Uncategorized

The polling will be held on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19 for 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country in which nearly 90 crore voters would be eligible to vote.
New Delhi: Over 1.5 crore electors in 18-19 year age group will be eligible to vote for the first time in the seven-phased Lok Sabha election beginning April 11 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling upon them to vote in record numbers.
These voters in the age group of 18-19 years constitute 1.66 per cent of the of the total electorate. All citizens who turned 18 on January 1 this year and registered as electors will get opportunity to cast their vote in upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
“The total electorate in the country as per finally published e-rolls in January 2019 is approximately 900 million compared to 814.5 million in 2014. This marks an increase of more than 84 million electors. Over 15 million electors are in 18-19 years age group. Electors in the age group of 18 to 19 years constitute 1.66 per cent of total electors,” the Election Commission said on Sunday.
The Election Commission has allowed enrollment of transgender persons with gender written as “Others” in the electoral rolls since 2012. The number of electors enrolled as “others” gender is 38,325.
The poll panel said that parliament has amended the Representation of the People Act, 1950, allowing enrollment of Indian citizens living overseas as electors.
The number of overseas electors enrolled in the current electoral rolls is 71,735. “There are 1,677,386 service electors in the electoral rolls,” it said.
The Lok Sabha elections will be held in 1,035,918 polling stations across the country compared to 928,000 set up during the last Lok Sabha election in 2014.
Modi, in a tweet after the declaration of poll schedule, hoped for a record turnout.
“The festival of democracy, Elections are here. I urge my fellow Indians to enrich the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with their active participation. I hope this election witnesses a historic turnout. I particularly call upon first time voters to vote in record numbers,” he said.

It is to be noted that Pakistan’s acting High Commissioner in New Delhi was also given similar demarche on Wednesday.

Indian High Commission in Pakistan gave a demarche to Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday eevning seeking immediate and safe return of Indian Air Force’s MiG 21 pilot who was taken into custody by Pakistan on Wednesday after his fighter jet crashed inside Pakistani territory.

It is to be noted that Pakistan’s acting High Commissioner in New Delhi was also given similar demarche on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs had said that a MiG-21 had been lost while a pilot was missing after Indian forces repelled three Pakistan Air Force jets which had violated Indian airspace. The Indian Air Force had shot down one Pakistani F 16 jet.

Later, Pakistan released the footage of captured IAF pilot, prompting an immediate response from India with the government slamming Pakistan for the vulgar display of the injured IAF polit. Pakistan government claimed that the captured IAF pilot has revealed his identity as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

As tension between India and Pakistan mounted during the day, the entire airspace north of New Delhi was briefly “vacated”. Nine airports in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab were closed for civilian traffic for some part of the day but was opened in the evening.

Sources claimed that the PAF jets had entered the Indian territory to target an Indian Army Brigade headquarter and an oil depot but had to beat a hasty retreat after IAF jets came into action. The PAF’s jets only managed to drop their non-guided bombs at a considerable distance from the intended areas.

“In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on Wednesday evening. “In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the three service chiefs on Wednesday hours after Pakistani aircraft violated the Indian airspace. During the meeting, the three services chiefs apprised the PM about the country’s preparedness to deal with any possible retaliatory action by Islamabad.

There has been worldwide outrage at the shocking and cowardly attack on a CRPF convoy which resulted in at least 44 personnel getting martyred.
A dastardly terror attack resulted in at least 44 Central Reserve Police Force personnel being martyred on Thursday afternoon. The attack, which was claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, was universally condemned the world over even as India united to grieve the fallen heroes.
South Asian neighbours Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka were quick to express solidarity with India at this time of grief and strongly condemned the suicide attack. “At this sad moment, we stand by the people and govt of India. We offer was condolences to the members of the families who lost their dear ones. Our thoughts and prayers are speedy recovery of those who got injured,” said Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina.
Nepal PM KP Sharma spoke to PM Narendra Modi to express condolences, concern and condemnation. Lotay Tshering, PM of Bhutan, also expressed his grief. “Deeply saddened by the news of the horrific terrorist attack in Kashmir. Bhutan strongly condemns terrorist attack of any nature. Our prayers are with the grieved family and we are following the situation closely,” he tweeted.
Sri Lanka President Mathripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe too expressed their utter horror at the attacks.
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of Maldives, assured India of cooperating in the fight against the menace of terrorism.
A number of foreign dignitaries – including ambassadors to India – expressed their condolences on behalf of their respective countries. These included the US, Russian, German, Turkish and Czech embassy, the French, Isreali and Thai ambassadors, and the Australian and Canadian High Commissioners.
At the time of filing this report, there had been no word from Pakistan although a Reuters report said the country had denied any involvement in the attack. India’s Ministry of External Affairs however rebuked Islamabad for its support to terrorist organisations like JeM and urged the world community to deem its leader Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist.

ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ – ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਦਾ ਬਜਟ ਇਜਲਾਸ ਅੱਜ ਤੋਂ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ। ਅੱਜ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਦਿਨ ਵਿਛੜੀਆਂ ਰੂਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂਜਲੀ ਭੇਂਟ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ।
ਵਿਧਾਨ ਸਭਾ ਵਲੋਂ ਅੱਜ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਜਾਰਜ ਫਰਨਾਂਡਿਸ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਕੈਬਨਿਟ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਾਂਝਲਾ, ਸਾਬਕਾ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਦਲੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਪਾਂਧੀ, ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਕਾਂਸਟੇਬਲ ਮੁਖਤਿਆਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਲੇਖ ਰਾਜ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਸੁਖਚੈਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਲਾਂਸ ਨਾਇਕ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੈਂਸ (ਪਿਤਾ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਬੈਂਸ ਭਰਾ), ਕੈਪਟਨ ਹਰਭਜਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਆਦਮਪੁਰ, ਸੁਤੰਤਰਤਾ ਸੈਨਾਨੀ ਚਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂਜਲੀ ਭੇਂਟ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ।

ਚੰਡੀਗੜ – ਬਹਿਬਲਕਲਾਂ ਗੋਲੀਕਾਂਡ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿਚ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਐੱਸ.ਐੱਸ.ਪੀ ਚਰਨਜੀਤ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਜ ਫਰੀਦਕੋਟ ਅਦਾਲਤ ਨੇ 3 ਦਿਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਰਿਮਾਂਡ ਉਤੇ ਭੇਜਣ ਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ।
ਦੱਸਣਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਬੀਤੇ ਦਿਨੀਂ ਐੱਸ.ਆਈ.ਟੀ ਵਲੋਂ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਐੱਸ.ਐੱਸ.ਪੀ ਚਰਨਜੀਤ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਬਹਿਬਲਕਲਾਂ ਗੋਲੀਕਾਂਡ ਮਾਮਲੇ ਵਿਚ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੁਸ਼ਿਆਰਪੁਰ ਦੇ ਨਿਵਾਸ ਤੋਂ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ, ਜਿਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ 8 ਦਿਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਰਿਮਾਂਡ ਉਤੇ ਭੇਜ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ।

