Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to the Apollo Hospital here on Wednesday night, sources said. This comes days after the 96-year-old former deputy prime minister was discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after a night-long stay there. "Advani is stable and under observation. He has been admitted under Dr Vinit Suri, senior consultant, Neurology," a hospital source said, adding that he was admitted around 9 pm. The details of Advani's ailment were not known immediately. 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
03 July,2024 10:53 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Maharashtra government should not extend the benefit of its 'Ladki Bahin' scheme for women to communities where people have two wives, "especially" the Muslims, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Prakash Mahajan said on Wednesday, reported PTI. Under the state government's 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' announced last week in the annual budget, eligible women will be given Rs 1,500 per month. Speaking to a Marathi news channel, MNS leader Mahajan reportedly criticized the scheme and said some of its aspects needed clarification. According to the PTI report, Mahajan added, "A community where people have two wives and two or more children, especially people from the Muslim community, should not be given the benefit of this scheme." He also criticized the government's decision to relax conditions for the grant of domicile certificates, reported PTI. "Lakhs of Bangladeshi people are staying in Mumbai, Thane, and Kalyan, and they have ration cards and voter ID cards. Is the government going to give benefits to the people who are not of this country?" Mahajan asked. The scheme, announced in the state budget tabled in the assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is reportedly aimed at married, divorced, and destitute women in the age group of 21 to 60 years who will get a monthly assistance of Rs 1,500. However, the age limit for the scheme has been increased to 65 years, stated CM Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, reported PTI. CM Shinde accused the opposition of spreading false narratives against the government. CM Shinde asked beneficiary women not to pay bribes to officials to get themselves registered for the scheme. "If someone asks for money, lodge a complaint and the concerned official will be suspended," the chief minister said, as per the PTI. The last date for filing applications for the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' has been extended to August 31. "A decision was taken in a meeting presided over by the Chief Minister to extend the application deadline for the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme till August 31st," CMO Maharashtra said in a post on X. (with inputs from PTI)
03 July,2024 09:00 PM IST | Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentChaos caused after Narayan Sakaar Hari's followers were pushed by the godman's security and a "slippery slope" resulted in the stampede that killed 121 people in Hathras on Tuesday, a preliminary report by the SDM said. The preliminary report on the stampede was submitted by Sikandra Rau sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) to the district magistrate (DM). The SDM, who gave permission for the 'satsang' (religious congregation), was also present at the venue when the incident occurred, according to the report. "A crowd of more than 2 lakh people was present in the satsang pandal. Shri Narayan Sakar Hari (Bhole Baba) reached the satsang pandal at about 12.30 pm and the program went on for 1 hour. "After this, at about 1.40 pm, Shri Narayan Sakaar Hari (Bhole Baba) came out of the pandal to go towards Etah on National Highway-91," the preliminary report said, adding that when the godman was leaving the venue, his followers started running towards him for a 'darshan' and collect soil from around his feet. "Satsangi women/men/children etc. started applying the dust of Baba's feet on their foreheads (while trying) to get his darshan, touch his feet and take his blessings," reads the report dated July 2. The situation worsened when more people waiting on the divider of the road ahead began running towards his vehicle, it said. "A large number of people were already standing on the dividers in the middle and on the sides of GT road, who started jumping from the dividers and started running towards Baba's vehicle to get his darshan. "Then Baba's personal security personnel (Black Commandos) and sevadars started pushing and shoving the crowd themselves to stop the crowd, due to which some people fell down," the report states, adding this led to a panic and the crowd went out of control. "Due to which the crowd ran towards the open field in front of the venue to get relief, on the other side of the road, where most of the people slipped and fell due to the wet slope while descending from the road towards the field," the report said. Those who fell could not get up again and were run over by those coming from behind, it said. "After this, they could not get up again and the crowd started running here and there over them," the report mentioned. 'Mukhya sevadar' Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers have been named in the first information report (FIR) filed at the Sikandra Rau police station late on Tuesday, a senior officer told PTI. 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
03 July,2024 08:01 PM IST | Lucknow | PTIThe Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced Rs 5 lakh aid to each victim's family who died in the Lonavala drowning tragedy. Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar announced in the Maharashtra legislative assembly that families of the five individuals who tragically drowned near the Bhushi dam in Lonavala will receive financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each from the Chief Minister's relief fund. Ajit Pawar emphasised that warning signs will be installed at hazardous tourist spots and prohibited areas to prevent such incidents in the future, reported PTI. The incident occurred when five people, including a woman and four children, were swept away in a waterfall on June 30 near Bhushi Dam in Lonavala, a hill station in Pune district. NCP MLA Chetan Tupe raised the issue in the assembly, underscoring the lack of awareness among tourists about dangerous terrain during the monsoon season. As per the news agency report, he demanded warning signs be placed prominently and that local authorities strictly enforce prohibitions. Tupe claimed that the Ansari family, who tragically lost their lives in Lonavala, hailed from his constituency, Hadapsar, in Pune district of Maharashtra. Pawar, also the guardian minister of Pune district, reportedly assured that district planning committees in all 36 districts would be instructed to install boards at hazardous spots and consider additional safety measures such as nylon nets and barricades. "The families of the deceased victims of the Lonavala waterfall tragedy will receive Rs 5 lakh each as financial assistance from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund," Pawar asserted. According to the PTI report, the Pune district administration imposed prohibitory orders at several popular picnic spots, including Bhushi Dam and the Pavana Dam region in Maval tehsil, effective from July 2 to 31 to ensure tourist safety during the monsoon season, in view of the Lonavala waterfall tragedy. The administration has already outlined a series of safety measures for hazardous tourist locations, which include the identification and demarcation of dangerous areas, the presence of lifeguards and rescue teams, and the installation of warning boards, reported PTI. Four people have drowned in the Pavana Dam since January 2024, according to the Lonavala police, reported PTI. Rescue organisations like the Vanyajeev Rakshak Maval (VRM) reportedly recovered 27 bodies from various water bodies in Maval tehsil between March and May this year. (with inputs from PTI)
03 July,2024 07:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentUnion Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attacked the opposition on Wednesday, alleging it is misleading students by spreading lies on the NEET issue and should stop its "cheat policy," reported PTI. Pradhan's comments came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Rajya Sabha that the government will not spare those playing with the future of students. Amid a raging row over alleged irregularities, including paper leaks, in competitive examinations such as the NEET and the NET, the opposition has been demanding a discussion on the issue in Parliament. "Congress has a history of cheating the country on past and present issues. This intention of theirs has come out in the open in the NEET case as well. The intention of the INDIA alliance to create instability by deviating from the issues with the help of lies and rumors is anti-national and anti-student," Pradhan wrote on X in Hindi. कांग्रेस का अतीत और वर्तमान मुद्दों पर देश के साथ Cheat करने का रहा है। NEET मामले में भी इनकी मंशा यही खुलकर आई है। झूठ और अफ़वाह के सहारे मुद्दों से भटकाकर अस्थिरता पैदा करने की इंडी गठबंधन की मंशा देश और छात्र विरोधी है।प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी ने राज्य सभा के अपने… — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 3, 2024 "During his speech in Rajya Sabha today, the Prime Minister has again told the youth of the country that youth power and their bright future are the priorities of the government, and this government is with every young student of the country. No injustice will be allowed to happen to anyone," he wrote. Pradhan further added, "The government is taking strict steps by bringing a law for this. The country is confident that no one guilty of irregularities in the examination will be spared. Now Congress Party and Indi Alliance should stop their misleading cheat policy on the NEET issue." Following the criticism over the alleged irregularities in the NEET and the PhD entrance NET, the Centre removed National Testing Agency (NTA) director general Subodh Singh last week and notified a high-level panel headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief R. Radhakrishnan to ensure transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations through the NTA, reported PTI. While the NEET is being scrutinised for several irregularities, including alleged paper leaks, the UGC-NET was cancelled as the education ministry received input that the integrity of the exam was compromised. Both matters are reportedly being probed by the CBI. Two other exams, CSIR-UGC NET and NEET-PG, were cancelled as a preemptive step. (with inputs from PTI)
