January 2023 - Page 36 of 60 - Lokmarg

Karnataka: Jailed Gangster Made Threatening Calls To Gadkari’s Ofz

By LokMarg 15th January 2023

In a major breakthrough in the case related to threat calls received at Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s office, Nagpur Police on Saturday traced the caller.

The caller has been identified as Jayesh Kantha, a jailed gangster, serving imprisonment in Belagavi jail, who made threatening calls to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s office from inside the jail, police said.
“Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was being threatened from jail. the caller is a notorious gangster and murder accused Jayesh Kantha, who is imprisoned in Karnataka’s Belagavi jail. He threatened Gadkari’s office by using the phone illegally inside the jail, Nagpur Commissioner of Police said, adding that a team of Nagpur Police has left for Belagavi for further probe.

The jail administration has recovered, a diary from the accused, which has been seized.

Nagpur Police have asked for production remand for the accused.

The office of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Maharashtra received threat calls on Saturday, the Nagpur Police said.

In response to the alleged threat calls, the Nagpur Police later beefed up the security around Union minister Nitin Gadkari.

According to the police, the office received three calls at 11.25 am, 11.32 am, and 12.32 pm at the landline number of Gadkari’s office from the BSNL network-registered number. The call records are being obtained, it added.

“There were three phone calls. The details are being found, and our crime branch will work on the CDR (Call Detail Record). An analysis is underway and the existing security has been increased. The security at the venue of the program of minister Gadkari has also beefed up,” Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rahul Madane, Nagpur said on Saturday. (ANI)

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Modi To Flag Off Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Train Today

By LokMarg 15th January 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat Express train connecting Secunderabad with Visakhapatnam on Sunday at 10:30 am via video link.

This will be the eighth Vande Bharat Express train introduced by Indian Railways.
Earlier on Saturday, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted a pre-launch inspection of the Vande Bharat train.

Reacting to the flagging off of Vande Bharat Express service by PM Modi on the auspicious occasion of Pongal, Vaishnaw on Saturday, said, “It’s a very big gift and I thank Prime Minister for this hugely popular train, a modern train, which is world-class, which will connect the two Telugu-speaking people and the major cities which are getting connected tomorrow. It will be a big boon for this region.”

Vande Bharat Express train, connecting Secunderabad with Visakhapatnam, will be the first one connecting the Telugu-speaking states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, covering a distance of around 700 km, added the statement.

The train will have stoppages at Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, and Vijayawada stations in Andhra Pradesh and at Khammam, Warangal, and Secunderabad stations in Telangana.

The indigenously designed train set of Vande Bharat Express is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities. The statement added that it will provide rail users with a faster, more comfortable, and more convenient travel experience. (ANI)

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Delhi Fog, Several Flights Delayed Due To Low Visibility

By LokMarg 15th January 2023

As many as six flights, scheduled to depart from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), was delayed due to fog, informed airport authority on Sunday.

Among the flight routes affected by the severe fog were Delhi-Riyadh, Delhi-Shimla-Kullu, Delhi-Varanasi, Delhi-Dharamshala-Srinagar, Delhi-Shimla- Dharamshala, Delhi-Dehradun.

Already reeling under a cold wave since the beginning of the new year, residents in the national capital on Sunday woke to a chilly morning with cold waves.

Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 5.6 degrees Celsius around 6.10 am on Sunday.

According to the Meteorological department, the visibility in Palam was recorded at 200 meters at 6.10 am.

As per the IMD forecast, dense to very dense fog was observed over parts of Punjab, Northwest Rajasthan, Jammu division, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Tripura.

“Dense/Very Dense Fog layer (in the white patch) extends from Punjab to Bihar across Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh,” tweeted the India Meteorological Department.

IMD has issued an orange alert for dense fog and chilly conditions in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana on Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, the Northern Railway informed on Sunday that 20 trains were running late due to fog. (ANI)

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Pakistan: People Chase Wheat Truck On Bikes As Food Crisis Deepens

By LokMarg 15th January 2023

Amid the deepening food crisis in Pakistan, people were seen chasing a wheat truck on their bikes, risking their lives to get a bag of wheat.

