Month: October 2023

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday released its first list of 23 candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Rajasthan.

The party has fielded Harish Raheja from Ganganagar, Dhanna Ram Meghwal from Raisinghnagar (SC), Mahant Roopnath from Bhadra, Rajendra Mavar from Pilani (SC) and Vijendra Dotasara from Nawalgarh.

Rajesh Verma has been fielded from Khandela, Mahender Mandiya from Neem Ka Thana, Ashok Sharma from Srimadhopur and P S Tomar from Amber constituency among others, according to the first list declared by the party.

Earlier in the day, Congress released its third list of 19 candidates for the November 25 Rajasthan assembly elections, taking to 95 the total number of nominees declared by the party so far.

The party has fielded Shoba Rani Kushwah from Dholpur, Rajendra Prateek from Sikar, Wajib Ali from Nagar, Harish Chandra Meena from Deoli-Uniara, Heera lal Darangi from Jhalod (ST) and Lakhan Singh Meena from Karauli, among others, according to the third list declared by the party.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its second list of candidates for the Rajasthan Assembly elections with former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to recontest from Jhalrapatan.

The party declared 83 candidates in the second list which has some prominent names including former Rajasthan BJP president Satish Punia, who has been fielded from Amber constituency.

The BJP is seeking to oust Congress from power in Rajasthan.

Congress won 99 seats in the 2018 elections in the 200-member state assembly. BJP won 73 seats.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3 along with four other states which will go to the polls next month. (ANI)

Over the years, the Income Tax Department has prioritised several initiatives to ensure taxpayers’ ease of compliance and transparent tax administration. In line with transparency in its functioning, the Department has released the Time Series Data of Direct Taxes and Income Tax Return Statistics in various tranches from time to time, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Finance on Thursday.

The data shows that the number of ITR filings has shown a consistent upswing over the last few years. The returns filed by individual taxpayers have increased from 3.36 crore in Assessment Year (AY) 2013-14 to 6.37 crore in AY 2021-22 registering an overall increase of 90 per cent, added the statement.

During the current fiscal too, 7.41 crore returns have been filed for AY 2023-24 till date, including 53 lakh new first-time filers. This is an indication of the widening of the tax base subsequent to various reform measures put in place by the Department.

In fact, while the overall number of returns filed by individual taxpayers has shown an increase over the years, there has also been an increase in the number of returns filed by individual taxpayers across various ranges of gross total income.

In the range of gross total income up to Rs 5 lakh, the number of returns filed by individual taxpayers has increased from 2.62 crore in AY 2013-14 to 3.47 crore in AY 2021-22 registering an increase of 32%. This range of income includes individuals having income below the taxable limit who may not be filing returns, mentioned the official statement.

While In the range of gross total income of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, and Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, the number of returns filed by individual taxpayers from AY 2013-14 to AY 2021-22 has registered an increase of 295% and 291% respectively, read the statement further.

The above data is clearly indicative of a robust growth in the gross total income of individuals across different income groups subsequent to AY 2013-14. The overall impact has been reflected an increase in net direct tax collections from Rs.6.38 lakh crore in FY 2013-14 to Rs. 16.61 lakh crore in FY 2022-23.

This has been made possible due to the taxpayer-friendly and taxpayer-oriented progressive policies adopted by the Government. The Department is committed to ensure transparency in processes, efficiency in administration and concerted efforts at building trust with taxpayers and stakeholders. (ANI)

Actor Suriya Sivakumar has announced his next project, ‘Suriya 43,’ alongside Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Varma, and Nazriya Fahadh.

Suriya took to X and wrote, “Dear all we are excited! Joining hands with @Sudha_Kongara again in a @gvprakash musical, his 100th! SO looking forward to working with my brother

@dulQuer & the talented #Nazriya & the performance champ @MrVijayVarma Glad @2D_ENTPVTLTD is producing this special film! #Jyotika @rajsekarpandian #Suriya43.”

Dulquer also announced the project on Instagram. He captioned the video, “An alluring and exciting journey. Thrilled to be a part of #Suriya43 with this stellar team.”

Suriya and Sudha Kongara are returning for ‘Surya 43,’ following the 2020 film Soorarai Pottru, which earned him a National Award for Best Actor.

Meanwhile, Vijay Varma was last seen in the movie ‘Jaane Jaan’ that has received positive response. It starred Kareena Kapoor. The movie has been selected as the opening film of The Himalayan Film Festival 2023. Helmed by Sujoy Ghosh, ‘Jaane Jaan’Jaan’ also stars Jaideep Ahlawat.

