Regional

Jaipur, May 16 (IANS) After giving an ultimatum to the Rajasthan government to fulfil his three demands in 15-day tenure during the culmination of his Jan Sangharsh Yatra, Congress leader and former deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Tuesday repeated the same demands on twitter too.

Pilot on his twitter handle said, "We have placed three demands in the Jan Sangharsh Sabha: A high-level committee should be formed to investigate the corruption in the Vasundhara government. Due to frequent incidents of corruption and paper leaks, clear institutional criteria and transparency should be ensured for the reorganisation and selection process of the current RPSC. Proper financial compensation to the youth affected by the paper leak."

"Till the end of the month, appropriate steps will be awaited to be taken on these important demands related to the people of the state," Pilot said triggering further speculation on his next step if government fails to implement it.

Meanwhile, Gehlot camp ministers, mainly state minister Mahesh Joshi, Ramlal Jat and Subhash Garg, counterattacked Pilot over one or the issue.

Didwana MLA Chetan Dudi accused Pilot of misleading the youth.

Minister Subhash Garg has accused Pilot of taking 'monetary gains (supari) to ensure that Gehlot government does not come to power again.

Garg tweeted: "Whether the high command knows this thing or not, who has taken 'supari' to ensure that the government does not repeat? The environment created in the state after the budget and inflation relief camp campaign is not being embraced by those who have taken supari."

"There is the biggest Sanjeevani scam in Rajasthan, houses of lakhs of people were looted in it. The name of the prime accused in the Sanjeevani scam was not even mentioned in the rally and after the rally, the prime accused tweets praising Pilot. This is the truth of today's rally, because friendship is there since the time of Manesar," said Dudi making an indirect attack on alleged Pilot- Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's "connivance".

Dudi posted: The three issues raised by Pilot are impractical and beyond understanding. "Don't you know that RPSC is an independent constitutional body which can never be dissolved? Why are you confusing the youth, he questioned Pilot."

Dudi further wrote: "Pilot sir, tell which cases of Vasundhara government are still pending.. Which one you want to get investigated."

"Because as soon as the government came, first of all these matters have been settled by the High Court and the Supreme Court. All mines have also been cancelled," Dudi added.

"In Rajasthan, more than 150 people have been jailed for paper leak. Special law and STF has been made on paper leak. Exam fees have been returned for not being able to conduct competitive exams here. Now one time registration has been implemented in government recruitment. After this no fee will be charged for the examinations, he added.

Dudi wrote: "The demand for compensation on paper leak is only for his false praise, because this does not happen in any state."

Till date no leader in history has made such a demand as strict actions have been taken on paper leak in Rajasthan. It has not happened in any other state. These youths know very well, he added further.

Water Supply Minister Mahesh Joshi hit back at Pilot by tweeting, "It is very surprising and regrettable that some responsible people are accusing their own government of corruption. Before accusing his own government, he had to think that he was also accusing himself.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, May 16 (IANS) Karnataka BJP on Tuesday stated that it introspected the party's defeat in the May 10 Assembly elections and has taken it as a challenge.

Outgoing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday stated said: "We have analysed the defeat. Why did it happen and what actually happened. I am meeting leaders who lost the elections and extending moral support. We have discussed why we got defeated."

Talking about the ongoing tussle in the Congress over the Chief Minister's post, Bommai said it was for the party to decide, without commenting any further.

When asked about appointment of Karnataka DG and IGP Praveen Sood as the Director of CBI, Bommai said it was a decision of the Central government.

On his part, Union Minister for Coal, Mine and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said that he has taken the party's defeat as a challenge.

"It is a saddening result. I will take defeat as a challenge. Will introspect the reasons for defeat. We will strive to get more seats in Lok Sabha elections," he said.

The high command will take a call on a change in the state BJP leadership.

--IANS
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Panaji, May 13 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has urged parents and adolescents to watch 'The Kerala Story' movie to know how terrorism has begun in the world.

"This movie depicts real story of terrorism. How ISIS is involved in conversion and terrorism, be it in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and other parts of the world, including some parts of India. It is a real story. Hence, parents and adolescents should watch 'The Kerala story' movie...," Sawant said.

"We should know the reality and should be alert about spread of terrorism. We should take precautions that such incidents don't take place and this slow poisoning stops," he said.

According to Sawant viewers get a clarity about how youngsters are entrapped in the cycle of terrorism.

"Terrorism network is on a rise and there has to be cautious efforts to curb it. We need to know how people are succumbing to it by brain wash and hypnotism. They are being trapped and cheated," Sawant said.

