The national capital woke up to a thin layer of fog on Sunday, significantly reducing visibility in several areas and adding to the chilly conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the minimum temperature was recorded at 12°C at 7 AM. Reduced visibility was particularly evident in Delhi's Safdarjung and Palam areas, where it dropped to 800 metres, while airport visibility plunged to 500 metres or less at 5:30 AM, ANI reports. The effects of dense fog extended beyond Delhi, with several states in North India experiencing even worse visibility conditions. In East Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj recorded zero visibility, Varanasi was at 50 metres, and Gorakhpur saw visibility at 400 metres. In Punjab, Amritsar recorded visibility of just 50 metres, while Chandigarh fared slightly better at 100 metres. Cold conditions continue to grip parts of North India, with Leh recording an extreme low of -11.5°C, according to IMD data. Shimla experienced a minimum temperature of 4.4°C, while Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a range of freezing temperatures: Srinagar recorded 1°C, Gulmarg -6.4°C, Pahalgam -5.2°C, Kupwara 0.2°C, and Jammu 7.4°C. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi also raised concerns, as it was recorded at 230 at 9 AM on Sunday, categorised as "poor." As per ANI, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stated that the AQI had worsened from Saturday when it was recorded at 179. Several areas in Delhi, including ITO (243), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (243), DU North Campus (216), and RK Puram (269), reported "poor" air quality levels. Meanwhile, IMD has issued an Orange Alert for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and East Madhya Pradesh due to the likelihood of heavy rainfall, snowfall, and hailstorms. ANI quotes IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy explaining, "A strong and intense western disturbance has reached North India, interacting with moisture from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, resulting in thunderstorms across North, Central, and West India." Cold wave conditions are expected to persist in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. According to IMD, temperatures in North India will drop further by 3-5°C in the coming days. "Severe cold wave conditions will prevail in several northern states," ANI further reports quoting Roy.
29 December,2024 11:23 AM IST | New DelhiUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the national capital on Saturday to extend an invitation for the Mahakumbh 2025. The Mahakumbh, held every twelve years, will commence on January 13 and conclude on February 26, 2025. Preparations are in their final stages, with the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department working to provide new and exciting experiences for visitors under the guidance of CM Yogi Adityanath. Ahead of this, UP CM also extend invitation to former President Ram Nath Kovind and newly appointed Governor of Mizoram, General VK Singh (retd) and BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda. According to a press release, the Tourism department is set to mesmerise the attendees at Mahakumbh 2025 with a spectacular drone show, showcasing mythological tales linked to the Mahakumbh and Prayagraj. The show will feature 2,000 drones and light up the skies over Sangam Nose, marking the grand opening and conclusion of the world-famous religious gathering. District Tourism Officer, Aparajita Singh stated that the drone show will be held at the Sangam during the opening and closing of the event. "A fleet of around 2,000 illuminated drones will bring to life the legendary tales of "Prayag Mahatmyam" and the Mahakumbh. The spectacular show will depict iconic events like the mythical Samudra Manthan (ocean churning) and the emergence of the Amrit Kalash (Nectar Pot), creating a magical visual narrative in the evening skies", she added. The event will feature floating restaurants, water activities, hot air balloons, and laser light shows. The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department is introducing innovative attractions to enhance the experience for visitors. Starting in early January, a musical fountain laser show on the Yamuna River at Kali Ghat will provide a mesmerizing experience for tourists visiting Prayagraj. Moreover, the spectacular lighting drone show will be a highlight during the Mahakumbh, offering a memorable experience for both visitors and residents of prayagraj. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 09:15 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIUnion Minister Pralhad Joshi underlined the Northeast's strategic importance, calling it a top priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his two-day visit to Tripura, the Union Minister reviewed the implementation of various flagship schemes of the Prime Minister and highlighted the government's commitment to the region's development. "Since 2014, when PM Modi became the PM, his goal has been 'Act East'. For this, all the cabinet ministers have to visit the states of North East states through the DoNER Ministry (Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region). The Government of India is currently running a special scheme for nurses under the leadership of PM Modi, which also has to be reviewed," Joshi told ANI. The senior BJP leader praised Chief Minister Manik Saha. "I have come to Tripura to see how the implementation of the programs of our department is progressing. Along with this, I have reviewed the flagship schemes of the Prime Minister. Very good work has been done here under the leadership of CM Manik Saha," Joshi added. "Some issues have also been brought to my notice by the CM, his ministers and officers. Some have been solved here, and the remaining