Raebareli: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders on Friday offered prayers here after he filed his nomination papers from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli seat. Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra were among those who offered prayers during the puja held at the house of late party leader Gaya Prasad Shukla. The house has been associated with the party for decades. Locals said the puja was held after filing the nomination due to paucity of time earlier. "It started with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1967. It has become a norm that whenever a member of the Gandhi family files nomination, they first offer prayers here," KC Shukla, grandson of Gyan Prasad Shukla, told ANI. After days of speculation, Rahul Gandhi today filed his nomination from Raebareli, a stronghold of the Gandhi family, which was represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi in the outgoing Lok Sabha. There was anticipation earlier that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest from either Amethi or Raebareli, two seats in Uttar Pradesh which are prestige battles for the party. Rahul Gandhi, who is MP from Wayanad in Kerala and is re-contesting from the seat, lost from Amethi in 2019 Lok Sabha polls to Union Minister Smriti Irani. Rahul Gandhi had won the seat, also a Gandhi family stronghold, three times in a row till 2019. Congress has fielded KL Sharma, a loyalist of the Gandhi family, from Amethi against Smriti Irani. Rahul is pitted against BJP candidate and three-time MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh in Raebareli. Earlier today, claiming that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was deliberately denied a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections, expelled leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam on said she was a "victim of family and party conspiracy". "I said this earlier that Rahul Gandhi will not contest Amethi. I said this, too, that Rahul Gandhi will not let Priyanka Gandhi Vadra fight these elections. There is a big conspiracy afoot against Priyanka. She is the victim of a conspiracy hatched by her family and the party," Acharya Krishnam told ANI. Union Minister Smriti Irani said that Congress had conceded defeat from the constituency even before a vote was cast, adding that the opposition party would not have fielded a "proxy candidate" (Kishori Lal Sharma) if they were hopeful about the outcome of the polls. "I welcome the guests to Amethi. The fact that the Gandhis are not fighting in Amethi shows that even before a vote has been cast, they are losing from Amethi. If they had seen even a glimmer of hope, they would have contested and not put up a proxy candidate," Smriti Irani told reporters in Amethi. The voting in both seats will be held in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7. —ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders on Friday offered prayers here after he filed his nomination papers from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli seat

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi Offer Prayers After He Files Nomination For Raebareli Lok Sabha Seat

Sambhal: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday hit out at the Congress and Samajwadi party's alliance in UP, likening their partnership to a reckless driver of a tractor. "The alliance of Congress and Samajwadi Party is such, if you ask an inept person to drive a tractor, he will run over someone. '2 ladkon ki jodi yahi hai', Yogi Adityanath said while addressing an election rally in Sambhal. Training guns at the Samajwadi party, Yogi said that they had previously adorned mafias with garlands, targeted saints, and hindered efforts to ensure the safety of women and businessmen in the state. Yogi Adityanath criticized the Congress party for continuously bringing up the idea of conducting a caste survey in India. He suggested that this tactic is aimed at creating differences among different communities and ultimately expanding reservations to Muslims. "Reservations based on religion was the reason behind the partition of this country. Do Congress and the Samajwadi Party want the partition of the country? They say they'll do a caste census, for what? They will divide people based on caste and induce a fight amongst them and then they'll say to the people that first you need to resolve this issue, and by that time they will give your reservations to Muslims." Yogi said. The Indian National Congress, in its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections pledged to carry out a census across the nation to identify and assess various castes, sub-castes, and their socio-economic status. Additionally, they proposed amending the Constitution to lift the 50 per cent limit on reservations for marginalized communities, including scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes. Further, slamming the opposition alliance, Yogi Adityanath said, "Neither can they provide you security, nor can provide respect to the country, neither can they benefit the poor, nor do they respect your faith, then why would you even elect them?" Uttar Pradesh is gearing up for another round of voting as the third phase of the ongoing general elections approaches. Scheduled for May 7, this phase will see ten Lok Sabha constituencies heading to the polls. These include Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Bareilly, and Aonla. —ANI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday hit out at the Congress and Samajwadi party's alliance in UP

'They Will Divide People...': Yogi Adityanath Slams Congress' Caste Census Proposal

