Chandigarh:

 Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Anurag Agarwal said that for the convenience of visually impaired voters in the state, EPIC cards and photo voter slips will be printed in Braille script, and facilities such as Braille ballot papers and slips on EVMs will also be available. In addition to this, various facilities are being provided to PwD voters, including arrangements for wheelchairs, ramps at polling stations, and transportation.

He said that arrangements will be made to bring PwD voters to the polling station. Wheelchairs will also be made available to those voters who are unable to walk. Arrangements for ramps will be made at every polling station. Additionally, arrangements for volunteers from NGOs, NSS, and Red Cross will also be made for their assistance, shared Anurag Agarwal.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that visually impaired voters and PwD voters who are unable to cast their vote by pressing the machine button can bring a helper with them to cast their vote. The age of the helper should be 18 years or older. He said that PwD voters who are capable of casting their vote by pressing the EVM button can bring a helper along with them to the voting booth, but the helper cannot enter the voting booth.

Chandigarh:

 The Haryana Right To Service Commission has imposed a fine of Rs. 3,000 on the former branch manager of Punjab National Bank, Badli branch, Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi, for not adhering to the prescribed service deadline. This fine will have to be deposited in the state treasury, and the receipt of the deposited fine will be submitted to the Commission within 30 days of the order, otherwise recovery will be made according to the law for non-depositing the fine.

Sharing more information, a spokesperson for the Haryana Right To Service Commission stated that the Chief Commissioner of the Commission, Sh. T.C. Gupta has taken suo moto in this matter and conducted a hearing on April 10 for the resolution of this case. Dr. Jitendra Malik, Sub-Divisional Officer-cum-Dairy Officer, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Jhajjar, Haryana, Amanpreet Bakshi, Branch Manager, PNB, Badli, Jhajjar, and Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi, former Branch Manager (retd.), PNB, Badli, Jhajjar, Haryana, along with the applicant Ms. Shakuntala were present during this hearing.

During the hearing, Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi had said that after obtaining ‘principle’ approval for the loan on April 21, 2022, the purchase was also made on April 24, 2022, and when the customer came for distribution, it was found that the applicant’s CIBIL score was not satisfactory, so the payment was not made. This fact was also reiterated by the current branch manager Amanpreet. He further said that the reason for non-distribution can only be attributed to Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi. When bank officials were asked why they did not check the CIBIL score before approving the loan, they said that they approve loans to promote government schemes and these things are checked only when cases arise.

The Commission has carefully considered all the facts and circumstances of this case. When a case is sponsored to the bank, it is the bank’s duty to conduct preliminary investigations before granting ‘principle’ approval. This preliminary investigation includes whether the customer is a defaulter, whether the customer’s CIBIL score is satisfactory, and whether the customer complies with the bank’s guidelines and other things as per the bank’s directions.

The Commission said that it is very unfortunate that in the name of promoting government schemes and assisting economically weaker sections of society, the above-mentioned bank officials first forced the complainant to purchase cattle, because of which the complainant had spent a lot of money to arrange the cattle.  After purchasing cattle the bank refused to disburse the loan citing that the complaint’s CIBIL score was not satisfactory.

The Commission said that if the bank had carefully seen the CIBIL score of the complainant in the initial phase before granting ‘principle’ approval, then the poor applicant could have been saved from the trouble and wastage of time and money. Therefore, finding Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi guilty of not delivering the prescribed service on time, the Commission has imposed a fine of Rs. 3,000.

Chandigarh:

 In a concerted effort to promote voter awareness, various activities are being organized under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program to achieve the target of 100 percent voter turnout in Gurugram district. As a part of SVEEP activites, a marathon will be organized in Gurugram on Sunday April 28.

Additional Deputy Commissioner and Nodal Officer for SVEEP, Sh. Hitesh Kumar Meena, chaired a meeting with the officers concerned to finalize plans for the upcoming marathon.

He said that the marathon is being organized from Tau Devi Lal Stadium located in Sector 38 with the help of the district administration. It aims not only to promote physical fitness but also to encourage citizens to exercise their right to vote responsibly.