issues will be addressed after discussing with the concerned ministries...," he said. He also slammed the previous Congress government for neglecting the region."Northeast is our topmost priority of the PM... This area is strategically important but in the last 70-75 years, under the Congress government, there has been very little work towards development here... The PM sends us here to fulfil that...," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 09:15 AM IST | Agartala | ANIPilgrims visiting the 2025 Mahakumbh can look forward to a divine visual spectacle as the Uttar Pradesh Tourism is planning to organise a drone show at the Sangam area depicting events of religious and spiritual significance including the “Samudra Manthan”. The Mahakumbh, held every twelve years, will take place from January 13 to February 26, 2025 in Prayagraj. The drone show will be organised above the Sangam Nose area during the evening, the state government said in a statement. The Sangam nose is the exact point of confluence of three holy rivers: the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. According to District Tourism Officer Aparajita Singh drone show will be held during the opening and closing of the event. “A fleet of around 2,000 illuminated drones will bring to life the legendary tales of ‘Prayag Mahatmyam’ and the Mahakumbh. The spectacular show will depict iconic events like the mythical Samudra Manthan (ocean churning) and the emergence of the Amrit Kalash (nectar pot), creating a magical visual narrative in the evening skies,” said District Tourism Officer Aparajita Singh. The show will also highlight the religious and spiritual significance of Prayagraj, providing a unique experience for pilgrims and locals. Mahakumbh 2025 is gearing up to be a global cultural spectacle. Preparations are in full swing, reflecting CM Yogi Adityanath's vision of a grand and spiritually elevating Mahakumbh, according to the statement. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 08:02 AM IST | Prayagraj | AgenciesThe National Commission for Women on Saturday constituted a two-member fact-finding committee to investigate the alleged sexual assault on a student of the Anna University. The commission’s chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has set up the panel comprising member, NCW, Mamta Kumari, and retired IPS officer and former DGP of Maharashtra, Praveen Dixit, to “investigate and recommend action,” a statement said. The fact-finding committee is likely to visit Chennai on December 30, 2024. “The committee will investigate the case, examine the circumstances leading to the incident, and assess the actions taken by the authorities. It will also interact with concerned officials, the victim, her family, friends, and various NGOs to ascertain the facts and propose measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents,” the NCW said. The national commission for women had already taken suo moto cognisance of the incident, the victim being a 19-year-old girl. The NCW had also issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu DGP in this regard. Dixit is also the special rapporteur for the Maharashtra and Goa zone, NHRC. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 08:01 AM IST | Chennai | AgenciesThe Congress on Saturday accused the Centre of insulting Manmohan Singh, the country's first Sikh prime minister, by carrying out his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat, Delhi, instead of a designated spot that could later become his memorial. The Opposition party had written to the Centre for identifying a designated place for Singh's last rites, where a memorial could be set up for him. As politics over the matter erupted, the Centre said a decision to set up a memorial has already been taken and a trust would be formed to identify the place soon. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the great son of Mother India and the first prime minister from the Sikh community has been “totally insulted” by the BJP-led Centre by performing his last rites at the Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday. He said Singh was the prime minister for 10 years, the country became an economic superpower during his tenure and his policies are still the support system for the poor and backward classes. Till date, to respect the dignity of all former prime ministers, their last rites were performed at authorised burial sites so that every person could have a last darshan and pay homage without any inconvenience. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 08:01 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Supreme Court on Saturday came down heavily on the Punjab government for not shifting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for over a month, to a hospital even as it doubted the intention of the agitating farmers for resisting availability of medical aid to their septuagenarian leader. In an unprecedented hearing, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia, however, gave the Punjab government time till December 31 to persuade Dallewal to shift to a hospital, giving it the liberty to seek logistical support from the Centre, if the situation warrants. Expressing helplessness, the Punjab government said it is facing huge resistance from the protesting farmers who have encircled Dallewal and are preventing him from being taken to a hospital. The bench told Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh, “Who has allowed all this to happen? Who has allowed this fort to be constructed? How did this manpower reach the protest site periodically and systematically? We don’t want to say much as it will aggravate the situation...” CPI(M) demands govt immediately start talks with farmer groups Pointing to the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike, the CPI(M) on Saturday said the government should immediately start talks with farmer organisations. The CPI(M) said in a statement, “The health condition of senior farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike since November 26, is extremely critical. The protest is for the legitimate demand of the kisan (farmers’) movement for a legal backing to the MSP and waiver of loans.