Dulquer, on the other hand, was recently seen in the web series ‘Guns & Gulaabs’ alongside RajKummar Rao and Gulshan Devaiah.

Helmed by Raj & DK the series streamed on the OTT platform Netflix.

Apart from that, his recent theatrical release was ‘King of Kotha’ which received decent responses from the audience.

He will be seen in the upcoming multi-lingual film ‘Kaantha’.

Dulquer Salmaan will not only headline ‘Kaantha’ but will produce it in collaboration with ‘Baahubali’ star Rana Daggubati.

‘Kaantha’ will be released in the Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil languages. (ANI)

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Delhi on Thursday sentenced 10 years of imprisonment to Syed Maqbool, one of the accused in the Indian Mujahideen conspiracy case.

Maqbool was previously convicted on September 22, 2023, by the special judge of the NIA special court in the national capital. He is the fifth accused among the total of 11 against whom sentence has been pronounced.

A resident of Maharashtra’s Nanded, Maqbool was arrested in the case on February 28, 2013, for his active involvement with members of Indian Mujahideen based in Pakistan and India and involvement in the crime and conspiracy.

NIA investigation revealed that the accused maintained close ties with key figures of the Indian Mujahideen, including Riyaz Bhatkal, who is based in Pakistan, and Imran Khan and Obaid-Ur-Rehman, who are located in India. “They hatched a conspiracy to carry out explosive attacks at various locations within India, with Hyderabad being a primary target. Extensive reconnaissance of important sites, including those in Hyderabad, was also conducted.”

The case pertains to the conspiracy hatched by the members of the Indian Mujahideen, a group responsible for organizing a series of devastating blasts across the country, said the NIA.

These acts of terror include the Varanasi blasts on March 7, 2006; the Mumbai serial blasts on July 11, 2006; the Uttar Pradesh courts serial blasts in Varanasi, Faizabad, and Lucknow on November 23, 2007; the Hyderabad twin blasts on August 25, 2007; the Jaipur serial blasts in 2008; the Delhi serial blasts in 2008; the Ahmedabad serial blasts on July 26, 2008; the Chinnaswamy Stadium blast in Bangalore in 2010; and the Hyderabad twin blasts in 2013.

Earlier, on July 12 this year, four accused, namely Danish Ansari, Aftab Alam, Imran Khan, and Obaid-Ur-Rehman, were found guilty under sections 18, 19, 38(2), and 39(2) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case. They were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

In March 31st this year, charges were formally framed against the aforementioned accused individual, along with ten others, including Yasin Bhatkal, Asadullah Akhtar, Zia-Ur-Rehman, Tehsin Akhter and Hyder Ali. The sentencing was done by the learned NIA Special Court in New Delhi under sections 121 and 122 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as sections 17, 18, 19, 21, 38, 39, and 40 of the UA(P) Act.

The trial in this case, pertaining to the remaining six accused persons named above, who face a range of charges under the IPC and the UA(P) Act, is ongoing. (ANI)

The Israeli fighter jets carried out overnight airstrikes over 250 Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip including a rocket launch site that was hidden between a mosque and kindergarten, Times of Israel reported on Thursday.

IDF has called this “another proof” that terror group Hamas uses “civilian sites for terror purposes”.

The sites struck by Israel included Hamas infrastructure, command centers, tunnels, and rocket launchers, according to the IDF.

The IDF said that the rocket launchers were “placed in the heart of civilian areas that fired toward Israeli territory throughout the war.”

It further said that the missile launch site is “located adjacent to a mosque and kindergarten, which is further proof that Hamas deliberately uses civilian sites for terror purposes.”

Israeli Air Force also said in a statement about attacking over 250 terror targets of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“Terrorist infrastructure, combat tunnel shafts and launchers in a civilian environment; The Air Force attacked over 250 targets of the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In the last day, fighter jets of the Air Force attacked more than 250 targets of the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” Israeli Air Force posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Among the targets that were attacked, were terrorist infrastructures, operational headquarters, terrorist tunnel shafts and rocket launchers placed in a civilian environment, which were used to shoot at Israel during the fighting.

Separately, the IDF said that the Navy forces struck a Hamas surface-to-air missile launch position in Khan Younis, Times of Israel reported.

IDF also posted a purported audio conversation between an IDF officer and Gazan civilian about Hamas terrorists not allowing civilians to evacuate towards Southern Gaza.

