Name: VK Pandian quits active politics after BJD's defeat in Odisha
Uploaded: 2024-06-09T16:02:34.000+05:30
Duration: T01M01S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Pandian apologised to the "BJD family" for the electoral loss, while thanking the people of Odisha for "giving him a chance to serve them".

A revised list of boat fares is being prepared to maintain transparency and it will be prominently displayed at all ghats and parking areas, according to ADM Mela.

Maha Kumbh 2025: Prayagraj Mela administration hikes boat fare by 50 pc

A revised list of boat fares is being prepared to maintain transparency and it will be prominently displayed at all ghats and parking areas, according to ADM Mela.

Ahead of the Maha Kumbh in January, the Kumbh Mela Administration has approved an increase in the fares of boatmen by 50 per cent.
According to Additional District Magistrate Mahakumbh Vivek Chaturvedi, this decision comes after prolonged demands from the boatmen and a fruitful discussion between the Prayagraj District Boatmen Association and the Mela administration.
Welcoming the move, Pappu Lal Nishad, President of the Prayagraj District Boatmen Association said that boat fares had remained unchanged for years despite rising inflation.
He praised the administration&rsquo;s decision as a significant step in favour of the boatmen&rsquo;s welfare.
Following the fare hike for boats, strict measures will be implemented to ensure that devotees are not overcharged.
A revised list of boat fares is being prepared to maintain transparency and it will be prominently displayed at all ghats and parking areas, according to ADM Mela.
Meanwhile, the administration has also restricted the movement of vehicles for devotees&rsquo; safety. While motorboats remain prohibited, traditional boats can operate even on major bathing festival days.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Mahakumbh Abhinav Pathak stated that decisions regarding boat operations during festivals will be based on weather and crowd conditions.
&ldquo;Currently, 1,455 boats are in operation at Sangam, but this number is expected to exceed 4,000 during Mahakumbh as boats from neighbouring districts arrive.
All boats will undergo safety inspections before being issued licenses, and life jackets will be provided to boatmen. Additionally, every boatman will receive insurance coverage of ₹2 lakh,&rdquo; he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

"There is no reason for the collection of the user or toll fee to continue. We hold that the agreement (for toll collection) is invalid,” the bench said.

DND flyway to remain toll-free, says Supreme Court

"There is no reason for the collection of the user or toll fee to continue. We hold that the agreement (for toll collection) is invalid,&rdquo; the bench said.

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway will be toll-free as it dismissed a plea by a private firm challenging the 2016 decision of the Allahabad High Court order asking it to stop collecting tolls from commuters.
The decision will benefit lakhs of people who commute daily on the flyway.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan held that awarding a contract to private firm Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd (NTBCL) to collect tolls from commuters plying on the DND flyway was unjust, unfair and arbitrary.
"There is no reason for the collection of the user or toll fee to continue. We hold that the agreement (for toll collection) is invalid,&rdquo; the bench said.
It pulled up the NOIDA authority for delegating toll collection to private firm NTBCL, which did not have any prior experience and said it had resulted in unjust enrichment.&nbsp;
The bench said NOIDA overstepped its authority by delegating the powers to NTBCL to collect or levy fees and it has led the general public to part with hundreds of crores of rupees.
The high court, in October 2016, had ruled that there would be no toll collected henceforth from those using the 9.2 km-long, eight-lane Delhi-Noida Direct flyway. The order was passed as the high court allowed a PIL by the Federation of Noida Residents' Welfare Association.
The PIL, filed in 2012, had challenged the "levy and collection of toll in the name of user fee by the Noida Toll Bridge Company".
In an over 100-page judgment, the high court had held, "the user fee which is being levied/realised is not supported by the legal provisions relied upon by the Concessionaire (Noida Toll Bridge Company), Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (promoter and developer of the project) and the Noida Authority."
It had said the "right to levy and collect user fee from the commuters as conferred upon the Concessionaire under the concession agreement suffers from excessive delegation and is contrary to the provisions of the UP Industrial Development Act".
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The Chairman also held a meeting with Leader of the House J P Nadda and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge besides leaders of various opposition parties in a bid to end the impasse in the House.

