News Analysis India

Tag: Uttar Pradesh

  • Uttar Pradesh: PM Narendra Modi to interact with beneficiaries of food security scheme on August 5

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with beneficiaries of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana on August 5, an Uttar Pradesh official said here on Thursday.

    Additional Food Commissioner Anil Kumar Dubey said under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, ration distribution will start from August 5 and an “Anna Mahotsav” will be organised. “The PM will interact with beneficiaries present at select fair price shops in Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Moradabad, Hamirpur, Ayodhya, Barabanki, Shahjahanpur, Kaushambi, Agra and Bahraich through videoconferencing,” he said.

    The officer said it will be the responsibility of district supplies and marketing officers to ensure the availability of foodgrains at every fair price shop. On “Anna Mahotsav”, the presence of at least 100 beneficiaries will be ensured at each fair price shop.

    He said the arrangement of a television will be ensured at every fair price shop so that people present there could watch the interaction.

  • RSS leader’s son ends life after police beat up his mother, ransack house in UP

    By PTI
    BAGHPAT: A 22-year-old man ended his life by hanging after his mother was allegedly roughed up and their house ransacked by police, following a brawl at a Covid vaccination camp in Ranchhad village here.

    Superintendent of Police, Baghpat, Abhishek Singh said 10 policemen of Binauli police station have been relieved of their duties and attached to police lines.

    Akshay, a son of a local RSS leader, had taken his mother (62) to a vaccination centre to get her vaccinated against COVID-19 on Monday.

    He wanted to get her the jab first instead of standing in queue, citing her age.

    This led to an altercation with police, his family members said.

    A policeman allegedly slapped Akshay and got into a scuffle, they said.

    The vaccination camp was organised by the Health Department in a primary school in Ranchhad village.

    Later, policemen raided Akshay’s house and broke chairs and a window of the car and also vandalised a tractor, the family said.

    When the women of the house protested, they were insulted.

    Akshay’s mother Madhu, her sister-in-law Kamlesh and one Dharamveer Singh of the village were taken into custody and brought to the police station.

    A case was filed against Akshay, they alleged.

    Upset over this, Akshay allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself, the family said.

    After the news of the suicide reached the villagers, they held a demonstration demanding that a case be lodged against policemen.

    It was only after senior police officials pacified them that they allowed police to take the body for post-mortem at around 7.30 am on Tuesday.

    On the complaint of Akshay’s father, a case was filed against five policemen, including police station in-charge Chandrakant Pandey, SSI Udham Singh Talan, constable Ashwani, head constable Salim and constable Murli, under section 306 (abetment of suicide) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, police said.

    SP Singh said Akshay had assaulted the police personnel due to which there was chaos in the camp.

    A report was filed against Akshay at the Binauli police station for obstructing government work as well as for assault.

    Later, he ended his life by suicide, the SP said.

    On the basis of the complaint given by the family members at Binauli police station, an FIR was lodged and 10 policemen were attached to police lines with immediate effect, he said.

    The investigation into the incident is underway, the SP said.

    Policemen in large numbers have been deployed in the village to maintain law and order.

    In a similar incident, five people, including a doctor, were injured when a clash broke out between two groups over COVID-19 vaccination in the Sukhpura area of Ballia district on Monday, according to police.

    (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation – 04424640050 (available 24×7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ helpline – 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)

  • Uttar Pradesh: Man wanted in 16 criminal cases held in Mathura after gunfight

    By PTI
    MATHURA: A 43-year-old man who was wanted in 16 criminal cases was arrested here after a brief exchange of fire, police said on Monday. The accused, identified as Mahabir, sustained bullet injuries during the shootout, they said.

    The police received a tip-off that the accused was planning to execute a crime and reached the spot to nab him. However, there was a brief exchange of fire and the accused was injured in the leg, police said, adding his accomplices managed to flee the spot.

    The accused has been admitted to a hospital, they said. One country-made 315 bore pistol, two live and and an equal number of used cartridges, Rs 5,000 cash along with a stolen motorcycle were recovered from his possession, they said.

    During interrogation, he confessed to looting a gold chain from a woman on June 26 when she was going to a temple, police added.

  • CM Yogi Adityanath reviews preparedness against possible COVID third wave in Ayodhya

    By Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: To ensure that adequate medical infrastructure and resources is in place to combat the anticipated third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed the medical and health facilities in Ayodhya on Sunday.

    He visited the Raja Dashrath Medical College in Ayodhya and monitored the facilities available for treatment of Covid patients. He also went for the on-ground inspection of the recently installed oxygen plant and reviewed other healthcare facilities available for COVID patients.

    To firm up preventive measures in view of a third wave, the Chief Minister also asked the district administration to formulate a detailed action plan to check any further spread of the virus. 

    “Medical colleges are important institutions for better, superior and special health care facilities. But in the last 70 years, the state had only 12 medical colleges. The present government has either built or sanctioned 32 medical colleges,” the CM told journalists. “There are no medical colleges in 16 districts. We’re planning to set up medical colleges in these districts on PPP model before December,” he maintained.

