Category Archives: National

National, Politics

Once a militant stronghold, Downtown Srinagar witnesses political resurgence

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PTI, Srinagar, May 5, 2024 : Once a hunting ground for terrorists, the downtown Srinagar is witnessing a vibrant political revival as former chief minister Omar Abdullah orchestrated a bold move Sunday by hosting a rally for his National Conference candidate from the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.


The region’s Hawal, which used to be a stronghold of the banned Al Umar Mujahideen (AuM) terrorist group and where kidnappings were the order of the day in early 1990s, is a completely different place now as it is abuzz with political rallies and party activities.

So much so was the enthusiasm that the security forces had a tough time managing the crowd at the NC rally hosted at a park in the Tibetan colony, just meters away from the historic Jama Masjid, a focal point for Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s moderate Hurriyat Conference.

During his tenure as chief minister, Abdullah had made significant efforts to support unemployed youths in the downtown city by providing them with soft loans to operate roadside kiosks, aiming to prevent them from being influenced by anti-national elements and involve in activities like stone-pelting.

However, many youths lost their occupation to the massive 2014 floods, leading to a resurgence in the incidents of stone-pelting. The National Conference was voted out of power, but the floods couldn’t wash away the investment in youths Abdullah made during his tenure.

And its impact was on full display during Sunday rally as many of them turned up to show their support.

The atmosphere was electric as people filled the park and even perched on their rooftops, chanting slogans in support of the National Conference and their candidate, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi.

“‘Omar Saab aagey badho, hum tumhare saath hain’ (You march ahead Omar, we are with you)” slogans rent the air as women gathered at the venue, singing traditional Kashmiri wanwun (chorus) and cheering for Abdullah.

Addressing the jubilant crowd, a visibly elated Abdullah justified his choice of Mehdi as a candidate, praising his fearlessness and ability to represent the constituency’s aspirations.

During his speech, punctuated by frequent chants from the spirited audience, Abdullah highlighted the challenges faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising their “silenced” voices and the presence of “outsiders” in government offices.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir are going through a very difficult time, he said. “Our lips are sealed, our voices are not heard and our government offices are filled with outsiders.” With the Srinagar Lok Sabha elections scheduled for May 13, the National Conference faces stiff competition from the PDP’s Waheed Para. The surge in political activities in a region once plagued by terrorism underlined a significant shift towards a more politically active future.

Veteran politician Farooq Abdullah held political rallies on Saturday in downtown Srinagar, signalling a resurgence of democratic processes in the region that was synonymous with violence and unrest.

The senior Abdullah held rallies in Khanyar and Ali Kadal while Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari held a small rally in Fateh Kadal of downtown.

PDP’s Para has been mainly focussing on holding street meetings in the area.

This upsurge in political engagement underscores the evolving dynamics of the area, moving from a turbulent past to a more engaged and politically active tomorrow.  
National, Politics

SP, Cong work only to benefit their families, votebanks; INDIA Bloc using Muslims as pawns: PM Modi

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PTI, Etawah (UP), May 5, 2024 :  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, saying they are contesting elections to benefit their families and their vote banks.


Addressing a Lok Sabha poll rally here in Samajwadi Party (SP) founder the late Mulayam Singh Yadav’s home turf, Modi also recalled Yadav’s 2019 speech in Parliament, where he had said that Modi was going to become the prime minister again.

“It was his blessing,” Modi said.

The prime minister said the slogans of both the SP and the Congress are “lies” and their “intentions are also not good”.

The SP and the Congress, both members of the opposition INDIA bloc, are contesting the polls in the state as allies.

“The Samajwadi Party and the Congress are contesting the elections for their future and that of their children. They work only to benefit their families and their vote banks,” Modi alleged.

He also attacked the Samajwadi Party on the issue of COVID-19 vaccines, alleging that its leaders had instigated people against the vaccines but got themselves inoculated in secret.
“Modi and Yogi are working for the future of your children.. we don’t have children,” Modi further said, addressing a Lok Sabhapoll rally here in the home district of Samajwadi Party(SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, who died in 2022.

The prime minister said that he is laying the foundation to ensure that India remains a powerful nation for the next 1,000years. “Modi is doing this because irrespective of whether Modi is there or not, the country will always remain and what are these SP-Congress people doing? They are fighting elections for their future and the future of their children, “he added.

The prime minister also said that the slogans of both the SP and the Congress are “lies” and their “intentions are also not good”. “They work only to benefit their families and their vote banks,” he alleged.
Entertainment, International, National

Kareena Kapoor appointed as UNICEF India’s national ambassador

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Since 2014, the actor has been involved with this humanitarian initiative, serving as a celebrity advocate.


SNS | New Delhi | May 4, 2024 :  Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan was appointed on Saturday as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India’s national ambassador.

Since 2014, the actor has been involved with this humanitarian initiative, serving as a celebrity advocate.

Kareena will assist UNICEF India in advancing every child’s right to gender equality, health, education, and early childhood development in her capacity as an employee.

On her confirmation as the UNICEF ambassador, Kareen posted a picture on Instagram captioning, “An emotional day for me… I am honored to be appointed as UNICEF India National Ambassador.

