News Analysis India

Category: Nation

  • Jihadis From Across Borders Supporting SP, Congress: PM Modi |

    New Delhi: Aiming for a third consecutive term, Prime Minister and BJP senior Leader Narendra Modi accused the INDIA alliance of receiving support from Pakistan and jihadis. On Sunday, while addressing the rally at Uttar Pradesh’s Bansgaon rally BJP leader said that prayers are being read in Pakistan for the Samajwadi Party and the Congress who are appealing for “vote jihad” here.

    “Prayers are being read for the win of the INDI alliance of SP and Congress in Pakistan. Jihadis are supporting them from beyond the borders. SP and Congress are appealing for ‘Vote-Jihad’,” he said.

    #WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | In his Bansgaon rally, PM Narendra Modi says, “‘Lekin kuch taakatein aisi bhi hain jinhein Bharat ki pragati se pet me dard ho raha hai, ye log 4 June ko lekar alag hi sapne dekh rahe hain’. Prayers are being read for the win of the INDI alliance of SP… pic.twitter.com/icRGUVdY1t


    — ANI (@ANI) May 26, 2024

    Addressing a rally in Bansgaon, PM Modi asserted that June 4 is going to decide the future of India and on the same day India’s race to become the third-largest economy will also begin.

    “June 4, 2024, is going to decide the future of India. The country will spread its wings and take a new flight on June 4 towards the resolve of ‘Amrit Kaal’, building a developed India, and fulfilling the dreams of 140 crore Indians. Millions of people are eagerly waiting for that day. On June 4, the countdown of India’s race to become the third largest economy will also begin,” he said.

    Modi also said that there are many youths are getting benefits out of the Mudra scheme, “Those 3 crore poor who will get pucca houses, elderly people above 70 years of age who will get free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakhs, crores of youth who will be benefitted out of Mudra scheme,” he said.

    “Those 3 crore sisters of self-help groups who will become ‘Lakhpati didi’ and crores of people who will be getting free electricity under PM Surya Ghar scheme are waiting for June 4,” he also added. 

  • Goa: 4 Labourers Killed, 5 Injured As Bus Rams Into Roadside Shanties |

    New Delhi: The tragic incident took place at an industrial estate in the South Goa district after a private bus rammed into two roadside shanties which caused the death of Four labourers and five others were critically injured, police said.

    The accident took place at around 11.30 pm on Saturday when labourers were sleeping in the shanties, all the labourers were engaged in road construction work, police said, PTI reported.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police Santosh Desai said the bus driver’s medical examination confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident and police have taken him into custody for interrogation.

    The bus driver was identified as Bharat Govekar, a resident of the nearby Cartolim village.

    A labourer declared that the bus driver threatened the other labourers present at the site to kill them if they complained to anyone about the incident, a police official said.

    “Four labourers died on the spot while five were critically injured and admitted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital,” he said.

     The police informed that the labourers were employed by a contractor.

    “After the incident, the bus driver threatened to kill us if we complained to anyone. The driver was under the influence of alcohol,” claimed Rupender Kumar Mathur, whose uncle Ramesh Mathur and brother Anil Mathur were among those killed in the incident.

    He also claimed that due delay in medical help at the accident place caused a delay in taking the victims to the District Hospital in Margao.

    Rupender Mathur also said he was staying in one of the accident-affected shanties but at the time of the incident, he had come out to attend a mobile phone call.

  • Delhi: 3 Killed After Fire Breaks Out At 4-Storey Residential Building In Krishna Nagar – Watch |

    Delhi: A fire broke out at a residential building in Azad Nagar West in the Shahdara area of Delhi on Saturday late at night leaving 3 dead and several injured. On information, firefighters were rushed to the spot, rescued 13 people and shifted them to a hospital. 

    “Delhi Fire Service control room received a call at 2:35 am that here a fire broke out inside the house. A total of five fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the spot from our nearest stations and our officials began firefighting and rescue operations as well,” said fire officer Rajendra Atwal.

    “There is only one exit here and that is the biggest problem in these buildings…people couldn’t get out due to the heat and smoke…We have rescued 13 people…and shifted them to a hospital,” he added.

    Earlier in East Delhi’s Vivek Vihar, a massive fire broke out at a New Born Baby Care Hospital in the national capital on Saturday night, said police. On information, police officials and firefighters reached the spot and doused the fire. As per a Fire Officer, the fire was extinguished completely, 11 newborns were rescued and taken to another hospital.

    Fire Officer Rajesh, said, “At 11:32 pm, Fire Service Control Room received information that fire broke out at a hospital…total 16 fire tenders reached the spot and fire has been extinguished completely. 2 buildings were affected by the fire, one is the hospital building and 2 floors of a residential building on the right side also caught fire…11-12 people were rescued and they were taken to hospital. Further details will be shared later”.

  • Cyclone Remal Update Today: Rains Arrive In Bengal Ahead Of Landfall, IMD Issues Warning |

    Cyclone Remal Update: The coastal region of West Bengal today started receiving rains induced by the Cyclonic storm Remal. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there is a possibility of high waves of around 1.5 feet. The IMD issued a severe warning for Bengal’s northeastern region and coastal Bangladesh. The cyclone is likely to make its landfall in Bengal this evening and then it will move towards Bangladesh. A strong wind of up to 135 kmph is likely in the region. Fishermen have been warned to stay away from the coastal areas.

    “Cyclonic Storm RemaL over North BoB intensified to Severe Cyclonic Storm about 270km SSE of Sagar Islands(WB). To move northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adj West Bengal coasts by midnight today as Severe Cyclonic Storm with max wind speed of 110-120 kmph,” said the IMD.

    Cyclonic Storm RemaL over North BoB intensified to Severe Cyclonic Storm about 270km SSE of Sagar Islands(WB). To move northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adj West Bengal coasts by midnight today as Severe Cyclonic Storm with max wind speed of 110-120 kmph. pic.twitter.com/SpIFmOyUGy
    — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 26, 2024

    The Remal cyclone is likely to cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara by tonight. As per the IMD, the cyclone’s formation was initiated by a low-pressure system over the southwest and west-central Bay of Bengal, which has since intensified into Cyclone Remal.

    Meanwhile, Kolkata Airport Authority and Syama Prasad Mukherjee have announced to suspend operations till the cyclone’s impact subsides. “In view of Cyclone Remal’s impact on the coastal region of West Bengal, including Kolkata, a meeting was held with the stakeholders and it has been decided to suspend the flight operations from 1200 IST on May 26 to 0900 IST on May 27, due to predicted heavy winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall at Kolkata,” Kolkata Airport Authority said in a statement.

    The NDRF said that its teams are fully geared up to tackle the cyclone. “We are fully prepared for the cyclone. If the cyclone hits here, our soldiers are ready to deal with every kind of disaster…Our team is ready for tree falling or flood rescue etc…We are ready to deal with every situation,” said.

    The primary regions affected are West Bengal, Coastal Bangladesh, Tripura, and some other parts of northeastern states. IMD continues to monitor the cyclone’s progression and will provide updates as necessary. The current warning is in effect until May 28, but it may be extended if the situation requires.

  • Massive Fire Engulfs Rajkot Gaming Zone In Gujarat, 20 Dead |

    New Delhi: A massive fire engulfed a gaming zone in Gujarat’s Rajkot on Saturday evening and at least 20 people have died in the incident. Efforts to douse the fire are underway.

    Speaking to media Rajkot Police Commissioner Raju Bhargav said,  “A fire broke out at the TRP gaming zone and there is information of some casualties.”

    “We will then be able to find out the exact number of casualties inside the zone (after fire is controlled). We will also investigate the cause of the fire, and a message has been issued to all the gaming zones in the city to shut down,” he added.  

    “The rescue operations are on. The fire is under control. We are trying to retrieve as many bodies as possible. As of now, around 20 bodies have been recovered and they have been sent to the hospital for further investigation. Investigations will be carried out,” added Bhargava.

    The commissioner said that the police will be registering an offence for negligence against the gaming zome owner and a probe will be launched once the rescue operation is concluded.

    “The gaming zone is owned by a person called Yuvraj Singh Solanki. We will be registering an offence for negligence and the deaths which have occurred. The further investigation will take place once we complete the rescue operations here,” said Bhargava.

    #WATCH | Rajkot, Gujarat: Fire officer IV Kher says, “The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. The attempts to douse the fire are underway. We have not received any message of missing persons. We are facing difficulty in the firefighting operation because the temporary… https://t.co/Gd9N1Pd8ka pic.twitter.com/v09kJcL0V3
    — ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2024

    Speaking to news agency ANI Fire Officer IV Kher said that the reason for the fire was yet to be ascertained. “The attempts to douse the fire are underway. We have not received any message of missing persons. We are facing difficulty in the firefighting operation because the temporary structure has collapsed and due to wind velocity,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took on ‘X’ to respond to the incident and wrote, “Instructions have been given to the Municipal Corporation and the administration for immediate rescue and relief operations in the fire incident in the game zone in Rajkot. It has also been instructed to prioritize arrangements for immediate treatment of the injured.”

