India

New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) A day after AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal raised an alarm over deletion of voters from the electoral roll ahead of Delhi Assembly elections, his claims seems to have backfired with one of the woman voters outrightly rejecting his assertions.

Chandra, a woman voter in Delhi’s Kidwai Nagar constituency said on record that she has been casting her ballot every year and her name was mistakenly taken by Arvind Kejriwal.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, she said, "I have never had my vote cut. I always cast my vote. I don't know why they mistakenly said that my name was removed from the list. I already have my voter ID card, there is no need to make a new one. It could have been a misunderstanding on Kejriwal's part otherwise, I have been casting my vote every time."

Her husband Raghu also countered Kejriwal’s claims on her wife’s name being struck off the electoral rolls, ahead of elections and said, “It is possible that he (Arvind Kejriwal) mistakenly mentioned someone else's name and referred to us. Our vote has not been cancelled."

It was during the launch of Mahila Samman Yojana that former Delhi CM claimed that Chandra’s name was removed from the electoral rolls, apparently as part of BJP’s plot and his party would get her name reinstated in the list.

The AAP supremo visited the constituency on Monday, to kickstart the process of registration for ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’, under which he has pledged Rs 2,100 monthly financial assistance for women residents of the city, if party returns to power.

While naming Chandra as the 'victim' of voters list name deletion drive, carried out by BJP, he said that his partymen will ensure that they don’t get deprived of their basic rights to vote.

He also shared a video of the registration drive and said that this ‘conspiracy’ by BJP will impair chances of city's women residents from getting Rs 2,100, as promised under Mahila Samman Yojana.

Taking to X, he wrote, “When we went to start the registration for 'Mahila Samman Yojana', a sister told me that someone had got her vote cancelled. We will get her vote made again. But I want to tell all my mothers and sisters of Delhi that all of you should check your vote. It is necessary to have your name in the voter list to get Rs 2100 every month.”

As the city prepares for election, the AAP and BJP have raised the stakes for a high-pitched electoral battle. BJP has been trying to corner the AAP dispensation over the Rohingya issue, fraudulent liquor policy and others while the latter has accused it of orchestrating a widespread voter deletion drive to target its voter base.

AAP has alleged that BJP has been pushing for removal of many voters, mostly its supporters, from the electoral list and submitting applications regarding the same to the Election Commission.

“In Shahdara area, BJP has sought removal of over 11,000 voters. After cross-checking, we found that 500 of these voters still live in that locality,” Kejriwal said in a recent public address.

--IANS

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Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 24 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Tuesday that the strength of the Congress party was well known and even the BJP was aware of this.

Shivakumar said this while responding to questions from the media at the Circuit House here regarding the BJP’s 'Belagavi Chalo' campaign during the centenary celebrations of the 1924 Congress session.

"Why bring that up now? Let anyone try to disrupt. The strength of the Congress Party is something both they (BJP) and we are aware of. First, let’s focus on organising historic events and creating a place in the pages of history," he remarked.

"Belagavi is witnessing a historic event. That’s why the city has been decorated with lights, and the public should come and witness this grandeur," he added.

He also provided information about the historic 1924 Belagavi session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. "This event should not be viewed through the lens of any party. Whenever the Congress organises an event, it is not just for the party. It’s done to reflect the nation’s history and contemplate the direction in which the country should progress. I urge the public to participate in this programme," he said.

"In a democratic system, leaders who consider themselves representatives should attend this event. We aren’t asking for thousands of people to be brought from across the state. Even a 100 participants are enough. I’ve been visiting the venues to inspect and ensure preparations. By Tuesday (December 24), all arrangements will be completed," he said.

When asked about the details of the programme, he replied, "The official events will begin on December 26. On the morning of December 26, there will be inaugural programmes at some locations. The 1924 Belagavi session led by Mahatma Gandhi was held at 3 p.m. on December 26, 1924. On the same date and time, the party’s working committee meeting will take place.”

On the morning of December 27, at 10.30 a.m., the government will unveil a statue of Gandhi in the Suvarna Soudha premises. A photo session and luncheon will also take place at the Suvarna Soudha. At noon on December 27, a public meeting will be held," he elaborated.

On December 26, the Gandhi family will arrive in Belagavi. Arrangements have been made for their stay at the Circuit House and a private hotel. The final decision regarding the accommodations will be made by the Gandhi family’s security personnel, he said. A team of Congress leaders from state and national level, including the state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, are in Belagavi to oversee preparations.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur has announced that it will conduct admissions to its prestigious 2-year MBA programme through an independent selection process in the upcoming cycle.

