INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2022 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Vol. 30 No: 35 • WASHINGTON D.C • Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 • e-mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday • September 2, 2022 Noida twin towers come crashing down after use of 3,700 kg explosives Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 28 (ANI): The Supertech twin towers in Noida came crashing down within a span of nearly nine seconds after the use of 3,700 kg explosives on Sunday, thus ending a nine-year-long legal battle. The towers, Apex (32 floors) and Ceyane (29 floors), which are taller than the Qutub Minar in the national capital, were 100 metres tall and were brought down with explosives weighing at least 3,700 kg, in the biggest ever planned tower demolition bid. Soon after the explosion that took place at the press of a button, the towers came crashing down, generating a cloud of massive dust and thus polluting the atmosphere around. However, the Environment Department of the Uttar Pradesh government has installed six Special dust machines at the demolition site to monitor pollution levels. “Pollution levels will be recorded before, during and after the explosion. The amount of PM 10 and PM 2.5 will be checked through this machine. Its report will come in the next 24 hours,” said a technician, Umesh. A family which lives in Emerald Court Society has vacated their flat and shifted to Parsavanath Village. Himanshu, a Dubai [UAE], August 28 (ANI): The crucial partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya helped India defeat arch-rivals Pakistan in a thrilling clash by five wickets in the second match of the Asia Cup 2022 here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Jadeja smash 35 while Pandya hammered 33* in 17 balls. For Pakistan Mohammad Nawaz bagged three and Naseem Shah scalped two wickets. Chasing 148 runs, India got off to a bad start as they lost their opener, KL Rahul, without even scoring a run. Rahul’s wicket brought Virat Kohli out on the crease, who is playing his 100th T20I today. With one wicket loss, the Indian experienced duo of Rohit Sharma and Kohli played with caution but kept smashing the boundaries to keep the scoreboard running. Virat Kohli was in red-hot form as he kept smashing boundaries to keep India in a hunt of the run chase. Rohit also opened his hand but his stint was cut short as he was dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz after scoring 12 runs. Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja then came to bat on the crease. Nawaz struck again in the same over as he cut short Kohli’s blistering form sending his back to the pavilion after scoring 35 runs in 34 deliveries. At that point, Kohli’s wicket put India under pressure, but that was instantly eased by Jadeja who smashed Nawaz resident, said that they have been assured that they can shift by evening, but all are prepared for one or two days. The demolition of the Apex (32 storeys) and Ceyane (29 storeys) towers would have left behind about 35,000 cubic metres of debris that would take at least three months to be cleared. The demolition was the centre of attraction nationwide as it was reported extensively for many months. T a k i n g precautionary measures, the hospitals near Sector 93A have made preparations to render emergency medical services should the need arise. “We at Jaypee Hospital sector 128 Noida are completely ready for tomorrow’s demolition. We have dedicated eight emergency department beds and 12 ICU beds for tomorrow. Also, one ACLS ambulance equipped with all the necessary TWIN TOWERS SEE PAGE 6 Asia Cup 2022: Crucial knocks by Jadeja, Pandya help India register thrilling 5-wicket win over Pakistan Remember: “But love ye your enemies, and Remember: “The mind is not do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again;a and yourto be filled, but a fire to be kindled” vessel reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He – Plutarch is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Jesus Christ for a six. After 10 over India’s score read 62/3. Suryakumar Yadav then joined Jadeja in smashing Pakistan bowlers all around the ground. Both batters played some big shots with grit to keep India’s run chase hunt alive. Pakistan made a stunning comeback in the match as their bowler Naseem Shah bowled out Suryakumar Yadav after scoring 18 runs in 18 balls. All-rounder Hardik Pandya came to the crease to join hands with Jadeja. In the 18th over equation for the win went down to 32 runs needed in 18 balls. Jadeja smashed a four and a six in the 18th over of the innings. In the 19th over Pandya smashed three boundaries and took India to near the win as they needed seven runs in six balls. In the last over Nawaz gave a big blow to the Indian team as he dismissed Jadeja after scoring 35 runs in 29 balls. Dinesh Karthik then came to bat. Pandya then smashed a huge six on the fourth delivery of the last ball and took his team home by five wickets against Pakistan. Earlier, fiery and tightbowlingspellsbyHardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped India bundle out arch-rival Pakistan for 147 in a blockbuster clash in the second match of the Asia Cup 2022 here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. For Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan smashed 43 runs while Iftikhar Ahmed scored 28. For India Hardik Pandya bagged three while Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalped four and Arshdeep Singh took two wickets. Opting to field first, India got off to a decent start as their star bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave his team a big breakthrough as he dismissed Pakistan ASIA CUP 2022 SEE PAGE 4
September 2, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Delhi Police arrests five persons in 23-year-old woman’s murder case New Delhi [India], August 28 (ANI): The Delhi Police arrested five persons in a case of murder inside an office in northwest Delhi’s Azadpur area on Saturday. With the arrest of five accused persons, the Delhi Police solved this case within six hours of the incident. The accused have been identified as Anuj, Jai Prakash, Pankaj, Shyam Sunder and Sumit. The main conspirator has turned out to be none other than but employer of the deceased. Earlier on Saturday, a 23-year-old woman was found dead with her throat slit inside an office in northwest Delhi’s Azadpur area. The police said the information about the crime was received at Adarsh Nagar Police Station at around 7:00 pm that a lady is lying in a pool of blood in an office at Kewal Park, Azadpur. On being informed about the incident a police team rushed to the spot. It was found that the woman was dead and her throat slit, the police said. The case was registered under section 302 Indian Penal Code (IPC) and one accused has been arrested. Main accused Anuj was interrogated extensively where he confessed to his crime. “Victim was in a relationship with the accused. The accused told police that on knowing he was married, the victim pressurized him to leave his wife and marry her or she would expose him in society,” said Usha Rangnani, DCP Northwest, Delhi. Local inquiries revealed that the said office premise was being run in the name and style of ‘Singh and Brothers Financial Service’ who reportedly had a tieup with Bajaj Finance. The deceased was doing the job of tele-caller in this office. “During the investigation, total contract money cash Rs. 70,000 has been recovered, out of which Rs. 10,000 each has been recovered from the possession of the Nigerian couple arrested for duping Indian national of Rs 30 lakh New Delhi [India], August 28 (ANI): A Nigerian couple has been arrested by the Odisha Police in Delhi, in connection with duping a citizen of Rs 30 lakh through a honeytrap. It comes two weeks after a Nigerian citizen was arrested in New Delhi in connection with the same case. On August 11, the cyber wing of Balasore district police arrested a Nigerian national in Delhi for allegedly extorting Rs 30 lakh from a man in Balasore district in Odisha, through honeytrap. The police had initiated a probe into the case based on a complaint lodged by the victim in January this year. As per the complaint, the man was accused Jai Prakash Pankaj and Rs. 25,000 each has been recovered from the possession of brother duo Shyam and Sumit. Accused Sharif absconding and efforts are being made to nab him at the earliest,” the Police informed. (ANI) honey-trapped and duped by a foreign woman on a social media platform. The victim alleged that he came in contact with a woman from the United Kingdom (UK) on social media and exchanged text messages. She had sent huge amounts of gifts including gold biscuits, a costly watch and a smartphone. When the gifts reached Delhi airport, a person introduced himself as a customs officer and asked him to pay Rs 30 lakh to receive the gifts. He paid the same amount in instalments but did not receive the consignment. The Nigerian national has been identified as Samson Imoko Alika. He was residing in the Kishangarh area in Delhi. He was allegedly involved in duping people through fake social media accounts in name of foreign women. He has been brought to Balasore on remand for interrogation in the case. AK Panigrahi, the Additional SP of Balasore told ANI that police were searching for them, right since Samson was arrested on August 11. “One Nigerian national, Samson Imoko Alika was arrested on August 11, since then only we were searching for them also. Today, these two have been arrested. Here, a Hyundai car, gold chain, ring, SBI passbook, passport, 2 laptops and 7 mobile phones have been recovered from them,” the Additional SP said. (ANI)