Working with @unicefindia over the past 10 years has been truly enriching and insightful. I am proud of the work that we have done and am reiterating my commitment to being a voice for promoting and protecting child rights and an equal future for all children.”

The 43-year-old actress further thanked UNICEF’s entire team, which has been tirelessly working for the rights of women and children across the country.

The ‘Singham Returns’ actress also welcomed Gauranshi, Kartik, Vinisha and Nahid as UNICEF’s newest Youth Advocate.

She also made a pledge to continue to be a voice #ForEveryChild.

UNICEF India Representative Cynthia McCaffrey said, “UNICEF is delighted to welcome Kareena Kapoor Khan as our National Ambassador, building on her years of commitment to advance children’s rights. She has brought energy and impact through her support for several national and global campaigns.”
Education, National, Politics

BJP Govt’s plan to convert English medium schools back to Hindi language to be an absurd decision: Gehlot

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 “Our government started Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools with the objective of providing English education to the children of poor and middle class families,” Gehlot said.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot
SNS | Jaipur | May 4, 2024 : On the Rajasthan BJP government’s plan to convert English medium schools back to Hindi language, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said that it would be an absurd decision and against the poor and middle class families.

“Our government started Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools with the objective of providing English education to the children of poor and middle class families,” Gehlot said.

In his X post, Gehlot said: “If there was a need for improvement in these schools, then the present government would have made the necessary improvements, but converting English medium schools back to Hindi medium seems absurd and against the poor and middle class. Hindi is the mother tongue of all of us, but English medium gives new employment opportunities to children.”

“The previous government opened English medium schools on the demand of local residents and public representatives and these created a good environment. Hence, the BJP Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma should reconsider this decision,” he opined.

The State Education Department has issued a 38 points format to the District Education Department to review the previous Congress government’s decision and submit their reports to the government, whether to revert it back to Hindi medium schools. There are about 3300 English medium government schools which are being run in the state even in villages.
Education, National, Northeast, Regional, West Bengal

Two fake circulars announcing date and time of the ICSE and ISC results cause panic

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Anxious ICSE, ISC students check websites

Jhinuk Mazumdar,  TT, Calcutta, 05.05.24 : 

Two fake circulars announcing the date and time of the ICSE and ISC results and a fake link to a page with the name of the council on social media caused anxiety for thousands of students on Saturday.

ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) examinees kept calling their teachers and checking the website in anticipation of their results.

“The circulars were fake,” Sangeeta Bhatia, deputy secretary of Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), told The Telegraph from Delhi.

One of the circulars said the results would be published on May 4 at 1pm while the other one said they would be out on May 7 at 10am.

“The council will take up this matter with police and is waiting for advisers to say what to do,” said a council official in Delhi. Asked if the council would lodge any complaint, the official said: “Yes, we will be doing that.”

A senior officer of Kolkata Police’s detective department said they had not received any complaint till Saturday evening. “We have not received any complaint so far.”

The ICSE and ISC results are usually published by the middle of May and the council makes an announcement before publishing the results.

Last year, the results were published on May 14.

Some of the teachers issued their own clarification to anxious students.

“I sent out a message to parents and children saying that one should check the official website of the council and not believe in any other link,” said Souvic Jati, ICSE coordinator of The Heritage School.

The ICSE exam ended on March 28 and ISC on April 4.

“This is a serious harassment of students. Some will be appearing for the Neet (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) on Sunday and they are getting unnecessarily stressed. There should be action against those who are spreading such rumours,” said Rodney Borneo, principal, St Augustine’s Day School Shyamnagar.
Education, Misc, National, Northeast

I wanna hold your hand…NGO revives a long shut school in Manipur

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What can a Calcutta-based NGO, a social worker from Manipur’s hills and some long-shut government primary schools have in common?
Knock, Knock: A primary school in Oklong Khunou village : Photo, courtesy Prasanta Roy

Sudipta Bhattacharjee, TT, 05.05.24 : From the air, Manipur looks like a bowl, a verdant valley girdled by green hills. There appears no hint of the unprecedented turbulence that has rocked this northeastern state over the past year.

But there is certainly a sense of eerie isolation and foreboding on the route from Imphal to the hill districts surrounding the valley. Leaving the Manipur capital behind, it takes three hours along National Highway 2 to reach Senapati town. Provisions are procured from here because the villages in the hills are scantily stocked.

While the majority Meiteis live in the valley, the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities inhabit the five hill districts of Senapati, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul. From Senapati town, it takes over 90 minutes to reach the villages of Oklong and Oklong Khunou, comprising the Naga indigenous population, along roads in various states of disrepair, gradient and sudden turns.

In the village, one can find R.K. Paul Chawang, a native of Oklong Khunou. Paul is a social worker with a mission. His organisation, Amyaa, is striving to bring a semblance of progress to the otherwise stagnant villages in the vicinity that include Oklong, Oklong Maryram, Oklong Khunou, Makuilongdi and Maram Khunou. While working on a project in Arunachal Pradesh, he came across members of a Calcutta-based NGO, Prayasam, and urged them to come to trouble-torn Manipur and train the youth of Senapati hill district.

Recently, a group of Am-yaa members came to Calcutta to be trained at Prayasam’s Community Youth Hub. One of the members, Albert, who is also from Oklong Khunou village, found the skills training so helpful that, like Paul, he felt the youth back home would benefit greatly from this joint venture. Prayasam’s life-skills education module addresses vital parameters like self-knowledge, communication, relationship-building, decision-making, coping with emotions, living with disability and substance-use, among others.

