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Why are Indian and Nepali men ending up on the frontline in Ukraine? - podcast

Thousands of young Indian and Nepali men are being killed on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine. Their families want answers. Hannah Ellis-Petersen reports from Delhi Hemul Mangakia grew up in Surat, a city in the Indian state of Gujarat. At 23 he was looking for opportunities and a way to make his mark on the world. So when he came across a video on YouTube posted by a recruitment agent in St Petersburg, Russia, he was intrigued. The man on the video said there were openings for security guards in the historic city. The pay was up to 2,000 per month. The chance was too good to miss. As Hannah Ellis-Petersen , the Guardians south Asia correspondent, tells Michael Safi , this is a scene that has played out hundreds, maybe thousands of times in recent months. The young men, mainly from India and Nepal, fly to Russia on the promise of lucrative work and are then pressured into signing a different kind of contract: one that enlists them in the Russian military and pushes them to the frontline of the war in Ukraine, where many are now dying. Continue reading...

The Guardian 19 Mar 2024 8:30 am

Accidental shot injures 2 at cop station

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 5:16 am

Annual Dang Darbar to begin at Ahwa tomorrow

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 5:16 am

60k visit SGCCIs auto expo

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 5:16 am

Trader lynched over lewd behaviour in Vesu, nine held

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 5:16 am

47L voters to vote at 4,530 polling stations in Surat dist

The Times of India 18 Mar 2024 5:00 am

Brick merchant duped of 18 lakh

The Times of India 18 Mar 2024 4:59 am

Last Rites of Asfan, Killed in Ukraine, Held in City

Hyderabad: A pall of gloom descended at Bazarghat as family members of Mohammed Asfan performed his Tadfeen (burial) at Masjid-e-Qutub Shahi after Zohar namaz on Sunday. He was shot dead at the Ukrainian border. Scores of people attended the janaza (funeral) to pay their last respects. The mortal remains of two Indians who were killed on the Russia-Ukraine border after they were trapped by agents and forced into the Russian private army Wagner Group reached Delhi on Saturday and were flown to their homes in Surat and Hyderabad respectively. Mohammed Asfan of Red Hills, Bazarghat, and Hemil Ashvinbhai Mangukiya, 23, of Surat, Gujarat, along with three of his friends were recruited by the agent Faisal Khan alias Baba's directions. Faisal and other agents from India separately collected Rs 3.50 lakh from 20 Indians from other states during the past one year stating that they will be paid `1.50 lakh per month. They were told that they were being hired for non-combatant roles. Later when they reached Moscow, on November 12, via Chennai Central, Faisals co agents, Ramesh and Moin, made them sign on an agreement written in Russian language and forcibly moved to war zone on Ukrainian border by the private army, Asfan's brother Mohammed Imran said. When MEA contacted Russian authorities, they informed Asfan died of an explosion in the war zone in Donetsk region on January 27, he added. Mohammad Imran told Deccan Chronicle that Asfan's body arrived from Moscow at Delhi airport early on Saturday. Initially, we were not allowed to have a glance of Asfans body by the Delhi airport authorities but to identify him, the authorities showed us Asfans face and wrapped it again, Imran said. However, Imran had to cross check with the passport and other official documents sent by the Russian military to identify Asfan. I thank Asaduddin Owaisi who personally coordinated with the MEA and helped us when we had almost left hopes. I learnt that there are several Indians stuck at the border in the war zone. I pray for them and request the government to rescue them safely before it is too late, Imran said. However, reliable sources disclosed that recruitment of Indians in Wagner Group has been going on for the past 13 months and over 110 Indians from various states have left the Ukrainian border since then. A MEA representative on March 15 disclosed to the media that the Indian government has identified 20 Indians from various states who had gone to Russia out of which two of them have been killed. Asfan along with others in early November 2023 met agent Faisal Khan who runs Baba Vlogs in Dubai. Asfan, Illyas, Sufaian and Nayeem of Karnataka earlier worked in a private company in Dubai. They were inspired by Faisals vlogs and met him for a placement. On Faisals instruction, the sub agent Sufaian issued tourist visas by charging and sent them to Russia promising a security/helper job.

Deccan Chronicle 17 Mar 2024 9:28 pm

Gujarat: BJP faces Congress-AAP combine in Lok Sabha polls

Gujarat: BJP faces Congress-AAP combine in Lok Sabha polls In Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat, the BJP looks confident of retaining all 26 Lok Sabha seats, despite a combined opposition from Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, key constituents of the INDIA alliance. Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on May 7. Counting of votes will be held on June 4. The Congress and AAP fought the 2022 state assembly polls separately, and the BJP got a record 156 of the 182 seats in the House. In the ensuing Lok Sabha poll, the Congress will contest 24 seats, while the AAP is fielding candidates from Bharuch and Bhavnagar. The BJP is so confident of making a clean sweep that its state unit chief CR Paatil has routinely said the party's sights are on a victory margin of five lakh votes in each seat. The Congress would dearly hope for a repeat of the 2009 polls when it won 11 of the state's 26 seats, while for the AAP, even a single win coming after its assembly showing, will bolster its status as the opposition party to watch out for. Gujarat is divided into four regions, namely Saurashtra and Kutch, north Gujarat, south Gujarat and central Gujarat. Saurashtra and Kutch: All the eight Lok Sabha seats in the region are with the BJP since a long time. The focus this time will be on Porbandar, where Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya has been fielded, and Rajkot, where his cabinet colleague Parshottam Rupala will try his luck. The two ministers have so far reached Parliament through the Rajya Sabha route. North Gujarat: The seven seats in the region include Gandhinagar, represented by BJP heavyweight Amit Shah, as well as two seats in Ahmedabad, the state's premier city. The party is brimming with confidence, while the only solace for the Congress is that it did well in the region in the 2004 and 2009 polls. Central Gujarat: The six seats here include Vadodara and the tribal dominated Dahod, Panchmahal and Chhota Udaipur seats. The tribal areas of this region will be crucial for the BJP to repeat its clean sweep of 2014 and 2019. South Gujarat: The region has five seats, including diamond polishing hub Surat, Bharuch and Navsari. The focus would be on Bharuch, which is being fought by the AAP in alliance with the Congress. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has fielded Chaitar Vasava, MLA and upcoming tribal leader, against the BJP's Mansukh Vasava, who has been MP from the seat several times. Gujarat BJP chief C R Paatil will contest from Navsari, a seat he has won previously with state record margins.

devdiscourse 17 Mar 2024 11:29 am

New mamlatdar, prant offices created in Surat city

The Times of India 17 Mar 2024 5:01 am

Surat man killed in Ukraine to be cremated today

The Times of India 17 Mar 2024 4:59 am

Indian Options Conclave 5.0 Traders Mahakumbh draws over 10,000 attendees in Surat

Held at the state-of-the-art YPD World Convention Centre in Surat, Gujarat, on March 15th and 16th, 2024, the event, themed Traders Mahakumbh, attracted over 10,000 attendees from across India.