He said that voter awareness activities have been organized in various institutions including schools, and colleges with the message of ‘Chunav ka Parv, Desh ka Garv.’ In view of the summer season, arrangements for essential health amenities, including drinking water facilities, have been prioritized at the venue. Additionally, special attention has been directed towards maintaining hygienic toilets and providing necessary facilities for the comfort of participants, especially children.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner directed the District Sports Officer to coordinate with the traffic police and identify the 5-kilometer route for the marathon, ensuring adequate signage and barricading for participant safety.

Chennai:

 The results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu will be crucial for AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS).

After party coordinator and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) was ousted from the party along with his supporters in the July 11, 2022 meeting of the AIADMK’s General Council, the party is solely under the control of Palaniswami and his close associates

As the AIADMK snapped ties with the BJP in September 2023, it had to be content to have small parties like the DMDK, the SDPI, and the PT as its allies in these elections, while the party contested the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections in alliance with the BJP and the PMK.

With the BJP and the PMK allying with the OPS faction now, there was a general perception that the AIADMK would not be able to pose any challenge to the ruling DMK and its allies in the Lok Sabha polls.

However, the party, under Palaniswami put up a spirited fight with him shouldering the entire responsibility of the election campaign, crisscrossing the entire state and delivering scathing attacks on Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the DMK.

It remains to be seen how his campaign has helped his party’s poll prospects.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK won only one seat – Theni, contested by P. Ravindhranathan, the son of OPS.

If the AIADMK fails to get any seats now and NDA candidate T.T.V. Dhinakaran wins the poll from the AIADMK stronghold of Theni, then, the situation would be difficult for Palaniswami.

If such a situation arises, OPS, expelled interim General Secretary, V.K. Sashikala, and Dhinakaran could join together and try to take over the AIADMK.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK received 30.56 per cent of votes and only one seat and in the 2021 Assembly elections, 33.29 per cent votes and 66 Assembly seats.

The AIADMK was in power in Tamil Nadu from 2011 till 2021 and the percentage of votes and the number of seats even after ten years in power has given an impression that it cannot be written off.

Talking to IANS, Chennai think tank Centre For Policy and Development Studies’s Director C. Rajeev said: “This is a crucial election for EPS and if the AIADMK fails to win any seat and if Dhinakaran gets elected from Theni Lok Sabha seat as an NDA candidate, there can be churning in AIADMK and Dhinakaran and OPS will try to take over the party. This situation will not be comfortable for EPS.” AGENCIES

Jaipur :

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on Thursday that people are ready to give a befitting reply to the Congress on issues like “corruption, paper leaks and its policy of appeasement”.

Chief Minister Sharma made the remarks reacting to the phone-tapping accusations made by Lokesh Sharma, the ex-OSD of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, on Wednesday.

“The public knows everything about how they played politics. I want to tell you that the public will give a reply to their policies of corruption and appeasement. Even in paper leak cases, youths will give a strong reply to Congress,” the Chief Minister said, adding that “people trust our PM (Narendra) Modi, who is working to realise the dream of Viksit Bharat 2047.”

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Lokesh Sharma, the then OSD to Gehlot, held the ex-Chief Minister responsible for the “phone-tapping incident” which created a huge uproar during the political crisis in Rajasthan in 2020.

Lokesh Sharma alleged that Gehlot himself handed him a pen drive which carried three audio clips along with a piece of paper.

Lokesh Sharma said: “The clippings and papers given to me by Ashok Gehlot were shared with the media on his direction… I came to know about the content in the pen drive after the news was flashed.”

Accusing the senior Congress leader of using him as a ‘tool’ to keep his political career intact, he said, “Till now, I was saying that I received these audio clips and the paper via social media, but the reality is it was then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot who gave them to me.”

AGENCIES

Chandigarh: Enlightened citizens of 22 villages in Chandigarh held a press conference to announce  non political Chandigarh Pendu Vikas Manch , and unanimously declared, “Either the 22 village residents receive suitable development and fundamental rights, otherwise this time they will opt for NOTA.”

The forum unanimously announced that like Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh should also implement a land pooling policy to resolve land acquisition issues.

The forum stated that the implementation of the land pooling scheme for developing the city’s villages would benefit all villages.

It is noteworthy that the prolonged proposal of land pooling will resolve construction issues outside the red zone in the city’s villages, which the administration currently considers illegal. The proposal will benefit the 23 villages the most, developing them similar to the city. The land pooling policy will enable the use of agricultural land for commercial purposes.

The forum disclosed that approximately 3,000 acres of land in these 23 villages are suitable for agriculture, requiring the implementation of the land pooling policy. Currently, the administration considers construction outside the red zone illegal and does not provide any facilities from the municipal corporation.

The forum will be led by Harbhajan Singh kajheri (Former Chairman, Market Committee), former Sarpanch Gurdeep Singh Atawa, former Vice Chancellor Dr. Lakhmir Singh, with Tejinder Singh Saran as the Chairman, Satinder Singh Sidhu as the President, anand Singh kanheri as the Vice President, Jeet Singh Bahalana as the General Secretary, and Robin Rana.

IEP Chandigarh

Holi, the festival of colors, is considered incomplete without the sound of drums and the joy of colors. This year, the festival of Holi will be celebrated across the country on March 25th. People apply colorful gulal to each other to make this day special. However, in the past, people used to play Holi with natural colors made from flowers or other organic materials, but today, synthetic chemical colors are commonly used. These colors contain chemicals like lead oxide, chromium iodide, copper sulfate, zinc, and aluminum bromide, which can cause various health problems for individuals. Former Assistant Professor Dr. H.K Kharbanda explained on this occasion how playing Holi with chemical colors can cause significant harm to health and what are the ways to prevent it.

Eye-related issues:

Chemical colors, especially those containing silica and zinc, can cause damage to the eyes even with a small amount getting into them. These colors can cause irritation and burning sensation in the eyes, and they may even damage the corneas. If color gets into the eyes, do not rub them with hands or cloth; instead, rinse them with water immediately and consult an eye doctor nearby.

Gastrointestinal problems:

Playing Holi with chemical colors, if ingested in large quantities, can lead to gastrointestinal issues. This can cause problems like vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and stomach infections.

Toxicity:

Chemical colors used in Holi contain dangerous chemicals like zinc, lead, chromium, and ammonia. If these colors accidentally enter the mouth or are absorbed through the skin during Holi play, it can increase toxicity in the body. This can lead to serious illnesses like cancer. Moreover, such colors can pose a risk to pregnant women and the developing fetus.

Respiratory issues:

Holi colors contain harmful chemicals like lead, silica, and zinc, which can damage the lungs. Additionally, these colors can contribute to respiratory diseases, leading to breathing difficulties and coughing.

Skin-related problems:

Playing Holi with chemical colors can cause issues like rashes, burning sensation, itching, and redness of the skin. Some people may also develop allergies to these colors, resulting in small bumps on the skin.

Precautions to take while playing Holi:

– Always use herbal colors for playing Holi.
– Wear protective eyewear to keep your eyes safe from colors.
– Apply oil to your body before playing Holi to protect your face and skin from chemical colors.
– If color accidentally enters the eyes or mouth, immediately wash with water or gargle.

These precautions can help prevent health issues associated with playing Holi with chemical colors.

IEP Chandigarh

Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi today urged the people of Haryana at the Veer Dhara of Rewari to extend their unstinted support to propel India to become the third largest economic superpower in the world in the coming years. Describing Haryana as a state of incredible possibilities, he stated that it is emerging as a preferred investment destination, and with increased investment, job opportunities will also rise. The double engine government is dedicated to transforming Haryana into a developed state, ensuring a bright future for today’s young generation. With expanding opportunities in every sector – from technology to textile and tourism to trade – youth are getting employment and self-employment opportunities.

Haryana Governor, Sh. Bandaru Dattatraya, Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, and other signatures also attended the programme.

Highlighting the significance of projects worth approximately Rs. 10,000 crore that were inaugurated and laid foundation for in the state, the Prime Minister called upon the people of Haryana to support the government’s endeavours.

Addressing the gathering, Sh. Narendra Modi reminisced about his first campaign rally in Rewari when he was declared the Prime Minister candidate by the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2013. At that time, Rewari had given him blessings for victory, which became a reality as he secured 272 seats. Now, he is back in Rewari once again seeking their blessings, aiming for the BJP government to cross the 400-seat mark. He urged the youth, particularly those preparing to vote for the first time, to continue to bless the “double-engine” government, symbolizing the synergy between the central and state administrations in driving development initiatives. Emphasizing the importance of seats in a democracy, he stated that the greatest asset for him is the blessings of the people. 

