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Chandigarh mayoral polls: AAP members on hunger strike at MC removed by police!

The AAP councillors, who tried to enter the municipal corporation office, were barred from entry by the police personnel deployed on the premises, following which they got into an argument with them.

Aam Aadmi Party councillors got into an argument with police after they were barred from entering the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation office on Monday on the second day of the party’s protest against the BJP over alleged “rigging” in the recent mayoral polls.

Five AAP workers, including a councillor, who sat on a hunger strike outside the municipal corporation office were also removed by the police. The police later detained the protesters who had gathered at the site.

The AAP councillors, led by Sunny Ahluwalia, the party’s Chandigarh co-incharge, raised slogans against the BJP and demanded action against the presiding officer for allegedly tampering with the ballot papers during the mayoral polls.

The AAP councillors, who tried to enter the municipal corporation office, were barred from entry by the police personnel deployed on the premises, following which they got into an argument with them.

“We have every right to enter the municipal corporation office,” said Prem Lata, an AAP councillor. A large police contingent was deployed and barricades were erected outside the office.

Ahluwalia had earlier said that from Sunday, five AAP members — one leader and four councillors — would observe a hunger strike. Another five members would sit on a hunger strike the following day.

hunger strike at MC removed by police

“This relay hunger strike is against the ‘vote chor (vote thief)’ BJP and to save our democracy,” he had said. The protesters on hunger strike on Monday, however, were removed by the police.

The BJP on January 30 swept the Chandigarh mayoral polls against the Congress-AAP alliance. Manoj Sonkar of the BJP had defeated the AAP’s Kuldeep Dhalor for the mayor’s post, polling 16 votes against his rival’s 12. Eight votes were declared invalid.

The opposition councillors alleged that presiding officer Anil Masih had tampered with the ballot papers, a charge rubbished by the BJP.

The AAP moved the Punjab and Haryana high court and sought fresh elections under the supervision of a retired judge but the court refused to grant any interim relief.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Dhalor’s plea challenging the high court order.

Sourced from Hindustantimes News.

Also Read : Meet woman, became IPS officer with AIR 165, cleared UPSC again to become!

Meet woman, became IPS officer with AIR 165, cleared UPSC again to become…

Mudra Gairola, an IAS officer, completed her Class 12 education and enrolled in a medical college in Mumbai to pursue a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree.

UPSC exams are a very tough nut to crack; lakhs of Indians sit for this exam. IAS officers are hand-picked officials who go through a rigorous selection process. Becoming an IAS officer is a dream for aspirants and their families. Similarly, today, we narrate the story of a medical student, an ex-IPS officer who turned her world upside down to fulfil her father’s dream of becoming an IAS officer. 

Mudra Gairola, an IAS officer, lives in the Uttarakhand district of Chamoli, specifically in Karnprayag. For now, her family resides in Delhi. Since she was a young child, IAS officer Mudra Gairola has excelled. IAS officer Mudra Gairola scored 97% in the twelfth board exam and 96% in the tenth. Kiran Bedi, the first female IPS officer in India, gave her an award in school.

Mudra Gairola, an IAS officer, completed her Class 12 education and enrolled in a medical college in Mumbai to pursue a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree. Mudra Gairola, an IAS officer, also won a gold medal in BDS. Her father had always wanted her to become an IAS officer, so even though she moved to Delhi after graduating and enrolled in MDS. 

Mudra Gairola

Also Read || ‘Neither of us wants to blow this out of proportion’: Jaishankar on India-Maldives row.

IAS officer Mudra Gairola’s father had a dream of becoming an IAS officer, but he was unable to accomplish it. 

IAS officer Mudra Gairola left MDS in the middle to begin preparing for the UPSC exam, her father’s lifelong dream. Mudra Gairola,  took the UPSC Civil Services exam for the first time in 2018 and made it to the interview stage. 

In 2019, Mudra Gairola redid her UPSC interview, but she was not chosen in the end. Following this, in 2020, she was unable to pass the Mains exam.

Mudra Gairola, an IAS officer, retook the UPSC exam in 2021. This time, her efforts paid off as she became an IPS after passing the UPSC with a 165th rank. IAS officer Mudra Gairola accomplished her goal of becoming an IAS officer in 2022 by passing the UPSC with a 53rd rank.

Arun Gairola, the father of IAS officer Mudra Gairola, also aspired to become an IAS officer by passing the civil services examination. In 1973, he sat for the UPSC exam. He was unable to get through the interview at that point. His daughter finally achieved his dream.

Sourced from DNA India.

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‘Neither of us wants to blow this out of proportion’: Jaishankar on India-Maldives row | Exclusive

The minister said that a team from the Maldives visited India for two days, adding: “We have an understanding.”

During an interaction about his new book, ‘Why Bharat Matters’, Jaishankar spoke about various foreign policy issues.

“Neither of us wants to blow this out of proportion,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said about the India-Maldives row in an exclusive and in-depth conversation. The minister said that a team from the Maldives visited India for two days, adding: “We have an understanding.”

During the free-wheeling interaction about his new book, ‘Why Bharat Matters’, Jaishankar spoke about various foreign policy issues, and where India stands on the international stage. The minister addressed key concerns regarding Maldives, China, Pakistan, and the possibility of Donald Trump’s return as a US president.

Speaking about the diplomatic tussle with the Maldives, Jaishankar said: “I think that over a period of time, there should not be an issue between us. I think the rest of the relationship is strong — we have many other things happening — and I hope that the focus shifts there rather than drag on as unnecessarily on this particular issue.”

The minister said India is “assessing whether we can have trained non-military personnel to fly medical evacuation aircraft (Maldives has asked India to evacuate its military personnel from the island).”

On diplomatic relations with China, the minister said while there are “serious problems” and that China is presenting a different posture on the Line of Actual Control, he has stood up to it. “I would say I’ve risen to the challenge in a military sense. The fact that we have been able to deploy so many troops around the year in very hard conditions with a posture which deters Chinese response in fact in many ways itself is an achievement.”

He added while criticising previous strategies that in the last decade, there has been a change in the border infrastructure. “In 2020, when the Chinese made a move on the LAC, we were in the middle of a Covid lockdown. I think people don’t fully appreciate that for us to move tens of thousands of troops with that rapidity to those mountains in that cold with the Covid lockdown was a phenomenal logistical operation.” Jaishankar said that to rise to the China challenge, India must manufacture and develop technologies and build infrastructure, adding that these were neglected “even in the era of reform.”

Turning to another neighbour, the minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted good relations with Pakistan from the moment he was sworn in. In the decade since, however, “the terror industry or infrastructure” has not let up on India in a significant way. According to the minister, the bottom line for India and Pakistan is the issue of terrorism.

“There’s no getting away from it,” said Jaishankar. “It’s a problem which has dogged us and one of the reasons it has dogged us for so long is we have not acknowledged its centrality in the past. What has happened since 2014 is that we say that you cannot carry on with cross-border terrorism and say ‘I’d like good relations in all other spheres’.”

On prospects of peace between India and Pakistan if Nawaz Sharif wins the Pakistan election, Jaishankar said: “Unless there is a fundamental reset in thinking on the question of cross-border terrorism, there can’t be much change just because the cast of characters (has) changed. The issue of terrorism has to be addressed.”

Moving further west, towards the United States, Jaishankar addressed concerns of Trump returning to power. He said, “Obviously it matters who is the leader of the most powerful and important country in the world,” adding, “The concerns are largely on the part of allies. Since we don’t fall in that category – we’ve always had an independent position — we won’t be in a position similar to those which many others have.”

The minister further said, “We’ve had very different presidents in the last two and a half decades: Clinton, George W Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden. We have been quite adept at responding to changes in America, at forging new relationships, at building relationships. So, I would say have confidence that both the structural and diplomatic aspects should leave us in a good position.”

This article was published on indiatoday.

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Who is Satendra Siwal, the Employee of the Indian embassy who is allegedly spying for Pakistan?

Indian national Satendra Siwal employed at the Indian embassy in Moscow arrested for spying for Pakistan’s ISI!

terrorist squad pakistani

Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday arrested an Indian national employed at the embassy in Moscow, accusing him of spying for Pakistan’s ISI.

The Meerut field unit of UP’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) brought in Satendra Siwal for questioning, an official statement said.

