Dehradun: Forecasting more than normal rainfall in the monsoon this year in Uttarakhand, Director of Dehradun Meteorological Centre Dr Bikram Singh on Thursday advised the state government to start its preparations now. Speaking at a training camp organised here by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) for various departments regarding monsoon preparedness, Singh said that the chances of a ‘higher than normal’ monsoon this year are more than 60 per cent, so all departments should keep this in mind Singh said that the Meteorological Department continuously sends alerts regarding weather-related information and if they are followed, the effects of disasters can be reduced to a great extent and the loss of life and property can also be reduced. —PTI&nbsp;

Forecasting more than normal rainfall in the monsoon this year in Uttarakhand, Director of Dehradun Meteorological Centre Dr Bikram Singh on Thursday

Above Normal Rainfall Expected In This Year’s Monsoon In Uttarakhand

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami appealed to the public on Friday, urging them to prioritize voting in the second phase of the Lok Sabha Election 2024. Dhami emphasized the importance of civic participation in this grand festival of democracy, suggesting that voting should come before any other activities. In a post on X, Dhami said, "First vote, then refreshment (First vote, then refreshment)," underscores the idea that voting is a priority above all else. Highlighting the significance of each vote Dhami said, "I humbly request the God-like public to take part in the second phase of voting for the Lok Sabha Election 2024 and exercise their right to vote in this grand festival of democracy." "Your single vote will play a crucial role in building a strong, capable, and powerful India," the tweet added. Earlier after the completion of the first phase of the Lok Sabha election on April 19, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday that the Bharatiya Janata Party will register victory on all five seats with a good margin. As many as 55 candidates across political affiliations pitted themselves in the battle for the Lok Sabha in Uttarakhand, with more than 83 lakh registered voters adjudicating their fates. Uttarakhand went to the polls for all five seats in a single phase. The BJP, which recorded a clean sweep in the hill state in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, is bidding for an encore this year, while the Congress is hopeful of reclaiming lost political ground in the state. While winning all five Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2014 and 2019 elections, the BJP topped the tally in the 2022 assembly elections, winning 47 of the 70 seats. The Congress finished a distant second at 19 seats, while the BSP and the Independents bagged 2 seats each. Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 concluded on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies spread over 21 states and Union Territories. The second phase has begun today from 7 AM and will last till 6 PM be held today. The results of the seven-phase polls will be announced on June 4. The third phase will be held on May 7 and the remaining phases on May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1 accordingly. The last general elections in 2019 were also held in seven phases. —ANI

 Dhami appealed to the public on Friday, urging them to prioritize voting in the second phase of the Lok Sabha Election 2024

'Pehle Matdaan, Phir Jalpaan..' Urges Uttarakhand CM As Second Phase Of LS Election Get Underway

Kannauj: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday filed his nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj Lok Sabha seat. Samajwadi Party MP Ramgopal Yadav accompanied Akhilesh while filing his nomination. Akhilesh Yadav served as Lok Sabha MP from 2000-2012. He resigned from the Kannauj parliamentary seat in 2012 after he became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. In 2017, his party was unable to form a government in UP and he submitted his resignation to the Governor. He was elected Lok Sabha MP in 2019 and went on to be elected to the UP Assembly in 2022. Following the UP Assembly polls, Yadav resigned as Lok Sabha MP and retained his state assembly seat. Voting on the Kannauj seat will be held in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 13. Earlier, the party declared Tej Pratap Yadav, Akhilesh's nephew and son-in-law of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, as its candidate. As per the seat agreement between the Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh, Congress is contesting on 17 seats and the Samajwadi Party has the remaining 63 seats in the electorally crucial state. Earlier today, Shivpal Singh Yadav exuded confidence in Akhilesh's victory from the Kannauj seat. "He (Akhilesh) will win with a big majority. Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav won that seat (Kannauj). And this time again, Akhilesh Yadav will win. Dimple will win from Mainpuri. Everyone knows that Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) used to fight from here and win," he said. The INDIA bloc has recieved another shot in the arm with sources saying that the Gandhi siblings Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi will also enter the electoral arena in Uttar Pradesh. Priyanka Gandhi is likely to be named candidate from Sonia Gandhi's erstwhile seat Rae Bareli while Rahul Gandhi will once again contest against Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi. In the 2019 general elections, the BJP emerged triumphant, securing 62 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, supplemented by two seats clinched by its ally Apna Dal (S). Mayawati's BSP managed to secure 10 seats, while Akhilesh Yadav's SP garnered five. Conversely, the Congress party secured only one seat. —ANI

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday filed his nomination from Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj Lok Sabha seat

Lok Sabha Polls: SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav Files Nomination From Kannauj Seat

