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FIR against Baghel in Mahadev betting case 'conspiracy' of BJP: Chhattisgarh Congress chief Baij

Congress's Deepak Baij accused BJP of conspiring an FIR against ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel in Mahadev online betting scam. Baij alleged defamation, fear of defeat, misuse of agencies, and donation scam.

The Economic Times 19 Mar 2024 4:15 pm

Weather Update: Rain, storm and hailstorm along with thunder and lightning in many areas, know the weather condition.

The weather pattern has deteriorated in Chhattisgarh. These days, a lot of moisture is entering the entrance. In the month of March, it is raining amidst increasing heat and strong sunlight. There has also been thunderstorms and hailstorms. IMD Alert: The weather pattern has deteriorated in Chhattisgarh. These days, a lot of moisture is entering [] The post Weather Update: Rain, storm and hailstorm along with thunder and lightning in many areas, know the weather condition. first appeared on informalnewz .

informalnewz 19 Mar 2024 1:40 pm

Post IOA order, WFI primed to regain full control of the sport

CHENNAI: Dissolution of the three-member ad-hoc committee by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday came as a shot in the arm for the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with the Paris Olympics only four months ago. It gives the federation freedom to take full control of the sport for the first time since the country's top wrestlers staged a massive protest against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in January 2023. The IOA, through its order, stated the decision was taken in line with the move made by the United World Wrestling (UWW), the world governing body, last month wherein it lifted the suspension of the national federation. I thank IOA for coming up with the order with the Olympics round the corner, Sanjay Kumar Singh, WFI president, told this daily. Sanjay Singh said the WFI has already written to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to organise national camps for the Asian Championships and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier scheduled in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan next month. The medallists from the selection trials held jointly by the WFI and ad-hoc panel will be asked to join the camp. As was decided by the ad-hoc body, men will camp in Sonepat while the women will be held in Patiala. Not many days are left for the Olympics, so the focus will be to give our wrestlers the best possible preparations. If they want foreign exposure trips ahead of the qualifier, then it will also be arranged in coordination with the government, he added. Notably, multiple World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, who was the face of the protest against Brij Bhushan, had won 50kg trials and secured bronze in 53kg making her eligible for the camp. Tokyo Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia, another prominent face of the protest, however, lost the 65kg trials. The duo, along with the Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, has also been protesting against the election of Sanjay Singh as the WFI chief, labelling him as the close associate of Brij Bhushan. Athletes' Commission election The IOA, in the order, also directed the WFI to conduct elections of the Athletes' Commission. However, as instructed by the UWW, it is imperative that the WFI appoint a Safeguarding Committee/Officer at the earliest to address the concerns of abuse and harassment and to ensure adherence to all rules, regulations and guidelines set forth by the elections of the Athletes' Commission in a time-bound manner, in accordance with the established procedures and guidelines. This step is essential to promote athlete representation and participation in the decision-making processes of the WFI, read the order. Speaking on the directive, Sanjay Singh said the elections will be held next month during the proposed Federation Cup. It is learnt that the tournament is scheduled in Chhattisgarh. The federation will request all senior wrestlers to remain present during the event so that they can elect members of the Athletes' Commission among themselves, a source in the know of things told this daily. Loan repayment The IOA also asked the WFI to repay the loan provided to the ad-hoc committee for managing the federation's affairs. The panel remained at the helm twice before and after the WFI election. A three-member committee was formed on December 27 last year by the IOA after the sports ministry said the newly-elected WFI led by Sanjay Singh had flouted the norms. Incidentally, the sports ministry, which had instructed IOA to constitute the panel, has not commented on the recent move so far. The election was held under the supervision of returning officer, MM Kumar, retired Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir High Court. It is learnt that the WFI was asked in the past to pay for service rendered by the returning officer and his assistant. The WFI has not received details of the loan procured by the panel from the IOA. Once it gets the details then only the issue can be sorted out, added the source. Court hearing Meanwhile, a hearing is also scheduled in the Delhi High Court on April 26 on a writ petition filed by Bajrang, Vinesh, Sakshi and her husband Satyawart Kadian challenging the WFI election. It was only after a hearing on the petition on March 7 that the WFI withdrew its circular to host the selection trials and decided to hold it jointly with the panel. The matter is subjudice so nothing can be talked about it now but the IOA's order means the WFI can now run the sport independently in the country, signed off the source.

The New Indian Express 19 Mar 2024 10:35 am

DGP convenes pre-poll meet

Bhubaneswar: For smooth and safe conduct of the upcoming assembly and general elections, state director general of police (DGP) Arun Kumar Sarangi Monday virtually held a cooperation meeting with SPs and Range DIGs of neighbouring states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Addressing reporters here after the meeting, Sarangi informed, We had a cooperation meeting []

orissapost 19 Mar 2024 9:29 am

Rainfall Update: There may be heavy rain with thunderstorm in these states in the next 7 days, IMD issued alert

According to the Meteorological Department, there is a possibility of light rain in Jharkhand, Odisha, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and East Madhya Pradesh during March 19 to 20. Apart from this, rain is expected at many other places. IMD Weather Update: India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rain in many states this week. The weather is also [] The post Rainfall Update: There may be heavy rain with thunderstorm in these states in the next 7 days, IMD issued alert first appeared on informalnewz .

informalnewz 19 Mar 2024 8:51 am

Congress Working Committee to meet today to approve manifesto for Lok Sabha polls

Congress Working Committee to meet today to approve manifesto for Lok Sabha polls The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is slated to meet on Tuesday to discuss the party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls that are scheduled to be held in seven phases beginning from April 19. The party's top decision making body is also expected to pass a resolution lauding former party chief Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which started from Manipur on January 14 and ended in Mumbai on March 17. The Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC) chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge is also likely to meet to finalise the remaining candidates of the party for the seven-phase polls beginning April 19. The Congress had formed a manifesto committee for the Lok Sabha Election 2024. The Convenor of the committee is former Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh TS Singh Deo. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are the other members. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram who heads the Maniesfto committee had said that the party's manifesto for Lok Sabha polls will be a people's manifesto and apart from public consultations by party leaders, suggestions have been taken through e-mail and a website. The party also made five guarantees, each for 'Shramik Nyay' and 'Hissedari Nyay' while party chief Mallikarjun Kharge promised to pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs, and a comprehensive social, economic and caste census. The Congress guarantees an annual job package of Rs 1 lakh for diploma holders up to the age of 25, a commitment to enact stringent laws to get rid of paper leaks, the establishment of social security measures in the gig economy, the fulfilment of 30 lakh government job vacancies, and the initiation of 'Yuva Roshni' aimed at fostering startups among individuals below 40 years of age The first point included 'Bharti Bharosa' or recruitment trust by the Congress party wherein the party guaranteed recruitment to the youth and asserted that all the 30 lakh vacancies in the Central Government would be filled. Congress guarantees that it will create 30 lakh jobs in the Central Government, according to a published jobs calendar. There are 10 lakh sanctioned posts that are vacant in Central Ministries or Departments. We will also create new jobs, our party manifesto will outline the details, the All India Congress Committee stated on Thursday. The second guarantee said that the 'Pehli naukri pakki' (first job guaranteed) would be confirmed and that the grand old party would provide apprenticeship training to every Diploma or Degree holder youth below 25 years of age in the government or private sector. The release read, Congress guarantees a new Right to Apprenticeship Act to provide a one-year apprenticeship with a private or a public sector company to every diploma holder or college graduate below the age of 25. Apprentices will get 1 lakh a year (Rs 8,500/month). It further mentioned 'Paper leak se mukti' (Freedom from paper leak) and said that the party would put an end to the paper leaks by bringing a new law. Congress guarantees new laws to ensure the highest standards of integrity and fairness in the conduct of public examinations that will prevent paper leaks from destroying the future of crores of youth, it added. The fourth guarantee stated financial assistance under 'Yuva Roshni' and stated that a fund would be created with an amount of Rs 5 thousand crore which will be distributed in all the districts of the country. (ANI)

devdiscourse 19 Mar 2024 7:42 am

15-year-old arrested for raping toddler in Chhattisgarh

The Times of India 19 Mar 2024 4:00 am

Top cops of Odisha, Bengal, Bihar & Jharkhand discuss security arrangements for polls

Bhubaneswar, March 19 (IANS) A key inter-state meeting of senior police officers of Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand was held at the DGP Camp Office here on Monday. Senior police officers of the neighbouring states participated in the meeting through video conference. We held discussions on how to thwart illegal transportation of firearms, drugs, []

bhaskarlive 19 Mar 2024 2:18 am

Top cops of Odisha, Bengal, Bihar & Jharkhand discuss security arrangements during polls

Bhubaneswar, March 19 (IANS) A key inter-state meeting of senior police officers of Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand was held at the DGP Camp Office here on Monday. Senior police officers of the neighbouring states participated in the meeting through video conference. We held discussions on how to thwart illegal transportation of firearms, drugs, []

bhaskarlive 19 Mar 2024 1:17 am

15-year-old boy held for sexually assaulting and killing three-year-old girl in Chhattisgarh

The boys uncle has been arrested for concealing evidence

The Hindu 18 Mar 2024 11:55 pm

Chhattisgarh Teen Sexually Harasses, Kills 3-Year-Old Girl, Detained: Cops

A teenage boy was detained for allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering a 3-year-old girl, while his uncle was arrested for concealing evidence, police in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district said on Monday.

NDTV 18 Mar 2024 11:04 pm

FIR against Bhupesh Baghel has nothing to do with elections, says Chhattisgarh Dy CM Sao

FIR against Bhupesh Baghel has nothing to do with elections, says Chhattisgarh Dy CM Sao Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said after an FIR was registered against former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel that there is no political vendetta and arrest has nothing to do with the upcoming polls. On Sunday, Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) named former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in its first information report (FIR) lodged in connection with the alleged Mahadev Online Book-linked money laundering case. For a long time, the investigation was going on in the Mahadev betting app scam. Action is being taken after the facts that were found after the investigation...For almost two years it was being investigated and this FIR has nothing to do with elections and political vendetta, said Arun Sao. However, Baghel has alleged that the FIR against him in the Mahadev online betting case by the state's EOW was politically motivated and was done to defame him. They (ED) can take whatever action they want to...When my name is in the FIR, then the names of the officers should also have been included but their names have not been mentioned... It clearly means that they are targeting me and trying to defame me, he said on Sunday. The former CM further alleged that since the BJP anticipates massive loss in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, they they are adopting new tactics to defame him. Economic Offences Wing of Raipur has registered an FIR against former Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and others in the alleged Mahadev App case. The case has been registered under sections 120B, 34, 406, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of IPC. The case was registered on March 4 against Bhupesh Baghel and 21 others. ED is investigating a case against Mahadev Online Book, which is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites to enrol new users, create user IDs and launder money through a layered web of Benami bank accounts. (ANI)

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 10:28 pm

PLFI supporter shot dead in Jharkhand

PLFI supporter shot dead in Jharkhand A 25-year-old supporter of proscribed outfit People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) has been shot dead allegedly by its activists in a weekly market in West Singhbhum district, a senior police officer said on Monday. The incident happened in Gundri village within the jurisdiction of the Anandpur police station of the district on Sunday evening, the police officer said. Identified as Matiyas alias Mangra Tuti, he was released from jail a couple of months ago, West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashutosh Sekhar said. Altogether, eight criminal cases were registered against him in the district. Matiyas, a resident of Gudri police station limit of the district, came to the haat in Gundri village when he was shot dead over a money-related dispute, the SP said. A police team reached the spot, recovered the body on Monday morning and sent it to a hospital for post-mortem examination. Earlier, the police, jointly with the CRPF, Cobra and Jharkhand Jaguar personnel, had arrested three CPI (Maoist) activists, including a Chhattisgarh-based Maoist, from a forest under the Goilkera police station area, and recovered a huge cache of arms and explosive materials based on the information provided by the deceased.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 10:28 pm

Chhattisgarh: Teen detained for sexually assaulting, killing 3-yr-old girl

Bilaspur: A teenaged boy was detained for allegedly sexually assaulting and murdering a 3-year-old girl, while his uncle was arrested for concealing evidence, police in Chhattisgarhs Bilaspur district said on Monday. The incident took place in Sirgitti on Sunday evening, Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh said. The child was playing near her house while 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 18 Mar 2024 9:20 pm

Odisha DGP Reviews Police Preparedness For General Elections 2024

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Director General of Police, Arun Kumar Sarangi, today conducted a cooperation meeting with SPs and Range DIGs of the bordering areas of Bengal, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, in light of the forthcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The meeting was held to ensure a peaceful and impartial poll and to make the necessary [] The post Odisha DGP Reviews Police Preparedness For General Elections 2024 appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Pragativadi 18 Mar 2024 7:47 pm

Jkhand DGP holds meeting with five states to ensure free, fair LS polls

Jkhand DGP holds meeting with five states to ensure free, fair LS polls Security has been tightened in Jharkhand especially along the state's border with West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, a senior police officer said on Monday. DGP Ajay Kumar Singh chaired an inter-state virtual co-ordination meeting with senior police officials from neighboring states to ensure fair elections. Discussions during the meeting covered various topics, including intelligence sharing, naxal activities, and coordination to address inter-state criminal activities. Additionally, emphasis was placed on activating the checkposts along the borders to curb influx of illegal weapons, arms, ammunition, liquor, and narcotics. The DGP mentioned that a list of interstate criminals has been shared with the respective states to facilitate necessary action. The Lok Sabha polls for 14 seats in the state will be conducted in four phases. The voting schedule is as follows: Singhbhum, Khunti, Lohardaga, and Palamu on May 13; Chatra, Koderma, and Hazaaribag on May 20; Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi, and Jamshedpur on May 25; and Rajmahal, Dumka, and Godda on June 1. Among the 14 Lok Sabha seats, five are reserved for STs and one for SCs. The state has over 2.55 crore voters, including 1.29 crore men, 1.25 crore women, and 407 transgenders. There are 22 lakh first-time voters and 3.6 lakh persons with disabilities among them.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 5:08 pm

Residents demand STP to save Godavari in Dharmapuri

JAGTIAL: With untreated sewage and drainage water being dumped into the Godavari river in Dharmapuri, residents and tourists are complaining that has led to a foul smell enveloping the temple town. They demanded that a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) be built to ensure that no polluted water enters the river. A devotee, Narsaiah from Nizamabad, alleged that bathing ghats and the surrounding areas of the Godavari river are covered with a foul smell. Families seeking purity in the water for their holy dip are faced with a dilemma, he added. With the Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Brahmotsavams scheduled from March 20, the influx of devotees has already begun. However, the proposal for an STP to purify the drainage water before it merges into the Godavari rivers seems like a distant dream for the devotees and residents of the town. A local, Raju, mentioned that they have already stopped taking holy dips in the Godavari river due to the extent of the water pollution. During the previous governments tenure, proposals were sent for the construction of a treatment plant with an estimated cost of `2 crore, but it never came to fruition. Current MLA and Government Whip Adluri Laxman Kumar blames the BRS for neglecting the development of the temple and the purification of the Godavari river. He specifically blamed Koppula Eshwar, who served as a minister for two terms from Dharmapuri under the BRS tenure. Laxman Kumar asserts that he will bring this issue to the attention of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to secure special funds for the construction of an STP. He said the plant needs to be built soon to prevent the merging of drainage water into the Godavari river. 1 lakh devotees expected to attend Brahmotsavams Brahmotsavams (annual fete) of Sri Laxminarasimha Swamy are scheduled to be held from March 20 to April 1. Devotees from Telangana, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh are expected to attend, with temple authorities anticipating a footfall of about one lakh. Preparations are ongoing at the temple and also along the Godavari river for the occasion.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 12:47 pm

Ambikapur Airport in Chhattisgarh Granted DGCA Aerodrome License

Officials have confirmed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted the aerodrome license for Ambikapur Airport in Chhattisgarhs Surguja district, allowing for the commencement of flight operations. According to a spokesperson from the public relations department, Maa Mahamaya Airport in Ambikapur has been developed as a 3-C VFR category facility to enhance... The post Ambikapur Airport in Chhattisgarh Granted DGCA Aerodrome License first appeared on India's Top Travel News Source: TravelBiz Monitor .

travelbizmonitor 18 Mar 2024 11:35 am

FIR against former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel filed in Mahadev app case

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh police on Sunday filed an FIR against former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in the online Mahadev App betting scam case. Though the FIR was filed on March 4, it was announced on Sunday a day after the Lok Sabha polling dates were announced. Baghel is the Congress candidate for the Rajnandgaon constituency where the election will be held on April 26. It is a political FIR and my name has been deliberately inserted into it along with others under pressure, Baghel said. If the case was registered in Raipur on March 4, why then the FIR copy was released and published from Delhi on March 17 Sunday. Usually, EOW or police station uploads FIR the same day on the website. The maximum action against Mahadev App has been taken in Chhattisgarh (during Congress regime), he said, adding that it is for the Centre to get the key accused extradited to India. The investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) indicated the alleged involvement of senior politicians and bureaucrats in facilitating the Mahadev App illegal betting in reciprocity for protection money. In the App betting scam, presumed to be over Rs 6,000 crore, the name of Baghel was conspicuously cited in the supplementary chargesheet of the ED filed early this year before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Raipur.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 9:28 am

Odisha tops countrys malaria chart as mosquito nets vanish

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha has lost the momentum in malaria reduction and is once again in top of the list of states with high cases of the vector-borne disease in 2023, thanks to disruption in supply of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) considered a global best practice to prevent the disease. As per National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, malaria cases in the state almost doubled last year as compared to 2022. The state reported 41,971 cases and four deaths in 2023. It had 23,770 cases and five deaths in 2022. Odisha contributed around 18.7 per cent of the countrys malaria tally. The state was followed by Chhattisgarh (31,713), Jharkhand (31,140), West Bengal (26,493), Tripura (22,412), Maharashtra (16,164) and Uttar Pradesh (13,585). At least five districts - Rayagada, Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Koraput and Kandhamal have recorded maximum cases fuelling the numbers in the state. The districts are among nine where targeted interventions were made to achieve malaria elimination by 2030. The highest 9,925 cases were reported in Rayagada followed by 7,543 in Kalahandi, 7,007 in Koraput, 5,062 in Kandhamal and 3,888 in Malkangiri. The annual parasite index (API) that had come down to 0.52 in 2022, again shot up to 0.93 and it was more than four in five districts. The API was over 10 in Rayagada, 6.9 in Kandhamal, 6.3 in Malkangiri, 5.07 in Koraput and 4.7 in Kalahandi. Health experts working in malaria-prone areas of the state attributed the alarming rise in cases to drop in guard and behavioural changes of local populace towards routine practices suggested by health teams. The insecticide effect in LLINs lasts up to three years or 20 washes. The nets distributed in the malaria-prone districts in 2019 needed to be replaced by the end of 2022. Though more than a year has lapsed, the nets are yet to be replaced. In many villages, the old nets have been damaged and people in last summer did not use the nets at all citing sweltering weather conditions leading to rise in malaria cases, said a health staff. As many as 1.16 crore nets were distributed in the state four years back. Even as the state government had requested the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to supply 1.56 crore fresh LLINs early last year, the consignment is yet to reach Odisha. Admitting that no or less use of LLINs could have pushed the cases up, director of public health Dr Niranjan Mishra said the nets can be used beyond three years if preserved properly. Besides, the WHO had warned that the cases of zoonotic diseases like malaria would rise due to climate change. We have intensified awareness and stepped up measures in the high caseload districts, he said. Health experts said Odisha, which is spending heavily on health infrastructure and care, could have procured LLINs and distributed them instead of waiting for the Central supply and allowing malaria cases to rise. Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Shalini Pandit said the supply of nets by the Centre is getting delayed as the tender floated last year resulted in a single bid. The MoHFW has re-tendered this year. Odisha could not procure as it also faced litigation on mosquito net tender, she added. Once a high prevalence state with around 3.23 lakh malaria cases in 2017, Odisha had seen an 80 per cent decline since 2018 due to large-scale distribution of LLINs and Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran (DAMaN), a multi-component malaria intervention in hard-to-reach villages, drawing appreciation from WHO.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 8:29 am

Bhupesh Baghel Calls Electoral Bond Biggest Scam Of Year, Minister Hits Back

A day after the Election Commission (EC) notified the dates for the Lok Sabha elections, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday called the now-junked electoral bond scheme the iggest scam of the year.

NDTV 18 Mar 2024 7:17 am

Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel blames BJP for FIR against him in Mahadev betting app case

Raipur, March 18 (IANS) Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday blamed the BJP after an FIR was registered against him in connection with the Mahadev betting app case. Baghel has termed the development as an attempt by the BJP to tarnish his image. Interacting with the mediapersons, Baghel said a []

bhaskarlive 18 Mar 2024 1:47 am

FIR against Chhattisgarh ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel

Baghel and eight others have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those for criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery and certain sections of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. The Economic Offences Wing of the Chhattisgarh police has mentioned in the FIR dated March 4 that the case has been registered on the probe report of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The Economic Times 18 Mar 2024 12:16 am

Number of critical polling stations in Maoist-affected Bastar region up

The Chhattisgarh State Election Commission has revised its strategy compared to Assembly polls following increased security threat posed by Naxals

The Hindu 17 Mar 2024 11:40 pm

They are targeting me and trying to defame me: Baghel after being named in FIR in Mahadev betting app case

They are targeting me and trying to defame me: Baghel after being named in FIR in Mahadev betting app case Former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday alleged that the FIR against him in the Mahadev online betting case by the state's EOW was politically motivated and was done to defame him. They (ED) can take whatever action they want to...When my name is in the FIR, then the names of the officers should also have been included but their names have not been mentioned... It clearly means that they are targeting me and trying to defame me, he said. Notably, the Chhattisgarh Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) has named former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in its first information report (FIR) lodged in connection with the Mahadev Online Book-linked money laundering case, sources said on Sunday. According to sources, the FIR has been filed based on a probe report submitted by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). The former Chhattisgarh CM further alleged that since the BJP anticipates massive loss in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, they they are adopting new tactics to defame him. This is the biggest scam of the year... Bharatiya Janata Party has lost the Lok Sabha elections and due to this, they are adopting new tactics to defame, said Baghel. Economic Offences Wing of Raipur has registered an FIR against former Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and others in the Mahadev App case. The case has been registered under sections 120B, 34, 406, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of IPC. The case was registered on March 4 against Bhupesh Baghel and 21 others. The former Chhattisgarh CM further alleged that central agencies were given the task by the Central government to ensure his arrest, and they have been to all places and have threatened everyone to take my name but they couldn't implicate him. Baghel said, From 2021, I-T, ED, and CBI are on it, they have been to all places and have threatened everyone to take my name but they couldn't...then Chhattisgarh govt was doing the probe but ED interfered...if I was weak, all agencies wouldn't have come after me. All the central agencies are doing maximum raids in a small state like Chhattisgarh...I don't understand why are they scared? Baghel further added, If they will serve notice, we will respond accordingly. Baghel said that he would consult with lawyers, and further moves would be made accordingly. Meanwhile, Baghel is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Rajnandgaon seat. ED is investigating a case against Mahadev Online Book, which is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites to enrol new users, create user IDs and launder money through a layered web of Benami bank accounts. (ANI)

devdiscourse 17 Mar 2024 11:27 pm

Booked in Mahadev App case, former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel says move aimed at influencing Lok Sabha polls

FIR, registered on March 4, is based on an ED probe report and lists 21 accused; genie was let out of the bottle in time for LS polls, says Baghel, asking why the Mahadev app is still functioning after his exit

The Hindu 17 Mar 2024 9:24 pm

IMD Weather Update: Alert of strong storm and hailstorm with heavy rain till March 21, check the condition of your city.