    (This is a developing story.)

  • Odisha’s Political Puzzle: Who Will Lead BJD After Naveen Patnaik? |

    The Biju Janata Dal’s reliance on 77-year-old Naveen Patnaik in Odisha presents a significant opening for the BJP. Amidst the fervor of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections, BJP leaders have stirred a fresh political discourse, questioning Patnaik’s 24-year tenure, his age, health, activism, and potential successors.

    In Odisha, voting is underway for both the 147 assembly seats and 21 Lok Sabha seats simultaneously. Naveen Patnaik’s personal charisma stands as a major asset for BJD amidst the extensive elections spanning four phases between May 13 and June 1. His bid for a historic sixth term as Chief Minister looms large. However, the looming question remains: who will succeed Patnaik? By introducing this uncertainty, the BJP has injected a new dynamic into Odisha’s political landscape.

    VK Pandian’s Non-Oriya Background Poses A Significant Challenge For BJD’s Continuity

    In response to such uncertainties, citizens in markets like Kadligarh in Sambalpur district express support for Naveen Babu but are uncertain about his successor. When asked about his longtime associate VK Pandian, concerns arise due to his non-Oriya background. These responses underscore Odisha’s current political trajectory and future challenges. Both the ruling BJD, under Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year stewardship, and the opposition BJP must confront this reality.

    BJP Struggles to Present a Viable Alternative to Naveen Patnaik

    Meanwhile, the BJP, having entered the campaign arena late after failed alliance talks with BJD, struggles to identify a figure in Odisha who can credibly challenge Naveen Patnaik’s dominance. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three visits to the state since the election announcement, the party has yet to showcase a clear leader or leadership group in Odisha.

    Patnaik Government’s Policies Mirror Modi Government’s Approach

    Similar to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, Naveen Patnaik’s administration in Odisha has maintained a strong hold on the women’s vote bank through empowerment and welfare initiatives. Significant budget allocations have been directed towards healthcare, education, self-reliance, and justice. At the BJD’s silver jubilee celebrations in December 2022, Patnaik emphasized that the party’s longevity hinges on prioritizing women’s empowerment.

    BJD’s Commitment To Women’s Empowerment and Representation

    During the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014, BJD MPs rallied support from other political factions for the Women’s Reservation Bill. The party has continued this momentum by fielding 33 percent women candidates in both the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Patnaik’s personal appeal remains a potent political asset, bolstered by his anti-corruption stance.

    Naveen Patnaik’s Embrace Of Oriya Identity And Aspiration

    In response to BJP’s challenges, Naveen Patnaik has championed Odia aspirations and identity. Despite his accidental entry into politics, Patnaik, educated at Doon School and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, acknowledges Odisha’s unique linguistic heritage as the first linguistically defined state. Unlike many regional leaders, Patnaik has refrained from expanding his party beyond state borders.

  • Pune Porsche Case: Minor’s Grandfather Arrested For Allegedly ‘Forcing’ Driver To Take Grandson’s Blame – Reports |

    Pune Porche Case: The Pune Police Crime Branch unit on Saturday morning arrested the grandfather of the minor accused of killing two motocycle-borne persons in Pune City earlier this week after ramming into them the luxury car he was allegedly driving.

    The commissioner of Pune city police, Amitesh Kumar said that the grandfather of the accused was arrested. A separate FIR has been registered against him under IPC sections 365 and 368.

    The Pune City Police had on Thursday questioned the 17-year-old’s grandfather in connection with the incident that took place early on Sunday morning in Pune’s Kayani Nagar. The accused teenager was reportedly driving a luxury car in an inebriated condition and hit two motorcycle borne IT professionals identified as Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta.

    Along with the grandfather of the accused- Surendra Kumar Agarwal, his son Vishal Agarwal has also been booked in the same FIR under IPC Sections of 342,365, 368, 506 and 34 on the complaint of the family driver, Gangadhar, Pune Police CP said.

    The driver Gangadhar had lodged a complaint with police alleging that he was taken to Surendra Agarwal’s home against his will on the night of May 19 when Gangadhar was leaving from from the Yerawada Police Station.