Parliament Winter Session 2024: Rajya Sabha adjourns sine die

The Chairman also held a meeting with Leader of the House J P Nadda and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge besides leaders of various opposition parties in a bid to end the impasse in the House.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday after the House adopted a motion to nominate 12 members to the joint committee of Parliament on simultaneous polls.
When the House met this morning, it witnessed protests by opposition members and was adjourned amid the din.
The Chairman also held a meeting with Leader of the House J P Nadda and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge besides leaders of various opposition parties in a bid to end the impasse in the House.
When the House again met at 12 noon, the Chairman asked Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to move a motion for nominating members of the upper house to the joint committee of Parliament to examine the bills related to 'one nation, one election'.
The motion was adopted with a voice vote to nominate 12 members of the Rajya Sabha to the joint committee on simultaneous polls.
The Chairman then made his concluding remarks, saying this session's productivity stood at a mere 40.03 per cent with just 43 hours and 27 minutes of effective functioning.
"As Parliamentarians, we are drawing severe criticism from the people of India and rightfully so. These persistent disruptions are steadily eroding public trust in our democratic institutions," he noted.
"It is time to choose between meaningful debate and destructive disruptions," he said before adjourning the House sine die.&nbsp;
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday following protests by opposition and treasury benches over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar and Speaker Om Birla's directions against protests at Parliament gates. Protests continued even as a resoluti

Parliament Winter Session: Lok Sabha adjourns sine die

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday following protests by opposition and treasury benches over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar and Speaker Om Birla's directions against protests at Parliament gates. Protests continued even as a resolution for the 'one nation, one election' bill was introduced.

Slogans of 'Jai Bhim' reverberated in the House as the Speaker read out directions barring demonstrations and protests at the gates of Parliament.

Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday amid protests by opposition and treasury benches over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar and directions by Speaker Om Birla to members against holding demonstrations at any gate of Parliament.
As soon as the Lok Sabha convened for the day, the Speaker called Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to present a resolution for setting up a joint committee of Parliament to examine the bills related to 'one nation, one election'.
Slogans of 'Jai Bhim' reverberated in the House as the Speaker read out directions barring demonstrations and protests at the gates of Parliament.
As the protests continued, the Speaker adjourned the House sine die.
Even before the House proceedings began, Congress members started raising slogans "Jai Bheem, Jai Jai Bheem".
Amid the slogans by the opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi entered the Lok Sabha chamber.
As Meghwal moved the resolution, Congress members led by Manickam Tagore stormed the Well raising slogans.
Protesting opposition members remained in the Well as 'Vande Mataram' was played as per convention at the end of the Parliament Session.
Except TMC, most of the opposition party members, including DMK and NCP, joined the protest from their seats. Congress member Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was present in the House.

Several Delhi schools, including those in Dwarka, received bomb-threat emails, prompting search operations by security teams. No suspicious items were found, and some schools shifted to online classes following the threats.

Several Delhi Schools Receive Bomb-Threat Emails

Police, the fire department, bomb detection teams, and the dog squad participated in the search operation, but nothing was found so far.

Several Delhi schools received bomb-threat emails on Friday, making it the sixth such incident in the last 11 days, officials said.
Security personnel conducted search operations at the schools, but nothing suspicious was found, an official said.
"We received a call regarding the bomb threat at 5:02 am from DPS, Dwarka, in Sector 23," the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said on Friday.
Police, the fire department, bomb detection teams, and the dog squad participated in the search operation, but nothing was found so far, another official said.
Around five schools in Dwarka, along with some in other districts, received similar emails, the official said.
At some places, students were asked not to come to school, while others switched to online classes after receiving the threat, he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined a Christmas celebration at Union Minister George Kurian's residence in Delhi, engaging with the Christian community, participating in candle lighting, and enjoying festive performances.

PM Modi Attends Christmas Celebration in Delhi

Prime Minister was greeted by the Kurian family, who presented him with a bouquet of flowers. During the celebration, PM Modi participated in lighting candles and witnessed several performances.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Christmas celebration at Union Minister George Kurian's residence in Delhi on Thursday, where he engaged with members of the Christian community.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends Christmas celebration at the residence of Union Minister George Kurian, in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/VHIxEPEwxg">pic.twitter.com/VHIxEPEwxg</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1869769077574787131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Sharing images from the event on his official X handle, PM Modi wrote, "Attended the Christmas celebrations at the residence of Union Minister Shri George Kurian Ji. Also interacted with eminent members of the Christian community."
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Attended the Christmas celebrations at the residence of Union Minister Shri George Kurian Ji. Also interacted with eminent members of the Christian community.<a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgekurianBjp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeorgekurianBjp</a> <a href="https://t.co/VnUcfFdupX">pic.twitter.com/VnUcfFdupX</a>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1869776331707494614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
Upon arriving at the residence, the Prime Minister was greeted by the Kurian family, who presented him with a bouquet of flowers. During the celebration, PM Modi participated in lighting candles and witnessed several performances.
Christmas, observed worldwide on December 25, is a time for reflection, family gatherings, and the sharing of meals and gifts. It is both a religious and cultural occasion commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. People around the globe take part in church services, where communities come together to pray and sing. Many also visit loved ones or participate in local events, strengthening communal bonds.
In addition to family reunions and festive meals, the holiday is marked by the tradition of carol singing, sparkling Christmas lights, and beautifully decorated trees.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government announced a complete ban on the production, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region ahead of Christmas and New Year's Eve. The decision, aimed at addressing the worsening air quality, will remain in effect through the holiday season.

The tabulated data in the report also contained a column titled “reason” that specified the cause of the accidents in this period, against the aircraft type and date and accident.

Gen Rawat death: Parliament panel report says ‘human error’ caused December 8 chopper crash

The tabulated data in the report also contained a column titled &ldquo;reason&rdquo; that specified the cause of the accidents in this period, against the aircraft type and date and accident.

The country&rsquo;s first Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat died in a Mi-17 V5 helicopter crash on December 8, 2021, and a parliamentary panel report has said the reason behind the accident which occurred that day was &ldquo;human error&rdquo;.
Gen Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and many other armed forces personnel had died after the military helicopter they were travelling in crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.
The accident was widely reported in the media. In the report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, the Standing Committee on Defence shared the data on the number of Indian Air Force aircraft crashes that took place during the 13th Defence Plan period.
The total number of crashes stood at 34, including nine IAF aircraft accidents that took place in 2021-22 and 11 in 2018-19.
The tabulated data in the report also contained a column titled &ldquo;reason&rdquo; that specified the cause of the accidents in this period, against the aircraft type and date and accident.
The data for the 33rd accident listed in the report mentioned the aircraft as &ldquo;Mi-17&rdquo;, date &ldquo;08.12.2021&rdquo; and the reason cited was &ldquo;HE(A)&rdquo; or &ldquo;human error (aircrew)&rdquo;.
The defence ministry informed the Committee that 34 inquiries have been conducted into these accidents during the period.
&ldquo;The ministry also informed that the recommendations by these Inquiry committees review the process, procedure, training, equipment, culture, operations, maintenance and administration holistically with intent to prevent recurrence of an accident,&rdquo; the report said.
The ministry further informed that &ldquo;all remedial measures stipulated by Chief of the Air Staff remarks are binding and actioned&rdquo;.
&ldquo;Most have been actioned while a few are under implementation,&rdquo; it added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The Supreme Court emphasized that alimony should provide a reasonable standard of living for women, not equalize wealth between ex-spouses. It highlighted the misuse of laws as tools for harassment, and addressed financial demands in divorce settleme

Supreme Court Stresses Alimony Should Not Be Used for Extortion

The Supreme Court emphasized that alimony should provide a reasonable standard of living for women, not equalize wealth between ex-spouses. It highlighted the misuse of laws as tools for harassment, and addressed financial demands in divorce settlements, ruling against indefinite support.

The court highlighted the importance of a balanced approach, considering not just the income of the husband, but also the wife&rsquo;s income, reasonable needs, and residential rights.

