Month: May 2022

Shiv Sena (youth wing) leader Vikas Gogawale on Thursday said that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress party are the real enemies of the Shiv Sena and not the BJP.

Gogawale said that the BJP has a low vote share in the region.
“We’re expanding our party here. BJP has a low vote share in Mahad Taluka. NCP and Congress party are our real enemies here as they take credit for the works done by Shiv Sena workers,” said Gogawale.

He further added that efforts were being made to mar the alliance.

“Four former Congress corporators and a Shiv Sena corporator joined NCP last month in the presence of NCP state president Jayant Patil here. We’re trying to save our alliance but they are working to spoil it,” he concluded. (ANI)

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was ousted as prime minister through a no-confidence motion in April this year, gave the Shehbaz Sharif government a six-day deadline for announcing elections and dissolving assemblies warning that if the deadline is not met he would return to the capital with the “entire nation”.

In the wake of this announcement by former Prime Minister Khan, the PTI supporters entered the Red Zone on Thursday morning. However, they were later dispersed after talks with police officials, reported Dawn.
According to a statement issued by the Islamabad police spokesperson, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan was also present at the site and protesters were being instructed to leave the Red Zone.

“I had decided that I will sit here until the government dissolves assemblies and announces elections, but of what I have seen in the past 24 hours, they (govt) are taking the nation towards anarchy,” he said while addressing the protesters at Islamabad’s 9th Avenue.

Earlier, police in Pakistan fired tear gas and clashed with supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the wee hours of Thursday as Imran Khan started reaching Islamabad to demand fresh elections.

Tension gripped the country as police and PTI workers clashed after authorities tried to block them from moving toward D-Chowk in the federal capital after Imran Khan warned his supporters would not vacate the area until a date for fresh polls was announced by the Shehbaz Sharif government.

“It’s 2.30 am at the D-Chowk and the shelling is continuing. God knows how many more rounds of shelling will they use before the arrival of Imran Khan,” said Senator Aon Abbas Buppi.

Failing to control the growing unrest due to the protest march launched by Imran Khan, the Shehbaz Sharif government has been forced to call in the army to protect the Red Zone as former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief entered Islamabad in the early hours of Thursday.

Rights groups expressed deep concern at the highhandedness of law enforcement agencies in disrupting the PTI’s march to Islamabad.

“We believe that all citizens and all political parties have every right to assemble and protest peacefully,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government rejected the demands of ousted former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan for holding re-elections in the country, and said that the government will complete its tenure.

PML-N and its allies announced that the current setup will complete its tenure till August 2023 and the general elections would be held at the stipulated time next year, reported Express Tribune quoting sources. (ANI)

Colombian Singer Shakira caught eyeballs with her appearance at the ‘Elvis’ premiere during the Cannes Film Festival.

She arrived on the red carpet wearing a black strapless dress that featured a plunging neckline, and a thigh-high side slit.
For elevating her look, Shakira wore a pair of sheer black gloves and rocked an eye-catching dazzling ring over the top. Her silver necklace also stole the attention.

Sharing the pictures on her Instagram handle, the Queen of Latin music wrote, “What an extraordinary movie of one of my favorite artists of all time.”

Shakira’s Cannes 2022 look has left fans in awe of her ageless beauty.

“Gorgeous,” a social media user commented.

“OH EXACTLYYYYYY YOU SLAYED THEM ALL,” another one wrote.

“Perfection,” a netizen heaped praises on Shakira.

Apart from Shakira, Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, and Kylie Minogue also hit the red carpet for the ‘Elvis’ premiere. (ANI)

Failing to control the growing unrest due to the protest march launched by Imran Khan, the Shehbaz Sharif government has been forced to call in the army to protect the Red Zone as former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief entered Islamabad in the early hours of Thursday.

“Pursuant to the law and order situation in the Islamabad Capital Territory, the Federal Government, in the exercise of powers conferred under Article 245 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, authorises deployment of sufficient strength of troops of Pakistan Army,” Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said in a government order posted on Twitter.
The Pakistan government deployed the army in Red Zone to “protect important government buildings” after Imran Khan entered the federal capital amid rising tensions in the country.

The government order said that the decision was taken for the protection of important government buildings including the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Parliament House, Presidency, Prime Minister’s Office and others.

Tension gripped the country as clashes took place between police and PTI workers after authorities tried to block them from moving toward D-Chowk in the federal capital.

Imran Khan on Wednesday warned his supporters would not vacate D-Chowk until a date for fresh polls was announced by the Shehbaz Sharif government.