“LISTEN to an IDF officer in Unit 504 encourage a resident of Gaza to evacuate southward for their safety. Hamas continues to use the civilians of Gaza as human shields, not allowing them to evacuate,” IDF posted on X

Meanwhile, the families of 224 hostages have been notified about their keen being held in the Gaza by Hamas, Times of Israel reported.

IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that the military has so far notified the families of 224 hostages that their loved ones are being held in the Gaza Strip.

He said that the number is not final as the military investigates new information.

Notably, the number does not include four released hostages — mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Ra’anan, freed on Friday night, and elderly women Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper released on Monday night, Times of Israel reported.

Hamas launched a massive terror attack on Israel on October 7, which killed over 1400 people and left several more injured.

After this, Israel launched a strong counter-offensive against Hamas units in Gaza strip.

According to the health ministry of Hamas, the death toll in Gaza has crossed 7,000, Times of Israel reported. (ANI)

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday attacked the BJP government at the Centre over ED action in the state including raids on the premises of state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra in the paper leak case, alleging that “it was goondaism” and the central government had “created terror” in the country through probe agencies.

Gehlot’s son Vaibhav has also been summoned by ED in a foreign exchange violation case.

The ED action came amid campaigning in the state for the assembly polls on November 25.

Addressing a press conference here, Gehlot said the situation is worrying and said BJP should seek to win over people through its policies, behaviour, and principles in democracy but is resorting to “goondaism”.

“Aap gundagardi kar rahe ho, gundagardi hai ye…Without pressure from the top neither ED nor CBI can come,” he said.

“The question is not about someone, the question is not about my son. They have spread terror across the country, it is not good indication. I have heard that ED officers have shifted their families to Chhattisgarh for a year now and are living there on rent because they had to raid every day,” he added.

Gehlot said the BJP has misconceptions and the ED action came as the Congress has decided to launch “guarantees” for the people of the state.

He alleged that the BJP does not want the Congress government to provide relief to the backward classes people, poor, women and farmers.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday raided the residence of Rajasthan Minister Dotasara in connection with the Senior Teacher 2nd Grade Competitive Examination, 2022, Paper Leak case.

Gehlot said Dotasara is a farmer’s son. “He continues to raise his voice for the poor and the backward-class people which is why, he was targeted. We strongly condemn this”.

Reacting to the ED’s summon to his son, Vaibhav, the Chief Minister said the Congress is not going to get scared of “these tactics”.

He said probe agencies were losing credibility and compared the figures related to searches by probe agencies during the UPA government and BJP-led government.

Gehlot said no probe is conducted if a person facing allegations joins the BJP. “The person becomes all clean in the BJP washing machine. Tomorrow, we will announce five more guarantees. The BJP should decide in advance where they will conduct raids after that. The atmosphere in Rajasthan is in our favour and this is why, the BJP is afraid,” he said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party claiming that as elections are around the corner, ED, CBI, and IT become the real “Panna Pramukh” of the BJP.

“As elections are around the corner, ED, CBI, IT etc. become the real ‘Panna Pramukh’ of BJP. Seeing its certain defeat in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party made its last move! After Chhattisgarh, ED has also started action against Congress leaders entering the assembly election campaign in Rajasthan,” he wrote on X.

“The dictatorship of the Modi government is fatal for democracy. We will continue to fight against the misuse of agencies, the public will give a befitting reply to the BJP’, he added. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 7,500 crore across various sectors.

Meanwhile, earlier, PM Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar paid floral tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in Shirdi.

PM Modi inaugurated the new Darshan Queue complex at Shirdi. It is a state-of-the-art modern mega building envisaged to provide comfortable waiting areas for the devotees.

It is equipped with several waiting halls with a cumulative seating capacity of more than ten thousand devotees. It has the provision of air-conditioned public amenities like cloakrooms, toilets, booking counters, prasad counters, information centre etc. The foundation stone of this new Darshan Queue Complex was laid by the Prime Minister in October 2018, the Prime Minister’s Office stated.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the left bank (85km) canal network of the Nilwande Dam.

It will benefit 182 villages from 7 Tehsils (6 in Ahmednagar district and 1 from Nashik district) by facilitating pipe distribution networks of water. The idea of Nilwande Dam was first conceived in 1970. It is being developed at a cost of about Rs 5177 crore, it stated.

During the public programme, the Prime Minister also launched the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’.