The respect India receives worldwide is not just Modi’s but every Indian’s respect, PM

Highlighting India’s remarkable progress on the global stage, the Prime Minister articulated his vision for India to ascend to the ranks of the world’s third-largest economic power in the next term. He said that the respect India receives worldwide is not just Modi’s but every Indian’s respect. He attributed India’s current elevated status to the unwavering support and blessings of its people, highlighting Haryana’s integral role in this trajectory of growth and prosperity.

Blessings of the people of Rewari are a huge asset for me, PM

Reflecting on past achievements, the Prime Minister recalled his previous campaign rally in Rewari and reiterated the importance of public support in realizing its goals. He stated that Rewari is the first witness to Modi’s Gaurantee. He credited the blessings of the people to India soaring to new heights in the world.

Congress people used to consider Lord Rama as fictional, who never wanted a temple of Lord Rama in Ayodhya, PM

The Prime Minister underscored key milestones such as the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the historic abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, affirming the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises and advancing the nation’s interests. While commenting on the opposition, the Prime Minister said that Congress people used to consider Lord Rama as fictional, who never wanted a temple of Lord Rama in Ayodhya, and today they too have started chanting Jai Siya Ram.

Taking a dig at his opponents, the Prime Minister also critiqued the Opposition, particularly the Congress party, for its obstructive stance on critical issues such as Article 370. He said that he had assured the citizens that Article 370 would be removed from Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the efforts of the Congress, today Article 370 has been lost in the pages of history. People have taken another resolution, and the public sentiment is saying that the BJP has removed 370, and this time the party will be given a mandate of 370 seats.

PM recalled accomplishing the guarantee of ‘One Rank One Pension’ to ex-servicemen in Rewari

The Prime Minister recalled accomplishing the guarantee of ‘One Rank One Pension’ to ex-servicemen in Rewari and informed about providing about Rs 1 lakh crores so far, where many ex-servicemen from Haryana have reaped its benefits. Prime Minister informed that In Rewari beneficiaries of OROP have received more than Rs 600 crores so far. He also pointed out that the previous government had earmarked a budget of Rs 500 crores for OROP nationally which is less than the amount received by the families of the servicemen in Rewari alone.

AIIMS to be built at a cost of about Rs 1,650 crores

The Prime Minister assured that after laying the foundation stone of AIIMS at Rewari today, he will also inaugurate Rewari AIIMS. He said this will ensure better treatment and opportunity to become a doctor for the local citizens. Noting that Rewari AIIMS is the 22nd AIIMS, Prime MInister informed that 15 new AIIMS have been sanctioned in the last 10 years. More than 300 medical colleges established in the last 10 years, while only 380 medical colleges were established after independence till 2014. In Haryana too, work is going on to ensure at least one medical college in every district.

The more the Congress conspires, the stronger the public makes me, PM

The Prime Minister accused the Congress party of keeping more than half of the country’s population away from small needs for decades, prioritizing the interests of one family over the interests of the nation and its citizens, promoting the biggest scams, terrorism, and separatism, and weakening the army and soldiers. He said that more the Congress conspires against him the stronger the public makes him. He said that once again, Congress has opened all fronts against him, but the country’s public support and blessings are with him.

Sh. Narendra Modi said that the Congress still has the same team, the same leaders, and the same intentions, all of whom are devoted to one family, so their policies will also be the same, which include loot, corruption, and destruction. He said that the Congress believes that staying in power is their birthright. Since this poor son became the Prime Minister, they have been conspiring against him one after another.

The condition of the Congress in Haryana is also the same as Nationally, PM

The Prime Minister said that in the grip of one family’s influence, the condition of the Congress in Haryana is also the same. Today, Congress is going through the most pitiful phase of its history. Today, the old leaders of Congress are leaving them one by one, those who had once intended to join, are also running away from them. The situation is such that Congress does not even have its workers left. Wherever Congress is in power, their governments are not being managed. There are difficulties in paying salaries and pensions in Himachal Pradesh. Development work is not being done in Karnataka. On one hand, there is Congress misrule, and on the other hand, there is BJP’s good governance.

