Regional

Lucknow, May 3 (IANS) The stage is set for polling in the first phase of the urban municipal polls in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday amid tight security arrangements.

According to the state election commission (SEC), people in 37 districts will vote in the first phase to elect 7,593 representatives, including 10 mayors and 820 corporators.

The second-phase polling will take place on May 11.

The two-phase elections will be a key test for the parties ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls.

More than 2.40 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the first round of voting, officials said and added that all the posts are being contested on party symbols.

In the first phase, polling will be held for posts of 103 nagar palika parishad chairpersons and 2,740 nagar palika parishad members.

Apart from this, the voters in the first phase will also decide the fate of 275 nagar panchayat chairpersons and 3,645 nagar panchayat members.

Altogether 44,232 candidates are in the fray in the opening round.

State Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar said that 85 representatives, including 10 corporators, have already been elected unopposed.

The districts where mayoral election will be held in the first phase are Saharanpur, Agra, Moradabad, Firozabad, Mathura, Jhansi, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Varanasi.

Counting for both phases will be done on May 13.

For security arrangements during the first phase, 2 lakh men in uniform comprising 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces and 86 companies of PAC have been deployed.

Senior police officials said as many as 19,880 inspectors, 1 01 lakh head constables, 47,985 home guards and 7,500 trainee sub inspectors will also be part of the security paraphernalia.

Special DG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, said to ensure peaceful polling, so far 1,101 persons have been booked under Gangster Act while NSA has been slapped on another 14 who are already in jail and wanted bail ahead of the polling.

"Another 2,012 troublemakers have been externed from different districts in the state. Likewise, 6.48 lakh others were booked for breach of peace in the last 15 days," he said.

The Special DG said that as part of the exercise, 42 illegal factories making country made pistols were busted in which 2,958 arms and 4,500 cartridges were recovered. Similarly, low intensity explosives weighing 3,470 kg were seized.

Police also arrested 987 persons smuggling drugs worth Rs 37 crore, while 2.99 lakh litres of illicit liquor was seized and 766 booked for manufacturing/smuggling illicit liquor.

The police official added that 8.19 lakh vehicles flouting rules have been booked while 7426 others seized in violation of poll code across the state.

"Patrolling has been intensified near the polling centres and also in the districts going to polls on Thursday," he said.

--IANS
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Patna, May 3 (IANS) A 17-year-old boy was killed during a celebratory firing in Bihar's Bhojpur district, an official said on Tuesday.

The deceased, Aryan Kumar (17) was a son of a CRPF personnel.

He was watching a dance programme held during a marriage function where one Karia Yadav, under the influence of alcohol, fired several rounds. One of the bullets hit Aryan's neck.

He was declared dead on arrival at Sadar Hospital, Arrah, around 3 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

As per an eyewitness, some female dancers were performing on the stage. Karia Yadav got on to the stage, and started firing with a country-made pistol.

"We have identified the accused. He has been booked under the charge of murder. Raids are on to nab him," Saurav Kumar, the SHO of Chandi police station, said.

--IANS
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Shivamogga (Karnataka), May 3 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "not mentioning names of other leaders of his party during his speeches and talking only about himself".

"There is not only Narendra Modi in this world, there are other people as well," Gandhi said while addressing a gathering here on Tuesday.

"Modi ji, talk about your leaders, talk about Karnataka, talk about youths," he quipped.

"I came here and first of all, mentioned the names of senior leaders of our party. In BJP meetings, Prime Minister doesn't mention anybody. The way, I take the names of Siddaramaiah Ji, Shivakumara Ji, Kharge Ji... Modi Ji will never talk about any leader," the Congress leader asserted.

"He doesn't take the names of Yeddiyurappa Ji or Bommai Ji, as if they don't exist. Every person of Karnataka is asking - why doesn't Modi Ji ever take the names of BJP leaders," Gandhi said.

Gandhi's statement assumed importance as former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa hails from Shivamogga district.

"In Congress meetings, we never talk about violence or hatred. Our workers open 'shops of love' in the 'market of hatred'; they unite the country, spread brotherhood wherever they go. We respect all castes, all religion, all language," the Congress leader added.

"This (Shivamogga) is the constituency of Karnataka's Home Minister. There was huge corruption in recruitment exam for Police Sub-Inspector. Prime Minister Modi never takes the name of Karnataka's Home Minister. He talks only about himself... he doesn't utter a word about what Karnataka government did in the last three years," he said.

Gandhi further said that the BJP "stole the government in Karnataka three years ago by harming democracy".

He also mentioned about the Contractors' Association letter to the Prime Minister, where it was alleged that about 40 per cent commission is sought on every contract.

Gandhi further mentioned about the water dispute between Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. "What did you do for Karnataka when floods came. And when Karnataka was being given lesser tax money than what was its due, what did you do for Karnataka?"

