MP: Priest booked for sexually abusing minor boys in ashram

In a shocking revelation, Madhya Pradesh police booked a priest and a caretaker for allegedly sexually abusing minor boys at an ashram in Ujjain. The Ashram priest identified as Acharya Rahul Sharma was booked on Wednesday, May 1. The Acharya (Hindu religious teacher) who had previously helped a rape victim in 2023 in Ujjain is Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

FIR Against Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Over Remarks Against BJP Leader

In 2020, then Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath referred to former cabinet minister Imarti Devi as an item and now more off-the-cuff remarks about Ms Devi have placed the state Congress chief Jitu Patwari in a major political storm.

Pilot: Modi government's grip loosening, signs of change in the air

Pilot: Modi government's grip loosening, signs of change in the air Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Friday said a wave of change was prevalent across the nation and the days of the Narendra Modi government were numbered. Addressing polls rallies in Rajgarh district in Madhya Pradesh, he said the Union government was resorting to vendetta politics against the opposition. ''The days of the BJP are numbered as a wave of change is prevailing across the country from Kerala to Udhampur. Earlier, the BJP was speaking of crossing 400 seats but now has gone silent since it knows it is on a sticky wicket,'' said Pilot, who was here to campaign for veteran Congressman Digvijaya Singh. The Union government did not fulfil its promises in the past 10 years and had failed to address issues like price rise, unemployment, farm distress, black money and corruption, the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said. ''They are pursuing vendetta politics. Two chief ministers are in jail (referring to Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren) and the Congress' bank accounts have been frozen. They have created an atmosphere of fear in the country. To quell the voice of the people, 147 MPs were suspended in a day and thereafter bills were passed (in Parliament),'' he claimed. He said the Modi government promised to double the income of farmers and drive out infiltrators but apart from giving advertisements, nothing concrete had been done on the ground, he claimed. The previous UPA government brought Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act to generate massive employment in rural areas, Right to Information (RTI) and Right to Education (RTE) for all round progress of the country, while now the Congress has promised Rs 1 lakh to poor women annually, he said. ''A frightened BJP is spreading lies that the Congress, if it is voted to power, would snatch away people's mangalsutra, buffaloes and give it to others,'' Pilot added. Digvijaya Singh is up against two-time sitting MP Rodmal Nagar of the BJP in Rajgarh.

Unnatural sex by a man with his wife is not rape, absence of consent irrelevant: MP High Court

The Madhya Pradesh HC affirmed that as long as a wife resides with her husband in a valid marriage and is not below fifteen years of age, any sexual intercourse or act by the husband with his wife does not qualify as rape.

MP CM Mohan Yadav mocks Rahul Gandhi for picking Raebareli LS seat

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for picking Uttar Pradeshs Raebareli seat to contest the Lok Sabha election. Chief Minister Yadav said that the Wayanad MP ran away from Amethi fearing defeat and shifted to Raebareli. After being defeated in Amethi last time, Rahul Gandhi ran to Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Case Against Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief For Remarks Against BJP Leader

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari was booked for his alleged derogatory remarks about state BJP leader Imarti Devi, which sparked controversy and prompted criticism from Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and other leaders from BJP.

MP Congress Leader Apologizes for Inflammatory Remarks About BJP Leader

MP Congress Leader Apologizes for Inflammatory Remarks About BJP Leader Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Friday expressed regret after his alleged derogatory remarks about state BJP leader Imarti Devi sparked a controversy, prompting criticism from Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. It started after an audio clip went viral on social media in which a woman can be heard supporting the Congress candidates from the Bhind and Gwalior Lok Sabha seats, with the claim that the voice was of Imarti Devi, a former MLA from Dabra in Gwalior district. Imarti Devi, however, denied that it was her voice in the audio clip and termed it a conspiracy. Asked about the piece of audio and the ex-MLAs denial, Patwari allegedly made some offensive remarks using wordplay with the term imarti, a popular sweet. BJP leaders, including Scindia, called it an insult to women. These are not just his words, but the mentality of the entire Congress party. Insulting Dalits, especially women, has become the norm of this party. Babasaheb Ambedkar has inspired the women and Dalits of the country to fight for their respect, Scindia wrote on X late on Thursday night. Scindia, the BJP candidate from Guna Lok Sabha seat, shared a video of Patwaris remark and said Dalit brothers and sisters of Madhya Pradesh will take revenge for the cheap comment about Imarti Devi. Around 3 am on Friday, Patwari took to X to express his regret over the comment. One of my statements is being distorted and presented in the wrong context. My intention was only to avoid answering the question. Imarti ji is like my elder sister. An elder sister is like a mother. I express my regret if anyone is still hurt, Patwari said. Imarti Devi was among the Congress MLAs who had joined the BJP along with Scindia in March 2020, triggering the collapse of the Kamal Nath government in MP. She lost both elections from the Dabra assembly seat as a BJP candidate after 2020.

MP BJP MLA's Daughter Detained by Lokayukta in Bribery Case

MP BJP MLA's Daughter Detained by Lokayukta in Bribery Case The daughter of a BJP MLA in Madhya Pradesh was arrested for allegedly seeking and accepting a bribe from a businessman, a Lokayukta official said on Friday. Amangang Nagar Parishad president Sarika Khatik (40), who is the daughter of BJP's Hatta MLA Uma Khatik, was held on Thursday, Sagar-based Lokayukta Inspector Roshani Jain told PTI. ''One Raghvendra Raj Modi lodged a complaint with us on April 29 stating Sarika Khatik had demanded Rs 40,000 from him to clear his bill of more than Rs 1,30,000. The next day he provided us with a recording to back his claim. We arrested her while she took Rs 30,000 during a trap on Thursday at her office in the Nagar Parishad,'' Jain said. She was charged under Prevention of Corruption Act and released on bail on the spot, the Lokayukta inspector added. In a video, the complainant Modi alleged the accused was seeking commission to clear his bills ever since she became president of the rural civic body. ''Initially, she demanded a commission of Rs 5,000, which I paid. Eventually she started demanding 10,000 per month, which I was unable to pay. Of the Rs 40,000 bribe she had sought, I had paid Rs 10,000 two days ago,'' he claimed. However, Khatik told PTI she had fallen prey to a political conspiracy, though she did not name the persons who were trying to frame her. ''For one and a half years, they have been after me. These people have orchestrated protests against me. The complainant had kept the money (Rs 30,000) on my table saying he was going to the city and would collect it later,'' she claimed.

On Camera, BJP MLA Threatens Cop For Turning Off Shivraj Chouhan's Mike

A police officer in Madhya Pradesh faced the wrath of a BJP MLA for turning off Shivraj Singh Chouhan's mike in line with the poll panel's Model Code of Conduct during an election rally in Madhya Pradesh.

I am not minister, leader for you but member of your family, says Jyotiraditya Scindia in MP's Guna

I am not minister, leader for you but member of your family, says Jyotiraditya Scindia in MP's Guna Election campaigning for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections has now reached its final stage and the candidates are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters. While campaigning in Guna, Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Guna parliamentary seat Jyotiraditya Scindia said that he was not a minister, a leader for the public but a member of their families. Scindia made the remark while addressing a public gathering in Bamori in Guna district on Thursday evening. Former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is also a candidate from Vidisha parliamentary seat for Lok Sabha elections 2024, also reached there to campaign in support of Scindia. Addressing the public, Scindia said, I am not a minister and not a leader for you. I am a member of your family. The blood that flows in my veins is the same blood that flows in your veins. Every generation of the Scindia family has always sacrificed for you. Especially for the development and progress of this region. Therefore, I am saying that you and I have a connection of heart. Meanwhile, expressing concern over the low voter turnout in the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections in the state, Scindia also appealed to the public to exercise their franchise as much as possible. Speaking at the occasion, former CM Chouhan said, he came to seek the support of the public for Jyotiraditya Scindia and also gave credit to the Ladli Bahna Yojana, which played a game-changer role in the recent state assembly election, to Scindia. Today (May 2), I have come to seek your support for my friend, colleague and brother Jyotiraditya Scindia. If I was able to make the government the fourth time in the state and made 'Ladli Bahna Yojana' then it was because of Scindia ji. He was the one who toppled the dishonest government led by Kamal Nath and decided to bring Mama (referring to himself) to take care of the CM post, Chouhan said. The veteran BJP leader also came down hard on the Congress During the recently concluded assembly polls, the Congress party had dreamt of returning to power in the state, their many leaders had got their suits stitched dreaming of becoming ministers. But I said Mama is still alive. He further hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that under his leadership India would become Vishwa Guru. The way the country is growing today under the leadership of the Prime Minister is amazing. Under the leadership of PM Modi, India will become Vishwa Guru, no one will be able to stop it, he added. Furthermore, slamming the Congress party, he said that nothing was left in Congress and now even their candidate is snapping ties with the party. Recently on Monday, a Congress nominee from Indore parliamentary seat Akshay Kanti Bam withdrew his nomination and switched his sides to the saffron party. Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh are being conducted in four phases. The first phase of polling was held on April 19 and the second phase was concluded on April 26. The next two phases will be conducted on May 7 and May 13. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. A total of nine parliamentary constituencies- Morena, Bhind, Gwalior, Guna, Sagar, Vidisha, Bhopal, Rajgarh and Betul- will go to the polls in the third phase on May 7. On the other hand, eight constituencies - Dewas, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Dhar, Indore, Khargone and Khandwa- will go to the polls in the fourth and last phase in the state on May 13. With 29 Lok Sabha constituencies, Madhya Pradesh ranks sixth among all states in terms of its representation in the Lower House. Of these, 10 seats are reserved for SC and ST candidates, while the remaining 19 are unreserved. (ANI)

Elderly Tourist Dies in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam

SRINAGAR: An elderly tourist died after falling unconscious in the Pahalgam area of South Kashmirs Anantnag district. An official said that a domestic tourist, Mahasukh Panchmiya (77), son of Nikal Chand Panchmiya, a resident of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, fell unconscious during sightseeing in Pahalgam, Anantnag. He was transferred to PHC Pahalgam for treatment, where doctors [] The post Elderly Tourist Dies in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam appeared first on Kashmir Life .

Here's What 2024 Lok Sabha Elections Schedule: Seven Phases from April 19 to June 1

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are set to unfold in seven phases, spanning from April 19 to June 1, with results expected on June 4. The Election Commission has revealed the schedule, highlighting that April 19 will witness the highest number of constituencies, totaling 102, while the fifth phase, on May 20, will see the lowest number at just 49. Here's a breakdown of the election phases across different states: Single Poll Date (22 states): Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu. Two-phase Voting (4 states): Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tripura, Manipur Three-phase Voting (2 states): Chhattisgarh, Assam Four-phase Voting (3 states): Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand Five-phase Voting (2 states): Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir Seven-phase Voting (3 states): Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal The Lok Sabha Election 2024 schedule is as follows: Phase 1 (April 19): 101 Seats Phase 2 (April 26): 89 Seats Phase 3 (May 7): 94 Seats Phase 4 (May 13): 96 Seats Phase 5 (May 20): 49 Seats Phase 6 (May 25): 57 Seats Phase 7 (June 1): 57 Seats Each phase covers various states and Union Territories, ensuring a comprehensive electoral process across the nation. In the first phase on April 19, a total of 102 seats will be contested across several states and Union Territories: Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal West, Arunachal East Assam: Sonitpur, Kaziranga, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur Bihar: Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui Jammu & Kashmir: Udhampur Madhya Pradesh: Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, Balaghat, Chhindwara Maharashtra: Ramtek, Nagpur, Bhandara-Gondiya, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chandrapur Manipur: Inner Manipur Meghalaya: Shillong, Tura Mizoram: Mizoram Nagaland: Nagaland Rajasthan: Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa, Nagaur Sikkim: Sikkim Tamil Nadu: Thiruvallur, Chennai North, Chennai South, Chennai Central, Sriperumbudur, Kancheepuram, Arakkonam, Vellore, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Arani, Viluppuram, Kallakurichi, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Tiruppur, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Pollachi, Dindigul, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Sivaganga, Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukkudi, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari Tripura: Tripura West Uttar Pradesh: Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, Pilibhit West Bengal: Cooch Behar, Alipurduars, Jalpaiguri Chhattisgarh: Bastar Uttarakhand: Tehri Garhwal, Garhwal, Almora, Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Hardwar Andaman & Nicobar: Andaman Nicobar Islands Lakshadweep: Lakshadweep Puducherry: Puducherry These elections aim to engage citizens in the democratic process, allowing them to exercise their right to vote and shape the future of their nation. Congress Announces Candidates for Lok Sabha 2024, Rahul Gandhi to Contest from Rae Bareli Congress KL Sharma to Contest against BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi Trinamool Congress Accuses Congress Leader of Promoting BJP Agenda

Demand for Air conditioners soar as temperatures continue to rise, some companies raise prices by 3-5 per cent

Demand for Air conditioners soar as temperatures continue to rise, some companies raise prices by 3-5 per cent The demand for air conditioners (ACs) have surged during the April month due to the increase in temperature, especially in North and Central India. It has prompted a strong outlook for AC demand until mid-June 2024. According to a report by Anand Rathi Financial Services Limited, after the surge in demand for AC's the manufacturing companies have increased prices. The AC manufacturing company Blue Star has increased prices by 3-5 per cent across various models. The report highlights that in South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, AC volumes soared by 40-50 per cent year-on-year (y/y). While Karnataka and Telangana witnessed a 15-20 per cent y/y growth in AC volumes. In Central India, including Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Madhya Pradesh (MP), AC volumes grew by 15-20 per cent y/y. However, the local dealers have reported shortages of the ACs across brands, leading to increased delivery times. In North India, particularly in Rajasthan and Haryana, AC demand has surged post-Holi, with volumes growing by 20-25 per cent in April 2024. The report highlights that some dealers anticipated further growth in AC demand by 25-30 per cent in May. In the Eastern region, Odisha saw a 25-30 per cent increase in AC volumes, while Jharkhand experienced a 10-15 per cent y/y growth. Despite rising demand, no pricing action was observed by any brand in the region, and dealers are facing a shortage in giving timely supply. The demand for AC in the Western region including Gujarat and Maharashtra have surged in the latter half of April, with volumes growing by 15-20 per cent y/y. According to the report several brands in Gujarat increased prices by 3-5 per cent across various models. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday that most parts of the country are likely to record above-normal maximum temperatures in May. The IMD, however, stated that some parts of northwest and central India and adjoining areas of northeast peninsular India are likely to record normal to below-normal maximum temperatures. According to IMD, the average minimum temperature (22 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901. (ANI)