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday criticised the Congress party's proposal for an inheritance tax, accusing them of intending to seize the property of common people. He said that the Congress, which has looted the country for 60-65 years, plans to distribute the proceeds among the Rohingyas as part of their vote bank policy. "The mindset of Congress for the country and the common people of the country was revealed during the UPA government regime and yesterday. There were hints even in the Congress manifesto. What Sam Pitroda said yesterday was advocated for by then Home Minister P Chidambaram too. Congress looted the country's resources for almost 60-65 years. Now, it has its eyes set on common people's property. That is why it is talking about Inheritance tax. It will distribute it among people who are intruders. Who doesn't know that behind the crores of intruders, Rohingyas in different parts of the country is Congress' vote bank policy? They have always done politics at the cost of the nation, inheritance tax is a part of it," he said. "It is good that Congress departed in 2014; otherwise, Congress would have implemented it at that time itself," he added. CM Yogi also criticised the Karnataka government for including all castes and communities of Muslims in the list of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), calling it an attempt to Islamize India and create divisions. He compared it to similar attempts made by the previous government. "Congress' statement is very unfortunate. This is part of the despicable attempts at Islamizing India and pushing it towards divisions. When the UPA government came to power, it made such attempts at that time too...At that time, too, the BJP had carried out a massive agitation. So, be it the Justice Verma Committee Report or the Sachar Committee Report, they were all attempts by Congress to loot the reservation of OBCs, SCs, and STs. PM Modi has drawn the nation's attention towards these issues...You saw the Congress government in Karnataka's stand, where they said that they would provide 32 per cent reservation to Muslims in the state. What is this? The truth is coming out...These show that their intentions towards the country are not good. The country and the public will have to be alert," he said. Uttar Pradesh sends the maximum number of MPs, which is 80, to Parliament. The state will vote in all seven phases of the election. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. —ANI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday criticised the Congress party's proposal for an inheritance tax

Congress Eyeing Common Man's Property After Looting Country For 60 Years: CM Yogi On Inheritance Tax

Dehradun: Congress candidate from Garhwal Lok Sabha seat Ganesh Godiyal on Wednesday condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mangalsutra remark and said that the PM makes such statements that the party is forced to oppose them. "PM Modi's statement is regrettable. He is saying that if Congress comes to power then there will be a danger to 'Mangalsutra'. I want to remind him that till the time Congress was in power, the cost of gold was under Rs 30,000," he said. Lashing out at the centre, he said that today in the 10 years of governance (BJP), gold of Rs 30,000 has reached upto Rs 78,000...and PM is talking like that. "The Congress has made the youth capable of getting gold mangalsutra for their bride during the rule in the country," he added. He further stated that the international community keeps an eye on Indian leaders, especially PM Modi. "Our global image is being impacted," he added. Earlier on Sunday, while addressing a public event in Rajasthan's Banswara, Prime Minister Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and said, "Their Mangalsutra, the question is not of the cost of gold in it, it is linked to her dreams of her life. You are talking of snatching it in your manifesto...will distribute gold and redistribute. When it was their government, they had said that Muslims have the first right over the country's wealth. Who will you distribute after collecting the wealth, distribute it to those who have more children, and distribute it to infiltrators? "The PM further stated, "Will the money of your hard labour be given to infiltrators, is this acceptable to you? Congress manifesto is saying that they will calculate the gold of mothers, and sisters and then redistribute the wealth to those whom the Manmohan Singh government had said that the first right to resources is of Muslims. Brothers, sisters, this thinking of urban Naxals, my mothers, sisters, they will not allow even your Mangalsutra to remain in your possession, they will go to this extent." —ANI

Congress candidate from Garhwal Lok Sabha seat Ganesh Godiyal on Wednesday

Congress' Ganesh Godiyal Calls PM Modi's Mangalsutra Remark 'Regrettable'

Dehradun: Narinder Jit Singh Bindra, Chairman of the Hemkund Sahib Management Trust, met the governor, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) on Thursday and invited him for the Shri Hemkund Sahib Yatra. He invited the Governor to see off the first group of pilgrims being led by the Panj Pyaras from Rishikesh on May 22nd for the auspicious beginning of the Hemkund Sahib Yatra-2024. During the meeting, the Governor received information from Bindra about the preparations for the Hemkund Sahib Yatra and the ongoing construction work on the travel routes. The Governor stated that efforts are made to ensure a smooth and safe journey for the pilgrims, with all necessary facilities available along the travel routes. Bindra informed that preparations for the journey have begun, and widening and improvement of pedestrian paths along the travel routes are being expedited. The Indian Army is clearing snow to make the path convenient for travellers. He mentioned that in Rudraprayag, a modern Dharamshala for 5,000 pilgrims and a hospital for initial medical assistance are being constructed by the Trust, which will provide facilities for pilgrims of the Char Dham Yatra, including Hemkund Sahib. He also mentioned that the Trust is coordinating with the government and administration for better facilities to ensure an uninterrupted and safe journey for the travellers. —ANI

Narinder Jit Singh Bindra, Chairman of the Hemkund Sahib Management Trust, met the governor, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd)

President Of Hemkund Sahib Meets Uttarakhand Governor, Invites Him For Pilgrimage

Dehradun: Preparations for the revered Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand have officially begun with a special focus on improving health services on the Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Dham Yatra routes. The doors for the Gangotri-Yamunotri and Kedarnath Dham will open for the pilgrims on May 10, officially kicking off the Uttarakhand Chardham Yatra 2024. In line with the preparations for the holy pilgrimage, the Uttarakhand Health Department has completed all groundwork to provide better health services to the pilgrims in the Char Dham Yatra. Health Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar informed about the same and assured that pilgrims will be offered better health services this time on the travel routes. The special focus of the Uttarakhand government is to bolster health services on the Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Dham Yatra routes. Giving information about the preparations for the Char Dham Yatra, State Health Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar said that the state government is trying to make the journey smooth and organized in every possible way. He said that the website of the Tourism Department has gone live, in which a column of health parameters has been kept wherein pilgrims will have to fill in complete information related to their health to assist with their treatments at their time of need. The State Health Secretary also said that the hospitals in both the pilgrimage routes have started the process of procuring high-quality equipment for the hospitals in both of the areas. Dr R Rajesh Kumar also said that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared in 11 languages for the Char Dham Yatra. "To make the journey of pilgrims smooth and safe, the Health Department has prepared Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in nine local languages including Gujarati, Marathi, and Telugu along with Hindi, and English, and sent it to other states," he said. He further informed that SOP has been sent to other states. So that the pilgrims coming from other states can follow the health-related guidelines in their languages. Health Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar said that 50 screening points have been made on the Yatra route for the health facility of the pilgrims. Kumar said that these screening points have been kept along with the registration point, wherein 28 parameters of the pilgrims including high blood pressure, and diabetes will be checked. The Char-Dham yatra in Uttarakhand consists of visiting four temples, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. This year, the Char Dham Yatra will begin on May 10, with the opening of three of the four shrines, including Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Kedarnath. The Char Dham Yatra holds profound spiritual significance in Hinduism. This journey typically occurs from April-May to October-November. It is believed that one should complete the Char Dham Yatra in a clockwise direction. Hence, the pilgrimage starts from Yamunotri, proceeds towards Gangotri, onto Kedarnath, and finally ends at Badrinath. —ANI

Preparations for the revered Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand have officially begun with a special focus on improving health services on the Badrinath Dham 

Char Dham Yatra 2024': Devbhoomi To Welcome Pilgrims With Special Emphasis On Medical Care

President Of India Graces Convocation Ceremony Of Officer Trainees Of Indian Forest Service At Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun 
Dehradun (The Hawk): Human society is making the mistake of forgetting the importance of forests. Forests are life givers. The reality is that forests have preserved life on earth, said the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu while addressing the officer trainees of Indian Forest Service (2022 batch) at their convocation ceremony at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun today (April 24, 2024). The President said that today we talk about the Anthropocene Age, which is the period of human-centric development. During this period, disastrous results have emerged along with development. Unsustainable exploitation of resources has brought humanity to a point where the standards of development have to be re-evaluated. She stressed on the importance of understanding that we are not the owners of the earth's resources, but we are trustees. Our priorities should be ecocentric along with anthropocentric. In fact, only by being ecocentric we will be able to be truly anthropocentric, she stated. The President said that in many parts of the world the loss of forest resources has occurred very rapidly. Destruction of forests is in a way - destruction of humanity. It is a well known fact that conservation of earth's biodiversity and natural beauty is a very important task which we have to do very quickly. The President said that human life can be saved from the crisis through conservation and promotion of forests and wildlife. We can repair the damage at a faster pace with the help of Science and Technology. For example, the Miyawaki Method is being adopted in many places. Artificial Intelligence can help in identifying suitable areas for afforestation and area specific tree species. She stated that there is a need to assess various such options and develop solutions suitable to the geographical conditions of India. The President said that the chariot of development has two wheels – tradition and modernity. Today human society is bearing the brunt of many environmental problems. One of the main reasons for this is a special type of modernity, the root of which is the exploitation of nature. Traditional knowledge is neglected in this process. The President said that tribal society has made the eternal laws of nature the basis of their life. People of this society conserve nature. But, under the impulse of unbalanced modernity, some people consider the tribal community and their collective wisdom primitive. Tribal society has no role in climate change but the burden of its ill effects is disproportionately more on them. The President said that it is very important to understand the importance of the knowledge accumulated by tribal society over centuries and use it to improve the environment. She stated that their collective wisdom can help us move forward on an ecologically sustainable, ethically desirable and socially justifiable path. She stressed that we will have to unlearn many misconceptions and relearn from the ideals of a balanced lifestyle of the tribal society. We have to move forward with the spirit of climate justice. The President said that the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries increased the demand for timber and other forest products. New rules, regulations and methods of forest use were adopted to cope with the demand. To implement such rules and regulations, the Imperial Forest Service, the predecessor service of the Indian Forest Service, was formed. The mandate of that service was not to protect the tribal society and forest wealth. Their mandate was to promote the objectives of the British Raj by exploiting India's forest resources to the maximum. Referring to the mass hunting of wild animals during the British period, the President said that when she visits museums where animal skins or severed heads adorn the walls, she feels that those exhibits are telling the story of the decline of human civilization. The President said that she was confident that the officers of the Indian Forest Service had become completely free from the colonial mentality and outlook of the former Imperial Forest Service. She stated that IFS officers not only have to conserve and augment India's natural resources but also use the traditional knowledge in the interest of humanity. They have to protect the forest wealth by synchronizing modernity and tradition and advancing the interests of the people whose life is based on forests. By doing this, they will be able to make a contribution that is truly inclusive and congenial to the environment. The President said that the Indian Forest Service has given many officers to the country who have done unparalleled work for the environment. IFS officers such as Shri P. Srinivas, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Shri S. Manikandan have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. She urged the officer trainees to make such officers their role models and mentors and move forward on the ideals shown by them. The President urged IFS officers to spend time among the tribal people in the field and earn their affection and trust. She said that they should learn from the good practices of the tribal society. She also urged them to take ownership of their responsibilities and become a role model.

