Focus

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Political leaders from Maharashtra have strongly reacted to the controversial remarks made by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President, Raj Thackeray, regarding the Ganga water during the recent Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj.

Raj Thackeray mocked the devotees who bathed in the Ganga during the religious event, claiming the river remains polluted despite various efforts to clean it.

Raj Thackeray said, "I have been hearing that the Ganga will be cleaned since the time of the late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The truth is that the Ganga has still not been cleaned. We call it Ganga Ma, but not a single river in the country is clean."

He further stated that he refused to touch the Ganga water brought by one of his close aides, suggesting that the river was still polluted.

In response to Raj Thackeray’s remarks, Shiv Sena leader and MLA Sanjay Gaikwad dismissed them as baseless.

He said, "Ganga’s water is so pure, and when so many people went there and took a dip, they felt happy doing so. He is making baseless statements. I don’t follow him on this."

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLC, Amol Mitkari, also responded to the issue, emphasising that attending the Maha Kumbh was a personal choice.

Mitkari commented, "Going to the Maha Kumbh is a matter of personal opinion. After going to the Maha Kumbh, many people faced unfortunate incidents that cost them their lives. Some people didn’t feel it was appropriate to go. I personally didn’t feel the need to go."

Meanwhile, Maharashtra NCP (SP) leader and MLA, Rohit Pawar, who participated in the Maha Kumbh and took a holy dip in the Ganga, acknowledged the concerns raised by Raj Thackeray about the river's pollution but urged caution when discussing sensitive issues.

Pawar remarked, "I went to take a holy dip in the Ganga during Maha Kumbh. It is part of our faith. However, there are some pollutants visible in the water. Raj Thackeray was also talking about pollution in Ganga water, but one should be very careful when speaking about such a sentimental issue as it might hurt people's sentiments."

Raj Thackeray’s statements have sparked a political debate, with leaders from various parties defending the religious importance of the Maha Kumbh and the Ganga while acknowledging concerns about the river's cleanliness.

--IANS

rs/rad

Bengaluru, March 10 (IANS) Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra has alleged the involvement of two ministers of the Congress government in the sensational case of gold smuggling involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao.

Vijayendra said on Monday that the gold smuggling case involving actress Ranya Rao was one of the rarest incidents in the country’s history. Centered around Bengaluru, this case has created a web of suspicion around influential figures in the state government.

"Reports now suggest that two ministers may be involved, making this a highly concerning development," Vijayendra stated.

"The investigation has revealed links to hawala transactions, and during her arrest, Ranya Rao allegedly attempted to contact a minister. This raises strong suspicions about the involvement of influential figures from the Congress-led Karnataka government. Additionally, since Ranya Rao is the daughter of a high-ranking police officer, the entire system's integrity is now under scrutiny, bringing disrepute to the state. In light of this, the Chief Minister must disclose the truth about the case to the public," Vijayendra demanded.

"If ministers are indeed involved, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely already aware of it. The government must act transparently, expose the culprits, and ensure that the law takes its course. Failing to do so will result in the entire administration bearing the stain of this scam. The Chief Minister should uphold moral responsibility and ensure justice...If the government, like in previous scams, attempts to shield the corrupt, it will inevitably face embarrassment, especially with the ongoing CBI investigation. This case is not limited to just one actress; the investigation has already uncovered a vast network operating behind the scenes," Vijayendra said.

"Ranya Rao was caught smuggling gold worth Rs 12.36 crore in a single day. How much more gold might she have smuggled in the past? How many more people are involved in this smuggling network? A deeper probe is necessary to uncover the full extent of the operation. Since the CBI is handling the case, the public believes that the investigation will reach a logical conclusion," he stated.

Sources stated that the CBI, which has started a suo moto investigation into the case, is investigating the role of two ministers in the case. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and customs are also investigating the case.

The DRI investigation had found the involvement of influential persons in the case and briefed the CBI about it. Sources also stated that when she was being arrested, Ranya Rao had tried to dial the number of a serving minister. The DRI slueths had then snatched the mobile phone from her.

The investigation has also revealed that the payment was made to parties through hawala and cryptocurrency.

Sources further stated that Ranya Rao used to hand over smuggled goods to certain gold merchants only and refused to provide for other gold businessmen. Enraged by this, they tipped the DRI about the gold smuggling.

