Chandigarh:

 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state on Thursday arrested constable Balraj Singh, posted as Reader of SHO NRI police station Ludhiana red handed while he was demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above mentioned police personnel has been arrested on the complaint of Advocate Arun Kumar Khurmi, a resident of Upkaar Nagar, Civil Lines Ludhiana.

He further added that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that her wife owns a land of 20 Kanal at village Udhowal, tehsil Samrala, in Ludhiana district where two persons had tried to take possession of this land forcibly and also stolen Popular trees standing on that land.

The complainant has lodged a police complaint in this regard which is pending before SHO NRIs Cell, Ludhiana. He further alleged that the police didn’t initiated any action so far on his complaint and Reader Balraj Singh attached with SHO NRIs cell has been demanding one lakh rupees to get the case registered. The complainant further added that the said accused has asked him to pay Rs 20000 as a bribe in advance and balance of Rs 80000 by next week.

The spokesperson informed that after verification of his statement a case under Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the accused at police station VB Range Ludhiana. Subsequently, a VB team laid a trap in which said constable Balraj Singh was arrested red handed while accepting a bribe money of Rs 20000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses outside the NRI Police Station Ludhiana and role of SHO NRIs Cell would also be examined during further investigation into this case. The accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow.

Chandigarh:

 In a bid to transform the solemn act of voting into a celebratory affair, the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana Anurag Agarwal has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative ahead of the Lok Sabha General Elections – 2024. Departing from conventional outreach methods, this time the Commission has decided to send out wedding-style invitations to voters across the state, turning polling day into a joyous occasion akin to a festive nuptial ceremony.  This unique approach aims not only to elevate civic participation but also to infuse a sense of enthusiasm and community spirit into the electoral process.

Divulging more details in this regard, Anurag Agarwal said that with the ambitious goal of achieving a remarkable 75 percent voter turnout, this pioneering initiative is set to redefine the way elections are perceived and experienced in Haryana. Voting is to be held in the sixth phase in the state on May 25 and notification for the elections will be issued on April 29. The  voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 25, he shared.

Voters are taking an oath of Chunav ka Parv Desh ka Garv

Anurag Agarwal said that to inspire voters to vote, oaths are being administered in every district, and citizens are enthusiastically participating in oath-taking ceremonies. Voters are taking an oath of Chunav ka Parv Desh ka Garv, stating, “We, the citizens of India, having abiding faith in democracy, hereby pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement”.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that the Commission has developed several mobile apps to empower voters digitally. Among these, the Know Your Candidate (KYC) and Voter Helpline apps are prominent. Through the KYC app, voters can obtain information about the candidates in their Lok Sabha constituency. They can even view any criminal background of the candidates, if any. Similarly, voters can download the Voter Helpline app to obtain information about their polling booths, he said.

Information about the queue at the polling center will be available through the Voter In Queue app

Anurag Agarwal said that to increase the voting percentage in urban areas, for the first time, the Voter In Queue mobile app has been developed for 30 assembly constituencies. Through this app, the voter will be connected with the BLO and the BLO will provide information to the voter about how many people are in line to vote at that time. Voters can come to vote according to their convenience as the crowd diminishes. He said that in previous elections, it was observed that sometimes voters, seeing the crowd at the polling center, would return without casting their vote, so this time the decision has been made to increase the voting percentage.

April 26 is the last day to register for voting

The Chief Electoral Officer said that the deadline for registration of new voters in the state is April 26, 2024, so if any eligible citizen has not yet obtained their voter card, they should get it immediately. He informed that so far, the number of registered voters in the state is 1,99,81,982. Among these, there are 1,06,04,276 male voters and 93,77,244 female voters. Additionally, there are 462 transgender voters registered.

Chandigarh:

The Haryana Chief Secretary, Sh. T.V.S.N. Prasad has directed all concerned departments to formulate schemes to make adequate arrangements for the women working at construction sites and brick kilns, especially their small children, labourers, and those working under MNREGA, in view of the upcoming heat wave.  

The arrangements should be made while focusing on ensuring maximum relief for these vulnerable sections of society, said Sh. Prasad while chairing a comprehensive review meeting held here today with the Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries from all relevant departments, to discuss essential preparations for the impending heat wave. Notably, during the session, a representative from the Meteorological Department highlighted the likelihood of above-average temperatures in Haryana from May to June.

The Chief Secretary directed the Labor Department to  formulate a plan specifically addressing the needs of labourers who work outdoors for extended periods. The plan should ensure maximum relief for these labourers, with a specific emphasis on including arrangements for their children.

The Chief Secretary assured the department that budgetary constraints won’t hinder relief efforts. Funds from the Haryana Workers Welfare Board are readily available. The plan should include establishing dharamshalas, community centers, and crèches (childcare centers) to provide these labourers and their children with shelters from the heat. Public places should be well-equipped with adequate drinking water facilities.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal said that the department plans to set up ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) corners at public locations with high foot traffic, such as bus terminals and railway stations, to ensure people have access to fluids for rehydration. Hospitals will have ample stocks of medication to treat and prevent heatstroke.  He informed that additional funds have been allocated to all civil surgeons, granting them the flexibility to address heatwave-related emergencies as needed. Hospitals will designate beds in cooler areas to provide relief for those suffering from the heat, shared.

Giving details of measures to prevent and manage heat-related forest fires by the Haryana Forests and Environment Departments, Additional Chief Secretary, Sh. Anand Mohan Sharan, said the department has prioritised fire prevention by repairing the fire fighting systems in Morni and Kalesar, two potentially vulnerable areas. To ensure a prompt response, the department has designated two nodal officers specifically tasked with monitoring potential fire outbreaks.

Additional Chief Secretary, Energy and Public Health Department, Sh. A.K Singh said that the department is taking steps to provide sufficient availability of both power and water during the hot summer months. Alongside ensuring adequate supply, the department is also running a statewide energy conservation campaign.

Meanwhile, Commissioner and Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal, said that the department has taken steps to ensure sufficient water reserves in water houses.

Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Vikas Gupta said that the department has formulated plans to safeguard urban workers and their children from the harsh heat wave. The measures like creating shaded rest areas or establishing childcare facilities for working parents and water facilities at public places have been included in this plan. To ensure the optimum use of water during the summer, the department has imposed a complete ban on the wastage of water in terms of washing with fresh water in cities. This aims to conserve this vital resource for essential need, he said.

Commissioner and Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Smt. Amneet P. Kumar said that people will be made aware of heat protection through 26 Anganwadi workers. Commissioner and Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal, said the department has directed a change in working hours for MGNREGA workers (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). This will likely involve shifting work hours to cooler parts of the day.

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.