Former Pakistan PM, who was ousted from power by a no-trust vote, has asked “all Pakistanis” to take to the streets in their respective cities and appealed to women and children to come out of their homes for “real independence”, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Rights groups expressed deep concern at the highhandedness of law enforcement agencies in disrupting the PTI’s march to Islamabad.

“We believe that all citizens and all political parties have every right to assemble and protest peacefully,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tweeted.

“The state’s overreaction has triggered, more than it has prevented, violence on the streets. The onus is on the government and opposition leaders to adopt a mature, democratic response and immediately begin a dialogue to end the impasse,” the group added.

Pakistan media reports say that Pakistan seems to be heading towards political confrontation following the Shehbaz Sharif government’s decision to ban the PTI march. According to Dawn, crackdowns on the opposition leaders and the sealing of the capital have created a highly volatile situation.

Pakistan Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained the present government from arresting Imran Khan and allowed PTI to hold a sit-in protest at the H-9 ground area of Islamabad.

The court order came after PTI assured to hold a peaceful protest and that there would not be any damage to public and private properties. (ANI)

The Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi on Thursday is likely to pronounce sentencing against former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala in a disproportionate assets (DA) case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Court will hear arguments first on the point of sentence and may pass a sentence against OP Chautala today.
Special Judge (PC Act) Vikas Dhull, last week had convicted Chautala and said the accused had failed to satisfactorily account for such dis-proportionality by proving his source of income or means by way of which, he acquired assets during the check period.

“Hence, accused Om Prakash Chautala is convicted for the offence under Section 13(1)(e) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Put up 26.05.2022 at 10.00 a.m. for arguments on the point of sentence,” said the court.

According to the CBI’s FIR accused Om Prakash Chautala, while functioning as Chief Minister of Haryana during the period from July 24, 1999, to March 5, 2005, in collusion with his family members and others, accumulated assets, immovable and movable, disproportionate to his known lawful sources of income, in his name, in the names of his family members and others to the extent of Rs.1467 crores.

FIR further stated that the accused accumulated enormous wealth and invested the same throughout the country in the shape of thousands of acres of land, multi complexes, palatial residential houses, hotels, farmhouses, business agencies, petrol pumps and other investments apart from investments in foreign countries.

FIR also stated that 43 immovable properties in all, apart from cash and jewellery were accumulated. Apart from 43 alleged properties listed in the FIR, additional properties were also suspected to be of the accused family.

An investigation with regard to additional properties was also conducted for ascertaining the link of the accused family with the said properties.

The chargesheet filed in the matter after the conclusion of the investigation stated that accused OP Chautala had acquired assets, both immovable and movable, which were disproportionate to his known source of income.

The disproportionate assets were calculated to be Rs.6,09,79,026/- (Rupees Six Crores Nine Lacs Seventy Nine Thousand and Twenty Six only) and the percentage of DA (Disproportionate Assets) was 189.11 per cent of his known sources of income.

Accordingly, CBI had chargesheeted the accused for the offence under Section 13(1)(e) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Apart from the charge sheet filed against the accused OP Chautala, the CBI had filed two more charge sheets arising out of the present FIR, against the sons of the accused i.e. Abhay Singh Chautala and Ajay Singh Chautala and others, which are being tried separately.

Om Prakash Chautala is a former Chief Minister of Haryana from the Indian National Lok Dal and son of sixth Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal.

Chautala was recently released from the Tihar Jail on July 2, 2021, from a ten years prison sentence after completing the due formalities.

He and 53 others, in June 2008, were charged in connection with the appointment of 3,206 junior basic teachers in the state of Haryana during 1999-2000.

In January 2013, a New Delhi court sentenced Chautala and his son Ajay Singh Chautala to ten years’ imprisonment under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. (ANI).

Actor Hrithik Roshan, undoubtedly, stole the spotlight at Karan Johar’s 50th birthday bash.

He arrived at the party along with his rumoured girlfriend Saba Azad. They made a dashing entry by walking hand-in-hand.
The two also posed for shutterbugs gathered outside the party venue. In one of the viral videos, Hrithik is seen introducing sweetly introducing Saba to guests by telling them her name.

The couple complemented each other by sporting black apparel. Saba dazzled in a black cut-out dress, while Hrithik looked dapper in a black suit.

Hrithik’s former wife Sussanne Khan also appeared at the party. She attended the bash with her rumoured boyfriend Arslan Goni.

Rumours about Hrithik and Saba started when they were spotted out on a dinner date together in February. Later, Saba also joined Hrithik’s family for a get-together.

The two have neither confirmed nor denied their relationship, though their public appearances have spoken volumes. (ANI)

World-class design and standards will be set for the Aravali Safari Park to be set up in an area of 10 thousand acres in Haryana.

