Category: INDIA

Surat, Nov 9 (IANS) Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Monday urged citizens to adopt the ‘Vikram Samvat’ calendar in their daily activities and written communications, saying that preserving the traditional system is a collective responsibility to pass on India’s scientific and cultural heritage to future generations.

Addressing a Diwali and New Year ‘Sneh Milan Samaroh’ at Maharaja Agrasen Bhawan in Surat to mark the beginning of ‘Vikram Samvat 2083’, Sanghavi said India’s traditional Panchang-based calendar is rooted in astronomical calculations, seasonal cycles and lunar dates.

He called upon people to set aside past differences at the beginning of the New Year, build new relationships and work together as a team for the welfare and development of the state.

The Deputy Chief Minister also acknowledged the contribution of police personnel, municipal sanitation workers, Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) drivers and conductors, and fire brigade staff, who continue to perform their duties during festivals, often staying away from their families to ensure public safety and convenience.

He extended Diwali and New Year greetings to the people of Gujarat and government employees, whom he described as “dedicated public servants”. “Their commitment to maintaining essential services during festivals played an important role in the state’s development,” he noted.

Referring to Gujarat’s economic progress, Sanghavi said the state is achieving new milestones in development alongside continued growth in Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue.

He also called for police stations and government residential quarters for police personnel to be maintained as the cleanest and best-maintained facilities in the state, stressing the need to make them exemplary.

Surat District Collector Tejas Parmar, Municipal Commissioner Rajkumar Beniwal and Police Commissioner Wabang Zamir attended the gathering and extended New Year greetings.

They also expressed their commitment to working together to take the city and district forward.

Following the programme, Sanghavi interacted with media personnel and party workers and exchanged New Year greetings.

–IANS

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Patna, Nov 9 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of two brothers killed after a car allegedly ran over a group of villagers in Bhojpur district on Diwali night.

He also directed the district administration to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the six injured and to take strict action against those responsible for the incident.

The incident occurred late Sunday night near the Surya Mandir in Ramdihara village, under the jurisdiction of Bihiya police station.

A dispute broke out over the playing of Chhath Puja songs, following which a group of people allegedly drove a Scorpio into villagers gathered near the temple.

The deceased have been identified as Dinesh Yadav (55) and his brother Kamlesh Yadav (50), both sons of Ramnaresh Yadav and residents of Ramdihara village.

The injured include Rajesh Kumar, Ritu Kumar, Krishna Kumar and Ramesh Yadav, along with two others. They were taken to Ara Sadar Hospital for treatment.

Choudhary announced the compensation through a social media post, describing the incident as deeply tragic and expressing condolences to the bereaved families. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

He directed officials to provide Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased person and ensure proper medical care for the injured.

He said those responsible would not be spared under any circumstances.

According to villagers, people had gathered near the temple after performing prayers and were playing Chhath songs when some men arrived in a Scorpio and objected to the loud music.

An argument followed, after which the occupants allegedly returned in the vehicle and drove it into the gathering.

The vehicle struck eight people before the occupants fled the scene.

However, police are investigating the exact sequence of events and the circumstances leading to the incident.

Dinesh Yadav’s son has alleged that the attack was deliberate. Some villagers have also claimed that the occupants of the Scorpio car were under the influence of alcohol, though this has not been officially established.

The incident triggered anger among residents, who blocked a road and staged a protest demanding action against the accused.

Police reached the spot and initiated an investigation. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend those involved.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) AIMIM leader Waris Pathan’s remark that an ‘Abdul’ would one day become India’s Prime Minister has garnered reactions from political representatives and religious leaders, with critics questioning his party’s political strength.

Reacting to Pathan’s remarks, All India Imam Association Maulana Sajid Rashidi told IANS that a party with only one seat in Hyderabad could not determine whether a Muslim would become the Chief Minister or Prime Minister.