Human society is making the mistake of forgetting the importance of forests. Forests are life givers

Human Society Is Making The Mistake Of Forgetting The Importance Of Forests: President Murmu

New Delhi: Anshul Bhatt, who secured 22nd rank in the Civil Services Examination 2023 met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at Uttarakhand Sadan in New Delhi on Monday. Anshul Bhatt is a resident of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The Union Public Service Commission on April 16 announced the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023 results. The written part of the Civil Services Examination, 2023 was held by the UPSC in September 2023 and the interviews for the Personality Test were held in January-April 2024. Aditya Srivastava has secured the first position in the Civil Services Examination, 2023. Animesh Pradhan secured the second rank and Donuru Ananya Reddy stood third. Others in top 10 include - P K Sidharth Ramkumar (4), Ruhani (5), Srishti Dabas (6) Anmol Rathore (7), Ashish Kumar (8), Nausheen (9) and Aishwaryam Prajapati (10). In recent years, women have demonstrated remarkable achievements in securing top positions in the UPSC examinations. According to the official release, 1016 candidates (664 men and 352 women) have been recommended by the Commission for appointment to various services. Among the final qualified candidates, the top five comprise three men and two women. In the General category, 347 candidates have been selected, from Economic Weaker Section-115, Other Backward Caste-303, Schedule Caste-165 and Scheduled Tribes-86. Aditya Srivastava, who secured the first position in the Civil Services Examination, said on Wednesday that it was a bit difficult, and he was not expecting Rank 1 but praying to God to get into the top 70. Srivastava told ANI that consistent hard work and smart work are the key to achieving whatever you want. "It was a bit difficult to sink in but after that I was ecstatic. I was not expecting Rank 1, I was praying to God to get into the top 70, so that I can get into Indian Administrative Services. It was difficult because you consistently have to acknowledge your mistakes and then try to rectify them despite not knowing how to. But with the help of my mentors and seniors, I was able to achieve that," he said. Aditya Srivastava believes the key to success in the civil service exam is to be constitent with the preparation."I would just say that being consistent and hard work along with smart work is the key to doing whatever you want to achieve and the same holds well for this field as well," he said. —ANI

Anshul Bhatt, who secured 22nd rank in the Civil Services Examination 2023 met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at Uttarakhand Sadan

UPSC 22nd Rank Holder Meets CM Dhami In Delhi

Mumbai: Ahead of a rally of opposition leaders, Union minister Narayan Rane has warned that if anybody use abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the person will not be allowed to return home.
Rane, the BJP candidate from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency in coastal Maharashtra, was speaking at a campaign rally in Sindhudurg district on Monday.  Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his party's MP Sanjay Raut criticise Modi while not understanding what they are talking about, said the minister, a former Shiv Sena leader himself.
"I learnt that opposition parties will be holding a rally in Sindhudurg soon. It is part of democracy, so they are welcome here. But if anyone uses abusive language against our leader, prime minister Narendra Modi, we will not allow that person to return from here," Rane said.  The BJP leader, who left the Shiv Sena after falling out with Uddhav Thackeray in 2005, claimed that Uddhav was never his father Bal Thackeray's choice for the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister.  "Had Uddhav been his choice, Balasaheb would have made him CM instead of me in 1999. Uddhav is a zero-performance person," said Rane, who was chief minister for less than a year.  He also alleged that during the coronavirus pandemic, Uddhav Thackeray, then chief minister, tried to get '15 percent commission' on vaccine procurement, and inquiry into such corruption of his government was going on.
—PTI