03 July,2024 06:56 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi Police has stepped up security outside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's residence following an intelligence input of disturbance by right wing groups, sources said on Wednesday. One platoon of paramilitary, including the local police personnel, have been deployed around Gandhi's residence, sources said. Gandhi's remarks against the saffron party had created ruckus in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Sources said an input regarding disturbance by right wing group members was received on Tuesday after which the security has been increased around the Congress leader's residence in central Delhi. The police have suspected the people may gather with placard or hoardings outside his residence. The local police has been asked to increase the vigil for 24 hours around his residence, sources said. Gandhi enjoys Z plus security withL (advanced security liaison) category under the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel. On Wednesday, the Delhi BJP leaders and workers staged a protest over Rahul Gandhi's remarks against the saffron party and sought an apology from him. The protesters assembled near Jaisalmer House and tried to move towards the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road, raising slogans against Gandhi and his party. On June 27, a group of men pasted posters outside the residence of AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi in central Delhi, demanding his suspension from the Lok Sabha, for his remark during oath ceremony in the Lok Sabha. The Delhi Police has registered an FIR in connection with the matter. 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
03 July,2024 06:18 PM IST | New Delhi | PTICISF constable Kulwinder Kaur, who allegedly slapped actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut at the Chandigarh airport last month, has been transferred to a unit in Bengaluru pending a disciplinary inquiry, official sources said on Wednesday. Kaur was suspended by the central armed police force on June 6 soon after the alleged incident took place when the newly elected MP was travelling to Delhi. A police FIR was also lodged against the constable on a complaint by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The sources said Kaur is under suspension and has been posted to the 10th reserve battalion based in the Karnataka capital pending a disciplinary inquiry. She was shifted to the unit soon after the incident in the fair interest of the investigation that is underway, they said. A senior commandant-rank officer is conducting the inquiry, and statements of the constable, her colleagues present at the airport that day, the shift in-charge and some airline officials are being recorded, the sources said. They said the inquiry would take some time, following which an appropriate decision would be taken. Kaur, who is from Punjab's Kapurthala district, joined the CISF in 2009 and has been with its aviation security group at the Chandigarh airport since 2021. She has had no vigilance inquiry or punishment awarded against her in the force till now. Her husband too was posted at the Chandigarh airport. Kaur was apparently upset with Ranaut over her stance on the farmers' protests that took place in the country. Ranaut, 38, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Mandi seat of Himachal Pradesh. 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
03 July,2024 06:10 PM IST | New Delhi | PTITwo people, including a NEET aspirant, were arrested in Delhi for allegedly duping a man of Rs 5.46 lakh on the pretext of high profits in the trading market, reported PTI citing the police on Wednesday. As per the PTI report, the accused were identified as Aman Bhawsar and Sandeep Sahu (26) "On March 28, complainant Raj Kumar Prasad told the police that he was contacted by fraudsters through social media platforms on the pretext of investing money in trading and for earning high returns," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh said. Accepting the bait, he invested Rs 5.96 lakh and was able to withdraw only Rs 50,000, Singh said. Based on Prasad's complaint, an FIR was registered. Both Aman and Sandeep were arrested on Tuesday, Singh added. During interrogation, Aman told the police that he was preparing for NEET and to mint money, he started trading in the share market. He further asked his friend Sandeep to open a bank account, the DCP said. As per the PTI report, Aman obtained Prasad's phone number from a website and persuaded him to invest. Additionally, he also created his own website to cheat the victim. When Prasad invested the money, they cheated him and transferred some amount to his own bank account and the rest to Sandeep's account, DCP said. Mumbai Police saves Rs 40 lakh extorted by cyber fraudster after man dials 1930 helpline Mumbai Police froze nearly Rs 40 lakh allegedly extorted by a cyber fraudster from a man after he lodged a complaint with the cyber helpline 1930, an official said on Thursday, reported the PTI. The complainant, an employee of a private firm had got a call on Wednesday from a man claiming to be a law enforcement officer. "The caller claimed that the complainant had got a consignment and illegally received a large amount of money in his bank account," an official said, as per the PTI. The caller threatened to get the man arrested and forced him to transfer Rs 39.88 lakh to a bank account. Later, the man then called the cyber crime helpline 1930 and narrated the incident. Mumbai Police alerted the National Cyber Crime Reporting (NCRP) portal and contacted the nodal officer of the fraudster's bank. The bank immediately froze the money transferred from the complainant's account. "We have saved the money taken from the complainant's account," the official said, the news agency reported on Thursday.