    Committed to strengthening the existing and to expand the health and medical infrastructure in the state, he said, “UP has made rapid progress from getting the first Covid test conducted from the lab at National Institute of Virology, Pune in 2020 to becoming the leader by conducting maximum Covid rests.”

    Emphasizing that testing is the backbone for curbing the transmission of Covid-19 as it helps early detection of cases, their isolation and contact tracing, CM asserted that the state government has been making its best efforts to expand the facilities to further enlarge the testing capacity which is already now nearly 4 lakh tests a day.

    While reviewing presentations on the work being done to transform Ayodhya into a tourism hub, he said those coming to Ayodhya should receive world-class facilities. 

    “Ramnagari offers an amalgamation of spirituality and tourism and the state government is working dedicatedly for its development. Ayodhya will shine globally as lakhs of devotees and pilgrims will visit the city in the coming time,” he added. 

    The Chief Minister reached Ayodhya in the afternoon and also visited the Ram Janmabhoomi site to inspect the progress made in the construction of the temple and also performed an ‘Aarti’ at the Hanuman Garhi Temple.

  • Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath mulls expansion of state cabinet berths

    By Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: After the rejig of the union council of ministers on July 7, there is now a strong buzz about a similar exercise being on the cards in Uttar Pradesh. Though the speculations about expansion of the state’s council of ministers led by Yogi Adityanath have been rife since last couple of months, the buzz now is much strong than last month.

    If sources in the ruling BJP are to be believed, then the expansion/revamp of Team Yogi could take place either by July-end or maximum by August first week.

    Just like the recent cabinet expansion at the centre, where six SC and non Yadav OBC MPs and a Brahmin MP from the state were inducted, the rejig in the state’s council of ministers might also the same caste factor to be dominant.

    As the BJP swept the 2017 assembly polls on the back of a solid non-Yadav OBC, non-Jatav SC and upper caste consolidation, legislators from the same segments are likely to be inducted in the expanded council of ministers in Lucknow too.

    The BJP allies, particularly Apna Dal (S) and the NISHAD Party, both representing non-Yadav OBC segment too are likely to get their slice of the pie in the expanded state council of ministers. Presently, the state has 54 ministers, including the CM, which means there is a scope for inducting at least six new ministers to reach the maximum limit of 60 ministers.

    Added to it is a strong possibility of some non performing ministers (particularly those in whose areas, the party had performed dismally in the April-May village panchayat polls) being dropped. If two to four such ministers are dropped, then there will be vacancy for eight to ten ministerial berths.

    As per informed sources, a list of eight to ten probables has been sent by state BJP to the national leadership for approval. The list was finalized particularly after the recent co-ordination meeting between senior RSS functionaries and state BJP leaders in Lucknow.

    If the possible Team Yogi expansion actually happens, it would be only the second such rejig in the over four years of Yogi regime. Also, it would also be the last cabinet expansion of the present government, as next assembly polls are just seven to eight months away.

    Jitin Prasad likely to be nominated MLC soon 

    Former union minister and two times for Congress Lok Sabha member Jitin Prasada who joined BJP on June 9, is likely to be soon nominated as MLC. Out of the four vacancies for nominated MLCs in the state, one is set to go Prasada’s way.

    According to sources, two of the four nominations could be of upper caste individuals (one of them being Brahmin politician Jitin Prasada) while remaining two might include one each from OBC and SC segment.

  • Brahmins can’t be lured, will back party that promotes national interest: Ashwini Choubey on UP poll

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Amid Opposition parties’ vigorous attempts to woo Brahmins in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the assembly polls next year, Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey Tuesday said they will not succeed in “luring” the community which will back the BJP as it has been working to “promote” Indian culture and national interest.

    “Brahmins are not a caste but a value system. They have always worked to promote Indian culture and national interest, and will stand with a party which does it,” he told reporters in the Parliament complex.

    He likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Maurya dynasty king Chandragupta, and said Brahmins will support him in the same way as Chanakya had backed the ancient king.

    A Brahmin teacher, Chanakya is famous for his political treatise Arthashastra and is credited for crafting strategy to topple the Nanda Empire and bring Chandragupta to power.

    Some Brahmin leaders, including Choubey, of the BJP had also held a meeting recently as they deliberated on various ways to keep the community in the party’s fold.

    While the community, estimated to constitute Uttar Pradesh’s 11 per cent population, has traditionally backed the BJP, Opposition parties have been reaching out to it ahead of the polls.

    Bahujan Samaj Party has announced a series of Brahmin meets, the first being in Ayodhya on July 23.

    The Samajwadi Party and the Congress have also taken measures to woo them, alleging that the community has been ignored by the Yogi Adityanath government.

    Taking a swipe at the BSP, Choubey alleged that its leaders have “abused” Brahmins in the past and made light of the Opposition’s attempts to woo them.

    He said he has been working to build statues of Parshuram and have a university named after the saint.

