Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil announced on Sunday, October 20, that his organisation, Maratha Kranti Morcha, will declare candidates for certain constituencies in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election. He stated that any other candidates willing to support their demands in writing will also receive the community's backing. "I believe we will field candidates in seats where we have a good chance of winning. In constituencies where SC-ST candidates are contesting, regardless of the party, we will not put forward a candidate and instead support them. In areas where we can't win, we will back a candidate who provides written assurance on bond paper that they support our demands," he said during a speech in Antarvali village in Jalna district. Jarange emphasised that no matter the political decisions made, the agitation for their community’s rights will continue. "Whatever decision we make regarding candidate support, our agitation will not cease. Regardless of what happens in the elections, I want your promise that you will keep our movement alive until our demands are met." According to news agency ANI, the Maratha activist also said that he personally does not prefer to go into politics but values the inputs from his community. "While I personally don’t wish to participate in the elections or enter politics, I am not the ultimate decision-maker — my community is what matters. I only wish to ensure that there is unity among us regarding whether to support candidates or oppose those who do not back our cause." The demand for Maratha reservation has long been championed by Jarange and his supporters, who have organised numerous rallies, peace marches, and hunger strikes, urging the government to classify Marathas as Kunbis and include them in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, ANI reported. On February 20, the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Maratha quota bill, granting a 10 per cent reservation to the community in government jobs and educational institutions. However, similar measures in the past have been overturned by the Supreme Court for exceeding the 50 per cent reservation cap, ANI reported. The Maharashtra Assembly election will held in a single phase on November 20 and the results will be announced three days later. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in power in the state with the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) announced its first list of 99 candidates on Sunday, October 20. (With ANI inputs)
20 October,2024 10:17 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondentThree tourists in inebriated condition rammed their car into a woman and killed her following a dispute at a homestay in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Sunday, police said. The incident occurred in the Harihareshwar area in the early hours of the day, an officer from Shrivardhan police station said. The police have arrested the accused: Irappa Yamnappa Dhotre, Akash Govind Gawde and Vicky Premsingh Gill, news agency PTI reported. All of them are residents of Pune, the official said. He added that the accused arrived at the homestay and asked the owner for accommodation, but the latter refused as they all appeared drunk. A quarrel ensued, and the trio attacked the owner and tried to flee when one of them fell from the car and the villagers caught hold of him, PTI reported. After some time, Gawde and Gill returned to the homestay to rescue Dhotre, and they ended up ramming their car into the owner's sister and killing her on the spot, he said. The official said the trio managed to drive away and were later nabbed from Pune, on the basis of technical evidence. Further probe is underway. 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.
20 October,2024 09:25 PM IST | Mumbai | PTITwo labourers were killed while two others suffered injuries in a terrorist attack in Jammu-Kashmir's Ganderbal district, officials said. The terrorists opened firing on the camp housing labourers of a private company working on construction of a tunnel at Gund area in the district, they added. While two labourers died on the spot, the other two sustained injuries, they said, adding further details are awaited. Police and army have cordoned off the area to track the attackers. 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.
20 October,2024 09:14 PM IST | Srinagar | PTIMaharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Sunday, October 20, countered the allegations of tampering with the voters' list in the state with the help of the Election Commisison and dismissed the the accusations as laughable, reported news agency ANI. "It is very laughable. Does it ever happen in the Election Commission? Can anyone interfere [in the workings of the Election Commission]? On the contrary, during the Lok Sabha polls, 1.65 lakh votes were missing from Nagpur in the electoral rolls that were present in the 2019 general elections," Bawankule told ANI. "We brought the entire matter before the Election Commission. I myself met with the EC (Election Commission) and the state election commissioner to raise the issue of manipulation in the entire Lok Sabha election in Maharashtra . We submitted a detailed list of names, highlighting that these individuals were registered in the 2019 parliamentary polls while there are bogus names in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," Bawankule explained. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut accused BJP of tampering with the voters' list in the state for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election with the assistance of the poll body. He stated that the Opposition plans to raise this issue on international platforms. "They [BJP] are attempting to manipulate the voters' list with the help of the Election Commission. BJP is contesting nearly 150 assembly seats and is identifying those who voted for the Maha Vikas Aghadi, replacing their names with bogus voters," Raut told reporters. "We will raise this issue on international platforms and inform people about what is happening in the country," he added. Raut also alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is looking to impose President's Rule in the state after the Maharashtra Assembly election. "But we will not allow this to happen. (Party chief) Uddhav Thackeray has called a special meeting today at 12:30 pm, and we will make an important decision," he stated earlier on Sunday. Raut also claimed that there are discrepancies in the voters' lists in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand, asserting, "They [BJP] attempted similar actions in Haryana as well. We defeated them in the Lok Sabha elections, and they are losing in the Vidhan Sabha elections too." The Maharashtra Assembly election will be held on November 20, and the results to be declared three days later. (With ANI inputs)
20 October,2024 08:59 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Sunday, October 20, inaugurated three new airports virtually from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, as part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)–UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik). The newly developed airports are located in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh; Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh; and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Flights from these airports are set to commence shortly, enhancing air travel accessibility in these regions, a press release from the government stated. The RCS-UDAN initiative, launched on October 21, 2016, marks its seventh anniversary and aims to improve infrastructure and connectivity, particularly in underserved and remote areas of India. It forms a crucial element of India's National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), 2016. PM Modi lays foundation stone for new terminal at Bagdogra Airport PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the expansion of Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri, West Bengal, with an investment of Rs 1,550 crore, news agency PTI reported. This initiative is part of a larger package of 23 development projects worth Rs 6,700 crore, which PM Modi announced virtually from a function in Varanasi. The new civil enclave at Bagdogra Airport will feature a terminal building covering 70,390 square metres, designed to accommodate 3,000 peak hour passengers and handle an annual capacity of 10 million passengers, PTI reported. Key elements of the expansion include an apron with space for 10 parking bays suitable for A-321 type aircraft, two link taxiways, and a multi-level car parking facility. Officials said that the terminal will incorporate environmentally friendly designs, integrating renewable energy sources and maximising natural light to reduce its ecological footprint. The Union Cabinet approved this project in August, reported PTI. Located just 14 km from Siliguri, Bagdogra Airport serves as a crucial aviation hub in northern West Bengal, managing around 60 flights and approximately 8,000 passengers daily. Recently designated as a point-of-call (PoC) airport, it can now host international flights without prior approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. PM Modi slams Congress, SP During the event in Varanasi, PM Modi also criticised the Congress and Samajwadi Party for their perceived nepotism and appeasement policies, which he claimed led to the neglect of his constituency before he became the Member of Parliament from there. "Ten years ago, Varanasi yearned for development," PM Modi said, highlighting that past headlines were dominated by scams. He questioned why those who ruled Uttar Pradesh and Delhi for so long failed to prioritise Varanasi's growth. "The development of Varanasi was never a priority for the Samajwadi Party or Congress, and it will not be in the future. The BJP government operates on the principle of 'sabka vikas,'" he added. Modi concluded by stating that discussions about development projects worth over Rs 15 lakh crore have become a topic in every household, underscoring the government's commitment to progress in the region. (With PTI inputs)
20 October,2024 07:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi is set to virtually inaugurate the new terminal project at Bagdogra Airport project on Sunday, October 20, news agency ANI reported. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Darjeeling Member of Parliament (MP) Raju Bista will lead the ceremony, which will be attended by Union Minister Shantanu Thakur and other local MPs and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs). Bagdogra Airport is a crucial gateway to the majestic Himalayan region, known for its stunning natural beauty. The airport, which is operated by the Indian Air Force, is undergoing significant development by the Airports Authority of India on a sprawling 105-acre site, ANI stated. It features a single runway 18/36 measuring 2,743m in length and 45m in width. In recent years, Bagdogra Airport has seen a remarkable increase in air traffic, surpassing 1 million passengers for the first time in the 2023-24 period. This represents a growth rate of 43.6 per cent, with over three million passengers served, an impressive 22 per cent increase from the previous year. As a result, it has become the 22nd busiest airport in India, ANI stated. To accommodate the rising passenger numbers, a new civil enclave and terminal building are being constructed, with an estimated cost of INR 1,550 crore. Earlier today, PM Modi also inaugurated the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi, emphasising its unique blend of spirituality and modern healthcare. He said that this facility will cater to both the elderly and children while providing employment opportunities for local youth. PM Modi also pointed out that Kashi has experienced significant healthcare reforms over the past decade, evolving into a major healthcare hub for Uttar Pradesh's Purvanchal region. "Kashi has been known as the capital of religion and culture since time immemorial. Now, Kashi is also becoming a major healthcare hub and medical centre of UP's Purvanchal region. Be it the trauma centre in BHU, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, or the establishment of medical colleges, the past 10 years have witnessed major healthcare reforms in Kashi," he said. PM Modi remarked, "Curative healthcare is as important as preventative, which is why, today, in India, various Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs help in early detection and diagnosis of disease. We are creating a network of 'Critical care blocks' and modern labs." (With inputs from ANI)
