Civil services coaching expert and motivational speaker Avadh Ojha joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday in a ceremony attended by party chief Arvind Kejriwal and senior leader Manish Sisodia. Ojha’s association with the party is being seen as a strategic move to further AAP’s focus on education reforms ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections next year. Ojha, who has carved a niche as a guiding force for UPSC aspirants, expressed his admiration for AAP’s educational initiatives and its commitment to shaping the future of children. Speaking at the event, he said, “I am deeply aligned with the party’s ideology that prioritises the development of education. My ambition has always been to contribute to educational reforms, and I am grateful to Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia for giving me this opportunity to work towards this vision in the political domain.” Kejriwal welcomed Ojha into the party, highlighting his potential to strengthen AAP’s ongoing efforts in education. "Our focus has always been on transforming education in India. Ojha's joining will significantly contribute to this mission and help us build a stronger nation,” he stated. Manish Sisodia, a key figure behind Delhi’s education model, termed Ojha’s induction a “special day” for the party. “Avadh Ojha has been an influential force in the field of education, and his contribution aligns perfectly with the work we have been dedicated to for years,” Sisodia remarked. Ojha’s entry into politics comes at a time when AAP is gearing up for the Delhi Assembly elections slated for February next year. The party, which secured a decisive win with 62 out of 70 seats in 2020, is eyeing a third consecutive term by banking on its flagship schemes in education and healthcare. The induction of Ojha is expected to boost AAP’s appeal, particularly among young voters and aspirants preparing for competitive exams. Analysts believe his motivational outreach and experience in guiding UPSC candidates could help the party connect with a wider demographic. (With inputs from PTI)
02 December,2024 03:40 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentCyclone Fengal's effects were severe after it made landfall, causing extremely heavy rainfall in coastal regions of north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, ANI reported. The union territory saw severe flooding, especially in surrounding areas of the Sankaraparani River, with more than 200 residences in NR Nagar flooded. The people residing in the area remain stranded as the Indian Army along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are working together in rescue operations. Rescue workers are working to save the lives of those stranded in their homes due to flooding. The army has dispatched boats to navigate Puducherry's flooded streets and evacuate inhabitants. Local authorities, including the District Collector and the Public Works Department Minister, are also on the ground, reviewing the situation and speeding up relief efforts. The Indian Army conducted several rescue operations on Sunday across various areas in the city. The rescue operations were taken up in flood-hit areas in the Union Territory, including Krishna Nagar, Kuber Nagar, and Jiva Nagar, ANI reported. The operations successfully evacuated hundreds of residents from these flooded areas, saving over 200 lives in Krishna Nagar and Kuber Nagar alone. On Sunday afternoon, rescue attempts were underway in Jiva Nagar, with 30 soldiers dispatched to assist the stranded people. In addition, evacuation operations in other vulnerable localities are also underway, ANI cited. Indian Army troops from the Chennai Garrison Battalion, operating under the Dakshin Bharat Area, were mobilized in the wee hours if Sunday to help the rescue operations in flood-hit areas of Puducherry. The Puducherry District Collector around 1 am, requested that a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) column comprising of one officer, six Junior commissioned officers, and 62 lower ranks be sent immediately. The crew departed Chennai at 2 am and covered 160 km overnight, arriving in Puducherry about 5:30 am, ANI reported. The team led by Major Ajay Sangwan was briefed about the critical situation in the Upon reaching Puducherry, the team led by Major Ajay Sangwan was briefed about the critical situation. The water level in some areas of Krishna Nagar rose to nearly five feet, resulting in around 500 residents being stranded in their houses. The Indian Army's rescue operations began at 6:15 am, and over 100 people were rescued within the first two hours, ANI reported. Earlier, Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy stated on Sunday that the city received 50 cm of rain overnight, resulting in flooding. Rescue crews are working to evacuate stranded individuals, he added. (With inputs from ANI)
02 December,2024 02:29 PM IST | Puducherry | mid-day online correspondentWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said UNESCO has declared the state as a top destination for heritage tourism, asserting that the sector generated employment for lakhs of youths. Banerjee, speaking in the assembly, said the state has taken "giant strides" in religious, heritage and tea tourism. "UNESCO has declared Bengal as a top destination for heritage tourism. We have taken great initiatives in developing heritage spots. We are also giving emphasis on religious tourism by developing some of the iconic places of worship like the Dakshineshwar temple and the Kalighat temple," she said. The chief minister also said the under-construction Jagannath temple at Digha will soon be open for devotees. "The tourism sector has generated jobs for lakhs of youths," she said. Banerjee added that a tender has been floated for construction of a bridge over the Muriganga river in the Ganga Sagar Island, and the annual Gangasagar Mela held there will be among the top pilgrim destinations in the country. 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.
02 December,2024 01:52 PM IST | Kolkata | PTIIn an impassioned address on Monday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed grave concerns over the repeated disruptions in the Upper House, which he argued were undermining the very functioning of the Parliament. Citing Murphy's Law--"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong"--Dhankhar suggested that a deliberate "algorithm" seemed to be in place, intentionally impeding the proper conduct of business. "Hon'ble Members, you are all undoubtedly cognizant of Murphy's Law," Dhankhar said, highlighting the repeated failure to carry out legislative work. "It appears there exists a deliberate algorithm to actualize Murphy's Law in this August House, consequently impeding the proper functioning of Parliament." The Chairman's comments came as a response to the ongoing disruptions, which have prevented the House from transacting crucial business. "We find ourselves achieving precisely the antithesis of what our Constitution ordains," he added, emphasizing the constitutional duty of Parliament to function efficiently. Calling for a return to order and decorum, Dhankhar appealed to the members' sense of responsibility, urging them to respect the sacrifices made by the framers of the Constitution and countless patriots who laid down their lives for the country's democratic institutions. "In reverence to the framers of our Constitution and the innumerable patriots who made the supreme sacrifice, I implore this House to permit me to proceed with the business listed on today's agenda," the Chairman said. Dhankhar also voiced his frustration over the spectacle created by the disruptions, pointing out that "nothing is going on record" as the House remains in turmoil. "Honourable members, what we are doing is a spectacle to people's absolute disdain. Nothing is going on record. Nothing is going on record," he said. He concluded with an appeal, saying, "I appeal to you in the name of the framers of the Constitution and the people of this country--allow the Parliament to function. Don't make it dysfunctional." Both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned on Monday till 12 pm amid continuous sloganeering by opposition MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the fifth straight day. Parliament proceedings have been stalled since the beginning of the Winter Session amid protests by opposition parties over the Adani issue and violence in Manipur and Sambhal. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that there are issues which all the Opposition parties want to discuss. "One of the pending issues is a request for a debate on the 75th year of the Constitution and if the govt runs that then Parliament will function. We have had debates in the past on so many anniversaries. The government should cooperate with the Opposition to make the Parliament function," Tharoor said. Congress MP KC Venugopal said that the Congress is ready to run the house but the government must agree to its demands for discussion on certain issues. "We already met with the Speaker and our only demand is that he has to take action to run the House smoothly. We are ready to run the House provided there should be a discussion on the Constitution which they promised us," he said. TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said that the responsibility of running the house lay with the ruling party. "The House should function. TMC has many binding issues including issues relating to the state. We have issues of unemployment, price rise, fertilisers. Adani issue should be discussed in the Business Advisory Committee. It is the responsibility of the major ruling party to see that the House runs. This BJP govt is not interested in running the House," he said. On the early adjournment of Parliament in the last few days, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that they have met the Speaker and their only demand is that he takes action to run the House smoothly. "We want the Speaker to run the House," Gogoi said. Opposition members have been continuously pushing to have a discussion on the floor on the Adani issue, Sambhal violence and the Manipur situation, raising slogans in the Parliament. The first session of the winter Parliament commenced on November 25, with both Houses getting adjourned fairly early due to disruptions. The winter session will go on till December 20. 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.
