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Patna, Dec 12 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday laid the foundation stone for the country's first child cancer hospital, Mahavir Child Cancer Hospital, in Phulwari Sharif town of Patna.

This ambitious project is being spearheaded by the Mahavir Cancer Institute, which already operates two cancer hospitals, and is set to provide free cancer treatment for children up to 18 years.

The child cancer hospital will have the capacity of 100 beds.

It will be an ultramodern, six-storey facility and will be built in an expected time period of 18 months.

The new facility will provide free cancer treatment for children.

The project was launched during a programme commemorating the anniversary of the Mahavir Cancer Institute.

Acharya Kishore Kunal, the Secretary of Mahavir Mandir Nyas Samiti, Building Construction Minister Ashok Chaudhary, and Medical Superintendent L.B. Singh were present, along with religious leaders and officials, to mark the occasion.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar praised the initiative, expressing gratitude to the Mahavir Mandir Trust and the administrators of Mahavir Cancer Institute for their contribution to healthcare.

Addressing a gathering, the Chief Minister extended his best wishes for the successful completion of the hospital, emphasising its importance for children battling cancer.

The construction of this hospital represents a major step forward in pediatric cancer care in India.

Once completed, the hospital will serve as a critical resource for underprivileged families in need of specialised cancer treatment for their children.

The upcoming Mahavir Child Cancer Hospital in Phulwari Sharif aims to provide a lifeline for children battling cancer, particularly those from economically weaker sections.

Acharya Kishore Kunal, the Secretary of the Mahavir Mandir Trust Board, highlighted the significance of the project, stating: "This will be the country's first cancer hospital for children. The problem of cancer is increasing rapidly among children, which is very worrying. Through this hospital, relief will be given to those families who are unable to afford expensive treatment."

The Mahavir Mandir Trust, which operates the iconic Mahavir (Hanuman) temple in Patna, is renowned for its charitable healthcare initiatives.

It already manages the Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre, a leading institution providing comprehensive cancer care in Bihar.

--IANS

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Bhopal, Dec 12 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Thursday that the BJP-led state government will continue the 'Ladli Behna Yojana' in the state despite claiming that the women-centric flagship has created a 'financial burden' on the state's budget.

Chief Minister Yadav made this statement during a press conference, highlighting the achievements and steps taken to strengthen the financial state of the Madhya Pradesh government during the past year under his leadership.

He said that when this scheme was launched, a perception was made that it would not last for a longer period. However, the state government has ensured to deposit every installment of the scheme on its scheduled date without any delay and it could happen because of improvement in the financial position of the state.

"We accept that Ladli Behna Yojana has created an extra financial burden on the government, but at the same time, we have also increased our earning resources during this period. Ladli Behna Yojana will continue," CM Yadav said.

The 'Ladli Behna Yojana' was introduced by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in June 2023, a few months before the Assembly elections held in the state.

This scheme has played a crucial role in BJP's stellar victory in the 2023 Assembly polls, propelling a two per cent surge in voting by women in the state.

Under the scheme, the state government provides financial assistance to the women (under certain conditions) of Rs 1,250 per month.

The scheme was launched claiming to make women more financially independent, maintain self-reliance, and improve the health and nutritional status of their dependent children by providing monetary benefits.

The concept of this freebie scheme was adopted by some other state governments as well. However, reports suggested that the Ladli Behna scheme costs Rs 19,000 crore financial burden on the cash-strapped government.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 10 (IANS) S.M. Krishna, former Karnataka chief minister and a veteran politician, passed away on Tuesday in Bengaluru after a prolonged illness. He was 93.

Krishna was suffering from age-related ailments. He was admitted to the Vaidehi Hospital and later shifted to the Manipal Hospital following a lung infection. He was treated at the ICU recently. He breathed his last at his residence in Sadashivanagar.

He is survived by his wife Prema and two daughters. The late V.G. Siddhartha, founder of Cafe Coffee Day, was his son-in-law. Krishna’s grandson is married to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s daughter. Krishna is considered to be Shivakumar's godfather in politics.

President Droupadi Murmu condoled Krishna's death. "Sad to learn about the demise of Shri S. M. Krishna who served people in various capacities during his long career in public life – from a member of the state assembly and of parliament to a union minister and governor. As chief minister of Karnataka, he earned people’s affection for his commitment to development of the state. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on Krishna's death. The PM said he had many opportunities to interact with S.M. Krishna over the years, and will always cherish those interactions.

"I am deeply saddened by his passing. My condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.”

PM Modi further wrote on X handle, "Shri SM Krishna Ji was a remarkable leader, admired by people from all walks of life. He always worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others. He is fondly remembered for his tenure as Karnataka’s Chief Minister, particularly for his focus on infrastructural development. Shri SM Krishna Ji was also a prolific reader and thinker."

Dy CM Shivakumar said the mortal remains of Krishna will be kept for public viewing at his residence in Sadashivanagar throughout the day on Tuesday.

His final rites will be conducted Wednesday morning at Somanahalli in Maddur, Mandya district, his birthplace, Shivakumar stated.

Krishna was the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President in 1999 and led the Congress party to a thumping victory. He was the chief minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004 and the Governor of Maharashtra from 2004 to 2008. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha and became the External Affairs Minister in the then-PM Manmohan Singh cabinet.

Krishna cut ties with the Congress and joined the BJP in 2017 but kept a low political profile.

He announced his retirement from politics on January 7, 2023.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “I am shocked by the demise of former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna. His service to the state and the nation, both as a Union Minister and as the Chief Minister, is unparalleled. Karnataka will forever remain indebted to him, particularly for his contributions to the growth of the IT-BT sectors during his tenure as Chief Minister.”

“A seasoned statesman, Krishna was a leader without enemies. During the early days of my association with the Congress party, he was my mentor and always a well-wisher,” the CM stated.

“Krishna’s vision, disciplined life, noble conduct, and scholarly nature are exemplary for aspiring politicians. I share in the grief of his family and supporters who are mourning his loss. I pray to God that his soul may rest in peace,” CM Siddaramaiah stated.

BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra expressed deep condolences, stating that with the demise of senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, the party has lost a guiding force.

S.M. Krishna was active in politics for several decades and played a pivotal role in transforming Bengaluru into an IT-BT hub. He also served as the Union Minister of External Affairs and as the Governor of Maharashtra. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award, Vijayendra stated.

Vijayendra prayed to God to grant the strength to bear this loss to the family members, relatives, well-wishers, and supporters of the veteran leader. He also wished for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace.

Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna was born in the village of Somanahalli in Maddur Taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka, to a Vokkaliga family.

After completing his primary education in his hometown, he pursued his secondary education at Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala in Mysuru. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Maharaja's College, Mysuru, and obtained his law degree from University Law College. Additionally, he earned degrees from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C., USA.

He is remembered for his contributions to the IT and BT sector and the growth of Bengaluru as the IT capital of the country. He is also known for putting the Brand Bengaluru on the global map.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 10 (IANS) The death toll in Monday's ghastly accident -- in which an allegedly drunk BEST bus driver mowed down at least 25 vehicles -- climbed to five and another 36 persons injured, the BMC Disaster Control said here on Tuesday.

The tragedy occurred in the crowded Kurla West market around 9.30 p.m. when the BEST air-conditioned electric bus Route No. A-332 came at a dizzying speed and rammed into moving and stationary vehicles, including a police jeep.

The shocking mayhem near the busy Lal Bahadur Shastri Road resulted in at least five people getting killed and some 36 injured, many critically, as the bus ground to a halt after some 500 metres.

As per preliminary reports, the bus driver, identified as Sanjay More, was allegedly in an inebriated state and lost control of the vehicle, which hurtled into the vehicles and pedestrians, while eyewitnesses claimed he was seen laughing and enjoying his death drive.

CCTV footage of the tragedy that emerged this morning showed people screaming, running helter-skelter to save themselves on the narrow and congested road.

Police and BMC Officials said that the wet-leased bus of Kurla Bus Depot was proceeding to Sakinaka, and the deadly drive occurred near the Anjuman-e-Islam School on S. G. Barve Marg in Kurla (West).

The locals and other authorities rushed the injured to Bhabha Hospital and private clinics in the vicinity.

Some of the deceased have been identified as Kaniz Fatema Ansari, 55, Afreen A. Shaikh, 19, Anam Shaikh, 18, and Shivam Kashyap, 18.

The vehicles damaged included autorickshaws, scooters, motorcycles, some cars, a police jeep, etc.

Though the exact causes of the crash are being probed, it is suspected that the accident happened due to a brake failure. Additionally, the bus driver has been booked on multiple charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 10 (IANS) Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna, former External Affairs Minister and Chief Minister of Karnataka passed away at his Bengaluru residence in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 92 and had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments.

Known for his intellectual prowess and administrative acumen, S M Krishna had an illustrious political career spanning over five decades.

Born on May 1, 1932, in Maddur, Karnataka, Krishna pursued his education at Maharaja’s College in Mysuru and the Government Law College in Bengaluru before earning advanced degrees from Southern Methodist University in Texas and George Washington University in Washington, DC. A recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, Krishna was one of the most academically accomplished leaders of his time.

He served as the Chief Minister of Karnataka from 1999 to 2004, during which he was instrumental in transforming Bengaluru into a global IT hub. His tenure as External Affairs Minister from 2009 to 2012 under the UPA government further cemented his reputation as a distinguished statesman. He also held the positions of Governor of Maharashtra (2004–2008) and Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly (1989–1993).

Initially a long-time Congress stalwart, Krishna joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2017, citing ideological differences and continued to remain a guiding figure in Karnataka politics until his retirement. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2023.

Krishna’s commitment to public service and his vision for Karnataka left an indelible mark on the state’s governance and development. Even after stepping back from active politics, his connection with Karnataka’s cultural heritage remained strong, as evidenced by his inauguration of the Mysuru Dasara festivities in 2021.

--IANS

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Gurugram, Dec 9 (IANS) A cybercrime team of the Gurugram Police have arrested an accused for allegedly duping a man of Rs 5 lakh for posing as a representative of a matrimonial site, police said.

The accused was identified as Jafir Ansari a native of Jharkhand. The accused was arrested on Saturday from Chennai.

According to the police, they received a complaint in which the victim stated that on December 2, Rs 1,988 was automatically debited from his bank account.

The next day, the complainant closed his auto pay option on Shadi.com and searched for the customer care number of the matrimonial site on Google.

The victim then contacted the number found on Google; soon after, he got a call from a person who offered him help; the accused later contacted the victim on WhatsApp call, saying that there was a network issue and asking for other information from him.

"The complainant got suspicious of that person, but by the time he called the customer care of his bank and closed his account, he had been duped of Rs 5 lakh which was debited from his account," Inspector Naveen Kumar, station house officer (SHO) of Cyber Crime (South) police station said.

During police interrogation, it was found that the accused and his companions had given their number in the name of customer care at shaadi.com. Whenever someone searches for the customer care number of shaadi.com, their number appears in the search engine.

Following this, they would come to know that someone has searched their number. After this, a person would call them, or the accused would call that person and get the person to click on a link in the name of help and by sharing the screen, they would get the information of the bank account and commit fraud.

The police have recovered 14 mobile phones, 08 Aadhar cards, 06 ATM/credit cards and 01 PAN card used in the fraud from the possession of the accused.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS) Former Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP legislator Usha Thakur on Monday described the “Hindutva is a disease” remark of Iltija Mufti, daughter of former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, as baseless and meaningless.

Speaking to IANS, Thakur said, “The statement of Iltiza is very baseless and meaningless. Neither does she know about Hindutva nor does she know about Shri Ram. India is a country of Vedas; of Sanatanis... such comments of her on the world's best way of life (Hindutva) only show her lack of intelligence.”

Reacting to Iltija Mufti’s comment on Lord Ram, the BJP leader said, “Ram is the nation, he is synonymous with the nation. The dignified life of Ram ji is an inspiration for every Indian. To have such thoughts for Lord Shri Ram shows her anti-nation mindset.”

When asked whether there should be ‘Ram Ki Pathshala’ in schools of J&K, she said, “Why shouldn't it happen? Why only in Jammu and Kashmir and only in India? These schools should be all over the world. We are going to become the Vishwaguru. We are going to be Swarnim Bharat by 2047 and if the entire humanity wants happiness, peace and satisfaction, then they should lead the best life of Lord Shri Ram.”

The controversy over Iltija’s remarks erupted on Saturday after she posted on X, stating, "Hindutva is a disease."

"Even Lord Ram will have to hang his head in shame after seeing all this. Minor Muslim children are being beaten with chappals just because of their refusal to take the name of Ram. Hindutva is a disease that has affected millions of Indians and tarnished the name of God," she wrote.

Following the backlash, Iltija clarified her stance, stating that she invoked Lord Ram in her post to spotlight the hypocrisy of those who claim to uphold Ram Rajya while indulging in acts of brutality.

--IANS

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Amaravati, Dec 9 (IANS) The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has announced Beedha Masthan Rao and Sana Satish as its candidates for bye-elections to Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh.

TDP president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu cleared the names of Masthan Rao and Satish, a day before the nominations are to end for December 20 bye-elections to three seats.

The TDP has left one seat to its ally BJP, which has decided to field R. Krishnaiah, a backward-class leader who hails from Telangana.

The vacancies were caused by the recent resignations of Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao, Masthan Rao Yadav and Krishnaiah, all of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

While Mopidevi and Matshan Rao joined the TDP after resigning from the YSRCP in August, Krishnaiah announced that he would work to strengthen the backward class movement.

Mopidevi had his term up to June 21, 2026, while the term of the other two was to end on June 21, 2028.