Ranya Rao is currently in DRI custody and is being grilled about the seizures. The CBI is preparing to take her custody, sources stated.

Kannada actress Ranya Rao, aka Harshavardini Ranya, in her statement to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on the day of her arrest, claimed that she is a freelancer in the real estate sector in Dubai and agreed to smuggle 17 bars of gold.

The DRI officials arrested Ranya Rao after seizing 14.8 kg of gold from her at the Bengaluru International Airport last Monday night.

The agency seized Rs 2.06 crore worth of gold and Rs 2.67 crore in cash from her upscale Lavelle Road flat, where she reportedly paid Rs 4.5 lakh in rent.

Karnataka DGP for Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, K. Ramachandra Rao, responding to the development of the arrest of his step-daughter, actress Ranya Rao, stated on Thursday that he was devastated and caught unawares by this development.

--IANS

mka/dpb

Hyderabad, March 10 (IANS) Day after recovering one body from the debris, rescue teams continued intense efforts to search for the remaining seven people in the SLBC tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on Monday.

Rescue teams from various agencies were undertaking digging work at another point identified by the cadaver sniffer dog squad from Kerala.

Rat miners from Uttarakhand, miners from Singareni Collieries and personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were carefully digging around the point with mini-excavators.

The search operation continued for the 17th day in the last 70 metres of the 14-km-long tunnel, where the eight workers were trapped after a portion of the tunnel roof collapsed on a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) on February 22.

Rescue workers on Sunday evening exhumed one body from the point identified by the cadaver dog squad.

The body was identified as that of TBM operator Gurpreet Singh. The 40-year-old hailed from Punjab and was working for Robbins Company, which supplies and operates tunnel boring machines.

The body was shifted to government hospital at Nagarkurnool and after completing medical and legal formalities was taken to his hometown in Punjab.

The seven people yet to be traced are Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, Sunny Singh from Jammu and Kashmir and Sandeep Sahu, Jegta Xess, Santosh Sahu and Anuj Sahu, all from Jharkhand.

The rescue agencies hoped that more bodies would be recovered soon based on the sniffer dog leads and the ground probing radar (GPR) scanning information provided by the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI).

The rescue workers continued to face challenges due to the debris of the TBM and the large amount of muck.

The TBM, which had a total length of 132.5 metres, was buried under silt and rocks in the February 22 incident.

The workers who were present in the front portion of the TBM were trapped while 42 others who were at the back end managed to come out of the tunnel.

The technicians from the South Central Railway (SCR) have so far cut the TBM into pieces for a length of about 60 metres.

The head portion of the TBM remained buried in the debris and the last 70 metres of the tunnel is still filled with 3 to 9 metres deep slush and other debris, posing a risk to the rescue workers.

While continuing dewatering and desilting, the rescue agencies were mobilising special equipment for the workers to carry out their work without the risk of being trapped in the slush.

Two cadaver dogs trained to locate missing humans and human bodies were brought from Kerala by a special helicopter three days ago.

According to officials, these dogs of the Belgian Malinois breed can detect smell even from a depth of 15 feet.

Indian Army, Navy, NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Singareni, SCR and other agencies are participating in the search operation.

The authorities on Saturday deployed robots for rescue operations in the tunnel as suggested by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy during his visit to the tunnel on March 2.

Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the deployment of robotic technology to accelerate rescue operations.

Robots equipped with cameras, infrared sensors, and robotic arms have been deployed to assess conditions and aid extraction.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed condolences over the death of Gurpreet Singh and announced Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia to his next of kin.

--IANS

ms/rad

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) The cost of preparing both vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis at home declined by 5 per cent in February compared to the corresponding figure for January this year, according to a Crisil report released on Monday.

For the vegetarian thali, the decline was driven by lower vegetable prices, particularly of onions, tomatoes and potatoes, while for a non-vegetarian thali, the cost eased with a decrease in broiler (chicken) prices, the report said.

Going ahead, the arrival of fresh rabi crops is expected to keep vegetable prices subdued, offering continued relief for vegetarian thali costs.

However, temperature conditions in March that have been above normal can impact the shelf life and quality of onions, which need to be stored for the next six months, as well as the quantity and quality of wheat -- the most significant crop of the rabi season, the report states.

The average cost of preparing a thali at home is calculated based on input prices prevailing in north, south, east and west India. The monthly change reflects the impact on the common man’s expenditure. The data also reveals the ingredients (cereals, pulses, broilers, vegetables, spices, edible oil and cooking gas) driving the change in the cost of the thali.

The ICRA report is in line with official figures that India’s retail inflation is on a downward trajectory. Inflation based on the Consumer Price Index fell to a 5-month low of 4.31 per cent in January as prices of vegetables and pulses eased during the month, bringing respite to household budgets, according to figures released by the Ministry of Statistics.

The easing of inflation reflects a steadily declining trend after having touched a 14-month high of 6.21 per cent in October. CPI inflation had declined to 5.48 per cent in November and 5.22 per cent in December.

The food inflation at 6.02 per cent in January 2025 is the lowest after August 2024.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced a 25 basis cut in the policy rate from 6.5 per cent to 6.25 per cent in the monetary policy review to accelerate growth amid global uncertainties.

He said that inflation has declined and is expected to moderate further and gradually align with the RBI’s target.

Now, with the retail inflation continuing with its downward trend, the RBI will have more headroom to follow a soft money policy to make more credit available to businesses and consumers, which will propel economic growth.

--IANS

sps/dpb

Patna, March 10 (IANS) The Bihar government is set to take strict action against illegal encroachments on Bettiah Raj properties, with senior officials already mobilizing efforts to reclaim government land.

On Monday morning, the Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman of the Revenue and Land Reforms Board, K.K. Pathak, visited Bettiah City to assess the situation.

His visit has created a sense of urgency among officials in the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, that the government is serious about removing illegal occupants from these properties.

A total of 1,326 acres of additional Bettiah Raj land has recently been discovered, which was not included in the 2017-18 land survey. The administration is now expediting the process of registering this land in government records to ensure its protection.

With K.K. Pathak personally reviewing the status of these properties, a major crackdown on encroachments is expected soon. The government’s focus on land reforms could lead to wider action across the state to recover illegally occupied public land.

Following strict instructions from District Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Rai, officials have been tasked with conducting a detailed investigation into the land records of Bettiah Raj.

K.K. Pathak is expected to review illegal occupations on government lands during his visit. Many long-standing cases of encroachments have surfaced, and strict action is anticipated against those involved.

His visit will also include a review of the digitization of Bettiah Raj properties for better record-keeping and transparency. The government is considering a heritage development plan to restore and develop the palaces and historical sites of Bettiah Raj.

Pathak’s reputation for swift action has put district officials on edge. Even before his arrival, they have started reviewing land records and preparing reports on pending cases. This visit is expected to be a critical test for the revenue and administrative officials in Bettiah.

With the Bihar Assembly passing the bill about the Bettiah Raj during the winter session last year, the property comes under the state government's ownership, which marks a significant development in the state's governance and land management.

The last ruler of Bettiah Raj, Harendra Kishore Singh, passed away in 1893 without leaving an heir, leading to the management of the estate by the "Court of Wards" starting in 1897.

The property, totaling 15,221 acres in Bihar and 143 acres in Uttar Pradesh, has seen significant encroachments. Over 66 per cent of the estate’s land in West Champaran and 60 per cent in East Champaran are reportedly occupied illegally.

Many current residents of the estate are likely to approach the judiciary, contesting their eviction or seeking ownership rights based on long-term occupation or other claims.

--IANS

ajk/skp

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera on Monday slammed the Central government for Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at Bhupesh Baghel's residence and called it a part of BJP's conspiracy to distract attention from larger issues, particularly the Parliament.

Khera remarked, "BJP, which is surrounded on all sides and finding it hard to go unscathed on multiple issues, needs a distraction. They want to divert attention, change the headlines, and this could very well be part of that conspiracy."

Khera’s comments come as ED raids continue at multiple locations linked to Bhupesh Baghel and his family.

Further questioning the rationale behind ED raids, he said, "It is happening in an unclear case, and no one knows why it is taking place. Just few days ago, a court dismissed a CBI case against Bhupesh Baghel, so there is no case against him. Still, ED is raiding his premises today. It’s possible that this raid coincides with the start of Parliament’s session."

