India

Bhopal, Dec 16 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Monday that the dream of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for linking rivers under the tripartite contract for the ambitious Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project will become reality soon.

This contract will be signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jaipur on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister said the much-awaited development, which has been pending for the last more than 20 years due to various reasons, will take concrete shape.

"The consensus on this project could not be made mainly because both states were ruled by different parties. Multiple meetings were held between the officials from both states (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan).

Under the instructions from PM Modi all issues have been resolved now," CM Yadav added.

He also said that the project will benefit 3,217 villages of Guna, Morena, Shivpuri, Bhind, Sheopur, Ujjain, Sehore, Mandsaur, Indore, Dhar, Agar Malwa, Shajapur and Rajgarh districts of the state.

"Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project will prove to be a boon for the farmers and citizens of both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. This will provide abundant water for irrigation to farmers and new doors of development will open," he added.

The Chief Minister asserted that the project will bring prosperity to both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Farmers will be able to double their yield with the water obtained from the project, which will make the state prosperous along with their families, CM Yadav said.

He added that the project will cost around Rs 72,000, of which, Madhya Pradesh will spend Rs 35,000 crore, while Rajasthan will spend Rs 37,000 crore and the rest of the amount will be allocated by the Centre.

The total water-filling capacity of the project will be 1908.83 cubic metres.

As much as 172 million cubic metres of water will be reserved for drinking and industries.

As many as 21 dams will be constructed under the project.

After Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal, PM Modi is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone of another river interlining project (Ken-Betwa) between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh during his visit to Sagar on December 25.

The project will provide water for irrigation for more than 8.1 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region and another 2.5 lakh hectares in Uttar Pradesh.

The Chief Minister last week said that after these two projects started, several big rivers within the state will also be interconnected.

He said that PM Modi had instructed him to prepare a plan for this purpose.

--IANS

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Mumbai/Agartala, Dec 16 (IANS) DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday said that there is a huge market for the northeastern states in Southeast Asian countries and the region has huge untapped resources.

Addressing the Northeast Trade and Investment Roadshow in Mumbai, Scindia said that northeastern states have the potential to generate 56,000 MW of hydropower and the region is ready for investment in diverse sectors.

The DoNER Minister said that during the past ten years, the number of airports increased from nine to seventeen while Rs 90,000 crore was invested in the railway sectors.

Adding that there are 5500 km of National highways, the Minister said that the region has been encircled by China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal making the region have huge scopes of trade and business.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to the development of the northeast. After becoming Prime Minister Modi has given top priority for the development of the region.

Huge human resources have been developed in the region and such human resources are not available in the entire world,” Scindia told the gathering.

He said that each NE state has their own area of competence and each of the eight states has abandoned resources in varied sectors and this is the time for investment and to utilise the untapped resources.

The DoNER minister said that 35 local products of various northeastern states have got the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) registration, commonly known as the GI tag.

The Northeast Trade and Investment Roadshow was organised at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Colaba in Mumbai.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K Sangma in their speeches highlighted the potentiality of their states and said there are huge scopes of investments in these states.

Tripura Chief Minister informed that the state’s estimated per capita income in 2024 is at an all-time high of Rs 1.77 lakh, compared to Rs 1.57 lakh in 2023.

"Tripura’s GSDP has grown at 8.9 per cent, making it the state with the second-highest GSDP growth rate in the northeast region.

We are making every effort to create an investor-friendly climate to utilise the state’s capacities and resources. The state government is adding new dimensions to industrial and basic infrastructure improvement across the state,” Saha said.

He said PM Modi’s HIRA model, focusing on Highways, the Internet, Railways, and Airways, has transformed connectivity.

Tripura Chief Minister further mentioned that the state government has established a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sabroom in South Tripura District, which has already attracted significant interest from investors.

“There is enormous scope for industries utilizing indigenous resources such as rubber, bamboo, natural gas, agro-products, agar, food processing, tea, handicrafts, and tourism.

We have over 5 million agar trees spread across 2,000 hectares in the North District. We have also established a Rubber Park in Bodhjungnagar, with another one planned in the South District. Tripura boasts 21 species of bamboo and has launched a comprehensive bamboo policy,” Saha said.

The Northeast Trade and Investment Roadshow was organised by the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (MDoNER).

Monday’s Mumbai Roadshow marks the sixth event in the ongoing series, showcasing presentations from the eight northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Dec 16 (IANS) With Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma giving his nod, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is set to initiate action against Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president and former minister K. T. Rama Rao in Formula E race case.

The matter was discussed during the State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday.

Minister for Information and Public Relations Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy revealed that the Governor has given permission to try KTR in the case will be taken by the ACB in accordance with the law.

The Chief Secretary will forward the file signed by the Governor to the ACB tonight or on Tuesday for further action, the minister said.

Srinivas Reddy told media persons that he would not say anything about KTR’s arrest. He remarked that law will take its own course.

Last month, the Congress government had requested the Governor to grant permission to the ACB to register a case against KTR for alleged misuse of power and diversion of funds for conducting the Formula-E race.

There are allegations that as then minister for industry KTR sanctioned funds for the race bypassing established procedures.

With the Governor giving his nod under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the ACB is likely to register a case against KTR, issuing him notices and conducting raids on certain individuals and officials connected to the alleged scam.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka had said in January that the Formula E race was conducted last year by the previous government to benefit a company and Hyderabad and Telangana were in no way benefited from it.

The then government had agreed to pay Rs. 110 crores to the company and out of this Rs.55 crores were paid. The remaining amount was to be paid in two instalments.

Formula E cancelled the second Formula E race (Season 10) scheduled in Hyderabad on February 10, 2024.

The announcement was made after a decision by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department (MAUD) of the Telangana government not to fulfil the Host City Agreement signed on October 30, 2023.

Formula E Operations (FEO) said it was left with no choice other than to formally give notice to MAUD for breach of contract.

The Congress government issued notice to senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar for ‘serious violations’ with regard to the agreement.

The official was asked to explain why the huge financial expenditure of Rs.46 crores plus the tax amount of Rs.9 crores was paid from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) resources even before the agreement was signed.

KTR last month defended the previous government's decision to bring the Formula E race to Hyderabad and declared that he is ready to go to jail.

Denying the allegations of corruption, KTR said he tried to elevate Hyderabad’s global image, especially through the Formula E race.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS) BJP leaders attacked Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who carried a handbag displaying a bold ‘Palestine’ tag in Parliament on Monday, even as Congress has defended her action.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma said, "The mentality of all three members of the Gandhi family reflects foreign thinking, a foreign façade."

Union Minister of State Banwari Lal Verma stated, “Priyanka Gandhi brought a Palestine bag, but she should have brought India's bag instead. By bringing in unrelated issues, she is just indulging in drama."

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said, "I believe that the credit for appeasing the minority should not go to anyone, as injustice is being done. Priyanka Gandhi is saying that every citizen, every leader, and every worker in India is speaking up about the injustice happening to our Hindu people in Bangladesh. They should be protected, and no injustice should be done to them."

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari stated, "Priyanka Gandhi's bag has 'Palestine' written on it, you can understand that she has no connection with India. Just a few days ago, it had 'Italy' written on it, and now it has 'Palestine'. Who knows when 'India' will be written on it.."

BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat said, "The words 'democracy' and 'system' do not even exist in the dictionary of the Congress party and its leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Our country is known for its vastness and the history of its democracy. Their mindset raises serious questions."

Reacting to the development, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana said, "People do such things for news. When they have been rejected by the people, they resort to such actions."

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, “She wants to prove that Congress does politics of appeasement. They do not see the suffering of the victims in Bangladesh, they only see Palestine. She tweets about Gaza more than 20 times but does not talk about Bangladeshi Hindus. Congress party is a party of Muslim appeasement.”

Meanwhile, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla defended Priyanka’s action, saying, "Children are being killed in Palestine, hospitals are being bombed, and she is protesting all of this on the grounds of humanity."

AIMIM Spokesperson Waris Pathan also reacted to Priyanka Gandhi’s 'Palestine' Bag. He said, "Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Mahatma Gandhi, they all supported Palestine. We have always supported Palestine.”

--IANS

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Patna, Dec 16 (IANS) Mukesh Raushan, the RJD MLA from Mahua Assembly constituency, on Monday allegedly received death threats, adding to the tension surrounding the political atmosphere in Bihar.

The threatening calls came from an individual who identified himself as Manish Chaudhary, claiming to be a resident of Uttar Pradesh.

The incident occurred on Monday evening and has been reported to the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

The individual, Manish Chaudhary, used WhatsApp to make four life-threatening calls to Mukesh Raushan from the number 7417173317.

During the calls, Chaudhary not only threatened the MLA but also used abusive language, attempting to intimidate him.

He threatened to set Mukesh Raushan's office in the Vaishali district on fire.

These threats come at a sensitive time as the MLA mourns the recent loss of his father. His father was also murdered by criminals recently.

After receiving the threatening calls, Mukesh Raushan immediately reported the incident to Patna SSP Rajiv Mishra.

The SSP has advised the MLA to file a written complaint to initiate a formal investigation into the matter.

Authorities are expected to trace the caller and determine the motive behind the threats.

The MLA was in the news recently as he broke down publicly after RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav hinted at contesting the next Assembly election from the Mahua constituency.

Mukesh Raushan, the current Mahua MLA, has openly expressed his fears about losing his ticket in the next Assembly election.

He has stated his willingness to accept any decision made by the party but also hinted at returning to his medical profession if sidelined in politics.

This incident raises serious concerns about the security of public representatives in Bihar.

Given the rising political and social tensions in the state, such threats not only endanger the lives of individuals but also create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

Earlier, Purnea's MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav received a number of life-threatening calls and messages even from Pakistan, Nepal, Dubai and Malaysia.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 16 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court has granted transit anticipatory bail to the fourth accused - Sushil Singhania, the uncle of the first accused Nikita Singhania - in connection with the sensational Atul Subhash suicide case.

Transit anticipatory bail provides protection to an accused from arrest until he or she can reach a court with jurisdiction in connection with the alleged offence. The measure is temporary in nature and is different from that of the ordinary bail that is granted after an arrest.

The bench headed by Justice Ashutosh Srivatsava passed the order and remarked that the bail pleas of Atul’s wife Nikita Singhania, mother-in-law Nisha Singhania and brother-in-law Anurag Singhania had become infructuous since they were arrested by the Karnataka Police.

The bench observed, that the allegations for instigating suicide have been raised primarily against the Family Court’s Principal Judge, mother-in-law and wife of the deceased. The charges against the fourth accused are limited to issuing threats to the deceased and his parents over the phone and in person.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru police on Monday stated that the two-year-old son of Atul Subhash is safe with one of the relatives and more information can’t be divulged in this regard as the matter is sensitive.

Speaking to media in Bengaluru DCP (Whitefield) Shivakumar Gunare stated, “What we can divulge is the child is with one of the relatives. Since the matter is sensitive, more information in this regard can’t be given. We will provide more information regarding the child in the coming days.”

He said that the court has ordered judicial custody of all accused, Atul’s wife Nikita Singhaniya, mother-in-law Nisha Singhania and brother-in-law Anurag Singhania. The case is being investigated without any bias.

Atul’s father Pavan Kumar Modi had expressed his fears over Atul's son. He had stated that he didn't know whether his grandson was alive or not. He further expressed his desire to be with his grandson.

“I used to talk to my grandson over the video call. Nikita’s family had lodged a complaint against us regarding the matter of my grandson,” he claimed.

Three accused in Atul Subhash's suicide case -- his wife, her mother and brother -- who were arrested by Bengaluru Police, were sent to 14-day judicial custody on Sunday.

Atul Subhash’s wife Nikita Singhania was arrested from Haryana’s Gurugram and her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anurag Singhania were nabbed in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Prime accused in the sensational Atul Subhash suicide case Nikita Singhania changed her location every day to avoid arrest and tried to obtain bail in the case, said police sources on Monday.

Sources said that the special teams which went to Uttar Pradesh had found that the accused had locked their houses and left after getting the news of the arrival of Karnataka Police teams. The police pasted a notice on the walls of their residences asking them to appear before the police within three days.

The special team gathered information about the accused and listed out the close relatives and friends suspected to be in touch with them. They were also monitored. As the accused made calls only on WhatsApp, it was difficult to track them.

However, Nikita Singhania, made one phone call mistakenly to one of her close relatives. Based on the tower location the police went to Gurugram in Haryana and found that she was hiding in a PG accommodation in the Rail Vihar area. She was detained by the police in the city.

The police grilled Nitika and got her to make a phone call to her mother Nisha Singhania and brother Anurag Singhania. After tracking their location, the police picked them up from Jhunsi town in Uttar Pradesh.

The accused were questioned later for nine hours during the transit time to Bengaluru and ensured that the two-year-old baby boy was in the safe custody of one of her relatives. The police recorded the statements of the accused persons before presenting them to the judge.

The police can take custody of the accused persons on a body warrant if their investigation is required. On the other hand, the family of Nikita is preparing to file a bail plea in the court.

Nikita Singhania has claimed that she never harassed Atul Subhash and she was living away from him for three years. Meanwhile, the family of Atul Subhash is claiming custody of Atul and Nikita’s two-year-old male baby. Bikas Kumar, brother of deceased Subhash has claimed that the family wanted to see the baby.

The accused persons were produced before the court and were sent to judicial custody for 14 days. After nabbing the accused persons, the Karnataka Police brought them to Bengaluru on Saturday late at night.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that Atul Subhash had planned to commit suicide 15 days before taking the extreme step. He had written the death note three days ago and searched legal matters on Google.

The police registered an FIR against the accused persons under Sections 108, 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) on December 9. Bikas Kumar had lodged a police complaint alleging abetment to suicide with the Marathahalli police in Bengaluru.

The FIR was lodged against Subhash’s wife Nikita Singhania, mother-in-law Nisha Singhania, brother-in-law Anurag Singhania and relative Sushil Singhania. The police are yet to arrest the fourth accused, Sushil, in the case.

Bikas Kumar alleged in the complaint that false cases were lodged against his brother by the accused who had demanded Rs 3 crore to settle the case. He had also alleged that his brother was taunted in the court during the proceedings that he had to either give Rs 3 crore or commit suicide.

Nikita’s family had alleged that the deceased Subhash demanded a hefty dowry from her family which resulted in the death of her father.

Subhash, who was working with an automobile company in Bengaluru, allegedly committed suicide as a demand of Rs 3 crore was made for a divorce settlement.

He ended his life at his apartment in the early hours of December 9, leaving behind a 90-minute video and a 40-page death note, explaining how harassment by his wife Nikita Singhania and her family compelled him to take the extreme step.

--IANS

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Jammu, Dec 16 (IANS) A teenager from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was repatriated after six days on Monday after he inadvertently crossed the line of control (LoC) in J&K’s Poonch district.

Officials said that a teenager identified as Saliq Hussain son of Khalid Hussain of Bandi Abasspur had crossed the LoC on December 11 and was immediately taken into custody by the army.

“On questioning of the teenager, it was revealed that he had lost his way and crossed the LoC. Soon the Indian Army established contact with their Pakistani counterparts and Saliq was handed over to them at Chakan Da Bagh crossing in Poonch district this evening after completion of all formalities,” officials said.

The gate at Chakan Da Bagh LoC crossing was opened at 5 pm today for 25 minutes to enable the teenager’s repatriation, an official added.

The army has heightened vigil on the LoC after intelligence agencies said that terrorists are waiting at the launching pads across the LoC to sneak into the Indian side before the mountain passes are closed by this season’s snowfall.

Security forces and police are acting in complete synergy with each other to ensure that the terrorists are eliminated before they create any major security-related problems.

After the peaceful people participative Lok Sabha and legislative assembly elections in J&K, intelligence agencies believe that the handlers of terror from across the border have become impatient and they have directed the terrorists to give the dying terrorism in J&K the last push.

Terrorists have carried out some dastardly attacks on civilians, police, security forces and the army after the peaceful conduct of elections in J&K.

The L-G also chaired a top-level security review meeting in the aftermath of terrorist attacks in J&K. He gave orders to the security forces to target terrorists, their over-ground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers to dismantle the ecosystem of terror in J&K.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Dec 16 (IANS) A clash erupted on Monday during the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) meeting in Jaipur over the absence of Congress National General Secretary and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot’s photo from the meeting banners.

Sources said that the issue arose when some Congress members expressed displeasure about the missing picture of Pilot which led to a heated exchange.

State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra defended the decision, citing protocol as the reason behind the banner design. The matter was first raised by State Secretary Narpat Meghwal, followed by Vibha Mathur, who questioned the implications of omitting Pilot’s image.