"The Prime Minister comes here, talks about how Congress has attacked him 91 times... The question is not about the Prime Minister, but about the people of Karnataka. Prime Minister Modi, you didn't talk about corruption, you didn't talk about the Home Minister or any other issue of Karnataka. At least tell what your government is going to do for Karnataka in the next five years," the Congress leader reiterated.

--IANS
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New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested one more accused in the PFI Phulwarisharif Patna case related to the unlawful and anti-national activities of the banned organisation Popular Front of India (PFI), an official said.

The accused was identified as Anwar Rashid.

"His arrest followed detailed examination and analysis by the NIA of the various incriminating documents, digital devices and letters seized earlier during a search at his house on April 25," said the official.

With his arrest, the total number of arrests in the case has gone to 14.

The case was initially registered on July 12, 2022 at PS Phulwarisharif, District Patna, Bihar and re-registered by the NIA on July 22, 2022. The NIA has also filed a chargesheet against four accused on January 7, 2023.

"Investigations have revealed that Anwar is a former member of the banned organisation SIMI and is currently associated with several PFI members of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, including one Athar Parvez who was named in the FIR and arrested on July 12 last year," said the official.

The NIA said that Anwar was instrumental in preparing a secret group of ex-SIMI members to work for PFI, according to the NIA investigations. The prime agenda, under the banner of PFI, was to establish Islamic Rule in India as envisioned in the outfit's 'India 2047 Document'.

--IANS
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Patna, May 2 (IANS) Union minister Giriraj Singh has started lobbying for Bihar BJP chief Samrat Chaudhary to project him as the chief ministerial candidate of the BJP.

Chaudhary was in Begusarai, the home district of Giriraj Singh, on Tuesday, where the party's supporters organised an event to honour him as he visited Begusarai for the first time after being named as Bihar BJP chief.

At the event, Giriraj Singh asked the supporters from the dais to raise "Bihar Ka CM Kaisa Ho, Samrat Chaudhary Jaisa Ho" slogan.

During his speech, Giriraj Singh said that a "super man is sitting on the chair of the Prime Minister who advocated that Bihar needs a CM like Yogi Adityanth".

"When Samrat Chaudhary became the state President of BJP, the supporters raised slogans of 'Bihar Ka CM Kaisa Ho, Samrat Chaudhary Jaisa Ho'. I want to ask the people of Begusarai to say the same for him," Singh said.

"We need a CM like Yogi Adityanath who believes that if the loud speakers are removed from the temples, they are removed from the mosques as well. We want to make Narendra Modi the PM again in 2024 and we have to remove Nitish Kumar in 2025 and make Samrat Chaudhary the next CM of Bihar," Singh said.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, May 2 (IANS) The Telangana government will procure every grain of the damaged paddy due to untimely rains, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday gave this assurance to farmers.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, appealed to the farmers to not worry about the paddy which got wet due to rain.

The Chief Minister made it clear that the state government will pay the same price for the damaged paddy which it is paying for normal paddy during the procurement.

He reiterated that the Telangana government's aim is to protect agriculture and rescue the farmers from hardships.

In the wake of incessant untimely rains in recent times, KCR directed the Agriculture Department to study what policies should be adopted so that Yasangi paddy harvesting can be completed before March, and take appropriate measures to sensitise the farmers in this direction.

Rao also suggested the farmers to postpone harvesting for another three to four days.

The Chief Minister held a high-level review meeting on the procurement of Yasangi paddy and wet paddy, measures to ensure early harvesting of Yasangi paddy in future, activities of the agriculture department etc., at B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat.

KCR said: "It is unfortunate that the state is receiving unabated untimely hailstorms and rain. There is no control on natural calamities. However, the state government did not keep silent. It is already supporting the farmers who have lost crops due to hail storms by providing Rs 10,000 per acre despite heavy burden on the state exchequer."

Officials told KCR that some difficulties are being faced in the procurement of paddy due to untimely rains.

As the state is likely to witness rains for another three to four days, the CM advised the farmers to stop harvesting the paddy so that the grain does not get wet.

The CM requested the farmers to take up paddy plantation in advance and ensure the Yasangi paddy harvesting is completed by March-end, every year.

The Chief Minister said that it is good to complete the harvesting before March as there are chances of untimely rains.

KCR also directed the Agriculture Department to conduct more scientific studies in this direction and sensitise the farmers.

Farmers should also be made aware of the use of fertilisers, the Chief Minister said.

--IANS
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Kochi, May 2 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking a halt of the newly-launched Vande Bharat train at Tirur railway station in Malappuram district.

Dismissing the plea, the division bench said that halting points of a train are determined by the Railways and no one has a vested right to demand which station a particular train should stop at.

