Congress spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa has alleged that polling booths in Bengaluru’s RMV 2nd Stage had EVM machines only registering votes for the BJP.

Kalappa posted a series of tweets on complaints of faulty EVMs and said the party would take it up with the Election Commission.

There are 5 booths opposite my Parent's apartment at RMV II Stage, Bengaluru. In the 2nd booth, any button pressed registers a vote ONLY to kiwi mele Kamala i.e Kamal ke phool. Angry voters are returning without casting their vote.

— Brijesh Kalappa (@brijeshkalappa) May 12, 2018

So far we have received 3 complaints of malfunctioning EVM/VVPAT across the State including from Ramanagara, Chamarajpet and Hebbal. The INC is taking up these issues with the EC.

— Brijesh Kalappa (@brijeshkalappa) May 12, 2018

However, social media users claimed they did not face any issues at the same booths in Karnataka.

Jaipur: In what appears to be a case of poor choice of words, a Class 8 reference book described freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak as the “Father of Terrorism”.

Printed by a Matura-based publisher, the book is used by private English-medium schools affiliated to the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE).

The Rajasthan State Textbook Board publishes books in Hindi, leaving students no other option but to use reference books.

“Tilak demonstrated a path towards national movement, therefore, he is called as the father of terrorism,” reads page 267 of chapter 22 of the book.

The description is part of sub-topic “Incidents of National Movement during 18th and 19th century”.

“Tilak clearly believed that we cannot achieve anything just by pleading the British officers. Through Shivaji and Ganpati festivals, Tilak aroused unique awareness in the country. He instilled the mantra of freedom among the masses, due to which he became a thorn in the eyes of the British,” the book reads.

Officials at the Student Advisor Publication Private Limited, which publishes the book, said the mistake had been rectified in the revised edition.

“The translators made the mistake. It had come to our notice and was corrected in the revised edition last month. The first edition was published last year,” Rajpal Singh, a production official at the publisher’s office, told PTI.

(PTI)

India, Peru celebrate 55 years of diplomatic ties and resolve to improve trade relations to tap full potential

Peru has said that India deserves Permanent membership in UNSC in line with its global role. Top leadership of Peru has acknowledged that their country has a lot to learn and benefit from the success story of India.

They resolved with India to significantly enhance trade relations as the two countries are celebrating 55 years of diplomatic ties.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu held extensive talks with President, Prime Minister and senior Ministers of Peru in Lima on Friday on a range of issues indicating specific areas for enhanced engagement.

He spoke at length about India’s strength in supply of quality and cost effective generic medicines, Information Technology, defence equipment, Science and Technology, Space applications etc.

During the delegation level talks, the Peruvian Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva Bardales, leading a delegation of four ministers and senior official noted that India is acknowledged as a leader in pharma sector and Peru could take benefit of the same.

Health Minister of Peru Ms. Silvia Pessah Eljay suggested that Indian Government may do needful to enable Indian Pharma companies set up generic medicines production facilities in Peru. Peruvian side agreed to consider suggestion of Naidu for hassle free registration of Indian pharma companies for supply of medicines.

Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru Rogers Valencia Espinoza, while speaking of the potential of bilateral trade between the two countries said Peru was keen about concluding a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with India.

He mentioned that two rounds of discussions were already in this regard and the third round is to be held in Delhi in August this year. He stressed on the need to conclude this agreement at the earliest for mutual benefit.

Peru’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nestor Popolizio Bardales stressed that India deserved to be a Permanent member of the United Nation’s Security Council in line with its size, role and responsibilities in the global scheme of things. He reiterated Peru’s support to India in this regard.

Referring to the success of Information Technology Centre in Peru set up by India, the Peruvian side more such centres in other parts of the country.

Earlier, during his talks with the President of Peru, Vice President Naidu said that 55 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries is an important landmark and it was time to assess the achievements so far to chart out a clear course of action to realize the full potential.