“It is surprising to me how a person who has just one seat in Hyderabad gets to comment on whether a Muslim can be a Chief Minister or not? A party with at least 35 seats or 99 seats, if it decides to support a Muslim candidate, then it makes some sense. If they say that they will play a kingmaker, then it makes some sense,” Rashidi said.

“A party with just one seat cannot decide whether there will be a Muslim Chief Minister or not. Saying that an ‘Abdul’ or a burqa-clad woman will become the next PM is an insult to the Muslims and nothing else,” he added.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande also criticised Pathan, saying he had lost elections multiple times and questioning his authority to make such claims.

“Waris Pathan has been defeated, not once but multiple times. One who could not save his own seat does not have a say in whether ‘Abdul’ can become the CM or PM of the country,” Kayande said.

Congress spokesperson Rakesh Sinha said his party also wanted a person named Abdullah to become Chief Minister but questioned the contribution of Pathan and AIMIM towards promoting Muslim leadership.

“What contribution has he made, and what has his party done? We also want an Abdullah to become Chief Minister, and the country wants the same. But how will that happen through Pathan’s statements? How many people named Abdullah has he helped promote?” Sinha said.

He further alleged that AIMIM had primarily worked for family members and close associates and questioned how many people named Abdullah the party had empowered in Hyderabad.

“AIMIM has only worked for its family members and close associates. How many people named Abdullah has the party empowered in Hyderabad? AIMIM is working on the BJP’s agenda,” he added.

Earlier, Pathan had expressed confidence in the electoral success of Abdul El-Sayed, who became the new senator from the US state of Michigan. He called for stronger Muslim political leadership in Uttar Pradesh, arguing that members of the community should aspire to occupy positions of power and raise issues concerning them rather than being treated merely as a vote bank.

Pathan had said that Muslims should seek a greater role in political decision-making and expressed confidence that an ‘Abdul’ would one day become the Prime Minister of India.

–IANS

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Jaipur, Nov 9 (IANS) Three Rajasthan residents were killed, and more than 40 others were injured after a luxury bus carrying passengers from Bhiwadi to Bihar overturned and plunged into a 40-foot-deep ditch on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, officials said.

The bus was ferrying passengers heading home for the Chhath festival when the accident occurred near Zero Point, under the Para police station area.

According to the fire department, the Bihar-registered bus was travelling from Bhiwadi in Rajasthan to Chhapra in Bihar, carrying passengers returning home for the Chhath festival. The accident occurred near Zero Point, under the jurisdiction of the Para police station, around 30 km from the district headquarters.

More than 50 police personnel, two teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and fire department personnel participated in the rescue operation.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a tyre burst may have caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

According to police, around 50-55 passengers were travelling on the bus. More than 40 sustained injuries, several of them serious.

Two of the three deceased have been identified as Shankar Rajjak (63) and Shamli Rai (43), both residents of Chhapra, Bihar. The third victim, a male passenger, is yet to be identified.

Some passengers have alleged that the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. Pankaj Sharma, one of the passengers, claimed that the driver was intoxicated and that the bus overturned less than 10 minutes after the journey began.

Another injured passenger, Vikas Kumar, who was admitted to Lokbandhu Hospital, also alleged that the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol. He said he and his parents were injured when the bus plunged into the ditch. However, these allegations are yet to be independently verified.

Passenger Jitendra Yadav said that there were two drivers on the bus. The driver who had been driving through the night reportedly went to sleep around 7 a.m., after which the second driver, who had been resting, took charge of the vehicle.

According to Yadav, the accident occurred less than 10 minutes after the change of drivers.

Dr Amitabh Srivastava, Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of Lokbandhu Hospital, said the hospital received information about the accident at around 7 a.m. A total of 32 passengers were brought to the hospital, of whom two were declared dead on arrival.

Five patients with serious head or spinal injuries were referred to King George’s Medical University (KGMU) for further treatment. The remaining injured patients are being treated at Lokbandhu Hospital, where 25 patients were reported to be admitted.

Dr Srivastava is personally monitoring the treatment and condition of the injured.