He also hinted that the central agency might have been brought in, by the ruling dispensation, to disrupt Bhupesh Baghel’s political activities in Punjab, where he recently took over as in-charge for the state.

"It could be an attempt to disturb him as he begins his political activities in Punjab," Khera added. He emphasised that such actions by the BJP, with ED working under their influence, would not be forgotten.

The ED conducted raids on the residence of Chaitanya Baghel, son of Bhupesh Baghel, in the Padumnagar locality of Bhilai, Chhattisgarh.

The teams, arriving in four Innova cars, began their search early in the day, and according to reports, this operation is part of a wider investigation, with approximately 14 locations across the state being raided, some of which are linked to Chaitanya Baghel.

The raids were reportedly conducted in connection with alleged financial irregularities and money laundering cases, including a notorious liquor scam.

Bhupesh Baghel, who is facing accusations of irregularities in the liquor trade during his tenure, has consistently denied these allegations.

--IANS

rs/mr

Chennai, March 10 (IANS) After experiencing Samba paddy crop failures for the third consecutive year, farmers in Tamil Nadu’s delta region have urged the Stalin government to introduce new high-yield paddy varieties.

They have also appealed for full insurance coverage for the current season’s crop losses, as existing varieties, including the widely used CR 1009, failed to produce the expected yield.

Farmers typically expect a yield of 2,400 kg to 6,000 kg per hectare (40 to 100 bags, each weighing 60 kg). However, this season, they managed only 900 kg to 1,500 kg per acre (15 to 25 bags), with an average of 1,200 kg.

The farmers attributed the poor yield to unpredictable and untimely rainfall. According to Swamimalai Sundara Vimalanathan, a leader of Cauvery Delta farmers, heavy rain hit the region 10 days after transplantation, causing significant damage to young nurseries. Despite farmers’ efforts to replant, another spell of rain led to further losses. Additionally, heavy downpours in the last week of December 2024 affected grain development, resulting in an overall decline in food production across Tamil Nadu.

Though the state government ensured timely water release, erratic rainfall significantly reduced yields, causing financial distress for farmers.

According to Rajashekharan, another farmer leader from the delta region, farmers spent between Rs 35,000 and Rs 45,000 per acre but lost at least Rs 20,000 per acre due to the low yield.

Mariappan, a farmer, pointed out that each paddy stem should ideally contain 220 grains, but this season, they could only find 100 to 120 grains per stem.

Most farmers in the region cultivate CR 1009, a high-yielding variety resistant to floods and droughts. Others grew varieties like ADT 51, ADT 46, ADT 39, ADT 38, IR 20, CO 43, CO 46, Bhavani, MDU, and TRY, but none met the expected yield this year.

Mariappan urged the government to introduce new paddy varieties that offer higher yields and greater resilience to natural calamities.

Farmers also complained about insurance claim rejections, despite insuring their crops on time. He noted that damage assessments are done at the revenue village level, covering around 15 hamlets. This method, he said, often neglects individual farmers who suffered severe losses.

“We demand that crop damage assessments be conducted at the individual farmer level rather than calculating an average across multiple villages,” he added.

With consecutive years of crop failures and mounting financial losses, delta farmers are seeking urgent government intervention to introduce climate-resilient paddy varieties and ensure fair compensation for their losses.”

--IANS

aal/dpb

Guwahati, March 10 (IANS) The Assam government distributed at least Rs 380 crore on Monday to the beneficiaries of the pension and Orunodoi scheme - a flagship scheme of the state administration to transfer cash benefits to eligible women.

The state government provides financial assistance to women under the Orunodoi scheme on the 10th of every month.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on his X handle, “Credited: Pension and Orunodoi for the month of March. Over 43 lakh people will get this message as we transfer over Rs 380 crore to the people of Assam in a short while from now.”

The CM earlier also asserted that to prevent fraudulent claims, the Orunodoi scheme is being linked with ration cards.

The state administration has distributed at least 20 lakh new ration cards to the beneficiaries across the state recently.

CM Sarma highlighted the steadfast commitment of the current state government to ensuring that the needy have regular access to rice. He noted that the National Food Security Act (NFSA) was implemented in Assam in December 2015, with the aim of safeguarding the nutritional needs of approximately 2.51 crore beneficiaries.