The Economic Times 16 Mar 2024 7:16 pm

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel sanctions Rs 240 crore for implementing Nirmal Gujarat 2.0

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel sanctions Rs 240 crore for implementing Nirmal Gujarat 2.0 Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has sanctioned Rs 240 crore for various initiatives under 'Nirmal Gujarat 2.0' to effectively strengthen the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a broader scale in Gujarat. To enhance public awareness of cleanliness in urban areas and position Gujarat as a leading state in cleanliness nationwide, the Chief Minister has decided to allocate incentive grants to municipalities based on their tax collection performance in sanitation. Under this plan, A and B class municipalities will receive a 100 per cent incentive grant for achieving 71 to 80 per cent annual sanitation tax collection, 100 per cent for 81 to 90 per cent collection, and 200 per cent for 91 to 100 per cent collection. Similarly, for C and D class municipalities, the incentive grant standard is set at 50 per cent for tax collection ranging from 60 to 70 per cent, 100 per cent for 71 to 80 per cent collection, 200 per cent for 81 to 90 per cent collection, and 300 per cent for 91 to 100 per cent collection, Information department of Gujarat said. Each municipality will receive a matching grant of cleaning tax equivalent to the amount collected annually by that municipality. As per the resolution issued by the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of the state for the effective implementation of Nirmal Gujarat 2.0, the Chief Minister has sanctioned assistance for the development of major entry roads to towns and cities, as well as for the enhancement of one road within each town as an iconic road. Municipalities are tasked with intensively cleaning roads up to 5 kilometres from city limits, while municipal corporations must clean roads up to 2 kilometres from city limits. Additionally, approach roads to towns will be cleaned, and one road will be designated as an iconic road. For this purpose, the state government will provide financial assistance to municipalities and municipal corporations. Financial assistance of Rs 2 crores will be provided each to Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot Municipal Corporations; Rs 1.5 crores each to Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, and Gandhinagar Municipal Corporations; and Rs 1 crore each to A class municipalities, Rs 75 lakh each to B class municipalities, and Rs 50 lakh each to C and D class municipalities, totalling Rs 111 crores, the information department further said. Municipalities and municipal corporations across the state will receive one-time assistance of Rs 1 lakh each for beautification efforts, such as installing sculptures, creating gardens, and planting trees, at every Garbage Vulnerable Point. This initiative aims to ensure cleanliness by permanently removing garbage and maintaining cleanliness at these locations. The state government has allocated Rs 16 crore for this purpose. The Information department said that to foster a competitive spirit among local self-government bodies in terms of cleanliness, a quarterly competition titled Maru Shaher, Swachh Shaher (My City, Clean City) will be conducted, with categories based on the population of the towns. Certificates of recognition will be awarded to the best collector, commissioner, regional commissioner, and chief officer based on their sanitation performance, as assessed through quarterly reports submitted by third-party agencies. Additionally, a total of Rs 16 crore will be allocated for awards to the winning cities. Under this award, a municipality with a population of more than 10 lakhs will receive Rs 5 crores, a municipality with a population of less than 10 lakhs will receive Rs 4 crores, a class A municipality will receive a grant of Rs 3 crores, a class B municipality will receive a grant of Rs 2 crore, and a class C and D municipality will receive Rs 1 crore each. Financial incentives will be provided to sanitation workers, who play a vital role in the cleanliness and sanitation operations of the state's cities, by recognizing them as the best sanitation workers. Each ward in Municipal Corporations will select one best sanitation worker monthly, who will be granted Rs 10,000. Similarly, at the municipal level, one of the best sanitation employees per municipality will also receive Rs 10,000 monthly. The state government will provide a total assistance of Rs 4 crores for the best sanitation workers. As part of Nirmal Gujarat 2.0, the administrative departments of the Secretariat and their head offices will implement an annual cleanliness calendar and conduct sanitation cleaning activities. Nirmal Gujarat 2.0 is part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) and aims to build on the success of the Nirmal Gujarat Abhiyan from 2007, following the motto Cleanliness is next to Godliness. (ANI)

devdiscourse 16 Mar 2024 5:05 pm

Helping Indian electric mobility dreams come true

Investors foresee 'India's decade' with significant GDP growth and population rise. The country targets 90% renewable energy by 2047 for net zero emissions by 2070. GreenCell Mobility's electric bus deployment in Surat marks a step towards sustainable transportation.

The Economic Times 16 Mar 2024 2:16 pm

AIE aircraft wing hits truck at Surat airport on landing

Air India Express's Sharjah-Surat flight faced a scare at Surat International Airport when its wing hit a dumper truck. The incident led to a DGCA probe, with safety concerns for passengers and airport staff.

The Times of India 16 Mar 2024 8:29 am

IHCL Announces the Signing of a SeleQtions Hotel in Surat, Gujarat - Hospitality Net

IHCL Announces the Signing of a SeleQtions Hotel in Surat, Gujarat Hospitality Net

Google News 15 Mar 2024 5:06 pm

Football coach from Mumbai duped by fraudsters from Surat | Victim was lured to earn good money | Inshorts - Inshorts

Football coach from Mumbai duped by fraudsters from Surat | Victim was lured to earn good money | Inshorts Inshorts

Google News 15 Mar 2024 3:39 pm

Trader Mahakumbh! Jainam Broking kickstarts Indian Options Conclave 5.0

Indian Options Conclave 5.0 by Jainam Broking Ltd in Surat hosts expert sessions by Vishal Malkan, Madan Kumar, Shariq Shamsuddin, Vivek Bajaj, Harshubh Shah, Milan Parikh, offering valuable insights and networking opportunities for all levels of traders and investors.

The Economic Times 15 Mar 2024 11:19 am

Man who used to sell Army uniforms in Rajasthan held on espionage charges

Man who used to sell Army uniforms in Rajasthan held on espionage charges A man who used to run a shop selling Army uniforms in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar district has been arrested on espionage charges, officials have said. Anand Raj Singh (22) was arrested on Thursday for allegedly collecting information of strategic importance for the Army and sharing it with three female handlers of Pakistani intelligence agencies through social media, Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Sanjay Agarwal said. He added that the accused used to run a uniform store outside the Suratgarh Army Cantonment in Sri Ganganagar. Agarwal said Singh shut his shop sometime ago and was working in a factory in the Behror area. Even during this period, he was in touch with the female handlers of Pakistani intelligence agencies, the officer added. Singh used to secure confidential information of the Army from his sources and share it with the Pakistani agents, the ADGP said, adding that the accused had also demanded money from these agents for sending such classified information. Agarwal said espionage activities carried out by Pakistani intelligence agencies are being continuously monitored by the intelligence wing of the Rajasthan Police.

devdiscourse 15 Mar 2024 9:26 am

Rajasthan Police arrests man on espionage charges

The ADGP said the accused ran a uniform store outside the Suratgarh Army Cantonment

Mid Day 15 Mar 2024 8:18 am

Class X girls forced to remove hijab during board exam in Gujarat, centre admin sacked

Lions School's administrator removed for hijab incident during Class 10 exams. GSHSEB has no specific exam attire rules. Parents protested, leading to an inquiry by the DEO. CCTV footage prompted the action.

The Times of India 15 Mar 2024 7:16 am

Royal Orchid Hotels partners with Hindva Hospitality, to launch property at Surat

Royal Orchid Hotels Limited has signed a management agreement as part of their rapid expansion plan for an upcoming 5-star hotel in Surat, Gujarat. The property will be managed by ROHL(Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd) in partnership with Hindva Hospitality, LLP. ROHL will oversee this property under a new upscale brand, which will be launched soon.... The post Royal Orchid Hotels partners with Hindva Hospitality, to launch property at Surat first appeared on Hospitality Biz India : India hospitality news, hospitality business analysis . The post Royal Orchid Hotels partners with Hindva Hospitality, to launch property at Surat appeared first on Hospitality Biz India : India hospitality news, hospitality business analysis .

hospitalitybizindia 15 Mar 2024 6:29 am

Gem, jewellery growth to triple after EFTA agreement

The Times of India 15 Mar 2024 5:06 am

4 booked for 1.64cr cheating

The Times of India 15 Mar 2024 5:06 am

Jilted lover stabs teacher, her mother on busy road

The Times of India 15 Mar 2024 5:05 am

Transgenders exhibit grace during fashion show in Surat - ANI News

Transgenders exhibit grace during fashion show in Surat ANI News

Google News 14 Mar 2024 11:36 pm

Rajasthan: Man held for sharing defence info with female handlers in Pak

Jaipur: An intelligence team of the Rajasthan Police on Thursday arrested a person named Anand Raj Singh for allegedly collecting defence information of strategic importance and sharing it with three female handlers in the Pakistan intelligence setup via social media. The accused civilian ran a uniform store outside the Suratgarh Army Cantt, officials said. Additional 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 .

The Siasat Daily 14 Mar 2024 10:33 pm

Gujarat school principal removed for forcing Class 10 girls to remove hijab before exam

BHARUCH: The principal of a private school was removed as an exam administrator by the Gujarat Education Department on Thursday after outrage erupted among parents who alleged that she had compelled Muslim girl students to remove their hijabs before a Class X examination. The incident took place at Lions School in Ankleshwar town, Bharuch district, just before the mathematics paper on Wednesday of the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB). Following complaints from the parents, the state education department swiftly removed the exam centre administrator, Ilaben Suratiya, who is also the principal of the school. District Education Officer Swati Raol took action after meeting with the concerned parents. I have seen the CCTV footage and the parents also gave their application to me in this regard. I have ordered an inquiry into the incident and also started the process to change the exam centre administrator because I found merit in the complaint, Raol said. Parents recounted how their daughters, including one who cried for hours after the incident, were pressured by school staff to remove their hijabs before the exam. Suratiya defended the actions, stating that ensuring clear video recordings of all students' faces was the rationale behind the request. As per the rules, the faces of all the students must be clear in the video recording. That's why we had asked the girls to remove their (head) scarves before the exam so that we don't have to disturb them during the exam and others also don't get disturbed, Suratiya said. However, Raol contested this action of the principal saying here are no specific instructions or guidelines from the board about the attire to be worn during exams. CCTV footage reviewed by parents revealed that women supervisors at the school requested two Muslim students to remove their hijabs before collecting the garments, citing the need for clear facial identification according to exam protocols. Talking to reporters, a parent said, The school principal and other staff harassed the girl students, including my own daughter, by asking them to remove their hijab ahead of the exam. My daughter cried for three hours after returning home.It happened with nearly a dozen girls yesterday. We want the authorities to take action against those involved in this act, the parent said. After a thorough review and discussions with parents, Raol initiated an investigation into the incident and promptly replaced Suratiya as the exam centre administrator. The GSHSEB clarified that there are no specific dress code rules for examinees, emphasising that students can wear any decent attire during exams. Exam Director of the GSHSEB, M K Raval, said students can appear for the exam wearing any decent attire. There are no specific rules about clothes to be worn during exams. Students can wear any decent attire. Any female supervisor can check the identity of a female student ahead of the exam by matching her face with the photo on the receipt. After that, we have no issues, Raval said.

The New Indian Express 14 Mar 2024 7:12 pm

Gujarat school asks Class X students to remove hijab

Following the allegation, the state education department on Thursday ordered the removal of the exam centre administrator, Ilaben Suratiya, who is also the principal of that school.

Rediff 14 Mar 2024 5:15 pm

Dhule MP Subhash Bhamre thanks PM Modi after BJP reconsiders him for Lok Sabha election

Dhule MP Subhash Bhamre thanks PM Modi after BJP reconsiders him for Lok Sabha election After being fielded again from the Dhule constituency, BJP MP Subhash Bhamre expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda after the party fielded him from the Dhule constituency again. I am very happy today that the Central Election Committee has announced my name. They have given me an opportunity once again. I thank the Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi. I also want to thank Party President JP Nadda, Amit Shah, and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra ji Fadwanis. I want to thank the public also... said BJP MP Subhash Bhamre. Earlier on Wednesday, The Bharatiya Janata Party released the second list of Lok Sabha polls consisting of 72 candidates, including three former Chief Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar, Trivendra Singh Rawat, Basvaraj Bommai as well as four Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Thakur, and Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi. The BJP has fielded former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for the Karnal Lok Sabha seat. Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier resigned from the position of Haryana Chief Minister on Tuesday. In Himachal Pradesh, Union Minister Anurag Thakur will contest from the Hamirpur constituency. Suresh Kashyap has been fielded from Shimla seat. In Karnataka, the party has fielded Union Minister Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad. Tejaswi Surya will contest from the Bangalore South constituency. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai has been given a ticket from the Haveri Lok Sabha seat, while PC Mohan will contest from Bangalore Central. In Maharashtra, the BJP has decided to field Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from the Nagpur seat. Piyush Goyal will contest from Mumbai North. Pankja Munde has been fielded from Beed.The BJP also announced the candidature for two seats in Uttarakhand. The party has fielded former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat from the Haridwar seat while Anil Baluni, who is the National Chief Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to contest from the Garhwal seat. Also, BJP announced that Harsh Malhotra will contest from East Delhi constituency, a seat which was held by former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir. Yogendra Chandolia will contest from North West Delhi. Meanwhile, Kalaben Delkar will contest from Dadar and Nagar Haveli. In the second list, the BJP has announced the names of candidates for seven Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat. In Gujarat, the party has fielded Hashmukhbhai Somabhai Patel from Ahmedabad East, Dhawal Patel from Valsad, Mukeshbhai Chandrakant Dalal from Surat, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt from Vadodara, Nimuben Bambhania from Bhavnagar, Bhikhaji Dudhaji Thakor from Sabarkantha and Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathwa from Chhota Udaipur. Six names have been announced from Haryana. Banto Kataria from Ambala, Ashok Tanwar from Sirsa, Chaudhary Dharambir Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendargah, Rao Inderjit Singh Yadav from Gurgaon, and Krishanpal Gurjar from Faridabad. BJP has fielded Raghvendra from Shimoga and V Sommana from Tumkur in Karnataka.In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has fielded Vivek 'Bunty' Sahu from the Chhindwara seat where he will face Congress leader Nakul Nath. Shankar Lalwani will contest from Indore. In Maharashtra, Anup Dhotre will fight the polls from the Akola seat on the BJP ticket, and Kapil Moreshwar Patil from Bhiwandi. In Telangana, Godam Nagesh will contest from Adilabad, DK Aruna from Mahbubnagar, and Saida Reddy will contest from Nalgonda. From Tripura East, Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma will contest on BJP ticket. Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi again. Meanwhile, Congress has so far announced names for 82 Lok Sabha seats.The BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats.The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

devdiscourse 14 Mar 2024 10:27 am

We will create history: BJP MP Shankar Lalwani on his candidature from Indore in LS polls

We will create history: BJP MP Shankar Lalwani on his candidature from Indore in LS polls After being picked by the Bharatiya Janata Party as its candidate from Indore for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, MP Shankar Lalwani expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I want to thank PM Modi and the central and the state leadership for giving me this opportunity again. We will create a history in Indore, he told ANI. Shankar Lalwani was elected to the 17th Lok Sabha in the 2019 General Elections from Indore. He has been given another chance by the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, the BJP released the second list of Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday, consisting of 72 candidates, including three former Chief Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar, Trivendra Singh Rawat, Basvaraj Bommai as well as four Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Thakur, and Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi. The BJP has fielded former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for the Karnal Lok Sabha seat. Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier resigned from the position of Haryana Chief Minister on Tuesday. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has fielded Vivek 'Bunty' Sahu from the Chhindwara seat where he will face Congress leader Nakul Nath. Shankar Lalwani will contest from Indore. In the second list, the BJP has announced the names of candidates for seven Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat. In Gujarat, the party has fielded Hashmukhbhai Somabhai Patel from Ahmedabad East, Dhawal Patel from Valsad, Mukeshbhai Chandrakant Dalal from Surat, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt from Vadodara, Nimuben Bambhania from Bhavnagar, Bhikhaji Dudhaji Thakor from Sabarkantha and Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathwa from Chhota Udaipur. Six names have been announced from Haryana. Banto Kataria from Ambala, Ashok Tanwar from Sirsa, Chaudhary Dharambir Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendargah, Rao Inderjit Singh Yadav from Gurgaon, and Krishanpal Gurjar from Faridabad. Meanwhile, Congress has so far announced names for 82 Lok Sabha seats. (ANI) In 2019, the BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats. The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

devdiscourse 14 Mar 2024 9:27 am

Gajera brothers named in land grabbing case

The Times of India 14 Mar 2024 5:44 am

Man killed in Bhestan after altercation

The Times of India 14 Mar 2024 5:42 am

Surat revs up for 4-day auto expo

The Times of India 14 Mar 2024 5:42 am

BJP's second list of candidates for LS polls: At least 25 sitting MPs replaced with new faces

BJP's second list of candidates for LS polls: At least 25 sitting MPs replaced with new faces The BJP replaced at least 25 sitting MPs with new faces as the party released its second list of 72 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday. In Delhi, the ruling party fielded Harsh Malhotra from the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat, dropping its sitting MP Gautam Gambhir, a former cricketer. For the North West Delhi constituency reserved for the Scheduled Caste, the party named Yogendra Chandolia as its candidate, dropping incumbent Hans Raj Hans, a singer. The BJP replaced five sitting MPs with new faces in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The party fielded Bhikhaji Dudhaji Thakore from Sabarkantha, replacing its two-term MP Dipsinh Magansinh Rathod. For Bhavnagar seat, the party named Nimuben Bambhania, dropping its two-term MP Bhartiben Dhirubhai Shiyal. The BJP fielded Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathwa from the Chhota Udaipur Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat, instead of its sitting MP Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva. The party named Mukeshbhai Chandrakant Dalal as its candidate for Surat, dropping its three-term MP and Union minister Darshana Vikram Jardosh from the seat. In Haryana, the BJP dropped its sitting MP Sunita Duggal to field Ashok Tanwar from the Sirsa seat, reserved for the Scheduled Caste. Tanwar, a former Congress leader, had recently joined the BJP after quitting the Aam Aadmi Party. From the Karnal Lok Sabha seat, the BJP fielded former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, dropping sitting MP Sanjay Bhatia. Khattar resigned as chief minister this week. In its second list, the BJP named five new faces for the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka. The party named Basavaraj Kyavator as its candidate from Koppal, drooping its two-term MP Sanganna Amarappa Karadi. From Bellary in Karnataka which is reserved for the Scheduled Tribe, the BJP fielded B Sriramulu, instead of its sitting MP Y Devendrappa. The party named former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai as its candidate from Haveri, dropping its three-term MP Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi from the seat. For the Dakshina Kannada seat, the BJP named Capt Brijesh Chowta as its candidate for the Lok Sabha polls, instead of Nalin Kumar Kateel who held the seat for the last three consecutive terms. The party dropped its two-term MP Pratap Simha to field Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from the Mysore Lok Sabha seat. It named S Balaraj as its candidate for the Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha seat, instead of its six-term MP Srinivasa Prasad. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP gave party ticket to Savitri Thakur from the Dhar seat, instead of Chhatar Singh Darbar who has been holding the seat for the last three terms. The party named Bharti Pardhi as its candidate from Balaghat seat, instead of its sitting MP Dal Singh Bisen. In Maharashtra, the BJP replaced its sitting MPs with new faces in five Lok Sabha seats. The party named Smita Wagh as its candidate from Jalgaon, dropping its sitting MP Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil from the seat. The BJP's two-term MP from Mumbai North Gopal Chinayya Shetty was dropped to field Union minister Piyush Goyal from the seat. The BJP named Anup Dhorte as its candidate from Maharashtras Akola Lok Sabha seat, instead of Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre who is the sitting MP. The BJP dropped its sitting MP Manoj Kishorebhai Kotak from Mumbai North East to field Mihir Kotecha from the seat. For the Beed Lok Sabha seat, the party named Pankaja Munde as its candidate, instead of her sister Pritam Gopinath Rao Munde who has been holding the seat for the last two terms. In Telangana, the BJP dropped its sitting MP Soyam Babu Rao to field Godam Nagesh from the Adilabad seat, which is reserved for the Scheduled Caste. The BJP fielded its chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni from Garhwal, instead of incumbent Tirath Singh Rawat, a former Uttarakhand chief minister. The party also dropped its two-term MP and former Union minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank from the Haridwar seat to field former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. The BJP named Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma as its candidate from Tripura East seat, instead of incumbent Rebati Tripura. In the first list of candidates released on March 2 for more than 190 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP had replaced at least 33 sitting MPs with new faces.

devdiscourse 14 Mar 2024 12:09 am

LS Polls: BJP Releases Second List with 72 Names

New Delhi : The BJP on Wednesday released its second list of 72 more candidates for the impending Lok Sabha elections. Former BJP president and Union minister Nitin Gadkari from Maharashtra's Nagpur, former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar from Karnal and Union minister Piyush Goyal from Mumbai North are among the prominent names on the new list. While it will be Mr Khattar's first Lok Sabha election, it is Mr Goyal's electoral debut. Other important names in the BJPs second list of candidates are Union minister Anurag Thakur from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP national media convenor Anil Baluni from Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal, former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat from Haridwar, former Karanataka CM Basavraj Bommai from Haveri and the current titular king of the erstwhile Mysore royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore. Mr Wadiyar will be replacing incumbent MP Pratap Simha, whose name got embroiled in the recent Parliament breach case. Also, Uttarakhand's Haridwar seat is currently represented by former Union minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. Another member of an erstwhile royal family in the BJP list is Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma from Tripura East. Ms Singh is the elder sister of regional outfit Tipra Motha's Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma. Tipra Motha recently announced its alliance with the BJP. This seat is currently represented by BJP MP Rebati Tripura. The BJP has fielded Kalaben Delkar from Dadar and Nagar Haveli, who is a sitting MP and had joined the saffron party a couple of days back. She had won the seat in a bypoll in 2021 on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket. The BJP has fielded parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad and former chief minister and Lingayat leader B.S. Yediyurappa's son B.Y. Raghavendra from Shimoga. Union minister Shobha Karandlaje has been shifted from Udupi Chikmagalur to Bangalore North. Former Karnataka state unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel has been replaced by Brijesh Chota in Dakshina Kannada. The party has fielded Pankaja Munde, daughter of late Gopinath Munde, from Maharashtra's Beed, currently represented by her sister Pritam. Union minister Bharati Pawar will contest from Dindori and senior leader Sudhir Mungantiwar from Chandrapur. In Telangana, the party has named Madavaneni Raghunandan Rao from Medak, D.K. Aruna from Mahabubnagar, Azmeera Seetaram Naik from Mahabubabad and Godam Nagesh from Adilabad. In Madhya Pradesh, the party has fielded sitting MP Shankar Lalwani from Indore, sitting MP Anil Firoziya from Ujjain and Vivek Sahu from Chhindwara. From Gujarat, the party has renominated Hasmukbhai Somabhai Patel from Ahmedabad East and Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt from Vadodara. The BJP has named Mukeshbhai Chandrakant Dalal from Surat and Bhikhaji Dudhani Thakor from Sabarkantha. Surat is currently represented by Union minister Darshana Jardosh. The party had earlier released 195 names, which also included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers, including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.

Deccan Chronicle 13 Mar 2024 11:05 pm

Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, ex-CM Khattar in BJP's second list of 72 candidates for Lok Sabha polls

Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, ex-CM Khattar in BJP's second list of 72 candidates for Lok Sabha polls Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal and Anurag Singh Thakur, and three former chief ministers, including Haryana's Manohar Lal Khattar, figured in the BJP's second list of 72 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections announced on Wednesday. The ruling party dropped former Union ministers Sadananda Gowda and Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' from their seats. Khattar and Goyal will be making their Lok Sabha poll debut from Karnal in Haryana and Mumbai North respectively. Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai will contest from Haveri and former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat from Haridwar. BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni will also be fighting his first Lok Sabha poll as the BJP fielded him from Garhwal, replacing former Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat. Gadkari and Thakur will seek re-election from Nagpur in Maharashtra and Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh respectively. In the Beed constituency in Maharashtra, Pankaja Munde has replaced her sister and incumbent MP Pritam Munde. With the second list, the BJP has announced the names of 265 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections due in April-May. On March 2, the party released its first list of candidates for 195 Lok Sabha seats, but two of them -- Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh and Upendra Rawat -- withdrew after their nominations sparked controversies. Of the 72 seats for which the party announced its candidates on Wednesday, 20 each were from Maharashtra and Karnataka, seven from Gujarat, six each from Haryana and Telangana, five from Madhya Pradesh, two each from Delhi, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and one each from Tripura, and Dadar & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. The BJP's second list includes 10 women candidates. In Delhi, the BJP has fielded two new candidates -- Harsh Malhotra from East Delhi and Yogendra Chandolia from North West Delhi -- dropping the party's sitting MPs Gautam Gambhir and Hans Raj Hans. With this, the BJP has named candidates for all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, dropping six incumbents. Tejasvi Surya, the BJP youth wing president, will contest again from Bangalore South while Union minister Shobha Karandlaje has been shifted from her Udupi Chikmagalur seat to Bangalore North, represented by former Union minister and Karnataka chief minister Gowda in the outgoing Lok Sabha. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysore royal family replaces Pratap Simha, who was recently in a row for recommending passes to two persons who breached Parliament's security, as the BJP candidate in the Mysore seat. Former Karnataka BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel has been dropped from Dakshina Kannada in favour of Brijesh Chowta, who has served in the Army. In Karnataka, Union minister Pralhad Joshi will fight from Dharwad while former chief minister BS Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghwendra will contest from Shimoga again. Union minister Darshana Jardosh has been dropped from her Surat seat, with the BJP repeating only two of the seven incumbent MPs from Gujarat in the second list. Several Telangana leaders who quit other parties, mainly BRS, figure in the BJP's second list. In the Tripura East seat, the BJP fielded Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma, sister of Pradyot Debbarma, the Tipra Motha chief and a scion of the erstwhile Tripura royal family. Union minister Bharati Pravin Pawar will join the fray from Maharashtra's Dindori Lok Sabha seat again. Ashok Tanwar, who recently joined the BJP after having a stint with several other parties including the Congress, TMC and the Aam Aadmi Party, replaces sitting MP Sunita Duggal in Sirsa in Haryana, while Union ministers Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar will seek re-election from Gurgaon and Faridabad respectively. In the first list, the ruling party had announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi would contest from Varanasi for a third time. It had also named 34 Union ministers, including heavyweights like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh from their current Gandhinagar and Lucknow seats respectively, in the first list. Two former chief ministers -- Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Biplab Kumar Deb -- also figured in the first list which did not have many surprise omissions.

devdiscourse 13 Mar 2024 10:12 pm

Five new faces among 7 LS candidates declared by BJP in Gujarat; MoS Railway dropped

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced seven more candidates for Gujarat's 26 Lok Sabha seats, dropping five sitting MPs, including junior Railway minister Darshana Jardosh, and replacing them with new faces. The party has chosen Mukesh Dalal for the Surat Lok Sabha constituency, replacing Jardosh. Four other sitting MPs have been denied tickets, while Ranjanben Bhatt and Hasmukh Patel were re-nominated.

The Economic Times 13 Mar 2024 9:48 pm

Can you reconstruct damaged flats? Madras HC asks Jain constructions Ltd

CHENNAI: A division bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Jains Housing Constructions Limited to furnish the financial resources it has to demolish and reconstruct buildings at Jains Westminster at Saligramam and also the details of housing projects it has taken up so far. The direction was given by the bench of justices SS Sundar and N Senthilkumar on the petitions filed by flat owners in the Jains Westminster Apartments seeking reconstruction of all flats and deposit of rental amount, along with the money required for reconstruction. The Jains Westminster Flat Owners Association approached the court with the petition last year seeking reconstruction of all the three blocks having about 600 individual flats after portions of the ceiling collapsed and walls cracked in several areas of the flats. An expert team of the IIT-M had suggested reconstruction after finding poor construction quality and substandard materials. Senior advocate S Prabakharan, one of the counsels for the petitioners, submitted that rebuilding the apartments without demolishing the entire structure, as suggested by the construction company, is not acceptable to the flat owners, instead, the flats should be reconstructed completely after demolition. Pointing out that the company has deposited only `25 crore, he sought that the company to deposit `100 crore for rental charges and `275 crore for reconstruction of the entire habitat and wanted the evacuation be done immediately. Referring to submissions made by the counsels for the flat owners and the builder, the bench said it is of the view that the builder should come out with a full disclosure of its net worth. All the parties have unanimously agreed for appointment of a committee comprising two retired judges of the Madras High Court to identify the accommodation places suitable for flat owners when the demolition and reconstruction takes place, the bench said. It added, the committee will undertake the task and assess the requirement of further money needed for all the flat owners to get decent accommodation commensurate with their ownership. The builder shall file an affidavit containing the financial requirements and the resources as to how they are going to mobilise funds for the project. It shall also disclose the projects, both ongoing and the past ones, which they have undertaken/completed throughout the country and the stages of such projects, the bench said in the interim order. It directed the Jains Housing Constructions Limited to furnish the details by March 18.

The New Indian Express 13 Mar 2024 10:36 am

Ktaka, Punjab, Haryana lead the way in used water management: Report

BENGALURU: A Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) study shows that Karnataka, Punjab, and Haryana lead in used water management. Further, Bengaluru and Surat in Gujarat top the list.The study titled Enabling Circular Economy in Used Water Management in India - A Municipal Index for Assessing Urban Local Bodies Performance released on March 12 was made based on 2021 data. The report stated that only 28% of Indias 72,000 million litres of used water is treated. With rising urban water demand and dwindling groundwater table, urban local bodies (ULBs) across the country need to scale up the treatment and reuse of used water for non-potable purposes. Lack of financial planning and investments for used water management is a concern in 90% of ULBs, the report added. The CEEW report created a Municipal Used Water Management (MUWM) Index, which focused on 503 ULBs in 10 statesAndhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and West Bengalthat have adopted treated used water reuse policies. Through the index, they were ranked on five themes: finance, infrastructure, efficiency, governance, and data and information. Surat Municipal Corporation and BBMP emerged as outstanding performers in the CEEW index, with dedicated action plans for used water management in areas including infrastructure works. At the state level, Haryana and Karnataka take the lead, with Punjab and Rajasthan following closely, said the report.The CEEW also said that the majority of ULBs needed to adopt a more comprehensive approach to used water management. Though Karnataka emerges as a front-runner, it is critical to note that there is a long road to go with no state achieving a full score. As Bengaluru runs out of freshwater, reusing used water to its full potential for non-potable purposes will be key in the future, said Nitin Bassi, senior programme lead, CEEW. He added that the study area in Bengaluru focused on the ULB limits, where the Cauvery water connection was supplied, and not in the areas listed in the 110 villages.

The New Indian Express 13 Mar 2024 9:23 am

Man arrested for molesting woman on road

The Times of India 13 Mar 2024 5:39 am

SMC awards projects worth 622 crore

The Times of India 13 Mar 2024 5:38 am

FOSTTA to get new office

The Times of India 13 Mar 2024 5:36 am

Kheralu violence: 2 accused hiding in Surat nabbed

The Times of India 13 Mar 2024 5:36 am

Electric Bikes Battery Explosion Leaves Surat House In Shambles; Video Goes Viral

Electric Bike's battery triggers explosion in Surat house

mashable 12 Mar 2024 5:41 pm

Tribals in Odisha block road over job, land rights demand

BARIPADA: Hundreds of tribals, including women, children, and youths from the Sankhabhanga panchayat within the Baripada Sadar police station in Mayurbhanj district, staged a protest on Monday, blocking the Jaleswar-Baripada road near Rangamatia village. The demonstrators demanded job opportunities for local youths in government-run institutions and land rights for landless tribals for permanent settlements. The road blockade disrupted vehicular movement between Jaleswar in Balasore district and Baripada district headquarters for over seven hours. Protesters, including women and children, sat on the road, erecting temporary barricades made of bamboo grass, allowing only ambulances to pass for emergency purposes. Ramjit Hansdah and Badal Hembram, residents of Rangamatia village, said despite providing 180 acre of land for the establishment of the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital (PRM MCH), the local tribes did not receive adequate benefits. While the medical institution, a driving testing centre, and a rice stock centre of FCI were successfully set up on the provided land, the affected tribals did not receive job opportunities commensurate with their qualifications, they alleged. Moreover, many landless tribals continue to lack permanent settlements despite assurances from CM Naveen Patnaik, they added, warning to boycott elections if their demands are not met within a fortnight. Inspector-in-charge (IIC) of Sadar Police Station Madhumita Mohanty, confirmed that the roadblock was lifted after the BDO and tehsildar of Baripada assured the villagers to present the demands before the higher authorities.

The New Indian Express 12 Mar 2024 11:00 am

In 2 years, Bhimrad to have Gandhi Smarak

The Times of India 12 Mar 2024 5:50 am

Lovelorn couple die by suicide

The Times of India 12 Mar 2024 5:47 am

Minors rapist to spend life in jail

The Times of India 12 Mar 2024 5:47 am

Software Technology Parks of India launches FinGlobe-Fintech startup hub in Gandhinagar

Software Technology Parks of India launches FinGlobe-Fintech startup hub in Gandhinagar The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, inaugurated its 24th Center of Entrepreneurship (CoE) - FinGlobe in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. According to a press release by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (IT), the launch event, held at STPI-Gandhinagar within GIFT City, saw the inauguration of the CoE and its maiden Open Challenge Program (OCP) by K Rajaraman, Chairperson of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). Accompanied by Mona K Khandhar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, and other dignitaries, K Rajaraman emphasized the importance of nurturing startups in the fintech sector to build global-scale companies and technology platforms. He expressed his support for the FinGlobe CoE, highlighting its potential to develop solutions for the global market and bolster India's reputation as a trusted financial ecosystem. K Rajaraman said, If we look at the economic reforms that have happened in the last 25 years, the most important reform is the tax reform. This helped in improving the health of the Indian financial system and financial sector at large. Financial institutions are all healthier because of this reform. All of them have become more prudential when it comes to managing their finances. All these enabled us to build the financial ecosystem, building trust globally. He added, In every sector, we have to have global-scale companies and technology platforms can help to achieve that. We at IFSCA are building such regulations so that foreign investors don't face any issues when they land in India. With this FinGlobe CoE, startups will build solutions for the rest of the world. We are happy to support and facilitate this CoE. The FinGlobe CoE, established in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, aims to catalyze the development and proliferation of cutting-edge technologies within the financial services domain, read the press release. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, expert mentorship, and a collaborative ecosystem, FinGlobe CoE seeks to empower startups, entrepreneurs, and established players to ideate, innovate, and scale their solutions in the FinTech, TechFin, Banking Industry, and allied domains. The CoE provides 50 Plug-n-Play incubation seats to facilitate the growth of startups. During the event, five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged between STPINext Initiatives and its CoE partners, including (n)Code Solutions (IT Division of GNFC Limited), Centre for Advancing and Launching Enterprises (CrAdLE) at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, GVFL Limited, and TiE-Ahmedabad, further solidifying the commitment towards fostering innovation and growth in the fintech sector, read the press release. Mona K Khandhar lauded the launch of the CoE as a crucial step towards establishing Gujarat as a fintech hub, emphasizing its potential to deepen the ecosystem of fintech further. She also highlighted plans for a hackathon and onboarding of startups, emphasizing the state's commitment to leveraging technology, particularly artificial intelligence, to drive innovation. Khandhar said, The launch of this CoE is an important journey towards making Gujarat a Fintech hub. All these efforts will deepen the ecosystem of FinTech further. She added, We have also planned a hackathon and start onboarding the startups. We have a long association with STPI. The disruption in IT sector continues with the emergence of artificial intelligence and we are working to leverage this technology. Speaking on the occasion, Arvind Kumar, Director-General of STPI, underscored the organization's active role in promoting the IT/ITeS industry and startups in Gujarat, read the press release. He expressed confidence in the potential of the fintech domain and the role of the FinGlobe CoE in driving digital transformation, fostering job creation, and contributing to Gujarat's emergence as a prominent IT destination. Kumar said, STPI is actively engaged in promoting IT/ITeS industry & startups in the state of Gujarat through its two centres in Gandhinagar and Surat. Both centres are driving digital transformation, fostering job creation, and contributing to Gujarat's emergence as a prominent IT destination in times to come. Now, seeing the potential of FinTech domain in the state, STPI is expanding its footprint by establishing its 24th CoE in the FinTech domain at GIFT-City in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Gujarat. This FinTech CoE will provide the requisite support like state-of-the-art incubation infrastructure, Sandbox Environment, Industry APIs, Payment Gateways, mentoring, industry & market connect to the startups, he added. The FinGlobe CoE represents a crucial investment in technology and innovation, providing a platform for startups and potential investors to collaborate, innovate, and shape the future of the financial system. (ANI)

devdiscourse 11 Mar 2024 11:11 pm

Adani Electricity Mumbai tops discoms rating chart, Torrent Power Surat 2nd

Adani Electricity Mumbai tops discoms rating chart, Torrent Power Surat 2nd Adani Electricity Mumbai has topped the chart in the performance ranking of power distribution companies for 2022-23, a statement said on Monday. Torrent Power Surat and Torrent Power Ahmedabad were at second and third spots in the 12th edition of Integrated Rating of Discoms released by Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy R K Singh. As many as 14 out of 55 distribution companies received the highest A+ rating. Utilities of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh were in A+ / A category, a power ministry release stated. In all, out of the 55 utilities which have been rated, 14 have received a performance rating of A+, 4 have received A, 7 have received B, 13 have received B-, 11 have received C and 6 have received the rating of C-. No utility has received the lowest rating of D, the ministry said. In addition, two private utilities, TPNODL (Odisha) and DNHDDPDCL (Dadar, Nagar & Haveli, Daman & Diu) too have received A+ rating; however, they have not been included in the main ranking list since they have not completed three full years of operations. Gujarat's state power utilities Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (DGVCL) and Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (UGVCL) at fourth and fifth positions respectively.

devdiscourse 11 Mar 2024 8:02 pm

PM Modi Set to Open Western Freight Corridor Command Center Tomorrow

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to inaugurate the operations control center of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor on Tuesday. This move aims to alleviate congestion in the railway network, with portions of the infrastructure project also slated for inauguration. Additionally, PM Modi will unveil the 401-kilometer new Khurja Junction-Sanehwal section of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and the 224-kilometer new Makarpura Junction-Gholvad section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The EDFC section traversing 12 districts in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab promises enhanced connectivity across major agricultural and industrial regions in North India, as per a statement from the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCC). Meanwhile, the 244-kilometer WDFC section will link five districts of Gujarat, including Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari, and Valsad. The state-of-the-art operations control center (OCC) situated in Ahmedabad will act as the nerve center for the 1,506-kilometer corridor. Equipped with an integrated train management system, dedicated freight information system, and supervisor control and data acquisition system, the OCC ensures real-time monitoring, control, and efficient planning of freight train operations across the WDFC stations and Indian Railways. Notably, the EDFC has slashed the transit time for coal transportation from eastern India to regional power plants from 35 hours to less than 20 hours, thanks to freight trains operating at a maximum speed of 100 kmph. Similarly, the WDFC has accelerated the transportation of perishable goods such as milk, vegetables, fruits, and farm products. According to the DFCC statement, the EDFC stands at 100 percent completion, witnessing over 150 trains operating daily at an average speed of 50-60 kmph. Meanwhile, the WDFC is 81 percent complete, with more than 100 trains running daily at an average speed of 50-55 kmph. PM Modi Pledges Accelerated Infrastructure Growth for India's Economic Surge PM Modi Unveils 112 National Highway Projects Worth Rs 1 Trillion PM Modi Distributes 1000 Kisan drones to 1000 NaMo Drone Didis

News Track 11 Mar 2024 5:11 pm

EMPLOYMENT (11-03-2024)

SATSHIV SECURITY & G.D. SERVICES REQUIREMENT 1. Security Guard & SO (Area Bari Brahmana) 2. Security Guard & SO (Co. Gujarat Surat, Reliance Company on Ex-man) 3. Maid Cooks 4. HR, Electrician, Three Phase Mob: 9419090782, 9622340783 Ex. Capt. Subhash Chander Staff Required for new Restaurant Waiters and Waitresses (3) Interested candidates may call/whatsapp on 9103500502 Required At home staff For patient & elderly care males & females Day /night/ 247 shifts Best package offered Contact: 8715866444 Visit: [] The post EMPLOYMENT (11-03-2024) appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Daily Excelsior 11 Mar 2024 12:02 pm

Suba Group of Hotels unveils Click Hotel in Surat

Suba Group of Hotels has recently launched Click Hotel Yuvraj in Surat, Gujarat. Surat is recognized as one of Indias major economic hubs and is accessible by road, rail, and air with Surat International Airport situated approximately 30 minutes from the hotel. Known for its blustering diamond and textile market, Surat accounts for nearly 90%... The post Suba Group of Hotels unveils Click Hotel in Surat first appeared on Hospitality Biz India : India hospitality news, hospitality business analysis . The post Suba Group of Hotels unveils Click Hotel in Surat appeared first on Hospitality Biz India : India hospitality news, hospitality business analysis .

hospitalitybizindia 11 Mar 2024 8:00 am

Builder cheated of 4cr by 3 partners, cops begin probe

The Times of India 11 Mar 2024 5:21 am

CBDT starts sending emails for mismatch in tax profile

NEW DELHI, Mar 10: The Income Tax Department on Sunday said it has started sending emails and SMSs to assessees whose taxes paid during the current fiscal are not commensurate with financial transactions. The department is undertaking an e-campaign, which aims to inform such persons/entities of significant financial transactions, through email (marked as Advance Tax e-Campaign-Significant Transactions for AY 2024-25) and SMS, urging them to compute their advance tax liability correctly and deposit the due advance tax on or before [] The post CBDT starts sending emails for mismatch in tax profile appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Daily Excelsior 11 Mar 2024 5:04 am

Man ends life after killing wife, son in Gujarat's Surat - Press Trust of India

Man ends life after killing wife, son in Gujarat's Surat Press Trust of India

Google News 10 Mar 2024 4:17 pm

CBDT starts sending emails, SMSs to assessees for mismatch in tax profile, fin transactions in FY24

CBDT starts sending emails, SMSs to assessees for mismatch in tax profile, fin transactions in FY24 The income tax department on Sunday said it has started sending emails and SMSs to assessees whose taxes paid during the current fiscal are not commensurate with financial transactions. The department is undertaking an e-campaign, which aims to inform such persons/entities of significant financial transactions, through email (marked as Advance Tax e-Campaign-Significant Transactions for AY 2024-25) and SMS, urging them to compute their advance tax liability correctly and deposit the due advance tax on or before March 15. In a statement, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said the income tax department has received certain information on specific financial transactions undertaken by persons/entities during the Financial Year (FY) 2023-24. ''On the basis of analysis of the taxes paid so far during the current financial year, the Department has identified such persons/entities where payment of taxes for FY 2023-24 (AY 2024-25) is not commensurate with the financial transactions made by the persons/entities concerned, during the said period,'' the CBDT said. This is another initiative of the department towards easing compliance for taxpayers and reinforcing its commitment towards enhancing taxpayer services, it added. The income tax department receives information on specified financial transactions of taxpayers from various sources. To increase transparency and promote voluntary tax compliance, this information is reflected in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) module and is available to persons/entities for viewing. The value of 'significant transactions' in the AIS has been used for carrying out this analysis. To view the details of significant transactions, the persons/entities can log in to their e-filing account and go to the compliance portal. On this portal, the e-campaign tab can be accessed to view significant transactions. Persons/entities, who are not registered on the e-filing website, have to first register themselves.

devdiscourse 10 Mar 2024 3:07 pm

I-T Dept detects cases of tax not being fully paid, fixes deadline to pay up

New Delhi: The Income Tax Department has identified some persons and entities whose payment of taxes for financial year 2023-24 is not commensurate with the financial transactions made by them during this period, the Finance Ministry said on Sunday. Hence, as a part of taxpayer service initiative, the Department is undertaking an e-campaign, which aims 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 .

The Siasat Daily 10 Mar 2024 1:48 pm

I-T Dept detects cases of tax not being fully paid, fixes March 15 deadline to pay up

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) The Income Tax Department has identified some persons and entities whose payment of taxes for financial year 2023-24 is not commensurate with the financial transactions made by them during this period, the Finance Ministry said on Sunday. Hence, as a part of taxpayer service initiative, the Department is undertaking an []

bhaskarlive 10 Mar 2024 1:48 pm

PM Modi inaugurates 15 airport project virtually from Azamgarh in UP

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated 15 airport projects, including 12 new terminal buildings of almost worth Rs 10,000 crore in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh, marking the event to be the single biggest infra addition that will see a mix of new airports, expanded terminals, laying of foundation stones for upcoming airports and other related facilities. The project launched by PM Modi includes 12 new terminal buildings of Pune, Kolhapur, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Delhi, Lucknow, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Shravasti and Adampur Airports, along with laying of the foundation stone for new terminal buildings of Kadapa, Hubballi and Belagavi airports on Sunday. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. So far, in FY 2023-24, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has operationalized state-of-the-art new integrated terminal buildings at Chennai, Port Blair, Surat and Tiruchirappalli Airports. The new terminal buildings at Kanpur Airport, Rajkot International Airport, Tezu Airport and Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham were also inaugurated. The projects are aimed at augmenting passenger amenities and giving a fillip to the local economy. Further, the foundation stone was also laid for new terminal buildings in Datia, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Rajahmundry to cater to demands in future. The 12 new terminal buildings are being developed at a total cost of Rs. 8,903 Crore, having a combined capacity to serve 615 Lakh passengers annually. According to the Prime Minister's Office, these terminal buildings are fully equipped with various passenger facilities like check-in counters, aerobridges, baggage conveyors and sufficient concessionaire area. AAI has also undertaken the development of three new terminal buildings at Kadapa, Hubballi and Belagavi Airports at a total cost of Rs.908 crore. Once completed, the combined passenger handling capacity of these airports will increase to 95 lakh passengers per annum, as per the government. These new terminal buildings are also equipped with various sustainability features like a double insulated roofing system, provision of canopies for energy saving, LED lighting, low heat gain double glazing unit, solar power plant etc. to meet GRIHA ratings. As per the press release issued by the PMO, the designs of these airports are influenced and derived from the common elements of heritage structures of that state and city, thus reflecting the local culture and highlighting the heritage of the region. The murals, paintings, and architectural style of all the above-mentioned Airports have the transformative power to enhance the travel experiences of the passengers. The inauguration and foundation stone laying of these 15 Airport projects worth Rs 9,811 Crore, places India's civil aviation industry at the forefront of the nation's economic growth and solidifies its role as a major player in the global aviation landscape, it said. With these new terminal buildings, air connectivity in the country will witness an increase which in turn will spur tourism, business, and education and generate employment which is vital to the region's economic prosperity. It will also strengthen the economy of the states over the long haul, boosting productivity through its positive impact on businesses, the statement said.

The New Indian Express 10 Mar 2024 1:42 pm

Surat: 42-year-old auto driver Akhtar Raza Muniyar repeatedly molests 11-year-old girl while dropping her to and from school, blames porn for it when arrested

Akhtar also threatened to burn the Surat girl alive if she told anyone about it. The girl then did not tell anyone about this out of fear.

OpIndia 10 Mar 2024 11:19 am

Rahul Gandhis Yatra To Pass Through Surat And Tapi On Last Day In Gujarat

Surat, Mar 10: The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi entered the last leg of its Gujarat journey on Sunday as it headed for Bardoli in Surat where the Congress leader will visit the historic Swaraj Ashram. The ashram was built in 1922 by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as his residence and served as a centre for planning and executing the Bardoli Satyagrah a farmers agitation and nationalist movement against increased taxation of cultivators by the then British [] The post Rahul Gandhis Yatra To Pass Through Surat And Tapi On Last Day In Gujarat appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Daily Excelsior 10 Mar 2024 10:26 am

EXPLAINED | Why Lingayats, Vokkaligas are against Karnatakas caste census

BENGALURU: Lingayats claim to be close to 17% of Karnatakas estimated seven crore population, making them the single-largest caste in the state. In other words, they peg their population at 1.2 crore. Similarly, Vokkaligas claim to be 15% of the total population or 1.05 crore, claiming the second-largest caste spot. Dominant is the word both communities are described by in Karnataka politics. More often than not their representatives are decision makers in almost all walks of life. But that settled social order is in for a disruption as the recent Socio-economic and Education Survey, popularly known as the caste census report, knocked both these communities out of their pedestal. Its report was submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 28 by K Jayaprakash Hegde, the then chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC). It created ripples among the two big communities, as the survey is said to have placed the Lingayat population at a mere 65 lakh (10.9%) and Vokkaligas at 60 lakh (10%) while bringing down Karnatakas total population to 5.98 crore though it already was 6.1 crore as per the 2011 census. The survey is also said to have found 1,351 different castes in the state. Of the 5.98 crore people, over 3.98 crore are from the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) group, while 1.87 crore are part of a basket of Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Brahmins and other castes, as per the report. If Lingayats and Vokkaligas arent caste chart toppers, they would stand to lose the commensurate social and welfare benefits, hence the disquiet. The survey instead placed the Scheduled Castes on top of the pecking order, followed by the Muslims (see chart). Lingayats and Vokkaligas stood third and fourth on the list, respectively. As a result, the panel is learnt to have recommended increasing the quota for the SCs. It also stressed that Veerashaivas and Lingayats are the same, sources said. For the state government, the report is a political hot potato. Several days after its submission, it has not yet put the report out in public domain. While Siddaramaiah is a master at backward class politics, which was why he commissioned the survey, the Lingayats and Vokkaligas arent amused. How well he manages to balance the aspirations of the backward classes with those of the dominant communities remains to be seen. Socio-economic and Education Survey of Karnataka The dominant castes The Lingayats are members of a religious sect found more in the South and Maharashtra, especially Karnataka, since the 12th century AD during Jagadguru Basavannas time. Their population concentration is in North Karnataka and the Central Karnataka region. The Vokkaligas, who basically depend on agriculture, are largely dominant in the old Mysuru region and also in the Malnad region in Karnataka. It was during B S Yediyurappas tenure as chief minister in 2020 that the Veerashaiva Lingayat Development Corporation was constituted. He had even announced `500 crore for their development. The Vokkaliga is a community of closely-related castes, mainly in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. They are warriors and cultivators, with a historically notable demographic as they have political and economic dominance in the Old Mysore region. As per some historians, the Rashtrakutas and Western Gangas were of Vokkaliga origin. The Vokkaligas occupied administrative positions in the Vijaynagar Empire and later formed the early rulers of the Nayakas of Keladi. The Vokkaligas had the most families in the ruling classes of the 17th century. Under the Kingdom of Mysore, they served in the army and the militia. Most subsects of the Vokkaliga community are designated as forward castes by the Union government, while some subsects in rural areas are designated as Other Backward Classes by the Karnataka government. Opposition to caste census report Leaders from the Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities are dead against the caste census. The Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha is pressuring Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as well as the state government to reject the report. The Mahasabha in its 24th general assembly in Davanagere in December last year decided to oppose it tooth and nail. They are threatening to hold a statewide protest if the report is accepted. Vokkaliga stance Soon after Hegde submitted the report, voices against it started getting shriller. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he would place the report before the Cabinet and seek his colleagues opinion. He also said he would seek legal and expert views. However, the report is yet to reach the Cabinet, and chances are it may have to at least await the end of the Lok Sabha polls. Just a few months ago, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, and other leaders from his community had urged the CM not to accept the report. They claimed it was not put together scientifically as there was no proper door-to-door survey. The Vokkaligara Sangha had submitted a memorandum to the CM against the caste census, which was signed by Shivakumar, agriculture minister N Cheluvarayaswamy and higher education minister M C Sudhakar in the ruling Congress government, prominent Vokkaliga seers including Sri Nirmalananda Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana, Sri Nanjavadutha Mahaswamiji of Sri Guru Gundla Brahmeshwara Mahasamsthana Mutt and Kumarachandrashekaranatha Mahaswamiji of Vishwa Vokkaliga Mahasamsthana Mutt. The Karnataka Vokkaliga Sangha and Rajya Vokkaligara Meesalaathi Horata Samithi had written to Siddaramaiah claiming that the Hegde commission quantified the states population as 5.9 crore though the Aadhaar data puts it at over 6.9 crore. They went on to allege that those who conducted the survey did not visit all the households. The present Hegdes report is based on Kantharajus report and Kantharajus report was done during 2014-15, which means there is a gap of 10 years. In the last ten years, there have been drastic changes and making a report based on this is unscientific, it stated. The state government claims to have spent `169 crore to conduct the caste census. Lingayat reaction Siddaramaiah also faced embarrassment when 30 Lingayat MLAs urged him to reject the report. It was also signed by Congress ministers in his cabinet, including M B Patil, Shivananda Patil and Eshwar Khandre. Congress MLA Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, who heads the Veerashaiva Mahasabha, also expressed opposition to the report. A veteran Congressman, Shivashankarappa, who will turn 94 this June, is the senior-most MLA in the present Karnataka Assembly. He hails from Davanagere in the Central Karnataka region, which has a large Lingayat population. His son S S Mallikarjun is a minister in Siddaramaiahs cabinet. The Mahasabha demanded a re-survey. Shivashankarappa recently told reporters that the Kantharaju/Hegde report is based on 10-year-old data. We are estimating there are over two crore people from the Lingayat community and we will conduct a survey from our Mahasabha. With the help of Vokkaligas and Brahmins, we are going to fight it. We do not accept this report, he said. He went on to claim that his community (Lingayat) is distraught. Things were better when J H Patel and S Nijalingappa were chief ministers, he told the media. The Mahasabha meanwhile is also demanding a Deputy CM post for their community. The background It was during his first tenure as chief minister between 2013 and 2018 that Siddaramaiah had commissioned the survey. The then chairman of KSCBC, H Kantharaju, had prepared his report in 2018. But it was neither accepted nor made public. When Kantharajus term as chairman ended, the short-lived BJP government (May 17-23, 2018) appointed Jayaprakash Hegde as his successor. Hegdes tenure ended on February 28, the day he submitted the report to the state government. Siddaramaiah had earlier accused H D Kumaraswamy who was heading the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, of dragging his feet on the report during his watch as chief minister from May 23, 2018 to July 23, 2019. Since 1947, Karnataka (including Mysuru State) has seen 22 CMs, some of whom served as CM more than once. Of them, 15 of them are from the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities (8 Lingayats and 7 Vokkaligas). Both the Congress and the BJP fielded many Vokkaligas and Lingayats for the 2023 Assembly polls and most of them won. In 1990, when the Congress high command forced M Veerendra Patil, one of the prominent Lingayat leaders, to resign as chief minister, the community took it personally and moved away from the grand old party. With their representation reduced as per the latest census report, community members fear losing their representation politically as well. Not just in the cabinet, many of the boards and Corporations are headed by members of these two communities. During his first term as chief minister, Siddaramaiah had proposed a separate religion tag for Lingayats and secured the cabinets approval. But it was widely opposed by many seers within the community as well as the Opposition BJP. In fact, it caused damage to the party in 2018, reducing the share of Congress MLAs in the assembly.

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''The committee will give a report as to whether which of the police authorities will have jurisdiction to investigate the death of Subhkaran since the place of occurrence and the death firstly has to be confirmed as one state is shirking its responsibilities whereas the other is yearning to get its hands on the investigation,'' according to the order. The cause of death of Subhkaran and from which type of weapon the bullet/pellet emanated would also be within the domain of the committee, said the order. The committee shall also examine the issue of whether the use of force was commensurate with the situation and give its report, it said. The issue of compensation to be awarded on account of the death of Subhkaran shall also be worked on. After the Haryana government showed some pictures of the protesting gatherings showing the presence of some children and women, the court said it was a sad state of affairs that children who should be studying were being exposed to violence. ''Counsel for the State of Haryana has also handed over photographs of the gathering on the various dates i.e. 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st of February, 2024 which rather go on to show that apart from the younger elements which were armed with lathis and at certain places with swords and spears and sharp-edged weapons, they were also accompanied by women and unfortunately even children were paraded in the front. ''The claim of the counsel espousing the cause of the farmers also, after perusing the photographs which are taken on record, can be seriously doubted. ''It is a sad state of affairs that children who should be studying at the schools are being taught and are being exposed to violence when they are not supposed to be. 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