Category: SPECIAL

New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) Reacting to the arrest of JD-U candidate from Bihar’s Mokama, Anant Singh, in the murder of Jan Suraaj Party worker Dularchand Yadav, Congress on Sunday slammed the NDA government, calling the incident the “pinnacle of jungle raj.”

Congress leader Udit Raj on Sunday weighed in on the murder of Jan Suraaj Party worker Dularchand Yadav, offering insights into the local political dynamics in Mokama Assembly constituency

Speaking to IANS, Raj said, “Dular Chand Yadav was supporting the RJD, while Piyush Priyadarshi belongs to the Dhanuk community. In Mokama, the Bhumihar population is dominant and influential; both sides, RJD and JD(U), have strong Bhumihar candidates. The Dhanuk and backward communities, whose votes are crucial, have become aware and are determined to contest this time. Dular Chand Yadav had tried to get a ticket from the RJD but didn’t succeed, so it’s possible his strategy was to join the Jan Suraaj Party and campaign for them…”

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput also reacted sharply to the arrest of JD(U) candidate Anant Kumar Singh in connection with Yadav’s killing, accusing the NDA of lawlessness in the state.

He said, “This is the pinnacle of jungle raj, the NDA should at least apologise to the country and to Bihar. Now, the NDA must explain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, tell us whose ‘jungle raj’ is this? Tell us, Nitish Kumar, whose ‘jungle raj’ is this? All across Bihar, there are murders, abductions, loot and dacoities; bodies are being found openly, bullets are being fired in the open. Dularchand Yadav was dragged and killed, and then his body was even run over by a vehicle…”

The case has drawn significant attention in Bihar’s political circles.

According to Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya Sharma, Anant Singh, the JD-U’s Mokama candidate, was arrested in connection with the killing of 75-year-old Dularchand Yadav, a local strongman and former RJD leader.

Police said the incident took place on October 30 near Khushhal Chak in Mokama. Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi, also known as Lallu Mukhiya, was campaigning with his supporters, accompanied by Yadav.

Around the same time, Anant Singh and his supporters were reportedly passing through the same area. A heated argument broke out between the groups, escalating into stone pelting and violence, during which Yadav was killed.

The arrest comes just days before polling in Bihar. The first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections will be held on November 6, followed by the second phase on November 11. Counting of votes is scheduled for November 14.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalty on Dikshant IAS and Abhimanu IAS of Rs 8 lakh each, for indulging in misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices and violation of consumer rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

So far, the CCPA has issued 57 notices to various coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. Penalties amounting to over Rs 98.6 lakh have been imposed on 27 coaching institutes, along with directions to discontinue such misleading claims.

The CCPA took cognisance of representations received from successful UPSC candidates whose names and photographs were used without consent in advertisements claiming credit for their results.

In view of the violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare, and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, issued final orders against Dikshant IAS and Abhimanu IAS.

“The decision was taken to protect and promote the rights of consumers as a class and ensure that no false or misleading advertisement is made of any goods or services which contravenes the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019,” according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

In the case of Dikshant IAS, the CCPA received a representation from Mini Shukla (AIR 96, UPSC CSE 2021), who stated that her name and photograph were used in the institute’s promotional material without her consent.

She clarified that she had never been associated with Dikshant IAS and had only attended a mock interview at Chahal Academy, which she later came to know was jointly organized with Dikshant IAS.

CCPA noted that Dikshant IAS had published advertisements claiming “200+ Results in UPSC CSE 2021”, featuring the photographs and names of successful candidates without disclosing the specific courses taken by them. The institute was unable to substantiate this claim with credible evidence despite multiple opportunities.

Dikshant IAS claimed that the students had attended its Interview Guidance Programme (IGP) and that the programme was jointly conducted with Chahal Academy.

However, the Authority found that Dikshant IAS could produce only 116 enrolment forms against its claim of “200+ results”.

It also failed to submit any agreement with Chahal Academy or any evidence to show that the students were informed of the joint nature of the programme.

In the case of Abhimanu IAS, a representation from Ms. Natasha Goyal (AIR 175, UPSC CSE 2022) revealed that the institute had falsely claimed her as its student and used her name and photograph without authorization.

Evidence showed that the institute had shared a question bank with her based on her Detailed Application Form (DAF) for a mock interview that was never conducted.

Despite this, the institute used her name and photograph without consent, a practice held by the CCPA to be deceptive and unfair, amounting to an unfair contractual condition under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Upon examination, CCPA found that Abhimanu IAS had also published misleading claims such as “2200+ Selections since Inception”, “10+ Selections in IAS Top 10”, and “1st Rank in HCS/PCS/HAS”. The advertisements prominently featured the pictures and names of successful candidates from various examinations in 2023, including the UPSC Civil Services Examination, Haryana Civil Services (HCS), RBI Grade-B, and NABARD Grade-A, while concealing important information about the specific courses these candidates had enrolled in.

CCPA’s investigation found that the institute submitted details of 139 claimed selections across various examinations in 2023, out of which 88 students had cleared the Prelims and Mains stages without any assistance from Abhimanu IAS.

The claim of “2200+ Selections since Inception” was also found to be unsupported, as the institute failed to produce any evidence to substantiate it.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Nov 1 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje, commenting on AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge’s demand to ban the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), stated that Kharge was making such remarks under pressure from Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarters in Bengaluru on Saturday, the Union Minister said, “I respect Mallikarjun Kharge; he is a senior politician both at the state and national levels with many years of experience. However, he is unable to think independently because of the influence of one family in his party. In his 50 years of political life, Mallikarjun Kharge had never made any statement against the RSS,” she noted.