02 December,2024 01:47 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIThe Congress on Monday accused the treasury benches of "running away" from a discussion in Parliament on issues such as the Adani indictment and Sambhal violence, and said the government simply did not want Parliament to function. Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on Monday amid continued protests by the opposition, which demanded a discussion on the indictment of industrialist Gautam Adani in a US court on bribery charges and the Sambhal violence, which claimed four lives. Congress general secretary in-charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh said, "Today too both Houses got adjourned. INDIA parties had given notices for an immediate discussion on Adani, Manipur, Sambhal, and Ajmer. These parties never agitated. There was hardly any sloganeering. But the Modi government simply did not want Parliament to function." "The situation is truly extraordinary. The Opposition wants a discussion but the government is running away from it," Ramesh said. He said opposition INDIA bloc parties also wanted a two-day discussion on the Constitution on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its adoption, which was celebrated on November 26. The Modi government has yet to notify the dates for this discussion, Ramesh said. 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.
02 December,2024 01:40 PM IST | New Delhi | PTILok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Monday as protests by opposition members regarding the Adani indictment row, recent violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, and other issues persist, PTI reported. According to PTI, as soon as the House reconvened at 12 noon following the first adjournment, members of the opposition hurried into the Well and started raising slogans and issues of the indictment of Gautam Adani in a US court on bribery charges and the violence-hit Sambhal. While few members were in the Well, other members stood in the aisle and raised slogans. Amid the uproar, the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 was introduced by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. The BJP's Sandhya Ray, who was in the chair, requested the protestors to allow the House to function. She highlighted that the voters of the country were watching and their issues must be voiced, PTI reported. With the opposition members not backing down, Ray adjourned the House for the day. When the House started at 11 am on Monday, opposition members rushed into the Well demanding discussion on the issues being raised by them. Speaker Om Birla asked them to allow the Question Hour and said they could take up their issues later on. One question was eventually taken up amid chaos, PTI reported. However, the opposition members did not pay heed to the speaker's request, after which he adjourned the House till 12 noon. Last week, Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned due to protests by the opposition members regarding the same issues. Before the House assembled, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was seen having a chat with Congress leader K C Venugopal near the opposition benches. Congress member Gaurav Gogoi and DMK leader T R Baalu were also in attendance. Following the first adjournment, a few opposition leaders including Congress' Venugopal, DMK's Baalu, TMC's Kalyan Banerjee and Samajwadi Party members Dharmendra Yadav and Zia ur Rehman Barq were seen going to the speaker's office together, PTI reported. The Adani Group has defended that Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar have not been charged with any violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment filed by US authorities in a court in New York over a bribery case. (With inputs from PTI)
02 December,2024 01:37 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi High Court on Monday sought the Enforcement Directorate's response on a plea of AAP leader Manish Sisodia challenging a trial court's order taking cognisance of a chargesheet filed in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued the notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and fixed Sisodia's plea on December 20, when AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal's similar petition is also listed for further proceedings. The former deputy chief minister sought the high court's direction to set aside the trial court's order on the ground that the special judge took cognisance of the chargesheet in the absence of any sanction for the prosecution of the former Delhi chief minister, who was a public servant when the offence was allegedly committed. Sisodia is out on bail in the case. According to the CBI and the ED, irregularities were committed while modifying the excise policy and undue favours were extended to the licence holders. The Delhi government implemented the policy on November 17, 2021, and scrapped it by the end of September 2022 amid allegations of corruption. The money laundering case stems from a CBI case lodged after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy. 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.
02 December,2024 01:32 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIIndia is set to seal the proposed procurement of 26 naval variant of Rafale jets and three additional Scorpene submarines soon, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said on Monday. At a media briefing ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Tripathi also said that the government's approval for two SSNs (nuclear-powered submarines) indicated its faith in the country's indigenous capabilities to build such boats. The Navy chief also said that 62 ships and a submarine are currently under construction within the country as part of efforts to boost its naval power. A large number of platforms are waiting for induction in the next one year and at least one ship will be inducted into the Navy, he said. "We have redoubled efforts to include niche technologies into the force," Admiral Tripathi said. The procurement of Rafale-M (naval variant) and the Scorpene submarines is likely to be finalised next month, he added. In July last year, the defence ministry approved the purchase of the Rafale-M jets from France, primarily for deployment on board the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. On Pakistan's efforts to increase its maritime prowess, Admiral Tripathi said the Indian Navy is ready to deal with any possible threat from neighbouring countries. 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.