BJD being run by bureaucrats, outsiders in CM's office trying to capture Odisha: Pradhan

SAMBALPUR: Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal is facing public revolt for the first time and a caucus of outsiders in the chief minister's office wants to capture the state, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has claimed. The Education Minister, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Sambalpur, also dismissed the speculation that there were any attempts from BJP to enter into an alliance with the BJD. In an interview with PTI, Pradhan, who is returning to the electoral fray after 15 years, said, he Odia identity is under threat and this election is all about that identity. BJD is being run by a group of bureaucrats...the caucus in the chief minister's office which has few non-Oriya officers, they all came together and thought let's exploit the inability of the chief minister, let's create a vacuum from back door and their intention is to capture the state. This is a very dangerous trend and this is what public is angry about besides their inaction on the ground, Pradhan said in a veiled jibe at Patnaik's close aide VK Pandian. The minister said this is the first time the so far popular CM is facing the heat from the public. BJD is facing public revolt for the first time...we have been fighting with them for long, we fought elections together too in the past. But 2024 election is a new type of election for them ..it is the most difficult election they would be facing, he said. The Assembly and general elections are being held in Odisha simultaneously. Naveen Patnaik will become the longest serving chief minister of India if his party wins the upcoming Assembly polls. He is already the longest serving CM of Odisha. Pradhan, however, said Patnaik's more than two-decade rule has brought little to the people of the state in way of solid development. Since last 24 years, Patnaik has been the in-charge of the state as chief minister but on all the fronts, be it social structure, infrastructure, economy, employment generation this government has been an utter failure. The lack of basic facilities causing large scale migration from the state. They do not have any vision or political will power they do not have any commitment to society, there is a huge anger among youth, women, tribals, different sections of society.. this is going to reflect in voting behaviour, people will teach them a lesson, there will be befitting response, he said. When he was asked about how the BJD was able to secure a mandate for five consecutive terms if there are so many issues, Pradhan said, kabhi to sabr ka bandh tutata hai (the patience crosses its limit at one point). 2024 election will be a real test of his popularity...soon BJD will not be seen in the state even by using binoculars. Pradhan, 54, also denied any talks of an alliance between BJP and BJD ahead of elections. There was no 'buzz' for alliance from our side...we had no compulsions for an alliance with them...on several national issues various parties have supported us but it is not mandatory that we will fight elections with them together, he said. Asked whether he would be the BJP's CM face if the party comes to power in Odisha, Pradhan said, here has been no decision yet and it will be decided by the party later only about who will be given the responsibility but I am confident that the Chief Minister will be from BJP. The BJP leader filed his nomination from Sambalpur on Thursday. Polling in the state is scheduled in the sixth phase of the general election on May 25. The high-profile Sambalpur constituency, which is the epicentre of western Odisha, is gearing up for a heated contest between Congress's Nagendra Pradhan, Dharmendra Pradhan, and BJD's Pranab Prakash Das. Nagendra Pradhan had won the constituency on a Biju Janata Dal ticket in 2014 polls. Dharmendra Pradhan is contesting an election after a gap of 15 years. He had last contested an election in 2009 after the end of BJP-BJD alliance. He lost the assembly poll that year. He was elected to the Odisha Assembly in 2000 and to the Lok Sabha from Deogarh seat in 2004. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar in 2012 and again in 2018 from Madhya Pradesh. Asked about the opposition's allegations that BJP will change the Constitution if voted to power, Pradhan said, Congress is scared...their leadership has been re-launched and repackaged several times and they have faced defeat only. They are making all attempts now like using deepfake videos, misutilising AI, making such statements but public knows their deeds and Congress existence is in danger.

My remark on BJP leader Imarti Devi twisted, misrepresented: Jitu Patwari

Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari on Friday claimed that his remark on...

PM Modi to hold k poll rallies in Khandwa, Khargone on May 7

Bhopal: Khandwa and Khargone, situated in Madhya Pradesh, are set to become the focal points of political fervor as Prime Minister Narendra Modi gears up for consecutive rallies in these crucial constituencies on May 7th. These rallies hold significant importance in swaying electoral support towards the party candidates, particularly with the looming fourth phase of... The post PM Modi to hold k poll rallies in Khandwa, Khargone on May 7 first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

Shah deepfake probe: Political leaders skip police summons

NEW DELHI: Not even a single member of any political party on Thursday appeared before Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police special cell in connection with the sharing of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs fake video, officials said. We have asked some of the leaders from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and one person from the Northeast. But no one turned-up for questioning on Thursday, a senior police officer said. The Delhi Police is likely to serve a second notice to the members of the Telangana Congress in connection with the uploading and sharing of the fake video of Shah. The four members of the Telangana Congress, who were supposed to appear before the office of the IFSO, did not come on Wednesday. We will again ask them to appear before the IO (investigating officer), as they did not come on Wednesday, an officer said. The summonses were issued to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and four Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) members, Shiva Kumar Ambala, Asma Tasleem, Satish Manne and Naveen Pettem, under sections 91 and 160 of the CrPC. According to the police sources, if a person is served notice under section 160/91 of the CrPC, the person can either make a physical appearance before the IO or send a legal representative. According to police, about 22 people from various parties in Jharkhand, UP, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have been served notices in connection with the case On Wednesday, Reddys lawyer appeared before Delhi Police and asserted that his client had nothing to do with creating or posting the doctored video. Noida man held for sharing Yogi deepfake A man was arrested on Thursday by the Special Task Force of UP Police for allegedly posting an AI-generated deepfake video of CM Yogi Adityanath, officials said. The purported video was used to spread misleading information and anti-national narrative, the police said.

Kerala: Climate change reality gets heatwave check

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Valerian Isaac, a traditional fisherman from Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram, is deeply concerned about the impact of climate change on his livelihood and the overall quality of life. He used to enjoy his summer with the sea cooling down when folks in the town sweltered in the heat. The situation however has changed dramatically. The sea has warmed up significantly. Consequently, the fish have migrated to cooler waters away from the coast. Previously, we relied on good winds and occasional rains to alleviate the heat. But this summer has proven to be the toughest yet, Isaac said. With the dwindling catch, only a handful of fishermen dare to venture out into the sea in his area. And they are not the only ones suffering. Adverse weather has also affected autorickshaw drivers, tour operators, vegetable vendors and those in the construction sector. As the government considers imposing further restrictions on operations between 11am and 3pm, the livelihoods of even more sectors hang in the balance. Isaac, like many others, had not heard of the term El Nino, a climate phenomenon responsible for warming the sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean and often cited as a primary cause of harsh summers. However, he, along with the rest of the populace, has become acquainted with the term heatwave in recent times. Its sudden appearance in the vocabulary coincided with its confirmation in Palakkad on April 26, the day of the general elections. Such weather was once considered unusual, mostly associated with the traditional hot regions of the country. The India Meteorological Department first issued a heatwave alert in Kerala in 2016, the warmest year on record for the state, primarily focused on Palakkad. This year, the focus has again been on Palakkad which experienced scorching temperatures throughout April, with Thrissur following suit. Subsequently, heatwave alerts were issued for Kollam, Kozhikode and Alappuzha, as temperatures in these districts deviated from the norm significantly. A majority of those belonging to the fishing community in Perumathura in Thiruvananthapuram are spending their time under the shade of coconut palms. The reason being the roofs of their homes are made of asbestos and tin sheets, which increase the heat Weather experts assert the situation is similar across south and east India. An Asia-wide heatwave map published by international weather agencies depicts most countries in the region coloured in red. The temperature rise is attributed to global warming induced by climate change. The impact of El Nino exacerbates the situation, said D Sivananda Pai, senior scientist and ADGM of India Meteorological Department. According to him, the dry weather in Kerala has increased the temperature. In Palakkad, the relative humidity is now in the 30-40% range in comparison to the normal 60-80%. Thats why the temperature remains high. The condition is worse for people living in more humid areas as high moisture content does not help reduce body temperature, he said. Like this year, 2016 too was an El Nino year. While it was the warmest year in recent history, the damage, technically, was limited to a heatwave alert in Palakkad. What makes the conditions worse than 2016 is the absence of summer rain, especially in the northern districts, and the land use and land cover changes because of urbanisation, said Rajeevan Erikkulam, a meteorologist with the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. Weather experts pointed out the situation is likely to improve by the second week of May when summer rains are expected to be more regular. The El Nino effect is expected to be neutral during the time of monsoon, but the experts have a warning the next El Nino year could be much worse than 2024. What is heatwave? Qualitatively, heatwave is a condition of air temperature that becomes fatal to human body when exposed. Quantitatively, it is defined based on the temperature thresholds over a region in terms of actual temperature or its departure from normal. Criterion for declaring heatwave Heatwave is considered to be in effect if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40Celsius or more in the plains, at least 30Celsius or more in hilly regions, and 37 Celsius or more in coastal regions. The departure from normal is 4.5 to 6.4Celsius. If the above criteria is met in at least two stations in a meteorological sub-division for at least two consecutive days, a heatwave is declared on the second day. A woman carrying a pedestal fan on a two-wheeler in Kochi. With mercury level going up, residents are opting for various methods to beat the scorching heat Heatwave prone states Heatwave generally occurs over the plains of northwest India and central, east and north peninsular India from March to June. It covers Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Sometimes, it occurs over Tamil Nadu and Kerala too. Impact of heatwave Water stress Health problems Livelihood problems Heatwave in Kerala First alert - Palakkad, in 2016 First alert - Kozhikode - 2020 First confirmation this year - Palakkad, on April 26 First alert in Alappuzha - April 30 Reasons for heatwave Global warming El Nino Absence of summer rain Urbanisation Number of days above 40 degrees Celsius in April in Kerala 2024 - 16 (15 in Palakkad) 2023 - 3 2016 - 14 1989 - 8

Mama, Maharaja & Raja make MPs Round-3 battle of bigwigs

The third phase of Lok Sabha elections is an important round for Madhya Pradesh. It will determine the political future of three prominent figures Jyotiraditya Scindia, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Digvijaya Singh. Scindia, who serves as the Union aviation minister, is back in Guna attempting to regain the family seat following his unexpected defeat to former aide K P Yadav in 2019.

Hyderabad: Man Held with Rifle, Bullets

Hyderabad : Jeedimetla police arrested one Vamsi Krishna Goud of Quthbullapur for carrying a country-made rifle and three bullets. His suspicious behaviour attracted attention, police said. Goud had acquired the firearm illegally from one Vishal Yadav on Facebook, said to hail from Madhya Pradesh. Jeedimetla detective inspector D. Vijay said that Yadav had borrowed Rs.30,00 from Goud and did not return it. Upon being pressed for the money, he allegedly gave Goud the weapon and told him to sell it and take the repayment. Goud told the police that he had no idea about Yadav's occupation and had impulsively agreed to sell the weapon to get his money back.

MP: My Father Did Not Inherit Wealth, But Martyrdom: Priyanka Gandhi

Bhopal: AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday said that her father (late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi) did not inherit wealth, but martyrdom (of his mother Indira Gandhi). Ms Gandhis statement comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Rajiv Gandhi amended the inheritance tax act to ensure that wealth of Indira Gandhi did not go to the government. Addressing a poll rally in Morena under Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh, Ms Gandhi recounted the assassination of her father and said that she had received pieces of his father when she was barely 17 years old. The Congress leader said that she was then seriously upset that her father was not given adequate security by the country which led to his assassination in a brutal manner. Ms Gandhi said that she was then angry with the country because she loved her father. She understands it now. My father did not inherit wealth, but inherited martyrdom, she said while referring to assassination of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Referring to electoral bonds, she described it the biggest scam and extortion of corrupt people by BJP. She said that the people who were raided by the Central agencies were the donors of BJP through electoral bonds, making it the richest party in the country. The raids on these donors stopped after they gave donations to BJP through electoral bonds and their cases were put in cold storage. Their names were concealed as donors in the electoral bonds. Is it not extortion? she asked. She said that one of the vaccine providers was a donor of BJP through electoral bonds. Now, things are coming out that some vaccinated people died of cardiac arrest. She also hit out at BJP for inducting leaders from other parties after levelling corruption charges against them. These leaders become clean after they join BJP, she said sarcastically. She alleged that BJP promoted those leaders who are corrupt and those who never raised peoples issues. She said that BJP never raised peoples issues such as price rise and unemployment problem and diverted attention of people from these issues by raking up non issues. Ms Gandhi said that BJP plans to make people dependent by providing them with five kg of ration and exhorted people to seek jobs from the ruling party instead. She said that Congress has named its manifesto Nyay Patra as injustice has been done to the people in the last ten years of the Narendra Modi government. Earlier in the day, she addressed an election rally in Chirmiri under Korba Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh.

Shivraj looks upon Vidisha to re-enter national politics

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Bhopal: Sixty five is not the age to press the refresh button in ones career. But, sexagenarian BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a four-time chief minister, is bold enough to reset his goal in life at his current age to re-enter national politics. The never-say-die leader looks upon Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency, considered one of the saffron citadels in the country, in Madhya Pradesh to enter the lower house of the parliament after a gap of two decades in this poll by dumping his dream of clinging to state politics till my last breath. I accept whatever responsibility the party assigns to me, has been his constant refrain in his election addresses in Vidisha. Chouhan, known as a fitness freak, was replaced with two-time MLA Mohan Yadav as chief minister after BJP won a landslide victory in the November, 2023 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. He was then kept in the dark about his future role by the BJP high command, leaving him frustrated. I would rather die than ask anything for me from Delhi (referring to BJP high command), he used to say while waiting for his suitable rehabilitation by the party. The party has then fielded him in Vidisha LS seat to move him to Delhi from state politics. I want to take him (Mr Chouhan to Delhi) with me, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently said while addressing an election meeting in the state where Mr Chouhan was present. Chouhan wasted no time to begin preparations for the polls as soon as he was declared candidate from Vidisha by BJP and started touring the constituency as if he is making debut in electoral politics. He had represented Vidisha LS seat five times earlier. Congress has fielded former MP Pratap Bhanu Sharma, a Brahmin, in the seat considering the sizable population of the community in the constituency. Willy Chouhan has created a ripple in Congress by successfully wooing the party veteran and former Union minister Suresh Pachouri, considered the Brahmin face of the grand old party in Madhya Pradesh, to join BJP to nip in the bud any move by it to play Brahmin card to wrest the seat from BJP. Around 2,000 Congress activists in Vidisha subsequently joined BJP following Mr Pachouris footsteps. Vidisha LS seat near Bhopal has always been considered a BJP stronghold, represented even by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1991) and Sushma Swaraj (2009 and 2014). The seat has remained with BJP since 1967 barring in 1980 and 1984 Lok Sabha polls when the incumbent Congress candidate was elected from the constituency. Besides the profile of the seat, Chouhan enjoys considerable influence over the women voters for undertaking various welfare schemes for them when he was the chief minister. Chouhan is eyeing the biggest victory in the polls in the state in Vidisha, a close aide of the BJP leader said.

