Regional

Kolkata, June 16 (IANS) The West Bengal government and the State Election Commission (SEC) have decided to approach the Supreme Court (SC) against the order of the Calcutta High Court directing deployment of central forces throughout the state for the forthcoming panchayat elections.

The fresh decision to approach the Supreme Court is a U-turn from the SEC's earlier stand of abiding by the order of the Calcutta High Court. In fact, on late Thursday evening, state election commissioner Rajiva Sinha said that he would abide by the Calcutta High Court order.

The e-filing might be done on Friday night or at the maximum by Saturday morning, a source said.

Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari and the Congress MP from Malda (South) Lok Sabha, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury have already filed caveats with the SC apprehending that the state government and SEC might approach the apex court challenging the Calcutta High Court order.

The decision of the state government and the SEC was taken after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a public rally on Friday afternoon questioned the justification of the deployment of armed forces in the state.

The decision to approach the SC was taken on late Friday evening after Sinha had a meeting with the State Chief Secretary BP Gopalika and the Additional Director General (law & order) Jawed Shamim at the office of the SEC.

The single-phase panchayat polls are scheduled to be held on July 8. The votes will be counted on July 11.

--IANS
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Patna June 16 (IANS) Months after Bihar Education Minister Chandra Shekhar Yadav triggered a controversy by saying that Ramcharitmanas "spreads hatred in the society", another RJD leader and MLA from Danapur, Ritlal Yadav, sparked a row on Friday by claiming that the epic poem was written by Tulsidas in a mosque.

Attacking BJP, Ritlal Yadav said: "BJP leaders are always talking about Ram temple, but do they know where Ramcharitmanas was written? If you go back in history, you will find that the writer sat in a mosque and wrote Ramcharitmanas. Was Hindutva not under threat at that time? When the Mughals ruled India for many years, was Hindutva not under threat?

"An 11-year-old daughter of a Muslim family recited Bhagavad Gita and won a prize. People should learn from her."

Following his remarks, BJP leaders accused the RJD leader of appeasement politics.

"Tejashwi Yadav's closest MLA Ritlal Yadav says Ramcharitmanas was written in a mosque. The RJD MLA is ready to become a Muslim by abusing Hinduism. Hindutva is definitely under threat from those Hindus who wear caps and offer namaaz," said Nikhil Anand, national General Secretary of BJP's OBC wing.

BJP spokesperson and senior leader Arvind Kumar Singh said: "RJD and Mahagathbandhan leaders have only one job, which is to insult Ramayana, Hindu people and Hindu culture. They are the people who opposed the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"Everyone knows that Valmiki wrote Ramayana, and Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas. Those who are making derogatory remarks on Ramcharitmanas must have passed out of Charwaha school of which Tejashwi Yadav was the headmaster. RJD leaders are busy doing Muslim appeasement."

Reacting to the Ritlal Yadav's remarks, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said, "I don't know under what circumstance or context he made the remark. But our leader Tejashwi Yadav and the RJD believe that the Constitution is the biggest holy book of the country."

--IANS
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New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Kerala Blasters FC on Friday announced the extension of the contract of veteran goalkeeper Karanjit Singh for a period of one year.

The custodian extends his stay at the club until 2024, and this extension will see Karanjit Singh continue in his role as a part of the Kerala Blasters' goalkeeping unit.

Commenting on the contract extension of Karanjit Singh, Karolis Skinkys, Sporting Director, Kerala Blasters, said,"Karanjit has a wealth of experience that holds our entire goalkeeping squad in good stead. His work ethic and bonding with the coaches and the rest of the squad make him a team player to the core. I hope he has a good upcoming season with us."

A two-time ISL champion with Chennaiyin FC, Karanjit Singh made a switch to the Blasters during the 2021-22 mid-season transfer window.

The shot-stopper has accumulated 51 appearances for the two clubs and has kept 14 clean sheets and made over 120 saves across his six seasons in the ISL.

"This will be my third season at Kerala Blasters, and the experience that I have had and the friends that I have made at the club are truly close to my heart. I hope to contribute in every way possible to the success of the team in the next season," said Karanjit Singh.

One of the very few players to have a dual role in the team, Karanjit was a player-cum-goalkeeping coach in the 2018-19 season. Age 37, the custodian's longevity and seniority will be of invaluable help to the Blasters' squad.

--IANS

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New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Friday said it will organise a programme 'Behtar Bharat ki Buniyaad' in Bengaluru from July 10 to 12, which is likely to be attended by more than 3,000 of its office bearers from across the country.

