India

New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Turnout in the Delhi Assembly election touched 46.55 per cent till 3 p.m. as voting on the 70 seats remained largely peaceful on Wednesday, an official said.

There was a brief commotion at a polling booth in Seelampur where a bogus voter was caught casting a vote on someone else’s identity. The incident occurred at Aryan Public School, Booth Level Officer, Seelampur, Gayatri, said.

BJP nominee from the seat, Anil Gaur, accused the rival Congress and the AAP of bringing 300-400 fake voters from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

Special Commissioner of Police D.C. Srivastava confirmed getting complaints of attempted bogus voting. "Two persons have been detained on the allegation of bogus voting. The facts are being verified."

Till 3 p.m., Mustafabad seat recorded the highest turnout of 56.12 per cent followed by Seelampur with 54.29 per cent.

The New Delhi seat of AAP convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recorded a turnout of 44.83 per cent by 3 p.m. The Delhi Cantonment seat recorded 45.90 per cent voting.

Chief Minister Atishi’s constituency recorded a turnout of 41.17 per cent till 3 p.m. Manish Sisodia’s Jungpura seat recorded 44.07 per cent voting till 3 p.m.

Other turnout trends till 3 p.m. were: Sangam Vihar 48.95 per cent, Badarpur 44.79 per cent, Tughlakabad 44.20 per cent, Okhla 42.70 per cent, Kasturba Nagar 41 per cent, Malviya Nager 41.77 per cent, Chhatarpur 50.08 per cent, Ambedkar Nagar 45.50 per cent, Deoli 44.98 per cent and Mehrauli 40.34 per cent.

AAP Jangpura nominee and former deputy Delhi chief minister Manish Sisodia alleged that rival parties were giving money to voters, a charge which was dismissed by police as ‘unsubstantiated’.

His party colleague and AAP MP Raghav Chadha alleged that at many polling booths in the New Delhi constituency, the party’s polling agents and their relievers faced problems in entry.

Earlier, former Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and his wife gave up their car and walked down to their polling booth. Both of them escorted their parents, both in wheelchairs, to the booth at a school close to their Ferozeshah Road residence.

Kejriwal’s BJP rival Parvesh Verma performed religious rituals on the Yamuna bank before proceeding to cast his vote with his wife and daughter at the Nirman Bhawan booth.

Congress candidate from New Delhi Sandeep Dikshit cast his vote at a polling booth on Rahim Khan Road and later accompanied voters from the party and members of the Gandhi family – Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra – to their respective booths.

The turnout in the 2020 Delhi Assembly election stood at 62.82 per cent, 4.65 per cent lower than 67.47 per cent in 2015. In 2013, the turnout was 66.02 per cent, 8.42 per cent higher than 2008’s 57.6 per cent.

In 2020, the AAP won 62 out of 70 seats with a vote share of 53.57 per cent. The BJP won eight seats with a 38.51 per cent vote share. The Congress got 4.26 per cent of votes and others polled 3.66 per cent votes.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 5 (IANS) Ahead of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's address at the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS)-2025, the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly on Wednesday said the event was "all about fake MoUs".

"BGBS is all about signing fake MOUs, showing vague expressions of interest and issuing Letters of intent that end up in the dustbin," Adhikari said.

According to him, BGBS-2025, the 8th edition of the annual event, is neither about business nor global.

"It is an event where glossy lies are showcased to the people of West Bengal," the Leader of the Opposition said.

Adhikari also challenged the Chief Minister to inform the people about the total investment in the state, out of the proposed Rs 3.76 lakh crore, announced in BGBS 2023.

To recall, the last time this annual event was organised was in 2023, and for some reason, it could not be organised in 2024.

He also ridiculed the catchline of the event which says 'Bengal means Business'.

"BGBS is not the Bengal Global Business Summit. It is a two-day optical illusion event, consciously wrapped up in glossy paper to hide the industrialization drought of West Bengal. With Mamata Banerjee at the helm of affairs, Bengal does not and cannot mean business," the Leader of the Opposition said.

For quite some time, economic and industry observers have been critical of two policies which they think pose major hurdles towards attracting big-ticket investment, both in the manufacturing and the services sector.