According to the available vehicle records, the bus’s fitness certificate was valid until August 5, 2027, while its insurance was valid until July 31, 2027.

The pollution certificate was valid until August 6, 2027, and the vehicle permit until December 2, 2030.

The exact cause of the accident is yet to be established, and further investigation is underway.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, on Monday met Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi, holding discussions on advancing ties and identifying new opportunities for cooperation.

“Great meeting with Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to discuss advancing US-India ties and identifying new opportunities for cooperation. Looking forward to building on this momentum!,” Gor wrote on X after the meeting.

Scindia stated he and Gor discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and the US.

“A pleasure meeting US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. Deliberated on avenues to advance our bilateral cooperation and further strengthen the Indo-US strategic partnership,” Scindia posted on X.

Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was on an official visit to India, during which he met External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in Mumbai.

Rubio and EAM Jaishankar held discussions focusing on further advancing bilateral ties. The two sides also exchanged views on regional developments.

“Pleased to meet US Marco Rubio in Mumbai today. We shared views on further advancement of our ties, focusing on trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties. Also exchanged views on regional developments,” EAM Jaishankar stated on X after the meeting.

Rubio said that he and EAM Jaishankar discussed energy security and defence cooperation. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and other officials were also present at the meeting.

“In Mumbai, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and I discussed energy security and defence cooperation while reaffirming the importance of advancing the US-India strategic partnership,” the US Secretary of State posted on X.

Marco Rubio, EAM Jaishankar, and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also held a trilateral meeting in Mumbai, exchanging perspectives on energy, connectivity and contemporary developments.

“Held a trilateral meeting with DPM and FM UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A useful exchange of perspectives on energy, connectivity and contemporary developments,” EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 9 (IANS) The mother of Dilip Roy, the prime accused in the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district, who was shot dead in a police encounter in Raiganj, on Monday stated that she would not attend her son’s final rites.

Speaking to media persons, Chania Roy expressed deep shame over her son’s actions, stating, “It is better not to have such a sinful son; I will not even go to the crematorium.”

She added, “He has done such a thing; he is no longer in a position to show his face in the village. He is gone. It is good. That’s what I want.”

Describing him as her only son, Chania Roy said he had left home at a very young age and maintained little contact with his family, offering no support to his ageing father. She noted that the grief of losing a child was completely overshadowed by the heinous nature of the crime.

Residents revealed that allegations against Dilip were not unprecedented. Sixteen years ago, he was accused of physically abusing the six-year-old daughter of a relative, which caused widespread outrage in the village.

At that time, neighbours attacked his home and assaulted him, following which Dilip sold one katha of his mother’s land to pay compensation to the victim’s family. A resident remarked that such severe crimes cannot be forgiven and that justice had been served.

Dilip Roy was killed during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday after police launched a raid near Gauri Gram Panchayat around 3 a.m., following a tip-off that he was attempting to flee across the nearby Bihar border.

According to law enforcement officials, officers moved to arrest Roy after tracking his whereabouts, but the accused opened fire on the raiding team. Police retaliated in self-defence, inflicting fatal injuries.

Roy was transported to Raiganj Medical College & Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, with an autopsy scheduled for later in the day.

The encounter follows the recovery of the victim’s semi-decomposed body on November 6 from the nearby Kulik forest, two days after the 12-year-old went missing on November 3 after leaving her home on a bicycle.

This incident marks the fourth fatal police encounter in West Bengal since July this year, three of which involve cases related to the rape and murder of minors.

–IANS

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Patna, Nov 9 (IANS) RJD National Working President and Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, on Monday targeted the state government over the law and order situation, alleging that incidents of gunfire, robbery and crimes against women and girls had become commonplace.

Speaking to party leaders and workers at the RJD office in Patna on his 37th birthday, Tejashwi alleged that crime was continuing unabated in Bihar while the government remained silent.

He said he wanted to see a Bihar free from corruption, crime, robbery and exploitation, and called for politics focused on employment and public welfare rather than hatred.

Tejashwi urged RJD leaders and workers to carry forward the ideals of party founder Lalu Prasad Yadav with renewed determination.

He asked them to reject divisive politics and take the party’s message to every village and household.

He also appealed to people to maintain a positive outlook and participate in future struggles and movements, expressing confidence that public support and affection would strengthen the party’s political efforts in Bihar.

The RJD leader thanked party leaders, workers and journalists who attended the birthday celebration.

He said the affection shown by people reflected their trust and encouraged the party to continue working towards its political objectives.

The celebration was marked by the cutting of a 37-pound cake in the presence of senior party leaders and workers.

Slogans wishing Tejashwi a long life and birthday greetings were raised as he cut the cake.

Sweets and pieces of cake were subsequently distributed among those present.

The programme was organised under the chairmanship of RJD state president Mangni Lal Mandal. State vice-president Dr Tanveer Hassan and party spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed conducted the proceedings.

Mandal felicitated Tejashwi by presenting him with a shawl and a bouquet.

He said the enthusiasm surrounding the birthday celebration reflected the trust and affection people had for the RJD leader.

He also said such gatherings could promote social harmony and give a new direction to Bihar’s politics.

The event witnessed the participation of party leaders and workers, who extended their birthday wishes to Tejashwi.

–IANS

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Patna, Nov 9 (IANS) Three young men were killed and two others injured after two motorcycles collided head-on near Jhulapur village in Bihar’s Siwan district on Diwali night, police said.

The accident occurred late Sunday evening under the jurisdiction of the Mufassil police station.

Two of the victims died on the spot, while the third succumbed to his injuries during treatment at Siwan Sadar Hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Mukesh Mahto and Golu Kumar, both residents of Rasulpur village in Siwan, and Sanish Kumar, a resident of Sanah Mathiya village under the Manjhagarh police station area of neighbouring Gopalganj district.

According to preliminary information, Mukesh and Golu were returning to their village from Siwan with their friend Abhishek when their motorcycle collided with another bike coming from the opposite direction.

The second motorcycle was reportedly carrying Sanish and another person.

The impact was so severe that two young men died at the scene.

Three others, including Golu, were rushed to Sadar Hospital. However, Golu later succumbed to his injuries. The remaining injured are undergoing treatment.

The accident has devastated Sanish’s family, which was preparing for two major family occasions.

His ’tilak’ ceremony was scheduled for November 19, while his sister’s wedding is planned for November 21.

Preparations for the wedding were underway when the family received news of his death.

Meanwhile, relatives of the victims have raised questions over the emergency medical facilities at Siwan Sadar Hospital.

They alleged that an ambulance was not provided promptly, even after a referral was issued for better medical treatment.

According to the family members, they repeatedly tried to contact the 102 ambulance service, but their calls did not go through.

They claimed that an ambulance eventually reached the hospital premises, but Golu had already died by then.

There was no official response from the hospital administration regarding the allegations at the time of filing this report.

Police have initiated an investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the collision. Further details are awaited.

–IANS

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Ahmedabad, Nov 9 (IANS) Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Monday inaugurated an advanced library in Jodhpur Ward and an Urban Primary Health Centre in the Gota-Science City area of Ahmedabad, with the latter expected to provide healthcare services to around 80,000 people across 17 surrounding areas, including nearly 46,700 residents of slum settlements.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was present at both inauguration ceremonies.

The library, named the Knowledge Hub, has been constructed near Tapas Bungalows in Jodhpur Ward under the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s South-West Zone at an estimated cost of Rs 15.60 crore.

The facility has been developed under the civic body’s 2024-25 budget to provide students and young people with access to educational resources and a modern learning environment.

The Knowledge Hub aims to facilitate learning and research in science and technology, while also helping students develop skills and explore creative activities such as writing and drawing.

It is intended to provide a safe space where students can access information on different subjects, work on academic projects and exchange knowledge.