20 October,2024 06:37 PM IST | Siliguri, West Bengal | mid-day online correspondentThe INDIA bloc in Bihar has announced its candidates for the upcoming by-elections to four assembly seats in the state, scheduled for next month. According to PTI, three of these seats became vacant after their MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha.The announcement was made during a press conference attended by state Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, RJD chief Jagadanand Singh, and leaders from the CPI(ML), CPI, and CPI(M).The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will contest three seats: Ramgarh, Belaganj, and Imamganj, while the CPI(ML) will aim to retain Tarari.For the Ramgarh seat, the RJD has fielded Ajit Singh, the son of Jagadanand Singh and brother of Sudhakar Singh, who won a Lok Sabha seat from Jehanabad, triggering the need for this by-election. In Belaganj, Vishwanath Kumar Singh will make his debut; he is the son of Surendra Prasad Yadav, the current MP from Jehanabad.The Imamganj seat, which the INDIA bloc is targeting from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), will see RJD’s Roshan Manjhi contesting. Manjhi is a former member of the Zilla Parishad in Gaya.On the other hand, the CPI(ML) has nominated Raju Yadav for Tarari. Yadav previously contested the Arrah Lok Sabha seat in 2019 but was unsuccessful. This year, Sudama Prasad won this seat from R K Singh, a former two-term BJP MP, making way for the by-election.From the NDA camp, the BJP has declared its candidates for Ramgarh and Tarari. Ashok Kumar Singh, a former MLA, will contest in Ramgarh, while Vishal Prashant, the son of several-term former MLA Sunil Pandey, is the nominee for Tarari. In Imamganj, the Hindustani Awam Morcha, led by Jitan Ram Manjhi, will field a candidate as a result of the recent Lok Sabha election from the Gaya seat.Speculation surrounds the Hindustani Awam Morcha's candidate, with Deepa Manjhi, who is married to state minister Santosh Suman, being a likely choice. An official announcement is expected soon.Belaganj is anticipated to be contested by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), which was the runner-up in the 2020 assembly elections. The party has yet to disclose its candidate.The upcoming by-elections are particularly significant as they take place just a year before the crucial assembly elections. According to PTI, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj has also entered the fray, naming candidates for all seats except Ramgarh, where an announcement is expected shortly.The last date for filing nomination papers is October 25, with polling scheduled for November 13 and counting of votes on November 23. (With Inputs from PTI)
20 October,2024 05:57 PM IST | Patna | mid-day online correspondentA loud explosion occurred early Sunday morning outside the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) school in Prashant Vihar, Rohini, prompting a swift response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), news agency ANI reported. National Security Guard (NSG) commandos are on the site to assist Delhi Police with the investigation into the case of blast near CRPF school in Delhi. A forensic team has examined the site and collected samples. According to Delhi Police, no definitive conclusions have been reached regarding the cause of the blast near CRPF school in Delhi and the special cell is actively involved in the investigation. Delhi Police public relations officer (PRO) Sanjay Tyagi reported that officers arrived promptly at the scene. "The police team quickly reached the spot, where they detected a foul smell and found broken window panes and glass within the school premises. Senior officers, along with experts from the forensic department, crime team, and special cell, are conducting the investigation," he stated. "The cause is being ascertained... It will not be right to give a conclusive statement till the investigation is completed," the officer added. Preliminary assessments suggest that the materials used in the blast near the CRPF school in Delhi resemble those of a crude bomb, but final confirmation will await reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), ANI stated, quoting sources. While no injuries were reported in the explosion that took place in Rohini, the glass windows of the nearby shops were shattered, and a parked car was also damaged. The area has been cordoned off for safety and further investigation, ANI stated. In an earlier official statement, the Delhi Police said, "Today at 7.47 am, a PCR (police control room) call was received in which the caller informed that a blast with lots of noise took place near the CRPF school in Sector 14, Rohini. The station house officer (SHO) and staff reached the spot, where the school wall was found damaged with a foul smell. The glass of nearby shops and a car parked near the shop were also found to be damaged. Fortunately, no one was injured." In light of this incident, Delhi has been placed on high alert, with increased security measures implemented across markets ahead of Diwali celebrations. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has pointed fingers at the BJP-led central government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the national capital. She stated, "The responsibility of law and order in Delhi lies with the BJP's central government. But the BJP, leaving this work, spends all its time in obstructing the work of the elected government of Delhi. This is the reason why the situation in Delhi today is like the Mumbai underworld era of the 1990s, " on her X (formerly Twitter) handle. CM Atishi further criticised the BJP's governance, "Bullets are being fired openly in the city, gangsters are extorting money and the morale of criminals is high. BJP has neither the intention to work nor the capability. If by mistake the people of Delhi give them the responsibility of the Delhi government, they will make the condition of schools, hospitals, electricity and water the same as the condition of law and order in Delhi today." (With inputs from ANI)
20 October,2024 05:55 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA sub-divisional officer (SDO) has lodged a police complaint in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district after 6,853 applications were filed wrongly during online voter registration, an official said on Sunday. The SDO of Rajura division has lodged a complaint, and the applications were rejected in the constituency, the official added. Collector Vinay Gowda said the Election Commission of India conducted special online voter registration, and they received applications in large numbers from October 3. Assistant voter registration officers and tehsildars of Rajura, Korpana, Jivati and Gondpipari found that 6,853 applications did not have photos, date of birth and residence proof, and some had wrong information, he said. The collector said these applications filed through the Voter Helpline App or National Voter Service Portal (NVSP) Portal were rejected after verification. Rajura SDO and voter registration officer Ravindra Mane said the applications were rejected according to the prescribed procedure. The Maharashtra assembly elections will be held on November 20, and votes will be counted on November 23. 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.