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a crucial reminder that laws designed to protect women should not be misused to harass or extort husbands.
The court emphasized that alimony is meant to provide the dependent spouse with a reasonable standard of living, not to equalize financial disparities between former partners.
The judgment came in the context of a high-profile case involving tech professional Atul Subhas, who claimed that his estranged wife and her family had demanded a monthly maintenance of Rs 2 lakh, later increasing it to Rs 3 crore annually.
A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Pankaj Mitha, while dissolving the marriage on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown, directed the husband to pay Rs 12 crore as a full and final alimony settlement. The court stressed that maintenance should not be used as a tool for coercion or exploitation.
"The women need to be careful about the fact that these strict provisions of law in their hands are beneficial legislation for their welfare and not means to chastise, threaten, domineer or extort from their husbands," the bench remarked.
The wife had claimed her husband&rsquo;s net worth exceeded Rs 5,000 crore, with businesses and properties in both the US and India, and that he had paid his first wife at least Rs 500 crore during their separation, excluding a house in Virginia.
The court highlighted the importance of a balanced approach, considering not just the income of the husband, but also the wife&rsquo;s income, reasonable needs, and residential rights.
"We have serious reservations with the tendency of parties seeking maintenance or alimony as an equalisation of wealth with the other party. It is often seen that parties in their application for maintenance or alimony highlight the assets, status and income of their spouse, and then ask for an amount that can equal their wealth to that of the spouse," the court stated.
The bench further asked, "We wonder, would the wife be willing to seek equalisation of wealth with the husband if due to some unfortunate events post-separation, he has been rendered a pauper?"
The court also addressed concerns over the misuse of criminal complaints, noting instances where wives and their families use such complaints as leverage to pressure husbands and their families for financial demands.
The Supreme Court quashed the criminal cases filed by the wife against her estranged husband, sending a clear message about the need for fair and just use of legal provisions.

Based on the Minister's complaint, a case was registered against BJP leader under sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

BJP MLC CT Ravi arrested for using ‘derogatory word’ against Karnataka Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar

Based on the Minister's complaint, a case was registered against BJP leader under sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Karnataka BJP MLC C T Ravi was arrested after an FIR was registered against him, for allegedly using a derogatory word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on Thursday, police said.
He was taken into the police van from the premises of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
Based on the complaint filed by the Minister, a case was registered against the BJP leader under sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said. While Ravi has denied the allegation calling it &ldquo;false&rdquo; and staged a protest, Congress leaders said Hebbalkar has made a complaint to the Legislative Council Chairman.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Belagavi, Karnataka: BJP MLC CT Ravi being taken from Khanapur Police Station. FIR was filed against him on the complaint by state minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar. She alleged that he used derogatory words against her in the Legislative Council today. <a href="https://t.co/AABsZ1BnQX">pic.twitter.com/AABsZ1BnQX</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1869820811668001092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
There was a high drama on the last day of the winter session of the Karnataka legislature here on Thursday, with Woman and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar accusing C T Ravi of using a derogatory word against her in the Legislative Council. Ravi earlier served as National General Secretary of BJP.
When reporters asked her about the incident outside the House, Hebbalkar merely said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m pained&hellip;.&rdquo; Earlier, claiming to be supporters of Hebbalkar a group of people from Belagavi angrily approached Ravi within the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha premises here, but were stopped by the security staff. Some even staged a protest against Ravi outside, and they were whisked away by the police.
According to Congress leaders, Ravi allegedly used the derogatory word several times against Hebbalkar during an altercation between them, after the House was adjourned shortly earlier in the day, by Chairman Horatti, following an uproar over Union Home Minister Amit Shah&rsquo;s remarks on B R Ambedkar.
Speaking to reporters, Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah said the incident happened after the Chairman adjourned the House, and that he was standing two rows behind Hebbalkar at that time.
There was a war of words between Hebbalkar and Ravi, and as she made certain comments against him, he used derogatory words against her, he said. &ldquo;I initially couldn&rsquo;t believe that an MLC could use such a word and waited for confirmation. He could be heard using that word and walking out. Later Hebbalkar herself came and told a few of us about it, with pain.&rdquo; &ldquo;We have complained to the Chairman and sought his (Ravi) expulsion. The Chairman has assured action after verifying audio and video,&rdquo; Yathindra, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah&rsquo;s son, said.
Meanwhile, responding to a question on the allegation Ravi said, &ldquo;Her allegations are false, let the audio and videos get verified, I will speak after that. I won&rsquo;t say anything now. This is not the right time to answer this question. I&rsquo;m not someone who will abuse someone personally. I have not abused her, I don&rsquo;t know why she felt that way.&rdquo; &ldquo;I have not said anything to her&hellip;.I have not made any personal comments against her, as she is claiming,&rdquo; he added.
Later, Ravi staged a protest along with some of his BJP colleagues alleging that there was an attempt to attack him in the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, based on a false allegation, and termed it as &ldquo;goonda raj&rdquo;.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Karnataka: BJP leader CT Ravi sat on the road to protest against the state police as he was brought to Ramdurg taluk in Belgavi district, early morning at 3 am. Source: BJP <a href="https://t.co/6Uo4DrV2zG">pic.twitter.com/6Uo4DrV2zG</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1869921353459228727?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
&ldquo;If I have used such derogatory words, show it&hellip;.there should be a police investigation, Laxmi Hebbalkar is making false allegations, on her instigation, people had come shouting slogans in favour of her and against me,&rdquo; he said.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, &ldquo;He (Ravi) used a filthier word to Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is a Minister in my cabinet, and it amounts to a criminal offence,&rdquo; he said.
When told that Ravi has denied allegations, the CM said, &ldquo;Everyone is saying that he used the word ten times, I don&rsquo;t know, I was not there in the Council. Council members came and told me Ravi had used a filthy word. Laxmi Hebbalkar is pained, it is in a way sexual harassment against her.&rdquo; After Hebbalkar approached the Chairman with a complaint, Horatti asked Council secretariat staff to check the video and audio related to the incident.
However, according to official sources, the recording team informed him that they had stopped recording when the incident happened, as the House was adjourned.
The Chairman later, when the Council proceedings resumed, said he heard Hebbalkar and Congress MLCs Umashree, Balkis Banu, Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Nagaraj Yadav, who gave their statements accusing Ravi of using a derogatory word, in his chamber.
He said, later, Ravi also met him and said that he had not used any derogatory word as being alleged, but claimed he only told her that she was &ldquo;frustrated&rdquo;.
Detailing about the proceedings, the Chairman, before adjourning the House &lsquo;sine die&rsquo; said, &ldquo;In my long political career, I have never come across such an incident where derogatory terms have been used inside the house by the members. I believe that no woman will falsely complain publicly alleging derogatory words were used against her. However, I request the complainant and the person who was accused to introspect. Being elected representatives we need to be the role models in the society as people look up to us.&rdquo;
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain was laid to rest in San Francisco on Thursday. One of the world’s most accomplished percussionists, Hussain died at a San Francisco hospital on Monday.