Masthan Rao, an industrialist and Krishnaiah will return to Rajya Sabha while Satish, a businessman-turned-politician, will be making his debut as the MP.

Mastan Rao quit TDP to join YSRCP in 2019, a few months after YSRCP stormed to power. In 2022, Jagan Mohan Reddy rewarded Mastan Rao with the Rajya Sabha seat

Mastan Rao was elected MLA on the TDP ticket from Kavali in 2009 but lost the election in 2014. He contested unsuccessfully from Nellore Lok Sabha constituency on a TDP ticket in 2019.

The election of all three candidates of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) headed by TDP is likely to be unanimous going by its strength in the 175-member Assembly. The TDP has 135 members while its allies Jana Sena and BJP have 21 and 8 seats respectively.

The YSRCP, which lost power to the NDA in the elections held in May, has only 11 MLAs.

With the election of Masthan Rao and Satish, the TDP will re-enter the upper house of the Parliament.

The TDP had stayed away from Rajya Sabha elections held in February this year due to a lack of sufficient numbers in the Assembly. For the first time in its four-decade history, the TDP had no representation in Rajya Sabha.

--IANS

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Patna, Dec 9 (IANS) BPSC Chairman Ravi Manu Bhai Parmar on Monday said that the 70th combined PT examination will take place at the scheduled time on December 13.

He reiterated the commission's commitment to conducting a fair and secure examination.

In a bid to secure the examination, he said that the current process was implemented after March 15.

“Under the examination process, the examination centres will be monitored through CCTV cameras and signal jammers will be installed to prevent the use of unauthorised communication devices,” Parmar said.

He clarified that the rumours about the postponement of the exam on social media caused some candidates from other states to cancel their train tickets, potentially missing their chance to appear.

“The commission is actively working to identify individuals spreading false information. Details of such individuals have been shared with the cyber police, and legal action may follow,” Parmar said.

He said that candidates are urged to ignore rumours and rely only on official announcements.

“Strict measures, including surveillance and secure paper handling, are in place to maintain the examination's integrity. The examination will be held in 912 centres across all districts of Bihar and approximately 4.83 lakh applicants have applied for the examination,” he said.

He pointed out four sets of question papers; each set has 10 series of questions, with variations in the number of questions and answer options across the series.

“The set to be used will be determined on the day of the exam through a lottery system, 3 hours before the examination starts, at the BPSC office. Question papers are being sent to the districts securely. On exam day, the question paper box will be opened in the exam hall in the presence of candidates, maintaining transparency. A randomly selected candidate in each class will break the seal of the envelope containing the papers,” Parmar said.

The BPSC has implemented stringent measures to uphold the integrity of the examination process. Candidates are advised to focus on their preparation and ignore unverified information on social media.

--IANS

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Guwahati, Dec 9 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday asserted that in order to free himself up for the upcoming Assembly election in the state, he had given the ministers control over a number of departments that were under his purview.

In light of the next assembly elections in 2026, he stated that he would free up his time to work on further projects.

“I want to focus on the next Assembly election for the next year. As a result, I have made the decision to lessen the workload for the departments that supported me,” he said.

Sarma went on to say that for the upcoming year, he will spend as much time as possible with people.

He said, “I shall devote more time to the people of Assam in the upcoming year. The cabinet was expanded for this reason.”

Four ministers Prasanta Phookan, Kaushik Rai, Krishnendu Paul and Rupesh Goala were inducted into the Cabinet on Saturday.

This is the first expansion of the Cabinet since Himanta Biswa Sarma took the Chief Minister’s post in the state three years ago.

In the cabinet, there were four vacant berths—three existed since the beginning of Sarma taking the post of Chief Minister, and one position got vacant after former minister Parimal Suklabaidya won this year’s Lok Sabha polls in the state.

Kaushik Rai is a replacement for Parimal Suklabaidya as both of them belong to the same Cachar district in the Barak valley.

Prasanta Phookan is an MLA from Dibrugarh, and Krishnendu Paul is from the Patharkandi Assembly constituency in the Sribhumi district.

Rupesh Goala is a legislator from the Doom Dooma constituency in the Tinsukia district.

Both Rai and Gola became MLAs in the 2021 Assembly polls while Paul won on a BJP ticket twice from the Patharkandi Assembly seat in the 2016 and 2021 Assembly polls. He was once a Congress leader and switched sides before the 2016 Assembly election.

On the other hand, Prasanta Phookan is a senior BJP leader and a four-time MLA from Dibrugarh. He has not lost here since the 2006 Assembly election.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Kishan was asked to resign from the minister’s post and he was replaced by Rupesh Goala.

However, Sarma had said that Kishan would continue to concentrate on his Assembly and the party would give him proper responsibility.

--IANS

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