised the Shah, saying the Union minister is keen on the development of Maharashtra.

Shah’s statement comes more than a month after Ajit Pawar, the nephew of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar, joined the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Eknath Shinde along with some party MLAs on July 2.

Pawar was made deputy chief minister, while the other eight MLAs, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil, were sworn in as ministers. “This is my first public programme with Ajit Pawar. I want to tell him that he is now sitting in the right place after a long time. This was always the right place for you, but you came to sit here very late,” Shah said.

Shah, who is also the cooperation minister, was speaking after launching the digital portal of the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) office. CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis were also present at the event.

Shah said Maharashtra is the base of the cooperative sector as nearly half the country’s cooperative societies are based in Maharashtra.

“The Cooperative model of Maharashtra is taking the cooperative movement forward in the country. The cooperative movement has progressed and flourished only in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka, which is, the parts of the earlier Mumbai state. The complete digitization of the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) office has been carried out,” he said. 

The Union minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of making a 5 trillion dollar economy and making India the third largest economy in the world. 

“We should set a target for the contribution of the cooperative sector in achieving this goal. Under the vision of “Sahkar se Samridhi” of Modi, the Ministry of Cooperation has made a new beginning on Sunday by launching this digital portal,” he added.

Amit Shah said that 1555 multi-state cooperative societies of the country will be benefited from the portal launched today and 42 per cent of these 1555 societies are in Maharashtra only, this shows the strength of the cooperative movement in Maharashtra.

NEW DELHI: Days after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in the ‘Modi surname defamation case, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi was reinstated as a Member of Parliament on Monday.

This will pave the way for Rahul Gandhi to take part in the no-confidence motion which will be taken up by Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The Congress is keen for Rahul to participate in the no-confidence motion on a discussion over the unrest in Manipur and other issues.

“The Supreme Court of India has passed an order on 04.08.2023 staying the conviction of Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency of Kerala. In view of the order, the disqualification of Shri Rahul Gandhi …in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, has ceased to operate subject to further judicial pronouncements,” the notification read.

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP on March 23, after a Gujarat trial court convicted him in a defamation case and sentenced him to two years in jail over his remarks involving the ‘Modi’ surname during an election campaign in Karnataka. A punishment of two years and above automatically disqualifies a lawmaker.

The Supreme Court on Friday last stayed his conviction, paving the way for the restoration of his Lok Sabha membership. He represents Wayanad in the lower house.Celebration erupted at AICC headquarters as soon as the news of the restoration of Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP status broke out.

Several leaders of the Opposition alliance ‘INDIA’ also joined the celebration by distributing sweets. The leaders were huddled in a routine meeting held prior to the morning session of Parliament.

Terming it as a welcome step, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the decision to reinstate Rahul Gandhi as an MP brings relief to the people of India, and especially to Wayanad.

“Whatever time is left of their tenure, BJP and Modi Govt should utilise that by concentrating on actual governance rather than denigrating Democracy by targeting opposition leaders,” he said.

Congress party’s whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore tweeted, “RG returns, welcome decision, Conspiracy defeated,” while AICC general secretary, Organisation, KC Venugopal said, “Democracy has won! India wins.”

“Rahul Gandhi will continue his parliamentary journey by speaking the truth without any hesitation. He is the voice of India, he can never be silenced,” Venugopal said.

In a tweet, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, “With enormous relief, welcome the official announcement of Rahul Gandhi’s reinstatement. He can now resume his duties in the Lok Sabha to serve the people of India and his constituents in Wayanad. A victory for justice and for our democracy!”

Reacting to the development, Congress’ deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said, “Truth has triumphed, and lies have been defeated. INDIA has won, our lion Rahul Gandhi has won, Modi Ji, your defeat has begun.”

PANIC has gripped residents of low-lying areas under Badasahi block in Mayurbhanj district following the rise in the water level of the Budhabalanga river above the danger mark on Wednesday. While the danger level of the river is 7.21 metres, it is currently at 7.58 metres. Sources said incessant rains over the last two days led to the situation.

The condition is grim for residents of around eight wards of Baripada municipality besides those in Badasahi block. Locals said three flood shelters have been set up at Rangapani, Baguli and Salagaon villages but those aren’t sufficient.

The district administration has meanwhile distributed relief to residents affected by the Deo irrigation project. District emergency officer Sujay Kumar Pati said people of low-lying areas have been asked not to panic as the water level in Budhabalanga river is expected to reduce by Thursday night. “However, the district administration is ready to tackle any adverse situation if it arises,” he added.

In Kendrapara, incessant rain coupled with the rising levels of water in Mahanadi river has increased the flood threat for riverside villages of Marsaghai, Mahakalapada and Garadapur blocks. Sources said Bangalapur, Jalapoka, Aitipur, Baspur and Eandalo gram panchayats located between Luna and Karandia tributaries of Mahandi river are more susceptible to flood. 

“All government officials of the district have been directed not to leave their respective headquarters without informing. We have also arranged power boats to face emergency situations,” said sub-collector Niranjan Behera. 

Similarly, the situation in Angul is also worrisome as in Tikarpara area, 10 ft water is flowing on roads due to a flood in the Mahanadi river. Gaindi, Majhipada and Behera Sahi villages are the worst affected. The block authorities have evacuated around 275 people to a nearby school and cooked rice was provided to them on Thursday. Similarly, around 235 people of Kudagaon village in Athamallick are being evacuated by the SDRF. 

In Jajpur, around seven panchayats under Korei and Dasarathpur blocks have been cut off due to a flood in Baitarani river. However, the water level of the river at Akhuapada is receding. At around 8 pm on Thursday, the water level reported at Akhuapada was 18.65 metres as against the danger level of 17.83 metres.

Meanwhile, the water level of Brahmani river is above the danger mark which might affect Dharmasala, Rasulpur and Bari blocks. At Jenapur, Brahmani is flowing at 68 feet as against its danger mark of 67 ft.  
Jajpur collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore has ordered to keep all schools, colleges and anganwadi centres of Jajpur (except municipality), Dasarathpur, Binjharpur, Bari and Badachana blocks closed on Friday in view of the situation. 

In Nimapara, the first flood water of Kusabhadra river reached the area on Thursday evening. Superintending engineer B Dalai said while the danger level is at 10.82 metres, the river is already flowing at 10.25 metres. Similarly, while the danger level of Bhargavi river is at 10.42 metres, it is currently flowing at 10.54 metres in Balanga.