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday expressed grief at the demise of the state's Forest Development Corporation Chairman and former Champawat MLA Kailash Gahtori and paid his humble tributes to the latter saying that his life in public service will always be remembered. Taking to his social media handle, Chief Minister Dhami remembered the former MLA as a 'dear friend and elder brother' and said that his passing away is a personal loss for him and the state. "I am shocked to hear the sad news of the demise of the Forest Development Corporation Chairman, former MLA, dear friend and elder brother Kailash Gahtori ji. His departure is a personal loss for me as well as the organization and the state. I am unable to express this immense pain in words. Kailash ji spent your entire life in public service and will always be remembered as an ideal public representative," posted the Chief Minister on X. Lauding the leader's efforts towards the development of the Champawat region, CM Dhami said, "As an MLA, your dedication towards the development of the Champawat region is an inspiration for us. The association with you in the field of politics and public service was so intimate and close to the heart that today it is very difficult to believe that you are no longer amongst us." "You will always be remembered as a good friend and elder brother. We will work dedicatedly towards fulfilling your resolutions regarding the development of Champawat. I pray to God to give a place to the noble soul in his feet and provide strength to the grief-stricken family to bear this immense pain. Humble tribute!" read the post further. Speaking to ANI, CM Dhami said, "This is a big loss. He was a simple and easygoing person who served the people. Besides his government service, he was always there for the people personally. He has a huge contribution to the development of the Champawat Assembly. "We will take forward his good deeds. I have received affection and immense support from him as a friend and elder brother. Whenever I met him, he would discuss the development of Champawat. I am working dedicatedly to make his dreams of Champawat's development come true and this is our true tribute to him," he added. Former Uttarakhand BJP MLA and Chairman of the state Forest Development Corporation Kailash Chandra Gahtori died at a hospital in Dehradun on Friday, after a prolonged illness. Besides CM Dhami, BJP State President Mahendra Bhatt, BJP candidate from Nainital Udham Singh Nagar Lok Sabha seat Ajay Bhatt, BJP candidate from Almora-Pithoragarh Lok Sabha seat Ajay Tamta as well as Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya have also expressed grief over the demise of Kailash Gahtori. —ANI

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday expressed grief at the demise of the state's Forest Development Corporation Chairman

Uttarakhand CM Dhami Expresses Grief At Demise Of Former Champawat MLA Kailash Gahtori

Dehradun: The administration has instructed the owners of hotels and shops on the Chardham Yatra route to strictly follow the food safety standards. Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration Dr R Rajesh Kumar said that if the safety standards are ignored, the hotel owner and shopkeepers will be punished. Apart from this, the food officers of that area can also be punished. "The action will be taken against the hotel operators who play with the health of the pilgrims. I have instructed the officials to implement the action plan in this regard," Kumar said. The Medical Health and Medical Education Secretary has ordered the concerned officials of all the districts in this regard to ensure the quality of the food items being sold on the Chardham Yatra route. Under this, the food businessman will display the prescribed food safety display board at his establishment as per the rules. It has been said in the order that there should be cleanliness in the dhabas. "Stale and open food items should not be sold. Apart from this, instructions have also been given to ensure that the health of the employees working in the dhabas is regularly checked and their medical certificates are available," the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration said. He also said that the State Food and Drug Analysis Laboratory Rudrapur has been ordered to test the samples collected from the Chardham Yatra on priority. "The test report of the samples will be made available every week. After which strict action will be taken against those found guilty," he added. —ANI

The administration has instructed the owners of hotels and shops on the Chardham Yatra route to strictly follow the food safety standards

Uttarakhand: Food Safety Standards To Be Strictly Followed On Chardham Route

Mumbai (Maharashtra): Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam along with his wife and daughter on Friday joined Shiv Sena, in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai. Earlier today, highlighting it as a 'ghar wapasi', after a span of two decades, Nirupam said, "I have taken a decision to join Shiv Sena today."
This comes after Sanjay Nirupam was expelled from the Congress for "indiscipline" and "anti-party statements," Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said in a statement. "Taking note of the complaints of indiscipline and anti-party statements, the Hon'ble Congress President has approved the expulsion of Shri Sanjay Nirupam from the party for six years with immediate effect," Venugopal said in the statement. The action was taken for his remarks against INDIA block partner, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) amid seat-sharing talks for the Lok Sabha election.  After the expulsion, Nirupam claimed that the disciplinary action against him came following his resignation from the party's primary membership. The party's decision comes after Nirupam was removed from the list of star campaigners for the Congress party in the Lok Sabha general elections 2024. Sanjay Nirupam was keen to contest from the Mumbai North West seat but after the seat-sharing, the seat went to Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Amot Kirtikar. Nirpuam, who had represented Mumbai North in 2009 in the Lok Sabha, said that the decision of the Shiv Sena to field candidates in Mumbai was meant to sideline the Congress. Notably, the state of Maharashtra with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the lower house of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 18 seats. The undivided NCP, part of the opposition alliance, contested 19 seats and won four.
—ANI

Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam joins Shiv Sena after expulsion, altering Maharashtra political dynamics ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

Mumbai: Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam joins Shiv Sena along with his wife, daughter

Akola: Six persons, including two infants, were killed and three seriously injured in a collision between two cars in Maharashtra’s Akola district on Friday, the police said.
The victims also include relatives of Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Kiran Sarnaik, who represents the Amravati Teacher constituency, they said.  The accident took place on a flyover on the Akola-Washim highway near Patur Ghat in the afternoon, an official said.
Raghuveer Sarnaik (28), who was the MLC’s nephew, his sister and three of their relatives were going towards Akola in an SUV, while four persons were travelling in another car in the opposite direction when the accident took place, the official said.  Of the five relatives of the MLC, three were killed and two injured. The accident also claimed the lives of three occupants of the other car and left one injured, the official said.  A 9-month-old child, identified as Asmira Ajinkya Amle, and a one-year-old baby were among those killed, the official said.  The three injured persons have been admitted to the Government Medical College in Akola, while the bodies of the deceased have been sent to Akol Rural Hospital for autopsy, he added.
—PTI

Tragic road accident in Maharashtra’s Akola district kills six, including two infants and relatives of MLC Kiran Sarnaik. Three others seriously injured.

Two infants among six killed, three injured as two cars collide in Maharashtra’s Akola district

Kolkata: Around 1,000 young teachers, who were rendered jobless following a recent ruling by the Calcutta High Court, staged a demonstration outside the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) office here on Friday to express their grievances.
The teachers said they were part of the 26,000 candidates who appeared for the SSC 2016 test, a recruitment process deemed null and void by the high court in its recent verdict.  Police personnel from the RAF and Bidhannagar police commissionerate intervened, halting the demonstrators near the commission's head office at Karunamoyee. Approximately, 100 protesters were briefly detained for obstructing the road, a police official said.  SSC chairman Siddhartha Majumder told PTI that he met about 10 representatives from the protesters, explaining the legal constraints faced by the commission.
He expressed sympathy towards deserving candidates and assured them that the commission would do whatever possible within the legal framework to assist them.  "I have told them we are sympathetic to the deserving candidates. The commission will certainly do whatever is possible, as per the legal framework, to help them," he said.  However, he highlighted that the commission's actions were restricted as the matter was now sub-judice.  Responding to queries regarding demands for the release of answer sheets in the public domain, Majumder clarified that the commission couldn't even disclose candidates' results, as the entire issue was sub-judice.  The SSC had earlier said while results of around 20,000 candidates were not suspicious, there are anomalies in the results of over 5000 and it had been brought to the notice of the court in past submissions.
—PTI

Jobless teachers protest at West Bengal SSC office after High Court nullifies SSC 2016 test, demanding transparency and justice amid legal challenges.

Jobless teachers stage protest in West Bengal, SSC chief says commission will try to help deserving ones

Kolkata: A day after a contractual employee of the Raj Bhavan accused him of molesting her, West Bengal Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose on Friday said that he expects more such allegations are 'in the offing'.
Describing the allegations as 'absurd drama', Bose, in an apparent reference to the ruling Trinamool Congress, said that none would be able to deter him from his 'determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence'.  The ruling Trinamool Congress on Friday said that the party has no role in this and demanded an impartial inquiry into the allegation to ascertain the truth.  In a recorded statement released by Raj Bhavan, Bose said, 'I welcome all the generous allegations and the frequent innuendoes passed on me by some political forces. I understand, my friends, there is more in the offing. But one thing is clear, none of the absurd dramas is going to deter me from my determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence.' Claiming that character assassination is the last resort of a 'failing malevolence', Bose said, "A more sinister plot has been hatched in the Raj Bhavan."
Bose mocked the allegations saying that one day he would also be blamed for the Bengal Feminine of 1943 as well as the '1946 Calcutta Killings'.  “That is the nature of the political forces working in the state," he said.  The Governor said he was briefed about what he can expect in Bengal from certain political parties.  "I have braved many storms. I tell the political party that is plotting against me, this is no storm. This is only a storm in a teacup. Do not be surprised if you realise I am the storm. Bring out all the weapons from your armoury. Use it against me. I am willing. I am prepared. I shall continue my fight for the dignity and respect of my brothers and sisters of Bengal," he stated.  Bose had on Thursday said he would not be cowed down by 'engineered narratives' and the 'truth shall triumph' after TMC leaders claimed that a woman working at Raj Bhavan levelled allegations of molestation against him.  His statement came after senior TMC leaders claimed in a series of social media posts that the woman, who had levelled the allegations, has been taken to a police station to complain against Bose.  Police officials said they received a complaint and are looking into it.  Senior TMC leader and industry minister Shashi Panja on Friday said that the party has no agenda and no role behind this.  She said the alleged incident of molestation was shocking and hard to believe that this had happened inside Raj Bhavan.  "Such an allegation against a governor never happened before. This has certainly demeaned the prestige of the chair of the governor. We demand that an impartial inquiry should be done," Panja told reporters.  She said that the same governor had gone to Sandeshkhali and listened to the allegations made by women of the region regarding sexual harassment they were subjected to by local TMC leaders.  "Now the same person is facing a similar allegation made by a woman employee of Raj Bhavan. The governor is in the same boat then," she said.  Questioning this immunity granted to governors by the Constitution, Panja said, 'What the (Bengal) governor allegedly committed is a crime. Then why this immunity? The law cannot be different'.  Under Art 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a governor during his term in office.  Panja also questioned how a governor can bar a lady minister from going to Raj Bhavan.  Bose had given orders after the allegations surfaced that state finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya would not be allowed to enter Raj Bhavan.  She said, "How can the governor do this? How can he be so sure that we women ministers are willing to go to Raj Bhavan after these allegations came to the fore?"
—ANI

Amidst allegations of molestation by a Raj Bhavan employee, West Bengal Governor Dr. C V Ananda Bose denies involvement, citing political motives aimed at derailing his anti-corruption efforts.

Accused of molesting woman, Bengal Guv says he expects more allegations; TMC demands probe

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was on Friday placed under house arrest and not allowed to offer congregational prayers at the Jamia Masjid here, the managing body of the grand mosque said.
In a statement, Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid said its president 'has been again placed under house arrest at his residence this morning by the authorities'.  "He was not allowed to address the faithful at the Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, nor offer obligatory Friday prayers," the statement said.  The Auqaf expressed dismay at Mirwaiz's 'repeated house detention.'
—PTI

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, leader of Hurriyat Conference, put under house arrest again, barred from leading prayers at Jamia Masjid.

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq placed under house arrest

Birbhum (West Bengal): Referring to the West Bengal teachers' recruitment scam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked Trinamool Congress and said that he would not "spare" those people who played with the future of your children adding that this is "Modi's guarantee." Addressing a public rally in Bolpur in West Bengal, PM Modi bowed before all the mothers and sisters who had come here today for the rally.
"Today, I am seeing a different atmosphere here...I am here to seek your blessings. In 2014, you elected Modi not only to run the government or to show the power of the PM post. You elected me for the achievements of big targets," PM Modi said. Mentioning the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam, the Prime Minister said those who have caused distress among the youth must be punished. "TMC is jeopardizing the future of your children by orchestrating a scam in teacher recruitment. Over 25,000 teachers were dismissed by the court. Those who played with the future of your children should not be spared! West Bengal teacher recruitment scam reveals the true character of TMC leaders. I will not spare those who looted the people of Bengal, this is Modi's guarantee. I have requested the BJP Bengal to establish a legal cell and a social media platform to assist the youth who fell victim to this scam, those who became teachers based on their merit. I assure the youth of Bengal that those who have caused you distress will be punished," the PM said.  PM Modi further asserted that TMC and Congress are only worried about their vote bank, therefore, they are spreading rumours regarding CAA which is meant to assist people who are left in the neighbouring country during partition. "TMC and Congress are not concerned about your future; they only care about their vote bank. They don't want us to provide justice to the communities that were left stranded after partition. They are spreading rumours about CAA, which is actually meant to aid the people, he added. PM Modi termed the TMC government "undemocratic" by controlling all the institutions in the state and said that one can only "speculate how many more Sandeshkalis are concealed in Bengal". "Over the decades, West Bengal has endured a politics of violence. TMC has provided refuge to non-state actors and permitted them to commit atrocities against the people. TMC exerts complete control over the treasury, hospitals, and law and order. We can only speculate how many more Sandeshkalis are concealed in Bengal. TMC is digging the grave of democracy!" he said. He further said that in their 10 years of governance, the INDIA bloc leaders did nothing but "scams and corruption."  "In 2004, the people of the country gave a chance to the INDI alliance; but what did they do? The INDI alliance, in its 10 years of rule, did scams worth lakhs of crores. When the country had to expand its telecom network, they did 2G scams, when the country had to strengthen its forces, they did submarine and helicopter scams. When the country had to dominate the world of sports, they did a Commonwealth scam. TMC is also on the same path, they are doing scams in unthinkable ways... Ration scam, recruitment scam, coal scam, animal trafficking scam, and all scams were worth hundreds of crores," the PM said while recalling the scams done by the INDIA bloc leaders during their regime. "I want to ask you, can the INDI alliance, which works on the thought process of the past century, even think about the future? These people couldn't introduce a new education policy in three decades," PM Modi said. Prime Minister Modi further expressed gratitude to a young girl who brought him his sketch in the state. PM asked the volunteers to get the sketch from her and asked her to write down her address too so that he could write her a letter thanking her for the same. The West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) teacher recruitment scam came into light after the arrest of Bengal BJP leader Partha Chatterjee, a Trinamool Congress leader who served as the education minister in Mamata Banerjee's cabinet until his arrest on 23 July, 2022. Polling for the remaining parliamentary seats will be held on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The results will be announced on June 4. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP had to settle for just 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, while the Congress bagged 4. However, the BJP came up with a much-improved showing in the 2019 polls, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left scored a blank.
—ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses West Bengal teacher recruitment scam, accuses TMC, vows justice. Warns against CAA rumors.

"Will not spare those who played with future of your children": PM Modi attacks TMC in Birbhum

Amethi, Uttar Pradesh: Union minister Smriti Irani Friday said that the Gandhis' absence from the electoral fray in Amethi indicates that the Congress has already accepted its defeat.
"Gandhi family not being present in the election fray in Amethi indicates that Congress party has accepted its defeat in Amethi even before the polling on the seat," Irani, the sitting MP from Amethi, told reporters here.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/rahul-gandhi-files-nomination-from-up's-raebareli" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/rahul-gandhi-files-nomination-from-up's-raebareli</a>&nbsp;
She made the remarks responding to Congress loyalist K L Sharma filing his nomination from the seat.  "Had they felt that there was any chance of victory on the seat, they would have contested from here and not fielded their proxy," the BJP leader said, referring to the Gandhi family.
—PTI

Union Minister Smriti Irani declares Congress' defeat in Amethi as the Gandhis skip the 2024 elections, hinting at lack of confidence in winning the seat.

Congress has already accepted defeat: Smriti Irani on Amethi nomination filing

Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli Lok Sabha constituency on Friday. Rahul was accompanied by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and her husband and businessman Robert Vadra.
Earlier in the day, Congress announced Rahul Gandhi as the party candidate from Raebareli, the seat vacated recently by his mother Sonia Gandhi when she became a member of Rajya Sabha.
Rahul is pitted against Congress defector and three-time MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh in Raebareli. A sitting MP from Kerala's Wayanad, Rahul is also seeking a fresh term in the Lower House from the seat that polled in Phase 2 of the general elections on April 26. Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/mass-rapist-was-endorsed-by-pm-modi:-congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-on-prajwal-revanna's-'obscene-video'-case" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/mass-rapist-was-endorsed-by-pm-modi:-congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-on-prajwal-revanna's-'obscene-video'-case</a>&nbsp;
Earlier, Union Minister Smriti Irani said that Congress had conceded defeat from the constituency even before a vote was cast, adding that the opposition party would not have fielded a "proxy candidate" (Kishori Lal Sharma) if they were hopeful about the outcome of the polls. "I welcome the guests to Amethi. The fact that the Gandhis are not fighting in Amethi shows that even before a vote has been cast, they are losing from Amethi. If they had seen even a glimmer of hope, they would have contested and not put up a proxy candidate," Smriti Irani told reporters in Amethi.
Smriti Irani said that Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Raebareli is a "victory" for the people in Amethi. "There has been great development in Amethi...if this much has been accomplished in 5 years out of which two years were lost to the battle against Covid, then why was it not done for 50 years in Amethi by the Gandhi family? I want to assure the people of Amethi that the Modi government will return, and we will continue to work for people here, with development being the centre of our focus. Today before a vote has been cast, history has been made. I am grateful to the people of Amethi. Today is the victory of the people of Amethi," Irani said. Irani recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks about "Congress waiting for elections to conclude in Kerala" so that a safe seat could be announced for Rahul Gandhi later. "PM Modi had already warned the public that Rahul Gandhi will look for a new seat once voting concludes in Wayanad. Congress leadership is going away from the battlefield," she said. In Amethi, the Congress will be represented by Kishori Lal Sharma, a longtime loyalist of the Gandhi family. Kishori Lal Sharma filed his nomination from the Amethi seat earlier in the day. The voting in both seats will be held in the fifth phase of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections on May 7. Polling for 25 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on May 7, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4.
—ANI

Rahul Gandhi contests from Raebareli, facing Congress defector Dinesh Singh. Smriti Irani declares Amethi's shift historic ahead of Lok Sabha polls on May 7.

Rahul Gandhi files nomination from UP's Raebareli

Dehradun: Authorities in Dehradun have launched an investigation into a fabricated video involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah that is being circulated on social media with the alleged intent to incite animosity between communities and influence the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, said an official. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun Ajay Singh said that a social media handle named Urban Pahadi is responsible for distributing the misleading video. The clip, based on distorted facts, is believed to be aimed at creating discord among different groups and gaining an electoral advantage. Upon discovering the video, the SSP alerted the district's social media monitoring and cyber cell teams to identify and take action against the operator of the Urban Pahadi account. During preliminary investigations, the Cyber Cell Dehradun determined that the misleading content had spread widely, prompting a formal complaint at Kotwali Nagar by Inspector Manoj Mainwal, the Cyber Cell's in-charge. Subsequently, a case has been registered against the operator of the Urban Pahadi social media account under crime number 221/24, invoking sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, as well as sections 153A, 171F, 469, 505, and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code. These charges relate to identity theft, impersonation, promoting enmity between groups, and disrupting electoral processes. Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi Police showed dissatisfaction over Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's reply in connection to Amit Shah's fake video case. Earlier on May 2, a reply was filed by CM Telangana through his counsel. While speaking to ANI, Advocate Soumya Gupta said that she had received a notice under CrPC 91 in which it was asked from which source the video was. "Our short reply was that it was not his account and the Twitter handle which he runs has been provided to them. Besides, it has also been written in the reply that the video was neither tweeted nor retweeted by the CM who runs the Twitter handle," she added. According to Delhi Police sources, the investigation is not satisfied with the reply given by CM Telangana. Sources stated that if the video has been tweeted from the Twitter handle of INC Telangana, then the State President is also responsible for it, at present his lawyer is at the Delhi Police IFSO Unit.Sources further added that another notice can also be given to the CM soon. Apart from this, if Delhi Police is not satisfied with the answers given by CM Revanth Reddy in future, then strict action will be taken. According to Delhi Police sources, the IFSO unit team of Delhi Police is also technically investigating this matter, Delhi Police aim to reach the person who edited Amit Shah's video and made it viral first. The investigation conducted till now has found some leads that prove from where the video started going viral, however, work on those leads is ongoing. Apart from this, Delhi Police is also continuously receiving replies from some other people to whom notices were sent. In this case, notices were sent to 20 to 25 people, whose replies the police were getting. Further investigation is underway. As per the Delhi police sources, the Delhi Police team is currently present in Telangana, action will be taken as soon as they get orders from the national capital. —ANI

Authorities in Dehradun have launched an investigation into a fabricated video involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Dehradun Police Books Social Media User In Amit Shah 'Deepfake' Video Case

Dehradun: Expressing strong displeasure over not receiving an action plan from districts regarding the revival of water sources, streams and rivers in Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has given a one-week deadline to District Magistrates in this regard. Considering the seriousness of the matter, CS has directed the District Magistrates to immediately deploy a full-time dedicated Jalgam Nodal Officer in the district for this work. The Chief Secretary has also directed the District Magistrates to immediately hold a meeting of the District Level Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARRA) within three days. She has directed to prominently connect the Chief Development Officer with this campaign. The Chief Secretary directed the Additional Chief Secretary of Finance to issue a letter to hold a meeting regarding funding utilisation for the revival of water sources and rivers from various means such as MNREGA, NABARD, CAMPA, and PMKSY. Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, in a meeting held at the Secretariat on Wednesday, has directed the concerned officers to work on a Holistic and Integrated instead of a district-wise plan for the revival of water sources, rivers, tributaries, and streams of the state. In an important meeting regarding water conservation in the state, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi directed the District Magistrates to identify 10 critical drying springs in each block and 20 critical drying water streams/tributaries in the district under Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan 2024. Along with this, she has directed to make a plan for the revival of one river in each district under the long-term plan. The Chief Secretary has also directed to work on the action plan for the identification and revival of dried ponds in the plain districts. It is noteworthy that under the Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan 2024, under the targets for water conservation work at the village level, it has been stated that usually, 2 to 3 water sources are available in hilly villages. Targeting the restoration of these water sources, contour trenches and recharge pits can be constructed in the water supply areas of these sources. Groundwater can be recharged through raw ponds, check dams and recharge pits in the plain villages. Chal-Khal can be constructed in forest areas and pasture areas near the villages. Along with this, under the Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan 2024, it has been stated in the targets for the treatment of critical water sources at the development block level that for the identification of critical water sources, such as drinking water schemes identified by the drinking water department and Jal Sansthan in which excessive reduction in water flow is being observed, can be planned for treatment and the process of implementation can be started. The process of implementation can be started by preparing a plan for the recharge areas of the aquifers identified in the 4 plain districts by the Central Ground Water Board. 145 Critical water sources have been identified for treatment by the Drinking Water Department and Jal Sansthan Department. —ANI

Expressing strong displeasure over not receiving an action plan from districts regarding the revival of water sources

Uttarakhand: Key Meeting Held For Revival Of Water Sources

Indore: The Congress, ejected from the contest after its Indore candidate joined the BJP, is appealing to voters to press the ‘None Of The Above’ (NOTA) option, a move slammed by the ruling party as a negative tactics.
Akshay Kanti Bam, who had been pitted against BJP’s sitting MP Shankar Lalwani, shocked the grand old party on Monday, which was the last day for withdrawal of nomination, after he pulled out of the race and switched over to the saffron party.
The Indore constituency in Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on May 13 in the fourth phase of the general elections.  “Voters of Indore had delivered a huge victory to the BJP in the last municipal and assembly elections. In spite of it, the saffron party murdered democracy by unfairly luring Bam. Voters must give a befitting reply to BJP by hitting NOTA,” senior Congress leader Shobha Ojha told PTI on Thursday.  MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari had said on Tuesday that his party won't support any candidate, adding that voters had NOTA option to punish the BJP.  Congress leaders’ 'instigation' of voters to use NOTA shows that the main opposition party is resorting to 'negative tactics' in the festival of democracy, said Lalwani.  The BJP has been on a winning streak in MP’s commercial capital for the last 35 years.  Indore, the largest constituency in the state in terms of electorates, has 25.13 lakh eligible voters. BJP leaders have claimed that the party is aiming to win the Indore seat by a margin of 8 lakh votes this time.  During the 2019 elections, Lalwani defeated Congress’ Pankaj Sanghvi by 5.48 lakh votes. NOTA had polled 5,045 votes then.  After the withdrawal of nominations, 14 candidates, including nine independents, are left in the fray in Indore.  “The option of NOTA is not good for democracy. Voters must choose one of the candidates,” said Abhay Jain, who is contesting as an independent.  Jain heads the Janhit Party, formed by former RSS workers. The party is yet to be recognised by the Election Commission. Janhit Party is promising to “free Indore of drugs and money and muscle politics”.
—PTI

Indore elections heat up as Congress faces a setback with candidate switching to BJP. Congress urges NOTA, BJP cries foul.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Sans Indore candidate, Congress urges voters to hit NOTA

Yadgir (Karnataka): Huts caught fire after a gas cylinder blast in Karnataka's Yadgir district on Thursday, according to an official.
Firefighting vehicles reached the spot and doused the fire.
No casualty or injury was reported.
—ANI

Gas cylinder blast ignites fire in Yadgir district, Karnataka. Quick firefighting response prevents casualties.

Karnataka: Huts catch fire after cylinder blast in Yadgir

Shivamogga (Karnataka): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for endorsing JD (S) candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha Constituency Prajwal Revanna who is now accused in an alleged sexual harassment case. As the JD (S) and its Karnataka ally BJP try to evade the controversy surrounding Prajwal Revanna, the Congress leader have left no stones unturned to target the BJP and the JD (S).
"The biggest issue here is the Revanna case, the person who has mass raped 400 women and he was endorsed by PM Modi. First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer and apologize to the women," said Rahul Gandhi during a public meeting in Shivamogga. He said that the PM Modi should answer and apologize to the women of Karnataka.  "Prime Minister Modi will have to apologize to every sister of Karnataka and the nation. What Prajwal Revanna did is called as 'rape', it's not a sex scandal but a mass rape. And, Narendra Modi asked votes for this 'mass rapist', he is telling Karnataka that if they vote for that mass rapist, he will be benefitted. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi was asking for votes, he knew what Prajwal Revanna has done", Rahul Gandhi said. Meanwhile, Hassan MP and Former Prime Minister HD Dewe Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna has been suspended from the Janata Dal (Secular) over his alleged involvement in the 'obscene videos' case.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ex-driver-who-leaked-prajwal-revanna's-'sexual-abuse'-videos-is-in-malaysia-alleges-h-d-kumaraswamy" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/ex-driver-who-leaked-prajwal-revanna's-'sexual-abuse'-videos-is-in-malaysia-alleges-h-d-kumaraswamy</a>&nbsp;
A decision in this regard was taken at the party's core committee meeting on Tuesday. The committee recommended the suspension of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing an SIT probe in connection with an alleged obscene video case. A day after Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna sought time to appear before the special investigation team (SIT) in connection with the alleged 'obscene video' case, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara hinted at the possibility of an arrest of the JD(S) legislator if he fails to appear for questioning. The Karnataka Home Minister while speaking to the media on Thursday said that a look-out notice has been issued in the case.
"Look out notice has been issued. It has been informed that he (Prajwal Revanna) has to appear before the SIT. They (HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna) have to appear as notice is given. If they don't appear, they will be arrested," Parmeshwara said. The development comes a day after Prajwal Revanna sought more time to appear before the investigation team. "As I am not in Bangalore to attend the inquiry, I have communicated to CID, Bangalore, through my advocate. The truth will prevail soon," he said in the post on Wednesday.  A political row has erupted over the case pertaining to Prajwal Revanna and his "having left the country" and claims of some opposition parties that he had gone to Germany. Revanna was booked in an alleged sexual harassment case on April 28 following complaints by his former housekeeper. The case has been registered under sections 354A, 354D, 506, and 509 of the IPC on charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging the dignity of a woman. As per the complaint, the victim has claimed that Prajwal Revanna and his father HD Revanna had sexually assaulted her. Revanna is the grandson of party supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. His father, HD Revanna, who is also an accused in the case, said, "I came to know that notice has been put; I'm ready to face anything; I'm ready to face SIT." Notably, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Modi, requesting him to direct the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs to cancel the diplomatic passport issued to Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna and ensure his return to face the law. The Karnataka government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged obscene video case against Prajwal Revanna.
—ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accuses PM Modi of endorsing JD(S) candidate Prajwal Revanna, facing serious allegations, demanding an apology to Karnataka's women.

Mass rapist was endorsed by PM Modi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Prajwal Revanna's 'obscene video' case

Bengaluru: Prajwal Revanna's former car driver, who released a video statement from an undisclosed location regarding the sex scandal video clips involving the Hassan JD(S) MP, is currently in Malaysia, former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said, questioning the motive behind such a move.
The driver Karthik, in the video statement released on Tuesday, said he had not given the video and pictures, allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna to anyone else other than BJP leader Devaraje Gowda.  The JD(S) state unit president, who has been accusing Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar for the release of explicit video clips involving Prajwal Revanna, also hinted at the possibility of Shivakumar and his brother and Congress MP D K Suresh playing a role in the driver Karthik travelling to Malaysia.  "The driver's video statement was released...where is he, Karthik? From where it was done (video statement) and released? Why was the video hurriedly made and given to news channels? Who gave it? He is in Malaysia," Kumaraswamy said, as he targeted "DK'' brothers -- Shivakumar and Suresh -- for accusing him of releasing explicit video clips.
"Who sent Karthik to Malaysia? What is the need for video to be sent from there?" he asked, speaking to reporters on Wednesday.  Sarcastically reacting to Kumaraswamy, Shivakumar on Thursday said, "Is it so? Did my brother (referring to Kumaraswamy) say so? If my brother has said, my brother knows all the information. Let him take information from the centre -- who has sent (video), who has done all those things. Am I mad? I will fight on the street, but not by sending someone somewhere. I need not do such things, he (Kumaraswamy) may be in need to do such things."  "That boy (Karthik) has said he gave (a pen drive containing explicit video clips ) to BJP's Devaraje Gowda. The advocate (Devraje Gowda) has said, he has regards for Kumaranna (Kumaraswamy) and Gowda (Deve Gowda), and he had met him and informed (Kumaraswamy about clips). Who released the explicit clips is a different matter, let's discuss it later, I'm ready for it. Let's not deviate now (from the scandal)," he added.  The 33-year-old Prajwal Revanna is the son of H D Deve Gowda's elder son, H D Revanna, who is an MLA and a former Minister. Prajwal was the BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan, which went to the polls on April 26.  Explicit video clips allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna had started making the rounds in Hassan in recent days. The Congress government in Karnataka has constituted a SIT to probe the alleged sex scandal involving the MP.  In the video statement, Kartik said: "I don't know if Devaraje Gowda used it for his selfish motives. I do not know who distributed the pen drives (containing explicit video clips). They are levelling allegations against me. I will disclose everything in detail before the SIT."  Devaraje Gowda had contested for Holenarasipur Assembly seat, against Prajwal's father H D Revanna, during the 2023 Assembly elections,  Rejecting the charges, Devaraje Gowda has said that Karthik had been hanging around with the Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Hassan constituency, Shreyas Patel, and they have released the video for the ruling party's political benefit.  He said that neither the JD(S) nor the BJP would release the videos as it would go against the NDA alliance's candidate.
—PTI

Former car driver in Prajwal Revanna sex scandal video case flees to Malaysia. Kumaraswamy suspects political motives behind the move.

Ex-driver, who leaked Prajwal Revanna's 'sexual abuse' videos, is in Malaysia, alleges H D Kumaraswamy

Kaiserganj (Uttar Pradesh): Putting an end to all the speculations around Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj seat, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday declared former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's son Karan Bhushan Singh as its candidate from the seat for the Lok Sabha elections. The Kaiserganj constituency is currently held by BJP's Brij Bhushan Singh, who is a three-time MP from the seat. He, however, has not been given ticket this time.
The seat had become a point of pondering for the BJP after Brij Bhushan was accused of sexual harassment of female wrestlers. This sparked massive protests by several athletes including Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat.  The Delhi Police filed chargesheet in connection with the case against the former WFI chief in June last year. The BJP also announced the candidature of Dinesh Pratap Singh from the Rae Bareli constituency. Singh had also contested the polls from the same seat against Sonia Gandhi in 2019 and BJP has affirmed confidence on him. Rae Bareli seat has been a Gandhi family's stronghold. Congress' former chairperson Sonia Gandhi retained the seat in 2019. She, however, won't contest this time as she has been nominated to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.  Meanwhile, the suspense on Amethi and Rae Bareli -- two Congress strongholds continues as Congress hasn't announced its candidates for both seats. In 2019, BJP's Smriti Irani ended Congress' stint from the seat by defeating Rahul Gandhi from Amethi. BJP had announced its candidates for most of the seats in UP, but the announcement for the Kaiserganj constituency was awaited. Both Kaiserganj and Rae Bareli will vote on May 20 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. In the 2019 election, Brij Bhushan defeated BSP's Chandradev Ram Yadav from a margin of over 2.5 lakh votes.
—ANI

BJP announces Karan Bhushan as Kaiserganj candidate and Dinesh Pratap Singh for Rae Bareli in UP, amid major shifts and ongoing election dynamics.

BJP fields Brij Bhushan's son Karan from UP's Kaiserganj seat for Lok Sabha polls

Bareilly: After being released from the Bareilly jail after the Allahabad High Court granted bail to former MP Dhananjay Singh bail in a 2020 kidnapping and extortion case, Singh said that he would now campaign for his wife Shrikala Singh, who is contesting from Jaunpur on a BSP ticket, so that she emerges victorious in the elections. After being released, Dhananjay Singh while speaking with the reporters said, "A fake case was registered against me in 2020. There was a case of corruption in Namami Gange... I will go directly to my region Jaunpur. My best wishes to her (his wife) that she contests and wins the elections..." A two-time MLA, Singh had won the Jaunpur Lok Sabha seat in 2009 on a BSP ticket. However he isn't in the fray this time as on April 27, the Allahabad High Court had refused to postpone the seven-year sentence given to him by the Jaunpur Special Court in the kidnapping case of Namami Gange Project Manager, Abhinav Singhal. Due to the non-stay of sentence, Dhananjay Singh will not be able to contest the Lok Sabha elections. He has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for demanding extortion. He was lodged in Jaunpur jail since the announcement of the sentence. He was later transferred to Bareilly jail. However, the court accepted his application to release him on bail in this case. It is interesting to note that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), in its list of candidates, chose Shrikala Singh, wife of Dhananjay Singh, to run for the elections from the Jaunpur constituency. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Jaunpur seat went to Bahujan Samaj Party. BSP candidate Shyam Singh Yadav, who contested the election under the SP-BSP alliance, had won this seat. Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Kripa Shankar Singh, who was active in Maharashtra politics, from Jaunpur. At the same time, Samajwadi Party has made the contest exciting by fielding Babu Singh Kushwaha. —ANI

After being released from the Bareilly jail after the Allahabad High Court granted bail to former MP Dhananjay Singh bail in a 2020 kidnapping and extortion case

Dhananjay Singh Extends Wishes To His Wife For Elections After Being Released From Jail

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Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi Offer Prayers After He Files Nomination For Raebareli Lok Sabha Seat

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