My father didnt inherit wealth but martyrdom from Indira Gandhi: Priyanka

Modi cant understand this point, says the Congress leader at a rally in Madhya Pradeshs Morena

No Political Affiliation in Amit Shah's Alleged Fake Video Case as No Witnesses Appear

No Political Affiliation in Amit Shah's Alleged Fake Video Case as No Witnesses Appear Not even a single member of any political party on Thursday appeared before Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the special cell of the Delhi Police in connection with the sharing of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's fake video, the officials said. ''We have asked some of the leaders from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and one person from the Northeast. But no one turned-up for questioning on Thursday,'' a senior police officer said. The Delhi Police is likely to serve a second notice to the members of the Telangana Congress in connection with the uploading and sharing of the fake video of Shah. The four members of the Telangana Congress, who were supposed to appear before the office of the (IFSO), did not come on Wednesday. ''We will again ask them to appear before the IO (investigating officer), as they did not come on Wednesday,'' an officer, privy to the investigation said. The summonses were issued to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and four Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) members -- Shiva Kumar Ambala, Asma Tasleem, Satish Manne and Naveen Pettem -- under sections 91 and 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). According to the police sources, if a person is served notice under section 160/91 of the CrPC, the person can either make a physical appearance before the IO or send a legal representative. On Wednesday, Reddy's lawyer appeared before the IO and asserted that the Congress leader had nothing to do with creating or posting the doctored video of Shah's speech. According to police, about 22 people from various political parties in the states of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have been served notices in connection with the case and they have been asked to appear before the police on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The special cell of the Delhi Police had on Sunday registered an FIR after the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which is under the ministry of home affairs (MHA), filed a complaint about the doctored video of Shah where his statements indicating a commitment to abolish quota for Muslims on religious ground in Telangana were changed to make it seem that he was advocating scrapping of all reservations.

Soaring temperatures scorch Eastern and Southern India: Nandyal records sweltering 46.2 degrees Celsius

Soaring temperatures scorch Eastern and Southern India: Nandyal records sweltering 46.2 degrees Celsius Intense heat swept through east India and parts of the southern peninsular region on Thursday, testing power grids and prompting the Kerala government to order closure of educational institutions till May 6. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions scorched parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and coastal Andhra Pradesh. At least 17 places in these states recorded temperatures above the 44-degree Celsius mark. The mercury settled at 46.2 degrees Celsius at Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, 45.3 degrees at Palwancha in Telangana, 44.3 degrees at Karur Paramathi in Tamil Nadu, 45 degrees at Bolangir in Odisha, and 44.3 degrees at Kalaikunda in West Bengal. As Kerala continued to reel under punishing heat, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the closure of educational institutions in the state until May 6. The IMD said the ongoing heat wave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue till May 3 and abate thereafter. The Met office on Wednesday said above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heat wave days expected over the northern plains, central region, and adjoining areas of peninsular India. April saw record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast, and southern peninsular India prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools. A number of stations recorded their highest ever April day temperature. Five active Western Disturbances led to rain, thunderstorm, and hail storms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves. IMD data shows that heat waves in April this year were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far. This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heat wave days predicted over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Gujarat regions. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka, and Telangana may record five to seven heat wave days in the month. Normally, the northern plains, central India, and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat waves in May. India saw two spells of heat waves in April from April 5 to 7 and April 15 to 30. The IMD attributes the prolonged heat wave spell over east, northeast, and south peninsular India in April to the absence of thunderstorms and an anticyclone at lower levels over the west central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining eastern coasts of India. This caused the sea breeze to cut off over Odisha and West Bengal on most days. The weather office said south peninsular India recorded an average maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius in April, which was the second-highest since 1901. The mean temperature (28.12 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901, it said. The IMD said above normal maximum temperatures have become frequent over south peninsular India since 1980s. The region recorded 12.6 mm of rainfall in April, which was the fifth lowest since 1901 and the second lowest since 2001. According to IMD data, the number of heat wave days this April was the highest in 15 years in Gangetic West Bengal and nine years in Odisha. Odisha also experienced the longest heat wave spell (16 days) in April since 2016. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of thousands of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Polling for 94 constituencies across 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office had earlier expected four to eight heat wave days in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heat wave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period.

'My father inherited martyrdom, not wealth': Priyanka hits back at PM Modis jibe on Rajiv Gandhi

BHOPAL: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent inheritance tax jibe aimed at her father and former PM Rajiv Gandhi, asserting, It was not wealth, but the spirit of shahadat (martyrdom), which my father inherited from his mother. At a poll rally in Madhya Pradesh's Morena, the Congress leader fired back at the Prime Minister while campaigning for party candidate Nitu Sikarwar. PM accused my father of being a traitor and having scrapped a law just to inherit his mothers wealth. But not PM Modi, only you all present here who sent their children to guard the countrys borders can understand that my father (Rajiv Gandhi) didnt inherit money and wealth from his mother (Indira Gandhi). He inherited the spirit of martyrdom, she said. ' ' , , , , , : @priyankagandhi , pic.twitter.com/sh9Inf7KJR Congress (@INCIndia) May 2, 2024 Priyanka emotionally recounted the 1991 assassination of her father, adding that Modi will not understand the sacrifices made by her family. I was only 19 years old when I brought home pieces of my fathers body draped in the national tricolour. I was angry at the country then for not having saved my father, who sacrificed his life for the country, she said. Now, Im 52 and stating this fact publicly for the first time. But slowly, I realised that one only gets angry with someone he or she loves. How can I narrate how much we love our country when PM Modi terms by father a deshdrohi (traitor) on the public stage? the Congress leader continued. Last week, while addressing a rally in Morena, Modi had accused Rajiv of abolishing inheritance tax after coming to power to avoid taxation on the wealth inherited from his mother, Indira Gandhi. Listen with your ears wide open about the sins the Congress has committed. I want to put forth an interesting fact. When sister Indira Gandhi passed away, there was a law by virtue of which half of the wealth used to go to the government. There were talks then that Indiraji willed her wealth in her son Rajiv Gandhi's name, Modi had told the gathering. To save the money going to the government, the then-PM Rajiv Gandhi abolished the inheritance tax, the prime minister had claimed, as he tried to double down on his wealth redistribution and inheritance tax charge at the Congress. Immediately responding to Modi's remarks against Rajiv Gandhi, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said that every time he opens his mouth to speak, the prime minister provides fresh evidence of his meanness, pettiness, and his steadfast adherence to lies. Should we fear inheritance tax? Hard truths and the Chidambaram-Jaitley dalliance with it Meanwhile, during Thursday's poll campaign, Priyanka escalated her criticism of the prime minister, claiming that Modi can only discuss dynastic politics and not their patriotic spirit, which she insisted can never be erased from our hearts. When Modiji utters nonsense about a woman like Indiraji, when Modiji, after seeing this feeling of patriotism, only sees dynastic politics, he cannot understand this sacrifice, Priyanka said in a voice choked with emotion. Let him call us traitors, evict us from houses, and burden us with cases. He got my brother ousted from Parliament, burdening him with so many cases and forcing him to move from one state to another to face court trials in those cases. Let him (Modi) do whatever he wants to do with us, even kill us, but the spirit of patriotism can never be erased from our hearts, the Congress leader added. While maintaining that the preaching of Hinduism formed the basis of Mahatma Gandhis movement against British rule and also the foundation of the Congress, Priyanka lashed out at the BJP and accused the saffron party of using religion to hide their non-performance on public issues. We are all religious. My grandmother, Indira Gandhi, taught me how to perform puja and I accompanied my father (Rajiv Gandhi) to the temples. My mother, who hails from abroad, learned Indian traditions in this country and has taught me about Hinduism. It is all about truth and the eternal spirit of Satyamev Jayate. But those in power today raise emotive issues of religion at the time of polls to hide their non-performance on public issues, the Congress leader said. BJP targets Sam Pitroda's inheritance tax remark; Congress distances itself, calls it Modi's 'malicious' campaign

Maharashtra: 26-year-old man arrested for raping woman in Navi Mumbai

A Madhya Pradesh man was arrested for allegedly raping a woman from Navi Mumbai, the police said

TS HC Confirms Life Imprisonment of Suris Killer

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday upheld the sentence of life imprisonment of Malisetty Bhanu Kiran, alias Bhanu, in the killing of Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy, alias Maddilacheruvu Suri, a faction leader from Anantapur district, who had played a key role in the 2005 killing of the then MLA Paritala Ravi. Kiran was a close aide of Suri, whom he gunned down in January 2011. The Nampally court had in 2018 found Kiran guilty in the murder of Suri and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Challenging the same, Kiran approached the High Court. The bench of Justice K. Lakshman and Justice P. Sree Sudha heard the petition and on Thursday confirmed the trial courts order. Kirans contention was that there was no direct evidence to prove that he had killed Suri and that most of the witnesses had given contradictory statements, with many them turning hostile. Public prosecutor Palle Nageswara Rao said that Bhanu planned the murder and executed it when travelling with Suri in Hyderabad. Suri was sitting next to the driver and the only person in the rear seat was Kiran. He shot Suri from behind. The injuries on the right lower side of Suris head and the neck conclusively proved that it was Kiran who had pulled the trigger. After the offence, Bhanu fled to Madhya Pradesh where he changed his name to Mukesh Kunjam and secured an Aadhaar card on that name. The Madhya Pradesh police had booked Kiran for leading a dubious life with a fake identity. The gun that kiran used in the crime belonged to his private security person Man Mohan Singh Bhadauria, who was awarded five years jail in the same case, the public prosecutor said.

Shri Ram Janki Mandir public or private: Madhya Pradesh HC remands matter back to Jabalpur collector, details

Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur remitted a matter back to the Collector for further assessment of whether Shri Ram Janki Mandir, located in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, is a private or public trust.

Denied Sexual Favours, Man Rapes Woman At Hotel Near Mumbai: Police

A 26-year-old man from Madhya Pradesh has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman residing in Navi Mumbai, police said on Thursday.

Telangana Congress Members to be Re-summoned by Delhi Police in Amit Shah's Fake Video Case

Telangana Congress Members to be Re-summoned by Delhi Police in Amit Shah's Fake Video Case The Delhi Police is likely to serve a second notice to the members of the Telangana Congress in connection with the uploading and sharing a fake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the officials said on Thursday. The four members of the Telangana Congress, who were supposed to appear before the office of the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO), did not come on Wednesday. ''We will again ask them to appear before the IO (investigating officer), as they did not come on Wednesday,'' an officer, privy to the investigation said. The summonses were issued to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and four Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) members -- Shiva Kumar Ambala, Asma Tasleem, Satish Manne and Naveen Pettem -- under sections 91 and 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). According to the police sources, if a person is served notice under section 160/91 of the CrPC, the person can either make a physical appearance before the IO or send a legal representative. On Wednesday, Reddy's lawyer appeared before the IO and asserted that the Congress leader had nothing to do with creating or posting the doctored video of Shah's speech. According to police, about 22 people from various political parties in the states of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have been served notices in connection with the case and they have been asked to appear before the police on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police had on Sunday registered an FIR after the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which is under the ministry of home affairs (MHA), filed a complaint about the doctored video of Shah where his statements indicating a commitment to abolish quota for Muslims on religious ground in Telangana were changed to make it seem that he was advocating scrapping of all reservations.

Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency: Check polling date, candidates list, past election results

In Madhya Pradesh, the elections for its 29 Lok Sabha constituencies are scheduled to be conducted in four phases, April 19 (phase 1), April 26 (phase 2), May 7 (phase 3), and May 13 (phase 4).

BJP's Dharmendra Pradhan files nomination from Sambalpur for Lok Sabha elections

BJP's Dharmendra Pradhan files nomination from Sambalpur for Lok Sabha elections Senior BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday filed his nomination for Lok Sabha polls from Sambalpur in Odisha. In the morning, Pradhan visited Samaleswari Temple to seek blessings, before participating in a two-hour-long roadshow from the temple to the DC office where he filed the nomination. There is a demand for change in Odisha and the BJP is determined to win not only the Lok Sabha polls but also the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clarion call of 400 paar and I am confident that all 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha will be won by the BJP, he told PTI. Pradhan, who is a cabinet minister in the Modi government, is contesting elections after a gap of 15 years, after the BJP picked him as its candidate for Sambalpur, which is the epicentre of western Odisha. He had last contested elections in 2009 after the BJP-BJD alliance had ended. He lost the assembly poll that year. Pradhan was elected to the Odisha Assembly in 2000 and to the Lok Sabha from Deogarh seat in 2004. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar in 2012 and again in 2018 from Madhya Pradesh.

Lok Sabha elections: Police seize firearm during vehicle checking in Jeedimetla

Hyderabad: The vehicle checking conducted by the police in view of Lok Sabha elections enabled them to seize a counter-made weapon along with three bullets and a mobile phone from a person at Chintal in Jeedimetla on the city suburbs here on Thursday. While checking vehicles, the police intercepted a motorist identified as Vamshi Krishna Goud and checked the vehicle only to find a counter made weapon along with bullets. After being grilled, Goud admitted that he purchased the weapon from a person from Madhya Pradesh who came in contact with him through Facebook. The police detained Goud to collect more details from him whether any other person purchased firearms illegally from Madhya Pradesh. In view of Parliament elections, the police intensified vehicle checking at several locations across the city to keep a tab on those moving suspiciously or carrying cash and weapons illegally.

School Holiday: Summer vacation declared, now schools will remain closed for so many days

Summer vacation has started in Madhya Pradesh from 1st May, whereas in Delhi, schools will remain closed from 11th May to 30th June. However, teachers will have to come from 28th to 30th June, so that they can complete the preparations before the school opens. School Holiday/Summer Vacation 2024: Amidst the scorching heat and heat [] The post School Holiday: Summer vacation declared, now schools will remain closed for so many days first appeared on informalnewz .