Union Minister Narayan Rane warns against abusive language towards PM Modi at an upcoming opposition rally in Sindhudurg, highlighting political tensions in Maharashtra.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 'Anybody who abuses PM Modi won't be allowed to return home,' Narayan Rane warns opposition

New Delhi: Delhi Police had briefly detained an eatery owner following a complaint that he had sold biryani on disposable plates purportedly having a picture of Lord Ram on them in northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri, officials said on Tuesday.
During investigations, it was found that the shopkeeper had bought 1000 plates from a factory and only four of them had a picture of Lord Ram printed on them, a police officer said.  "He told us that he was not aware about the Lord Ram's pic on the plates, which was also verified by the factory owners," the officer said.
The matter came to the fore when the Delhi Police received a call from Jahangirpuri about the selling of biryani on plates with a picture of Lord Ram on Saturday afternoon.  "When a team reached the spot, a few persons were found protesting outside the shop. They were pacified after the assurance of a proper investigation into the matter," a police officer said.  The shopkeeper was detained was detained under IPC sections 107/151 (preventive detention) and later allowed to go, he said adding the plates were also seized.  The officer said no case has been registered as yet and the matter is being investigated.
—PTI

Delhi eatery owner detained for selling biryani on plates with Lord Ram image; police investigate after local protest, no charges filed yet.

Delhi police detains shopkeeper over biryani served on plate with Lord Ram image, releases him later

Mumbai: The Mumbai police's crime branch has recovered two pistols, magazines and bullets from the Tapi river in Gujarat during a search operation to recover weapons allegedly used in the firing outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's residence, an official said on Tuesday.
The crime branch has recovered two pistols, three magazines and 13 bullets during the search that began on Monday, the official said.  A team of 12 officials, including 'encounter specialist' senior police inspector Daya Nayak, is still at the spot. The search is underway with the help of scuba divers, he said.  The two arrested accused, Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21), allegedly fired outside 58-year-old Khan's house at the Galaxy Apartment in the Bandra area of Mumbai on April 14 and then fled the spot on a motorbike.
Based on the technical surveillance, they were apprehended on April 16 from the premises of a temple at Mata No Madh near Bhuj town in Gujarat by joint teams of the Mumbai and Kutch police.  They were subsequently handed over to the Mumbai police for further investigation.  According to sources, the duo told the police during interrogation that they threw the weapon into the Tapi river from a railway bridge when they were fleeing to Bhuj in a train after reaching Surat by road from Mumbai following the firing incident.  Prima facie, the duo's main objective behind firing outside Khan's residence was to create "terror", police had said.
The Mumbai police have declared jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his younger brother Anmol Bishnoi as "wanted accused" in connection with the incident.  Gupta and Pal were allegedly receiving instructions from the two Bishnoi brothers, they have said.  While Lawrence Bishnoi is lodged in the Sabarmati central prison in Gujarat in another case, his brother is believed to be in Canada or the US, an official earlier said.
—PTI

Mumbai police recover pistols from Tapi river linked to Salman Khan's shooting. Arrested accused reveal connections to Lawrence Bishnoi.

Firing outside Salman Khan's home: Police recovers two pistols, bullets from Tapi river