Sharing the video, Professor Sajjad Raja, chairman of National Equality Party JKGBL, wrote that “this is not a motorcycle rally, but people in Pakistan are chasing a truck loaded with flour, in the hope that they will buy just one packet of flour. Do we have any future in Pakistan? This video is just a glimpse of what is happening in Pakistan”.
In a video shared on social media, some people riding a motorcycle are seen chasing a truck carrying sacks of flour, and people can be seen chasing the vehicle to buy the lot. One of the chasers coming closer to the wheat truck shows the note and asks for a packet of flour.

He also advised residents in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to open their eyes. People in PoK have been at the receiving end of discrimination for over seven decades and the situation continues to remain so even today.

“This isn’t a motorcycle rally, ppl in #Pakistan are desperately chasing a truck carrying wheat flour, hoping to buy just 1 bag. Ppl of #JammuAndKashmir should open their eyes. Lucky not to be #Pakistani & still free to take decisions about our future. Do we have any future with Pakistan?” he tweeted.

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is on the verge of food riots as large parts of the region, including Bagh and Muzaffarabad, are facing an unprecedented flour shortage with people holding Islamabad and the PoK government responsible for the acute food shortages.

While the government supply of subsidized wheat has nearly stopped altogether, the prices of other essentials have skyrocketed as well.

Pakistan is facing the worst food crisis in many years, with local media reports indicating that there is an acute shortage of wheat flour in many parts of the country.

Since last week, flour prices have skyrocketed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan provinces.

A packet of flour is being sold for 3000 Pakistani rupees. Fights and brawls for flour can be seen in the streets of Pakistan.

According to a report, the crisis is mainly affecting the low-income group. People are seen standing in long lines for hours for lots, amid a huge shortage of wheat in the retail market.

The prices of other food items are also skyrocketing in the country. Armed guards are protecting trucks carrying wheat and flour from unruly mobs.

Flour in Karachi is being sold from Rs 140 per kilogram to Rs 160 per kilogram. In Islamabad and Peshawar, a 10 kg bag of flour is being sold at Rs 1,500 per kilogram while a 20-kilogram bag of flour is being sold at Rs 2,800. Mill owners in Punjab province have increased the price of flour to Rs 160 per kilogram.

Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been facing the worst-ever flour crisis as a bag of 20-kilogram flour is being sold for Rs 3,100 after the government failed to control the price of the stable, The News International reported.

Prices of pulses in Pakistan have also been going up due to the non-clearance of imported shipments at the port and delay in the approval of relevant documents by banks, Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper reported.

Rauf Ibrahim, the chairman of Karachi Wholesalers Grocers Association (KWGA), said traders on Thursday held a protest outside the State Bank’s head office against the non-clearance of over 6,000 containers of pulses at the port for the past two months due to a shortage of dollars and the reluctance of banks to clear import documents, according to Dawn. (ANI)

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Ropeway Services Halted In Joshimath Amid Subsidence

By LokMarg 14th January 2023

Land subsidence has halted a ropeway service connecting Chamoli’s Joshimath to Auli in Uttarakhand, Dinesh Bhatt, manager, Ropeway Operation, said on Saturday.

“The impact of the landslide [land subsidence] in Joshimath is expanding. The 4.15-km ropeway connecting Joshimath to Auli has also come under threat as huge cracks appeared near the ropeway platform late night Friday,” Bhatt said.

He informed that the cracks appeared near tower number 1 of the ropeway, prompting the administration to suspend the ropeway service as a precautionary measure.

“In the wake of cracks appearing near tower number 1 of the ropeway, the service was suspended temporarily by the administration as a precautionary measure. There are concerns as to whether the ropeway service can resume anytime soon,” he added.

The ropeway service has remained suspended since January 5 after cracks were reported in buildings at Joshimath. The service will remain suspended till further orders, he added.