Addressing a press conference at its headquarters here, IYC national president Srinivas B.V. said: "Today, every section of society is troubled. The list of promises made by the Narendra Modi government to the people of the country is long. However, the public is suffering. That's why the Indian Youth Congress is going to start a nationwide campaign 'Behtar Bharat Ki Buniyaad', a youth convention for 2024."

He said the event is going to be the biggest organisational youth convention programme of the Youth Congress since Independence.

"The list of promises made by the Modi government to the people of the country is long, but the result is that the public is suffering and the Prime Minister and all the leaders of his party are happy," Srinivas said.

Meanwhile, National in-charge of IYC and All India Congress Committee (AICC) joint secretary Krishna Allavaru said the programme will be a conference of 'Mann Ki Baat' of the youth of the country.

--IANS
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Jaipur, June 16 (IANS) Around 300 people fell ill due to food poisoning after eating at a religious programme in Rajasthan's Dausa, officials said on Friday.

The incident took place at around 9 p.m. on Thursday at Pakhar Chowdaki village under Mandawar police station area of Dausa with the participants complaining of vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.

As per information, Mahendra Bairwa, a resident of Pakhar village, got a government job as a teacher in Delhi recently and hence, organised a religious programme of Savamani in the village on Thursday.

Villagers were invited for a mass feast but shortly afterwards, they complained of vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain and were rushed to hospital in private vehicles and ambulances.

On getting information of the food poisoning, Dausa CMHO Dr Subhash Bilonia also reached Mahuva Hospital where sick people were being treated.

A medical department team also reached the spot to treat the sick and also sent food samples, including laddoos, puris, vegetables, and pulses, for examination.

Mahuva MLA Omprakash Hudla also reached Mahuva and Mandawar hospitals to know the well-being of the patients.

At present, the health of most of the sick people is said to be improving.

--IANS
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Kolkata, June 16 (IANS) The All India Secular Front (AISF), which was formed just before the 2021 Assembly elections in West Bengal, has now become the toughest challenger to the ruling Trinamool Congress in the minority-dominated hamlet of Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district.

Founded by religious leader Abbas Siddique a.k.a. 'Bhaijaan', AISF contested the 2021 Assembly polls as an alliance partner of Left Front and Congress. In the elections, Abbas Siddique's brother Naushad Siddique emerged as the lone AISF representative in state Assembly after winning from Bhangar.

Since then, Naushad Siddique has not only kept AISF's voice loud inside the House, but at times he also personally led protest demonstrations against the alleged attacks on the AISF workers by the ruling party members in Bhangar.

In February this year, the otherwise soft-spoken Naushad Siddque led a protest march in Kolkata against alleged attacks on his party workers by Trinamool members, during which parts of the city turned into virtual battlefields AISF supporters clashed with the cops.

Siddique was arrested and had to spend several days behind the bars. However, his days in jail could not tone him down as after coming out, he became more vocal against the ruling party and state government.

His leadership quality was felt again over the last two days when Bhangar turned into a battlefield following violent clashes between AISF and Trinamool supporters over nomination filing for the July 8 panchayat elections, with the ruling outfit often pushed to the backfoot by the party with just one MLA.

In the midst of the chaos, Naushad Siddique displayed the qualities of both a party leader as well as a responsible elected public representative.

Amid the clashes, Siddique suddenly turned up at the state secretariat seeking an appointment with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss the situation in Bhangar.

After being denied appointment, Siddique went back claiming that he came to meet the Chief Minister, who is the guardian of the state, to find a solution to the Bhangar crisis.

"But probably because of her pre-occupations, she could not give me time," Siddique said.

Political observers find this act as a masterstroke on the part of Siddique, who gave a subtle message that despite being a greenhorn in state politics, AISF took the first step to find a solution to the Bhangar crisis, while the administrative head of the state did not even respond to it.

Probably realising that the AISF is making a dent in the minority vote-bank of the Trinamool, Mamata Banerjee on Friday launched a scathing attack against Siddique and AISF, without naming either of them, at a public rally in Namkhana in South 24 Parganas district.

"Funded by the BJP, a breakaway minority group has created tension at Bhangar over nomination filing during the last couple of days. I am surprised by their audacity with just one legislator. They are trying to malign the image of West Bengal. It is because of Trinamool Congress that people from the minority community are safe in Bengal," Banerjee said.

According to political analyst Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay, although it is yet to be proved as to how long Siddique will be able to continue with his party's stubborn resistance against the Trinamool and how the Congress-Left-AISF trio will benefit from it, Siddique has emerged as the "man of the match" during the nomination filing period.