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister takes holy dip, swims in Ujjain's Shipra river

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister takes holy dip swims in Ujjains Shipra river

Youth held with a country made pistol & live ammunition

Guddi Vamsi Krishna arrested in Jeedimetla with a country made pistol and live rounds. The weapon was sourced from a Madhya Pradesh supplier through Facebook. Vishal Yadav alias Gun Runner facilitated the transaction for sale.

Above normal heatwave days in May, predict IMD

NEW DELHI: The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a forecast indicating that India is likely to experience an above-normal number of heatwave days in May, with both maximum and minimum temperatures expected to rise. The trend of warmer weather has already been observed, with April recording 40% more heatwave days than the historical average. Normally heat waves prevail over northern plains, central India and adjoining areas of peninsular India for about 3 days in different meteorological stations in May.However, this month, different parts of the country will have an additional 2-8 days of heatwave. The number of heatwave days is likely to be above normal by about 5-8 days over central India i.e. south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and Gujarat region.Additionally, the Northwest, Eastern, and Southern regions, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, northern interior Karnataka, Telangana, and isolated pockets of northern Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, may experience 2-4 days of above-normal temperatures. Furthermore, most parts of the country are expected to see above-normal maximum temperatures, except for certain regions in the northeast, northwest, central India, and parts of the northeast peninsula. Similarly, above-normal minimum temperatures are anticipated across the nation, except for specific areas in northwest India, the Indo-Gangetic plains, central India, and much of northeast India. Despite rainfall averaged over the country in May 2024 is most likely to be normal (91-109% of the long-period average). Earlier in April, the Southern Peninsula was one of the driest regions since 1901. This region experienced only 12.6 mm rainfall in April which is the fifth lowest since 1901. In addition, the Peninsular region was the second hottest month since 1901, the average mean temperature is 31.39Celsius which is more than the normal mean temperature of 30.16Celsius. Furthermore, April reportedly 118 days of heatwave days against average of 71 days. Most heatwave days were reported from Odisha (18 days) highest in the pastnine years, West Bengal (16 days) which was the highest in past 15 years, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Interior Karnataka (10 days), Southern Karnataka (8 days), Tamil Nadu and Sikkim (7days). Moreover, Odisha got the longest spell of heatwave in April 2024 during 15-30 April(16 days), after April 2016 when it prevailed during 9- 30 April 2016(21 days). A Larger number of heatwave days than average is due to scanty rainfall and the persistence of anti-cyclones over Bay of Bengal and adjoining eastern coasts of India. However, no heat waves were reported over north & central India during April 2024 due to back-to-back five Western Disturbances.

Forest personnel being deployed on duty in Lok Sabha elections

President of MP Forest Employees Forum, Pandey raises questions Chronicle Reporter, Bhopal The postcard movement of forest employees under the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Karmachari Manch, which started on April 16, in protest against the election duty proceedings of the collectors, continued on the 14th day as well. Forest employees of Madhya Pradesh have so... The post Forest personnel being deployed on duty in Lok Sabha elections first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

I have always fought for principles: Singhar

Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar refutes rumors of joining BJP Chronicle Reporter, Bhopal Refuting rumors of joining the BJP, Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Umang Singhar said that I have always fought the battle of principles and will continue to fight. He said that those who are spreading wild rumors about my joining... The post I have always fought for principles: Singhar first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

'Educated People Expected to be Civilised Are Snatching Away 18-Month-Old Child': Madhya Pradesh HC Grants Custody to Mother

The court noted with disappointment that the couple seemed to prioritise their own egos over the welfare of their child and showed little regard for their social standing and reputation

Congress has not fielded Muslim candidates in 12 states: AIMIM chief

HYDERABAD : AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday said that the Congress has not fielded even a single candidate from the Muslim community in more than a dozen states. Addressing a public meeting at Dabeerpura, the Hyderabad MP said: In Parliament, the participating form of democracy was formulated in which people across every religion and caste were supposed to take part. According to the 2011 Census, there are 17 crore Muslims (around 14 per cent), but the Muslim MPs are only 4.5 per cent. In Maharashtra, there are 38 Lok Sabha seats and around 1.10 crore Muslims (around 12-13 per cent), but neither Congress, Sharad Pawar (NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar), nor Uddhav Thackeray (UBT) gave tickets to a Muslim person. The Congress has also not given tickets to Muslims in Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Punjab. On one side, Muslim people are not given tickets, and on the other side, the BJPs manifesto does not even mention Muslims. So who will fight for you people? That is why I am saying these elections are very important for us, he said.

Madhya Pradesh: BJP, Congress bank on defectors in Morena

BHOPAL : As the Lok Sabha polls move into the third phase in Madhya Pradesh, the spotlight will be on the Gwalior-Chambal region the most fiercely contested region in the 2023 assembly polls, where BJP won 18 and Congress finished a close second with 16 seats. While the region houses four seats Guna, Gwalior, Bhind-SC and Morena the last one, Morena, seems to be emerging as the hottest and toughest. Spread across eight assembly segments in Morena and Sheopur districts bordering Rajasthan, Morena is famous for being the land of the sweet Gajak (sweet prepared with sesame and jaggery), the expanding Banmore Industrial Area, and the Kuno National Park (KNP), which is home to African cheetahs since September 2022. The constituency, which houses around 20.04 lakh voters (10.70 lakh males, 9.34 lakh females and 24 third gender), has turned into a BJP citadel since 1996, with former Morena mayor Ashok Argal, infamous for being allegedly involved in the 2008 cash-for-votes scandal, winning the seat four times in a row between 1996 and 2004. With the BSP too being a formidable player, the contest this time in Morena appears to be three-cornered, but as per political observers, the battle may ultimately boil down to the BJP and Congress. The BSP may largely play a spoiler for either of the two main parties. Aiming to snatch the seat from the BJP, the Congress has fielded Satyapal Singh Neetu Sikarwar, the son of a BJP leader. The younger son of BJP veteran and two-time former BJP MLA from Morena Lok Sabha seats Sumaoli assembly segment Gajraj Singh Sikarwar, the Congress candidate had won the seat in 2013 assembly polls on BJP ticket. Neetus elder brother Satish Sikawar, also a former BJP man who defected to the Congress in 2020, is the first-time Congress MLA from Gwalior-East seat, while Satishs wife Shobha Sikarwar is currently Congress Gwalior mayor. Though Neetu was declared the Congress candidate from Morena after a long delay and only around a month before the May 7 poll battle, the partys best bet is his familys major influence not just among the Kshatriya community he hails from, but also other castes including Brahmins, Kushwahas and SCs. Gajraj Singh Sikarwar, who is known among Kshatriyas as Dada (elder brother), now remains confined to a wheelchair due to severe paralytic attack. But despite this, the former BJP veteran has issued a pamphlet appeal to voters (particularly eyeing the 2 lakh plus Kshatriya voters) for his sons poll success. On the other hand, the BJP nominee Shiv Mangal Singh Tomar is an ex-MLA from Dimani assembly segment, currently represented by his mentor and Vidhan Sabha Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar. Shiv Mangal Tomar won from Dimani on the BJP ticket in 2008 by just 256 votes, but lost by bigger margins from the same assembly seat in 2013 and 2018. With the second-time MP and former Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar who won the Morena seat in 2009 and 2018 now being the states Vidhan Sabha speaker, BJP has fielded Shiv Mangal Tomar, who is being largely seen as the former Union ministers shadow candidate to maintain his clout in the regions politics. Narendra Singh Tomar and Dada Gajraj Singh Sikarwar are considered two major Kshatriya politicians in Morena. It is an open secret in local BJP circles that Tomar was instrumental in Dadas elder son Satishs defeat in 2018 assembly polls in Gwalior-East, when Satish contested as BJP candidate. Tomars hand is also alleged in the defeats of other BJP leaders, including former Madhya Pradesh ministers Jaibhan Singh Pavaiya and Anoop Mishra in Gwalior district in 2013 and 2018 assembly polls. With a major section of BJP in Gwalior-Chambal region, particularly in Morena, being averse to Tomar, the possibility of some BJP quarters internally backing the Congress candidate in the May 7 polls cannot be ruled out, a BJP leader in Morena, who wished not to be named, told this newspaper. While the Congress is eyeing the seat it had last won in 1991 through a BJP family scion, the BJP too is working on a counter plan of banking on desertions from other parties. The list of major politicians from the region who have joined the BJP in this poll season include six-time MLA and former minister Ramniwas Rawat (a powerful OBC leader who missed out the Congress ticket despite having finished runners up from the seat in 2019 and 2009), Morena mayor Sharda Solanki, former Congress MLAs Rakesh Mawai and Ajab Singh Kushwah (all from Congress), besides BSPs ex-Brahmin MLA Balveer Dandotiya, who lost to Narendra Singh Tomar in 2023 assembly polls. There is no other issue except caste in the politics of Gwalior-Chambal region, particularly Morena. Even the dacoits who once called the shots in the Chambal ravines of Bhind and Morena largely headed the gangs on caste lines. By roping in these former Congress and BSP leaders in its ranks, the BJP is eyeing to cut into Congress and BSP votes in various dominant castes, including Gurjars, Brahmins, Kushwah, Rawat (Meena) and Scheduled Castes. But the ruling party also risks the possibility of other castes and its own cadres averse to these leaders since long, actually working against the partys candidate on the poll day, Morena-based political analyst Hariom Gaur said. A caste-wise break-up of the 20.04 lakh voters in Morena constituency reveals that the Scheduled Castes form the largest chunk with around 4 lakh plus votes, Kshatriyas (2.75 lakh), the OBCs including Gurjars, Rawats and Kushwahas collectively around 4-5 lakh, Brahmins who are around 2.5 lakh and the Baniyas around one lakh. With the BSP fielding Ramesh Chand Garg for the May 7 battle, the Congress hopes to profit from the possibility of the BSP candidate eating into BJPs traditional voter base. 2,361 polling stations spread across 8 assembly segments in Morena and Sheopur districts.

India, Norway extend health cooperation with 4th phase of NIPI

India, Norway extend health cooperation with 4th phase of NIPI Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra and Deputy Ambassador of Norway Martine Aamdal Bottheim signed the documents for the 4th phase of Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) extending cooperation in various health schemes. Under the initiative which commenced in 2006 various Indian states including Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and the UT of Jammu and Kashmir have received support to augment facilities in terms of maternal and child health care. A health initiative between Government of India and Government of Norway, the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) Phase 3 builds on experiences from NIPI 1 & 2 and focuses on areas of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. Aligned with the development goals of Government of India as outlined in its National Health Policy (NHP) 2017 for achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, NIPI-3 is providing catalytic, strategic, technical support to NHM for scaling up of demonstrated best practices in aspirational districts, Strengthening Innovation Development Capacities in the public health system; and Documentation and Dissemination of NHM and NIPI interventions in five NIPI supported States and UT. The cooperation will continue to innovate, improve and scale up quality continuum of care interventions at community and facility levels, and contribute effectively towards actualizing the Indian Government's National Health Policy (NHPs) Goals. The Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) was established in 2006, based on an agreement between the Governments of Norway and India to make sustainable efforts to reduce Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality in India. NIPI's aim is to provide strategic, catalytic and innovative support to India's National Health Mission (NHM) by testing scalable interventions in four high focus states of Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The first two phases of NIPI (2006-17) were highly successful and both the Governments of India and Norway agreed on the effective and positive outcomes of NIPI and the need to continue this partnership further. This led to signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Phase 3 between the Governments. Phase 3 builds on the experience of Phase 1 & Phase 2. It will be scaled up to the aspirational districts and also establish an innovation hub. The best practices in maternal and newborn child health carried out under the National Health Mission and NIPI will be shared for global dissemination and learning. (ANI)

IMD Predicts More Heatwave Days In Many States, Rainfall Likely In Northeast | Weather Updates

The weather agency said that around eight to 11 heatwave days are likely over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and Gujarat region, which get an average of three days of such days in May

Decoding former Telangana CMs coalition at Centre remarks

HYDERABAD : Former chief minister and BRS president K Chandrasekhar Raos assertion that his party will win 12 Lok Sabha seats and play a key role in a coalition government formation at the Centre has left leaders of other parties wondering how its possible given the political matrix. He even went on to say that his party Khammam candidate Nama Nageswara Rao would become a Union minister. Though KCR is known for making sensational statements, his current prediction defies logic as most of the regional parties are in alliance with either the INDIA bloc or the NDA and the BRS doesnt belong to either of them. Among the few parties that are maintaining a distance from both the blocs are the YSRCP, BJD, BSP, AIADMK and Akali Dal. Major regional parties such as the TMC, DMK and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) are with the INDIA Bloc. In this situation, KCR stands no chance, even remotely, of playing a key role in the formation of a coalition government at the Centre. His grandiose plans to expand the BRS to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, etc., petered out after his party lost in the Assembly elections. The BRS is also facing a tough challenge in Telangana to retain its Lok Sabha seats as the Congress and BJP pose a serious challenge. With six of the BRSs sitting MPs shifting loyalties to the Congress and BJP, the party has fielded a number of new faces in the upcoming elections. CM A Revanth Reddy has called KCRs statement a big joke and alleged that the latter was indicating a pact with the BJP. Revanth has unequivocally said that KCR would not be allowed to be part of the INDIA bloc. Senior political leaders are of the view that KCRs statement may be a ploy to grab peoples attention and win as many LS seats as possible.

