Month: May 2024

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted raids at multiple locations in Ranchi on Monday morning, uncovering over Rs 20 crore from the residence of a household help employed by Sanjiv Lal, the Personal Secretary to Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam. The counting of the recovered cash is still in process.

The raids are part of an ongoing investigation related to the case involving Virendra K. Ram, the chief engineer at the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, who was arrested in February 2023 in connection with alleged irregularities in the implementation of government schemes.

“The Enforcement Directorate is conducting raids at multiple locations in Ranchi, Jharkhand. A huge amount of cash was recovered from the household help of Sanjiv Lal, PS to Alamgir Alam, Rural Development Minister, Jharkhand. More than Rs 20 crores has been counted so far. Counting is still in process,” ED officials said.

In 2019, a huge amount of cash was recovered from one of his subordinates. Later, the ED took over the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

ED arrested Virendra K Ram, the chief engineer at the Jharkhand Rural Development Department, in February 2023 in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the implementation of some schemes.

In addition to the raid at the residence of Sanjiv Lal’s household help, the ED has also carried out searches at other locations in Ranchi.

One such location is the residence of Vikas Kumar, an engineer in the Road Construction Department.

Meanwhile, BJP Member of Parliament Deepak Prakash sharply criticised Jharkhand’s ruling coalition of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

“Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress and RJD are doing the work of converting Jharkhand into ‘Lootkhand’. Today again an amount of more than Rs 25 crore has been recovered, and it belongs to the ministers of the ruling party. The people of Jharkhand are feeling insulted today,” Prakash said. (ANI)

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Amethi and Rae Bareli — two constituencies considered old turfs of the Gandhi family has again become the point of focus as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has entered the fray in Rae Bareli and family’s close aide Kishori Lal Sharma has been fielded against Smriti Irani in Amethi.

Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has always been active in the above constituencies through back room to front campaign, will be camping here from Monday onwards and will be leading the poll front from strategy, management and campaign, a senior functionary of the party told ANI.

There were speculations regarding Priyanka Gandhi too contesting the elections from Rae Bareli or some other seat, but all the speculations were laid to rest when the party announced the name of the two candidates.

Priyanka will landing at Fursatganj Airport late on Monday evening, following which she will take part in a series of activities. A full proof road map has been chalked out under which; a target of more than 250 meetings in different villages and remote areas of both the constituencies has been set along with the other road shows, public meetings, interaction with civil society members and representatives of different associations.

Additionally, she will be interacting with the party members till the BLAs (Booth Level Agents) on regular basis. The members of the war room and campaign management team will be reporting to her and a daily review will be done, the source added.

Speaking to ANI Congress Candidate KL Sharma said, “Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will reach Rae Bareli on May 6 and take Charge of the Election Management.”

Rae Bareli District Congress President, Pankaj Tiwari said that a meeting of Congress workers has been called on Monday evening which will be addressed by Priyanka Gandhi. He added that Congress party is confident of winning the seat with a record margin.

Sonia Gandhi contested the 2019 general elections from Rae Bareli and defeated Bharatiya Janata Party’s Dinesh Pratap Singh by a margin of over 1.6 lakh votes, however her victory margin came down by 13 per cent as compared to 2014.

In Amethi, Smriti Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi by 55,000 votes ending Gandhi family’s stint on the seat.

Congress had won just 2 seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 (Rae Bareli and Amethi). The tally came down to just one in 2019 after party lost Amethi.

This time, Rahul Gandhi will be seeking to maintain the lone standing family legacy seat in the state, while Kishori Lal Sharma is up against the challenge of Smriti Irani.

Sonia Gandhi won Rae Bareli for four successive terms before she moved to Rajya Sabha this time.

The party, while aiming to register a strong comeback after two historic losses in 2014 and 2019 has a tough task in hand to wrest back Amethi and retain Rae Bareli. But, it is pertinent to note that in 2022 Assembly elections in the state, Congress couldn’t win any assembly seat under Rae Bareli, which shows the task, which means the task in hand, will be anything but easy (ANI)

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A day after his arrest in the kidnapping case linked to the ‘Obscene video’ case, Janta Dal (Secular) leader HD Revanna has been sent to State Investigation Team (SIT) police custody till May 8.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Arvind B. Kattimani granted the custody of Revanna to the SIT.

The hearing was concluded at the judge’s house in the NGV, Koramangala area, today amid heavy security measures.

Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Revanna, who was arrested by the State Investigation Team (SIT) said on Saturday that it is a political conspiracy against him and he has never seen anything like this in his political career.

Revanna was brought to the Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital for medical examination after he was arrested yesterday by SIT officials in a kidnapping case.

“It’s a political conspiracy going on against me. In my 40 years of political life, I have never seen anything like this,” he said to the reporters outside the hospital.

“There is no blame on me in politics. A complaint was made against me on April 28. However, no evidence was found in this case. With the malicious intent of arresting me, they filed a kidnapping case against me and arrested me,” Revanna added.

HD Revanna and his son, Prajwal Revanna, who is the sitting MP and candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, are facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT), constituted by the Karnataka government, over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in their household.

Earlier, a special court for the People’s Representative in Bengaluru rejected the interim bail application of JD(S) leader HD Revanna and JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in connection with the alleged “obscene videos” case.

The Holenarsipura MLA and his associate were booked under Sections 364A (kidnapping for ransom), 365 (kidnapping with intent to cause harm), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

The FIR, registered by KR Nagar police, also lists HD Revanna as accused number one and another man, identified as Babanna, as accused number two. (ANI)

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Addressing a public rally in Nagarkurnool, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a scathing attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that BJP is against reservation.

“BJP wants to finish reservation… They have always been against reservation,” said Rahul Gandhi.

Lashing out further he said, “Their senior leaders say that reservation should be ended. RSS top leader said reservation should be done with.”

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi formerly known as Telangana Rashtra Samithi and said that both the parties are afraid of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

While addressing a public meeting in Adilabad, Shah said, “Can TRS save Telangana from Razakars? No. Both Congress and TRS are afraid of Owaisi. The ‘ABC’ of appeasement in Telangana means A for Asaduddin Owaisi, B for BRS, and C for Congress. The Congress party which is afraid of Owaisi cannot work for the welfare of Telangana.”

He further promised the people of Telangana that once the BJP is voted to power, the party will end the reservation given to Muslims and will instead give reservation benefits to Dalits and Adivasis in the state.

“Once voted to power, we will end the Muslim reservations in Telangana and will instead give reservation benefits to Dalits and Adivasis in the state. The Congress party has snatched the rights of SCs, STs and OBCs to give the same to Muslims. But I assure you that we will undo this injustice,” Shah said.

Notably, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) (now known as the BRS) won 9 seats, the BJP secured 4 seats, the Congress won 3 seats, and the AIMIM emerged victorious in 1 seat.

The voting of the first and second phases was concluded and the next round of voting will be held on May 7. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

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A group of 223 Hindu pilgrims from the Sindh province of Pakistan embarked on a religious journey to India. Arriving at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, they performed a solemn ceremony, immersing the ashes of their ancestors in the sacred waters of the River Ganga with traditional rites.

For many years, these pilgrims had kept the ashes of their loved ones with them. By immersing the ashes of their ancestors in the sacred waters of the River Ganga on Sunday, they believe that their ancestors will attain salvation, as per Hindu scriptures which state that immersion of ashes in the Ganga will lead to liberation of ancestors soul.

Facilitated by special visas granted by the Indian government, these Pakistani pilgrims first visited various religious sites across India. Their pilgrimage culminated with a visit to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a moment they considered incredibly auspicious. Today, they fulfilled their duty by immersing their ancestors’ ashes in the holy waters of Har Ki Pauri.

Speaking to ANI, one of the Pakistani pilgrims shared, “Our journey spans 25 days. We arrived in Haridwar yesterday, carrying the ashes of my father.”

Expressing their difficulties in travelling from Pakistan to India, the pilgrims urged the Indian government to streamline the visa process. They emphasised the importance of receiving visas on time to ease their pilgrimage. (ANI)

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Amid rising tensions in West Asia around the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, university commencement ceremonies across the US are facing unprecedented challenges as protests and counter-protests erupt on campuses from coast to coast, CNN reported, adding what should be a time of celebration and achievement for graduates has been overshadowed by a climate of heightened security and civil unrest.

In recent days, campuses have become battlegrounds for opposing ideologies, with clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and their detractors turning increasingly volatile. From the University of Mississippi to the University of Virginia and the Art Institute of Chicago, scenes of confrontation have unfolded, leaving a trail of arrests, accusations, and calls for accountability.

At the University of Mississippi, an investigation has been launched into allegations of “hostility and racist overtones” stemming from a demonstration on campus. Pro-Palestinian protesters, numbering around 30, found themselves surrounded by an estimated 200 counter-protesters, some brandishing American flags and Trump banners, as reported by CNN.

Amid the tumult, disturbing incidents emerged, including reports of racial slurs and gestures directed at a Black woman documenting the scene on her phone. Despite the chaos, graduate student Jaylin R Smith remained resolute, stating, “One thing that will never break me is people taunting me or making monkey noises at me.”

Meanwhile, at the University of Virginia, tensions reached a boiling point as law enforcement intervened to dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment near the University Chapel. Despite initial attempts at peaceful resolution, authorities were met with resistance and escalating aggression, leading to the arrest of at least 25 individuals on charges of trespassing. The university cited “violent conduct” and breaches of campus regulations as justification for their actions, sparking debate over the limits of free expression and the use of force in maintaining order, according to CNN.

