Dehradun, Oct 21 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the famous Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district on Friday.

Wearing a white-coloured traditional attire of the hill people with a “swastika” symbol embroidered on it, the prime minister performed a “puja” at the temple. He is also scheduled to visit the Badrinath temple later in the day.

During his two-day tour of the state, Modi will inspect various ongoing development projects and lay the foundation stones of some new ones.

On his arrival at the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun, the prime minister was received by Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union minister Ajay Bhatt.

After performing the “puja” at the Kedarnath temple, the prime minister will lay the foundation stone of the 9.7-km Gaurikund-Kedarnath ropeway project.

During his two-and-a-half-hour-long programme at Kedarnath, Modi is also scheduled visit the Samadhi Sthal of Adi Guru Shankaracharya.

At Badrinath Dham, he will review the progress of the development projects along the riverfront.

In the afternoon, Modi will lay the foundation stones of road and ropeway projects and address a gathering at Mana village. Thereafter, he will review the progress of the beautification project of the Arrival Plaza and the lakes in the area.

Security has been tightened around the two famous hill temples in view of the prime minister’s visit. Both the temples have been decorated with quintals of flowers. PTI DPT RC

Noting the pendency of issues related to firecrackers before the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to entertain a petition challenging Delhi Pollution Control Committee's complete ban on sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers.

Justice Yashwant Varma dismissed the petition by two merchants who sought to ''purchase, sell and store only green crackers'' during the festive season, and said it was not appropriate for the high court to independently examine such a challenge when the issue ''does appear to be engaging the attention'' of the top court.

The court, however, said the petitioners were free to initiate appropriate proceedings under the law to seek redressal of their grievances.

''From the material placed on record, the court notes the issue of pollution as a result of use of firecracker during Diwali was first considered by the Supreme Court (in a case). The petitioner remains pending on the board of the Supreme Court. Subsequently, another writ petition came to be preferred before the Supreme Court seeking the issuance of guidelines in respect of sale, purchase and bursting of permissible firecrackers. The writ petition also produces some of the banning orders issued by few states,'' the court noted.

''In view of the aforesaid, it would not be appropriate for this court to entertain an independent challenge, especially since the issue does appear to be engaging the attention of the Supreme Court. Accordingly, while this writ petition stands dismissed, this order shall not preclude the petitioner from initiating such proceedings as may be permitted in law,'' it said.

Green cracker merchants Shiva Fireworks and Jai Mata Stores had approached the high court last month, assailing the ban imposed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on the sale and use of all kinds of firecrackers in the city during the upcoming months.

The petitioners had emphasised in their plea that the ''last-minute ban'' imposed by the DPCC on September 14 was arbitrary and illegal, and adversely affects their livelihood.

Uttar Pradesh will begin teaching medical and engineering courses in Hindi as well, Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath has said. Yogi tweeted, "Some books of medical and engineering courses have been translated into Hindi. The students will be able to study those subjects in Hindi from the coming year." 

https://twitter.com/myogiadityanath/status/1581237366488207361? The announcement has been made days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched India's first Hindi version of MBBS textbook in Bhopal on Sunday (October 16).

While addressing the event in Bhopal on Sunday, the Home Minister said, "Today is a very important day for the education sector of India. Whenever history will be written in the coming days, this day will be written in golden letters" "Through the New Education Policy, PM Modi has given more emphasis to the mother tongue of students. This is a historic decision. Now under Modi ji you can avail higher education in any language as per your comfort," Shah said.

Madhya Pradesh is the country's first state to start the MBBS course in the Hindi language. Initially, three subjects have been selected to be studied in Hindi which includes Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry. A team of 97 experts have been working on the preparation of books for the last 232 days at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. They have been translating the books from English to Hindi.

Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang on Sunday said that the move will bring a big change in the advancement of education in Hindi medium. The experts further said the new edition of Medical Biochemistry contains the application of some new chapters which include Sodium, Potassium, Water Homeostasis, Biochemistry Techniques, Radiation, Radioisotopes and Environmental Pollutants and Toxins.

Besides, several new line diagrams, tables and text boxes have been added to make information more memorable. Similarly in the Anatomy edition, new chapters of surface anatomy have been added in both the abdomen and lower limb sections. New line diagrams, CT and MRI diagram tables and flow charts are added to increase the retention of knowledge. (ANI)

New Delhi, October 19

One of the convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case, Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt, who was released for “good behaviour”, is an accused in a case of outraging a woman’s modesty while out on parole during June 2020, revealed the annexure of an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court by the Gujarat Government.

According to the annexure, a copy of which is with The Tribune, the District Magistrate, Dahod, was informed by the district Superintendent of Police about the case when the Gujarat Government was considering the proposal to release 11 convicts, including Bhatt, on remission after 14 years of imprisonment.

Bhatt (57) was booked under Sections 354, 504 and 506 (2) of the IPC in June 2020 by the Randhikpur police and a chargesheet had been filed in the case, it said, adding that the trial was pending. Till May 25 this year, Bhatt had “enjoyed 954 days of parole, furlough leave” in the Bilkis Bano case.

Incidentally, even after the registration of the FIR in 2020, he was out of prison for 281 days, the official documents revealed.

In the FIR and the police complaint, Bhatt was accused of “threatening and harassing witnesses” and “outraging a woman’s modesty” while out on parole, which runs contrary to the “good behaviour” justification given by the Gujarat Government.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs approved the early release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case in August this year, the Gujarat Government disclosed in its affidavit. In a follow up on Tuesday, the Supreme Court remarked that the counter-affidavit to pleas challenging the remission was very bulky wherein a series of judgments had been quoted, but factual statements were missing.

The convicts were freed on August 15 and greeted with garlands and sweets like heroes outside a jail in Gujarat.

Trial pending

• Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt was booked in June 2020 for outraging the modesty of a woman while on parole
• Chargesheet filed in case, trial pending; till May 25 this year, he had “enjoyed 954 days of parole, furlough leave”in the Bilkis Bano case

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann has moved a Jammu and Kashmir court to challenge the adminstration's order denying him entry into the Union territory, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Mann has been sitting on a protest in Lakhanpur for three consecutive nights against the administration's decision. Thursday is the fourth day of the protest.

The MP from Sangrur in Punjab was stopped on orders of Kathua District Magistrate Rahul Pandey on Monday evening, leading to the protest by the politician and his supporters.

In his order issued under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), Pandey said it had been brought to his notice by the senior superintendent of police that Mann was scheduled to enter Jammu and Kashmir and his visit was likely to cause ''disturbance in public tranquility''.

Mann filed a petition in the court of the chief judicial magistrate of Kathua through advocate T N Gupta, challenging the district magistrate's order denying him entry into Jammu and Kashmir.

Gupta said Mann has challenged the order on grounds that he was granted approval for his visit to the Union territory a few days ago.

''As per the protocol of his visit fixed by the additional deputy commissioner (Kathua), he left for J&K on October 17 (from Punjab). But when he reached here, the district magistrate of Kathua gave him this order (of denying entry into J&K). So he is challenging it,'' Gupta said.

He said the matter will be taken up on Thursday.

Gupta said Mann has also demanded the restoration of his basic rights as a senior citizen as well as an elected MP.

 ANI

Patna, October 20

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bihar Lalan Paswan courted controversy by making bizarre statements about Hindu deities.

Paswan's statement sparked an outrage. People held a protest at Shermari Bazar in Bhagalpur and burnt the effigy of the BJP MLA.

Paswan, who is an MLA from Pirpainti Assembly constituency in Bhagalpur district raised questions on Hindu beliefs and argued with evidence to prove his stance.

He further raised questions on Lakshmi Puja on Diwali.

Paswan said, "If we get wealth only by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi, then there would have been no billionaires and trillionaires among Muslims. Muslims do not worship Goddess Lakshmi, are they not rich? Muslims do not worship Goddess Saraswati. Are there no scholars among Muslims? Do not they become IAS or IPS?"