Uma Bharti Comes Out Of Hiatus, Campaigns For Scindia In Guna

Senior BJP leader and former chief minister Uma Bharti on Wednesday joined her partys campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh after a four-month break from politics by canvassing for Union minister Jyotiradiya Scindia in Guna LS constituency in the state. Ms Bharti addressed two public meetings along with Mr Scindia in Pichhore and Shivpuri, falling under Guna LS seat, and joined him at a road show held in Shivpuri later in the evening. This is the first time; Ms Bharti took part in the campaign of BJP for the ongoing LS elections. She had taken a break from politics and was on a spiritual tour to the Himalayas for the last three months, Raviraj Singh, a close aide of Ms Bharti told this newspaper. She had not campaigned for the party in the first and second phase of LS elections in the state. Ms Bharti had maintained low profile in the November, 2023 Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh by virtually keeping herself aloof from partys electioneering. The party leadership had evinced little interest when Ms Bharti had offered to campaign for the BJP in the last Assembly elections in the state. The firebrand saffron leader had appealed to the BJP national president J P Nadda ahead of the general elections not to consider her candidature for the LS polls before going on her spiritual tour to Himalayas. Ms Bharti had also not contested in the 2019 LS polls citing her health condition. She had won the polls from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 LS polls. Sources said that Ms Bharti was roped in by Mr Scindia to campaign in Shivpuri and Pichhore because the two Assembly constituencies have sizeable population of Lodhi community to which Ms Bharti belonged to. Ms Bharti also enjoys good relations with the Gwalior royal family of Scindia. She had heartily welcomed Mr Scindia when the latter crossed over to BJP after snapping two-decade-old ties with Congress in March 2020. Mr Scindia is seeking election from Guna LS constituency, considered the family bastion of the erstwhile Gwalior royal family. He had suffered a shock defeat at the hand of K P Yadav of BJP in the 2019 LS polls. Mr Scindia had then contested from the seat as a Congress candidate. BJP dropped the sitting MP in Guna Mr Yadav and replaced him with Mr Scindia in the seat in this poll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has earlier released a letter describing him as witness to the developments undertaken by Mr Scindia.

8-Year-Old Girl Drugged and Raped In School Hostel In Madhya Pradesh, 3 Booked And SIT Probe Ordered

An eight-year-old girl, a class two student in a boarding school here, was allegedly raped in her hostel, police said on Wednesday. Three people including the hostel warden were booked under POCSO Act and relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) in connection with the incident, Misrod police station in-charge Manish Bhadoria said. The three accused were yet to be arrested, police said. Police suspected that the incident may be four-five days old. Chief minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday ordered a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the incident. An FIR was filed in the local police station late on Tuesday evening in connection with the incident based on a complaint by the alleged victim. Police quoting the alleged victim said that the girl was given food laced with some intoxicated substance. She had lost consciousness after consuming the food. When she regained her consciousness, she allegedly found that a man was outraging her modesty while another man was standing nearby, the complaint said. She narrated the incident before her mother on video call. Her mother later admitted her to a local government hospital. Police said the process of her medical examination was underway. Mr Bhadoria said that the CCTV footage of the hostel has been recovered as the date of incident is not clear. Things will be clear in a detailed medical examination, he said.

Third Eye: Consistent performer, confessed to fabricating and journey's just begun

Babaria's controversial attitude leads to Lovely's resignation. Despite controversies, Babaria eyes AICC promotion. Rahul Gandhi's pick for Madhya Pradesh faces issues. State leaders complain about Babaria's conduct.

BJP needs 25-30 years in power to solve problems that started from Muhammad Ghori's times: Uma Bharti

Uma Bharti was speaking at a rally at Pichhore in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district in support of BJP candidate and Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. This country is not going to recover soon. You will have to give a lot of time to (prime minister Narendra) Modi, because the problems plaguing the country have very deep roots. These problems are from the time of Mohammad Ghori. These are from the time of Mahmud Ghaznavi. These are from the Mughal period. These are from the British period, Bharti told the gathering. The Mughals and British left, but the Congress leaders who succeeded them after 1947 shared their characteristics, she said.

CBI searches over 30 locations across 10 States/UTs in HPZ Token app case

The searches were carried out in and around Delhi, Maharashtra, including Mumbai; Karnataka, including Bengaluru; Rajasthan, including Jodhpur; Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, leading to the seizure of mobile phones, computer hard drives, SIM cards, ATM/debit cards, email accounts, and various documents

Madhya Pradesh: Former CM Uma Bharti campaigns for Jyotiraditya Scindia in Shivpuri

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Teacher held for sexual exploitation at Ujjain Ashram school

Ujjain: The police in Madhya Pradesh has arrested a teacher for alleged sexual exploitation of minor students at an Ashram school here, an official said on Wednesday, May 1. Three boys studying at the religious institution two aged 14 years and one 12 years lodged a complaint on Tuesday evening alleging sexual abuse, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Heat Waves to Scorch Northern Plains and Central India in May: IMD Forecast

Heat Waves to Scorch Northern Plains and Central India in May: IMD Forecast Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heat wave days expected over the northern plains, central region, and adjoining areas of peninsular India, said IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra on Wednesday. A prolonged and intense spell of heat wave scorched swathes of east, northeast, and southern peninsular India in April, prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools. Five active Western Disturbances led to rain, thunderstorm, and hailstorms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves, the India Meteorological Department's director general told a press conference. IMD data shows that the heat waves in April this year were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far. This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heat wave days predicted over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Gujarat regions, Mohapatra said. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka, and Telangana may record five-seven heat wave days in the month, he said. Normally, the northern plains, central India, and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat waves in May. Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May, except for most parts of northeast India, some parts of northwest and central India, and adjoining areas of northeast peninsular India where normal to below-normal maximum temperatures are likely, the IMD said. Above normal minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country except the northeast and some areas of northwest India, Indo-Gangetic plains, and the central region. Normal rainfall (91-109 per cent of the long-period average) is predicted in the country in May. Normal to above normal rainfall is likely over most parts of northwest India, and some parts of central, peninsular and northeast India. Below normal precipitation is likely in the remaining parts of the country, the IMD said. India saw two spells of heat waves in April from April 5 to 7 and April 15 to 30. Mohapatra attributed the prolonged heat wave spell over east, northeast, and south peninsular India in April to the absence of thunderstorms and a persisting anticyclone at lower levels over the west central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining eastern coasts of India. This caused the sea breeze to cut off over Odisha and West Bengal on most days, he said. The IMD said south peninsular India recorded an average maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius in April, which was the second-highest since 1901. The mean temperature (28.12 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901, the weather office said. The IMD chief said above normal maximum temperatures have become frequent over south peninsular India since 1980s. The region recorded 12.6 mm of rainfall in April, which was the fifth lowest since 1901 and the second lowest since 2001. Mohapatra said the number of heat wave days this April was the highest in 15 years in Gangetic West Bengal and nine years in Odisha. Odisha also experienced the longest heat wave spell (16 days) in April since 2016. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of thousands of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Polling for 94 constituencies across 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office had earlier expected four to eight heat wave days in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heat wave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period. Following a decrease in turnout in the first phase of polling, the Election Commission (EC) set up a task force to review the impact of the heat wave. The task force includes officials of the poll panel, the IMD, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. Given the Central government's contemplation of the 'one nation, one-poll' concept, the IMD chief had earlier told PTI that authorities must consider weather conditions and the climate in their planning. 'One nation, one poll' refers to the idea of holding simultaneous polls in the country to elect Lok Sabha and state assembly representatives.

MP opposition leader Singhar distances himself from BJP, takes swipe at Saindia

MP opposition leader Singhar distances himself from BJP, takes swipe at Saindia Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh assembly Umang Singhar of the Congress on Wednesday rejected speculations of joining the BJP and took potshots at Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia whose 2020 switch over led to the collapse of the Kamal Nath government. He alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was spreading rumours about defection of senior Congress leaders to divert voters' attention from core issues in the Lok Sabha elections. Singhar targeted Scindia, whose exit from the Congress led to the collapse of the 15-month-old Nath government in March 2020 and paved the way for the BJP's return to power in Madhya Pradesh. Scindia later joined the BJP and became a minister at the Centre. ''BJP leaders from Delhi to Bhopal have been contacting me (for switch over) for the last several years. Even when the Kamal Nath government was toppled, I was given all kinds of inducements. Even then I did not join the BJP because I am Umang Singhar and not Scindia,'' the senior Congress MLA remarked. Singhar was replying to queries from reporters in Indore about speculations of him joining the saffron party. The Congress legislator alleged the ruling BJP is putting pressure on opposition leaders by misusing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department. ''If the Congress had done this kind of politics in the last 70 years, the BJP would not have been visible today,'' he maintained. The Leader of Opposition targeted six-time Congress MLA from Vijaypur (Sheopur district) Ramniwas Rawat, who joined the BJP on Tuesday. Singhar claimed Rawat joined the ruling party out of greed for a ministerial post and sought to downplay his switch over. ''It doesn't make a difference to the Congress if power-hungry people leave the party,'' he said. Asked about Congress candidate from Indore Lok Sabha seat Akshay Kanti Bam withdrawing his nomination and later joining the BJP, Singhar remarked that it turned out to be a case of an ''unexploded firecracker''. ''Whether it is Surat (where Congress candidate's nomination was rejected) or Indore, the law and the Constitution were openly violated. The BJP is trying to change the Constitution,'' he alleged.

India Braces for Extreme Weather: Heatwaves and Thunderstorms Predicted For These States

The weather department has issued warnings across India for extreme heat and thunderstorms over the next few days. In Gangetic West Bengal, a red alert has been issued for a severe heatwave lasting three days. Odisha faces a two-day heatwave alert. Meanwhile, East India has been placed under an orange alert for the next 3-5 days. IMD scientist Soma Sen anticipates a slight drop in temperatures starting from May 5 due to increased moisture. From May 4, South Peninsular India, including states like Telangana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, will experience thunderstorm activity. The IMD attributes the severe heatwave conditions to fewer thunderstorms in East and Northeast India. IMD's Rainfall Predictions: Thunderstorms accompanied by rainfall or snowfall are expected in several northeastern states over the next 5 days. Hailstorms were predicted over Sikkim on May 1. Heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya from May 1-2, and over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura from May 1-3. Very heavy rainfall is expected over Arunachal Pradesh on May 1-2, and over parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura on May 2. Rainfall or snowfall with thunderstorms and lightning are expected in northern regions from May 3-6, and over certain parts of North and West India from May 4-6. IMD's Heatwave Predictions: Maximum temperatures ranging from 44-47C will persist over Gangetic West Bengal, East Jharkhand, north Odisha, and Rayalaseema until May 3, followed by a decrease. Severe heatwave conditions are expected over various regions including Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and others on May 1, with a gradual reduction in intensity thereafter. Telangana, Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, and Yanam are expected to experience heatwave conditions for the next 4-5 days. Hot and humid weather is forecasted for Coast Karnataka, Kerala, and Mahe over the next 5 days. IMD's Maximum Temperature Predictions: Northwest India will see a rise in maximum temperatures by 4-6C in the next 24 hours. East India will experience no significant change in maximum temperatures over the next 48 hours, followed by a decrease of 2-3C. Central India is expected to witness a rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3C over the next 3 days. West India will see no significant change in maximum temperatures over the next 48 hours, followed by a rise of 2-3C. Make a plan to visit this beautiful place with your family in summer, the beauty is limitless How Coconut Water Can Keep You Cool and Hydrated During Summer How Summer Fruits Packed with Vitamin C Boost Your Nutrition

Northern Plains, Central India To Have High Number Of Heat Wave Days In May: IMD

New Delhi, May 1: Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heat wave days are expected over northern plains, central region and adjoining areas of peninsular India, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Wednesday. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel Around 8-11 heat wave days are likely over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and Gujarat region in May, India Meteorological Departments Director General Mohapatra [] The post Northern Plains, Central India To Have High Number Of Heat Wave Days In May: IMD appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

India may see above normal maximum temperatures in May: IMD

The Indian Meteorological Department predicts above-average temperatures across most of India in May, except for certain regions. Heatwave days are expected to increase by two to eight days, particularly in South Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Gujarat. IMD issues alerts for Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha due to high temperatures.

Assam Faces Mafia Raj Under Chief Minister Sarma, Claims Priyanka Gandhi

DHUBRI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the BJP during a poll rally in Assam on Wednesday, accusing the saffron party of becoming the world's richest party in just 10 years while Congress had not accumulated as much wealth in 70 years. She criticized the BJP's electoral bonds issue and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was out of touch with the realities faced by ordinary people due to his egoism. Priyanka Gandhi also alleged that Assam is experiencing a mafia raj under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of being involved in multiple scams and having a secret understanding with Badruddin Ajmal of the AIUDF. She suggested this alliance was similar to BJP's arrangement with Assaduddin Owaisi in Telangana, both aimed at defeating Congress. The Congress leader also targeted the BJP over sexual abuse allegations against Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna, noting that PM Modi had campaigned for him and then did not prevent him from leaving the country. She highlighted rising unemployment as a major issue in Assam and accused the CM and his ministers of focusing only on their own interests. Former Punjab MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy Joins AAP After Quitting Congress Veteran Madhya Pradesh Congress Leader Ramniwas Rawat Joins BJP Raghav Chadha's Extended Absence Raises Questions Amid Kejriwal's Arrest

Girl, 8, Raped At School's Hostel In Bhopal, Case Filed Against 3

An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped in the hostel of a private school in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, following which a case has been registered against three persons, a police official said on Wednesday.

CBI Cracks Down on App-Based Investment Scam Across India

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a nationwide crackdown, raiding 30 locations in 10 states and union territories in connection with a fraudulent investment scheme linked to the HPZ Token App. According to officials, the CBI initiated action after filing a case related to a scam where the public was duped into investing in fake cryptocurrency mining machine rentals. The operation, which spanned across the country, concluded on Tuesday night. The case involves two private companies, Shigoo Technology Private Limited and Lillian Technocab Private Limited, along with their directors, who have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. During the raids conducted in Delhi-NCR, Jodhpur, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, the CBI seized digital devices like laptops, mobile phones, ATM and debit cards, along with numerous email accounts. The HPZ Token App lured users with promises of substantial profits through investments in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies using mining machines. The perpetrators employed tactics to convince victims to invest in the app, claiming astronomical returns, stated the CBI. Investigations have revealed around 150 bank accounts associated with the accused, which were used to gather funds from investors. Initially, these funds were used to make payouts to instill trust, but later they were illegally transferred out of India, often converted into cryptocurrency or routed through Hawala transactions, the CBI added in a statement on Wednesday. Bomb Threats Shake Delhi-NCR Schools Updates: Nearly 100 Institutions on Alert Breaking News! Bomb Threat Grips Delhi Schools

Eight-year-old girl raped at private school's hostel in Bhopal, three booked; MP CM orders SIT probe

Eight-year-old girl raped at private school's hostel in Bhopal, three booked; MP CM orders SIT probe An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped in the hostel of a private school in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, following which a case has been registered against three persons, a police official said on Wednesday. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe the case. The police said they were trying to ascertain when the incident exactly took place. ''An eight-year-old girl was allegedly raped at a girls' hostel of private school. Following a complaint in this regard, the police registered a case on Tuesday night against three persons under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 376 (rape) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,'' Misrod police station in-charge Manish Raj Bhadoria said. Although the names of the accused are mentioned in the FIR, their identity is being established, he said. When asked about the allegation that the girl was drugged before the crime, Bhadoria said all these things will be clear once the investigation gets over. ''The process of carrying out the medical examination of the victim and recording her statement is underway,'' he said, adding that several police teams have been constituted to collect the evidence related to the case. On whether the clinical examination confirmed that the girl was raped, Bhadoria said a comprehensive report is awaited. Replying to a query that injuries and swelling were found in the girl's private part during a medical examination conducted by doctors as per the request by the victim's mother, the police official said the complainant has made this allegation, but things will be clear in a detailed medical examination. Bhadoria said that the CCTVs footage of the hostel has been recovered as the date of incident is not clear. ''The accused will be arrested once their identity is established,'' he said. The office of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that taking cognizance of the matter, the CM ordered an SIT to probe into the matter.

App-based fraudulent investment schemes: CBI raids 30 locations across nation

NEW DELHI: In a massive crackdown against App-based fraudulent investment schemes involving Shigoo Technology Private Limited and Lillian Technocab Private Limited, the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) on Wednesday launched a nation-wide search operation covering 30 locations across nine states and one Union Territory (UT), officials said. The officials said the raids were conducted in Delhi (NCR), Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The maximum of 6 locations each were searched in Delhi (NCR) and Rajasthan, they added. A senior CBI official said, The searches led to the seizure of significant digital evidence, including mobile phones, computer hard drives, SIM cards, ATM/Debit cards, email accounts, and various incriminating documents. He further noted that searches conducted in this case, is a critical step in the ongoing investigation to dismantle the fraudulent scheme and gather evidence against the accused. The CBI had registered a case under various relevant sections of the IPC and the Information Technology Act, 2000 against two private companies - Shigoo Technology Private Limited and Lillian Technocab Private Limited and their Directors, on the allegations that the accused were involved in a fraudulent investment scheme linked to the HPZ Token App, the official said. The scheme involved misleading the public into investing in non-existent crypto-currency mining machine rentals. The HPZ is an app-based token which promises users large gains by investing in mining machines for Bitcoin and other crypto currencies. The fraudsters allegedly used a modus operandi that enticed victims to invest in the HPZ token app on the pretext of astronomical returns on their investments in Bitcoin mining, the official said. The investigation, so far, has revealed that approximately 150 bank accounts related to the accused were used to collect funds from investors, he said, while alleging that the funds were initially used for payouts to build trust, before being illicitly transferred out of India, often converted into cryptocurrency or moved through Hawala transactions.

Madhya Pradesh: LoP Umang Singhar say greed of post saw MLA Ramniwas Rawat switch sides to BJP

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CBI Cracks Down on Illegal App-Based Investment Scheme in Nationwide Raid

CBI Cracks Down on Illegal App-Based Investment Scheme in Nationwide Raid The CBI has searched 30 locations across 10 states and union territories after registering a case in a fraudulent investment scheme linked to the HPZ Token App, officials said Wednesday. The agency has alleged the scheme involved misleading the public to invest in non-existent crypto-currency mining machine rentals. The nationwide operation ended Tuesday night. Two private companies, Shigoo Technology Private Limited and Lillian Technocab Private Limited, along with their directors were booked in the case under Indian Penal Code Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) 419, 420 (cheating) and Section 66 D of Information Technology Act, 2000, officials said. The CBI seized digital devices, including laptops, mobile phones, ATM and debit cards besides a trove of email accounts, during the searches spread across Delhi-NCR, Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Mumbai in Maharashtra, Bengaluru in Karnataka as well as locations in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. ''The HPZ is an app-based token which promises users large gains by investing in mining machines for Bitcoin and other crypto currencies. The fraudsters allegedly used a modus operandi that enticed victims to invest in the HPZ token app on the pretext of astronomical returns on their investments in Bitcoin mining,'' the CBI alleged. The probe in the case so far has unearthed 150 bank accounts related to the accused used to collect funds from investors. ''These funds were initially used for payouts to build trust, before being illicitly transferred out of India, often converted into cryptocurrency or moved through Hawala transactions,'' the CBI said in a statement on Wednesday.

6-time legislator Rawat joins BJP in big blow to Congress

BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agarwal said that there was resentment in the Congress party.reports Asian Lite News Madhya Pradesh Congress party suffered another major setback amid Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday... The post 6-time legislator Rawat joins BJP in big blow to Congress first appeared on India Daily Digital .

Severe heat wave forecast in W Bengal Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand; isolated rains predicted over Kerala, TN

Severe heat wave forecast in W Bengal Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand; isolated rains predicted over Kerala, TN The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday has issued a red alert for Severe heatwave conditions in Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand for Wednesday and Thursday. On Tuesday Kalaikunda, located in Gangetic West Bengal, recorded the highest temperature in the country at a sweltering 47.2 degrees Celsius. As per a warning issued at 9.30 am today the Met Department has said that Heat wave to Severe Heat Wave condition very likely to prevail in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Angul, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack and Boudh.Heat wave condition very likely to prevail in the districts of Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Sonepur, Nuapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Nayagarh, Malkangiri, , Nawarangpur, Gajapati, Rayagada. It further said that hot and humid weather condition very likely to prevail in the districts of Koraput, Puri, Ganjam. According to the technical definition, it is considered to be a heat wave if maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40 degree Celsius or more for the plains and at least 30 degree or more for hilly regions. According to the IMD strong surface winds (25-35 kmph) very likely to prevail over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi for today and tomorrow. Also a trough/wind discontinuity runs from southeast Madhya Pradesh to South Interior Karnataka in lower tropospheric levels and under its influence, isolated to scattered, light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm and lightning very likely over Kerala and Mahe and Tamil Nadu during next 7 days and Lakshadweep today. Yesterday, the lowest minimum temperature of 13.2 degree Celsius was reported at Amritsar. According to the weather department, heat wave to severe heat wave conditions have prevailed in most areas of Gangetic West Bengal. Additionally, several parts of Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha are experiencing similar weather patterns, with isolated heat wave pockets reported in the Konkan region. Meanwhile, the state of Odisha is reeling under intense heat as 30 cities reported more than 41 degrees and 29 cities recorded 42 degrees Celsius and above. Baripada, a town in the Mayurbhanj district, has recorded a scorching 46.4 degrees Celsius, while the coastal district of Balasore reached 46 degrees Celsius marking its all-time highest temperature in the last 10 years. The Director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar, Manorama Mohanty said, In Odisha, 30 cities reported 41 degrees Celsius and above and 29 cities recorded 42 degrees Celsius and above. Baripada in Mayurbanj district reported 46.4 degrees Celsius. Balasore reported 46 degrees Celsius which is the highest temperature recorded in the last 10 years. As Balasore is a coastal district and due to disturbances in nature, these types of problems are arising, she added informing about the cause of such a high temperature in the coastal district of Balasore. She also said that a red alert has been issued for the district of interior Odisha for the next three days starting from Tuesday. These unprecedented temperatures are largely due to the prevailing north-westerly/westerly dry air combined with high solar insolation. This weather pattern is causing temperatures across Odisha to rise, said Mohanty. IMD Director further said that day temperature is very likely to rise slightly by 3 degrees Celsius to 6 degrees Celsius over some districts of Odisha during the next 4 to 5 days. Mohanty advised people to take precautions, especially during peak hours from 11am to 4 pm. Yesterday, maximum temperatures were in the range of 43-46 degree Celsius over many parts of Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha; in some parts of Jharkhand, Telangana and Rayalaseema and in isolated pockets of Madhya Maharashtra The temperature was in the range of 40 degree Celsius to 43 degree Celsius over many parts of Bihar, East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh; in some parts of East Uttar Pradesh, Marathawada, Gujarat, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and in isolated pockets of West Madhya Pradesh and North Interior Karnataka. These were above normal by 4-8 degree Celsius in many parts of Gangetic West Bengal and Bihar; in some parts of Odisha and in isolated pockets of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Konkan, Telangana and Kerala. (ANI)

Juna Akhara confers Mahamandaleshwartitle on four SC seers

Dalit saints honored in Juna Akhara, Prayagraj & Ahmedabad. Mahamandaleshwar title bestowed on tribal seers from Madhya Pradesh. Emphasis on Sanatan Dharma & preventing religious conversion.

Lok Sabha Election: Madhya Pradesh 2019 2024 Vote Percentage ?

Lok Sabha Election: Madhya Pradesh BJP . 29 28 . (Congress) 2019 (Lok Sabha Elections 2019) 1 . . . ?

Lok Sabha Election: Chhindwara BJP ?

Lok Sabha Election: Madhya Pradesh 29 28 BJP Chhindwara . , .

Madhya Pradesh: Congress migration unabated as 6-time MLA joins BJP

BHOPAL : Six-time Congress MLA and former Madhya Pradesh minister Ramniwas Rawat on Tuesday snapped his decades-long association with the Congress and joined the BJP in Sheopur district. He crossed over to the BJP at a poll rally in his assembly constituency Vijaypur in Sheopur district, which forms part of the Morena Lok Sabha seat. The latest switchover is being seen as one of the biggest jolts the grand old party has suffered during the last two months. Rawat, a sitting MLA and a veteran OBC leader, was welcomed into the BJP party fold by CM Mohan Yadav and state party chief VD Sharma a day after Indore LS seat candidate Akshay Kanti Bam withdrew his nomination papers and subsequently joined the BJP. His joining assumed particular significance, as it happened at the same time when former Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed a poll rally in the adjoining Bhind-Datia SC constituency of the same Gwalior-Chambal region. But it was not just Rawat who somersaulted as Morenas mayor Sharda Solanki too joined the BJP on the stage during the same rally in Vijaypur (Sheopur). With Solanki joining the BJP, three out of the five Congress mayors, including Jagat Bahadur Singh Annu (Jabalpur), Vikram Ahake (Chhindwara) and Sharda Solanki (Morena) have joined the BJP in the poll season.

Every time people have answered Rahul's barbs against PM Modi: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Every time people have answered Rahul's barbs against PM Modi: Ravi Shankar Prasad In a scathing attack against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said that one should not take seriously the former's claims and allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi He says something every day. Who is this Rahul Gandhi? During Madhya Pradesh elections, he said Congress will form government in the state. We all know what happened, Ravi Shankar Prasad told ANI. He made a similar statement during the Chhattisgarh elections, and during the last Lok Sabha elections also, what did he not say against Prime Minister Narendra Modi? People have given an answer every time. We should not take him seriously, he added. Earlier in the day, while addressing a public meeting in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur, Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP will attempt to rewrite the Constitution and do away with the reservation if the party comes to power again. These elections are not ordinary elections. There is a fight between ideologies. On one side, there is the Congress party, the INDIA bloc and on the other side, there is the BJP. And the people who knew politics...And there are crores of people in Hindustan who know that this election is about saving the Constitution. The BJP leaders, Prime Minister ji (Narendra Modi) and people in the RSS want to rewrite the Constitution. On one side, they are attempting to rewrite the Constitution, while on the other hand, the Congress party is striving to save the Constitution, he said while holding a copy of the Constitution in one of his hands. Elaborating on the importance of the Constitution, the former Congress President said, This Constitution gives the poor their rights, protects them, looks after their future and secures their voice and way of life.. The opposition leaders have been accusing the BJP of doing away with the reservation and attempting to rewrite the Constitution. The BJP has denied all the charges. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi denied the accusation that BJP wants to change the Constitution. In election rallies, he said that even if Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, who headed the committee drafting the Constitution, were alive he could not change the Constitution. The 2024 Lok Sabha election is scheduled to be conducted in seven phases of which two phases have been completed. The counting of the votes cast will be conducted on June 4. (ANI)

Kerala: Ripples in BJP camp over EP row put Sobha Surendran in a spot

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The E P Jayarajan row and the subsequent political developments could well turn out to be counterproductive for BJP and its state vice-president Sobha Surendran. Embarrassed by her revelations that attempts were made to woo seven senior leaders from different parties including LDF convener E P Jayarajan to the BJP camp, the party national leadership is mulling action against her. Even as CPM appears keen to play down the EP episode, its ripples in the BJP camp refuse to die down. There are indications the national leadership is likely to take disciplinary action against Sobha, in the light of her revelations regarding the partys Operation Lotus in Kerala. Highly placed sources told TNIE that the partys Kerala prabhari, Prakash Javadekar, will soon submit a detailed report to national president J P Nadda. While BJP will hold a state-level meeting on May 7 in the presence of Javadekar, the national leadership is likely to take up the matter once the Lok Sabha poll results are announced, said a senior BJP office-bearer. Sobhas revelations have in effect validated the oppositions allegations that BJP is luring opposition leaders through various means, including by offering money. This could also prove a setback for BJP in the long run. Now, there are fewer chances that any leader from opposition parties would approach BJP. It has put a question mark on the leaderships credibility, the party functionary said. Meanwhile, Javadekar has reportedly conveyed his dissatisfaction over Sobhas links with controversial middleman T G Nandakumar. BJPs Operation Lotus is said to be operated confidentially without keeping even the state leadership in the loop. However, Sobha, through her statements, revealed that opposition leaders are lured with the help of middlemen through bargaining. The national leadership has reportedly instructed the state leadership, including K Surendran, not to make any public statements on the issue. Surendran had earlier claimed he was aware of Sobhas operation. There is strong resentment within the party over Sobhas revelations. In a Facebook post, senior leader P Reghunath said links with tainted people are not appropriate for leaders. BJP doesnt induct people through middlemen. Such middlemen cannot be trusted. BJP workers and society know the party has a clear organisational structure, he posted. Party insiders also questioned Sobhas claims that she was in charge of enrolling new members. The leaders pointed out that as part of the membership campaign for 2023 a committee was formed nationally under the chairmanship of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Prithviraj Chauhan. She was included in the committee as a representative of south India and of women. The committee, however, stopped functioning in December 2023. She was never part of Operation Lotus, said a leader. The insiders also questioned Shobhas claim she has been allotted a room at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Except for party president, general secretaries, organisational general secretary, co-organisational general secretary, secretaries and vice presidents, no other leaders are given rooms in the headquarters. Theres a hall for the national executive members to rest, the leader said. EP sends legal notice to Sobha, Sudhakaran and Nandakumar LDF convener E PJayarajan has sent legal notice to BJP leader Sobha Surendran, Congress state president K Sudhakaran and controversial middleman T G Nandakumar for allegedly making defamatory and false statements against him the previous day. Jayarajan has warned the trio of legal action against them if they do not make an apology through media, or pay compensation to the tune of Rs 2 crore. The notice was served through Adv M Rajagopalan Nair.

