India

Mumbai, April 2 (IANS) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) mourned the demise of former India all-rounder Salim Durani, who passed away on Sunday at his residence in Jamnagar after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 88.

The all-rounder played 29 Tests for India scoring 1202 runs and took 75 wickets. He played a key role with the ball in the famous 1971 Port of Spain Test, where legendary Sunil Gavaskar made his debut. In a span of few balls in the second innings, Durani dismissed both Clive Lloyd and Gary Sobers, paving the way for India's first Test victory in the Caribbean. He conceded just 21 runs from the 17 overs that he bowled.

"It is with great sadness and a deep sense of loss that BCCI has learnt of the sad demise of Shri Salim Durani on Sunday, 2nd April 2023. A charismatic all-rounder, Durani played the game for two-and-a-half decades," the Indian cricket board said in a statement.

Blessed with a unique ability to hit monstrous sixes on demand, Durani's aggressive left-hand batting had a huge following and his left-arm spin bowling was equally effective.

In 1961-62, he bowled India to victory over England, taking a series haul of 23 wickets. In the Eden Gardens Test, he took 8 wickets and followed up with a match haul of 10 wickets in Chennai.

"Shri Salim Durani played the game with grace, flair and a lot of passion. With his demise, we have lost one of India's iconic cricket heroes. While his performances in international cricket are inspiring, his feats in domestic cricket still act as a motivation for our cricketers. I extend my condolences to his family and friends," said BCCI president Roger Binny.

Jay Shah, Secretary BCCI said,"Shri Salim Durani's contribution towards Indian Cricket will forever be remembered. With his demise, we have lost one of Indian cricket's crown jewels. His eye-catching batting style and his overall aura made him special. The BCCI prays for the departed soul and shares the grief of the family and his loved ones."

Durani also played 170 first-class games, scored 8545 runs and took 484 wickets and represented Saurashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan in domestic cricket. Durani, the first cricketer to receive the Arjuna Award was honoured by the Board in 2011 with the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.

He was BCCI's special guest in 2018 when the Board hosted Afghanistan for its first-ever Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he presented a memento at the toss to Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai.

-- IANS

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Gurugram, April 2 (IANS) Cases have been filed against members of various Hindu outfits for allegedly inciting religious sentiments in Gurugram district during an unauthorised 'Shobha Yatra' on Sunday, police said.

Gurugram police said that the 'Shobha Yatra' was organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal without prior permission from the authorities.

When the participants were crossing Gurugram's Jama Masjid, they made objectionable statements in front of it, waving swords, and inciting religious sentiments by using abusive language against a particular community.

"A rally was taken out by some persons illegally without permission. When this rally reached Sadar Bazar, some anti-social elements shouted slogans and demonstrated by waving swords etc. with the intention of disturbing social harmony and peace. Taking cognizance of the matter, Gurugram police has registered a case under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race), 144 (unlawful assembly armed with a deadly weapon) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) at the city police station.

"We have registered a case against members of different Hindu outfits. Appropriate action will be initiated against them as per the law," Gurugram police spokesperson Subhash Boken said.

--IANS
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Patna April 2 (IANS) Bihar's ruling JD-U hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who, in his Nawada rally on Sunday, had slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the violence in Sasaram and Nalanda, accusing him of defaming the state with false allegations.

"Amit Shah is saying the people were killed in Sasaram... I want to ask those who have been killed there. Amit Shah is stating a lie. He is alleging the Bihar government of falsehood and it is not wise for the Home Minister of the country to speak lies. He is doing politics over dead bodies," MLC Neeraj Kumar said.

Reacting to Amit Shah saying that he had a phone conversation with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Neeraj Kumar asked why he had not talked to the Chief Minister.

"You have done the same in West Bengal and not talked to CM Mamata Banerjee. At least, you should talk to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar about the exact situation of Sasaram and Biharsharif. Amit Shah, without consulting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, leveled false allegations on the Bihar government," he said.

The JD-U leader also said that Amit Shah went to Nawada and did not take the names of Shree Babu (Bihar's first Chief Minister Shri Krishna Sinha) and C.P. Singh. "We have demanded Bharat Ratna for Shree Babu. The way BJP is telling lies, people of Bihar will teach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah a lesson in the 2024 Lok Sabha election," he said.

"Nitish Kumar is doing the development work from the phase when they were not even participating in the politics of the country," he said.

"Amit Shah also lied on Rajauli atomic energy facility. The PMO denied that project. Now, Amit Shah is saying that the project was started. PM Narendra Modi tells lies on Gram Khadi and Charkha Yojana. He has done false marketing on this project," Neeraj Kumar said.