“How can we talk about strengthening the party when a prominent leader’s photo is missing?” they argued.

The duo questioned why the banner featured former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s picture and not of Sachin Pilot’s. In response, Dotasra reiterated that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) protocol governs such decisions in PCC meetings. Vibha Mathur, granddaughter of former Chief Minister Shiv Charan Mathur and a known Pilot supporter, joined the debate, expressing strong objections.

Dotasra dismissed the criticism, asserting that the photos on posters adhered to Congress guidelines and urged members to focus on party unity. “If anyone wants to feature leaders’ photos, they can do so in their own programmes,” he stated.

The controversy stemmed from a banner prominently displaying images of senior Congress leaders from the central and state levels but excluding Sachin Pilot. Addressing the issue, Dotasra downplayed the incident, calling it an internal matter. “They expressed their concerns, and we acknowledged them,” he remarked.

Vibha Mathur, currently a PCC Secretary and considered a staunch Sachin Pilot supporter, has held various positions in the Congress, including spokesperson for the IT Cell.

During the meeting, Dotasra announced a review of officials’ performance within the organisation. Noting the absence of 23 officials from the meeting, he warned of consequences for inactivity. “Only those who fulfil their responsibilities will remain in the organisation,” he emphasised, adding that block-and division-level executives would soon be formed.

The incident meanwhile underscored persistent tensions within the Rajasthan Congress, reflecting ongoing power struggles.

--IANS

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Jammu, Dec 16 (IANS) The Commissioner of Railway Safety on Monday carried out the inspection of the rail track from Reasi to Banihal town which is the final connecting rail track for the Vande Bharat train service expected to become operational by January 2025.

With the final inspection of the vital Reasi-Banihal rail track scheduled in the first week of January 2025, the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project would become fit for operations.

The two-day inspection started on Monday and will continue on Tuesday as part of the technical safety approval procedure by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.

Dinesh Chand Deswal, Commissioner of Railway Safety is accompanied by a team of rail safety experts who will check and approve every detail of the project’s infrastructure.

The final trial run of the Katra-Banihal section was performed in June this year when the train chugged between Sangaldan to Reasi railway stations.

Tuesday’s inspection includes Kodi to Katra link which includes the cable bridge over Anji Khad.

The most ambitious and marvellous part of the USBRL is the railway bridge over the Chenab River which is the World’s tallest railway bridge towering 359 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Rs 1486 core using 30,000 tonnes of steel went into the construction of this bridge.

The dream project will give a major boost to the economy of the Valley, especially the horticulture sector. The project will provide the cheapest possible transportation of apples etc to the terminal markets in the rest of the country.

It will also come as the fulfilment of the dreams of industrialists and businessmen in addition to students and the common citizen.

The Vande Bharat train is expected to take around 12 hours to complete the distance from Delhi to Srinagar.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Dec 16 (IANS) Lokesh Sharma, the former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to ex-Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, turned approver in the phone tapping case on Monday.

Talking to IANS, Sharma confirmed that the Patiala House Court had approved his application earlier in the day. He hinted that the development could have far-reaching implications for Rajasthan’s bureaucracy and political landscape.

Sharma was arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on November 25 at Prashant Vihar police station in Delhi. However, he secured anticipatory bail immediately after his arrest. Speculation had been rife since then that he might turn approver in the high-profile case.

The phone tapping controversy erupted in Rajasthan during the political crisis of 2020 when a faction led by Sachin Pilot went to Manesar as part of political camping.

The case gained traction after Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat filed an FIR with the Delhi Crime Branch, naming Lokesh Sharma. Following this, Sharma had moved Delhi High Court seeking protection from arrest but later withdrew his petition.

The controversy stemmed from leaked audio recordings that went viral during the political turmoil. These recordings allegedly revealed attempts of horsetrading.

Lokesh Sharma, then serving as Ashok Gehlot’s OSD, released the audio clips, accusing Shekhawat of being involved in the alleged horse-trading of legislators.

Shekhawat, in turn, filed a complaint alleging illegal phone tapping, naming Sharma in the case.

An official said that the court’s decision to grant Sharma’s application to turn approver is expected to bring new details to light.

--IANS

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