--IANS
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Chennai, June 16 (IANS) In more troubles for arrested Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now summoned his brother R.V. Ashok Kumar, personal assistant B. Shanmugam and others for questioning next week in an alleged cash-for-jobs linked money laundering case, sources said on Friday.

The minister was arrested by the ED early on Wednesday in connection with the case after 18 hours of quizzing at his official residence. The ED sleuths had also raided his office in the Secretariat after questioning him .

A financial probe agency source here said that the agency has summoned Balaji's brother and his personal assistant for questioning next week as well as one woman, who is said to be linked to an alleged benami land deal.

Since his arrest on Wednesday, Balaji is currently in hospital and is undergoing treatment.

The ED had dubbed the minister as "prime suspect" in the cash-for-jobs case, and claimed in in its custody papers that alleged unaccounted cash deposits worth about Rs 1.60 crore were made in the bank accounts of Balaji and his wife.

The case against Balaji and his aides pertains to his tenure as the state Transport Minister in the AIADMK government during 2011-15.

--IANS
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Chennai, June 16 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji who is in judicial custody following the arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged cash for jobs scam matter, has been stripped of his cabinet portfolio, an official said on Friday.

The Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan said that based on the recommendations of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the subjects of Electricity and Non-Conventional Energy Development with by V. Senthil Balaji, has been allocated to Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for Finance and Human Resource Management, in addition to the portfolios held by him.

The subjects Prohibition and Excise, Molasses hitherto held by Senthil Balaji were allocated to S. Muthusamy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development.

The statement said: "The Governor, however, has not agreed to V. Senthil Balaji continuing any longer as a member of the council of ministers, as he is facing criminal proceedings for moral turpitude and is currently in judicial custody."

Senthil Balaji was arrested following the raids by the ED.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, June 16 (IANS) A special CBI court in Karnataka has acquitted, for want of evidence, the accused in the sensational 2012 rape and murder case of college student Soujanya that took place in Ujire town in Dakshina Kannada district.

Special judge C.B. Santhosh has pronounced the judgment acquitting accused Santhosh Rao.

Daughter of Chandrappa Gowda and Kusumavathy, who resided at Pangala near Dharmasthala, Soujanya was a student of the SDM College in Ujire town. She went missing on October 9, 2012 while returning from the college to the house.

The next day, her body was found near Mannasanka. The preliminary investigations suggested that she was kidnapped and gang raped. The Belthangady police had arrested 38-year-old Santhosh Rao on October 11, 2012.

Huge protests were staged against the investigation of the case by the state police, who were alleged to be protecting the sons of powerful persons of the region. The case was handed over to the CID and on November 6, 2013, to the CBI.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, June 16 (IANS) The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday protested against the Congress government in Karnataka, condemning the recent Cabinet decision to withdraw the anti-conversion law introduced by the previous BJP government.

The protest was held at the Freedom Park in Bengaluru in which Hundreds of VHP supporters raised slogans against the Congress government and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The VHP had called upon all the Hindus to take part in the protest.

Peaceful protests were also held at all the district headquarters across the state.

District Secretary of VHP, Jayaram, said that it is not even a month since the Congress has taken over the administration, but it is changing the anti-conversion law.

He said that cases of religious conversion and 'love jihad' are being reported in large numbers in the state. If they are not prevented, it is going to be a big crisis not only for the state, but for the entire country, Jayaram added.

Working President of VHP, M.B. Puranik, said that India is a Hindu country and the Constitution has allowed peaceful coexistence of different religions.

"The people of other faiths can practise their religion and customs, and we agree to that. We only condemn forceful religious conversions. India is a Hindu country and Karnataka is a part of it. To save every Hindu from conversion is the duty of every member of the Hindu religion," he said.

"The Congress government was voted to power mainly by the Hindus along with people from other religions. It did not come to power because of minority votes. The move of the Congress is a great betrayal to all Hindus. The Hindus of Karnataka demand that the proposal should be taken back," he said.

Puranik also said that the Congress government is stooping low by removing texts of national leaders like Veer Savarkar only to appease the minorities.

"We hope the government stops taking anti-people decisions that can disturb peace in the society," Puranik said.

The Congress-led Karnataka government had on Thursday announced to amend the anti-conversion law introduced by the previous BJP government.

"All the aspects introduced by the previous BJP government will be dropped. The act will be taken up for amendment in the Assembly session scheduled in July," state minister H.K. Patil said.

The BJP had imposed stringent conditions on religious conversions and also prescribed punishment for the offence.

Patil said the government will cancel the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 and introduce the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2023.

In the Congress poll manifesto, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had promised to repeal all the acts enacted by the BJP government once the party comes to power in the state.

--IANS
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