Prime Minister praised the functioning of Manohar government

The Prime Minister drew the comparison between the good and bad governance of the present and the past governments and highlighted the presence of double-engine government in Haryana for the past 10 years. He informed that the state stands at the top when it comes to abiding by policies formulated by the central government for the welfare of the poor. He touched upon Haryana’s growth in the agricultural sector and the state’s expansion of industries. He also highlighted the fast-paced development of South Haryana which lagged for decades, be it road, rail or metro services. The Prime Minister informed that the first phase of Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway has already been inaugurated, while adding that the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, the longest expressway in India, passes through Gurugram, Palwal and Nuh districts of Haryana.

Haryana is emerging as a good state for investment, and increasing investment means an increase in new job opportunities, PM

The Prime Minister said that hundreds of fortune companies from around the world are operating in Haryana, providing employment opportunities to the youth. Haryana is emerging as an excellent state for investment in India, leading to the creation of new job opportunities. The double-engine government is working to make Haryana a developed state. New opportunities are also emerging from technology to textiles and from tourism to trade. He said that the Prime Minister Vishwakarma Yojana is being implemented for traditional artisans, under which a sum of Rs. 13000 crore will be spent. This scheme will change the lives of these artisans.

The Prime Minister said that Modi’s guarantee is with those who have nothing to offer as a guarantee. We have made the lives of the people prosperous by implementing various schemes like PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Swanidhi, Mudra Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, and Jal Jeevan Mission. In addition to this, in the last 10 years, 10 crore women have been connected to self-help groups across the country, including lakhs of women from Haryana. He said that the target in this year’s budget is to make 3 crore women Lakhpati Didi, while so far, 1 crore women have already become Lakhpati Didi.

Whatever expectations the centre has from Haryana, we will fulfill them, assures CM

Earlier, the Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal welcomed Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi on behalf of the people of Haryana. He said that today is a historic day when the foundation stone of the country’s 22nd AIIMS has been laid here. He said that in 2013, when the Prime Minister was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, at that time, the people of the country  saw him to be the next Prime Minister, and his journey as Prime Minister began from the land of Rewari on September 15, 2013.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the people here had been demanding for years that a centre like AIIMS be opened, and today its foundation stone has been laid. The campaign to open medical colleges in every district of the state, which has been launched by the Haryana government, also holds great importance in health services. This AIIMS will not only benefit the people of southern Haryana but also the people of Rajasthan. He also expressed gratitude to the people of Majra village, who have donated their panchayat land for this AIIMS. Private land has also been purchased for this.

Sh. Manohar Lal also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for laying the foundation stone of the Gurugram Metro project, which costs around Rs. 5500 crore. This metro service will benefit people from all over the country and abroad. He said that Millennium City Gurugram plays a very important role in the progress of the country and the state.

The Chief Minister said that Haryana’s first airport is being built in Hisar district. Domestic and international flights will start there very soon. Similarly, to strengthen the railway network, the Prime Minister has also inaugurated the Rohtak-Hansi railway line from Rohtak today. He said that today’s day is also important from a cultural point of view. The Prime Minister has inaugurated the Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra.

Sh. Manohar Lal said that Haryana has made a significant contribution to the progress of the country. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister, Haryana is progressing in leaps and bounds. He assured that whatever expectations the centre has from Haryana, we will fulfill them.

The work done under the leadership of the Prime Minister in the last 10 years is not just remarkable but also unparalleled, Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit

The Union Minister of State for Statistics and Program Implementation, Rao Inderjit said that in 2014, there were only 7 AIIMS in the country, while today the Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone of the country’s 22nd AIIMS. In 2014, only 23 kilometers of metro was established in a year, which is now increasing to 63 kilometers per year. The inauguration of the 27-kilometer metro line from Huda City Center to Cyber City has also been done in Gurugram. He said that the work done under the leadership of the Prime Minister in the last 10 years is not just remarkable but also unparalleled.

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala, Cooperation Minister, Dr. Banwari Lal, Rajya Sabha MP, Sh. Biplab Deb, Lok Sabha MP and BJP State President, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, MP Sh. Dharambir Singh and other dignitaries also remained present on this occasion.