Earlier on Saturday, sources informed that several houses at Singhdhar in the Joshimath town of Uttarakhand collapsed in the midnight hours of January 2 and 3. However, no lives were lost in these incidents.

Speaking to ANI, Harish, a local, said, “It happened on January 2. It was around 2.30 am when we were sleeping. We heard a noise as the cracks on the walls opened up and big chunks of concrete started falling off.”

“We were scared and spent the night under an open sky. We were shifted to a government school nearby the day after,” he said.

“Many important documents and household items were destroyed. But thankfully, no lives were lost. Some hotels in Manohar Bagh, too, have developed big cracks,” Harish added.

Another local resident, Rishi Devi, said while his residence and many others had developed cracks for some time, the municipality refused to act saying it had no order from the higher authorities.

“Our house had developed cracks for some time. We had requested the municipality for help. But over a span of two days, on January 2 and 3, our house as well as others collapsed. A nearby temple, too, collapsed and we even lost our cattle. Both my sons are jobless now,” Rishi Devi told ANI.

In view of the land subsidence incident in Joshimath, the state Cabinet on Friday approved an amount of Rs 45 crore as relief for the affected families.

The Cabinet also cleared a proposal to waive the electricity bill of all those affected for six months starting from November 2022, besides approving a proposal for providing employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) to two members of each of the affected families. (ANI)

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Court Extends Sisodia’s CBI Remand In Excise Case

CBI Conducts Raids At Manish Sisodia’s Office

By LokMarg 14th January 2023

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids are underway at the office of AAP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia at the Delhi Secretariat on Saturday.

“Today again CBI has reached my office. They are welcome. They raided my house, raided my office, searched my locker, and even searched my village. Nothing has been found against me and nothing will be found because I have not done anything wrong. Sincerely worked for the education of the children of Delhi,” tweeted Sisodia in Hindi.

Last year in August, the CBI conducted a search operation at Sisodia’s Punjab National Bank locker in connection with Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 money laundering case, where according to him the CBI had found nothing.

Several raids were also conducted at 21 places in Delhi and the National Capital Region including the residence of Sisodia and the premises of four public servants last year, according to a CBI official. The official said that raids were conducted in locations across 7 states.

The probe was done after taking into account a report forwarded by the Chief Secretary to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommending a CBI investigation into the matter.

The excise policy was passed in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Cabinet in the middle of the deadly Delta Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. The Delhi government’s version is that the policy was formulated to ensure the generation of optimum revenue, and eradicate the sale of spurious liquor or non-duty paid liquor in Delhi, besides improving user experience.

Following LG’s recommendation, the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Delhi Police’s Economic Offence Wing (EOW) issued a notice to Delhi’s Excise Commissioner asking him to provide all documents relating to the award of liquor licenses under the new excise policy. (ANI)

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SRK Magic: Burj Khalifa Lights Up With ‘Pathaan’ Sneak

By LokMarg 14th January 2023

King Khan of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan attended the trailer of his action thriller in ‘Pathaan’ style at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

The trailer of SRK, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham was showcased in Dubai on Saturday.

SRK fan clubs shared some videos and pictures from the location in which the ‘Dunki’ actor was heard saying “Party rakhoge to mehman navazi ke liye Pathan to ayega aur sath mein pathaake bhi layega.”

In one of the pictures, SRK was seen doing his signature pose in front of Burj Khalifa.

And in another photo, he was seen looking at the trailer projected on the iconic skyscraper.

Not only this, he was seen shaking his leg on ‘Jhoome Jo Pathaan’ song.

Apart from this, SRK jetted off few days ago to UAE for the International League T20.

Nelson D’Souza, Vice President, International Distribution said, “Pathaan is one of the most eagerly awaited films of our times and a film like this deserves to be mounted in the grandest manner when it comes to presenting it to audiences. We are thrilled to announce that Dubai will be celebrating Shah Rakh Khan and Pathaan as the trailer of the film will be showcased on the iconic Burj Khalifa!”

He added, “We are delighted that Shah Rukh Khan, who is currently in UAE for the International League T20, will make time to be present when the trailer plays out on one of the most significant architectural marvels of the world. SRK has an unprecedented fan following in the UAE and we feel this activity befits the hype that Pathaan carries today, thanks to the overwhelming love that is being showered on it by his fans and audiences alike.”

Helmed by Siddharth Anand ‘Pathaan’. The film also stars Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana in the lead roles and is all set to hit the theatres on January 25, 2023.

Recently the makers unveiled the official trailer of the film which received massive responses from the fans.

The two-and-a-half-minute-long trailer showcases Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika as spy agents standing against a powerful enemy, played by John Abraham, who is planning a big attack in India.

Apart from this, he will also be seen in filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘Dunki’ opposite Taapsee Pannu and Atlee’s ‘Jawan’, which will hit the theatres on June 2 this year. (ANI)

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Not Prepared For The Role of Kerala CM, says Shashi Tharoor

Not Ready To Become Kerala CM Yet, Says Tharoor

By LokMarg 14th January 2023

Days after expressing his desire to enter the chief ministerial race in Kerala, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said he is not prepared for the role of the chief minister.

“I am not prepared for the role of the chief minister. I will continue doing what I have been doing for fourteen years,” Tharoor told reporters in Kannur. “There is nothing more to say,” Tharoor added.

Earlier Congress MP Hibi Eden had said Tharoor could express his desire for the role of chief minister if “the high command allows” him.

Tharoor had shown his willingness to contest elections from Kerala while speaking to a local Malayalam news channel.

When asked if he was willing to take up the Chief Ministerial post in Kerala, he replied affirmatively, “I am ready for the role. But the ultimate decision belongs to the people. The responsibility of finding the underlying reasons for the issues faced by Kerala lies with us,” he said a few days ago.

“The party should decide who will contest. An MP cannot decide not to contest tomorrow. If the party decides, he will have to contest. The party will say if his services are needed more for state politics. No confusion in this,” Congress MP Hibi Eden said underscoring that neither the party [Congress] nor the high command has so far decided on the next chief ministerial face for Kerala.

“If they decide I will stand with him,” Eden added reiterating that the party has not appointed Tharoor for the role yet.

He further said, “Tharoor may wish. But the party has not appointed him for that. Anyone can want it. No one is underqualified. Whoever it is, they need to be given high command clearance.”

Later in his address to media persons, Eden said that they have led the organizational activity of adding names to the voters’ list and are now moving forward with that.

“I have not found any difficulty in preparations related to the Lok Sabha elections. All the political parties are doing things vigorously as the elections are closer. We have already held many meetings related to the concept of Vision 2024,” he added. (ANI)

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Kartik Aaryan Enjoys Dhaba Food During Punjab Trip

By LokMarg 14th January 2023

No visit to Punjab is complete without hitting a roadside dhaba and gorging on “desi food”. Actor Kartik Aaryan did not miss this chance during his recent work trip to Punjab.

On Saturday, Kartik took to Instagram and shared a few pictures. In the pictures, he can be seen holding a hot glass of chai.

In another image, he gave a close-up of paranthas loaded with butter. He also dropped a picture of himself eating sugarcane.

“When in Punjab….#Shehzada Tour,” he captioned the post.

Kartik visited Punjab along with actress Kriti Sanon for the trailer launch of their film ‘Shehzada. The duo also celebrated Lohri there.

The ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ star posted a video of his first Lohri celebrations in the land of five rivers. In the clip, Kartik and Kriti can be seen dancing to the tunes of dhol.

In the caption, he wrote “#Shehzada ki taraf se Lohri di lakh lakh vadhaiyan. My first Lohri celebration in Punjab.”

Helmed by Rohit Dhawan, the film also stars Manisha Koirala, Paresh Rawal, Ronit Roy, and Sachin Khedekar in the lead roles and is all set to hit the theatres on February 10, 2023. ‘Shehzada’ also marks the debut of Kartik as a producer.