Both Houses of Parliament recently cleared the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill.
NEW DELHI: Taking a dig at the Congress, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan has said that all former prime ministers from the main opposition party belonged to the Upper castes except Dr Manmohan Singh.
The LJP leader made these remarks while referring to a question on the objections raised by several parties to upper caste reservation bill recently cleared by the Parliament.
Paswan, however, said that he was not very sure which caste Dr Singh belongs to.
“All the Prime Ministers from Congress party, barring Manmohan Singh as I don`t know what caste he belongs to, belonged to the upper castes. Why did they never think of bringing in reservation for the poor ‘savarnas’?” Paswan said.
He made these comment when asked about the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, which provides 10 percent reservation in education and government jobs to economically-weaker sections of general category.
The Parliament had on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Constitution to make economically-weaker sections of general category eligible for 10 per cent reservation in education and government jobs.
The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, 2019 bill was approved by the Rajya Sabha with 165 votes in favour and seven against after a day-long debate, a day after the Lok Sabha passed it with 323 votes against 3 votes.
The provision will become law once President Ram Nath Kovind signs it.
The reservation is meant for individuals belonging to economically-weaker sections whose annual earning is below Rs 8 lakh and who possess less than 5 acres of agriculture land.
With this, the total percentage of the reservation will go up to 60, surpassing the 50 per cent ceiling prescribed by the Supreme Court.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed that law enforcement agencies were examining the packages and were also probing the circumstances around the incidents.
CANBERRA: The Australian Federal Police on Wednesday released a statement confirming that Several suspicious packages were delivered to embassies and consulates in Canberra and Melbourne. The statement added that law enforcement agencies were examining the packages and were also probing the circumstances around the incidents.
“Police and emergency services have responded to suspicious packages to embassies and consulates in ACT & VIC today. The packages are being examined by attending emergency services. The circumstances are being investigated,” said the Australian Federal Police.
The Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) said it was assisting the Australian Federal Police at embassies across Melbourne. The United Kingdom Consulate, located on Collins Street, along with the Korean Consulate (St Kilda Road), German Consulate (Queen Street), Italian Consulate (St Kilda Road), Swiss Consulate (Ashwood), Pakistan Consulate (Cardigan Place), Greek Consulate (Albert Road) and the Indonesian Consulate (Queens Road) are also believed to have been affected.
Some unverified reports claimed that the diplomatic missions have received packages bearing the word “asbestos” and “wear a mask”.

SI Manoj Kumar was injured during an exchange of fire between the police and criminals in Sambhal on Friday.
SAMBHAL: A Uttar Pradesh Police officer who had earned praise for shouting ‘thain, thain’ to scare criminal during an encounter in Sambhal last year, was injured in a cross-fire by some miscreants in the region.
According to news agency ANI, Sub-Inspector Manoj Kumar got injured on Friday during an exchange of fire between the police and criminals in Sambhal.
Sharing more details, Sambhal Superintendent of Police Yamuna Prasad said, “Two bike-borne miscreants fired at police during which SI Manoj Kumar got injured.”
”During counter-firing, a criminal was also injured. One criminal is absconding. The injured have been taken to a hospital,” the Sambhal SP said.
The cop was hit by a bullet fired by the criminals during a gunfight in Sambhal, ANI reported.
Meanwhile, a massive search has been launched to nab the culprits.
Using a bizarre tactic, SI Manoj Kumar had shouted ‘thain thain’ to scare criminals away during an encounter in Sambhal on October 12, for which he was recommended for an award.
Manoj Kumar was hailed for boosting the morale of fellow policemen during the encounter.
It was then reported that SP Yamuna Prasad had written a letter in this regard to the Director General of Police recommending Kumar for bravery awards.
According to the SP, the move by Manoj Kumar to shout out ‘thain thain’ after a pistol got jammed acted as a booster for the morale of other policemen who were part of the encounter.
Police team involved in the encounter faced a serious situation when the revolver of one of the cops got jammed while they were chasing some notorious criminals in Sambhal.
After realising that the revolver of one of his men had got stuck, the ASP started shouting words like “maaro, ghero” to create a mental pressure on the criminals who vanished in the tall bushes taking advantage of the situation.
Soon, other policemen too joined their superior and started shouting “thain, thain” to scare criminals hiding there.
The entire incident was caught on camera and later shared on social media platforms.

10 Light Combat Aircraft Tejas planes have been delivered to the Air Force till now.
New Delhi: In the last three years, the Defence Ministry cleared 111 military projects worth over Rs 1.78 lakh crore for producing military hardware under the Make in India in the defence sector.
Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre informed the Lok Sabha, “In the last three financial years from 2015-16 to 2017-18, the government has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to 111 proposals, worth Rs 1,78,900 crore approximately, under `Buy (Indian-IDDM)`, `Buy (Indian)`, `Buy and Make (Indian)` or `Make` categories of capital procurement as per Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), which means Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued only to Indian Vendors.”
Furthermore, he stated, “In the same timeframe, 99 contracts worth about Rs 65,471.28 crore have been signed with Indian vendors for the procurement of defence equipment. DPP stipulates a time schedule for completion of the procurement cycle.”
Make in India in defence has been one of the key programmes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Several projects such as helicopters, fighter aircraft, and submarines are planned to be manufactured under this in the coming years.
On a separate query on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas project, the Minister said that that out of the 16 Initial Operational Clearance planes, 10 have been delivered to the Air Force till now.
“Till date, out of 16 IOC fighter aircraft, 10 fighters have been delivered by HAL and are operational with IAF`s 45 Squadron. The delivery of remaining 6 IOC fighter aircraft is planned by March 2019,” the minister added.
Bhamre said that the four trainer aircraft to be supplied to the 45 squadrons of Air Force would be taken up after design clearance from the Aeronautical Development Agency.

