Cong demands FIR against Modi for ‘violation’ of model code
New Delhi: Congress demanded registration of FIR against Narendra Modi dubbing as a “flagrant violation” of the model code telecast of his roadshow and his filing of nomination in Varanasi in 117 constituencies going to polls on Thursday. “We do not want just issuing of notice. We want action. FIR should be registered against all BJP leaders involved including the candidate from Varanasi,” party spokesman and Union Minister Anand Sharma told reporters here. Insisting that the telecast of Modi’s roadshow and his filing of nomination has “gravely violated” the model code, Sharma alleged that this was done as part of a “well-planned” scheme of BJP to influence the voters in the constituencies going to the polls today. He said the law was very clear that there cannot be canvassing on the polling day. Noting that the BJP programme was an elaborate affair and the telecast took place from 8 AM till 3 PM, Sharma wondered as to “why the EC was not alert” and why the media was not told against telecasting it in the constituencies having polling today. Claiming that the development was “without precedent”, he said what has happened was “unacceptable”. Sharma downplayed a question when asked that there was polling in Tripura when Rahul Gandhi had filed his nomination in Amethi which was shown live all over the country. He said that today the constituencies involved were 117, the second largest number of seats having polling in a single day in in the nine-phase elections.(PTI)
Woman election officer dies on duty
Thane (Maharashtra): A woman returning officer died while on election duty Thursday at a polling station in Thane. According to an election department official, 35-year-old Vaishali Bhave was on duty at the Khoppat polling station when she complained of chest pain around 1.30 p.m. She was rushed to the Thane Civil Hospital where she was declared dead. Bhave was the principal of New Bombay City High School at Koparkhairne suburb of Navi Mumbai in Thane district. (IANS)
DGCA panel suggests steps to avoid flight diversion due to fog
New Delhi: In a bid to check fog-related diversions from IGI Airport here, a DGCA panel has recommended several steps like upgrading of neighbouring alternative airports, meteorological facilities and runway radar coverage. It has recommended that airports near Delhi like Jaipur, Lucknow and Amritsar, should be upgraded to Category-IIIB level of Instrument Landing System, which has a runway visibility range of 150 feet or almost near-zero visibility condition. CAT IIIB is operational at the IGI Airport here. A total of 289 flight diversions were caused due to fog in the last three winters from Delhi airport — 57 in 2011, 89 in 2012 and 143 in 2013. It is expected that after the recommendations of the DGCA panel are implemented by the stakeholders the chances of such diversions would come down drastically, officials said. The committee, set up in January and headed by DGCA Joint Director General Lalit Gupta, also recommended that all airlines would have to annually provide details on how many of their aircraft were equipped to operate under CAT-IIIB situations and crew members trained to fly in such conditions, officials said. (PTI)
EC removes 3 presiding officers in WB
Kolkata: Three presiding officers in the Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency were removed on Thursday by the Election Commission after Trinamool Congress candidate Sk Nurul allegedly influenced voters and violated prohibitory orders. The TMC candidate and his followers arrived in a fleet of vehicles, entered the booths and allegedly influenced voters standing in queue to cast their votes in his favour. All the three presiding officers were on duty at three booths in the Sheikh Dighi High School under the Sagardighi Assembly segment. (PTI)