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain laid to rest in San Francisco

Hussain, one of the world&rsquo;s most accomplished percussionists, died at a San Francisco hospital on Monday due to complications arising from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain was laid to rest in San Francisco on Thursday.
Hussain, one of the world&rsquo;s most accomplished percussionists, died at a San Francisco hospital on Monday due to complications arising from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease. He was 73.
Hussain, the son of the legendary tabla player Alla Rakha, revolutionised the instrument, taking it beyond the limits of classical music to other forms, including jazz and Western classical.
The celebrated musician, one of India&rsquo;s most well-known, received four Grammy Awards in his career spanning six decades, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year.
Hussain is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola, daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi, his brothers Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi and his sister Khurshid Aulia.

Editorji is a popular short video news and information platform based in India. It was founded in 2018 by Vikram Chandra, one of India’s leading journalists, and has risen to prominence in the digital news space in a relatively short span of time. The platform is primarily designed for mobile devices, with applications available for Android and iOS.

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Pandian apologised to the "BJD family" for the electoral loss, while thanking the people of Odisha for "giving him a chance to serve them".

VK Pandian quits active politics after BJD's defeat in Odisha

Pandian apologised to the "BJD family" for the electoral loss, while thanking the people of Odisha for "giving him a chance to serve them".

Following Biju Janata Dal's humbling defeat in Odisha, former chief minister Naveen Patnaik's aide VK Pandian announced his retirement from active politics.
"Now consciously I decide to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone on this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play in BJD's loss," said Pandian in a video message.
He apologised to the "BJD family" for the electoral loss, while thanking the people of Odisha for "giving him a chance to serve them".
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/politics/sonia-gandhi-re-elected-as-congress-parliamentary-party-chairperson-1717853407592">Sonia Gandhi re-elected as Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson</a> &nbsp;

The Punjab Water Resources Department announces the closure of the Bist Doab Canal for 33 days from December 20, 2024, to January 21, 2025, to complete ongoing works.

Punjab to Close Bist Doab Canal for 33 Days

Punjab Government has decided to close the Bist Doab Canal from 20 December, 2024 to 21 January, 2025 (both days inclusive) for 33 days.