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday staged a dharna here protesting against the delay in release of drought relief funds by the Centre and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue.
Siddaramaiah said the protest -- held in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the premises of Vidhana Soudha which houses the Legislature and State Secretariat -- was aimed at drawing public attention towards the 'injustice' done to Karnataka and its people by the BJP-led government at the Centre.  He alleged that Modi and Shah 'hate Karnataka and its farmers' due to which the drought relief funds were not released even after seven months of severe drought.  The chief minister said the state has not seen such a severe drought in 100 years.  Citing government survey reports, he said 223 out of 240 taluks of the state are drought-affected.
"Modi and Amit Shah hate Karnataka and its farmers,' Siddaramaiah said during the protest organised by the ruling Congress. 'When we asked them to provide us drought relief assistance as per the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms, they did not react."  Congress General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ministers Ramalinga Reddy and Krishna Byre Gowda and some Congress MPs and MLAs were among those present.  Several memoranda to the Centre seeking release of grants were 'met with silence' though the state assessed that it required Rs 18,171 crore for drought relief work as per the NDRF norms, he said.  As standing crops on 48,000 hectares were destroyed due to inadequate rains, the state government from its own resources paid Rs 2,000 to each farmer, thereby incurring an expenditure of Rs 650 crore on 34 lakh farmers, Siddaramaiah said.  "With what face are Modi and Shah coming to Karnataka (for Lok Sabha elections campaigning)," the chief minister asked, adding that the party is raising slogans of 'Go back Modi' and 'Go back Shah'.  Siddaramaiah on Monday thanked the Supreme Court for its 'intervention' on the issue of providing drought management funds to Karnataka and termed it a success in his government's fight to secure justice and relief for the people of the state.
The Centre earlier on Monday told the Supreme Court that the Election Commission has given clearance to it to deal with the issue raised by Karnataka regarding financial assistance for drought management.  A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a plea filed by the Karnataka government seeking a direction to the Centre to release financial assistance from the NDRF to the state for drought management.  "The Election Commission has cleared the government to deal with this question. I think it will be done expeditiously," Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, told the bench.  He told the bench that the matter could be taken up next week.  "This should all be done amicably…we are having a federal structure," the bench observed, while adjourning the matter.  In his reaction, the chief minister said in a post on social media platform X: “Thanks to the intervention of the Hon. Supreme Court, the Central Government, which had delayed providing drought relief funds to the farmers of Karnataka, has agreed to make a decision within this week.”  He added that Karnataka was forced to file a writ petition against the Central government in court seeking drought relief funds, as it had not made a decision on the State's memorandum submitted in September 2023.  “This is a milestone and a success in our long fight to secure justice and relief for the people of Karnataka,” Siddaramaiah said.
—PTI

Karnataka's CM Siddaramaiah stages a protest over delayed drought relief by the Centre, criticizes Modi and Shah for neglecting the state's severe drought needs.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah stages dharna over delay in release of drought relief funds by Centre

Rudraprayag: Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi reviewed the development work of the projects under Phase 2 of the Master Plan for Kedarnath Reconstruction and Redevelopment Works. The State Chief Secretary, Radha Raturi, arrived at the Kedarnath Dham on Monday and reviewed the progress of 21 projects under the Master Plan for the Kedarnath Dham. Reportedly, the redevelopment and reconstruction work in the first phase of Kedarnath Dham was completed in 2022. In the second phase, 21 works worth Rs 188 crore are underway. Secretary Sachin Kurve, District Administration, representatives of the implementing agency, and other concerned officials were present on this occasion. The Master Plan proposes the redevelopment of the Kedarnath temple area that was washed away in the Uttarakhand floods of 2013. The pre-flood development around the Kedarnath shrine had been haphazard, dense, and hence extremely vulnerable to any natural or man-made calamity. The plan proposes a wide and clear path that leads to the shrine, with structures in small clusters on either sides accommodating the residential needs. When Kedarpuri town, 3553 m high in the Himalayas, was ravaged in 2013 by the flooding of the Mandakini and Saraswati rivers flanking it, the unfolding disaster caused massive devastation of life, property, and the local environment. The Lord Shiva temple of Kedarnath dates back to the 8th century CCE, was legendarily built by the Pandavas, revived by Adi Sankaracharya, and is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and a Char Dham Yatra venue. The online registration for the 'Char Dham Yatra' started last week on the tourism department's portal, according to the Uttarakhand tourism department. The pilgrims could register themselves on the official website by April 15 to visit the revered shrines. The Char-Dham yatra in Uttarakhand consists of visiting four temples, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. This year, the Char Dham Yatra will begin on May 10, with the opening of three of the four shrines, including Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Kedarnath. The doors of Badrinath Shrine will open on May 12. The Char Dham Yatra holds profound spiritual significance in Hinduism. This journey typically occurs from April-May to October-November. It is believed that one should complete the Char Dham Yatra in a clockwise direction. Hence, the pilgrimage starts from Yamunotri, proceeds towards Gangotri, onto Kedarnath, and finally ends at Badrinath. Some devotees even do a 'Do Dham Yatra' or a pilgrimage to two shrines, Kedarnath and Badrinath. —ANI

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi reviewed the development work of the projects under Phase 2 of the Master Plan for Kedarnath 

Uttarakhand Chief Secy Reviews Projects Under Phase 2 Of Kedarnath Dham 'Master Plan' In Rudraprayag

Rudraprayag: One person died while another was injured after a vehicle fell into a gorge in the Rudraprayag district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, said officials. The deceased was identified as Preetam Singh (24) and the injured as Suraj Singh (35), both were a resident of Bhunka village, Rudraprayag. According to the officials, Today, the Rudraprayag District Control Room informed the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team that a vehicle had met with an accident at a location called Bhunka in the Rudraprayag district. On receiving this information, Sub-Inspector, Bhagat Singh and the SDRF rescue team immediately set off for the accident site. Two people were in the vehicle, one of whom died on the spot, while the other was injured and had already been rescued and sent to the hospital by local people, the officials added. As soon as the team reached, they extracted the body of the second person from the wrecked vehicle, and transported it to the main road using a stretcher, handing it over to the district police, said officials. Further details are awaited. —ANI

One person died while another was injured after a vehicle fell into a gorge in the Rudraprayag district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, said officials

One Dead, One Injured After Vehicle Falls Into Gorge In Rudraprayag

Pithoragarh: Four people were killed after their vehicle fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district on Monday, an official said. As per the official on Monday (April 22), the District Control Room, Pithoragarh, informed the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) that a vehicle had met with an accident in the Pithoragarh district, near Andoli in the Ancholi region. The vehicle was carrying a total of eight people who were returning home after attending a wedding ceremony. The vehicle lost control and fell into a gorge approximately 200 meters deep, the official said. Upon receiving this information, an SDRF team, led by ASI Sundar Singh Bora, immediately departed for the accident site, the official added. Local people rescued 4 injured individuals and sent them to the hospital. Upon reaching the scene, the SDRF team coordinated with local police and people. They worked together to retrieve the bodies of 4 deceased individuals from the gorge and handed them over to the district police, the official said. Further information is awaited. —ANI

Four people were killed after their vehicle fell into a gorge in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district on Monday, an official said

Four killed As Car Falls Into Gorge In Pithoragarh

New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing tussle between the Tihar jail administration and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the party sources have claimed that the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to Tihar Jail Superintendent in which he expressed his concern over the jail administration's statements on the issue of insulin and AIIMS doctors assuring of no serious problems to him. In the letter, CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "I have read the statement of Tihar administration in the newspaper. I felt sad after reading the statement. Both the statements of Tihar are false. I am asking for insulin daily. I showed the glucose metre readings and said that the sugar is going very high three times a day. Sugar goes between 250 to 320."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/aap's-atishi-accuses-ed-of-conspiring-to-deny-kejriwal-insulin-in-tihar-jail" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/aap's-atishi-accuses-ed-of-conspiring-to-deny-kejriwal-insulin-in-tihar-jail</a>&nbsp;
The AAP convenor said that he has been demanding insulin everyday. "I also showed them that my fasting sugar level was in the range of 160-200 every day. Almost every day, I demanded insulin. Then how could you make such a statement that I never raised the issue of insulin?" According to the party sources, the Delhi CM also raised his concern over the statement of AIIMS doctors saying that there is nothing to worry about. "AIIMS doctors never said that there was nothing to worry about. Doctors of AIIMS have said that they will give advice after looking at the data and history." The Tihar administration is lying under political pressure."
Kejriwal also said that the Tihar administration is lying under political pressure. "I am pained that you have issued false statements under political pressure. I hope that you will follow the law and constitution." Meanwhile, AAP leader Atishi on Monday posed serious allegations against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Tihar officials and said that a conspiracy is being hatched to ensure that Kejriwal does not get insulin in jail. "Kejriwal had filed his application in Rouse Avenue Court that he wants to consult his doctor through video conferencing and start insulin. ED and Tihar administration have opposed this application. They have said that Arvind Kejriwal does not need insulin. They said in the court that they have talked to the AIIMS doctors about what Kejriwal needs," Atishi said.
—ANI

AAP and Tihar jail clash over insulin for Arvind Kejriwal, claiming political pressure and false health reports.

Kejriwal writes letter to Tihar Jail Superintendent, questions jail's statement on insulin

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi on Monday posed serious allegations against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Tihar officials and said that a conspiracy is being hatched to ensure that Kejriwal does not get insulin in jail. "Kejriwal had filed his application in Rouse Avenue Court that he wants to consult his doctor through video conferencing and start insulin. ED and the Tihar administration have opposed this application. They have said that Arvind Kejriwal does not need insulin. They said in the court that they had talked to the AIIMS doctors about what Kejriwal needs," Atishi said.
"Today I want to tell the truth about the AIIMS doctor. When the ED and Tihar administration presented the side of AIIMS doctors, at that time they did not let Kejriwal consult with any AIIMS doctor. Secondly, the Tihar administration told the court that the best doctor of AIIMS has prepared a diet chart for Kejriwal and if he follows it, he will not need insulin," she added. Further, showing the diet chart presented by Tihar officials, Atishi mentioned that a dietician of AIIMS has made it, not any diabetologist. "Any doctor or diabetologist did not make this diet chart, rather it was simply a standard chart from the nutrition department of AIIMS. They tell us that they have consulted top doctors of AIIMS. The doctor who signs this diet chart is not a diabetologist but a dietitian, who is not a MBBS. Here an attempt is being made to mislead the court and a complete conspiracy is being hatched to ensure that Kejriwal ji does not get insulin," Atishi alleged.  Earlier, the Tihar Jail Administration has denied the accusations made by the Aam Aadmi Party. Jail Administration submitted a report to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor regarding the health status of CM Kejriwal, who has been lodged in Tihar jail since April 1 this year. According to the report, CM Kejriwal was on insulin for diabetes control. The report also called it "incorrect" to say that the Chief Minister was being denied insulin by jail authorities.
—ANI

Atishi accuses ED & Tihar of denying Kejriwal insulin. Alleges AIIMS doctor's chart misleading court. Tihar denies. Latest on Kejriwal's health in jail.