She further said, “After listening to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Kharge has now started issuing statements against the RSS and is demanding a ban on it. Kharge ji, you must remember — what former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru could not do, what Indira Gandhi could not do — will you be able to do it?” she challenged.

Taking a dig at Kharge and the Congress leadership, Shobha said, “What powers do you have in your hands? What powers does Rahul Gandhi possess? He is merely the Leader of the Opposition and is unable to discharge his duties in that role as well. Your party ruled this country for more than 50 years. You were in power at the Centre, and during the UPA government, you yourself were a Union Minister, yet you never spoke against the RSS.”

“Why are you raising your voice now? It is because you want to indulge in appeasement politics to please a particular community. That is why Kharge is talking about banning the RSS. But this will never happen. What was not possible for former Prime Ministers Nehru and Indira Gandhi will not be possible for you. The RSS will continue to function,” she asserted.

“From children to elders, all of us are associated with the RSS. You may not tolerate it, but we will not care and will continue to march forward. The RSS exists to protect the country, preserve our culture, and uphold Hindutva. The RSS is there to safeguard Sanatana Dharma, and we will demonstrate that through our actions,” Shobha added.

Mallikarjun Kharge’s son, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, has stirred a controversy in Karnataka by writing a letter to the CM demanding a ban on the RSS activities in public places.

He wrote another letter urging the government to initiate action against government officers over their links with the RSS. In turn, the BJP state unit had released a photo of Mallikarjun Kharge attending an RSS event in Bengaluru. However, Priyank Kharge maintained that his father had gone to the venue, in the capacity of Home Minister of Karnataka, to issue a warning to the organisers.

The Karnataka government, without naming the RSS, has issued an order making it mandatory for all private organisations to obtain permission from the authorities. The High Court bench has stayed the order.

–IANS

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Ahmedabad, Nov 1 (IANS) Adani Defence & Aerospace, one of India’s leading defence and aerospace companies, on Saturday announced that it has been honoured with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Champion Award 2025.

The company, part of the Adani Group, won the award for excellence in design, manufacturing, and testing. The prestigious recognition was awarded for its cutting-edge Ammunition Complex in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur.

The award was presented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, recognising the facility’s technological excellence and advanced manufacturing capabilities.

The recognition also reaffirms Adani Defence & Aerospace’s commitment to developing world-class manufacturing capabilities that strengthen India’s indigenous defence production ecosystem, fully aligned with the government’s vision of “Made in India, Made for the World”.

“The SIDM Champion Award is a testament to our efforts to create an indigenous, technology-driven defence manufacturing ecosystem that enhances the nation’s self-reliance and strengthens its strategic readiness,” said Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO, Adani Defence & Aerospace.

“The Kanpur Ammunition Complex exemplifies how Industry 4.0-led innovation and scale can redefine India’s defence production landscape and position the country as a global manufacturing hub,” he added.

Spread across 500 acres, the Adani Ammunition Complex represents India’s most advanced and integrated ammunition manufacturing ecosystem, developed with Industry 4.0 standards, automation, and artificial intelligence-driven precision systems to ensure consistency, safety, and superior quality across small, medium, and large calibre ammunition.

The Adani Ammunition Complex continues to be a cornerstone in India’s journey towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat, enhancing national security through world-class infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and a strong commitment to excellence.

Earlier in August, the Kanpur-based manufacturing facility announced plans to increase production of bullets drastically, almost doubling it in the next few months.

Rajvanshi, during an interaction with journalists via video conferencing, shed light on Adani Group’s commitment to preparing the nation for the modern age and defence against evolving threats.

He said that the company will invest Rs 7,000 crore in the next few years. Missiles will also be made in this Kanpur factory, for which an investment of $1 million will be made.

He said that the company will soon begin production of bigger calibre bullets. Moreover, high-tech warfare equipment like bulletproof jackets, drones, fighter planes, helicopters, and missiles will also be made here to give impetus and strength to the ‘Make in India’ resolve.

–IANS

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Chennai, Oct 30 (IANS) AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly Edappadi K. Palaniswami demanded that the police immediately register a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the alleged Rs 800-crore recruitment scam in the state government’s Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department.

In a strongly worded statement, Palaniswami said the large-scale “irregularities” in the recruitment process “shattered the dreams of thousands of honest and hardworking youths” who aspired to secure government employment through merit.

He alleged that bribes ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 35 lakh per candidate were collected by intermediaries acting on behalf of senior politicians and officials.

“The job racket, orchestrated by Minister K.N. Nehru, his relatives, and select department officials, has converted the sacred process of public recruitment into a money-minting operation,” he charged.

Palaniswami added that the scandal had now come to light following a series of Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids across Tamil Nadu earlier this year.

According to him, the ED has already submitted a detailed dossier, supported by documents and witness statements, to the Director General of Police (DGP), urging that a case be registered under relevant sections of the law so that the matter could be investigated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Palaniswami said, “The ED’s findings pointed to a massive cash-for-jobs network operating within the MAWS Department, involving the manipulation of examination results and interview lists to favour candidates who paid bribes.”

“The DMK regime’s greed for commissions has destroyed the future of Tamil Nadu’s youth,” he said.

He urged the DGP to order an impartial investigation through the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to ensure that no one, regardless of position or political affiliation, is shielded.

“The Stalin government has turned recruitment into a business venture. The people of Tamil Nadu will not forgive those who sold government jobs,” Palaniswami warned, calling upon the Governor and Central agencies to monitor the probe to guarantee fairness and accountability.

–IANS

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