With this, the IIM will not be a part of the Common Admission Process (CAP) 2025 and will evaluate candidates directly based on their CAT scores and personal interviews.

The IIM said that with this strategic shift, they aim to offer applicants a streamlined and personalised application experience that underscores the institute's unwavering commitment to academics and innovation in management education.

The short-listing of profiles will begin in the second week of January 2025. The admission interview will be conducted in eight cities -- Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Guwahati and Raipur.

For the 2022-2024 batch, the highest CTC offered at IIM-R was Rs 42.29 LPA, while the average CTC stood at Rs 18.15 LPA.

Prof. Ram Kumar Kakani, Director, IIM Raipur, told IANS on Tuesday, “Our institute is committed to the holistic development of our students. Alongside academic excellence, we also present opportunities that, nurture cross-cultural and emotional intelligence, and innovation and enhance the entrepreneurial spirit. With our decision to conduct an independent admission process, we aim to provide a more tailored and seamless experience for applicants, aligning with our vision to nurture talent and innovation. For instance, we will have at least one industry expert in our interview panel, we plan to do interviews across eight cities, including Guwahati and Lucknow -- signifying our intent to reach the hinterlands of our nation. This will also ensure a larger social outreach to our flagship MBA programme delivered by our high intellect faculty and will continue to set benchmarks in academic excellence, diversity, and industry relevance, empowering students to excel globally.”

The tentative duration of the interview is from February 10 to March 9, 2025. Aspiring candidates can access all information, including eligibility criteria, selection procedures, and guidelines, from the official IIM-R Admissions Portal.

Over the past years, the premier management institute achieved an impressive gender diversity ratio. With its steady industry connections, the institute attracted 116 recruiters during the past academic year’s placement drive, including 38 new additions to its recruiter pool. The institute continuously showcases remarkable academic diversity, welcoming students from fields such as engineering, science, commerce, arts, medicine, law, hotel management, etc.

IIM Raipur’s two-year flagship MBA programme is crafted to develop leaders holding a strong foundation in business management, analytics, and innovative thinking. Through its engaging and rich curriculum, industry-aligned projects, and experiential learning opportunities, the programme ensures students are prepared to tackle complicated business challenges and drive meaningful change across diverse sectors, Kakani added.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) Acclaimed Civil services coach Avadh Ojha who was inducted in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) early this month, has likened the party supremo Arvind Kejriwal with God, calling him an 'avatar of Krishna'.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, the popular educator said, “Arvind Kejriwal is definitely a God, he is an incarnation of Lord Krishna.” The coach-turned politician also spoke on myriad issues ranging from Delhi elections to prospects of Kejriwal becoming Prime Minister by 2029.

Here is the full interview:

IANS: Is Arvind Kejriwal the 'God of the poor'?

Avadh Ojha: Arvind Kejriwal is definitely a God, I have already said he is an avatar of Krishna. Whenever someone tries to change society or becomes a messiah of the poor, the "Kans" of society go after them. Otherwise, why was Lord Krishna born in a prison? What wrong did Devaki and Vasudeva done? Kans, the societal oppressors, never want anyone working for the poor, labourers, or the oppressed. Look at the situation in Delhi today, it has become an example for all of the country.

Conditions are dire everywhere. Some are worried that Kejriwal might become Prime Minister by 2029. That is why people are targeting him. I firmly believe he is a godly figure. Free education, free treatment in hospitals, he thinks to such an extent that even old people who fall sick and do not have someone to take care of them, he thinks about them. These are god-like traits.

IANS: Poet Kumar Vishwas made a controversial statement saying children should be taught the Ramayana, or else someone else will take away Lakshmi of their household. What's your view on this?

Avadh Ojha: Kumar Vishwas is a renowned poet with a significant reputation. While he said children should be taught the Ramayana, I would like to add that children should read not just the Ramayana but also the Bible, Quran, Gita, and other scriptures. These books contain the essence of humanity's upliftment. I myself teach the Gita on my channel. As for the second part of his statement, I believe women have the right to choose. Poet Vishwas might not realise this, but women have always had the liberty to decide their partners. For example, Savitri chose Satyavan. He might have made the comment unintentionally, but it is inappropriate to comment on anyone’s personal life. We all have families and should respect that.

IANS: How would you describe Kejriwal's simplicity and leadership qualities?