In order to speed up the process of the Aravali Safari Park project, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held a meeting with Union Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change and Labor and Employment Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi.
The meeting was attended by the personal secretary to the chief minister, V Umashankar, personal secretary to the Haryana Tourism Minister, M D Sinha and senior officers from the Union Government.

Khattar while interacting with the media said that the Aravalli Safari Park Project would be an important component of developing Haryana as a Tourism Hub. The site and land have been marked to set up Aravalli Safari Park in the Gurugram District.

The chief minister discussed in-depth with the Union Minister in the context of Aravalli Safari Park to be set up on the basis of world-class design and standards. The Regional Cultural Identity of Haryana will be included in the format of Aravalli Safari Park.

Some world-class safari park sites will also be visited to study the wold level design and standards. (ANI)

Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested a man and three women for running a sex racket, in New Delhi’s South Rohini area.

According to the police, a constable who was in plain clothes was deployed as a decoy customer and was given Rs 2000 in 4 notes of Rs 500 denomination. He reached Sector 2, Rohini and negotiated the deal.
On confirmation, a raid was conducted where one male and 3 females were found. The male who is identified as Ajay son of Rajkumar resident of house No. 145, pocket- 5, Sector 2, Rohini Age-37 years who was a tenant at the raided address was found to be running a sex racket, said the police.

“The three females were identified as Sangita wife of Himanshu resident of house no. Q-1/ 63, Budh Vihar, Delhi age 27 years, Munni Khatun wife of Sheikh Shah Alam resident of house no A-2/64, Ph-5, Aya Nagar, Delhi, age 26 yrs and Simran wife of Sunil resident of house no. K-93, Janak Puri, Delhi. age 27 years who offered themselves for sex job,” said the police.

It further said, “Munni Khatun and Ajay had accepted Rs 1000 each for a sex job from the decoy customer. The numbered notes were recovered from their possession. A case U/s 3/4/5 ITP Act was registered at PS South Rohini.”

Further investigation is in progress and the past criminal background of the accused persons are being verified, added the police. (ANI)

Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority (IRSA) urged the Pakistan provincial governments to plan the utilization of water and use it efficiently as the irrigation water shortage in the country surged close to 45 per cent on Tuesday.

“Plan in advance the utilization of available supplies in the river system efficiently, cautiously and judiciously during the dip”, IRSA stated in a joint letter.
It also asked the provincial irrigation secretaries to place estimated rationalized indents (water requirement order by provinces) without any wastage till the water situation improves in the first half of June, the Dawn newspaper reported.

“Currently 40-45 per cent shortage is being distributed among Punjab and Sindh at the rim-stations, resultantly a massive dip is likely to hit the Indus Basin Irrigation System with a lag time of about five to 15 days to the provinces due to zero storage in the reservoirs,” reported the Dawn, quoting IRSA.

It said in the letter that as a result of the water shortage, the authority is providing Punjab with 65,000 cusec water against its current share of 113,000 cusecs. It is providing 66,000 cusecs water to Sindh against its share of 116,000 cusecs further adding, “Exempted from application of shortages, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are being supplied their full share of 13,000 cusecs and 3,000 cusecs, respectively.”

The IRSA officials said that the Jhelum and Chenab rivers flow were 45 per cent lower than this year’s estimate, that caused the major challenge. The river Jhelum flows at Mangla were currently at 27,000 cusecs against last year’s flows of 55,000 cusecs, while the flows in Chenab were at 24,000 cusecs against last year’s 38,000 cusecs, the Dawn reported.

On Tuesday, the total inflows at rim-stations were recorded at 144,800 cusecs against 156,600 cusecs reported a day earlier and 10-year average of 230,400 cusecs. Irsa said this clearly depicted that the system had entered yet another dip as expected and intimated on May 20.

Considering the situation, the National Assembly standing committee on water resources has sought a report from the committee constituted to inspect barrages and monitor water discharges at Taunsa, Punjnad, Guddu and Sukkur barrages and related canals to address provincial grievances about water shares. (ANI)

A woman was shot dead by terrorists in the Chadoora area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, police said on Wednesday adding that her minor nephew, was also injured in the attack.

The attack was conducted by three terrorists of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), police said.
The deceased was identified as Amreen Bhat, who is a TV artiste.

“Terrorists fired upon one Amreen Bhat at her residence in Chadoora, Budgam today. She was shifted to a hospital where doctors declared her dead. Her 10-year-old nephew also received a bullet injury on his arm,” Jammu and Kashmir Police said.

The area has been cordoned off and searches have begun. A case has also been registered and investigated underway. Further details are awaited.

A day earlier a policeman was shot dead and his 7-year-old daughter injured after terrorists attacked them outside their home in Srinagar. (ANI)