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September 2, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Girl who was set on fire in Jharkhand’s Dumka succumbs to injuries, accused held D u m k a (Jharkhand) [India], August 29 (ANI): A girl who was allegedly set on fire by a person after she did not reciprocate his proposal in Jharkhand’s Dumka district succumbed to her burn injuries on Sunday. The police said the accused has been arrested. Accused Shahrukh poured petrol on her and set her ablaze on August 23. She was set on fire in a case of unrequited love. A student of class 12, Ankita Kumari had been first admitted to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka in critical condition. Later she was referred to Ranchi’s Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) for better treatment. Soon after the incident came to light, people were seen protesting in the streets of Dumka. Speaking to ANI, Dumka Superintendent of police (SP) Ambar Lakda said, “The accused Shahrukh has been arrested. We will apply at fast track court for a fast trial. People are cooperating with us. We appeal to people to maintain peace. The situation is under control and Section 144 has been imposed.” Reacting to the matter, Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta said stringent action will be taken against perpetrators ensuring a fast trial. “The state government is serious regarding the murder of a girl in Dumka. Stringent action will be taken against perpetrators. We will ensure a fast trial. We have talked to DC in this regard,” Gupta said. (ANI) ASIACUP 2022 FROM PAGE 1 The duo of Rizwan and Ahmed went on to take their team’s total beyond the 50-run mark. It was a good first half for Indian bowlers as they restricted Pakistan to 68/2 after 10 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal’s dropped the catch of Iftikhar Ahmed which doesn’t prove costly, with Hardik Pandya dismissing the batter in the next over for 28 – Pakistan 87 for 3 in 12.1 overs. Pandya struck twice in the 15th over of the innings and gave Pakistan big blows as he dismissed Rizwan for 43 in 42 balls and new batter Khushdil Shah (2). In the 17th over of the innings, Bhuvneshwar gave Pakistan team a big blow as he sent packing Asif Ali on a brilliant bowl which was caught by Suryakumar Yadav. India did not give Pakistan a chance to balance itself after back- to-back blows. Arshdeep Singh struck against in the 18th over and dismissed Mohammad Nawaz who could only manage to score one run. In the 19th over, Pakistan’s Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan opened their hands to smash big hits, but their hammering was cut short by Bhuvneshwar LBW out Shadab Khan after scoring 10 runs. In the same over Bhuvneshwar struck again, dismissing Naseem Shah scoring just zero runs. In the last, over of the innings, Arshdeep ended Pakistan’s inning as he helped India bundle out Men in Green for 147. Brief score: Pakistan 147 (Mohammad Rizwan 43, Iftikhar Ahmed 28; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4-26) vs India 148/5 (Ravindra Jadeja 35, Hardik Pandya 33*; Mohammad Nawaz 333). (ANI) Asia Cup 2022: Crucial knocks by Jadeja, Pandya help India register thrilling captain Babar Azam after scoring 10 runs on 9 deliveries in the third over of the innings. India bowled 15 dot balls in the first 4 overs itself, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh produced a marvelous bowling display. After the captain’s wicket, Mohammad Rizwan played some bold and aggressive shots to keep the scoreboard running. Fakhar Zaman then came to bat on the crease to join hands with the opener. Avesh Khan provided India with another breakthrough as he sent Zaman back to the pavilion to give his team an upper hand. Khan got the wicket after conceding a couple of boundaries to Rizwan. Iftikhar Ahmed then joined the opener Rizwan on the crease.