    Surendra and his son Vishal allegedly threatened Gangadhar, snatched his phone and forcibly kept him confined in their bungalow in an attempt to force him to take responsibility for the crime instead of his minor grandson. The accused has been detained at an observation home on the order of the Juvenile Justice Board. He was earlier granted bail in the case but later sent to the observation home for 14 days till June 5.

    The accused teenager’s father, Vishal Agarwal, who was arrested earlier, is lodged in Yerawada Central Prison after he was granted judicial custody for 14 days. The Pune Police commissioner earlier said that efforts were on to try the minor accused as an adult. He confirmed that an effort was made to frame the person employed for driving the Porsche car after the accident, and added that police are investigating his statement.

     

  • Lok Sabha Polls 2024: As Delhi Votes Amid Unprecedented Political Scenario, Both BJP, AAP-Congress Confident Of Win |

    The fate of candidates from the seven Lok Sabha seats of Delhi will be sealed in the EVM today. However, this election is very different from the 2014 and 2019 Parliamentary polls. While the BJP and Congress were locked in a direct fight with the Aam Aadmi Party trying their luck in previous polls, this time, the Congress and AAP have joined hands against the saffron party. While Congress is contesting on three seats in the national capital, AAP is contesting on four. 

    The AAP is being led by Arvind Kejriwal who got interim bail from the Supreme Court for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls. 

    However, what is confusing to the people is that Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi did not hold a joint rally and thus many are not aware of the AAP and Congress alliance. Though the parties maintained that the two leaders did not do joint rallies due to date mismatch issue, even Sonia Gandhi did not take Aam Aadmi Party’s name in her appeal to voters. She urged people to vote for the INDIA bloc candidate.

    On the other hand, the BJP has changed six out of the seven candidates this time and has given opportunities to long-time party workers, thus trying to boost the morale of grassroots workers. However, the Congress-AAP claimed that the saffron party was forced to change candidates because the outgoing MPs had not worked in the last five years.

    All India Congress Committee in charge of Delhi and Haryana Deepak Babaria has maintained that both AAP and Congress will win all seven seats in Delhi. He further alleged that in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, there was a lot of manipulation in the results. The BJP has also exuded confidence that it will score a Hat-trick of clean sweep in Delhi.

    This is also the first time that Rahul Gandhi will not vote for Congress but for the Aam Aadmi Party. He is a voter from the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. 

  • Pune Porsche Accident Probe: 2 Yerawada Police Station Cops Suspended Over ‘Late reporting, Dereliction Of Duty’ |

    Pune Car Crash: Two Yerawada police officers were suspended on Friday for alleged dereliction of duty in connection with an accident involving a 17-year-old juvenile, whose Porsche knocked down and killed two people in the early hours of May 19. Inspector Rahul Jagdale and assistant police inspector Vishwanath Todkari were suspended, according to additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil, for “late reporting” and “dereliction of duty”.

    Following a car crash in the city’s Kalyani Nagar area, the accident was reported to the Yerwada police station. Amitesh Kumar, the Pune police commissioner, said earlier in the day that an internal investigation revealed lapses on the part of police officials in registering the case.

    He admitted that there was a delay in collecting blood samples from the juvenile who allegedly drank alcohol at two pubs prior to the accident. The accident occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday, but blood samples were collected at 11 p.m., according to the commissioner. Furthermore, Kumar stated that the offence was initially registered under section 304 (A) (death caused by negligence) of the IPC, but later section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was added.

    A Porsche, allegedly driven by the 17-year-old, who the police claim was drunk at the time, fatally knocked down two motorbike-borne software engineers in the city in the early hours of Sunday. The teenager was then produced before the Juvenile Justice Board which granted him bail while asking him to write a 300-word essay.

    Following an outcry over quick bail and the police’s review plea, the JJB on Wednesday remanded the teen, son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, to the observation home till June 5. The police have also arrested the teenager’s father.

  • Massive Fire In Banquet Hall In Delhi’s Alipur Sparks Huge Plume Of Smoke; Watch |

    New Delhi: A massive fire broke out at a banquet hall in outer Delhi’s Alipur area on Friday and the casualty has not been reported yet, officials said.

    The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) informed that the call was received at 1.55 pm and 13 fire tenders have been pressed into service, PTI reported. 

    #WATCH | Fire broke out in Carnival Resort in Delhi’s Alipur. Fire tenders rushed to the spot.

    More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/Z0BmPnr6Yz
    — ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2024

    Later, the fire tenders rushed to the spot and made an effort to douse the fire.

    So far, there are no reports of anyone injured in the incident, the official said.

    This is a developing story