Peruvian President said his country is closely watching India’s progress in different sectors including its transition from an agrarian economy to being an IT leader with strong capacities in Science and Technology, space sector etc. He informed Naidu that concerned ministers were asked by him to make time bond action plans for progressing on identified areas of cooperation.

Sharing Naidu’s concern about terrorism, President of Peru noted that while terrorists come out with new strategies, the global community to act together to counter terrorism in all it’s different forms and shapes.

After the delegation level talks, India and Peru signed an Agreement on Cooperation in New and Renewable Energy. Peru is a founder member of the International Solar Alliance, established with India taking the initiative.

Peru’s External Affairs Ministry organized a special programme in Lima commemorating the 55 years of diplomatic ties with India. Peruvian youth performed Bharat Natyam which was appreciated by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has got 10 days custody of Pakistani militant namely Zabiullah alias Hamza and is questioning him, officials said on Monday.

Zabiullah, a resident of Pakistan’s Multan, had escaped during a gunfight with security forces at Halmatpora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupawara district on the intervening night of March 20 this year, the agency said.

On March 20, during a joint cordon and search operation by police, army and paramilitary forces, terrorists hiding in the forest fired at the security forces. During the exchange of fire, five terrorists were killed while three army personnel and two police personnel were killed. Four security personnel were also injured.

Police registered a case but the case was handed over to the NIA which re-registered the case on April 17 and took up the investigation on Union Home Ministry’s order.

Zabiullah, 20, had been arrested by Jammu and Kashmir police on April 6.

“He was taken into custody by NIA on May 4 in this case. He has been produced before the NIA Special Court, Jammu on May 5 and remanded in 10 days NIA custody,” the agency said.

“During initial questioning, accused Zabiullah revealed that he had come into India fully armed in March, along with five other LeT cadres, with the aim to carry out large scale attacks on Indian security forc”s,” it said.

Zabiullah has identified the five terrorists killed in March 20 gunfight as Pakistani nationals namely Darda, 22, from Lahore; Shuram, 26, from Multan; Faidullah, 20, from Gujranwalan; Ummar,19, from Sindh and Kari, 19, from Peshawar.

Bollywood stars Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan joined All Indian Mahila Empowerment Party’s (MEP) President, Dr. Nowhera Shaikh and campaigned for the party in Gandhinagar and Shivajinagar assembly constituencies in Bengaluru.

Dr. Nowhera Shaikh, who addressed the huge rally and outpour of people, who followed her in every Constituency, said that the people of Bengaluru are proud of the work done by MEP. She said that MEP will win all the 28 assembly constituencies in the city.

She also said that there is an MEP wave across the state, and the party will easily win in a majority.

Journalists at the Press Club of Bangalore, protesting the attack against reporters at MEP rally.

Journalists covering an election rally were attacked by protesters in Govindpur, leaving several of them severely injured.

An election rally carried out by the All India Mahila Empowerment Party (MEP) was attacked with stones by protesters in Govindpur on Thursday, were journalists from various news networks had gone to cover the event.

According to MEP’s president Dr. Nowhera Shaikh and reporters, who were present at the event, the party’s rally peacefully went through several constituencies, but when it entered Govindpur in Sarvagna Nagar constituency, a huge crowd gathered, and without any provocation, started pelting stones on MEP members and reporters.

MEP’s President Dr. Nowhera Shaikh and the party’s National Spokesperson actor Ejaz Khan, are told to have narrowly escaped the attacked.

“They started shouting slogans saying MEP murdabad, Congress zindabad, and said ‘isko hatao’ (remove her).

Dr. Shaikh has blamed Congress for the attack on her party’s rally.

“As MEP is gaining momentum, opposition parties, particularly Congress has started feeling threatened. The ruling Congress did not provide me adequate security to ensure my safety”.

Dr. Nowhera Shaikh said the attack was a attack on democracy and the fundamental rights of the party president.

She said, if Congress couldn’t protect the President of a political party, what hope do common women have in Karnataka.

MEP has demanded a special investigation in the case, and has demanded the govt to trace the people responsible for the incident.