AAP's Atishi accuses ED of conspiring to deny Kejriwal insulin in Tihar jail

Bengaluru: The Karnataka unit of BJP on Monday staged statewide protests against the alleged brutal murder of a young woman in Hubbali.
Neha Hiremath (23), daughter of Congress councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Niranjan Hiremath, was allegedly stabbed to death on the campus of BVB College in Dharwad on April 18 sparking statewide outrage.  Neha was a first year student of Master of Computer Applications and the accused in the case, Fayaz, was earlier her classmate. Fayaz has been arrested by the police.
The party decided to stage statewide protests accusing that the Congress government's alleged 'appeasement politics' was responsible for the incident.  The party also highlighted a series of incidents such as the bomb blast in Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru, attack on youths for chanting Jai Sri Ram, and reciting Hanuman Chalisa.  The BJP State President B Y Vijayendra led the protests in Mysuru, while the Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and former Chief Minister and Haveri BJP candidate Basavaraj Bommai spearheaded the agitation in Tumakuru and Haveri.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/hubballi-murder-accused's-father-apologises-to-neha's-family" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/hubballi-murder-accused's-father-apologises-to-neha's-family</a>&nbsp;
Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar led the protests in Belagavi where he is fighting the election on a BJP ticket.  Ballari BJP candidate B Sriramulu took part in the agitation in Ballari city.  Murugesh Nirani in Bagalkote and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in Kalaburagi led the agitation in their cities respectively.  In Hubballi and Dharwad, BJP MLAs Arvind Bellad and Mahesh Tenginkai conducted the protests.  Protesters took out a march, raised slogans 'Long Live Neha Hiremath' and staged sit-in demonstrations holding placards and Neha Hiremath's photograph. They burnt tyres in the middle of the road to express their anger.  The Anjuman-e-Islam, Dharwad observed a bandh for half-a-day from 10 am to 3 pm to condole Neha's murder and express its solidarity towards the bereaved family.  Muslim shop owners put up banners saying, 'Justice for Neha'.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/hubballi-student-murder:-police-arrest-youths-for-social-media-posts-claiming-victim-accused-were-in-a-relationship" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/hubballi-student-murder:-police-arrest-youths-for-social-media-posts-claiming-victim-accused-were-in-a-relationship</a>&nbsp;
BJP national president J P Nadda met the Hiremath family on Sunday. He demanded a CBI probe into the incident.  He said the BJP will cooperate if the investigation of the case needs to be handed over to CBI so that the victim gets justice.  Nadda expressed his apprehension that the ruling Congress would 'influence and dilute' the probe.  Reacting to the agitation, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the BJP had to resort to it because its 'double engine' government had failed.  "The big engine will also fail," he said.  Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara alleged that this incident is being used for political gains.  "I saw some posts on 'X' and Facebook which said 'Vote for Neha Hiremath. It means that this is being used for polictics," Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru.  He said the state government will initiate action as per law.
—PTI

Statewide protests in Karnataka by BJP after the alleged murder of Neha Hiremath, daughter of a Congress councillor, at BVB College, Hubbali.

BJP holds Karnataka-wide protests over Hubballi murder

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha candidate Shashi Tharoor has been booked for allegedly carrying out a false campaign against union minister and rival candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar, police said here on Sunday.
The case was registered by the Cyber Police here on April 15, but its details were revealed only today.  According to police, the case against Tharoor was registered based on a complaint lodged by BJP leader J R Padmakumar who accused the Congress leader of carrying out a false campaign against Chandrasekhar during a television programme.
The complainant alleged that Tharoor, during the programme, had made defamatory statements against Chandrasekhar with regard to influencing voters of coastal regions in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.  The case was registered under Sections 171-G and 500 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 65 of IT Act, a cyber police official said adding that an investigation is going on in the matter.  IPC 177-G refers to raising false statement in connection with an election, while IPC 500 relates to defamation.  Tharoor, who is contesting from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, is yet to react on the registration of the case.
—PTI

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor faces legal action for allegedly spreading false information about union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar during a TV program.

Shashi Tharoor booked for 'false' campaign against Rajeev Chandrasekhar

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