    Choubey, considered a staunch Hindutva leader, represents Bihar’s Buxar Lok Sabha constituency, which borders UP.

  • Adityanath slams Opposition for stalling Parliament proceedings over Pegasus snooping row

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday lashed out at the opposition parties for creating a “negative” atmosphere in the country and stalling the Parliament proceedings over the Pegasus snooping controversy and demanded that they apologise.

    At a press conference here, the BJP leader also said it was because of the “negative attitude” of the Opposition that it did not allow issues concerning the common people to be raised in Parliament.

    “For the past two days, the Opposition has been trying to vitiate the atmosphere of the country over the Pegasus issue and it only proves their sick mentality. Congress governments had been doing such things during their tenures and now the party is following the same while in Opposition,” Adityanath said.

    The chief minister accused the Opposition of indulging in “negative politics” during the time of the coronavirus crisis. The Pegasus spyware issue has rocked the Monsoon session of Parliament.

    As political heat rose over allegations linked to the snooping row, the Centre on Monday categorically rejected them saying attempts were being made to “malign” Indian democracy even as the Congress and the BJP sparred and the main opposition party demanded the sacking of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    An international media consortium reported on Sunday that over 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including of two ministers, over 40 journalists, three opposition leaders and one sitting judge besides scores of businesspersons and activists in India could have been targeted for hacking through the spyware.

  • UP prohibits gatherings of over 50, animal sacrifice at public places on Bakrid

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday issued fresh directives ahead of Bakrid, prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people at any place to celebrate the festival, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The government also issued orders against animal sacrifice at public places in the state. Charing a meeting with senior officials to review the COVID-19 situation in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed them to make all necessary arrangements in view of the festival, an official spokesperson said here.

    In view of Covid, not more than 50 people should gather at any place at a given time for any event related to Bakrid, the official said.

    It should also be ensured that no cow, camel or any other banned animal is sacrificed anywhere. Only designated places or private premises should be used for animal sacrifices, he said. Special care should be taken for cleanliness, the official added. The festival is scheduled to be celebrated later this week.

  • Uttar Pradesh polls : On mission to revive Congress, Priyanka Gandhi to camp in state from August

    By Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: On a mission to rebuild the grand old party in Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2022 assembly polls, Congress national general-secretary announced on Sunday that she would camp in the state only from next month to ensure that the party organization is revived up to the last possible village.

    In an informal chat with journalists at ex-minister and former BSP leader Nasimuddin Siddiqui’s residence in Lucknow, the Congress leader admitted that the party organization had become weak, but proactive efforts were underway to bring the organization back to life across the state. She said efforts are on to ensure that every village has at least 5-6 dedicated Congress workers.

    ALSO READ| Open-minded on forging alliance with other parties for Uttar Pradesh polls: Priyanka Gandhi

    When queried by journalists about the possibility of Congress aligning with other parties to defeat BJP, Priyanka said, “we’re not close minded on the issue, but any step would only be taken keeping in mind that the interests and organization of our party aren’t compromised. It would be too early to say anything about future tie-ups, but nothing would be done at the cost of our party organization.”

    She also reportedly said that former MPs and MLAs are welcome to contest the 2022 polls in the state.

    According to a senior Congress leader and former MLA from East UP (who didn’t want to be named), “Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s three day visit is just a start of her well laid plans to revive the party and make it a major force against ruling BJP in the 2022 polls. Unlike Rahul Gandhi, who wasn’t totally accessible to us, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is much more accessible. She has told us to stay in touch directly with her. She came to Lucknow on Friday after doing her homework very well about UP politics up to micro level and is in an aggressive mood to defeat the BJP. She has told us that the prime enemy of Congress and people of state is BJP.”  

    The Congress’s political graph in UP has been continuously nose-diving. The party which won 269 seats in 1985 assembly polls and 94 seats in 1989 polls, has since then failed to even cross the 50 seats mark in successive assembly polls in the state. In 2017 polls, the party, despite being in alliance with the then ruling Samajwadi Party, came up with its worst performance by winning just 7 seats.

  • 10 members of a family attacked for complaint about girl’s picture posted online

    By PTI
    BALLIA: Ten members of a family were injured with two persons critically wounded in an attack here by a group who were allegedly angered that a police complaint was lodged for posting a girl’s picture on Facebook, officials said on Friday.

    On Wednesday, a youth had posted on the social media platform the picture of a 12-year-old girl from Reoti police station area in the district and the girl’s family later lodged a police complaint against this.

    Agitated over the complaint, the youth along with some family members went to the girl’s house and attacked them using lathis and sharp-edged weapons on Thursday night.

    It has been alleged that some women in the girl’s house were molested, police said.

    Ten people, including four women, were injured in the attack and admitted to a local hospital from where two persons were referred to the district hospital in serious condition, Reoti police station SHO Yadvendra Pandey said.

    A case has been registered against 17 persons and five unidentified persons and police have arrested seven accused.

    Efforts were on to catch hold of the others, he said.