"Moreover, like the petitioner, if every individual or public-spirited person in every district starts clamoring or demanding a stop to be provided at a railway station of his/her choice, the purpose of setting up high-speed trains would itself be lost. Railway stops are not to be provided on demands based on personal or vested interests, especially for high-speed express trains like Vande Bharat.

"We find no reason to entertain this writ petition and the same is dismissed," said the court, adding that the courts cannot interfere in the matter of providing stops for trains, as that is a matter purely within the discretion and jurisdiction of the Railways.

The petitioner pointed out that the failure to allot a stop at Tirur is an injustice to the people of Malappuram, causing great prejudice by ignoring their requests and demands.

However, the court dismissed the plea stating that it cannot interfere in the matter of providing stops for trains.

Incidentally, when the Kasargod-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat train was passing through Tirur, it was pelted with sones. The matter is being probed by the railway police.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, May 2 (IANS) Criticising the manifesto released by the Congress in Karnataka for the May 10 Assembly elections in the state, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the party's manifesto has been prepared under pressure from the banned organisation, Popular Front of India (PFI).

Interacting with the mediapersons at the BJP headquarters here, Sarma questioned "why the Congress, which is promising to ban Bajrang Dal, did not impose a ban on PFI?"

"The Congress manifesto is similar to the manifesto of organisations like the PFI and other fundamental groups. The party had withdrawn cases of PFI which was involved in terrorist activities and released 1,700 PFI workers," Sarma said.

The Assam Chief Minister said that the declaration of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to bring the Uniform Civil Code is a historical decision.

"This will put pressure on bringing the legislation throughout the country. The NRC is also an emergency need in contemporary times," Sarma said, adding that "Aadhaar is not the proof of citizenship".

"Even after 75 years of Independence, NRC has not been implemented. The Congress which ruled for the longest period has not bothered to discuss the matter," he said.

He further said that the Congress "which is harping on 40 per cent commission charges against the BJP should know how huge the Bofors scam was".

Talking about guarantee schemes by the Congress, the Assam CM questioned "who is Rahul Gandhi to announce these schemes in Karnataka?"

"Rahul Gandhi is not a member of parliament. He does not have any guarantees for himself. If his guarantee was to be true, Amethi should have been developed. There must have been peace in Jammu and Kashmir. The Babri Masjid dispute should have been settled," Sarma said.

--IANS
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Bhopal, May 2 (IANS) At least four people died after a crane lost control on a busy road in Indore and ran over two bikes on Tuesday evening. An injured person has been rushed to the hospital where his condition is stated to be critical, officials said.

The tragic incident occurred in Badhganga area when a crane lost control and crushed the commuters travelling on two motorcycles.

Indore SDM Ajay Dev said, "Four people were dead and one person was injured in the incident. Preliminary inquiry suggests that the driver lost control of the crane, which resulted in the accident. However, the police are trying to ascertain the exact cause of the mishap."

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that he has directed the police and the district administration for quick action in the matter.

"A sad news has been received about the loss of precious lives in Indore. I have inquired about the incident from the local administration and have given instructions to provide all possible help to the affected families. I pay my humble tribute to the people who lost their lives and pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured person," Mishra tweeted.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, May 2 (IANS) Y.S.R. Telangana Party (YSRTP) leader Y. S. Sharmila on Tuesday sent a truck loaded with damaged crops to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to draw his attention towards the losses suffered by farmers in several districts of Telangana due to untimely rains.

She said the recent rains left the farmers with unprecedented losses, and inflicted a major blow to their hopes of a good harvest.

Exhibiting the truck to the media, the YSR Telangana Party chief said that her party is sending this load of damaged crop to KCR so that, at least during the election year, he will wake up from "deep slumber" and extend appropriate compensation to farmers.

Sharmila said that the crop loss due to unseasonal rains has been put at around 10 lakh acres, but not a single official or MLA has visited the farmers and inspected the loss. "While they are all busy clicking photographs in the newly built Secretariat that cost Rs 1600 crore, it is a shame that the farmers had to raise loans at high interests, sell their spouses' jewellery for crops. This truck bears farmers' tears," she said.

YSRTP leader said that in the past nine years, the cumulative crop loss has been estimated to be more than Rs 14,000 crores, but this "reckless" government has no concept of crop insurance. "When there is no crop insurance, at least the government should extend compensation. KCR promised Rs 10,000 per acre, which is insignificant as the input costs rose unprecedentedly," she said.

Sharmila demanded that KCR pay at least Rs 30,000 per acre as compensation. "The paddy procurement should begin immediately. The assurance to set up 7500 IKP centres also failed and less than 2500 were set up. We demand that the centres be established on an emergency basis."

She slammed KCR and his 'Raithu bharosa and ab ki baar kisan sarkar' catchwords. "Is this the bharosa and is this the kisan sarkar? A sarkar that doesn't give crop insurance, doesn't extend input subsidies, and fails on every front when it comes to the rescue of farmers?," she asked.

--IANS
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