First, the land policy of the state government that nullifies state intervention in procuring land for industries is a hurdle for land procurement for big industries in the manufacturing sector which requires a huge plot of land in one go especially in a state like West Bengal with fragmented land holding.

Secondly, the state government's policy of not allowing special economic zone (SEZ) status to any new entrant is a disincentive for major investment in the services especially in the IT and ITeS sectors.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Voting in Delhi Assembly election picked up as the day progressed, with a higher turnout on seats in trans-Yamuna districts. VIP seats like Arvind Kejriwal’s New Delhi recorded 30.86 per cent voting and Chief Minister Atishi’s Kalkaji constituency recorded a 28.75 per cent turnout till 1 pm.

Till about half-time of voting hours, North East Delhi voters showed great enthusiasm as Mustafabad seat recorded a 43.25 per cent turnout till 1 pm - with another five hours of balloting remaining. Seelampur's turnout was 40.25 per cent, Gokalpur 39.52 per cent and Karawal Nagar 39.18 per cent.

The voting exercise remained largely peaceful barring a brief commotion over alleged bogus voting in Seelampur and allegations of poll code violation made by some candidates, including the AAP's Jangpura nominee and former Deputy Delhi Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Sisodia alleged that rival parties were giving money to voters, a charge which was dismissed by police as “unsubstantiated”.

His party colleague and AAP MP Raghav Chadha alleged that at many polling booths in New Delhi constituency, the party’s polling agents and their relievers faced problems in entry.

Former Chief Minister and AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and his wife gave up their car and walked down to their polling booth. Both of them escorted their parents, both on wheelchairs, to the booth to a school close to their Ferozeshah Road residence.

Kejriwal’s BJP rival Parvesh Verma performed religious rituals on the Yamuna bank before proceeding to cast his vote with his wife and daughter at the Nirman Bhawan booth.

Congress candidate from New Delhi Sandeep Dikshit cast his vote at a booth on Rahim Khan Road and later accompanied other party leaders including members of the Gandhi family – Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka – to their respective polling booths.

Earlier, there was a commotion at a polling booth in Seelampur where a bogus voter was caught casting a vote on someone else’s identity. The incident occurred at Aryan Public School, Booth Level Officer, Seelampur, Gayatri, said.

In the North District, the flying squad of the election department reached Sainik Vihar polling station in Shalimar Bagh area on receiving a complaint that police personnel were forcing a voter to back a particular party. Later, the District Election Office, North, dismissed the complaint as false.

Till 1 pm, the North East district recorded the highest 39.51 per cent voting, Shahdara district recorded a 35.81 per cent turnout, South West 35.44 per cent, North West 33.17 per cent, South 32.67 per cent, North 32.44 per cent, South East 32.27 per cent, West 30.87 per cent, Central 29.74 per cent and New Delhi 29.89 per cent.

The turnout in the 2020 Delhi Assembly election stood at 62.82 per cent, 4.65 per cent lower than 67.47 per cent in 2015. In 2013, the turnout was 66.02 per cent, 8.42 per cent higher than 2008’s 57.6 per cent.

In 2020, the AAP won 62 out of 70 seats with a vote share of 53.57 per cent. The BJP won eight seats with a 38.51 per cent vote share. The Congress got 4.26 per cent of votes and others polled 3.66 per cent votes.

In 2015, the AAP won 67 seats with a 54.34 per cent vote share. The BJP won 3 seats with a 32.19 per cent vote share. The Congress bagged 9.65 per cent votes and others got 3.82 per cent votes.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Feb 5 (IANS) Three workers were killed in a wall collapse on a construction site in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Another worker was injured in the incident that occurred in LB Nagar.

According to police, the incident occurred when the workers were engaged in digging a pit for the cellar of an under-construction building of a hotel. A compound wall in the same premises fell on the workers, burying them under the debris.

Police and Disaster Response Force (DRF) personnel rushed to the spot and launched rescue operation. Bodies of three workers were pulled out from the rubble.

A fourth worker was critically injured. He was shifted to a private hospital, where his condition was stated to be critical.

The deceased were identified as Ramu (22), Veeraiah (52) and Vasu (19). Dasarth was critically injured. They all belong to the same family.

The construction workers hailed from Sitarampuram Thanda of Khammam district and had migrated to Hyderabad for livelihood.

The police shifted the bodies of the deceased to Osmania General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

Senior police and municipal officials visited the accident site. Fifteen workers were engaged in the digging work when the wall collapsed. Other workers escaped unhurt in the incident.

Police registered a case and took up further investigation. A police officer said they were questioning the hotel management about the incident.

Meanwhile, in another incident in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, a truck was gutted in a fire.

The incident occurred near Malayanur village in Kundurpi mandal of Anantapur district. The truck, which was heading to Anantapur from Chitradurga, suddenly caught fire. The driver stopped the vehicle and jumped out to save himself.

Alerted by the local people, a fire engine rushed to the spot and doused the fire. However, the truck was completely gutted in the fire.

The cause of the fire was not known. Police registered a case and took up further investigation.

--IANS

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Srinagar, Feb 5 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir's State Investigation Agency (SIA) conducted raids at two places in Budgam district on Wednesday in a terror funding case, officials said.

"SIA conducted raids at two locations in Budgam district today. One of the places raided belongs to a car dealer while the other location belongs to a businessman," an official said.

Sources said that the raids conducted by the SIA are part of the ongoing investigation into a terror funding case.

The SIA is a wing of the local CID and it carries out investigations into crimes related to terrorism. Hawala dealings, terror funding, and financial support to terrorists and terror networks are being investigated by the SIA.

The SIA has also investigated and subsequently presented charge sheets in the designated court against those involved in running and establishing communications for the terrorists.

It had carried out the investigation into the murder of advocate Babar Qadri killed by terrorists in his residence in the Hawal area of Srinagar city on September 2, 2020. A reward of Rs 10 lakh was announced by the SIA in 2023 to gather information about the killers of Qadri.

In 2021, the J&K Police claimed that Saqib Manzoor, a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, was involved in the killing of Qadri. Manzoor was killed during an encounter in Srinagar along with another militant ‘commander’.

However, in 2022, the police raided the houses of three lawyers, including the residence of Mian Qayoom in Srinagar’s Barzulla area, in the case. The police had also zeroed in on five locals, including two jail inmates, in Srinagar in the case.

Before his murder, Qadri had accused the then High Court Bar Association (Kashmir) President, Mian Qayoom of planning a conspiracy to get him killed. The 80-year-old Mian Qayoom was subsequently arrested by a special investigation team (SIT) formed by the SIA. SIT claimed to have documentary and technical evidence about Mian Qayoom’s role in the murder of Qadri. A charge sheet, presented in the court, named Mian Qayoom as the principal conspirator in the murder.

--IANS

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Vikaspuri, Feb 5 (IANS) As the Delhi Assembly polls unfold, a captivating and futuristic initiative by the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been turning heads and generating excitement in West Delhi. At a special polling booth in Vikaspuri, voters are greeted with a remarkable theme: "India's Flight from Chandrayaan to Election."

The booth is unlike any other, featuring models of the Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan, as well as interactive displays of planets through a bioscope and telescope.

In a bid to connect the nation’s ambitious space missions with the democratic process, astronauts —dressed in full gear — escort voters into the booth, adding an element of fun and innovation to the voting experience.

Particularly heartwarming is the special attention given to elderly voters, who are greeted with roses and a warm welcome as they step forward to cast their ballots.

The idea behind this initiative is to increase voter awareness and enthusiasm, while also celebrating India’s remarkable achievements in space exploration.

It has certainly captured the imagination of those visiting the booth. The set-up, featuring a mix of space-themed models and technology-driven displays, not only engages voters but also creates a sense of national pride and excitement.

Voters, young and old, are visibly delighted by the experience, with many expressing their appreciation for the innovative approach.

Speaking to IANS, SDM Patel Nagar, Nitin Shakya, who is spearheading the initiative and ensuring that everything runs smoothly at the polling booths, shared his optimism about the potential impact of this unique approach on voter turnout.

"We’ve worked with the theme 'Chandrayaan se Chunao tak' to connect space exploration with the electoral process.

"The students and college volunteers have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. The use of technology and AI has added a futuristic touch, and the positive response from the voters is overwhelming. This excitement is definitely driving up the voting percentage," he said.

As of 1 p.m. on polling day, Delhi saw a turnout of 33.31 per cent, with a noticeable increase in voters as the afternoon warmed up after a cool morning.