When asked whether his government will make this movie tax free, Sawant replied: "It is not that if made tax free people will watch it. They should watch it to know the importance. Maximum people should watch it along with their adolescent children."

--IANS
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Patna, May 13 (IANS) Bursting crackers during a marriage ceremony turned ugly in Bihar's Araria district when relatives of the bride brutally assaulted the bridegroom, his father and three others, an official said on Friday.

Victims were rescued by the police and an FIR has been registered against 15 persons in Jokihat police station of the district.

The incident occurred at Pachaili village under Mahalgarh outposts on Thursday night. The people on the bridegroom's side were continuously bursting crackers during the marriage function and people from the bride's relatives were not happy with that.

This had led to an altercation between the two side and bride's relatives overpowered the people on bridegroom's side. They held five persons - Avinesh Kumar Viswas (bridegroom), Chaman Lal Viswas (bridegroom's father), Nilesh Kumar Viswas, Radhannand Viaswas and one other - captive in an isolated place and brutally assaulted them.

Bridegroom's father Chaman Lal Viswas somehow managed to contact his brother Ramanand Viswas who further contacted the police and gave a written complaint against them.

"After receiving the complaint, we raided the place and rescued the victims. We have also registered an FIR against 15 persons and efforts are on to nab them. The situation turned ugly over the trivial issue of crackers," police said.

The accused have been identified as Dipak Kumar, Pinkesh Kumar, Subodh Kumar, Viaswas Kumar, and Pappu Kumar among others.

The victims also alleged that the accused have taken away 200 gram silver jewellery and 10 gram gold jewellery from them.

--IANS
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New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) In a latest development in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam of Chhatisgarh, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Arunpati Tripathi, the special secretary of the state Excise Department.

He was produced before a Special PMLA Court, which remanded him to three days ED's custody. Tripathi, an Indian Telecommunication Service official, is posted in the Excise Department on deputation.

Earlier, the agency had arrested Anwar Dhebar, the brother of the Mayor of Raipur Ajaz Dhebar; IAS Anil Tutej; and Nitesh Purohit and Trilok Singh Dhillon in the matter.

The ED is conducting investigation in the alleged liquor scam between 2019 to 2022 in which money was "illegally generated and siphoned off in various corrupt ways".

According to the agency, Nitesh Purohit a close associate of Anwar Dhebar, was involved in the "handling and movement of illegally collected cash. He was transporting cash as per the instructions of Anwar Dhebar".

"Dhillon was a prime beneficiary of proceeds of crime through a classic mode of money laundering. Dhillon has willingly and knowingly allowed his bank accounts and firms to be used for layering of large amount of proceeds of crime. Without any reasonable explanation, he has taken funds through banking channels from the FL-10A license holders falsely showing as unsecured loan and kept as FD. Dhillon has also taken kickbacks from major country liquor suppliers in the guise of business transactions and kept the money with him. The underlying business transactions shown have been found to be completely bogus," an ED official said.

"During search operation at his (Dhillon's) premises, illegal surveillance was mounted on ED's operation with the help of aerial drone by unidentified persons. The ED has freezed FDs of Rs 27.5 crore in the name of his firms involved in money laundering and also seized Rs 52 lakhs of unaccounted cash," said the official.

Further investigation is in progress

--IANS
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Patna, May 13 (IANS) RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav went to historic Patna High Court Mazar to offer "chadar" on Friday.

Yadav offered prayers at the mazar and "wished for communal harmony, peace in Bihar and in the country".

Since his return to Patna, this was the first time when Yadav came out from Rabri Devi's 10 circular road's residence and went to a public place. He is suffering from kidney and lung ailment for the last few years.

He reached the High Court in an SUV and then walked to the mazar. He was looking healthy and looks like he is recuperating well from the illness.

When residents of adjoining areas heard about Yadav's visit to the mazar located inside the High Court campus, they turned out to see him. Patna police made necessary arrangements to keep the crowd away from him.

He underwent a kidney transplant in Singapore and returned to Delhi. He stayed in Delhi for four months before coming to Patna on April 28.

The doctors have advised him to stay away from crowded places. He recently hosted lunch for ministers and legislators of Bihar government.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, May 12 (IANS) Buoyed by the reports of "being very close to the seat of power in Karnataka", the Congress camp witnessed hectic activities on Friday, a day ahead of the announcement of the poll results.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that the high command is ready with a '50:50 formula' for the post of Chief Minister.

According to sources, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar are the prominent contenders for the post of the Chief Minister.

Considering the intense competition between the two, Congress high command has come up with a 50:50 formula to avoid unnecessary confusion.

Though, the tradition of the Congress is to give the power to one who is in-charge of the party, this time exception is being made because of Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps are already busy getting the support of future MLAs across the state.

The requests are made to them to extend their support.

Former deputy chief minister and senior Dalit leader G. Parameshwara has met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Bengaluru and held talks.

After the meeting, Parameshwara claimed that he had not discussed anything about the CM's post with Kharge. "I will not create confusion by talking about this matter. The party high command will decide who is going to be the future CM."

On the other hand, senior Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa said a claim will be made for a Lingayat as CM if Lingayat candidates get elected in more numbers. The Congress party has given 51 tickets to Lingayat community candidates.

--IANS
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Amaravati, May 12 (IANS) BJP's Andhra Pradesh unit president Somu Veerraju has condemned the alleged highhandedness of police while dealing with the protest by BJP workers at Kavali in Nellore district.

The BJP workers were trying to stage the protest by stopping the convoy of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy who was on a visit to the town on Friday.

While trying to control the protesters, a policeman allegedly pressed the neck of one of the party workers between his two legs.

The state BJP chief posted a picture of the same on his Twitter handle. He alleged that democratic values are being trampled under police shoes.

Somu Veerraju said that voices questioning injustice are being suppressed.

"The judgment of the people is very near when your power and arrogance will be trampled under the feet of the common man," he said, urging the government to release party workers immediately.

"I strongly condemn the behaviour of the police towards our party workers who are protesting in Nellore district. I would like to inform you that by acting undemocratically, you should not deprive society of the trust that people have in the police system and the reassurance that people should get from you," he told the chief minister.

The BJP leader stated that attacking and arresting the BJP leaders protesting against the corruption of local MLA is against the spirit of the Constitution.

He told Jagan Mohan Reddy that his unjust and inefficient governance cannot be covered up for long with these arrests.

--IANS
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Bhubaneswar, May 12 (IANS) In a major development, Odisha Assembly Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha along with two ministers, Samir Ranjan Dash and Srikanta Sahu, resigned from their positions on Friday.

Speaking to mediapersons, Arukha said he has resigned on personal grounds. "I have submitted my resignation letter to Deputy Speaker Rajanikant Singh," he said.

Asked if he would be included in the Cabinet of Naveen Patnaik's government, Arukha said: "I will discharge every responsibility assigned to me by the party or in the government."

Soon after the resignation of the Speaker, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash and Labour Minister Srikanta Sahu also resigned from the position of MoS.

Sahu said he has resigned to work for the organisation of Biju Janata Dal (BJD). A few days ago, a woman BJD worker made 'sexual harassment' allegations against Sahu. Even, the matter reached the police station seeking action against Sahu.

Commenting on it, Sahu said: "In politics, a lot of allegations will be made. So, I don't want to make any comment on this. To discharge organisational responsibility, I have resigned."

Besides, Samir Ranjan Dash, was also dragged into controversy over the alleged suicidal death of BJD zilla parishad member Dharmendra Sahoo. The ZP member was elected from one seat of Dash's Nimapara Assembly constituency. Recently, a by-poll for the ZP seat was held and the BJP won it.

Dash said he has resigned from the Cabinet to give full time in organisational work.

According to political observers, the two ministers have been asked to resign as both courted controversy.

--IANS
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Tanuku (Andhra Pradesh), May 12 (IANS) Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president N. Chandrababu Naidu undertook a padyatra in West Godavari district and vowed to continue its fight till justice is done to the farmers who suffered heavy losses due to crop damage caused by untimely rains.

Followed by a large number of farmers and TDP leaders, the former chief minister began his 'Rythu Porubata' padayatra from Iragavaram of Tanuku Assembly segment.

On the way, Chandrababu inquired from the affected farmers about the damage to their crops and the farm products. Assuring the ryots that the TDP would stand by them, the TDP supremo moved.

Some of the affected farmers even broke down before Chandrababu Naidu.

''There is no question of relenting till justice is done for the farmers. The party will continue its fight till the government purchases the entire farm products in the state,'' Chandrababu Naidu said.

He alleged that the YSRCP government was destroying farmers. "Farmers have hit the roads due to the government's failure. Farmers are revolting over their problems," he said.

The TDP chief had earlier set a 72-hour ultimatum to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to procure agricultural produce soaked in rain.

"I am giving you 72 hours to make a decision on the purchase of these farm products that got totally wet in the recent untimely rains. I will come back again after that to announce my plan of action," he had said in East Godavari district.

--IANS
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