HC issues notice to PM on petition challenging his election from Varanasi
Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court today issued notice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a petition challenging his election from the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Justice V K Shukla, while passing the order on the election petition of Congress MLA Ajay Rai, who had contested as the party’s candidate from Varanasi, fixed September 5 as the next date of hearing in the matter. Rai has alleged in his affidavit that Modi had left blank columns relating to his wife Yashoda Ben’s PAN card details and her income, which violated Supreme Court’s directions. Rai has also alleged that though the Election Commission had laid down that a candidate in a Lok Sabha poll must not spend more than Rs 70 lakh during electioneering, crores were spent during Modi’s campaign. He has also alleged that T-shirts and caps bearing Modi’s name and image were distributed among the people on a large scale which was in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. (PTI)
AMU students demand Centre to take stand on Gaza conflict
Aligarh (UP): Protest at Aligarh Muslim University continued for the third day on Friday as protesters condemned Israel’s offensive against Palestine and demanded the Centre to take a stand on the issue. The protest, organised by the “AMU students for justice for Palestine” and “Resident Doctors Association Nehru Medical college” culminated with a rally at Sir Syed Gate beyond which they were not allowed to proceed. The convener of the rally, Abdul Rauf, said a resolution was adopted by the protesters demanding the Indian government to “end diplomatic ties and trade with Israel till that country agrees to end the conflict in Gaza”. A memorandum in this regard was also addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee. (PTI)
Raj Tribal Welfare Board demands budget of Rs 350 crore
Jaipur: Accusing BJP government in Rajasthan of neglecting interests of nomadic tribes, the Chairman of Rajasthan State De-notified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes Welfare Board on Friday demanded from the government a budget of 350 crore to carry out welfare activities. “The former government allocated a budget of Rs 50 crore but this government has neglected the board completely and did not make any budgetary provision. I demand from the government to provide the board a budget of Rs 350 crore so that the board can conduct welfare activities for the tribes,” Kesawat told reporters here. He also accused the government of being biased and not providing other necessary facilities to the board. The chairman also warned that no folk artist belonging to the nomadic and semi nomadic tribes will perform in cultural functions of the state government on coming Independence Day if the demands were not met. The board was constituted by the former government led by Ashok Gehlot. (PTI)
Jehanabad woman assault incident figures in LS
New Delhi: An incident in Jehanabad district of Bihar where a woman was allegedly raped and beaten up in front of police personnel was raised in Lok Sabha by BJP members, who alleged that law and order was as good as dead in the state. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Ram Kripal Yadav (BJP) said the woman, who is a political party worker, was stripped and assaulted in broad daylight and the police remained a mute spectator. He was immediately supported by several of his party colleagues and RJD’s Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav tended to agree with them. Pappu Yadav also wanted action against the Deputy SP of the district in the wake of the incident. Reports had said that the woman and a man were assaulted by a mob on an allegation that they were involved in abduction of a 24-year-old. (PTI)
Prioritise cases of crimes against children: Patil
Thane: Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil has asked police force to take up on priority cases of crimes against children and conduct a thorough probe in it. “The crimes related to injustice and torture of the children should be taken up on priority and probed,” Patil said while launching the Child Protection Unit (CPU) of Thane Police Commissionerate here Thursday evening. If the experiment of CPU in Thane is successful, it would be extended to the entire state, he said, adding that the Thane city should be “free of child labour.” Police would soon come out with similar programmes for women in Mumbai and senior citizens in Pune, he said. Patil also appealed to the citizens to support and cooperate with police in the latter’s work. The CPU comprises a staff of 50 police personnel who have been given specialised training in child care and have been trained by doctors, NGOs and social workers who have done work in the field of child care. Minister of State for Tribal Development Rajendra Gavit, actor Sunil Shetty, Thane Municipal Commissioner Aseem Gupta and Thane Police Commissioner Vijay Kamble among others were present on the occasion. (PTI)
Indian youths joining ISIS, a disturbing development: BJP MP
New Delhi: Alarmed by reports of some Indian youths visiting Iraq to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a BJP member in the Lok Sabha on Friday wanted urgent steps to sternly deal with the issue. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Yogi Adityanath said reports that four youths from Mumbai have joined ISIS was a disturbing development and needed to be dealt with sternly. He said the Centre should also keep a watch on the situation arising out of withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan as it could create problems for the security of the country. He wanted government to take all steps to deal with the matter. Reports said police in Maharashtra are probing the four separate missing complaints filed by the parents of the youth, identified as Arif Fayyaz Majeed, Aman Naik Tandel, Shaheed Farooqui Tanki and Fahad Tanvir Sheikh. All are educated, are in their mid-20s and cited various reasons, including employment options, for going to Iraq before their families lost all contact with them. (PTI)