Similarly, in Chicago, the Art Institute became the site of a standoff between protesters and police, culminating in the arrest of approximately 50 individuals. What began as a peaceful demonstration by School of Art Institute students soon descended into chaos, with allegations of property damage and obstruction of emergency exits. Negotiations between protesters and authorities faltered, leading to a decisive intervention by law enforcement to disperse the crowd and restore order.

As universities grapple with the fallout from these incidents, questions loom large over the future of academic freedom and the role of institutions in addressing contentious political issues. Calls for divestment from Israel, amplified by student-led movements, have placed universities at the centre of a global debate over human rights and international conflict. Yet, the pursuit of social justice is increasingly met with resistance, as competing narratives collide and ideological fault lines deepen.

In response to these challenges, universities are ramping up security measures, and deploying additional personnel and resources to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Metal detectors, barricades, and heightened law enforcement presence have become commonplace features of graduation ceremonies, casting a shadow over what should be a joyous occasion, CNN reported. (ANI)

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Bihar’s gangster-turned-politician Anant Singh was released on Sunday from Beur jail in Patna on 15-day parole on medical grounds.

The five-time MLA from Mokama was admitted to the IGIMS Hospital in Patna for treatment. His wife, Neelam Devi, is currently an MLA from the Mokama Assembly seat

Singh was serving a 10-year prison sentence in Beur jail for violating the Arms Act, after an AK-47 rifle was recovered from his residence in August 2019. An FIR was lodged against him under the newly amended Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act. The MP-MLA court had sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment.

After getting released from jail, Anant Singh was welcomed by a huge number of supporters.

Mokama assembly constituency falls under the Munger Lok Sabha seat where polling will be held on May 13.

The 40 seats in Bihar are undergoing polls in all seven phases. In 2019, BJP-led NDA swept the state by winning 39 out of 40 seats, while Congress won just one seat. RJD, a formidable force in the state failed to open its account.

Janata Dal-United (JDU) has fielded Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh from Munger.

The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), the opposition coalition in Bihar, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties, recently announced that the RJD, its largest constituent, is contesting on 26 out of the state’s 40 Lok Sabha seats.

While, as part of the NDA, BJP and JD(U) are contesting 17 and 16 seats, respectively. Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is contesting on five seats, and Jitan Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Rashtriya Lok Morcha on one seat each. (ANI)

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Amid the row over a closure report filed by the Telangana Police in connection with the death of PhD scholar Rohith Vemula, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his government will ensure justice and closure for his family members.

Rohith died by suicide in January 2016.

Venugopal reiterated his party’s long-standing commitment to passing a Rohith Vemula Act if Congress forms government at the Centre after Lok Sabha polls.

“Rohith Vemula’s death was a grave atrocity that completely exposed the anti-Dalit mindset of the BJP. The Congress, including Rahul Gandhi ji, has stood with Rohith Vemula’s family through this difficult period. As has been clarified by the Telangana Police, the concerned closure report was prepared in June 2023. There were many discrepancies in the investigation conducted previously. The Congress government in Telangana will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice for Rohith’s family,” Venugopal posted from his X handle.

He added that the Rohith Vemula Act will ensure that no student born into socio-economic backwardness faces caste and communal atrocities on college campuses.

“When we form a government at the Centre, we will pass a Rohith Vemula Act specifically addressing the issue of caste and communal atrocities on campuses to ensure no student coming from socio-economic backwardness has to face the same plight as Rohith ever again,” he posted.

Rohith was allegedly upset over disciplinary actions taken against him by Hyderabad Central University where he was pursuing a PhD.

Earlier, the Telangana Police filed a closure report stating that Vemula did not belong to the SC community as was claimed and died by suicide. The closure was filed by the investigation officer on March 21.

Speaking on the closure report, the Telangana DGP Ravi Gupta said they will file a petition requesting permission for further investigation in the case. He further said that the closure report was prepared before November last year and officially filed in court in March 2024.

However, the Telangana Director General of Police said on Friday they have decided to conduct a further investigation into the death of the research scholar in January 2016.

The decision came days after the state police filed a closure report in their investigation into the matter. Vemula, a PhD scholar at the Hyderabad Central University, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a hostel room on January 17, 2016. (ANI)

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The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) suspended wrestler Bajrang Punia indefinitely, a move that could potentially jeopardise his bid to compete in the Paris Olympics, which is scheduled to be held later this year.

According to sources, Punia failed to provide his urine sample for the selection trials at Sonepat on March 10, prompting NADA to issue the order suspending him from participation in any future events.

“With subject to paragraph 4:1:2 below and in accordance with article 7.4 of the NADR 2021, Bajrang Punia has been immediately provisionally suspended from participation in any competition or activity prior to the final decision reached at a hearing in this matter,” read an official release from NADA dated April 23.