02 December,2024 01:24 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIPrime Minister Narendra Modi will watch the movie 'Sabarmati Report' on Monday evening. The prime minister will go to the Balyogi Auditorium in the Parliament Library Building to watch the movie starring Vikrant Massey, officials said. Directed by Dheeraj Sarna, the film claims to reveal the truth behind the fire incident in the Sabarmati Express at Godhra on February 27, 2002, killing 59 devotees returning from Ayodhya after participating in a religious ceremony. The film also stars Raashi Khanna and Ridhi Dogra in key roles. 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.
02 December,2024 01:08 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIUnion minister Nitin Gadkari has said politics is a "sea of unsatisfied souls" where every person is sad and aspiring for a higher post than his current position, reported news agency PTI. Life is a game of compromises, compulsions, limitations and contradictions, Nitin Gadkari added while speaking at the launch of a book, titled '50 Golden Rules of Life', in Nagpur on Sunday. Whether a person is in family, social, political or corporate life, life is full of challenges and problems and the person should understand the "art of living" to face them, the senior BJP leader said, reported PTI. The minister recalled a programme he had attended in Rajasthan where he said, "Politics is a sea of unsatisfied souls, where every person is sad...the one who becomes corporator is sad because he did not get the chance to become MLA, and an MLA is sad because he could not get a ministerial berth," reported PTI. "The one who becomes a minister is sad because he could not get a good ministerial department and could not become chief minister, and the chief minister is in tension because he does not know when the high command will ask him to leave," the BJP leader said, reported PTI. The problems in life pose a big challenge and facing them and moving forward is the "art of living", he said. Gadkari said he remembers in his political life a quote from former US President Richard Nixon's autobiography which says 'A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits'. The Union minister emphasised good human values and "sanskars" for a happy life. He also highlighted the importance of "person, party and party philosophy" while sharing his golden rules to live life and be successful. (With inputs from PTI)
02 December,2024 12:27 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Monday attacked the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) amid the disruption over their proposed visits to Sambhal. He criticised both opposition parties for indulging in politics over riots and deaths, saying that they are the ones who create chaos, ANI reported. "Indulging in politics over riots and deaths is the character of Congress and Samajwadi Party. Ek to aag lagate hain (They are the ones who disrupt). Why are they sending the delegation (to Sambhal)? The court asked for the survey to be carried out in line with the Constitution. Congress supports claims made by Waqf, but when a Hindu party goes to court...they want to stand with rioters. This shows Congress' role in the politics of polarisation," BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla told ANI. His comments come after a 15-member delegation of Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders along with MLAs and MPs were stopped from visiting Sambhal district by the Uttar Pradesh Police earlier this week. Congress delegation is also expected to visit the violence-hit district on Monday. BJP spokesperson further attacked the Congress and SP for indulging in "competitive appeasement politics." He accused the opposition parties of also indulging in vote bank politics and taking sides with the "rioters." "This is what I call the politics of CAP - Competitive Appeasement Politics. Kon jyada bada dangaiyo ka bhaijaan ban sakta hai (who can appease the troublemakers more). Kon vote bank ke naam par Sambhal main aag laga sakta hai (who can cause disruption in Sambhal in the name of the vote bank). A competition is ongoing over this. Samajwadi Party says that lower courts would set fire. They go and stand with the rioters and raise questions to the police. Congress is also doing similar kinds of politics. Ask Congress, did they form a delegation for Ram Gopal Mishra who was killed by Jihadi elements in Bahriach? No delegation from Samajwadi Party or Congress went for him," BJP leader Poonawalla said to ANI. Meanwhile, the state's Congress President Ajay Rai was urged to delay his visit to Sambhal, the party leader said that he would go to Sambhal "peacefully", ANI cited. "They have issued me a notice and have asked me that my visit will cause chaos. Certainly, we also don't want chaos but peace to prevail. The atrocity and injustice that was done there by the police and the government, I want my leadership to know this. They (police) gave me notice but I will go there peacefully," Rai told ANI. Earlier this morning, Uttar Pradesh Police issued a notice to Congress state president Ajay Rai requesting him not to visit violence-hit Sambhal. (With ANI inputs)
02 December,2024 11:40 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