The ECI’s initiative, combined with the collaborative efforts of the West Delhi administration, is already proving to be a success, attracting a steady stream of voters, all enthusiastic about this engaging and memorable voting experience.

With the perfect blend of space exploration and civic engagement, the ‘Chandrayaan Se Chunao Tak’ initiative is not only boosting the spirit of democracy but also ensuring that more citizens come out to participate in shaping the future of Delhi.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Delhi Mayor Mahesh Kumar Khichi cast his vote on Wednesday in the Delhi Assembly elections and urged all residents of the city to participate in the democratic process and vote for development, better education and healthcare.

Speaking to IANS after casting his ballot, the Mayor emphasised the importance of voting for the development of Delhi, particularly in areas such as education and healthcare.

"I appeal to all Delhi residents to vote today. I say that for the development of Delhi, for good education in Delhi, and for better healthcare, please vote. The vote I have cast is for better education and free electricity," said Khichi.

In his comments, the Mayor highlighted the key policies introduced by the AAP government under former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, which he believes have made a significant impact on the city.

"The way Arvind Kejriwal has shown the politics of development to the people of Delhi, the policies that we have in place, like free electricity, water, bus travel for women, pensions doubled for the elderly, and pilgrimage for the elderly, are crucial for the city’s progress," Khichi said.

He also pointed out specific initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for Delhi's residents, such as free treatment for the elderly under the Delhi government's Sanjeevani Yojana, and providing Rs. 2,100 for every woman above 18.

"For our students, free bus travel will also be arranged," he added, stressing the government's commitment to improving education and transportation for the city's youth.

When asked about voter turnout, Khichi expressed confidence that the voting percentage would rise this time.

"Earlier, during holidays, people used to go out, but today is Wednesday, and no one is going out. I think this time the voter turnout will increase. Usually, it is 60 to 65 per cent, but I believe it will be around 70 per cent this time," he said, encouraging more people to head to the polls and make their voices heard.

Delhi recorded a turnout of 33.31 per cent till 1 p.m. as young and old voters turned out to cast ballots to choose a new 70-member Assembly.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Delhi BJP leaders on Wednesday exercised their franchise for the Assembly elections and urged Delhiites to actively participate in the democratic process.

As polling continues across all 70 Assembly constituencies, BJP leaders emphasised the need for a government focussed on development, governance, and the welfare of the people.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari cast his vote along with his wife at a polling booth in East Delhi. Before voting, he declared, "Today marks the end of an 'AAPda' and the beginning of the BJP's journey after 27 years. The BJP is going to form a government in Delhi -- this is the voice of every area and community. I appeal to people to cast their votes for the better future of Delhi."

Confident of victory, Tiwari added, "The BJP is winning for sure; but most importantly, Delhi should win. The Delhi that the youth wants, the education Delhi wants, has been ruined by this government. The youth will now choose the BJP."

BJP candidate from the New Delhi Assembly constituency, Parvesh Verma, also cast his vote along with his family.

Speaking to IANS, Verma said, "The biggest issue in Delhi is to form a good government. The people of Delhi have understood their (AAP's) lies. A good government will be formed, and the Bharatiya Janata Party will lead it. I urge the people of Delhi to come out in large numbers and vote for a good government."

Outlining the BJP's vision, he added, "We will develop the Yamuna Riverfront just like the Sabarmati Riverfront in Gujarat. The BJP will definitely form a government here."

Verma's wife echoed the sentiment, and told IANS, "I have voted for PM Modi's double-engine government, trusting his guarantees. Just like other states are progressing under his leadership, Delhi also needs development. Delhi should become a trustworthy capital and be beautified."

Verma's daughter, after casting her vote, told IANS, "There were so many complaints from the people of Delhi, especially from New Delhi. Keeping all those problems in mind, we have cast our votes -- from electricity to water."

BJP candidate from the Bijwasan Assembly constituency, Kailash Gahlot, cast his vote along with his wife and daughter.

Gahlot's wife, Moushumi Mishra Gahlot, told IANS, "People want a change, and I'm sure this time BJP will form a government."

His daughter, Jahnavi Gahlot, added, "I have been to many places for campaigning, and I believe there is a huge need for change in Bijwasan. There is a lot of work to be done. If my father wins, it will definitely happen. Just like he worked for the past 10 years in Najafgarh, he will do the same here if given a chance."

