5,000 kg ‘khichdi’ cooked at Ramlila Maidan
New Delhi: The BJP, in order to connect with Dalits, hosted a grand khichdi feast at the Ramlila Maidan on Sunday where 5,000 kg of “samrasta khichdi” was cooked and served as part of its “Bhim Mahasangam” programme, party leaders said, The event was a gathering of people from backward classes and was organised by the Delhi BJP. BJP MP and Dalit leader Udit Raj, however, was conspicuous by his absence at the event, but the party leaders said not too much should be read into his absence. The party leaders claimed that almost 5000 kilogram of khichdi was prepared and served on the occasion. Chef Vishnu Manohar from Nagpur, who had earlier attempted a world record by preparing 3000 kilogram of khichdi in Nagpur, prepared the khichdi in a single vessel. Delhi BJP SC Morcha president, Mohan Lal Gihara said khichdi was served to close to 25,000 people who thronged the Ramlila Maidan. “The representatives from the Guiness Book of World Records were here and 5,000 kilogram of khichdi was prepared which was eaten by 25,000 persons,” he said. Cries of Jai Bhim, Jai Hind, Bharat Mata ki Jai resonated at the Ramlila Maidan where party leaders said the event was more of a “harmony-building” exercise rather than a political event to garner votes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Delhi BJP unit chief Manoj Tiwari said the event sent a message to political parties not to indulge in divisive politics, but spread unity. “This khichdi has the message that Narendra Modi will again become the Prime Minister,” he said. Taking a dig at the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, he said, “Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi, are you upset about the event? We had even invited every political party to be a part of the event.” “If they were concerned about harmony, Mamata Banerjee, Kejriwal, and others would have come,” he said. (PTI)
National Herald case: AJL challenges High Court order
New Delhi: The Associated Journals Limited (AJL), publisher of National Herald newspaper, on Saturday approached the double bench of the Delhi High Court challenging single bench’s order asking it to vacate Herald House. On December 21, high court’s single bench had dismissed the petition filed by AJL, challenging the Centre’s decision to cancel its lease and vacate Herald House.
AJL had approached the single bench of the high court on November 12. In October last year, the Urban Development Ministry asked AJL to vacate the building by November 15 stating that Herald House’s 56-year-old lease to the publisher had ended. (ANI)
Indian youth battles for life after shootout in US
Telangana: An Indian youngster was shot on January 3 by robbers after he was mugged. Sai Krishna is now in a critical condition and has to go through multiple surgeries. An electrical engineer and a resident of Telangana, Krishna, is in a hospital in Detroit, battling for his life. He completed his engineering from Lawrence Tech University, Southfield Michigan. Speaking to ANI over phone, Krishna’s friend Srujith in the US said, “Sai Krishna is very underprivileged and has struggled a lot to move to the United States for a better future. After completing his studies, Sai Krishna started working at a company in Detroit downtown. He got off from work around 11:30 PM (US time) and purchased some food on the street and while returning home this incident happened.” Few other friends have also sought help from GoFundMe — a website for crowdfunding — for the expenses in hospital with the name of the campaign called “Support Sai Krishna”. The account has been funded with 100 thousand dollars and goal has been set for 250 thousand dollars. (ANI)
4 kg gold seized from Korean man at Delhi airport
New Delhi: Delhi customs authority has recovered gold bars weighing 4 Kg, worth Rs 1.3 crore from a Korean male passenger at Delhi airport. As per the customs officials, “The Korean passenger was intercepted after he had crossed green channel at the airport. The gold bars have been ceased from him under Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962. The market value of the said 4 Kg of gold works out to be Rs 31, 542 per 10 gram, comes to Rs 1,26,16,800.” Moreover, the passenger and his two accomplices, who were waiting outside the IGI airport to receive the smuggled gold, have been placed under arrest. Further investigation is under progress. (ANI)
67 students admitted to hospital, food poisoning suspected
Telangana: Atleast 67 girls of a state-run residential school were rushed to a hospital in the Ranga Reddy district on Sunday after they complained of stomach ache and vomitted, police said. Police suspect food poisoning as the reason behind the incident. The schoolgirls, all minors, belong to the Government Kasturba Girl’s High School, informed police. “Last evening all the students had fruit salad. After some time they had dinner and went to the bed. Today early morning the girls started vomiting and complained of stomach ache,” Guruvaiah Goud, Chevella Police Station’s Circle Inspector, told ANI. Goud further informed that most of the girls have been shifted to the Chevella Government Hospital for treatment. “At least 20 girls, who are slightly serious, have been shifted to Niloufer Government Hospital in Hyderabad for better treatment,” he added. “A case will be registered if anyone’s negligence is found after getting the reports,” Goud assured. (ANI)
Indian Navy to get new airbase
New Delhi: Seeking to add more teeth to its military capabilities in the Andaman and Nicobar island territories, India will get a new airbase at the archipelago in the Indian Naval Air Station (INAS) Kohasa near Diglipur. The facility was earlier known as INS Shivpur and has been renamed as INS Kohasa after the extension of facilities at the base. The new base would be in addition to the Port Blair, Car Nicobar and Navy’s INS Baaz facility at the greater Nicobar islands there and is scheduled to be inaugurated by the Andaman and Nicobar Command chief Vice Admiral Bimal Verma on January 24 this month. India has been steadily upgrading its military capabilities in the Andaman and Nicobar territories for the last many years. India’s only tri-services operational command also exists in the Andamans where the members of the three services operate under one Navy officer. The Andamans have a large presence of the Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and the Army who practice amphibious warfare. (ANI)