Avadh Ojha: A common teacher like me was embraced by him. Parties of kings and royals don't even acknowledge common people. But Kejriwal, a national leader, embraced me. I have observed his democratic approach and his focus on merit. He has his own style of working, and he always works democratically.

IANS: Will Rahul Gandhi's appeal have any impact on the Delhi elections?

Avadh Ojha: Rahul Gandhi is one of the country’s prominent leaders. If he speaks sensibly, people will surely listen to him.

IANS: Congress is accusing Kejriwal of being anti-Dalit. Your thoughts?

Avadh Ojha: The Ambedkar Excellence Study Scheme and the Ambedkar Scholarship for students wishing to study abroad are in Dr Ambedkar’s name. Kejriwal has openly declared from the stage that Dr Ambedkar is his god and that he is a devotee. He has also stated that if anyone speaks against his god, he will not tolerate it.

IANS: AIMIM is fielding candidates in the Delhi elections. Is that a threat to AAP's dominance?

Avadh Ojha: Our sisters are with us, we have the blessings of our elders, our children are with us, and the youth support us. So, who can pose a threat? In a democracy, everyone has the right to contest elections, and they should. There’s no issue with that.

IANS: Should Delhi’s Chief Minister be a Dalit?

Avadh Ojha: The question of whether the CM should be Dalit or Muslim depends on the party's rules and processes. Leadership should always be based on merit. During the Swadeshi movement, leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak encouraged Muslims and Dalits to come forward. Where there is merit, it should always be encouraged.

IANS: Will the issue of historical excavations be significant in Delhi elections?

Avadh Ojha: If we dig up the entire country, as one of our leaders Sanjay Singh once said, even the Parliament might reveal something. Should the Prime Minister excavate the Parliament too? I believe the focus should be on economic issues. People are struggling. Education, healthcare, and employment are the real concerns. Why waste time on unnecessary matters?

IANS: Last time, BJP gave Deputy CM Manish Sisodia a tough fight in his constituency. This time, Congress has fielded a former MLA. Will it be a triangular contest?

Avadh Ojha: The excitement remains until the last over of the match. Whoever fights with courage, determination, and God’s blessings will emerge victorious. The one whose chariot is driven by Krishna, will become Arjuna and win this Mahabharata.

--IANS

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Bhopal, Dec 24 (IANS) At least 12 tin-shed shops were gutted in a fire at a local market in Amarkantak town in Madhya Pradesh's Anuppur district on Tuesday, after which a firefighting vehicle was vandalised for delayed arrival.

The fire broke out in a shop and quickly spread to other eateries in the queue. Shop owners, workers and locals tried to control the blaze by pouring water.

Meanwhile, the Fire Department was also alerted and the firefighters rushed to the spot to put out the blaze.

However, the owners of the gutted shops created a ruckus alleging that the firefighting team reached the spot late.

The shop owners misbehaved with the firefighting team who ran out for their safety.

A video of the incident surfaced on social media, showing the vandalised firefighting vehicle. Having learned about the incident, local area police reached the spot and initiated action against the miscreants.

Police said the preliminary investigation suggested that the fire occurred due to a short circuit in a shop, however, more details would be known after the investigation. No casualty was reported in the fire incident, police said.

"A complaint has been filed by the Fire Department and the team has reached the spot for inspection. People involved in violence are being identified and future action will be initiated as per law. Investigation into the matter is underway," a police official said.

The police also said that action would be initiated against people, who were running shops illegally without obtaining mandatory approval.

Sources told IANS that officials from the district administration also reached the scene and carried out an inspection.

Earlier, this month, on December 5, a massive fire broke out in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

--IANS

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Jammu, Dec 24 (IANS) BJP general secretary and in charge of the party’s Jammu and Kashmir affairs Tarun Chugh on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of trying to deprive the underprivileged classes of their rights in the name of rationalisation of reservation policy.

Speaking to media persons, Tarun Chugh said, “Omar Abdullah Ji the country is run according to the Constitution and nobody will be allowed to fiddle with the rights of the Dalits, Gujjars, Paharis and other underprivileged classes of the society. INDIA bloc and the National Conference (NC) have deprived the underprivileged classes of their rights and they are again working on conspiracies to do the same. In the NC government members of the Valmiki Samaj could not get a government job and the BJP gave the constitutional right of reservations to these people."

He said, “NC is working on politics of revenge and retaliation against these people, but we will not allow them to do it. Instead of engaging himself in finding solutions to the basic problems being faced by the people, Omar Abdullah is raking up superfluous issues. His government has failed to address the problems with electricity and drinking water facilities for the people, and in order to distract the public attention, they have raked up the reservation issue."

“It is strange that during his lifetime, the Congress never gave Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar his rightful respect and after his death, they speak of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar now. Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi were honoured with the Bharat Ratna, but not Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar during the Congress rule,” Chugh said.

He alleged that Congress opposed the views of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar before Independence and also after Independence during their governments

“He was forced to resign and if you study the letter written by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, you will realise how strongly he opposed reservations in Independent India,” Chugh said.

It must be mentioned that the NC Lok Sabha member, Syed Ruhullah Mehdi led a protest march against the reservation policy at CM Abdullah’s residence in Srinagar on Monday.

This move, against his government by a Lok Sabha member of the ruling NC, is believed to have embarrassed the chief minister, who has assured to address the reservation policy by rationalising it within six months.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) Reforms made by the government coupled with private partnerships played a crucial role in the growth of India’s space industry in 2024, said the Indian Space Association (ISpA), noting that 2025 is poised to be a year of transformative developments.

Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd), Director General, ISpA stated that government reforms like the Foreign Direct Investment policy, the Rs 1,000 crore Venture Capitalist fund, and a thriving startup ecosystem, coupled with dynamic public-private collaborations propelled space sector growth.

“The Indian government’s continued focus on strategic policy reforms not only opens the door for significant private sector investment but also ensures that India stays at the forefront of global space innovation. With the continuous support from the government and the push for the public,” Bhatt said.

“The private space sector is witnessing a major growth in the startup ecosystem driven by favourable policy reforms like the liberal FDI policy announced this year,” he stated, adding that this will give the country “access to the latest tech advances and funds” both from Indian and global investors.

The FDI policy in the space sector was launched under the Indian Space Policy 2023 in March. It allows for 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route for satellite components and systems, up to 74 per cent for satellite manufacturing and operation, and 49 per cent for launch vehicles and spaceports.

In October, the Cabinet approved a Rs 1,000 crore VC Fund for the space sector, bolstering startups and private players.

It also approved Phase III of the Space-Based Surveillance (SBS-III) project, targeting the launch of 52 satellites to enhance surveillance. This involved the manufacturing of 31 satellites by the private sector, providing immense opportunities to the industry.

Further, the year also witnessed the laying of the foundation stone for India’s second spaceport in Kulasekharapattinam, Tamil Nadu.

Tata Advanced Systems and Satellogic launched India's first private sub-metric high-resolution Earth Observation satellite in April.

In May, Agnikul Cosmos made history with the launch of "Agnibaan - SOrTeD," the world’s first rocket powered by a fully 3D-printed, semi-cryogenic engine.

Funding for Indian space-tech startups reached $76.79 million in 2024, bringing total funding to $463.24 million to date. This includes Pixxel, GalaxEye, Dhruva Space, XDLink Labs, Piersight, and EtherialX.

Notably, this year, ISRO's commercial arm, NSIL, invited private firms to apply for the end-to-end manufacturing of the Launch Vehicle Mark-III, used in Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3.

IN-SPACe, under the Department of Space, also called for initial bids from domestic companies to design, build, and operate Earth Observation satellites. These initiatives mark the Centre’s push to become a key customer for India’s private space sector through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, transforming the space sector, Bhatt said.

--IANS

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Chennai, Dec 24 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, who is on a four-day visit to the national capital, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and thanked him for his love for the people of the state, Tamil language and literature.

The Prime Minister's Office posted pictures of the meeting on X.

The Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan also posted on X: “Hon’ble Governor Thiru R.N. Ravi called on Hon’ble Prime Minister Thiru Narendra Modi and had a fruitful discussion. On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, he thanked Thiru Narendra Modi for his boundless love for the people of the state, Tamil language, and literature.”

Notably, Governor Ravi has had a contentious relationship with the DMK-led government since he assumed office.

Tensions between the Governor and the state government escalated recently over the appointment of Vice Chancellors for various universities.

The first session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for 2025 is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on January 6, with the Governor delivering the customary inaugural address.

However, it remains to be seen whether the session will witness a confrontation similar to the one in 2024.

During the 2024 Assembly session, Governor Ravi refused to deliver the customary inaugural address prepared by the state government. He read only the first paragraph before walking out, skipping the remainder, which included wishes for “happiness, prosperity, and well-being” and a couplet from the Tirukkural.

The ongoing dispute over Vice-Chancellor appointments is likely to add to the friction. As the Chancellor of state universities, the Governor had earlier asked the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw its December 9 notification constituting a search committee for the Vice Chancellor’s post at Annamalai University.

He also demanded the withdrawal of similar notifications for Anna University, Bharathidasan University, and Periyar University, citing the absence of University Grants Commission (UGC) nominees on the search panels.

In a statement, the Raj Bhavan warned that any selection made by a search committee formed without a UGC nominee could likely be quashed by the courts. The Governor, in a letter to the state government, highlighted that the notification for the Annamalai University Vice Chancellor search violated Supreme Court directives by excluding a UGC nominee.

Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister responded, stating that the government had adhered to the laws governing state universities. The disagreement stems from the Governor’s insistence on including UGC nominees in search committees for Vice Chancellor appointments, while the DMK government maintains that state laws were followed.

While the state government funds the universities, the Governor, as Chancellor, retains the authority to appoint Vice Chancellors.

The tenure of the former Vice Chancellor of Annamalai University, R.M. Kathiresan, ended on November 23, leaving the post vacant amid the ongoing tussle.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday emphasised on the use of technology in crime control and called for a system with generation of alerts at predefined stages and timelines right from registration to disposal of the case for speedy investigation.

While chairing a review meeting on the implementation of three new criminal laws with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), he stressed the use of biometric technology to identify unclaimed bodies.

The Union Home Minister said there is a need to regularly interact with senior police formations of State/UTs to monitor the progress of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) and Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) regularly and provide impetus to the project.

He said that NCRB should create a data-rich platform to benefit the Investigation Officers and other stakeholders of the Criminal Justice System.

He appreciated NCRB's efforts in the technical implementation of New Criminal Laws and the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS).

The Union Minister also reviewed the integration of CCTNS 2.0, NAFIS, Prisons, Courts, Prosecution and Forensics with ICJS 2.0 at the all-India level. Union Home Secretary, Director NCRB and several senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, NCRB and NIC were present in the meeting.

During the discussions, he asked NCRB to facilitate the complete implementation of new criminal laws in ICJS 2.0, stressing on use of applications like eSakshya, Nyaya Shruti, eSign and eSummons in every state/UT.

Elaborating on the need to have a generation of alerts right from registration to disposal of a case, he said alerts to investigation officers and senior officers as per pre-defined timelines would help expedite the investigation.

He emphasised that a team of the Ministry of Home Affairs and NCRB should visit the States/Union Territories to increase the adoption of technical projects and assist them in all possible ways.

--IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 24 (IANS) A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Christmas celebrations organised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in Delhi, the Orthodox Bishop of the Thrissur diocese, Yuhanon Mar Meletius expressed anguish over reports of some VHP activists disrupting an event in a Kerala school.

Speaking to IANS, the bishop remarked that while the Prime Minister was bowing before the Christmas crib at the CBCI headquarters in New Delhi, leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were reportedly involved in anti-Christmas activities in Palakkad, Kerala.

The bishop referred to allegations that a group of VHP activists had disrupted a school event in Nallamangalam, Palakkad district, where children were dressed as Santa Claus and paraded on the streets.

According to him, the activists made derogatory remarks during the incident.

Additionally, there were reports of Christmas cribs being vandalized at two other schools in Palakkad district, with allegations pointing towards the involvement of RSS and VHP members.

Bishop Meletius accused the BJP and RSS of a dual strategy -- engaging with Church leadership while targeting Christian symbols and celebrations at the grassroots.

He said the BJP, as the political arm of the RSS, promotes an ideology aimed at establishing upper-caste Hindu dominance in the country.

“India is a secular democratic country with immense diversity. The ideology of the RSS cannot be easily implemented here,” the bishop said.

He further emphasized the significant contributions of the Christian community in India, particularly in the education, healthcare, and social service sectors.

He added that the BJP’s attempts to win over Christians at the leadership level while undermining their beliefs at the grassroots are evident and unacceptable.

The bishop also mentioned that Hindu organisations have started making claims over some established churches after claiming that ancient Hindu idols were once present in those churches.

Bishop Meletius expressed his belief that Prime Minister Modi’s act of bowing before the Christmas crib at the CBCI headquarters was a symbolic gesture inconsistent with the actions of RSS and VHP at ground level.

--IANS

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