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INDIA THIS WEEK Noida twin towers come crashing down after use of 3,700 kg explosives TWIN TOWERS FROM PAGE 1 medications and equipment will be on standby for any mishappening,” said a statement issued by the Jaypee Hospitals on Saturday which are nearest to the area where the demolition took place. It further said that a group of doctors including emergency department physicians, critical care specialists, orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons are available in the hospital to handle the situation. Felix Hospital is also on high alert as doctors, paramedics, and nurses all are fully prepared for any emergency situation. The hospital is just 4 km away from the demolition spot. “The general ward is ready on the 12th floor of the hospital for an emergency, while ICU beds have been fully prepared on the seventh floor. There are arrangements of a total of 50 beds in the hospitals that includes emergency wards, ICU, NICU, cardiac wards and general wards,” said Dr DK Gupta, Chairman of Felix Hospital. The Supreme Court had given a go-ahead for the demolition of the towers, which it had set for August 21, but was extended to August 28 at the Noida Authority’s request. As the story of India’s largest demolition process ended on Sunday, it is time to take a look at the complete timeline from its rise to fall. The Inception: The story began after a plot was allotted to Supertech Ltd in 2004 by the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) for the development of a housing society which came to be known as Emerald Court. In 2005, the building plan for the construction of 14 towers with 10 floors each for a housing society was approved by the Authority according to the New Okhla Industrial DevelopmentArea Building Regulations and Directions 1986. Supertech was given permission to construct 14 towers with 10 storeys each. However, the restriction on the maximum height was imposed to be 37 metres. As per the original plan, 14 towers with 10 storeys each and a shopping complex along with a garden area constituted the project. In June 2006, the company received additional land for the construction with the terms being the same. The plan was revised. According to the new plan, two more towers had to come up, in which the garden was scrapped. In 2009, the final plan was the construction of two towers Apex and Ceyane with 40 floors each while the plan was yet to be approved. The Destruction: In 2011, the Residents Welfare Association filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court. It was alleged that the UP Apartment Owners Act, 2010 was breached during the construction of the towers. The homeowners claimed that the two towers had less than 16 meters of distance between them which was in violation of the law. The original space designated for the garden in the original plan was allegedly used to erect the twin towers. In 2012, the Authority approved the new plan proposed in 2009, ahead of the commencement of the hearing in the Allahabad High Court. In April 2014, the Allahabad High Court delivered the judgment in favor of the RWA while also passing an order to demolish the twin towers. It asked Supertech to demolish the towers at its own expense and also refund the money of the homebuyers along with 14 per cent interest. In May 2014, the Noida Authority and Supertech moved to the Supreme Court stating that the construction of the twin towers was according to the regulations. In August 2021, however, the Supreme Court affirmed the order of the Allahabad High Court and ordered to demolish the towers while also stating that the construction had been made in violation of the regulations. The Supreme Court has said that the date of demolition may be confirmed as August 28, with a “bandwidth of seven days” between August 29 to September 4, to take into account any marginal delay on account of technical reasons or weather conditions. The twin towers were finally demolished on August 28, 2022. However, the health impact of the resulting dust on residents will be minimal as experts overseeing the demolition will take steps to control the impact. Dr Mrinal Sircar, Head Pulmonology and Critical Care, Fortis Noida said, “When you demolish a big structure like that, there will be dust and there would be some smoke because you are using explosives. So, the direction of the air matters. The direction of the wind should also be taken into consideration. Demolishing like this or rather an explosion happening in the open air is much safer than say underground mines.” Dr Sircar said that if this was something underground, where it won’t get dissipated, in such scenarios like underground mines, and explosions, they use various exhaust techniques. “The dust and gases will get diluted in the air and will get dispersed. The experts who are involved in such big demolitions will take care of all these things,” Dr Sircar said. A day before the demolition of the Supertech Twin Towers in Noida which are taller than the Qutub Minar, the Project Manager of the team deployed for the task assured the nearby residents to have faith in them and said that the best team was working to ensure a safe demolition. “I understand the concern of the nearby people here, but I would like to give the message to them that please don’t be afraid. The best team in the world is working on the project,” said Jigar Chedda, Project Manager, Edifice Engineering, on Saturday while expressing hope for everything to go well during the demolition of the Supertech Twin Towers in Sector 93A, Noida. “The Noida authorities have issued guidelines for the neighbouring people as they are very clear about what the people have to do, when they need to leave and come back, and what all precautions we are taking, the nearby residents are aware of everything,” he added. (ANI) Moscow, [Russia] August 29 (ANI): The first deliveries of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines will begin in 2023, co-director of the joint Russian-Indian venture BrahMos Aerospace Alexander Maksichev said, as per local media. The USD 375- million deal for the supply of BrahMos missiles to the Philippines was reached in January and is the first export contract for BrahMos Aerospace, as per Russian news agency Sputnik. “The first deliveries of the missiles will begin in 2023 . These will be missiles