Who is Satendra Siwal?

1. Satendra Siwal, the son of Jaiveer Singh, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in the police station area of Hapur district, Uttar Pradesh, was employed as the India-Based Security Assistant (IBSA) at the Indian Embassy in Moscow since 2021.

2. Siwal, who served as a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS), held the position of Security Assistant in the embassy.

3. The Anti-cc(ATS) conducted electronic and physical surveillance during its investigation, revealing Siwal’s involvement in anti-India activities with Pakistan’s ISI handlers. The ATS claimed he provided sensitive information about strategic activities of the ministry of defence, ministry of external affairs, and Indian military establishments for money.

4. Following the probe, Siwal was summoned to the ATS field unit in Meerut for interrogation. Unable to provide satisfactory answers, he confessed to his involvement in the crime.

5. An FIR was filed against Siwal at the ATS police station, Lucknow, under Section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country) and the Official Secrets Act, 1923, leading to his arrest.

This article is sourced from Hindustantimes News!

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Poonam Pandey dies at 32, manager reveals Reason!

This morning came as a shock for everyone as Poonam Pandey died due to cervical cancer at 32.

Poonam Pandey dies at 32

This morning came as a shock for everyone as Poonam Pandey has passed away due to cervical cancer at 32. Her team has issued an offical statement on Instagram and her manager has also confirmed the news.

The offical statement on Instagram read, “This morning is a tough one for us. Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer. Every living form that ever came in contact with her was met with pure love and kindness. In this time of grief, we would request for privacy while we remember her fondly for all that we shared.” 

While speaking to Zoom, her manager revealed that actor died due to cervical cancer. Poonam Pandey had been involved in various controversies throughout her career. While she actively participated in several films, her presence on social media was equally significant, where she frequently shared content with her followers.

Additionally, she made headlines when she participated in the reality show ‘Lock Upp,’ hosted by none other than Kangana Ranaut. During her stint on the show, Poonam didn’t shy away from controversy. On one occasion, she pledged to go topless if her fans saved her from eviction.

This article is sourced from DNA India News!

Also Read : Chandigarh tricity turns white with hail on wettest February day in 11 years!

Chandigarh tricity turns white with hail on wettest February day in 11 years

Residents in a city in India were surprised by a hailstorm on Thursday, with hailstones reaching 1 cm in diameter. The last time the city experienced hail was in April 2023. The hailstorm lasted for about 20 minutes and was accompanied by heavy rain, causing power disruptions and traffic congestion in some areas. The India Meteorological Department had issued a hail warning prior to the storm. The maximum temperature dropped significantly, while the minimum temperature rose slightly.

Chandigarh tricity turns white

Residents were in for a surprise on Thursday as the windy weather gave way to a hailstorm, which left roads covered in white. Joyous residents took to social media to share snapshots of the rare occurrence.

The last time the city saw hailstones was April 20, 2023. The hailstorm on Thursday continued for around 20 minutes, and the hailstones were about 1 cm in diameter, which is significantly larger than last year when the diameter of the hail was 3 mm.

Speaking about the phenomenon, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Chandigarh, scientist Shivinder Singh said, “February has one of the most conducive conditions for hail formation in the region. For it to hail, the temperature needs to be low enough and there needs to be a strong system to keep the frozen water droplets suspended in the air long enough for them to get larger. When it rains in the winter, droplets usually freeze, but melt as they fall.”

The IMD had issued a hail warning on Wednesday as well.

As per data, there were 0.2 days on an average annually every February between 1991 and 2020 when hail was recorded in the city. This implies that on an average, there is one day, every five years in February when it hails.

IMD Chandigarh director AK Singh said, “This is because of an active western disturbance (WD) in the region. This is the first active disturbance that the region has seen this year.”

While a fresh WD is expected on February 3, more rain can be expected. However the system is not likely to be as strong.

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27.6 mm rain, highest since 2013

Around 27.6 mm rain was recorded throughout the day, the highest for a February day since February 6, 2013, when 30.1 mm rain was logged, as per the IMD. While 1 mm rain was recorded till 8:30 am, the hailstorm started around 11:10 am and continued till 11:30 am, after which it continued to pour. Incidentally, in 2023, no rain was recorded in February.