Punjab Water Resources Department has decided to close Bist Doab Canal for 33 days to complete the ongoing works.
Disclosing this, an official spokesperson of the department said that keeping in view the weather conditions and status of crops, the Punjab Government has decided to close the Bist Doab Canal from 20 December, 2024 to 21 January, 2025 (both days inclusive) for 33 days.&nbsp;
He further said that the state government has already issued notification in this regard under Rule 63 of Rules framed under the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 (Act No.VIII of 1873).

General and Bye-elections to 5 Municipal Corporations and 41 Municipal Councils apart from some other ward-wise bye-elections will be conducted on 21st December, 2024. 

Punjab announces public holiday and special measures for December 21 elections

General and Bye-elections to 5 Municipal Corporations and 41 Municipal Councils apart from some other ward-wise bye-elections will be conducted on 21st  December, 2024. 

It is also informed that 21st December, 2024 (Saturday) has been declared as a "Dry Day" in the revenue jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies which are going to the polls.

General and Bye-elections to 5 Municipal Corporations and 41 Municipal Councils apart from some other ward-wise bye-elections will be conducted on 21st &nbsp;December, 2024. In order to ensure due opportunity to voters to exercise their franchise in these local body elections, the following information is being shared with the general public.
Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the Punjab State Election Commission said that 21 December (Saturday) would be declared as a public holiday in all Punjab Government offices situated in the jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies where elections are going to be held under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
He further informed that Special leave to government employees and other workers who are voters of these municipal bodies which are going to the polls but employed elsewhere would be allowed as per rules. &nbsp;In addition, he added that holiday would be declared in all the schools whose buildings are being used for election purposes.
It is for the information of the general public that 21st December, 2024 has been declared as a 'Close Day' within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies which are going to the polls under the provisions of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, and the Factories Act, 1948 to enable workers of such shops, factories, and commercial establishments located in the revenue jurisdiction of the concerned Municipal Body to cast their vote.
It is also informed that 21st December, 2024 (Saturday) has been declared as a "Dry Day" in the revenue jurisdiction of the Municipal Bodies which are going to the polls.
Furthermore, he added that Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, Punjabi University Patiala, and Panjab University, Chandigarh have informed that they have postponed all those annual and semester exams which were scheduled to be held on 21st &nbsp;December, 2024 to some other date.
Students who were to appear in various exams on these dates may refer to the concerned University Website for details of the fresh dates.
The Commission has made all suitable measures for the conduct of the polls in a free and fair manner and encourages all voters whose names are entered in the electoral rolls to exercise their franchise.

A chemical-laden truck collided with vehicles on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway, causing a devastating fire that left 8 dead and 37 injured. Over 30 vehicles were gutted, and Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma assured proper medical care for the victims.

Chemical Truck Collision Sparks Massive Fire on Jaipur-Ajmer Highway, 8 dead

A nearly 300-metre stretch of the highway was affected by the accident. Traffic movement was stopped, leading to a long queue of vehicles.

A LPG tanker collided with multiple vehicles on Friday, leading to a massive fireball that turned a stretch of the Jaipur-Ajmer highway into an inferno, killing at least eight people and engulfing more than 30 vehicles in flames.
Of the about 35 people injured, nearly half are "very critical", Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said.
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Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph, who was at the crash site with several officers of his department, said an outlet nozzle of the LPG tanker was damaged in the collision, leading to a gas leak that caused the blaze.
"Vehicles behind the tanker were engulfed in flames. Other vehicles coming from the opposite directions also caught fire and the vehicles collided," he said.
The gas leak also spread the fire in a flash, leaving no scope for those in nearby vehicles to come out. People were seen rushing out of their vehicles and taking off clothes engulfed in flames.
The injured were rushed to the SMS Medical College in Jaipur in more than 25 ambulances. Dr Deepak Maheshwari, principal of the medical facility, said eight people died in the crash.
Officials at the spot indicated that the casualty count may go up further.
Eyewitnesses reported spotting the flames from nearly a kilometre away as thick black smoke filled the sky and ambulances and fire brigade vehicles rushed towards the crash zone. A school van driver on his way to pick up students recounted with horror the sight of a man engulfed in flames on the road.
Police suspect some people could not get out of their vehicles in time and got burnt. The situation will become clear once all the vehicles are thoroughly checked, they said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Khimsar rushed to the SMS hospital after news of the accident spread.
Sharma spoke to administration officials and doctors and issued directions to ensure proper treatment was facilitated. He also visited the accident site and spoke to police officials.
In a post in Hindi on X, the chief minister said, "Deeply saddened to hear the news of casualties in the gas tanker fire incident on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway. As soon as the information about the incident came, I went to the SMS Hospital and directed the doctors there to provide immediate necessary medical facilities and take proper care of the injured."
Speaking to reporters at the hospital Khimsar said, "All doctors, resident doctors and nursing staff were called in to manage the situation. Another ward has been opened so that patients can be accommodated. Some people got primary treatment in nearby hospitals."
The health minister said a 'green corridor' has been set up from the accident site to the SMS hospital.
An official said a private sleeper bus headed for Jaipur from Rajsamand was behind the gas tanker when the accident occurred. Efforts were underway to find the details about the passengers on board.
The burnt vehicles are being removed from the highway so that traffic movement can be resumed.
Besides Sharma, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot expressed their condolences for the loss of lives in the crash.
In a post on X, the prime minister announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa and Minister of State for Home Jawahwar Singh Bedham reached the accident site, while state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra and several BJP and Congress MLAs visited the hospital.
The incident happened around 5.45 am in front of a school, police officials said.
Local people complained of itching in the eyes and breathing problems due to the smoke. Some said a few birds were found dead nearby.
The Station House Officer of Bhankrota Manish Gupta said it was difficult to bring the fire under control in the beginning.
"Fire brigade teams initially were unable to reach the vehicles that were burning. There are three petrol pumps in the area but fortunately, they are safe," he added.
A fire department official said, "A few fire brigade vehicles from Mansarover were rushed to the spot based on primary information, but later fire tenders from other stations were moved in as well."
A team from the regional transport office also reached the spot to investigate the incident and Forensic Science Laboratory teams collected evidence.
A pipe factory along the highway suffered damage in the incident.
A nearly 300-metre busy stretch of the highway was affected, leading to a long queue of vehicles.
The school van driver told PTI that the flames were visible from a kilometre away and there was panic and chaos on the highway.
"As I got closer to the spot, I saw people running in haste and shouting for help. I saw a man engulfed in flames. It was a frightening scene. Fire brigades and ambulances were there but it was difficult for them to reach the spot initially," he said.
The Jaipur Police has issued the helpline numbers 9166347551, 8764688431 and 7300363636 for people to get in touch for inquiries or relevant information.
Speaking to reporters near the hospital, Dotasra said, "Many of the injured are critical. Such incidents should not happen and for this, governments should make arrangements."
He said the government should form a high-level committee and take concrete action so that such incidents are not repeated.

Om Prakash Chautala, former Haryana chief minister and Indian National Lok Dal president, passed away at the age of 89 due to a cardiac arrest in Gurugram. 

Former Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala passes away at 89

Om Prakash Chautala, former Haryana chief minister and Indian National Lok Dal president, passed away at the age of 89 due to a cardiac arrest in Gurugram.

Chautala, a five-time chief minister of Haryana and former deputy prime minister Devi Lal's son, suffered a cardiac arrest at his Gurugram home.