‘Shehzada’ is an official Hindi remake of the Telugu film ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramloo’ which starred actor Allu Arjun in the lead role. Kartik will also be seen in director Kabir Khan’s upcoming untitled film and Hansal Mehta’s next ‘Captain India’. (ANI)

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Pakistan Imposes ‘Curfew’, Suspends Internet In Gwadar Region

By LokMarg 14th January 2023

A “de facto curfew” has been imposed in Pakistan’s Gwadar after a crackdown on a local rights movement, Al Arabiya Post reported. The Balochistan government has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code that allows a ban on all kinds of rallies and protests.

Authorities have suspended the internet service, mobile phone networks and landline in Gwadar, Jevani, Pasni and Ormara cities of Makran division. Police have reportedly arrested more than 100 supporters of the movement.

In addition, Gwadar police has lodged an FIR against Haq Do Tehreek leader Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman on charges of murder, attempt to murder, provoking the people for violence and other charges, as per the news report.

A sit-in protest has been taking place outside the main entrance of the Gwadar port for more than 50 days. The protests turned violent during the last week of December, leading to clashes between the police and the protesters. Haq Do Tehreek (Gwadar Rights Movement) has been staging a sit-in in Gwadar city.

Protests led by Haq Do Tehreek leader Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch have been taking place in Balochistan. The demonstrators blocked the main airport road and the road leading to the port. The Maulana had even asked the Chinese to leave the port city, according to Al Arabiya Post report.

Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch has criticized the heightened security and check posts in Gwadar. The sit-in was peaceful until Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch closed the main entrances to Gwadar port and asked Chinese nationals to leave the port city. Rehman and his followers reached the site with weapons and threatened armed resistance if their demands were not addressed.

In 2021, Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch led a similar protest that lasted for 32 days. Some improvement was made, however, many of the issues continued to exist. On October 27, 2022, Rehman and his followers started staging another sit-in and criticised the government for not working on its commitment, as per the Al Arabiya Post report.

Tens of thousands of protesters, including women and children, blocked an expressway leading to the Gwadar port as the government did not fulfil the demands before the deadline. The protests continued in December and the situation turned ugly on December 26 after a strike call as police and the protesters engaged in a face-off, according to the news report.

The law enforcement officials started using tear gas as the mob attempted to attack a police station, leading to several arrests. As per the news report, Gwadar has also been cut off from the rest of the world as the authorities have suspended the internet service, mobile phone networks and the landline in Gwadar, Jevani, Pasni and Ormara cities of Makran division.

Taking cognizance of the police crackdown on protesters, the Balochistan High Court directed the deputy commissioners of Gwadar and Kech as well as their police officials to submit their written explanations by January 15, as per the news report.

Gwadar is considered a key destination for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is widely seen as the main plank of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The local residents of Balochistan have long been cut off from any benefits and paybacks.

Projected as the “future Dubai” in the region, the people of Gwadar remain deprived of access to clean and other essential facilities. Gwadar, being a centre of economic development did not manage to change the fate of local residents, as per the Al Arabiya Post report.

The Haq Do Tehreek has been carrying out protests for various demands, including the ban of illegal trawlers in Balochistan’s water, a reduction of security checkpoints and liberalization of trade with Iran, as per the Al Arabiya Post report.

In recent years, the people of Balochistan have alleged that non-Balochis, especially those from Punjab, rule over the province and locals of the region do not get the benefit of economic development, as per the Al Arabiya Post report. The fishermen in Gwadar have been facing numerous problems, like being required to have tokens and being assigned a fixed time for using the sea for fishing.

Residents of the port city have raised complaints about being deprived of basic facilities, including healthcare, electricity and clean drinking water, as per the news report. In 2016, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) expressed concern over the demographic change in their report, predicting that the Chinese would be more than native Baloch by 2048. (ANI)

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