Kailash Gahlot also took to social media, posting, "Voting is not just your right but also your duty. Come out of your homes, vote in large numbers, and make your invaluable contribution to building a strong, developed, and responsible government."

"Vote for Delhi, vote for change, vote for a Viksit Bharat," he added.

BJP candidate from Malviya Nagar, Satish Upadhyay, also cast his vote.

Speaking to IANS, he said, "The lotus is blooming everywhere, the 'AAPda' is losing, BJP is coming. There's enthusiasm everywhere, and it's all about the lotus. We are confidently claiming to win all the seats here."

BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam, after voting, said, "I am very happy. The public wants change and is voting for it. The promises made by Kejriwal, like providing clean water, cleaning the Yamuna, building better roads, and making beautiful lakes, have not been fulfilled."

--IANS

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Amritsar, Feb 5 (IANS) A US military aircraft carrying first batch of 104 illegal Indian immigrants, with the highest number of 30 each were from Haryana and Gujarat, reached Amritsar in Punjab on Wednesday.

A total of 30 deportees were residents of Punjab. The US military C-17 aircraft landed at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport amid tight security.

Two people each were from Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh, while three from Maharashtra. The deportees include 25 women and 12 minors, with the youngest passenger being just four years old.

Forty-eight people are below the age of 25. The flight, which took off from Texas on Tuesday, also carried 11 crew members and 45 US officials overseeing the deportation process.

A senior Punjab official said that most deportees from the state belong to Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Patiala, Mohali and Sangrur. Some of them had entered the US illegally, while others overstayed their visas.

They were deported on the C-17 plane that took off from San Antonio, Texas. This was the first round of deportation of illegal immigrants that coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington next week.

This will be PM Modi's first visit after Donald Trump took over as US President for the second time. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar had earlier said that New Delhi is open to the "legitimate return" of Indian nationals living illegally abroad, including in the US.

India has expressed readiness to accept these migrants, post-verification, EAM Jaishankar conveyed this to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month.

"For the first time in history, we are locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and flying them back to the places from which they came," President Trump told reporters last month.

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has expressed disappointment over the US decision to deport the Indians, saying they have contributed to the US economy and should have been granted permanent residency, instead of being deported.

Approximately 7,25,000 illegal immigrants from India live in the US, making it the third-largest population of unauthorised immigrants after Mexico and El Salvador, according to data from the Pew Research Centre.

Many people from Punjab, who are now facing deportation, had entered the US through the "donkey route" or other illegal means by spending lakhs of rupees. The US administration has launched a crackdown against illegal immigrants after Trump became the President.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 5 (IANS) A group of contractors from Karnataka took a holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, praying for the early clearance of pending bills by the Congress-led state government.

A video of the holy dip has also gone viral on social media.

Sources indicate that the contractors, hailing from Bagalkot district in North Karnataka, sought divine intervention for the settlement of outstanding dues and the launch of new schemes to support their work. Their prayers concluded with chants of "Har Har Mahadev."

The video has caused embarrassment to the ruling Congress party in Karnataka.

On January 13, the Karnataka Contractors’ Association wrote to seven state ministers, demanding immediate clearance of pending payments. They alleged that payments were not being processed based on seniority and issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government.

Since the Congress party assumed power in Karnataka in 2023, tensions have escalated between the government and contractors over unpaid bills.

The State Contractors’ Association had previously met with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, accusing the government of demanding a 15 per cent commission on pending payments. They also approached Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, alleging that thousands of completed projects within the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and various assembly constituencies remained unpaid.

K.T. Manjunath, President of the BBMP Contractors’ Association, has alleged that Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar had halted bill payments and formed a team to scrutinize project execution.

Shivakumar, in response, stated that while outstanding bills totaled Rs 25,000 crore, only Rs 600 crore was available in funds. He asserted that he would not be blackmailed by contractors and claimed to know who was backing them.

"We have received complaints that some bills were submitted for bogus works. The government will clear pending bills only for genuinely executed projects," he said.

The prolonged delay in payments has left many contractors on the brink of financial collapse, with some even writing to the President and Prime Minister, pleading for intervention -- or, in extreme cases, mercy killing as an alternative to bankruptcy.

--IANS

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