Day temperature falls by 5 degrees

The maximum temperature fell from 20.2°C on Wednesday to 15°C on Thursday, 6 degrees below normal.

This is the eighth coldest February day since 1954, while the coldest February day was on February 4, 2022, when maximum temperature was 12.8°C.

Because it started raining at night, the minimum temperature rose from 10.6°C on Wednesday to 12.5°C on Thursday, 3.7 degrees above normal.

Over the next three days, the maximum temperature will remain around 18°C, while the minimum temperature will remain around 9°C.

The rain and hailstorm led to power disruptions in different sectors of Mohali, including a three-hour outage in Phase 5, an hour-long power cut in Phase 7 and outages in Sectors 69, 80 and 82.

The rain also worsened road conditions in Mohali, causing significant traffic congestion on the Ambala-Zirakpur road, resulting in hours-long snarls. There were long queues on the VIP road in Zirakpur as well.

In Chandigarh, traffic jams were witnessed at Tribune Chowk, Kisan Bhawan Chowk in Sector 35, Sector 22/17 light point, Sector 46/47 dividing road and Kalagram light point. However, these were promptly cleared by the traffic cops on duty. A traffic police official deputed at Traffic Helpline number 1073 said they received some calls of minor traffic jams in parts of city that were cleared soon.

This article is sourced from Hindustan Times.

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Delhi Police on alert ahead of AAP vs BJP protests today, ITO security tightened!

The Delhi Police said that it has not permitted any demonstration by the political parties in the capital!

The Delhi Police on Friday said it remains on alert and has beefed up the security around the central parts of the city, including ITO, in view of the demonstrations planned by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the national capital.

The AAP has called for a protest outside the BJP headquarters over alleged cheating in the Chandigarh mayoral election, while the BJP said it will mount a demonstration near the AAP office against the alleged corruption of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government.

Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann will also take part in the protest, reported claimed.

Incidentally, the protest will take place on the same day that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked Kejriwal, who is also the national convenor of the AAP, to appear before it in connection with its investigation into a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise police 2021-22.

The Delhi Police said it has not permitted any demonstration by the political parties in the capital.

“Police did not give permission for the demonstration. Police have received information about the arrival of Aam Aadmi Party workers from many areas of Delhi and also from Punjab,” news agency ANI quoted the police as saying.

The police added, “Around 1000 Delhi Police personnel and Paramilitary forces will be deployed. The Delhi BJP has also announced a protest outside the AAP headquarters on February 2, Police have denied them permission.”

A police officer told news agency PTI that they would make adequate security arrangements for the protest and to maintain law and order situation. “Additional forces will also be deployed. No one will be allowed to breach law and order,” the officer said.

This article was Originally published on Hindustantimes New!

Also Read : Interim Budget 2024: Nirmala Sitharaman likely to focus on women, farmers ahead of Lok Sabha polls!

Interim Budget 2024: Nirmala Sitharaman likely to focus on women, farmers ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Budget 2024: With the economy witnessing rapid expansion and the government reaping the benefits of a tax windfall, expectations are high for targeted measures that could bolster growth and appease voters.

All eyes are set on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as she will present the Interim Budget 2024-25 shortly, setting the stage for the government’s final push before the Lok Sabha elections later this year.

Although this is an interim budget, economists and experts view this as much more than just a financial statement, with Sitharaman expected to provide a detailed economic roadmap on how the government plans to transform India into a developed economy.

With the economy witnessing rapid expansion and the government reaping the benefits of a tax windfall, expectations are high for targeted measures that could bolster growth and appease voters.

It is widely expected that Finance Minister Sithraman’s budget presentation will focus on enhancing farmers’ income, empowering women, and creating jobs.

Here’s a list of what the nation anticipates from Nirmala Sitharaman’s interim budget speech

  • Support for farmers: Amidst last year’s export bans on essential crops and poor rainfall affecting harvests, there is a strong expectation for increased financial support for farmers. This could include enhanced allocations for farm sector schemes and subsidies on essentials like fertilizers and cooking gas.
  • Job creation in focus: With unemployment being a critical concern, the budget is expected to focus on job creation. This may involve investments in sectors that have the potential to generate substantial employment opportunities.
  • Infrastructure push: Consistent with the past emphasis on infrastructure, the government is likely to continue its spending spree on roads, railways, and digital initiatives, which are pivotal for economic growth.
  • Fiscal prudence: Despite the need for spending, maintaining fiscal discipline remains a priority. The government aims to reduce the fiscal deficit to 4.5 percent of GDP by FY26, indicating a careful balance between expenditure and revenue.
  • Income Tax Relief: While chances of major changes in personal taxation remain low, some experts have called for some additional benefits under the old and new income tax regimes to provide some relief to taxpayers for the impact of high inflation.
  • Social security boost: There might be an introduction of a social security fund for informal sector workers, including those in gig jobs, reflecting the government’s focus on inclusive growth.
  • Affordable housing: To address housing needs, the budget may see a significant increase in funding for low-cost housing projects, which would also stimulate the construction industry.
  • Divestment and asset monetization: To improve fiscal health without overburdening taxpayers, the government may continue its divestment drive, aiming to raise funds through strategic asset sales.
  • Women empowerment: Special measures to empower women, such as increased subsidies for cooking gas and loans, are anticipated, recognizing their crucial role in the electorate.
  • Green Energy investments: With a global shift towards sustainable energy, the budget could allocate funds for green hydrogen and electric vehicle initiatives, positioning India at the forefront of the green revolution.

3 killed as speeding car hits e-rickshaw in Jalandhar!

Eyewitnesses said the driver of the speeding Audi lost control over the car and hit the e-rickshaw before ramming into a motorcycle. The two motorcyclists are hospitalised!

Three persons were killed when a speeding car rammed into the e-rickshaw in which they were travelling on the Jalandhar-Amritsar national highway on Tuesday night, police said.

The accident took place near Bidhipur railway crossing. One of the e-rickshaw passengers died on the spot, while the other two succumbed to their injuries on the way to a local hospital.

Investigation officer Jatinder Kumar said eyewitnesses reported that the driver of the speeding Audi lost control over the car and hit the e-rickshaw before ramming into a motorcycle. The two motorcyclists are admitted to the civil hospital in Jalandhar where their condition is stated to be critical.

“The car driver fled from the spot. The car is registered in the name of a private company in Chandigarh,” Jatinder Kumar said.

The deceased were identified as Paramjit Singh, Jagdish Chandar and Pankaj, all residents of Jalandhar city. The two injured are Govind and Harpreet Singh.

A case was registered under Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 279 (rash driving) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the unidentified car driver.

This Article was originally published on Hindustantimes News!

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Suspended Punjab AIG Sidhu arrested in fresh extortion case!

Punjab AIG

The district police on Tuesday arrested suspended Punjab Police Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Malwinder Singh Sidhu in an alleged extortion case after some incriminating recordings were found in a recorder recovered from Sidhu when he was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau (VB) last year.

The accused AIG was produced in a court and remanded to a three-day police custody.

According to information, a fresh case was registered against Sidhu under Sections 384 (extortion), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC and Section 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act at Phase-VIII police station. Sidhu was arrested after registration of the case.

DSP (city-2) Harsimran Singh Bal confirmed the arrest and said police were investigating the case. He refused to divulge details of the recordings on the basis of which the case was registered. “We are investigating it and can disclose things only after questioning him,” the DSP added.

Sources in the police told that during the forensic examination of the recorder that was recovered from Sidhu by the VB when he was arrested in a corruption case, some recordings were found which indicated that Sidhu was extorting money from people.

“The preliminary investigation had indicated that Sidhu, along with his accomplices, was making extortion calls to people and threatening to frame them,” the sources added.

AIG Sidhu was posted in the Human Rights Cell when he was arrested by the VB in November last year. It was alleged in the VB FIR that Sidhu was impersonating the IG posted in VB.

In the past, a spokesperson for the VB had said in a statement that Sidhu used to initiate complaints against government employees, only to subsequently withdraw them in order to blackmail them for illicit gains. The statement also said that during the investigation, it was found that Sidhu, serving as the AIG of the Human Rights Cell since 2017, never held the positions of AIG or IG within the VB in the past five years.

This article was published on The Indianexpress.

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