The BJP leader said everything is people's belief. He said the affair of "Atma and Paramatma" is just people's belief.

He said, "If you believe then it is a goddess and if not then it is just a stone idol. It is up to us whether we believe in Gods and Goddesses or not. We have to think on a scientific basis to reach a logical conclusion. If you stop believing, then your intellectual capacity will increase." "It is believed that Bajrangbali is a deity with power and bestows strength. Muslims or Christians do not worship Bajrangbali. Are they not powerful?  The day you stop believing, all these things will end," added Paswan.

Earlier, Paswan came to light when he allegedly leaked a personal conversation with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav.

 PTI

Mumbai, October 19

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will pay tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai on Wednesday on the first day of his three-day visit to India.

Guterres landed in Mumbai on Wednesday shortly after midnight via a commercial flight from London. He was greeted by senior Maharashtra government officials on arrival.

He later drove to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in south Mumbai, where he will pay tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks.

The Taj Mahal Palace hotel was one of the targets of the horrific 26/11 terror attacks in 2008.

Guterres will deliver a public address at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai on the subject -- "India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation" later in the day, before flying to Gujarat.

It is his first visit to India since his second term in office commenced in January. He had earlier visited the country in October 2018 during his first term at the top office.

The UN secretary general will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event relating to the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) in Gujarat's Kevadiya on October 20.

His visit to the country comes more than a week before the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds its two-day deliberations in India.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with Guterres on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India's engagement with the UN, including through the country's upcoming presidency of the G20.

In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity, the MEA said, adding that he will also visit the country's first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area.

The UN secretary general will also visit the Sun temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination, the MEA said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the final gazette notification for redrawing of municipal wards in Delhi, paving the way for civic polls in the city.

The 800-page gazette notification by the MHA, dated October 17, stated that the number of municipal wards in Delhi will now be 250. Before the reunification of the three erstwhile municipal corporations, there were 272 civic wards in the city.

According to sources, the move will now pave the way for the civic poll as after the final delimitation order, the Centre is likely to direct the state election commission to initiate the poll process.

According to civic body officials, following the gazette notification, the delimitation exercise should be understood to be completed.

Sources earlier said the final report was submitted by the panel to the MHA on Monday evening after disposing off all objections and suggestions on the draft report on delimitation.

The committee had received over 1,700 suggestions and objections to the draft report on the delimitation of wards in Delhi.

"And, whereas, suggestions/objections so received have been examined and the Draft Delimitation Order for wards of Municipal Corporation of Delhi has been amended wherever required, feasible and justified on reasonable grounds.  "Now, therefore, the Central Government, after careful consideration of all aspects, hereby determines the extent of each of the 250 wards as comprised within the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and as per Annexure to this order, " reads the notification.

Municipal elections in the city are due since April this year. The BJP, which was ruling the three municipal corporations -- NDMC, SDMC and EDMC --  in Delhi for over a decade before their reunification in May this year, the AAP, and the Congress have already started preparation for the polls.

The polls were earlier slated to be held in April, and are now anticipated to take place by the end of this year or early 2023.

The central government had fixed the total number of seats in the MCD at 250 from the existing figure of 272. This was stated in a Delhi Gazette notification, issued on September 10.

The total number of seats reserved for the members of the Scheduled Castes in the MCD in proportion to their number is also determined to be 42, it had said.

The previous three corporations in Delhi comprised 272 wards. While the North and South corporations accounted for 104 wards each, the East corporation had 64 wards under its jurisdiction.

Parliament on April 5 passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill-2022 to unify three civic bodies in the national capital, capping the number of total wards to 250.

The MHA in July had set up a three-member panel for a fresh delimitation of the municipal wards in Delhi.