03 July,2024 06:01 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentUniversity Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar on Wednesday said the date for declaration of results for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG will be announced soon, reported PTI. The results were scheduled to be announced by June 30. However, as per the PTI report, there has been no update yet from the National Testing Agency (NTA). "NTA is working on CUET results and will announce a date soon," the UGC chairman said. The delay comes amid a massive row over alleged irregularities in the various competitive exams, including NEET and NET. The exam conducted in a hybrid mode for the first time was cancelled across Delhi, a night before the exam over logistical reasons. The exam was conducted later in Delhi. As per the PTI report, the NTA had earlier announced that the third edition of the CUET-UG will be completed in seven days and there will be no normalisation of scores as all exams will be conducted in a single shift. For 15 subjects, the tests were in pen-paper mode while for the other 48 subjects, the exam was held in computer-based mode. Over 13.4 lakh candidates had registered for the common entrance test for admission to undergraduate courses in 261 central, state, deemed and private universities. Academic calendar in universities is also likely to be impacted as a result of the delay in result declaration. While the NEET is being scrutinised over numerous alleged irregularities, including a purported paper leak, UGC-NET was cancelled after the Education Ministry was notified that the UGC-NET's integrity had been jeopardised. Both matters are being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Two other exams -- CSIR-UGC NET and NEET-PG -- were cancelled as a preemptive step. NEET-UG result 2024: NTA announces retest result, revised rank list The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday declared the NEET-UG result 2024 and the revised rank list for the medical entrance exam, reported news agency PTI. According to PTI, the NEET-UG result 2024 and the revised list was announced after a retest was conducted for candidates who were earlier awarded grace marks to compensate for loss of time as the exam on May 5 started late at six centres. For the retest conducted at seven centres on June 23 following a Supreme Court order, 48 per cent of the 1,563 candidates did not appear. National Testing Agency (NTA) officials reported that 813 of the 1,563 candidates appeared for the retest while the others opted for the marks without the grace, reported PTI. Centre-wise, Chandigarh -- which had just two candidates -- registered zero attendance. The under-scanner Jhajjar centre registered 58 per cent attendance, with 287 of the 494 candidates taking the retest. Allegations arose that the grace marks inflated scores, leading to six candidates from a single Haryana centre achieving a perfect 720, along with 61 others. Consequently, the top court ordered the cancellation of the grace marks and provided an option for a retest. "At least 52 per cent -- 813 out of 1,563 candidates -- appeared for the retest. No candidates appeared in Chandigarh while the numbers were 291 from Chhattisgarh, one from Gujarat, 287 from Haryana, and 234 from Meghalaya," a senior NTA official earlier told PTI.
03 July,2024 05:35 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) held an agitation in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city of Maharashtra to protest the five-day suspension of Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve from the legislative council for allegedly using abusive language in the House, reported the PTI. The agitation, led by party functionary Raju Vaidya, was held at Kranti Chowk. Ambadas Danve was on Tuesday suspended from the House for five days for using abusive language against BJP legislator Prasad Lad during a discussion in the council on Monday evening. Prasad Lad had demanded a resolution condemning Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's 'not Hindus' remarks in the Lok Sabha, which elicited a sharp reaction from the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, according to the PTI. "The suspension of Ambadas Danve is a misuse of the majority in the House. No action has been taken against Prasad Lad in this case. So we have agitated here," he said. "Ambadas Danve takes up the issues of common people in the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Hence, in order to suppress his voice, he has been suspended," he said. Another party leader Nandkumar Ghodele said, "The ruling side is indulging in such tactics (of suspension) in the wake of the Lok Sabha poll results. But Hindutva ideology is not their ownership," the news agency reported on Wednesday. Shiv Sena (UBT) seeks revocation of Danve's suspension from council; says he's ready to apologise Meanwhile, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) legislators on Wednesday urged Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe to revoke Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve's suspension, a day after he faced the action on the grounds of using abusive language in the House, reported the PTI. The members of the Upper House of the state legislature belonging to the party said that since Danve was ready to apologise for his words, his suspension should be withdrawn. Anil Parab, the legislative party leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), requested Gorhe to permit him to make a statement during the Question Hour. "Leader of opposition Ambadas Danve has shown his willingness to tender an apology for his alleged misbehaviour and the use of inappropriate language on the floor. Our party leader, Uddhav Thackeray, has also apologised for Danve's actions. Nevertheless, a unilateral decision was made in the house, resulting in Danve's suspension," Parab said "To show solidarity to our leader of opposition, the party legislators have decided not to take part in the proceedings of the House. We will remain quiet in the House to express our objection to the one-sided proceedings," he added. In response to his statement, Gorhe stated, "Once the Question hour concludes, we can convene a meeting of the party leaders to discuss the issue." (with PTI inputs)
03 July,2024 05:16 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentCongress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the BJP on Wednesday over a stampede in Hathras, saying such incidents keep happening but accountability is not fixed by the government, which instead is only interested in "whitewashing" these matters. A stampede at a religious congregation in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday killed 121 people, most of them women, as devotees suffocated to death and bodies piled atop each other. The stampede took place as the "satsang" ended. Some accounts said people slipped in the slush as they ran after the preacher's car, triggering the stampede. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "Three times more crowd than permitted, no administration on the spot, no crowd management arrangements, no way to escape from the scorching heat, no medical team, no ambulance after the incident, no one for help, no doctors and facilities in the hospital ... such a long list of negligence but no one is accountable." Who is responsible for the tragic incident that happened in Hathras, the Congress general secretary asked. "Sometimes hundreds of people die due to a bridge collapse, sometimes due to train accidents, sometimes due to stampedes. Instead of whitewashing, it is the responsibility of the government to take action and prepare a plan to prevent such accidents," she said. But accountability is not fixed and such accidents keep happening, Gandhi said, adding that this is a very sad situation. 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
03 July,2024 04:41 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIADVERTISEMENT
