Chouhan resigns from Vidisha seat
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who won the just concluded Assembly polls from Vidisha and Budhni, has resigned from Vidisha seat, sources said on Sunday. As per the rules, a legislator winning from two seats has to relinquish one of it within 14 days of the constitution of the new Assembly. The new state Assembly was constituted last week. Chouhan, who resigned from Vidisha seat on Friday, preferred to retain Budhni – his traditional seat in Sehore district, sources said. In the run up to the recently held Assembly polls, the BJP leader had announced that he will retain the seat which gets him the higher victory margin. The 54-year-old saffron stalwart, who was sworn-in as Chief Minister for the third time on December 14, won from Budhni by 84,805 votes – the second highest margin in MP – by defeating Congress candidate Mahendra Singh Chouhan. However, in Vidisha he faced a tough fight from Congress’ Shashank Bhargava and won by only 16,996 vote gap. Vidisha was represented by former BJP minister Raghavji in the last Assembly. Raghavji resigned in July this year over allegations of sexually harassing his domestic help. It was speculated that BJP fielded Chouhan from Vidisha because of fear of losing the seat, its traditional stronghold, in the wake of Raghavji’s episode. (PTI)
NDMC to mark centenary celebrations with food fest
New Delhi: A grand inauguration of refurbished Connaught Place besides a series of events such as shopping carnival and food festival will mark the centenary celebrations of NDMC, beginning from Monday. After missing several deadlines, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will finally be inaugurating the renovated Connaught Place on December 30. “Besides showcasing a refurbished Connaught Place, one of the country’s premier shopping centres, there will be something or the other for everyone, of all age groups,” said NDMC Chairperson Jalaj Shrivastava. Events including a shopping carnival, food festival and a concert will keep the heart of the city busy and happening. NDMC along with the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) will hold a two-week long shopping festival starting from Monday. (PTI)
Provide good healthcare at riot relief camps: NHRC
Muzaffarnagar: A three-member team of National Human Rights Commission has directed the Uttar Pradesh health authorities to make sure that no person living in the riots relief camps here and Shamli district dies due to inadequate medical facilities, official sources said. The team, which visited the camp at Loee village in the district yesterday, has told officials that medical check-ups should be conducted at all camps on a daily basis, the sources said. An estimated 4,000 people are living in the five relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. Over 60 people were killed in the Muzaffarnagar riots that broke out in August. (PTI)
Lankan Navy personnel attack Indian fishermen
Rameswaram: Sri Lankan Navy personnel today allegedly assaulted four Indian fishermen for not helping one of their colleagues, who fell in their boat while trying to jump in the vessel and suffered a fracture. The naval men also severed the anchor of the boat and destroyed fishing nets besides pelting stones at the fishermen, official sources said. Twenty fishermen were injured in the incident and were admitted to hospital. Meanwhile, hundreds of fisherfolk from 54 hamlets in Puduottai and Karaikal observed fast at Nagapattinam demanding release of 210 fishermen languishing in the Sri Lankan prisons. (PTI)