Battle of a different kind in saffron citadel Vidisha

BHOPAL: In Madhya Pradeshs Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency, nobody bothers to debate who will win this time. All discussions are about the victory margin of the BJP candidate, former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Vidisha has been a saffron citadel right from its formation, electing Pandit Shiv Sharma of the erstwhile Jan Sangh in its first election in 1967. Since then, the constituency has always chosen right-wing candidates, except in 1980 and 1984 when Congress Pratap Bhanu Sharma triumphed. The Congress warhorse is now back in the race to challenge Chouhan, who has won five times from Vidisha. The contest is keenly watched because Sharma, now 77 years, is the only Congress leader to have won the seat in the past 57 years. Ask anyone from any of the eight assembly segments of the Vidisha constituency, the one liner reply will be Chouhans win is a foregone conclusion. The only thing to be seen is how big will Chouhans margin be, says Vidisha-based political analyst Ajay Jain. For BJP workers, the primary goal is to increase voter turnout and give Chouhan a resounding win. Were trying to get 80-90% turnout in the constituency, which houses 19.38 lakh voters. Out target margin is 8-9 lakh votes, which will be a record in the country, says Atul Verma, a BJP worker. BJP supporters in Vidisha believe a record margin will give new wings to Chouhan to begin his stint in national politics. Adding to their hope is Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise at a recent poll rally about the big role awaiting Chouhan in Delhi. As for the Congress, party insiders concede that Chouhan has a clear edge. So, the strategy is to reduce his margin. Chouhans margin was 2.6 lakh votes in 2004, the last time he contested from Vidisha. Eyeing a massive win this time, Chouhan has been campaigning aggressively. Sharma is also travelling extensively, braving his advanced age and rising mercury. Sitting MP Ramakant Bhargava had won by 5 lakh votes in 2019. Ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayees margin was 1.04 lakh votes in 1991, while former Union minister Sushma Swaraj won Vidisha by 3.89 lakh votes in 2009. The New Indian Express founder Ramnath Goenka had won the seat as a Bharatiya Jana Sangh candidate in 1971 by 32,000 votes.

After Indore candidates exit, HC junks Cong substitutes plea to contest

The Madhya Pradesh high court dismissed a plea by Congresss Moti Singh Patel on Tuesday. Moti Singh Patel wanted his candidature to be accepted as the party nominee for Lok Sabha elections after the official candidate Akshay Kanti Bam pulled out and joined BJP on Monday. The district election office rejected Patels candidacy during the scrutiny on April 25.

Wheat sale in open market helped FCI borrow 21,000cr less in FY24

Government's open market sale of wheat ensures supply stability, reduced FCI borrowings, and aided welfare schemes. FCI aims for 300-310 lakh tonnes procurement this year. Punjab, and Haryana witness good wheat arrival meanwhile the wheat procurement in Madhya Pradesh has been slow so far at 34.6 lakh tonnes despite commencing MSP operations early

BJP will 'tear apart' Constitution if it returns to power, says Rahul Gandhi in Bhind

Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district, Gandhi, while holding a copy of the Constitution (book), said the ongoing Lok Sabha poll is not a normal election, but a fight between two ideologies. The poor, STs, OBCs got several rights because of the Constitution which also gave the people MGNREGA, land rights, reservation, and other things. If the BJP comes to power, it will throw away and tear apart this Constitution, he claimed.

Shikha Mukerjee | Disenchanted voters bad news in wave-less polls

The forecast for the 2024 Lok Sabha election, till it was actually called, was it would be a triumph for the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party. In his last speech at the concluding session of the 17 th Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister predicted that his side would win 370 seats and with the allies the total would top 400 seats out of the total 543 seats. Obviously, the machinery of the BJP and the resources available to the Modi government anticipated a wave of support that would top the 2019 one. It became apparent by the first phase on April 19 that there was no wave. After the second phase of the mega seven-phase election and votes cast in 190 constituencies, the drop in turnout clearly indicates voter disenchantment. That is bad news for the ruling party, according to conventional wisdom. It is also bad news for the collective Opposition that is contesting against the BJP, in alliances and seat adjustments in some states, separately in others. When voters dont feel inclined to take the trouble in the searing heat to queue up to press the EVM button, it reflects low expectations from the political establishment, as well as dissatisfaction with the political leadership of the ruling party. The low voter turnout in the second phase, 66.7 per cent, according to the Election Commissions numbers, which indicates a drop of just over three per cent, implies that there is, similarly, no great enthusiasm for the organised anti-BJP Opposition under the Indian National Inclusive Developmental Alliance either. After 10 years of jobless growth, rising inflation and a tangible drop in the quality of life of the overwhelming majority of Indians, the lower voter turnout, significantly in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala and West Bengal, indicates that voters are feeling let down. Estimates point to a 9.41 per cent drop in voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh, a 6.9 per cent drop in Uttar Pradesh, a 6.8 per cent drop in Kerala and a 4.5 per cent drop in West Bengal. This is anti-incumbency. The 4.5 per cent drop in voter turnout in the first phase was a signal that the BJP read as requiring a rev up; its message between the two phases was so obviously an exercise in rousing Hindus by raising the Muslim flag, by falsifying the content in the Congress manifesto and ranting about confiscating mangalsutras to redistribute to Muslims that it is reasonable to draw the inference the party was shaken by what it perceived as a decline of support in its core base. The Congress hit back by lodging a complaint against Narendra Modis Banswara hate speech but that has not halted the flow of malign misinterpretations. The narrative has acquired more layers on how the Congress Party will introduce inheritance tax, by talking non-st p on how wealth will be snatched by the Congress if it comes to power. Mr Modi and the BJP are inadvertently revealing who they think may be disenchanted voters. For 80 crore Indians subsisting on the 5 kg of free foodgrains, there is no surplus and no wealth that could possibly attract an inheritance tax. The gold and the mangalsutras indicate a level of consumption that would put such voters in the broad category of the middle class. Not pundits and no pollster can pinpoint the reasons why voters have chosen to opt out of making a choice. The changes in the speeches of the BJP leadership, however, point to voters who have been a core support base for the party: the traders, the salaried middle class, those with assets and incomes and wealth to lose, exactly the category of voters who should have been electrified by the dazzle, albeit in the distant future, of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The continuing trend of lower voter turnout indicates that the magic of Hindutva is not as powerful as some felt; in fact, it can be interpreted as a malignancy on Indias body politic that is putting off voters. The Centre for the Study of Developing Societies survey before the election revealed that 79 per cent Indians were not enchanted by visions of Hindu Rashtra; on the contrary the 79 per cent felt the country was for people from all religious communities. The absence of a Modi wave and the drop in voter turnout does not automatically point to a pro-Opposition or pro-Congress wave. There is no wave at all. The Opposition needs a boost to succeed in its mission of bringing down the Narendra Modi government and defeating the BJP. How the Congress and the Opposition raise voter enthusiasm will unfold over the remaining five phases of the election. The problem is with capabilities and the efficiency of organisations; the BJP has it; the Congress does not. Regional and smaller parties come in between; these parties have competence in getting out the vote even if the organisations appear to be shambolic. No matter how good regional parties are in mobilising their voters, the 2024 election is not about parochial issues. Regardless of Mr Modi and the BJP campaign teams efforts to turn the Lok Sabha election into a us versus them contest in Opposition-ruled states by focusing on mismanagement by governments, corruption, appeasement, infiltration and vote banks, the voter is fully aware that the choice they have to make is about Mr Modi continuing as Prime Minister. Since 2014, all elections, state, municipal, panchayat and Lok Sabha included, have been about Mr Modi and the narrative he wove to appeal to the majority defined by its religious identity on the one hand, and against the other side defined by a different kind of identity, that is family or parivar vaad. The multilayered meanings of parivar vaad have been useful in transforming the Opposition into anti-nationals and Hindu haters by equating political legacy with promoting self-interest. The mandate the voter will deliver will be about Mr Modi as the only alternative; the lack of enthusiasm therefore puts the partners of the INDIA bloc, especially in Opposition-ruled states, and the Congress under increasing pressure to mobilise support and ensure voters actually turn up at the polling stations. As the BJP works to consolidate its vote banks, its narrative is likely to pivot to match the expectations of specific sections of voters. The Opposition has a choice: to pursue its own agenda or get distracted by the BJPs infinite capacity to make noise.

Constitution, soul of poor, will be thrown away by BJP if it returns to power, warns Rahul

Bhind (MP), Apr 30: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday warned that if the BJP returns to power at the Centre, it will tear apart and throw away the Constitution which granted rights to the poor, Dalits, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. Addressing an election rally in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district, Gandhi, while holding [] The post Constitution, soul of poor, will be thrown away by BJP if it returns to power, warns Rahul appeared first on Northlines .

Amit Shah: PM Modi Can Eliminate Naxalism in Two Years if Given Third Term

Amit Shah: PM Modi Can Eliminate Naxalism in Two Years if Given Third Term If voted to office for a third term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will completely eliminate Naxalism from the country within two years, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Tuesday. Shah claimed the BJP and its NDA allies are winning at least 100 seats in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha elections (covering 190 constituencies) which have concluded and added ''BJP's chariot is moving towards achieving the target of 400-plus seats''. Addressing a poll rally in Ahmedabad city's Naroda area, Shah said before the BJP came to power at the Centre, Naxalites were ''dreaming about creating a red corridor from Pashupatinath in Nepal till Tirupati'' in Andhra Pradesh, but their activities are now confined to just parts of Chhattisgarh. During the last five years, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have become free from the Naxal menace, noted the senior BJP leader. ''Naxalites still exist in some parts of Chhattisgarh. The BJP has formed a government in that state recently. Just today (Tuesday), the Chhattisgarh police eliminated nine Naxalites. Give a third term to PM Modi and I assure you that Modiji will eliminate Naxalism completely from the country in two years,'' declared Shah. Referring to the BJP's manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, Shah said the Modi government will provide free healthcare to every individual above 70 years of age under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. ''Those above 70 years of age, whether crorepati or roadpati (rich or poor), won't have to spend a rupee on medical treatment if PM Modi wins a third term,'' the Union minister told the gathering. He underscored that though former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was an economist, he could not improve India's ranking in the world economy despite being in power for 10 years (2004-14). ''The country's economy remained on the 11th spot during Singh's ten-year tenure. It was PM Modi who turned our country into the fifth largest economy. Just give him a third term and he will take our economy to the third spot,'' said Shah. He alleged that instead of functioning as a constructive opposition, the Congress always opposed pro-people projects in Gujarat, be it BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System), metro rail or Sabarmati Riverfront. Shah addressed the rally in support of BJP candidate from the Ahmedabad-East Lok Sabha seat, Hasmukh Patel. Voting on 25 Lok Sabha seats (BJP candidate from Surat has been elected unopposed) in Gujarat will take place on May 7 in a single phase. Shah is the BJP candidate from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, from where he is seeking a second term. In 2019, the BJP had won all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, the home state of Modi.

BJP will throw away constitution if it wins: Rahul

BHOPAL: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that if elected to power the BJP will tear apart and throw away the constitution that guarantees some special privileges to SC, ST and the OBC. Addressing an election meeting in Bhind under Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi said that the 2024 Lok Sabha poll is not a normal election, but a battle between two ideologies. Gandhi also urged all party candidates to carry a copy of the constitution with them during nominations, public meetings and outreach programmes, and tell the people that as long as the Congress is there, let alone the BJP, no power in the world can snatch away the constitution. A boon for the poor, respect for the deprived and pride of every citizen -- our Constitution! I request all Congress candidates and leaders to keep the sacred Constitution with them during nominations, meetings, speeches and public outreach, Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. Stressing on the importance of the constitution, Gandhi said the BJP is against reservation and sought an explanation from BJP as to why the saffron party is privatising public sector units if it is not interested in throwing away the constitution. He said the BJP wanted to dump the constitution so that the country is ruled by 22-25 billionaires. Gandhi also criticised Agniveer yojana,and said the scheme created two sections of jawans in the defence forces. While one section of jawans is enjoying pension and other benefits, the Agniveers have been deprived of such benefits.

Scorching Heat Wave Grips India, Kalaikunda Swelters at 47.6 Degrees Celsius

Scorching Heat Wave Grips India, Kalaikunda Swelters at 47.6 Degrees Celsius Facing the brunt of an extended heat wave, Kalaikunda in West Bengal recorded a maximum temperature of 47.2 degrees Celsius, the highest ever in April anywhere in the country which reeled under searing heat and stifling humidity on Tuesday. The maximum of 47.2 degrees Celsius at Kalaikunda was 10.4 degrees above the normal for the season, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said, adding that it marked the prevalence of severe heat wave conditions over the Gangetic West Bengal region. Popular hill stations such as Ugadhmandalam (Ooty) in Tamil Nadu and Matheran in Maharashtra also did not escape the brunt of the scorching summer with the mercury touching 29.4 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to the department, 29.4 degrees Celsius was the highest ever maximum temperature recorded at Ooty in April, surpassing the 28.5 degrees Celsius recorded on April 29, 1986. At Matheran, the only automobile-free hill station in the country, the mercury climbed to 37 degrees Celsius, the fourth highest maximum temperature recorded there ever. The hill station, located about 90 km from Mumbai, had recorded the highest ever maximum temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius on February 6, 1979, followed by 37.4 degrees Celsius on April 2, 1975 and 37.2 degrees Celsius on April 7, 1978. Speaking of records, Churu in Rajasthan had clocked 49.9 degrees Celsius on May 26, 1998 and 49 degrees Celsius on June 5, 2003. Sikar, also in Rajasthan, had recorded a maximum of 49.7 degrees Celsius on June 12, 1993 and 49 degrees Celsius on May 26, 1994. Ajmer had recorded a maximum temperature of 47.4 degrees Celsius on May 19, 1997. The automatic weather station at Baharagora in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand recorded 47.1 degrees. However, long-term weather data was not available for the town to calculate the departure from normal temperatures for the season. Baripada in Odisha sizzled at 46.4 degrees Celsius, 8.9 degrees above the normal, followed by Balasore at 46 degrees Celsius (+10.1 degrees), Panagarh in West Bengal at 45.6 degrees Celsius (+10 degrees), Jamshedpur in Jharkhand at 45.5 degrees Celsius (+5.8 degrees) and Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh at 45 degrees Celsius (+4.2 degrees). Several cities and towns in Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana recorded temperatures in excess of 44 degrees Celsius. Intensely hot conditions are expected in east India until May 1 and the south peninsular region over the next five days, the IMD said. The threshold for a heat wave is met when the maximum temperature of a weather station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in the coastal areas, and 30 degrees in the hilly regions, and the departure from normal is at least 4.5 notches. A severe heat wave is declared if the departure from normal exceeds 6.4 notches. The ongoing heat wave spell is the second this month. Heatwave conditions have been prevailing in Odisha since April 15 and in Gangetic West Bengal since April 17, according to the department. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Lakhs of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Voting to elect representatives from 94 constituencies in 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office has said four to eight heat wave days are expected in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heatwave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period. The areas and regions predicted to witness a higher number of heat wave days are Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Bihar and Jharkhand. Some places may record more than 20 heatwave days. The intense heat could strain power grids and result in water shortages in parts of India. Global weather agencies, including the IMD, are also expecting La Nina conditions to develop later in the year. El Nino conditions -- periodic warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean -- are associated with weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions in India. La Nina conditions -- the antithesis of El Nino -- lead to plentiful rainfall during the monsoon season. In a mid-April update, the IMD said India would experience above-normal cumulative rainfall in the 2024 monsoon season with La Nina conditions, expected to set in by August-September, being the dominant factor. The monsoon is critical for India's agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area dependent on it. It is also crucial for replenishing reservoirs critical for drinking water apart from power generation across the country.

Viral Video Of Kamal Nath's Article 370 Statement Is A Deepfake

Claim: A video of Congress leader and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath is viral online claiming that he promised a mosque and the reinstatement of Article 370 to Muslims in a meeting. Fact: BOOM found that the video is a deepfake. The audio in the clip, claiming to be that of Kamal Nath, is an audio voice clone and not his own voice. Tools used: We found that the original video was uploaded on YouTube on November 14, 2018 when Kamal Nath met with Muslim voters. BOOM ran the video through Itisaar, a deepfake analysis tool created by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur. The tool confirmed that the voice over is an AI generated audio. Read the full fact-check here .

MP: Timed to Rahuls poll tour of Chambal, 6-time Congress MLA inducted in BJP

Bhopal: Six-time Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat, considered a prominent OBC figure in Gwalior-Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh, switched over to BJP, dealing a huge blow to the grand old party ahead of the third phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state, scheduled to be held on May seven. Incidentally, the desertion of Congress by Mr Rawat, considered a loyalist of late former Union minister Madhavrao Scindia, coincided with the visit of ex-AICC president Rahul Gandhi to the region on the day. Mr Rawat, who represents Vijaypur Assembly constituency under Sheopur district in Gwalior-Chambal region of the state, joined BJP in the presence of chief minister Mohan Yadav. The OBC leader, who was a minister in the Digvijay Singh cabinet, later said that his marginalisation in Congress was the key reason for his decision to snap ties with it and join BJP. He was executive president of state Congress when Kamal Nath headed the state unit of the party and felt marginalised in the party after Mr Nath was replaced by Jitu Patwari in the post. He was fielded by Congress in Morena Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh in 2019 polls against former Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar of BJP. He had however lost to Mr Tomar by a huge margin of votes. I will campaign for BJP candidate in Morena LS seat Shiv Mangal Singh Tomar, Mr Rawat said. Morena LS seat is going to polls in the third phase polling on May seven along with seven other seats in the state. He is the second sitting Congress MLA in Madhya Pradesh to leave the party in the last couple of months. The Congress MLA from Amarwara in Chhindwara district Kamlesh Shah, a descendant of the local Gond royal family, had quit the party and joined BJP a couple of months ago. Mr Rawats decision to join BJP comes a day after Congress candidate in Indore LS seat Akshay Kanti Bamb withdrew his nomination and subsequently quit the party. He later joined BJP. Mr Gandhi on Tuesday visited Madhya Pradesh to address an election rally in Bhind falling under the Gwalior- Chambal region of the state.

Jalandhar Police Seizes Gold Worth 60 Lakhs in Phillor Area

Amritsar: Jalandhar police conducted a search drive in the Phillor police station area and seized gold worth 60 lakhs, officials said on Tuesday.During a checking drive conducted under the Model Code of Conduct in place after the Lok Sabha polls, the police stopped a vehicle and recovered approximately 1 kg of gold. Upon discovering the gold, the police informed the GST department, following which Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO) D S Cheema took possession of the gold and examined the accompanying documents. As the documents were found to be inauthentic, the gold was deposited in the government treasury.Providing details about the incident, D S Cheema stated that they are closely monitoring tax evaders and any anti-social activities related to tax evasion. He mentioned, Earlier, the Mobile Wing Jalandhar had seized a significant amount of gold worth crores, and today, gold worth lakhs was seized again. During a checking drive, Phillor police station officers stopped a suspicious vehicle and recovered gold. The individual in the vehicle did not possess proper documents related to the gold, and the police alerted the GST Mobile Wing, Jalandhar. Cheema further explained, Upon reaching the spot, I took possession of the vehicle and gold. After examining the documents, which were found to be inauthentic, the gold was sealed and deposited in the government treasury. The recovered gold is valued at around 63 lakhs. The Election Commissioner and Income Tax Department have been notified of this development. During the initial investigation, the driver of the vehicle claimed that he had come to Jalandhar from Delhi to showcase gold article designs to traders, collect orders, and transport gold. However, he was unable to provide complete documentation related to the gold, he added. Jabalpur Blast Case: Police Announce Reward for Arrest of Scrapyard Owner Shamim Rza Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Declares Congress a Sinking Ship in Madhya Pradesh Address Unpredictable Weather in Madhya Pradesh: Heavy Rainfall and Soaring Temperatures

Big jolt to Congress in Madhya Pradesh as veteran OBC leader snaps ties with party to join BJP

BHOPAL: The Congress continues to be hit by defections by prominent leaders to the ruling BJP amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. The latest switchover on Tuesday is seen as one of the biggest jolts the grand old party has suffered during the last two months. Six-time sitting MLA, veteran OBC leader and former MP Ramniwas Rawat ended his decades-old association with the party and joined the BJP at a poll rally of the ruling party in his assembly constituency Vijaypur in Sheopur district, which forms part of the Morena Lok Sabha seat. Rawats switch to the BJP in presence of CM Dr Mohan Yadav and state party chief VD Sharma happened a day after the Congress had suffered huge embarrassment following the withdrawal of nomination papers by its Indore Lok Sabha candidate Akshay Kanti Bam, who too had subsequently joined the BJP. Rawats entry into the BJP assumed significance, as it happened at the same time that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed a poll rally in the adjoining Bhind-Datia SC constituency of the same Gwalior-Chambal region. But it was not just Rawat who switched from the Congress to the BJP, as Morenas mayor Sharda Solanki too joined the latter on the stage of the same poll rally in Vijaypur (Sheopur). With Solanki joining the BJP, now three out of the five Congress mayors, including Jagat Bahadur Singh Annu (Jabalpur), Vikram Ahake (Chhindwara) and Sharda Solanki (Morena), have joined the BJP in the ongoing poll season. After joining the BJP, Rawat said he took the decision to ensure proper development of his Vijaypur assembly constituency. He promised to script a new chapter of development in the area after joining. Rawats departure to the BJP is being seen as a major loss for the Congress in the Gwalior-Chambal region, particularly in Morena Lok Sabha constituency, where his (Meena) caste voters number around one lakh in Sheopur and Vijaypur assembly segments. The BJP candidate Shiv Mangal Tomar is facing a tough fight against ex-BJP MLA and Congress candidate Satyapal Sikarwar. Rawat who was a minister in the erstwhile Congress government led by Digvijaya Singh is among the most powerful Congress leaders of the Gwalior-Chambal region. Despite being considered close to Gwaliors erstwhile royal Scindia family, Rawat had stayed back in the Congress, when Jyotiraditya Scindia along with 22 loyalist MLAs had walked into the BJP in March 2020. But not being considered either for the post of state Congress president or the leader of opposition in the Vidhan Sabha after the change of guard in the MP Congress following the 2023 assembly polls debacle, Rawat was feeling ignored in the party on whose ticket he won six out of the eight assembly polls he contested from Vijaypur seat. The former chief whip of the Congress in the Vidhan Sabha, Rawat was also upset on not being considered for the Congress ticket for the Morena Lok Sabha seat from where he twice finished runner-up behind the BJPs Narendra Singh Tomar in 2019 and 2009. Rawat had planned to join the BJP at the April 25 poll rally of PM Narendra Modi in Morena, but phone calls from ex-Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former MP CM Digvijaya Singh had delayed his exit. Rawats entry into the BJP is another jolt to the Congress after the exit of ex-minister Deepak Saxena and ex-Union minister and former state party chief Suresh Pachouri.

Travel tips: IRCTC brings tour package to take parents on pilgrimage, will not be a burden on the pocket

Shravan Kumar took the burden of his blind parents on his shoulders and took them on a trip. However, now if parents have to be taken on a pilgrimage, the burden may not fall on their shoulders but on their pockets. There are many pilgrimage sites in the country, which extend from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. It is easy to go on a trip to these pilgrimage sites but due to the possibility of high expenses, the plan keeps getting postponed. IRCTC comes up with many tour packages from time to time, which let you tour the country and the world on a budget. IRCTC also takes you on temple tours. During this summer holidays, you can take your parents to visit the seven Jyotirlingas. IRCTC is coming up with the best tour packages to visit the seven Jyotirlingas. Let us know the complete information about the tour package to visit Jyotirlingas. Where will the journey start Jyotirlinga darshan by IRCTC will start from Yoganagari Rishikesh railway station. Bharat Gaurav will be taken to visit 7 Jyotirlingas on a tourist train. Passengers can join the yatra from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Orai, Veerangana Laxmibai, Lalitpur. Which Jyotirlingas will we get darshan of? During the yatra, Omkareshwar, Mahakaleshwar, Somnath, Bhent Dwarka, Dwarkadhish Temple, Nageshwar, Trimbakeshwar, Ghrishneshwar and Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga will be visited. Facility This tour package includes 2 AC, 3 AC, and Sleeper class travel, breakfast and vegetarian lunch and dinner, and AC/non-AC buses to local places. When does the journey start? The tour package will commence from 22nd May 2024 to 2nd June 2024. The tour package will be of 11 nights and 12 days, in which you will be taken from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand to Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra to visit the Jyotirlingas. Pilgrimage expenses The ticket price for sleeper class during the journey will cost Rs 22150 per person and a child (5 to 11 years) staying with one/two or three persons will cost Rs 20800. For 3 AC passengers, you may have to spend Rs 36700 per person and for 2 AC passengers, you may have to spend Rs 48600 per person. If you want, you can pay the ticket expense of the tour package in EMI. EMI facility of Rs 1074 per month is also available. (PC: ISTOCK)

At his first rally in MPs Gwalior-Chambal, Rahul hits out at Modi govt over Agnipath scheme

BHOPAL: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed his first rally of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls in the Gwalior-Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. The Gwalior-Chambal region, which has four Lok Sabha seats, was the most closely contested among the six regions in the state in the 2023 assembly polls, where the Congress finished just two seats behind the ruling BJP. Rahul addressed the rally in support of the party's Bhind-Datia SC seat candidate and sitting MLA Phul Singh Baraiya in Bhind district, which is among the districts of MP that sends the maximum jawans to the country's defence forces. Gandhis poll rally happened just two days before Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's roadshow in the adjoining Morena constituency on Thursday. Modi government made 20-25 people billionaires: RahulGandhi Hitting out at the Narendra Modi government over the Agnipath scheme, Rahul said, I know that Bhind is that district of MP, which gives maximum jawans to Indias defence forces. But youll be surprised to know that except Narendra Modi, no one else (even the defence forces) are supportive of the Agnipath scheme. Through this scheme, the PM has divided our jawans into two categories, one who are normal defence force personnel (enjoying pension, canteen, adequate training and all other benefits) and the Agniveers who dont enjoy such benefits. Now imagine Agniveers facing the Chinese forces on the border. China gives its jawans all facilities and takes care of the families of its jawans in case of any tragedy. But what about the Agniveers, they wont get any benefits available to normal defence forces personnel, Rahul said while promising to abolish the Agnipath scheme if the Congress-INDI alliance government came to power at the Centre. Rahul also accused the Modi government of not inviting the countrys first tribal woman President Droupadi Murmu to the unveiling of the new Parliament building in Delhi and the Ram Temple inauguration at Ayodhya. She (President) was told neither to come to the Parliament building inauguration nor to the Ram Temple inauguration in Ayodhya. Both the inaugurations were done only by Narendra Modi. This exposes how much Narendra Modi and the BJP respect the adivasis (tribals). On the contrary, at the Ram Temple opening in Ayodhya, the 20-25 billionaire friends of the PM and his party, Bollywood actors and Indian cricket team players were present, but no poor, Dalit, backward or tribal found any place among those present there, he said. Describing the ongoing Lok Sabha polls as a battle between those who are fighting to save the constitution and democracy (Congress and INDI alliance) and those who are determined to tear the constitution (BJP), Rahul, while holding the Constitutions mini book in his hands, said, Constitution is the soul of Indias poor, no power in the world can change it. BJP is day dreaming of changing the Constitution.

Congress woes continue in MP, party MLA Ramniwas Rawat joins BJP on day of Rahul Gandhi visit

Senior Congress leader and sitting Madhya Pradesh MLA Ramniwas Rawat has joined the BJP, dealing another blow to the opposition party following the withdrawal of its candidate from the Indore Lok Sabha seat. Rawat, who joined the BJP at a rally in Sheopur district in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, was considered close to Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh. Morena mayor Sharda Solanki also joined the BJP alongside Rawat. Rawat's defection comes ahead of polling in the Morena Lok Sabha seat, where Sheopur is located, scheduled for May 7.

Rahul Gandhi asks candidates to carry copy of Constitution to public meetings

Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader, urged all party candidates to carry a copy of the Constitution during nominations and public events, emphasizing the party's commitment to safeguarding it against any threat. Gandhi himself has been carrying a copy during his public meetings in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. He called the Constitution a boon for the poor and the pride of every citizen.