ਅਯੁੱਧਿਆ— ਇੱਥੋਂ ਦੇ ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਮੰਦਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਢਾਹ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਅਯੁੱਧਿਆ ਨਗਰ ਨਿਗਮ ਨੇ ਕਮਰ ਕੱਸ ਲਈ ਹੈ। ਨਗਰ ਨਿਗਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਦੇ ਹਿਸਾਬ ਨਾਲ ਇਹ ਬੇਹੱਦ ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਘਰ ਅਤੇ ਮੰਦਰ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਲਈ ਖਤਰੇ ਦੀ ਘੰਟੀ ਬਣ ਚੁਕੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਲਗਭਗ 176 ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਭਵਨ ਅਤੇ ਮੰਦਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਮਾਲਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨੋਟਿਸ ਭੇਜਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਅਯੁੱਧਿਆ ਨਗਰ ਨਿਗਮ ਦੇ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਆਰ.ਐੱਸ. ਗੁਪਤਾ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਭਾਵੇਂ ਉਹ ਮੰਦਰ ਹੋਣ ਜਾਂ ਘਰ, ਲੋਕਾਂ ਕੋਲ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਖੁਦ ਦਾ ਬਦਲ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਤੋੜਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਜਾਂ ਇਸ ਦਾ ਮੁੜ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਜੇਕਰ ਭਵਨ ਦੇ ਮਾਲਕ ਜਾਂ ਮੰਦਰ ਦੇ ਗਾਰਡੀਅਨ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਨਸ਼ਟ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ, ਢਾਹੁਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਤਾਂ ਉਹ ਨਗਰ ਨਿਗਮ ਤੋਂ ਵੀ ਮਦਦ ਮੰਗ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ। 176 ‘ਚੋਂ 59 ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਘਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਮੁੜ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ‘ਚੋਂ 6 ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਬਿਲਡਿੰਗ ਨੂੰ ਨਸ਼ਟ ਕਰਵਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਜੇਕਰ ਉਹ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਮੁੜ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ ਕਰਵਾਉਣਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਦੀ ਵ ਪੂਰੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਦੇਣ। ਨਗਰ ਨਿਗਮ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ 15 ਦਿਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਮਾਂ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਤੈਅ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਕੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਹੈ ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਇਹ ਭਵਨ ਅਤੇ ਮੰਦਰ ਢਾਹ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ। ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਅਯੁੱਧਿਆ ‘ਚ 200 ਦੇ ਕਰੀਬ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਛੋਟੇ-ਵੱਡੇ ਮੰਦਰ ਹਨ, ਜੋ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਦੇ ਲਿਹਾਜ ਨਾਲ ਕਾਫੀ ਖਰਾਬ ਹਾਲਤ ‘ਚ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਚੁਕੇ ਹਨ, ਉੱਥੇ ਹੀ 173 ਕਰੀਬ ਪੁਰਾਣੇ ਭਵਨ ਹੈ। ਨਗਰ ਨਿਗਮ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ 6 ਬੇਹੱਦ ਖਰਾਬ ਰਿਹਾਇਸ਼ ਖਰਾਬ ਹਾਲਤ ‘ਚ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਚੁਕੇ ਹਨ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਢਾਹ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, ਬਾਕੀ ਲਈ ਨੋਟਿਸ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ।