Month: January 2025

Having put flying all 330 ALH Dhruvs on hold after the recent crash in Porbandar, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is carrying out a detailed analysis of the crash and is expected to take a call on Saturday on whether the Indigenous chopper fleet can resume flying operations or continue to remain on the ground.

The flying operations of the 330 ALH Dhruvs were stopped after an Indian Coast Guard chopper with three personnel crashed during a routine training sortie. All three personnel lost their lives in the crash.

HAL is carrying out detailed investigations into the crash and its teams are analysing the wreckage of the chopper in Porbandar. They are expected to take a call on whether the chopper fleet can resume flying or remain on the ground by Saturday, defence sources told ANI.

“The flight data recorder has been recovered and its analysis is going on extensively and it is expected that the exact cause will be known,” they said.

Sources said that the HAL had got the design of the ALH Dhruv reviewed by the Indian certification agencies and then from an external agency as well.

The design review of the ALH choppers was done by a Netherlands-based firm and it stated that the design of the choppers was okay and there was nothing wrong with it.

The HAL had also formed a committee under former Indian Air Force Maintenance Command chief Air Marshal Vibhas Pande (Retd) to give suggestions on the issue of maintenance of choppers in the Indian Coast Guard.

The committee headed by the Air Marshal had given its suggestions for further improving the maintenance practices and they are being implemented by the public sector firm.

The HAL has signed a five-year performance-based logistics agreement with the Coast Guard for maintaining its fleet.

The aerospace firm has also been replacing the vulnerable parts which may have caused accidents in the past.

The control rods of the entire fleet of these choppers were equipped with steel rods to overcome the issues caused by them. Same way, when some issues were found with a particular part of the engine, all the engines of the batch were called back to replace those parts, sources said.

The engines have also been reviewed by the HAL with the French company Safran which is the partner for the manufacturing of Shakti engines used by the ALH Dhruv fleet. (ANI)

Aam Aadmi Party delegation led by party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday met the Election Commission over their ‘concerns’ regarding alleged irregularities in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly elections.

The party highlighted a significant surge in voter registrations and deletions on the seat while alleging a “voter fraud” taking place at a large scale.

Former Delhi CM Kejriwal said that a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. He also claimed that out of 89 people who had applied for deletion of 5500 names from the voter list, 18 denied submitting the request.

“The Chief Election Commissioner is out, but we met with the other two commissioners. One of the issues we raised was that in the New Delhi Legislative Assembly, between December 15 and January 7, a total of 5,500 votes were registered in 22 days. The total votes in this assembly are 1,00,000. This means that 5.5 per cent of the votes were registered in the last 22 days, which clearly indicates some irregularities. There are issues with these applications,” Kejriwal told reporters after meeting the Election Commissioners, here on Thursday.

“When the lower officials investigated, the individuals whose names appeared on these applications denied having submitted any request to cut votes. 89 people had applied for 5,500 votes, and 18 of them came to the Election Commission and denied submitting any applications. This means there is a large-scale election fraud happening,” he added.

The AAP Chief also alleged that from December 15 to January 8,13,000 new voter applications were received.

He also lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, particularly targeting BJP candidate Parvesh Verma, accusing him of distributing money. He also raised objections against health camps and job fairs announced by the BJP.

Kejriwal said that the Election Commission assured them that “strict action” will be taken against any “corrupt practices”.

“Where did all these people come from in just 15 days? These people are coming from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to get fake votes registered. Thirdly, we pointed out that Parvesh Verma in the New Delhi seat is openly distributing money, and health camps are being held with glasses being distributed. He announced on January 15 that job fairs will be held. All of this falls under corrupt practices according to the Election Commission’s rules. Parvesh Verma should be barred from contesting the election,” he said.

“We are happy that the Election Commission assured us that these corrupt practices will not be allowed to happen, and strict actions will be taken. We also requested that the local EROs (Election Registration Officers) be removed from their positions. Yesterday, we submitted an application regarding this, but no action was taken,” he added.

On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi wrote another letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, raising the issue of adding and deleting the names of voters in the New Delhi Assembly constituency and seeking an immediate meeting on the issue.

CM Atishi previously wrote another letter to the CEC regarding the same issue on January 5.

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.

AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eight seats. (ANI)

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi will address an election rally in Delhi on January 13 ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls, said sources.

Notably, the Congress has released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Delhi polls.

Earlier, Congress announced ‘Jeevan Raksha Yojana’ in Delhi, promising to provide Rs 25 lakh health cover per family.

The announcement was made at a press conference by former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot here.

Gehlot termed the scheme a “game changer” in Delhi.

“We have given a lot of coverage to the health… ‘Jeevan Raksha Yojana’ of the Delhi government will be similar to ‘Chiranjeevi Yojana’ of the Rajasthan government…I am happy that I got the opportunity to launch this scheme here,” the senior congress leader told reporters later.

“The health insurance scheme of Rajasthan has been very successful and in Delhi, we will do the same. It provides benefit to all whereas Ayushman Bharat has its limitations…,” Gehlot added.

Aam Admi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday that the Delhi assembly elections will be a direct contest between the AAP and the BJP and not an election of the INDIA alliance.

“Delhi assembly election is between AAP and the BJP. It is not the election of the INDIA alliance. I wholeheartedly express my gratitude to all those parties for supporting us. Mamata Banerjee is supporting us. Akhilesh Yadav is supporting us. I have learnt through media that the (Uddhav) Thackeray ji’s party is supporting us,” Kejriwal told reporters.

The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.

The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. While last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, The AAP eyeing a third term will go to the public boosting its ‘performance’ in the education and the health sector.

AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eight seats. (ANI)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in the State Assembly moved a resolution against the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new draft rules for the appointment of Vice Chancellors on Thursday.

Speaking in the Assembly, CM Stalin said, “This Assembly considers that the recent UGC draft rules should be taken back. They are an assault on the idea of federalism and they affect Tamil Nadu’s higher education system.”

MK Stalin also said that the New Education Policy (NEP) is being imposed to spoil the education system.

“The New Education Policy is being imposed to spoil the education system….We lost sister Anitha because of the NEET exam. NEET is filled with malpractices,” he said.

According to UGC’s new draft guidelines, candidates can qualify for faculty positions at higher institutions by clearing the UGC-NET in a subject of their choice, even if their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are in different disciplines.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced the guidelines for the appointment of faculty in higher education on Monday.

It also includes changes to the selection process for vice-chancellors, including the expansion of eligibility criteria to include professionals from academia, research institutions, public policy, public administration, and industry.

As per the guidelines, the subject of the PhD degree precedes the disciplines studied in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for faculty selections.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu called the guidelines against the federal principles of the country.

Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party, she said that it is part of the Centre’s agenda of “saffronization, over-centralisation and communalisation” of the education sector.

Speaking to ANI, R Bindu said, “These guidelines are against the federal principles upheld by the nation…Recently, UGC has started procuring all kinds of interventions in the higher education sector through rigid regulations. This is an attempt to reduce academic quality…Industrialists can also become vice-chancellors in universities. This is condemnable.”(ANI)

“Chai Wale Baba,” a tea seller turned ascetic from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, has been providing free coaching for civil services aspirants for the past 40 years without eating or speaking anything. Known as Dinesh Swaroop Brahmachari, he has vowed to remain silent and abstain from food, surviving solely on ten cups of tea daily while guiding students through WhatsApp.

Speaking to ANI, Rajesh Singh, a civil service aspirant, said, “I have been associated with Maharaj Ji for almost four to five years now. We are his disciples. From time to time, he guides us whenever we need his assistance.”

He further explained, “Language requires a medium, which can be written or oral, and no one calls it non-verbal. Guruji is silent, but we understand through his gestures and WhatsApp messages. Regarding our queries, we can write them to him, and he responds in writing. We don’t believe that the written medium is the best, but it serves its purpose.”

“Baba offers free coaching for civil service aspirants and provides study notes to students via WhatsApp. He also addresses their questions through the messaging platform. When asked, Baba writes that his goal is to educate students and help them become officers. On the subject of his silence, he explains that it helps accumulate energy, which he uses for the welfare of the world,” Singh told ANI.

Earlier, a French woman named Pascal, who is deeply fond of Hinduism and a devotee of Lord Shiva, arrived in Prayagraj to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025.

Speaking to ANI, Pascal said that she knows the story behind the Kumbh Mela and she is very happy to be in Prayagraj, adding that this is a holy place to purify the soul. She stated that she is fond of Hinduism and Lord Shiva, and having come here, she met so many Yogis, Sadhus and Hindu people.

Pascal, a French woman who has come to attend Kumbh, said, “I am very happy to be here. I know the story of the Kumbh Mela… This is a holy place to purify the soul. I also get to meet so many yogis, Sadhus and Hindu people. I am fond of Hinduism and believe in Shiva…”

The Mahakumbh is being celebrated after 12 years, and over 45 crore devotees are expected for the event. During the Mahakumbh, devotees will gather at the Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers, to take a holy dip believed to absolve sins and grant moksha (liberation). The Mahakumbh will conclude on February 26.

The main bathing rituals (Shahi Snan) of the Kumbh will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami). (ANI)

The Bollywood choreographer and filmmaker Farah Khan celebrates her 60th birthday today. From Malaika Arora to Anil Kapoor, the Bollywood celebs extended their birthday wishes to the filmmaker.

Taking to her Instagram handle, the ‘Dil Dhadkne Do’ director Zoya Akhtar penned an unfiltered birthday wish to the filmmaker. She called her ‘amazing’ and shared a funny poster of a woman which reads, “I’m doing this new thing it’s called whatever the hell I want.”

Ace celebrity designer Manish Malhotra also penned a heartwarming message for director Farah Khan. He shared a photo featuring Farah and Karan Johar. He wrote,

“Happy 60 th my dearest @farahkhankunder I know you since I use to model and you use to dance and we were in the same fashion show have the most wonderful birthday my love.”

Anil Kapoor also shared a heartwarming note for the ‘Happy New Year’ director. He gave her the title of a true ‘Khan of khans’ in his birthday note.

Actress Neelam Kothari shared a throwback photo which featured Farah Khan, Karan Johar, Gauri, and Neelam herself. “Happy Birthday darling”, she wrote.

Rajkummar Rao also extended his birthday wish.

Farah Khan is often seen hanging out with the actress Malaika Arora and on this occasion, Malaika shares a heartwarming birthday note.

“Meri kameeniiiiiiii … ur now officially a senior citizen. Happy birthday”

Farah Khan is known for directing films like ‘Main Hoon Na’, ‘Happy New Year’ and ‘Om Shanti Om.’ (ANI)

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the President of the Tibetan Government In-Exile said on Thursday that the usage of the term ‘Xizang’ instead of Tibet showcases that people are falling for Chinese propaganda and becoming complicit in China’s narrative on Tibetan territory and Tibetan historical sovereignty.

In an interview with ANI, at the headquarters of the Tibetan government in-exile, Sikyong Penpa Tsering said that the word ‘Xizang’ is being used despite the request not to use the word Xizang because that means one is “playing into the hands of propaganda of the Chinese government”.

He further added that by using the term ‘Xizang’ instead of ‘Tibet’, “The Chinese interpretation of using Xizang is refers to Tibet only as the Tibetan autonomous region not beyond those areas. The Tibet autonomous region is only half of Tibet, so if you fall into this trap of using Xizang , then you are very much being complicit in China’s narrative on Tibetan territory as well as Tibetan historical sovereignty.”

The recent earthquake in Tibet has raked up the issue of China using the term ‘Xizang’ instead of Tibet.

An earthquake jolted a remote region of Tibet on January 7, killing at least 126 people and injuring over 100 others, with tremors felt in Nepal, Bhutan and parts of northern India, Al Jazeera reported. The earthquake was followed by 49 aftershocks.

The epicentre of the quake was Shigatse, one of the holiest cities of Tibet, as per Al Jazeera. The United States Geological Survey said the earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, while the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) recorded a magnitude of 6.8.

Earlier, hundreds of Tibetans in exile gathered in Dharamshala to mourn and offer special prayers for the whole night for the victims of the earthquake. Tibetan monks and nuns led the special prayers in the main Tibetan temple Tsuglagkhang, Dharamshala. The leading four Tibetan NGOs including the Tibetan Youth Congress, the Tibetan Women’s Association, the Student for Free Tibet and the National Democratic Party of Tibet, had jointly organised the special prayer service. (ANI)

A day after six people were killed at a stampede at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah underlined the importance of religion in India and said that arrangements should be in place at religious gatherings to prevent loss of lives.

“People go (to religious places) not to die but to pray for their safety, nation and family. The government should look into the way people were killed in the stampede. And take steps to oversee arrangements at such places thronged by a large number of people and to ensure such incidents do not happen again,” he told reporters in Jammu.

“It is important as religion is considered of utmost importance in India,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, six people were killed after a stampede broke out at Tirupati on Wednesday night during the ticket distribution. 40 others were also injured in the mishap.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has called a review meeting on Thursday. He is also due to meet the families of the deceased later in the day. Meanwhile, the offline tokens for darshan have been made available at various distribution centres set up in Tirupati.

Tirupati Collector S Venkateswar informed that adequate arrangements are in place ahead of the Vaikunth Ekadasi which gets underway on Friday. Vaikunta Dwara Darshan is scheduled to be held at the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple from January 10 to 19. It allows devotees to pass through the sacred gate to receive Lord Venkateswara’s blessings.

“…Elaborate arrangements have been made for Vaikunth Ekadasi this year by TTD and the District Administration. A sufficient number of Police personnel were deployed at all the ticket counters (9) in Tirupati and (1) in Tirumala. We kept holding areas as well. At this particular location, there was some miscommunication over the opening of the gate. An unfortunate incident occurred,” Venkateswar told reporters here.

Meanwhile, the offline tokens for darshan have been made available at various distribution centres set up in Tirupati. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to meet with leaders of slum clusters in Delhi on January 11 as part of an initiative to engage with slum voters ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.

This will be Shah’s first interaction with the heads of nearly 3,000 slum colonies across the city. The meeting will take place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday.

In the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a special initiative to connect with slum voters. As part of this, BJP leaders, including MPs and MLAs, have been staying overnight in slum areas to connect directly with the residents. The party’s campaign, titled “Where There’s a Slum, There’s a House,” is being promoted by the central government.

Over the past few months, several leaders from the Delhi BJP have been visiting slum dwellers to understand their issues. Around two dozen BJP leaders have been spending one night each week in these slum areas, trying to connect with the people and learn about their concerns.

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 1,675 flats in Ashok Vihar, Delhi, for slum dwellers. Delhi has around 675 slum clusters, with 18-20 per cent of them located in the eastern and northeastern parliamentary constituencies. These areas have consistently supported the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the last two Assembly elections. However, the BJP is making a concerted effort to win over these voters in the upcoming elections. As part of its slum development campaign, the BJP is focusing on providing better housing and infrastructure.

The Delhi Assembly elections for 2025 are scheduled for February 5, with the counting of votes taking place on February 8. The Election Commission announced the dates on January 7. The current term of the 70-member Delhi Assembly will end on February 23. (ANI)