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 December,2024 08:01 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesDaily life was thrown out of gear in Kashmir as the season's heaviest snowfall hit air, rail and road traffic and disrupted power and water supply on Saturday while Uttarakhand shivered due to snow and intermittent rain causing temperatures to dip. Madhya Pradesh recorded overnight showers due to a western disturbance and other weather phenomena. Rain also lashed parts of Punjab and Haryana for a second consecutive day while several places in Rajasthan received light to moderate showers. Delhi, meanwhile, recorded 41.2 mm rainfall in the 24 hours ended at 8:30 am. An active western disturbance and its interaction with easterly winds are causing light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms over northwest and central India, including Delhi-NCR, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. In Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led the government's response, directing deputy commissioners to personally supervise snow clearance operations. Moderate to heavy snowfall was recorded across Kashmir from Friday. In south Kashmir, heavy to very heavy snowfall was recorded in the plains while central Kashmir's plains received moderate snowfall. The plains of north Kashmir received light to moderate snowfall, officials said. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed for traffic due to snow. The snow clearance work was hampered due to heavy snowfall at the Navyug Tunnel, they said. Train services on the Banihal-Baramulla section were suspended due to heavy snow accumulation on the tracks, railway officials said. Air traffic to and from Srinagar was also affected, with flight operations suspended, airport officials said. Stuck in the snow, while many sulked, some chose to allay their hardships by playing cricket inside the out-of-bounds 8.5-kilometre Navyug Tunnel in Kashmir. The tunnel connects Banihal town in Ramban district of Jammu with Qazigund in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Many were forced to spend the night inside their vehicles in the freezing temperature. In a heartwarming display of Kashmiri hospitality, locals in Gund, on the Srinagar-Sonamarg highway, opened the doors of a mosque to shelter a group of travellers from Punjab stranded due to the heavy snowfall. Directing the deputy commissioners to personally supervise snow clearance operations, Chief Minister Abdullah stressed the importance of ensuring 100 per cent attendance of doctors and paramedical staff at district and sub-district hospitals. He issued instructions to the Budgam deputy commissioner to coordinate with the airport authorities to assist stranded tourists. In a post on X, he said most of the dysfunctional power feeders in the valley had been restored. He also made an unannounced visit to the district hospital in Ganderbal and assessed the services available during the inclement weather and reviewed the availability of essential medicines, staff on duty, and functionality of the central heating system. In Uttarakhand, most hill districts were in the grip of severe cold due to continuous snowfall in the upper reaches of the mountains and intermittent light showers, coupled with cool winds sweeping the lower areas. The higher reaches of the hills of Auli, Harshil, Hemkund Sahib, Chopta, Dayara, Lokhandi, Sukki Top, Munsyari and Pithoragarh were blanketed with snow. The Badrinath national highway was closed between Pandukeshwar and Badrinath because of accumulation of snow, which was being cleared. The Joshimath-Niti highway connecting the border with China was also shut beyond Suraithotha while the Chamoli-Kund national highway connecting Kedarnath and Badrinath was closed between Dhotidhar and Makku Bend. Rain affected electricity supply in 10 villages of Nauti area of Karnaprayag. A fault in a 33 kV line disrupted power supply in all villages of Dewal development block. Electricity supply was also disrupted in 20 villages of Dungari area of Tharali development block and 21 villages in Sankot area of Narayanbagh. In Delhi, the day was overcast and chilly after the city recorded its highest single-day December rainfall in 101 years. The national capital recorded 41.2 mm rain in the 24 four hours ended at 8:30 am, causing daytime temperatures to remain below normal. The IMD said the city recorded the highest single-day December rainfall on December 3, 1923, at 75.7 mm. "The 24-hour cumulative rainfall ending at 8:30 am is the second-highest since 1901 at Safdarjung. The monthly rainfall is the fifth-highest," an IMD official said. Delhi's maximum temperature was recorded at 15.8 degrees Celsius, 4.6 notches below normal. The minimum temperature was higher than usual on account of the rain at 12.7 degrees Celsius, six notches above average. In Rajasthan, Jhalawar district recorded 86 mm rainfall. Some places in the state's eastern parts, including Dausa and Alwar, reported hailstorms. Dense to very dense fog was recorded in some areas. Chandigarh -- the common capital of Punjab and Haryana -- recorded a maximum temperature of 15.1 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Amritsar registered a day temperature of 14.8 degrees Celsius while Ludhiana recorded 15.4 degrees. In Haryana, the maximum temperature in Ambala was recorded at 15.3 degrees Celsius, Hisar 16.5 degrees, Karnal 14.6 degrees, Rohtak 15.7 degrees, Sirsa 17.4 degrees and Gurugram 15.8 degrees. Chandigarh, Patiala, Pathankot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar, Ambala, Karnal, Sirsa and Yamunanagar recorded rainfall during the day. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 09:19 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIIn a sharp rebuke, BJP National President JP Nadda accused the Congress party of 'politicising' former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's demise and engaging in 'cheap politics', alleging that the party never showed respect to the late veteran Manmohan Singh when he held the office. Addressing the media on Saturday, JP Nadda said, "It is indeed very unfortunate that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and current president Mallikarjun Kharge are not refraining from doing politics even on the sad demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Congress, which never gave respect to Dr Manmohan Singh while he was alive, is now doing politics in the name of his respect." "This is the same Congress which tarnished the dignity of the post of the Prime Minister by placing Sonia Gandhi as super PM above PM Manmohan Singh. Taking a dig at the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, JP Nadda said, "Rahul Gandhi insulted PM Manmohan Singh by tearing the ordinance, and today the same Rahul Gandhi is doing politics over his demise." JP Nadda also criticized the Gandhi family for not showing respect to other prominent leaders of the country, citing examples of Dr BR Ambedkar, Sardar Patel, and others. Nadda pointed out that the PM Modi government had established a memorial for former PM PV Narasimha Rao in 2015, despite Sonia Gandhi's earlier rejection of the proposal, and highlighted the lack of respect shown by Congress after the death of Dr Pranab Mukherjee in 2020. "The Gandhi family has neither given respect to any big leader of the country nor done justice to them. Whether it is from the Congress party or the opposition, whether it is Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the country's first President Rajendra Babu, Sardar Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri, PV Narasimha Rao, Pranab Da, Atal Bihari Vajpayee," he said. Adding further, he said, "The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given place for PM Manmohan Singh's Samadhi and has also informed the family. Still, Congress is spreading false news." "It is necessary to remember the history of Congress. After the death of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, there was a demand to build a Samadhi Sthal in Delhi's Rajghat complex. But at that time Sonia Gandhi had rejected it. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who established a memorial for him in 2015. When former President Bharat Ratna Dr Pranab Mukherjee passed away in 2020, the Congress Working Committee did not even bother to call a condolence meeting," said Nadda. "Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other Congress party leaders should refrain from such cheap politics," said JP Nadda. Meanwhile, Congress Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday lashed out at the Centre's decision to conduct former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's cremation at Nigambodh Ghat and said that the Centre should have thought "beyond politics and narrow-mindedness" in this matter. "By not providing an adequate place for the cremation of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the Government has not done justice to the dignity of the post of former Prime Minister, the personality of Manmohan Singh, his legacy and the self-respecting Sikh community," Priyanka Gandhi posted on X. The Wayanad MP further said that "earlier all former Prime Ministers" were given the highest honour and respect and Manmohan Singh deserves this "honour and Samadhi Sthal." "Today the whole world is remembering his contribution. The government should have thought beyond politics and narrow-mindedness in this matter. This morning, I felt this when I saw Dr. Manmohan Singh ji's family members struggling for a place at the funeral site, trying to find a place in the crowd, and the general public getting troubled due to lack of space and paying tribute from the road outside," she added. However, the Congress is facing criticism for not giving similar respect to former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao. The UPA government had rejected requests for separate memorials in the national capital citing lack of space. Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi too attacked the central government for performing the last rites of Manmohan Singh at Nigambodh Ghat and said that the former Finance Minister deserves the "highest respect and a memorial." "The great son of India and the first Prime Minister of the Sikh community, Dr. Manmohan Singh ji has been totally insulted by the present government by performing his last rites today at the Nigambodh Ghat," Rahul Gandhi posted on X. After the Cabinet meeting on Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah communicated to Congress President Kharge and the family of the late Manmohan Singh that the Government will allocate space for the memorial. In the meanwhile, cremation and other formalities can happen because a trust has to be formed and space has to be allocated to it. Manmohan Singh was accorded a state funeral with military honours at the Nigam Bodh Ghat, a public cremation ground in north Delhi, on Saturday. Manmohan Singh passed away at AIIMS, Delhi, on Thursday night at the age of 92 due to age-related medical conditions. He had a sudden loss of consciousness at home after which he was rushed to the hospital. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 08:55 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIThe AAP on Saturday criticised the BJP-led central government for not allocating space within the Rajghat complex in Delhi for the last rites of former prime minister Manmohan Singh and said that it "reflects poorly on India globally". Singh was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday in the presence of top dignitaries from India and abroad. He passed away on the night of December 26 at the age of 92. An order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday stated, "It has been decided by the Government that a state funeral will be accorded to Dr. Manmohan Singh. The funeral will take place at 11:45 am on 28th December 2024 at Nigambodh Ghat, New Delhi. The AAP called on the BJP to clarify its stance and demanded an apology to Singh's family and the Sikh community. "Manmohan Singh, a global icon and India's only Sikh prime minister, was denied even 1,000 square yards of land for his cremation and memorial at Rajghat. Almost all former prime ministers were cremated there, but the BJP government refused this basic courtesy to Singh," said AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of disrespecting the Sikh community and questioned the rationale behind the decision. Follow Manmohan Singh funeral LIVE updates "This is not just an insult to PM Singh, but to the Sikh community and all Indians who value his contributions. The BJP's mindset is exposed -- they are unwilling to honor a man who served India with distinction for a decade," Singh said. Highlighting the significance of Singh's contributions, senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "His economic policies saved India during crises and propelled us forward. Yet, his funeral was relegated to Nigambodh Ghat, a decision that diminishes the dignity of his legacy." AAP leaders argued that the denial of space at Rajghat sets a troubling precedent and reflects poorly on India globally. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to conduct the last rites of former PM Manmohan Singh at a place where a memorial can be built. The same day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, after a cabinet meeting, said the government would allocate space for the memorial and this had been communicated to Singh's family and the Congress president. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 December,2024 08:46 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThousands of people gathered in Maharashtra's Beed city on Saturday to protest against the brutal murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh as even MLAs from ruling parties demanded the sacking of NCP minister Dhananjay Munde, reported the PTI. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, Chhatrapati Sambhaji of the Kolhapur royal family, local BJP MLAs Suresh Dhas, Abhimanyu Pawar; NCP MLA Prakash Solanke and NCP (SP) MLAs Jitendra Awhad and Sandeep Kshirsagar participated in the 'aakrosh morcha' or protest march, according to the PTI. The protesters demanded arrest of Walmik Karad, an alleged associate of Dhananjay Munde, a politician from Beed district in Maharashtra. As per the PTI, Santosh Deshmukh was abducted and tortured to death on December 9. While four persons have been arrested, Opposition leaders claimed in the state legislature during the winter session that Walmik Karad was the mastermind of the murder. Walmik Karad, named as an accused in a related case of extortion, is still at large. Vaibhavi Deshmukh, the daughter of the deceased sarpanch, demanded justice for her father during the protest. He lost his life while saving a person from the Dalit community, she said, the news agency reported. Abhimanyu Pawar, who was earlier an aide of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before he became MLA from Ausa in neighbouring Latur district, said the pain caused by Deshmukh's murder was felt in different parts of Maharashtra. "Even if I am part of the (ruling) dispensation, I want to tell the government that if the accused are not arrested, protests will reach other parts of the state. We want justice for the family of Santosh Deshmukh," he said, the PTI reported. BJP MLA Dhas alleged that Munde, the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, won assembly election from Parli in Beed district with the help of bogus votes.The Nationalist Congress Party to which Munde belongs is part of the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition. NCP MLA Prakash Solanke said some of the accused were still at large even 19 days after the murder, and Walmik Karad too had not been arrested. "Dhananjay Munde was the guardian minister of Beed for four of the last five years. Munde needs to be sacked. Until the accused are convicted, Munde should be sacked so that there is an impartial probe," Solanke said, according to the PTI. The Majalgaon constituency which he represents has collected Rs 40 lakh for the Deshmukh family, he informed. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange said that the Maratha community will not keep quiet till the deceased, who belonged to the Maratha community, got justice. "If the CM does not want this protest to spread to other parts of the state, the accused should be arrested and action should be taken against those who are supporting them. There is suspicion that the government is shielding the accused," Manoj Jarange said. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has reportdely demanded resignation of Dhananjay Munde. According to police, Deshmukh was prima facie killed because he opposed an extortion bid targeting a windmill company in Beed district. Local NCP leader Vishnu Chate allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore from the company. Deshmukh tried to intervene, leading to his abduction, torture and murder. Chate is among the four arrested accused. (with PTI inputs)
28 December,2024 06:24 PM IST | Beed | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