The inauguration was attended by Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, Jodhpur MLA Babubhai Patel, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, Deputy Mayor Anju Shah, Standing Committee Chairman Kamlesh Patel, Municipal Ruling Party Leader Jashu Thakor and other public representatives.

At Gota’s Science City area, Shah inaugurated a two-storey Urban Primary Health Centre equipped with around 20 rooms.

The facility will cater to residents of 17 surrounding areas, with an estimated 80,000 beneficiaries, including approximately 46,700 people living in slum settlements.

The centre will have around 40 trained healthcare professionals and provide general outpatient services, minor emergency care, dog-bite vaccination, screening for non-communicable diseases, paediatric and geriatric consultations, and treatment for eye and skin-related ailments.

It will also offer treatment for common illnesses such as cold, cough, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting, besides services for diabetes and high blood pressure.

Special nutritional supplements for children, pregnant women and senior citizens, along with physiotherapy facilities, will also be available.

The health centre is equipped to conduct 21 types of laboratory tests, bringing diagnostic services closer to residents. School health screening services will also be provided.

The facility will additionally offer assistance with birth and death registration. The two inaugurations were part of a wider development programme in Ahmedabad during Shah’s visit, which included 30 civic and infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,024 crore being inaugurated or taken up for foundation laying.

These included housing, water supply, renewable energy, education and healthcare initiatives.

Among the projects announced earlier was the establishment of urban health centres in Gota and Chandlodia at a combined cost of Rs 9.19 crore.

The initiatives are part of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s efforts to expand civic amenities and improve access to education and primary healthcare amid the city’s growing population.

–IANS

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Ahmedabad, Nov 9 (IANS) Emergency medical service calls in Gujarat increased by 13.12 per cent during Diwali this year, with the 108 ambulance service recording 5,934 emergencies compared with 5,246 on normal days.

Vehicular trauma cases witnessed a particularly sharp rise, increasing by 87.49 per cent, while non-vehicular trauma cases went up by 75.17 per cent.

According to the emergency response data, the number of vehicular trauma cases rose from 646 on normal days to 1,212 during Diwali.

Non-vehicular trauma emergencies increased from 595 to 1,043, indicating a substantial rise in both categories of injury-related calls during the festival.

Pregnancy-related emergencies remained the largest category in the normal-day comparison, although calls declined marginally from 1,194 to 1,151, a fall of 3.58 per cent.

Emergencies categorised as “unknown problems” increased from 610 to 661, registering an 8.39 per cent rise.

Among other medical emergencies, calls related to abdominal pain declined from 673 to 528, a decrease of 21.50 per cent. Breathing-related emergencies fell from 448 to 383, while cardiac emergencies declined from 313 to 285, down 14.56 per cent and 8.82 per cent, respectively.

High-fever cases recorded the largest decline among the listed medical categories, falling from 303 on normal days to 209 during Diwali, a reduction of 31.09 per cent.

Convulsion and fits-related emergencies decreased from 137 to 124, while stroke and paralysis cases fell from 48 to 40. In contrast, poisoning and toxicology-related emergencies increased from 124 to 131, a rise of 5.28 per cent.

Diabetic emergencies also increased by 26.19 per cent, from 84 to 106. Calls classified under “other emergencies” declined from 70 to 61, a fall of 13.21 per cent. The 108 service also recorded 62 burn-related emergencies during Diwali.

Ahmedabad accounted for the highest number with 13 cases, followed by Surat with 12. Kachchh and Rajkot reported five cases each, while Gandhinagar and Vadodara recorded four each. Anand, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Narmada, Tapi and Valsad reported two burn emergencies each.

Banaskantha, Botad, Kheda, Mehsana, Morbi, Porbandar and Surendranagar recorded one case each.

The data showed that trauma-related emergencies were the main categories to witness increases during the festival, while several medical categories, including high fever, abdominal pain, breathing problems and cardiac emergencies, recorded fewer calls than on normal days

–IANS

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