Punia, along with a line of other top wrestlers, including Olympians Sakshi Malik and Vinesh; was at the forefront of former BJP MP and president of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment.

Following his suspension in light of the charges, Punia, who won the country a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, is likely to be barred from participation in the selection trials that are scheduled for later this month. No Indian has yet won an Olympic quota in the 65kg category.

Sujeet Kalkal will represent India at the World Qualifiers, which are set to get underway in Istanbul on May 9.

The suspension notice was addressed to the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) now-defunct ad hoc committee, as opposed to the federation that is recognised by United World Wrestling (UWW).

Punia, who a few months prior released a video claiming to have expired dope-collecting kits, disregarded the dope control officer’s directive, claiming that NADA officials had not yet addressed his concerns.

According to the dope-collecting officer’s report, he left even though he was informed that his refusal would result in a warning for breaking anti-doping rules.

“Punia, surrounded by his supporters, continuously repeated his statement and immediately left the venue refusing to give a dope sample,” the DCO stated in his report.

Punia was asked to present a written justification by May 7 for his refusal to submit supporting documentation and a urine sample.

“If you do accept the consequences, the case will be resolved without further disciplinary proceedings, subject to the right of appeal. If you disagree, the matter will be referred for adjudication to the anti-doping disciplinary panel,” the letter stated. (ANI)

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“Last election of my life…”: Digvijaya Singh’s touching appeal to voters

New Delhi [India], May 5 (ANI): Reaching out to his voters with a touching message, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior Congress leader, Digvijaya Singh, on Sunday said that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are going to be the “last election of his life.”

Reflecting on his life’s journey, the 77-year-old Congress veteran shared a personal story about moving to Raghogarh after his father’s death and meeting a respected local merchant, Kasturchand Kathari. Kathari’s advice, summarized in 12 Hindi lines, emphasized life goals like earning, saving for jewelry and a house, and making a name for oneself.

“When I came to live in Raghogarh after my father’s death with an engineering degree, the old town merchant of Raghogarh, Mr. Kasturchand Kathari, came to meet me. He said, ‘Raja Saheb, the goal of every person’s life is according to the alphabets of Hindi… ‘K se Kamai’ (Earn so much that you can feed your family by earning), ‘G se gehna’, (Make jewelry with the savings), ‘Gh se Ghar’ (If you have savings after building a house), then earn a name,'” Digvijaya Singh said in a post on X in Hindi.

मैं जब मेरे पिता जी के देहांत के बाद इंजीनियरिंग की डिग्री ले कर राघोगढ़ आ कर रहने लगा, तब मुझे राघोगढ़ के बुजुर्ग नगर सेठ श्री कस्तूरचंद जी कठारी मिलने आए। तब उन्होंने मुझे एक सीख दी। वह यह थी। उन्होंने कहा “राजा साहब हर व्यक्ति के जीवन का लक्ष्य हिंदी की १२ खड़ी के अनुसार होता…

— Digvijaya Singh (@digvijaya_28) May 5, 2024

Adding that the 2024 general elections are going to be the last elections of his life, Singh reflected on his 50 years in politics, leaving it to the people to judge his success.

“He said, ‘you are lucky, you have no shortage of food, jewelry, or house, now just ‘earn a name.’ I have tried to do just this in my 50 years of political life. I cannot judge how successful I was in that myself, only common people can do it. This is the last election of my life and you will decide how successful I was in it. Thank you, Digvijaya,'” he wrote.

Digvijaya Singh, son of Balbhadra Singh, the Raja of Raghogarh (under the Gwalior State), began his political career in 1969 when he was elected as the chairman of the Raghogarh Municial Council.

In 1977, the post-Emergency election when the Congress was wiped out across the country, Digvijaya won from the Raghogarh Assembly constituency and won Raghogarh twice more – in 1998 and 2003.

In 1984, Digvijaya entered the Lok Sabha as an MP from Rajgarh. However, in 1989, Digvijaya lost from Rajgarh to the BJP’s Pyarelal Khandelwal. In 1989, the BJP was part of the Janata Dal coalition led by VP Singh that defeated the Congress at the Centre.

With the Janata Dal coalition government soon collapsing, Digvijaya won the seat back in the 1991 Lok Sabha elections. When he returned to state politics for a 10-year stint as CM, his brother Laxman Singh won the seat the next five times for the Congress.

Digvijaya Singh currently serves as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha and is a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body.

In what he has called his “last elections,” Digvijaya Singh is contesting the seat from his home turf Rajgarh constituency in the 2024 elections against two-time BJP MP Rodmal Nagar.

The veteran Congress leader, who represented Rajgarh in Parliament back in the 1980s and early 90s, is returning to his home turf after three decades. The Rajgarh constituency is all set to vote on May 7, in the third phase of the ensuing general polls. (ANI)

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