for coastal defense, a coastal missile system,” Maksichev said. As per the agency, BrahMos Aerospace was established in 1998, and specializes in producing cruise missiles and supporting equipment, such as launchers and missile guidance systems. The joint Indian-Russian enterprise was named after the rivers of Brahmaputra and Moscow. Meanwhile, BrahMos Aerospace Deputy CEO Sanjeev Joshi received the World Disaster Management Congress for Disaster Risk Reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021. (ANI) First BrahMos missile deliveries to Philippines expected next year: Reports From thePoet’sPen INDIA THIS WEEK- September 2, 2022 If - Poem by Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream---and not make dreams your master; If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same:. If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss: If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!” If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much: If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And---which is more---you’ll be a Man, my son! INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. Box 352Bryans Road, MD 20616 Phone: 301-917-4800; 301-445-0200 301-445-3543; 301-685-1800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are solely those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor either by mail to the above address or by e-mail provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Asst. Editors: Special Business Correspondent Business Coordinators Special Correspondent: Community Coordinator: India Office Columnists: World Religions Photo Journalist: System Admn. & Maintenance: Layout & Graphics: Business Affairs: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Elisha B. Pulivarti Rajan C. 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September 2, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK India no longer weak, will give befitting reply if anyone ever tries to harm its sovereignty: Rajnath Singh U d a i p u r (Rajasthan) [India], August 30 (ANI): Highlighting the expertise and capability of the armed forces, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that India is no longer weak and is strong and well equipped to face all challenges. Singh was in Udaipur to unveil the statue of Panna Dhai, a 16thcentury nursemaid to Udai Singh II, the fourth son of Indian ruler Sangram Singh I, popularly known as Rana Sanga. Speaking at the function, Singh said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been transformed into a strong, confident and self-reliant nation which is fully equipped to deal with all kinds of threats and challenges.” He stated that the steps taken by the government in the last eight years have injected new confidence into the Armed Forces. He asserted that India has never attacked any country, nor has it captured an inch of foreign land, but if anyone ever tries to harm the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the Nation, a befitting reply will be given. “It is the result of the last eight years that India is no longer weak. We clarified our stand on terrorism when our Armed Forces, displaying tremendous might, carried out surgical strikes in 2016 and Balakot airstrikes in 2019. It was proof that India’s military prowess is no less than any country,” the Minister said. He assured that the Armed Forces are deployed with full readiness to protect the people from anti-India elements. The Defence Minister asserted that the self-reliant ‘New India’ is moving shoulder-toshoulder with powerful countries. He listed out a number of steps taken by the Ministry of Defence to promote ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence, including the issuance of three positive indigenisation lists of 310 items and earmarking 68 per cent of the capital procurement budget for the domestic industry in Union Budget 2022-23. He added that foreign companies are being encouraged to manufacture in India under the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision to strengthen the domestic defence industry. Singh pointed out that the efforts taken by the government have started to bear fruit as India is not only catering to its own needs, but is also fulfilling the requirements of other countries. He appreciated the fact that defence exports, which were worth about Rs 900 crore eight years ago, have now grown to around Rs 13,000 crore. He added that a target of Rs 2.75 lakh crore worth of defence exports by 2047 has been set, exuding confidence that India is well on course to achieve the objective. Singh reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure the safety of Indians who not only reside within the country but also in other parts of the world. He stressed that the safe return of Indian nationals from Ukraine, amid its ongoing situation with Russia, was a testament to the government’s resolve of ensuring the safety and security of every Indian. of the Union Territory Manoj Sinha expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured persons. “Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to a tragic road accident in Kishtwar. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of injured. Directed district administration to ensure best possible treatment to the injured,” the office of LG J-K tweeted. (ANI) Beijing [China], August 26 (ANI): China is the only nation that is expanding its nuclear arsenal and this build-up poses a threat to the stability of the region, US Indo-Pacific Commander, Admiral John Aquilino has said. According to a Canada-based think tank, International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS), the US IndoPacific Commander made the remark at a press conference in Indonesia where he disclosed that China had “300 nuclear silos going in”. He warned that China’s growing nuclear arsenal threatens the IndoPacific region‘s stability, with Beijing pursuing “the largest military buildup in history” since World War II. He further said, “If you’d like to talk about nuclear weapons and the concern for a nuclear arms race, all you have to do is look into the PRC (People’s Republic of China).” Aquilino made the remarks following China’s opposition to Australia, UK, and US (AUKUS) defense pact, which will arm Australia with nuclear- powered submarines. Beijing said it poses nuclear proliferation risks. As per a report released by the US Department of Defense, China’s accelerating pace of its nuclear buildup could enable it to have up to 700 deliverable nuclear warheads by 2027. The report stated that China could plan to have at least 1,000 warheads by 2030, exceeding the US initial projection in 2020. “The PRC has already established a nascent ‘nuclear triad’ with the development of a nuclear-capable airlaunched ballistic missile (ALBM) and improvement of its ground and sea-based nuclear capabilities,” the US Department of Defense report stated. Meanwhile, the US Indo-Pacific Commander was in Indonesia for the Super Garuda Shield Exercise, an annual joint military exercise to improve regional cooperation. More than 5,000 troops from the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and Australia participated in the drill, which was held from August 1 to 14. J-K’s Kishtwar accident: PM Modi announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for next of kin of deceased New Delhi [India], August 31 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next kin of those who lost their lives after the vehicle in which they were traveling skidded off the road into a valley in Jammu and Kashmir‘s Kishtwar district last evening. The injured will be given an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000, from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. The Prime Minister prayed for the recovery of those injured in the accident and also expressed condolences to the bereaved families. “Saddened by the accident in Kishtwar. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” the PMO said today. As many as eight persons were killed while three others sustained injuries after the vehicle in which they were travelling in skidded off the road and plunged into a valley in Kishtwar, police said on Tuesday. “A total of eight people have died till now while three are injured in a road accident, Devansh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kishtwar said. “Eight are dead including a small girl while three have been injured. Medical teams are looking into those who are injured. We will provide necessary compensation and bear the expenses of their treatment,” Yadav said. Initially, the Jammu and Kashmir police had said that seven people had lost their lives and four were injured after their car fell into a gorge in the Bunda area of Chatroo in Kishtwar. However, one of the injured persons also lost his life while being shifted to the district hospital. Taking to Twitter, the Lieutenant Governor China’s increasing nuclear buildup poses threat to Indo-Pacific stability
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2022 9 Sale Ends 9-15-2022 Manish Tewari raises concern over election process in Congress New Delhi [India], September 1 (ANI): Unease continues to persist in the Congress as another senior leader and party MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday raised concerns over the election process in the party. In a series of tweets, Tewari raised issues regarding the election process in Congress days after the party announced the schedule for the election of party president. Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader said, “My colleague in Parliament Karti P Chidambaram is spot on. For any election to be kosher the electoral college must be constitutionally constituted. I read in the papers Anand Sharma had articulated this widely shared concern in the CWC and he even publicly confirmed that he had raised it.” T e w a r i ’ s remarks came after Karti Chidambaram’s tweet that said, “Every election needs a well-defined and clear electoral college. The process of forming the electoral college must also be clear, well-defined and transparent. An ad hoc electoral college is no electoral college.” In a series of tweets, the Congress MP questioned how can there be a fair and free election without a publicly available electoral roll? “The essence of a fair and free process is names and addresses of electors must be published on Congress website in a transparent manner,” he said. “Why should someone have to go to every PCC office in the country to find out who the electors are? This does not happen in a club election also with great respect. In interests of fairness and transparency, I urge your good self to publish the entire list of electors on Congress website. How can someone consider running if he/she does not know who the electors are. If someone has to file his/her nomination and gets it proposed by 10 Congresspersons as is requirement CEA can reject it saying they are not valid electors,” he added. Ghulam Nabi Azad who resigned from Congress last week has also raised concerns over the election process in the party. In a hard-hitting five-page note to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, Azad, wrote, “The entire organizational election process is a farce and a sham. At no place anywhere in the country have elections been held at any level of the organization. Handpicked lieutenants of the AICC have been coerced to sign on lists prepared by the coterie that runs the AICC sitting in 24, Akbar Road.” Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi, Azad wrote, “Since the 2019 elections the situation in the party has only worsened. After Rahul Gandhi stepped down in a ‘huff’ and not before insulting all the senior Party functionaries who have given their lives to the party in a meeting of the extended Working Committee, you took over as interim President. A position that you have continued to hold even today for the past three years.” C o n g r e s s Working Committee (CWC) had on Sunday decided that the election for the Congress president post will be held on October 17, said sources. The counting of votes will be done on October 19. This comes in the backdrop of the party’s senior leader Gulam Nabi Azad’s resignation on Friday. According to sources, the election for the post of president has now become a challenge for Congress with the reluctance of Rahul Gandhi to contest the polls. The Central Election Authority has made preparations to complete the election process on time. The process seems to remain stuck since Rahul Gandhi is not willing to contest the election for the post of Congress president, although all the efforts to convince him are still going on, added sources.
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