He emphasized that 85 per cent of rural residents and 60 per cent of urban inhabitants should be entitled to ration cards.

The CM said that following the linking of ration cards with Aadhaar, an additional 60 lakh cards have been issued, thus facilitating the distribution of free rice via biometric verification.

He commended the successful implementation of the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme, which has been in place for the past three years, allowing beneficiaries to access provisions from anywhere in the country.

The Chief Minister clarified that ration cards must be collected between the 1st and 10th of each month and reassured the public that no fraudulent claims would be entertained, as the government has made substantial efforts to ensure that deserving families receive their entitlements.

CM Sarma stated that in the 2023-24 fiscal year, 42,85,745 new beneficiaries have been included, with 10,73,489 new families receiving ration cards in January alone, benefitting more than 52 lakh people.

The Chief Minister also said that families holding ration cards would be eligible for free medical treatment up to Rs five lakh at government hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Assam schemes.

--IANS

tdr/dpb

Bhopal, March 10 (IANS) At least eight people were killed and 13 others severely injured in a head-on collision between a truck and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) during the early hours on Monday under the City Kotwali area of Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh.

The injured persons were immediately taken to hospital, of them nine are reportedly critical. Most of them were referred to Rewa for further treatment. A goat also died in the incident.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav expressed profound grief on the mely death of the eight passengers and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh each to the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 to those with minor injuries.

On his X handle, the Chief Minister said, “Very sad news has been received about the untimely and tragic death of eight passengers in a horrific road accident near Upni village in Sidhi district late at night in a horrific collision between a passenger vehicle going to visit Maihar Mata and a truck. My deep condolences are with all the bereaved families.”

Late at night, senior officials of the district and police administration reached the spot and made arrangements for the treatment of the injured with the help of local citizens, and the seriously injured passengers have been referred to Rewa, the chief minister further wrote.

“Instructions have been given to approve an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister's special fund to next of the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh each to the seriously injured and Rs 50-50 thousand to the minor injuries,” he wrote on X.

According to the police, the incident unfolded around 2.30 a.m. near the Opni Petrol Pump on Sidhi-Bahri Road.

The deceased, identified as residents of the Sahu family from Deori and Pandaria Bahri village, include five women and three men.

The SUV was carrying 21 passengers who were on their way from Matihani for a Mundan Sanskar (tonsuring the head of a baby) ceremony. The injured were first transported to the nearest hospital, but due to the severity of their conditions, they were subsequently referred to Rewa Medical College.

The authorities have sent the bodies of the deceased for post-mortem examinations. Local administration has launched a thorough investigation into the incident, considering the gravity of the situation.

Preliminary findings suggest that high speed and negligence may have contributed to the accident.

--IANS

sktr/dpb

Imphal, March 10 (IANS) The Manipur Police have arrested 17 militants from three different districts and recovered cars, two-wheelers, and cash amount from the extremists of different outfits, officials said here on Monday.

A police official said that 13 militants were apprehended on Sunday from Imphal West district, while three extremists were nabbed in Imphal East district and one from Tengnoupal district, bordering Myanmar.

Of the 17 militants arrested, three are women cadres.

According to the official, the militants belonged to the National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL).

The arrested militants were involved in extortion of money from officials, contractors, traders and common people, transportation of arms and ammunition and various other crimes.

The police personnel also recovered 14 mobile phones, two cars, one two-wheeler, Rs 1.07 lakh cash amount and many incriminating documents.

The official said that joint search operations by the Army, paramilitary and other Central and state forces continued in more than 10 districts to recover the looted arms and ammunition.

The security forces also conducted area domination in the fringe, vulnerable, mixed populated areas of hill and valley districts to apprehend the militants and other armed cadres.

Meanwhile, the situation in five hilly districts, including Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Tengnoupal, remained tense but calm.

A police official in Imphal said that a huge contingent of security forces, comprising both Central and state forces, have been deployed in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl and Jiribam districts.

On Saturday, at least 43 people, including 27 security personnel, were injured and a protester killed during the clashes in Kangpokpi and a few other districts as the Kuki-Zo tribal organisations protested against the resumption of the bus services between Imphal and the hill districts to alleviate public inconvenience and as an initiative to bring back normalcy in the state.

--IANS

sc/dpb