Indian National Lok Dal president and five-time Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala died here on Friday at the age of 89.
Chautala, who was former deputy prime minister Devi Lal's son, suffered a cardiac arrest at his house here and was immediately rushed to a hospital but could not be saved, a party spokesperson told PTI.
He breathed his last at around 12 noon in Medanta hospital, a senior police officer said.
Chautala, who came from a prominent political family in Haryana and was face of a prominent regional outfit, had been facing age-related health issues in the recent past.
He is survived by two sons and three daughters. His wife Sneh Lata had passed away over five years ago.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were among a host of leaders who condoled the demise of Chautala.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
हरियाणा के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री ओम प्रकाश चौटाला जी के निधन से अत्यंत दुख हुआ है। प्रदेश की राजनीति में वे वर्षों तक सक्रिय रहे और चौधरी देवीलाल जी के कार्यों को आगे बढ़ाने का निरंतर प्रयास किया। शोक की इस घड़ी में उनके परिजनों और समर्थकों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएं। ॐ शांति। <a href="https://t.co/QXh74przOI">pic.twitter.com/QXh74przOI</a>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1870019052170609136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
Expressing grief, Modi said on X, "He (Chautala) was active in the state politics for many years and strove constantly to advance the work of Devi Lal."
Saini said the demise of the INLD supremo is extremely sad.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
इनेलो सुप्रीमो एवं हरियाणा के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री चौधरी ओमप्रकाश चौटाला जी का निधन अत्यंत दुःखद है। मेरी ओर से उन्हें विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि। उन्होंने प्रदेश और समाज की जीवनपर्यंत सेवा की।देश व हरियाणा प्रदेश की राजनीति के लिए यह अपूरणीय क्षति है। प्रभु श्री राम से प्रार्थना है कि&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/58JMF1hkDb">pic.twitter.com/58JMF1hkDb</a>
&mdash; Nayab Saini (@NayabSainiBJP) <a href="https://twitter.com/NayabSainiBJP/status/1870003922095710589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"My humble tribute to him. He served the state and society throughout his life. This is an irreparable loss for the politics of the country and Haryana state,&rdquo; Saini said on X.
Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda recalled that when Chautala was the chief minister, he was the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana assembly.
Chautala served the people of the state. There are many good memories with him, he said, adding that he was like his elder brother.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Hooda and Kumari Seja also condoled the death of Chautala.
Born on January 1, 1935, Om Prakash Chautala was the eldest of the five children of former deputy prime minister Chaudhary Devi Lal.
Chautala left studies after primary education. In 2013, when Chautala was lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with the teacher recruitment scam, he passed the class 10 and then class 12 examination at the age of 82.
He was jailed in 2013 in connection with the teacher recruitment scam case and released in 2021.
Chautala, his son Ajay Chautala, and 53 others, including IAS officer Sanjiv Kumar, were convicted and sentenced in the case of illegal recruitment of 3,206 junior basic teachers in 2000.
The former Haryana chief minister's younger son Abhay Singh Chautala is a senior leader of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) while elder one Ajay Singh Chautala, a former MP, heads the Jannayak Janta Party, which was born after a vertical split in the party in December 2018 after a family feud.
Abhay's son Arjun is a Haryana MLA while Ajay Chautala's sons Dushyant and Digvijay are JJP leaders. Dushyant Chautala also served as Haryana's Deputy Chief Minister.
Chautala's party INLD had also remained an ally of BJP in the past. The INDL has been out of power since 2005 in Haryana.

Speaking at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 here, IT Secretary Abhay Kumar said that the incentives under the state’s IT Policy 2024 are the best compared to the policies of any other state.

Airtel, CtrlS, and Holoware Submit Major Investment Proposals in Bihar's IT Sector

Speaking at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 here, IT Secretary Abhay Kumar said that the incentives under the state&rsquo;s IT Policy 2024 are the best compared to the policies of any other state.

Bharti Airtel, data centre company CtrlS, and personal computer maker Holoware have submitted their proposals for investments in Bihar under the state&rsquo;s new IT Policy, 2024, senior government officials said on Thursday.
Speaking at the Bihar Business Connect 2024 here, IT Secretary Abhay Kumar said that the incentives under the state&rsquo;s IT Policy 2024 are the best compared to the policies of any other state.
He said the state has received a tremendous response from investors.
&ldquo;Airtel and Ctrls are in a very advanced stage. They have already taken stage 1 clearance. They are submitting financial proposals and very soon you will see their actual investment happening,&rdquo; Kumar said.
He said Chennai-based Holoware is also investing in the state for manufacturing IT hardware.
&ldquo;They (Holoware) are putting up their factory for laptop PCs. One of their proposals of Rs 30 crore is already cleared, and in time to come they are supposed to make an investment of Rs 300 crore,&rdquo; Kumar said.
He further said investment proposals from TCS, HCL and Tiger Analytics have already come last year.
&ldquo;If you have made an investment of Rs 100 crore, the amount of money you can get back from Bihar is around Rs 70 crore. It is humongous. There is no comparison with any other IT policy across states which can match us,&rdquo; Kumar said.
Bihar IT Policy has the provision for an incentive of 50 per cent of the lease rental expenses. The subsidy will be provided for five years with an annual increase in the monthly rental limit by Rs 2.5 per square foot every financial year.
&ldquo;Some of the states have better ecosystems than us but we are a starter and in time to come, we will become leaders. We are trying to create small IT cities,&rdquo; he said.
Bihar Special Secretary for IT Arvind Kumar Choudhary said that after the announcement of the policy, the state has received total investment proposals of over Rs 4,000 crore in the last 11 months.&nbsp;
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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