In the hills of Senapati, Paul introduced the Prayasam team — founder Amlan Kusum Ganguly, Saptarshi Ray, Prasanta Roy and Manish Chowdhury — to several village elders, young adults, children and women to chalk out an action plan for the resurrection of defunct government primary schools that have no infrastructure or teachers.

According to 29-year-old Erangbe Hau, the school in-charge at Makuilongdi, “The government teachers never come to the schools, although they collect their salaries. We run the school as ‘proxy teachers’ at a salary of ₹6,000, arranged by the local church and village council.” Like him, 24-year-old Machunkam, a college student who lives in Oklong Khunou, says he and his friends are ready to spearhead the change.

Paul explains the demographic negligence of the hill districts. “During the long tenure of Congress chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, the Nagas were at the receiving end and had to take recourse to a 100-day economic blockade. Under the present BJP dispensation with N. Biren Singh as chief minister, it is the Kukis who are being deprived. But despite his apparently kind visage towards us Nagas, there is no development. Whatever little funds trickle down, after greasing palms in between, are grossly insufficient for any welfare scheme,” he adds. Like in Bengal and many other states, there is a thriving job racket, including that for the posts of schoolteachers.

Paul is now looking to Prayasam to train the youth, hand-hold the trainees till they are able to sustain the impact on society and bring in a semblance of progress to keep the youth from migrating to the mainland, where most end up frustrated with their efforts to eke out a decent living. Ganguly says they will replicate their successful training module in Senapati very soon.

“Central to Prayasam’s approach is the focus on youth empowerment through Ontrack life skills lessons,” he explains. “Tailored specifically to the needs and aspirations of young people, these sessions equip them with essential skills such as problem-solving and leadership. Through interactive workshops and hands-on activities, youth are empowered to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. Moreover, they are trained to be community ambassadors, tasked with spearheading grassroots initiatives and mobilising their peers towards collective action for positive change.”

Elaborating, he says: “At the heart of Prayasam’s intervention strategy lies the concept of Multiple Activity Centres (MACs), envisioned as vibrant hubs of community engagement and empowerment. These centres serve as catalysts for change, offering a wide array of programmes and activities designed to uplift and empower the entire community.” In the villages of Senapati, the schools will be used as MACs — for children’s classes, youth activity as well as adult education programmes.

The MACs also serve as platforms for economic empowerment, particularly for women. In Naga society, women are not at the forefront of decision-making. To hone their skills, Prayasam will include income-generating activities, providing them with opportunities to achieve financial independence. Ganguly, an Ashoka and Ford fellow, says: “They will be trained in the marketing of forest resources, including local produce like kiwi and large cardamom, empowering the women to leverage their natural surroundings sustainably and generate income for their families.”

The Nagas of Senapati comprise the Zemi, Rongmei and Liangmai communities. All of them stand united in the quest for development. One village elder lamented that they have not seen their children and grandchildren in decades. There is no school, no health centre. Who would want to remain there, he asked.
National, Politics

All isn’t well with BJP at Hindutva’s Ground Zero: At Ram’s doorstep, PM Modi to hold road show

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A large number of BJP workers are uninterested in campaigning. The RSS cadre, extremely active here in 2014 and 2019, remains elusive — they are neither going door to door nor meeting BJP workers, a political observer said
The main entrance to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.: Picture by Piyush Shrivastava

Piyush Srivastava Ayodhya, TT,  05.05.24 : In a matter of days, the door-to-door BJP campa­i­gners’ tone in Ayodhya has gone from preening to pleading.

“Ram ke vote deo na toh Ramji haar jaihen. BJP chhodo, ihan Ram ke badnami hoi (Vote for Ram, else Ram will lose. Not just the BJP but Ram will get a bad name),” voters of the Faizabad constituency, where Ayodhya falls, are being implored.

This is days after they were told it would be a privilege for them to “participate” in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inevitable triumph by voting for him.

“Modiji ko awe se kauno rok na sakat hai. Apahun ome apan yogdan do (Nobody can stop Modiji from coming to power. You too participate in it).”

Political observers believe that all isn’t well with the BJP at Hindutva’s Ground Zero, and this is why Modi is arriving on Sunday — 15 days before the polling — for
a road show.

“Normally, road shows by the senior-most leaders of a party are held three or four days before the election. But suddenly, the most powerful people in the government are visiting Ayodhya many days before polling,” a politics lecturer at a local degree college said.

Seeking anonymity, he added: “A large number of BJP workers are uninterested in campaigning. The RSS cadre, extremely active here in 2014 and 2019, remains elusive — they are neither going door to door nor meeting BJP workers.”

T.N. Tiwari, a local political analyst, said: “Amit Maurya, the Devakali Mandal BJP booth president in Ayodhya district, committed suicide on May 20, 2021, after facing police harassment during the construction of his house. BJP leaders didn’t help him and he threw himself on a railway track. Since then, many booth-level BJP workers and leaders have withdrawn from party activities.

“The euphoria of the Ram temple is subsiding, too. About 2 lakh devotees visited the temple every day after the (January 22) consecration; only 20,000 come nowadays.”

Lallu Singh of the BJP is seeking a third consecutive term from Faizabad. The BJP holds four of the five Assembly segments, but local wisdom has it that Lallu enjoys the support only of Daryabad MLA Satish Sharma.

The party MLAs from Rudauli, Bikapur and Ayodhya seem unhappy — if not with Lallu, certainly with chief minister Yogi Adityanath whom they and their peers accuse of disempowering them by wielding direct control over the bureaucracy and police.

The fifth MLA, Awadhesh Prasad of the Samajwadi Party (Milkipur), is the INDIA nominee against Lallu. The caste equations seem to be with him.

One of the reasons has been the fear generated among Dalit, tribal and OBC voters that if the BJP wins a huge majority, it would amend the Constitution to abolish reservations.

Ironically, Lallu had himself fanned these fears by purportedly declaring, at a meeting in the second week of April, that the BJP and allies needed over 400 seats “to change the Constitution”.

Lallu later claimed the video of his speech was an edited one. But the controversy forced Modi to drop his “400-plus” cry and rush to deny, along with Union home minister Amit Shah, that the BJP would ever change the Constitution.

“Losing the Faizabad seat will be a real humiliation for the BJP and Modiji because Ayodhya is part of it. This is probably why the Prime Minister has suddenly decided to hold a road show here,” Awadhesh Mishra, a BJP worker, said.

“President Droupadi Murmu rushed to Ayodhyaon Wednesday and Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a 9km road show with Lallu before the MP filed hisnomination.”

Lallu denied any sense of insecurity, saying: “The Prime Minister’s road show of May 5 was expected since long back. He’ll also offer prayers at the Ram temple.”

But the BJP’s nervousness was underlined on April 30 when the central government-appointed Ram temple trust felt the need to contradict Rahul’s claim that President Murmu had not been invited to the January 22 consecration because she comes from a tribal community.

“Rahul Gandhi’s statement is untrue, baseless and confusing. We want to remind him that respected Droupadi Murmu and former President Ramnath Kovind (a Dalit) were both invited on this occasion,” the trust said ina statement.

“Many saints and people from… the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes were invited.”

On Sunday, Modi will worship at the Ram temple and then lead a 1.9km road show. Forty cultural groups from various states have been hired to perform on both sides ofthe road.
Crime, National, Politics, Regional, Techno/ Science, West Bengal

Finger against Governor Bose for ‘physical advances’, cops seek Raj Bhavan CCTV footage

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Before leaving the city, Bose had said in an audio statement that he smelt a “sinister plot” and that no one would be able to deter him from his “determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence”
Kinsuk Basu, TT, Calcutta, 05.05.24 : The special enquiry team probing allegations of “physical advances” against governor C.V. Ananda Bose, as levelled by a contractual Raj Bhavan employee, has sought CCTV footage from the governor’s office. 

A  letter sent late on Friday night requested footage related to some of the places the young woman has mentioned in her complaint. The letter set no timeframe.

A city police officer quoted the letter as saying that the footage was required in connection with a complaint the police had received against the governor.

Among the places identified in the letter are the governor’s office and a conference room where Bose has been accused of trying to lure the complainant with the offer of a promotion, a senior police officer said.

“The footage is part of a basic enquiry about what the woman has alleged,” he added.

“Over the next few days, we will speak to some Raj Bhavan staff members as part of our preliminary enquiry into the allegations. If the CCTV footage is not made available, we will mention that in our report.”

The officer in charge of the police’s Raj Bhavan outpost handed the letter to a senior official from the governor’s secretariat, the police said.

“Since there is no specific timeframe for the enquiry, the letter sent to the Raj Bhavan doesn’t specify the time within which the footage would have to be submitted,” a senior police officer said. “We will wait a few days.”

Senior police officers did not want to comment whether they would visit the Raj Bhavan to question the staff or send summons asking them to face the enquiry team.

After the woman lodged her complaint with Hare Street police station on Thursday evening, the police made a general diary entry (GDE) and formed an eight-member special enquiry team headed by deputy police commissioner (central) Indira Mukherjee.

Bose left for Kochi on Friday. On Saturday, this newspaper tried to contact the governor over his phone several times but he remained “unreachable”.

A message to the governor has gone unanswered so far. Calls to Bose’s officer-on-special-duty at the Raj Bhavan have not elicited any response.

Before leaving the city, Bose had said in an audio statement that he smelt a “sinister plot” and that no one would be able to deter him from his “determined efforts to expose corruption and curb violence”.

On Saturday, Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee asked why the governor had left the city if he had nothing to hide.

“I feel ashamed to talk about this. Two days ago, Bengal’s governor sexually assaulted a contractual staff who is his daughter’s age,” Abhishek alleged at a news conference.

“The next day, he left the city. If you have nothing to hide, then cooperate with the investigation. Why are you running away?”

The woman has accused Bose of making an indecent proposal to her and touching her inappropriately.

She has mentioned two alleged incidents, the first purportedly taking place at Bose’s office at the Raj Bhavan around 12.45pm on April 24. The complainant has said she managed to get out of the room.

The second alleged incident happened on May2, this time in the conference room, the woman has said.

According to Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be conducted against the President or a governor during their term in office.