Rain Alert: There may also be rain in East Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh during March 17-19. IMD has said that there is a possibility of heavy rainfall at isolated places in Odisha and Chhattisgarh on March 19. IMD Weather Update: The weather patterns in the country are changing. A trough is extending from Odisha to [] The post IMD Weather Update: Alert of strong storm and hailstorm with heavy rain till March 21, check the condition of your city. first appeared on informalnewz .

informalnewz 17 Mar 2024 9:09 pm

FIR Against Me In Mahadev App Case Politically Motivated: Bhupesh Bhagel

Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday said FIR against him in the Mahadev online betting case by the state's EOW was politically motivated and was done to defame him since the BJP anticipates massive loss in Lok Sabha elections.

NDTV 17 Mar 2024 8:42 pm

FIR Filed On Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel In Betting Case

Chhattisgarhs EOW filed a case against ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel in the Mahadev online betting scam, based on an ED probe report. The ED, investigating money laundering linked to the Mahadev app, implicated top officials. The estimated proceeds of crime in this case total around 6,000 crore, according to the ED. The post FIR Filed On Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel In Betting Case appeared first on HW News English .

News View 17 Mar 2024 7:39 pm

Chhattisgarh: EOW registers FIR against ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel and others in Mahadev betting scam case

According to the ED, the projected proceeds of crime in Mahadev Betting app scam are about Rs 6,000 crore.

OpIndia 17 Mar 2024 6:13 pm

Mahadev betting app case: Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, 20 others booked

Bhopal: Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is among 21 people booked in connection with the Mahadev betting app case, EOW officials said Sunday. Those booked in the case include Mahadev App promoters Ravi Uppal, Saurabh Chandrakar, Shubham Soni Anil Kumar Agrawal, some police officials and bureaucrats of Bhupesh Baghels regime. They were booked after []

orissapost 17 Mar 2024 6:07 pm

Bhupesh Baghel, others booked in Mahadev app case

The Enforcement Directorate, which has been investigating the Mahadev app-linked money laundering case for more than a year, alleged in the past that its probe has shown involvement of various high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh, where the two main promoters of the app hail from.

Rediff 17 Mar 2024 5:28 pm

FIR Lodged Against Former CM Bhupesh Baghel in Mahadev Online Book App Scam

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Police have taken a significant step by naming former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as an accused in the Mahadev Online Book app scam, estimated at a staggering 6,000 crore. This development potentially spells legal trouble for the Congress leader just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Baghel faces charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and forgery, along with sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Raipur filed a First Information Report (FIR) against him on March 4.Apart from Baghel, the FIR also names Mahadev promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, along with 16 other accused individuals. Additionally, unnamed bureaucrats, police officers, and officers on special duty (OSDs) during Baghel's tenure as CM are also implicated. A copy of the FIR has been reviewed by HT. Sources reveal that the case against Baghel was filed following references from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 8 and 30 this year. The ED's findings suggested the involvement of top-level state government functionaries in allowing illegal activities by Mahadev, allegedly in exchange for protection money. In November 2023, the ED alleged that Chandrakar and Uppal paid bribes totaling 508 crore to Baghel. Both individuals are currently detained in a UAE facility, with extradition requests already sent through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The FIR outlines how Mahadev Book App promoters allegedly paid substantial amounts of protection money to various officials to evade police action on their illicit activities. The money was funneled through hawala operators to reach police, administrative officers, senior police officers, and influential political figures. Despite these claims, the FIR refrains from naming specific senior police or administrative officers. Sources suggest that the ED may initiate a fresh money laundering case against Baghel based on the details in the FIR.Having suffered defeat in the assembly elections in December, Baghel is gearing up to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Rajnandgaon seat. Gulfam Kills Wife in Meerut After Influence by Maulvi, Arrested Congress Leader Rajendra Bhandari Resigns and Joins BJP Clash between Foreign and Local Students at Gujarat University Hostel: Details and Background

News Track 17 Mar 2024 5:11 pm

Mahadev app case: Ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel named in FIR

The Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has filed an FIR implicating former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the Mahadeo Book online betting scam, alleging involvement in a scheme worth around Rs 6,000 crore. Baghel's name appeared in the FIR filed by the EOW based on a complaint from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The Times of India 17 Mar 2024 4:35 pm

FIR Against Chhattisgarh Ex Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel In Mahadev Betting App Case

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Chhattisgarh has registered a case against former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and others in the alleged Mahadev online betting scam based on a probe report submitted by the ED, officials said on

NDTV 17 Mar 2024 4:22 pm

Mahadev Betting App Case: Chhattisgarh EOW Files Case Against Ex-CM Baghel, Others

Baghel had termed the EDs action in the Mahadev betting app case as a political conspiracy and accused the federal agency of acting at the behest of its political masters

News18 17 Mar 2024 3:55 pm

Chhattisgarh EOW registers FIR against ex-CM Baghel, others in Mahadev betting app case

Chhattisgarh's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) initiated a case against ex-Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and others in the alleged Mahadev online betting scam, based on a report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Baghel and app promoters face charges including criminal conspiracy and cheating. The ED alleges involvement of high-ranking officials, projecting proceeds of crime at about Rs 6,000 crore.

The Economic Times 17 Mar 2024 3:26 pm

Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel Booked In Mahadev App Case: Report

BhupeshBaghel, along with Mahadev promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, and 16 others, have been named as accused in the first information report.

Zee News 17 Mar 2024 2:45 pm

Lok Sabha election: Over 2.05 crore eligible voters in Chhattisgarh; up by 7.96% since 2019

Lok Sabha elections: Elections to the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh will be held in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7 and votes will be counted on June 4.

The Economic Times 17 Mar 2024 2:16 pm

Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel named in FIR in Mahadev betting app case

Former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel has been named as an accused in the FIR in the 'Mahadev Book Online'app scam, estimated to be worthRs 6,000 crore, as reported by Hindustan Times. Reportedly, the Mahadev betting app and its associate companies illegally collected Rs 450 crore worth of proceeds of crime every month. Along with Baghel, Mahadev promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, 16 other named accused persons have been named in the first information report. Unnamed bureaucrats, police officers and officers on special duty during the ex-CM's tenure too have been charged with various sections pertaining to cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and forgery under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR was registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Raipur on March 4, as per the HT report. It did not name any senior police or administrative officer. In January, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Baghel in a supplementary chargesheet related to allegations of receiving bribes amounting to approximately Rs 508 crore from the promoters of the Mahadev app from the UAE. Background In July 2022, the ED had started investigating the Mahadev Book Online Betting App under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging that the promoters of the app Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal who are based overseas were remotely running illegal betting operations with proceeds of crimes running into several thousand crores. The Mahadev online book betting application is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites, the ED alleged. The agency had said that the alleged illegal funds generated by the app were used to pay bribes to politicians and bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh. The company promoters hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh. A total of nine persons have been arrested by the ED in this case till now. Two chargesheets have been filed and multiple raids have been conducted. Many celebrities and Bollywood actors too were summoned for questioning by the agency on their links with the online betting platform and the mode of payment. The projected proceeds of crime in this case are about Rs 6,000 crore, according to the ED. The ED investigation has shown that the Mahadev Online Book App is run from a central head office in the UAE. It operates by franchising Panel/Branches to their known associates on a 70-30 per cent profit ratio, it had said. Large-scale hawala operations are done to siphon off the proceeds of betting to off-shore accounts, it added. Large expenditure in cash is also being done in India for advertising betting websites to attract new users and franchise (panel) seekers, the ED had said. On November 3 last year, the federal agency arrested alleged courier Asim Das, a driver, and and a constable named Bhim Singh Yadav, from a Raipur hotel, four days before the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The authorities had seized Rs 5.39 crores in cash from Dass car. The ED had claimed that forensic analysis and statement made by Asim Das led to startling allegations that Mahadev betting app promoters have paid about Rs 508 crore from the UAE to former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel. The ED quoted Das as saying in his November statement that he came to Raipur to deliver the money to political executives of the Indian Congress party on the instructions of Shubham Soni, one of the key accused and a promoter of the app, who had called him to Dubai in October 2023 and said he would be provided cash which was to be delivered to Mr Bhupesh Baghel. Incidentally, Asim Das' 62-year-old father Sushil Das was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a well on December 6 in Chhattisgarh's Durg district. Baghel had dubbed these charges as an attempt to malign his image while the Congress termed it vendetta politics by the Centre. However, on November 25, Asim Das submitted before the special court in Raipur that he had been framed as part of a conspiracy and he had never delivered cash to politicians. He alleged that he was forcefully made to sign a statement in English, a language he does not comprehend in a letter written from jail to the Director of the ED and other higher authorities. Meanwhile, Mahadev app promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal were detained in Dubai based on an Interpol red notice issued at the behest of the ED and the agency is trying to deport or extradite them from the UAE to India. In January , the ED told the special court in Raipur that Das has now stated that his first statement given to the agency on November 3 last year in which he cited Baghels name was true and correct. The ED claimed that Das was coerced into giving a handwritten retraction of his earlier statement. Moreover, in March, the ED froze security holdings worth Rs 580 crore and seized cash and valuables amounting to Rs 3.64 crore of a Kolkata-based 'hawala operator' after recent raids in six cities in connection with the ongoing investigation in the Mahadev betting app money laundering case. It said that the accused Harishankar Tibrewal who currently stays in Dubai. collaborated with the founders of the Mahadev app and owned and operated skyexchange, an accused illicit betting app. (With additional inputs from PTI)

The New Indian Express 17 Mar 2024 1:49 pm

7th Pay Commission: DA increased by 4% for government employees of these 4 states, pensioners also benefit

7th Pay Commission: Before Holi, government employees of four states have received great news. 7th Pay Commission: Before Holi, government employees of four states have received great news. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Bihar governments have announced to increase the dearness allowance (DA Hike) of employees. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced to increase [] The post 7th Pay Commission: DA increased by 4% for government employees of these 4 states, pensioners also benefit first appeared on informalnewz .

informalnewz 17 Mar 2024 1:15 pm

Petrol costliest in Andhra Pradesh & Kerala; BJP-ruled MP, Bihar close behind

Petrol costliest in Andhra Pradesh & Kerala; BJP-ruled MP, Bihar close behind Petrol and diesel prices are the costliest in the country in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala while it is cheapest in smaller states and UTs like Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Delhi and those in the North East, mainly due to differential in local sales tax or VAT rates, oil industry data showed. The three state-owned fuel retailers - Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) - last week cut petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 a litre each, ending a nearly two-year hiatus in price revision. That reduction brought relief to fuel users but rates continue to be above Rs 100 a litre mark in some states due to higher Value Added Tax (VAT). Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP-ruled Andhra Pradesh has the costliest petrol at Rs 109.87 a litre, followed by Left Democratic Front (LDF)-ruled Kerala, where a litre of petrol comes for Rs 107.54. Congress-run Telangana is close behind with petrol costing Rs 107.39 a litre. BJP-ruled states are not far behind - petrol costs Rs 106.45 a litre in Bhopal, Rs 105.16 in Patna (BJP in coalition with JD-U), Rs 104.86 in Jaipur and Rs 104.19 in Mumbai. Mamata Banerjee's TMC-ruled West Bengal has petrol priced at Rs 103.93 a litre. Other states with over Rs 100-a-litre petrol are Odisha (Rs 101.04 a litre in Bhubaneswar), Tamil Nadu (Rs 100.73 in Chennai), and Chattisgarh (Rs 100.37 in Raipur), industry pricing data showed. Petrol is the cheapest in Andaman & Nicobar Island where it comes for Rs 82 a litre, followed by Silvassa and Daman where it comes for Rs 92.38-92.49 a litre. Other smaller states too have local VAT, leading to cheaper petrol - Delhi (Rs 94.76 a litre), Panaji (Rs 95.19), Aizawl (Rs 93.68), and Guwahati (Rs 96.12). Most North Eastern states are among the lower-end of the petrol price band. Diesel prices have almost a similar story with Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh selling the fuel at Rs 97.6 a litre, followed by Rs 96.41 a litre in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram, Rs 95.63 in Hyderabad and Rs 93.31 in Raipur. The fuel is in the Rs 92-93 a litre range in BJP-ruled sales of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. It is also in that range in Odisha and Jharkhand. Diesel is the cheapest in Andaman & Nicobar Island where it comes for about Rs 78 a litre. Delhi - which has the lowest VAT among metro cities - has diesel priced at Rs 87.66 a litre, while in Goa it costs Rs 87.76 per litre. Commenting on the price cut, Goldman Sachs said the net marketing margin of the three oil marketing companies will decline to Rs 08-09 a litre from Rs 1.7-2.7 a litre. Morgan Stanley said the price cut ''should finally remove a key overhang for fuel retailers''. ''The Rs 2 per liter price cut (our estimate was for Rs 2-3 a litre) brings India's fuel basket to USD 85 per barrel Brent crude (i.e. breakeven fuel marketing profitability at this crude price). However, the implied integrated fuel margins for retailers will average 30 per cent above mid-cycle considering the strength in refinery margins,'' it said. JP Morgan said the effect of the reduction is equivalent to about a USD 3.5 a barrel increase in crude oil prices. ''Although small on headline, a Rs 2 per liter cut will reduce oil marketing companies' revenue / EBITDA by about Rs 30,000 crore annualized.'' A retail price cut, it said, was expected as the three companies had become highly profitable in the last three quarters, and ahead of general elections due in a few weeks. ''That prices have been cut one-time, and without any signal that pricing goes back to being crude linked (with periodical revisions) can be seen as a negative for these businesses, in our view. Yet, the price cut is relatively modest and seems unlikely to be followed by more (at least near term) - crystallizing the risk for these companies.'' Emkay Global Financial Services said the price cut translates to a reduction of Rs 1.6-1.7 a litre in gross marketing margins. ''In our view, this cut will be effective for next 2-2.5 months and once national elections are over, we would return to a normalized margin scenario. Deepening deregulation with resumption of daily pricing should likely pass any USD 5-10 a barrel movement in oil prices.''

devdiscourse 17 Mar 2024 12:08 pm

Development, jobs key focus of parties in Madhya Pradesh

Development, jobs key focus of parties in Madhya Pradesh The BJP dominated all the six regions of Madhya Pradesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when it won 28 out of the 29 parliamentary seats in the state and will seek to repeat its performance this time as well. The saffron party will also try to wrest Chhindwara, the lone seat won by the Congress in the 2019 polls in the home turf of former chief minister Kamal Nath. Development and issues pertaining to employment have been the key focus areas of the BJP and Congress in the six regions of the state. The BJP has declared its candidates in all 29 seats, while the Congress has so far announced names of its candidates for 10 seats. Out of the 29 seats, five are reserved for the Scheduled Tribe and four for Scheduled Caste candidates. In the 2019 polls, all these seats were won by the BJP. The state broadly has six regions - Gwalior-Chambal, Central MP (Bhopal), Malwa-Nimar, Mahakoshal, Vindhya and Bundelkhand. The Malwa-Nimar region has the highest number of eight Lok Sabha seats. 1. GWALIOR-CHAMBAL: This region, once known to be infested by dacoits, has now marked a leap towards development. The BJP government last year sanctioned an expressway connecting it with Agra in Uttar Pradesh. The arrival of cheetahs at the Kuno National Park in Sheopur district, as part of the government's ambitious project of reintroduction of these felines in the country, has also opened avenues for employment, especially in tourism and hospitality sectors, in the region. Guna is one of the prominent Lok Sabha constituencies in the region from where the BJP has fielded Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who switched over to the saffron party from the Congress in March 2020. The other seats in this region are Morena, Bhind (SC) and Gwalior. 2. CENTRAL REGION (BHOPAL): This region comprises state capital Bhopal and its surrounding areas, including Narmadapuram. Bhopal, popularly known as the city of lakes, is surrounded by world heritage sites - Sanchi and Bhimbetka rock shelters. This region comprises five Lok Sabha seats - Bhopal, Vidisha, Rajgarh, Betul (ST) and Narmadapuram. The BJP has this time dropped its sitting MP Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal and fielded former mayor Alok Sharma. In Vidisha, the saffron party has fielded its senior leader and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has represented the seat in the past also. Development and employment are among the major issues which impact the poll outcome in this region. 3. MALWA-NIMAR: This region is dominated by agriculture activities and includes three major tribal areas of Khargone, Ratlam and Dhar. Indore, the state's commercial capital which is also the cleanest in the country, major bullion trade centre Ratlam and the famous 'jyotirlings' of Ujjain and Omkareshwar fall under this region. There are eight Lok Sabha seats in this region - Indore, Dewas (SC), Ujjain (SC), Mandsaur, Khandwa, Khargone (ST), Ratlam (ST) and Dhar (ST). Issues pertaining to farmers, tribals, employment and migration of labourers are likely to dominate the poll campaign in this region. The BJP has fielded its sitting MP Shankar Lalwani from Indore. 4. BUNDELKHAND: This impoverished region houses the famous Panna diamond mines, the world heritage site of Khajuraho and the Panna Tiger Reserve. The sanctioning of the Ken-Betwa river linking project is a step aimed at addressing the problem of water scarcity in the region, especially irrigation facilities. This region comprises four Lok Sabha seats - Sagar, Damoh, Tikamgarh (SC) and Khajuraho. The BJP has given ticket to its sitting MP V D Sharma from Khajuraho for the second time and fielded Union minister Virendra Kumar from Tikamgarh. 5. MAHAKOSHAL: This region is considered to be a stronghold of former CM Kamal Nath, whose son Nakul Nath is the sitting MP from the family's home turf Chhindwara. Mahakoshal is spread across eight districts -- Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Katni, Seoni, Narsinghpur, Mandla, Dindori and Balaghat. Local residents grumble over the backwardness in the region, saying Jabalpur was once far ahead of Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra) in terms of development, but now the city lags behind Indore and Bhopal. Mandla and Shahdol are tribal-dominated districts, while Balaghat is affected by Naxalism in this region. The five Lok Sabha seats in this region are - Jabalpur, Mandla (ST), Shahdol (ST), Balaghat and Chhindwara. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Faggan Singh Kulaste from Mandla. The Congress has renominated Nakul Nath from Chhindwara, a seat represented nine times by his father Kamal Nath. 6. VINDHYA: This region bordering Uttar Pradesh is spread across nine eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh - Rewa, Shahdol, Satna, Sidhi, Singrauli, Anuppur, Umaria, Maihar and Mauganj. The region elected the first Lok Sabha member for the Bahujan Samaj Party from Madhya Pradesh in 1991 and had also given representation to Communists in electoral politics. It comprises three Lok Sabha seats - Satna, Rewa and Sidhi. Development and employment are among the key issues in this region.

devdiscourse 17 Mar 2024 11:46 am

BJP targets Congress LS candidates in Chhattisgarh through cartoons on social media

BJP targets Congress LS candidates in Chhattisgarh through cartoons on social media The ruling BJP in Chhattisgarh has come up with a set of cartoons on social media to target the opposition Congress' Lok Sabha poll candidates, including former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, over politics of appeasement and other issues. While the BJP said it has only portrayed some incidents which happened during the previous Congress regime through the cartoons which are not meant to hurt anyone, the grand old party accused it of releasing such illustrations out of frustration. The 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh will see polling in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India. The cartoon posters were released over the last one week. One such poster targeting former CM Baghel, who has been fielded by the Congress from Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, was posted with the comment ''Rajnandgaon or Jihadgaon...selection is yours''. The post shows a caricature of Baghel leading a queue, holding a green flag with ''jihadi giroh'' written on it, towards a milestone of Rajnandgaon and followed by cartoons of Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar and former minister Mohammad Akbar holding weapons. Baghel is seen saying Bhaijan agla number Rajnandgaon ka hai (brother next number is of Rajnandgaon). BJPs state general secretary Sanjay Shrivastav told PTI, It has been a tradition in the country to use different mediums of communication to send messages among the masses. Through the cartoon posters, the BJP has just portrayed the incidents which have happened (in the previous Congress government). The cartoon posters are not meant to hurt anyone.'' Senior BJP MLA Dharamlal Kaushik said his party is trying to portray the failures of the previous Congress government through the satire art and it has been receiving good response from people. A cartoon of former minister Shivkumar Dahariya, the Congress nominee in Janjgir-Champa Lok sabha seat, was posted along with the comment ''people of Janjgir-Champa should remain alert as former kabjabaaj (encroacher) minister is now eyeing on your land''. Dahariya is depicted holding a big sack with avaidh kabja sargana (illegal encroachment syndicate) written on it and heading towards Janjgir-Champa. The cartoon is shown as saying ''have heard that there is a lot of land in Janjgir-Champa, let's encroach it.'' Similarly, a cartoon depicting Jyotsana Mahant, the incumbent Congress MP from Korba Lok Sabha seat who has been re-nominated by the party, was posted with ''an appeal to residents of Korba, this time dont choose an inactive, but an active MP''. The poster showed two persons asking ''who are you'', and the woman is seen holding a poster with ''mai aapki lapata sansad'' (I am your missing MP) written on it. Another cartoon poster of former MLA Vikas Upadhyay, who has been fielded from Raipur Lok Sabha seat, asked residents of Raipur to be alert, saying '''vinash'' (destruction) comes with this 'Vikas'. In another cartoon poster of former home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, who is the Congress' nominee from Mahasamund Lok Sabha seat, the BJP took a swipe at him over communal violence at Biranpur village in Bemetara district in April last year in which 22-year-old Bhuneshwar Sahu was killed. The man's father, Ishwar Sahu, was later elected as the BJP MLA in the state assembly polls held in November 2023. The BJP has fielded its incumbent state minister Brijmohan Agrawal in Raipur, sitting MP Santosh Pandey in Rajnandgaon, senior woman leader Saroj Pandey in Korba, former MLA Rupkumari Choudhary in Mahasamund and Kamlesh Jangde, a fresh face, in Janjgir-Champa. Chhattisgarh Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla claimed the BJP has been releasing the cartoon posters with ''baseless'' statements as it is afraid that his party candidates will win by huge margins. Since the Congress has declared its Lok Sabha poll candidates in the state, the BJP has become frustrated as it is anticipating defeat, he said. They are talking about ''Modi ki guarantee'' in elections but the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed on all fronts in the last 10 years, the Congress leader claimed. Modi had promised to contain inflation in 100 days, giving employment to youth, doubling income of farmers, better returns for farm produce, depositing 15 lakh in bank accounts of each person but none of them were fulfilled, Shukla said. People no longer have trust in Modi and they will teach him a lesson in the Lok Sabha polls, he claimed.

devdiscourse 17 Mar 2024 11:19 am

Chhattisgarh's Bipolar battle in three-phase tight contest

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh, where assembly polls were held in November last year, is set to see a bipolar contest between the ruling BJP and the Congress across the 11 Lok Sabha seats. Maoists threat apparently led the Election Commission to hold elections in three phases in Chhattisgarh. The polling in the Maoist-hit restive Bastar will be held in the first phase on April 19. Voting in the second phase on April 26 will cover Kanker, Rajnandgaon (adjoining Maharashtras Gadchiroli having strong presence of Maoists) and Mahasamund (sharing borders with Odisha and districts of Dhamtari, Gariyaband where Maoists movements were reported). Third phase polling on May 7 will cover the remaining constituencies of central and north Chhattisgarh Sarguja, Raipur, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Korba, Janjgir, and Durg. To conduct polls in the sensitive and hypersensitive areas, elaborate security managements will be put in place, officials said. In recent months Maoists have stepped up their attacks to create terror in south Bastar and targeted BJP leaders. According to police, two dozen people including four BJP leaders and at least 12 security personnel were killed by Maoists in Bastar zone since November last year. Since 1998 the BJP has won 10 of the eleven seats barring the 2019 elections when it bagged nine constituencies and two went to the Congress. The BJP back in power in the state has taken a lead to launch Vijay Sankalp Shankhnad Rally by union home minister Amit Shah and declared candidates for all 11 seats. The Congress has so far announced six names, including former CM Bhupesh Baghel. However, it remains to be seen how the BJP that keeps its campaign alive on Modi Ki Guarantee slogan is able to retain the trust of masses. Maoists step up attacks in Bastar, targets BJP Recently, Maoists have stepped up their attacks to create terror in south Bastar and targeted BJP leaders. According to police, two dozen people including four BJP leaders and at least 12 security personnel were killed by Maoists in Bastar since November 2023

The New Indian Express 17 Mar 2024 7:18 am

Lok Sabha elections to begin from April 19; counting on June 4

The election cycle will be completed in 47 days compared with 42 days in 2019 until counting date, which also saw seven phases. As many as 22 states will hold elections on a single date. Three Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal will see polls on all seven dates. Maharashtra and Jammu & Kashmir will see a five-phase poll while Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh will vote on four days. Voting in Chhattisgarh and Assam will be in three phases.

The Economic Times 17 Mar 2024 5:30 am

Chhattisgarh: Naxalite killed in encounter with security forces in Kanker

Chhattisgarh: Naxalite killed in encounter with security forces in Kanker One Naxal was killed in an encounter between Naxalites and security forces in Kankar district, police said on Saturday. Police said that the incident occurred in the forest of Kaknar village. An encounter took place between the joint party of DRG and BSF and Naxalites in the forest of Village Kaknar under Police Station Koyalibera, District Kanker. In the encounter, the body of a uniformed Naxalite, police said. Police said that one sten gun, explosives and other materials have been recovered. A search operation is underway in the surrounding area by the police force, BSF and DRG, police said. (ANI)

devdiscourse 16 Mar 2024 11:49 pm

Cgarh : 3 Maoists Gunned Down in Bastar Over 2 Days

Manjhi was the eighth BJP leader to have been killed by Maoists in the state in the past one year. (AFP PHOTO / Noah SEELAM) Manjhi was the eighth BJP leader to have been killed by Maoists in the state in the past one year. (AFP PHOTO / Noah SEELAM) Raipur: Three Maoists were gunned down in two separate encounters with security forces in Bastar in Chhattisgarh over the last two days, police said on Saturday. A Maoist was on Saturday killed in an encounter with security forces in Khaknar jungle under Koylibeda police station in Kanker district under Bastar, police said. Body of the ultra was recovered along with a sub-machine gun and explosives at the encounter site by security personnel, police said. In another incident, two Maoists were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur district in south Bastar late on Friday night. The encounter had taken place in Bedere forest in the district, police said.

Deccan Chronicle 16 Mar 2024 10:43 pm

LS elections: BJP ahead of Congress in poll preparations in MP, Chhattisgarh

Bhopal: With the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday blowing the bugle for the general elections by announcing its schedule, BJP is clearly ahead of Congress in poll preparations in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh at the juncture. The party had virtually kicked off its campaign for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh immediately after coming to power in the state three months ago with chief minister Mohan Yadav making a tour of the state to hold rallies and public meetings to thank the people for bringing BJP back to power in MP. On March 13, the BJP launched a 10-day mass outreach campaign across the 29 Lok Sabha constituencies in MP to connect to people at the booth level by apprising them of various welfare programmes undertaken by the Centre. The party cadres have been instructed to gather feedback from the various influencers of the society on the ground situation during the mass outreach campaign. This is a massive mass outreach campaign by the party ahead of the April-May LS polls. The objective of the campaign is not only to reach out to the people but also gather feedback from them on the ground situation, a senior BJP leader said here on Saturday, unwilling to be quoted. BJP is fully prepared for the polls. This time, we will create a record by winning all the 29 LS seats in MP, state party president Vishnu Dutt Sharma said. BJP has already declared candidates in all the 29 LS seats in Madhya Pradesh in two phases. Prominent among the candidates who are in the fray are former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (from Vidisha), Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (from Guna) and Faggan Singh Kulaste (from Mandla). Congress has however so far declared candidates in only six out of 28 seats the party is going to field its nominees in Madhya Pradesh. The party has left the remaining Khajuraho LS seat for Samajwadi Party (SP) as per the seat sharing agreement between them. Congress will declare its candidates in 18 seats in MP on March 18. We are fully prepared for the polls, Congress media wing chief K K Mishra here said. BJP had won 28 out of 29 LS seats in MP the 2019 polls, leaving Congress to retain Chhindwara. Madhya Pradesh is going to LS polls in four phases on April 19, April 26, May seven and May 13. In Chhattisgarh too, BJP has declared candidates in all the 11 LS constituencies around three weeks ago. The party candidates have already started campaigning in their respective constituencies. We are well prepared for the polls, president of Chhattisgarh unit of BJP Kiran Singh Deo said. Congress has however declared candidates only in six seats in Chhattisgarh so far. Former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is fielded by Congress in the Rajnandgaon LS constituency. Candidates for the remaining five seats will be declared on Monday. Our booth, district, block and Assembly level committees are already in action on the ground, canvassing for the party, Chhattisgarh unit Congress spokesman Sushil Mohan Tiwari said. BJP had won nine out of 11 LS seats in the last polls. Chhattisgarh is going to LS polls in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May three. BJP won power in both the states in the November last years Assembly polls.

Deccan Chronicle 16 Mar 2024 9:38 pm

IIM-K welcomes students from Chhattisgarh

The Hindu 16 Mar 2024 8:52 pm

In Chhattisgarh, BJP Eyeing To Knock Out Congress In All 11 Lok Sabha Seats

An upbeat BJP is eyeing to knock out the Congress in all 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh after its landslide victory in the recent assembly polls in the state, where the grand old party is striving to overcome its shock defeat.

NDTV 16 Mar 2024 8:07 pm

Lok Sabha polls in Chhattisgarh: SWOT analysis of parties

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh aims for a clean sweep of the state's 11 Lok Sabha seats, capitalizing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity and the state government's pro-farmer and women-centric schemes. The Congress faces challenges in making a comeback, despite efforts to strengthen its organizational setup.

The Economic Times 16 Mar 2024 7:26 pm

Naxalite Killed in Encounter with Security Forces in Chhattisgarh's Kanker

The identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained, and a search operation is underway in the area, police said

News18 16 Mar 2024 6:30 pm

Hardcore Maoist Cadre Surrenders in Odishas Bolangir

Bolangir: A hardcore Maoist cadre surrendered before the Inspector General of Police, NR, Sambalpur and the Superintendent of Police, Bolangir, on Saturday. Somnath Achala alias Mahesh, an Area Committee Member (ACM) of the Bargarh-Bolangir-Mahasamund (BBM) division of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), hails from the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh State. Mahesh has been involved [] The post Hardcore Maoist Cadre Surrenders in Odishas Bolangir appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Pragativadi 16 Mar 2024 6:07 pm

BJP to form govt with overwhelming majority: JP Nadda welcomes announcement of LS poll dates by ECI

BJP to form govt with overwhelming majority: JP Nadda welcomes announcement of LS poll dates by ECI Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda on Saturday welcomed the announcement of 2024 Lok Sabha election dates by the Election Commission and exuded confidence that the saffron party will form the government with an overwhelming majority. Taking to the microblogging site X, the BJP president posted, I welcome the announcement of Lok Sabha elections 2024 by the Election Commission. Elections are the biggest festival of democracy. It is a medium to keep the country and the state moving on the path of development and good governance. Nadda further called upon the people of the entire nation to vote in record numbers and strengthen the foundation of the world's largest democracy. I call upon the people of the entire nation to vote in record numbers and further strengthen the foundation of the world's largest democracy. Under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, BJP will form the government with an overwhelming majority and will work with determination to fulfill the aspirations of the people for the next 5 years, he added. The general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases from April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting will be held on June 4. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Lok Sabha and four state Assembly elections. Phase 1 elections will be held on April 19, the last date for making nominations is March 27. Polls will be held in 21 States and Union Territories. Phase 2 elections will be held from April 26, last date of nominations for candidates in April 4.Second phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories. Phase 3 elections will be held on May 7, last date for nominations for candidates is April 19. The third phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories. Phase 4 elections will be held on May 13, last date for nominations for candidates is April 25.Fourth phase will cover 10 States and Union Territories. Phase 5 elections will be held on May 20, last date for nominations for candidates in May 3. The fifth phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories. Phase 6 elections will be held on May 25, the last date for nominations for candidates is May 6. The sixth phase will cover 7 States and Union territories. Phase 7 elections will be held on June 1, last date for nominations for candidates is May 14. The seventh phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories. Phase 1 elections will be held in 102 constituencies, a total of 89 constituencies will undergo in phase 2. In Phase 3, polling will be held in 94 constituencies. 96 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase 4, and 49 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase 5. In Phase 6, polls will be held in 57 constituencies and also in Phase 7, 57 constituencies will undergo for polls. The assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will be held on May 13. while the Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on April 19; Counting of votes will be held Jun 4. Nearly 97 crore voters will be eligible to vote for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country. With the announcement of dates, the moral code of conduct comes into force immediately. CEC Rajiv Kumar said that strict directions have been given to District Magistrates and SPs to ensure level playing field. CAPF to be deployed adequately & assisted by Integrated control rooms in each district. Check posts & drones to ensure vigil. Ensuring voters' trust is paramount. Violence in elections is unacceptable. Impersonators to be swiftly punished. Transparency in permissions to parties/candidates through SUVIDHA portal. ECI has offered 27 apps and portals for all stakeholders. Vigil empowers citizens to report MCC violations and assured action within 100 mts. KYC app facilitates informed voting. A revamped results portal to enhance the experience on results day. He further mentioned that the poll body is sensitive to environmentally sustainable elections. We are making efforts to minimise single-use plastic and encourage eco-friendly practices in the election process, he said. CEC Kumar informed that to curb the flow of illicit money, the poll body has held extensive reviews with enforcement agencies. Cash movement worth around Rs 3,400 crore was restricted in the last 11 state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Tripura, CEC Kumar said. Measures like ESMs portal, and coordination between agencies resulted in an exponential increase in seizures in the last 11 elections, he added. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that there is no place for bloodbath and violence in the elections. From wherever we will receive the information of violence, we will take action against them, he said. With the announcement of election dates, the model code of conduct comes into immediate effect. (ANI)

devdiscourse 16 Mar 2024 5:31 pm

Lok Sabha Election Dates 2024: UP, Bihar to Vote from April 19 to June 1; Counting of Votes on June 4

Lok Sabha election 2024: Get details about the Lok Sabha Election 2024 dates, schedules, and constituency-wise details for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand

News18 16 Mar 2024 4:58 pm

Lok Sabha Election in Chhattisgarh 2024: Date, schedule, constituency details

Chhattisgarh Lok Sabha election date scheduled on April 19, 2024. Lok Sabha polls will be held in a 7 phases from April 19 to June 1. The seven phases will cover 543 constituencies.

The Times of India 16 Mar 2024 4:53 pm

Ambikapur Airport Receives DGCA Approval to Begin Flight Operations

Ambikapur Airport Receives DGCA Approval to Begin Flight Operations The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued the aerodrome license for Ambikapur airport in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district to start flight operations, officials said on Saturday. Maa Mahamaya Airport, Ambikapur, has been developed in the 3-C VFR category to expand air services in the state, a public relations department official said. An application, seeking a license to start air services from the airport, was submitted to the DGCA in December 2022. The aviation regulator on Friday granted the license to the state government for Ambikapur Airport, he said. With this, the state now has three licensed airports -- Bilaspur, Jagdalpur and Ambikapur under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS), he added. The license has paved the way for the operation of 72-seater flights from Ambikapur, he added. The state government has already been making efforts to start air service from Ambikapur Airport to Raipur, Bilaspur, Lucknow, Patna, and Ranchi. With the commencement of flights from Ambikapur, tourism and commercial activities in the northern region of the state will get a boost and facilitate the development of the region, the official said. Meanwhile, the state government also signed a memorandum of understating (MoU) with the Centre-run Alliance Air on Friday to start regular commercial flight services from Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi and Kolkata, and Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) to Delhi via Jabalpur by the end of this month, he noted. The chief minister inaugurated flight services from Bilaspur to Delhi and Kolkata on March 12, while the flight service Delhi-Jabalpur- Jagdalpur-Jabalpur-Delhi was also launched on the same day, the official said. Now, after the pact, the flight services on the three routes will be regular from the month-end, he added. As per the MoU, the state will provide financial assistance to the airline company to compensate for the loss based on the cost revenue model in case of non-availability of passengers on the flights.

devdiscourse 16 Mar 2024 1:31 pm

Ghaziabad Gears Up for 2024 Lok Sabha Elections: What You Need to Know

Get ready, Ghaziabad! The Lok Sabha elections are just around the corner, and here's your complete guide to the upcoming polls. When are the Ghaziabad Lok Sabha Elections? While the exact date for voting in the Ghaziabad Lok Sabha constituency is yet to be announced by the Election Commission, we're expecting it soon. Keep an eye out for updates on the official voting day, which will be followed by the eagerly awaited result announcement, likely to be confirmed in March. Rest assured, the Election Commission will ensure a smooth and fair voting process, as always. Who's in the Running? It's going to be a showdown! Various political parties are gearing up to field their candidates for the Ghaziabad Lok Sabha seat. Keep an eye out for contenders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The final list of candidates from each party will be revealed closer to the voting dates. What Are the Hot Topics? Ghaziabad has its fair share of issues, and they're likely to take center stage in the election campaign. From improving infrastructure to tackling unemployment, healthcare, and education, there's plenty for candidates to address. Keep an ear out for their plans to tackle these issues as they hit the campaign trail. Who Are the Voters? Let's talk numbers. According to data from the Election Commission, Ghaziabad had a total of 27,28,978 voters during the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Among them, 15,19,938 were male, 12,08,931 were female, and 109 identified as belonging to the third gender. Additionally, there were 2,564 postal votes and 2,846 service voters in 2019. In 2014, Ghaziabad saw 23,57,553 voters, with 13,33,055 males, 10,24,455 females, and 43 in the 'others' category. There were also 653 postal votes and 1,959 service voters in the constituency. Past Winners: Who Came out on Top? In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, BJP candidate General Vijay Kumar Singh secured victory for the second time, winning by a whopping margin of 5,01,500 votes. He bagged 9,44,503 votes, claiming a vote share of 61.93%. Meanwhile, SP candidate Suresh Bansal and Congress candidate Dolly Sharma stood second and third, respectively. Back in 2014, General Vijay Kumar Singh, then representing the BJP, clinched the seat for the first time with a victory margin of 5,67,260 votes. He defeated Congress candidate Raj Babbar by a significant margin. It was a historic win for General Singh. What's Next? With the stage set for a heated contest, Ghaziabad is bracing itself for an eventful Lok Sabha election. Stay tuned as candidates rev up their campaigns to win over the hearts and votes of the people. Modi to Address BJP Rally in Telangana Ahead of Lok Sabha Election Schedule Announcement Uddhav Thackeray Accuses BJP of Corruption Through Electoral Bonds Scheme Chhattisgarh Raises Dearness Allowance for State Workers by 4%

News Track 16 Mar 2024 12:05 pm

75 CAPF companies to keep watch on Naxals during polls in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Ahead of general elections, around 75 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed in Odisha to carry out area domination exercise and patrolling to counter left wing extremists. The security forces are keeping a close watch on the bordering areas as Naxals from neighbouring Chhattisgarh are making fresh attempts to strengthen their activities by sneaking into Odisha, mainly through Nuapada and Nabarangpur districts. Several security camps have been set up in the areas to thwart the pushback by Naxals ahead of elections. The Datunama camp in Nuapada, which will act as base for others, consists of a joint force - CRPF from Odisha and Chhattisgarh, the force's special commando unit and state police. The camp is located at a strategic point, close to Gariaband district in Chhattisgarh which witnesses frequent Naxal violence. A helipad exists close to Datunama camp which will help in airlifting personnel during emergencies. IG, CRPF Dr Archana Shivhare said the camp played an important role during the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections last year. CRPF and state police have set up camps in vital interior locations close to Chhattisgarh to prevent Naxals from infiltrating into Odisha, said Shivhare who has been made the state force coordinator by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Sources said the security forces have also planned to install GPS in vehicles which will be engaged to carry out patrolling near the polling booths in areas affected by left wing extremism. The Election Commission of India has also directed to install CCTV cameras in all polling booths located at Naxal affected areas of the state. CRPF, which was deployed in Odisha in 2001 to check Naxal menace, had established four new camps inside deep forests in 2023.

The New Indian Express 16 Mar 2024 11:52 am

Mystery over gunshot injuries to two Chhattisgarh youths in Sundargarh

ROURKELA: Two youths of Chhattisgarh suffered gunshot wounds after unidentified miscreants reportedly opened fire at the their pick-up van in Kutra of Sundargarh district in the wee-hours of Friday. Police identified the injured duo as Bikram Tandon (28) and Sunil Ratnakar (32) of Sakti and Raigarh districts of Chhattisgarh. The incident took place on state highway-10 near Gangajal. Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Himanshu Behera said doctors of the district headquarters hospital (DHH) at Sundargarh town informed police about arrival of two persons with bullet injuries. Police reached the hospital and after preliminary investigation, it was found that the injured youths were on way to Rourkela when the firing incident took place. Behera said the duo told police that their vehicle was intercepted by around five miscreants on two motorcycles. The miscreants opened at least two rounds of fire at the moving vehicle and fled. The youths claimed that following the attack, they informed their acquaintances back in Chhattisgarh who rushed to the spot and admitted them to Sundargarh DHH before leaving with their bullet-ridden vehicle. One of the youths had a bullet stuck in his left arm. The other suffered a gunshot wound with the bullet piercing his neck without affecting his wind or food pipes and cut injuries from broken glass pieces of the windshield. Sources said the duo would be shifted to VIMSAR, Burla for further treatment. The SDPO said there appears to be anomalies in the statements of the injured duo and the circumstances leading to the crime. The people who took the youths to the hospital have been asked to return with the vehicle to assist in the investigation.

The New Indian Express 16 Mar 2024 11:31 am

Chhattisgarh Raises Dearness Allowance for State Workers by 4%

In a move aimed at supporting state employees, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced a 4% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) on Friday. This decision comes just ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, slated for April or May this year. Chief Minister Sai highlighted the fulfillment of the 'Modi Ki Guarantee' promise, ensuring the procurement of 21 quintals of paddy at 3,100 per quintal. Additionally, he mentioned Prime Minister Modi's commitment to forming a five-member committee to address the concerns of contractual workers. Discussing the 'Mahtari Bandhan Yojana', the Chief Minister noted that women in Chhattisgarh had already received 655 crore in their accounts. He pledged further support, promising that every woman would receive Rs1,000 per month in the near future. Alongside Chhattisgarh, several other states including Karnataka, Tripura, Gujarat, and Rajasthan have also approved hikes in dearness allowance. The Rajasthan government, under Bhajanlal Sharma, announced a 4% increase in DA for state employees and pensioners. Similarly, the Tripura government, led by Manik Saha, declared an additional 5% dearness allowance for its employees and pensioners. Moreover, the Karnataka government has approved a 3.75% hike in DA for its employees and pensioners, effective from January 1, 2024. These increments will be disbursed along with the March salary. On a national level, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet has greenlit an additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners. The new rates, effective from January 1, 2024, represent a 4% increase over the existing rate of 46% of the Basic Pay/Pension. Here's How Karnataka Govt Raises Dearness Allowance to 42.5% Ahead of Elections

News Track 16 Mar 2024 10:11 am

Over 10 Million Homes Enroll in PM-Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme

Over 10 Million Homes Sign Up for PM-Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme In a remarkable response from across the country, more than 10 million households have already registered for the government's solar rooftop scheme, PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared this exciting update, highlighting the overwhelming participation since the scheme's launch about a month ago. Fantastic news! Within just a month of its launch, over 10 million households have already joined the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Registrations are pouring in from every corner of the nation, PM Modi announced. Several states including Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh have witnessed more than 500,000 registrations each, indicating widespread interest and acceptance of the initiative. PM Modi urged those who haven't yet signed up to do so promptly, emphasizing the importance of seizing this opportunity. The rooftop solar program, now officially named PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, was introduced in the interim Budget presented on February 1. With an investment exceeding Rs 75,000 crores, the scheme aims to provide free electricity of up to 300 units per month to one crore households. To ensure the scheme's success at the grassroots level, Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats will receive incentives to promote rooftop solar systems within their jurisdictions. The government anticipates numerous benefits from this solar initiative, including annual savings of Rs 15,000-18,000 crore for households through free solar electricity, opportunities for electric vehicle charging, entrepreneurship avenues for vendors involved in supply and installation, and employment prospects for youth skilled in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. India, a significant consumer of coal-fired electricity, views this solar rooftop program as a means to reduce reliance on conventional power sources. At the COP26 summit in 2021, India pledged an ambitious Panchamrit commitment, aiming to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generate half of its energy from renewables, and cut emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. Additionally, India targets a 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP and aims for net-zero emissions by 2070. The country currently derives about 44% of its energy from non-fossil sources, a figure projected to rise to 65% by 2030, surpassing its COP26 commitments, according to Union Minister RK Singh, responsible for power and renewable energy portfolios. Uddhav Thackeray Accuses BJP of Corruption Through Electoral Bonds Scheme Chhattisgarh Raises Dearness Allowance for State Workers by 4%

News Track 16 Mar 2024 10:11 am

Modi to Address BJP Rally in Telangana Ahead of Lok Sabha Election Schedule Announcement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a BJP rally in Telangana ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule. He will speak at Nagarkurnool on Saturday and will also hold another rally at Jagtial on March 18, as per the Telangana BJP. Previously, Modi conducted a roadshow in the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency. During his recent visit to Sangareddy, about 60 km from Hyderabad, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for development projects worth over Rs 7,200 crore. At a BJP rally in Sangareddy, Modi criticized the Congress, accusing them of being hesitant to promote young leaders. He also targeted dynastic parties, alleging they were attacking him because he was exposing their corruption. The BJP aims to make significant electoral gains in southern states, including Telangana, where it won four out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 general elections. The party plans to contest independently in Telangana and hopes to increase its seat count. The Election Commission is scheduled to announce the Lok Sabha election schedule on Saturday. Chhattisgarh Raises Dearness Allowance for State Workers by 4% Delhi Bolsters Security Amid CAA Rules Implementation

News Track 16 Mar 2024 10:05 am

Weather Update: There will be rain in these states in the next four days; IMD released latest update

The Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rain with thunder, lightning and strong winds in Jharkhand, Odisha, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and East Madhya Pradesh. IMD has predicted light rain and snowfall in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim today i.e. March 16. According to the Meteorological Department, a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan [] The post Weather Update: There will be rain in these states in the next four days; IMD released latest update first appeared on informalnewz .

informalnewz 16 Mar 2024 9:01 am

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 | Modis Southern Push | Will BJP Make A Mark In 2024 Polls? | News18

In an assessment done by BJP last year, out of 100 and 30 seats in South BJP has a presence in 29 seats, the bulk of them from Karnataka and around four seats from ten and Ghana.After the results of the five State Assembly elections came out, and the BJP swept the Hindi-speaking States of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, and the Congress won Telangana, Congress leaders put out statements pointing to this divide. During the current Budget session, D.K. Suresh of the Karnataka Congress protested against low levels of tax devolution to southern States, going on to even say that it may persuade southern States to secede from India. On Wednesday, as Karnataka Congress leaders made their way to Delhi to protest the alleged issue, the BJP made its counter strike on the narrative.

News18 15 Mar 2024 11:06 pm

Chhattisgarh: Committee to Probe Allegations of Harassment of Journalists During Previous Govt

Bhopal: Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday announced the constitution of a high level committee to probe the allegations of harassment of journalists during the previous Congress government in the state. Addressing a news conference here, Mr Sai said that a committee headed by state home secretary would be constituted to probe the allegations of intimidation, harassment and victimisation of the media persons during the previous Congress government in the state. Several complaints of harassment against journalists and people of media during the previous Congress government in the state had come to light. Our media department had also given information about alleged false cases registered against journalists to harass them during the period. In this regard, we announce the formation of a committee under the chairmanship of the home secretary to probe all the complaints of harassment of journalists during the period. Journalists will also be a part of the committee among other members, he said. Mr Sai assured the media that justice would be given to all the journalists, allegedly victimised while discharging their duties during the previous Congress government in the state. The chief minister further said that a five-member committee has been constituted to address the grievances of the state government employees. The committee, headed by principal secretary, state panchayat and rural development department, Niharika Barik, will interact with the representatives of various employees unions and give suggestions to the government to address the grievances of the employees. He also announced an increase in the dearness allowance (DA) of the officers and employees of the state government by four percent under the seventh pay scale, and this benefit would also be extended to the pensioners of the state government. The increased DA will be effective from March one this year.

Deccan Chronicle 15 Mar 2024 10:34 pm

Ganja Smuggling Gang Busted: 6 Arrested with Cash & Phones

Hyderabad: The Maheshwaram special operation team and Choutuppal police arrested six persons when they were transporting 84 kg of dry ganja, along with Rs 10,220 in cash and four mobile phones, collectively valued at over Rs 21.5 lakh. The arrested accused were identified as Sahid, Imran, Md Aslam, Sachin Kumar, Mohd Zahid, and a juvenile. They provided information which led to the arrest of Raghuveer Roy, the main supplier in Rajahmundry. Mukesh alias Rasheed managed to evade arrest, the police said. The accused hailed from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. The gang would transport the ganja in a bus from Rajahmundry to Hyderabad, and then to New Delhi on a train. Police intercepted the gang at the Panthangi toll plaza. Roy was handed over to the Bibinagar police as he was wanted in multiple drug related cases.

Deccan Chronicle 15 Mar 2024 10:16 pm

New Scheme: Now these women will get Rs 1,000 every month! New scheme started, apply online like this

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started a new scheme for Chhattisgarh. Under this, women are being given an assistance amount of Rs 1,000 per month. You can also apply for this online. But before this one should know about everything. A big gift was given to the women of Chhattisgarh by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. [] The post New Scheme: Now these women will get Rs 1,000 every month! New scheme started, apply online like this first appeared on informalnewz .

informalnewz 15 Mar 2024 5:00 pm

Two Chhattisgarh youths injured in firing in Odisha's Sundargarh district

ROURKELA: Amid recent spurt in shooting incidents across Sundargarh, two youths of Chhattisgarh were injured under controversial circumstances. The mishap took place after unidentified miscreants reportedly opened fire on a four-wheeler on State Highway 10 in Sundargarh district in the wee hours of Friday. The injured youths - Bikram Tandon (28) and Sunil Ratnakar (32) from Sakti and Raigarh districts in Chhattisgarh have been admitted to the Sundargarh District Headquarter Hospital (DHH). Police investigation is underway. Police said one youth received bullet injuries on his left arm and another was injured after a bullet pierced through his neck without affecting the wind or food pipes. He also received cut injuries from broken glass pieces of the windshield. Sundargarh SDPO Himanshu Behera said doctors at the DHH informed police about the arrival of two persons with injuries. Preliminary investigation revealed that the youths were on their way to Rourkela when the firing took place near Gangajal under Kutra police limits. The injured persons told police that their vehicle was overtaken by about five miscreants in two motor-bikes and they opened at least two rounds of fire on the moving vehicle and escaped. Initially they thought stones were hurled at the vehicle, but from bleeding they soon realized about the firing, he said. According to police, the injured duo claimed they informed their acquaintances back in Chhattisgarh who rushed them to the DHH and left with the vehicle. The SDPO said there appeared to be anomalies about the circumstances of the crime and what was told to police. He added that those who took them to the hospital were asked to return with the vehicle to assist in the investigation. Incidentally, one person was killed on January 1, 2024, in Bisra police limits and another was shot at in Brahmani Tarang (BT) police limits of Rourkela Police District (RPD) on March 9. Between February and October in 2023, at least two persons were shot dead and five received gunshot injuries in Bisra, Koida, Kinjirkela, Bargaon, Kutra and Lefripada police limits of Rourkela as well as Sundargarh police districts.

The New Indian Express 15 Mar 2024 3:28 pm

'Yodha' to 'Kung Fu Panda 4': Movies to watch this weekend

This weekend, cinema enthusiasts can indulge in a diverse lineup of films hitting theaters. From thrilling action to heartwarming tales, there's something for everyone. 'Yodha' follows Sidharth Malhotra navigating a hijacked plane, while 'Kung Fu Panda 4' sees Po facing new challenges. 'Bastar: The Naxal Story' explores real-life events in Chhattisgarh, and 'Jatt Nuu Chudail Takri' presents an unconventional love story.

The Economic Times 15 Mar 2024 12:12 pm

Unfair & Lovely: the Bollywood film shining a light on dark-skin discrimination

As an Indian judge says change must start at home, a new movie uses humour to examine family prejudice against children with darker complexions Three months ago, a high court judge in Chhattisgarh, India, hearing a divorce petition by a husband whose wife said he humiliated her for her dark skin, said it was time Indian society changed its dialogue at home to eradicate prejudice. As if on cue, a new social comedy, Tera Kya Hoga Lovely (Unfair & Lovely), tackles precisely this issue in the hope of nudging Indians into examining the common longstanding preference for light skin. Continue reading...

The Guardian 15 Mar 2024 10:30 am

Heatwave in Rayalaseema, Rains Forecast for Coastal AP

Visakhapatnam : Rayalaseema will face severe heat conditions from next week, according to an IMD Amaravati forecast on Thursday. Temperatures have already crossed 40 degrees Celsius in Nandyal, Kurnool, Anantapur and Kadapa. They are expected to slowly increase in the ensuing days. We may have heatwave conditions from this Sunday onwards. Spells of these heat waves will be longer compared to previous years, said senior scientist at IMD Amaravathi Dr. S. Karunasagar on Thursday. Daytimes, particularly the afternoons, are already giving a taste of impending weather conditions with mercury steadily marching towards 40 degrees Celsius mark in most parts of the Rayalaseema region. The IMD has in its long-range forecast has predicted that Andhra Pradesh is likely to experience hotter days than normal during the 2024 summer (March to May). There will be an increase in heatwaves, with temperatures being higher than usual. Andhra Pradesh had experienced 21 heatwave days in 2023. June accounted for 11 days of heat waves, April six, May three and July one day of heatwave. AP experienced the highest number of heatwave days in south India during 2023, recording three deaths, with the maximum temperature going above 46C. There had been no deaths due to heatwaves in AP in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In contrast, the IMD has forecast that north coastal AP will witness thunderstorms in another two days for a period of four days due to a trough running from east Vidarbha to north Tamil Nadu across Telangana and Rayalaseema 0.9 km above mean sea level. A cyclonic circulation is also lying 0.9 km above mean sea level over north interior Karnataka and neighbourhood. Another trough 0.9 km above mean sea level from interior Odisha to east central Arabian Sea across south Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Karnataka has become less marked.

Deccan Chronicle 15 Mar 2024 12:41 am

Chhattisgarh deputy CM downplays Congress Nari Nyay impact

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said that the Congress guarantees for women would have a limited impact on the upcoming Lok Sabha election

The Hindu 15 Mar 2024 12:03 am

'One nation, one poll': Kovind panel recommends three-tier simultaneous polls in two phases

'One nation, one poll': Kovind panel recommends three-tier simultaneous polls in two phases A high-level panel on Thursday recommended simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies as the first step followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days in its report on 'one nation, one election' submitted to President Droupadi Murmu. Simultaneous polls will help save resources, spur development and social cohesion, deepen ''foundations of democratic rubric'' and help realise the aspirations of ''India, that is Bharat'', the panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind said in its report that runs into more than 18,000 pages. However, the panel has made 321 pages public. The committee noted that B R Ambedkar had envisioned the necessity of uniformity in the electoral process and further advocated for the Union to be responsible for conducting elections in India. Separately, the Law Commission is also likely to come up soon with its own report on simultaneous polls, of which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a strong votary. Sources said that the Law Commission is likely to recommend holding simultaneous polls for all three tiers of government -- Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies like municipalities and panchayats -- starting with 2029 and a provision for unity government in cases like hung house or no-confidence motion. The 2024 general elections for Lok Sabha, along with four state assemblies, are expected in April-May amid indications that the Election Commission may announce these polls as early as this Friday. The Kovind panel, which has not specified any period for rolling out simultaneous polls, said that in the first stage, elections for the Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies can be held together. In the second step, the elections to municipalities and panchayats will be synchronised with the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in such a way that elections to municipalities and panchayats are held within 100 days of the holding of parliamentary and assembly polls. For the purpose of synchronising Lok Sabha and assembly elections, the committee recommended that the President notifies the date of the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a general election as the ''appointed date''. The tenure of all state assemblies formed after polls after the ''appointed date'' and before the expiry of the full term of the Lok Sabha, will be only for the period ending up to the subsequent parliamentary polls. After this one-time transitory measure, all Lok Sabha and assembly polls will be held simultaneously. The committee recommended that fresh elections could be held to constitute a new Lok Sabha in the event of a hung House or a no-confidence motion, or any such event. Where fresh elections are held for the House of the People (Lok Sabha), the tenure of the House will be ''only for the unexpired (remaining) term of the immediately preceding full term of the House'', it said. When fresh elections are held for state legislative assemblies, then such new assemblies -- unless sooner dissolved -- shall continue up to the end of the full term of the Lok Sabha. To bring into force such a mechanism, Article 83 (duration of Houses of Parliament) and Article 172 (duration of state legislatures) need to be amended, the committee said. It has also proposed creation of an ''Implementation Group'' to look into the execution of the panel's recommendations. The panel also recommended preparation of a common electoral roll and voter ID cards by the Election Commission of India in consultation with state election authorities. At present, the ECI is responsible for Lok Sabha and assembly polls, while local body polls for municipalities and panchayats are managed by state election commissions. The panel recommended as many as 18 constitutional amendments, most of which will not need ratification by state assemblies. However, these would require certain Constitution amendment bills that would need to be passed by Parliament. Some proposed changes regarding the single electoral roll and single voter ID card would need ratification by at least half of the states. At present, ECI prepares electoral roll and voter ID cards for Lok Sabha and assembly polls, while the same for local body elections are managed by state election commissions which come under the domain of respective state governments. ''Now, several elections are being held every year. This casts a huge burden on the government, businesses, workers, courts, political parties, candidates contesting elections, and civil society at large,'' the panel said. It said the government must develop a ''legally tenable mechanism'' to restore the cycle of simultaneous elections. An official statement said the committee crafted its recommendations in such a way that they are in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution and would require bare minimum amendments to the Constitution. Kovind was accompanied by other panel members, including Home Minister Amit Shah, former Finance Commission chairman N K Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash Kashyap, former leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, when he went to submit the report to the president at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The committee said for making logistical arrangements for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies, ECI could draw a plan and estimate in advance for the procurement of EVMs and VVPATs, deployment of polling personnel and security forces. Similarly, for local body polls, state election commissions, in consultation with ECI, could draw a plan for themselves. Six states are due to have elections this year. Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are likely to go to polls in June, followed by Haryana and Maharashtra in November. In 2025, Jharkhand, Bihar and Delhi will go to polls. In 2026, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will have elections, followed by Manipur, Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat in 2027. Finally, in 2028, the remaining 10 states will undergo assembly elections. These are Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Karnataka, Telangana, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

devdiscourse 14 Mar 2024 7:11 pm

BJP imports candidate for East Tripura from Chhattisgarh irks party rank

The ruling BJP and its newly tied partner, the second largest party in Tripura, TIPRA Motha, faced serious resentment after the announcement of the latter party's founder and royal scion, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarmas elder sister, Kriti Singh ...

Web Dunia 14 Mar 2024 2:56 pm

BJP imports candidate for East Tripura from Chhattisgarh irks party rank and file

Agartala: The ruling BJP and its newly tied partner, the second largest party in Tripura, TIPRA Motha, faced serious resentment after the announcement of the latter partys founder and royal scion, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarmas elder sister, Kriti Singh Debbarma, from the Rajkot royal family of Chhattisgarh, as a Congress activist and candidate of the []

goachronicle 14 Mar 2024 2:38 pm

Chhattisgarh: 3 workers from West Bengal killed after falling off bridge

The accident took place on Wednesday evening under Sihawa police station limits when the three men were heading on the two-wheeler from Bhothli Bodra village towards Sankra village

Mid Day 14 Mar 2024 2:25 pm

Three workers from West Bengal killed after falling off bridge in Chhattisgarh

As per preliminary information, the motorcycle rider failed to negotiate a turn on the bridge and the vehicle hit its railing.

The Hindu 14 Mar 2024 12:09 pm

Vedanta picks 16 girls from Sundargarh in Odisha

SUNDARGARH: Vedanta Aluminium has commenced the latest phase of its transformative Project Panchhi initiative in Sundargarh district having its Jamkani coal mine. The project is an innovative corporate recruitment drive aiming to employ 1,000 girls drawn from economically-backward communities from across India in its diverse businesses. At least 16 girls from Sundargarh district were picked up in the latest phase of the project. Sundargarh sub-collector Dasarathi Saraboo handed over the selection letters to the girls who were also felicitated by CEO (Mines), Vedanta Aluminium V Srikanth at a function held at Sundargarh town on Tuesday. So far, over 200 girls have been selected from different operation areas of Vedanta including Lanjigarh and Jharsuguda in Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. The initiative focuses on addressing the educational and employment needs of girls who struggle to continue their studies for varied reasons including financial and social constraints. It envisages to support their higher education and provide them employment opportunities in the companys operations. Company sources said candidates are selected through a rigorous process and Vedanta sponsors their higher education in national institutes. After completing their degrees successfully, the candidates will formally join Vedantas operations as graduate trainees.

The New Indian Express 14 Mar 2024 10:21 am

Odisha's Paudi Bhuyans get rights over their habitat

BHUBANESWAR: Odishas Paudi Bhuyans, residing in Deogarh district, have become the fourth Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in the country to get habitat rights under Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. The tribal community resides in 32 villages under Barkote block of Deogarh. As per the local Paudi Bhuyan Development Agency, while the total habitat area is 52,151 hectare, the forest area is 19,589.3 hectare. It has been approved by the sub-divisional level committee under FRA and was informed to the Deogarh administration by the ST and SC Development department on Wednesday. There are 75 PVTGs in the country of which three Bharia in Madhya Pradesh and Kamar, Baiga tribes in Chhattisgarh have received habitat rights. Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under section 3(1) (e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, also known as FRA. Under section 2(h) of FRA, habitat includes the area comprising the customary habitat and such other habitats in reserved forests and protected forests of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities and other forest dwelling STs. Accordingly, the habitat rights will provide Paudi Bhuyans rights over their customary territory of habitation, socio-cultural practices, economic and livelihood means as well as protection and conservation of their natural and cultural heritage. Commissioner-cum-secretary of the department Roopa Roshan Sahoo said this will ensure security for the tribal communitys future with guaranteed rights. It is a significant step towards achieving the vision as pronounced in PM-JANMAN, which is to ensure the rights and meet development needs of PVTGs, she said. Sahoo added the process of recognition of habitat rights is complex and requires multiple levels of coordination and understanding. SCSTRTI has been guiding the same which has resulted in Odisha achieving this, she added. With these rights, the tribals will have unrestricted access to minor first produce and other items core to their livelihood. They will have rights to land to preserve their cultural elements too. Their opinion will be sought to implement any development work in the Paudi Bhuyan habitat in Deogarh, said AB Ota, researcher and former director SCSTRTI. The department had started the initiative of identifying the Paudi Bhuyan habitat and getting it approved from gram sabhas between 2020 and 2022 for conferment of habitat rights.

The New Indian Express 14 Mar 2024 9:24 am

Satellite survey detects over 17 lakh fake plots registered for paddy sale under MSP in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: In a shocking revelation, it has come to fore that over 17 lakh plots registered as paddy fields by farmers during 2023 kharif marketing season (KMS) for sale of surplus paddy under minimum support price (MSP) in the state are fictitious. Ponds, forest land, orchards, and land with non-paddy vegetation, even schools and other buildings, have been shown as paddy fields, it has been found. After receiving reports from field staff from districts that stated a large number of plots were found to be fake upon physical verification, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department conducted an internal verification of all the registered plots. As registration numbers of around 20.10 lakh plots did not match with the Odisha land records (Bhulekh), the department asked the Odisha Space Application Centre (ORSAC) to conduct a satellite survey of such plots. The satellite survey revealed that a staggering number of 17.93 lakh plots are not genuine. What is disturbing is that water bodies like village ponds, river, forest land, gochar land, orchards and plots with non-paddy vegetation are shown as paddy fields. In some cases schools and government establishments were also recorded as agricultural land with paddy crop, sources in the department said. In many cases, several members of a family have registered a single plot in their names for sale of paddy under the price support system while in others, farmers have fraudulently registered land belonging to another person in their names, sources added. The department is learnt to have cancelled all such fictitious registrations and directed field staff for physical verification of the questionable plots. In cases where online token have been issued for procurement of paddy, they have been withheld and instructions issued to district officials concerned not to purchase paddy from farmers who are put in grey list till further orders, the officer said. While the paddy procurement season will be over by March 31, 2024, the state government has so far procured 57.74 lakh tonne of paddy from 13.28 lakh registered farmers. The government which has set a target to procure 65 lakh tonne of kharif paddy may not be able to achieve it after cancellation of large number of fake plots. Reports from districts stated traders from Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh are lifting huge quantity of paddy from the state by offering good price to the farmers. While Chhattisgarh traders are buying paddy at Rs 2,100 per quintal, the price offered by those from West Bengal ranges from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,000 against the MSP of Rs 2,183 per quintal.

The New Indian Express 14 Mar 2024 9:16 am

JJMP commander held by Chhattisgarh police

The Times of India 14 Mar 2024 5:25 am

DNA Exclusive: Exposing Multi-Crore Scam In Chhattisgarh By Bhupesh Baghel-Led Congress Government

After Zee News' expose, the Chhattisgarh government has taken action. The mastermind behind this scam, Mokshit Corporation, has been blacklisted.

Zee News 13 Mar 2024 11:25 pm

Chhattisgarh: Class 12 Student of Govt-run Residential School Delivers Baby

Congenital deaths, pre-birth and low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, maternal complications during pregnancy among others are the reason for the infant mortality deaths. Congenital deaths, pre-birth and low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, maternal complications during pregnancy among others are the reason for the infant mortality deaths. Bhopal : A class 12 student, an inmate of a government-run residential school in Bijapur district under Bastar in Chhattisgarh, delivered a baby, official sources said on Wednesday. The girl (20), the inmate of a government-run residential school in Gangaloor in the district, complained of headache and uneasiness on Tuesday evening and was admitted to a local hospital where she gave birth to a baby, local district education officer (DEO) Baliram Baghel said. A probe by Mr Baghel into the incident has found that the girl was in a relationship with a boy for two-three years and their families were aware of it. She had appeared in three papers of the ongoing class 12 board examinations. The hostel warden in the residential school Anshu Minj was on Wednesday suspended on charges of dereliction of duty for not being aware of the development.

Deccan Chronicle 13 Mar 2024 10:35 pm

Chennithala appointed as chairman of Congress's Kerala LS election campaign committee

Chennithala appointed as chairman of Congress's Kerala LS election campaign committee AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday appointed senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala as the chairman of the Congress's Lok Sabha election campaign committee in Kerala. In a statement, the AICC said that the Congress president has approved the proposal for the appointment of Chennithala as the chairman of the campaign committee of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee for the upcoming general elections with immediate effect. The Congress will contest 16 seats in Kerala, while the rest of the four seats will be contested by the constituent parties, announced Kerala Congress MLA and Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan after the party's Central Election Committee meeting on Thursday. Prominent among them are AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal and CWC member Shashi Tharoor. Kerala has 20 parliamentary seats. Chennithala's appointment coincides with the Congress's decision to once again nominate Rahul Gandhi for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. The Congress has fielded all the sitting MPs except T N Prathapan in Thrissur. The constituents of the Congress-led UDF will contest the four other seats, with the Indian Union Muslim League fielding candidates in two segments and Kerala Congress (Joseph) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) each fielding one. The party-led UDF had won 19 out of 20 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The number decreased to 18 after the Kerala Congress (M), which won the Kottayam seat, switched over to the CPI(M)-led LDF before the 2021 assembly polls. Notably, Congress on Friday released its first list of candidates for 39 Lok Sabha constituencies. The names have been announced for Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshwadeep, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Telangana and Tripura. (ANI)

devdiscourse 13 Mar 2024 10:31 pm