The Yojna will benefit more than 86 lakh beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in Maharashtra, by providing an additional amount of Rs 6000 per year to them.

The PM also inaugurated and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects including Ayush Hospital at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital; Electrification of Kurduwadi-Latur Road railway section (186 Km); 3rd and 4th railway line connecting Jalgaon to Bhusaval (24.46 km); four laning of Sangli to Borgaon section of NH-166 (Package-I); Additional facilities at Manmad Terminal of Indian Oil corporation Limited.

Moreover, the PM laid the foundation stone of the Maternal and Child Health Wing at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister will visit Goa to inaugurate the 37th National Games. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 37th National Games at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao in Goa on Thursday evening.

He will also address athletes taking part in the games.

“Today evening, I will be in Goa to inaugurate the 37th National Games. These games will further sportsmanship and unity, bringing together athletes from across the nation. I am confident the games will celebrate talent, hard work, and the love for sports!” Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The National Games are being held in Goa for the very first time. The Games will be held from October 26 to November 9. More than 10,000 athletes from across the country will compete in over 43 sports disciplines across 28 venues.

Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the sports culture in the country has undergone a sea change. With the help of continuous government support, the performance of athletes has witnessed tremendous improvement at the international level. Recognizing the significance of holding national-level tournaments for identifying top performers and further enhancing the popularity of sports, the National Games are being held in the country. (ANI)

Amid the ongoing global instability, Chinese submarines and warships are moving towards Pakistan for likely wargames and are being closely tracked by the Indian Navy assets including the P-8I surveillance planes and MQ-9B Predator drones.

The Indian Navy keeps a close watch on the activities of the Chinese naval movements in the Indian Ocean Region which is considered globally as the area of responsibility of India.

“Three Chinese Navy warships including a destroyer and frigate along with a tanker are in the Persian Gulf region and are likely to be joined by the Pakistan Navy for maritime exercises,” sources in the security establishment told ANI.

The three warships were part of the 44th Anti-Piracy Escort Force since May 2023 and have now handed over the responsibility of anti-piracy roles to the 45th APEF in the Gulf of Aden.

The 45th APEF entered the Indian Ocean Region in the IOR in October and has been there since then.

The agencies concerned suspect that the Chinese and Pakistani warships may move closer towards the areas in the Persian Gulf from where they can monitor the American deployments after the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out in that region.

The Chinese warships have been joined by a Song Class submarine along with a submarine Support Vessel Chang Dao (ASR 847).

These vessels were monitored closely by the Indian Navy’s assets.

The Indian Navy has been deployed in the areas surrounding the Malacca Straits and flies its P-8I anti-submarine warfare planes and the Predator drones very extensively.

The wargames with Pakistan Navy are planned to be held in mid or end November and will see the participation of Pakistani assets.

The Indian naval assets have also tracked a Chinese quasi-military research vessel, Shi Yan 6 in the IOR since the middle of September.

The research vessel is currently undertaking Joint Scientific Research in Sri Lankan EEZ, sources said.

Indian Navy also has a major presence in the Persian Gulf as well as the Gulf of Aden and keeps its surveillance against any movement of the adversaries in the region. (ANI)

The Court of First instance of Qatar has passed a verdict of death penalty for the eight former naval officers who were detained in Doha, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The MEA said it is “deeply shocked” by the verdict and now awaits the detailed judgement.

“We have initial information that the Court of First Instance of Qatar has today passed a judgement in the case involving 8 Indian employees of Al Dahra company,” the MEA said in an official press release.

“We are deeply shocked by the verdict of death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgement. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options,” it added.

This matter is very important to us, the MEA said adding that and they have been keeping a close eye on it.

“We attach high importance to this case, and have been following it closely. We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities,” the MEA release said.

“Due to the confidential nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture,” it added.

The eight Indian nationals have been imprisoned in Qatar since October 2022 and were accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme.

New Delhi had been granted consular access to the eight Indians and had been working to secure their release. The Indian nationals had their first trial in late March.

Meetu Bhargava, who is the sister of one the officers detained and lives in Gwalior, sought help from the Indian government to bring her brother back.

In a post on X on June 8 she had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.

“These Ex Navy officers are the pride of the nation & again I request our Hon’ble Prime Minister with folded hands that it is high time that they all are brought back to India immediately without any further delay pl. @narendramodi @AmitShah @rajnathsingh @MOS_MEA” she posted on X. (ANI)