If a complaint is lodged against a governor, the police can submit a preliminary report to the state government, which can forward it to the President, the appointing authority of governors.
Health, Misc, National, Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Heat intensity reduces in east, southern peninsular India

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IMD, KalimNews,

 5 May 2024 : Indian Meteorological Department has forecast that heat wave conditions with reduced intensity are likely to continue in isolated pockets over East India till Sunday and some places over south Peninsular India till 6th May. Heat wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema on Saturday and Sunday. Interior Karnataka will face heat wave conditions till the 7th of May whereas Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are likely to face heat wave till the 8th of May.

Yesterday, highest maximum temperature of 46.3 degree Celsius was reported at Nandyal in Rayalaseema. Heat wave conditions have been prevailing over Odisha since 15th April, Gangetic West Bengal since 17th April and Rayalaseema since 24th April. Rise in maximum temperatures by two to four degrees is very likely over many parts of Northwest India, except Uttar Pradesh, during next five days.

Meanwhile, Met department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall spell accompanied with thunderstorms and gusty winds over Northeast India in the next two days. Wet spell accompanied with thunderstorms and gusty winds is very likely over East India during 5th to 9th of this month with maximum intensity on 6th and 7th May.

PTI, New Delhi, May 4, 2024 : The intensity of the heat wave prevailing in east and parts of southern peninsular India came down slightly on Saturday, with the weather office predicting relief from the scorching conditions in these regions after two days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed in parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Telangana, with maximum temperatures settling 3-5 degrees Celsius above normal in these regions.

The mercury settled above 44 degrees Celsius in at least 10 places in these states.

According to IMD data, 13 places on Friday and 17 on Thursday recorded maximum temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius. Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh sizzled at 46 degrees Celsius and was the hottest place in the country for the third consecutive day on Saturday.

Maximum temperatures were recorded at 45.9 degrees Celsius in Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), 45 degrees in Mahbubnagar (Telangana), 44 degrees in Odisha’s Boudh, 43.5 degrees in Karur Paramathi (Tamil Nadu), 44.6 degrees in Nizamabad (Telangana), 45.4 in Andhra Pradesh’s Cuddapah, and 43.5 degrees in West Bengal’s Kalaikunda.

The IMD said the ongoing heatwave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue until May 5-6 and abate thereafter.

Light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms are predicted in Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand from May 5 to 9.

Scattered light to moderate rainfall is expected in east Uttar Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh during this period.

Scattered light to moderate rainfall is also very likely in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Karnataka from May 6 to May 9.

The Met office on Wednesday said above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heatwave days expected over the northern plains, central region and adjoining areas of peninsular India.

April witnessed record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast and south peninsular India, prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools.

A number of stations also recorded their highest-ever April day temperatures. Five active western disturbances led to rainfall, thunderstorms and hail storms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves.

The IMD data shows that heat waves this April were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far.

This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heatwave days predicted over the south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and the Gujarat regions.

The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka and Telangana may record five to seven heatwave days during the month.

Normally, the northern plains, central India and adjoin
Crime, National, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

 Charges against Guv: Police explore legal opinion

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Kolkata Police (KP) is exploring legal opinion from prominent lawyers and constitutional experts seeking to know about what steps should be taken against the governor C V Ananda Bose.


SNS | Kolkata | May 4, 2024  : Kolkata Police (KP) is exploring legal opinion from prominent lawyers and constitutional experts seeking to know about what steps should be taken against the governor C V Ananda Bose.

A temporary woman employee at Raj Bhavan on Thursday, lodged a molestation complaint against Mr Bose, the constitutional head in the state, with Hare Street police station alleging he ‘sexually assaulted her twice’. The incident has rocked the state prompting the ruling Trinamul Congress to come down heavily on Mr Bose amidst the ongoing seven-phase Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Mr Bose dismissed the allegation and said that he would not be cowed down by the “engineered narratives’.

On Thursday evening, soon after the complaint was lodged with police station, Indira Mukhopadhyay, deputy commissioner (DC) of police (central division), told media that they are in touch with lawyers and constitutional experts in the city seeking to know their opinions about the investigation process, particularly what should be legal steps when a constitutional head faces allegations of molestation.

Senior police officials held a meeting today at Lalbazar to discuss the issue, it has been learnt.

“No criminal cases can be framed against the President and Governors of states in our country. The complainant will land in deep trouble if the allegations brought against the Governor are not proved true,” said Tathagata Roy, former Governor of Tripura and Meghalaya.

Prominent lawyers in the city felt that no criminal procedures can be initiated against the President of India and Governors of states as per the Section 361 of the Constitution. But civil cases can be filed against Governors in connection property related disputes, they said.

“The Supreme Court in its verdict has clearly stated that any organized crime against women must be investigated with extreme importance. But in the case of the President of India and Governors, only complaints can be lodged against them. They can’t be arrested till they belong to the coveted posts,” one prominent lawyer said.

On Thursday night, Mr Bose through a statement banned the entry of the minister Chandrima Bhattacharya into the Raj Bhavan premises in Kolkata, Darjeeling and Barrackpore for making “defamation and anti-constitutional media statements” and also barred the police from conducting any investigation against him in the alleged molestation case.

In the statement, the Governor said, “Truth shall triumph. I refuse to be cowed down by engineered narratives. If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal.”

Mr Bose left for Kochi to attend a pre-scheduled programme there after the Prime Minister left Raj Bhavan today.
National, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

BJP and CPM together have eaten 26,000 jobs, PM’s help not needed: Mamata Banerjee

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The high court invalidated the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching employees at state-sponsored and aided schools because of irregularities in the State Level Selection Test, 2016
Mamata Banerjee addresses a rally at Memari in East Burdwan on Friday.: Munshi Muklesur Rahaman
Pranesh Sarkar, TT, Calcutta, 04.05.24 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday pledged that the BJP would stand by those teachers whose appointments had been cancelled by Calcutta High Court recently though they had landed jobs rightfully.

The high court invalidated the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching employees at state-sponsored and aided schools because of irregularities in the State Level Selection Test, 2016.

While promising to stand by those whose appointments were not tainted by charges of corruption, Modi said the BJP’s Bengal unit would set up a legal cell and a social media platform to assist them.

“The TMC extortionists cheated lakhs of youths in the recruitment of teachers…. You saw what kind of irregularities took place when it was found that machines got tired of counting bundles of currency notes. Many genuine teachers, who have proper documents, are also suffering because of the sin of others.… I have suggested that the Bengal BJP set up a legal cell and a social media platform to assist genuine teachers who lost their jobs,” Modi said during an election rally in Burdwan on Friday.

While addressing a rally in East Burdwan’s Raina later in the day, chief minister Mamata Banerjee tore into Modi and the BJP, holding them responsible for “eating 26,000 jobs”.

“Where were you Modi babu? You have eaten 26,000 jobs. Your party has eaten these jobs. Your party and the CPM have together eaten the jobs…. Your assistance is not required. The Bengal government has already engaged lawyers in the Supreme Court. The education department has also engaged lawyers. We would not let the youths lose their jobs,” said Mamata.

As a large number of teachers not tainted by chargesof corruption became the high court order’s collateral damage, Mamata held the Opposition, especially the BJP, responsible for the job losses.

The Prime Minister’s bid to address the concerns of genuine teachers who lost their jobs reflected the BJP’s unease with Mamata’s consistent effort to blame the saffron camp for the high court order.

“Elections have been held only in six Lok Sabha constituencies in Bengal so far and another 36 seats will go to the polls in the remaining five phases. Most of the affected teachers are residents of these 36 constituencies. So, the Prime Minister had to send a message particularly after the chief minister had vowed to stand by the teachers who lost jobs,” said a BJP leader.
National, Politics

Supreme Court hints at releasing Arvind Kejriwal on interim bail in view of elections

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 Clarity on Kejriwal’s interim bail is expected to emerge on Tuesday when the court resumes hearing his appeal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy-linked money-laundering case

R. Balaji, TT, New Delhi, 04.05.24 : The Supreme Court on Friday hinted at releasing Arvind Kejriwal on interim bail in view of the elections and asked the Centre whether the Delhi chief minister could continue signing files from jail.

Clarity on Kejriwal’s interim bail is expected to emerge on Tuesday when the court resumes hearing his appeal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy-linked money-laundering case.

“We are not saying anything. We would like to consider grant of interim bail because of the elections. We may or may not grant bail. We are going to hear you. But if the hearing takes time, we may consider interim bail. We must be open to you, because neither side should be taken by surprise,” a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta told additional solicitor-general S.V. Raju and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singh.

Raju was appearing for the ED while Singh represented Kejriwal.

While indicating the possibility of interim bail, Justice Khanna asked Raju to seek instructions from the Centre on whether Kejriwal could continue signing files despite being in jail.

“Also please take instructions, because of the position he (Kerjiwal) holds, whether he should be signing official files,” Justice Khanna said.
National, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

NH 10 closes down for repairs from 6 May for 3 days

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Amitava Banerjee, MP, 4 May 2024, Darjeeling: The District Magistrate, Kalimpong has issued an order restricting the movement of all types of vehicles from Rabi Jhora to Gail Khola, 29th Mile on the National Highway (NH) 10 from 6 am on May 6 to 6 am on May 9. 

Alternative routes and diversions have been specified in the order. This restriction has been clamped to allow repair work on the NH 10. 
Incidentally, the NH10 connects the state of Sikkim with the plains of Bengal and is a lifeline for the Himalayan state of Sikkim. The road was badly damaged owing to a flash flood on the Teesta on October 4, 2023. 
Since then the condition of NH 10 has been unstable with the need to close down stretches for vehicular traffic, for repairs. 
“We had received a request from the executive engineer, NH, Division 9, PW Roads on April 30, to restrict vehicular movement of all types of vehicles to carry out bituminous work on the 2.40 km stretch between Rabi Jhora to Gail Khola along NH 10,” stated Balasubramanian T, District Magistrate, Kalimpong. 
The notice states that only small vehicles will move from Rangpoo towards Siliguri via Munsong-17th Mile-Algarah- Lava-Gorubathan and then onto Siliguri and vice versa, round-the-clock. Small vehicles will move from Chitrey-Kalimpong town-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan and Siliguri and vice-versa round-the-clock. Goods vehicles will move from Chitrey-Kalimpong town-Algarah-Lava-Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice-versa from 9 pm to 6 am. 
Goods vehicle and small vehicles will move from Reshi-Pedong-Algarah-Lava- Gorubathan and to Siliguri and vice-versa round-the-clock. “Necessary restrictions at Rangpo checkpost, Chitrey and at the district border on the NH 10 stretch shall be imposed by the police for facilitating the route diversions,” added the DM. 
With temperatures soaring in the plains, there is a huge rush of tourists to Sikkim and Kalimpong, accessed through the NH 10. The diversions will result in longer travel time and will be heavy on the purse. 
“The NH 10 is highly fragile but tourism to Kalimpong and Sikkim is heavily dependent on it. We are digging up the area for a new train line, despite the fragile ecosystem. This will further affect the NH 10 and also the villages like Rambi along the road. 
The only consolation now is that nearly 70 per cent of construction work of the alternate highway 177A to Sikkim is complete. We hope that this highway is completed at the earliest,” stated Raj Basu, Convenor, Association for Conservation of Tourism (ACT). 
Courtesy & source- Millennium Post 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/nh-10-closes-down-for-repairs-562424?infinitescroll=1
National, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

EC to deploy over 400 companies in 3rd phase and about 596 in 4th

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Over 400 companies of Central Paramilitary Forces will be there on the day of phase III. 

MP, 4 May 2024, Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) is all set to conduct phase III polls on May 7 amidst tight security when Malda South, Malda North, Murshidabad and Jangipur will go to polls. 

Over 400 companies of Central Paramilitary Forces will be there on the day of phase III. 
EC is going to deploy 64 companies of Central Forces in the Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency while in Malda around 144 companies will be deployed. There will be around 144 companies of Central forces for Murshidabad Lok Sabha constituency while 143 companies. 
In the fourth phase of elections, around 596 companies of central forces will be deployed by the EC. In the fifth phase, the state may see a deployment of around 750 companies of central forces. 
There will be additional deployment of forces for QRT and confidence-building exercise and on strong room duty. The decision comes in the wake of violence during the panchayat polls of 2023 in Domkal and other parts of Murshidabad, prompting the EC to analyse sensitive booths to finalize force deployment. 
EC is concerned for the Murshidabad district as it had past instances of violence. In Malda North, Khagen Murmu, a BJP leader is contesting the elections for his party. He is pitted against Prasun Banerjee from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Mostaque Alam from the Congress. 
Sreerupa Mitra Chowdhury is the BJP candidate in Malda South who is contesting against Shanawaz Ali Rehan of the TMC, while Isha Khan Choudhury represents Congress. 
In Murshidabad seat, the contest is between CPI(M’s) Mohammed Salim, Trinamool’s Abu Taher Khan, and BJP’s Gouri Shankar Ghosh. TMC’s Abu Taher Khan, the incumbent, aims for re-election. 
The Jangipur Lok Sabha seat has a significant legacy linked to the late President Pranab Mukherjee. Khallilur Rahman of TMC, the incumbent, faces competition from BJP’s Dhanahjay Ghosh and Congress’ Mortazza Hossain in a three-cornered fight. 
The EC on Friday issued directives to remove two officers-in-charge — one from Anandapur police station under Kolkata police and another from Diamond Harbour Police Station in South 24-Parganas. 
The EC also said that the two officers cannot be deployed in election duties. The office of the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has to submit names of three possible officers to fill up the two posts which will be vacant. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/ec-to-deploy-over-400-companies-in-3rd-phase-and-about-596-in-4th-562462
Crime, National, Politics

Prajwal raped me at gun point and made videos , alleges JD(S) worker

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The crime investigation department booked Prajwal, grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, after a JD-S worker from Hassan lodged a complaint against him

PTI, 03, May 2024 : The Criminal Investigation Department investigating the sexual abuse allegations against Janata Dal-Secular leader and National Democratic Alliance’s Hassan Lok Sabha candidate Prajwal Revanna has registered a case of rape against him, based on the complaint by a party worker.

The crime investigation department booked Prajwal, grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, after a JD-S worker from Hassan lodged a complaint against him.
Besides the rape charges, the CID invoked sections against Prajwal pertaining to voyeurism, disrobing and making videos and taking photographs by threatening the complainant.

In the complaint, the woman said Prajwal had raped her at gunpoint and made videos on his mobile phones.

She said Prajwal had taken her to the MP quarters where he perpetrated the crime at gunpoint and threatened that he would kill her as well as her husband, if she revealed to anyone what he had done.

The accused allegedly forced her to satisfy his lust whenever he demanded, and threatened to make her video public if she did not cooperate.

Prajwal is facing allegations of sexually abusing several women. The state government-constituted Special Investigation Team is investigating the case.

Scores of explicit video clips allegedly involving the 33-year-old MP sexually abusing several women had started making the rounds in recent days.

Prajwal is the BJP-JD-S alliance’s candidate from the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency where polling was held on April 26, after which he left the country on a diplomatic passport.

The JD-S had joined the NDA in September last year.

The JD-S leadership has suspended Prajwal from the party.
Crime, International, National

Indian couple, 3-month-old grandchild among 4 killed in accident during police chase in Canada

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All four people were pronounced dead at the scene on Highway 401 in Whitby, about 50 kilometres east of Toronto, police said on Thursday.

PTI, Toronto, May 3, 2024 : An Indian couple visiting Canada and their three-month-old grandchild were among four people killed on the spot in a multi-vehicle collision when Ontario police pursued a liquor store robbery suspect driving the wrong way.

    
All four people were pronounced dead at the scene on Highway 401 in Whitby, about 50 kilometres east of Toronto, police said on Thursday.
    
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said that two of the victims, a 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman, were visiting from India. However, the SIU did not release the names of the victims.
    
The couple’s three-month-old grandson also died in the multi-vehicle collision. Highway 401 was closed for several hours after the incident on Monday, it said.
    
The agency said that the parents of the infant, his 33-year-old father and 27-year-old mother, were travelling in the same vehicle and were taken to hospital.
    
The mother’s injuries are serious, the SIU said.
    
The 21-year-old robbery suspect was also killed in the collision, which involved at least six vehicles, CBC News reported.
   
Officials have said the deadly car chase started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville and ended around 20 minutes later after the suspect in a cargo van led Durham police on a high-speed chase against opposing traffic on Highway 401.
    
A 38-year-old male passenger from the cargo van was also taken to the hospital to be treated for serious injuries.
   
The autopsies for the victims were conducted in Toronto on Wednesday.
    
Seven investigators, one forensic investigator and one collision reconstructionist continue to investigate this case, the statement said.
    
The SIU is an agency called in to investigate whenever police are involved in a death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
    
Milica Maljkovic Birkett, a witness to the deadly police chase and had a lucky escape, said she didn’t have time to think.
    
She was driving her regular commute on the 401, when she was suddenly face-to-face with the suspect van barrelling toward her car on the wrong way.
    
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, like what just happened? What’s going on?'” Maljkovic Birkett told CBC Toronto on Thursday.
    
Maljkovic Birkett said the experience has taken time to process.
    
“It’s so scary,” she said. “For whatever reason, somehow my life was spared. But (four) others were taken and that was just really heavy,” she said.
Misc, National, Regional, States

Problems related with speed breakers on Indian Roads

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Matar Singh, EOI, 4 May 2024 : Speed breakers on Indian roads have been a topic of much controversy and debate in recent years, as they pose several problems for both drivers and pedestrians alike. While speed breakers are installed with the intention of controlling vehicle speed and reducing accidents, they often end up causing more harm than good due to their design, placement, and maintenance issues. You can find small rumble type breakers , double speed bumps and even some where you will find humps of about 8 to 10 inch heights.

One of the main problems associated with speed breakers on Indian roads is that they are often poorly constructed and not properly maintained. Many speed breakers are haphazardly built using substandard materials, leading to uneven surfaces that can cause damage to vehicles and endanger the safety of drivers.

Additionally, the lack of regular maintenance and repair of speed breakers only exacerbates the problem, as they become more dangerous overtime. 
Another issue with speed breakers in India is their inconsistent design and placement. Speed breakers are often installed without considering factors such as visibility, traffic flow, and road conditions, leading to confusion and uncertainty among drivers. This lack of standardization in speed breaker design and placement can increase the risk of accidents and make navigating Indian roads even more challenging for motorists. In some states you can find speed breakers on state highways and national highways.

Furthermore, speed breakers can also have a negative impact on the environment and public health. The constant braking and acceleration required to navigate speed breakers can result in increased fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to air pollution and climate change. 
Additionally, the noise pollution caused by vehicles passing over speed breakers can disturb surrounding communities and have negative effects on the well-being of residents.
In addition, speed breakers in India are often used as a means of revenue generation by local authorities, leading to their indiscriminate placement and overuse. 
This practice not only undermines the intended purpose of speed breakers in promoting road safety but also reflects a lack of coordination and accountability within the transportation system. 
It is essential for policymakers to address this issue and ensure that speed breakers are installed and maintained in a responsible manner.
Moreover, speed breakers can also pose a threat to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks, which require smooth and uninterrupted access to reach their destinations quickly. The presence of speed breakers on Indian roads can hinder the response time of emergency services and potentially endanger the lives of those in need of urgent medical attention or rescue. 
Additionally, the proliferation of speed breakers on Indian roads can also have economic repercussions, as they can cause damage to vehicles and increase maintenance costs for drivers.
The repeated impact of vehicles passing over speed breakers can lead to wear and tear on suspension systems, tires, and other components, resulting in costly repairs and reduced vehicle lifespan. 
This added financial burden can be particularly challenging for low-income individuals and contributes to the overall economic strain on society.
In conclusion, the problems related to speed breakers on Indian roads are multifaceted and require a comprehensive and coordinated approach to address. 
The issues of poor construction, inconsistent design and placement, environmental impact, revenue-driven installation, obstruction of emergency services, and economic burden all underscore the urgent need for reform in the management of speed breakers. It is essential for policymakers, urban planners, and transportation authorities to work together to develop and implement sustainable solutions that prioritize road safety, efficiency, and the well-being of all road users in India.
This is my observations while travelling frequently by road from Durgapur to Tata, Purulia, Kolkata, Digha, Chandrakona Road, Bolpur, Tarapith, Dhanbad, Chittaranjan & Deoghar, nearby areas.
 (View s are the author’s own.)