--IANS
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Guwahati, April 2 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational qualifications while criticising him for the 2016 demonetisation that had banned the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes from circulation.

Speaking at a rally here, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor said "had PM Modi been educated, he would not have called for demonetisation, and also wouldn't have brought the farm laws that were eventually repealed".

"Somebody fooled the Prime Minister by advising him that if demonetisation happens, corruption will be eliminated. Further, terrorism would also end. The Prime Minister would not have done the demonetisation if he was educated," said the Delhi Chief Minister.

The AAP leader claimed demonetisation has caused India go backtrack on its economy by at least 10 years.

"You had seen the long queues of people after demonetisation. People lost their jobs, and numerous business ventures had to shut down due to this mistake. Did corruption or terrorism end after demonetisation?" Kejriwal questioned.

"I have heard in many programmes... PM Modi himself said that he only went to schools," he said.

The AAP leader also took a swipe at PM Modi over the controversial farm laws.

"Somebody again be-fooled the Prime Minister on farm laws. After one year of continuous agitation and the deaths of more than 700 farmers, the Prime Minister rolled back the controversial laws. He took such a long time because he was fooled by wrong advice."

Kejriwal said that a person must have sufficient education to occupy the topmost post in the country.

He also criticised PM Modi for his promise to give drinking water to every household in Guwahati.

"I heard that 10 years ago, PM Modi promised that he would give every household in Guwahati pure drinking water if he came to power. He has not delivered on his promise. But if the people of Assam give AAP a chance, within 1 year, every household in Assam will get pure drinking water supply," Kejriwal said.

--IANS
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New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the excise policy case and said that former deputy CM Manish Sisodia was the "mastermind of the alleged scam".

Addressing a press conference here, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, "Why did the court refuse to give relief to Manish Sisodia, the accused in the liquor scam? Manish Sisodia and company have received a bribe of Rs 100 crore and this has been verified through the court."

"The court said that while reviewing the evidence presented, it can be said that Manish Sisodia is not honest but the mastermind of this corruption policy," Poonawalla added.

On Friday, a Delhi court, while dismissing the bail plea of Sisodia in the excise policy case lodged by the CBI, said prima facie the AAP leader "is the architect of the criminal conspiracy in the matter".

Special Judge M.K. Nagpal said Sisodia's release may adversely impact the ongoing investigation and "seriously hamper" its progress.

--IANS
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Aizawl, March 29 (IANS) The Assam Rifles and Customs preventive force in a joint raid on Wednesday seized foreign cigarettes worth Rs 3.52 crore in Mizoram, officials said.

An Assam Rifles official said that the para-military troops accompanied by the Customs preventive force recovered 235 cases of foreign cigarettes from an abandoned area near Melbuk refugee camp at Zokhawthar in Champhai district along the Myanmar border.

"Smuggling of illegal items is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram. Assam Rifles have been successful in launching such operations against smuggling activities in Mizoram," an Assam Rifles statement said.

Mizoram's 510 km unfenced international border with Myanmar, especially in the bordering Champhai district, is a major hotspot of smuggling.

Besides various illicit drugs, foriegn cigarettes, a variety of other contrabands like gold, as well as arms and ammunition, exotic animals, and areca nuts are often smuggled from Myanmar into the northeastern states, especially Mizoram and Manipur.

--IANS
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Patna, March 29 (IANS) With the Lok Sabha election just a year away, Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD) President Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday openly came in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that no one in the opposition camp can challenge him.

Talking to media persons in Sasaram, Kushwaha said that the opposition leaders of the country have become issueless.

"The opposition leaders are divided in the country. They are issueless and are feeling uneasy.. The opposition have no option to challenge PM Modi in the country. We are not seeing any option who could challenge him ahead of the Lok Sabha election 2024.

"Narendra Modi is leading by a big margin in terms of popularity in the country," he claimed.

Asked about where he stands in the context of the 2024 elections, Kushwaha said that he is standing with the common people of Bihar and the country.

--IANS
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New Delhi, March 29 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday told a Delhi court that it will file a supplementary charge sheet within three weeks' time in connection with a case related to the alleged land for job scam against RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, their son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, their daughter Misa Bharti and others.

Special Judge Geetanjli Goel of the Rouse Avenue Courts asked the probe agency to provide a copy of the charge sheet filed earlier to all the accused persons.

The court fixed the next date of hearing on April 5 as the agency moved an application for an early hearing in the matter and some of the accused submitted that they would file a reply to the agency's plea.

While Yadav's wife and daughter attended the court proceedings on Wednesday, the judge granted exemption from personal appearance to him and his son.

On March 15, the court had granted bail to Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Misa Bharti.

Goel had noted that the CBI had filed its charge sheet without arrest.

The court had, however, granted bail and directed every accused to furnish Rs 50,000 personal bail bond.

The bail plea was not opposed by the CBI.

The court had on February 27 issued summons to them in the case which concerns alleged appointments made in the Railways in exchange for land parcels given or sold to Lalu Prasad's family while he was the Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.

In its charge sheet, the CBI said that irregular appointments had been made in the Railways, in violation of the standards and guidelines established by the Indian Railways for hiring.

It is alleged that the candidates gave Yadav's family members land at extremely reduced prices -- up to one-fifth of the going market rates -- directly or through their close relatives and family members.

The CBI had filed the charge sheet in the case on October 10, 2022, against 16 persons including Rabri Devi and her daughter and sanction was then obtained to prosecute them.

Goel had, on February 27, observed that, prima facie, the on-record report shows that offences have been committed under different sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

--IANS
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Patna, March 29 (IANS) In wake of Upendra Kushwaha quitting the JD-U and BJP appointing Kushwaha leader Samrat Chaudhary its Bihar unit chief, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday sought to reach out to the Kushwaha community, citing all that his government had done for them.

Addressing a gathering of Kushwaha community at the Sri Krishna Memorial Hall here to celebrate the birth anniversary of Emperor Ashoka - whom the Kushwahas claim descent from, he used the term "Sachet Rahiyega" (remain alert) from the people who come from Delhi and claimed that they have done lots of things for them.

"I have done lots of things for the memory of Samrat Ashok and Kushwaha community in Bihar. You people know it very well. I want to alert you that some people will come from Delhi and claim that they have done lots of things in the memories of Samrat Ashok. I want to tell you that they have done nothing but they claimed that they have done everything. So, be alert of them," Nitish Kumar said and also took an assurance from the people of Kushwaha community by asking them to wave both hands in the air to support him and not others.

"I did so many things for the welfare of Kushwaha community and overall people of Bihar but you have never seen me claiming my achievement. They (BJP) have done nothing. They have nothing to do with the freedom struggle. They are trying to wipe out Mahatma Gandhi. They are in power in the country but nothing has been done for the welfare of common people. They have only done lip service. So, be alert of them," here.

Nitish Kumar-led JD-U has a core vote bank of Kurmi (Lav) and Kushwaha (Kush) in Bihar. After Upendra Kushwaha left the JD-U, some of the Kushwaha vote bank purportedly shifted towards him, and now the BJP naming Samrat Chaudhary in Bihar is aimed at attracting the Kushwaha community - the third largest in Bihar after Muslims and Yadavs - towards it.

--IANS
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New Delhi, March 29 (IANS) The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Wednesday, in its meeting chaired by Lt Governor V.K. Saxena, took major decisions, including approval of Annual Budget 2023-24, with focus on civic infrastructure of the national capital, particularly Narela, Dwarka, and Rohini areas.

The budget has special emphasis on UER II, rejuvenation and restoration of Yamuna floodplains and green spaces. The authority also approved pre-determined rates for Rohini, Phase IV and V, Tikri Kalan and Narela for financial year 2022-23 and permitted land use change for improving the public transport system in Delhi.

The DDA approved the annual budget for 2023-24, with an annual outlay of Rs 7,643 crore and receipts projected at Rs 8,541 crore. A total allocation of Rs 3,314 crore has been made for development of land, physical infrastructure and maintenance of existing infrastructure that includes roads, sewage, water supply, power lines and drainage in development areas falling under its jurisdiction.

It had also planned extensive development of the Yamuna riverfront. The construction of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) as 3rd ring road of Delhi is in progress through the NHAI. For this project, Rs 3,600 crore will be funded by the DDA out of the total project cost of Rs 6,421 crore (for Delhi portion). This project will have a great impact on decongestion of Delhi and thereby, reducing vehicular pollution.

Apart from above, construction of residential complexes on Transit Oriented Development (TOD) norms basis at Karkardooma is currently under progress. TOD entails bringing together metro stations, residences, workplaces, and recreational spaces. This project involves construction of 1,108 MIG and 522 EWS residential flats in 1st phase.

A total provision of Rs.1767 crore has been kept in BE 2023-24 for construction of houses of which Rs 240 crore relates to construction of houses at Karkardooma on TOD basis.

To enable the National Law University to expand its services and provide a wider range of facilities for its students and staff, the DDA has permitted it to set up Technical Training Centre, Community Hall, Recreational Hall, Library, among others, in 2 acres land out of 7 acres plot to them in Dwarka.

The decision was made in accordance with the Master Plan of Delhi 2021, which allows for certain additional activities to be carried out in residential use zone, subject to certain conditions.

--IANS
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