20 October,2024 03:41 PM IST | Chandrapur | PTIUnion Minister L Murugan has strongly refuted the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) attempts to depict the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as opposed to Tamil interests and pushing for Hindi imposition in Tamil Nadu. In an interview with ANI, he stated, "The DMK is trying to show the BJP as anti-Tamil, but that will never happen; the BJP has made significant strides in Tamil Nadu. No one is trying to impose Hindi. If people wish to learn the language, they are free to do so." Murugan's comments come in the wake of an ongoing dispute between Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi over the use of Hindi in the state. The tension has escalated following an incident where the Governor was involved in a controversial rendition of the state anthem that omitted references to the "Dravida" land during a Doordarshan Chennai event. Murugan defended Governor Ravi, asserting that he cannot be held accountable for the errors made during the performance. "Yes, students made mistakes while singing the anthem. Mistakes happen; it's normal. But how can the Governor be responsible when he was merely participating as the chief guest?" he argued. He suggested that Stalin was deliberately targeting the Governor for political gain. In response to the distorted rendition, Chief Minister Stalin accused the Governor of "deliberate disrespect" to Tamil Nadu and its culture. He questioned whether Ravi viewed himself as the "Governor" or an "Aryan." This statement led to the Governor accusing Stalin of making racist comments against him. Stalin, however, reaffirmed the significance of the Tamil language, calling it the essence of the Dravidian identity. Meanwhile, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai labelled Governor Ravi as 'antithetical' to Dravidian ideology. Speaking to ANI, he expressed concerns about the way Doordarshan has been promoting Hindi in Tamil Nadu, noting that other languages are not afforded the same recognition. "Even BJP allies in Tamil Nadu have opposed this," he stated, adding that the Governor's omission of "Dravida" from the anthem is a direct affront to Tamil pride. Annadurai further claimed that the Governor's actions were a deliberate insult to millions of Tamils. "If he has any self-respect, he should resign from his post," he concluded. (With inputs from ANI)
20 October,2024 03:29 PM IST | ChennaiThe coastal regions of India are likely to witness heavy rainfall as an upper air cyclonic circulation over the central Andaman Sea has moved to the North Andaman Sea on Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported.This circulation is expected to lead to the formation of a low-pressure area over the East Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Andaman Sea in the next 24 hours, news agency ANI reported.According to the IMD, "It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression by October 22 morning and into a cyclonic storm by October 23, over East Central Bay of Bengal."After that, it is expected to move northwest and reach the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha-West Bengal coasts by the morning of October 24, ANI stated. Yesterday’s upper air cyclonic circulation over central Andaman Sea lay over North Andaman Sea in the early morning (0530 hours IST) and persisted over the same region in the forenoon (0830 hrs IST) of today, the 20th October 2024. Under its influence, a Low Pressure Area is very… — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 20, 2024 IMD has issued a weather warning. "Very heavy rainfall is likely to occur over South Interior Karnataka and Andaman & Nicobar", the weather bureau said.Additionally, heavy rainfall is expected in Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Coastal & North Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema, and Andhra Pradesh today, reported ANI, quoting a tweet put out by the weather bureau. Very heavy rainfall likely to occur over South Interior Karnataka and Andaman & Nicobar. Heavy rainfall likely to occur over Gujarat State, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Coastal & North Interior Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rayalaseema and Andhra Pradesh today.… pic.twitter.com/Y3MrDlHJRL — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 20, 2024 Earlier on October 19, IMD reported heavy rain in several isolated areas in Tamil Nadu, causing major services to be disrupted owing to the continuous rainfall on Saturday. Visuals from the city showed continuous rainfall leading to waterlogging on roads. Several areas in Chennai recorded extremely heavy rainfall until 8.30 am on Thursday.Kathivakkam and Manali registered 23 cm and 21 cm of rainfall, respectively, while Cholavaram recorded 30 cm, Red Hills 28 cm, and Avadi 25 cm.The depression over the west-central and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwest at a speed of 14 km per hour and crossed the north Tamil Nadu-south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Nellore, near latitude 13.5 North and longitude 80.2 East, at around 4:30 am on Thursday. 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.
20 October,2024 03:29 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIADVERTISEMENT
