Plastic Life Span: Report Flags Grave Health Risks for People in Vicinity of Panipat Refinery
The CFA report comes during the 4th round of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee talks in Ottawa on international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in marine environment.
Realty developer Eldeco raises Rs 350 crore from HDFC Capital
Eldeco Infrastructure and Properties, part of the Eldeco group, has raised Rs 350 crore from HDFC Capital Advisors Limited for their joint platform to develop residential projects across India. The platform aims to generate Rs 8,000 crore from 17 projects. The company has planned projects in Delhi, Gurugram, Ludhiana, Sonipat, and Goa, with Rs 500 crore deployed in residential projects in Panipat, Sonipat, Ludhiana, Rudrapur, Rishikesh, Kasauli, Greater Noida (West) & Gurugram.
MHAC School medallists honoured
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 22: MHAC School Nagbani players were felicitated on Samarpan Divas which was celebrated to mark the Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Hansraj at DAV Public School, Thermal Colony Panipat. The event was organised by DAV CMC New Delhi to pay tribute to the founder of DAV. On this occasion the sports persons who had won gold medals in the DAV National Sports 2023-24 were honoured. MHAC School Nagbani bagged 8 gold medals in Roller Skating and [] The post MHAC School medallists honoured appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
BJP will retain all 10 LS seats in Haryana: Party's Ambala candidate Banto Kataria
BJP will retain all 10 LS seats in Haryana: Party's Ambala candidate Banto Kataria It is her first Lok Sabha election but Banto Kataria, BJP candidate from Ambala and former Union minister Rattan Lal Kataria's wife, is confident that the work done by the party's ''double-engine'' government and her husband's legacy would ensure her victory. ''It will be '400 paar' this time. People have made up their mind to bring back (Narendra) Modi ji as the prime minister for the third time,'' Banto Kataria told PTI, referring to the BJP's target of winning over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. She said she tells voters in her constituency that in these 400-plus seats, one should be from Ambala. Haryana has benefitted a lot from the ''double-engine'' government. The speed of development projects and implementation of schemes has gained momentum in the state, the BJP candidate said. During the last 10 years, the country has made rapid progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, including in agriculture and infrastructure sectors, she added. ''The Modi government also took many steps towards women empowerment, which has remained a pivotal focus of the Centre,'' said Banto Kataria, citing the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament and various government schemes. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam provides for reserving one-third seats in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies for women. Over 10 crore LPG connections have been provided under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the BJP candidate said. The 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme, which was launched by Prime Minister Modi nine years ago from Panipat, has also yielded positive results in the state, she said. The 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme aims to prevent gender-based elimination of foetus and ensure the survival and protection of the girl child as well as her education. Banto Kataria said a lot of development took place in Ambala under former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Now, the Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini-led government will take Haryana to new heights, she said. ''It is also a matter of happiness for the people of the Ambala region that for the first time after Haryana was carved out as a separate state, we have a chief minister from Ambala district,'' she said. ''Only in the BJP can an ordinary worker rise to the top,'' she said. Like the 2019 general elections, Banto Kataria claimed, the BJP will win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, which goes to polls on May 25. She said she has been campaigning in different parts of Ambala parliamentary constituency, including Panchkula and Yamunanagar, and has been getting a lot of support from the people. Banto Kataria acknowledges that the support she is getting is in part due to the legacy left behind by her husband. ''People loved Kataria ji a lot. He always used to tell people that the doors of his home are always open for everyone... he used to raise people's voice and issues connected to them in Parliament and was always concerned about the region's development,'' she said. She said her husband's dream was to make Ambala the number one city in north India. A lot of work has already been done in this direction. Ambala has good road and rail connectivity and industry can flourish here. The tourism sector also has a lot of potential, she added. Rattan Lal Kataria, who was the BJP's Dalit face in Haryana, represented Ambala in the Lok Sabha three times. After he passed away last year, the BJP fielded his wife as its candidate from the Ambala (reserved) constituency. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rattan Lal Kataria defeated Congress veteran Kumari Selja by a margin of 3.42 lakh votes. Banto Kataria also targeted the Congress, dubbing it a ''divided house''. The party has not even announced its Ambala candidate yet, she said. Haryana Agriculture Minister and BJP MLA from Jagadhri in Yamunanagar Kanwar Pal, Transport Minister and Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel, and Ambala Cantt MLA Anil Vij have campaigned for Banto Kataria. Banto Kataria is pitted against INLD's Gurpreet Singh, a Sikh face.
Whats in a name, I am a politician
Whats in a name? That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet. Thus said the leading lady to the protagonist in William Shakespeares classic Romeo and Juliet. The subtle message from these famous lines is that the character of an object or person does not changewiththe name. When jailed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal releases a message from barrack saying, My Name is Kejriwal and I am not a terrorist, he is underlining the fact that he should not be underestimated. Last week Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh in a press conference said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who worked like a son and a brother for the country has sent a message from Tihar Jail. My name is Arvind Kejriwal and I am not a terrorist, Singh said. A master propagandist, Arvind Kejriwal has often taken refuge in lines and dialogues from popular culture to push forth his political agenda. Similarly, these lines are inspired from Karan Johars 2010 production, My Name Is Khan. This film is a social drama starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in lead roles. The film narrates a fictional story where Rizwan Khan (Khan), an autistic Muslim, sets out on a journey across the United States to meet the President after Mandira Rathod Khan (Kajol), his Hindu wife, suffers from Islamophobic discrimination after the September 11 attacks. By comparing his incarceration to that of Rizwan Khans state, Kejriwal, on the face of it look to raising the issue of discrimination against the minorities, which the Opposition parties claim to be on an increase ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister. However, a further analysis would show that Kejriwal in comparing himself to Rizwan Khan is trying to drum up sympathy from not just his core constituency of migrant and working class population but also to the community to which he belongs the Vaishyas. Though Vaishyas across the Hindi heartland are known to be sympathetic to the Bharatiya Janata Party, in the local assembly elections in Delhi (2013, 2015 and 2020) they have gone with Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Vaishyas in Delhi have always lived with a feeling of being denied their due importance by both the traditional political parties Congress and the BJP. In both the parties, the post-independence politics in Delhi came to be dominated by the migrant Punjab leaders, be it Har Kishan Lal Bhagat in the Congress or the triumvirate of Madanlal Khurana, Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Kidarnath Sahni in the BJP. When Kejriwal became chief minister for the first time in 2013, it was said that it took four and half centuries for Delhi to get its second ruler from Vaishya community. The first was King Hemu, whom Akbar had defeated in the second battle of Panipat in 1556. Starting as a smalltime trader, Hemu later became a big supplier of saltpetre, a chemical used in making gunpowder, to the Sur Afghan army, who had ousted Mughal emperor Humayun. Later he won confidence of the Sur Afghan rulers becoming a General in the Army. When the Afghans, after the death of Sher Shah Suri, starting losing to reenergized Mughal forces under Akbar, Hemu used the opportunity to take control of Delhi and declare himself as the King. Felled by a stray arrow during the Battle of Panipat, Hemu died an unfortunate death, thus Delhi losing its first Vaishya ruler. Coming back to the current scenario, the BJP in Delhi is worried whether the Vaishyas would take kindly to the arrest of the chief minister. Kejriwal too understands this and he is playing the victim card to the hilt. Vaishyas have good enough presence on almost all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, not just Chandni Chowk, which go to polls on May 25. Vaishyas both in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls stood firmly with the BJP. To wean them away, next we may hear, My name is Kejriwal, I am a Vaishya. Sidharth Mishra Author and president, Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice
Poll icons: 118-yr-old man, 117-yr-old woman oldest voters in Haryana
CHANDIGARH: At the age of 118 years, Dharamveer from Palwal district in Haryana has earned the distinction of being the oldest voter among the over 20 centenarians in the state. Haryana is gearing up for the polls in the sixth phase on May 25. Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana, Anurag Agarwal, said elderly and young voters, as well as those who have achieved milestones in various fields, have been selected as icons for district elections, with the aim of increasing voter turnout, a trend initiated during the last Lok Sabha elections. Apart from Dharamveer, who is the oldest voter, Balbir Kaur (Sirsa) 117, Bhagwani (Sonipat) 116, Lakkhishek (Panipat) 115, Chandro Kaur (Rohtak) and Rani (Fatehabad) both 112, and Antidevi (Kurukshetra), Sarjit Kaur, and Chobi Devi all 111. Similarly, Narayani (Rewari) is 110 years old, Fulla (Kaithal) 109, Chanderi Devi (Faridabad) 109, Ramdevi (Jind) 108, Hari (Nuh) 108, Meva Devi (Jhajjar), Gulzar Singh (Karnal), Shadkin and Shriram (Hisar), and Geena Devi (Charkhi Dadri) all 106. Additionally, Hardei (Bhiwani) is 103, and Phoolwati of Yamunanagar is 100 years old. Talking about the young achievers, Agarwal said that Palak, who won the gold medal in shooting at the Asian Games 2023, has been selected as the icon of Jhajjar. Adarsh Singh, who won the silver medal in shooting at the 19th Asian Games, is the icon of Faridabad. Suman Devi, who secured third place in the 19th Senior Para Powerlifting Championship, and Yashika, a player of the state team in the National School Games held in Bhopal, have been chosen as icons for Panipat. Similarly, Sarabjot Singh, who won the silver medal in shooting at the 19th Asian Games, is the icon of Ambala. Sonam Malik, who won the gold medal in the World Championship, represents Sonipat. Surinder Kaur, an Olympic hockey player, is the icon of Kurukshetra, and Muskan, who won first place in singing at the National Youth Festival, is the icon of Fatehabad. Achievers feted Elderly and young voters as well as those who have achieved milestones in various fields have been selected as icons for district elections, with the aim of increasing voter turnout, according to state poll office
CYK Hospitality supports Sassy Desserts debut store opening in Panipat
CYK Hospitalities Pvt. Ltd has recently assisted and crafted Sassy Desserts from the ground up in the heart of Panipat, Haryana. Sassy Desserts is a new sweet sensation destination that promises to captivate locals with its inventive menu and unwavering dedication to culinary excellence offering a delightful fusion of flavors and innovation. CYK Hospitalities has... The post CYK Hospitality supports Sassy Desserts debut store opening in Panipat first appeared on Hospitality Biz India: Latest News & Analysis . The post CYK Hospitality supports Sassy Desserts debut store opening in Panipat appeared first on Hospitality Biz India: Latest News & Analysis .
SC Asks Haryana Congress MLA to Appear Before ED in Money Laundering Case
A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, however, orally granted protection to Chhoker, who is an MLA from Samalkha assembly constituency of Panipat district in Haryana, by asking the probe agency to move an application before the court, if he needs to be arrested
Punjab: SUV tries to intentionally hit car of SDM who was out patrolling to check illegal mining
Punjab: SUV tries to intentionally hit car of SDM who was out patrolling to check illegal mining A suspicious SUV car allegedly attempted to intentionally hit the car of Naraingarh sub-divisional magistrate here while he was patrolling to check for any illegal mining activities in the area, officials said on Sunday. The SUV allegedly chased the SDM's car and attempted to hit the vehicle twice at a high speed but the official narrowly escaped, they said. The occupants of the SUV, suspected to be connected to the mining mafia, fled from the spot. The incident took place at 1 am on the intervening night of March 27-28, and an FIR was lodged in the matter on Saturday, police added. Notably, two such inspections and raids have been carried out recently to check illegal mining in the rivers of Naraingarh area. On the complaint of the SDM's security guard, Naraingarh Police registered a case on April 6 against the owner and driver of the SUV under various IPC sections, including obstruction in government work and attempt to murder. According to the FIR, SDM Yash Jaluka, his security guard and three others, including the driver, were patrolling in their private car when an SUV started following them. They tried to stop the SUV near the bridge of Toka Sahib Gurudwara village, but the occupants of the SUV tried to intentionally hit their car at a high speed and later fled from the spot, it said. Nearly two years ago, a deputy superintendent of police-rank officer Surender Singh was allegedly run over by a dumper truck during a raid against illegal stone mining in Nuh district. A little over a year ago, some members of suspected mining mafia allegedly attacked a police team in the Bapoli area of Panipat.
Meet woman, ex-CS, law graduate who cleared UPSC exam in second attempt,securedAIR..
Sonal, who was raised in Panipat and attended school in Delhi, finished her education there. After completing her 12th grade education, she earned a CS degree from Delhi University's prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce.
The festival of ChaitraNavratri is going to start from 9th April. People have already started preparations for this. During this 9-day festival of Mata, people make plans to visit various places. If you want to go somewhere in Haryana to visit Mata, then you can go to Panipat. There is a temple here, where a crowd of people is seen every day. Shops are decorated in front of the temple like a fair. Any day you reach here, you will feel that Navratri is being celebrated here every day. If you are planning to visit somewhere during ChaitraNavratri, then plan to visit this temple with your family. We will tell you in today's article. Devi Temple Devi Temple, located in Panipat, is the largest and most special temple in the city. People come here from far and wide to have the darshan of Mata. This temple is situated on the banks of a pond, but now there is no water in the pond. Every year Ramlila is organized here during Navratri. View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@official__panipat___wala) There is also a Yagyashala in the middle of the temple. You will get to see the idols of all the gods and goddesses in the temple. The history of this temple is considered to be about 250 years old. The people living here believe that this temple was built in the 18th century. However, there is no clear information about this. History of the temple There is a popular story about this temple. It is believed that the idol of the goddess was found in an empty deserted place. When the temple was being constructed, the idol of the goddess was kept in one place at night. But in the morning the idol disappeared, the idol was found again at the same place from where it was picked up. After this, it was decided that the temple would be built at the same place where the idol of the goddess was found. How to reach Devi Temple This temple is on the banks of the pond in the Tehsil Camp area of Panipat. You can reach here in just 25 to 30 minutes from Panipat Railway Station. If you come here from Panipat bus station, it will take you just 20 minutes. You will find many autos to reach the Devi Temple. For just Rs 50, it will take you to the Devi temple.
The demand for more workers is mainly from places such as Panipat, Varanasi, Asansol, Dhanbad, Guwahati, Raipur, Nagpur, Jaipur, Patna, Salem, Calicut, Coimbatore, Vizag, Cuttack, Guntur, Nellore and Madurai, as large Indian companies and multinationals look to expand their network amid a rise in demand for air-conditioners, coolers, refrigerators, fans and inverters in tier 2 and 3 regions.
IIT Guwahati student held for pledging allegiance to ISIS in social media posts
Guwahati: After apprehending the ISIS India head, the Assam police here on Sunday said that they have arrested an IIT-Guwahati student who allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS. Informing that Tauseef Ali Farooqui a fourth-year Biotechnology student of IIT Guwahati was arrested from Hajo area, security sources said that he recently claimed on a social media platform and emails that he intended to join the terror outfit and went missing from the IIT-Guwahati campus. Additional Superintendent of Police (STF) Kalyan Kumar Pathak told reporters, After receiving an email, we verified the authenticity of the contents and started an investigation. He said that the IIT-Guwahati authorities were immediately contacted, who informed them that the said student had been missing since noon and his mobile phone was also switched off. He is a fourth-year student and hailed from Okhla in Delhi, he added. Accordingly, a lookout alert was issued for the student. He was found in Hajo, around 30 km from Guwahati, in Kamrup district and detained. An email was also sent by the student, in which he claimed that he was on the way to join ISIS. Pointing out that police picked him up from the Hajo area, the security sources said that he was taken to his hostel room where cops recovered a black flag similar to the ISIS flag and an Islamic manuscript. He was a loner and didn't have friends on the campus, police said. This has come close on the heels of the arrest of the ISIS India head Haris Farooqi in Dhubri district after he allegedly crossed over from Bangladesh. Haris Farooqi, who has been active since 2019, was arrested along with his associates on Wednesday by the Assam police. His associate Anurag Singh alias Rehan belonged to Panipat and converted to Islam. His wife is a Bangladeshi national. Farooqi was hiding in Bangladesh and carrying out radicalisation of Indians. He has been instrumental in setting up modules in Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Farooqui, who is from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Meanwhile, Assam police has moved the court for custody of the IIT student.
ISIS India head Haris Farooqi, aide held in Assam
His associate Anurag Singh alias Rehan of Panipat got converted to Islam, while his wife is a Bangladeshi national, he added.
ISIS India head among two arrested in Assam
ISIS India head among two arrested in Assam ISIS India head and one of his associates were arrested in Assam's Dhubri district on Wednesday after they crossed over from Bangladesh, police said. In a statement, Assam Police chief public relations officer Pranabjyoti Goswami said they were apprehended from Dharmasala area by the Special Task Force (STF) following a tip-off. They were later brought to the STF office in Guwahati, he added. ''The identity of both of them was ascertained and it is found that accused Haris Farooqi, alias Harish Ajmal Farukhi of Chakrata, Dehradun, is the head of ISIS in India,'' he added. His associate Anurag Singh, alias Rehan of Panipat, got converted to Islam, while his wife is a Bangladeshi national, the CPRO said. ''Both of them are highly indoctrinated and motivated leaders/members of ISIS in India. They had furthered the cause of ISIS in India through conspiracies to carry out recruitment, terror funding and terror acts by means of IEDs at several places across India,'' the statement said. The police official said several cases are pending against them at NIA, Delhi, ATS and Lucknow among other places. ''STF, Assam, will hand over the accused to NIA for taking up further legal actions against these fugitives,'' he added.
ISIS India Head Haris Farooqi, Aide Arrested In Assam`s Dhubri After Crossing Over From Bangladesh
NEW DELHI: In a major breakthrough for the Indian security forces, ISIS India head and one of his associates were arrested in Assam's Dhubri district on Wednesday after they crossed over from Bangladesh.In a statement, Assam Police chief public relations officer Pranabjyoti Goswami said they were apprehended from the Dharmasala area by the Special Task Force (STF) following a tip-off. They were later brought to the STF office in Guwahati, he added. The identity of both of them was ascertained and it is found that accused Haris Farooqi, alias Harish Ajmal Farukhi of Chakrata, Dehradun, is the head of ISIS in India, he added.His associate Anurag Singh, alias Rehan of Panipat, got converted to Islam, while his wife is a Bangladeshi national, the CPRO said. Both of them are highly indoctrinated and motivated leaders/members of ISIS in India. They had furthered the cause of ISIS in India through conspiracies to carry out recruitment, terror funding and terror acts by means of IEDs at several places across India, the statement said. The police official said several cases are pending against them at NIA, Delhi, ATS and Lucknow among other places.STF, Assam, will hand over the accused to NIA for taking up further legal actions against these fugitives, he added.
NHM Haryana Recruitment 2024: Know About Qualifications, Salary, and How to Apply
District Health & Family Welfare Society, Panipat, is seeking applications from eligible candidates for the position of Medical Officer at the Civil Surgeon Office, Panipat, Haryana, under the National Health Mission (NHM), Haryana. The recruitment is on a contractual basis. Interested candidates can apply offline following the instructions provided below. Here are the details:
Anil Vij dropped, 8 MLAs inducted in Saini cabinet expansion in Haryana
CHANDIGARH: Haryanas new Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday inducted eight BJP MLAs into his council of ministers, seven of them new faces, in first expansion a week after he took charge replacing Manohar Lal Khattar. Senior BJP leader and former home minister Anil Vij did not find a place in the Saini cabinet, though his name was said to have figured in the initial list of ministers. Saini and five ministers took oath last week. Haryana can have a maximum of 14 ministers, including the CM. The strength of the Assembly is 90. BJP MLA from Hisar Kamal Gupta was the first to be administered oath as a cabinet minister. He took oath in Sanskrit. He was a minister in the Khattar cabinet. Badkhal MLA Seema Trikha, Panipat Rural MLA Mahipal Dhanda, Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel, Nangal Chaudhary MLA Abhe Singh Yadav, Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha, Bawani Khera MLA Bishamber Singh Balmiki, and Sohna MLA Sanjay Singh were sworn in ministers of state (independent charge). Khattar, when asked about Vij, whose name figured for the post of a deputy CM, said, Vij is our senior colleague. He sometimes gets upset easily, but he becomes normal later. After the cabinet expansion, Saini praised the previous Khattar-led government. The ministers list does not include any of the six Independent MLAs who offered support to the government during the Assembly floor test. The Saini government has also tried to do a caste and region-wise balancing act. The legislators of two constituencies neighbouring Vijs seat Aseem Goel (Ambala City) and Subhash Sudha (Thanesar) have been made ministers.
7 first-timers among 8 new Haryana ministers
Haryana govt expanded its cabinet with eight BJP ministers, focusing on diverse community representation and regional balance. The induction ceremony marked a significant step towards strengthening the state council of ministers. Saini and the BJP high command have tried to give representation to all regions of the state, especially the northern districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Panipat and Ahir-dominated southern belt.
Haryana cabinet expanded with 8 new ministers, 7 of them new faces; no place for Anil Vij
Haryana cabinet expanded with 8 new ministers, 7 of them new faces; no place for Anil Vij Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday inducted eight BJP MLAs into his council of ministers, seven of them new faces, in its first expansion a week after he took charge replacing Manohar Lal Khattar. Senior BJP leader and former home minister Anil Vij did not find a place in the Saini-led cabinet, though his name was said to have figured in the initial list of ministers. Saini and five ministers took oath last week. Haryana can have a maximum of 14 ministers, including the chief minister. Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at the Raj Bhavan here. Chief Minister Saini and his predecessor Khattar were present in the ceremony. BJP MLA from the Hisar constituency Kamal Gupta was the first one to be administered oath as cabinet minister. Seven new faces, including Badkhal MLA Seema Trikha, were inducted as ministers of state (independent charge). Trikha is the lone woman in the council of ministers. The remaining new ministers are Panipat Rural MLA Mahipal Dhanda, Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel, Nangal Chaudhary MLA Abhe Singh Yadav, Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha, Bawani Khera MLA Bishamber Singh Balmiki, and Sohna MLA Sanjay Singh. On March 12, five ministers who had taken oath were BJP's Kanwar Pal (Jagadhari), Mool Chand Sharma (Ballabhgarh), Jai Parkash Dalal (Loharu) and Banwari Lal (Bawal), and Independent MLA Ranjit Singh Chautala (Rania in Sirsa). These five, who took oath last week, and Kamal Gupta were also ministers in the previous Khattar led cabinet. In a surprise move last week, the BJP replaced Khattar with OBC leader Saini as Haryana chief minister in a swift switch in the state, just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Among the ministers in the Khattar cabinet who did not find a place in the Saini ministry are Vij, Kamlesh Dhanda and Sandeep Singh. Besides, three ministers including former deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala were part of the Khattar cabinet. Chautala's JJP and the BJP are set to contest the polls separately now. Saini, who is the BJP state unit president, was sworn in as chief minister a week ago along with five ministers hours after the resignation of Khattar. The Saini government won the trust vote in a special session of the state assembly last Wednesday. On the day of swearing-in of Saini, Khattar, when asked whether Vij's name was there in the race for the post of a deputy chief minister, had said, ''Ministers had to take oath today and his (Vij's) name was on that (list). But he could not come.'' Asked whether Vij was upset, Khattar had said, Anil Vij is our senior colleague... He sometimes gets upset easily, but he becomes normal later.'' In the past too, there have been many incidents when Vij got upset over something but later on things became normal, said Khattar. ''I spoke with him. He said he did not feel like coming (for the oath-taking event). We will speak to him. Nayab Saini ji will also speak to him,'' he added. Earlier on Tuesday, when asked about the cabinet expansion, Vij said, ''I have no information.'' He, however, asserted that he was not upset. Vij has apparently been upset with the party not keeping him in the loop when they decided to make Saini the chief minister by removing Khattar. He said he came to know about it only in the BJP MLAs' meeting here last week in which Saini's name was announced. ''It was not in my knowledge that the chief minister of our state was being changed. This came as a bombshell to me that the chief minister was being changed,'' Vij told reporters here earlier. The Saini government has also tried to do a caste and region wise balancing act, with Brahmin, Dalit, Jat and Punjabi community faces given a berth in the cabinet. The legislators of two constituencies neighbouring Vij's seat -- Aseem Goel (Ambala City) and Subhash Sudha (Thanesar) -- have been made ministers. In Saini's ministry, Mool Chand Sharma and Seema Trikha come from Faridabad region while Dhanda, Aseem Goel, Subhash Sudha and Kanwar Pal are MLAs from north Haryana. Abhe Yadav, Sanjay Singh and Banwari Lal come from the Ahirwal belt in south Haryana. Ranjit Chautala, the MLA from Rania in Sirsa district, is the only Independent among six of the total seven who support the BJP government. Six-time MLA Vij had walked out of the legislature party meeting where Saini was unanimously named the chief minister-designate. Vij, who held the home portfolio in the Manohar Lal Khattar government, was often at loggerheads with the chief minister. He was earlier said to be ''upset'' over being ''ignored'' by the BJP. Replying to questions from reporters here, he said, ''I have said earlier too that I am a dedicated worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party. I am never upset with anything. Whatever I have to say, I say it clearly.'' To a question about whether he wanted to be included in the Saini Cabinet, he replied, ''This is a hypothetical question''. When asked about Khattar's earlier comment that Vij gets upset easily but later becomes okay too, the former Haryana minister said, ''I don't know on what basis he said so.'' With Chief Minister Saini taking out a roadshow which crossed Ambala Cantonment, the assembly segment represented by Vij, the former state home minister said, ''Had Saini come to my residence, I would have offered him tea.'' Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Saini, while interacting with reporters after paying obeisance at Nada Sahib Gurdwara in Panchkula, said that Vij is ''our respected leader and we have been regularly getting guidance from him''.
Haryana cabinet expanded with eight new ministers, no place for Anil Vij
Haryana cabinet expanded with eight new ministers, no place for Anil Vij The Nayab Singh Saini government in Haryana carried out its first cabinet expansion on Tuesday by inducting eight party MLAs as ministers. Senior BJP leader and former home minister Anil Vij did not find a place in the Saini-led cabinet. Saini and five ministers took oath last week. Haryana can have a maximum of 14 ministers, including the chief minister. Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at the Raj Bhavan here. BJP MLA from Hisar Kamal Gupta was the first one to be administered oath as cabinet minister. Gupta took oath in Sanskrit. He was a minister in the previous M K Khattar cabinet. Thereafter, Badkhal MLA Seema Trikha, Panipat Rural MLA Mahipal Dhanda, Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel, Nangal Chaudhary MLA Abhe Singh Yadav, Thanesar MLA Subhash Sudha, Bawani Khera MLA Bishamber Singh Balmiki, and Sohna MLA Sanjay Singh were sworn in as ministers of state (independent charge). Former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar was also present at the swearing-in ceremony. In a surprise move last week, the BJP replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with OBC leader Saini as Haryana's chief minister in a swift switch in the state, just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Saini, who is the party's state unit president, was sworn in as chief minister a week ago along with five ministers hours after the resignation of Khattar. The Saini government won the trust vote in a special session of the state assembly last Wednesday. On the day of swearing-in of Saini, Khattar, when asked whether Vijs name was there in the race for the post of a deputy chief minister, had said, ''Ministers had to take oath today and his (Vij's) name was on that (list). But he could not come. Asked whether Vij was upset, he said, Anil Vij is our senior colleague... He sometimes gets upset easily, but he becomes normal later. In the past too, there have been many incidents when Vij got upset over something but later on things were normal, said Khattar. I spoke with him. He said he did not feel like coming (for the oath-taking event). We will speak to him. Nayab Saini ji will also speak to him, he added. Earlier on Tuesday, when asked about the cabinet expansion, former minister Vij said, ''I have no information.'' He, however, asserted that he was not upset. Vij has apparently been upset with the party not keeping him in the loop when they decided to make Saini the chief minister by removing Khattar. He said he came to know about it only in the BJP MLAs' meeting here last week in which Saini's name was announced. ''It was not in my knowledge that the chief minister of our state was being changed. This came as a bombshell to me that the chief minister was being changed,'' Vij told reporters here earlier. Six-time MLA Vij had walked out of the legislature party meeting where Saini was unanimously named the chief minister-designate. Vij, who held the home portfolio in the Manohar Lal Khattar government, was often at loggerheads with the chief minister. He was earlier said to be ''upset'' over being ''ignored'' by the BJP. Replying to questions from reporters here, he said, ''I have said earlier too that I am a dedicated worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party. I am never upset with anything. Whatever I have to say, I say it clearly.'' To a question about whether he wanted to be included in the Saini Cabinet, he replied, ''This is a hypothetical question''. When asked about Khattar's earlier comment that Vij gets upset easily but later becomes okay too, the former Haryana minister said, ''I don't know on what basis he said so.'' With Chief Minister Saini taking out a roadshow which crossed Ambala Cantonment, the assembly segment represented by Vij, the former state home minister said, ''Had Saini come to my residence, I would have offered him tea.'' Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Saini, while interacting with reporters after paying obeisance at Nada Sahib Gurdwara in Panchkula, said that Vij is ''our respected leader and we have been regularly getting guidance from him''.
Remembering Malhar Rao Holkar: Architect of the Holkar Dynasty
As March 16 approaches, history enthusiasts and admirers of Indian heritage prepare to commemorate the birth anniversary of Malhar Rao Holkar, a pivotal figure in shaping the landscape of Malwa through the establishment of the Holkar dynasty. Holkar, born on March 16, 1693, emerged from humble beginnings, losing his father at a tender age of three. Raised under the care of his maternal uncle, Sardar Bhojrajrao Bargal, he found his calling in the realm of warfare, initially joining his uncle's cavalry. It wasn't long before his natural leadership abilities propelled him to the forefront, earning him charge of a cavalry detachment. His journey towards prominence took a significant turn when he aligned himself with the Peshwa, Bajirao, in 1721. This alliance marked the beginning of a distinguished career, characterized by rapid ascension through the ranks and notable military achievements. Holkar's pivotal role in campaigns such as the Battle of Delhi (1737) and the Battle of Bhopal showcased his strategic prowess and valor. However, it was his unwavering bravery during the Third Battle of Panipat that etched his name in the annals of history. Despite facing overwhelming odds, Holkar's tactical acumen saved numerous lives as he strategically retreated from the battlefield, earning both admiration and criticism. Beyond his military exploits, Holkar's legacy endures through his support for figures like Ahilyabai Holkar, his daughter-in-law, who would later carve her own illustrious reign. His contributions also extended to aiding Mahadji Scindia in reclaiming lost power after the debacle at Panipat. Malhar Rao Holkar's journey concluded on May 20, 1766, at Alampur, leaving behind a legacy of valor, resilience, and leadership that continues to inspire generations. As we commemorate his birth anniversary, let us reflect on the indelible mark left by Malhar Rao Holkar, the visionary founder of the Holkar dynasty, whose legacy transcends time and continues to resonate in the hearts of millions. National Vaccination Day 2024: All You Need to Know on This Special Day
IndianOil set to join high table of F1 fuel producers
IndianOil set to join high table of F1 fuel producers After delivering back-to-back innovations in fuel grades, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has now set sight on the Grand Prix and will in next three months start producing fuel used in adrenaline-pumping Formula One or F1, motor racing. The firm's refinery at Paradip in Odisha will in three months produce the petrol used in F1 car racing, its chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya said. IOC, the country's largest oil firm controlling roughly 40 per cent of fuel market share, will be the first Indian company and only a handful globally that will produce fuel used in F1 racing. Vaidya said the company expects to get its Formula 1 fuel certified in around three months, after which it will start competing with other global majors like Shell to supply it to the F1 teams. F1 fuel is essentially high-octane petrol and the standards are heavily regulated by global motor sport governing body Federation Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA) on various counts, including permissible additives and blending agents. IOC had in October last year helped India join a select league of nations when it began producing highly specialised 'reference' petrol and diesel that are used for testing automobiles. There are only three suppliers of reference fuels globally including US giant Chevron. IOC's Paradip refinery in Odisha is producing 'reference' grade petrol and its Panipat unit in Haryana produces similar quality diesel. Prior to this, Indian automobile manufacturers had to use imported reference fuel for testing cars and motorcycles. Now, IOC is supplying them the same grade fuel at much cheaper cost. Fuel retailers like IOC sell petrol and diesel of primarily two kinds - regular and premium, through their fuel station network. The biggest difference between the normal and premium fuel lies in the octane number. The regular fuel has an octane number of 87, but premium fuel has an octane number of 91. Reference grade fuel comes with a 97 octane number. The octane number is nothing but a unit to measure the ignition quality of petrol or diesel. Vaidya said his company has three premium fuels - 95-Octane XP95 petrol and 100-Octane XP100 petrol used in high-end luxury cars and bikes. It also has high performance XtraGreen diesel that offers higher fuel economy, reduced noise and emits lesser particulate matter, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. ''XtraGreen diesel is a real game changer fuel. It is catching up fast and now makes up for about 8 per cent of all diesel that IOC sells,'' he said. He said IOC has entered the racing fuels segment with its high-octane 'Storm' petrol for motorcycle racing. The company will be the official fuel partner for the Federation Internationale De Motocyclisme (FIM) Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) for three years -- 2024 to 2026, supplying 'Storm' petrol across all ARRC race rounds. IOC will supply fuel for all the motorcyclists from 15 countries that will participate in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. ''Our R&D (research and development) in two months will be able to produce Category-1 fuel and in three months Formula 1 fuel,'' he said. ''Unless we go to F1, the journey is not complete.'' He said the 'Storm' fuel is being manufactured at the company's Koyali refinery in Gujarat. IOC makes XP100 at its Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh. F1 currently uses E10 fuel containing 10 per cent renewable ethanol. The percentage fuel coming from non-fossil sources, such as alcohol, algae or waste keeping, is to go up to 40 per cent this year and 100 per cent sustainable fuel from 2026. IOC would also start manufacturing similar grade fuel and thereafter pitch to automobile makers racing in F1, he said. Unlike FIM Asia Road Racing Championship where there is one single fuel supplier for all the motorcycles racing, F1 allows teams to select their own fuel supplier. For instance, Shell is the fuel supplier to Ferrari. ''This is just the beginning,'' Vaidya said. 'Storm - Ultimate Racing Fuel' provides faster acceleration, more power, smoother drivability, lower engine deposits and lower exhaust emissions. It is suitable for use in all racing championships (enduro, trial, circuit racing, motocross and supermoto, cross-country, e-bike, and track racing) in all classes of motorbikes requiring FIM Category 2 race fuels. F1 fuel will be a notch higher. It would fall under high octane premium road fuel with octane thresholds of 95 to 102.
Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau arrests doctor for accepting bribe of Rs 2 lakh in Panipat
Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau arrests doctor for accepting bribe of Rs 2 lakh in Panipat The Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) team arrested a private hospital doctor in Panipat, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. In this case, the bribe was being demanded by two other accused working in the Civil Hospital, Panipat, through the arrested medical practitioner, Vishal Malik. The individuals through whom the bribe was demanded were identified as Dr Pawan Kumar and clerk Naveen Kumar. The ACB team has registered a case against the accused at the police station of ACB, Karnal and has taken action. Giving information about this, a government spokesperson said that these accused had inspected the Imaging and Diagnostic Center being run by the complainant. During the inspection, the accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 200,000 from the complainant in exchange for not registering an FIR and filing the issued notice. Confirming the matter, the ACB team made a plan to catch the accused, out of which Dr Vikas Malik of the private hospital was caught red-handed taking a bribe of Rs 200,000. This bribe amount was to be delivered to the other two accused, Dr Pawan Kumar and Clerk Naveen Kumar, through Dr Vikas Malik. The bureau will soon arrest these two accused as well in this case. This entire action was carried out with complete transparency in the presence of witnesses. The spokesperson of the bureau appealed to the general public that if any officer or employee demands a bribe in lieu of doing government work, then immediately inform the Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau on its toll-free number. (ANI)
'Panipat' actor Sahil Salathia to attend pre-Oscars party