The panel had three members -- Vijay Dev, State Election Commissioner, Delhi, who was its chairman; Pankaj Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary in Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; and Randhir Sahay, Additional Commissioner, MCD.  The delimitation exercise in Delhi was last conducted in 2016 and the number of wards was kept at 272 with each having an average population of 60,000 considering a variation of 10 to 15 per cent.  The erstwhile MCD, established in 1958, was trifurcated in 2012 during Sheila Dikshit's tenure as the chief minister. PTI AKM KND NSD NSD

Bhopal, Oct 19 (PTI) The work on the second phase of ‘Mahakal Lok’ project in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain city has started which includes renovation of ancient temples and heritage structures and restoration of the Chhota Rudra Sagar lake, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said.

After the completion of the second phase works, it will be transformed into “Shri Mahakal Mahalok”, Chouhan told reporters in Ujjain on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last week dedicated to the nation the first phase of ‘Shri Mahakal Lok’ corridor constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 351 crore.

“The work on the second phase of ‘Shri Mahakal Lok’ has started, including development of shikhar darshan, meditation room, restoration of Chhota Rudra Sagar, renovation of ancient temples and heritage dharamshala,” Chouhan said.

Earlier, he inspected the work of second phase of Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar redevelopment project and felicitated workers and artisans involved in the construction of the Mahakal Lok corridor.

Chouhan said he will send the ‘prasad’ of Mahakal temple with a letter to important dignitaries in the country, including governors, chief ministers, and Union ministers and invite them to visit the Mahakal Lok.

The chief minister also laid the foundation stone of Meghdoot Upvan to be developed on a seven-acre land at an estimated cost of Rs 11.36 crore under the second phase of the Mahakal Lok project.

The administration acquired land worth Rs 69 crore for this project by removing encroachments and demolishing 187 shops and gardens constructed by land mafias, he said.

The smart city department will develop a city forest on the land, with a parking facility for 650 vehicles with charging stations, walking tracks, sitting areas, cafeteria and carry out beautification of the riverside, Chouhan said. PTI ADU MAS GK GK GK

 New Delhi, October 18

Calling for the international community to work faster for “eliminating safe heavens” for terrorists and criminals, PM Narendra Modi today said there was a need for a global response to present-day crime, as threats had transnational dimensions.

High time world came together

When forces of good cooperate, forces of crime can’t operate. It’s time world came together to defeat threats. Narendra Modi, PM

Pakistan FIA chief mum on Dawood Ibrahim

Pak FIA chief Mohsin Butt chose to keep mum when asked by media about fugitive terrorists Dawood Ibrahim and Hafiz Saeed, suspected to be cocooned in his country

Addressing the inaugural session of the 90th Interpol General Assembly here, PM Modi also highlighted that when the “forces of good cooperate, the forces of crime cannot operate”. He warned about the harmful globalised threats that the world faces — terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, poaching and organised crime. Noting that the pace of change of dangers from criminals was faster than earlier, Modi said, “When threats are global, the response cannot be just local. It is high time the world came together to defeat these threats.”

After inaugurating the event, the Prime Minister also released a commemorative postage stamp and a Rs 100 coin to mark the 90th General Assembly. He was welcomed at the venue by Home Minister Amit Shah, Interpol President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi and Secretary General Jurgen Stock.

Addressing the gathering, comprising delegates from 195 member countries of Interpol, which also included a delegation from Pakistan, led by its Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Mohsin Butt, Modi said India had been combating transnational terrorism for decades. “Long before the world woke up to it, we knew the price of safety and security. Thousands of our people made the ultimate sacrifice in this fight,” he noted.

Asserting that “a safe and secure world is a shared responsibility of the global community”, Modi said, “There can be no safe havens for the corrupt, terrorists, drug cartels, poaching gangs or organised crime.”

“Such crimes against people in one place are crimes against everyone, crimes against humanity. Further, these not only harm our present but also impact our future generations. Police and law enforcement agencies need to devise procedures and protocols to increase cooperation. Interpol can help by speeding up red corner notices (RCNs) for fugitive offenders,” the PM said.

In his 14-minute speech, Modi impressed upon the fact that terrorism was not limited to physical space and had spread its presence through online radicalisation and cyber threats. “At the click of a button, an attack can be executed or systems can be brought to their knees...,” he added.